《Regressor In A Strange World》 Chapter 1: Transmigrating. Chapter 1: Transmigrating.A weak glow flickered, casting restless shadows that stretched and shrank across the wooden floor, as though alive. Two figures stood within the dimness. One of the them, Klaus- Xavier''s brother, sat on the edge of his bed, absently removing his shoes, perhaps preparing to turn in for the night. The other, Xavier, exhaled softly as he sank into a dark chair. His brows knitted together, hands resting beneath his chin- a posture that spoke of deep contemplation. And indeed, he was very much lost in thought. . . . It had been a few hours since I arrived in this world. A strange world with strange rules. Here, individuals walked the path of the Arcanists, undergoing the fabled Arcane Ascension. Others were espers, awakening latent abilities and entering prestigious academies to hone their gifts. And then there were the Transcenders- the most elusive of them all. Those who consumed divinity potions even at the risk of losing their sanity. These concepts weren''t something I had learned over time. No, they were memories- fragments inherited from the body''s previous owner. And alongside them, I discovered something else. I was born into a family of hunters- humans trained to hunt supernatural creatures who once thrived in the supernatural era, but now, in this current dark era, their numbers had dwindled. But, none of that mattered at the moment. Because before me, hovering within my mind like an intrusive whisper, was this- Arcanist Status ?? Name: Xavier ?? Origin name: Unknown ?? Aspect: Unawakened ?? Innate Ability: Foresight [Time till Arcane Ascension: Unknown] [Chances of undergoing the Arcane Ascension: 1%... 100%] [Complete more quests to increase the chances of awakening~] Esper Status ?? Rank: Unranked Transcender Status ?? Bloodline status: Dormant ?? Pathway: Dormant ?? Sequence Level: Nill ?? Spiritual Anchor: 99% ?? Bloodline abilities: Nill ?? Mystical Item: Pocket Marauder Compass. ? Bell Of Subtlety. But, none of these details were what unsettled me the most. It was this line that sent a strange unease creeping through my bones- [Time till Arcane Ascension: Unknown] [Chances of undergoing the Arcane Ascension: 1%... 100%] [Complete more quests to increase the chances of awakening.] So, in short... I, along with my twin brother, had systems. And these systems issued us quests- but only when we engaged in certain supernatural events or paranormal activities that required either physical or mental intervention. I wasn''t sure if this was a blessing or a... curse. But it didn''t matter. Because the bigger question was: How did I get here? Cause I could still vividly remember just how my transmigration had taken place. *** Heaven or Hell- whichever place this was, I had probably earned it. The thought drifted through my mind as I floated across an endless, lightless void. Darkness stretched infinitely in all directions, an abyss where time itself felt meaningless. Here, I remembered nothing. Not my past. Not my name. Not my sins. Just a deep, unshakable numbness. A sigh escaped my lips- if I even had lips in this place. Maybe my greatest crime was choosing to end it. And if that had condemned me, so be it. Seconds, minutes, hours- perhaps even centuries passed. And for the first time. Something changed. *** The darkness receded. I blinked. My eyes opened to a starless void, a space devoid of light or sound. I wandered aimlessly, drifting through nothingness, while my sanity slipped away grain by grain, like sand held in an unclenched fist. My mind was slowly corroded by the passage of time and it was getting increasingly hard to hold on to myself... To hold on to my past. Yet, I struggled to hold on. I allowed myself to be carried by the invisible current as I floated across the vast expanse of endless darkness. Here, there was: No friends, no family, no lover, no enemy, no hatred. There was absolutely nothing. In this vast expanse of nothingness, even emotions started ceasing to exist. Hence, I could only forcibly hold on to myself. I could only try to grasp a fistful of my sanity. Tick... Tick... I had no idea how long I had been on this endless voyage of mine, and I was only struggling to hold on at this point. I could feel it. Giving up meant losing everything about myself. And I couldn''t allow that to happen. Not now. Not ever. And just then, as if the void had received its answers. I felt a strong force pulling me. And I could feel it. Fear. It was slowly crawling its way towards me. Slowly eating me from the inside. But, Thump... Thump... I immediately shoved down the fear settling within me. I mean, What more is there to worry about? Worst case scenario, I finally get the death I deserve. Then- Light. A brilliant, incandescent whirlpool of light consumed me, dragging me out of the void. I had no time to scream. No time to struggle. And just like that- I was somewhere else. *** When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in a mysterious space that seemed to hold infinite knowledge. "...." I blinked, trying to somehow make sense of my unusual surroundings. Up in the sky- if it could be called one. Seven stars could be seen. And each one seemed to represent a different aspect of life. Each carrying a weight I could not yet fanthom. And just as I stretched my hands towards the seven stars in the sky. I realized a shocking fact. Thump... Thump... My hands were being pulled back and before I could make sense of the weird sensation of falling into an endless void. I realized that the strange vision was gone and my eyes opened to ruined structures and buildings. A bright incandescent flame roared chaotically around me, and buildings crumbled into a pile of dust and shards, one after another. And then, It came. Boooommm!!! Memories flooded in like a raging tsunami. "Kgha-!" I staggered, coughing out a mouthful of blood as I fell to my knees. I tightly pressed my hand against my temples, as though that would alleviate the intense headache assaulting me. Tightly clenching my fists and biting hard on my lips to suppress the pain that threatened to consume me, I struggled hard to make sense the various scenes rapidly flashing past me. Slowly, the flood of memories no longer came in, and it soon became glaringly clear that I had... Transmigrated? Is this some sort of joke? That was the first thought that came to my mind. I had read multiple NovelFires, infact I could be said to be a veteran reader and a... failed author. But, the idea of transmigrating had never once crossed my mind. Wasn''t that supposed to be impossible in the first place? And a few questions flooded my mind: How did I transmigrate? Why have I transmigrated? And so much more. At first, I thought maybe a god of sort decided to give me a second chance after all the pain and trauma I had gone through. But, how laughable. I easily waved that off just as it came. If suffering was the criteria for transmigrating, then I am afraid this strange world will be filled with transmigrates at this point. But there was still something that was baffling me or to me more precise- unnerving me in a lot of ways. The previous owner of this body had set up a petrol explosion in order to escape from a demon. His plan did end up succeeding, but it came at a cost. At the cost of unraveling some sealed memories. And these said memories were responsible for killing him. But- A chilling cold crept down my spine. How can someone die because of a few set of memories? How dangerous must those memories be, to be able to lead to such a traumatic event? To succeed in killing someone... And what made everything worse? It was the fact that these sealed memories of sorts, along with a few of mine, were all sealed... together. The thought of the seal breaking open sent chills down my spine and I had to tightly clench my hands in order to stop the sonorous tremors running through me. Even if it didn''t really work, it was still better than nothing. "Huff..." I exhaled sharply, and before long, I eventually managed to pacify my rapidly beating heart. ''Alright, let''s just say I happen to be a lucky fellow and got transmigrated.'' My mouth twitched slightly at this thought of mine. But it wasn''t like I had any other choice. I could simply go with this easy way or keep cranking my head around the unfathomable mysteries behind my transmigration. "So... what next?" I muttered, running a hand through my hair. I shifted my gaze to assess my surroundings more vividly. And I soon realized a fact that didn''t really sit well with me. Thump... Thump... I was surrounded by roaring flames, charred structures and broken pile of woods that blocked most paths of escape. I frowned. And just as I allowed my eyes to move around. My frown deepened. At least, until I saw... her. A woman lay crushed beneath a massive stone, her abdomen torn open, dark blood pooling around her like spilled ink ''Shit!'' I took a step forward, heart pounding. Then, something twisted. A shiver ran down my spine. The scent of blood was... wrong. Too thick. Too dark. My breath hitched as memories slammed into me like a tidal wave- this was no dying woman. This was the demon that had tried to kill me. According to the memories I inherited- demons aren''t from this world. They came from a shattered dimension known as Hell. And what disturbed me and elicited a deep frown from me was the fact that these demons, by possessing humans, can anchor themselves to this plane. "Hum..." I swallowed. "...." I stared at her with a wary gaze. There''s no need to be scared of her right? I thought, my brows arching upward. With the grievous injury she had sustained, she was definitely in no position to pull off her possession stunt. Or... can she? The question deeply troubled me. If it turned out that she could, then attempting to approach her in order to get some answers would be no different from courting death. And I had no plans of doing that. At least not until I figured out what was going on? And to make matters worse, Thump... Thump... There was only one way to find out. Fighting against the fear that threatened to overwhelm me, I took my first step towards her. Tok~ And then, Tok~ I took another step. Tok~ Tok~ Each step of mine echoed through the quiet and her cold gaze sent chills slithering down my spine. But I simply bit on my lower lips and, Tok~ Kept moving forward. Tok~ I knew I couldn''t afford to show any sign of weakness. Step~ Arriving before her, I had no idea if she was still capable of fighting back. But if I hesitated now, I''d loose my only chance at answers. "Who sent you?" I muttered with the coldest voice I could muster. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Silence. It lingered. She simply glared at me, and the quiet made it clear that she wasn''t willing to say anything. Irritated, I was about to lose myself to anger when- A smile crept up my features. "As long as you tell me who it''s. I promise not to kill you." I paused, allowing her to digest the words before proceeding. "You should know that we- Winchesters, take our words quite seriously." The demon was silent. She bit on her lower lips as her thoughts ran amok. ''True. The Winchesters value their words. But- Biting her lips even harder. If he were to search my memories, I would probably suffer a fate worse than death. But... Her gaze shifted towards me and I calmly waited. I wasn''t scared that she wouldn''t accept the deal. She would. Not only that, but she would eventually fall into the trap I had waiting just for her. Chuckling quietly, I portrayed the same stoic, cold expression. ''I don''t have any other choice.'' With a long sigh and with clenched jaws, she eventually said: "His name is Azazel. A higher demon." Now... That''s a big problem. I frowned. To be known as I higher demon. At the very least, one must be a demi-god! Just great! Just arrived here and I already have a demi-god out for my blood. With a narrowed brow, I shifted my gaze toward her and asked. "What does the demon want from me?" Agitated~ I added: "Why did he order for me to be killed?" "....!" ''T-his... how the hell am I supposed to know.'' Clenching her jaws, she felt he was mocking her impure bloodline. "You can ask him when you go to hell," She spat out irritatingly, anger seeping into her voice. I was first taken aback, but then- "Euuf!" I exhaled sharply. I didn''t know how to reply nor how to press on without appearing too eager for the answers. I let out a light sigh. Well at least on the bright side of things. I know who''s trying to kill me and well, on the not so bright side, I don''t know why this higher-demon is after my petty life. And to make matters worse, this stupid lower demon doesn''t seem to have an inkling on the higher demon''s plan. Facepalming myself, I resisted the urge to "gift" the demon a dirty slap. "Urgh-!" I struggled to calm down. Who even takes a mission without knowing what said mission is about? But thinking about it. I guess she isn''t to be blamed. After all, she is only a lower demon. Probably not even worthy of meeting with the higher demon. What did I expect anyway? For the demon to rant on about his plans? Lightly shaking my head, I turned and proceeded to leave. As for the demon, she could bleed to death for all I cared. But just as I took my first step. Tok~ The demon realized she''d been tricked. After all, she needn''t be killed by me. She would still bleed to death anyway. ''Fucking bastard!'' Gritting her teeth, she spat out: "You pathetic weakling! Your father will never be proud of you! You''re just a bastard who runs away from the truth." Spitting on the ground as though in disdain, she added, "Pathetic." In the moments of anger, she had made us of an ability fully possessed by higher demons and partly, by a minute number of lower demons. Mind read... subconscious dive or whatever name you gave it. Its goal was simple. To dive into the target''s psyche, into the target''s hidden thoughts, motivations and paranoias. And then use them as a leverage to get under said target''s skin. Clench! I suddenly stayed rooted to the spot. I tried to move, but my body just wouldn''t. It was almost as though something. Someone. An entity within me was screaming for me to teach her a lesson. I had a guess. It was probably the remnant soul of the previous owner of this body. That would also explain why I felt so aggrieved all of a sudden. And I could feel a familiar emotion slowly crawling its way towards me. Anger. It was slowly eating me from the inside. Slowly trying to overwhelm me. I felt like the demon had struck a fragile chord in my soul and... I had to strike back! Blood for blood it''s then. A cold expression crept up my face and I turned to face her. Now with an expressionless look. Ba- dump! Ba- dump! I brought out a mini-book from my back pocket. Scrolling through the pages without saying a word, the sound filled the tense silence. The demon glared at me and if looks could kill- I would probably be dead by now. But that was nothing compared to what I was about to do to her. She wondered what the human needed a book for. ''Smack her to death?'' I eventually stopped at a particular page that read: Romaniakn Exorcism Spell. "Huff... Huh..." I steadied my breath, my feelings a mix of thrill and anger. The thrill that I could try out one of the mysterious, supernatural aspects of this world and an indescribable anger towards the demon for using a subtle part of my memory against me. I couldn''t accept it and I definitely don''t plan on letting her go scot-free. Closing my eyes, I opened it with a sharp exhalation and then- Thump....Thump... My lips moved, and strangely enough, I could read and pronounce every single one of the strange letters. These words of mine- seem to hold within them, a mysterious energy that resonated with reality, sending formless waves of energy towards the demon. "Aaaaaaaargggghh!!!" She let out a loud, blood-curdling scream. And to make matters worse. This was but just the beginning and before long, she felt the pain of a thousand needles boring into her soul, each set of words shattered her soul into pieces and fragments. Such pain. It couldn''t be described in words. She literally felt like dying! "Aaaaarggh.... please make it stop!" "Please!!" She pleaded and pleaded. Waddling in her pool of blood, she tried all means to alleviate the pain. Yet, "Aaaaarggh!" Nothing seemed to work. If anything, the pain was only intensifying. Already engrossed in this mysterious state of having an invisible force feeding me with a strange energy, I continued reading at a fast pace, heightening the pain that shot through the demon and the ear-piercing screams that escaped her lips. Of course, I was already too engrossed to notice this. Whoosh-! Whoosh-!! Scrolling through the pages, I continued to recite the chant. And when my voice finally died down. Thump... Thump... The gathered adrenaline within me slowly ebbing away. My eyes snapped towards the demon, the mysterious glow in my eyes fully dissipating. Staring at the demon~ or at least what remained of her. I felt a cold chill slither down my spine. Thump... Thump... Tok~ Tok~ I instinctively moved backward. T-his... I stuttered. Was this done by me? My lips shivered and before long, my body soon joined in the fray as I gazed at the dark pool of blood, or to be more precise, the body of a young lady who had been utterly disfigured and dismembered by a mysterious force. And then- Thump... Thump... A dense black smock suddenly shot out of her body, startling me. Ba- dump! Ba- dump! My heart hammered against my chest as I fell onto the ground with a loud thud. The black smoke immediately phased through the ground, leaving a charred metallic stain on the ground. And I continued to stare blankly ahead of me, shocked and completely shaken by the grotesque image before me. And just then, Ba- dump! Ba- dump! It popped up. [Congratulations on completing a side quest: Exorcise a demon!] [Reward is being generated...] [Reward has been generated: [Chances of undergoing the Arcane Ascension has been raised to 1%] [You have awakened your innate ability: "Foresight!" [You have received 2 attribute points.] [...You have been granted the mystical Item: [Pocket Marauder''s compass!] But~ I could be less bothered about any of this. My hand was still trembling and before long, my body soon joined in the fray as my mind was completely overwhelmed by guilt. A guilt so profound it haunted the very corners of my mind~! Chapter 2: Dealing With A Shape-Shifter. Chapter 2: Dealing With A Shape-Shifter.I had no idea how long I had been sitting there. In fact... I had long lost track of time. I sat motionless, my gaze locked onto the dismembered body of the young woman before me. I felt~ Lost. Broken. And worse of all- "Huh... Hah..." The guilt coiling around my chest tightened like an iron vice, crushing the breath from my lungs. It was... suffocating. An invisible force pressing down, making even the simplest act- breathing- a struggle. I couldn''t put a name to this feeling, but... It was as if a knife had pierced my heart, carving into my soul- a terrifying pain. Such pain... My hands trembled and my body shook. Really couldn''t be described with words alone. And slowly but surely, I could feel it. The suffocating grasp of: Guilt. It was slowly crawling its way towards me. Slowly trying to overwhelm me. It was slowly trying to consume me. Thump... Thump... My deafening heartbeat echoed through the quiet, each one more frantic than the last. And, Thump... Thump... I sat down there for an eternity or so it seemed. The minutes blended into hours, and hours into what felt like days. The grim reality of my macabre act weighed down on me, a suffocating force that left me broken. Lost. Confused. And I could hear them now. The voices. ''Why did you kill her...!!!'' They were slowly overwhelming me. ''You could have simply let her bleed to death...!'' Slowly eating me from the inside. ''Why...? Why...?!!'' They were now just a step away from fully consuming me. "Stop... Stop...!!!" I clenched my head between my hands, the pressure becoming unbearable. My voice was barely a rasp, but the voices didn''t care. They pressed on, digging deeper, trying to consume me. But I had to fight back. I had to remember. Yes- she had been human. Once. But the cold truth was undeniable: she had been possessed. The demon had twisted her fate long before I ever chanted the incantation. Even without my intervention, she wouldn''t have survived- the blood loss would have claimed her. And even if by some miracle she had lived, the demon would never have let her go. Her death was... inevitable. Yet- ''Ah...'' A bitter, self-deprecating smile curled up my lips. Who was I trying to convince? This wasn''t reason. It was nothing more than a feeble attempt to ease the crushing guilt weighing down on my chest. ''Ha-hahaha.'' This was just me trying to find a balm to use against the overwhelming sense of guilt that threatened to drown me in its abyss. But- "Ha- ah..." No amount of justification could fill the emptiness inside me. No amount of logic could silence the gnawing ache in my chest. I bit my lips, forcing myself to look away from the carnage. My hands trembled violently and I had to clench them into fists to stop the intense shaking. But- "Haa..." It wasn''t working. Clench! I clenched my hands even tighter. Nothing was working. With trembling hands, I reached for a lighter. Closing my eyes, I flicked it open, inhaled sharply- And then, Whoosh~! I set the remains ablaze until the bright incandescent flame swallowed every trace of my cruel actions. "Hahahaha." I laughed- a hollow, empty sound. I guessed that had lessen the guilt coiling and tightening around my chest like an iron vice. I had hope the fire would cleanse me of my sins. That watching the evidence burn would ease the suffocating weight on my chest. But how wrong was I. Even as the flame danced before me, my hands still trembled. My breath still hitched. My heartbeat still thundered in my ears. I...It changed nothing. *** I stood frozen. The acrid scent of burning flesh clung to the air, suffocating in all its endless grandeur. My mind reeled, battling the weight of guilt that threatened to crush me. But- "Huh... Uh..." I forced myself to breathe- to think. Shaking off the lingering haze, I turned on my heel and descended into the basement. There was no telling when the next demon would strike. I needed weapons. I needed to be prepared and be on guard against any unforeseen event. Moving with practiced efficiency, I packed my gears, securing everything I might need. Within minutes, I was done. But before leaving, I had one more thing to verify. "Parameters," I muttered under my breath. And then- "....." A translucent screen materialized before me. "PARAMETERS" ?? Strength: 7 ?? Speed: 7 ?? Constitution: 8 ?? Agility: 8 ?? Resilience: 9 ?? Intelligence: 9 ??Spirituality: 10 {peak mortal state} "Hmm..." I frowned slightly. My strength and speed were severely lacking. But something else caught my eye. A slow, amused smile crept up my features. Spirituality... Memories stirred at the edge of my consciousness. I knew what this stat represented. It dictated the potency of exorcism, the strength of rituals, and the sheer force a transcender could wield against others of the same sequence level. It had other uses, of course. But for now, this was all I could access. That would also explain why my exorcism spell was far stronger than they should be for an unawakened. I exhaled. ''Well, I''ve two attribute points.'' If my assumption was correct, then it should work like- ''This.'' "Add one point to strength and one to speed." As the screen updated, I felt it- a subtle almost imperceptible flow of energy pulsed through my veins, strengthening my muscle fibers and refining my body. ''No wonder readers love system novels.'' A dry chuckle escaped my lips. After all, there was something undeniably satisfying about watching numbers grow. A light sigh escaped me. For some reason, I felt... synchronized. As if something within me had finally clicked into place. But there was no time to dwell on it. My gaze sharpened. "Transcender status," I whispered. Transcender status ?? Retracement Level: [0%...100%] ?? Bloodline status: Dormant ?? Pathway: Dormant ?? Sequence Level: Nill ?? Spiritual Anchor: 99% ?? Bloodline abilities: Nill ?? Mystical Item: Pocket Marauder Compass. ''There it is.'' I stared at the last entry, lips pressed into a thin smile. As an avid reader of system based novels- mostly to understand why they were so popular- I knew a thing or two about how this worked. Closing my eyes briefly, I willed the system to describe the mystical item. Immediately, text shimmered into view. [Type: Item ] [Appearance: A bronze pocket compass with no cardinal directions, only a single black needle that erratically points in random directions.] [Effect: Guides its owner to hidden caches, overlooked objects, and paths leading towards their immediate goal.] [Limitation: The compass cannot differentiate between safe and dangerous outcomes. Its guidance grows less reliable in high-stakes or volatile environments.] ''That... is dangerous.'' I arched a brow. An item that could lead me directly into danger without discrimination? In a world infested with supernatural horrors, wielding this was akin to inviting death. Shaking my head, I muttered under my breath, "Unless I have no other choice, I can''t afford to use it. With that, I turned to leave. *** Outside. Whoosh!!! I lit up the entrance to the hidden basement, flames consuming any lingering evidence. In a world where divination and mystic arts could trace the unlikeliest of clues, I couldn''t afford any discrepancies. ~ Whoosh!!! ~ Chaaar!!! The chaotic roars of the flame painted the night- a flickering change of orange. But I had no time to dwell on it. I needed to leave before the cops arrive. Slinging my backpack over my shoulder, I took my first step away from the inferno flame. Tok~ Then another. Tok~ And another. Tok~ Until- Screeeeecchh!! The sound of screeching tires shattered the silence. My breath hitched. For a second there, I froze, heart pounding against my ribs. Ba- dump! Ba- dump! ''The cops?!'' I snapped my head toward the incoming vehicle, instinct screaming at me to run. My hand twitched around my gun- But then, the car skidded to a halt, blocking my escape route. And through the windshield, I saw- "Klaus?" The figure behind the wheel grinned. "Get in, kiddo. We''ve got a lot of catching up to do." I frowned. "You do know we''re practically the same age, right?" "Says who?" "Says the old man," I deadpanned. Klaus blinked, feigning surprise. "Oh? And when did he say that?" My mouth twitched. I resisted the urge to smack him. Instead, I exhaled lightly and shook my head. Same old Klaus. Without another word, I slid into the passenger seat. I barely had time to fasten my seatbelt before- Screeeeecchh!!! The car jerked into motion, sending my head smacking against the window. "Ouch." Klaus chuckled, barely suppressing his wide grin. "Bastard," I muttered, rubbing my temples. I rolled my eyes. His grin widened. "Consider that payback for abandoning the family." I stilled. The previous Xavier had left home. He had wanted a normal life. But how ironic... In the end, his past still caught up to him. Sighing inwardly, I reclined against the seat. "Guess I deserved that, then." My mind was still a battleground of chaotic, primal emotions, but Klaus''s words managed to pull me back- if only for a moment- from the dark thoughts threatening to consume me. ~Whoosh! The car sped down the road, the remnants of my home fading into the rearview mirror. As we passed a group of cops, I guessed they were probably heading to my house. Klaus gave them a slight wink, and they responded with a simple nod- acknowledging the supposedly law-law-abiding citizen behind the wheel. "That reminds me," I said, Shifting my gaze toward Klaus. "What about the old man? I haven''t heard from him in ages." I hesitated for a moment before adding, softer this time, "He''s still alive... right? It might have sounded like a strange question to ask my own brother, but given the kind of life we lived, every single day could just as easily be our last. Klaus let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head before chuckling. "Unfortunately for you, the old man is still very much alive and kicking." I nodded. "Good to hear." "Yeah." Klaus kept one hand on the steering wheel while handing me a phone with the other. "Listen to the voicemail." "Oh? Alright." A few minutes later, I was done digesting the information- if it could even be called that. Turning to Klaus, I muttered, "So... it''s safe to assume the old man finally got a trail on the demon that killed Mom." Klaus nodded. "And he won''t be around until gods'' knows when. So... he wants us to..." "Take care of things in his absence," Klaus finished, his voice laced with both amusement and something heavier. I leaned back, my grip tightening around the phone. The old man had always been like this. Throwing us into the fire, forcing us to sharpen ourselves in the flames. He never gave direct orders, only cryptic messages wrapped in half-truths, expecting us to understand what needed to be done. And this time... The hunt for that demon had consumed him completely. "Figures," I muttered, exhaling sharply as I tossed the phone onto the dashboard. "He always does that." Klaus chuckled, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel. "What? Leaving all the dirty work to his two sons while he goes galavanting around the world. Yeah, sounds about right." His tone was light, but I could see it. The flicker of something dark in his eyes. Because this wasn''t just some hunt. This was revenge. For our mother. For everything that was stolen from us. And most importantly... I had an undeniable desire to grow stronger and uncover the truth behind my transmigration. But choosing this path meant accepting the very possibility of dying before I ever reached that goal. Still, I had made up my mind long ago. The previous Xavier died because he ran away from the truth- because he ran from his own lineage. I couldn''t afford to make the same mistake. Exhaling sharply, I steeled myself, hoping this decision wouldn''t break me. "...Alright. So where are we headed?" "Dark-Orleans," Klaus answered without hesitation. "Also... it''s good to have you back in the family business." I simply nodded, taking the newspaper he handed me. My eyes skimmed the headlines before I spoke. "So... three murders in just as many days." "Yeah." Klaus''s expression darkened, a cold edge creeping into his voice. "Those shapeshifters are always psychopaths. Their logic is... warped." Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I glanced at him, catching the bitterness in his expression. For a brief moment, I almost laughed- but I held myself back. After all, he wasn''t the only one who had suffered at the hands of shapeshifters. I had too... or, more accurately, the previous Xavier had. Smirking, I turned the page and muttered, "Like you''re any better." Klaus let out a dry chuckle. "No, lol. I know I can be insane. But really-" He shook his head. "Theirs is just on another level entirely." "Yeah. That much is obvious. " Silence settled between us. Tick... Tick... Seconds clocked by, the sound of the wind roaring past the moving car resonating with the still night. Then Klaus finally spoke. "Do you know what the witnesses told the cops?" I shook my head slightly. "What else? Probably that they saw two look-alikes." Klaus chucked and with a smooth maneuver, the car drifted sharply into another street. Tires screeched. For a moment, I thought he''d crash into two cars, but he barely managed to slip past them- earnings a chorus of furious honks and curses from startled drivers. Some were too busy with their own life problems to care about some fool''s reckless driving. Klaus, clearly pleased with himself, let out another chuckle. I just shook my head. Shifting my gaze out of the window, I prepared myself to leave Qanzias city behind. I sighed lightly. According to the memories I retained, the time I- the previous Xavier- spent here had been strangely... peaceful. One of the most blissful periods of my life. A thought I found no reason to. Most of my memories were sealed, and the ones I could access were fragmented, distorted. And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn''t find out why. Frustrated, I sighed again and pushed the thought aside. Thinking about them wouldn''t solve them anyway. "Hmm. It''ll take us around five hours to reach Dark-Orleans, right?" "Yeah," Klaus nodded. And just like that, we both returned to our strange quiet state. A weird, stifling silence creeping into the atmosphere. One that was starting to get really uncomfortable. Not until- "...." It appeared. [ A quest has been initiated: [Find and stop the shapeshifter.] Side quest: [Uncover the motive behind its actions. Every action- both brutal and kind- is done for a reason. Discover theirs.] [Reward: unknown] "....?!" ''This again.'' I tilted my head to the left, staring at the glowing text. ''Is it some kind of game-quest section of the system.'' Just then, I felt Klaus''s gaze. And¡ª Thump... Thump... It wasn''t on me. Slightly taken aback, a thought flashed through my mind. ''Don''t tell me...'' My eyes widened briefly, but I quickly regained my composure. "You can see it?" I asked, my voice calm yet probing. Klaus let out a derisive laugh. "Yes, fool." Shaking his head lightly, he added, "I also have one." ".....?!!" I frowned. "Weird." Unconsciously, I placed a hand on my chin, thoughts swirling. Is he a transmigrator? No, that didn''t seem likely. Klaus had never displayed anything unusual when the previous Xavier was still alive. And then, an idea struck me. Muttering the word status inwardly, I shifted through my system''s sections. But¡ª "...." Just as I suspected. He couldn''t see them. I was now certain. We didn''t have the same system, but somehow, both seemed to issue us similar quests from time to time. At least for now. Which meant¡ªthere was some sort of connection between them. "....?" But why? Even with all my years of reading and writing, I had never come across such a bizarre situation. Still, I had a feeling I''d find out sooner or later. That much, I was sure of. "Hmm. But there''s something I don''t get," I muttered. "What is it?" Klaus asked, raising a brow. "According to the reports, the shapeshifter only targets young women." Klaus chuckled, earning a cold stare from me. Clearing his throat, he gave me an exaggerated look. "Don''t tell me you think the shapeshifter has a thing for young women?" I deadpanned. "No. No... definitely not." My expression hardened. "And Klaus, this isn''t the time for your not-so-funny jokes." "Alright, alright," he muttered, feigning disappointment. Then, with a smirk, he added, "Always a jerk as usual." "...." I simply stared at him blankly. Who''s the jerk between the two of us? Shaking my head, I pressed on. "So, the shapeshifter specifically targets young women." Klaus nodded. "Yeah. Not only does it lead to the husband''s arrest, but in most cases, the woman also ends up dead. But... I still don''t get it. What exactly is the shapeshifter trying to accomplish?" I sighed. "If I claimed to understand its motive, I''d just be lying." The more I thought about it, the more nonsensical it seemed. There was no rational pattern, no clear objective¡ª It was almost as if it was doing all this purely for... "...Fun." We both said it at the same time. Exhaling lightly, I glanced at Klaus as he shook his head. "It doesn''t matter," he muttered. "Whatever the reason, we''ll figure it out once we reach Dark-Orleans." Then, after a brief pause, he added with a teasing smirk, "Speaking of Dark-Orleans... are you going to meet her?" "....?" I blinked. "Her?" I was momentarily confused, but the memories soon came flooding in. "Oh... you mean Sophia?" "Obviously." Klaus smirked. "Who else had our dear Xavier falling head over heels?" I scoffed. "Plenty of girls have." Klaus let out a small laugh. "True. But still, it''ll be interesting. If I remember correctly, that was two years ago." "Yeah," I nodded, my expression turning solemn. "That year was hell. Rampant supernatural creatures, cursed spirits... and then even demons joined the fray." I sighed. "It cost the lives of many revered hunters to restore some semblance of peace." Klaus nodded. "Their deaths weren''t in vain, though. They managed to wipe out a good number of supernatural threats." The car drifted slightly as Klaus maneuvered the streets. "Since then, things have been... calmer." "Yeah... I suppose," I muttered, forcing a smile. Noticing my mood, Klaus chuckled. "I still remember those days, though," he said, shaking his head. Then, with a teasing grin, he added, "Despite Dad''s warnings, you begged me to sneak out¡ªjust to meet Sophia." I sighed. "Yeah, I remember. But we''re heading to Dark-Orleans to hunt, not to meet old friends." "Fair point," Klaus nodded. "That would just lead to unnecessary heartache." I didn''t respond. "But still..." Klaus trailed off, giving me a knowing look, his eyes twinkling with mischief. Lightly shaking my head, I let out a small laugh. "Sure." And with that, silence settled between us. Under the crimson glow of the moon, the car sped toward Dark-Orleans. *** Hours Later... A road sign came into view. -Welcome to Dark-Orleans.- Klaus smirked as we passed it. "How long has it been, Dark-Orleans?" he muttered. Driving through Lakeview and the Mid-City area, I felt a wave of relief. Luckily for Sophia, she lives in Bywater. But as we neared our destination, my mind drifted elsewhere. Memories surfaced¡ªof my past life. Of... Victoria ¡ªmy girlfriend. How''s she? Will she be alright? How will she feel? Various thoughts crept into my mind, each one more depressing than the last. ''...I''m sorry, Victoria... I''m really sorry... I just couldn''t hold on any longer. I just... couldn''t...'' Tears welled in my eyes as my hands clenched into fists, a subtle tremor running through them. Klaus frowned. "What''s wrong?" he asked softly. Forcing a smile, I shook my head. "Nothing. Just... remembering the sacrifices of that year." Klaus studied me for a moment but didn''t push. "Just don''t think too much about it." I simply nodded, even if I doubted I could do what he asked of me. I really couldn''t. Clench. Minutes later, we arrived at our destination. Klaus was about to step out of the car when he suddenly paused. "Oh, almost forgot. Dad left his journal behind." I froze. "You mean his journal? The one with records on supernatural creatures and paranormal events?" "Yeah," Klaus confirmed with a nod. A smile tugged at my lips. "That''s great. Not only will it make things easier for us, but... maybe we''ll find Dad in the process?" Klaus scoffed. "Don''t get your hopes up. If Dad doesn''t want to be found, then we sure as hell aren''t seeing him anytime soon." I sighed but didn''t argue. He was right. Still, the journal was invaluable. As I mulled over my thoughts, Klaus tossed something at me. I caught it effortlessly. A badge. The memory clicked instantly. "A forged badge." I smirked. "Can''t believe I almost forgot about this." "Yeah, you did," Klaus chuckled. Armed with a hidden gun and a silver blade¡ªsince shapeshifters could only be harmed by silver¡ªwe made our way toward the house. No. 2 Darleins Street. Tok. Tok. Tok-! Klaus knocked three times. Moments later, the door creaked open, revealing a woman in her early thirties. Her brown hair was unkempt, and faint bruises marked her skin. Klaus assessed her, his eyes flickering briefly before he spoke. Flashing his badge, he said, "Detective Zander. And this is my partner, Detective Hollerein. We''re with the Qanzias City Division." The woman frowned. "I''ve already gone through this with the CID." "Yes, ma''am, we''re aware," I said, maintaining a composed tone. "But we need to verify some things and ensure the case is truly closed." A tense silence followed. Then¡ª She sighed. "Alright. Come in." And with that, we stepped in. *** Inside the dimly lit room, the young woman handed cups of tea to the detectives before excusing herself. She returned a few minutes later, her steps hesitant. I watched her closely. Even without words, I could feel the various primal emotions swelling within her. From being broken. To being confused. To the... pain. I could somehow feel them all. Her eyes, glossy with unshed tears, betrayed her struggle to keep herself together. I sighed inwardly before speaking gently. "Ma''am, we know this has been incredibly difficult for you. We''re truly sorry for your loss." She wiped at the corner of her eyes but remained silent. "We understand how painful this is," I continued. "But we hope you can help us. Anything you share could be crucial to our investigation." Sniff. A quiet thanks escaped her lips. She bit down on her lower lip, then nodded. "I... I''ll do my best to help in any way I can." I gave a reassuring nod before asking, "Before the incident, did your husband show any signs of violent or harmful behavior?" She exhaled shakily. "No," she answered firmly. "He was always caring. In all our years together, he never once raised a hand against me." Klaus and I exchanged a brief glance. A silent understanding passed between us. We were dealing with a shapeshifter. "Alright, Ma''am," Klaus said evenly. "Can you tell us what happened?" She hesitated, her brows knitting together before she finally spoke. "He said he had a night shift and was driving to work. But minutes later, he called, saying he was coming back home." I arched a brow. "Why?" "His boss canceled his shift. The police confirmed that much." Her expression darkened. "B-but..." "But what?" Klaus pressed, his gaze sharpening. "But the moment he called... he was already home. I-It should''ve taken him at least twenty minutes to get back." She paused again, visibly struggling. Still, she pressed on. "Then we were..." Silence stretched, thick and suffocating. ~ Thump... Thump... "Take your time," I said softly. "Just tell us what you remember." She swallowed hard and nodded, her voice cracking as she continued. "We were about to have sex... b-ut he suddenly knocked me out. And when I woke up, I realized I was tied to a chair, and it w-was like the man in front of me wasn''t my husband anymore." Tears spilled onto the floor as she buried her face in her hands. Her shoulders trembled as a quiet sob broke out of her chest. ~ Trembling. She suddenly stood, her fists clenched tightly behind her back. "That''s all I know. Now, can you please take your leave." "Thank you for your time, Ma''am," Klaus said as we both stood. I couldn''t blame her. If I were in her shoes, I might''ve done worse. For her to summon the courage to say all that... it wasn''t easy. Sighing lightly, we stepped out of the house, her quiet sobs resounding through the air even as we moved farther away from her. As hunters, this was a reality we confronted every single day- every waking moment of our lives. --- A few minutes later, we were back in the car. I rubbed my chin, breaking the silence. "Now that we know we''re dealing with a shapeshifter, we need to figure out the next target." Klaus didn''t respond immediately. Then, slowly, I saw it¡ªthat look. That familiar, unsettling grin. He stared ahead, the edges of his lips curling wider. "Yeah," he murmured, his smile deepening. "And I think I just figured out who our next poor victim might be." Chapter 3: Anger. Chapter 3: Anger."And who could that be?" I asked, raising a brow. Klaus pointed ahead and I followed his gaze. "Long brown hair, deep black eyes and to top it all off- a curvy waist." I frowned. How does that prove anything? But Klaus continued anyway, "Judging from her facial appearance, I''d bet a hundred bucks that she''s in her early thirties." "....!" I stared at him, too dumbfounded to say a word. I tried to speak, but no word escaped my mouth. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I closed my mouth and opened it once again, and eventually, I regained my ability to speak. Throwing him a glare, I said, "Seriously?" Klaus coughed lightly. "Alright, alright." Then, with a smile, he added, "But what does she have in common with the other victims?" I arched my brow. "Curvy waist?" Klaus let out a light cough. "Do you really think your elder brother is that thirsty?" I nodded, completely serious. "Yes, as a matter of fact, I do." Klaus sighed. "Even my own younger brother has no faith in me." "...." I rolled my eyes. Can''t you be serious for once. Shaking my head, I sighed inwardly. Klaus chuckled, but then his expression sharpened. His fingers drummed against the edge of the steering wheel. "Anyway, let''s get back to business," Lightly shaking his head, he added. "If you weren''t always off on "school" trips, maybe you wouldn''t have missed this. "....?!" I frowned. "Are you going to bicker, or get straight to the point." Klaus reached for a newspaper and handed it over. I looked at him skeptically. "And what am I supposed to do with this?" His demeanor turned serious. "Pay attention." "And tell me the similarities between each one of the victims." I was silent for a while. ''Did I fail to notice something while going through the report?'' But, "Alright." I still nodded in reply. If Klaus was this confident, then I must''ve overlooked something. Tick... Tick... I skimmed through the article. Then- "How did I not have realized?" I face-palmed, eliciting a light chuckle from Klaus. "As you can see, every single one of the victims are all in their~" "Early thirties." We both said at the same time. Klaus nodded. "Now. All we''ve to do is wait. And we''ll have the shapeshifter falling right into our trap." I watched as Klaus rubbed his hands together, likely fantasizing about how he''d handle the creature. Letting out a yawn, I stretched. "Well, until then, I''m gonna have a few minutes of reprieve." Klaus nodded. I reclined against the seat, closing my eyes. Klaus glanced at me and smiled. Even with all our fights and grudges... I really missed my brother. With a light smile, he pulled out a camera. Since shapeshifters practically resemble humans in every sense of the world. Unless one was an awakened or a transcender, the only way to spot them would be by capturing the flare of light which occasionally flashes within the depth of their eyes. And usually, without any supernatural-related item, the next best option would be to make use of a camera. And that was exactly what he was doing. *** Three hours easily clocked by with the crimson rays of the moon illuminating the ground beneath it. Klaus kept his eyes open in hopes of catching a flare of light. Yet as the surroundings grew more and more desolate, he still hadn''t found anything suspicious. He was even beginning to question their analysis. "Were we wrong?" he muttered. But he still decided to keep it up. If there still wasn''t anything after one more hour. Then he would probably hand the case over to the military agents or... the security companies. Coming to this conclusion, he nodded and moved the camera to his face once again. *** Twitch~! My brows twitched, and the tremors only worsened. It was growing faster and faster and before long, Click... Click... I suddenly found myself standing in a dimly lit room. The crimson rays of the moon illuminating the room''s contours. The surrounding was white and I thought I saw eerie, dark shadows moving across the walls. Thump... Thump... "Where is this?" I said softly, my voice trembling. Silence. It stretched. Thick and suffocating. Then- Ba- dump! Ba- dump! A deep, pounding heartbeat reverberated in the room, rattling my ribs. My breath caught as I tried to move... Just then- Creak... A voice echoed from somewhere behind me. Thump... Thump... I turned, my breath hitching- But, "...." I was met with silence. A silence so stifling, it sent cold chills slithering down my spine. Forcing down the unease swiftly rising within me, I approached the door before me. Tok... I took my first step. Tok... And then, another. Tok... Each step was a battle against the suffocating pressure pressing in on me from all sides. Then- A smell of rotten corpse suddenly filled the air, causing a sonorous tremor to run through me. ~Trembling. I blinked as my heart thundered in my ears. And then- Flick-! A sudden shift. The white walls vanished and so did the shadows. Now, I stood in a kitchen. Knives. Cups. Pestles. They said it all. ''What the hell is going on?'' I muttered with strained difficulty, disbelief and fear seeping into my voice. I struggled to keep my composure. I felt I was running mad. I mean, What else can explain all these strange things?! But still, I forced myself to calm down. Forced myself to breathe. And, Tok... Tok... I slowly moved towards the door, and then, Katcha-! I heard it, loud and clear. It came from... Whoosh-! Turning back- I saw shards of broken plates on the floor. How...? My gaze darted around, searching for an answer. But, Whoosh-! There was... nothing. Everything seemed relatively normal. But still, I dared not relax. I had questions but I knew to get any answer, I had to somehow manage to survive through whatever this was. Clenching my hands, mostly to stop the sonorous tremors running through them. Tok~ I headed for the door once again. Tak... Arriving before a set of knives. I bit onto my lower lips. I knew it was better to go in prepared. Hence, I reached for the set of knives. But then- Whooosssh!!! Swiiissssh!!!! They all flared to life! Ba- dump! Ba- dump! My eyes widened in horror as I tried to move out of harm''s way. And just as my life flashed before my very own eyes. Just when the knives were inches away from sending me to hell. Thump... Thump... ~Flick-! Another shift occurred. "....?!" I wasn''t in the kitchen anymore. But this time around... I wasn''t alone. A woman sat bound to a chair. My stomach twisted, realization creeping in. ''The woman Klaus pointed at earlier...'' Tok~ Tok~ A man slowly stepped into my line of sight. I frowned. Who''s he? I had questions. But somehow, I knew they would be answered soon. The man squatted before her. Sometimes, he stood up. And sometimes, he laughed- a sick, twisted laugh. I watched in silent horror as he lifted a sharp tool and began to torture her. Before long, I came to the cold realization that this was: The shapeshifter? But I wasn''t fully sure. Not yet. But as time went by, I frowned. Torturing young ladies. The psychopathic personality. I was now more sure of it, likewise I was certain about it. Thump... Thump... This was definitely the shapeshifter. Creak-! I immediately tried to move. Tried to save the young lady. But, Thump. Thump. ''Fucking move you damn body!'' I couldn''t. I was frozen, and paralyzed- An unwilling spectator to the nightmare unfolding before me. And slowly, something stirred within me. A familiar emotion. Anger. It slowly crawled its way towards me. Slowly ate me from the inside. And the longer I watched, the more it grew. My fists clenched. And slowly, I could feel it building up. Anger. It was slowly overwhelming me. I-...it was slowly trying to consume me. *** The man continued with his gruesome act, clearly oblivious to my presence. Drip...! Drip...! Tears streamed down the corner of the lady''s eyes as she struggled to speak. Yet no words came out. I could see it. Not only that. But, Thump... Thump... I could also feel the pain. Drip...! Drip...! The agony. I felt them all. A-almost as if I was the one going through them. Clench~! My fists trembled, and I had to clench them tightly in order to stop the sonorous tremors running through them. But, Thump... Thump... It wasn''t working. Clench. Nothing was working. If anything, the tremors only increased in intensity. And in the process of quelling it, my fingers dug deep into my palm. Drip...! Drip...! Blood dripped onto the ground beneath me. Yet, "....!" I was oblivious to the bright red liquid flowing through my hands. And to make matters worse. Despite the fact that the young lady was in so much pain. So much agony... The shapeshifter simply held an eerie wide grin, laughing wildly without any restraint. His maniac grin and laugh said it all. He was clearly enjoying t-his... this inhumane act. And that only further served to amplify my anger. And what made it even worse. Thump... Thump... What heightened the anger swiftly rising within me? Drip...! Drip...! It was the fact that I could do absolutely nothing about it. Chapter 4: Encounter With The Shapeshifter. Chapter 4: Encounter With The Shapeshifter.The man let out a soft chuckle. "You can only blame this on your husband." His hands were tightly wrapped around the sharp edge of the blade. He trembled as blood seeped from his palms, dripping onto the floor. Yet, Drip... Drip... He didn''t seem to notice this. I could feel the rage radiating from him- thick and suffocating. It bled from his eyes, warping the air around him with a tinge of madness that sent an icy shiver down my spine. Tears streamed down the corner of his eyes, and the trembling of his hands only continued to increase in intensity. "H-he placed this calamity upon you." Wiping the tears away, a calm expression- the mask he''d always wear- slowly crept up his face. "Aren''t you enjoying this?" he asked in a rather mild tone. "It''s actually kind of cool, don''t you think so?" The woman shook her head violently, tears splattering onto the bloodstained floor. Her trembling grew more intense and so did her struggles to speak. It became much more pronounced. And I could feel it from where I stood. And just then, Creaaak... The door to the house creaked open. A grating sound that made my heart lurch to my throat echoed through the endless dark. And a man who greatly resembled the shapeshifter slowly walked in. "Honey," he called, hanging his coat before moving toward the bedroom. But he didn''t find his wife there. Tok... Tok... "Dear, I''m back." His voice drifted through the quiet rooms. And- "Hehehehe... seems like your husband is back." The shapeshifter''s eyes gleamed in anticipation. I suddenly had a bad feeling about this. "Ah, I can''t wait to see the terror in his eyes- the moment he realizes it''s too late. Hah... That look... It''ll be priceless." Tok... Tok... The husband''s steady footsteps cut through the suffocating silence of the night. And within the blink of an eye, the shapeshifter had hidden behind the door. And I could almost make out a wide grin on his face. ''Bastard!'' Just then, Tok. Tok. A man appeared at the room''s entrance. "Fuck! Nina- what happened to you?" His voice broke as he rushed to untie her. His hands trembled as he let loose the ropes. He succeeded in doing that, but- She trashed violently, desperation flashing in her wide, tear-filled eyes. Thump. Thump. He nodded and yanked the gag from her mouth. "B-behind you!" Tok... Tok... "W-what~..." Turning back, a burst of fire flared in his palm. But, Slasssh! He reacted- too late. The blade carved through the air, severing his head in an instant. Splatter-! Blood gushed out continuously from the neck before the headless body finally collapsed onto the ground. The man''s head rolled towards my feet, a widened look etched onto his face, even after his... death Ba- dump! Ba- dump! The blood splattered on my face carried an icy sting, as if it held the essence of a frigid wind. A shiver crept down my spine, snaking through my body and chilling me to the core. And then, *** "Noooo!!!" I jolted upright, gasping for breath. Thump. Thump. My eyes darted around. The car. I was still in the car. Then... what the hell was that? Only one word came to my mind. Foresight. "What happened?" Klaus questioned, his voice sharp and urgent. "The shapeshifter," I muttered, my hands still trembling from the aftermath. "It''s in the house. It''s already there." Klaus was skeptical. I mean, He had been watching the entire time. And he would''ve definitely noticed if the shapeshifter had actually passed by. That, he was very much sure of. "Just trust me, Klaus." I muttered under clenched hands. And then, My breath caught. "That''s him! That''s the husband!" Klaus arched a brow. "Who?" "The lady''s husband." Klaus gave me a weird look. "Alright." He sighed. "But you owe me an explanation." I nodded. Pushing open the car door, we both headed for the residence. Tok... Tok... We soon arrived before a dark-gray door and the second Klaus gave me the go-ahead signal- I kicked open the door. Creeaak... My heart pounded against my ribs, its deafening sound echoing through the stiling quiet. Ba- dump! Ba- dump! Stepping into the room. I froze. The room. It was exactly the same as the one in my dream. No. It was the one in my dream! My gaze flicked toward the side room- the room where the macabre act took place. And, Thump... Thump... I dashed towards the room, immediately followed by Klaus. "Noooo...!!!" S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A loud shriek pierced the air. One that sent cold chills running down my spine. Tok... Tok... We both dashed into the room just in time to, Thump. Thump. See a headless head spew out blood uncontrollably. My heart skipped a beat as I shifted my gaze toward the shapeshifter. "....?!" He stared at us. His brows tightly furrowed. "Military agents?" His smile faltered for a fraction of a second before he chuckled. "Security huh?" His lips curled into a faint smile. Definitely not worth the effort. Tok... Tok... Without hesitation, he turned and bolted. His mission here was done anyway... There was no reason to duke it out with us. Klaus reacted instantly, pulling the trigger three times consecutively. Kaa!!! Kaaa!!! Kaaaa!!! PUCHIII!! One of the shots managed to pierce through the shapeshifter''s leg, just before he crashed into the window. Katchaa!!! Glass shattered under the weight of his fragile body and he skillfully ricocheted off the ground, before finally getting onto his knees. Taking one last look at the intruders. He marked their faces and then, continued running. Step. Step. He ran with everything he''d got. And despite the continuous shots from Klaus and I. It seemed futile, as the distance between us only continued to grow. "Take care of the lady," Klaus said, "I''ll go after it." I nodded, whispering softly, "Be careful." Klaus gave a light nod. "I will." Tok. Tok. He immediately leaped through the shattered window, chasing after the fleeing monster. "...." I turned to the woman. She was shaking, sobbing uncontrollably. Forcing a calm expression, I tried to comfort her. "Ma''am, please be calm. Everything will be okay." "H-he killed my husband." Tears streamed down the corner of her eyes, as she struggled to accept the grim reality. I didn''t stop her from grieving. I knew she must be in pain. And such pain really can''t be described in words. If I had to say. Then: ...She would probably feel as though her entire world had come crashing down on her. And such pain I doubted could be described with words alone. *** Outside. The shapeshifter abruptly left Klaus''s line of sight. He calmly gazed at the perimeters, but he couldn''t find the shapeshifter. And, ''Where the hell is the bastard!'' Slowly, his patience began to wane. ...In the next five seconds to come, ''Aaaargh!'' He slowly grew annoyed and irritated. And then, Kaaa!!! Kaaa!!! Kaaa!!! He shot the gun into the air. "Aaaarggh!" "Ruun!" The panicked civilians crashed into one another, their screams drawing out his own frustrated growl. Klaus scanned the fleeing figures, but each face blurred together in motion. He caught a glimpse- a flicker of something inhuman- but just as quickly, it was gone. ...He even had a guess that the shapeshifter was probably the one who had said the word: "Run!" What a crafty bastard. His fingers twitched, itching to pull the trigger. But, "Eeuuf!" Exhaling sharply, he refrained from doing so. His eyes moved through the now desolate streets. There were still a few humans around who ran to safety or those who were brave enough to head to any nearby security company. But he still didn''t see the shapeshifter. It was almost like... he had suddenly vanished. But he knew it wasn''t that simple. Only transcenders could probably be in possession of such mystical powers. And he knew for sure that the shapeshifter wasn''t one. "Huff... Huff..." Despite knowing he had to leave before any military agents arrived, he still kept looking. But eventually, he came back to a semblance of rationality. Finding the shapeshifter as of right now was probably impossible. Not to even talk of the fact that it can just easily revert to its original skin. "This is nothing short of a futile attempt." he muttered, shaking his head. He exhaled sharply, and then, Tok... Tok... The sound of his footsteps echoed through the still night as he hastily made way for the residence. Chapter 5: Endless, Suffocating Quiet. Chapter 5: Endless, Suffocating Quiet."Did you manage to catch him?" "No," Dean shook his head, frustration etched on his face. "The bastard managed to slip into the crowd." A grim silence settled between us. Now that the shapeshifter knows we''re onto him. He will undoubtedly become more ruthless, more desperate with his actions. And that meant more deaths. I took a slow, deep breath, trying my best to calm my rapidly beating heart. "Ma''am," I said gently, turning to the woman before us. "Can you please tell us what happened?" My words seemed to have agitated her tears as they came rushing out once again. I knew she was trying to hold herself together, but... it wasn''t working. I could relate. But still, "Only in this way can we hope to put the culprit behind bars." I had to put in words that she needed. Words that she wanted to hear. Just like any other human in her shoes. My words seemed to reach her. Slowly, her tears showed signs of subsiding. Sniffling, she eventually managed to speak up after a couple of seconds. "H-he suddenly came home unexpectedly," she began, voice trembling. "Said he wanted to see his twin brother. But, my husband wasn''t at home. He said he knew... that he''d wait." ~ Trembling. With tears welling in her eyes, she continued. "I-I didn''t think much of it." Her voice cracked as she continued. "...I was in the kitchen when he suddenly grabbed me. In my attempt to free myself, we crashed into the counter. Glass shattered everywhere and some pieces cut into him. I-I tried to run, but then-" She broke off, trembling. "Take your time," I said softly. She swallowed hard, tears streaming down the corner of her eyes. "H-he picked up a kitchen knife and struck me with the blunt side. When I woke up, I was tied to a chair. I-I tried to scream, but... he gagged me before I could." Her voice showed signs of cracking as a quiet sob broke out of her chest. Thump. Thump. The details sent a chill through me. A vivid scene slowly unfolded in my mind. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The dimly lit room. The chaos in the kitchen. The desperate struggles- shattered glasses. To the room where it all ended, My foresight ability. It all now made sense. Exhaling slowly, I managed to calm my agitated mind. Shifting my gaze toward the sobbing young lady, I asked: "Did your husband once say anything about any sort of beef with his twin brother?" "No," She shook her head. "None that he spoke of." "But..." She hesitated. "What is it?" Klaus pressed. "He once said... they did something to her" I frowned. "Her?" "Who does he mean by her?" Klaus questioned with a light frown. "I-I don''t know." My gaze slowly shifted to a picture in the living room. It depicted a lot of people and as I gazed at the picture. It slowly started to dawn on me. A chilling realization slowly crept in, heavy and suffocating. Thump... Thump... I got to my feet. "You have our condolences ma," I said, bowing slightly. "....?!!" Klaus followed suit. He didn''t understand why we were leaving so soon, but he trusted me enough to play along. The young lady forced a nod and got to her feet, escorting us out of the house. Under the crimson rays of the moon, we could hear her sobs even as we moved farther away from her residence. Sighing lightly. Tok... Tok... Our footsteps resonated in the still night, the suffocating darkness pressing in on us from all sides. Getting into the car. Klaus cast me a sidelong glance. Even without saying anything, I knew what he was demanding for. Brotherly bond- you may call it. I scrathed the back of my head, offering a wry smile. "Well, how do I explain this? Hmm... You do know about the systems, right?" He nodded. "My innate abilities- well one of them anyway- was unlocked ahead of time. And it grants me the ability to see into the future." "Hmm." He was quiet at first but then, he slowly nodded. "I guess that explains it." "Yeah." "...All except one." I raised an eyebrow. "Which is?" "Why did we leave so early? Weren''t we supposed to probe for more information. Or you already got them from your "oracle" ability?" With a wry smile, I scratched the back of my head. "Of course not." But, "....!" His gaze still bore a hole through me. I knew he was being skeptical. "Fool," I said with a derisive laugh, Didnt you notice the picture in the house?" Klaus narrowed his eyes. "Not in the mood for guessing." Lightly shaking my head, I spoke up. "All the victims... their husbands were colleagues with her husband." His posture straightened. "And?" "When I had my vision, I heard the shapeshifter say, ''They did something to her." Klaus''s expression darkened. "So... are we dealing with a cursed spirit?" I shook my head. "Not likely." "Right. The system made it clear- we''re after a shapeshifter." And just then, "...." A notification popped up. [You are one step closer to finding the truth] "Talk about the devil," Klaus muttered. And I had to restrain myself from letting out a light laugh. Shaking my head, I exhaled sharply. "I think I know where to look next." "Oh?" Klaus raised a brow. "Where?" "Aisen college." "Hmm?" "The picture." Klaus gave me a skeptical look, eliciting a light laugh from me. "I''m telling the truth." "...Who knows." Still giving me that eye. He slowly started the car engines and with a light laugh from both of us, the car sped into the night. With Klaus showcasing his drifting skills, and improved racing skills, we made it to Aisen college in no time. Ahead of us, A towering structure could be seen in sight. Its surroundings were dark but I could make out one, two... hundreds of overgrown weeds. And there was an iron barricade. One that stood grand and imposing, blocking all those who sought to enter its ground. And the black door of the iron barricade was locked with weird runes. I frowned. "If the security companies already made it to this place. Why did they seal it off instead of handling it?" Was it something they couldn''t deal with? I mused under my breath. But Klaus was already out of the car. "Not our first time breaking into restricted area," he muttered. I sighed. "Yeah. Yeah." With a light sigh, I stepped out of the car, watching as Klaus loaded salt bullets into the guns. Without being awakened or transcenders, the only thing we could make use of- in case we did end up meeting a cursed spirit- was a gun imbued with salt bullet. Of course if we were transcenders of the luminary pathway. We could simply do our charm and the purifying light would get it done with. But alas, we weren''t.... at least not yet. With practiced ease, Klaus summoned a dagger. I raised an eyebrow. "Where''d you get that from?" Based on the memories I had, Klaus never had that dagger with him. "From the system." "Oh- that explains it then," I muttered, more to myself than to him. Piercing the lock or to be more precise the runes with the dagger, a surge of electricity erupted from the dagger, and added with the paralyzing effect of the Thunder Fang dagger. It was more than enough to allow us to climb over the iron barricade without setting off the alarm imbued into the runes. But, If I had to guess. "We have~" And just like I guessed. "Only twenty minutes." ...There was a time limit. I didn''t know if I should laugh or run even faster. Tok... Tok... Before long, we made it to the main entrance that led to the school''s hall. With the pin hole opening technique taught by the old man. The door opened with a subtle creak. Creaaak... Whoosh!! A chilling wind swept past us and a grating sound that made my heart lurch to my throat echoed through the stifling silence. Inside, The hall was pitch dark and desolate with cobwebs clinging to every surface. Klaus exhaled. "Where do we even start?" Exhaling sharply, I managed to calm my rapidly beating heart. ''Should I use it?'' I contemplated using the pocket Marauder''s compass. After all, the limitation to it was too... heavy to be ignored. Thump... Thump... Biting onto my lower lips, I eventually came to a decision. ~ Summoning the compass. A bronze pocket compass with no cardinals and with only a single black needle suddenly appeared in my hands. Ingesting my spirituality into it. Before Klaus could even speak. "The system," I said. "...." His mouth twitched, but he said nothing though. Letting out a light laugh, he shook his head. "So... what does it do?" "Well we''re about to find out." Ingesting my spirituality into the mystical item. I started moving through the stifling quiet. Tok... Tok... Klaus followed suit and I could hear the rather "subtle" echoes of our heartbeat. Thump... Thump... Before long, Tok... Tok... And as we moved further down the halls, moving past various classrooms. An idea suddenly crept into the walls of my mind. "...." I blinked. It might actually work. A light smile crept up my face and then, Amidst the suffocating quiet that pressed in on us from all sides. I said silently, "The motive behind the shape shifter''s action... in relation to her." I repeated it seven times. And, Clench-! I could feel my energy rapidly draining away from me. My vision blurred but I simply bit harder on my lower lips. Hard enough to keep the flow of blood in my mouth. And then, Whoosh~! A soft glow illuminated the desolate dark surrounding. But my eyes weren''t drawn to this. Rather, they were drawn to the needle erratically spinning in all directions. Slowly.... it came to rest on a single spot. And, Gazing ahead. It was pointing towards an office. Thump. Thump. A sinking feeling settled in my gut. Taking in a gulp of saliva that managed to drown the suffocating quiet, even if it were just for a mere fleeting second. I took my first step towards the office. And then, Tok... I took the second. Tok... Then another. Before long, I made it to the office and right beside me was Klaus who tightened his grip on his gun. I scanned the room, staying on ground. Moving toward a desk, my eyes caught on something. "Hmm." A lock. Bending down, I came face to face with a drawer bound by a bundle of runic binding chains. But luckily- "Hand me the dagger." It could be broken. "It might alarm them." I warned though. "Hmph. The old man will handle it. They''re definitely hiding something, and if the security companies are involved, I''d bet a hundred bucks this ties back to one of the noble houses ." I sighed, but there was no arguing. Just like the old man always says: Handle the business. I''ll deal with the consequences. And for years, that had been our rule. The rule we''d been abiding by. Click! The locks snapped open. ''They probably don''t expect anyone to break in. That''d explain why it was so easy to break. Not that they''d care anyway.'' I shook my head, pulling out a pile of files. Minutes passed in silence as we flipped through the pages. The sound filling the tense silence. And then- A revelation. "So... it''s safe to assume a few students from noble families raped the shapeshifter''s girlfriend," I muttered. "He supposedly reported the case to the school officials. But-" With a light laugh, Klaus shook his head. "How could they even be punished? Did he even consider the fact that the headmaster of the Aisen college is just an insignificant member of the Tulane family." I shook my head, an inaudible sigh escaping my lips. "That will explain why he''s going after them. Unlike transcenders or Arcanist families, nobles have a chance of not awakening. Thats why he was confident enough to take justice into his own hands." I let out a slow breath, dropping the files onto the desk. And to be honest- "...If I were in his shoes. I''d probably do the same thing." Klaus nodded. "But still, he''s disturbing the peace of the society. We have no choice but to stop him." I forced a nod. It wasn''t like we had any other choice anyway. Getting onto my feet, I stretched. "We should probably get going." "Yeah." We both knew it- a powerhouse from the Tulane family could show up at any moment. Our urgency thickened the air, our heartbeats echoing through the stifling quiet. Thump... Thump... And just as we turned to leave- Ding! A notification flashed before my eyes. [Side Quest Completed!] [Every action has a motive. Find the motive behind the shapeshifter''s actions.] [Reward is being generated: [...You have been granted the mystical item- Ethereal Bell of Subtlety!] *** Klaus tilted his head, staring at his system''s screen. Skipping the useless "rants," he scrolled straight to the reward. A slow smirk spread across his face. [You have obtained the mystical item- Momentum Ring!] "Talk about timing," he muttered. Tok. Tok. I didn''t allow the notification to slow me down, though. We needed to get out of here, and at that, this very moment. And just as we stepped out of the office, Zzzzrrrr!!! Whooosssh!!! Click! The surroundings went dark. Before, it had been dim- shadows stretching but still revealing the room''s edges. But t-his darkness~ This darkness was different. This darkness sent cold chills slithering down my spine. Along with the subtle almost imperceptible change in the atmosphere came the flickering of lights. Click. Click. On and off. My heart pounded against my chest, its sound akin to deafening thunderclaps in the stifling quiet. *** The flickering of lights. The sudden frigid coldness. Klaus and I exchanged looks- our eyes wide with fear. "A cursed spirit!" We shouted in unison. And then- Ba- dump! Ba- dump! A bloodied figure appeared at the end of the hall. Her long, messy black hair drifted unnaturally in the air. Blood ran through her private part, a thickened, dark blood that pooled around that spot, to the extent of turning into a monstrous bloody face that screamed and roared... its pain, anger, evident even from miles... meters away. At that moment, it was as though we had suddenly lost the ability to move. I felt as though numerous invisible hands were holding onto me, grounding me to a single spot. And worse- Breathing was getting harder. A-almost as if numerous unseen hands were tightly wrapped around my neck! "Huff... Huff...." And just then, Ba- dump! Ba- dump! Her face slowly lifted. Her deep, black eyes- lifeless, empty- met mine. And- ~ Ba- thump! Ba- thump! I felt a cold chill slither down my spine. Trembling. A paralyzing fear gripped me. And just then- Tok... Tok... She started moving. Fast. Inhumanly fast. "Run!!" Klaus''s voice cut through the stifling quiet. But- Thump... Thump... I couldn''t move. Tok. Tok. I wasn''t able to. As the cursed spirit inched closer and closer to us. My eyes widened in fear. And, ~ Thump... Thump... I could feel it now. Despair. It coiled around my chest like an iron vice. Slowly trying to consume me. Thump....Thump... Without hesitation, Klaus grabbed my arm- yanking me forward. He bolted, dragging me with him. Tok. Tok. His footsteps echoed sharply, growing louder as he blurred past offices and classrooms. The cold grip of fear tightened around me, freezing my thoughts. And I had to bite hard on my lower lips until the metallic tang of blood filled my mouth. The sharp pain was just barely enough to snap me out of my paralysis. Clear-headed at last, I needed no urging. I pushed my legs to their limits, sprinting after Klaus with everything I had. We tore through the dark corridors, the college''s entrance coming into view. Tok. Tok. Our steps echoed through the stifling quiet. Each step propelled us into the distance. But, Tak. Tak. It wasn''t enough. She was still rapidly closing in on us. Flickering in and out of reality, she moved through the endless darkness. And each time she reappeared, BAAANG! BAAANG!!! Two consecutive gunshots would shatter the suffocating silence. But apart from making her momentarily recoil, they did nothing. If anything, they seemed to further irritate her. Step. Step. She surged forward, her speed becoming even more terrifying. Thump... Thump... The lights flickered as she moved, a rotten smell wafting through the air as her grotesque form phased in and out, like a nightmare barely tethered to reality. And as she rapidly approached us. I could feel it creeping in again- Fear. It was slowly crawling its way towards me. But I shoved it down just as it came, burying it beneath with nothing but sheer willpower. Biting harder on my lower lips. I could see it now. The door. We were close. But- She knew it too. Tok. Tok. In two swift steps, she disappeared. And then, Thump... Thump.... She flickered back into existence right in front of us! Ba-dump! Ba-dump! My heart leapt into my throat as her gaping mouth- with tentacles writhing hungrily within- lurched towards me. Dean grimaced, his fingers tightening on the trigger. Baaaang!!! Baaaang!!! The salt bullets streaked through the air, easily piercing through her forehead. Booooom!!! Her form erupted into a cascade of dark, colorful lights, but the brief reprieve only made our hearts pound harder. Faster. We knew she''d be back. But- I didn''t care. Not now. With one final leap, I dove through the doorway, tumbling across the cold floor. Klaus followed, nodding at me. Close it. Just then- she reappeared. Thump. Thump. Adrenaline surged through me as I slammed against the cold metal door. I felt a cold chill slither down my spine, but that fear only spurred me on. Creeak... It only urged me to use even more force. Drawing from every ounce of strength contained in my feeble muscle, I forced the door shut, her wriggling tentacles trashing futilely against the frame. And then, Thud! The door slammed shut with a resounding thud. And once again- Click! The cursed spirit was back in the endless, suffocating quiet. Chapter 6: Unforseen Circumstances. Chapter 6: Unforseen Circumstances.With my hands pressed against my knees, I struggled to steady my breath. My heart pounded against my ribs, each beat a deafening drum in my ears. Huff... Huff... It felt as if unseen hands were coiling around my throat, tightening with every passing second. I wanted to rest- desperately- but I knew now wasn''t the time. Glancing at Klaus who was also breathing heavily, but in a far better state than me, I forced out the words between gasps. "We... should get going." Klaus nodded. Taking one last glance at the towering structure surrounded by an obsolete darkness, we turned and sprinted toward the iron barricade. Tok~ Tok~ With only ten seconds left, we didn''t need to be told to run with everything we had got- especially with the looming threat of a noble family still hanging over us. ''10!'' Tok~ Tok~ ''9!'' Tak Tak~ I could see it. We weren''t going to make it in time. Tok~ Tok~ The barricade still felt too far away, each step dragging like I was sinking into quicksand. ''8!'' I could feel it now. Despair. It was slowly crawling its way towards me. Slowly eating me from the inside. I-it was slowly consuming me. "Huff...Huff..." My legs wobbled. My fingers twitched. My lungs refused to take in enough air... But I forced my muscles to push harder, ignoring the intense burning in my lungs. Each step was a battle against the suffocating pressure crushing in on us from all sides. "Hu... uh..." Despair and desperation. I could feel them now. They pooled around me, constricting my chest like an iron vice. Before long- Tok~ Tok~ ''6!'' "Hu... Hu..." Breathing became difficult. We won''t make it.... We can''t... My vision blurred. My body faltered. Just when I was about to give in. "Wa~!!!" Klaus lunged forward- grabbing me and shoving me toward the iron barricade. Noo!! Why would he do that?! He was cutting off his own path of escape! A war of emotions raged within me, but before I could react- I slammed into the iron barricade. Gritting my teeth, I turned back- Craka!! The ground beneath Klaus shattered. Before I could blink, he surged forward, his speed exploding. He was finally going all out. A faint smile crept onto my face. Fleeting was it was, it lingered just long enough. ''Four more seconds.'' I grimaced. Clang!!! Claaaang!! I didn''t hesitate. I began climbing. My fingers gripped the iron bars, my muscle screaming in protest. Klaus followed right behind me, moving with practiced precision. His feet struck the bars in quick succession as he ascended effortlessly. ''3!'' By the time I reached the top, every inch of me burned. But- ''2!'' I flipped over, landing with a solid thud on the other side. Crack! The ground beneath me fractured- a harrowing clue that we had been here. But I didn''t care. Claaaang! Claaanng!! A metallic echo rang from somewhere behind me. Turning back- "Huff... Huff..." Klaus literally flew up the barricade, his body twisting through the air with unnatural grace. ''Fuck!'' ''1!'' A final leap- ''0!'' And he vaulted over, rolling smoothly upon landing to disperse the impact. Zzzzrrr!!! The arcane rune on the lock flickered to life. Our gazes met and- Tok~ Tok~ We started running. Our footsteps pounded against the pavement, matching the frantic rhythm of our racing hearts. Ba- dump! Ba- dump! Every single moment, every single second -in and of itself- was a battle against the suffocating pressure pressing in on us. *** By the time we reached the car, we were gasping for bair. Huu... Huh... BAAANG! BAAANG! We slammed the doors shut, a harrowing sense of apprehension running through the car. The silence inside the vehicle was broken only by the deafening echoes of our racing hearts. Klaus wasted no time. With a practiced motion, he kicked the gears into action. The engine roared to life. And before I could even steady my breath. A tremor ran through me. Vrroooom!!! A burst of bright blue flames erupted from the exhaust. I barely had time to hear a few set of words from Klaus before- "Hold on tight!" All hell broke loose. The cat jolted forward, the sudden acceleration pinning me to my seat. Before I could think to protest- Thump... Thump... Klaus slammed the nitro button. Vrrrroooommmm!!!! The car surged forward, its rear tyres lifting off the asphalt for a brief second before tearing through the streets at breakneck speed. The seatbelt dug into my chest as Klaus twisted the wheel, throwing me sideways. Streetlights blurred into streaks of green and red as Klaus demonstrated driving skills bordering on supernatural. Drrrifft!!! The tires screeched as he twisted the steering wheel sharply, narrowly avoiding a collision. The sudden shift in momentum threw me to the side. Screeech!!! Klaus shifted gears once more. The car tore through the empty streets, the chilling night wind howling past us. Fortunately, there was no military patrol in sight- yet. But I knew better than to hope for luck. As the nitro''s effect waned, the car''s pace finally slowed. "Huff... Huff..." I panted, clutching the seat beneath me. My glare met Klaus''s light smirk. "...A more detailed warning would''ve been great." I spat each word slowly, my teeth clenched against the lingering adrenaline. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Klaus merely shook his head. "Time wasn''t on our side." True. I couldn''t refute that. But nevertheless- "Huff... Huff..." I still shot him a glare, anyway. He laughed lightly. "Would you rather stay behind and get caught in the higher-ups'' mess again, or endure this?" He smirked, clearly knowing he''d hit the mark. I didn''t respond. But my silence was enough of an answer. His chuckle confirmed it. "I guessed as much." Letting out a long exhale, I leaned back in my seat, gazing out the window. The streets were empty- desolate, save for a few bars and the looming silhouettes of manufacturing companies. It made sense. The curfew laws didn''t apply to them.. Shaking my head, I lifted my gaze to the crimson moon. A strange sense of calm washing over me. For now, at least. "So... where are we headed for?" Klaus''s voice broke the silence. I shifted my gaze toward him. "I don''t know," I admitted with a shrug. "Somewhere we can rest for the night, obviously." A smirk tugged at his lips. "Well, well... aren''t we lucky?" His grin widened. "Hehehe.... I''ve got just the right place. I narrowed my eyes. Why do I suddenly have a bad feeling about this? Before long, we arrived at our destination. And- Oh- Zouteland Motel." I shook my head with a wry smile. "Figures." "Of course," he said feigning seriousness. "Not only is it accommodating, but the service is also one of the best in Dark Orleans." My mouth twitched. How shameless. "You sure it''s not just the free food luring you in?" Klaus rubbed the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. I sighed and stepped out of the car. After a brief exchange with the receptionist, we secured a key and made our way to the room. And well.... *** That brings us to the present. I exhaled deeply, watching Klaus collapse onto the bed with a satisfied groan. For a moment, I let myself some moment of peace. "Ah..." But just then, Thump... Thump... A thought crept into my mind. The system had granted us a reward for completing the side quest. Tapping my fingers against the desk, I willed the information to appear. "...." A translucent screen flickered into view. [Mystical Item: Ethereal Bell Of Subtlety.] [Type: Item ] [Appearance: A small silver bell engraved with spiraling runes.] [Effect: When rung, it momentarily alters the perception of those within a 10-meter radius, causing them to overlook the wielder''s presence or perceive their action as non-threatening.] [Limitation: The effect lasts only a few seconds and is ineffective against creatures with strong wills or high supernatural awareness.] "...Not bad." I nodded. In a world where almost every nook and cranny reeked of danger, this mystical item was a "lifeline" I couldn''t take for granted. With a light exhalation. "Gotta freshen up," I said, rising from my seat. Klaus gave a distracted nod, his gaze fixed on an azure ring in his hand. "From the system?" "Yeah." "Alright." With a light sigh, I headed into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Drip... Drip.... It was at first, a subtle flow of water, but before long, a soothing barricade of it washed over me. Meanwhile, *** While I had my bath, Klaus was busy assessing the ring. [Transcender Status] ¡ã Retracement Level: [0%.... 100%] ¡ã Bloodline Status: Dormant ¡ã Sequence Level: Nill ¡ã Spiritual Anchor: 99% ¡ã Bloodline abilities: None Mystical Item: Thunder Fang Dagger, Momentum Ring He focused on the momentum ring and pulled up its details. [Mystical Item: Momentum Ring.] [Type: Item ] [Appearance: An azure monolith carved into a ring. When worn, it feels unnaturally warm to the touch.] [Effect: Allows its wielder to maintain or slightly increase their speed and strength during continuous attacks. With each consecutive strike, the force of their strike grows stronger for a short period of time.] [Limitation: The effect is canceled if the wielder hesitates. Overuse causes fatigue.] "..." "Hmm." Klaus narrowed his eyes. "Still within an acceptable range." With a light sigh, he straightened his bones and rose to his feet. Step... Step... He shifted his gaze to the bathroom''s door. ''Is he planning on staying in there forever?'' With a quiet chuckle, he shook his head, grabbed a piece of paper, and scribbled something down. Then, without another word, he stepped out of the room. *** Truth be told, I''d finished my bath a long time ago. But- Drip... Drip... I stood under the shower anyway, allowing the soothing water to fall over me, soothing me in its cold embrace. "Ah..." I really needed it. Thinking about the mysteries behind my transmigration to the various near-death encounters I''d been through within the span of a mere few hours. I just had this bad feeling. Ba- dump! Ba- dump! That my life would- No. It was something much more ominous. This weird feeling that my life, starting from today, had become nothing short of a walking nightmare. And to make matters worse, There was t-his even weirder feeling that sent chills slithering down my spine. This cold sense of certainty that- I would soon be proven correct. And to be honest, I really hope that''s not the case. I really hope so... Clenching my hands tightly. I tried to quell the sonorous tremors running through my hands and even if it wasn''t doing so well as to work out for me. I still continued. Clench! I still continued for reasons unknown to me. Reasons that eluded the grasp of my understanding. With a sharp exhalation, I closed my eyes, forcing myself to calm down. I can only take things one step at a time. Anymore and I''d collapse. That much, I was aware of. That much I had to avoid. "Hah..." Drying myself and adorning a cloth that was neither fancy nor mild. Tok~ Tok~ I stepped out of the bathroom. "Klaus?" Silence. It lingered. I frowned slightly. Klaus wasn''t in the room Thump... Thump... My heartbeat quickened as I approached the door. Tok~ Tok~ Each step of mine echoed through the stifling quiet. Just then- Whosh! A cold draft swept past me. Ba- dump! Ba- dump! Flinching, I looked around. Nothing. Except... the window was open. I sighed in relief, albeit barely. Shaking my head, I shut the window. Clang! And then, Tok~ Tok~ I headed for the door, once again. "Hum!" Taking in a gulp of saliva. My hands trembled as they reached the door''s knob. Click! I frowned. "...." The door was locked. Just then, I spotted a note. Step... Step... Walking towards it, I picked it up and read: Gone to grab some food. And you don''t have to worry... you''ll see my dashing face soon. -Yours sincerely, your charming elder brother. "...." Shaking my head, a reluctant smile tugged at the corner of my lips. "Typical Klaus." I flopped onto the bed, staring at the ceiling until- Click! Click! The sound of the door clicking open drew my attention. Tok... Tok... Klaus walked in, his arms laden with packages. "Next time, leave a less cryptic message," I grumbled. I could still remember how I''d freaked out, luckily no one was there to see that. "Fair enough," he said, tossing me a bag. Inside were a few sodas and bacon burgers. A stifling silence swept through the room as we ate. Thump... Thump... Just when it was starting to get rather uncomfortable. "So... the shapeshifter." Klaus said, swallowing a bite. "Are we still going after it?" Taking a sip of his soda, he added. "You should know the security companies will probably soon deal with him, perhaps more so before we do." "True." I nodded. With the Tulane family involved, the shapeshifter would be eviscerated in a day or two at most. It simply depended on how eager the higher-ups where to get rid of him. I hesitated before replying, "Let''s see how things play out. If the higher-ups don''t handle it, we will." Klaus smirked. You mean if they don''t clean up their mess, right? Shaking his head, he nodded. "Well, that''s as much of a plan as we can get." Leaning back, a blissful smile spread across his face as he took another bite of the burger. "Hah... Nothing beats bacon burgers." "...." I rolled my eyes. Typical Klaus. For someone who called it the best food in the world, his logic was flawed. I mean, If bacon burgers were truly the best. Then it would be hoarded by the rich, and the less privileged wouldn''t have access to them. Sighing lightly. I knew that was just how this world ran. But since that clearly isn''t happening. It simply meant that Klaus''s claims weren''t fully justified. But all that aside, The bacon burger was surprisingly good. Each bite melted into a savory burst of flavor. The kind that made me forget about the chaos of the day, if only for a fleeting moment. And before long, Our plates were empty. Tok... Tok... Klaus stretched and yawned before flopping onto the bed. I followed soon after, the meal settling comfortably within me as I leaned against the pillows. Klaus turned to me with a lazy smile. "Goodnight, Alexandros." His words caught me off guard. For a moment, I didn''t know how to respond. It had been so long since anyone called me that. Long enough that, I couldn''t remember when or why the name started to fade. Yet tonight... it felt warm. Familiar. Like an echo of a life I never thought I had. "Goodnight, bro," I finally said, a small smile tugging at my lips. Closing my eyes, I let the weariness of the day take over. "Hah..." Right now, sleep felt inviting, like a gentle tide pulling me into its depth. But just then, Ding! A notification jolted me awake. [...The abomination is going through his Arcane Trial, triggering an unforeseen reaction. [You shall now go through your Arcane Trial!] "...What the-!" Klaus shot up, his face a mix of confusion and disbelief. My own thoughts were racing. Thump... Thump... This wasn''t right. This wasn''t how it was supposed to happen. Usually, the Arcane Trial only began after one''s soul core had been saturated to its peak mortal state and even after that, one still had to be chosen by the Arcana spell. But t-his... Thump. Thump. This was wrong. "Damn system!" Klaus growled, fists tightly clenched. "What the hell are you saying?" His frustration boiled over into curses, but the system, as always, remained indifferent. [Countdown to the Arcane Trail shall now begin.] Ba- dump! Ba- dump! Klaus fell silent, realizing there was no reasoning with the system. His grim expression mirrored my own. Thump... Thump... [9... 8... 7...] My heartbeat thundered in my ears. I was terrified. No preparation. No warning. Just this cold, merciless countdown dragging us toward the unknown. [6... 5... 4...] Every single moment. Tick... Every single second stretched into eternity, each tick amplifying the dread in my chest. "What the hell is going on?" Klaus broke the silence, his voice cracking under the weight of fear pressing in on us. I exhaled shakily. "I don''t know." And I didn''t. This wasn''t how things were supposed to unfold. Klaus clenched his jaw, his unease shifting into a simmering anger. "Whoever this abomination is, they''d better pray I don''t find them." There was a dangerous glint in his eyes, but it only made me feel more hollow. Thump... Thump... [3... 2...] I tried to steady myself. Tried to find even a sliver of calm amidst t-his chaos. Just stay alive. I told myself. ''Whatever happens, just stay alive.'' "Good luck, bro," I murmured, forcing a smile. A strained smile. Klaus met my gaze. "Good luck, Xavier." And then, The world... vanished. *** An endless darkness swallowed us whole. And somewhere in the void, a voice began to whisper. It was soft, almost soothing. But- Thump... Thump... There was something in its tone. Something vile and evil. Something that pricked my skin and froze my soul. [Aspirant! Welcome to the Arcane Spell. ...Prepare for your first Trial!] Chapter 7: Two Empires At War! Chapter 7: Two Empires At War!Blinking against the blinding sunlight, he realized- he was disoriented. The sensation was profound, as though he''d been untethered from reality, itself. That feeling... he couldn''t really describe it in words. It was an indescribable feeling, something beyond what mere words could encapsulate. But soon- The disorientation effect began to wane. Opening his eyes. Thump. Thump. Claaaassh!!! Claaanng!!! "Aaaaargh!!!" He found himself standing in the midst of a chaotic battlefield. The clash of swords echoed through the air, screams of the wounded cutting through the deafening war cries. Ba- dump. Ba- dump. Just then- [Aspirant! Welcome to the Arcane Spell. Prepare for your first Trial...] A voice resounded in his mind. It was the spell- an entity, perhaps a force, responsible for bringing the Arcane Trials and Ascensions to life. ...No one really knew if it was sentient or not. And honestly, he could care less. He realized now that he had been brought into a trial of battle- one between two warring empires. The Roselle Empire against the Napoleon Empire. Judging by the armor designs and the battle formations, it had to be from the third or fourth era of the mysticism era. But more than that- "Emperor! We''re being outnumbered!" A desperate voice called out. His blood ran cold. He was the emperor of the Roselle Empire. ''Damn it!'' Gritting his teeth, he surveyed the battlefield. His soldiers were in full retreat, their ranks crumbling under the relentless onslaught of Napoleon forces. Puchiii!!! Blood sprayed through the air, dying the icy ground, red. ''Calm down Klaus. Breathe.'' As a young master of the Winchester family, he had been indoctrinated in war strategies and tactics from an early age. Hence, while his current situation was overwhelming. "Huff... Huff..." he was able to maintain a semblance of rationality. Panting heavily, his chest heaved up and down as panic threatened to overwhelm him. "Emperor! The lines are breaking!" Another desperate voice rang out. Clang!! Clang!! Puchii!!! All around him, bodies fell one after another. Not only were they outnumbered, they were also being suppressed. Clench. His fists clenched. ''What should I do!'' His mind raced through possibilities, each one more desperate than the last. Until- His eyes flickered. The runes. Summoning the Arcane runes, he focused. ------------ Name: Klaus Origin name: - Origin rank: - Rank: Aspirant Soul core: Dormant Memories: - Echoes: - Attributes: - Aspects: '' "...What the hell?!" His attributes, aspects- everything was missing. Before he could process what in the new gods was going on- [Main quest initiated: [Complete the main objective of your Arcane Trial.] [Reward: Unknown.] Trembling. ''What''s going on?'' The battlefield blurred as chaos erupted around him. Biting on his lower lips, an idea crept into his mind. "Arcanist status," he muttered. [Arcanist Status] Name: Klaus Origin name: - Almighty Nexus: Dormant Lord''s Fragments: - Chrono Vestiges: - Dimensional Double Manifestation: - Aspect: sealed. Innate ability: sealed. Attributes: sealed. He stood there, shaking, and... at a loss for words. He had never heard of anyone going through an Arcane Trial with their innate ability, attributes and aspects in a sealed state. There was no way anyone would survive an Arcane Trial without them. That was simply impossible! His heart hammered against his chest, a suffocating darkness clawing at the edges of his mind. He could feel it now. The familiar emotion. It slowly crept towards him. Then- Thump. Thump. A notification appeared. [Gain Lord''s Fragments to unseal your abilities.] [Attributes points gained can also be sacrificed.] His breath hitched. Attribute points? He had already maxed out all his mortal stats. Hence, the system no longer gave him attribute points. Which meant- A faint smile curled up his lips. ''I think I know just how to get the Lord''s Fragments.'' If he was correct, it should be by~ "Retreat!" A voice echoed through the battlefield. The Roselle''s Empire commander had given the order. His gaze snapped back to reality. Thump... Thump... Fear clawed at him. "Huff... Huff..." It threatened to drag him into an endless abyss of doubt and despair. But he was able to regain his composure. He was no longer the hunter he was, but the Emperor of a besieged nation, thrusted into the heart of a desperate battle. He had to act, and act fast. And so- Thump... Thump... Steadying himself, Klaus lifted his sword. And then, with a voice that shook the battlefield- "Hold the line!" The roar carried over the chaos, cutting tgrugh the fear. "For our people! For our freedom!" The soldiers hesitated, turning to him. Seeing their question on him, he pressed on. "No one is coming to save us. We''ve got two choices: Fight or... die. Pick one!" Silence. Then- "FIGHT! FIGHT! WE SHALL FIGHT TILL THE END!!!" A thunderous battle cry erupted. Clang! Puchii!!! "Die bastards...!" Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Warriors clashed in a brutal dance of steel and blood. The Roselle warriors, clad in blue armors, fought desperately against the Napoleon forces- whose dark armor seem to absorb the bright light around them. Shields shattered. Swords clashed, and spears tore through flesh. Puchii!!! Corpse after corpse. Puchii!! Blood after blood. It was endless. Klaus''s gaze darted across the battlefield. His right flank was collapsing, while the center barely held. Then- His gaze shifted, settling on Napoleon the III. Astride a magnificent stallion, the emperor of the Napoleon Empire surveyed the battlefield with a cold, calculating stare. The emperor of the Napoleon Empire- A legend in his own time. Klaus frowned, his jaws tightening. The bastard is a formidable opponent. Not only that, but based on the knowledge he had. ...He''s also a master of war and battle tactics.'' ''Just great!'' With a grim expression, Klaus exhaled sharply. This battle- wasn''t going to end well. That, he was somehow sure of. Calming his racing heart, he turned to his lieutenant general, who was locked in combat with one of Napoleon''s elite. He analyzed the enemy''s movements. Tha man''s axe glowed faintly, their sword slashing through the air. An enhancement attribute? Klaus''s brow arched upward. Then- He gave his first order. "Alger! Don''t give him space- apply relentless pressure!" The lieutenant nodded, closing in on the elite. ''Alger''s battle trance should be enough to push him back.'' Klaus mused. His gaze shifted to Tatiana- a giant-like-lady, who wielded a flanged mace and was well known for the titan''s grip. Thump... Thump... Claaanng!!! Claaanng!!! With Titan''s grip- an almost inhuman strength that enabled her to wield large objects with relative ease, she was tearing through his forces with terrifying ease. Klaus calmly gave his second order. "Astaroth! Hit-and-run tactics- NOW!" Astaroth nodded. Katcha!! The ground beneath him shattered into pieces. And then- Boooom!! Blurred images overlapped against one another and before one could do so much as to blink, he was already before her. Stepping to the left, he narrowly avoided her flanged mace- that slammed onto the ground beside him, the ground shattering upon impact. But, Step~ He could care less about that. Step~ A cold glint flickered in his eyes. His kinetic momentum attribute kicked in and then- Slash!! Slash!! He slashed out consecutively, blood spraying into the air. And just like the emperor commanded of him. Tak~ Tak~ He retreated afterwards. "Huff... Huff..." his chest heaved up and down as he calmly made use of the hit-and-run tactic. "Coward! Is this how your empire trains its men." Tatiana spat on the ground in disgust. "How pathetic." Sword slashes ran through her revealed skin, a few dents visible on her armor. Astaroth certainly wasn''t in the best of shapes, either. A few parts of his body had been torn to shreds and blood was dripping from the horrifying wounds. But, Thump... Thump... He simply bit on his lower lips. Ignoring Tatiana taunts, he continued implementing the same tactic. Ignoring her words. He went on with his emperor''s command. *** Meanwhile, somewhere else on the chaotic battlefield. Tok~ Tok~ Klaus was already moving. With a spear in hand, he tore through the enemy''s ranks with inhuman ease- like a war god descending upon the battlefield. Slash! Slash! His movements were a blur, his spear striking with unerring precision. It almost felt like he could predict his enemies'' movements before they even made them. Slash! A sword cleaved through the air, aiming for his neck. At the last moment- he sidestepped. The blade cut through empty space, missing him by mere inches. But- He could care less about that. With a sharp pivot, his spear carved a violent arc through the air- every ounce of his strength contained within the strike. BANG! BANG! The result was inevitable- it was called for. The shadow construct before him was sent hurtling backward at terrifying speed. "Get out of the way!" A Napoleon warrior roared. But- It was too late- it seems. The construct crashed into its allies, sending dozens of them sprawling across the battlefield. BOOM! BOOM! A long trench was carved into their formation. Klaus''s eyes lit up. Ba- dump! Ba- dump! An opportunity had presented itself. "Attack through the opening! Give them no chance to fight back!" His voice cut through the chaos- each word igniting the adrenaline in his warrior''s blood. "Kill them!" "KILL!!!!" "...Kill the bastards!!" A deafening battle cry erupted. Swords clashed. Spears thrust forward and armors cracked and shattered- in a tumultuous exchange of those who sought to destroy and those who sought to... protect. As Klaus rushed past his general, he whispered- "Take out their colonel!" His eyes flickered coldly. ''That dawned archer... He''s getting on my nerves.'' But the bastard was well-protected. Killing him outright would be impossible- unless someone with inhuman speed got close enough. And who better than the general himself? A man with the flash step attribute. The general gave a subtle nod. And without hesitation- Step~ He moved. Step~ One moment he was there, the next- Step~ He vanished, appearing yards away in the blink of an eye. Like a phantom, he weaved through the battlefield, dodging blades and arrows with effortless precision. For a fleeting second- Napoleon III saw it. A barely noticeable exchange. The subtle shift in their movement- it failed to escape him. A dark smile formed on his lips. "Hmph," he harrumphed coldly. And with a voice that cut through the chaos, he gave his command. "General Belmond Keep their general occupied." Then, he turned his gaze toward the colonel beside him. The man responsible for protecting Wenchi, the empire''s god-like archer. His voice rang cold and absolute. "Groundbreaker." The colonel knelt, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword, head slightly bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty." Napoleon''s expression remained impassive. His next words carried the chilling weight of a death''s kneel- "Rush in from their left flank. Naeraza- take your Rising Flame Unit and join the siege." A deep bow. "We heed your command, Your Majesty." Naeraza- the captain of the Rising Flame Unit- stepped forward. And then- Step~ Step~ CLANG! CLANG! All hell broke loose. *** With his tower shield and war hammer, Groundbreaker was an unstoppable force. Each step he took sent tremors rippling through the earth, causing the ground to cave slightly- disorienting enemies caught in his path. His massive shield crashed through battle lines like a siege weapon, shattering bones and sending bodies flying. His war hammer followed, delivering devastating blows that left trails of crimson and shattered limbs in his wake. He was like a god among mortals, and with every strike, the Roselle Empire''s forces crumbled further, beneath his might. Tak~ Tak~ Behind him, Naeraza and his Rising Flame unit surged forward, cutting down all who stood in their way. ''What a cunning bastard!'' Klaus mused, watching the battlefield unfold. He had to give it to the bastard. Where he''d attacked from was where his empire''s battle formation was at its weakest. What a terrifying strategist. Klaus shuddered. If not for the teachings of the Winchester family- the grueling trials he has endured as their young master- he would''ve been crushed in an instant. "Huff... Huff." A warrior lunged at him, swinging their sword in a violent arc. "Hu...Hu..." Klaus ducked to the left, his spear striking forward like a viper- piercing through the man''s skull. A dull thud followed as the body collapsed lifelessly onto the blood-soaked ground. His gaze swept across the battlefield. All around him lay- carnage. Limbs lay scattered, torsos split open, bones protruding unnaturally from torn flesh. Rivers of blood painted the field a deep crimson. Klaus let out a slow breath, his lips curling into a faint, fleeting smile. As he saw the left flank collapse under the relentless assault of the groundbreaker and the rising flame unit, he calmly gave the order: "Change formation!" He bellowed, his voice cutting through the battlefield''s din. "Square formation on the left! Triangle on the right! Shields- brace for calvary!" He gave the orders smoothly one at a time, each one meant to combat a current precarious situation, while hoping to see a substantial opening to make use of. The response was immediate. Step~ Step~ Claaaang! Soldiers scrambled into formation, shields locking together, spears bristling outward like a steel forest. Klaus glanced back at the weathered wall that stood grand and tall, imposing and magnificent- it protected the people of his empire. ...It stood between his enemies and his people. It was a safe haven that was currently being threatened. His gaze snapped towards the archers stationed atop the walls. "Archers, focus fire on their center formation!" Thump... Thump... The archers shifted, drawing their bows. Swiiisssh!!!! Swoooosssh!!! Arrows streaked through the endless dark, piercing through numerous warriors who slumped onto the ground with a loud crashing thud. Yells of pain escaped the lips of some as they got nailed to the ground, the empire''s army making use of the opportunity to engage in a relentless assault. Klaus''s eyes locked onto Von Anzel, a warrior renowned for his lightning reflexes and iron body attribute. "Von Anzel!" Klaus called out. "Yes, my Lord." "Keep groundbreaker on edge. Offer him no breathing space!" Von Anzel didn''t hesitate. And in the next few seconds, His rapier gleamed in the dim light as he closed the distance between him and Groundbreaker. His iron body meant wounds would slowly heal- so long as he wasn''t outright killed. Claaaang!!! Groundbreaker''s tower shield slammed into him, the force shaking the battlefield. The ground beneath his feet cracked open, a web of fractures spreading outwards. Craackaaa!!! Von Anzel could have avoided the strike- his lightning reflexes were that sharp. But he didn''t. Instead, he let the force drive into him, pain exploding through his ribs. Gritting his teeth, he slashed- once, twice, thrice- each strike aimed with deadly precision. Puchiii!!! Puchiii!!! Puchiii!!!! "Aaaarggh!!" Groundbreaker roared in pain, his movements faltering for the first time. Fueled by desperation and pain, he swung his war hammer down with the last of his strength. As the strike inched closer, Anzel sighed inwardly. He could take the strike head-on- possibly ending Groundbreaker right here. That would lessen the pressure on the others. But, He couldn''t. He would definitely die in the process. Hence, Step~ Step~ He had no other choice but to retreat. A moment later, Naeraza appeared beside Groundbreaker. Click. Von Anzel clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Just one more strike... and you''d be in hell," he muttered. Groundbreaker glared, hatred burning deep within his eyes. "I''m going to kill you," he growled, each word dripping with murderous intent. Then- Chaos erupted. *** "Bartomorth. You know what to do." Klaus turned to the Major General at his side. Bartomorth, known for his flow perception- an ability that allowed him to see enemy movements in slow motion- was the perfect candidate to eliminate Napoleon''s god-like archer. As for why he wanted the archer dead? The bastard was too good. With a single draw of his bow, he could take down three, four warriors at once. And he never ran out of arrows, since he was fueled with a constant supply of them. It wasn''t false to say his army was suffering the greatest- at the archers'' hands. Bartomorth vanished into the battlefield, weaving through the chaos like a ghost. "Zareth! Move in to support him." "Yes, My Lord!" Zareth, the vice admiral, known for his battle recovery attribute, waded into the battle like a war god. His halberd swept out, carving through ranks of enemies. Armies crumpled. Heads flew and limbs were torn from sockets. The battlefield was a mess. Klaus scanned the battlefield. Slowly but surely, the enemy was being overwhelmed. Victory was within reach. But, something was wrong. Frowning. His gaze landed on Napoleon. Despite the dire situation, despite the carnage, Napoleon''s face remained... expressionless There was no crack in his indifferent feature. No panic. No rage. I-It was almost as though he wasn''t losing the... war. Klaus frowned. Something''s definitely wrong His frown deepened. But, Thump... Thump... ''What could it be?'' And then- PUCHIII!!! It came. A sword pierced through his chest. "Ukh~!" Blood gushed from his wound, spilling down his armor. "Hu... Hu..." His breath hitched. His vision blurred- not from the pain, but from the face of his attacker. Anarzel. His most trusted commander. H-his brother-in-arm. His hands shook, his fingers twitching around the hilt of his sword. "Why, Anarzel...?" Klaus whispered, his voice trembling. Drip. Drip. Tears dripped onto the blood-soaked ground. He could feel the bond they both shared. The bond he had with Anarzel. The arcane trial allows one to take on roles- and although rare- it wasn''t impossible for one to inherit the emotions of the "role" they were "acting." "You let them die, Roselle," Anarzel murmured. "You stood at the helm as the Empire crumbled. You led them to their graves." The words pierced deeper than the sword. They were true. But was it his fault? He had done everything in his power. But in an era where empires fell like autumn leaves, was he to be blamed? "BASTARD!" "TRAITOR!" Voices roared out, but they were drowned by the warriors. Brothers-in-arms, who had now turned on them. Right now, betrayal was at its deepest edge as piercing screams tore through the air, crimson blood splattered across the endless dark and piles of bodies fell one after another. The macabre sight sent a surge of something within him. An emotion he couldn''t understand at first. But as he gazed at his trembling lips. As he gazed at his trembling hands. It slowly started to dawn on him. Anger. It was slowly crawling its way towards him. Slowly eating him from the inside. I-It was slowly consuming him. But ironically, The tears didn''t stop. Drip. Drip. He could do nothing about it. He was barely even standing. ...H-he didn''t even know how he was still alive. And as Anarzel gazed at the indifferent Napoleon, he spoke once more. "Roselle. You aren''t fit to be the Emperor. Only the True Emperor is fit to rule, Roselle." Klaus''s fingers curled into a tight fist, Roselle''s emotions taking over. He spat a mouthful of blood onto Anarzel''s face. "Over my dead body!" BAM. Anarzel''s shield struck him, sending him crashing to the ground. Drip. Drip. Blood pooled beneath him. Klaus''s vision faded- but before it did, a broken, jagged laugh slipped past his lips. Then another. And another. It grew into a laughter- twisting, haunting, and bone-chilling. Soldiers turned. Shudder~ Some shivered. Others took a step back. "Ha-hahah-aha-." It echoed through the silence. It was the laughter of a man whose mind had just shattered. Someone who had reached the edge- someone who tethered on the edge of madness- it was the sound of someone who had nothing left to lose. The battlefield stood still for a moment, the clash of steel and the screams of war drowned out by his laughter. The sound was guttural, unrestrained and filled with something far worse than rage. It was despair turned into amusement. It was grief contorted into insanity. I-It was madness. Chills~ Even Anarzel, who had betrayed him without hesitation, felt his breath hitch. The shield in his grasp trembling ever so slightly. For a fleeting moment, he thought- no, he knew- that what lay before him was no longer the Roselle he had once known. S-something within that laughter made his skin crawl. Thump. Thump. Blood pooled around Klaus, pain tearing through him. But even then, Klaus simply continued to laugh. Even as his vision darkened. Even as blood pooled around him, soaking into the ruined soil beneath. Even as his empire crumbled. His laughter echoed through the battlefield, louder than the clashing of steel, louder than the dying screams of his people. Because in that moment, amidst the chaos- amidst the indescribable feeling pooling around his chest- He felt it. The weight of betrayal, of failure, of the countless lives lost- he felt it all. Because in that moment- Katcha! Something inside him finally snapped. Klaus''s pupils dilated, the pain in his chest fading into a distant sensation. "Huff... Huff..." his hands, still trembling, pressed against the blood-soaked dirt as he forced himself up, his breath rugged and uneven. A voice, almost whispering, yet echoing through his mind, slithered into his consciousness. "Do you still wish to fight?" His fingers curled into a fist. "Do you still wish to take back what''s yours?" His heart pounded. "Do you still wish to defy fate?" "Huff... Huff..." He exhaled. And then, as if answering a silent call, a new force surged through his veins. Napoleon''s eyes flickered with a trace of interest as he gazed at Roselle, watching closely. Anarzel, on the other hand, felt a sudden chill. Zzzrrrr~ Something was wrong. Klaus''s body trembled- not from the pain, but from something else. And then- His laughter ceased. He raised his head, his gaze locking onto Anarzel, the weight of his presence crushing. The battlefield felt smaller. The air, heavier. Step~ Step~ Anarzel instinctively stepped back. Klaus slowly rose, blood trailing down his lips, but his... expression? It was devoid of fear, of anger, of rage. Only something cold and terrifying remained in his eyes. Madness. And for the first time- Anarzel felt something he hadn''t felt in ages. Dread and fear. So primal, so all-consuming it coiled around his throat, and seeped into his soul- rippled through every fiber of his being. Chapter 8: The Conqueror! Chapter 8: The Conqueror!Klaus tried to move, but¡ª "Kgha!" He coughed up a mouthful of blood, collapsing to his knees. His body, pushed far beyond its limits, was finally breaking down. "Huff... Huff..." His breaths came in ragged gasps as he struggled to rise, only to end up worsening his condition. "Kgha-!" he crashed onto his back, his vision blurring as the crimson sun loomed overhead. "Huff... Huff..." Taking deep, burning breaths, he struggled to hold on. "Hu... Hu..." he clawed at the ground, fighting to stay awake, to keep going¡ª But the darkness was relentless. And eventually- "Huff... Huff..." It swallowed him whole. With one last shuddering breath, he lost consciousness. *** Amidst the clangor of steel and the curses raining down on Anarzel- Clap! A single, light clap rang through the battlefield. Clap. Clap. The sound was deliberate, clear. Then- Clap. Clap. Clap. The rhythm grew, filling the battlefield with something far worse than the clash of weapons. A shiver ran through them. It was just a clap. And yet- Clench. A knife-like sensation cut into their hearts, a deep, twisting unease they couldn''t explain. Clap! Each beat of his palms sent icy dread crawling across the battlefield. Thump... Thump... Like an unseen vice tightening around their chests. It was cold. Relentless. Clap! Clap! Clap! And at the center of it all, stood, Napoleon- The Third. His snow white hair cascaded down his crimson-dark armor, and with a dark smile on his face, he seemed like a figure straight out of some otherworldly fantasy. His smile in and of itself, felt both profane and... divine. His very presence... suffocated them. Something monstrous lay beneath that intoxicating allure of his. Something that made their instincts scream. Thump... Thump... Compared to this, hell itself might have been more merciful. Or perhaps he was nothing but a legend, exaggerated beyond truth. Who could say? Ba- dump! Ba- dump! No one ever lived to tell the tale. No one had ever survived long enough to separate the truth from the lies. In an instant, the battlefield stood still. No warrior could move. Clap. Clap. No one dared to. Step~ He moved. A ripple of fear surged through them. No one had seen when- or how- he had left his seated spot. Tok~ Tok~ Each step rang through the silence. The warriors, both allies and enemies alike, felt it claw into their bones. They couldn''t move. They couldn''t even breathe. "Huff... Huff..." After all, Step~ No one knew what he was up to. Step~ No one knew what he was going to do. "Hu... Hu..." Air itself felt heavy. Like unseen hands had wrapped around their throats. But none suffered more than the warriors of the Roselle Army. Their expression twisted in sheer disbelief. ''H-how? How can a human be this strong?'' Step~ They had heard rumors. But, Tok~ Tok~ They had dismissed them. And yet, even the worst of those tales seem to pale in comparison to the reality before them. Napoleon stopped in front of Anarzel- who grinned, his face beaming with satisfaction. ''With his strength, usefulness and abilities, he was sure the emperor would take him in, especially when considering that...'' Clench~ If he played his part well, they wouldn''t have to die. He also wouldn''t have to...'' His fingers twitched, tightening into a fist. "...Good job. You did well." The voice cut through the air like a blade. Anarzel smiled even wider. "All thanks belongs to your majesty." Napoleon met his gaze. And, Thump... Thump... Smiled. "I''ve decided you''re worth keeping alive... for now." Anarzel''s breath hitched in his throat. For a moment, he swore something unseen- something cold and inhuman- had wrapped around his heart, squeezing. What was that?! He had no idea. But if there was one thing he understood... If there was one thing he was certain about. That was the fact that he had barely just escaped death. Drip. Drip. Cold sweat tickled down his forehead, splattering onto the dirt beneath him. He dropped to one knee, head bowed. "...T-thank you for your grace, your majesty!" But Napoleon was already looking past him. His gaze swept across the warriors before him. Thump... Thump... A ripple of dread coursed through them. No one moved. No one spoke. He didn''t need to say a word. The cold pressure in the air made it clear- They were standing before something beyond them. Something they could never fight. They had heard of his ability. The Monarch''s Aura. And now, they understood. They never had a chance to begin with. They were only alive simply because he allowed it. Clench. ...That soon became clear. The Roselle generals stiffened, their hands trembling at their sides. Napoleon exhaled lightly. A pity. They were valuable. Strong. But keping them alive was like swallowing a dagger- sooner or later, it would rip him apart from within. How unfortunate. He sighed. "I''ll give you one last chance." his voice was calm, but absolute. "Come at me. Together." Thump... Thump... Every eye locked onto him. A challenge. A final offer. - How can he be so confident Silence. It lingered. Then- "You cocky bastard!" Vice admiral Zareth moved first, his golden halberd cutting through the air like a guillotine. "Die, you monster!" A roar of rage followed. "Die...!!!" Alger roared out, his facial features contorting to one of anger, pain... sorrow to anger once again. "Go to hell bastard!" "Die!!! Diee!!! Diee...!!!!" The warriors surged forward, unleashing all the pain, frustration, and fury they had swallowed. An indescribable surge of primal emotion overflowed from every single one of them, a terrifying tyrannical pressure descending upon Napoleon. Although pressuring. But, Step~ Step~ Napoleon had an indifferent expression on his face. ...That was it. Nothing more. And most importantly, this was a way to cut off all hope. That blinding feeling amidst all suffocating darkness. He had to crush it. ...Had to reduce it to nothingness. Remove it from the heart of every single one of them. And, Step~ Step~ What better way? What better scapegoats than those who stand at the top of the Empire''s food chain. The members of the Roselle Empire all looked, something burning deep within their hearts. ''C-can they do it?'' C-can they achieve the impossible and put an end to the tyrannical emperor.'' Hope. It burned furiously within every single one of them. Slowly tightening and pooling around their chest, like an iron vice. Time seemed to have come to a stop as the various attacks. A tide of burning swords, blitzing strikes, and radiant arts- all aimed at the Emperor. And in the midst of it all- Step~ Napoleon stood. Expression unreadable. He didn''t move. Didn''t react. And then- Von Anzel, a sequence nine radiant of the luminary pathway, raised his hands, and with a surge of desperation, anger, hatred, sorrow, and despair. All the concentrated bundle of emotion. He poured them all with his spirituality into the charm in his hand. A final gambit. A last, desperate push. And then- Zzzrrr!!! He said in the Arcanis language. "Light!!" Let there be light! And within the endless, suffocating darkness. Within the obsolete darkness that shrouded the entire battlefield. A blinding, burst of light erupted, tearing through the suffocating darkness. Illuminating everything. But it all came at a cost. Anzel''s face became pale. Blood drained from his face as his spirituality rapidly drained away. Yet, A faint smile crept up his face. Victory. He could almost taste it. The various attacks. ''Hah!'' They were just one step away from sending the bastard to hell. ''They~ ? Smirk. Napoleon smiled. Then- Craackaaa!!!! Kaaaboooomm!!!!! The ground shattered beneath him. Step~ Step~ His movements were a blur as dust rose into the air. And when the dust eventually settled- Thump. Thump. He was gone. ''H-how?!'' He had vanished. But... How? From rage, to confusion, to the anger that swelled within them. A great sense of unease suddenly gripped him... them. A harrowing sense of foreboding settling deep within their spines. And then- Clap. Clap. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Their heartbeat accelerated with the pace at which the clap resounded through the air. Clap. Clap. Clap. The pace increased and so did their heartbeat. It echoed through the stifling quiet, akin to deafening thunderclaps in the endless darkness. Chills~ They felt as though they were being watched, being monitored, being spied on... by a force so profane... even words alone wouldn''t be enough to describe it. T-hat cold sense of fear. It was menacing and it forced their motion to a stop. ''Haunter!'' A sense of apprehension ran through every single one of them. They didn''t need anyone to tell them how terrifying a Haunter of the cursed pathway was. But still, Napoleon''s seemed to be on another level entirely. And just as they struggled to understand what was going or more importantly, where the bastard was. Puchiii!!! Slaaaassssh!!!! Riiiiipppp!!!! Napoleon made use of nightstep, easily teleporting between the thick endless shadows. He disappeared and appeared, and each time he did appear, he did so behind every single one of them. And what came next was, Splatter!!! Puchiii!!!! Blood sprayed into the cold air. Heads rolled off. And headless bodies gushed out uncontrollably, a bright red liquid. Standing amidst the carnage with an indifferent expression- he sheated his sword back into its scabbard. Slliiing! The headless bodies behind him all dropped onto the ground with a loud crashing thud. The look of confusion still etched onto their faces even after they were long... dead. "Huff... Huff." Drenched in blood, he stood like a sentinel of doom and despair in the endless dark. An insurmountable obstacle. A being that couldn''t be defied nor denied. Amidst the pain to the tiredness that clung onto him. He continued to keep that cold, nonchalant facade of his. This was what he wanted them to be filled with. Fear! Despair! He wanted them to feel it well. ...He wanted this very moment to be etched into the depths of their mind. Only with this. A faint smile crept up his face. Only with moments like this had he been able to keep up with his mantle. His origin name. One known to all but comprehended by none. "The conqueror!" Amidst the suffocating quiet to the chilling coldness that ran through their hearts, a voice resounded in the dark. "Surrender or die." And just as expected, Thump... Thump... No one answered. A cold, stifling silence crept in. A silence so stifling, everyone could hear the deafening sound of their heartbeat. The rather "subtle" echoes of their heart racing against their chest. Thump... Thump... It reverberated through the endless darkness. And with a cold, indifferent gaze that sent chills slithering down their spine. Napoleon spoke up once again, his voice akin to that of a messenger of hell. "...I expected nothing more." Chapter 9: Pain. Chapter 9: Pain.A suffocating weight pressed down on them. Each breath felt like an iron vice tightening around their chest, drowning them in despair. The battlefield lay in ruined- bodies of their fallen comrades scattered like broken dolls, limbs twisted unnaturally. The silence was thick and oppressive, broken only by the pounding rhythm of their own frantic hearts. Thump... Thump... Their hands clenched, trembling under the weight of emotions too vast to name. Hot tears carved paths down their dirt-streaked faces, leaving behind the sting of grief and rage. The air grew heavier, laden with sorrow, anger, and a suffocating sense of despair. "Huff... Huff..." Each breath they took felt like a cruel reminder that they were still alive to witness this nightmare. Ba- dump. Ba- dump. Despair slithered into their minds like a specter, wrapping around their thoughts, drowning them in its suffocating depths. It was relentless. Maddening. And most terrifying of all- Ba- dump. Ba- dump. I-It was overwhelming. Before them stood the source of it all. A single figure. A man who stood alone. Some would call him an army onto himself. His presence as indomitable as the heavens above. Clench. Their fists tightened, nails biting into flesh. Perhaps he was a God amongst men. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Or perhaps... he was something far worse. His broad back faced them, seemingly bearing the weight of the heavens themselves. His cold, indifferent gaze sliced through the air like a blade, sending a chills down their spines. Ba- dump. Ba- dump. He stood amidst the carnage, like some sort of heavenly demon conjured from the depths of hell to lay waste to the world above. And in all sincerity, he did even better. Around him lay ruin. Mangled flesh, shattered bones and severed heads, the aftermath of destruction- It was a sight both horrifying and awe-inspiring in equal measure. But nevertheless, if there was one thing that couldn''t be denied. If there was one thing that couldn''t be refuted. ''Hah.'' That was the fact that, he had managed to pass across the intended message. *** The soldiers bit their lips, desperate to suppress the storm raging within them. Clench. Their fists tightened as a surge of emotion threatened to consume them. Defiance. Anger. And something darker. Something more primal. ''Aaaaaarggghh!!'' It pierced right through their hearts. They bit down harder, the metallic tang of blood flooding their mouths. Yet... It did nothing to calm the turmoil inside.. If anything- Drip. Drip. It only worsened. It slowly grew into a suffocating force that threatened to take their breath away from them. The pressure mounted, unbearable and suffocating. In the presence of the suffocating darkness. Slip~ Weapons slipped from trembling hands, the clangor of metals reverberating through the stifling quiet. Clang! Clang! Clang! Tears streaked down their faces as their knees buckled beneath them. Thud. Thud. Thud. Their voices broke as they whispered through trembling lips. "We''re sorry Emperor.... We''re sorry..." Silent sobs broke out of their chest, their grief unheard within the suffocating dark. And with silent cries, and heart bleeding with pain, anger and unwillingness- They all knelt before him. How could they kneel before the man who had stolen everything from them? They all knelt before Napoleon- The Conqueror. Yet how could they not, when his mere presence alone, crushed their will to stand? ...In that moment, they abandoned their pride, their honor, and the very essence of what it meant to be men of the Roselle Empire. All that remained were shattered spirits, and their desperate pleas for forgiveness. Over and over again. With tears dripping onto the ground beneath them. Their voices cracked, carrying their anguish, pain and a vast amount of other untold emotions, to the heavens above. "...We''re sorry Emperor... We''re sorry." *** Despite the crushing exhaustion threatening to consume him, Napoleon III maintained his cold, indifferent facade. He was drained- his spirituality and soul core pushed to their limits. Yet- Clench. He bit down on his tongue, forcing himself to remain steady. His back barely shuddered as his gaze swept across the battlefield. Cold. Suffocating and unnerving. Coupled with Monarch''s Aura, the effect was heightened to insurmountable extents and everyone was forced to kneel. Thump. Thump. No one could look him in the eye. No man dared to meet his gaze. They were too afraid of what they would see staring right back at them. Clench. His grip tightened further. He couldn''t afford to show weakness.. Not here. Not now. Even as exhaustion threatened to pull him under, he exhaled softly. "I did it." A weak smile tugged at his lips. But- "Hah..." His vision blurred. Bite- The taste of blood filled his mouth. "Huh... Huh." With a final breath, he stepped into the shadows, vanishing fron sight. But not before leaving his final decree. "Scavenge the mines. Assign the men to the army. The women- Tatiana, you know what to do. And..." He strode over the remnants of the battlefield, his boots sinking into the bloodied earth. "Lock Roselle in the dungeon." Step~ Step~ His voice cut through the silence like a blade. An order delivered like a nightmarish omen. And then, Nothing. Only the suffocating quiet of the battlefield remained. *** Among those left standing, Anarzel shuddered. Only now did he understand the full weight of the Emperor''s name. He had heard the rumors. The whispered tales carried by the wind. Stories of an indomitable conqueror. Of course, he had dismissed them. Marked them as mere exaggerations. But this- This macabre sight before him. It faf surpassed any tale he had ever heard. Reality was far more terrifying than the most absurd legend. No words, no story, no rumor could capture the full extent of Napoleon''s dominance. And yet- A deep frown marred Anarzel''s face. "How? How does he keep getting stronger?!" "Is such growth even possible?" He wracked his mind for an answer, yet none came. Only one thing was certain. It has to be a miracle. A power beyond human comprehension. And whatever it was- It was something of a higher existential order. Even now, the memory of the dreadful presence clung to him. His hands trembled. His breath hitched. And despite the sunlight breaking through the lingering darkness- He still felt the suffocating weight of Napoleon''s power pressing down on his chest. Tick... Tick... Even with the Emperor gone, the fear remained. It lingered. Like an invisible hand clenched around his throat. "Hah..." A light laugh came from somehwere behind him. Anarzel turned, meeting the steady gaze of colonel Wenchi. The godly archer smirked, shaking his head. "You''ll get used to it." Anarzel swallowed a lump of saliva. A weak, forced smile crept onto his face. "I hope so." But deep down, he knew. This was something no man could ever get used to. Wenchi smiled, his eyes flickering a bright crimson glow. And before long, the commands of the emperor were carried out. *** Tick... Tick... Time easily clocked by. Perhaps a few hours, days or perhaps even weeks, later. Within a dark, lightless underground, hidden deep within an endless darkness. A figure. A broken, battered and bloodied figure could be seen. They had gone through the worst of torture that man could dream of. From torture so harrowing, it could literally break anyone, over and over again. To torture that broke their bones and rumpled their organs. To be healed once again. The cycle was endless. Never-ending. It was abysmal beyond what words could expanseate on. "Hu.... Hu..." Their hair at this point had long grown disheveled, even their usual bright lustre was slowly dimming. Their face, their eyes to be more precise, were filled with tears. Blood streaked tears. Debuffing arts that did the worst, inhumane-opposite of buffing arts- they had gone through them all. Pain. Anger. Agony. They had suffered them all. And each time. Every single time. Their answer still remained the same. "You can go to hell!" he spat out a mouthful of blood on Anarzel''s face. "Y-You bastard!" Anarzel raged, and sent a punch flying right for Klaus''s face. Baaaaaang!!! The punch landed, and Klaus''s vision blurred, blood seeping from the corner of his lips as his head dropped downwards, a bright red liquid dripping onto the cold floor beneath him. Drip. Drip. Anarzel was just about to deliver another devastating punch, the air whizzing violently when- "No need." A voice cut in. Step. A figure suddenly strode in, his snow white hair cascaded down his shoulders while his cold gaze sent chills through the very souls'' of those who gazed at him. "...E-Emperor." Anarzel was quick to get on his knees, eyes locking with the ground beneath him. Napoleon waved a hand, signifying for Anarzel to get to his feet. Now facing Roselle, he smiled. "You don''t need to bother him.... Not anymore." ".....?!" Anarzel''s brow arched upward. "I would have been disappointed if he had actually given up... so easily." Shifting his gaze away from Roselle to Anarzel. "But you know what?" He smiled darkly, and somehow that smile sent a chill through Anarzel. Shudder. ''Hah...'' "I''ve got all the time in the world." Step~ Step~ He threw Roselle one last glance and with a light, unsettling laugh that resonated in the endless dark, he slowly stepped out of the dungeon. But not without leaving a word behind- "Get him prepared. We''ll be heading for the Empire in a fortnight." "Yes, Your Majesty." Anarzel replied, bowing slightly. Napoleon nodded and slowly walked out of the endless darkness, leaving the two figures behind, once again. He knew If he ever wanted a chance of getting Roselle, he needed someone Roselle shared a sentimental bond with. ...Even if it no longer exists. With a light exasperated sigh, he made way for the throne room. An addition to the bundles he had. ...And to be honest, the workload was becoming too much to take in. But, "Ha... Ha..." he had no other choice. With tightly clenched hands, he continued pushing forward. He had to. He was left with no other choice. *** In the endless dark. The torture continued. Whip! Slash!! "Be Healed!" Sequence 9 of the Mother pathway- Nurturer- ensured that the torment could persist endlessly, trapping Klaus in an unrelenting cycle of agony. The act was cruelly precise, preventing Klaus''s death, while prolonging his suffering beyond comprehension. But, *** "Ha-hahah-aha-" An unsettling laugh escaped my lips. One that sent chills down Anarzel''s spine. And this only prompted him to clench his teeth even tighter, anger simmering right beneath his skin. "Do you find pleasure in this wretched torment?!" he asked. I simply smiled in response. And- Slash! It only prompted him to lash out. His slashes became faster. Harder, even. But- Slash! Slash! My smile only widened. Pain. Pain, I could endure. Rip! Rip!! Pain. A wide grin spread across my face. ...Pain, I was no stranger to. Chapter 10: Slaves. Chapter 10: Slaves.A stinging pain shot through Klaus''s bleeding feet as he shivered from the cold. His clothes were nearly useless against the chilling wind. But the real agony came from his wrists. The iron shackles -meant to restrain his abilities- dug deep into his flesh, fresh wound scraping against the freezing metal. It had been days since their march to the Napoleon Empire began. And as if the torment of his wounds weren''t enough, the sight ahead was just as bleak. A long chain stretched down the frozen road, each link connecting hollow-eyed prisoners- slaves, just like him. They trudged forward in silence, their sorirtd worn thin by the suffering. Far ahead, Napoleon and his most trusted men treaded down the cold, frosty road on horses while the rest of them shivered and bled. Well in all honesty, he had his fair share of great times. Like, cursing under his breath or- Klaus clenched his jaw, shifting his gaze toward Anarzel. Thinking of how to get his revenge on the traitor. His fingers curled into fists, but there was nothing he could do. ...At least not in his current situation. Ahead, a broad-shouldered man with a bloodied back moved with deliberate caution, each step measured and calculated. And to be honest- "Hah..." A wry chuckle escaped Klaus''s lips. He couldn''t blame the man. Behind him, a scholar with peculiar eyes was cursing under his breath in a strange, yet... eeriely familiar language. Klaus almost laughed. Isn''t he afraid of being struck down by the Arcane God? But no laughter came. Shaking his head. Step. Step. He kept walking. From time to time, soldiers of the Napoleon Army -the imperials- ride past, throwing them the usual menacing glare. It didn''t take a genius to see that things were looking grim. "Hah..." He exhaled sharply, mist curling in the frigid air. Well, on the bright side, things probably can''t get any worse... Right? Somehow, he had a feeling that he would soon be proven wrong. And that feeling, Ba- thump. Ba- thump. That feeling sent cold chills slithering down his spine. He had to tightly clench his hands in order to stop the sonorous tremors running through him. And even it it wasn''t doing so well as to work out for him. Clench! He still continued for reasons unknown to him. Reasons that eluded the grasp of his understanding. But, "Huff... Huff..." Breathing in the cold chilling wind, he felt a sharp surge of pain tear through him. And he had to bite on his lower lips to stop himself from shivering... or to be more precise- stop himself from affecting the long-winding chain. He was still bewildered about certain things, though. He frowned. The circumstances he had found himself in were nothing like what one should... would expect from a first Arcane Trial. Usually, freshly chosen aspirants would find themselves becoming chosen sons of heaven in their respective trials or become members of a warrior troupe with plenty of access to necessary weapons to at least try to tackle any conflict in which they were thrusted into. But starting out as an Emperor of a falling empire from the mysticism era. To being a powerless slave, shackled and on the brink of death. That was as far from being ideal or... "fair" as one would imagine of the spell. After all, the Arcane Spell was as much about challenge as it''s about balance. As the old men back at the family do say: It created trials, not executions. But t-his- This abnormal trial of his. He had to stop himself from screaming his lungs out. At this point, he could even care less about "acting." If this wasn''t a straight-out death mission. Then what the hell is it supposed to be? He wanted to scream, to curse the spell that had thrown him into this hell. But no words escaped his lips. Various thoughts crept into his mind, each one more overwhelming than the last. And to make matters worse, he couldn''t even find an iota of clue. Something. Anything to which he could use as a balm to cling onto. Something that could save him from this precarious situation. ''Aaaargh!'' Frustration. It clawed at his mind, gnawing and coiling around his chest like an iron vice. Step. Step. Missing a footing, he lost the rhythm of his steps and stumbled, pulling the chain down with his weight. Almost immediately, a stout, short guy from somewhere behind him, screamed. "Gremlin! Watch where you''re going!" Almost as though he''d been waiting for such a moment. "...." Klaus- or rather, Roselle- bit on his lower lips, suppressing his pent-up frustration- if only a little. "Hah..." He exhaled sharply. A moment later, he was once again walking steadily, however, not before pulling onto the chain once again. ''Bastard! Let''s see what you can do about it!'' Klaus grinned. "You little shit! I''m going to kill you!" Klaus chuckled inwardly. ''Yeah sure. Superhuman out of the runic binding chains.'' The broad-shouldered man in front of Klaus chuckled. "Why bother? He would be dead by sunrise anyway." He threw Klaus a quick glance. "He can barely survive two more days in the Frozen Heart Mountain Range." "...." Klaus didn''t argue. He was in bad shape. Not only were his abilities sealed, his body battered, but the cold was also gnawing at him like a starving beast. Thinking of the pain. He was once again reminded of Anarzel and he had to tightly clench his teeth together in order to suppress that anger burning through his veins. Especially when considering the fact that there was nothing he could do about it. For now, anyway. A cold glint flickered in his eyes before he exhaled sharply, forcing his usual hollow expression back into place. Step. Step. A few seconds later, the broad shouldered guy sighed. "This place will kill us, too. Just a matter of when." The short slave barked out, his pent up emotions exploding in a single outburst. "Speak for yourself, fool! I plan to survive." "As a slave." Klaus added dryly. The broad shouldered slave threw him a look. Then- "Hahaha!" He laughed. "You bastard!" The short slave''s face twisted with fury. Before things could escalate further, another voice joined in the conversation from somewhere behind him. This one sounded gentle and intelligent and he didn''t need to look to know it was the scholar. "The frozen heart mountain is usually warmer this time of the year. We just had very bad luck," he murmured. "And I''d advise against harming the young man." "Why?" Klaus turned slightly, curiosity sparkling in his cold eyes. "Haven''t you seen the light insignia on his forehead?" the scholar continued. "He''s not like us- he wasn''t enslaved due to debt, misfortune or crime. He was born a royal." He paused. "Not long ago, the imperials destroyed the last empire of the God of Light. I suspect that''s how he ended up here." The broad-shouldered man grunted. "So what? Why should I care about a half-forgotten God who couldn''t even save his own people?" The scholar''s gaze darkened. "The Empire is protected by the Dark Souls Tree. Of course, they are not afraid to destroy a few Empires. But need I remind you that we here are not protected by anything or anyone. Don''t tell me you really want to risk angering a god over over childish spite." Silence followed. Then- Step. Step. A young soldier approached, riding a pristine white horse. Clad in crimson armor, armed with a spear and a longsword, he looked noble, dignified- And irritatingly pretty. Of course not as pretty as he was anyway. And in all sense of honesty, that was the truth. He stopped before them, scanning the group. "What''s going on here?" There was no particular menace in his voice. If anything, it carried a hint of concern. The slaves hesitated. The scholar answered a few seconds later. "It''s nothing, sir. We''re all just tired and cold. Especially our young friend over here." The soldier''s gaze landed on Klaus and he could see something within those eyes. Something he despised. Pity. Mercy. Compassion. Call it whatever you want. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ...He hated them all! Every single one of them! He needed no one''s pity. Especially not from his slavers. The soldier sighed, unhooking a dark, crimson flask from his belt. He extended it toward Klaus. "Bear with it a little longer. We''ll soon stop for the night. For now, here, have it." Klaus hesitated. Indeed, he needed no one''s help. But the truth couldn''t be denied and that was the fact that: He was thirsty as fuck. He was just about to take the flask when- Crack! A whip cracked in the air, and suddenly, Klaus felt a mind-blowing pain slam onto him -all at once- with such powerful force that he was sent tumbling once again, inadvertently pulling onto the chain and causing the short guy far behind him to curse once again. From behind, hooves approached. Step. Step. Anarzel. Klaus gritted his teeth, eyes burning with hatred. Anarzel didn''t even spare him a glance. Instead, he turned to the soldier, voice ice-cold. "What do you think you''re doing?" The young soldier''s face darkened. "I was just giving him some water." "He will receive water with the rest of them once we camp!" "But-" "Shut your mouth! Do you even know who he''s!" "No." "Better. Let''s keep it that way. And you lot will do yourself good to stay away from him!" Anarzel snapped, his voice directed at the slaves below. The young soldier looked at Klaus and then with a light sigh, he reattached the flask to his belt. "Don''t let me catch you making friends with slaves again. Or next time, it will be your back tasting my whip!" As if to illustrate his "grand" intentions, Anarzel cracked his whip in the air and rode past them. But not without throwing Roselle one last warning glare. You won''t have any chance of escaping Roselle. You won''t... That, I''ll and have to make sure of. Klaus watched him go, his gaze dark with un-hidden malice. "Anarzel..." The name left his lips in a whisper- yet it carried the chilling weight of death itself. The traitor would regret everything. His fists tightened until his nails bit into flesh, warm blood seeping between his fingers. "Even if it''s the last thing I do," he vowed, his grip on the shackles tightening, until- Drip...! Drip...! Blood trickled down his palm, staining the frozen chains a bright red. Chapter 11: The Young Kid. Chapter 11: The Young Kid.It was like any other day in the Roselle Empire. Under the luminous rays of the sun, A young kid with hazel eyes and light brown hair, stood. And just like any other day, he trained hard like it were his last day. Clang! Clang! He clashed with the dummies- inanimate constructs, and just like always. "Ugh." he groaned as he was pushed back. "Again!" he roared, lunging towards the two constructs once again. He slashed with his sword, side-stepping when needed, and weaving effortlessly through the three dummies. Despite being a mere mortal, he was able to hold his own ground against three constructs, supposedly at the peak of attainable- mortal state. But, ~ Clang! He clashed with one of the dummies, ducking under a howling punch thrown out by it. A glint flickered in his bright hazel eyes as he struck with his sword. The sword effortlessly ripped through the construct, but before he could end it. A terrifying premonition gripped him, his breath hitched, his back stiffening. ''Behind me!'' The two other constructs were already upon him, and he was left with no other choice but to retreat. Step~ Step~ Distancing himself from the constructs who effortlessly worked hand-in-hand with each other. An aspect that made it very difficult to defeat them. Since he''d had to defeat the three of them to actually defeat one of them. "Hu.... uh." Sweet drops beaded on his forehead as he stared at the constructs. His mind raced with various thoughts in an attempt to find something, Anything. Something that could end this once and for all. But then, before he could do so much as to blink, one of the constructs was already before him, the two others converging from the other sides, leaving him no room for resistance. Tak! Tak! Moving with graceful fluidity, he was able to duck, side-step and avoid the attacks. Throwing out attacks of his own and, being pushed back and forced to retreat, impromptu. Yet, over and over again, he''d continue. His face paled, blood draining from his face as pain tore through every fiber of his being. Yet, Claaaang!!! Claaassh!!! The furious blaze igniting within him never for once, faltered. ''...It never for once wavered.'' He knew he''d do it. He could do it. Clench! ''...He''d to.'' ~ Clench! Clenching his hands even tighter. He had no other choice. "Huff... Huff..." He stood there, bloodied and exhausted, his heavy gasps echoing through the suffocating silence. Bruises- from subtle to harrowing ones ran through his body, blood dripping from the wounds yet, "Again!!" He bolted towards the constructs once again. He never for once lost hope. Tok! Tok! ....He had to defeat "him." He clenched his hands even tighter, his grip on the sword hardening. As he fought, got defeated and yet, still refused to give up, over and over again. The thoughts. The mind-consuming thoughts continued to gnaw at him. They were unrelenting. They wouldn''t stop. ''Why?!... Why can''t I defeat him?!'' His eyes were now red, tears welling in his eyes as he questioned himself over and over again. Crash! Thud! Each time he was sent crashing against the ground. Each time he was defeated, every single time he lost. Each loss. ~Thud! Every single one of them sent a piercing pain through his heart. I-...It was eating him from the inside. Slowly consuming him bit by bit. H-he was always just one step short of defeating him. Yet he just... couldn''t. ''But why?!'' Slasssh!!! He slashed at a construct with the blue sword, its cold edge slicing through the construct, and with a short outburst of pent up emotions. Katcha!! ''Why can''t I?!'' The last of the constructs exploded into a shower of hurainium and steel. *** "Roselle," he stood there under the rays of the sun, his face pale, and his hands subconsciously clenched together. The mere mention of the name sickened him. The mere mention of it reminded him of his father''s unjust death. ...His father had died saving the current emperor- Roselle''s father. And what did they accuse his father of? "Haha." A bitter laugh escaped the young boy''s lips. ~Clench! Tears welled in his eyes. ''...They called him a traitor. A treacherous bastard!'' ~Trembling. After all he had done for the Empire. Those fucking nobles dared to accuse his father of treason. And the fucking Emperor never did anything to stop them. ''...He never did.'' And the prince, Roselle, he''d sworn to surpass. But, "Hahaha." A hollow laugh escaped his lips, the sound raw and hoarse in the silence. Unfortunately, the prince proved he wasn''t a bastard. ~ Gritting his teeth. From a young age, the prince displayed astonishing potential and everyone expected so much from him. He was the prince. So... It was alright. Even if it sickened his stomach and sent a piercing ache through his heart. He''d no choice but to stomach it. And for years, that was exactly what he''d been doing. Yet, no matter how much he convinced himself. ~Clench! No amount of self-conviction could stop nor suppress the indescribable furious flame swiftly rising within him. Day by day, it accumulated. Day by day, it swiftly clawed at the edges of his sanity. ...Day by day, it slowly ate away his sense of reasoning. Until all that was left was... ~Drip! An All-consuming anger and despair. His hands were now bleeding, yet he didn''t seem to notice or it could be said that he wasn''t feeling it. And indeed, compared to this burning flame. Compared to this overwhelming sense of despair and anger. ...This pain was nothing. *** Years clocked by, and the same pattern repeated itself over and over again. The young kid had repeat the same pattern over and over again, every single day without any exception. He trained like it were his last day. And it finally arrived. ? The day of awakening. A day that would differentiate the rich from the poor, the noble from the wretches, and the talented from the... trash. It was a day every single kid of age fifteen, looked forward to. Trained every single day for. Hah. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Why wouldn''t they? ~ It was a day that would determine their future. The day came just as expected. And of course, just like any other day, all eyes were on him. All eyes were on the prince- Roselle. Hundreds of other children flooded the awakening hall. But, "Haha!" The rest of them were not worth mentioning. ...The rest of them were just mere extras in Roselle''s grand story. "Ah!" A faint, weak smile tugged at the corner of his lips, his hands tightly clenched together. ''Today, he was going to prove them wrong.'' ~ The awakening began, and it was unlike what anyone would''ve ever expected. "You have awakened a C-grade esper talent!" the elderly man announced. "You have awakened a B-grade talent!" One by one, various high talents were scouted out amongst the youths of the Empire. And the elderly men and women of the Empire were filled with thrill, excitement and most importantly, ? Curiosity. If the youths they hadn''t paid much attention to could awaken such talents, then what of the prince himself. They beamed, wide smiles on their faces And finally, it was his turn. Roselle stepped up to the podium and contrary to every one''s expectation. There was no brilliant glow, no bright lustre, no dim color, even. ? The awakening had... failed due to some unknown reason. The high and mighty prince had failed in his awakening ceremony. And he...he''d awakened an S-grade esper talent! From that moment henceforth, with a wide smile beaming on his face. He thought everything would change. No. He knew everything would change. ? His smile widened. Everyone would finally look up to him. He was going to be surrounded by everyone. ~ H-he was going to be loved and respected by everyone. ...Including his aunt. She would finally spare him a glance. Yet the crowd, the people, the citizens of the Roselle Empire never did that, instead, they all crowded around the young prince. In that very moment, he felt something within him shatter. "You can do it prince!" H-he felt something within him break into pieces. ''Why!!! I have the highest talent! I awakened the best exper talent!!!.... So why is it still him!? Why is everyone still paying attention to him?!'' ''...Why!?'' Finally, he could take it no longer as a quiet sob broke out from his chest. A piercing pain ripped through his heart as tears welled in his eyes. But the world paid no heed to him. ? The words didn''t stop because of him. The words still continued... "Esper talent doesn''t determine one''s future prospects, young prince." "We believe in you, your highness." "Haha!" As he watched on, he didn''t know how to describe this feeling he had right now. ~ Trembling. He fell to his knees, tears streaming down the corner of his eyes. H-...he felt his world crumble before him. Katcha! H-he felt something shatter within him. Soft but audible, it rang through every fiber of his being. Drip! Drip! He''d thought it would be enough. Tears fell to the floor beneath him. Drip! Drip! He thought he had worked hard enough. Yet, the truth was anything but. The truth... was heart-wreching. "But why?!..." his voice cracked, now hoarse and barely audible. "...I have the highest talent. .... It''s me! Me. Me." He broke off, a heavy feeling pressing down on his chest. "...Not him." "It''s me..." Even with his weak talent, they never lost faith in him. ''...But why?'' At that moment, he made a decision. He had to find out. Clench. He would find the reason behind it. ''...He was hell-bent on finding out.'' *** Time went by, And so, although it was just as hard as he expected it to be. But still, he did the best he could, to whole-heartedly follow the prince. And he finally understood why... "Hah." He finally understood the reason behind their unshakable faith in him. ''It all now made sense.'' Not only was Roselle''s cunning on treacherous levels. His intelligence was, if it could be described in one... two words. "Simply monstrous." It was beyond what one would expect from a kid. Not to talk of someone who had failed his awakening. Despite his failed awakening, Roselle never lost hope. Or rather, he never saw that as something significant. That confidence. That control he had on everything around him. It bordered on... bone-chilling. Roselle trained hard as a transcender- swiftly ascending through the ranks of the hunter sequence pathway. And eventually, "May the king live long!" ~May the Empire prosper under your reign. Roselle ascended the throne. And he, "Hah!" He became Roselle''s right hand man. H-he became Roselle''s brother-in-arm. Through thick and thin, they always had each other''s back. Roselle would be willing to take a killing-blow in his steed and he would also be willing to do the same. However, all this came to an end on one faithful day. His expression contorted from one of pain and agony to unwillingness and finally, one of hardened resolve. The day the news of his wife and daughter''s death reached him on the battlefield. On that day, he could remember with abysmal clarity. "Aaaaaarggghhh!!!!!" he screamed to the heavens, his voice raw and hoarse. On that day, Drip! Drip! He felt it. I-It felt as though his entire world had come crumbling down on him. Chapter 12: Just Great! Chapter 12: Just Great!For a few minutes after that, Klaus simmered in a dark mood, anger bubbling just beneath his skin. But then, with a sharp exhale- A cold glint flickered in his eyes, his resolve hardening. "Every single thing... I''ll pay them back in full, Anarzel." Clench. "No matter what it takes me." His nails dug into his palm, the thought of getting revenge like a fire burning furiously within his chest. Clench. His grip tightened even more. The vision of dragging the treacherous bastard to hell- Grit. It was enough to keep him going. Enough to make him endure. Enough to make him bow. - For now. He would conceal his hatred well. Bide his time, and wait for the perfect moment. "Hu..." With a sharp exhale, Klaus glanced around. And- "...." A wry smile tugged at his lips. Should I be happy or not? Shaking his head, he noted how Anarzel''s words seemed to have gotten to the slaves. Some averted their eyes. Others met his stare with a grim expression. ''Do I look like some damn monster?'' Klaus grimaced. The weight of their apprehensive stares settling uncomfortably in him- more than he''d care to admit. "Uuf..." He exhaled sharply. He really needed it... "It doesn''t matter anyway." He could only try to comfort himself. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The slave caravan slowly dragged itself up the frozen mountain, with more and more slaves stumbling and periodically falling to the ground. And, inevitably- What the broad-shouldered slave had feared most came to pass. Those who could no longer walk were unshackled, freed from the crushing weight of their chains- only to be unceremoniously tossed off the road, swallowed by the abyss yawning below. Klaus watched them fall, his expression unreadable. With a quiet sigh, he murmured, "Poor fellows. May your souls rest in peace." It was strange. Despite the disaster unfolding around him, his spirits weren''t entirely crushed. Perhaps it was because he knew brooding wouldn''t solve anything. ...If anything, it would only send him spiraling into despair and desperation. And he was doing his very best to avoid those two emotions. He had... had enough of them already. And what made matters worse was the fact that he couldn''t make use of any of his abilities. And somehow, he had t-his weird feeling that he was forgetting something. But what could it be? He thought hard on it, harder than he would have thought possible. But eventually, he had to know when to give up. Slowly, the sun begun to set, its blinding light dimming into twilight. Not to his surprise, he found out that he could still see perfectly in the endless dark- perhaps even more than he could in the day. He had always had that ability anyway. If he had to guess, it probably had to do with his bloodline sequence: The Hunter Pathway. Or was it something else...? Just then- "Stop the caravan! Prepare to camp!" His thoughts were interrupted by the loud, thunderous voice. Following Groundbreaker''s command, the slaves stopped and fell to the ground, exhaustion weighing down on them. Shivering, they tightly wrapped their arms around their bodies, in an attempt to stop the frigid cold seeping into their bones. And even if it wasn''t doing so well as to work out for them. They still continued anyway. It wasn''t as if they had any other choice. Klaus scanned his surroundings, noting something peculiar- some of the slaves were from different empires. Which means- "They are all prisoners of war." It made sense. But then- His eyes widened, shock rippling through him. Doesn''t that mean the fifteen thousand-or-so imperials the empire faced were simply a fraction... A mere quarter of Napoleon''s army. A chill ran down his spine. And his gaze flicked to Napoleon, seated atop his white stallion. His jaw clenched. ''One way or another... one of us will have to die.'' He exhaled lightly, deciding not to think too much about it. First and foremost, he still had to somehow find a way to break free from these damn runic binding chains. Whooosh!! The chilling wind howled past them, sending cold chills down his spine. Klaus shivered, his breath hitching. Ahead of them, a jagged rock formation stretched towards the heavens, shielding them from the worst of the storm. Without it, many of them -him included- would already be dead. Even so, without their awakened abilities and enhanced physiques, the cold of the frozen heart mountain range was still too cold to resist. He felt like he was breathing in ice! "Damn it...!" He gritted his teeth. Step. Step. The soldiers got busy herding the slaves into a tight circle, forcing them to share warmth and proceeded to light up a large bonfire in the center of the camp- although not before tending to their precious horses. The heavy wagons carrying food, water and other cargoes to which the main chain was firmly attached to, were pushed forward single handedly, by Tatiana- in order to block the raging wind. As Klaus took in his surroundings, his gaze settled on a familiar face. The young soldier from earlier. Standing near the mountain''s edge, his expression was... complicated. For a second- Klaus swore he saw a faint, red flicker in the soldier''s eyes. "Hmm?" His brows arched. He scrutinized the young man but- A moment later, he seemed normal. Had it been a hallucination? No. Even back at the family estate, his senses had been hailed as extraordinary- akin to a first-sequence Hunter. He doubted his own eyes even less now. But whatever it was- ''It''s none of my concern.'' Shrugging it off, his gaze swept across the camp. His frown deepened. The empire''s so-called god-like archer was nowhere to be found. "Weird." "Where the hell is he?" Klaus muttered under his breath- And immediately, heads turned. "..." Eyes. Every single one of them rested on him. The other slaves stared at him like a madman. A wry smile crept onto his face. Of course, it was to be expected... After all, he''d been talking to himself the entire time. He threw them a smirk and they all averted their gazes. "..." "Hah! Look all you want, you lot. I won''t be the one dying anytime soon." "Hmph." He scoffed- if only to please himself. Before long, the bonfire was blazing. The stronger slaves tried to find their way closer to the fire- and he did well to join in the fray, and with the whole cautiousness they had towards him- all thanks to his old pal, he faced no difficulties nor competition. The weaker slaves were forced to sit at the outer end of the circle, with the chilling coldness creeping into their bones. Staring at them, Klaus shook his head. ''I''d help if I could... but I''m no saint. And I''m in no better shape myself.'' Sighing lightly, he moved a little bit closer to the fire. Of course, in the process of doing that, he ended up dragging his partners along with him- those shackled closest to him. That''s why the familiar scholar, short guy and the broad-shouldered guy all ended up with him- and at that, with little to no effort! ''Hah!'' A small, satisfied smile curled his lips. That felt good to know. As a hunter, it was his duty to help others, and at that, even to his own detriment. Well I still managed to stop three slaves from freezing to death. That''s still something, right? ''Yeah.'' He nodded. Step. Step. The soldiers walked among the slaves, giving them water and food- if it could even be called that. Klaus, just like everyone else, received a few sips of frigid, cold water and a small piece of rock-hard crusty bread. ''Euk!'' Klaus stared at the "food" in disgust. But alas, Rumblee~! His stomach got the better of him. Hence, despite the unappetizing look, he forced himself to eat the whole thing. Not only was he hungry, but he somehow had this weird feeling that very soon- he would need every ounce of strength he could muster. Although even after finishing the meal, he was still left as hungry as he previously was. But on the bright side of things. "Hah..." He wasn''t the only one. *** The short slave that had been walking behind him looked around, anguish and anger seeping into him. "By all the old and new gods, they used to feed me better even in the dungeon." Spit! He spat on the ground, perhaps in desperation. Or perhaps to get his intention out. Whichever one it was. Honestly, he could care less. A few steps away from them, where the paved road ended, and sharp, glistening rocks began. A scattering of bright-crimson berries were growing from the snow. Klaus had noticed them before, clustering here and there along the road. He even noted how resilient the pretty things were. And he would have eaten it if not that he was more knowledgeable. Sigh! Klaus watched as the short guy''s eyes glistened with something dangerous- greed. It was clear what he was about to do. Crawl~ Crawling towards the berries on all fours, he was just about to touch it when- "I''d advise against eating those my friend." It was the scholar. Once again. "You and your advice again! What''s it this time around!" The scholar smiled apologetically. "Those berries are called Crimorias. They grow in places where human blood is spilled... in abundance. That''s why there''s always a lot of them along slave trade routes." "So?" "Fool," Klaus said while shaking his head. "Crimorias are poisonous. A few berries might be enough to kill a newly awakened." "Wtf!" The short slave flinched back, fear flickering within his eyes. *** I paid him any attention, no more. Heck! I could even care less about his survival. Whoosh! The wind howled more furiously, its chilling wind flickering violently. Zzzzrrr!!! The bright incandescent flame slowly showed signs of wavering. A-Almost like it was being consumed. "Just great...! Ghosts? Demons? What''s it this time around?" As if to answer my thoughts, a thunderous noise rang from above. And in the next second, something massive came crashing from the sky... Chapter 13: Anything To Have Her Back. Chapter 13: Anything To Have Her Back.In a small corner of the world, within a small empire. Yes. Despite its grandeur, in this current era, it could only be described as a small-empire. Cities, streets and residences stretched far and wide, yet, the only notable feature this small empire could proudly boast of, apart from its various natural terrains to the royal palace would probably be the... A small figure could be seen under the crimson rays of the sun, their gaze fixed on the tree before them. Dark Souls Tree. Ahead of them, the nightmarish onyx tree rose to the sky, its dark branches reaching for the heavens as though to pierce through them. And on its body were numerous reddish objects that glittered under the crimson sun. In all honesty, it looked like it had been crafted out of one''s worst nightmare and just staring at it would give anyone the chills. Yet, ''Ah.'' It was the Empire''s sacred God. It was to be worshipped, praised and adored. After all, it was responsible for his grandfather''s ascent from grass to grace. It left him with a title- nonetheless, a burden. "Crown prince," a voice said from somewhere behind him. Turning back. A light, beaming smile crept up his face on seeing the figure. With flowing blue hair and icy cold eyes, and a captivating body hidden beneath the shimmering golden gown of hers. A single glance from her was enough to cease one''s breath, as if winter itself had taken form. "Astrid," he muttered softly. "Yes, your highness," Astrid bowed slightly, a barely noticeable, teasing smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Napoleon frowned. Turning his back against her, he said, his voice filled with a hint of coldness. "...How many times had I tell you to~" "I know Napoleon," she said. Smiling, she stepped forward, taking slow, steady steps towards him. Leaning against his back, she wrapped her hands around him and said, "I''m sorry mon amour." ''Hah.'' Napoleon smiled. He couldn''t bear to stay angry at her for too long, anyway. "Better," he said softly. He turned to face her, his arms wrapped around her waist as he drew her closer. "Oh- spicy," Astrid teased. Napoleon smiled, tracing the edges of her hair. Astrid was the only daughter of the Ballerione family- a Duke family. She was also around the same age as he was- age 16. And since the death of the only family she had ever known- before her father''s passing- she had lived with them. Over the years, they had gone from strangers to best friends, and finally, to whatever their relationship had become. Astrid smiled, leaning against his chest, she said softly, "So...where are we headed for today, Napol¨¦on." He and Astrid had a kind of fetish to always go sight-seeing any other day. At least when he wasn''t too occupied with royal duties. "Hmm," Napoleon touched his chin with his right hand. "...How about we head to Aurora Falls." Aurora Falls. A recently explored region of the Empire. Since his grandfather founded the Empire, the royal family had tasked transcenders- mostly those of the traveller pathway and any other available awakened, with the duty of exploring the Empire''s unexplored region. And as of the moment, the Empire had covered half of the unexplored regions. As for why such measures were taken. ''Hah.'' With the end of the chaotic era, the current world was bristling with unimaginable danger at every turn and corner. And any unexplored region was very much a recipe for disaster. "Yeah!" Astrid smiled cheerfully, pecking him softly. "Alright," Napoleon smiled. "So...do we leave now or~" "Now!" she said, almost immediately. Napoleon laughed lightly. "Alright, my lady," he said. "Your words are mine to obey." A bright red shade adorned Astrid''s face, but over the months, she could maintain her composure better, now. With a bashful expression and face as red as tomato. She placed her hand in his. "We should get going." Napoleon smiled, locking hands with her as they headed back for the Empire. He threw the dark soul''s tree one last glance before they headed back to the palace. Step~ Step~ Since the dark soul''s tree was located at the far end of the explored region. It was situated further down the empire''s palace. Before long, they made it back to the palace. They, of course, soon passed by the garden where the gardeners were busy tending to the plants; some made use of esper arts while some made use of more esoteric means- praying to gods, notably the earth goddess. Tok~ Tok~ ~ Greetings lady Astrid. ~ Greetings crown prince. Astrid smiled at the gestures. Napoleon simply nodded. Waving his hands, he motioned for the gardeners to go on with their work. A few minutes later. With guards now accompanying them, they headed for the aurora falls. Although he''d prefer to spend some quality alone-moments with Astrid, but unfortunately, although the aurora region had been explored, it was still just a newly explored region. And, ''Ah.'' There''s nothing like being too careful. Within the royal carriage, Astrid had a beaming smile as she rested on Napoleon''s leg who unconsciously caressed her hair, though his mind was anything but there. If he had it his way, he wouldn''t go on with this. But alas, ''Ah.'' The rumors of the aurora falls had spread far and wide and had somehow managed to enthrall his queen. She had persistently asked if they could visit the aurora region. But he of course couldn''t allow that, at least, not until a few days ago. With a quiet sigh, he shifted his gaze to Astrid. With a beaming smile on her face as she softly rested on his laps, he just couldn''t get enough of that cute expression of hers, even if he had seen it more times than he had fought an actual battle. ''Hah.'' Whoosh~ The wind swept past them, Astrid''s soft bangs falling across her face. Sensing his gaze, she turned to him, her grip on his hand tightening instinctively, as though she couldn''t bear the thought of him leaving her just like her father and mother had. Napoleon frowned upon noting the faint tears welling in her eyes. Caressing her hair more softly, with the years of friendship- to what it''d evolved to over the years, he dared say no one knew Astrid better than he did. And seeing her sour expression, he was more than certain that she was thinking about her parents. With a quiet sigh, he leaned closer and pecked her forehead, a bright red shade adorned her face as a warm feeling took root within her. Spreading further with each passing second. Though even with his thick skin, this was as far as he could go... in the presence of the guards- who tacitly turned away. "We''re there your highness," a subtle voice broke the moment, eliciting a clicking of Napoleon''s tongue. Astrid smiled, a cheerful expression crept up her face. "I can''t wait to see it! Even Daenaris said it was the most beautiful thing she''d ever seen. Daenaris, the empire''s royal traveler, was responsible for the coverage of unexplored regions. Hence, she had seen and encountered countless wonders in her lifetime, so if she claimed that Aurora Falls was the most beautiful sight she had ever laid eyes on, then it had to be breathtaking. After all, very little ever left Daenaris truly in awe. "Thanks," Napoleon said, nodding to the royal coachman as he stepped out of the carriage. Extending his hands, he helped Astrid down. "There you go," he said softly as Astrid stepped on the ground, eliciting a light laugh from her. Ahead of them, a system of towering flowers rose from all sides, beautiful in all their endless splendor. Streams branched through unconventional routes yet, they were nothing short of breathtaking. A light smile unconsciously crept up their faces. If the entrance to the region was already this beautiful, then what of the rumored aurora falls? This seemed to hasten their footsteps, the guards keeping a close distance behind them. Along the way, they saw a myriad of supernatural creatures, but weirdly enough, the creatures were anything but hostile. Of course, they were a few non-hostile supernatural creatures, but to see so many all at one spot, living together in complete tolerance with one another. That on the other hand, was a true sight to behold. The various sights elicited numerous comments from the cheerful young lady. And before long, they finally arrived at the destined spot. Ahead of them, a waterfall could be seen in sight, well, it looked no different from one, except for the fact that... *** I froze, my breath caught in my throat. And for a second there, all I could see in sight was the waterfall. I-it was the most beautiful sight I''d ever been fortunate to see. It mirrored the aurora, save for the fact that instead of swirling orbs, it had bright white ones, seemingly merging with the waterfall. The cascade of the Aurora Fall tumbled from the cliff like liquid light, shimmering as though woven from the very essence of the aurora above. Veins of iridescent blues, violets, and greens danced across the rushing water, each droplet a mix of myriad colours fell before vanishing into the mist below. "So... beautiful," Astrid muttered, the myriad of colors reflecting within her serene pair of eyes. "Excuse us," Napoleon said to the guards. "I will call for you when you''re needed." The two royal guards nodded. "We''ll be right here if you need us, your highness," One of the guards said as they made their way to leave. And the reason why he''d ordered for that soon became apparent. A wry smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Astrid took off her clothes, her flawless skin coming into view. "Have some shame, Astrid," Napoleon teased with a smirk. Astrid shot him a playful look, her smile turning mischievous. "This isn''t the first time you''ve seen it, and it won''t be the last. So..." True. He couldn''t refute that. But still, "...." Shaking his head, although he had seen it so many times, infact, more times than he could count- he wished, but still, courtesy demanded he removed his gaze. Even if it hurts to do so. ''Hah.'' A wry smile tugged at his lips, a reddish hue creeping onto his face- betraying the mischievous thoughts running through his mind. Splash! Astrid''s splash shattered the silence as she leaped into the waterfall. "...." Turning back, he noted that she''d dropped into the aurora falls. "Napol¨¦on, come in with me!" she motioned for him to join her. But he simply smiled in response. Now seated, as the soft breeze swept past him, he watched Astrid with unrequited attention, his eyes glued to her figure as she danced happily across the waterfall. A light smile crept up his face. ...Just seeing her having fun was more than enough to make his day. A few minutes, perhaps, hours later, Astrid slowly grew tired and decided to head back to Napoleon after a few minutes. *** Napoleon suddenly rose to his feet, his brows arching upward. Somewhere at the far end of the aurora pool, violent ripples were slowly forming. "Weird," he muttered under his breath. The ripples grew more violent, extending far and wide, but unfortunately, Mia wasn''t an awakened, so she couldn''t feel it. "Mia!" he shouted, his heart racing against his chest. But, Fear slowly crept in. She was too far away to make out what he was saying. And then, He froze, his breath caught on his throat. He could now see the reflection... he could now see its reflection. Thump... Thump... And it was heading right for Mia. ''H-how...? Hasn''t this region already been explored?!'' Disbelief, fear and anxiety, warred within him. Questions surged through his mind, each one pressing down on him, each one threatened to break him- to consume him entirely. But, Step~ Step~ He was already moving. Tok! Tok! Now was not the time for freight. "Guards!" he called out, before leaping into the waterfall without any hesitation. Splash! "Huff... Huff." He knew whatever the thing was, judging by the energy wave emitted by the ripples, was certainly not something he could handle. That was also why he called for the guards. But even then, he couldn''t bear to stay and do nothing. He was afraid of death, but he was certainly no coward. Not when Astrid was the one in danger. Swossh! Swoosh! The ripples grew more intense and Astrid finally noted that something was off. "Huh... huh." Napoleon swam harder, his arms screamed in pain, every fiber of his being throbbing with exhaustion. But the thought of Mia''s demise drove him forward. It pushed him to keep going. Ba- dump! Ba- dump! His heart raced against his chest, his arms ached him as he swam faster and faster, but it wasn''t enough. ''Faster...! Fucking move faster!'' he roared inwardly, desperation creeping in. Yet he still kept going, his eyes at this point, were now red as scarlet veins traced jagged paths across his sclera. "Astrid! Run...!!" his voice echoed through the air, but, "W-hat~" Turning back, she finally noticed him. She couldn''t quite make out what he was saying, but he seemed... scared. Tears streaked down his cheeks, a piercing pain ripping through his heart as... Whoosh! Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A monstrous creature, its razor-sharp jaws gleaming, erupted from the waterfall. Its whale-like body was lined with jagged bones that pierced the air as it leapt into view. Its fangs easily ripped through Astrid as it sunk into the waterfall with... her. "Astrid...!!!!" Napoleon screamed, an indescribable pain overflooding his senses. The guards arrived just in the nick of time, plunging into the waterfall without hesitation. And then, Chaos erupted. *** Time clocked by and by the time they succeeded in killing it- inadvertently pulling Astrid out of its grasp, she had already stopped... Breathing. A figure knelt before a bloodied Astrid, tears streaming down their face as a piercing pain pierced right through their heart. ""Astrid," Napoleon''s voice cracked, tears welling in his eyes. "Please come back... Please." He repeated it over and over, each plea growing more desperate. His voice became more hoarse, and the suffocating weight in his chest only intensified with every word. "Aaaaargghhh...!!!" he screamed, his voice raw and hoarse as tears flooded his eyes, blurring his vision. Clutching her tightly against his chest, he wept uncontrollably, a quiet sob breaking out of his chest. Drip! Drip! With tears streaming down his eyes, he rose to his feet and headed back for the palace. He headed for the Dark Souls Tree. Step~ Step~ ...It had to be able to. It had to. Tok~ Tok~ With every step, he fought not only the physical pain, but also the storm of primal emotions raging inside him. Anger. He felt it more acutely than ever. Pain. Agony. Each sensation tore through him, leaving him shattered, hollow, and... broken. *** Tok~ Tok~ He kept walking. ?Hours. Minutes. He couldn''t tell. He felt soulless. ?He had long lost the passage of time. Lifeless. And before long, Through the pain and the agony that tore through him, he finally stood before the Empire''s sacred God. Within moments, the news rippled across the Empire, spreading like wildfire. *** Three days passed in the blink of an eye. A figure knelt before an abysmal-like tree, their pupils bright red from the tears that pricked their eyes. And even their skin, once vibrant, had lost its luster, now as pale as a thin sheet of paper. "...Please save her. Please..." his voice cracked, despair and desperation seeping in. "...Please. I''m willing to do anything. I... am." Just save her... Tears continue to fall from his eyes. "I was told you could. Please..." Dripping onto the cold floor beneath him. He repeated it over and over, each time his voice cracked, growing hoarse with each plea. With every word, the despair and desperation deepened, becoming almost unbearable. It felt more agonizing. And then- Ba-dump! Ba-dump! It spoke to him. It answered him. He could have her back. He could have Astrid back. Tears fell freely now, a spark of hope igniting in his chest. ...He just had to do one thing. As long as he did, she would return. Tears streamed down his face as the images of the past flashed before his eyes. Clench~ His fists clenched, a burning determination rising within him. ''...He would do anything to have her back.'' Chapter 14: A Tyrant! Chapter 14: A Tyrant!Turning in the direction of the cacophony of ear-piercing shrieks, many slaves rose their heads- only to see frosty shards of ice raining on them from above. They instantly fidgeted, lurking away in a desperate surge of energy. Shadows moved in the endless dark, stretching infinitely into the void beyond. The slaves entangled by the runic binding chains fell to the ground, pulling others along with them. Klaus was able to remain upright, calm and composed mostly because he''d already expected something similar. Calm and collected, he gazed at the sky, his cold pair of eyes piercing the darkness and then... he rolled to his left. Moments later, shards of ice hurtled into the spot he stood on moments prior and exploded, showering everything around in sharp, frosty shards. Of course, others weren''t that quick. As shards of ice and stone continued to rain down on them like some fearsome wrath of the heavens above, many were wounded, and a few even lost their lives. Wails of agony and pain pierced through the endless dark, chilling everyone''s heart to the core. "Get the slaves to safety- Now!" Napoleon gave the order, calmly jumping off his stallion. He was immediately followed behind by his loyal warriors. Anarzel was shouting angrily, trying to get the slaves towards the relative safety of the mountain slope. However, before the slaves could heed his command, something moved. Sending a tremor through the stones beneath their feet. Whatever it was- fell right between the caravan and the mountain wall, plunging everything into a stifling quiet. Thump... Thump... At first, it looked like a lump of dirty snow, round in shape and as cute as a parlour dog. However, once the creature unfurled its long limbs and rose, it towered over the stone platform like a nightmarish omen of death and... agony. The creature had long, multijointed hands- two of which ended up in a set of horrifying claws, the other two were shorter, but certainly sturdier, ending with almost human-like fingers. On its head, three white eyes regarded the slaves beneath, with insect-like indifference. Beneath them lay a terrifying maw crowded with razor-sharp teeth, half open, while dripping with saliva, as though in... anticipation. But what unnerved Klaus the most were the endless worm-like creatures moving under the creature''s skin. And unfortunately for him, he could see them clearly because he was one of the unlucky souls closest to the monstrosity, getting a nauseating first-row view. And then, All hell broke loose. The creature moved but Napoleon was already before it. Slashing forward at a terrifying pace. Slaaassh!!! The creature also slashed forward, its nightmarish claws slamming onto the crimson sword. Crring~! Tremors ran through Napoleon''s hand and despite the veins bulging heavily across his hands. Katchaaa!!!! His sword broke into two, his eyes widened in shock as the terrifying pair of hands inched closer. Akin to a profane decree, they closed in on him. And, Every second- Tick... Tick... Every single moment- felt like an eternity. And worse, Thump... Thump... His haunter abilities weren''t working on the nightmarish creature and even his nightstep ability was locked. H-He couldn''t make use of any of his abilities! ''Noo!!! I can''t die...! Not yet!'' He roared out, a terrifying aura emanating from his body. Raising his hand into the air, he punched out with every ounce of strength contained within him. Kaboooooommm!!! His punch met with the creature''s, violent waves undulating outward, yet... Kaaatchaaa~! "Aaaaaaaargghh!!" His hand snapped into two as the darkness-cloaked hands slammed onto him. Baaaang!!!! Even at the last moment, I could feel the fear, and the despair overflowing from his body. His eyes in particular were filled with unwillingness as, Splatter~! The terrifying claws finally landed. Napoleon- the third bursted into a pile of blood and paste. "....?!!" My eyes widened, shock rippling through every fiber of my being. I knew just how strong Napoleon was. But this- H-He couldn''t even take a single move from the creature. I shifted my gaze towards the nightmarish creature now engaged with the angered higher-ups and sucked in a cold deep breath. Just how strong is it? As I watched on, I soon received my answers. "Bastard!" "Dieee...!!" "Go to hell!!!" Groundbreaker with his tower shield and war hammer dashed forward, the ground he stood on moments prior shattering into pieces. Step. Step. Tears welled in his eyes as he struck out with devastating force. The hammer surged upward, veins bulging furiously across his arms. Kaabooooooommm!!!! It struck the supernatural creature with a terrifying force, but it only succeeded in angering the creature. With a loud howl that deafened everyone''s ears, blood dripping onto the ground beneath them. It slashed out with its bony claws, and groundbreaker could now feel it. H-he now understood why the Emperor wasn''t able to move. The pressure was insane beyond what words could expanseate on. But, "Aaaaaaaaaargggh!!!"" he couldn''t give up. He had to keep fighting. H-he had to avenge the emperor. ...Using every last bit of strength contained within him, he raised his tower shield into the air. And then, Baaaaaaaanggg!!!! The claw landed. The impact sent him smashing into the ground, a jarring pain rippling through every fiber of his being as he dug a long ridge along his path of retreat. Crash! Crash! He crashed through the ground, blood dripping down the corner of his mouth. Drip~! Drip~! It dripped onto the ground beneath him, the hollow sound echoing through the suffocating darkness. Thud! He finally came to a stop. Bruised and bloodied. "Akh- Agh." A groan escaped his lips as he tried to stand up. Tried to kill the damn thing. But, "Kgha- Kha." He only ended up worsening his condition. Coughing out a mouthful of blood, he collapsed onto the ground once again. Crash! His eyes blurred as he clawed at the ground. Trying to find something. Anything he could use as a balm against the intense pain in his chest. Tears streaked down the corner of his eyes, as his breath slowly left him: ''I''m sorry Emperor. I failed you. I''m sorry...'' Tears dripped onto the ground, a terrifying pain pierced his heart. A pain even worse than the broken bones and rumpled organs. His shield had been broken and he himself was barely only hanging on. He gazed ahead as blood slowly flowed out of his body, leaving him in excruciating pain. The others were now engaged with the monstrosity. M-meliv was dead. Tears continued to pool in his eyes. Even Belmond was barely hanging on just like him. "I''m sorry." "...I''m sorry." Tears continued to stream down the corner of his eyes, an intense pain piercing right through his heart. ...Naeraza and Tatiana were the only ones still standing. But even then, they were barely holding up. Bloodied, broken bones. They were a total mess. "Die you bastard! Diee!!! Diee...!!!" Tatiana roared out in anger, tears welled in her eyes as she dashed forward, the ground she stood on moments prior shattering into shards and fragments. "Diee!!!" Naeraza followed suit, his facial features twisting with unconcealed rage. With the rising flame unit that was slowly but certainly diminishing in numbers, they were able to stop the creature. Albeit barely... Step. Step. "Diiiieee...!!!" The rising flame unit roared out in unison and then, All hell broke loose once again. *** I didn''t need to be told. I knew it was only a matter of time before they also met their doom. Whatever this creature was. It certainly wasn''t something that should be appearing in a first arcane trial. ''Just damn it!'' I knew I had to act. I had to do something. That soon became clear. But what could I possibly do? I was shackled, and worse, even my abilities were sealed. And I could feel it now. Despair. It was slowly crawling its way towards me. S-lowly eating me from the inside. I-It was slowly consuming me. Just then, My vision was drawn toward a dead body, which was starting to convulse with growing violence. On the opposite side of the corpse, the short slave was looking at it with a horrified expression on his face. I waved at him to get his attention. "Fool! What are you staring at?! Get away from it!" The short, stout slave tried but immediately fell down. The chain was twisted between the three of us, pinned down under the broad-shouldered slave''s weight. Clenching my teeth. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Right under my eyes, the corpse was going through a nightmarish metamorphose. Dark spiky bones extended from its back. Its muscles bulged and wriggled as though trying to change shape. The fingernails were turning into sharp claws; its face slowly cracked and split, revealing a twisted face with one too many rows of dark-crimson-like fangs. ''A-A Tyrant!'' I stared ahead in shock. That would explain why no one could defeat the creature or ever hope to defeat it. It was a fucking tyrant. ''Damn it! Just damn it!'' Exhaling sharply, I tried to calm down. I still had to focus on the task at hand before thinking about any other thing. The scholar was just a few steps behind the short one, pointing at the shackles with a pale, white face. That remark was far from helpful, but given the current circumstances, his shock was understandable. Being shackled was already bad enough, but being shackled to such horror. That... was totally unfair. And my conclusion that things weren''t right didn''t have anything to do with fear or despair. It was more of the fact that the whole situation just didn''t feel right: the spell, mysterious as it''s, has its own set of rules. There were rules for what type of creature could appear in any given Trial, too. Supernatural creatures had their own hierarchy: from mindless beasts to monsters, followed by Aemons, Daevis, Tyrants, Terrors and so much more- that I currently hoped I never had to worry about. All in all, the first trial are usually always populated by beasts, monsters, and in worst cases- Aemons. Rarely with a Daevis mixed in it. And I have never, ever heard or perhaps I''ve but I didn''t want to believe in it- a creature ranked higher than a Daevis, appearing in a first Arcane Trial. ...And why should I? The creature had just spawned a lesser version of itself- an ability exclusive to tyrants and those above them. Wouldn''t that just be unfair in all essence of the world. But most importantly: ...What was this tyrant even doing in a first trail? But as aggrieved as I currently was, I knew I couldn''t afford to slow down. I needed to act, and act fast. Unfair or not, I only had myself to save myself. The broad-shouldered man- well what was left of him, anyway- slowly rose, his body convulsing even more violently as bones broke and reshaped themselves before our very eyes. *** Without giving it time to fully come to his senses, Klaus jumped forward, grabbing onto the length of the slackened chain. The monster now fully equipped with five long claws surged forward to meet him, but Klaus simply sidestepped it with one calculated movement. Step... Step... Stepping closer, he threw the chain around the monster''s shoulders and pulled, pinning its hand to its body. Before the creature could properly react, Klaus instantly moved, wrapping the chain around it several times, barely saving his face from being bitten off by the creature''s terrifying maw. "Huff... Huff..." Panting heavily. The good thing was, the monster couldn''t move its hands now. The bad news however was the fact that, the length of the chain he used to immobilize it was gone, leaving almost no distance between Klaus and the larva. "You two!" Klaus called out to his two fellow slaves. "Pull on the chain as though your lives depend on it!" Because they did. The short slave and the scholar stared at him, but then understanding what he was thinking, started to move. Grabbing the chain from the opposite directions to themselves, they pulled as hard as they could, tightening the chain''s grip on the monster and not letting it shake loose. ''Yes!'' Kraaa!!! The monster bulged its muscles, trying to break free and the chains creaked, caught on the bony spikes, as though slowly breaking apart. ''Damn it!'' Without wasting any more time, Klaus threw his hands into the air and caught the creature''s neck with the short, thinner chain connecting his shackles together. Then he ran, circling the monster with a quick step and pulled, ending up back to back with the creature- far enough to keep the maws away. Klaus knew with his abilities being restricted, he wasn''t strong enough to strangle the larva with his bare hands. But using his own back as a lever and the weight of his whole body to pull the shackles down, he at least stood a chance. He pulled down with all his might, the monster''s bony spikes crushing against his skin. Creak! Creak! The monster continued to struggle, clicking loudly and trying to break apart, the chain tying him down. Now it was just a question of what would break first- the chain or the monster itself. ''Die!!! Die you bastard!!'' Blood dripped onto the ground beneath him. Drip...! Drip...! Mixed with sweat, they rolled down Klaus''s face as he pulled, and pulled. ''Just fucking die!!!'' Pulling down with every ounce of strength contained within him. Every single moment- every single second felt like an eternity. His strength and stamina- what little he had of them- were quickly running out. His bruised and bloodied back, wrists and muscles being pierced by the bony spikes were all in agony. And then, finally, Klaus felt the body go limp. And, Thump... Thump... "Hu... Hu..." He collapsed to his knees, relieve, fleeting yet soothing coursing through every fiber of his being- if only for a single moment. Chapter 15: Barely Holding On. Chapter 15: Barely Holding On.Klaus fell to his knees, his breath coming in ragged and sharp bursts. "Huff... Huff..." he inhaled and exhaled, one breath at a time. Each inhale and exhale echoed louder in the oppressive silence. The adrenaline within him moments prior, drained from his system like water slipping through a sieve. And, *** A frown tugged at my lips. I just couldn''t shake the unease- the nagging feeling that something was slipping away from me. No. I was forgetting something. Not just one thing, but many- each of undeniable importance. The thoughts slipped through my mind like sand spilling from an unclenched fist. The harder I tried to grasp them, the faster they vanished. ''What''s happening to me?'' I clenched a fistful of my hair, a desperate attempt to anchor myself to reality. I shook my head, trying to- wait. What was I even trying to do? The thought slipped away before I could grasp it. ''Focus, Klaus. Focus!'' I tried again. And again. But it was like my mind was trapped behind an invisible door- the harder I pushed, the more it resisted. Minutes stretched endlessly, each one feeling like an eternity compressed into a single breath. What am I forgetting? I sighed, frustration tinged with a quiet desperation. ''...Maybe it didn''t matter.'' I mean, what''s the worst that could happen? Shaking my head, I reminded myself. A few seconds. That was all the rest I could afford. After all, the nightmare was far from over. If anything, it was only just beginning. *** "Huff!" I let out a sharp breath, savoring the brief moment of reprieve while it lasted. But after only a few seconds, I forced myself to regain focus. Surveying my surroundings, I noticed the slaves were dead- but more and more of them were undergoing a nightmare-inducing metamorphosis. ''...Curse this nightmare!'' I gritted my teeth as a deep sense of dread settled within me. My gaze flickered to my fellow slaves- the short one and the scholar. Their faces were pale, stricken with fear as they frantically worked to untangle the runic chains binding them, clinging to a desperate hope of freedom. But, unfortunately- Clang! Clang! I shook my head. Runic binding chains weren''t something that could be undone with mere struggle. If they were, I''d already be doing the same. With an exasperated sigh, I knew I had to act. I had to do something. That soon became obvious. It soon became clear. But, "Huff... Huff." As I stared down at my hands. What could I possibly do in such a state? And just as despair slowly crept towards me. "Huff... Huff..." Just as it ignited within me. S-slowly eating me from the inside. Click! Click! My attention was garnered by- My eyes widened. Several slaves I''d previously tagged as dead... deader than dead even, slowly rose to their feet. Their bones cracking and reforming themselves, in an unnatural, bone-chilling transformation. *** ''More larvae!'' I grimaced. ''Damn it...!'' And then~ One...two... three of the beasts snapped their heads towards us, their fangs dripping a vicious, white fluid. Drip! Drip! A heartbeat later- They lunged towards us. Ba- dump! Ba- dump! The scholar and the short slave froze, their heartbeat pounding like war drums in the suffocating quiet. Thump... Thump... ''Crap!'' My mind raced, ''Think. Think! Klaus!'' Eyes darting to my surroundings, in an attempt to find something. Anything that could serve as a weapon. But there was not a single object I could make use of. There was absolutely nothing. No, My eyes lit up. ''...There was one!'' Filled with a sense of defiance. I gritted my teeth and forced down the fear and unease swiftly rising within me. ''How can I afford to be scared of some pile of crap and shit!'' T-hat... that was unacceptable! Filled with a surge of vitriol, I wrapped the runic binding chains around my knuckles, and raised my fists into the air. ''Come at me you bastards...!'' Step~ Step~ The three larvae dashed towards me. Tok~ Tok~ Each step sent them hurtling forward, their claws gleaming... almost as if in anticipation. The two slaves stood frozen, paralyzed by sheer terror. Ba- dump! Ba- dump! And then- Slaasssh! Slasssh!! It was over in an instant. Their heads were torn off their bodies with unnatural precision, sent soaring through the dark, endless void. Before finally crashing to the ground. Rolling to a stop~ Right at my feet. A look of confusion and despair still etched on their faces even after they were long... dead. Ba- dump! Ba- dump! A grim expression slowly settled on my face. These certainly weren''t just larvae. No- these were nightmarish abominations, twisted creations born from the deepest recesses of fear and dread. ...Perhaps something even worse. And now- They were staring right at me. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Cold, dark pupils locked onto me, cutting through the distance like knives. My heart pounded against my ribs, every instinct screaming at me to run. To hide. To do anything to escape these horrors. But~, Thump... Thump... There was nowhere left to run. Just then-, The larvae lunged at me, their claws gleaming like obsidian blades in the dark. Thump... Thump... I braced myself, their nightmarish forms now fully visible and closing in fast. But before the blows could land- Ba- dump! Ba- dump! My heart hammered in my chest, a paralyzing fear clinging to me. Whoosh!!! A sharp wind sliced through the air and- Splatter! Three heads flew, spinning through the darkness. The monsters crumpled to the ground with a deafening crash, their headless bodies erupting in a black, endless tide of ichor. "....!?" I blinked, trying to process what had just happened. Then, from the corner of my eye, I noticed a figure beside me- pale, their expression unreadable. Slowly, I turned my head to the left, each second dragging on like an eternity. There, standing still, was the handsome young soldier. He took a few quick, measured steps forward only to stop abruptly. And then~, He turned towards me, locking eyes in a moment heavy with unspoken intent. Without a word, he tossed something in my direction. "...Save yourself!" he was already moving. His voice barely audible over the cacophony of ear-piercing screams and deafening clangors that echoed through the suffocating darkness. But, Step~ Step~ The words hit me like a bolt of lightning. *** Before I could even blink, the valorous young soldier had vanished, charging headlong toward the monster- the tyrant itself! ''...Good luck.'' I nevertheless wished the reckless soldier well, though I doubted that would change the fate that awaited him. Easily catching the item he''d thrown at me with relative ease. I lowered my gaze at the item clutched tightly in my hands. Thump... Thump... My eyes widened in shock. What I was holding- ''I-... it''s a key...! A fucking damn key!'' Thud! I immediately dropped to my knees without any hesitation whatsoever, my trembling fingers fumbling desperately with the lock. Each second felt like an eternity, but at last- Click! The lock snapped open with a sharp, resounding sound. ''Hah!'' A fleeting smile tugged at my lips as a wave of relief washed over me. I was free at last. And honestly, it felt indescribably great. I let out a light smile, but then- A cold, chilling wind crept into my bloodied wrists and bloodied back, a harsh reminder of the brutal reality I was still trapped in. And just then- A cold glint flickered in my eyes. Anarzel was currently preoccupied, locked in combat with a horde of larvae. I knew this was my perfect chance to take him down. Backstabbing? The thought didn''t even faze me. Only self-righteous fools held onto such naive ideals. And me? I was no self-righteous bastard. But- Shifting my gaze. A grim look crept up my face. Everywhere my eyes landed, there was nothing but carnage. Headless bodies, shattered bones, mangled organs. ...It seemed endless. Step~ Step~ Clang!! Claaang!!! The tyrant was unstoppable. Easily killing its way through the horde of experienced warriors. Crack!!! Tatiana shot forward with an explosive burst of energy, the ground beneath her shattering into pieces. Appearing before the distracted Tyrant, she swung with tremendous force. The wind howled violently as the flanged mace struck the nightmarish creature with devastating force. Baaaaaang!!!! The tyrant was shoved back by the strike, digging a long ridge along its path of retreat as blood seeped out of its wound. For a brief, harrowing moment, its eyes flickered- piercing, and filled with a concentrated beam of murderous intent and unbridled rage. And then- Slash! Slash!! Slasssh!!!! Its ever swift-strikes came faster and stronger. It became filled with something darker. Something more menacing. Zzzzrrr! An ominous, bone-chilling presence rippled through the air, thick with a concentrated beam of killing intent. Slash! Slash! Riippp!!!! Bodies were being ripped to shreds at an astounding pace, screams of agony and pain piercing through the endless night. "Roaaaaaarrr!!!!" Roaring and leaping. Everywhere it passed by, ...Carnage rose in its wake. *** The young soldier now positioned at a rather safe distance, watched 0with a grim expression. With his arrows drawn, he dealt deadly blows to the monstrosity- buying Tatiana the precious moments she needed to land devastating strikes. But even then- "Huff... Huff..." breathing became a struggle. It felt as though invisible hands were tightened around his neck, choking him with every breath. And- Fear. ~ Ahead of him. It slowly crept towards him. ? A looming silhouette. A terrifying ethereal presence of the nightmarish entity seemed to bleed into the very air around it, its cold ethereal eyes staring at the world beneath, with unheld disdain. Fear. I-It wasn''t just creeping towards him- it was devouring him, slowly, from the inside out. Slowly, relentlessly, it sought to overwhelm him. ''Haunter...!'' The young soldier''s eyes widened, a chilling realization settling deep into his bones. He finally understood. Why, even the Emperor- mighty and revered- had been unable to defeat the Tyrant. With its supernatural abilities amplifying its "Haunter" abilities to nightmarish extremes, the creature didn''t just inspire fear- it manifested it. This wasn''t mere intimidation. This was an unfathomable, oppressive dread that seeped into the very core of those who faced it. It wasn''t just the terror of being hunted. I-It was the slow, creeping certainty of inevitable doom. A force so overwhelming that even humans of the same sequential level could do nothing but tremble in its presence. "...It all makes sense now." The young soldier muttered, his voice barely audible as a grim expression darkened his features. Taking a deep exhalation. He steadied his stance, his bow angled toward the dark, lightless sky. With a swift motion, he drew a crimson arrow, his grip firm as an eerie chill radiated from his body. Then- Whoosh! Closing his eyes for a fleeting moment, he seemed to map his surroundings with an almost instinctual awareness, as if seeing without sight. And then- Whiissssh!!! A third arrow sliced through the air. "....!" Klaus''s gaze followed its trajectory, his breath caught in his throat. Three crimson arrows streaked through the void in perfect formation, their speed nothing short of being surreal. His lips parted slightly in awe. The young soldier''s archery was nothing short of exceptional. Even in the clan, few could rival such mastery- at least, when it came to sheer skill with a bow. Each arrow maintained an unwavering distance from the others, a testament to the young soldier''s flawless precision. Whooosh!! Blitzing through the dark, lightless void, they rapidly inched closer to the nightmarish monster still inducing a wave of carnage and terror in its wake. *** Tatiana and Naeraza fought valiantly, their strikes precise and unyielding, but, Clang! Clang! ...It wasn''t enough. The creature roared, its massive claws cleaving through flesh and bone with terrifying ease. Slasssh!!! Slasssh!!! Riiip!!! Bodies were torn apart, their screams swallowed by the chaos unfurling around. The tyrant!- like a monster summoned from the depths of hell, continued to sow discord and carnage- on the land above. *** The young soldier continued his assault from a safe distance, his arrows piercing the beast''s hide, each one buying the others a few precious seconds. ''But I knew a losing battle when I saw one.'' And sure enough, the tyrant''s milky white eyes finally locked onto the young soldier. Thump... Thump... In an instant, the world seemed to shift- growing colder, darker, as an oppressive presence bled into the very air. A suffocating silence slowly crept in. And worse- H-he could feel it. A crushing weight pressing down on him, tightening like invisible chains around his chest. "Huff... Huff." his breaths grew labored. Each inhale a battle. Each exhale a struggle. "hu... hu." A slow, insidious dread coiled around his chest, squeezing tighter with every passing second. Still, He gritted his teeth. Fear crept in, but he forced himself to shove it aside. Drawing his bowstring taut and loosing yet another arrow. Whoosh! Whiisssh!!! Each shot brought the group a silver of time, but I could see it- the cracks forming. From their rapid, strained breaths, to the rather "subtle" echoes of their heartbeat. It was rather obvious. T-hat- Thump. Thump. They wouldn''t last much longer. Chapter 16: Not Yet... Chapter 16: Not Yet...Tatiana swung her flanged mace with bone-crushing force, veins bulging in her hand as she struck. Swiipe-! The tyrant retaliated in an instant, its bony claws sliced through the air, aiming to cleave her in two. She ducked with fluid grace, the attack whistling past her hair. Step~ A swift roll carried her just out of reach as another set of claws shredded the space she stood moments prior. Springing to her feet, she spotted a gap in the Tyrant''s hardened exoskeleton. Her eyes glimmered faintly as she struck out with devastating force. Baaaaang!!! The attack collided with the tyrant''s hide, the impact sending it reeling backward in a cacophony of ear-piercing shrieks. Naeraza wasted no time. Lunging forward without hesitation, his spear plunged into the grievous wound inflicted upon the Tyrant by Tatiana. The result could be expected- The Tyrant was continuously pushed back, and with the rising flame unit joining in the siege, they were able to hold their ground against the tyrant. ...If even barely. *** The young soldier supported them from a safe distance. Whoosh!! Whisssh!! Arrows rained down from the sky, each one piercing through skin and hide, embedding deep into the tyrant''s flesh. This elicited a loud roar from the nightmarish creature, a roar so powerful it rattled their skulls and momentarily dulled their senses. And in that brief moment of disorientation- It moved. Like a whirlwind of death, it ripped through their ranks, tearing warriors apart in a desperate bid to strike down the young soldier. But- Slasssh! "Diee!!" The rising flame unit intercepted, casting aside all sense of fear and reason, they fought without a care for their lives. They no longer fought to survive. Instead, they fought to kill. At that moment, the world around them faded into insignificance. Nothing else existed and all that stood before then was the monster who had taken everything away from them. All that remained in their eyes was the... Tyrant. Their heart was overwhelmed by a piercing ache, and their chest felt heavy with a variety of emotion, until all that remained was~ ...A single, all-consuming killing intent. Like a tidal wave, it surged, threatening to swallow them whole. *** Seeing an opening, Tatiana rushed into the fore-front of the chaos, easily weaving and ducking through the Tyrant''s attacks, she struck relentlessly from its blind spot, each injury eliciting a deep sense of anger from the creature. Then- Its gaze shifted. Murderous intent, condensed to its purest form, locked onto her. Ba- dump. Ba- dump. Her surroundings seemed to vanish in an instant. The world constricting around her. Her breath hitched, her shoulders stiffening as a terrifying pressure descended on her. ''Crap!'' A chill crawled down her spine. Tak- Trembling, she immediately moved to retreat. To regroup. But before she could take a single step- Thud-! It was already there. Its cold, piercing eyes bore into her soul, sending chills slithering down her spine. It had arrived before her no longer than a few seconds, but to her, it felt like an eternity, each breath she took felt like a battle. "Huff... Hufff..." Each breath felt like an endless struggle. Then- Whoosh-! It struck. ...Was this the end? A claw tore through the air, engulfed in a burning whirlwind, it hurtled towards her at a terrifying speed. Tick... Tick... Tears welled in her eyes, dripping onto the blood-soaked ground. In that instant- time seemed to have slown down, as memories flashed through her mind. Being pulled from the slums by Napoleon. The warmth of friendship. The unbreakable bonds she had forged. Groundbreaker. Napoleon. And~ Her fianc¨¦. Her gaze flicked to Naeraza. A soft smile gracing her lips. Her fingers twitched around her flanged mace, the will to fight flickering within her. But, as if her body had been immobilized by an unseen force~ ...It refused to move. S-she couldn''t move. *** "Hu...hu..." Naeraza stood frozen, his limbs locked in invisible chains as time ticked excruciatingly slow. "Huff... Huff..." His breath came in short, ragged gasps and- Despair. Thump. Thump. It flooded his heart. Crashing over him in waves. Tears burned at the corner of his eyes, as a desperate, helpless agony tore through his heart. Various primal emotions warred within him, each one threatening to consume him. Until- "Noooo....!!!" It came. A raw, desperate roar tore from his throat. Without thinking, he lunged forward, every ounce of his strength converging into a single act- Baaaaang!!!! ''He did it!'' Slamming into her, the impact sent her flying backward. Crash-! Crash-! Baang! She tumbled through the air, her wide, tear-filled eyes never leaving him. Drip-! Drip-! Tears fell to the cold ground. At that moment, time came to a stop- or so it seemed. And then- ''No... No... Why!?'' Rage. Sorrow. Madness. They pierced right through her heart, each one hollowing her further. Her eyes remained locked on him as the hands.... the hands of judgement inched closer to him. *** S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thump... Thump... Naeraza''s heart pounded in his chest. He could feel it. See it, even. Death. ...It wasn''t so far away. "Huff... Huff..." With each breath he took, it crept closer. Every single moment- every single second, stretched into an endless eternity. Yet~ Thump... Thump... Even in the face of death. Even as death inched closer than ever. Naeraza simply smiled. He smiled at her- the most beautiful thing he''d ever known. Trembling~ Memories flooded his mind. Every moment spent together. Every laughter. Every fleeting touch. Every memory flooded his mind. Each one carving a deeper smile on his face. And as the moment lingered, that smile grew- It grew into a beaming smile. A smile that shattered the dark. That erased the darkness. ...If only for a single second. Drip-! Drip-! Tears slipped from his eyes now, falling freely until- Splatter! ''Nooooo.....!!!'' Crack-! She felt something inside her snap~ Thud-! Falling to her knees. Badump. Badump. She stared at Naeraza- or at least, what was left of him. Her hands trembled, her breath caught in her throat. Drip-! Drip-! Tears mingled with blood, fell onto the floor. Krrrthc~! A sharp, unrelenting agony tore through her chest, twisting deeply like a knife. *** And slowly- I felt it. I saw it. Anger. No, not just anger. It was something darker. Something beyond mere rage. I recognized it in an instant. Madness. It took root within her, coiling around her heart like a serpent. Like a blazing flame, it spread through her, rooting itself deeper within her. Wild and consuming- it devoured every last shred of sanity she ever held. And then- "Aaaaaargh....!!" She lunged forward, her scream raw and desperate. A piercing pain flooded her mind, drowning out all semblance of reasoning. But-, Thump. Thump. My heart pounded in my chest. I couldn''t let her die. A sharp, icy glint flashed in my eyes. Not yet... Chapter 17: Harrowing Plan. Chapter 17: Harrowing Plan.I knew I had to do something. BANG! That soon became obvious. It soon became clear. "....." As the rising flame unit continued to dwindle in number, the nightmare creature carving its way through their ranks, and as Tatiana somehow, miraculously, became capable of taking on the Tyrant- due to some heaven-defying miracle, I will call it. It all became glaringly clear that I had to act. Truly, emotions were the most powerful asset in man''s possession. *** Crack! Kra Kaa!! The ground beneath Tatiana caved in widely, shockwaves undulating outward in a violent burst of energy, and with a strong outburst of her athletic feet, she rapidly inched closer to the nightmarish creature still inducing a wave of carnage and terror in its wake. With the madness negating the dreadful, haunter abilities of the tyrant. It was literally no different from a normal tyrant- if a bit stronger. Along with the death of the Napoleon warriors- who charged headlong towards the monster, almost without a care for their lives. At this point, I even doubted they had that in mind. Their mind had long been consumed by rage and all they wanted was its death. All they wanted was the death of the monster who had taken everything away from them. With their help, albeit barely, Tatiana stood a chance. ...Though I knew that wouldn''t last for long. At the end of the day, I still had to do something. "Huff...Huff..." Taking in the views of my surroundings. ''What can I do... Something... I gotta do something. But what...?'' Just as desperation slowly crept in. Clench. Just as it slowly ignited within me. Click-! It vanished just as it came. And then- Thump... Thump... A dark smile tugged at the corner of my lips. Pieces and fragments of an idea slowly crept into my mind, each piece fixing into each other, until, before long- Ba- dump! Ba- dump! They slowly came together to form a- My smile widened. Harrowing plan. *** Thump... Thump... Without as much of a second thought, I lunged towards the runic binding chains. Standing before them, my heart pounded in my chest as I coiled the chains around my arms. Clang-! Clang-! Then, without an ounce of hesitation, I plunged into the endless darkness before me. Step~ Step~ Each step I took sent tremors rippling through my chest, each stride drawing me closer to the tyrant. "Huff...Huff..." I surged past the young soldier, each knock of his arrow piercing through the Tyrant''s impenetrable hide. In the blink of an eye, I was already far ahead- but not without leaving a few parting words behind: "Give it your best shot!" My voice was barely audible over the cacophony of ear piercing shrieks and the endless cries that cut through the dark night. But-, Thump. Thump. I was certain it was more than enough. *** The young soldier closed his eyes, and then- Click-! They snapped open. Zzzzrrr~ For the briefest moment, a crimson glow flickered in his gaze. A cold, expressionless look crept across his face as his grip tightened around the bow. Ba- dump! Ba- dump! Silently, with his heart pounding violently against his chest, he lifted the bow towards the sky and- Whooosh-! With a sharp twang, a brilliant crimson arrow tore through the void, a streak of light in the endless darkness. "Huff...Huff..." His breaths came ragged and uneven as he nocked the second arrow. And then- "Hu... Hu..." His vision blurred. Clench~ Biting his lower lips, he staggered, his body wavering. But with a flicker of determination burning in his chest, he let loose the final arrow. *** Each arrow struck the nightmarish creature with deadly precision. Blood splattered through the air as the tyrant let out a loud, blood-curdling shriek- One that rattled my skull and drowned out all other sounds. ''Perfect!'' Still running, I took in the harrowing sight before me. To be honest, I hadn''t expected such a level of skill from the young soldier. I only wanted him to do his best- to increase the chances of achieving my goal. But, the young soldier instead, outdid himself, and exceeded all expectations. ''Makes you wonder where he kept all those juice.'' For a brief moment, ny gaze snapped towards him. Blood dripped from the corner of his lips, staining the cold floor, as he collapsed onto his knees. Thud-! ''Guess that explains it.'' I noted. ...The aftermath of using such a powerful strike was finally catching up to him. But I could care less about that. Step~ Step~ Arriving at a considerably safe distance, I hurled the runic binding chains forward with every ounce of strength left within me. Whoosh-! Clang-! The runic chains arced through the cold, night sky, every single moment they lingered in the air- every single second, felt like an eternity to me. Perhaps even longer. Ba- dump. Ba- dump. As though realizing what I was trying to do. Tatiana- the last Napoleon warrior still standing- rammed into the tyrant''s hind legs. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With but sheer force, she succeeded in throwing it off its feet. Then, without as much as an ounce of hesitation, she activated her titan''s grip and-, Clench! She latched onto the beast, crushing it with every last bit of strength she had left. Fueled by the madness and insanity still burning furiously within her chest, she tightened her grip, squeezing as though her very life depended on it. She tightened her grip around it, just in time for- Clang-! The runic binding chains to easily coil around both of them. And then- "Now. Kill it...!!" It came. Her desperate cry shattered the silence. What a mad woman. I thought, but considering what she had been through, I guess it was called for. Still, I couldn''t afford to be sentimental. Not now. What needed to be done... had to be done. "Huff... Huff..." Regaining my senses, I rolled forward and grabbed a spear. My hand tightened around it. But just then, my breath froze- Clang-! Clang-! The Tyrant was on the verge of breaking free from the grasp of the runic binding chains and the irritating ant holding onto it. ''Crap!'' A cold glint flickered in my eyes as I hurled the spear forward with every ounce of strength left within me. Zzzzrrr~ The spear pierced through the darkness at a breathtaking speed before easily piercing through the tyrant and ...Tatiana. Thud-! Thud-! They both dropped onto the ground with a loud thud. *** But- Even as she took her last breath. I felt them. I saw them. The faint sense of relief. The glee. The liberation. In that moment, they all overflowed from her. Drip-! Drip-! Tears dripped onto the cold floor beneath her. The sound, unheard within the endless dark. A weak, fragile smile tugged at the corner of her lips as- ''I did it. I did it guys... I avenged you all. I-I avenged us...'' She collapsed onto the blood-soaked ground with a loud crashing thud, tears streaming down the corner of her eyes. Relief, fleeting yet soothing, coursed through every fiber of her being¡ªlike the final sigh after a long-fought battle, Both liberating and bittersweet. Chapter 18: You Still Have To Die. Chapter 18: You Still Have To Die."Huff... Huff..." I took in several, deep breaths as the adrenaline within me slowly abbed away. "...." Taking in the view of my surroundings- from the carnage, to the splintered bones and rumpled organs. I couldn''t help but let out a deep sigh. Then- S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Huuu..." My gaze snapped to my surroundings. The battlefield was littered with the mangled corpses of the larvae and- Zzzzrr~ A cold glint flashed across my eyes. It was finally time to give the treacherous bastard just what he deserves. My gaze flicked to Anarzel who sat on the blood-soaked ground, his chest heaving up and down as the adrenaline within him, moments prior, slowly ebbed away. Step... Step... Each step I took sent tremors rippling through his chest Standing before Anarzel, I coldly glanced at him. "If it isn''t the treacherous bastard," I said, taking one step towards him, the pounding of his chest echoing in my ears. "So... have you decided?" ".....?!" Anarzel grimaced. "Decided on what?" Now on his feet, his resolute gaze lingered on me, each second in the stifling silence sent dread rippling through him. *** ...He knew it had already come to this. All his efforts to stop Roselle from escaping had all come to naught. And now- Thump... Thump... One of them had to come out of here- "On how you want to die..." Alive. Klaus said word for word, each word radiating intense killing intent. But, "Haa..." Anarzel simply smiled. "You know something?" "...." Klaus scowled. Anarzel continued anyway, seemingly speaking to himself, than to anyone else. "I always had high hopes. In fact, I was filled with the highest expectations," he said with a weak smile. "Ever since we were just mere kids, you displayed astonishing potential, and everyone expected so much from you Roselle. And us- we were just mere extras in your grand story." "Hahahaha," Anarzel laughed, the sound raw and hoarse in the stifling silence. "I-It was almost as if you were the main character of some fictional story, and w-we were just mere fillers." "....?!" Klaus said nothing, his nonchalant gaze boring a chilling hole through Anarzel. A light, hollow laugh escaped Anarzel''s lips, the pain in his chest intensifying with each word. "The time of awakening eventually came and like no one would expect of us, o-of me. I awakened the highest esper talent of our generation. You know... from that moment, I thought everything would change." "Haa..." A weak smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "At that moment, I thought everyone would finally look up to me. But that never happened. They all still looked up to you. They all still adored you." Despite the heavy feeling pressing down on his chest, his smile grew brighter. "Even with your weak talent- you showed me just why they all respected you. You proved that your wits and brain were by far, the most dangerous weapons in your possession." "So... I followed you Roselle. Even as the empire crumbled under your reign. I never left you. I always followed you." Drip-! Drip-! Tears came freely now, his eyes eerily red as the pain in his chest intensified multiple fold. "I always did." "But, at that moment, I had to choose," he said, his voice cracking. "I had to pick Roselle," he said weakly as tears gushed out uncontrollably. "I had to pick between you or... my wife and daughters." "I had to..." he repeated, his voice growing weaker with each word. Trembling~ And with- Clench! Tightly clenched hands, his knees showed signs of buckling as a quiet sob broke out of his chest. *** Indeed, months before the battle began with the Napoleon Empire, Anarzel''s wife and daughters went missing. The empire did everything in its prowess to find them. To get them back. But, it was all to no avail. All their search ended up in dead ends. It was almost as if his daughters and wife had suddenly vanished from the face of the earth. But who would have thought... They were all taken as captives by Napoleon. Subconsciously, a smile tugged at the corner of my lips as the memories of the war flashed across my mind. The nonchalance Napoleon displayed in the battle to Anarzel ordering for a retreat to his non commitment to the battle. Everything was starting to make sense. It all now made sense. But even then- Zzzrrrr~ My cold gaze still lingered on him. And my words... remain unchanged. Taking a step forward, "You still have to die, Anarzel." I calmly said. "Haa..." A light smile crept up his face. Guess it still came to this. His gaze flicked towards me, his eyes growing moist. "There''s no need for that Roselle." ".....?!" "I just want you to know I''ve always respected and admired you- as much as I''d been jealous of you." his weak smile seemed to illuminate the darkness clouding his heart, if only for a single moment. "If you do eventually get strong enough. I do hope that you save Mia and my daughters. And-" He broke off, tears streaking down the corner of his face as a terrifying pain pierced right through his heart. "T-tell them that I''m sorry." And just then- No....! My eyes widened. "Bastard!" I surged forward in an instant. But- Puchi-! I was still a second late. He collapsed in my arms, a weak smile still adorning his face even in his last moments. "I''m sorry Emperor... I''m sorry..." his voice cracked as he spoke, tears streaming down his eyes. In that moment, I felt his pain and the various conflicting emotions warring within him. The loyalty he held towards Roselle to the love he held for his family. They all came together to form the current Anarzel. They all came together to give birth to what he''d become. Chapter 19: Within A Dark, Lightless Cave. Chapter 19: Within A Dark, Lightless Cave.Silence. It lingered. "....." I stared at Anarzel''s lifeless corpse, unsure of how to respond. Basically, the Arcane Trial- to some extent- had to do with acting the role one had been thrust into. And the real Roselle would have likely broken into tears. But- "Haa..." I exhaled softly. I wasn''t Roselle. And while I''d admit that I was indeed affected by his death- if only barely. As the young master of the Winchester family, it was nothing I couldn''t handle. It was a scene I was very much used to. My gaze lingered on him and for a second or so, I didn''t know what to say. "May your soul rest in peace, Anarzel," I eventually said. Seconds passed in heavy silence before I spoke again. "To be honest, I don''t blame you." I crouched down beside him. "If I were in your shoes, I''d have probably done the same thing." But- A weak smile crept onto my lips. If there''s one thing that has been indoctrinated into me more than anything else- "Haa..." It was that a man must never break his word. Irrespective of anything. Unless... he had absolutely no other choice. "Oh, the Winchester family." A great family indeed. Forcing the smile to linger, I pushed myself to my feet. My gaze shifted to the young soldier. His gaze lingered on Anarzel, his eyes flickering with numerous untold emotions. With a final glance at Anarzel, I exhaled lightly and- Step~ Step~ Walked towards the young soldier. *** Three days passed in the blink of an eye. During that time, we hiked over a mountain that cut across our path- a supposed shortcut to the Napoleon empire, according to the young soldier. The journey was anything but easy, but by the time we reached the other side, we had made a decision. Both of us would sign with the security company situated just beyond the borders of the Napoleon empire. It was more than a job- it was a way to grow strong enough to protect the empire, from anything and anyone. It was also a chance to rescue Anarzel''s wife and daughters. That''s, if I didn''t lose my life in the process. Not that I believed anyone could really be a threat to me in the Napoleon empire. But in case they were... I would know well to retreat. *** On the night of the fourth day, within a dark, lightless cave. We had found it moments prior when the sun was setting, painting the world in a million shades of crimson. It was hidden behind some tall rocks, the crevice ending up in a small, well-concealed cave that could keep the freezing cold away. Crouching forward, I attempted to unbundle some firewood, but the young soldier stopped me with a shake of his head. "We should probably camp without making fire." ".....?" S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Deep inside such a cave. Attracting any strong monster is..." his voice trailed off but- I understood more than enough. Nodding~ "Guess you''re right," I said under my breath. Though that still didn''t change the fact that camping without the warm flames to keep us company was going to be rather unpleasant, but on the bright side of things, we weren''t going to freeze to death. I sat down, putting my back against the cave''s dark wall. The young soldier who sat opposite me, looked troubled and thoughtful- as though he were lost in a thousand thoughts. It was quite obvious that he was in a strange mood. If anything, he looked... confused. Soon, the sun was gone, and the small cave became entirely dark. Of course, I could still see perfectly well in total darkness; the young soldier, on the other hand, was now completely blind. And for some reason, we both seemed unwilling to fall asleep. Or rather, it was the other way around... *** After a while, the young soldier suddenly spoke in a quiet voice, his voice blending with the stillness of the night. "You know... it''s strange. Even in total darkness, I can always sense a presence. But with you- there''s nothing." Thump... Thump... He paused, his tone shifting ever-so slightly. "It''s almost as if you are one with the shadows." His words were met with a silence that felt stifling in the endless darkness. Then- "Are you asleep?" he asked. His words echoed in the dark. But- "....." I didn''t answer. Thump... Thump... Not yet. Silence. It lingered. The sound of our heartbeats echoing louder with each passing second. And then- "Are you asking just to put an end to it, young soldier?" The air between us turned razor-sharp. Our ragged breaths scraping against the dark. A cold glint flickered in his eyes, and I smiled- If just a little. "Or should I say... Colonel Wenchi."