Chapter 20: Call of the Void (9)
[!!]
Nicolai suddenly woke up, and raised his upper body off the ground.
[How long was I unconscious?]
He mused, trying to recollect himself.
"Urk!"
A sharp pain coming from his chest spread throughout his body.
He lowered his gaze to the source of the pain and found an open wound in the middle of his chest.
Blood slowly trickled down from said wound.
[... A few centimeters to the left and he would have killed me...]
His eyes quivered in rage and he grit his fangs.
"...What was that?..."
"How could someone suddenly possess that much magic power out of nowhere?"
"And those markings that were on his body... What the fuck is going on..."
He muttered under his breath and stumbled to his feet, he then ripped whatever fabric was left of his shirt and placed it on his stab wound.
Nicolai glanced around his surroundings and noticed that he was on top of the surface of the scorched mountain.
[Did the shockwaves blow the magma away?]
He wondered, not seeing a drop of magma on the surface of the mountain.
Nicolai narrowed his eyes into the distance and noticed a figure taking labored breaths, laying flat on its back.
[That bastard... he's still alive?!]
Nicolai dragged his body and staggered toward where Hawke was.
Hawke noticed the figure approaching him and forced his body to stand, but he managed to only get up to his knees.
Blood cascaded from the entire right side of his body, dyeing his once pale skin in a gory red and the wings on his back adorned by burnt feathers.
[Fuck... Here we go again...]
Hawke clenched his fists and raised them high.
"Hey... that was my trumpcard you know? Why can't you just die you damn Demon?"
Hawke spoke in a lethargic voice, his fists trembling, an indication of his pain and exhaustion.
"...What... was that?"
Nicolai asked, his eyes narrowed at Hawke's trembling figure.
"Don't know, just something my old man taught me. "
Hawke responded nonchalantly.
"I see..."
"You said you couldn't have any children right?"
Nicolai asked a follow up question.
"...Yes..."
Hawke responded bitterly, understanding the reason for Nicolai's question.
"Good... Because I would've had to come back here and kill them!"
Nicolai spat, his fist covered by a dim flame.
[This damn bird's bloodline is dangerous... I will kill anything that has potential to harm my liege!]
Nicolai spat inwardly and slowly wobbled toward Hawke.
"Argh..."
Hawke groaned and forced himself to his feet.
*b — zz —T!*
He attempted to imbue his fists with lightning but his mana reserves were far too little for that.
*Crackle...*
Dim hues of his mana wrapped themselves around his fists instead lightning.
[This will have to do...]
He readied his posture and prepared to engage Nicolai.
*Vrr!*, *Vrr!*, *Vrr!*
Suddenly, Nicolai felt a vibration on the back pocket of his torn pants.
He reached his hand into it and took out his Aetherlink Codex, which is the name of the aforementioned magical device that allows commutation between two or more parties.
He opened the device and saw a letter from none other than the Demon King.
The message was short and concise:
<<Nicolai, RETURN. >>
His eyes trembled upon seeing the letter from his liege.
[My Lord rarely contacts me. Is there an emergency?]
He mused, ripping out the page after responding that he is on his way.
A blue flame engulfed the page.
[I must return but... I need to kill this fucking bird first.]
"*huff*,*huff*. What's the matter Demon? I'm ready to go whenever you are."
[Is the Demon King calling for him?]
[Shit... I don't know if I want him to leave or stay.]
[On one hand I've run out of mana so I can barely fight back...]
[On the other hand, if he leaves and tells the Demon King what I've done, then Frostfront is sure to perish.]
Hawke contemplated, biting his lower lip as his fatigued body trembled.
"... Yes... But I'm not going anywhere until I kill you."
Nicolai said in a chilling tone.
"Bring it on!"
Hawke shouted, a sour grin etched across his face.
[I barely have enough mana to fly back to Duskmire... I have to finish him in one blow.]
Nicolai mused, his fist crackling dimly.
*Step*,*Step*.
He stepped forward, prompting Hawke who could barely stand to tighten his fists.
But...
"CAPTAIIIN!!"
A familiar voice echoed through the air and a figure with bright bronze skin appeared, flying toward Hawke and Nicolai.
"Tch!"
Nicolai clicked his tounge.
"Another fucking bird?!"
"You're lucky, Hawke Featherblade, the next time I see you I will be sure to kill you with my bare hands!"
Nicolai spat and hurridly left the scene.
*Thud!*
Lark landed a few seconds later and ran toward his captain.
"Shit..."
*Plop!*
All the tension and adrenaline left Hawke's body and he fell to the ground.
"Captain are you okay?!"
Clearly he was not... He had first degree burns and blood all over his body and his wings were semi-charred.
"Lark... I think... We're fucked..."
After muttering those words, Hawke's consciousness faded.
///
*BOOOM!*
The earth shook violently, forcing Anaise to awake from her slumber.
[!!]
[What is that?! An earthquake?]
She glanced toward Berkah who was fast asleep at her side and got off the bed.
Anaise hurriedly run outside of the house and her eyes went wide after seeing the bright light in the skies.
*Chatter!*, *Chatter!*
Groups of Harpies came out of their houses to investigate, gasps and the like could be heard from the crowds.
[Isn't that where... Hawke went?]
Anaise's green eyes shook in terror as she beheld the giant ball of fire and lightning in the skies, she knew that only Hawke could use lightning of that caliber in this area.
[!!]
[What is going on?!]
She glanced to her side and saw the innkeeper of the house they rented.
An old woman with fragile wings and an arched back.
"Please look after my child, I need to go!"
Her request bewildered the old woman.
"Wh —what do you mean you need to go?!"
"You don't mean you're going to that explosion are you?!"
The old woman cried out.
"I don't have time to explain, will you please look after him? My husband is in danger!"
Anaise pleaded, pointing at the explosion with her wing.
"O — okay."
The old woman relented and watched as Anaise flew into the sky.
///
*Drip*. *Drip*.
[Ugh... why is there water dripping on face?]
Berkah mused, rubbing his sleepy eyes to regain his vision.
[Hm?! Where the fuck am I?!]
As he regained his vision, his eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
He found himself lying on top of a cloud, the warm rays from the sunlight gently hugging his tiny frame.
"The fuck is happening...."
He muttered under his breath, the smaller cloud above him precipitating and drizzling on his face.
Berkah moved his body to avoid the water.
[...]
"Seriously where the fuck am I?? How am I standing on top of a cloud?!"
Berkah screamed, his face riddled with confusion.
"Did I... die again?"
"Fuck... Did that blue-haired dude strangle me in my sleep?!"
"Damn you deadbeat!!!"
He clenched his fist and roared into the sky.
"... Nah, I'm just kidding..."
[I still have wings on my back, so I'm definitely not dead right?]
"...Or did I get reincarnated as a cupid or some shit? Pfft!"
He snorted jokingly and began walking toward the edge of the cloud.
[!!]
Upon reaching the edge of the cloud Berkah saw an intense, almost tangible darkness beneath it.
"Woah... How is it so dark down there when the sun is out?"
"Hmm... let's see how deep it is..."
*Bzzzt!*
Lighting crackled and swirled to his arm.
[Yep, I still have mana so I'm definitely not dead...]
■■ Thunder Lance! ■■
He cast his spell and formed a long spear made of lighting and threw it into the darkness.
*Fwosh!*
The spear tore through the air but did nothing to illuminate the darkness, it was as if the light from the spear was completely consumed.
Rather... The Mana itself was consumed...
"...Ju...."
Suddenly, Berkah heard a whisper coming from within the deep darkness.
"HIEK! What the fuck was that?!"
Berkah felt chills down his spine due to the inaudible whisper.
"...Ju...m..."
"Is there someone in there? What are they trying to say?"
Berkah leaned over and narrowed his eyes into the darkness, trying to discern the figure of whoever was calling.
"...Jump..."
The voice this time was much more audible.
"HUH? Jump? Are you fucking insane whoever you are?! Why would I jump?!"
Berkah yelled at the mysterious voice.
"Jump...Jump...Jump...Jump..."
"Nope! Shut the fuck up!"
"What the fuck is this? A suicide encouragement chant?"
"I'm not jumping! LALALALA!!!"
Berkah covered his ears and attempted to blockout the voice.
"JUMP! "
The voice roared like thunder.
"*GRIT!*"
"Fine! I'll do it! Mama didn't raise a bitch!"
He pointed his middle fingers at the endless darkness.
[Besides... where else am I gonna go?]
[There's no end to this darkness, it's almost as if the whole world is made up of it.]
[And I have my magic so, coming back from down there shouldn't be an issue...]
Berkah folded his arms and grinned.
"Alright you stupid fucking voice... I'll jump!"
Berkah's piercing blue eyes shone ferociously and he jumped off of the cloud and into the darkness.
What awaits him down there is yet to be seen...
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone