บท 247: Yin and Yang
". . .Who are you?"
The gruesome man grinned, "Harrith, aspiring scientist about to take the world by storm!"
Travis was unfamiliar with that name, "Scientist? What are you studying?"
"The Twelve swords of legend of course. Specifically the Lower Eight."
"So that's why you kidnapped me? To obtain my sword?"
Harrith frowned, "No! That would be pointless! Instead I kidnapped you for you! A wielder of the Lower Eight!"
"Me? What do you want me for?"
"Now that's a proper question~! First we need to dive into my rich history."
Harrith coughed, "As a young boy I went through many a hardship, as my father was a dwarf and my mother a human. When I was born I was immediately outcast, the proud dwarves shamed me for being only a half one. The humans unwilling to accept a hybrid."
Harrith walked over to a wooden stand on the verge of rotting and placed a hand on it, "Despite me being an outcast there was one thing I always looked up to. The story of The Twelve. Legendary swords forged by Borus himself. How their wielder's held power above those of the same Stage. Oh how I longed to see them, the dream of every dwarf. . ."
Harrith opened a drawer in the wooden stand and picked up a key, "I suffered for many years, following old trails. Myths and local legends, cross referencing and investigating. So many times ended in disappointment."
Harrith walked over to a dark corner of the room, "Many times I almost considered giving up. But the thought of seeing one of the very swords of every dwarf's dream! I pushed on, to show that I can be better than them!"
Harrith pulled out a long box from the dark corner and placed it on the wooden stand, "After decades of effort! Decades! I finally did it, I obtained one of the swords from the legends!"
Using the key he unlocked the box. He pulled out a wrapped object and undid the tightly bound cloth, he then pulled a sword from its sheath. There it stood, a brilliantly white sword with gold engravings. Harrith caressed it carefully, "The sword created in the holy realm, causing the collapse of the Seventh Heaven. The Lower Eight sword Lucidus Lumen!"
Harrith slid it back in its sheath and visibly shivered, "It gives me chills every time~"
He then walked to Travis, "But then I became obsessed with another question. Why can a wielder only hold one of the swords? So I spent my life researching this, testing it thoroughly. Until at long last I found the answer, it was because each sword is naturally incompatible with another. Like two puzzle pieces never meaning to fit together."
Harrith tapped Travis' forehead with the pommel, "Yet I had a theory, an incredibly dangerous theory. What if. . . what if there was a wielder so opposite from this sword that they could actually wield it as well? Like yin and yang, so different yet inseparable."
Travis' eyes narrowed. Harrith saw this and a grin spread across their face, "You understand, don't you? An Abyssal Being! Wielding the power of the Abyss, from the Abyss! You are the polar opposite of the Holy light! So what if you are the yang to yin? Can the term opposites attract work in this situation? Can someone really wield two of the Twelve Swords? That's what we're going to find out!"
Travis grit his teeth, "You're crazy, that will never work! Do you understand how a wielder is bound to the sword?!"
"By a mutual bond, naturally I know this much. That's why we are going to see if your sword is willing to make some exceptions to save you. If not, then you'll fade away like all the others!"
Travis' heart rate rapidly increased. He was no stranger to players attempting to wield two of the Twelve Swords. Several attempts were made in his past timeline. What had occurred? The crippling of their account.
The backlash was immense, it reduced their stats to atoms, crippling them beyond repair. Each player who forced it had no choice but to start over again!
Travis was afraid! Afraid of the methods Harrith was about to use to force the connection, afraid of his progress being lost!
He struggled to escape the chains, "You're crazy! Beyond crazy! How many have you killed?!"
"They all call me crazy! Crazy! But I'll show them. I'll show you!"
Harrith lifted Abe and placed him in Travis' hand, "Hold on tightly! It might just be your lifeline!"
'That guy is crazy! Whatever you do fight against it with all your might! If you fail to resist your body will not be able to handle it!'
Travis clenched his jaw, "I know!"
Harrith unsheathed the sword again, once again examining the brilliant white blade, "Now is the moment. . . The moment I have been waiting for!"
He gripped Travis' hand and forced it open, "You can't resist~ After all that's what the drug is for~"
'Do not give in!'
<Warning!!!>
<Warning!!!>
<Warning!!!>
<User is attempting to wield another weapon. Due to the life-bound sword [Harbinger of the Abyss], User is unable to wield the weapon. Further attempt may result in terrible repercussions!>
Arcs of mana formed between his palm and Lucidus Lumen, causing jolts of pain to rise up his arm.
<WARNING!!!>
<Do NOT continue! User will face terrible repercussions for their actions!>
A glowing light began to spread across Travis' arm. It almost looked like his veins were glowing.
Travis shouted, "You psychopath! You'll pay for this!"
"Not if I don't succeed!"
The pain intensified and a scream of pain escaped Travis, his body quivered from the sheer effort of rejecting the sword.
<!!!WARNING!!!>
The sword touched Travis' palm, and his vision turned white.
~ ~ ~
"Tch, that old man actually dared to continue? I won't proceed in his inhumane experiments."
A figure stood in a white space. They were dressed in white clothing with gold lining, a hood over their head. The entire outfit looked similarly to an assassin outfit from a popular game franchise.
Underneath the hood was a pale figure with brilliant gold hair with golden eyes to match.
They stood with their arms crossed, a furious expression on their face, "These experiments have actually harmed me so much! I'd ought to-"
Footsteps was suddenly heard, they figure turned towards the source and raised an eyebrow, "Oh? You actually dared visit me. I have no doubt this is causing you great harm. Isn't that right Abe?"
Abe had a pained expression, his body smoking from the abundant Holy energy in the area. The polar opposite of him. Despite that he walked forward, "I've come to talk Lumen."
"I suppose I should grant your audience, considering the amount of effort you need to enter here. Yet I doubt we have time for pleasantries, so let's get straight to the point."
"I. . . want you to work with me."
"Declined, please leave."
"Please."
Lumen was taken aback, "You're-!"
Abe grit his teeth, "This guy, I can guarantee you he's the most worthy wielder of them all. His want to improve is second to none, his current power exist beyond his current Stage. His potential is limitless. It would be a waste for him to fail here!"
Lumen merely stared at Abe, not saying anything.
Abe took a step forward, "I know we have our differences, I know we have our past. But please, let's set this aside and just, try to work together."
"Those aren't the words I want to hear Abe."
Abe looked down, "I'm sorry, I know it's wrong. I should have convinced him. I know I can't take it back. If- if there is any chance you can forgive me, I'll take it."
"You murdered my Wielder Abe!"
Abe grit his teeth, "I know! I know. . . I've regretted it ever since! I managed to break free from that tyrannical wielder's control! I've spent so long trying to figure out a way to make up for what I did. I just didn't expect to meet here."
"I truly cared for them, they were perfect. A person with fantastic ideals, and an affinity with me I've never experienced before. Do you have any idea what it's like to have that robbed from you?"
". . ."
"Answer me Abe!"
"I don't! I don't want to! Yet I fear I am going to be put through the exact same pain you went through, and I'm afraid."
"It's due to your own actions Abe, you caused this."
Abe took another step forward, the smoke intensifying around him, "It's something I know I can never take back! No matter how badly I want to! I-"
Abe stumbled to a knee, the smoke increasing further.
Yet he did not retreat, "I finally understand, what it's like to have someone you don't want to lose. Someone you want to grow alongside with. Despite his obvious flaws and obsessions, despite his crazed want of revenge and power. Despite all this I don't want him to leave!"
Lumen turned her back, "Perhaps this is Karma. You shall feel the same way as I did."
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