章節 9: chapter 9: unwilling heart
The air between Lucien and Fenris was electric, crackling with a tension so palpable it seemed to hum in the stillness of the forest. The shadows stretched long around them, as if the trees themselves leaned in to witness their confrontation. A hulking, scarred warrior—stood unmoving, his gaze locked onto Lucien.
3days before
Valeri was stuck in a clinic, he was out cold for almost a full day, and when he woke up, although unable to move, his injuries showed progress of healing. In that time, Lucien faced brief encounters with Ezekiel. Gathering as much Intel as possible. The 3days spent was the time it took for the classifications to be processed, lucky for them, Valeris Injuries healed just before the third day. Truly a wonder the heakjng caoabilties that came from Mana. And on the final Day, Ezekiel gave them both teleportation crystals. As a token of appreciation for Lucien spending time with him for the brief period. However before they left the building, he left then a warning, an imminent danger awaiting them in the forest. And it wasn't a singular threat. Upon Arriving at the forest, they were met with the shock of figuring out just what that threat was. A figure, fast in its approach towards them, struck at Lucien, Lucien with his quick Reflexes pushed Valeri away but didn't have enough time to defend himself and as such was sent flying away. As the figure stood, the dust settling, his face became clear. It was A man even Valeri knew, and had met previously in the game. Notorious for his immense Strength, Aiden Aamr—Fenris, a battle freak in the game and the real world, his scars were a testament to his Crazed obsession with fighting. He was Valeris Motivation to grow, in their brief encounter, Valeri had watched the man battle for hoirs ok end without a break, winning every competitor with only his fists, no ki enhancement, no mana, no personal attribute.
What did a man like him want with Lucien.
The dense canopy of the forest shuddered as the ground beneath them cracked from the force of Fenris's charge. His fist, blazing with unrestrained mana, collided with Reaper's twin blades in a deafening impact that sent shockwaves rippling through the trees. Leaves scattered like ashes in a wildfire, the air thick with volatile energy as the two combatants squared off.
"You're strong, Fenris," Reaper said, his voice calm and precise even as he skidded back to maintain his footing. His ebony blades gleamed faintly, absorbing the faint traces of mana in the air. "But brute strength alone won't save you here."
Fenris didn't bother with a response. Words were a waste of time when fists could speak louder. His golden eyes burned with focused rage as he lunged forward again, his raw speed forcing Reaper to sidestep in a flash of movement that barely avoided the blow.
Reaper's precision was undeniable, each swing of his blades aimed at exploiting Fenris's openings. A flurry of slashes cut through the air, each one designed to cripple. Fenris raised his arm, letting the edges of the blades glance off his reinforced gauntlets, the sparks flying like fireflies in the dark.
"Too slow," Fenris growled, his voice like rolling thunder.
He retaliated with a devastating punch aimed at Reaper's chest. Reaper twisted at the last moment, the blow grazing him, but the shockwave it produced sent him hurtling into a nearby tree. Splinters flew as the trunk cracked under the force, but Reaper landed on his feet, unscathed but impressed.
Before Reaper could recover, the fight took a chaotic turn. Valeri, disoriented and still struggling from his earlier wounds, stumbled into the clearing. His vision blurred, his mind sluggish, he moved without realizing he had stepped into the crossfire.
"Valeri, move!" Reaper shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.
But it was too late. Fenris, mid-swing, didn't notice him. His wild punch, blazing with fiery mana, connected squarely with Valeri's side. The impact sent Valeri flying like a ragdoll, crashing through bushes and landing with a sickening thud against a tree.
The forest fell silent for a heartbeat. Fenris froze, his fiery aura dimming slightly as he realized what had just happened. His gaze snapped to Valeri, who groaned weakly, clutching his ribs.
"You idiot," Reaper spat, his voice colder than ever. "You can't even control your own strength."
Fenris's fists clenched, anger flickering in his eyes, though whether it was directed at Reaper or himself was unclear. "He shouldn't have been there," he muttered, his voice low but seething.
Reaper didn't wait for a reply. He surged forward, his twin blades flashing in the dim light. "Focus, Fenris!" he barked.
The battle reignited with even more intensity, but Fenris's movements had changed. He was still powerful, still relentless, but there was a hesitation, a flicker of doubt in his strikes. Reaper exploited it mercilessly, his blades finding openings that hadn't been there before.
Valeri, groaning in pain, tried to crawl away, his broken ribs making every movement agony. The sight of his friend injured only fueled Fenris's rage, his mana flaring brighter as he swung at Reaper with renewed fury.
"You think you can lecture me?" Fenris roared, his voice shaking the forest.
"And you think brute strength can fix your mistakes?" Reaper retorted, parrying another devastating blow.
The tension between them reached a fever pitch, their clashing energies threatening to tear the forest apart. All the while, Valeri's labored breaths served as a grim reminder of the collateral damage their reckless battle had caused.
The air was thick with an eerie stillness, broken only by the crunch of leaves under Valeri's hesitant steps. He stumbled slightly, wincing as pain shot through his ribs. His breathing was labored, his body still reeling from Fenris's earlier blow. Ahead of him, Fenris moved with an unrelenting stride, his imposing figure cutting through the dim light that filtered through the dense canopy. Behind them, Lucien—calm and composed—trailed as if unaffected by the ominous atmosphere.
Fenris spoke first, his voice a low, guttural command.
"You took the Nebulae Ring from the Gorge Devourer's cave. I want it back."Lucien raised an eyebrow, his lips quirking into a lopsided smirk.
"Is that how you greet an old friend, Fenris? By throwing his vanguard around like a sack of potatoes?"
Fenris didn't flinch. His dark, scarred face remained a mask of cold indifference, though his knuckles flexed.
"I don't have time for games, Perceval. The ring. Now."Lucien chuckled, the sound sharp and mocking, like a blade scraping against stone. He leaned lazily against a tree, inspecting his fingernails as though Fenris's towering figure was beneath his notice.
"You must be desperate to come crawling to me. I thought you were the 'undisputed,' the warrior who never loses. And yet, here you are, begging like a stray dog for scraps."
Fenris's eyes narrowed, and the heat in the air intensified. The oppressive aura made Valeri shudder, even as his mind screamed at him to flee. But Fenris's voice, calm yet brimming with menace, cut through the rising tension.
"I don't beg, Lucien. Not to anyone, and certainly not to you. If I didn't need your pathetic tricks, I'd have taken what I want by now."
Lucien's smirk widened, his tone taking on a taunting edge.
"Ah, there it is—the famous Fenris arrogance. You know, for someone so obsessed with his own power, you're awfully reliant on people like me to clean up your messes."
Fenris took a step closer, his towering frame casting a shadow over Lucien. His voice dropped to a near growl.
"You always talk too much. It's why people like you die early."
Lucien tilted his head, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Oh, Fenris, if I had a coin for every time someone threatened me, I'd be richer than your silly Ant Yoda Guild. But here I am, still alive and still annoying you."
"You look half-dead, Valeri," Lucien remarked casually, adjusting his gloves. "That's an improvement from fully dead, I suppose."
"It is the Ananta Yuddha Guild, you silly little man." Fenris shot back, paying no heed to the injured Valeri.
"I should know how to pronounce the guild I helped you name Fenris, and could you be gentle on my Vanguard, I've only just got him."
Valeri shot him a glare but said nothing, his pride preventing him from showing weakness. Fenris, however, paid no mind to either of them, his focus locked ahead.
Valeri, still clutching his arm, couldn't help but marvel at Lucien's audacity. He spoke to Fenris—the Fenris—like he was an irritating underling.
Fenris crossed his arms, his gaze unrelenting.
"You gave me the ring once before. In that world. You know how to retrieve it. You always have."
Lucien's amusement didn't falter, but his tone shifted, a subtle edge of seriousness creeping in.
"Oh, that world? You mean the one where you pranced around like a god until reality came crashing down? Face it, Fenris—your glory days are over. You need me because you've realized brute force won't solve this."
Fenris's jaw tightened, but he refused to rise to the bait.
"Enough. You know where it is. Bring it to me."
Lucien stepped forward, his posture casual but his voice laced with mock pity.
"You don't even know what you're asking for, do you? The Nebulae Ring isn't just hidden—it's displaced. You destroyed the Gorge Devourer's cave for nothing. The ring isn't in the material world anymore. It's in the Void, trapped in that delightful little in-between where reality likes to unravel."
Fenris's eyes flashed with a mixture of frustration and intrigue
"Take me to where you killed the beast" Lucien said, his voice sharper as he healed Valeris wounds.
After a few moments Valeri, still in pain, Lucien and Fenris headed to the cave's direction, Lucien had a terrible sense of direction, and Valeri had not explored the forest long enough to know where the cave was, so their best bet was the man who destroyed the cave himself.
"We're close," Fenris growled, his voice sharp and clipped. "The core is just ahead."
Lucien smirked, his tone dripping with mockery. "Ah, yes. Lead the way, oh fearless brute, while I handle the thinking as usual."
Fenris halted abruptly, turning to face Lucien. His towering frame loomed over him, a scowl etched into his features. "Don't push your luck, Lucien," he warned. "You're lucky I even tolerate you."
Lucien raised an eyebrow, unbothered. "And you're lucky I have what you lack—brains. Without me, you'd still be swinging at shadows."
Fenris snarled but said nothing, resuming his pace. Valeri noticed the tension but kept quiet, his mind racing. Despite Fenris's intimidating presence, it was clear Lucien held the upper hand in their dynamic.
The trio reached a clearing where the massive skeleton of the Gorge Devourer lay sprawled. Its once-formidable frame was now a crumbling husk, its jagged ribs rising like the remnants of a fortress.
"Impressive," Lucien mused, kneeling beside the remains. "You managed to kill a creature imbued with void energy. I'll admit, Fenris, I'm slightly impressed."
Fenris crossed his arms, his expression a mix of pride and annoyance. "It wasn't easy," he admitted. "That thing was sent here by the void itself to retrieve some damn heirloom from the Eastern Kingdom. Never completed its mission, though—it got stuck between a gorge, laid eggs, and died here. I killed the brood while searching for the Nebulae Ring."
Lucien chuckled, his eyes gleaming with interest. "A creature born of the void, corrupted and evolved to serve its purpose. Pity it failed. Still, it makes sense now why the ring ended up in the void. The realm's greed knows no bounds."
Fenris frowned. "The void doesn't just take—it corrupts. That beast was stronger, faster, and deadlier than anything I've faced. But I crushed it."
"And yet, you couldn't retrieve the ring," Lucien quipped, rising to his feet.
Fenris's glare was cold. "The void isn't something you just walk into, Lucien. I'm not stupid enough to risk getting stuck there."
Lucien smirked. "That's why you need me."
Lucien approached the creature's massive skull and extracted a dull, glowing orb—the Gorge Devourer's core. He held it aloft, studying its faint light.
"Usually, one would use this to call out to the void," he began, his tone almost academic. "A rather primitive method, though effective. But I prefer finesse."
He placed the core down and stepped back, his hands glowing faintly with Aura. Closing his eyes, Lucien's movements became precise and deliberate, his breathing steady. He began to weave Ki and Aura in an intricate pattern, forming a shimmering portal in midair.
Valeri watched in awe, his pain momentarily forgotten. "What is he doing?"
Fenris grunted. "Something only he can manage. The method's complicated, and you'd die trying. Lucien's the only one mad enough to figure it out."
Lucien's voice cut through the air, calm yet commanding. "Not madness, Fenris. Brilliance. To shift through dimensions, one must harmonize Ki and Aura in perfect balance. A delicate art, not brute force."
As the portal stabilized, Lucien stepped through without hesitation. The air around them grew cold, and Valeri shivered despite himself. Minutes passed, and Fenris's impatience was palpable.
Unlike you, I don't just swing swords and hope for the best. I think. The Void isn't a place you can walk into with brute strength. It's… delicate. If I retrieve the ring for you, you'll owe me. And trust me, Fenris, you don't want to be in my debt."
Fenris's lips curled into a faint snarl, but he didn't argue. Instead, he gestured with a dismissive wave.
"Do it. I don't care what it costs."
Lucien's smirk widened, but there was a glint of something darker in his eyes.
"Oh, you will. But I'll let future Fenris deal with that. Now, sit tight and try not to punch anyone else while I work."
Without waiting for a response, Lucien closed his eyes, his body beginning to shimmer and fade. Valeri watched in awe and horror as Lucien seemed to peel away from existence, his form unraveling into threads of light. Fenris stood silent, his gaze fixed on the space Lucien had occupied.
Minutes—or perhaps hours—passed, the tension thick enough to choke on. When Lucien finally reappeared, he held the Nebulae Ring between his fingers, its faint glow casting eerie shadows across his face.
When Lucien returned, his expression was triumphant. In his hand was the Nebulae Ring, glowing with an unnatural light.
"Simple," he said, tossing the ring to Fenris.
Fenris caught it effortlessly, examining the artifact. The void's energy radiated from it, raw and unyielding.
"Finally," Fenris muttered.
Lucien smirked. "You're welcome."
As Fenris slipped the ring onto his finger, a surge of power coursed through him. The void energy refined his Ki channels, strengthening them in a way he had never experienced before.
"This," he said, his voice low, "will make me unstoppable."
Lucien's smile widened. "Unstoppable? Hardly. The void's gifts come at a cost, Fenris. Just remember that."
Fenris didn't respond, his focus entirely on the power surging within him.
Valeri, leaning against a tree for support, finally spoke. "What now?"
But Lucien wasn't done.
"Next time, Fenris," he said, his voice dripping with mockery, "try saying 'please.' It might do wonders for your image."
Fenris's gaze snapped back to Lucien, his eyes burning with unspoken threats. But before he could respond, Lucien turned to Valeri, grinning.
"Come on, kid. Let's leave Mr. Tough Guy to his existential crisis."
And just like that, Lucien strolled away, leaving Fenris alone in the forest, clutching the ring and staring into the shadows. The air hung heavy with questions, but none were more pressing than the one burning in Fenris's mind.
What price will that smug bastard demand next?
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票