chsdbacks Page 20
Page 20
It's okay now, but I don't know about the future.
To avoid confusion, let me explain. Nao cast a spell on a Soul Grass, a kind of telepathic spell, but it only extended the range—like a walkie-talkie. To prevent the Soul Grass from being burned by the lava, I kept it inside my body, but even so, the spell still worked.
"Did you see anything strange?"
No... it's just that the waves in the lava sea are bigger now than when I came here before.
When I first arrived, the waves were just ordinary ripples, but now they seem to be big enough to cover me... I guess I'll be alright.
"Then we need to hurry, or the maze will disintegrate." Nao asked, "Where are you now?"
Walking in lava is very uncomfortable.
"...You can actually walk on lava?" Nao asked in surprise. "So that's how it is. Our meeting wasn't accidental after all."
I'm glad you said that.
Nao sounded somewhat pleased; she seemed to know why I wasn't affected by the lava, and she said something I couldn't understand. But... it's still nice to have someone say that.
"Xiao Li, be careful. If you notice anything amiss, come back immediately."
I'll try my best... It's a bit troublesome to move around.
This magma is denser than I expected; moving around in it will take some effort. I reckon if I go deep inside, getting back quickly will be a real hassle. At this rate of decomposition, I probably won't be left with anything for long.
Nao, what exactly is that mythical beast?
"I'm not entirely sure either, I just know this," Nao said with a wry smile. "It's not recorded in the kingdom's history."
That's true~ Nobody wants things that are bad for them to be passed down.
Society is truly treacherous, even more so than a maze, whose rules are far simpler.
I ventured deeper and deeper, but I still couldn't see the end. The lava seemed to be slowly deepening; it was already above my legs. Moving was becoming even more difficult. If the lava returned to its original state, I probably wouldn't be able to move. I hoped it wouldn't develop like that. Suddenly, a huge wave surged towards me. Instinctively, I pulled myself back into the lava, but unexpectedly, the lava carried me even deeper, and I couldn't touch the surface anymore.
Whoa?!
"Xiao Li?!"
I'm fine! I just can't feel the ground anymore!
"Can you come back?"
It seems...no! But I saw the strange thing you mentioned. I'm going down to take a look.
This was just the foreplay. I finally saw something strange: a huge hole. I couldn't see the bottom from my perspective, but its size had created a magma vortex, and the pulling force was too strong for me to move. So, I decided to go all in and go down to take a look.
Wait a minute?! Little one—
As I approached the edge of the vortex, Nao's voice stopped, which meant I had reached the seal, right? The connection with the outside world had been severed, which felt a little terrifying. Anyway, I'll hold my breath for now; I'm going down.
Ugh... This feels like being thrown into a giant washing machine.
Where is north...? I can't see the road... Nao?
...Ah, I remember now, I've lost contact with the outside world.
Where am I now...? Why do I always seem to have a knack for falling into pitfalls? I've jumped into the dragon ant cave twice, and I encountered one with a slime before. It's so annoying! Even the hardest shell can't withstand this on my heart. I really want to kill myself from half a minute ago. Those last half minute felt like an eternity, I felt like I was dying... Let me breathe some fresh air first...
Ugh... this air smells awful...
Come to think of it, this place is completely dark; you can't see anything at all. Is even the light blocked out? Let me think... I remember that the Soul Grass can glow...
I hastily took out the Soul Grass to use as a light source, but I didn't expect that the moment it appeared in this space, the light would suddenly become so intense that I was momentarily blinded. After my eyes adjusted, I realized that the Soul Grass had taken root and sprouted here, and it had even blossomed—a pure white, immaculate flower. From its center, the Soul Grass continued to grow and bloom, filling the world with light. I never imagined that the Soul Grass would undergo such a transformation here.
According to the usual pattern, shouldn't this scene be triggered by the hero...? How come I triggered it instead...? No, shouldn't the divine beast and the hero be enemies, so I can trigger it...?
"The Flower of the Soul, a product of the Soul Grass blooming after being bathed in intense soul energy; legend says it symbolizes farewell."
So that's how the Demon Eyes have finally come in handy... Nao's Soul Grass will bloom someday, won't it...?
Only with the light of the Flower of Souls could I see everything clearly. There was nothing here, nothing but emptiness, endless darkness everywhere. The Flower of Souls blooming in the darkness was like a white carpet spread over this void, giving this world a place to stand. I looked into the distance, and in one part of the sea of flowers, lay a huge white fox lying quietly.
It was curled up, seemingly asleep, but it felt incredibly happy. Why was that?
I approached it slowly and quietly, so as not to disturb its peaceful sleep. Only when I reached it did I realize that it had found its own peace.
This must be the mythical beast... After experiencing so much, it collapsed from exhaustion and now rests peacefully here...
I may be too late... The mythical beast is no longer in this world.
Chapter 55 Descendants of Divine Beasts
Why? Even though she was betrayed by the person she was protecting, she can still sleep peacefully here... I probably can't understand it yet.
Nao will surely understand... That's the feeling I get from her too.
In the ocean of soul flowers, the divine beast sleeps quietly, forever unable to welcome its new sun.
I don't know what it did for those heartless bastards, but as a monster, as a mimic, I feel sorry for it. A legendary beast no longer in its prime, betrayed by those it once favored—this kind of drama…it truly deserves to die…
Why is the world always like this? Whether it's me, a mythical beast, or Nao, why do we encounter such things?
No... Control your emotions, Li. Think about what you're here for.
Ah, yes, saving the divine beast... but the divine beast can't come back. My mission is complete, isn't it...?
"Mother……"
Hey... that voice... could it be...?
I suddenly heard the same sound I'd heard outside before. If it's here, it means someone else is still alive...?! Could the mythical beast have left behind descendants here?!
If I can't save the mythical beast, I must at least save its offspring. At least its children won't spend their lives in this desolate place.
I followed the sound and came to the embrace of the mythical beast. I saw a small figure, a little girl with fox ears and three tails. She was sitting there naked, weakly calling for her mother.
Compared to the divine beast's enormous body, the tiny figure helplessly tugged at its fur, trying to wake its mother. She probably didn't know that her mother had gone to the other side. Only then did I understand the divine beast's happiness; it had this little life to keep it company. That was truly happiness… I wasn't able to be with my parents until their final days…
"Mother……"
The little girl called for her mother, her voice growing weaker and longer, filled with confusion. She had probably been calling for a long time, and was tired; the sound gradually faded away, and she curled up into a ball, quietly nestled there. I didn't know if she could understand my actions, but at least she needed someone with her now, so I went over and sat down beside her. She then noticed my presence, her innocent face filled with curiosity. Of course, she was still just a child.
Upon closer inspection, I noticed her hair and fur were entirely white, and her skin was healthy and beautiful. For a girl to grow up like this in a place like this, she must have received a lot of loving care from her mother. Honestly, she's incredibly cute—sitting like a duck, fox ears, three tails, a little loli, and most importantly, so fluffy! I've decided, I absolutely have to take her home.
"What's this, Mom?"
No, no, no, I'm not your mother...
I would be happy to be your stepmother!
"Isn't that Mommy?" The little girl tilted her head.
Eh... you can speak?
"Nianhua?" Several black question marks seemed to appear above the little girl's head.
It seems she didn't understand anything before the divine beast passed away. She'll need a lot of work to educate her. I'll take responsibility and take good care of her. But about the divine beast…
Do you know what's wrong with your mother?
"She said she's passed away." The little girl looked at the mythical beast. "Mommy's not here anymore."
This mythical beast... I've been tricked again. The little girl, on the other hand, seemed quite accepting of it and understood that her mother wasn't there.
"Mommy wants me to leave here..." the little girl said calmly, "but I don't know where to go... I can't go anywhere. She wants me to go find Daddy."
Wait... she actually has a father? Does that mean she has more than one mythical beast? Or something else? I don't really think so. Her father is still alive, after all, that was a long time ago.
"Can you take me out?" The little girl looked at me, her big, bright eyes filled with anticipation.
Hmm, it seems like that won't work. I don't know how to get out of here either.
Nao told me that all I had to do was break the seal, but now I'm already inside it—it's so awkward. I actually walked right in like this; what a blunder!
"Getting out is easy, isn't it? All you have to do is break the barrier." The little girl spoke calmly about something that was difficult to do.
My initial plan was to find the seal and destroy it with grenades, but I ended up going inside first. Now, the little girl says she can break the seal. Wow, this child… maybe she can save the world. After all, she's the child of a divine beast; she'll probably inherit some of her mother's power, right? Hmm, that makes sense.
Okay then, since you broke the seal, I'll take you out. Let's see the outside world.
"What is the outside world like?" The little girl's eyes were shining. Wow, they were so bright.
It is no longer empty, but a colorful world.
Please forgive my elementary school level of writing; what could I do? Because of illness, I had to drop out of junior high school. I don't know if I can convey my meaning to her properly, but at least I can tell her that the outside world is not like here.
"Does the outside world have a father?" the little girl asked again.
Maybe so... Maybe your dad went to find your mom. But I'll help you look.
"Hey...can I really go out?" The little girl looked at the mythical beast, as if asking it a question.
I didn't disturb her, I just waited. Until she stood up full of energy, her eyes no longer listless. What kind of magic did the divine beast cast? This must be love. Even though it's dead, it seems to linger here. Because the flower of its soul still blooms.
My divine beast, please rest assured. I may not be very reliable, but I will definitely protect your child.
The little girl said to me energetically, "Yes! Let's go out into the world together! Um..."
Come to think of it, I haven't told her my name yet...
Li, you can call me Sister Li.
That's the name Nao gave me, an important name to me. I hope this name can stay with me, and with her too.
"Li? Li? Sister Li?" The little girl repeated the words several times, her voice sounding a little strange, but she remembered them well.
"Sister Li?" the little girl called my name again.
Yes, I'm here.
It feels so wonderful to be called by your name...
"I... am Xiao. My mother gave me this name." Xiao told me her name.
Xiao... perhaps this name holds some deeper meaning for her. Xiao... maybe it refers to dawn.
But before that, I really wanted to get her dressed... She's completely naked, even her private parts are so small, the only thing covering her is her tail. Doesn't she understand what shame is...?
"Then, let's go out."
Xiao stood up straight before me, radiating an unexpected aura of power. This illusory world began to shatter, each flower of soul swaying and rising into clusters of light, gradually converging upon her. A phantom of a nine-tailed fox appeared above her head, exactly like the divine beast. So that's it, the divine beast is still here protecting her and refusing to leave?
Light appeared from the cracked void, seeping out magma that flowed towards Akatsuki. The magma was no longer what it had been before; it resembled a stream of light, a mysterious power that continuously merged into Akatsuki's body. More and more cracks appeared until the entire void was shattered. The Flower of Souls bloomed with unprecedented brilliance, then withered, its glowing petals fluttering in the air—a truly beautiful sight. Suddenly, I didn't hate this other world as much anymore.
Finally, Xiao and I successfully broke the seal and left this void. The divine beast's body eventually transformed into petals of the Soul Flower and disappeared into nothingness. It—no, she must be at peace now.
-
"Xiao, don't move around..."
"Ugh, whoosh?!"
"Xiao Li, why did you just rush in like that?"
Waaah... I know I was wrong...
Ah, in short, we successfully escaped the seal, but when we came out, there was still a lot of residual lava. Although Akatsuki was able to absorb this lava to gain power, he couldn't convert it all at once, so we were swallowed by the lava again, and we were all filthy.
This time it was alright, it wasn't lava anymore, just ordinary mud. When I got back to Nao, she lectured me first. Only after she finished did I explain Xiao's situation to her. At first, she looked incredulous, but eventually she understood and became very sad. Meanwhile, Xiao kept staring at Zhou Dong sitting under the tree. Zhou Dong just turned his head away, but he didn't leave. Wake up, you pervert! Three years to life, death penalty at the very least!
After that, we were pulled into the lake to wash up. Nao is complaining about it now, but why does she sound a little happy? Xiao is very resistant to bathing and keeps fidgeting, making the once calm lake surface ripple. We still need to find her clothes; she can't just run around naked in the maze like that. I'm not worried about her encountering monsters; I could even let her roam freely. You'll understand why when you see this.
"Akatsuki, LV.62, HP/MP: 1432/984. Three-tailed fox, unknown attribute, an ancient mythical beast, currently in its juvenile stage; as an adult, it will have nine tails. Each tail can unleash magic of a different attribute, making it truly versatile."
Yes, she's that terrifying. She's the strongest person I've ever seen. I don't know if she can fight, but she doesn't understand anything right now. If she gets tricked by a bad adventurer, it'll be troublesome. There's also the possibility of strange rumors spreading, like wild, naked young girls appearing in the dungeon... As her surrogate mother, I absolutely won't let that happen.
"Sister Li... I feel so cold and uncomfortable..." Xiao said as she hugged me, as if seeking a sense of security.
"Please be patient, it will be over soon." Nao was also struggling with her.
If I had human hands, I could help Nao, but a hand reaching out from the treasure chest... Wow, what horror movie is this? It's going to scare people to death... Hmm... If I were human, this would probably be a scene of the three sisters bickering. Where did Zhou Dong go again?
The spot where Zhou Dong was sitting was now empty. Zhou Dong had disappeared somewhere. Were all ancient swordsmen this strange?
Chapter 56 Secretly
Peller strolled leisurely through the ranks, hands on his head, sword at his waist, showing no intention of aiding in the battle. Though he had come here to gain recognition or prestige, this did not restrain his unruly spirit; yes, he was simply looking to cause trouble.
He really wanted to turn around and look at the two beautiful women; those two burly men clearing the way were such an eyesore. If he wanted, he could draw his sword right now and chop them both down in an instant, but that wouldn't be fun. He had a brilliant idea, but he wasn't in a hurry to use it yet; it wasn't the right time.
"Your Highness, watch your step," Leila's indifferent voice came from behind.
Peller instinctively stopped in his tracks. "Holy crap," he thought, "another trap." This maze monster wasn't much stronger, but the traps were certainly insidious. These traps couldn't be naturally formed; they must be man-made. But who would bother with something like this here? He was a little curious. He'd find that bastard and give him a good humiliation.
“Phew, that was close,” Peller said dramatically. “If it weren’t for your wife’s reminder, I would have been in serious trouble.”
There was no response from behind; the reaction was lukewarm, and no one took the bait. This disappointed Peller somewhat. He had expected Knight to say something, but now no one spoke. Ha, women. After taking her back and training her a bit, hmm… that should be good, I like it.