Chapter 154- Figure (Part 2)

Chapter 154: Chapter 154- Figure (Part 2)

Chapter 154- Figure (Part 2)

Rize stared at the monster in silence, not daring to make a sudden move for fear of being killed instantly. He didn’t have any chance of escape before, and now it was even more impossible with the lava man standing between him and the only possible exit from this hellhole. He stared at Rize silently, almost as if he was trying to understand who that person was.

"... Who... Who are you?" Rize finally mustered the courage to ask a question as he gulped a mouthful of saliva.

"..." The man didn’t reply as he continued staring at him. Rize didn’t know whether to feel scared or confused at that point. If the man wanted him dead, he could’ve already done that a thousand times over in the span of a few seconds. However, the man didn’t move, and so far, he didn’t show any hostility aside from his crushing aura.

The tension between them was palpable, but it wasn’t the kind that meant Rize was about to be attacked; it was more like both sides were trying to understand who the other was exactly.

After what felt like ages of silence, the man finally opened his mouth and spoke his very first words that Rize could understand. His voice was incredibly deep and hoarse, as if the man hadn’t spoken for a millennium while he was stuck down there.

"The traces of the Eye..." He said. "Why... do you possess them, human?" He asked in a confused tone.

"The... what?" Rize frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"Who gave you... the powers?" The man asked again. "Who gave you the light?"

"..."

Rize was completely speechless, not understanding a single thing the man was saying. ’What light? What traces? What the hell is this monster talking about?’

Rize panicked, knowing the risk of not being able to explain his situation to this monster, so he decided to do the most sensible thing at that moment, and that was.

"Please, um, sir... I did not come here to disturb your... rest. I am here to look for my companions who got dragged here by some black mist. I don’t know what traces or light you’re talking about."

Rize tries to keep his calm and speak clearly to hide all his fear. The man was clearly confused, and he wanted to use that card to his advantage to get out of this situation. Perhaps this creature was far more reasonable than he expected.

"Your companions?" The man muttered. "That mist is still here?"

"... You know what that mist is?" Rize asked as his eyes widened.

"An ancient power born from the holiness of the mountain and corrupted with time. It feeds off the delusion of others and leaves them stripped of their own souls."

"..." Rize frowned when he heard that. "Consume their souls? What do you mean?"

"Your companions... They are dead." The man said. "Their souls are consumed by the mist."

"No! That’s bullshit!" Rize yelled. "I know that they’re still alive!"

For a second, the boy forgot who he was talking to and started yelling. He refused to believe that Venera and Rose were dead, and he was hell-bent on saving them before the mist truly consumed them. They weren’t weaklings for the mist to take over them that easily. Venera and Rose had extremely strong spirits and resolute will.

"..." The man stared at Rize for a second before he blinked. "What makes you certain, human?"

"I know. So, please, would you let me pass so I could go find them? I don’t have much time left." Rize said.

Then, he tried to walk past the man. He was now certain the monster wouldn’t kill him after having this conversation. He seemed far too intrigued by Rize to end his life in such a manner. However, at the same time, Rize was certain he couldn’t cross a certain boundary without making the man upset, so he decided to end the conversation and try to find his two friends.

As he walked past the man, the latter looked over his shoulder, seemingly contemplating something.

Then, when Rize walked for a bit, the man suddenly appeared before him again, making him flinch.

"... What?" He asked with a wary look on his face.

"I shall find them for you." The lava man said.

"What?"

"I said I shall find them for you."

"... Why?"

The monster didn’t reply as he closed his eyes for a second and then opened them again. "I found them."

"You did?! Are they ok?!!" Rize asked.

"Follow me, human."

With that, the monster turned around and started flying through the tunnel. Rize didn’t waste a single second as he chased after the man without hesitation. His excitement at hearing that made all his exhaustion wash away as he chugged a stamina potion and ran as fast as he could.

For a few minutes, they continued down the same tunnel before the lava man suddenly took a sharp turn to the left, taking another path. It was tighter and smaller than the main tunnel, and it led deep into the underground maze.

For minutes, Rize continued chasing after the man. He could see him clearly as the lava on his skin was still illuminating the place.

Eventually, after running for a while, the tunnel ended at a whole new chamber. Rize could’ve never found this place unless he searched for hours or perhaps days. It was, however, quite big and empty.

There, inside that chamber, he saw two silhouettes laying on the ground. Rize instantly recognized them as he rushed toward them.

"VENERA! ROSE!!!!" He yelled as he crouched next to them and checked their conditions. Their hearts were beating normally, and they were breathing. However, no matter how much he shook them, they didn’t reply or wake up.

"It’s pointless, human." The monster said. "The mist has taken their souls. They won’t wake up."

"What?!" Rize yelled. "That... That can’t be..."

His hands stopped shaking as he stared at the two with wide eyes, completely in disbelief. His heart sank, and his face paled.

"The mist doesn’t leave those who have lost to it. Your companions have lost." The monster explained."

"..." Rize’s hands shook as they grabbed Venera, and he tilted his head down. His entire body shuddered as he bit his lower lip till it started bleeding. He couldn’t believe that he had failed to save Venera... He couldn’t believe that he had lost her.

It just didn’t feel real. It didn’t make any sense how he could lose Venera just like that. He was supposed to have a chance at it. He was supposed to at least give it his best. How could her life end in such a manner?

His hands gripped her clothes tightly as tears welled up in his eyes. However, he suddenly shook his head as he looked at the lava man.

"Is there a way to get their souls back?" He asked. "There has to be a way. Please tell me there is a way."

"You’re too weak, human. You cannot-"

"There is a way?"

"I said you are too weak."

"And I don’t care. I want to try even if it means my death." Rize said as he clenched his teeth. "I will never let them die."

Rize’s eyes lit up with a bright flame. If there was a way, then he was going to give it a try. He didn’t care what he had to do. He couldn’t accept defeat when he didn’t even have a proper chance at saving them.

"Even I cannot get what you need to get, human. What makes you think you could do it?" The man asked, almost taken aback by the blind belief Rize has in his eyes.

"Because I don’t intend to give up. Not when they need me more than ever." Rize said. "I noticed something earlier when I was escaping from the mist. While it was able to control my two friends, it wasn’t able to control me as easily. I don’t know why..."

Rize was asleep, just like the two of them, and while he was disturbed from his sleep, the mist couldn’t really control him as it did to Venera and Rose. He didn’t know how that was possible, but he knew he could somehow do something to take their souls back if he could use that.

"..." The man looked at him for a second before he turned away. Nobody knew what was going through his mind at that moment. "You seem to be unaware of what you are, human, and I do not know whether that is a blessing or a curse for you. But I shall tell you what you could do. The mist comes from the very peak of this holy mountain. It is where the souls trapped by its illusion gather. If there is a chance for you to find them, they will be there."

"Wait, really?!" Rize asked.

"However, finding those souls and taking them is a whole different thing, human. Even I cannot come into possession of those souls. The mist will most certainly consume you if you go to its source... Are you certain of what you want to do?"