Return of the Fallen Volume 11 Chapter 46
Marty was laughing so hard that she cried a little. After a while, Kazuki just turned and began walking down the broken staircase. Marty chased after him and grabbed his shoulder.
“Wait wait, I’m sorry. I just…that was something I did not expect to hear. For ya to use the mucus to make armor around your skull and now it won’t come off, what type of luck are ya cursed with I wonder?”
“So…no suggestions, no solutions?”
Marty thought for a moment before shrugging.
“It’s really not an easy situation. If it’s already too late for the dissolving liquid, I would say the only way to remove it is to break it off. To do that though is difficult. There’s no one in this world with such strength. Besides that, I’d be concerned with the removal. After all, such a blow would not leave much room for safety when it comes to the meat soup inside your head. Breaking that mucus would most likely cause your untimely death. I’d say you’re stuck with it.”
Kazuki sighed.
*Haa*
“I figured as much but damn, this sucks.”
Marty punched Kazuki in the arm.
“How so? In my eyes, ya have a new advantage over everyone else in this world. You have something even the worms can’t break and with your crazy regeneration, I don’t think there’s anything else that can threaten ya. If I could regenerate like that, I’d be more than happy to have a mucus…pfft.”
Marty began laughing again and Kazuki turned around and headed deeper down the spiraling steps.
“Ah come on, I was only messing with ya. Look, It sucks certainly but ya really do have an edge. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t mind if ya made me some armor, something that I could wear of course, and take off afterward.”
Kazuki shook his head.
“That would take way too long to craft. Making something simple like a tool or weapon is much faster.”
Marty was reminded about the ticking clock in this place.
“Right, we need to get to the core or whatever but then what exactly? You didn’t mention what we are supposed to do when we get there.”
“I’m kind of surprised you accepted my words so easily. Do you have no doubt whatsoever?”
Marty looked around left and right at the broken steps.
“What’s to doubt? I mean seriously. Why would ya make it up? Not only that out of all things this is easy to prove. Once we reach the core, if the ancient one’s soul really is reducing, I will be able to tell the moment we get close enough. Without a conscious will, there can no longer be control over one’s soul. It’s only natural that a disaster would occur when that happens. Plus, this place has been called the decaying world for as long as I can remember, its time had to come at some point. Now, are ya going to tell me what we’re actually gonna do once we reach the core, or am I to pull guesses from my ass?”
(Her line of thinking makes sense. Not only that she seems to be trustworthy. After recovering and finding out I lied about my identity, she could have tried to take a peek into my soul world but instead, she left my privacy alone. She didn’t question my tough body or my insane strength. She has saved my life and I to have saved her. If I can’t trust her now, who can I trust? Arc, what say you.)
(I concur. She has many chances to abandon you, betray you or even test you but she’s left everything riding on both her own actions as well as yours. I believe she will be of use and an asset. As long as she does not make any suspicious moves, I think she is trustworthy to a certain degree.)
Kazuki went silent for a few seconds before he called out.
“Arc.”
Once he said Arc’s name, Marty suddenly felt a powerful force of energy surround her. She had only felt such power being emitted from Gods and other powerful beings that were equal to Gods. She became alert and the hairs on the back of her neck stood as her eyes darted back and forth looking for the source.
“Look no further, I am here.”
Kazuki held his hand up and Arc flew off f Kauzki’s thumb and floated directly in front of Marty.
Marty was shocked and unconsciously took a half step back.
“You…You are?”
With a tremble in her voice, Marty did not know what to say or expect.
“No need to be nervous. I am called Arc, that is all you need to know about me. As for the plan, so long as we get to the core, I can get us out of this place and off of this false world. As you can sense, my powers are different from others. It is with this power that I have felt the limits of this place and know what fate lies ahead. This place is doomed. As you said, you can confirm this yourself once we reach the core. In the meantime, there will be dangers up ahead that I will not deal with. I leave them up to you two. For now, that is all.”
Arc slipped back on Kazuki’s thumb and spoke no more.
Marty stared at Kazuki in absolute shock.
“Arti…Artifact and Origin energy! Jentson, ya really are mysterious!”
Kazuki denied it but Marty was adamant that Kazuki was some mysterious being.
“If it’s not one thing it’s another. Just when I think some questions have been answered another box full of them opens. Well, let’s go.”
Kazuki paused.
“That’s it? that’s your reaction, no questions or anything?”
Marty shrugged once more.
“If Arc wanted to tell me more, it would have. The fact Arc mentioned so little, I can infer that it does not wish to give further detail. Ya don’t question artifacts, at least I don’t think ya do. Still, to think you’re even an owner of an artifact. Wait, this is the reason ya don’t wish to tell me who ya really are. You know how rare and powerful artifacts are. Any and all would be envious and wish to snatch up your artifact the moment they find out. Hiding your identity, it all makes sense now.”
Kazuki didn’t deter her from that line of thinking. If this was her thoughts, he felt it was easier to simply go with the flow on this one.
“What about you? You said anyone would be envious and wish to take what’s mine. Do you not have greed in your heart?”
“Of course, I want your artifact. What fool wouldn’t? Artifacts can grant mysterious powers and can make one a Supreme God. With such a power, one could rule over hundreds or even thousands of Starpaths. Your authority and reach could stretch across any of the three Higher Realms and the only ones who could stop ya are other Supreme Gods. A life like that is truly one like no other. At the same time, I know my own limits. Artifacts that already have their own Origin energy and therefore their own conscious and will, once they have chosen their owner, it’s done. They will not choose another and no God has ever convinced one otherwise. Once an Artifact is alive and it bonds with someone, that bond is impossible to sever. So although you have an artifact and I indeed feel greed inside, I know it’s pointless to even try. I would never be accepted even if you were dead. Just being able to see an artifact up close once in my life, has already given me some satisfaction. Besides, I’d much rather have you alive than kill ya, hehe.”
Kazuki felt a little relief and Arc even was impressed with her words.
(She honestly admits her own greed and then states why it would be foolish to try and snatch for what doesn’t belong. I wonder if this one could be corrupted? What would she do if she were to know that you and I have no real bond and are simply helping one another for now? Kazuki, do you think she would fall into darkness and allow her inner demons to take over?)
(That’s not funny in the least bit Arc.)
(Who says I’m trying to be funny? Are you not curious as to what this woman’s true nature is?)
Kazuki became cold as he spoke.
(I don’t presume to know what is inside one’s heart but if I were to start guessing I would say that yours is filled with far too much cynicism and darkness.)
(Hmph, I look to uncover truths and that makes me dark. How is it that those who see reality for what it is are always the ones who are considered in such a way? At least with my way of thinking, I will never suffer betrayal. You on the other hand…)
(Do you only wish to spout shit or do you want to get things done? Leave your voice out of my head if all you wish to do is seep poison in my ear.)
Arc went quiet, it did not believe it was wrong and felt Kazuki was being too sensitive. Kazuki looked at Marty and he felt he could trust her.
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