Return of the Fallen Volume 12 Chapter 100
Kazuki led everyone through many different terrains. He, Nala, Fleck, and Specxzu ran into several different creatures never before seen. None of these creatures though could compare with the snake monster. Because of this, dealing with them was easy, to say the least. For every single one, Fleck’s skills shined. Because of his supervision, he could spot enemies hundreds even thousands of miles out.
For the most part, Fleck helped guide them so as to avoid these creatures. If a monster even turned in their general direction, Fleck would flex his bow and snipe them before they made could even take action. In this way, it was actually pretty quiet in their surroundings. Nala carried several arrows made from the ground that she had pulled up.
They were too heavy for Fleck to carry due to the extraordinary gravity of this place and would be a considerable burden so Nala did it instead. Fleck would make a simple hand gesture and Nala in return would toss him the desired amount of arrows. Catching these arrows mid-air and firing them almost instantly, the sound of Fleck’s bow snapping and flicking was carried out continuously.
For some reason as Fleck and Nala did this, Specxzu watched this in anger. From the outside, Fleck and Nala couldn’t understand this but Kazuki was actively reading Specxzu’s soul.
Apparently, Specxzu had another hidden ability. One where he could eat powerful creatures. If he did so, his strength would improve rapidly but because Fleck continuously sniped enemies before they could ever get close, it left Specxzu with no chance to eat and grow.
Kazuki laughed inwardly as they continued toward the mountain without stopping.
In the meantime, he examined the bracelet he had taken from Carta. There was Origin energy within it. This Artifact had not been weakened like Kazuki’s Gauntlet Artifact so he was having difficulty perceiving its abilities.
(Arc, can you read this Artifact? What is it capable of?)
Arc took a look but was having its own problems.
(This place is affecting my senses so it’s hard to say exactly what it does. All of its inscriptions are within and it is resisting me. From a surface approach, the most I can gather is it acts like a shield of sorts. Samuel had something similar but compared to this, his Artifact was shit. This one…whoever made it put time and true effort into crafting it.)
Kauxzki had some interest in this type of Artifact but with its defenses up it was clearly not accepting him. He had no way of using this Artifact and therefore it was useless to keep it in its current state.
(Arc you should absorb the Oriing energy inside of it.)
Arc was surprised.
(Me…why. Very soon I will reclaim my missing piece and my full power will return to me once and for all. This small amount of Origin energy would be a waste would it not?)
(Not necessarily a waste. After all, you said something was off with this place. Your senses as well are off due to the Black gate. If you have some Origin energy your powers would obviously increase to some degree. Besides we don’t actually know if that black mountain is even related to your missing piece. It just stands out in this world. If it really is unrelated would we not have wasted precious time?)
Arc couldn’t disagree with that.
(That makes sense. Even if it turns out to be a waste absorbing it. I can easily make p for it later when my full power is mine again. Alright. I’ll take what this bracelet holds.)
Arc flashed with a small glow around Kazuki’s finger. Its power reached out and entered the bracelet. It took nothing for Arc to take hold of the Oring energy within and there was no resistance.
A flow of Origin energy went from the bracelet and directly into Arc.
(Kazuki it’s slightly hurtful that you didn’t even consider giving me or Sword any of that power. At the very least sharing some of it would be met with great appreciation.)
Codex was disappointed that Kauzki hadn’t even offered it or Sword a shred of the Origin power within.
(Codex, let’s be real for a moment. You having Origin energy right now is pointless. Yes, it would make you stronger temporarily but your goal is not power but for you and Sword to return to your master’s side. Tell me, what gets you to your master quicker? Arc reuniting with its missing piece and becoming powerful enough to alter this Realm or you getting some Origin energy right now and then what? Currently, we are being affected by the element of space. Arc can deal with space but you, your specialty lies in degrading the soul of a being. Sword as well can degrade a soul with Origin energy and can also amplify a person’s physicality. If anything one could argue for Sword getting Origin energy bef
Kazuki’s thoughts came to a standstill as he felt something he had never felt before.
Not just him but Arc, Codex, and Sword all witnessed something that completely shocked them.
Just as Arc was finishing up absorbing the Origin energy within the bracelet. At the very end, the last tiny bit of Origin energy split away from its main body and sank into Kazuki’s soul world, and then…vanished.
Kazuki was racing through the forest and his feet suddenly stopped. he stood there frozen on the spot with a surprised look on his face. Nala who was right behind him wasn’t expecting this and ran directly into him. She thought with her strength she would knock him down but instead, it felt like she had slammed into a solid wall and was knocked back and onto her ass.
She quickly kneeled down and hurriedly apologized.
“Master Forgive Me! I Did Not See!”
Fleck and Specxzu both stopped as well and looked on with both confusion and surprise.
Fleck could see that Kazuki wasn’t even paying attention to Nala and he grew worried and alert.
“Master what is it!? An enemy? Is there danger Somewhere!?”
Fleck’s head was on a swivel as he scanned the rocky frozen mountain in every direction. His eyes were something to be envied but at the moment, he couldn’t spot anything out of the ordinary. Everything was fine one moment and then the very next his master had just stopped as if his flame of life had been snuffed out.
He could see that Kauzki’s eyes were completely unfocused and he could sense not a single breath coming from Kazuki.
“Master please answer me!”
Specxzu watched on with curiosity. He didn’t understand what was happening.
“Medatte…For what reason have we stopped?”
As soon as he asked this question he could see just how out of it Kauzki really was. This wasn’t good. He was still stuck at the Demigod level. If Kazuki was permanently out of it, escaping from this place alive would not happen. He tried to approach Kazuki but Nala and Fleck both jumped in front of Kazuki to block him. Nala now switching from apologetic to actual concern. She wanted nothing but for Kauzki to be alright as she shouted.
“DON’T YOU TOUCH HIM!”
Both she and Fleck began to try and contact Kazuki through their minds but he was not responding.
As this was happening on the outside. Inside, Arc and the others were concerned as well.
(Kazuki!! BRAT! what was that just now!?)
(Arc what’s wrong with him? What do we do?)
(I don’t know, one moment he was fine but just as I was about to absorb the last of the Origin energy, a small fraction of it broke away and flowed directly into Kazuki. It doesn’t make sense. The Origin energy should have followed my will entirely. How can it break away like that?)
(You mean you don’t know? This…is it because he is no longer 100% human. The fragment that fused with him, the Artifact part, did it take control, is Kazuki’s soul alright?)
Arc, Codex, and Sword all tried to take a look but none could enter his soul world. After he had fused with Arc’s fragment, this ability manifested itself. So long as he did not give his permission, none could enter his soul world whether they be God or Artifact.
This meant none of the Artifacts could even see if Kazuki was alright. Of course, they knew he was alive but they had no clue what was happening inside his soul.
Arc gathered the Origin energy he had just absorbed.
(Fuck it. I’m going in.)
(Arc don’t be foolish. If he’s not responding then forcefully entering his soul world he could attack you unconsciously. Kazuki’s soul is powerful. Any automatic defense he has set up in there, conscious or not, it could be disastrous even for you.)
(I don’t care. Something is clearly very wrong here. If he’s really in danger, I’m not going to wait around to help him. I have to act before it’s too late!)
Codex was surprised. Arc sounded genuinely worried for Kazuki.
(Fine, but me and Sword are going in with you. We’ll find out the problem together and save him together if need be.)
Arc didn’t argue.
(Right, together it is.)
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