Return of the Fallen Volume 12 Chapter 143
As Kazuki shouted at Belux, in the darkness, the shadow moved. Slipping between bodies and veils of black, he went undetected until he arrived at his position. Reaching out, he snatched something from the air.
The second he took hold of this object, a powerful reaction spread out like an invading army.
Chaos was unleashed…
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Moments before, when Kauzki and the other Gods first awoke in this strange place, the shadow had already seen a dead end. It moved back and forth to and fro in this dark place, just looking for a way out. It had many abilities, many skills, and powers but it had never come across a situation such as this and was put to the test.
In the darkness, there was nothing that could find him. Even Arc could only sense that he was near but could never pinpoint his exact location. With its ability to sneak around, it looked for an escape, any path out of this nightmare.
Every which way he looked though was completely blocked off. Belux’s power surrounded this place entirely. The fake Origin energy had made up 7 planets which all surrounded the green world. After the green world’s destruction, the collective dark energy moved and surrounded all the remaining Gods in this area. Like a slowly drawn net, this power encircled everyone and everything until it closed shut, trapping these Gods within.
There was no way out.
In the center of this dark space floated the hollowed jewel. The purplish-black Artifact was a breath away. If it wished to, the shadow could take a step forward and grab the Artifact. The temptation of power to rule over all was far outweighed by the fear of extermination and death. The shadow knew what would happen the moment it touched the Artifact.
The moment it made contact with the Artifact, it knew it would be ripped out of the darkness and brought into the light so to speak. There would be nowhere it could hide, and its final efforts to leave would be brought to a fast and sharp end. Touching the Artifact was the same as committing suicide. Death was guaranteed.
After exhausting his options and finding only bleakness at the end, the shadow thought there was only one outcome. Just as it felt as if everything was hopeless, someone he never thought would ever talk to him again, called out to him.
(Shadow…care to make a deal.)
The moment these words entered his mind, the Shadows eyes darted across the dark space and landed upon someone he never expected to hear such words from.
At this point, the artifact had taken a human-like form and took on the image of Belux and laid down his ultimatum. The shadow had learned that his enemy was a man called Kazuki. It was a strange feeling seeing one’s enemy about to die when it was not by one’s own hands. The shadow wanted to be the one to do it but that was going to be robbed by Belux. On top of that Kauzki’s death would not matter because the shadow was set to die along with everyone else when Belux destroyed the Universe.
So, when Kazuki called out to him, to say it was surprising barely scratched the surface. Still, the words Kazuki used, he clearly said deal. With no options left, even if it would lead to nothing but a cruel ending, for now, it sprung a dash of hope within the shadow.
The shadow was silent for a moment before replying back.
(A deal, what deal could there possibly be for me to accept it from my enemy? Besides, you have a front roll seat to this Belux. You and I both know, there is no escape for either of us. This is the end. So stop bothering me and accept your death…Just as I have.)
The shadow did not mean this. It was not ready for death. It had been falsely imprisoned, trapped for eons upon eons. It had just barely been free and now the entire Universe was on the brink of destruction. Life simply wasn’t fair.
It only said what it said to Kauzki because the two were enemies. The shadow did not wish to give his enemy any satisfaction, including knowing how desperate he truly was. In the back of his mind though, Kazuki’s words made him hope for something, anything. He had fought Kazuki and while they were enemies, the shadow had to admit, Kazuki was gifted in both mind and skill. In a competition between the two, the shadow could see how good cunning Kazuki really was. The way he thought of things in the middle of combat and executed them made him a challenging opponent to face.
The Shadow was also surprised watching the short fight between Gardius and Kazuki. When he fought Kazuki, Kazuki had used a small golem shaped like a horse with wings. This small toy had gone completely unnoticed and in the end, it was this toy that got to his Mind stone and ruined his ability to possess multiple bodies.
This was all to say, Kazuki had many cards hidden up his sleeve. Just when you thought you had him cornered he would pull some crazy shit off that just left your mouth agape going how the fuck did he do that.
Now, once again, the shadow was impressed by the fact that Kazuki knew where he was and called out to him. Even while talking with Belux, Kauzki casually glanced in the shadow’s direction The Shadow did not know how but it was clear that Kazuki knew exactly where he was. This led to credence that if it was Kazuki, he could pull out another surprise, another miracle.
At this moment, the Shadow was hoping Kazuki really did have something else up his sleeve, otherwise, death was upon them.
As the Shadow thought this, Kazuki wasted no time and stomped upon any foolish notions.
(Trust, there is no time for either of us to have such a thing as trust between us. I wouldn’t even attempt it. No, you and I are enemies but at the same time, we are both enemies bound to die in the next few moments if we do not work together. I am already aware of your limits and what you can do. This place…You can’t escape it can you?)
The shadow did not wish to admit this but he was desperate and time was running out.
(You…What is it you are proposing exactly?)
Kazuki continued to try and by time with Belux while speaking with the shadow.
(You are hidden still. Belux knows you’re here since he saw my memories but he can not sense your location like I can. He does not your movements. I only need two things from you. Once you do this, I believe I can stop Belux.)
The shadow was dumbfounded.
(Kill him! Impossible! Destroying an Artifact is already extremely difficult for most but Belux’s power is far beyond anything I’ve ever felt. There is no one here who can destroy him. Any more impossible ideas or are you done screwing with me?)
(I never said destroy him. Taking Belux down completely…I can’t do that at my current level but, you heard him, if he does not have me or Arc he cannot complete his plans. If he can’t complete his plans, he can’t destroy the Universe and everyone in it. All you need to do is follow my lead and we can escape this place. The other Gods can deal with this situation and we can flee from here.)
(Follow your lead. Is it not you who caused most of this mess? If you didn’t bring Arc here, the Black gate…Belux would have never of done this right? It would have continued leaving its clues through the cosmos while traveling through the Realms. As far as I’m concerned you, Arc and
(SHADOW! Blame me if you wish but do it after we’ve escaped. Do you really want to bicker whilst on the verge of the end of the Universe? Are we enemies that will live and fight or are we enemies that shall die on this day? If it’s to live for a little longer, I would stand by you and grit my gnash my teeth with murderous rage but I would still stand by you. You see where this path ends if we do not hold strong. Our destruction and the nothingness of the void. Help me and live a little longer or don’t and we die together. NOW, WHAT IS YOUR DECISION!?)
The shadow knew what it had to do. It held no trust that Kazuki wouldn’t betray him and it knew Kazuki would try and kill him at some point but if he did nothing, then his stone was set.
(I can not trust you as a person but I have fought you myself and I have seen the way you fight. At the very least I can trust that dangerous mind of yours and your ability to implement whatever crazy plan forms inside. Fine…What is it you need?)
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