Return of the Fallen Volume 5 Chapter 34
[previous_page]
[next_page]
Author: Blue_Rat
ch34
*ROOOOAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRR!*
“The force of the roar alone actually managed to push me back. I of all beings was moved by a sound alone. I could feel my chest reverberate and it shook me to the core. Deep down within the abyssal trench lies a Titan of unfathomable power.”
“Another Titan!? These creatures are supposed to be mythical legends. Things that are beyond rare to encounter but it seems all you do is run into them. If these things are your enemies, don’t you think it unwise to live right beside one? After all, you said it yourself the abyssal trench is near, just outside the Rin mountain range.”
“Your words are true enough Kazuki one may think it unwise to reside near such a powerful enemy but on the other side of that coin, is it not the absolute perfect camouflage?”
Glacious could tell Kazuki was confused and added.
“You see, Titans themselves aren’t exactly allies with one another. They may see me as an enemy but it’s reasonable to see other Titans as enemies as well. After all, Titans consume magical energy like infinite wells. Because of this, they have their own territory. Usually, they will stay away from other Titans territories because Titans are well, territorial. To enter another Titans territory without permission is practically declaring war with said Titan. I know this and other Titans know this as well. The Titan that lies deep within the trench does not care about much about the outside world but every Titan seems to know of it and stay’s away. Not only do they stay away from the abyssal trench but they stay nearly 1000 miles away. I on the other hand know this Titan personally. The Titan down below looks at me as a rival but for a while now, he’s made no moves. He likes to observe me and he wishes for an entertaining fight with me. Because of my weakened state though, this Titan knows that the fight would be disappointing and so he remains down there lying in wait for me to I guess regain my strength. Since he has left me be so to have others this was one of the main reasons why I took the Rin mountain range from Treia. I can relax here with a little more peace of mind. It’s already incredibly difficult to find this tiny world I’ve created but even if other Titans knew of this location they would most likely not dare come near because of the Titan in the trench.”
“Just how powerful is that Titan for it to deter other Titans?”
Glacious shook his head.
“Even I don’t know. Compared to myself before my injury, I believe we were close with a slight edge to me. This Titans power though, it spreads deep and far. Once I was near the western edge of the Feya continent and even there through other territories, I could sense his presence. All I know for sure is that the other Titans are afraid of it and that’s good enough for me. At the same time though it maddens me to no end. For the Kuro-ryoku, for a cure to be so close I can almost touch it but at the same time be protected by such a monster. It’s like being in the middle of a scorching desert and having an oasis directly in front of you but every time you take a step forward, the oasis moves further away from you. A neverending chase laid out before you and with every step, you only grow thirstier and thirstier. Torture is the only word that comes to mind. Even though it’s right there in front of me, I can never reach it. Sometimes I even wonder if I’ve gone insane and it’s all an illusion. Does the cure really lie down there or are my senses fooling me and is it all just in my head?”
“You said the Titan is protecting it, how can you be sure?”
“I can’t for certain but why else would that Titan react that way. As soon as I drew near something that might possibly be able to compete with it, it sent out a threatening wave of energy at me, warning me to not come even a step closer. Titans never usually intervene with others and mind their own business. Only if something comes along that bothers them and might be a threat do they move. The smell of the Kuro-ryoku can drift for miles and is very distinct. It knew I smelled the black flower and warned me not to even dare try. It initiated everything. If this doesn’t mean it’s protecting the Kuro-ryoku, then I don’t know what’s up and down anymore. At the same time I who had no idea that a Titan even lay there was warned before I even made a move. I just don’t get it. He wishes to fight me and I believe he really wants me to regain my strength but he isn’t willing to help.”
“Is there no way to bargain with it? Can you not trade it some treasure in exchange for a single petal?”
“If only. I would gladly give up every valuable I have. I would empty my vault and even sacrifice half of my remaining years of life but the Titan down there won’t even communicate with me. Honestly, it’s bizarre. Yet if I were to speak his name he would gladly chuckle or cause a ruckus just to let me know he knows I’m speaking of him. From the little I do know, most Titans aren’t interested in material objects. There’s nothing I have that that creature desires. It only has greed for more power, more strength, and the Kuro-ryoku if it really exists down there will give it just that. Do you see now why I desire you and your brother’s skills so much? The Kuro-ryoku is nothing more than a pipe dream, an unfulfilling fantasy that will remain only that, a fantasy. Your ki and your brother’s strange sword skills, they are the tools I need to remove this soul poison once and for all. That’s another reason I brought you out here.”
Kazuki looked around at the large field of green boulders and wondered out loud.
“Now that you mention, why did I need to follow you here. The fruit was because you promised Mei but that’s somewhere off in the forest. If you just wanted to give her that, we could have directly gone to the Cerack tree and gotten the red fruit but we specifically stopped here in this field of rocks, why?”
Glacious didn’t directly answer Kazuki’s question and instead pointed at a green head-sized rock on the ground and said.
“That rock there, can you pick it up for me?”
Kazuki looked at the green rock before turning back and looking at Glacious suspiciously.
“Why?”
Before Glacious could grow irritated at having a simple request questioned, Mei excitedly ran over to the rock.
“Let me do it. This can be considered thanks for the fruit and maybe the next time one grows I can get the whole one to myself.”
Glacious rolled his eyes.
(That would take decades little bird.)
Mei reached down and grabbed the dark green rock and gave it a pull.
*Nothing*
Kazuki thought she was playing around at first but a second later Mei was grunting as she tried to lift.
*Urrr*
Still, the rock didn’t even budge an inch.
Mei grew frustrated and promptly transformed into her Mangshi form. IN an instant her small tiny frame elongated and black feathers covered her entirely. Specks of silver dotted her feathers like little stars in the night sky. Her body grew large until it was around 30 feet in length.
*SCREeeeeeeeee*
Mei stood tall and a gust of wind pushed up around her as she opened her impressive wingspan. It was obvious she did this to show off but in Glacious’s eyes, he could still only see her as a little bird. Mei pecked at the ground, opening her mouth as tall as Kazuki was. Snapping at the green rock, she snatched it up and lifted it with ease before she crushed it between her sharp dagger-like teeth.
*Crunch crunch munch*
A second later Mei spit the remains of the rock out and Kazuki saw what he thought was a confident smile stretch across her bird face but it was a bit difficult to be sure if it was actually a smile and not a look of hunger or something else entirely. After all, a bird smile was not something Kazuki could easily determine.
A moment later, Mei transformed back into a human. The earring on her ear flashed and a small dress fell out. Mei threw it on and with a toothy grin made a peace sign.
“That rock was heavy but when I’m normal it ain’t nothing at all. Big bro did you see just now. I was pretty good right, hehehe.”
Kazuki nodded before he turned his attention to the rocks scattered all around him.
(Besides the dark green color these rocks seemed normal but it’s obvious from Mei’s struggle they are extremely heavy but just how heavy. In her human form, Mei can lift around 2 tons. Not as much as me or Sam but…)
Kazuki found a boulder of similar size to what Mei had lifted and he reached down. Wrapping both hands around the rock he began to lift with his legs.
*Nothing*
Kazuki didn’t even budge the rock. It felt as though the thing was glued to the ground or even magnetized somehow. Kazuki peeked up at Glacious and Glacious simply smiled without a word. Mei on the other hand walked over and gloated.
“Big bro cmon, even I was able to lift it. Don’t tell me you can’t do it. Maybe you should be the little brother from now on and I’ll be your big sis. Don’t worry, Kazuki, I’ll protect you, hehehe.”
Kazuki laughed within.
(Kids really say funny things. Fine let’s get a little serious.)
Kazuki began to circulate his ki throughout his body. He felt his power grow and felt energized. Kazuki kept his feet just slightly more than shoulder-width apart. Squatting down, Kazuki kept a clean posture with his back straight and his chest out. Holding the rock as close to his body as possible he slowly but surely began to stand up.
*Uhhh*
Kazuki lifted the head-sized rock up and tried to take a step forward but he could already feel his limit and he lost his grip.
*Bam!*
The rock slammed into the ground and sounded like a small explosion but surprisingly there was no damage to the ground whatsoever.
(Damn, how was that so heavy? That had to be close to 7 thousand pounds, maybe even more.)
Mei hopped around Kazuki and looked at him with amazement.
“Big bro really is big bro. Even though you are a human you’re still so strong. Amazing amazing.”
Glacious as well was pleasantly surprised.
“I didn’t expect you to actually lift one but that was a nice start.”
Glacious pointed at another rock only a few inches bigger in diameter than the first one Kazuki picked up and asked.
“Next, how about this one?!”
[previous_page]
[next_page]
Comment (0)