I jumped from debri to debri, dodging flames after flames, chasing after Nico, who was well ahead of me at the moment. He wasn't just running, either. He was far too devious to not be planning anything, while running away.
As I continued chasing him, my mind was still being affected by [The Zone] and I had [Probability Pryer] on, just in case. Even though it was taxing on my innate spirit keeping these two active for such a long duration, I didn't want to risk anything. Especially when facing someone like Nico, who's every move could be a deception.
Luckily, due to the explosion done by Nico, all of us landed pretty far away. Most the large hall was in ruin, with the outer layer of the navy-blue spire exposed. This created a much larger distance than before, between us and the Abyssal Heart. And from the way Nico acted, I could tell that absorbing this 'corrupted essence' Took time. Time that he didn't have.
So, i came to the conclusion that this chase is likely some sort of trap. Even still, I'll gladly allow myself be fall into this trap, of it meant I would buy enough time for Zeke to heal Isabella, which should be done pretty soon now.
All in all, I was pretty confident that Nico has been trapped. But is that really the case?
As I was pondering this, my eyes, enhanced by [Probability Pryer] caught a probability. Nico had passed by that debri, letting his hands run over the surface of it— actually, he has been doing this for all the debri scattered across what remained of the large hall.
'Why?'
I wondered.
And [Probability Pryer] answered.
Nico was turning, each and every debri he touched into a bomb. Deliberately, that man has been running in circles, making me follow him— all the while, he ran his hands ran across the surface of the debri, by touching them, he turned them into bombs!
My eyes widened at the realization, as I saw 100% chances of everything around me exploding. Panic rose within my heart and fear gripped it, knowing that my chances of survival was pretty pretty zero.
'That bastard…'
I gritted my teeth, as I saw the smug smirk Nico gave me, once I stopped chasing him. He knew I had realized what was about to happen and seemed pretty confident that I was gonna die—even I would be confident if I was in his postion. There really was no way for me survive.
But in that split-second before the explosion occurred, right when I felt the heat around me rise, the explosion nearing, I thought of doing something completely absurd. Something insane that I would of never believed to be possible.
Until now.
I augmented my fist with an unbelievable amount of fury. From utilizing [The Zone] I had received quite alot of fury being stored in [Fury Counter] the sheer power felt immense. Just the right amount for what I'm about to attempt.
The explosion occurred. But for a split-second, time seemed to slow down for me, [The Zone] helping very much in that regard.
As the Shockwave from the explosion was about to reach me, I suddenly punched the air with an extreme amount of force, causing the air to ripple around me, creating an equally powerful Shockwave, that matched the ones coming from the explosions, both of them colliding in a deafening boom.
I felt like my arm was about to break from the sheer strain, but I held it together.
The ground began crackling as the two opposing forces collided, then the two equal shockwaves negated each other, silence engulfing the area, as the pressure neutralized.
All of this happend in just a second.
Nico took a step back, staring up at me in disbelief.
"You….what did you just do?"
I breathed heavily, still not coming down from my high. Even I didn't know the specifics of what I done—all it felt like was me punching the explosion away, which technically was what happend, but I didn't expect my fists (augmented by [Fury Counter]) to be this powerful. To create a Shockwave powerful enough to rival more than 20 bombs. Not to mention, I had to time it perfectly. So perfectly without any mistakes, one mistake, could of ruined it all.
Yet, I somehow made it work. Frankly, I was proud of myself for achieving such a feat.
I gave Nico a toothy grin.
"Figure it out yourself."
I didn't give him time to, though. As my legs were already moving. This whole time, I didn't turn off [Probability Pryer] or [The Zone] keeping them active at all times, even as my innate spirit began to slowly dwindle. Right now, that was the least of my concerns.
I had already dismissed [Fool's Rapier]. Just now, I realized that keeping equipment active for a long period of time, actually requires innate spirit. It's a tiny bit of it, but even that tiny bit could make a difference when i was running so low on it at the moment. So, I resorted to just using my fists. Which, I had to admit proudly, i was fairly good at.
Nico seemed frustrated at being unable to kill me. He had just realized that he may really have to fight all three of us, to get his hands on the corrupted essence. Was he willing to do that?
I was feeling a bit smug, believing that I had him cornered now. So, I got a little careless. Rushing forward recklessly, without any hesitation, I grabbed debri after debri, throwing them towards Nico— [Probability Pryer] helped significantly in altering me whenever one of them was a bomb. Having foresight has never been more useful.
But as I drew closer, I had realized that Nico had suddenly stopped. He seemed to have a resigned expression on his face, a bit bitter one.
"Oh, well. I was saving this one for the inevitable key rush that will come after this…."
With a resigned sigh, he pressed his tumb downwards, on an invisible button. Then, I felt a sudden seering pain in my legs, a gasp clawing it's way out of my throat, as I suddenly fell to the ground on my face.
"What did…."
My voice trails off, as I looked down, my eyes widening in horror. Both my legs. Both my legs were….
Gone.
Pieces of my flesh was swallowed up by the nearby flames, as my mouth gaped. I wanted to scream in pain, but I couldn't. The sight itself was so horrifying, I was rendered speechless.
While in my most vulnerable moment, Nico didn't hesitate. Clenching his calves, as if stepping on the gas, he jumped and rushed forward towards me, ready to kill me before Zeke could arrive and heal me.
With a wide, triumphant grin plastered on his face, he got close enough for his palm to descend down on to my body, ready to touch and turn myself into a bomb. This was the end. My luck in The Mulligan has run out. I was truly about to die right now. Those were the only thoughts running inside my head, as I looked up, my eyes widened in resignation.
Then, I closed them, expecting for my body to implode. However, nothing happed.
When, I opended my eyes again. I saw Isabella standing over me, Zeke crouched beside me, healing my legs. Then, I saw Nico stumbling back towards the flames, as if he was just kicked in the face.
My ears were still ringing from the shock. Isabella was shouting something towards Nico, by the frustrated and bitter look on his face, I knew it wasn't anything good. Then, I saw Isabella's face looked down towards me— her face a mixture of concern, anger and relief, her lips moved. I was able to discern out the words.
"You did well, Morgan."
Then, I felt her reaching out towards me, her warm hands caressing my face. A warmth spread through my chest, an indescribable feeling. A feeling I couldn't quite understand. Yet at her touch and comforting words, my eyes slowly began shutting. A wave of drowsiness taking over.
Just as I was about to lose consciousness, Isabella slapped me.
"You're drooling again!"
My eyes shot open, as I heard a familier obnoxious laugh beside me, Zeke finishing up fixing my legs. Or well, reverting them back.
A bit embarrassed at the drooling, I wiped it off my face, then turned towards where Nico was. But….
"He's gone!"
Both Isabella and Zeke's heads snapped towards where Nico once. Immediately, they were on high-alert. Me, as well, as I quickly rose to my feet— turned off [The Zone] and summoned [Fool's Rapier] getting into the one stance I'm most familier with.
"Shit, while we were having our happy reunion…"
He paused, I finished his sentence with a yell.
"He ran off towards the Abyssal Heart!"
Without any delay, we were on the move. By the desperate and determined look on my companions faces, I knew whatever Nico meant by absorbing corrupted essence can't be good. Rather, it would be detrimental to us all. So, we had to get there, quick and fast.
Dodging flames after flames, debri after debri, we managed to arrive at the platform where the Abyssal Heart was kept.
"He's absorbing it!"
I heard Isabella exclaim, my head snapping towards where Nico was. He was casually standing before the throbbing, black-tar of a heart, palm placed on the surface, his eyes were rolled back—the veins of the arm connected to the Abyssal Heart was turning a dark black, proof that he was absorbing something from within the heart.
Without waiting any longer, Isabella did the same thing, quickly removing the air from the surroundings of Nico, startling him, making him stumble back, the connection between him and the Abyssal Heart being removed. His eyes shot towards us, unhinged and filled with fury.
As Isabella supported us, both I and Zeke rushed towards Nico, for a final confrontation. I knew it was reckless. He could of set bombs all around, but with Zeke around, i felt like it was very much worthy being reckless. He couls heal any wound, as long as i dont die.
As expected, Nico did prepare explosives. Just as we jumped towards him, his thumb pressed down on something invisible, causing a rush of heat, before a violent bang was released— the explosion causing the ground beneath us to shake….
The final confrontation had begun.
__________________________________
(Number five POV)
'What was that sound?'
I mumbled to myself, feeling groggy as I had just woken up. Outside the room where I lay, I heard the sounds of swords clashing, loud screaming and battle cries, then explosion after explosion. What exactly was happening? Where was number three and number one? All I remembered was passing out from trying to keep the apperance of that surface-dweller.
Slowly, with aching bones, I got on unsteady legs, balancing myself by placing a palm on a Pillar. I took deep breaths, looking around where I was— two hospital beds, one torch lighting up the entire room, dark-blue walls. I immediately recognized it as the infirmary. The infirmary inside Lord Tanmi's palace.
'So number one and three carried me all the way here…'
I sighed, letting out a scoff. This meant I owed them a favor. They will definitely have me doing the most ridiculous for a favor, they think it's so funny, but in reality, it's humiliating!
Even as I thought that, I couldn't supress a smile. But it turned sad, as I thought about number two and number seven, my master. Both of them died during this assault by the surface-dwellers….
'Wait….I need to see how number one and number three are doing!'
Sudden worry gripped my heart, as I quickly rushed towards the exit of the infirmary, ignoring the aching pain I felt as I did so. The moment I opended the door, however, I was greeted by a sight I couldn't have anticipated. Flames.
Flames where everywhere. Most of the large hall, the throne room we called it, was gone. Replaced by debri and flames. I stood there frozen.
'Did the surface-dwellers do this?'
I didn't dare wish to believe that thought, my heart started beating faster at the thought of what might have happend to number one and number three. They were all I had left….!
Without even trying to process the situation first, my legs moved on their own and was already going through the debri, trying to search for any signs of them.
"Number one! Are you there?!"
"Number three?!"
Tears were streaming down my face, as I continued digging and digging through debri, ignoring as the flames burnt away at my skin.
Eventually, I found what i was looking for.
The bodies of number one and number three. Pressed together. Barely any was left of them, but I recognized them. I could always recognize them. Weeping, I held number three's head in my hands, crying my heart out for the first time ever since leaving my mother's womb.
'The surface-dwellers….it's all their fault!'
I found something convenient to blame for all the deaths. I knew it must have been their fault. It must have been. But was it?
My eyes continued tracing the body of the corpse. Everything was as it should be, but there was something off. I immediately recognized it. Whenever a Nihileth dies, they will atleast Emmitt even the slightest bit of Abyssal Energy, or corrupted essence as surface-dwellers called it. But….number three and number one didn't emitt any.
This can only mean one thing.
And I refused to believe it.
'Lord Tanmi must have sucked out their energy, before killing them….'
I immediately shook away these thoughts. No! Lord Tanmi would never! It's blasphemous to even think about this!
But is it?
The proof was undeniable. It was right in front of me. Will I stay blame the surface-dwellers for what my own Lord had done? No, I couldn't. In good conscious, I just couldn't do it. Then, where do I place my rage? Where do I direct it? Who do I blame?
Standing up, I wandered aimlessly throughout the debri and flames, looking around for something to blame.
'Yes….I must blame Lord Tanmi! It's all his fault!'
But as quickly as this thought arose, I found myself face-to-face with what should be impossible. The corpse of Lord Tanmi was before me, burnt and most of it destroyed, yet the three eyes and six stumps for where the arms should of been, made it undeniable. This was Lord Tanmi.
'Have the surface-dwellers won?'
Despair creeped it's way into my heart. If they have won, than it meant they will kill me too. Or have they already left, ravaging everything, taking my friends and my leader with them? Damn brutes. I hate them. I hate them all!
Wiping away my tears, I forced myself to calm down. I couldn't act like a child. There is still one thing I must confirm. From somewhere, I heard a sound. The faint sound of fighting….
My head snapped towards that direction. Carefully, I began moving towards the sound, dodging flames, crounching whenever smoke got too much. Then, finally, I arrived where the sounds was coming from.
The surface-dwellers…..were having a fight. An infight, it seemed.
One of them seems to be trying to absorb the corrupted essence! Is that surface-dweller crazy? That will cause the heart to explode, killing everybody here, without a doubt!
The heart….
'The Abyssal Heart.'
I found a new target to blame for everything. This was the reason we were stolen from our home, placed inside this God-forsaken game. This was the reason for all our suffering and anguish. It was also our only hope of returning home, but was that hope just a lie to keep us from not destroying it?
Do I even care anymore?
As I began pondering all these questions, my mind suddenly feeling blank, realizing I'm the only Nihileth alive from my group. There used to be fifty of us, but now I'm the only one left. All because we genuinely believed this heart could take us home.
I couldn't blame the surface-dwellers. I was mature enough to understand that they didn't know anything and was merely following what was asked of them, doing what they could to survive. So, it would be unfair to blame them, no matter how I felt.
So, all my anger, hatred and resentment was directed towards the Abyssal Heart instead.
I suddenly made a resolution to destroy it, before the blond surface-dweller could absorb the corrupted essence. But once I destroy it, I'll be killing myself. Was it worth it? Yes, it was. With nobody left, nobody to laugh and smile with, nobody to share stories and make promises with, I felt no desire to live any longer. I didn't want to suffer any longer.
At the very least, I would like to go out, having done something meaningful. Even if it was for a group of surface-dwellers.
With a faint smile, I observed them fighting. It was intense. I wasn't sure which side was gonna win, but I wasn't gonna take any risks.
So, without hesitating any longer, I began sneaking my way through the battle, without them noticing. Slowly but surely, I had made my way and arrived at the platform. The battle had been taken quite far from the Abyssal Heart, the blond surface-dweller was afraid of destroying it during the fight, so he had to take the fight further away from it.
This gave me the perfect chance to destroy it myself.
Summoning a sword number seven gave me during my training with him, I took a deep breath, then plunged the sword into the throbbing Abyssal Heart, black tar oozed out as blood, painting my face and body, in a disgusting manner.
I held it together and pushed the sword even further inside, twisting and turning it with all my might, before I finally felt it. My connection to The Mulligan being removed, the sensation of my body slowly fading away into nothingness.
I smiled.
Turning my head towards the surface-dwellers, my eye caught the one with the grey eyes. I gave him nod, before my body slowly vanished into nothingness— the Abyssal Heart began dying, the world around them began collapsing.
As for me, everything turned dark.
________________________________
(Morgan's POV)
I watched silently as number five faded out of existence. A sharp pain that had nothing to do with physical tugged at my heart as I watched number five smile at me, a smile full of sorrow. I never wondered I would see these bloodthirsty Nihileth's like that. See them being so….human.
Just at the same time, I had kicked away another attack from Nico. Who had suddenly halted, his eyes widening in horror.
"No…NO! After all that work?! All that work just for it to be ruined by that fucking Nihileth!"
I heard the familier voice echoed inside my head.
["Dreadful Tunnels" mission succeeded!]
[Preparing Rewards….]
[You have received 275 Abyssal Fragments!]
Just like that, the Dreadful Tunnels ended.