Chương 111: (B2) Chapter 38 - Paid in full

Ethan writhed in agony across the cold stone, every muscle in his body locked tight as another wave of pain tore through him. It was worse than when Katara had tortured him with poison. Worse than the countless broken bones and shattered organs he'd endured across two lifetimes. His very foundation felt like it was being ripped apart. Long ago, his awareness of the outside world had disappeared. The roar of the waterfall had faded into nothingness. The cool wind brushing across his skin no longer existed.

If a monster stumbled across him now, he wouldn't know until its teeth were already sinking into him. The thought never even crossed his mind. He just had to trust that he was hidden well enough. His entire existence had narrowed to the battle raging inside his body. Every pathway that had once carried mana was being shredded apart by the molten energy surging from his core. As soon as one collapsed, Ethan forced his aura into the empty space it left behind.

He wrapped it around the mana immediately, refusing to allow it even a moment to spill free. Rather than attempting to invent an entirely new circulation network, he followed the routes the System had already established when he'd first learned [Mana Infusion]. They had proven effective, so he saw no reason to create his own pattern. Not yet. But after weeks of wondering how he could get the two energies to interact, it seemed like he had finally found a way. That didn't mean it was easy.

His arms were the first to be completely broken apart. They had always been the most damaged, making them the easiest place to begin. The final fragments of the old pathways gave way beneath the relentless pressure of his mana, dissolving into nothing before Ethan immediately replaced them with aura. The moment the cocoon formed, molten mana rushed into it, colliding violently with the emerald shell. Pain exploded through both arms. It felt as though someone had poured volcanic ash directly into his veins.

Mana slammed against the aura again and again, searching for weaknesses and trying to burst free from its new prison. Every collision sent another spike of agony shooting through his body, but Ethan refused to relinquish his control. He had to hold. His aura compressed further, tightening around the mana until every inch of the new pathway fit perfectly around its volatile contents. The process demanded absolute precision.

One lapse in concentration, one fraction of a second where his aura slipped, and the mana would erupt outward, destroying everything he'd just rebuilt. Then something shifted. The pressure inside his arms eased enough that Ethan immediately recognized the difference. A notification materialized before his eyes. Congratulations! You have advanced a Title. [Dual Awakening Initiate] … [Dual Awakening Adept] Ethan barely had time to read the notification before the change swept through him.

The battle inside his body changed instantly. Moments earlier, aura and mana had been trying to annihilate one another. Every point of contact had felt like two armies meeting on a battlefield, each trying to erase the other from existence. Now, the hostility lessened. The energies still clashed, but no longer with murderous intent. It was less like a war and more like two stubborn rivals refusing to give the other an inch.

They shoved against one another, fought over territory, and occasionally exchanged blows, but the overwhelming urge to destroy had faded. A relieved breath escaped Ethan's lips.

"…Thank God." The pain still lingered, clinging to his very being. It always would when two fundamentally different energies occupied the same space. But it was far more manageable now. Ethan could work through manageable. A small smile found its way onto his exhausted face.

"Took long enough," he muttered. It had only been a matter of time before the title advanced. His reckless—but necessary—decision had obviously sped up the process. His relief lasted only a few seconds before reality settled back in. He looked inward once more. The pathways through his arms were complete. The rest of his body, however, still needed work. Ethan let out a long, weary sigh.

"Let's just get this done." He had more work to do. More channels to destroy and replace. More pain to endure and more power to gain. Power truly was paid for in pain. Ethan, more than anyone, knew that. And he was prepared to bear the cost. He sank back into his mindscape, determined to finish the job so he could get everyone off the island. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. —~~— To say Leah was nervous would be an understatement.

It had been three days since they'd found Bonnie, and Ethan still hadn't returned. She clenched her hands into fists once again, barely noticing as her fingernails dug into her palms. The sharp sting grounded her, stopping her thoughts from spiraling too far. They needed to head back to the meeting point soon. At least, the others did. Leah already knew there wasn't a chance in hell she would leave the island without her brother.

Seb carefully picked his way across the street, stepping over the various tripwires and hidden traps Bonnie had pointed out over the past few days. Despite everything, there was a lightness to his movements that hadn't been there before. He'd found his granddaughter. He was trying to hide his relief out of respect for Leah, but it still showed. He stopped beneath the balcony where she sat. For a moment, he was silent. Leah knew the same topic would be brought up once again, though. And she was right.

"I understand what you're going through," he said in a gentle tone.

"But we'll have to leave soon. If we miss the ship, all of us will be trapped here with that thing." Leah slowly lifted her head.

"I've already told you," she said, her voice flat.

"I'm not leaving. He's still out there. I know it."

"Maybe he is," Seb admitted.

"But that doesn't change the fact that we'll miss our ride. We can come back. I'll help you search. You have my word." Leah stood, the weathered timber beneath her boots groaning softly.

"I trust your word," she replied.

"That's why I'll wait here until you return. Bonnie said the Wendigo never enters this town. I'll be safe."

"But you won't stay here." Seb's tone hardened for the first time.

"You'll go looking for him. We both know it. That creature is still somewhere on this island, and we need every capable fighter if we're going to make it back to the shoreline." Leah's eyes narrowed. She opened her mouth to snap back when another voice cut between them.

"You guys really need to keep it down." Striker leaned against the corner of a nearby building, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Even if the Wendigo won't come into town, that doesn't mean nothing else will." Leah let out a slow breath.

"Fair enough." Striker nodded.

"I'll come back with you once we've returned," Seb said.

"Some high-level fighter will want to challenge themselves against the Wendigo." She almost laughed. He thought she was leaving.

"All right, I'll come with you," she lied. Seb studied her for several long seconds before speaking again.

"I meant what I said. The ship should arrive in another couple of days. If we leave tomorrow morning, we'll make it with time to spare."

"Whatever. I already said I'll come. Just keep your word and bring people back to help search." Leah turned away before either of them could continue the conversation. She stepped over another tripwire and rounded the corner of the ruined building, muttering under her breath. She'd barely taken another few steps before someone landed silently beside her. Leah's hand shot to her dagger. She stopped only after recognizing the sandy-blond hair. Bonnie.

"What do you want?" Leah asked. She knew she sounded rude. She didn't care. These people wanted her to abandon Ethan. As far as she was concerned, they could all go without her.

"Nothing," Bonnie replied with a shrug.

"Just making sure you don't do anything stupid." Leah's fingers tightened around the dagger's hilt.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Bonnie folded her arms.

"It means I've survived on this island for over a year." She jerked a thumb toward the forest.

"Everyone who goes in there dies. So yeah… if you run off by yourself, I'd call that pretty stupid." Leah took a step closer.

"You don't know him."

"No." Bonnie shrugged again.

"But I know the island." For several seconds, they simply stared at one another. Finally, Leah looked away.

"Piss off," she muttered.

"I'm not interested in another lecture." Bonnie clicked her tongue.

"I'm getting off this island. Pops thinks there's safety in numbers, and honestly, he's right. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate you and your friend coming all this way to find me." Her expression darkened.

"But I'm done with this place." Leah couldn't argue with that.

"So am I," she said quietly.

"Just not without Ethan." Bonnie didn't answer. She simply nodded before disappearing back between the ruined buildings, almost melting into the town she'd spent the last year turning into a fortress. Leah continued walking until she reached the edge of what had once been Heraldic's town square. Or at least, that was what Striker believed it had been. Now, there was only a massive crater. It stretched across the center of town like something enormous had punched straight through the earth.

Leah found herself reminded of old photographs from the years following the First Wave of disappearances, cities reduced to rubble as the Third World War began. She lowered herself onto the broken stone wall surrounding the crater, letting her legs dangle over the edge.

"You better be alive," she whispered. She quickly wiped at her eyes, focusing on the destruction around her. —~~— Seb woke before sunrise. Out of habit, he cast a healing spell over himself. Warmth spread through his tired muscles, washing away the stiffness from another restless night. He wasn't sure whether someone could become addicted to healing magic, but if it was possible, he suspected he was getting close. With a groan, he climbed to his feet. Leah and Striker were both still asleep nearby.

His gaze lingered on the young woman. She looked exhausted. Truthfully, he'd expected to wake up and find her gone. If he'd been in her position, he doubted he would have waited until morning. After hearing Bonnie's stories over the past few days, Seb couldn't bring himself to believe Ethan had survived. Everyone who encountered the Wendigo eventually died. That seemed to be the island's one undeniable truth. Ethan was strong. Seb was certain of that. But strength only mattered if your enemy could die.

Even if Ethan was dead, Seb would keep his promise. Once Bonnie was safely back at Nexus, he would return. Whether Ethan was alive or dead, the man deserved that much. Seb wasn't naive. He knew Ethan had his own reasons for helping them. Nobody risked their life without expecting something in return. It didn't matter. Ethan had delivered exactly what he'd promised. Seb intended to repay that debt. His thoughts were interrupted when he noticed Bonnie was missing.

He eventually found her crouched beside another trap near the edge of town, carefully dismantling it before placing the salvaged metal components into an oversized backpack. Without looking up, she asked, "Everyone awake?"

"Not yet." Seb offered a small smile.

"Let them sleep a little longer." Bonnie gave a noncommittal grunt as she continued working. The silence between them lingered. It hurt. Finding her hadn't magically repaired everything. If anything, the distance between them felt larger now than it had before.

"We should leave today," Bonnie said.

"I wouldn't be surprised if the Wendigo is still close by." Seb swallowed.

"…Bonnie." She didn't stop working.

"I—""I don't want to hear it." Her voice wasn't angry anymore, just devoid of emotion.

"Let's get off the island first." She relented after a moment and finally looked at him.

"Then we can talk." Seb slowly nodded.

"That's all I ask." He turned to wake the others. He'd barely taken a single step when a massive explosion rang out. The blast echoed through the ruined town. Buildings that had survived the shattering began to collapse, while birds erupted from distant rooftops and scattered into the sky. Seb spun toward the sound. A thick column of black smoke climbed into the morning air. Then came the screeches. High-pitched and shrill. Dozens of them layered together. They reminded him instantly of the monkey horde.

His blood ran cold. He looked toward Bonnie. She was already standing, her face had gone pale.

"We need to leave." She slung the backpack over her shoulders.

"Now."