Chương 402: Between the Darkness and the Boy

A realm of blood stretched beneath a sky filled with endless ivory. Rivers of crimson water flowed across the land, while great black mountains rose in the distance and formed a wall around the realm. There was no wind and no real sky, only a dark horizon that seemed to go on forever. The only sound came from the slow movement of the blood beneath their feet. Three beings far beyond anything a mortal could understand waited within that place.

They had been waiting for their master to return, though none of them knew how long it would take. Something had happened. Something serious enough to draw Kealix's full attention and force him to step in himself. If he had not gone, something terrible would have happened. It was not something the others could even begin to understand. The fact that Kealix had returned meant that, at least for now, the danger had been stopped. The blood suddenly began to move. Two figures rose from beneath its surface.

One was a man with long, black hair and golden eyes. Dozens of weapons still pierced his body, yet he walked as if they were nothing. Beside him was a young man who had barely reached adulthood. Vale coughed hard as soon as his feet touched the ground. His body still hurt from what had happened inside his soul, and his legs nearly gave out beneath him. The blood around his feet quickly reacted to his condition.

It crawled up his body and slipped into his wounds, slowly repairing the damage before returning to the ground. Vale continued to cough as he tried to catch his breath. Kealix, however, had already started walking away. His face showed no emotion, but his hands were tightly closed. He managed to keep his calm for a few seconds before finally stopping. His shoulders rose slightly as he took a breath, then he turned around and stared at Vale.

"What the hell were you doing down there?" His voice was cutting, and there was clear anger behind it. Vale looked up while trying to steady himself. His legs still felt weak, but he somehow managed to give Kealix a small smile.

"Heh..." Kealix's eyes narrowed.

"You think this is funny?"

"No, I—" Before Vale could finish, a blade suddenly grew from Kealix's hand. It moved so fast that Vale barely had time to react before it went straight through his jaw. Vale died on the spot. His body fell into the blood, and Kealix calmly lowered his hand.

"I don't want to hear it." The blood quickly covered Vale's body. His wounds closed almost at once, and his body was restored before the blood released him again. A moment later, Vale's lungs filled with air, and he took a breath as he returned to life.

"Seriously?" Vale asked while rubbing his jaw.

"I haven't seen you in how long, and that's how you greet me?" Kealix looked at him from the side.

"This makes twice." Vale raised an eyebrow.

"Twice what?" He slowly got back onto his feet. Kealix's eyes moved toward his mechanical arm.

"Twice that Zellion has risked his life to save yours." Vale froze. His eyes slowly moved toward the metal arm attached to his body.

"He did what?" Kealix's face grew darker.

"Why do you think he is in such a weak state?" His voice rose as his anger returned.

"Do you think a god simply wakes up one day and loses most of his power?" Vale took a small step back.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—""Didn't mean to?" Kealix walked toward him. His calm was gone now, and there was real anger in his eyes.

"Do you have any idea what you've done? By entering that place, you gave it a reason to notice you again. You have become a target. From now on, that thing will bring you nothing but pain. It will keep coming for you, and it will not stop." You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. His hands began to shake.

"I thought I could keep it away for longer, but now..." Vale stared at him, more confused than scared.

"Can't you just kill it?" he asked.

"You're the same guy who sealed the Founders away, aren't you? They were some of the strongest gods that ever lived. How can you beat them, but you can't deal with this thing?" Kealix said nothing. The realm fell silent around them. His teeth gritted so hard that they cracked, though the damage healed at once. After a few moments, he looked back at Vale.

"Do you really think that because I sealed a few weak gods, I can defeat that?" He stepped closer and placed a hand against Vale's chest. The force behind it pushed Vale back several steps.

"Do you even understand what you're asking me?" Kealix's eyes grew colder.

"And you have already put my creation's life in danger twice. So tell me why you went that deep. What did you think you would find there?" Before Vale could answer, another hand closed around Kealix's wrist. It was pale and almost glowing. Vale looked up. The man standing beside them had long blond hair and bright blue eyes. A soft light came from his body, making him look less like a person and more like a star that had taken human form. Vale stared at him for several seconds. Then he realized something.

Zellion was no longer an arm.

"That is enough, Master." Zellion's voice carried a strange, almost heavenly sound. He looked at Kealix with a calm expression.

"He did not know that the thing could reach him in there. He could not have known what would happen." Kealix stared at him for a moment before letting out a tired sigh.

"Very well." He released Vale. Only then did Vale notice the other three beings watching them. The dragon, the cat, and the centipede had all turned their attention toward Zellion. Their strange faces showed clear interest. Zellion looked at them and smiled.

"Hello, everyone. How have you been?" Vale stood there in silence. His mind struggled to catch up with what he was seeing.

"What... is happening?" He pointed at Zellion.

"You were an arm a moment ago. How can you even—""I am a god, remember?" Zellion gave him a small smile.

"Do you really think I cannot change my form when the right conditions are met?" Vale shook his head.

"No, that's not what I meant." He looked Zellion over again.

"How did you save me twice? I don't understand." The smile faded from Zellion's face. He turned toward Vale.

"Do you remember the first time you died?" Vale's expression changed.

"When you were thrown through that portal," Zellion continued, "your body was left to drift through nothing. You should have died there. You should have been left to rot in that empty space." Vale swallowed and gave a slow nod.

"I remember." Zellion turned toward Kealix.

"Master, I believe it is time he learns why he is still alive." Kealix stared toward the far horizon. His anger had faded, but he still looked annoyed.

"Very well." He turned back to Vale and walked toward him. Vale quickly spoke before he could say anything.

"Wait. You knew what happened to me? You can show me what happened?" Kealix looked down at him.

"Why didn't you tell me when I first came here?"

"Because some truths are better left alone," Kealix replied.

"The same can be said for some memories. There are things you need to discover on your own. If I force certain truths into your mind before you are ready, your spirit may break before it has the chance to grow." Vale frowned. He did not like that answer, but he could understand the reason behind it. Kealix held out his hand.

"So, do you want to see why you're still alive? Or will you let this chance pass?" Vale looked at the offered hand for several seconds. Slowly, he reached toward it, but his fingers stopped just before touching Kealix's hand.

"Will I ever find out what happened if I don't take your hand?" Kealix's eyes grew slightly. He stared at Vale as if he had not expected that question. After a moment, he nodded. Vale bit his lip and thought about it. Then he slowly lowered his hand.

"You're really going to throw away this chance?" For once, Kealix sounded honestly confused. Vale looked down at his remaining arm.

"What good will that knowledge do me if I don't know what to do with it?" He looked back at Kealix.

"I have other things I need answers to right now." Kealix stared at him. Then, slowly, a grin appeared on his face.

"It seems you're wiser than I thought." He turned away from Vale.

"So, before you leave, I'll give you this—""Master." Zellion's voice stopped him. The god was staring toward the distant black mountains. Vale followed his gaze. His expression changed.

"What the hell?" The darkness was moving.

"Didn't we get rid of it?" Vale asked.

"How can it reach this place?" Kealix looked at him with a faint smile.

"You ask questions like that, yet you still don't understand the smallest part of what I'm dealing with." His smile grew wider.

"Yes. That's exactly how it should be." Kealix raised one arm. The weapons that pierced his body suddenly began to glow with a bright golden light. Above them, the black suns hanging over the horizon started to crack. One after another, they broke apart and fell into pieces. The darkness pulled back. Golden light spread across the realm and covered the blood beneath their feet. The endless land of pain was filled with a warm glow that seemed impossible in a place like this.

Kealix stood between the light and the darkness without moving. Then he looked at Vale.

"Listen carefully." His golden eyes became cold.

"No matter what happens, never trust the words of an Unwritten." The light suddenly exploded. Vale vanished. Zellion disappeared with him. Kealix was left alone. Only he and the darkness remained. He watched as the huge presence slowly moved through the golden light. Its shape could not be seen clearly, but its weight was enough to make the whole realm feel miniscule. Kealix smiled.

"I must apologize." He spread his arms slightly.

"It seems a lowly mistake like myself has taken your prey away from you once again." His smile became wider.

"Tell me. Does that make you angry?" The darkness gave no answer. It simply stopped. Its prey was gone. There was nothing left for it to take. Slowly, the presence began to pull away. Kealix watched it disappear into the dark. Then his smile faded.

"That's what I thought." His golden eyes burned through the darkness.

"Something like you should never be allowed to reach him. I'll make sure of that myself."