Hello everyone! How are you doing? I hope you are all doing fine!
Chapter 135 is here and, as always, I hope you will enjoy it.
Thank you once again for following/ favoring/ reading the story. You are all awesome and even more!
See you all next week in chapter 136. Until then, be well and have fun!
"Are you happy being with me?" her yellow eyes turned away from the brilliant smile adorning the monkey faunus' gaze. In the middle of the desert, blown by the cold night wind, he glowed as bright as his name.
Her gaze fell on the searchlights and lamps scouring around the camp. They were sitting on a hill, a few meters above the watchtowers, sitting on the cold, harsh sand. "Why wouldn't I be?" he asked back at her.
"Don't toy with me" she returned to staring at him. "What is it that you see in me? What-" she gripped the lilies he had brought her in a tight grip "what makes you want to be my boyfriend, Sun? You could ask any girl you want and they would love to be with you" she gulped audibly.
"I did, though" he replied. One of the things Blake loved the most about this goofy blonde, besides his warm smile, was how refreshingly honest and straightforward he was "I asked you out just five minutes ago."
"That is what confuses me the most. Why me?" she asked again. "I am not as stupid as to list all the things I love in you and kill the mood, just like you are trying to do right now, Blake" he took a rare serious face.
"I am in love with you- simple as that. I want to be by your side, share your joys and ease your pain. Among other things, of course" he smiled again and Blake felt heat rise up in her face. "Am I seriously blushing?"
"I will accept you turning me down if you don't like me," he said, his expression turning a tad brighter- mostly to cheer up his own self for a possibility like that "but I won't give up if it's something as stupid as you believing that I am way too good for you or anything along these lines."
"Sun…" the bright wind flurried his hair and, for the first time since they had ever met, Blake saw his face turning a slight pink. For some reason, it made her heart race even more. "You deserve to be happy, Blake."
Blake's turned her face away from the fire and fixed her new gauntlets and armor. She had opted for a stealth-friendly one with a few padded additions below her normal clothing. She picked up her equipment.
"I don't like this" Neptune, his brows lowered, glared at the cat faunus. "Like it or not, I am going" she replied, returning the glare. "Sun is my best friend, Blake. I should come with you- I want to!" he insisted.
"What about them, then?" she pointed with her chin towards the fire, where the mask-clad huntsmen were standing, pretending to not be listening to their argument. "Until Sun returns, they are in your hands."
"I am not trying to ditch them; I just want to make sure my buddy is all right" he protested. "Then, you are doing the right thing, Nep." His eyes blinked at the mention of his nickname from her.
"I am the only person who wants to save Sun as much as you do; if he-" she gulped audibly "if he is alive, I will bring him back no matter what. The same goes for Glynda, of course. But you have your duty too. These people are still trainees; you can't leave them alone to come with me."
Neptune sighed deeply and tried to calm his nerves. "I am sorry, Blake. I am just so frustrated by all this and thinking Sun may be-" She grabbed his shoulder "don't go down that road, Nep; it's an ugly one, trust me."
He exhaled deeply once more "you said you have a way in, right?" "Yes. At least I think so" she stared at her magic sword and was glad to sense it confirm it was able to penetrate the barrier surrounding the building.
"I won't ask how and why; just come back safely and bring them both with you" he hugged her and she didn't object at all. As they did, she whispered in his ear as lowly as she could to avoid the others' hearing.
"Give me half an hour. If the barrier hasn't fallen by then, get them to the next retreat point." He nodded "we have decided to try and secure a vehicle to fall back as quickly as possible before they isolate us."
Blake broke the hug and waved her hand at Neptune's charge, happy to see them return the gesture. "Cover her!" Neptune and two huntsmen raised their guns, ready to blow up any Ghoul that tried attacking her.
With her back covered, the cat girl jumped over the fence and charged to the lonely building, vanishing into the darkness. To those watching her leave, she seemed like a lonely spark flickering in the deep night.
Neptune prayed to all Gods existing in Remnant for that spark to keep burning even in the face of the pulsing darkness hovering above them.
-o—
She felt the looming darkness return. As soon as she took a few steps away from her fellow huntsmen, the warmth of the fire and the lovely sense of being supported faded into the mist-covered night.
A creeping, deadly chill filled her veins. The silent fog filled her thoughts with a dreadful sense of isolation. She felt less brave now that before, especially as she saw the empty glass entrance of the flat getting closer.
Stay calm; this is not the time to be getting cold feet! She stared up to the sky. The thick fog covering the rooftop throbbed like a mighty heart wrapped around a steel cage. She felt like a kitten entering a forbidden, alien world governed by monsters. More like a squishy bug, actually.
An empty garage stood between her and the underground entrance. I can take this one, or I can go for the main entrance she pondered, her eyes travelling to a staircase on her left, leading to the ground floor.
She narrowed her gaze and, after taking a quick peek to the back to make sure nothing followed her, reached out with her gloved hands.
As expected, her fingers met resistance; a barrier so thin that she only managed to see the ripples made on its surface by her interference. On the other hand, it packed enough power to repel her hand away.
So that's what Neptune said by 'being unable to follow Sun'. She tried to force push the barrier away, but it repelled her with as much power as she mustered. A giant ripple broke out, blurring her frontal vision.
Underground or normal, we can't reach any entrance without cutting it off. She took Eidolon and gave a gentle swing on the barrier with its purple blade. What transpired after that left her completely speechless.
Putting no resistance, the barrier split open, as if she had just tore a piece of fabric with a pair of scissors. Ripples formed away from the cut, clouding the air in front of her, except for the place she had cut at.
Wasting no time, she sliced an even bigger path and jumped in, waiting for a moment to see if the opening would close. She narrowed her eyes in frustration when she got proved right- the cut was hastily mended.
It would appear to be a continuous barrier, leeching off magical energy from Nyctos. I am not aware whether it does it consciously or it's just its instinct causing this to manifest. She nodded at her blade's analysis.
I am still flabbergasted at how easily you can dispatch those things. She decided to use the underground entrance, so Blake started moving through the dark parking lot. Both the Ghouls and the barrier, I mean.
As I've already explained, this is what I was made for. Your decision to trust and sign a contract with me may be the smartest thing you have done in your life, Master. She lowered her stance and nodded again.
The parking lot was half empty of parked cars. Tire marks and a faint smell of petrol tickled her eyes and nose. The fog inside the block was much fainter, so her night vision was back on its full capacity.
Each parking space was marked with the help of four small pillars made of concrete and tile. Carefully, Blake slipped from one pillar to another, using the few remaining cars as cover but trying to not slow down at all.
The underground door was a small steel one. It was open, probably left like this after the evacuation. No, that is wrong. If Glynda used this as a watchtower, they would have certainly locked it for security reasons.
Heart throbbing like a jackhammer in her chest, Blake slid under a van and rolled on the ground a few steps away from the open door. A thin line of bluish light shone out from it, inviting her to the hellish building.
Well, it's not like I need any more reasons to do it. She bent her knees and- a screeching sound, like metal being carved by something sharp, suddenly echoed. In the absolute silence of the garage, it sounded like a bomb going off- and was equally or even more terrifying than that.
She tried to control her breathing and calm down her erratic heart. Her body instinctively was pressed on the wall, her chest heaving up and down in a decisive attempt to ease her pulse. She tried to sneak a peek.
Her eyes scanned the room, taking her time to make sure she wouldn't be noticed by whatever had made the sound. Problem was, after a few moments of searching, she didn't manage to see anything in the lot.
Blake retreated to the shadows for a second and then decided to be a little risky, reaching out a bit more to take a better view. Again, she saw nothing. Do you feel anything around? She asked her weapon in shock.
Nothing at all. The black-haired girl, heart still beating heavily, stepped out even more. Her figure was now half-covered by the pillar she used. Still, nothing came up. Even more, no car seemed to be scratched at all.
Shit- I am wasting time again! Blake bent her knees and rushed at the door, angry with herself for taking her time to cross the place. She ran the five-six meters separating her to the door as fast as she could.
The very moment she did, however, the same metal sound filled the parking lot once more. A mighty, hungry growl erupted like a canon and she couldn't help but turn to look at her lurking monstrous assailant.
All she managed to notice was a sickening amalgamation of malformed shadows crawling in the deepest darkness of the lot. Forms out of her worst nightmares prowled in the garage, barely lit by the thin blue light.
The next moment, Blake reached the door and slammed it shut. Happy to notice it had a defensive barricade, she barred it and even spared a small earth shard to make sure this horror would not follow her in.
Spending a few moments to calm her mind and catch her breath, Blake stared at the stairs leading up on her left and the elevator on the right. The blue hue came from the emergency lights of the stairs, it seemed.
Deciding the elevator was far too risky under those circumstances, she spent a few moments to hear if anything was trying to break her hasty barricade and then jumped up, running up the stairs at full speed.
-o—
May I ask where are we going? Blake didn't reply to the specter at once; she finished checking the staircase behind her for the fourth time since she had started her ascension. We've skipped two floors already.
There is no need to check here. Sun has gone after Glynda and she is probably up, trying to fight Nyctos- or escape from it. We are running directly to the upper floors. The blade approved suits me just fine.
She climbed the stairs, three at a time. She knew Sun was somewhere up there, trying to assist Glynda. How did she know of it? Because she-
"It was your father; told him you are busy and will call later." "Is there anything else he said?" The boy sighed "he kept pestering me about my irresponsible nature and that I should soon arrange to marry you."
Yellow eyes blinked and her ears flattened. "I am sorry about him. But why don't you tell him that it is my decision to not get married yet?"
"That's your business Blake. I told you already- I can wait as much as you want to until we get married. You are worth it" he smiled and she blushed away. "And what if I am never ready to do so?" she asked.
"Well, in that case" he smirked "I will spend the rest of my life as your boyfriend. I just hope it's not going to be a short one- I want to enjoy it as much as possible."
She purged the talk away from her mind. A long life; a long life at her side was the only thing he had asked of her. If she wasn't even able to provide him that, what was- no, that's not the point right now is it?
She peeked out of the bluish-lit staircase to make sure nothing moved in the third floor corridor. She waited for a few seconds to try and hear anything moving- or breathing- before she started climbing up again.
You are right, she admitted to her mind-reading weapon. I just don't want to tell anyone. A world without Sun… she clutched her chest and gritted her teeth …I don't want to live in such a world, that's all it is.
Her legs hurt, but she didn't care. The block had eight floors and she was still not- her eyes opened wide and her ears shot up. She skidded and grabbed the wall in order to stop her acceleration towards the low, predatory growling she suddenly heard prowling on her from above.
Instinctively, Blake withdrew and used the corner of the stairs to hide her slender body behind. I knew it was going way too smoothly so far!
A shadow was cast in the wall opposite of her, dyed in the blue light of the emergency lights. It was thin and had long arms, skulking… coming from behind her!
Pulse skyrocketing once more, she barely managed to turn and conjure a clone. A Ghoul jumped at her from the previously empty corridor and bit off the image's neck, allowing Blake to step on the railing above.
The door slammed open and three more Ghouls came through. Losing no time, she jumped up, grabbed the railing and somersaulted above. She rolled on the ground into the fourth floor and slammed the door-
Another Ghoul pounced on her. She formed a clone to avoid the strike and rolled away. One more charged, giving her no time to stand. She rolled on her back and whirled Eidolon around, cutting open its chest.
The monster vanished at once, but she had no time to be happy about it. The corridor was occupied by three of its brethren- and before she managed to formulate a plan, the emergency exit burst open and four more came through. She jumped on her feet, ready to fight them off.
Envelop was not suited for close combat, so Blake took out Nightfall and stood in the middle of the corridor, brandishing her red and purple blades. She narrowed her eyes, eager to take them on and continue.
As she did, the monsters attacked. She ducked under the first and did a U-turn on her left foot, decapitating it with Eidolon. Nightfall unfurled and lashed out, cutting off the legs from another. Three jumped at her.
She conjured a clone with her magical blade's help. The purple-eyed image pierced the first one and retreated in the shadows as the other two attacked. This allowed her to reposition and slice their heads off.
Three more remain and one is reforming. She whirled her katana chain like a cascade, taunting them to attack her. They opened their jaws- and were suddenly impaled in the back by a wave of metal projectiles.
As they collapsed, Blake was already upon them. She dashed around the dying Grimm and finished them off with the purple colored blade. They vanished, madly shrieking into a cloud of smoke erupting around.
The smoke rose and faded through the ceiling, leaving Blake behind to stare at her not so unexpected ally. She was full of scratches and covered in caked blood, but Glynda stood as poised as ever, her tattered uniform giving off the impression of a battle-hardened officer.
Her piercing eyes fell on Blake's. "What are you doing here?" she asked, a bit of concern lacing her voice. The cat girl slowly moved towards her "I came to get you two out; where is Sun?" she asked in equal concern.
Glynda didn't reply. She just pointed to a door behind her- a hastily yet strongly reinforced apartment wooden door. Blake gave her a weak and grateful smile before she rushed in, heart pounding wildly like a drum.
As she stepped into the dimly-lit room, the pounding died. For a couple terrifying moments, she thought her heart had completely stopped in her chest. Her eyes opened in horror at the ghastly, bloodied spectacle.
Sun was seated on a couch, his chest wrapped in scarlet red bandages. His face was twisted in pain. The mixing of glistering sweat running down his head and caked blood staining the furniture was mortifying.
He slightly tilted his head and stared at her. "Blake?" he asked weakly "is that really you or am I losing it?" she didn't even realize when she slid across the floor and knelt in front of him, eyes watering in agony.
"Sun?" she caressed his hair. "What- what happened?" he moaned at her touch. "This sort of fool not only ignored my orders to retreat, but also shielded me from Nyctos' attack as it fell upon the watchtower."
The answer came from Glynda who had just closed the door and stood in front of them, trying her best to keep her professional mannerism. As if jolted by her presence, Sun adjusted himself and sat on the couch.
She understood at once what this meant. According to Neptune, Glynda had ordered a retreat and Sun, for reasons unknown to anyone but his selfless blockhead had gone after her to make sure she had a backup.
"When Nyctos fell upon me, I was so overwhelmed by its malicious aura that I merely managed to keep my wits. I felt anger" she spoke in such a reserved way, yet Blake could feel the disappointment hidden within it.
"My mind felt clouded and stale. I had an unbelievable urge to tear this building apart and bury this monster beneath its rubble. I wasn't" she cleared her throat "I left myself open to its attack and he took the hit."
It was the first time Blake saw Glynda so timid. She is feeling ashamed! The realization struck her like a bolt of lightning. Sun had taken a hit for Glynda and that must had hurt her pride more than anything.
She turned around and locked eyes with the blue orbs she had grown so fond of, now fully open. "You just couldn't avoid it, could you?" she said in a soft tone, full of affection and relief "you stupid, kind moron."
"Hey, not to brag, but she'd be dead if not for my stupidity" he smiled and Blake kissed him softly. Glynda didn't comment, still reflecting on her own lack of discipline. Blake tenderly broke the kiss and stood up.
"Is it up there?" she asked them. Sun nodded. Glynda sighed "after we escaped, it produced this weird cloud. It doesn't seem to be turning us angry as it did before and the Ghouls it spawns are much weaker."
She pointed to the ceiling. Blake focused her senses and, for a brief split second, she thought she heard it pulsing and throbbing from above. It was like a huge heart drawing in blood- or magical energy at this case.
"So it is storing energy; is that what you mean?" The cat girl asked and Glynda smiled at her in approval. "I wanted to make sure Mr. Wukong was safe and then find a way to kill it before it stores enough power."
The yellow-eyed girl looked at the four remaining vials of the shining blue liquid in her pouch and Eidolon pulsing on her belt. "I am in" she firmly said. "This may be our best chance to end this thing for good."
Sun nodded and grimaced in pain as he took a large breath. "You are not coming with us" Blake's eyes narrowed at her. "I will have lunch ready and a hot bath waiting for- ow!" she furiously pinched his tail.
"Don't pull these stupid things on me Sun" the monkey faunus' eyes withered in front of Blake's gaze. "You are wounded and with nearly zero aura. There is a thin line between being stupid and being heroic and I don't want my future husband to cross it; am I understood?"
The blonde smiled at her and kissed her forehead. "Stay alive so that I can marry you" she whispered. "Same goes for you" he returned. She smiled; for some reason she felt her heart calm and her mind steeled.
She turned around and met with Glynda's fierce gaze. Blake nodded at her and drew her weapon. The primal hunger oozed out of the blade, dying her world in its deep colors. Eidolon was ready.
A couple floors above, the King of Night's gaze shifted towards its old, primal enemy. The primordial thirst oozing out of the enchanted blade called the Elder to battle. It flapped its wings and rose from the decrepit remains of the human watchtower it had been seated upon.
Its mind was annihilated. But the taste of human flesh still lingered in its mouth. Nyctos howled and the fog pulsed, rising up and down like a wicked, malicious ribcage. It was time for the King to hunt its prey.