Chapter 4
By Larcie
From the darkness he fell, a soft voice like a child echoed inside his faint dream, The unknown voice somehow felt like it was crying sadly as if it had lost itself. Troubled the young lad tried to search the mysterious voice in the deep pitch black space but unfortunately he could not find where it was coming from. He walked and search but no matter how he tried to call out the sad voice only continues to wail until finally he saw a small child curve like a ball hugging her knees while crying. As he approach the young child the dream soon come to an end.
"…hmmm…Huh?"
Awakened, Elsword had slowly opened both his eyes and gradually adapting from the light of his view.
"Guuaahh…what the hell happen?"
Holding his head as he tried to get back into his knees apparently his strength had not yet recovered due to a slight lightheadedness.
"What!?"
Shocked, As his vision had finally been cleared seeing everything that surround him had completely change.
"W-where the hell am I?"
The dark deep forest was different from where he last remembered before he lost his consciousness furthermore everything was out of place or for more precise everything was out of this world as he knows.
This was the same forest but the dark and creepy feeling was telling him that this was no ordinary place, he can't seem to find any presence of any creature or such sound inside this place but the most weird thing he notice and disturbing was the sky.
"R-red?"
As he gasped, disbelieving throughout the night the beautiful full moon was paint with stunning bloody red that the dark night was mixed with its tainted crimson glow.
"Hey…Am I still dreaming?"
Shaking his thoughts away trying to convince himself that this was a dream or maybe a nightmare but it was not it was all real reality.
"Calm down there is no need to panic I need to find what happen to Chung first."
He brushes the sweat from his temple, Elsword quickly exhaled to relax towards his real goal and that is to find his friend.
"Chung!"
He shouted hard as he could hopefully his friend is alright and safe but unknowingly to him someone's shadow lurked not far away as it's observe its naïve guest.
…
…
…
Student Council Room…
From the near window a girl with silver white hair was viewing the outside as if her mind was traveling away to the vast noon sky. She was watching somewhere not from the student below the school building that walks their way back to their dorms but she was looking far more away with her thought.
"Hmm…Are you worried about him Eve?"
With a concern tone, a feminine voice asked her from behind
"Eve he will be fine since you're the one who had chosen him beside if he won't pass this then his not even deserving at all"
"Why are you guys still doubting him?" Eve asked as she turns her gaze toward a girl with a year older than her. The girl was beautiful with her emerald hair tied in a pony-tail style.
"It's not that I'm doubting him or something..actually I'm just pretty much curious of that guy well I know that he can be I little too much but he won't kill that boy so don't worry ok~"
"…I'm not worried…"
"hmm? Are you sure?" The girl smiled gently
—It was been a long time since I last saw Eve to have such an expression…And it's all thanks to that boy… thou I'm a little jealous
Eve who didn't know the girl's thought just simply didn't response instead she return her gaze back outside the window staring from beyond the sky.
—El…
…
…
…
*pant*pant* "haaa…haaa..Seriously how big is this damn forest!"
Taking a huge breathe and screamed out all of his frustration. Elsword sat and leaned near at a tree trunk for a sec to take a break, he didn't know what time was it his watch had stop, his phone had no signal and was almost to depleted in battery.
*Growled*
A sound like an animal groined but it was not came from any wild beast instead in came from his stomach.
"Gauh…so hungry…"
He could not do anything the forest had no fruits to eat or any wild animals to hunt it was like abandoned by any life form at all.
"Where is this place?"
*Sreech*Screech*
"Huh…!?"
*Sreech*Screech* *Sreech*Screech*
Alarmed Elsword quickly got up as soon as he heard something screeching like a metallic friction sound that quickly grow louder and closer towards his directing.
Elsword sharpened his senses from the weird sound and not long a huge black silhouette came out breaking through the gap between the two huge thick trees just in front of him.
"What the hell is that!?"
As soon as the red moon bathed the image the unknown figure was an enormous humanoid robot larger than his size. It has one red orb on his helm metallic red armor and a duel sword attach to each its upper limb.
—Well looks like I'm not alone anymore but…
The red crimson orb on its head quickly fixed it's gazed towards Elsword as he saw his own reflection on it. Sweat drop from his cheek he felt a very bad feeling and soon the orb glows.
"Oh shit!"
The robot quickly raised his sharp blades and was about to strike Elsword down. Luckily he evaded just in a nick of time yet only his neck tie was cut off while the humanoid robot did not stop it quickly recovered its stance and was about to attack once more.
"Darn it what its that thing problem!"
As a result he run from it evading its fatal attack. It is a good thing he was trained in days of his childhood that even if the android was fast and accurate he was able to react on time but…
"Arrghh…" he groaned
Unfortunately Elsword wasn't able to dodge completely from all of its attack his left arm got wounded and blood was sipping out, it was not deep yet the pain was real that made him realize that this was indeed real and his life would be in a real danger.
—Damn… this robot is getting faster than before
—What the hell am I suppose to do think Elsword think!... there's no way I'll die here
Even if he run there is still no use even if he tries to dodge there is no telling if he might survive. In either way he doesn't know what else he can do.
"But… No way in hell am I going to run I rather fight than do nothing!"
While he gripped his fist as he focus his gaze over to the humanoid robot that was now ready to attack again without a hint of mercy towards his target.
"Hiaayaaa!"
With a loud warcry Elsword charge in barehanded only determination was his only weapon. As soon as the cry was heard the robot understands him. It quickly charge towards him like accepting his challenge, the metallic sharp blade glows from the reflection of the moon was now about to strike him down but Elsword who had experience battling with swords in the past he quickly evade the attack and counter it with his fist but the robot armor was tough that it was ineffective.
"Tsk…"
Again the robot continues its assault again and again but Elsword too did not stop to counter since he can evade most of its attack he was able to landed some blows at the same spot thinking that it might somehow break its defense.
"Guaghh!"
But as battle goes the robot quickly adapted from his approach and was able to land a hard hit towards him kicking him off.
"Arrgh!..."
Form the force he was send flying and slam towards the tree trunk shaking from the impact.
"Guagh…tsk …you're really…*cough* starting to piss me off…*cough*"
Tasting his own blood and feeling the aching pain all over his body. Elsword didn't mind it he was very upset no—he was very furious for not able to fight back. If only he had weapon or a sword maybe the odds might turn even but right now he can't complain because right now he felt very helplessly weak and he absolutely hated it.
Once again the battle robot charge resuming its hostility.
"!?"
Elsword rolled sideways to dodge the incoming attack that made the thick tree fallen like it was nothing.
"Arrgghh…damn what a troublesome bastard"
Elsword quickly got up suppressing the pain using only his will power he got up and immediately kick the ground attacking the robot once more.
"Awwahh!"
He tried his best to defend himself but some of the sharp blows got pass grazing his arms his chest and other part of his body yet still he endure it all.
"This is nothing compared to 10-years of training with my sis!"
As he remember those hellish memory with his older sister somehow it gave him strength into his fist as he jump up and letting out all his blazing anger towards a one blow punch and hit the orb on its head.
"!?"
The robot had suddenly back its step away while an electrical wave was emerging from the spot of its orb. Elsword soon discover that reaction and realize it maybe its weakness. While the robot was still recovering Elsword took the chance to give a continues blow punches into its head non-stop and so finally a crack appear from the glass orb.
"One more…"
As he was about to release his final punch, thinking this will end it but naively he was wrong.
"What!?"
Before his fist was about to landed the red orb glows concentrating all the light into the middle point and in the blinked of an eye the light fired up towards Elsword.
"GUUAAAGGHH!"
The laser passes through his right chest and quickly he falls down to the ground.
—Shit! I didn't see that coming…
*cough* *cough*
He soon cough a lot of blood and quickly experiencing the excruciating pain all over his body that moving will be very much difficult. However the robot has no sympathy towards him its only mission is to eliminate him step by step it moves closer.
—Darn it how am I going to win this?
He squeezes his eyes closely as he gripped his fist from all the disappointment that accumulates from inside him but no matter what he can't do anything he was weak. The Robot moves closer ending this one-sided fight for the last time it raise the blade from its upperlimb.
"Aahh…*pant*Screw this...*pant*"
Unbelievingly Elsword tried to stand up enduring the pain that soon became numb holding his bleeding wound at his chest clenching his other fist as he fix a sarcastic smile and gave the robot his fearless glare.
"…as if I'm going to die here you bastard…"
But robot didn't care less as it raise the blade on the peak it quickly slash down over him while Elsword without changing his expression only close his eye gently as the blade was about to cut him.
And then…
…
…
…
—What?
Elsword was waiting for blade that will cause pain and soon his death but for some reason he didn't felt anything yet. He open his eyes and to see that he was lying on the ground looking at a cold darkness space.
"Where the hell is this? Am I dead?"
He quickly got up to his feet and to surprise his wound and his fatigue had disappear.
"I see… I AM DEAD!"
"Come on why did I die so young I still needed to do something I haven't yet gotten a girlfriend and far most I won't be able to beat my big sis!...AAAHHH!"
"Can you calm down and stop shouting!"
"Huh!?"
In the middle of his complain Elsword notice that he was not alone in the dark space. As he was about to look who it was in the darkness a fire light lead up on each side it of the corner of the room.
"W-wha?"
This was not the Underworld that he imagined but instead the room was dark but with the help of the fire lamps the room was a huge hallway on the end at the middle there was a throne and someone was sitting on it.
"Who are you?"
The unknown stranger didn't reply, Elsword could not see his face for the light was limited or is it the dark shadow covers his identity, mysteriously the man stood up from his grand throne and move into a close distance. He was wearing some weird clothes like an armor or a battle suit but even from the light Elsword could still not see his face.
"Are you the Grimm-reaper?"
"Grimm-reaper?"
"I won't let you take me without a fight you bastard!"
"…Hahahaha!"
"What so funny I'm serious I may have lost in the hands of that rusty stupid robot but it won't happen again even if you're the Grimm-reaper you hear me!"
Normally when facing the so called scary Grimm-reaper every normal human will be frighten but because Elsword was very piss off and in a sour mood thanks to the robot who had made him loss everything instead of fear it was pure anger.
"Even in the verge of death you are still this lively…hahaha"
"Like I said stop laughing!...wait verge of death I'm not death yet?"
"Ah yes you are still alive for now and I am not the Grimm-reaper but maybe I am"
"Hold on then who are you and what is this place… Honestly I keep getting into somewhere place I don't know and getting involved with such crazy people!"
"Were both in an alternate dimension that's reside you and this is my Throne Hall and you are my guest"
"?...Wait what?"
Confused Elsword was unable to process the man's word it only made him more confuse than before.
"What the hell are you saying you're telling you live here and that this dimension is inside me?"
"Yes more accurately my Throne Hall and I are inside you"
"You got to be kidding right and who the hell are you?"
Elsword glared towards the annoying man that doesn't make any sense to him but for some reason the man's voice was a bit familiar to him that his blood boil quickly because of it.
"Ah! About that it's still too soon to know my name but…"
Suddenly the man's tone of voice change, it became deadly serious that his presence was emitting such terrifying aura making Elsword difficult to breathe that sweat was dripping at his face. He swallows his saliva as he tried to maintain his composure strengthening his will as if he was facing death itself.
"What do you desire?...What do you seek?...What is your existence?"
"Eh?"
"Tell me do you want power that can destroy every fiber of everything?…do you wish to devour everyone who stands in your way?...do you want darkness to be your Core?"
"The hell are you talking about?"
"I will give you power all that everything to Destroy to Devour as long as your existence will be the Darkness…"
"…"
Elsword was speechless he thought that this man was crazy talking but every word he emphasize he was serious like stabbing knife directly in his heart.
"That's right I need power I hate being a weak without doing anything…I realize this when I was cornered by my enemy the feeling had felt a bitter taste on me I never wanted to experience that again."
He clenched his hands gritting his teeth from the memories back then.
"I see then make a contract with me and all shall be yours"
The man smile amusedly as he extended his hands towards Elsword. As he saw the man's hand he was overwhelm with such a choice to become powerful was something he truly dream of and so he did not hesitate.
Elsword slowly move closer to the man extending his hand towards his.
*SLAP*
"!?"
Shocked, instead of taking his hands to form a contract the man didn't anticipated that his hand was slap away as the red-boy in front of him grinned.
"I refuse" Elsword straightly answered
"…You needed power so why did you refuse my offer?"
"Simple its very BORING…"
"Boring?"
"If I became so Almighty powerful in one easy run that will be so boring where's the fun in that, you're like a cheating maggot in a game and that really piss me of when there a player who hack or cheat just because they wanted to be powerful in order to win that still doesn't count as wining your just running away like a coward who is afraid to lose…seriously I really hate those weak bastards!…and also there's no hell am I going to borrow it from a bystander like you"
Not long ago he was a bit uneasy of the man offer but now everything was alright and so he stared the man in front with valiant eyes and confidently stated his answer.
"I will not back down to anything even if I'm weak and the fight might be tough I'll just have to train myself to become stronger even if I lost a hundred times I will stand on my own two feet and never give up remember that!"
"…"
The man sighed from all the red boy declared and then he inhaled the air into his lungs and let it out.
"WHAHAHAHA!"
"!"
Alarmed Elsword twitch his eyebrow.
"Hey are you gone crazy?"
"Hahaha crazy? You're the crazy one here hahaha"
"…Letting this chance to become powerful even the whole world will be in your hands and still you refuse"
"Yes" Elsword answered without any regret
"…I see your eyes shows that you will not change your mind no matter want hehe…interesting"
The man cross his arm as he asked Elsword with a sarcastic smile.
"Then you're going to die remember your still in the scene where you going to be slice in half"
"Huh?"
—That's right I almost forgot this is just inside me but the reality was I am about to meet my end
"What now boy are you going to embrace your death?" the man smirked
"Shut up!"
Elsword concentrate of possible way to get out of this mess, he was still severely injured and there no way to fight back to escape. So escaping death is imposible without the man's power.
"Hmn? Where are you going?"
The man asked as he saw the troubled lad turns and walks away.
"I'm going out and face it I rather die with honor than to have that cheating power of yours"
As he was about to reach the end of the hall where a huge door with odd inscription on it he extend his hand towards the handle suddenly he was called out.
"Wait…"
"What like I said I won't make a contract"
*sigh*
"Here use this"
Elsword widened his eyes as he turns around facing back and notice a sword that appear right in front of him that stabs was on the floor. The sword looks ordinary but Elsword doubted about that since it came from the man.
"You're so persistent do you really want to form a contract to me that badly?"
"Don't be so cocky boy… I may have not form a contract with you but think of it as a death gift…use my sword"
"Huh?"
"This is just an novice sword that I created use it and if you still die then it will perish with you but if you survive then it's yours until the day that you will accept me"
"…I don't know what you're planning is but…"
Elsword reach out to the sword from the ground and pull it as he points the tip of the blade towards the man.
"I will never back down my words and as for this thanks" He smiled
Elsword held the sword that was given to him and push the huge door but before he could completely vanish from the room, the mysterious man told him something that did not reach him.
"-"
…
…
…
As the humanoid robot was about to cut down its blade towards Elsword head a bright light came between them.
*SLASHH*
In an instance the robot was cut in the middle falling apart onto the ground.
"Don't underestimate me stupid robot"
Seeing the robot destroy, Elsword stab the sword into the ground and notice that all his wounds were healed up even his fatigue and heavy body from before was now gone.
"Well whatever now all I need is to get out of this plac—!?"
But before he could finish he quickly grabbed the sword looking up from the sky with red full moon on it.
"Something coming…"
Indeed from the sky something had drop causing a great gale of dust from the crash. Elsword shield his eyes from the dust and readily his sword in case of another enemy. As the gale of dust disappear a silhouette that stands on the landed crater was armored with silver white steal with glowing blue eyes it was like a miniature gundam but the most eye catching is it was holding a gigantic weapon taller than its actual size indeed it is his new enemy.
…
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To be continue…