~Chapter 70: Mirrors Of Illusion~
"Chung.. I've been wondering this for a while.. What are those mirrors doing there? Were you guys checking our your beauty or something? Were you guys narcissistic?"
Elsword's words irked Chung slightly as his grip on his Destroyer tightened. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. Although, he can see Eve's sly smirk and Ara's attempt in holding her giggle.
"No... Nobody in Hamel are narcissists. Those mirrors are to be used against enemies if the enemies crash and crack them into pieces. There'll be more mirrors up ahead. These are called Mirrors of Illusion."
"Oh... I see..."
At a lost for words, Elsword stayed silent while Eve wrapped her arms around Chung who had sped up. She took a look at his pouty expression and smirked. She poked his soft cheeks, and in return, she got herself an "intimidating" glare from Chung as she continued to silently tease him through her actions. Elsword and Ara smirked lightly before realizing that they were the only ones without a lover.
'Chung and Eve are a couple.. Ara and I are with a loving couple that's possibly out of control once they're doing something together. Right now, they're flirting with each other. Talk about awkward.. If only Aisha was here...'
'So awkward... Elsword and I aren't a couple! What's worst... I'm the only single one! Elsword has Aisha. Raven has Rena.. Chung obviously have Eve.. What about me?! I have nobody... Aren has Elsa.. Elsa isn't here anymore, but her soul is probably watching over her little brother and Aren. Maybe the reason for Aren's coma is because he's spending as much time with Elsa as possible before waking up to reality.'
Out of nowhere, a line of shadows wrapped itself around Ara and dragged her down into the water. At that moment, Chung, Eve, and Elsword's face truned gloomy as they remembered the previous incident that involved these strange creatures called the Shadow Linkers.
"You have got to be kidding.. They're also here.."
Eve sighed as another line of shadow attached itself onto her. Soon, she was dragged into the water with Chung. Elsword who had snapped at remembering the incident, soon went full power on the Shadow Linkers.
Underwater, Ara held in her breath and kicked the creature away. With her spear, she tried to sever the shadow link until it disappeared on its own. Her eyes widened in surprised before she could feel a cold breeze.
'This is underwater.. How could there be a breeze?! Could it be...?!'
Behind her was an Iz, an ice spirit. However, by the time she realize that Iz was behind her, she was already frozen. Eve was released from the shadow link and she began to assault her opponents with Particle Ray and Giga Stream with additional attacks from the special gear from Thousand Star.
"Dread Chase!"
Chung raised his Destroyer in front and protected himself from the sudden assaults of the Shadow monsters. He sighed at his luck as there were multiple Shadow Linkers who had already attached the shadow links to him. He immediately released the series of homng missiles that automatically split up and chased down its target.
"Generate Black Hole!"
Within her range, Eve summoned ancient weapons, generating a black hole. Within a moment, most of the Mermen and Piranha were sucked into the black hole before it exploded. Eve was pushed back, however she used that chance to slam Moby into another Merman who wasn't in her attack's range.
"Tempest Dance!"
Ara soon broke out of the ice that entrapped her. She pressed down on her heels, dashing forward while spinning elegantly, yet deadly with her spear. The group of Iz were slashed down as Ara climbed onto a platform and pierced a Laguz before it can release any bubbles. She sighed as she ascend slowly. At the same time, Eve and Chung swam upwards for air.
Ara waved her hand slightly as she swam towards them. They swam to the surface and Eve began looking for Elsword who was slaughtering everything in sight.
"He must really hate those Shadow Linkers..."
"Well, I don't blame him. After all, they did drag us into that lake, making us walk back to the palace soaked."
"Hey... Chung. Those mirrors.. Once they're cracked, it means that they'll be active, right?"
"Yeah. It'll catch us in an illusion. It'll be based on your worst fear and if you lose control of yourself, you'll forever be in the illusion until someone saves you. It basically means for you to stay sane and be confident. Why?"
"Because... Elsword is going to crack them."
Eve stared at Chung blankly as she points at Elsword who grabbed the Shadow Linkers with his bare hands. Without looking, he slammed the Shadow Linker into one of the mirrors, cracking it into tiny pieces. Chung cursed silently as the mirrors around them shone in a bright light that blinded them. Soon, they were split apart.
Chung opened his eyes slowly before looking around where there was merely a void of darkness. He walked around with no idea of where he was, but he had a feeling that it's an illusion. Everything was quiet as he walked, however he suddenly tripped over something. He turned around to see what he tripped over, but his eyes widened in shock at the sight of it.
"Elsword?! Ara?! Raven?! Rena?!"
His eyes widened at the sight of his fallen comrades. His thoughts soon turned to Eve as he pushed himself up, looking for Eve. He called out for Eve before his eyes found themselves landing on a certain purple head. Aisha's head was hung while her body was being pulled from limb to limb by ropes. For a moment, he thought Aisha was in front of him and pointed to the left direction where the flames rose.
He rubbed his eyes as he looked at the direction where Aisha pointed and looked closely. There, he found a spot of silver and black. His eyes widened as he rushed there. He slowed down to a slow pace as a lone tear rolled down.
In front of him was a broken Eve. A broken Eve without her head. Beside her body, were Moby and Remy's crushed bodies. Faint blue electricity flowed around them while near the flames, Eve's head was laying on its side near those blazing flames. He dropped his Destroyer and took her head away from the flames, desperately putting out the flames that was burning her hair with his bare hands. He sat down next to her body and held her head against his chest while letting out silent sobs.
'This is an illusion, not reality. Definitely not. If it's reality, I would be next to Eve right now.. I'm not fooling myself.. It's an illusion. Elsword is not dead. Aisha is not dead. Raven is not dead. Rena is not dead. Ara is not dead either. Eve isn't dead. None of them are dead, especially Eve.. We promised each other.. Even if she is going to.. Go, she would at least say soemthing to me, but.. Even if she does say something, I wouldn't let her go. This is all an illusion.. Eve, say something..'
"Eve... Please.. Say something.. Slap me.. Hold my hand, hug me.. Kiss me.. Do anything.. Please.."
Eve slowly opened her eyes as she could feel the blinding light had disappeared. She looked around her surroundings and nobody was beside her. Like Chung, she was in a void of darkness.
'I guess we're in an illusion.. That Elsword.. Losing control of his emotions. After going through this illusion, Elsword is definitely going to be first on my kill list.. If this is our worst fear, then.. Chung..?!'
She turned around only to find herself in the middle of the wide Altera plains. Much to her horror, blood was splattered everywhere. She took a deep breath and walked forward cautiously.
'An illusion... It's all an illusion. I was at Hamel's ruins.. Not Altera's plains.. This kind of Illusion won't be able to trick me. I won't fall for it.'
Despite that, in front of her were her comrades and Hamel's king and soldiers. One person was missing, and there was soft small made from a bush. She hesitantly approached the bush, ready to attack with Moby and Remy, however in front of her shocked her. Ignotum had blood splattered all over his body, from head to toe. In his hands was a severed head of her beloved, Chung. His body laid in front of Ignotum as he kicked his lifeless body towards her. His Freiturnier was cracked to the point where it was beyond repair. His Destroyer was smashed to bits and pieces.
Lone tears rolled down her cheeks as she stared at Chung's body. She raised her head and glared at Ignotum. He merely smirked as he threw Chung's head at her. She caught his head in her hands and her tears fell on his bloodied face. Despite knowing that it's an illusion, the scene before her was too much.
She hugged the head gently, fearing that it'll break. She took her sleeve and slowly wiped the blood from Chung's face. She broke out in silent sobs as she convinced herself that it was an illusion.
'Once I wake up from this illusion.. I'll be able to see an alive Chung whose arms with wrap around me and protect me.. A Chung that will kiss me and make promises with me.. A gentle Chung..'
Elsword folded his arms as he realized he was still in Hamel's ruins. His eyes narrowed as a presence appeared behind him. He swung his blade however another blade stopped him from doing so. To be more specific.. Two blades.
"W-What? There's...Two of me, but slightly different..?"
In front of him were two Elsword's. The same blazing eyes with flaming crimson hair. However, there was something different about them. One was creating runes in his hands as he smirked lightly at him while the other remained a small frown.
"You choose to be with Hamel.. Why?"
"Because it's..."
"Because they're not in the blame for your parents' death? They're in the right? Nobody's in the right and nobody's in the wrong. There's no such thing as right or wrong as those are merely opinions that they've made."
"Altera may have done horrible things, but... Hamel is the same in the past."
"And I care? The past doesn't matter! Right now, the present and the future is all that matters."
"Then... If you want to move on, then kill this person right now."
Both of them stepped back and runes swirled arouund this unknown person. Her lavender hair swayed as she opened her violet irises. Her face remained cold and as she swung her staff at Elsword. In response, Elsword unconsciously clashed with her staff and with Cornwell he scratched Aisha's cheek. The bright red liquid flowed down her cheek as Elsword's eyes widened.
'Aisha...? Why? And... That scratch.. I didn't mean to.. I don't want to hurt Aisha.. I don't want to.. Hurt her..'
"Aren...?"
Ara stared at the person in front of her with suspicion. She raised her spear at them, ready to attack at any moment. Her brother smirked lightly as he grabbed her spear, the blood flowing down his hand.
Ara narrowed her eyes, thrusting her spear forward, attempting to stab Aren in the head. However, he leaned back and kicked her. Ara was pushed back and she was pulled into a similar void of darkness. Multiple hands were created from the darkness, grabbing her and covering her sight.
The more Ara struggled, the more the hands tightened as they pulled her. Soon, the void of darkness swallowed her. Ara reached out for her spear and severed the troublesome hands, however they kept on regenerating. Ara took a step back and there were also hands grabbing her feet. She impaled her spear down and glared at the void of darkness.
'Darkness... I'm not afraid of it.. It's an illusion! I'm not going to succumb to this nonsense. I'll hold out until I can break free!'
Her hair clip shone brightly and pushed the darkness away. Her eyes became sharp and crimson red as her ebony colored hair soon turned silvery white with shades of rosy pink. Behind her, sprout the nine tails. She held her spear in front of her, emitting a soft glow around her, however...
"Fahrmann?"
Her eyes widened as she was brought back to the place where she was born. It was as peaceful as usual. Despite that, Ara could feel a sense of danger as she walked forward. In a gust of wind, blowing grains of sand into her eyes. Ara rubbed her eyes, trying to regain her vision before she could feel the temperature rising while the smell of something burning reached her nose.
"Flames...?"
The moment her sight was regained, Fahrmann was in crimson flames. In front of her were a pile of corpses with their a hole in their chest. Blood was splattered on her clothes. Her eyes widened at the sight of the blood and behind her was Aren. Aren smiled warmly, however his hands reached out for her, wrapping his fingers around her delicate neck, choking her.
'This is an illusion! None of this is real!'
~Author's Note~
Mirror of Illusions... It came to me at the last moment. :D Well, I was working on this chapter yesterday, and was half-complete.. I was watching Jewel Pet Tinkle... XD Ruby is cute and I wanted to see this couple, so.. I'm watching it for a bit. XP
It's cheesy. XD Anyways, I'll be working on a one shot and get ready for my friend's yaoi. :3 I have Assassin's Love all planned out and it's ending... Now, I just need to finish up Eternal Soulmates which is sad if I think about it... :x
Here are my replies to my generous reviewers~
Tsurara-Oikawa Chan: XD I've bonked countless of people on the people. *bonks you on the head* XD Thank you and now... I'm worried for my Infinity Sword list.. I haven't decide anything for him.. OAO I was thinking of making an RS, but then the skills are going to be ridicously hard to decide. I swore that I'll never make a LK or any kind of Raven or Aisha. XP Too bad it's not a Tracking System, since... Artillery Strike is sort of like that. Just one more day until it's your birthday! :D Well... Just wait~ :D Aisha's been out, but that doesn't mean I keep count. XD I'll manage somehow if 1,000 reviews is possible and I thank you for complimenting how I write. XD I wish you the best of luck on your soon-to-be story! :3 I'll be sure to read+review it! :D Also... Me and my other cousin wore complete black on the day of my cousin's wedding on June 21st. XD One of my cousins was like: "Dude, are you guys going to a funeral or a wedding with such gloomy black clothes?" XD
The Cynical Asian: He serves as a rival~ ;D He's a complete different person. Anyways... Alex, you can't live without your laptop... Do you mean you can't live without Rena and Elsa? :3 Please answer! :D *holds a mic in front of you* Eve's slap is amazing~ ;D Whoever is stalking them... ;) You'll find it quite unexpected. Ooh.. *shoots arrows at you*
Konjiki No Yami: XD Alex is the next target? Yeah, I saw the OVA... XD It was hilarious! I mean.. Lyon and Gray.. Charle and Lily.. Lucy and Juvia.. Gajeel and Levy... Erza and Jellal.. XD I love that slide! I really, truly support Natsu x Lisanna. Natsu x Lucy.. It seems more like a sibling. I'm planning on a Natsu x Lisanna story someday.. ^o^ I don't really like how some authors use Lisanna and Lucy as the "bi***".
Sweet Trickster: XD Now my 70th chapter... Well, the medicine group is finally in action/tragedy.. There won't be any love triangles until these Mirrors of Illusions are gone. I'm not going to flip a coin. XD So.. It's all Rena this time. Also.. I'll be having my friends having a vote. XD So, it's not me who's choosing, my friends are. Hmm.. Well, we'll figure something out. Until then, just wait for the news. XD *pats your head*
RubyCrusade: How could I not love it?! O: I'm seriously in love and anxious to know more! What about my story and that "wow"? XD You've been working hard on your chapters and your grammer is way better than mine! Also, you're popular~ :3 I seriously admire you and Desuchi as well! Well... I admire a lot more authors as well.. XD That crazy chick is going to go insane.. It's not yet 1,000. XD It could be stopping at 900-999 reviews. XD To be honest, I've never thought that this would happen. :x I thought that there won't be that many people supporting it.. So.. This story reached this far is all thanks to every reviewers for their generosity! ^o^ I believe that you can exceed my success! :3 *takes cupcake and gives you and Desuchi ice-cream* I have high expectations for you guys, good luck! I'll continue writing for as long as I live!
An0n Author: *bonks you on the head with a paper fan* Review anytime, so stop worrying! *throws Elsword out the window* You're not going to kill anybody! Even if it's Anon.. XD
QueenNoob: I sent you a message to both of your characters from my main character. Once you accept my main character's friend request, I'll add you on my Chung. ^o^ I'll be waiting for the day you make them. Lol! You're popular. XD Aye! Eve is awesome! Rena sure is honest..
Light15XV: Aye! This love triangle... I hope I can make it exciting! :D For now, there won't be any Rena x Raven x Alex, but there will be soon!
YZ19: Thanks for the compliment! And yes! :3 Fairy Tail is coming back! :D For now... I'll just pass time with the OVA and other anime, also Vocaloid: Kagamine Rin + Len~ :3
Helringo: XD When you're at Hamel in the game, you can fight them for yourself. XD And I'm glad you can review on your phone! ^o^
KiyoKu: XD Because you're easy target. You can also be bait as well~ ;3 *throws in electric chainsaw* Use that to defend yourself. ;)
Kat Neko983: XD Last minute review... Fairy Tail is the best! :3 *sighs* Looks like you'll never love Rena. XD Look forward and... Chung! Go for Eve!
Thanks for reading!
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