Eternal Elysium

Sina's rampage was unexpected.

No, maybe a word like 'unexpected' was too small to describe this site.

Unlike how humans had turned into creatures of beyond after getting corrupted by the potions, Sina was different. She had not consumed the potion, but she looked like a creature of beyond.

She was a human but not so human at the same time.

She was a monster but not so monstrous at the same time.

What was she now…?

Ba…thump!

Ah… My heart pounded with disgust and terror.

Maybe I could feel dread a lot better these days.

"What are you all going to do now? The one you all seem to be working for isn't here anymore." Franz asked, gathering our attention.

The man wearing the scarf came forward and said in a calm and deep voice.

"He is alive. Very much alive… I propose a truce. We would cooperate with you if you promise to help us in return."

'Truce? What are they even on to now…? But it's not a bad choice.'

"You will surrender and quietly follow us. In return, if you can give a valid reason, we will let you go." I said, stopping them in between.

"Huh? Why will we surrender?!" Summer spat out with a strange look over her face.

'Like after all this trouble I will let any of you go!'

"...I am listening; tell me." The black-haired man said with a raised brow. His expression was of curiosity, but from the looks of it, he wasn't keen on surrendering to us.

"We are running out of time." I said, pointing to Sina, as her figure kept rapidly expanding.

"Just like you said, we can have a truce, but it will only benefit you in saving Elric. So, it doesn't make sense for us to listen to any of your demands. Furthermore, if you continue this fight, you will be deemed as more than just petty criminals. Having a bounty on your head doesn't sound good, does it?" I said, keeping myself steady from the last hit, my gaze met with Franz and the others.

They nodded.

'Good, I can keep going.'

"And what if we continue to fight? We can always escape, you know? Your companions are not in the best condition; the same can be said for you as well."

"If you fight, then that's bad. I was asked to catch you all alive… But I guess some of you will die and some of you will escape. We cannot tell unless you try."

The bronze-skinned man pointed his spear right at me. Franz and Rose again raised the wind around them, creating a vortex to attack.

"You have said too much. What makes you think you can fight everyone and still live? That's too much arrogance, really." The bronze-skinned man said with a venomous tone, his voice shaking.

"Well, maybe my companion might die if we fight again, but I won't." I said, shaking my head.

His eyes widened as he raised his spear, ready to thrust it in my heart.

And then—

"Alright, that's enough!"

An onyx arm came, catching the man's arm before it could hit me.

I didn't flinch or back down from this either. I was ready to deal with them all if needed. And I was sure at this range I could kill them, all of them; at least that's what I thought.

…Sigh. I stepped forward and looked at the man wearing the scarf.

"So, do you accept it or not? Tell fast; Elric might not live long."

"Chris, lower your weapon." The man said, closing his eyes; a small sigh escaped his lips as he gave the woman at his left a small gaze. And then said, almost a whisper.

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"I was the one who leaked the intel regarding Elric… Does this help in not making us criminals?"

"Eh?" My gaze hastily jumped back to look at Franz, who equally looked confused.

'He seems to have some idea… Not sure, but yeah, he also had thought of this like me.'

My plan was rather simple actually. Simple enough for even the trio of mercenaries to understand.

I wanted them to surrender, and in return we could reduce their punishment. After all, they were just mercenaries, not thugs; they would follow money.

Their skills were a testament to the treatment they could get. Temple has not suffered any loss but rather profited a lot from these troubles, without any doubts.

But from this man's words alone, those thoughts instantly shattered. If he had actually betrayed Elric from the start—everything will depend on what he says next.

Even his teammates were left dumbfounded, their eyes wide open. Summer was the first to react, her voice raised as the corner of her lips started to twitch.

"Urgh, seriously, I expected this when you said to hold back! But goddamnit, you really did this, Enzo!"

"What other choice did we even have…?" Enzo, the man wearing the scarf, answered with a wry smile.

"Several, actually! But no, you don't listen. Like always doing what you want."

"Elric! Elric! Elric!…" Sina's screeches pierced through the forest; her words echoed what remained of her past self, making everyone shudder.

"Let's continue this later… We need to stop her before she grows any further." Franz said, walking forward, our collective gaze fell on Sina.

Her figure was not that of a human anymore.

It was just a grotesque sight, a being of flesh with a mouth and eyes. A being that continued to grow endlessly under mutation.

However, we all knew it was not a monster, just a simple awakened with powers to shapeshift. This made this situation even worse, as we couldn't understand what was even happening here.

"We need Elric alive, right? Let's hurry. Franz, Rose, Mathew, and Summer, was it? All of you are not suitable for this battle, so try to support the rest of us. You two will help me retrieve the guy trapped inside her. Any questions?"

I didn't wait any longer and took command of the situation. If we all continue our argument, all of this will be for naught. And that's something I can't allow to happen.

As a figure whose identity remained hidden, at least to most of those present here, my words held a little bit more weight and trust than those who are seeing each other as enemies.

Chris and Summer remained silent, not denying my words at once. Their eyes looked at Enzo, waiting for him to answer.

"If everyone is in agreement, who am I to say no now?" Enzo shrugged and answered. "So, what do we need to do, Mr. Reaper?"

'That goddamn cursed name!'

Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I nodded towards him.

"The crystal seems to be the reason behind her transformation; if we can separate her from that thing, things should go normal." I paused, looking at the man with long hair, and said with an uncertain tone. "Can you pull Elric out of her? I will try to make an opening for you. And then separate the crystal."

"Understood, but you will probably need this."

Creating an onyx arm not far, Enzo made it grab one of the fallen artifacts and threw it in my direction.

Surprised I caught it, feeling its feather-like weight.

A sword was held inside a black sheath; taking it out, I saw a double-edged slim sword with a pointed tip. It gleamed with a dark and sinister glow, and its crystal-like body made my blood run cold.

'This thing is light, way too light to be called a sword...'

Thinking as such, I swung it a few times, feeling its sharpness in my hand. A lethal sword, a crystal sword that seems to be able to cut anything and everything, is what I could only think about.

And its ability is...

Enchantment: A pain that lasts forever, a curse that brings corruption. The more the blade cuts, the deadlier it becomes for the enemy.

Negative effects: It needs blood once every week to sustain itself; otherwise, those around it will die a painful death if not sealed.

My mouth was left agape, so I unknowingly let out a sigh of contempt.

'J-Just what kind of creature was used to make this?!' Filled with shock, my heart started to race in excitement while simultaneously feeling fear.

The world outside was simply vast and unfathomable. The danger that lurked outside was like a dreadful nightmare.

"If you are done playing with it, get to work already!" Franz said, with an annoyed look. But his gaze remained on the sword in my hand.

"I am not giving it back!" I grinned saying that and moved towards Sina's figure along with Enzo and Chris, who looked at me with complicated faces. They don't understand what they had given me just now; if they did, their gaze would have been nothing but full of envy.

'I need to get this sword… I have done so much for the Temple. I should be able to take this as a reward, right?'

"Is he always like this?" Summer muttered, looking at Franz with her hands crossed over her chest.

"Like what?" Franz asked in confusion, even though they all were talking casually right now due to the impending situation. Caution was present in all of them—betrayal was something to expect—after all, they had just betrayed their own employer. There was no guarantee they also won't do the same to them.

"That guy wearing a mask... He is addressing Sina like she is a human. Isn't it weird? How can someone think of that thing as humane?"

Summer's voice was filled with skepticism. Franz could understand her doubts, but it was not time to discuss philosophy right now.

"... Don't mind him too much. A—Reaper is like that, a compassionate person who has his own troubles to face."

Those words were all Franz could muster to say.

Following that, the screams intensified.

The being formerly known as Sina now looked like nothing but a hideous mass of flesh and blood. Even the bones were deeply rooted inside, suffocating Elric.

Her figure was as large as the towering walls of the city.

A sleek voice was being called from inside that creature.

"Elric!..."

Summer closed her eyes, unable to look at it for long, but then sighed again, looking at it with a determined face.

"So this is drowning… A being only made of emotions." Franz whispered, While the mutation was done by the artifact, he understood something much deeper had been going on inside. Something he actually doesn't wish to find out about.

And then—