NOVEL NEXT Chapter 78: Going to the Blue
"Are you really going to that place?" Milan asked worriedly, holding her daughter in her arms.
"Yes," Kael nodded with a small smile, as if what he just told them wasn't shocking or cause for concern.
"That place is really dangerous," Milan said, her frown deepening and her eyes begging him not to go. "If you really want a suit… I… I have enough money to buy you one."
Bach, who had been silent all this time, turned to his daughter in surprise. "You'll buy him a suit?"
"Yes, why not?" Milan raised an eyebrow at her father, who was now looking at her with strange eyes.
"I just never thought you'd be this generous to him," Bach said, staring at his daughter, then at Kael.
"That's because… I…" Milan didn't know what to say. Her face turned red with embarrassment, and all she wanted at that moment was to find a hole and hide in it.
Bach looked at Kael, then back at Milan a few times, before his eyes widened in realization.
"Oh, you two… don't tell me," Bach said, his widened eyes glaring at his daughter before settling on Kael with killing intent. But then he recalled the time Kael had saved him—and the time Kael had fended off Milan's ex-husband.
His cold heart melted, replaced by warmth. Bach smiled and even patted Kael on the shoulder.
"Kael, I see what's going on," Bach smirked. "I'm not going to say much. You two are already old enough to make your own decisions. As long as you can keep her safe and happy, that's enough for me."
Milan's face flushed an even deeper red after hearing her father's words.
"Father… stop it. Nothing is going on between us. Besides, didn't you hear what he said? This is probably the last time we'll see each other," Milan said, her voice low with sadness, unable to bear the thought of parting ways with Kael.
"Oh… right," Bach said, his tone dropping. Letting out a sigh, he stared deeply into Kael's eyes. "I've seen you fight—you're strong. But that's a Blue Fissure. If you go there with your current strength, it'll be a miracle if we even see a glimpse of your finger again."
"Blue or not, I'll still go and take her suit," Kael said confidently. He wasn't being boastful or arrogant—he was simply stating the truth.
"You really want my wife's suit…" Bach muttered with a bitter smile. "That damn artifact shouldn't have chosen her."
"I want her suit because I respect her," Kael responded. "If you want, I can even give it to you."
"That's what most people would do—give it back to the family. But my wife's suit doesn't belong to us. It belonged to her. And now that she's gone… maybe it's time to let go."
"So, it's alright if I take it with me?"
"You were going to take it without asking us first anyway," Bach said. "Besides, I'd rather see you wear the suit than that bastard who killed her."
Thinking about the man who burned their house, rage surged in Bach's heart. All he wanted now was to find that man.
"Don't worry, old man. I'll get the suit," Kael said.
Bach let out a heavy sigh, while Milan gritted her teeth.
"But why? Why do you have to go? Why don't you want to see us anymore?" Milan asked, her voice shaking, tears falling from her eyes.
"Milan, he's already decided," Bach said, glancing at his daughter with pity. There was nothing more he could do, except try to calm her down. "I'm sure he has a reason for choosing this path."
"Please… tell me," Milan whispered. And as if she understood the mood, her daughter began to let out a soft cry.
"I'll only endanger your lives if I stay with you," Kael said as he stared at Bach and Milan before his eyes landed on Mira. "And once I get my hands on that suit, more trouble will come. I don't want to ruin your lives. Your baby's future is important."
Milan's eyes widened upon hearing Kael's answer, while the miner simply stared at Kael—strangely, and in awe.
Bach couldn't believe Kael thought he'd actually be able to get his hands on his wife's suit hidden inside a Blue Fissure. But seeing how confident Kael was, a small hope began to grow in his heart. As Kael's words echoed in his mind, Bach started to believe—little by little—until that hope turned into full belief.
"I'm not going to stop you," Bach said, while his daughter quietly wept beside him. "But I hope you do get that suit. I hope you achieve what you set out to do. And I hope you make it out of that fissure alive."
"Don't sound so emotional," Kael chuckled. "I never plan on dying without getting my sweet revenge first."
"Then kill that son of a b*tch," Bach smiled, though deep inside, he wasn't confident at all that Kael would be able to kill the man who murdered his wife.
Taking the suit and surviving—that was possible. But killing Dmitri? That was a dream. And it would probably stay that way.
Kael and Bach talked for a while longer, while Milan stayed silent, tears still falling from her eyes.
"Then I should get going," Kael said, his face turning serious.
"Go," Bach waved his hand, as if shooing away a dog.
"W-wait," Milan stuttered.
"What?" Kael asked, though he already knew what was coming. No woman he had slept with could bear to part ways with him—and they always wanted one last taste before letting him go.
Anna, the receptionist he'd done the 'thing' with in the Training Room, hadn't let him leave until he gave her something… in her mouth. Now, it was Milan's turn for a 'final' touch.
In front of her father, Milan kissed Kael on the lips. It was a light kiss, but it lingered for a few seconds before she took a step back.
"That's not a goodbye kiss," Milan said, her face slightly red. "I'll be waiting for you—for the storm to pass. Can you promise me, one day you'll be back at my side?"
"I promise you," Kael said seriously, making Milan let out a beautiful smile. "Once the storm passes, I'll be back at your side."
"Good. That's all I needed to hear," Milan whispered, glancing at her daughter, who now had a soft smile on her face. "I think she likes our promise."
"Well… why don't I walk you to my car?" Bach suddenly said, changing the subject. "And you know what? I'll give that car to you. That's my precious baby, so I want you to take care of it. Don't even give it a single scratch, got it?"
Hearing this, Kael turned to the miner with a confused look. "What car?" he asked, voice completely genuine, as if he truly had no idea what Bach was talking about.
"What do you mean 'what car'?" Bach Ponce frowned, a strange gut feeling stirring in his chest. "Didn't I let you borrow my car?"
"I didn't borrow anything," Kael replied as he started walking away. "Anyway! I'll get going! Goodbye!"
Bach stood there stunned—until realization suddenly hit him. His eyes widened in horror.
"Hey! What did you do with my car?!"
His voice echoed through the air, but Kael didn't even look back. He just picked up the pace—faster and faster—until he jumped into a public vehicle heading west of Hury.
...
A giant gate on the west side of Hury stood open. Roads leading to other places stretched out across the vast ground as vehicles came and went—some still using wheels, while others had fully switched to anti-gravity travel.
City officers patrolled the area, making sure everything was safe.
People stood near the gate and along the walls, monitoring through advanced binoculars. If they spotted anything suspicious, they would immediately alert the others and conduct an inspection. However, their main focus was on the Fissures beyond the gate. If a Fissure Breakout occurred, the entire city would be in danger—so they had to ensure everything went according to plan.
It had been years since the last Breakout, but no one dared to let their guard down.
Fissures were stable—but still unpredictable. Who knew? Maybe one of these repeatable ones would suddenly go berserk and send hundreds of Behemechs charging toward the city.
Outside the western side of Hury, there were at least five Fissures—two of them being Blue repeatable Fissures.
Repeatable Fissures, just like the name implied, could be challenged more than once.
Normal Fissures disappeared once their Final Boss was defeated. But the repeatable ones? The portal stayed open. Monsters would respawn again and again.
You could clear it and leave, or go back in for more rewards—but that came at a cost. More energy. More resources. Only those with enough of both dared challenge a repeatable Fissure a second time.
Among the two Blue repeatable Fissures on the west side of Hury, one wasn't very popular—mainly because it involved one of humanity's oldest fears: ghosts.
However, on this particular day, more people than usual came to that specific Blue Fissure. Five of them stood in line to enter—and the person standing in front of the inspector's desk was none other than Dmitri.
"This is my group. Five of us will enter," Dmitri said, his rough, cold voice echoing—causing the inspector to avoid making eye contact with him.
"Hurry up if you don't want to get beaten up!" Kevin shouted from behind his boss. He was now wearing an Exoskeleton Suit, just like the rest of the team, and inside that suit, Kevin's confidence had shot to another level.
The inspector, who had been swiping through a holographic screen in midair, stopped and glared at Kevin—who immediately cowered behind Dmitri.
"You'll have to wait at least thirty minutes before we open the portal," the inspector said. Dmitri and his team stepped aside to wait, as other Primers took their turn to register.