NOVEL NEXT Chapter 56: There is no fun in that
In the quiet moment between him and the world, all the countless dead eyes scattered across the red sky like stars of the Astral World blinked, and at that same instant the darkness wrapped the world of the Dead Eye of the Fallen. After a few seconds, one by one, the dead eyes opened again, letting the very source of being in this realm return.
To Ibaan's surprise, the same demonic crimson eye — The Dead Eye that looked like the sun of this realm — rose from the east.
'Huh?'
Didn't the original Dead Eye just sink in the west? Then how did it rise from the east now? Were there two Dead Eyes? Or was it just the same demonic eye of the Dead Eye of the Fallen, that it simply sank and rose again? There was always a "day" in the realm of the Dead Eye of the Fallen — he couldn't figure it out, so he pushed the thoughts to the corner of his mind and focused on his current situation while moving toward the tower.
Ibaan did not face any creature on his way to the tower. It was strangely absurd how he didn't face a single creature after that filthy one, as if it was woven by the very tapestry of fate. He knew it was not possible that there were no creatures under the lord of the monster-beast creatures. This was the world of unknown beings — it was impossible for there to be only three creatures. Even inside the walls he had faced countless beast-ranked unknown beings, so how could there be just three beyond the walls?
'That is right!'
That's when his mind stirred deeply, thinking hard as he neared the tower.
Was something or someone altering reality?
Yes, that's right… Was there someone?
He couldn't conclude anything with full certainty. But he had grown much more careful about his choices, their results, and the ones he would make, noticing they were not forced.
However, up until now, everything seemed fine, yet there was something he didn't understand—how was he adapting to things so easily? Sure, he was a human, a social creature, the most adaptable being, but he had been adapting too easily. For example, a quiet thing he never put any focus on before, but now did: it had only been a week since he entered the book, which made him wonder how he didn't realise it sooner. Even his emotions, his way of thinking, had changed in just a week.
His lips moved on their own, giving only two words that echoed in his mind.
"How ironic."
Still, he remembered why he was here, struggling. It was to get back what he had lost and return to his home world. He never forgot that.
Now that he had already wasted enough time, he had to move forward.
Reaching near the tower, which was surrounded by the trees and stretching broadly and lengthily, it was also surrounded by the long slender red plant-like structures with no buds, no branches—just smooth, soft, mysterious stalks.
Ibaan's heart shivered as he noticed them swaying with the forest breeze.
It was the Morrveil Bloodroot, the same one which had welcomed him to the realm of the Dead Eye of the Fallens with a great blow, a great welcome that he would never forget.
'That's right, how could I forget it.' His expression was dazed.
He had to go through that again? But wasn't there a way to avoid going through the same horrible thing again? Could he not just ignore them and slip past them to enter the tower?
Yes he could, but—
'There is no fun in that!'
There was no fun in that, that's right! Though ambitious he was, how could he let the opportunity slip and not gain the great powers in a world where one who had walked the path of madness had to keep walking till the end? The path could not change in the middle except by cutting it off, which was also a kind of madness.
Currently he had no way of using the creatures that had entered in him as a parasite, so he needed to find a way to use the creature or summon them and slowly gain control of them. He needed to increase their authority over his body. What he wished to do was cutting plenty of the Morrveil Bloodroot plant and gain the sharp vision and let a few form into the creature of Blood Veilroot and enter his body.
His lips curled up into a smile as he tightened his grip over the hilt of the Utopian's sword. Twisting it slightly, he stepped his right foot forward and lunged at them.
Slashing through the plant like cutting butter with a sharp knife. However, something did not make any sense, and his mind clicked instantly. Were the plants not supposed to be cut by the divine sword only? Then how did the Utopian's Duke, which never existed before, manage to cut the plant?
'Huh?'
As many plants came into contact with the sharp red blade of the Utopian Duke, they shifted and formed into a small red petal which was far more mysterious.
He knew what would happen in the next seconds, but he did not want to be tortured by the same thing again. And again, why not come once at all and torture? He did not stop. Twisting his torso, he swung the sword, cutting through the very unknown molecules of the Blood Veilroot, letting them shift into the exact same petal.
No, not yet. He did not stop there. Letting the petals chase him, he cut another plenty of the same plant. He had almost cleared a large area from the front, and more than thirty petals floated in the air, drifting toward his eyes.
And finally, gritting his teeth and clenching his hands, nails digging into his palm.
The petals, one by one, sank into his eyes, each producing a huge amount of irritation. His vision and mind completely went blank.
And as the last of the petals finally sank down into his eyes, a huge torrent of pain surged through his whole head. He let out an uncontrollable scream — he could not bear the pain, it was inevitable. And above all else, it was a choice he made, so the consequences were a must.
As his teacher's famous quote and teaching said: "Choices have consequences."
He fell to his knees as his hands automatically scratched his face.
The pain did not go. Each second felt like eternity — no, more eternal than eternity itself.
…
After a moment which felt like eternity, the pain finally came to an end.
Ibaan's eyes shot open. His vision was completely blurred at first, but soon it focused, and his sight cleared. His eyes widened at what he saw — it was far more than he had expected.
His vision had been enhanced greatly. He could see the very molecules of the plant, shifting like countless tiny parasite-like creatures scattered across its surface. His gaze then went to the tower. With his greatly increased sight, he noticed a tiny dent — something so small that a normal human would never see it, even up close. He saw every detail of that small dent.
Not only that, but as his gaze drifted away from the tower, he raised his hand and focused on it. He saw the details of his hand, the small molecules moving endlessly in his palm as if a new, endless universe had opened there. Those tiny structures moved as if they were alive — no wonder the DEEP had discovered it. His eyes widened again, and excitement rushed through his heart. If the ancient vampire legacy had still been alive, he would have seen even more, but it had been more than ten decades since then, their uniqueness fading after the Nemesis of Angels perished.
He lowered his hand back to normal and tightened his grip on the Utopian's Duke. Looking at the rest of the Morrveil Bloodroot plants, a creepy smile crept across his face.
Despite the pain, he still hungered for it.
Lunging at the Morrveil Bloodroot, he slashed the Utopian's Duke at the plant, cutting it. And as the plant turned into a single red petal, he immediately twisted his torso, dismissing the Utopian's Duke. He ran toward the stairs that led to the gate of the tower and ascended up.
And the petals floating followed him.
At the same time, using his power, Concept of Order, he ordered nature, letting the gate swing wide open. He did not know what danger lingered behind the gate, so he immediately partially summoned the Divine Sword, and Xorra's Inferna Noctis spread through the blade, flickering quietly.
As the gate finally opened, letting the darkness of the tower stretch before him, there was no danger lingering inside. Without analysing the structure of the tower from within, he stepped past the gate and looked back at the petal that still chased him.