NOVEL NEXT Chapter 323: Buying time
QThe bluish-green fire created a large explosion, but it barely did anything to disperse the gray fog surrounding Beauty.
"Haaa..haaa…"
The previous dignified look of Belle was nowhere to be seen. Her dress was mostly burned and tattered, with her skin showing signs of third-degree burns that wouldn't heal no matter how much SoulTime she put into it.
She patted the rest of the green fire that consumed her body, but it persisted as if it didn't follow the rules of physics.
"Where…? How?!"
She couldn't understand where that fire came from. The last thing she saw was a silhouette in the fog, but it didn't look like anyone from their team at all. It looked like a man wearing a feathered hat that carried a bow and arrow.
That didn't make sense. How could a person suddenly appear out of nowhere?
And where did this pesky fog come from? It seemed to separate her from the Beast into an entirely different dimension. She couldn't see, hear, or feel anything aside from herself.
"This is simply self-defense." Atlan's voice once again echoed in the fog. She quickly turned around and saw him casually standing in the middle of the fog.
It was then that she realized that, as impossible as it may have sounded, this little boy was the source of all this strangeness she experienced.
"How are you doing this? Let me out of here!" she demanded.
But Atlan had no intention of ever letting her out. If she did, then she would most certainly use the Beast to attack him first and foremost.
Right now, Atlan had the advantage. He would be an idiot to get rid of that.
"Tell me the truth, how are you able to speak to the Beast?"
Belle looked at Atlan confused. She didn't know why he was asking that.
But, she decided to tell the truth. She would use this chance to gain a little bit of time so that she could figure out how to get out of this mysterious fog.
"It's because of my LifeSkill. I assume you already know about it since you know my name. I simply entered a contract with the Beast, giving me complete control over his mind and actions. Because of that, I was able to 'speak' to him and converse with that Canzer."
Atlan was a little bit disappointed. He thought that he had finally found someone who could speak Canzer like him.
Why was he disappointed that he was the only one who could speak and understand Canzers? It was because if other people could speak Canzer, then he wouldn't have to hide this ability from humanity anymore. He could freely use his mutation and simply make the excuse that he learned how to do it like Belle.
Unfortunately, Belle only learned how to speak to the Beast because of her LifeSkill. She couldn't speak and understand any other Canzer because of that.
"Tell me, how did you create this fog?"
"..."
"Oh come on. I answered your question, it's only fair that you answer mine."
Atlan acquiesced and told her the truth. "It's my ability."
She looked around and was very surprised. "A porter that has another ability besides carrying luggage? I'm very surprised."
"Now, it's my turn to ask the question. How long have you been here?"
"Seriously, you're going to waste your question on that?"
"Fine. Have you met any other Canzers here?"
Belle smiled. "Yes. I couldn't understand them, of course, but since I could read the Beast's mind, I could guess what they were saying."
"Why do you want to kill the Dragon?"
"Uh uh uh," Belle waved her finger. "It's my turn to ask the question. Who was that archer? He's not from your team, I'm sure of that."
"He's an ally," Atlan answered plainly.
In the confines of the fog, he didn't have to worry about his secrets leaking out to the others. If his battle suit couldn't even transmit video and audio, then Ninth and the others surely wouldn't be able to hear their conversation.
"Interesting…"
"Now, why do you want to kill the Dragon?"
Belle shrugged. "I don't want to, but the Beast does. From my understanding, it's some kind of political war between two territories."
Atlan nodded to himself. Belle's answer was directly in line with what Atlan was thinking. The only reason why the Beast would want to kill the Dragon was because she was invading their territory.
"So, he's not really alone, is he?"
Belle chuckled to herself. "You're not supposed to ask a question, but I'll let it pass. You're very astute."
"If you're allowing that, then let me ask a final question."
Belle performed a very noble bow towards Atlan, signaling her permission to let him ask his question.
"Why would you want to stay here? You could have come back home with us."
Belle bit her lips for a fraction of a second, but quickly changed her expression soon after.
"You already know my story. Those bastards betrayed me and left me here to rot. I have nothing left back in that world. But here, I have everything. I have my own castle, and I have my own very loyal Beast. Why would I want to get back?"
Belle took a deep breath and recentered herself. She faced Atlan the way she presented herself when they first met.
"Now is the time for revenge. I have wasted time long enough."
SNAP
Suddenly, a large silhouette appeared behind Belle and knelt beside her. Discover more content at empire
Surprisingly, it was the Beast!
"Did you forget?" she asked Atlan. "I have complete control over the Beast. I can command him even if I can't see or hear him.
I only asked those questions because I wanted to buy enough time for him to get here. Now, it's your time to die."
Belle pointed to Atlan, and the Beast immediately started walking towards him with its terrifying monstrous body.
But instead of cowering in fear, Atlan smiled, confusing both Beauty and the Beast.
He looked at Belle and said,
"You're not the only one buying time."
A larger-than-life silhouette, with huge wings and a fiery breath, appeared behind Atlan.