NOVEL NEXT Chapter 74: Awakening
Sivis extended his hands and discovered that his once strong and agile hands had already turned into withered, white bones, resembling those of a dead person!
Just then, chains suddenly appeared below the throne, dragging a large, bat-like creature over. It roared and shrieked in fury, finally glaring with wrath, "How dare you! How dare you!"
In the end, the giant bat spat out a name: "Sivis!"
...
Huh?
Huh??
Sivis felt his consciousness shatter as some substance flowed into his body. He opened his eyes and felt...
The skeleton on the throne seemed to have regained some form, and at his feet lay the corpse of a giant bat. Then, he faintly heard a voice.
"Sivis?"
"Sivis..."
"Sivis."
It wasn't the bat's fierce roar, but a gentle call. In this half-dream, half-awake state, he finally recognized the voice—it was Vikalina's!
Sivis slowly opened his eyes. The faint smell of the sewer and the bloody stench left by the Blood Clan's attacks filled his nostrils, but they were slightly masked by the delicate fragrance of the female knight. In his drowsy state, he felt a damp towel on his forehead and realized he was leaning on something soft—Vikalina's leg, most likely.
His lower body was cushioned by a soft piece of fabric, feeling warm and comfortable. Sivis slightly opened his eyes, his vision blurry and unable to clearly see his surroundings. He vaguely noticed that Vikalina was trying her best to keep her body steady so he could lie more comfortably.
She continuously wiped the sweat from Sivis's face with a handkerchief. It seemed that during the process of absorbing divine power, Sivis had shown signs of great pain. The female knight, displaying a side of herself that was different from her usual demeanor, was trying to soothe her companion with her actions.
She repeatedly used extremely gentle motions to wipe away the sweat and lightly caress his face. Sivis could feel that her hands, though not entirely soft due to years of training and calluses, were still gentle as she stroked his face with the back of her hand.
It was... quite comfortable.
Sivis couldn't help but reflect that, in this world, he didn't lack for women, but...
As one of the heroines in the original story, Vikalina's beauty was in the top tier. Far surpassing the average women he had encountered, even Reina, his carefully selected maid who was already quite beautiful, still fell short compared to the female knight. Only Werner could match her in terms of appearance.
That couldn't be helped; the Saint of Light was once the flagship character in a particular version of Gandanyir's promotion...
Vikalina's popularity was slightly lower, but...
Putting aside Sivis's wandering thoughts, he was currently in intimate contact with the most beautiful woman he had known in both his past and current life.
Sivis recalled that Werner had been forced to return to her family before she could take any significant action. And…
This time, it was different. Vikalina was doing this voluntarily. From the gentle, tender movements of the young woman, Sivis felt something distinctly different from when he had planned to take advantage of the Saint of Light. It wasn't the twisted pleasure of destroying something beautiful; it was a genuine feeling of being valued and loved.
Especially in his current weakened state, he felt a light, soothing sensation throughout his body. If given the choice between manipulating Werner and staying in this moment, he might have chosen to remain here, resting and feeling this warmth.
Perhaps during the process of absorbing divine power, his facial expressions had shown signs of pain. In a half-dream, half-awake state, he heard a soft melody:
"Sleep… sleep…"
"My dear child…"
"You will rest well, you will be free from pain."
"Sleep… sleep…"
"My dear child…"
It was a widely known lullaby, and Vikalina's voice was gentle and dreamlike. Sivis had never seen her like this before—not the dominant and determined queen from the original game's main route, nor the seductive woman from the corruption route. She was a gentle, caring young woman, concerned for his well-being.
This side of Vikalina was so different from her usual persona. She was a knight who trusted Sivis completely, always ready to charge into battle as his protector. Just a short while ago, when the Blood Clan attacked, she had radiated a fierce determination, willing to risk her life to save him, even if it meant severe injury.
Now, Sivis only felt warmth and care, as if from a sister or an elder.
"Maybe it wasn't wrong to take a risk for Vikalina and the people, to not disappoint her?" He felt a warm current flowing through his heart. Sivis was resolute and wouldn't make the same mistakes again.
But just this once, if they could survive, he felt that the risk was worth it!
Sivis's movement finally caught Vikalina's attention. The female knight abruptly stopped singing and her face flushed with a light blush. "You… you didn't hear anything, right?"
"Hear what?" Sivis asked, genuinely curious. "You were singing a lullaby, weren't you?"
Vikalina's blush deepened, and she looked away, a mix of embarrassment and relief in her eyes. "I… I was just trying to help you rest. It's nothing."
Sivis smiled softly, feeling a warmth in his heart. "Thank you, Vikalina. It helped a lot."
Vikalina's gaze softened, and she gently placed a hand on his forehead. "You're still a bit warm. Rest a bit more. We'll figure out a way out of this together."
Sivis nodded, feeling a sense of calm and trust. Despite the dangers they faced, he knew they had a chance as long as they were together. For now, he allowed himself to rest, feeling the gentle care of the woman he had come to respect and value deeply.
"Wait, stop talking about it!" Vikalina was a mix of embarrassment and annoyance. She raised her hand as if to lightly tap Sivis, but then quickly stopped, remembering the strange heat emanating from his body.
Then…
Seeing that Sivis was still in a weakened state, Vikalina, ignoring his teasing, quickly clasped her hands together in a prayer position, gathering a faint holy light.
"Heal."
She uttered the two syllables, but the light flickered like a candle and then went out. Vikalina looked slightly embarrassed—she had never practiced Healing Magic before and was not familiar with its usage. However, when Sivis was unconscious earlier, she had managed to cast it a few times successfully.
Now, her face was red with tension, and she failed even this basic Healing Magic.
"Ah, it's okay…" Sivis tried to reassure her, but Vikalina was determined and clasped her hands together again, making the prayer gesture. Unfortunately, under Sivis's watchful gaze, the light flickered and dimmed again, and the spell failed once more.
Sivis fell silent, then spoke hesitantly, "Maybe we should just give up…" He couldn't move, and his body was filled with pain and discomfort from the residual effects of the divine power battle. If Vikalina could successfully cast Healing Magic, it would have alleviated his suffering significantly. However, it seemed she couldn't manage it.
"Don't waste your strength," he added.
Vikalina scolded herself, her voice low and hurried, "It's all my fault…"
Sivis found the situation oddly amusing, and the oppressive feeling of hiding in the sewers was somewhat alleviated. After several more attempts, a faint, warm holy light finally infused Sivis's body, and he felt the internal injuries from the divine power battle being soothed.
Seeing his expression of relief, Vikalina's face brightened, and she gently stroked Sivis's forehead. She didn't say much, but her concern was evident in her eyes.
Somehow, after this small incident, Sivis looked at Vikalina's beautiful face, which was so close to his own. The female knight, seeing Sivis's expression gradually become peaceful and calm due to her healing, was also a bit dazed. An unusual atmosphere began to fill the air around them.
Suddenly—
"Crack, crack."
An unusual sound echoed around them, and both were startled. Normally, Vikalina, being a Silver Rank warrior, should have excellent mental fortitude and not be easily disturbed by small sounds. Sivis, too, was usually composed in such situations. However, this time, they both seemed to react like they had something to hide, turning their heads away.
The unexpected noise broke the moment, and both of them quickly regained their composure. Sivis's mind raced as he tried to assess the situation, while Vikalina's instincts as a knight kicked in, ready to face whatever threat might be coming.
"Stay here," Vikalina whispered, her voice steady and determined. She gently placed Sivis back on the soft fabric and stood up, drawing her sword. Her eyes scanned the dark, damp surroundings, ready to protect her companion at all costs.
Sivis nodded, feeling a mix of gratitude and concern. Despite the danger, he was glad to have Vikalina by his side. They had faced many challenges together, and he knew that, no matter what, they would find a way to overcome this one as well.
Vikalina gently laid Sivis on the blanket and stood up, her demeanor shifting instantly from the gentle, caring woman to the resolute and determined knight she usually was. "I'll check if the Blood Clan's minions have caught up with us again."
Sivis wanted to nod in response, but he was still unable to move. He could only lie there, feeling a mix of gratitude and helplessness. He focused on the sensations within his body, and his mood was surprisingly positive.
The most difficult part was over. The will of the "God of Blood Sea" hidden within the "Blood Piercing" technique had been eradicated. Sivis's body was now in the process of refining the Blood Clan's power, and he could soon use it as a stepping stone to ascend to the Silver Rank. Moreover, he would be able to tap into the power of another god!
This had been a major success.
"This time was lucky. We can't take such risks again," he thought. "First and foremost, we need to prioritize our safety."
Sivis recalled that before he was transported to this world, he had played through the Minnet City map and explored it thoroughly. He knew about the existence of Dragon-related Fossils and the layout of the sewers, which had provided them with a safe haven. However, Gandanyir, the AI, had created a vast open-world map with complex areas that offered little reward. Sivis had only heard about some of these places but had never explored them.
If they had been in one of those uncharted areas, Sivis would not have been able to direct Vikalina to evade the Blood Clan while he was unconscious. They might have already become corpses by now.
Now, with Sivis awake and able to make decisions, the situation was much different. He could adapt and respond to any threats, ensuring that they wouldn't fall into the Blood Clan's hands again.
Moreover…
Vikalina was a formidable warrior in her own right. Her determination and skill had kept them safe even when Sivis was helpless. With both of them working together, they had a strong chance of surviving and overcoming their enemies.
Sivis watched as Vikalina moved stealthily through the dark, damp sewers, her senses heightened and her sword at the ready. He felt a renewed sense of hope and determination. They had come this far, and he was confident that they could make it through this ordeal.
"We're almost there," he whispered to himself, though Vikalina was already out of earshot.
The faint sound of her footsteps echoed through the sewers, and Sivis felt a sense of calm. They had faced many challenges, and they would face more. But as long as they had each other, they could overcome anything.
Vikalina returned a few moments later, her expression calm but alert. "It's clear for now. No sign of the Blood Clan's minions."
Sivis nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude. "Thank you, Vikalina. We couldn't have made it this far without you."
Vikalina's eyes softened, and she gave him a reassuring smile. "We're in this together. Rest a bit more, and we'll figure out our next move."
Sivis closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of her words and the strength of their bond. They had a long road ahead, but he was ready to face it, knowing that they had each other's backs.