Reincarnated as a Duck

Most of the time, Lisa had no issue with Murai's demeanor or his efforts to fight for his life. But it concerned her actions and life—as it should.

Murai should have said something to her when she was worried about his skin or perplexed by persistent, troublesome scenarios. Sure, she had her own head, but wouldn't it be better to change herself rather than expect something else from him?

Fairness aside, no small marvels existed about Old World golems. Then, this whole room was something else. She observed everything and confirmed her speculations several times as Murai fought a rather brutal battle that remained unclear even at the end.

It seemed Levandis played with fire and established quite a place outside of her ideas. That alone should frustrate her more. Alas, there were more pressing matters than pride.

They weren't even everything; many constructs have endured through the ages, and many cultures have passed their visions on to newer generations over time. That's how Divides always worked.

Older eras either anticipated this passage of time, or it was better for newer eras to enchant the older ways. It was a common saying repeated many times. The past was no less wonderful, though, in different ways, they were outside of everyone's expectations. They shouldn't be forgotten or taken for granted, let alone flawed.

In this age, places were willing to go far and beyond to acquire antiques and buy their remains, parts, or even concepts or sketches for ridiculous prices.

Many Dungeon Delvers were very keen on this idea, as most Dungeons were very old, often full of slumbering ancient tech, artifacts, and dangers.

Then, depending on the quality and work of their job or luck, one could befriend good people and talents, or make valuable connections in the right social circles. Adventure Association was one of the best places for that in any era, while many others existed around it.

Without a doubt, the Sun God paid attention to these things, and Lisa knew how much some places and people loved their golems more than living beings. They wouldn't argue. They wouldn't betray anything.

Whether in the distant past or in places known to few, the current Epoch held similar interest. They spread across known Skies and established brutality and knowledge of many existences and examples.

In the Battleworld, it was no different, but big contrasts in the peak and depth of this world were far from the likes of controlled fire. It was more like a captivating sacrificial altar made of millions of trees that burned for many millennia.

Be it fleshly bodies, wonders of magic, golems, runes, blacksmithing, or alchemy, it was a portion of the Laws and creation. The minds of various makers weren't fine with satisfaction or imagining the worst ideas. It wasn't about unfairness or looking really hard.

These were wonders of old age of historical proportions that Lisa was aware of, stemming from the Origin of Everything. She wondered about this for longer than necessary, as it was a borderline myth that didn't pass logic, though its cultures were stretching the lines of logic and wisdom. She couldn't see everything anymore, but she would blink twice if she didn't want to try.

At the end of her wanderings, it was better to focus on one thing at a time. For most fools, their home planets were their entire reality, while another fool would try to look past that and realize there was an inconceivable space. Then, this Battleworld was another thing altogether, and it shook the weight of it all.

It was a world that shouldn't be that different from the Endless Skies if one knew how to look at it. It was richer in a peculiar sense, full of life and clusters of old interests that were small in comparison to what they once were.

Still, it was huge if one lived in this world and wanted to look past it.

Just one planet. That's it. The weight and people, and Gods in, on, and out of it were something Lisa couldn't see, but it had survived for so long, it should remain that way forever.

"What do you think?" Lorry suddenly asked her, forgetting about his manners and her name. "You haven't talked all that much in this room. Are you sure you want to handle that fool of yours closer?"

"I say some matters are weird for no apparent reason. Or all the reasons available. So no, I don't give a shit about these issues like before," she said, barely registering his last statement. "There are places and creations that are not meant to remain safe and stable. It isn't about stability or the effects of actions and makers. Some questions are better left alone for the betterment of everything we do and fear."

"That... coming from you? How shocking. Tell me, have you hoped he wouldn't have destroyed this golem?" Lorry chuckled. "We hoped he wouldn't go that far or at all because Mindarch and Levandis have their shared doubts about this, yet... here we are. I suppose Lookish will shed tears of blood after this. Oh well, I suppose that old fool will have to deepen his pockets and get back to work."

"This craftsman settlement, is it real?" Lisa inquired as she floated. "What is she cooking?"

"Dunno. Eyes see no lies, so what does yours watch?"

"How this destroyed tool is none of my concern, and I should mind my business, yes? Do you want to hear a piece of my deep mind, Lorry?" Lisa waved her fingers dismissively and let Lorry be like dust in her eyes.

"Not at all. Keep it." He seemed reluctant to leave her grasp, but he was more than happy to go away from this scorching, breaking golem that was undergoing a very nasty internal storm. It was almost depressing.

The output was way out of the norm until the defenses in important places collided with the overall presumptions and Murai's acts. Lorry thought Mindarch should've done a better job, yet he shouldn't feel bad about it. After all, it wasn't even within their grasp how it happened and changed.

Now, the insides became a pond. Clutter, bangs, and many noises spread from the hole in the golem's back, creating noises, mist, and shaking light coming from inside. Most of the outer plates either broke off or kept shaking.

Lisa impatiently tapped her forearm with her finger as she realized Murai wasn't coming out. They were in a hurry, though she noticed Murai got a gist about something inside, so she was curious and glanced at the reachable portal.

Was it a proper one? That portal hadn't changed throughout this time, while what happened above wasn't in her grasp. It was nerve-wracking...

Why had he gone back?

Lisa shifted her head to the entrance, wondering if she should be disturbed more than she was, or if her sentiment and worry were like thorns that shouldn't be there. Was it Bagus? No, she was just nervous; not for Bagus, but for herself.

Lorry looked around, wondering if Razmund was closing or had finished his business. But again, he had to go through Lookish, so perhaps this little pause wasn't so bad if it meant awesome loot. Lorry didn't understand how much Lisa was worried about everything, so his commentary hadn't done much good.

The truth should have made Lisa nervous, and it did just that, and even worsened some aspects. It changed time and time again until Lisa was aware of the implications of this room. Lorry wanted to comment on it, but Mindarch should do it better and do it first since Murai's Hellscape Run concluded.

So why was he silent?

Instead of trying to peek at Mindarch's work, Lorry wondered what Murai was doing inside this ancient thing. Its fortune wasn't without merits. It wasn't like most golems around this era, and even Levandis's palaces and pagodas didn't get hefty tech treatment like most Divine Kingdoms.

There was a limit to how much time, effort, and value should go into ancient technology. Many wouldn't bear to waste resources on improper, aged, and lost items.

Alas, these were about what the Sun God left behind, so this entire matter turned into something new and almost absolute. Like tools, they could be slow, slumbering, and useless. Mana and their magic made them susceptible or potent, and Lisa saw these hindered and used much more than simple tech, runic circuits, or cores.

The entire point was worse because of Murai, yet he still ended up breaking everything, which was odd. Lisa didn't know whether to cheer or cry as more mana and tremors ran out from that broken toy.

"Wanna bet what he will bring out?" Lorry offered some fun.

"Your head, dipshit," Lisa said with a sneering smile, "But sure. I am not a loser; what is there for me if I win?"

Lorry shuddered and remained silent, knowing that winning against her was practically impossible, or not very clever. From the start, she had a thorough understanding of what Murai was doing because of their soul connection. Then, she probably figured out everything from looking alone.

His Soul Flames rolled twice, and a clutter of noises calmed until sharp bangs shuddered the outer layers every couple of seconds. More light and weight changed.

Then, a beaming globe of something shot from the wider opening, followed by bangs that left tides of flames and bright lights shooting from inside out like geysers. Around parts of this round object were two halves of a beak. Murai was underneath this mass, struggling to crawl outside with an interesting toy clutched above him.

Weird noises spread again, which included breathing, quacking, and many curses because Murai had trouble moving with that thing in his beak.

Lisa sighed and helped him out. It wasn't because she was curious; she was impatient, and nervous glances to the opening were far too intrusive. She hadn't felt like this in a long time.

Flowing above him like a windy ghost, she extended her palms, grew them, and focused, letting the white clamor spread from her head to her palms and take on a special force.

She smacked the thing Murai retrieved from his quick fight, which left him breathless, somewhat hurt, and glad. The weight was gone, so he cursed louder and trashed around the clutter of cables and energies. It wasn't a decent action because he wasn't that small.

Lisa tossed that round core aside and proceeded further, revealing Murai's face and wings. He looked exhausted, even more than she thought. His voice and breath were uneven, mana strained, and his beak and neck showed damage and blood.

His beak was better than the rest, while his hoodie obscured almost every feather. Not his laughable face, though, or a genuine surprise at how quickly that battle devolved to brutality.

"Had fun? Now, get out. We are leaving!" Lisa urged him on without giving his face a second thought.

"Leave... my breath, flying skunk," Murai cursed, believing his curses were getting weak. He should think of new words or delve deeper into his memories to recall nice or obscure language. Nobody would have appreciated it, but he didn't care.

After dealing with Lookish and this shitty golem, it seemed like it was true that he didn't go beyond his limit. He was literally slapped and toyed by the sheer physicality and weight of this golem, and it wasn't about fairness or overpowering mana inside. Also, it wasn't about dealing with heavy and intense attacks or numbers far out of his strength and Level.

It simply messed with him until his right moves cracked the golem and its explosiveness, and critical defenses vibrated. More than a dozen actions stemming from Mindarch's internal workings and Murai's strategies contributed to this entire situation.

In the end, it was more like Murai tricked Sunlord Golem into weakening and letting his beak deep into its core, so it practically destroyed itself.

Lisa offered her stressed and solid hand, smiling and tapping her forearm again. She said nothing as she waited for Murai to get over this and leave.

Murai swayed his wings, feet, and neck, pushing himself free from his hot prison that Lisa loosened as she pushed his upper body upwards. He winced, making mocking noises until he was free and tumbled and wheezed on the ground.

He looked as if he had dived into the depths of seas or ashen volcanoes. With how Lisa looked, describing him as a sore winner wasn't too far from the truth.

However, it was a win, so who among them cared about how it happened? Mindarch wasn't prideful enough to create problems for the sake of Lookish or this place and hadn't said anything during the boss battle. But what about Levandis? Well, there wasn't a worry in sight since everything ended up being a work of the weirdest Challenger and Guardian that never blazed.

Even Extremes could lose under the right duel or shackled scenarios, and golems weren't too clever machines if the challengers matched them with their wits. Murai displayed his wit again and again, and he bashed against the wall until it worked.

Lisa wondered if they were sending prototypes or hoped for a golem improvement, or if Mindarch didn't have anyone decent to come instead. Sure, this portal had a set-up Guardian, but wasn't that just another excuse? They should have prepared, since Mindarch knew their aim for days.

Lorry was impressed regardless, and Mindarch shall finish this business very soon. Besides that, there was a nice character in golems and toys, and Murai would never whine about fighting living beings, monsters, or machines.

Once again, his time was surprisingly terrible, while his strategy and luck played a crucial role better than ever. A fight of this caliber ended in several shortcomings because the limits of all parties slammed together until Murai stumbled to the top like a diving duck to the surface.

Perhaps he didn't even know how he did it. Lisa definitely assumed it for a moment until she shook her head in defeat. She was getting used to her disappointments and Murai, even though his last push, Peak, and strategy were a gamble and partial blunders. It paid off in the end, so she didn't care about how he did it.

Well, she was curious about his Peak, or how far that Murai considered this whole perspective. She knew him enough that he wasn't certain about every one of his actions and plans, but her face showed something else.

Looking at him from above, she knew what to ask. "Was it your Robust Defense?"

"...breath..." Murai wheezed. "A minute, please. I was... in prison, surrounded by cables, flames, light, and... fuel. Oh, it was intense. I couldn't breathe, but I breathed anyway. That was... weird and... hard!"

She cocked her head in confusion and waited. Perhaps he was more exhausted than she thought. Why? Was the trip into the middle of this scorching golem so tough?

She could see that, or was it the heat and explosion he took head-on so strong that it pushed his mind beyond his normal boundary? He didn't look like he had taken such a heavy blow. Maybe the weight was that or...

Lisa had more guesses about those things than she supposed. The most obvious problems came with Murai's appearance and the literal physical evidence of a beating that this Slapper gave him.

The heat and light kept on going like a busted toy, while Murai's haggard appearance suggested he endured hell in a few dozen seconds.

Murai pierced its torso, used explosiveness without meaning, and this pushy golem literally sparkled everything, pushing the ground towards itself and him. Sharpblades ended up negligible; it was more about the Peak, and Murai acting like a sharp pillar that crashed into it like one hell of a sturdy spear.

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Lisa could enter the hottest of the deserted volcanoes in a heartbeat and return in an hour completely fine, and she could do the same with this golem.

Murai wasn't the same; his physical body was his rule, and his limits were mortal. Murai felt things she wouldn't, so each of them had their own thoughts and strategies in mind. After all, there were things Lisa couldn't do that he could finish with ease, so she let Murai catch his breath since it didn't seem like he had it for a good minute and a half.

Murai went all out with his body and mana, huffing on the ground, resting close to a hot ball of cables, machinery, and blazing energy. It looked peculiar, weighing a ton and letting bright hues of light and heat envelop it in heavy, cluttering air.

It looked like an infinite sun, and even the ground was starting to melt around it. It didn't resemble any Mana Essence or similar other materials.

It should be a crafted component, either infused with multiple old techs or even Ultra Gems. It was away from the fuel department that the Sunlord needed, and it was still very potent.

Frankly, if it had continued to grow, Lisa thought it would explode. In the end, its fuel was disconnected so the worst didn't happen. If it did, she had no doubt Murai would be beyond a roasted Anatidae. He wouldn't be tasty for sure.

Were there any notable alloys for this heat, light, and matter? With many things on her mind, including meaningful sources and ideas, did Levandis devise a new strategy or implementation for fuel styles, engines, and stability?

Sunlord Golems were big for their own good, so there were thousands of issues about making these things into a true terror-tech machine. Lisa deduced that one destruction was worth hundreds of hours of pondering, so whatever Murai had done, taking that thing from the core wouldn't matter to anyone.

Murai watched it from the corner of his eye, trying to calm his breath. Lisa eyed him, calming her hands, and returned to her azure-flowing self. Bits of whiteness remained around her face, giving her "hair" a nice hue and her face a sharp edge and hazy allure.

"What is it that? Some sort of elemental stabilization?" Lisa joked, knowing very well what it was.

"It's called... a treasure. It seemed interesting as I climbed up to safety," Murai gave the simplest comment he could muster because he didn't have enough patience for anything else.

It was correct at all wrong appeals. Murai was exhausted because he endured every one of Lisa's guesses. Till the end, he hadn't used any Robust Defense simply because he didn't have time for it.

He begrudgingly hoped his intense Peak would collide with everything without breaking his neck, and it surprisingly lasted without breaking his neck apart. He just heard a few twisty noises and snaps, but he was alive.

The moment he penetrated the torso and reached the insides, the golem exploded outside and literally pushed him further. That beam was a fatal act, while the fall to the ground let heat and everything reach a new kind of climax.

Murai was safe from most of it since he was already inside, where most outer powers didn't reach. He was alive with a headache and enveloped in the blazing flow of its inner components, so it was still dangerous.

Going down was impossible, so he went upward until he reached the back with numerous Peaks and swings of his beak. Alongside his journey, he discovered the core workings, but they were too large and intense for him, so he brought out the easiest thing he could muster.

Lisa wasn't satisfied with his answers. "Murai..."

She cut off when Lorry screamed and flew onward, disregarding Murai's prize for air.

"L...L...Lorryyyyyy!" Lorry shouted his own name and forced most of the attention on himself. His voice was cheery and annoying. "Murai has done it! Murai crashed that Slapper as if Murai knew how to deal with it from the start. Congratul..."

"Shut the fuck up," Both Lisa and Murai said at the same time, albeit one with quacks and the other with words alone. Their added glare was identical, and Lorry shivered, unable to speak for a while.

Ah, those glares?! Oh, that glare was thrilling! Lisa watched him, cracking her fingers but not flying closer, but she should!

Lisa knew how Guide's work went, yet here she was, looking pissed and angry at him without a considerable reason to be a bitch. Perhaps it was an innate gift? Lorry had no guess; he knew the great truth. Perhaps it was the banter she lacked with Murai that caused her to regard Lorry in this way, or it was integral to their past.

"I would love to insult him more, Murai Hisagi, Mind you, I see your exhaustion as a good point," Lisa said, pitying the reluctant yet happy-looking skull, "but time is nigh. Let's proceed to the next Gate if you have no problems pouncing into a lion's den. Plans can proceed. I promise you that. In my name."

"Reasonable," Murai forced a quack without trouble for breath. He was getting his core and lungs back on track, while he had no mind to look at his body or anything else.

He was still exhausted and on the ground.

"Want me to carry you or what?" Lisa asked, sounding sincere, or was she joking? Murai and Lorry didn't know which was more likely, but one of them wanted to be carried for sure.

Murai tried to force himself to his feet but failed. "What is going on above us?" he asked. "I couldn't feel anything when I fought. Is it over with Bagus? All sounds are gone, or... is it even possible? This whole floor is far from being normal, and every sound means a problem."

"I have no idea," Lisa said. "Which is why we should go sooner rather than later."

"Yeah. It seems time is nigh, and since I don't hear any further reason or excuse from you right now... or annoyance for that matter, I think I am depleted. It's quite bad, isn't it? Being indebted, that is,"

"Bagus will be fine! He seemed to expect it, so forget it. Now, move your sorry feathers and your feet, or grow another set of wings before I carry you myself."

Lisa smacked his lazy beak and forced him back onto his feet with a couple of waves of her sona, which Murai found quick and comforting. He wondered how it felt that way and how she could exert such a level of shaping and control.

She forced him to his feet so easily that he doubted her strength, but once more, the past day proved to be Lisa's era of change. She became more honest, yet she remained herself.

"Thanks.." It was the only answer he could say when he looked at himself.

The dealt Sunlord Golem was a huge asset aside from him, still looking huge, and he couldn't disregard his appearance. He was tiny, yet he 'killed' it.

The majority of his feathers were scorched, yet a few bright hues escaped from multiple portions around his head, hiding healthy feathers while the rest were healing or were beyond saving. Destroyed feathers would drop, and new ones would grow. That was common.

That's how it worked with birds, so were Anatidaes the same? Murai hoped that was his possibility because even though he didn't hate this life, he refused to be a bald duck ready for roasting.

Thankfully, his hoodie survived this battle, and there was no doubt it protected him from the elements in the last stand.

No danger hit his flesh, but Murai would be lying if he said he was completely fine. He felt the pain in his neck and the strain on his muscles and nerves with every movement. He was happy he could quack if he was honest with himself.

When he scraped the scorched feathers aside, there were soft and healthy feathers underneath. They had... layers. Had he noticed them before, or was he too obnoxious not to give them his attention?

Just a few tiny layers endured the heat and prevented him from drowning and becoming a roasted duck. That was splendid.

The heat didn't cease, yet that sensation was never an issue. Murai grasped basic Flame long ago, so he felt as if he were around a bonfire all the time.

"Oh, how convenient these feathers are," he reckoned, nodding thrice. Even his wings ended up damaged, and his beak took this fight almost the same as ever: healthy and strong as if it couldn't be destroyed, but his neck and mind said otherwise. He overdid it.

Around his back, his hoodie appeared a little singed and worn, but not one bit black. That was nice, considering it was the fabric that made most of its materials, so wouldn't it be susceptible to flames?

"Don't look at it like that," Lisa pointed at him. "You know I told you about it, so don't pretend not to remember."

Her confident nod and self-assured posture seemed to indicate that she wanted a pat on the shoulder or a reminder that she had done well.

"You did. Is it about elemental resistance and how these feathers act as armor for my species? I get that, so why is there nothing about it in terms of ability or words before... it worked, you see. Not as if I am complaining! I am fine with the self-found ways that you've mentioned, but it seems to me the Blessed aren't about them. If there is an advantage, grasp it! I shouldn't be guilty. I should use all resources available."

"It is your body, and the rest is out of my damn mind. You are also a Child, so that's it. Don't overthink it."

Murai accepted that excuse. "Hm. My beak is also my body, and it has two whole abilities about it."

"And mana, magic, and extensive attractions as the best tools of your species. That's the worthy beak if I see one, and it had carried you for a very long time. Even when your magic is like this."

"Hm. That makes sense. My body has mana and feathers, and everything comes closer. I am a magical beast. Can I count on my abilities, or my beak, more than my magic? Of course... but it is limited."

Lisa gave up. "Like breathing, flying, or how your wings and feathers go, some things are intact and part of your Bloodline and species. Perhaps you need to grow for consequences to rise and not be a stupid Child."

"You know," Murai sighed. "That answers more questions than I wanted to ask. Growth validates strength, and my Evolutions aren't all about this worldly strength and expansion. I can evolve in my own ways and not just in flesh and bones."

"Maybe. Well, you'd better do it, since I don't know what you're going to become. Even worse, it can be out of the question if you reckon what happened in that vault. Shackled you are."

Reluctantly, yet in a good mood, Murai stretched his legs and tried to put his scorched feathers away. Patting removed very little of them, but dust and ash crashed to the ground in numerous layers. He was still terrible, so he gave up doing much and figured a bath would solve it.

"I see it," he said, hiding his depression at a triumphant bright treasure beside him. It was about twice his size, looking heavy, hot, and alive.

"Store it in my pouch, my dear assistant."

"Hmph," Lisa flipped her hair and saw no point in arguments. "Will it survive there? Your pouch, I mean."

"Then that ring will do. I have it because you no longer want it. Something about lack of physicality, you said? Who would know that ghosts aren't greedy?"

Hissing was excessive, so Lisa took a ring from his pocket and swallowed her pride. "I will obtain what you plan with that thing later. Move to the portal and see its activity. Lorry will help for sure, or Mindarch... better do that instead!" She ordered out loud and took care of that thing on her own.

She floated behind Murai, and since she couldn't be bothered with further argument, handling this wasn't up to luck. She wasn't sure about the ring Manager Kil had given them, or what this treasure meant for the place or Murai.

Frankly, she didn't give a shit about any of that and planned to take anything. Alas, she should've forced David to give her the best ring he owned. It wouldn't be poor, considering Ultium and the work he had done in this temple for the majority of his life.

Lisa no longer had anything in her possession when they reached the bottom portion of the mines. She stormed off many times, and her ring was an unnecessary burden.

In a hurry, they left that Token behind. All the maps and books were left with Itrosh, who held her own path in her head and steps.

Wondering how to work with this lively item, Lisa hoped this ring wouldn't crack or become unstable. It was a dangerous effort, yet she stored it in there after summoning a thick crack in space, which was part of the ring's runic structure.

She showed it inside without a second thought and was done in a few moments. Meanwhile, Murai went right towards the portal, but before he went closer, he glanced at Lorry.

"You... Just a curious question. How exactly does giving up and leaving work? Are there requirements?" he asked, thinking that summoning portals didn't sound like a massive problem for someone like Mindarch. Couldn't they have gotten him further or made this escape better?

Murai noticed how he skipped parts of the Gate of Suffering, so why not play with doubts and trade with this place? Rules be damned, after all.

"Murai is curious?" Lorry said quietly. "Lorry will say it. The next Gate is a key, right? Right..." Lorry nodded to himself and felt he was doing him a favor even when he knew Hell Party was waiting for them below.

Escaping wasn't part of any deal, and Lisa had addressed this issue long ago. Through pain, misery, and many ideas, there wasn't a simple escape ahead. Comfort was luxury, so the force shall do instead.

Murai didn't like his answers, but before he could verbally abuse him, an explosion from the entrance left him stunned and quiet. Many slashed rocks in the way revealed an obvious visitor.

Debris flew everywhere, and the whole room shook. Then, faster than any regular man could run, bloodied Razmund rushed forward.

His body wasn't in great shape, evident by many cuts and wounds all over his body. He was still dirty, but the new wounds had worsened him a lot. Blood made him look insane, and dealing with these fools had hindered him for way too long.

Then, his unblinking eyes gave their lasting nasty impression, as they were bloodshot while his steps wavered behind the debris. Razmund fought with his life on the line, or he simply didn't bother with using any of his healing treasures.

He even maintained a half-attached left arm close to his chest, hoping it wouldn't fall off. He came fast, swinging with his claymore in a single clutch of his right hand.

His eyes were set upon Murai straight away, not on the destroyed ancient golem, Lorry, or Lisa. He even concealed his fear and wondered about this entire room and Lookish. His greed and mission clouded this floor and reason!

He had a certain depth of knowledge, so he knew this was far from normal. He couldn't wait to catch his prey and get out of here.

Without any words or shouts, he pushed debris out of the way. He tried to do the same to the vast and bright pillars that survived worse things than Murai, yet he didn't even make a dent in them.

However, it still showed his intent and desire. Unsurprisingly, the large pillars didn't even flinch under his swings. They would survive and remain intact for as long as necessary.

Then, Razmund noticed the portal that was far off from... anything. Why? He hadn't expected to see it, so its mass and color shook what he knew about this Gate, but that was already evident the moment he saw those previous rooms.

It was a wonder what he did with Lookish, despite it not being that important at this moment, for he appeared like lightning that might've blazed past Lookish.

Or Lookish simply let him go because he couldn't bother with this Blessed bleeding mess, let alone think of his Dice as something nice, pretty, or simple. In the end, Lisa suffered the most.

There was only one entity that knew what transpired across every room and chamber. That was Mindarch, who was more than reluctant to speak right now, though he saw how this fateful Encounter had met at last, and he should have done something about it, or with it. Not for mere amusement, but for a deeper purpose and probing.

This clash was perhaps inevitable if one had looked at it from the beginning. Razmund didn't have an easy path to this place, nor was he calm about its claims or defenses.

He clashed against this Gate much more than Murai's whole party or other inconveniences. His prey was here, however, and nobody should stop him right now.

There was no time for failure, even if the world had different plans for him.

By sheer determination, he succeeded. Weirdly, his other, half-detached arm still clutched that sick Dice, or it wanted to grab him tighter and follow every single step. It wasn't annoying, though pink hues traveled all over it, trying to escape as Fate approached and felt... disturbed. It didn't dance in joy or create panicking songs anymore.

More than one Fate was looming over distant and eternal horizons, but it also wanted to leave really badly. Either it desired more food and time with Razmund, or this Fate was changing and breaking on the go.

Weren't those two things that it hated with a passion? What was there for it if everything succeeded or failed? Wasn't it sinful and immoral either way? Perhaps it was far too happy with these results, yet here it was. The Fate of two blunders crushed its hopes.

"You are mine!" Razmund shouted and pushed his Flying Steps ahead, leaving bloodstains on the ground as his body and legs tensed up and blood spluttered from his wounds.

Murai was still a few meters from that portal and hadn't had time to ask Lorry or Mindarch about it. He was stunned as he watched that madman disappear and reappear right before him, balancing his claymore behind and slicing the air.

Claymore moved as Razmund closed the steeled shape. His eyes looked death set on his target, leaving no second doubt or questions.

Murai stood still, as if unable to move. He wanted to fight, so he flared his feathers and mana and wished to clash with this man who had beaten him to a pulp all those weeks ago.

Then, he felt even more still. Something clutched him, steering his body away from the inevitable cut of Sword Intent that literally bore no imminence. It cut, severed, and that was it.

Before he could do anything or endure his regular Fate, Lisa pressed him into that portal as if he were a toy. It was a job done so fast, Murai's vision flinched like his mana and beak. Before he quacked or used a spell, he watched deep Chaos Space eating him once again.

Failing cut and Razmund's shocked face and hideous eyes were the last things Murair watched. As for Lisa, she was stressed beyond her relief and hadn't glanced back, while Lorry froze in shock, not that far away.

Razmund struck the ground after his Flying Steps stopped empowering his momentum. He felt his legs betraying him, blood spattering, and his momentum wavering as Lisa blocked him. His speed halted, and his face almost hit the ground, yet he had not fallen completely.

His feet connected to the ground, while his right hand clutched the claymore that cut to the ground. His back hunched forward, watching the ground, and a weird ghost who stopped his blade and intent alike.

He failed.

It felt even more terrible after trying so hard and so late, but perhaps even if he had pushed further, it would have never been enough. After all, this world wasn't fair, so he shouldn't be as well.

The most miserable sight was the ground. Razmund tried hard to punch it with his face and quell his feelings. Why was everything constantly going wrong all the freaking time? Was it a working of his Fate and what he deserved? Did the Dice already curse him?

Coughing, he remained still for a few seconds, ignorant of his Dice that cheered and pink flares sparkled around his chest like some sort of festival.

A lot of bliss was in it, now that one was out of the way. It should've been gone as a whole, though that mysterious space behind this portal was no mere line of Chaos Space. It was deeper, locked, and carefully maintained.

The Dice nearly chirped and cheered but knew better than that to remain silent.

It wasn't an entire failure, of course. The moment Razmund held his head straight, he set his target on his own portal and Gate 4, where the Hell Party remained alive, pushing and stalling that Gate for his sake. It should be feasible, even if it wounded his pride.

Alas, there were things left aside, glaring at him: a skull and a ghost that he had never met.

Changing his targets, he stood straight and exchanged indifferent looks with Lisa, who felt like a winner after a long period of slumber. Lisa wasn't sure what she had done to deserve Razmund's weird look or what she was supposed to tell him or look at him for.

Perhaps she should mock him, taunt him, or straight-up invalidate his whole bratty existence.

She didn't do it for some reason.

Perhaps that look was why. Here and now, a terrific look of Death and sheer blackness of those eyes fidgeted her soul. Just a handful of steps away, Lisa drifted like a frozen, ghostly, immortal, glancing at the terrifying Razmund, whose eyes changed, and something about him felt inappropriate for a man.

He was still human, but at this moment, he was worse than any devil. He didn't care what was before him or who was there. His claymore was made for cutting things apart: him, others, or everything under and beyond the heavens. His eyes wanted to see it happen without a trace of blinking. It was a curse; he always felt and knew that.

Razmund swung his claymore before him as if it were paper. Then, he made a cut filled with disappointment and emptiness.

As if accepting her fate, which was more than questionable since she was already dead, Lisa only smiled and pulled her brilliant arms against him. Then, a sudden force pushed her to the portal as well. Surprisingly enough, it was Lorry who charged at her, clattering his teeth, and Soul Flames raged in delightful time.

This was even more unexpected to Razmund than witnessing the room itself. Lorry never deserved to save anyone. He should have shoved Murai aside first.

Now, it was payback time.