The Homeseeker: Elemental Adventurer LitRPG [Isekai] (Series Complete!)

With a deep inhale, Zalan decreased the brightness of his Elemental Light until it was just the power of a flashlight in the darkness. He had used a lot of energy in the attack against the Gloomstalker and didn't want to exhaust himself when he still had the chance to find the Homeseeker and escape the Depths of Despair.

Finnegan and Zalan looked over the smoldering remains of the deflating Gloomstalker. Most of its features had burned away in Zalan's bright energy, and Zalan was grateful that he couldn't see any evidence of his mother in the leftovers. Zalan helped Finnegan to his feet. They looked at one another silently.

"I'm sorry about everything that just happened," Zalan said. "You didn't need to go through so much pain. I could have easily taken it out from the beginning if I just listened to you. Also… It was messed up that I punched you. Sorry."

"Save your apologies. I could not imagine what it would be like to face down my own parents. I am glad you are mostly unharmed. I was almost certain we would perish," Finnegan admitted.

Zalan appreciated his compassion. Continuing on their way back through the Depths of Despair, Zalan kept an eye on all the shapes the walls took. They just needed to remain vigilant in their search, watching the rocks for any emerald that might hold an Earthenbeast within. There were various other rare gems like sapphire and quartz. Zalan was amazed at the variety of riches within, knowing it was impossible for both gems to be made at the same pressure.

"I am sorry about your mother," Finnegan said sorrowfully.

Zalan remained quiet for a few steps. They followed the trail of small splotches of blood back to where Zalan had last seen the Homeseeker.

"You were the one saying it wasn't my mom," Zalan said.

"But I am sure that did not make the task much easier. Again, I do not know that I would have been able to take down my own parents," Finnegan admitted.

"Well, you did great anyway. I probably wouldn't have killed it if it wasn't for you."

"I did not deal even the slightest bit of damage. I know because I didn't gain any Experience." Finnegan raised his wrist as he made his point.

"Still, you made a huge difference. I think it would have killed me if I was on my own. In fact, I'm certain it would have."

Finnegan smiled to himself, glad to hear he was already proving useful to the man who saved his life. He ran across the mines quickly and Zalan watched as he knelt over and picked up Zalan's sword. He presented it to him and Zalan took it gratefully, having forgotten he threw away his weapon in his moment of weakness. He returned it to its sheath, silently reminding himself not to mention to Junill that he threw the sword away.

"Can you explain to me how you got this Elemental Power, now?" Finnegan asked, pointing at the light emitting from Zalan's palm. "I saw no Elementals within here. Especially the moment before it granted you power. And you did not even challenge it!"

"I met that Elemental at the Island of Remains days ago. That's when I got the challenge. I just completed the challenge while I was here," Zalan explained.

"Absurd," Finnegan shook his head. "It was watching you the whole time? What was the challenge?"

"It said that 'in the three darknesses, you must find the light.' It was like a riddle challenge or something."

"A cryptic one, at that," Finnegan said thoughtfully. "Three darknesses… what did the answer end up being?"

"I don't have a clue."

Finnegan scoffed, one side of his lips raised distastefully.

"There is no reason not to share," Finnegan said, sounding a bit annoyed with Zalan. "It is not as though the Elemental would give me the same challenge. In addition, I have no intention of going to the Island of Remains."

"I'm not kidding. I don't know exactly what I did to solve the riddle."

"You solved the challenge without knowing how it was done?"

"Right when I was getting ready to fight all the oncoming Arachulas, the Elemental said that I had completed the challenge. Unless I said something that was the answer to the riddle?" Zalan considered.

"Something you said…" Finnegan trailed in thought with his hand on his chin.

He stopped suddenly and Zalan looked over to him, interested. Finnegan breathed in deeply and shouted.

"Elemental, I accept your challenge! Everything is going to be okay!"

Zalan looked at him, his face scrunched in amusement.

"What? Is that not what you did to gain your power?" Finnegan challenged, his face going a tinge red.

"I told you, I don't know what I did that triggered the power to be given!" Zalan smiled, amused at Finnegan's attempt.

"That is the strangest Elemental challenge I have ever heard of," Finnegan said, amazed. "A riddle with no answer, yet the challenge was still fulfilled. Your life must be filled with fortune."

"I wouldn't say that," Zalan gestured to the maze around them, his thoughts lingering on Rep.

Finnegan seemed unconvinced. The Depths of Despair were significantly less intimidating when visibility wasn't limited to a few feet ahead of you. Seeing Arachulas skitter away as soon as the light touched them made him feel powerful, even when surrounded by mostly darkness. Zalan watched every curve of the mines closely, both for evidence of Earthenbeasts or webs that might contain the Homeseeker.

"What Level are you, anyway?" Zalan asked.

"I am Level 2," Finnegan replied, sounding a hint embarrassed.

"Level 2 and you came into the Depths of Despair?" Zalan asked. "Weren't you scared?"

"Well… Yes, of course I was. However… When I entered, I had no intention of leaving," Finnegan said, further ashamed.

"Right." Zalan ran a hand through his hair.

An awkward silence hung between them. Zalan wanted it to end so Finnegan wouldn't dwell on his previous actions. He ran through as many topics as he could in his head until he landed on one that Finnegan might know.

"Do you remember a guy named Dimak?" Zalan asked.

"Of course! He won the Elemental Rage Tournament this year in an incredible final bout against… Some competitor who does not matter. Did you know Dimak was down to such little energy by the end of it that he and his challenger slapped one another for the finals? Elemental Earth, but he was rendered to nothing but weak open palm strikes!"

"Yeah, I did know that," Zalan said unenthusiastically. Even the fresh scratches in his back couldn't compare to the exhaustion of him and Dimak fighting in the finals. At that time, he was begging to be defeated, only to have to fight until the end.

"Why do you ask?" Finnegan asked.

"He was one of the guys you stole money from."

"Oh," Finnegan said, his energy immediately sucked away. "I see."

"Well, he got all the money back from the tournament. He even said he didn't need to take revenge anymore," Zalan said, realizing how bad he was at comforting someone.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Finnegan looked at him sharply.

"Revenge? The winner of the Elemental Rage Tournament wants revenge on me?" Finnegan said in a small voice.

"Wanted revenge. Not anymore. I thought you'd like to know that he said he dropped it."

"Really? He said that? Why would you know that?" Finnegan asked.

"He told me personally," Zalan said. Then he stood a little straighter. "After we fought in the finals."

"Ah," Finnegan scratched the back of his head uncomfortably. "Sorry, but… I know you are lying."

"What?" Zalan didn't expect Finnegan to go straight to calling him a liar. He only expected some disbelief.

"I heard the story of the battle several times. The one who fought in the finals against Dimak could wield lightning. And I have already seen your stats. When you gained the Elemental Light Power. There was only one Elemental Power listed there, no lightning to be seen," Finnegan said uncomfortably, feeling awkward at having to explain it.

"Right, yeah. Well, I used to have Elemental Lightning. I could even call it from the sky at one point."

"Please… do not try to continue the lie," Finnegan looked like he was cringing from discomfort. "One cannot lose an Elemental Power after having gained it."

Zalan remembered that Finnegan used to be a conman. He was wary of anyone's lies when he used to hock them, himself.

"I really used to have Elemental Lightning! I had it taken away from me by an Artifact on the Island of Remains," Zalan insisted.

"Oh, I see, sure," Finnegan said monotonously, clearly not believing him.

"Seriously! It was pulled out of me through an Artifact called a Transfer Table. By a guy named Morloch," Zalan explained.

"What is that?" Finnegan asked suddenly, pointing far.

At first Zalan thought he was just trying to change the subject, then saw that something large was wrapped in the Arachula webs on the far side of the mines. It wasn't just the errant webs of those that had already been eaten, but something much more fresh. At the distance, Zalan hoped it was the Homeseeker, having fallen off an Earthenbeast. But as they approached, he saw it was far too big of a wrapping for that. It even squirmed marginally in the light.

"Do you think it is a trick?" Finnegan asked.

"A trick? How?" Zalan asked.

"The Depths of Despair constantly play mind games with those that enter its walls. This may be another Gloomstalker, or another monster."

Zalan nodded, taking his point. He imbued his entire body in Elemental Light, hoping to both intimidate the creatures in the area as well as burn away the webs enough to see what was beneath. As they approached cautiously, the webs began to writhe around. Whatever was within was trying to fight its way out. The webs began sizzling in the light. A form became clear in the shadows cast behind the webs.

"It looks like a human," Zalan pointed out, approaching cautiously.

"Please do not look like my parents," Finnegan pleaded in a whisper.

The body rolled over in place and stared with wide eyes. Zalan thought it looked familiar and began to believe that Finnegan was right. It must have been a trick. He tried not to get his hopes up despite his heart racing frantically at the sight. It looked just like Rep, his face a light shade of pink.

"The Angel of Death?" the wrapped one asked. He stopped struggling against the webs, seeming to accept his fate.

That was the confirmation Zalan needed. He had once heard Rep claim something was the Angel of Death before. And it sounded just like Rep. Zalan began to smile. His anxiety started to wane, every adjustment in Rep's shocked face too perfect for it to be some monsterized copy. Somehow, his friend was alive.

"I suppose I should not be surprised to be at death's door," Rep sighed. "I just hoped I could send Zalan home before I passed. Or, at the very least, keep him safe."

"You did," Zalan said, lowering the intensity of light surrounding his body.

Rep's eyes went even wider in shock. Then his face began trembling. Tears formed at the edges of his eyes and began pouring out freely. He choked out a grateful sob, smiling from ear to ear.

"By God, you live! I was certain the darkness would consume us both! You live!" Rep exclaimed gratefully.

"Is this the friend you were talking about? The one who died saving you?" Finnegan asked.

"Yeah, this is Rep. Except the part about him dying, I guess," Zalan said. "How did you survive?"

Zalan raised his hands and let out two strong beams of light, burning away the webs around Rep, careful not to emit enough energy to cause any damage. Rep rolled to a kneeling position, but looked up to Zalan like it was a dream. He reached out hesitantly and poked him. Zalan waved back, not knowing how to convince Rep he was real.

"How did you survive?" Rep asked, looking over Zalan's shining body in awe.

"Hey, I asked first," Zalan said, pulling Rep to his feet.

"Oh, I suppose you did. I underestimated myself once again. You were right about the webs when they exploded," Rep said. "I could redirect the explosion even when it started atop my limbs. With some mild success."

"Redirecting an explosion that started on your body and you survive? You call that 'some mild success?'" Finnegan repeated. "Is he being modest? He looks fine."

"Yeah, he's being modest," Zalan said.

"Not this time," Rep said seriously.

He held out his arms and legs into the light and Zalan saw that he was covered in serious burn scars. He looked bad and probably wouldn't survive in a world that didn't have Healing Rest. Infections upon infections would ravage him over time. Zalan realized that the pink hue added to Rep's forehead and cheeks was the result of some of his skin being burned off his face. But all they had to do was get out of the Depths of Despair fast enough and Rep could heal the wounds. Even with the painful marks on his skin, Rep beamed at Zalan, happy to see him alive.

"Okay, but that only explains how you survived the explosion. What about the Earthenbeasts? You were surrounded," Zalan recalled.

"After the explosion, I lay on the floor trying to maintain my consciousness. That in itself was an intense battle against the mind that wanted only to sleep off the exhaustion. The large spiders from the obsidian creature came quickly to wrap me in webs. Unfortunately, I was too weak, blinded and deaf to struggle against them. Even if they are weak creatures. Once I was captured, I realized that the Earthenbeasts were stumbling away. They walked aimlessly and crashed into walls. I think they are unable to see in the darkness, unlike their spider companions. When they could not see their prey, they must have lost interest," Rep suggested.

"The spider monsters are called Arachulas," Finnegan pointed out.

"Who is this?" Rep asked.

"This is Finnegan," Zalan introduced him.

"Finnegan!" Rep said, picking up his arm and shaking firmly. "A pleasure!" He turned back to Zalan. "You found him! How incredible!"

"Yeah. And he says he's reformed now. Not a thief anymore."

"He can claim to be reformed, but remember thoughts are nothing without action," Rep said. "I am sure one would promise any number of things while they are in the Depths of Despair."

"Of course. But first I need you to get me out of here alive for me to prove my sincerity," Finnegan stated.

Rep nodded to him then looked back to Zalan. He raised his arms, framing Zalan, trying to get a grasp on the visual.

"What is this glow coming from your body? It is like you are in a constant state of gaining a Level. Is this how you survived deep in the mines all on your own?"

Zalan held out his arm to reveal his stats. Before Zalan even had the chance to tap his fingers together and summon them, Rep grabbed his forearm in excitement, looking at it closely.

"Your scar! It vanished! Is this a new Elemental Power?" Rep asked.

"Yeah, Elemental Light," Zalan grinned. "I got it randomly."

"He refuses to discuss how he acquired it," Finnegan said, once again annoyed.

"That was not random! You must have solved the riddle of the three darknesses," Rep said thoughtfully. "What did you do, exactly?"

"I don't really know. I was about to give up in the darkness. Then, I decided to live, despite everything. Then the Elemental just showed up." Zalan shrugged.

"So he says," Finnegan grumbled.

"Perhaps the first darkness was Nightfall and the second darkness was the Depths of Despair? And… the third darkness was that which was in your heart, the deep scars in your soul?" Rep attempted.

"That sounds like a stretch. Plus, that's only half of it. 'In the three darknesses, you must find the light.' Then what was the light? The answer to the riddle couldn't have been me getting the Elemental Power, itself. That wouldn't make any sense. It's a self-fulfilling answer," Zalan said.

"The light… Was you finding the light to live!" Rep offered.

"That sounds absurd," Finnegan said.

"Yeah, not so sure Elementals operate in metaphors," Zalan added.

"I do not know. Elementals are never very straightforward." Rep shrugged.

Rep and Zalan thought on the riddle for a few more seconds. Finnegan bobbed in place anxiously. He cleared his throat.

"How do we get out of here?" Finnegan asked, pointing ahead to the darkness beyond.

"I do not know which direction we entered from. The explosion threw off all sense of direction," Rep said. "But if we search the walls for signs of Earthenbeasts, perhaps we can locate the one with the Homeseeker attached."

"Any idea where the one made of emerald went?" Zalan asked.

Rep shook his head.

"We had better move quickly," Finnegan said. "This is still the Mind of Madness's home, after all."

"Do not worry. Zalan has an Essence of Soul to use if one of us is struck by the power," Rep assured him. "It should help even in the case of a direct attack."

"I already used it on Finnegan earlier," Zalan answered.

Rep looked between Zalan and Finnegan a few times, his assuring smile wavering to a light frown.

"We should move quickly. This is still the Mind of Madness's home, after all."