“Since that's the case, we have nothing left to say. The other actor has just arrived, so let's begin,” Xia De chuckled, pointing his finger toward the entrance of the labyrinth behind Charles.
“Ch-Charles?”
A voice filled with disbelief and deep apology rang out from behind Charles.
Hearing this familiar voice, Charles was slightly puzzled, but Reid's trio stiffened in unison, their eyes widening as if they couldn't believe they were hearing this voice again.
Fear quickly followed.
They feared that once Charles learned the truth, he would be disappointed in them and abandon them. Once abandoned, no one else would be able to save them, and they would be left with only one fate:
Death!
Thus, at this very moment, they desperately wished the voice they heard was an illusion. Unfortunately, reality rarely goes as one wishes.
Just as Charles turned around, before he could even speak, a soft, voluptuous body hugged him tightly.
His head was pressed into her ample chest, and the sensation of soft flesh squeezing against his face made him gasp slightly for air.
Sheena held Charles close, the tears streaming from her eyes falling onto his head and wetting his hair.
Then, Charles heard her apologetic, tearful voice:
“I'm sorry, Charles! I was wrong!
It was all my fault. If I hadn't always just stood by and done nothing, you wouldn't have been misunderstood for so long, and you wouldn't have been kicked out of the party.
I'm sorry, Charles!”
His head buried, Charles opened his mouth slightly, about to say some comforting words to Sheena.
Then, a sudden, piercing shriek shattered the melodramatic atmosphere.
It was Reid. A blood-dripping hole the size of a ping-pong ball had appeared on his body, and his features contorted in agony from the sudden, excruciating pain.
As wisps of blue smoke drifted from his fingertips, Xia De interrupted this tragic melodrama and spoke with a hint of boredom:
“I have absolutely no interest in watching you star-crossed lovers put on a show of endless forgiveness.”
Seeing that someone was injured, Charles immediately broke free from Sheena's embrace and rushed to Reid's side to cast healing magic on him.
Watching this, a highly intriguing smile appeared on Xia De's face, a faint glint flickering in his pupils.
Xia De's icy gaze swept over the three of them. Shuddering, they instinctively curled their bodies like frightened quails, huddling together and trembling.
“From now on, I will continuously torture these three until they die.
Charles, since you've chosen to stand with them, try and stop me.
Let's see whose magic is superior—your healing magic, or my death magic.”
Xia De had finally revealed his true objective: Charles's healing magic!
As long as Charles kept using healing magic, Xia De could rely on his own invincible magical talent to decipher it.
Whether it was the spell formulation used during casting or the structure of the mana, as long as Charles used it, Xia De could crack and replicate it!
‘Well, I'm only one eye away from being a certain copycat,’ Xia De joked in his mind.
Furthermore, to prevent Charles from running away halfway, he had used his words to constantly guide him, forging a bond that would trap him here securely.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have wasted so much breath talking to a fool.
He never needed to consider anyone else's thoughts, nor did he need anyone to agree with his philosophy.
Whether in his past life or in this world, he believed he lived in a world where the strong devoured the weak; the only difference was how it manifested.
His past world had no extraordinary power, so it was a survival of the fittest governed by rules.
But in this world where extraordinary power existed and individual force could reign supreme over all things, there was only one thing he needed to do: become stronger!
Become stronger than anyone else, then try to find a way back home. If possible, he would also search for a way to resurrect his parents.
After Grandpa Novas passed away, there was nothing left in this world for him to care about.
Had it not been for his past parents' upbringing keeping his last shred of humanity intact, Xia De was certain that after learning of his own talent, he would have chosen to slaughter the entire world to grow stronger.
Yet even while retaining his humanity, Xia De maintained the attitude of killing anyone who stood in his path.
Even if the road ahead led to eternal damnation, he would use bones to build his stairway to the peak of power.
So, Charles, you all might as well obediently serve as stepping stones on my path to becoming the strongest.
Xia De leaped down from the head of the Crack-Rock Bear King onto the ground. He then extended his pale, slender index finger and gently tapped the head of the lifeless beast.
Then, before the eyes of the group opposite him...
Darkness surged within the lifeless pupils of the Crack-Rock Bear King, gradually dyeing its crimson eyes pitch-black. Then, its massive body, sprawled on the ground, began to twitch in a bizarre, unnatural manner.
Its limbs contorted irregularly as if fighting against each other, and the sound of twisting bones creaked loudly from within its body.
In the next second, two massive black rods burst out from its back, replacing the original rocks. The stone armor that originally covered its limbs was also replaced by dark shadow armor.
Once it adapted to this body, it snapped its twisted head back into place, staring straight at the terrified Charles and his companions.
Its mouth parted slightly, pulling back into a grotesque, menacing grin.
Xia De patted the Crack-Rock Bear King and said:
“I still have to go catch some bugs, so I'll let this big guy play with you for a bit.
Here's a friendly tip: I am controlling it remotely using shadows. The two large black rods on its back act as receivers for my commands. If you break them, it will stop moving.
To give you a fighting chance to break them, I have intentionally suppressed its power to Tier Four, Rank Five.
With Charles's magical buffs, as long as you put in some effort, you should be able to defeat it at this level.”
His throat bobbed as Charles suppressed the fear in his heart and said to Xia De:
“Can we really not just talk this through?”
Xia De smiled without a word. Then, his body sank into the shadows, vanishing from the spot.
Out of sight of Charles and the others, a highly chilling smile crept onto Xia De's face.
‘I'll torment them thoroughly first, forcing him to keep using magic so I can learn it. Once I've mastered his magic, it will be time for them to die.’
Seeing Xia De's expression just now, Charles knew that this battle was unavoidable. Forcing himself to stay composed, he calmly spoke to his former teammates:
“Everyone, pull yourselves together. We must fight for our lives now. Just like before, we do this together.”
Huddled like quails, Reid clutched his head in fear and whimpered:
“No, no, please... That man is a demon! It's impossible to win!”
Kathleen trembled violently without saying a word. Shanna's expression was slightly better, but she also remained silent.
Then, Charles saw Sheena step forward and slap Reid across the face, her brow furrowed in anger as she shouted:
“How did that arrogant, smug guy from before turn into such a cowardly rat!
Get your fighting spirit back and fight! Don't disappoint me and Charles!”
At these words, the three of them looked at Sheena in disbelief. Reid asked hesitantly in a low, uncertain voice:
“You're willing to help us?”
Sheena snorted coldly, her beautiful face icy as she spoke with lingering detachment:
“Don't misunderstand. I'm not doing this for scumbags like you. I am merely following Charles's choice. Back then, my hesitation caused this tragedy. Now, I will stand firmly by Charles's side.
Since he chose to help you, I will help you too.
Once this is over, I will leave together with Charles!”
Although her tone was freezing cold, hearing that she was still willing to help them brought a sudden warmth to the trio's hearts, and their eyes welled with tears.
A sudden surge of strength spread through their bodies, and the three of them gradually regained their composure, speaking up one after another.
“Alright! Let's fight side by side once more, Charles!”
“Charles, Sheena, I'm sorry. I know I was wrong. Thank you so much for still being willing to help us.”
“Charles, we'll rely on your command this time.”
“Just like before! Sheena, draw the fire at the front. Reid and Shanna, you're the main attackers. Kathleen, harass it. I'll provide buffs and healing for everyone!”
Charles nodded as he spoke. But when his gaze lingered on the Crack-Rock Bear King opposite them, he fell into a brief daze.
Back then, the five of them had also subjugated a crack-rock bear together in this exact manner.
This very moment was just like that very moment!
Then, they saw the massive Crack-Rock Bear King part its jaws to reveal sharp teeth. The darkness in its eyes deepened as it pulled back its lips to stare at them with a terrifying grin.
Immediately after, its thick bear paw slammed violently onto the ground. The earth rapidly split open toward Charles and his companions, and a massive pit formed beneath their feet.
Before they could react, they fell into the pit, buried under countless tiny rocks and debris.
What followed was not a battle, but...
A hunt for survival!!!
Rate on N.U.
