Author's note: End of mass update! For those who really like Xue, this chapter will be a rollercoaster ride for you 🤧.
Actually, who am I kidding. This whole arc is a rollercoaster ride, hah.
Xue was still planning on the various ways to make Isleif suffer, when the soul fragments in his head started talking again.
Kai: “Are you going to kill him?”
Zasiok: “Don’t kill him, Xue, not yet. Make him suffer.”
Leonaut: “Bring that bastard in here, I’ll give him a real good thrashing!”
Kai and Zasiok joined in, sharing their agreement with Leonaut.
It wasn’t only Xue who wanted to see Isleif suffer for what he did to Cecil, the other soul fragments were equally enraged.
They wanted to beat him up, and give them a piece of their mind.
Alric was too afraid to say anything, since he could feel the intensity of Xue’s wrath. However, he also felt an urge to give Isleif a good punch, which was unlike his cowardly self.
Sid: “I get to see a good show! Hey, do you have any food around here?”
All the soul fragments looked at Sid.
Sid: "Why look at me like that?"
Most of the soul fragments either shook their heads or smacked their faces with their own palms.
Kai: "...dude, really?"
Sid: "What?"
Xue: "..."
Isleif chuckled humourlessly, panting as he taunted loudly. “You want to kill me only when I am this weak?"
Everyone watched with bated breaths, expecting Xue to kill him right on the spot.
Xue continued staring coldly at Isleif, before he stepped, keeping Isleif stuck to the ground using his spear. Surprisingly, Xue did not kill Isleif but brought out a red orb. He proceeded on to the soul absorption process, not saying any word.
Isleif began to feel something tugging at his core, as if sapping away at his lifeforce.
“Oh…” Zeau breathed out, still not moving from his spot as he watched on.
He wondered what it would be like for Xue to absorb a human who had become a partial demon, the demon blood running rampant in him.
Cecil was horrified, and Hana noticed her reaction.
“Cecil?”
Cecil rushed over to Xue’s side, despite her bruised and injured body, grabbing Xue's arm.
"Xue, he is--"
"I am not stopping this time," Xue muttered lowly as he glanced towards Cecil, seeing the injuries on her body and he felt the rage bubbling within him. “No matter what you tell me.”
He lifted his head up, his gaze focused on Zeau.
I’ll be coming for you next, you bastard.
Zeau noticed Xue’s furious stare on him, smiling genially.
“No, Xue, he consumed demon blood! Your blood is that of an angel, not a demon!” Cecil exclaimed, panicking as she tightened her grip on his arm. “He is clearly still alive, if you absorb him now--”
“Damn it!” Isleif cursed out, looking crazed. “It was supposed to be me! It was supposed to be all mine!”
Isleif felt the control of his body growing weaker and weaker, and he started to struggle though his body couldn’t move.
Xue concentrated harder, wishing that he had done something to shut Isleif up instead.
“Goddamnit! Not you, Xue, NOT YOU! Just kill me if you are going to absorb me like that!”
Isleif let out an enraged howl, his eyes looking towards Cecil. “I-I won't accept this, you were supposed to be all mine, Cecil Lan.”
Cecil stepped back, feeling uneasy. The way Isleif looked now, it was as if he lacked any rationality and it was only obsession that remained in his mind.
Xue noted the tinge of fear on Cecil’s face, and he gritted his teeth.
As if hurting her wasn’t enough, he even made her scared and still dares to treat her like an object!
He started to quicken the absorption process and Cecil recovered.
“Xue, you can’t absorb him now! If you do so, there’s no telling what would happen to you!”
Cecil reached out to snatch the red orb away from his hands.
Xue caught her wrist swiftly, and the world seemed to slow down for Cecil as she looked into his grey eyes.
There were so many emotions swirling within them, she couldn’t catch them all.
“He hurt you, and Zeau hurt you as well,” Xue spoke softly, softening his gloomy expression. “You might be able to let it go, but not me, Cecil.”
“I’m fine--”
“It's not fine with me, Cecil,” Xue interrupted. “Sorry, I am not that forgiving, not anymore. They hurt you, I will hurt them back.”
Cecil shook her head slowly, her voice shaking. “I--I don’t know what will happen to you, and I won’t know how to help you! It’s not worth it, to suffer for me is not worth it, Xue!”
“You are worth it, you have done so much for me.”
Cecil shook her head even more, feeling as if someone had stabbed deep into her heart. “No, Xue, please…”
Alric: “I’ll--I’ll suffer with you, Xue!”
Zasiok: “Count me in.”
Leonaut smirked.
Leonaut: “Aye, I’m in.”
Kai: “Come on, Sid, you too.”
Sid, who was scurrying around for food, despite not needing them anymore since he was a soul, was dragged away by the four guys.
Sid: “E-eh, wait what--”
Kai: “We are all in this together, Xue.”
Kai: “One for all, all for one, am I right?”
The soul fragments agreed with Kai’s statement with nods and grunts, except for Sid who was still confused.
The ash blonde-haired man’s smile grew a tad bit wider after hearing the soul fragments converse in his head.
Xue: “...yeah.”
“Cecil Lan,” Xue gave Cecil a lop-sided smile, pushing her away. “You are worth everything.”
“XUE!”
Hana hurried forward to catch Cecil, who was stretching her arm out for Xue as she lost her balance from the push.
Hana wore a look of pure confusion and concern, feeling apprehensive at the situation.
She couldn't hear what Cecil and Xue spoke, but she knew it wasn't a good thing.
Everything happened so quickly after that.
Cecil received a notification that the secret mission was completed, and she was rewarded with 3000 points.
A second later, Isleif’s body had completely dissolved, leaving nothing but a smudge of blood behind on the grass.
The next second, Xue was down on the ground with one knee, his eyes wide as blood poured incessantly from his mouth.
...and the second after, Veau appeared beside Zeau who was still relishing in the scene before him.
“You are finally done?”
Veau nodded, furrowing his eyebrows at the scene of Xue coughing out blood, panting heavily as the man clutched at his chest.
“Foolish god,” Zeau smiled, sounding amused. “He absorbed the soul fragment that had our demonic blood within his body. Just for the woman.”
There was something his eyes as he turned to look at Veau.
“The mortal is indeed unique, like you said,” Zeau stood up, still smiling as he patted Veau on the shoulder. “Let’s go, brother.”
Zeau disappeared in a portal of his own, and Veau followed behind him.
The cobalt blue haired-man paused in his steps, glancing back at the foolish man.
Cecil finally noticed the presence of a certain devil, snapping her head up as she watched him with conflicted eyes.
“You are an idiot, Xue.” Veau sighed, shaking his head and he noticed a pair of clear, black eyes on him.
He smiled lazily.
“Don’t worry, Cecil Lan, something like this won’t kill him.”
Veau created a portal, vanishing from the spot as well.
“Ugh!” Xue groaned out before he collapsed to the ground.
The two ladies scrambled to Xue’s side, fussing over Xue.
True enough, the blood of a demon doesn’t mix well with the blood of an angel. Right now, Xue was in excruciating pain. In fact, it was so painful, even the soul fragments inside his mind could feel the piercing pain, suffering along with him.
However, it was the consequence that all of them willingly signed up for.
Tears had unknowingly sprung into Cecil’s eyes, and she flipped his body over with the help of Hana.
“Xue! Oh my god, Xue!”
Xue squeezed his eyes close, gritting his teeth but he did not answer them.
“Cecil, wh-what’s happening to Xue?” Hana stuttered out, her face growing pale and her voice lacked her usual cheery tone.
“I don’t know, Hana, I-I don't know,” Cecil shook her head, her vision slightly blurry as her voice trembled. “I really don’t know what’s happening.”
“What do we do, Cecil?” Hana stuttered, her lips starting to tremble.
Cecil blinked her tears away, rubbing her eyes as she spoke hoarsely. “We need to bring him somewhere safe, somewhere with shelter. I do not know what is out here, and it isn’t safe.”
“Where? Where can we find shelter?”
“Let’s carry Xue along and find one,” Cecil bit on her lower lip, a stray tear escaping and she rubbed her eyes again. “If we really can’t find one, I’ll make one!”
***
The two ladies supported Xue on their shoulders, shuffling along the foggy woods, panting heavily.
Xue himself was still in the same state of agony. The entire time, no matter how much the two women nudged or talked to him, he did not answer.
“Wh-where do we go now, Cecil?”
Cecil panted heavily, her mind spinning from distress. “Straight, straight ahead.”
“It looks the same everywhere!”
“I-I know.”
All of a sudden, Xue went slack and the two ladies stumbled, feeling Xue weighing down on them further.
Cecil gasped, her hand flying to his face as her heart dropped. “Xue? Xue?!”
She shook him lightly, but he did not respond. He was completely out cold.
Hana started to panic herself, almost on the verge of crying.
“Not good, he's burning up!” Cecil cried out, feeling his forehead under her hand. “We need to settle him down somewhere, quickly!”
“I’m scared, Cecil! What can we do? What should we do?!”
Hana started to make more noise, tears streaming down her face, distraught.
“Wait, let me think, let me think for a moment.” Cecil was desperate, searching through her mind for anything.
If I make a shelter here now, I will not be able to last.
I am still recovering from my exhaustion.
I cannot leave Hana out here in the open to guard both of us.
An enclosed area is our best bet, we need an enclosed area.
Surrounding us in vines won’t help, it is as good as not having any proper barricade.
Where should I go? What should I do?
I...
I...I don’t know!
As the seconds passed, Hana grew more and more anxious. She even controlled her crying to give Cecil some thinking space, however, she couldn’t last long.
“Ce-cecil!”
“Hold on for a moment, Hana!” Cecil raised her voice.
Hana flinched back, surprised by Cecil raising her voice at her.
Cecil sighed, looking at Hana with a conflicted look. “Let me think, please.”
The ash blonde-haired man groaned suddenly, lifting his head up and he startled both women. His forehead was coated in sweat, and he panted heavily.
However, the man didn’t seem to give off the same vibe as Xue.
Cecil recognised the man before her in one glance.
“Zasiok?”
Zasiok clutched his chest, swallowing down the blood that was threatening to spill out. He grimaced at the metallic taste, and the pain he felt in the body was something he had experienced before.
It seemed like the torture he experienced in the jail cell increased his tolerance for pain, and he was the only soul fragment who remained conscious.
“Every single of them passed out from the pain,” Zasiok struggled out, frowning in pain. “And Xue...I don’t know where he is. I...I can’t sense him anymore.”
Cecil felt her blood run cold.
Hana was horrified to hear those words as well.
“Before he fainted, we all sensed a familiar presence in this direction,” Zasiok pointed his finger to the east. “You can try your luck...there--!”
Cecil gasped, panicking. “Zasiok?!”
“No, no, don’t mind me,” Zasiok gasped out, shaking his head. “I can feel...myself slipping away…”
He brought his head up, raising his hand weakly as he gently caressed Cecil’s face. “The two of you have to find a way to bring Xue back, without him...we will cease to exist as well.”
Cecil inhaled shakily, biting on her lower lip.
Hana was extremely anxious as well.
“You can do it.” Zasiok glanced between Hana and Cecil, dropping his hand. "The two of you can."
"Mhmm." The ladies nodded their heads, solemn.
Zasiok smiled before his eyes closed and he lost consciousness.
“Let’s go, Hana, to where they guided us to.”
“Okay.”
With no other choice left, the two women carried Xue on their shoulders to the east, both equally determined to save the ash blonde-haired man.
***
K’xug didn’t know how long had passed...again.
Since he couldn’t speak, he could not vent out his anger that had always come and gone.
He could not vent out the injustice he had to suffer, neither could he vent out the injustice his closest friend that was like a brother to him, had to suffer.
How have I not gone insane?
Am I stuck here from now on? Without even the ability to speak or read anymore?
No...not here, I can’t allow everything to end here.
Xue, you have to know the truth, the truth behind everything--
K’xug gasped, shooting his head up.
He could feel three presence heading towards his way, and two of those presence were awfully familiar to him. The passionless expression on his face cracked, and he wore a look of vulnerability.
He recalled the conversation Zeau and Veau had among themselves earlier, and his wings that hung limply started to twitch.
It was as if he had come to life again.
At that moment, K’xug realised something else.
That devil the hidden cave wall open.
...he is always someone I will never understand.
This meant that, as soon as they walked deeper into the cave, they would be able to find K’xug instantly.
***
“It’s so dark in here!”
“Support Xue for a moment, Hana, I’ll get some light.”
“Okay.”
Cecil twirled the ring around her finger and the system prompted her to withdraw the item she desired.
It was a lantern, along with oil.
She quickly lit up the lantern, storing away the excess oil into her ring. The entire cavern was lit up, and they could clearly see a pathway leading them deeper.
“Zasiok said the familiar presence is in this direction,” Cecil mused, supporting Xue with her shoulder again while the other arm carried the lantern. “It is probably deeper.”
“Is it safe…?”
“It is definitely safer than the outside where we can be ambushed from all directions.”
“Mmm…”
“Let’s go deeper, Hana, to find whoever it is.”
“Mmm!”
The two women proceeded on, and soon enough, they stumbled upon a strange sight in the cave.
“Wait, stop.”
Hana halted, looking curiously at Cecil.
Cecil shone her lantern all around as she narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
This is clearly meant to be a hidden room.
Why has it been left out open like that?
All of a sudden, a notification popped out in front of her.
[ Alert! A new mission has arrived!
Mission #9: The Hidden Room in the Cave
Objective: Investigate the hidden room in the cave.
Clue: Other than providing a shelter for Xue and yourselves, you might be able to stumble upon something else that may or may not prove useful!
Reward: ??? ]
[ Hint: You may want to access the Points Shop later.
Remaining points: 5000 points ]
[ Fortunately for you, Cecil Lan, this mission is not compulsory to accept~
This is entirely your choice now~ ]
This was the first time she had seen the system giving out a clue and a hint for a single mission. Moreover, for the first time in a while, it wasn’t a compulsory mission.
Her instincts told her to accept the mission...and so she did.
“I accept the mission.”
[ Mission #9: The Hidden Room in the Cave
Objective: Investigate the hidden room in the cave.
Clue: Other than providing a shelter for Xue and yourselves, you might be able to stumble upon something else that may or may not prove useful!
Reward: ???
Time limit: 30 minutes ]
“...”
“Again with the time limit! At the last second!”
[ … ]
[ ;) ]
“...”
***
Pt. 1
《 start 》
It was supposed to belong to me.
All of it.
The power.
The main body.
Cecil Lan.
...this isn’t the end of it, Xue.
You think this ends with me being absorbed?
This is just the beginning.
《 stop 》
***
Pt. 2
《 start 》
Those who hurt you, those who make you suffer.
I’ll return it back to them.
If I have to suffer to make this happen, I will let myself suffer.
For you, whatever it is, I do not mind.
You are worth it.
You are worth everything to me.
《 stop 》
***
Pt. 3
《 start 》
You are an idiot, Xue.
Just like me.
Just like all of us.
Just like...Eona.
So what if you are the Supreme God? So what if I am the devil himself?
At the end of the day, we are all just fools trapped in our own world.
《 stop 》