SOML – Chapter 23: Of that single stab

 Chapter 23 – Of that single stab

…

Ayill dropped the stiff body on his arms. He did it with tender care. Shadow covered his face, and it was hard to decipher. But when he raised his head, there was none of hatred. There was only peacefulness.

“Traitor? So what! Demon??? SO, WHAT!!!”

A startling Will gushed out from him. It was still in a gaseous state, but this was enough to startle many.

The gigantic tentacle was already upon them, and the trio felt death looking straight at them. Yet, in one second, their jaw dropped right to the ground!

“Unlucky Stab.”

An immense hole appeared on the giant tentacle. Blood showered, and they observed that they were spared from becoming pancakes. They hurried to search for Ayill and saw the boy with black wings-like limb protruding on his back. It flapped and shot towards the sky.

“Even if I’ll be killed for my actions or dissected as an experiment, I don’t care anymore.”

“There is nothing important for me than the people who love me.”

“And right now, I will use everything to save them!” Blinding rays gleamed on his dark pupils. He was a human transformed into a demon, but a demon nonetheless. Yet, he was human as he could be.

Emotions—love covered his entire being and propelled him to understand the power within him. It was darkness. But it didn’t mean he couldn’t use it for saving. He used this power to freely transformed into what his best form!

“Demon, I shall.” Claws transformed back into human’s hands. Black mist converged in both palms and solidified into daggers. His small body became bulkier, though the exoskeleton became skinnier and sleeker. His spring-like legs became propellers. And from his back, a big thruster flared with black flames. He shot up with a speed unbelievable to them!

For a moment, when the trio saw his looks, a powerful surge of confidence and heroism filled their chest. They didn’t know why they felt Ayill’s large changes were not from the outside, but inside.

As for the titanic entity, Ayill was nothing more but an insect. He had enough of waiting. He salivated by how long he marinated everyone

“It is time to feast!”

Without warning, all of Life’s tentacles trashed. It was a depressing sight. All the Venerables became aghast and moved with their utmost speed.

Bam. Bam. The ground shook. Dust scattered and smoke hid. The only visible was the horror on everybody’s faces before they die.

It was fortunate that the Venerables saved a lot. Despite that, looking at the county, there was none erected. Everything leveled. Only the wall with a mysterious hole survived.

Ryan, who hopped out of the ground, was livid. The other members of Pendragon were also angry and hurried to attack the entity. Ryan turned to Sarah and her friends. He pursed his lips, but he continued. “Run away. Head south, where the capital county.” After that, he jumped and joined the fray.

The trio were still pale. Their body shivered from the shock and horror. Everywhere they looked, there was only devastation and blood red corpses.

Ben puked what he had eaten earlier along with blood and swayed. He almost landed on his butt. Sarah was confident with the Venerables, so she didn’t expect the strength of the entity. It overturned her so-called knowledge about the world.

“T-this…” She wanted to step-up. But the notion of death and the overpowering might of the enemy held her back. She trembled for being weak and hopeless. Worry replaced her confidence about Ayill.

“Please, don’t die.” She clasped both her palms while escaping with Ben and Jed. Both had the same hopes as her.

…

Little Atasha woke up from shock. She stared at the man who was carrying her earlier, sleeping in his own blood and guts spilled out. She looked at her little palms which painted with red. Shivering with unknown cold, she struggled to look up and peered at the apocalyptic scene in front of her. There were hundreds of bodies lying in various positions amongst the rabble. It was like a scene of hell. In her peripheral vision, panic shadows and blurry figures moved in a fast pace.

“N-no… Mama, where are you… M-mama…” Her world collapsed. She blanked out and laid alone with the darkness.

…

“Give up?” The entity taunted. He easily fended off everyone’s attacks. He only considered Palm Tree’s as a threat. But looking at the latter, he was shivering on top of a palm tree.

“Oh no! Please, no…”

“I beg you, help me get my daughter!”

“Uncle, where is Auntie?”

Green Palm Tree looked back. His eyes were bloodshot and his teeth clattered like metals. Thousands of sounds mixed in the background. There were cries of despair, wails of the living and the dead’s last throes.

All of it sounded like devil’s laughter in Green Palm Tree’s ears.

“I. Will. Kill. You!” An overpowering aura blasted in all directions. The red color night was suppressed and green light took half of it.

Ytthra observed on the distance and chuckled. “It will be difficult for you to recover after this.”

Life became worried. But he soon recovered his confidence. He even expecting the upcoming attack. His none existing eyes peered at the Venerables and observed them seriously. There was a chance of defeat, but he was confident to play his cards.

The Venerables became serious too. They felt that if they didn’t end it now, they would regret it later. Their aura converged and became denser.

However, something happened without warning. A blast of apocalyptic scale exploded in the distance, and it was closing to them without stopping. It horrified everyone that at such a distance, they could feel the intensity of heat. Their throat dried up and their skin hairs burned. They could see everything was scorched within the blast’s path, leaving a depressing black land!

In an instant, everyone hurried to go back.

“Don’t spoil my food!” Life hurried to block. His gender-neutral voice cracked. He was even more panicky than the Venerables themselves. “No, I don’t like my food burnt!” He thought.

Eating was an arduous process. For each Evil, they had their own unique method of preparing their food. Most of them used fear as the key ingredient. To Life, fear wasn’t that palpable. Fear was like sugar and he didn’t have a sweet tooth. Nevertheless, it was a must for him.

First, sprinkled the people with empty promise. Then checked the taste. This would wake up the others, and would end up scared. Next, fight the strong people and make everybody lose hope. This way, people would understand the hardship of life.

Contrary to his expectation, someone powerful enough was present and destroyed his entire cooking. He wasn’t able to make the people lose hope. They could even ran away. Fortunately, an unexpected variable came stopping their escape. But it was too shocking, which also defeated the purpose of the feast.

“Those damn guys. I’ve waited for centuries and when I finally saw an opening, this is what I get? I jumped in because I didn’t feel any powerful aura. Well, not enough to threaten me.” Life gnashed his teeth. He saw over hundred tentacles burned to cinders. Soon, his regeneration kicked in. But observing it, his regeneration was actually slower by few seconds. This made him incensed where he hadn’t eaten yet. “A few decades gone in the wind!”

When the Venerables perceived this, instead of joy, they were silent. Especially Green Palm Tree and Cain, who were older than others. Both gazed at each other and muttered at the same time. “Just a brat… yet already this strong.”

The Venerables were readying themselves at the same time. So, the moment Life blocked the blast, all of them launched their attacks.

The first to attack was the Pendragon clan members. With a resounding roar, they clutched on one of Life’s tentacles.

On the other side, the now seven hands clipped on other tentacles and pulled.

Life scoffed. “Playing tug of war? I’m the best in my generation!” He pulled hard, dragging the dragon with him. As for Jade Hands, her face became rosier. The seven hands trembled. She vomited a mouthful of blood but she hung on, though, teetering to collapse.

Using this moment, Ryan jumped high. His hand shone with gold ash color, which became enormous claws, each as large as spears.

But unlike before, it upgraded into a concept!

“Concept of Dragon.”

“Penta Claw.”

Five spears with scary speed pierced the tentacles Jade Hands was holding onto the ground. The titanic body twitched and dragged for a few meters down.

Ryan’s eyes narrowed and his face became grim. “It wasn’t its limbs. I think, these tentacles are just his powers, not part of its body.”

Life harrumphed. “Someone who just understood a concept, thought he can understand me?” Inwardly, he became flustered. Thus, he waved all of his tentacles. For a while, everyone could only see a blur.

The dragon was hit several times and was destroyed. All the Pendragon members flew to the ground with a bang.

Jade Hands’ concealment rendered useless, and she took a direct hit, leading to all the hands being destroyed.

“Argh!” Her body became a puff of mist, but it soon recovered. However, her body was shuddering and exhaustion was apparent on her beautiful face. Ryan also took several strikes and was hurled, rolling in the ground for hundreds of meters.

Worst, Green Palm Tree’s preparation was interrupted. The green lights in the sky reduced to a third of its size.

“AHA! Even though you could pull off your ultimate attack, not only enervating but also it was time consuming. Actually, your aura says it all. I just thought my observation skills failed me, but I was right all along! It is impossible with your strength to fully unleash the Concept of Life.” Life patted his none existing chest. He waited for centuries and he didn’t want to destroy this chance by being careless.

“Is this it?” A female became pale as snow. She staggered as blood painted her chin.

An old man nodded. His eyes were bleak. “Yes, this is probably our end…”

“Where is the County Lord?!!” Another woman shrieked. In her heart, she was cursing and blaming the County Lord.

“Please, god, save us!” Someone kneeled.

“Father, I don’t want to run anymore.” One boy held on his legs. A large splinter pierced through it.

Hearing this and looking at the sight before them, everyone in the county couldn’t help but feel dismayed. Exhausted, they didn’t know what to do anymore other than waiting for the outcome. They just prayed it was a positive one.

But suddenly, a black gleam shot.

At first, only a few noticed it. Yet as time passed, everyone was staring at it. They wondered what it was.

Compared to the speed shown by the Venerables and tentacles, it was slow, slow to the point that it could be called a turtle.

But to their shocked face and agape mouth, the gleam pierced through the tentacle, leaving a gaping hole!

However, Life wasn’t impressed. Even the Venerables wasn’t. “Just an ant. Though, you can be my appetizer.” Life lifted one of his tentacles.

Bam. Its speed broke the sound wall and hit the black gleam.

Everyone closed their eyes. They didn’t want to watch anymore.

They opened their eyes after a while. But unlike what they had expected, the black gleam was still moving!

“I-it is moving!” A woman cried in shock.

Ayill felt his body’s limitation. “It was nothing but miracle for my body being able to regenerate within seconds. But anything above the power of Grandmaster was really too much.” He considered that one more hit and he would be dead.

Dead pan, his face was blacker than it could be. There was no room for him here. For others, he was only throwing his life away. To him, though, he just wanted to save his friends.

The boy recalled the short time he had with Terrence and Jay. It was fun; the first time he had fun with others. He felt true to his age.

Ayill remembered the worry on Ben’s words when he was preventing him to battle with Sarah. He was too innocent.

He recalled the way Jed moved and acted. The latter was always watching out for everyone; without letting a complain.

Then he looked back the way Sarah treated him. She regarded him like a playmate.

All of them treated him as a friend.

The despair and struggle? He threw it in the back of his mind. Sadness, he had felt it, but he understood even though he was clearly struggling, he was doing everything to live because of his mom.

And the latter was probably like that. She must have gone to terrible lengths for them to meet after three years.

“Even facing death, I won’t be fazed at all.” He became a black gleam once again. Still, inconspicuous and slow as a turtle.

It was unexpected. Everyone was observing him. The tiny gleam was facing a rain of blurs. It was a net impossible to escape.

Nonetheless, all of them found a lump in their throat. They couldn’t explain it. But their chest felt hot.

In a tiny alley, a man holding a bottle of beer wobbled on his feet. However, his eyes were clear instead of stupor expected from a drunk person. He was staring at the black gleam with utmost concentration.

Memories flashed in his mind like video.

“Beat me! Shout at me! Please. I beg you, Humber! I’m not fit to be the mother of your daughter! I’m a failure! Beat me. Or… I’ll kill myself. Please. At least, shout at me, so I can forgive myself for what I’ve done.”

He was looking right at his wife, who was clearly in pain and wretchedness. He raised his head for a few moments before going out of their home.

Hours later, he came back drunk and yelled at his wife, saying terrible words at her. Neighbors heard him and despised him for that.

He woke up from his reverie. The bottle crashed and broke on the ground. A few people near him heard it and were startled. They became wide eye as they saw the drunk man walking straight to the pinned down tentacles. He hugged a tentacle tight and pulled.

This action took Life aback. He missed hitting Ayill, but it delighted him that someone else had screwed loose and decided to end his life. Eating Venerable was hard, but anyone below it was easier. Only towards black gleam Life felt strange, but he didn’t feel any threat from it.

One second later, blood came out from all the man’s orifices. Life was devouring his existence.

Yet, there was no hesitation on that man’s face. He faced Ayill; there was reluctance and pain in his eyes. He muttered on his last few breaths.

“Go.”

Life felt intoxicated. This was the best taste.

But it was too little. And he wanted more.

Soon, more stepped up and hugged the tentacles tightly.

Life was overjoyed but he discovered shortly something that caused his soul to leave his body. His body was gradually being pulled to the ground!

The titanic entity. The Evil Life. In shocked, stared at the millions of eyes staring back at him.

There was no fear and no hopelessness in it. In fact, their stares were hot. It was blazing, seemingly burning much hotter than the blast before.

Moreover, there was an unknown strength in their grip. It felt heavy, not as much alone. But with countless hands, it was even heavier than the earth itself.

“What is this strength?!!” He panicked and trashed his tentacles towards them. But hundreds of bodies blocked them.

It was the Pendragon Clan. They had no more power to combine into a formation. But they were the proud Pendragon Clan!

In a matter of minute, there were casualties, yet no one faltered. They kept on standing and jumping with their bodies on the line.

Life became agitated. He used his power to help him levitate.

But without him noticing, Ryan was above and was barreling towards him.

“You think you know us?!!”

Bang!

Life’s body descended for a while before coming to a halt. He gulped down hard as he felt his heart above his chest. “Damn. You–.”

But he was interrupted when a huge diamond hand appeared. Unlike before, it was riddled with cracks. Still, it had overpowering aura representing the power of the world. It came crushing with unparallel momentum and bashed Life’s body in!

“Argh.” Life’s gender-neutral voice was no more. His actual voice was of a kid. He remembered the hundred tentacles he had and flung it towards Ryan and Jade Hands. “I WILL KILL YOU!”

The tentacles broke the sound wall and hit them. However, Life’s body was once again yanked to the ground. He gnashed his none existing teeth and looked down at the people.

“Bastards!” His other tentacles snaked towards them.

But a black gleam managed to bypass his attention. When he noticed it, it was already few meters between them. Angry, his tentacles became a wall of blurs, heading towards Ayill.

Everyone was looking up. All of them had the same expression, they were blazing.

They didn’t know what happened to them but seeing the black gleam they couldn’t help but remembering their struggles in their lives.

It was a frantic chase. And it was hard to fathom their direction in the future.

Why are they fighting anyway? Was it for money? Was it for three meals a day?

But seeing the outline of the tiny figure, they understood why.

They have forgotten it amidst fleeing because of hopelessness.

“The enemy is stronger than Venerables, but didn’t we reach our peace because of the noble sacrifices of our brothers and sisters?” An old man muttered. He was an old veteran. He retired and was living in his comfort.

“We cried of our woes, but we still stand up. We always faced hopelessness before, and we are still powerless now. But no one ran away.” A grandmother said while blood leaked from her mouth.

“Do we need a child to remind us?” A man with scars on his face, but his smile was genial.

Their hands were smaller and weaker. But the things they carried behind were heavier.

All these poured on their palms, clinging on the very limbs that could claim their lives. The weak green light in the sky radiated the same emotion. It was like their feelings were boosting its power. Green Palm Tree smiled. He gazed at the figure of Ayill. This time with no hostility, only affection and pride.

“He is human. As human as can be!”

Jade Hands also grinned. She laughed as domineering aura exploded from her. It was as if the entire world turning its neck. Her otherworldly voice thundered.

“We are Humans, remember that!”

Ten giant hands appeared. They were not as corporeal as before. But Jade Hands didn’t mind. Even the blood spilling from her orifices and the trembling of her body. She willed the hands and pulled with everyone.

Cain looked at everything. He felt envious more than ever. “This is why they still reached this stage. Talented offspring might be a good indicator of race’s prosperity, but it wasn’t universally truth. Beasts also have talented offspring, and so the Demons. The difference is because Human was too united.”

He sighed in resignation, but he knew his priority. He jumped and his eyes burned in anger. “That’s right, me too. I have something to protect and fight for. Those people plotted and killed my cub!”

“Concept of Darkness.”

“Hell Ashes!”

Ryan roared; his bloodline erupted. His eyes blazing the same as them. The long forgotten hot blood pumped on his chest. Instead of looking at Life, he was watching Ayill’s flight. The past flashed in his eyes. The boy may not be cocky like him on his yesteryears, but they were both determined of going against uneven odds!

He thought to himself, “I’ll be willy this time.” He jumped and crossed over to the kid instantly. “Don’t worry about anything, kid. I’ll protect you.”

In front of them, giant tentacles weaved in supersonic speed. It was a horrifying sight.

But Ayill calmed down. He heard Ryan’s reassuring voice; perceived the resounding laughter of Jade Hands; sensed the gradually spreading light of green color; and lastly, felt the warm palms on his back.

It was not new to him now, but still wasn’t bad.

The first time he felt it was from Sarah and others. Now, everyone else was doing it too.

For a long time, he’d been searching for this warmth. And now, he had more warmth than the coldness he had felt.

“It is strange. I only see blurs. I couldn’t keep up. But I feel I can do something.” Ayill shot behind Ryan. When they were only couples of meters with Life, the latter sped up and took on as many as tentacles he can.

Ayill took that chance to circumvent. However, a tentacle caught up and blocked his path.

“Got you, pesky ant!” A shrill beastly roar bombarded his ears as the tentacle moved with boundless might.

But in the last minute, Ayill twisted his body around the tentacle. The boy groaned, though. The pressure alone impacted his body and felt his insides turning into a mush.

Alas, before he could even recover, another tentacle sneaked up behind him. Everyone looked in horror as they the boy spurted blood like a fountain!

Though they didn’t expect him to cling on the tentacle in the last second!

Life used this moment to devour the vitality of the annoying kid. Ayill discovered this too, and the thruster and propellers on his back kicked.

“What can you do, huh?” Life shouted. “You think with your miniscule strength will amount to something?”

Everyone considered this a fact. They have known since the start that there was nothing the child could do.

But… but.

In the depths of their hearts, they wanted to cheer on him. And somehow, they could hear him.

“Four meters left.”

There was confidence that they wanted to pour their hopes.

Ayill wiped the blood on his face and continued. Another ten of tentacles headed towards the boy, making the space screamed.

But a gigantic ball of fire bombarded and burned the tentacles into nothing. Cain roared, his body spin, becoming a razor-sharp saucer. He rotated onwards with terrifying momentum. Behind him was Ayill, who was hiding in the cloud of smoke.

Life squinted. Dozens of tentacles caught the saucer, producing a loud grating sound. Also, a few of his limbs extended to the cloud.

However, he hit nothing.

“Three meters.” Life felt irritated when he heard this. His titanic body move sidewards and faced straight at the Ayill’s determined eyes. “What do you hope to achieve?”

“Everything will be for naught in the end. Why bother???”

Ayill didn’t let it in his mind. He weaved haphazardly between the net of tentacles. There were many close shaves, but with Ryan and Cain’s intervention and also the Jade Hands and everyone’s support, he finally managed to close in!

“One meter!” Ayill’s eyes blazed. He was near, close enough to hit Life!

Everything to him came to a halt. Memories flooded his brain.

He already forgotten all the hate of the past. He came to terms of his despair. The only thing that mattered now was to save his friends. And to answer the warmth pressing on his back, regardless it was fruitful or not!

“Unlucky Stab.” Time started once again and Ayill attacked.

Life also stroked back. Both of them were decisive. Both of their attacks flew with crazy speed!

Everyone inhaled, watching everything unfold without blinking.

Unfortunately, Life was faster even though he was last to attack.

It was at a standstill. Everyone’s mouth gaped. Their eyes blurred and their hearts brimmed with sadness. Their souls turned cold.

With bones crushed and fleshes turned to mush, Ayill flailed powerlessly on the air.

Even with all that, he wasn’t able to land a hit.

“In the end… he’s–.”

“GO!” A small innocent voice shouted. She was crying, clutching her dirty dress beside a man’s corpse. But anger filled her eyes; anger to the fate that crushed her world!

In the other corner, Sarah, Jed and Ben were also shouting on top of their lungs. “Go! Beat him!” There was no uncertainty in their voices. They believed in their friend.

And unlike most people felt, the boy hadn’t lost hope.

He heard those shouts and chuckled. He felt free. It was indescribable.

He looked up. The impossible was in front of him. But he wasn’t even afraid. There was no ounce of regret from him for confronting such a thing.

Life caught him staring at him. He shivered as he saw a pair of eyes showed splendor like never before!

The gaseous Will inside Ayill gushed out. It was like a torrent of air, never ending and blowing a tremendous amount of force!

From above, it coalesced and resembled a tip of a dagger!

The dagger shot upward without warning. It was fast, too fast for Life to expect!

It was Unlucky Stab!

…

Chapter 22 | Chapter 24