Chapter 21
"Beast"
The black star sharply stared down at the inferior earth, followed by a gentle wind crashing at the thick leaves and making them tremble.
Adrian carefully checked the mansion behind him, slowly turning his gaze and finding that the mansion had now become ruined—the majestic design seemed destroyed, featureless debris scattered and with few walls collapsed meaninglessly.
The destruction was truly beyond savings, the illusions made by the clever Lady were effectively tricking Adrian. Although he had discovered many oddities through his observation, at that moment he wasn't too certain about it.
He immediately examined it all round, it was indeed destroyed and stormed mercilessly. Suddenly, in the corner of his eyes Adrian saw something that seemed semi-transparent and shaped like people.
He quickly turned his gaze at it, as he did that he found four mysterious strangers standing still and looking at him. Adrian jolted slightly, the four people kept staring at him as though they wished to beckon him to do something…
Okay, now what?... Are those ghosts? And why are they kept looking at me? Adrian gulped, taking a few steps back.
Why are they not leaving? Why? Adrian observed the four spirits, before a brilliant idea suddenly struck into his mind.
Wait… Maybe they're not leaving me because their bodies are not properly buried, but rather left inside that creepy mansion. And… Why are there only four people? Where's Nairda's spirit? Adrian deeply thought, feeling bewildered by Nairda's spirit that didn't appear in the group of the ghosts.
Maybe I'll try to properly bury their bodies, and hope they'll rest peacefully. But now, I have to go inside again and carry their corpses one by one… I'll do it anyway. Adrian threw a gentle smile at them, before walking into the mansion in order to carry out their great-wounded corpses from the mansion.
The hallway was now supremely terrifying, the cold atmosphere shrouded Adrian as he walked through it for the second time.
Along the way, Adrian sometimes remembered about the chant he had found previously. It was likely related to souls and spirits as it mentioned a few words like 'Tower of Spirits,' and 'Anchor of Souls.'
He possibly could chant it for the ghosts so that their journey to the afterlife might be easy, for the chant was directly to pray to something or perhaps for asking aid; it can be both.
For now, Adrian will be focusing on carrying out the corpses, and after that he will take the paper which had the very orison written on it.
Adrian immediately went to the previous hallway he had walked into, covering his nose as he began to slowly hold the decayed flesh of the first corpse.
This might be difficult or disgusting, but I don't care… they deserve better. Adrian was beginning to drag out the corpse, leaving the floor painted with disgusting liquid and a smell that was similar to rotten eggs.
One after another the dead bodies were dragged out from the mansion, and then Adrian finally was starting to drag out the last corpse.
However, when he was dragging the revolting corpse a few steps outward from the disgusting chamber, Adrian's gaze soon fell upon a silver-colored thing. After examining it, he then carefully tried to take it for a better view.
Surprisingly, it was an abandoned sword pressed under the foul dead bodies. It had a sharp edge, but on the other side it had a hard form similar to crystal yet was colored silver. It was kinda difficult to differentiate it in the darkness.
Woah!? A sword!? It looks like one from those challenging games! Adrian attentively observed and felt a bit of excitement upon finding this excellent-looking blade.
Okay… Enough of this, I have to continue my work. Adrian quickly came back to the corpse he had left, before dragging it again.
…
After moving out from the mansion, four sickening corpses were successfully brought out by Adrian. But, one certain problem lingered in his mind: how to bury these bodies without a shovel?
Okay… Now, how am I going to bury these bodies? Hm… I literally don't have a shovel…
Adrian scratched his head in bewilderment, attempting to find a solution for this matter. It took him a while before a lightbulb moment struck him, giving Adrian an idea that might work in this situation without a shovel.
Adrian looked at the silver blade he had taken, faintly smiling upon finding the solution.
Maybe I could use this sword to bury these bodies, I hope it won't break or it would be a great problem! Adrian strained his muscle, tightly holding the sword before wandering all round near the mansion.
He tapped the lifeless grounds with his sword, trying to find an area with crumbly soil.
Tap. Tap. And one more tap…
After a few moments of searching, Adrian found a perfect spot for grave excavation.
Perfect… Adrian smiled slightly before sweeping away his smile that seemed creepy to himself.
He then began to dig the meaningless and colorless soil with his sword, a few dust and dirty soil tarnished a few spots of Adrian's clothes.
…
A few moments later, Adrian successfully buried all the disgusting corpses although it siphoned his energy, leaving him tired and sat on the ground while looking at his work.
Finally… It's done! But there's something left I forgot to do… Adrian quickly stood up after a short rest, he then inserted his right hand into his pocket and searched for something…
Aha! Now I have to chant this, I hope it works… He soon pulled out a rolled paper from his pocket, Adrian then unfolded the paper and began to chant it aloud.
"Shepherd in Blue, Anchor of Souls, and Tower of Spirits…" Adrian said solemnly, looking at the paper in all seriousness.
Soon he took a deep breath, before uttering, "I pray for the providence that thee grant for me. Protect my soul and make it never falter.
"Neither wither nor weaken by the world's sins that are cruel."
The ghosts sternly observed him, their faces were full of hope indeed. Adrian proceeded to chant it even further, "Thy blessings are as if an ocean, grandeur, and divine. Where thy protection shall never die."
However, he suddenly closed his eyes tightly, taking a deep breath before solemnly saying, "May the Blue Star shine!"
After doing that, he slowly opened his eyes although he was full of anticipation and anxiety that this method wouldn't work.
The ghosts were still there. Looking at him. Adrian surprised upon seeing this, but moments later one of the ghosts suddenly said:
"My gratitude to you… May your adventure be filled with joy and happiness…"
After saying this, all the spirits slowly disappeared in a sequence. One after another, leaving Adrian shrouded in solitude once again.
Adrian could only smile in this wonderful moment, he didn't believe himself that he was able to help spirits that were savagely killed by two invaders beyond the Undying World.
Adrian exhaled serenely, his breath was rather peaceful than ever.
He then started to head toward the shore of Black Sea, the place where he first woke up from the horrible incident he had experienced.
…
Through the previous peaceful forest he had gone into, Adrian's mind was filled with questions about Nairda's spirit that was missing from the group of the prior spirits.
But something remained in his mind, his suspicions about the hollowed-tree—a temporary haven where he met Nairda…
He soon hastened his steps to confirm his very suspicions, heading back to the hollowed-tree he had come across.
After a few moments of walking, the hollowed-tree seemed eerie and the atmosphere was beginning to jump to new circumstances: horrendous rather than peaceful.
Adrian's ashen hair soon blew by the frigid wind, reminding him about the moments where he hid inside that tree.
He then began to check the very tree, to his surprise Adrian found a single and already-decayed body inside the hollow trunk. The smell was very unpleasant and revolting to his nose.
"..." No words came out from his mouth, his eyes didn't blink upon witnessing this horrible scene.
The body was filled with wounds, and on the right leg embedded an arrow with dried crimson-stuff. The face was full of blood with the left eye pierced with an arrow, it was too terrifying.
The blood wasn't censored by this world, it wasn't colorless, it was crimson.
Adrian only stood there unblinkingly, silence wreathed him and no wind dared to blow his hair. This game likely had wrecked his soul, his mind even.
Soon he took a deep breath and exhaled it anyway, before Adrian started to bring out the body and repeat the same method he had used.
…
After burying the body, Adrian checked the hollowed-tree for the last time. Strangely, he discovered something that was similar to blindfold.
He immediately picked it up and observed it thoroughly, the blindfold's color was rather black. He had no idea but he'll keep it anyway in his pocket, bringing Nairda's item with him; making it as though Nairda was by side him.
Afterward, Adrian proceeded his journey across this inhumane world, heading to the shore of Black Sea eventually.
…
Up on the ashen hill, where Adrian's destination was very close. When he was starting to come down from it, a mysterious fog suddenly emerged from thin air.
"What the!?..." Adrian mumbled, scanning his surroundings with a sound of footsteps unexpectedly coming from afar into his ears.
The sound became nearer and nearer…
Until Adrian's eyes caught the shadow of a beast, no… it was the beast itself.
Adrian stepped back, drawing his sword and readying himself in combat position although he didn't know if he could win this battle or not.
The beast took a few steps toward him, Adrian was only able to look at it intently while holding his sword tightly.
This is like fighting a boss. I hope I can win this no-hit. Adrian smirked faintly, beginning to circle around the beast as it approached slowly.
Unexpectedly, the beast suddenly ran toward Adrian at high speed. Adrian soon dodged to the left side, with the beast trying to slam Adrian with its sharp claws.
He quickly blocked the attack with his blade, the beast relentlessly and furiously assailed him.
Adrian was able to dodge all of its attack, until one moment where he was caught off guard…
The beast immediately slammed his right shoulder harshly, tearing his clothes with blood coming from it. The beast soon sent him to the grounds, falling as he landed severely.
F##k! I-I bleed?... Adrian's heart rattled rapidly, he quickly grabbed his sword and stood once again.
Adrian soon realized that the beast he was fighting now had a flaw: it was blind, only relying on its hearing.
Wait… It has no eyes, does that mean I must remove its ears? Adrian sternly observed although in the limited illumination, he was a bit calm now though his heart was still pounding.
He then crouched slowly, grabbing a rock and throwing it at random spots to prove his observation.
The beast certainly approached and slammed the grounds where Adrian's rock landed.
Soon he carefully snuck and approached the bewildered beast, trying to not make a single noise. After gaining enough distance, Adrian quickly drew his sword up and swiftly slashed the beast's ears.
Furthermore, a harsh roar immediately came from its foul mouth. The beast moved uncontrollably like a short-circuiting toy, with blood beginning to pour down from the great wounds.
Upon seeing this, Adrian strained his leg muscle and began to run away as fast as he could with his blade. The beast roar was still lingering in his ears, even though it was starting to fade away.
Adrian then slid down from the bloody hill, fleeing away to the shore with heart pounding so fast.
After enough distance was gained, Adrian tiredly fell to the grounds, turning his head to see the ghastly heavens.
He breathed heavily after the intense battle, and immediately murmured to himself, "I-I'm not fighting that!... T-the pain feels so real…"
Adrian coughed a few times, staring at the vast sea with the wind harshly blowing his open wounds.
"Maybe I'll take a nap for a few minutes… It's so tiring…" he mumbled, staring back at the dark star.