Chapter 371: A Debt To Repay

The Spirit Guard looked down on Arthur and Li. It had several meters in height and looked at them like a celestial god. As Arthur studied the Guard, Li stood up after recovering.

"How come I understand his words?"

Li asked with confusion as his body restored its shape. Arthur wondered the same, as the Guard didn't speak the Yalveran Language. However, they didn't have the leisure to ask questions.

The Guard raised its giant sword and pointed it at them. Ominous spiritual energy gathered on the blade's tip, threatening to shoot at them. However, Arthur sensed no ill will from the spirit.

"We had our reasons to kill it," Arthur told the spirit. "We were trapped inside the pig, and it tried to devour us. I believe that the Spirit Sovereign doesn't wish such a thing to befall his guests."

"The... sovereign?" The Guard muttered in recognition. "For one to know of his existence, who are you?"

"My identity does not matter," Arthur answered. "Do you wish to fight us?"

"The death of a spirit in the upper worlds is no small matter, and you need to be judged before any measures are taken." The Guard replied as it lowered the sword. "Follow me to the Hall of Judgement."

"And where is that?" Arthur glanced at the stairway behind them. As he suspected, it was a Stairway to Heaven. There was a giant bell here as well, and all he needed to do was to strike it.

"The Infra Wor..."

DING!

Before the spirit could reply, Arthur has already struck the bell again with all of his strength. Just like before, the sky split into as another Abyssal Spirit emerged from within it.

"I'm sorry, but we don't have the time for that. Ask the Spirits Sovereign for the truth. We are leaving."

Arthur said as he sprinted away. The Guard was dumbstruck as the giant fish entered the Earthen World. Since it was the closest to the gap in the sky, the fish attacked him directly.

"You have nowhere to run!" The spirit roared as it blocked the giant fish with its sword. "We will hunt you down as long as you are in the Spirits Realm!"

"Yeah, that's better than dragging me back to the Infra World," Arthur said as he approached the bell. He lightly tapped it, and the gate in the sky opened. "You are next."

Arthur knew that to go through the gate, one would have to make the bell move enough to produce a chime. Li hurried toward the bell and gathered his strength.

'He shouldn't be able to do it,' Arthur thought to himself. The last time, Li barely earned the right to enter the Earthen World. These were his limits, and Arthur didn't believe that he could enter the Skyey World.

However, something changed within Li's white light. Arthur's eyes widened when he saw a sliver of golden energy travel through his arm, which he punched with it. When the arm struck the bell, it produced a loud ringing voice as the gates opened for Li.

"You..." Arthur was speechless but ecstatic nonetheless. Li looked at him silently as if realizing something. The two didn't have the time to chat and ran away into the Skyey World.

***

"Do you think he can follow us here?" Arthur looked at the surrounding sky. They were standing on top of a cloud that connected to a floating island.

Li, however, remained silent. He was on his knees ever since they appeared here. Arthur asked him that they run away, but it was futile.

"I have cheated,"

Li said at last, his voice ashamed. Arthur didn't say anything. He hoped that Li wouldn't notice, but that seemed to be too much to ask. A sigh escaped the golden figure as he sat in front of Li.

"That was your power, not mine." Li turned toward him.

"No, you have not," Arthur assured. "It seems some of my energy seeped into you when we touched, but that was only because of your unstable state at the time."

"That does not change the facts." Li shook his head.

"It might not be an excuse, but it's an explanation." Arthur sighed. "The only reason you absorbed some of my energy is that you survived the Spiritual Interference."

"Do you..." Li was silent before he asked. "... forgive me?"

Arthur was caught off guard by the question because there was nothing to forgive. However, he understood Li's train of thoughts, which came from an ancient aura.

Strength was sacred in a world full of dangers, and it was considered the hard-earned asset of a person. That's why the moment that Li took a portion of Arthur's energy, he felt guilty because he 'leeched off' Arthur's power.

"Li," Arthur began. "I will tell you the truth. I owe my life to you. You saved me countless times, and that's why I'm willing to help you as many times as you need me. This is not you taking my power but repaying my debt to you."

"Saved... you?"

"Time is a confusing, twisted mess." Arthur sighed and stood up. "I just ask you this. When we meet again, help me as a friend."

Arthur knew that he didn't need to tell Li anything more, as the man would realize who he is when Arthur awakens in front of him.

Maybe that was the reason Li wanted to follow him. Without Arthur's powers, Li would have never been able to ascend to the Skyey World.

"A debt," Li repeated before slowly standing up. He stared silently at Arthur and nodded. "I don't understand what you mean. Nonetheless, if we meet in the future, I will use my strength to aid you."

"Good," Arthur said delightfully and turned toward the edge of the flying city. "Let's find the Gravity Spirit for you."

Li didn't refuse and simply nodded. Then, the two walked toward the edge of the island, where the cloud they were standing on ended.

As they got to witness the island, they couldn't help but stare in awe. The Infra World was relatively simple, and the Earthen World had more landscapes. The Skyey World, on the other hand...

"Is this the remains of an ancient civilization?" Arthur muttered as he looked at the countless structures like temples, towers, and a grand palace. They were engraved with illustrations, which were covered by vegetation.

"I have never seen such a place before, even in my village's library." Li looked below them. There was a world beneath them, stretching far and wide. "The Skyey World..."

"I think we will find your Gravity Spirit here,"

"Hm?" Li was surprised. "How can you tell?"

"Just a hunch," Arthur smiled and walked on top of the highlands. Li followed after him, and the two descended toward the runic city below them.

The outskirts of the city were full of abandoned houses. As they passed a bridge above a dried-up river, they found themselves in an empty square.

The city was lifeless, looking to be a few centuries old. As Arthur walked into one of the buildings, he found that it looked to be a bar. Cobwebs covered the tables and the counter.

"Who created this place?" Li muttered as he looked at the wooden cups. "Why does the Spirits Realm have such a city?"

"I don't know, but I don't think this place was inhabited," Arthur said as he looked behind the counter. "Other than the building and its furniture, there's nothing here."

"My Lord, do you mean this place was built and abandoned?" Li said with shock. Arthur paused and turned toward him. Meeting his inquisitive glare, Li explained. "Since I decided to repay the kindness by serving you, calling you My Lord is only appropriate."

"Nope, just call me..." Arthur shook his head with amusement. Even though there were countless years until Li meets the younger him, the ancient man seemed to be the same. 

"I know that name isn't real, My Lord," Li said with a knowing nod. "I understand that you have your reasons to desire anonymity."

"Uh, thanks," Arthur said as he returned to their topic. "This city, as much as it looks like it, doesn't feel inhabited," Arthur explained. "Since we are in the Spirits Realm, I think we are witnessing the boredom of a spirit."

As Li was about to answer, the two heard sounds coming from outside. They stared at each other before walking out of the bar. In the middle of the square, they found a wooden cart moving toward them.

The cart stopped a distance away from them. Pulling the vehicle was not a spirit nor a human, but a wooden puppet. The wooden man let go of the wagon's rod and raised his arms awkwardly.

"Greetings," A voice came out from the puppet as its jaws unhinged. The mouth moved up and down as voice was produced by it. "Where do I find the carpenter? I think I have some screws loose."