Chapter 103 - A Way (5)

Countless deaths occurred in her mind; those that killed her, relentlessly replaying. Moreover, there was a raging stream of mana that kept on entering her body. It was dense, so dense that the overflow made her want to retch. Her body couldn't take it, so it was thrown away. However, the mana thrown was shaping into monsters that resembled those that she had seen. The only difference was their color. It was pitch black.

Emersyn's instinctively created a border of fire, so that these monsters won't escape outside of the demonic realm. When she felt some of her energy approaching, she let it in.

Then, when she felt a light tingle on her body, she tried her to resist it. Her body screamed at her, crumbling. So, she stopped resisting. New flesh started to appear and reconstructed her body countless times. It, somehow, felt invigorating. She could feel a warm embrace started wrapping her very soul. Meanwhile, amidst the storm of mana outside, there was someone that kept on persisting to come towards her. The irregularity of the stream was apparent around this person.

She wanted to rest her mind from this continuous torture of memories that she forgot and those that appeared unannounced.

"Emersyn!"

That voice… it sounded so familiar.

"You have to wake up!"

Wake up? What do you mean? I am awake.

"Stop this!"

What should I stop?

"Cough!"

I don't know what you are talking about.

"Please!"

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her heart and through her head. It wasn't that painful, but it made her open her eyes so abruptly. Her eyes were interchanging to red, black and silver. The roots of her white hair were starting to turn red as if blood was poured on her head. She could feel a tingling pain in her bones. She sighed as her sight was filled with black. She dispersed it and a stone ceiling appeared.

She sat up and saw that the world was somewhat smaller than what she was used to. It was an unfamiliar feeling, but she welcomed it.

Her hand settled on her c.h.e.s.t as she felt a warm energy wrapping her body. Somehow, it was pleasant, but it also felt burdening. She shook her head then stood up.

She stumbled on her feet and found balance against the wall. She felt extremely tired, but she forced herself to go out of this castle she found refuge in. Her hand pressed against her aching head and tried soothing it. She remembered that when she finished destroying the demonic crystals in the west and north, the earth shook hard and the ice that was acc.u.mulated for hundreds of years cracked. She flew up with her pitched black wings and watched as the light from the east, west and north came down upon the summoned Pagodas. She thought that the dragons were successful in evacuating the people in the Central Marsh. So, she hurried off to the south. However, she was met with a storm of mana. It was as if the mana of this world were congregated in front of her. She felt her stomach churn from the density, but she could endure it.

She successfully retrieved the demonic crystal that lost its light, but the Pagoda didn't appear before her. She was relieved that she wouldn't be able to fight against the owner of the South Garden Pagoda. Irene Felstead.

When she realized that the demonic realm was getting dangerous, she kicked out those owners of the previous pagodas that were cultivating out of the border of the demonic world.

"Emersyn…!"

Emersyn sighed when she heard someone called her. She ducked down and exited the small underground room.

When they met outside, Yao Yun was battered and heaving. Emersyn approached and crouched down.

"Why do you have to come?"

"I… I thought you were going through something hard, so…."

Emersyn lightly smiled and held out her hand. Yao Yun accepted it and he could feel a strong and pure energy went through his body. He could see his flesh reconstructing itself. He sighed in relief as soon as pain left his body.

"You grew taller…," Yao Yun said as he weakly smiled.

"Yeah."

"I'm hungry."

"I only have leftovers. Is that okay with you?"

"As I thought… you were forced to stab me back then."

".…"

"I won't ask why, but I always believed in you. Just like how you believed in me," Yao Yun said as he covered Emersyn's hands with his, enveloping it with warmth.

"Please, this time, take me with you."

"This time?"

Emersyn suddenly had a bad feeling.

"Ying."

"Ha… I thought as much," she sighed. "I won't ask why you knew then, since you won't ask why I betrayed you."

"So, I wasn't entirely wrong when we first met in Central Marsh," he smirked.

"Yes, yes. So, let go of my hand now."

"No."

"Why?"

"It feels warm. I suffered getting to you, so I deserve this much."

Emersyn looked incredulously at Yao Yun.

"Don't look at me like that…. I'm getting embarrassed."

"Hah! You know, Yao Yun, you shouldn't really come with me."

"Are you going to leave me again?"

"… no, it's not like that. I have done many wrongs to the people. I beg of you, let me—"

"No. If you won't go back, I won't either."

"Do whatever you want then," Emersyn huffed.

Yao Yun inwardly cheered as he shook Emersyn's hands in his grasps. He was too overjoyed that he failed to see that Emersyn's attention wasn't with him now. She was looking skyward as she observed the huge blob of water floating in the sky and to that wall of fire that was still raging. Fortunately, there weren't any monsters in the vicinity. However… if, in case, she removed her control to the hellfire, those monsters that were waiting at the border would take this opportunity to release their wraths. If she didn't, this world that she just restored would be scorched earth, at least near the boundary of the human world and demonic world.

"Emersyn? Are you listening?"

"Eh? Why are you smiling that way?"

"Yao Yun, do you want to go on a subjugation with me?"

"… oh no."

"Oh, yes," Emersyn smiled brightly. Despite his larger frame, she effortlessly carried him to the border to prevent him to show any kind of resistance.

"Wait! I'll follow you, so please let me down!"

"Do you promise?"

"… You're training me again, right?"

"Correct."

"Uhm… what are we going to defeat this time?"

"Well… there were a lot of monsters that I released into this world and trapped them here with the hellfire. I just want you to help me fasten the process."

"Wait a freaking moment!"

"Yes?"

"You released monsters?! You?! How can this be possible?! If you released those monsters… they would be awfully powerful. Please tell me they aren't!"

"I don't know."

"Eh?"

"I don't know."

"…."

"Should I say it again?"

"No… no need."

"Great. Then, I'll let you down now."

"Thank you."

Suddenly, there was a splash and a sizzle above. They looked up simultaneously someone was slowly sinking in the water. Emersyn squinted her eyes at the unfamiliar figure of a man. She could also feel something powerful in that man. When he landed safely on the ground, his ocean blue eyes bore through her. He ran and engulfed Emersyn in a tight hug. Then and there, she recognized this warmth.

"Aren?"

"Emersyn…," he said as he gently swept over Emersyn's cheek.

"What about your body as Ashford?" she whispered.

"I made it sleep since you were suddenly gone. I came back to my old body to search for you, but ended up knowing that you were in deep trouble. I immediately went here after your original body disintegrated," he whispered back as he drew her closer.

"What…?"

"The rest of your powers when you were in your original body followed you here. It should have disappeared, but decided to join you. I am relieved at that. For that reason, I knew you were here."

Emersyn rolled her eyes then gently pushed Elodiaren.

"Okay, okay. You're here. Good thing."

"Do you know how scared I was when you disappeared? I thought you would leave me again."

"Ahaha… yes, I kind of had an idea," Emersyn mumbled as her eyes wandered around and stopped her gaze at Yao Yun who seemed… no, he looked hurt.

"So, don't disappear on your own."

"Yes, I will remember that."

"However, you didn't have any choices back then, right? I understand if it is like that."

"Thank you. Oh, yes! Since you are here, you can help Yao Yun kill the monsters I released."

"... not with you?"

"Screw off, will you?"

"Ouch…."

Emersyn patted Elodiaren's back as she went over to Yao Yun's side.

"That guy is Elodiaren. He can be trusted. I hope that you two would get along," then Emersyn added in a whisper, "though it's a hard thing to do."

She disregarded their unease then resurfaced her wings.

"Anyway, I'm going now. You both have fun."