Chapter 185: Crystallize [3]

The towering Behemoth loomed close. It's blue glowing eyes flickered menacingly.

Boom—! Boom—!

Each heavy step it took, the ground shook. Piles of snow scattered in the air. Its movements were sluggish, but the sheer impact of its steps sent a cold breeze, brushing past Brandon.

He had to keep [Mana Burst] up.

If he were to disable it, the side–effects would wash over him.

It was not the time for that.

He had to take the others with him and run away.

Screw the quest.

His life was on the line.

"Emi!"

What was the point in progressing the Sovereign of Creation skill if he was going to die anyway?

...And for a meager 5% increase at that.

Not worth it.

Nope.

But as he was about to rush towards Amelia, Brandon stopped in his tracks.

Gripping his head, he had finally felt the rush of sharp pain. Adrenaline still surged, but would only serve to mitigate the pain to a degree.

His mana continued lashing out. It was then he realized he shouldn't go near Carl.

"Amelia! Take Carl and—"

Brandon paused and his eyes widened in shock.

What the fuck is this kid doing?

***

Inside the earth shell, Carl huddled up with his little sister.

By now, fear started to grip him immensely as fixed his gaze up.

There, he could see the towering figure of the Behemoth. Its eyes flickered menacingly as if it was staring deep inside Carl's soul.

Carl shuddered, flicking his head down.

"....!"

It was then he noticed.

"...Emi?"

Emi was gone.

Wasn't he just holding her a few seconds ago?

Where the hell did Emi go?

It was for that reason that Carl peeked out of the narrow hole of the earth shell. There was no roofing so oxygen could smoothly flow inside.

"....!"

There, he could see her running inside the forest. A sudden chill ran down his spine and a cold breeze washed over him.

"Emi!"

He screamed.

But it all went to deaf ears.

Emi never looked back and continued running inside the forest.

Carl lowered his gaze.

His hand.

...It was trembling.

"No."

Not again.

No.

No.

"No, no, no."

Instinctively, Carl rushed out the shell and headed deeper into the forestt, paying no heed to Amelia, Cid or the Behemoth.

"Emi!"

Don't go.

He reached out to her departing back. She was running faster than him, despite how small her legs were.

***

"Amelia, go after him!"

Brandon urged with a raised tone.

He knew he shouldn't get close to Carl at the moment. Not just him but Amelia as well.

It was then when Carl stopped running.

Due to that, they overtook him. They halted in their steps. Brandon was several distances away for Carl's safety from his mana.

Turning around, Brandon screamed.

"Why are you stopping now?!"

"Brandon!"

"Tsk."

Brandon clicked his tongue as Amelia's brows furrowed.

Looking back, the Behemoth was still quite far. But each second was crucial.

Carl needed to get his shit together.

"Carl, we need to go, please."

Amelia pleaded.

But it went to deaf ears as Carl's gaze lowered and his fist, clenched.

Amelia continued.

"Your little sister.... I know how you fe—"

"I know."

Carl spoke almost inaudibly, cutting Amelia off.

"I know, okay?!"

Amelia's eyes widened. The same went for Brandon as they stared at the boy who seemed like he was about to cry.

"I know Emi is dead. Damn it."

She was dead for a long time.

The boy was merely deluding himself this entire time. But it wasn't Brandon or Amelia's place to tell him such a fact.

"She was.... all I had..."

His voice cracked and he covered his face with his hand.

"We were orphans. She was the only family I had left."

Drip. Drip...!

Tears trickled down his cheek and his tone trembled slightly.

"The calamity... it took her life. It took Emi away from me...."

Sob. Sob.

"Damn it."

He wiped his tears with his arms.

"Sorry, I'm fine now."

Brandon and Amelia exchanged conflicted looks. But eventually, they nodded at each other.

The calamity...

...It changed a lot of lives.

It took a lot of lives.

And it changed the world.

At that, the three continued running.

Away.

Far away from the Behemoth as possible.

Brandon led the group's direction.

Time passed and the mana density gradually became heavier.

On his timer, there were two minutes left before [Mana Burst] would be on cooldown.

But this was bad.

They knew they had only crossed 40% of the forest.

But Brandon's instincts told him they were going the right direction.

It was as if the mana was calling out to him, leading him to a certain point.

And with such thoughts, Brandon followed the mana's density.

"....!"

They halted in their steps and their eyes widened in shock.

What the...

There, they could see a towering crystal shaped like a tree.

Inside the crystal tree, there was a figure with a small stature, seemingly frozen inside the crystal.

With pointed ears and lilac hair, Brandon was well aware of what the figure was.

"....An elf."