Chapter 166 [Event] [Enigma Red Dungeon] [27] Don't Abandon Them



New Discord Link in Synopsis as well: https://discord.gg/WsDS9Tse

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"Ah..." Simultaneously, Aurora's strength waned, and she began to falter. I took a step forward, catching her and preventing her from falling. "T-Thanks." She said holding on my shoulders. "T-Thank you, Amael." 

I didn't even know how I was still standing. The Relic of Eden I wielded had undoubtedly saved me multiple times. I had made the right choice by choosing the sword over the Anathemas Fire. It alone was not enough to defeat that man.

"A-Amael!" Aurora's voice trembled as she pointed behind me.

Turning around, I saw a dark substance oozing from Morino's twitching body.

My heart skipped a beat.

Without hesitation, I swung my sword, severing Morino's head.

I had nearly forgotten about that damn thing.

All the members of the Iris Project had been corrupted and required a double death.

Thankfully, I had slain him before he could awaken that abomination. Otherwise, we would have been doomed.

"W-What was that?" Aurora muttered, her voice filled with confusion. "He should have been dead..."

Dead...

I had taken someone's life.

Falling to my knees, I covered my mouth, overwhelmed by a wave of sickness and guilt. I had never killed before.

"A-Are you okay, Amael?" Aurora knelt down beside me, her expression filled with concern.

"Yeah... somewhat..." I managed to reply, my complexion turning paler.

"Could it be that this is the first time you have killed someone?" Aurora asked as we helped each other to stand. 

She guessed right. "Yes…" I nodded. "What about you?" I asked since she helped me to kill him after all.

"Um." Aurora nodded. "I feel a little weird but it's alright."

"You saved me there princess," I said. 

I don't think I would have survived another hit even with Trinity Nihil.

Aurora shook her head tiredly. "You were the one who saved me. I wouldn't have been able to beat him alone."

"Neither I." I replied. 

Why am I always facing freaks stronger than me?

I still have a long way to go.

Taking out vials from her space ring, Aurora handed me one which I took and gulped down. It was regenerating my stamina and increasing the speed of my mana recovering. 

"How's your injury?" I asked Aurora, seeing dried blood on her waist. The blood had stopped flowing out somehow but she still took a serious injury.

"Oh, I'm already feeling better," Aurora replied with a smile. "U-Uhm." She made sure to hide her bare waist to me since I could see her unblemished skin.

Even masked, I am treated as a scum?

[It must be in your very aura]

What aura?!

"It's all right," I replied, shifting the conversation to Ronald. "How is he doing?"

"He's breathing, but he needs proper healing," Aurora replied, her attention shifting. "Oh, Louisa! She's still fighting! I have to go help her." She started moving, her concern evident.

Damn. I completely forgot about Pyres. Will he ever leave us alone? Damn it!

Before I could devise a plan of escape, a thunderous crash reverberated through the air, snapping our attention back. The smoke cleared, revealing the burning figure of Pyres standing before us. His face was obscured by flames, but something was off—a dark substance oozed from within the fire.

He was killed and corrupted. I knew there was no way I could fight him in my current condition.

Just as I pondered our options, a barrage of earth spikes rained down on Pyres, piercing his fiery form from all sides. I turned to see Louisa, her face pale and battered, gasping for air. Despite her exhaustion, she relentlessly attacked Pyres with her outstretched hand.

"Louisa!" Aurora called out, concerned for her well-being.

"Do not approach him, Aura!" Louisa shouted at Aurora, her expression serious and drained compared to her usual calm demeanor.

Pyres roared like a beast, charging towards us, his torn body disregarded. He was no longer alive, a mere undead.

"Michael!" Aurora attempted to summon mana, but nausea overwhelmed her. She was completely drained.

Fuck it!

I activated my AP conversion, the affection points within me transforming into strength, gradually restoring my energy. It wasn't much in my current state, but it would have to be enough. All I needed to do was sever his head with Trinity Nihil.

Bam! I deflected his blazing fists with my sword, but he stomped the ground, pushing me back. He relentlessly pressed forward, his flames scorching my body. Thankfully, Trinity Nihil protected me from serious harm.

Louisa hurriedly gathered an immense amount of mana on our left, preparing her next move. "Demeteria Terrestrial!" she exclaimed, unleashing a devastating "Shattering Earth" spell.

-Boom!

Pyres was flung away from me, hurtling towards a rocky pillar. Without hesitation, Louisa darted past me at an astonishing speed, her right hand transforming into a spear of earth. With a swift motion, she stabbed Pyres in the neck.

"Ah!" Pyres' sunfire burned away her spear, but Louisa swiftly conjured two swords in her hands and continued her relentless assault.

What kind of freak is she…?

I was left astounded, witnessing Louisa's remarkable skill. With uncanny precision, she swung her dual swords, striking Pyres with devastating blows. She danced on the edge of danger, narrowly evading his attacks while delivering punishing strikes.

-Boom! 

Louisa was repelled once again as Pyres rampaged like a wild beast. The black miasma emanating from him merged with the sunfire, creating a terrifying surge of dark-orange energy.

[If you take that attack, you'll die, sword or no sword.] 

Don't scare me like that!

[You should run away before it's too late.] 

But I glanced at Aurora, exhausted and kneeling, her eyes fixed on Louisa with ragged breaths. I knew I had to convince her to leave, but Louisa would never abandon the fight.

Just as despair threatened to consume me, Louisa's voice rang out, filled with determination. "Oh, Demeter, grant me your divine blessing," she invoked, stretching out her hands in front of her. "Empower me to punish those who malign."

The ground trembled beneath us as she continued her incantation, a shimmering, brownish-gold energy swirling around her. "Grant me the strength of the earth, the power to shape and mold."

Something took form on her hands.

A horn.

Not just any horn—a golden one.

Though its appearance was simple, I could sense its significance. Goosebumps prickled across my skin as I witnessed this extraordinary sight.

Finishing her preparations, Louisa opened her hazel eyes and grasped the horn with both hands. It vanished, transforming into a swirling sphere filled with an otherworldly energy. Louisa extended her right hand and released the sphere, proclaiming, "Cornucopia."

Simultaneously, Pyres unleashed a dark beam of energy.

The two powerful forces clashed with a deafening explosion. Louisa's Cornucopia collided with Pyres' darkish beam, creating a cataclysmic display of energy.

The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the surrounding area, causing the ground to quake violently. Rocks were torn apart, and the air crackled with raw power.

I shielded my eyes from the blinding light.

Then nothing.

There was no more sound.

As I opened my eyes, I found Pyres gone, vanished without a trace. Louisa had eradicated him somehow. I couldn't comprehend what had just happened.

"Louisa!" Aurora exclaimed joyfully, rushing towards her. I followed closely behind, my heart filled with a mix of relief and confusion.

But as Louisa stood, her breathing labored, her strength waned. She fell to her knees, all energy drained from her body.

"A-Are you okay?" Aurora panicked, holding Louisa gently. "The Professors will arrive soon—"

"Aura," Louisa interrupted, tapping Aurora's back weakly. "Put me down."

Aurora nodded, gently lowering Louisa to the ground. Louisa's eyes appeared unfocused, her expression difficult to read.

"Drink this, Louisa," Aurora offered, attempting to lift Louisa's head, but Louisa shook her head weakly.

"It's enough, Aura."

"B-But—"

"I don't have much time," Louisa murmured softly.

Aurora's eyes widened in shock, mirroring my own reaction.

"It... It was the price... to kill him," Louisa whispered with a hint of resignation.

"No," Aurora protested, shaking her head as tears streamed down her face. "W-We will call the saintess—"

"The saintess is dead, Aura," Louisa cut her off.

The saintess, who could have potentially helped her, had passed away years ago.

Lost in thought, I retrieved my sword and clasped Louisa's hand with mine, holding the sword tightly. But nothing happened—I couldn't sense the same connection I had with Aurora.

Louisa glanced at me, her gaze piercing through me. "Can you promise me something?" she asked suddenly.

"Wh-What?" I stammered, taken aback by her request.

Ignoring my confusion, Louisa continued. "Don't abandon 'them.'"

"!" I choked on my words, realizing that she knew my true identity as Edward. She understood that Iris Project sought me and that the lives of our childhood friends were at risk because of me.

And... 'them.'

She was referring to everyone from our past.

Miranda, Loid, Ronald, Layla, John, Aurora, Alfred, David, Eric, Rubina, Elona, Thomas, Lyra, Carla, Lucius, and Sylvia.

I opened and closed my mouth, unable to form a coherent response. Louisa...

('Aunt Oryanna will always be with you, Edward') her words echoed in my mind, resurfacing fleeting memories.

"!" My eyes started to turn red so I turned my face away, unable to face Louisa in that moment. 

I-I…am sorry. 

I am sorry Louisa.