Chapter 136: The Old World
The commotion died down, but many hidden eyes saw this as a prelude to something bigger. During the Gathering, there had been tension among the Seven Ancient Guilds and their allies.
Nothing had happened yet, but friends, who were part of different factions, cut their ties together, preparing for the inevitable conflict that loomed on the horizon.
It was only a matter of time.
A slight distance away, hidden behind a corner, Lady Yu observed everything with a blush on her cheeks. Her gaze followed behind the black-haired young man, who returned to his quarters with Digby.
"So he is Adam Palestar..."
It made her heart flutter. This was a person that Little God wanted her to investigate.
'If he really has His power, how come he doesn't have the power of holiness?'
At first, she thought that perhaps Little God was wrong, but she didn't dare to think about that any further. It was near blasphemy to think that Little God could be wrong.
Those with the power of gods at their disposal should also have the power of holiness. However, Adam didn't have it, as if it were completely erased.
'Weird, I'll have to investigate him... more thoroughly.'
Lady Yu cheekily smiled and vanished like a light in the darkness. The shadows of the night seemed to swallow her whole.
The Originals usually didn't have any ways of gaining powers similar to the mercenaries, but Lady Yu was different because she was a servant of the gods.
They had granted her powers beyond comprehension-the Power of Holiness.
...
The night turned dark and deep.
Within the Crimson Hound's living quarters, many were sleeping, snoring and muttering in their sleep.
Adam was sitting on his bed, the window curtains slightly ajar, letting in a faint sliver of moonlight.
He thought about returning to the real world, but it was already late, and everyone must be already asleep.
He decided to stay a little longer, enjoying the peacefulness of the night.
At that moment, as if someone just snapped his fingers to make him feel sleepy, his eyelids started to feel heavier and heavier, until he eventually drifted off into a deep and nightmarish sleep.
...
Adam found himself in a dark and twisted dreamscape, filled with shadows and eerie whispers.
The scenery continued to shift-from a dark forest to the back of an ancient castle to a desolate wasteland with no end in sight-and then finally ended at the edge of a cliff overlooking a vast, churning ocean.
"A foolish thought. A god can never truly die." Alastor said and looked around the wretched place. "I was the creator of the Old World. When it was destroyed, I still didn't die. I was just
sealed away."
"That's why..." Adam felt his throat turn dry. "If you're resurrected, the Old World will come
back..."
"Exactly," Alastor said with a chuckle, and he pointed at him. "You're a smart fellow." "What do you exactly want with me?" Adam asked with a frown. "I destroyed your soul... So
how..."
His eyes slowly widened with sudden realization.
"The curse that was mentioned!" Alastor chuckled. "I am that curse, per se. And you, Adam,
are the vessel."
Adam stepped back in shock and turned his gaze down at his chest. He ripped off his shirt and saw a small, intricate symbol etched into his skin.
It was a symbol of the black heart, located right above his heart.
"That's why Blackheart did that..." Adam gulped. "I also have a black heart?"
"Our hearts fused together." Alastor said. "Our lives are bound together."
"No..." Adam gritted his teeth and shouted. "I'll just kill myself and get rid of you!"
"You can do that, but I have a feeling you will regret that." Alastor said. "You, and the others from that Other World, can come back alive as much as you want to. In that sense, all of you are very similar to us and the Chaosbeings."
"Yeah, I can, so I'm not too worried about losing a couple of months of progress as I can get
rid of you!" Adam said.
"That's the thing." Alastor laughed. "If you die, you'll lose your ability to come back alive."
"What?" Adam frowned. "You're lying."
"Am I?" Alastor chuckled. "Every player also has their own respawn crystal. It's just very hidden, and it cannot be broken by ordinary means. Only God can do it, haha."
"That's..."
Alastor opened his hand and snapped his fingers-a strange, red crystal appeared in his hand —and it felt shockingly familiar to Adam, as if he had a deeper connection to it than he could
explain.
"Your respawn crystal." Alastor squeezed the crystal in his hand and destroyed it. "Is now gone. You only have one life left, so go ahead and kill yourself."