Black Sword and Fragments [Vol. 1: Unforeseen Conspiracy]

Chapter 18

Chapter 18: A Life in exchange for Life

“Congratulation.” The smiling Allastor said that, as he walked near Luna Haynes. He was happy that Luna finally got the Burning Ice Lily, the reason why she entered this forest, no matter how dangerous it is. Now, Allastor was the only one left that didn't achieve his goal inside the Uzuri's Forest yet. He stopped when their distance is only two feet.

Luna nodded in her response. A trace of earnestly could be traced on her eyes with the flame of hope. She stood up, and she looked at Allastor before she smiled. “Mmn. Thank you, Allastor.”

“Now that your mission in this forest has ended. Are you going home now?” Earnestly asked by Allastor. However, a sense of sadness could be felt in his voice. He still wants to be accompanied by Luna until they find the Uzuri's Mana-Tree—he could remember from Luna all his friends that have gone from him. 

Luna nodded again, and a trace of shyness, sadness, and regret could be seen in her eyes. She wants to tell something to Allastor but she's having a hard time forming these words. “I needed to go back immediately to our home...”

Even though the response of his friend is different from what he was expecting, he didn't react to Luna Haynes. He just smiled widely. This is the first time he smiled widely. Luna is also wondering about the sudden happiness of the young man. For Allastor, even though he wasn't that certain, hr knows that just like him, Luna is also fighting her own battles in life. One the proof of this is her extreme motive to find an unusual plant that can cure any disease. And in Allastor's mind, he thought that Luna might use this magical plant to cure his loved ones. Luna and him have the same goal. They choose to enter this dangerous Uzuri's Forest for their loved ones. 

A wide smile could still be seen on Allastor's lips. That smile only dissipated when he nods. “Nah. That's okay. I'm really happy for you. Take care of your, Luna.”

Even though she knows that Allastor understands that she needed to get back immediately to her home, and even after seeing the wide smile of Allastor earlier, the sadness on the maiden's expression is still there. She just became sadder as he looked at Allastor's face.

“Allastor...” Luna spoke Silently yet full of regret. At first, Luna couldn't tell what is lurking behind the gloomy eyes of Allastor Frauzz. But as their journey together became longer, she now has an idea even a bit about Allastor's reason for chasing power. And she could feel that his reason wasn't just ordinary. “To tell you the truth... The Mana Tree... Allastor, there's no Mana-Tree in Uzuri's Forest...”

Allastor was dazed for a moment by what he heard. He clearly heard what Luna had said. But, he still didn't believe it fully. His forehead wrinkled but no hostility could be traced on his voice as he spoke. “And what's the clear proof, though?”

“Uzuri... The Goddess of this forest... She was not dead... ” Slowly but earnestly said by the maiden. “Aside from it, we all know that us, rankers could only become strong when we consumed Life-cores of Magicule beasts. Isn't it a bit weird that gaining the powers from the Mana Tree just by touching it isn't following the law of life? The rankers should still crush the life core of the certain creatures before they could even consume free magicules.”

Luna's eyes looked at the red pair of eyes of Allastor. “Let's say that the Mana-Tree is really real. However, to get powers from it, we still need to crush and sliced it open before we could get its Life core. But for a Bronze rank, or even let's say that hundred Platinum rankers will try to destroy the Mana-Tree altogether, even for a bit, I'm sure they could never leave a mark on its trunk. Let them forget about getting its Life Core. It is still stated in the Legend that that tree sprouted in the corpse of the goddess, and I doubt that Goddess Uzuri's strength is just ordinary.”

Allastor Frauzz just nodded. The majority of what Luna said to him really made sense and has a very good basis from the facts. However, he couldn't really believe it fully. As long as he doesn't actually prove it, he still won't believe that no Mana-Tree could be found in this magical Forest. “Thank you for worrying about me, Luna. However, I have already decided. I want to prove with my own eyes if that magical tree is true or not.”

Luna didn't say any word anymore. She doesn't know what else to say. She couldn't think of any other evidence that she could use to persuade Allastor. She just knows this truth because her mother told her that she saw Uzuri. However, she doesn't really know if it is true, for her mother is suffering from mental illness.

Luna couldn't extinguish the flame of hope from Allastor's eyes, even after giving him a warning. She just nodded and will about to say goodbye to Allastor. However, they saw on their front the group of unusual-looking beasts slowly approaching them. They didn't even feel its presence.

!!!

Their expression became blank as extreme paleness shrouded their faces. The bad odor from before that they could smell, becomes even stronger at this point now that these monsters are near. The height of these beasts is the same as Allastor's and Luna's height. Their skin is gold, their teeth and claws are razor-sharp and all of them have scary-looking weapons. At this moment, it is as if Allastor and Luna's soul left their body.

They slowly stepped backward and Allastor let Luna hide on his backside as he used one of his arms as a shield. They just stopped walking backward when Allastor's new sword from his space bag appeared in his other hand.

Allastor's knees are started shaking as he feels extreme nervousness engulfing his whole body. He really knows that there are extremely dangerous monsters in this eerie forest, but he didn't expect that they will see them this early without even having the chance to find the Mana-Tree.

“Fuck! He-hey, Luna! All the magicule beast in this place can speak, ra-right?” Frantically asked the young man. His knees are shaking. It was a very long time since he felt so much fear. However, after struggling for air just to say those words, he didn't get a response.

The silence made his heart palpitate even more. He slowly turns his head to the young lady from his backside. And when he saw the nodding dazed woman, he smiled bitterly. He forced to open his mouth again. “A-alright, there's still a chance!”

As soon as he said those words, his attention immediately back to the magicule beasts. These beasts are identical to the looks of the infamous goblins. Yet, the only difference between them is that these beasts have golden-colored skin and a savage presence. The way they walk closer to the young man causes even more palpitation in his heart. It seems like this young man has lost his ability to breathe normally. Aside from the loud footsteps, the only thing he could hear is the beating of his heart. He gripped his sword tightly, but he still feel that this sword might slip into his hand at any moment.

The young man swallowed his bitter-tasted saliva as his gazed fall upon the vicious-looking weapons of the golden goblins. His sword couldn't be compared to theirs. An ax with a unique wavy blade, razor-sharp bow's arrows that still have residues of rotten carcasses, and last but not the least, a ridiculous giant greatsword bigger than the golden goblin's body. It seems like all these weapons are made to take life easily.

“He-hey! If... if you can speak, could you let us go? I... As you see, there are only misunderstanding here. We will leave this place, I promise.” Stuttering Allastor paused for a moment, he breaths in and out deeply. He has already chosen to drop all his pride and his reason for coming into this Forest of Uzuri. At this time, all he wants is just to live and survive. “Please...”

As their response, the unusual-looking beasts let out a savage grin as they readied their weapons. They are determined to kill these humans.

To their answer, cold sweats dripped down on the young man's forehead. He immediately removed from his mind all the nonsense and alibis he was thinking to use. He realized now their answer to his question. It is none other than, death...

“Fuck! They are not buying it!” His eyes began to tremble as he used almost all his strength to open his mouth. His voice cracks as he screamed. “L-luna! Runaway from this place! Them, t-they will kill us!”

Luna's eyebrows jumped when she heard her name. She was dazed for almost five minutes now and just regained her senses to the loud call of the young man. 

“B-but, Allastor, how about you?” Anxiously said the young lady. “I'll never be in peace if you don't go with me and—”

“Just follow what I have said! Get out of this place, now!”

“I can run away, but I can't let you stay here alo—”

“Just get out!”

“But...”

The young lady anxiously reaches for the young man's shoulder. She wants to pat it, be that as it may, but she wasn't able to do it as Allastor stepped once—closing his distance to the beasts.

On the other side, Allastor's grip on his sword became even tighter. When he spoke again, it was even louder. “If I will die right now, I will die! I don't have any family left and you might still have! If you can't live for me, just live for them!”

“Allastor...”

Allastor smiled. “Don't you ever dare to die. If you die, I will kill you.”

On the other side, Luna clenched her fists. A memory of her mother and little brother surged inside her mind. This is not what her mother taught her. She wasn't taught by her mother to abandon a friend in the middle of their struggle. Nonetheless, even though it is breaking her heart, she still nods her head. She doesn't want to run away alone, but she also doesn't want to die either. It was bitter for her to choose this decision, but to what Allastor have said, she was forced to run away.

Even though the magicule beasts didn't pay attention, Luna still used all her strength to run. Her expression became dark and uncontrollable tears began flowing in her eyes. She knows that it was wrong to leave Allastor Frauzz alone. She knows what will happen right after she leaves this place, even so, this is her, running away for her own life and safety.

After more minutes, when the young lady finally left the place, the supposed to be normal temperature were seems like so cold right now. A bitter smile formed on his numbing dry lips.

“Stay alive, Luna...”

At that moment, different savage weapons flew violently towards him. The sharp arrows are aiming at his eyes, the ax is aiming at his neck, while the giant greatsword is on his rib cage.

“Aunt Ishara, Great-aunt Isabel, my brothers and sisters... The time has arrived for us to meet again.”

Time seemed to slow at that very moment. He bit his lips as his mind is quickly bombarded by his happy, yet now, sad memories from his family.

“Holy mother of our god system, this might be the fate you bestow to this lowly brat. What a shame to die without achieving anything...” Allastor laughed maniacally as he let out those words. A moment after, his tears began to fall. He disregarded the inches away weapons from him as his eyes daggered at the golden beasts. “Fuck yourself!”

A loud bang reverberated in the surroundings.

But...

Allastor didn't feel any pain. His eyes are closed for more than five seconds either. And when he decided to open his eyes, he was shocked by what he saw. 

A yellow circle barrier has protected him. 

And he wasn't just the one who have been dumbfounded at that moment, even the magicule beast on his front. 

“That barrier... I-impossible!” With trembling eyes, one of the golden goblins screamed. “You are a Godite Ranker!”

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