Chapter 32 Choice And Consequence

That night, after their usual routine of washing up, eating, and engaging in a few intense rounds of wrestling on the bed, Iryoku as on many nights before, he found himself waking in the middle of the night, his body restless and slick with sweat. The warmth of their shared embrace still lingered, yet a strange unease gnawed at him. Carefully, he sat up, making sure not to disturb Deborah as she lay peacefully beside him.

His gaze drifted toward the remnants of their bonfire, now reduced to faintly glowing embers. Shadows flickered across the cavern walls as he stared into the dying flames, his mind lost in deep thought.

Maybe we could stay here forever... he mused. We could build a family—just the two of us...

But his eyes trembled as memories invaded his mind—the faces of Yumi, Alessandra, and Reika, their pained expressions Etched in his memory as they were transported away, their skin covered in burns and agony.

Then, the tearful faces of his parents surfaced in his thoughts. He could see them crying, suffering from the unknown, wondering where he was.

Something clicked inside him. His eyes widened as he remembered how much his parents had suffered back then—and now, they were probably feeling that same pain, not knowing the whereabouts of their child.

A gentle warmth pulled him from his spiral of thoughts. Turning, he saw Deborah still asleep, her hand resting lightly against his back as if reaching for him even in her dreams.

A soft smile crossed his lips as he lay back down beside her, pulling her into his arms.

Together... I know we can do it. If you’re with me, we’ll be okay, he thought before drifting back to sleep, holding her close.

The next day, both of them were on their way, nearing the cave’s exit once again. As always, they traveled light, though they still carried some small provisions in case of emergency. With each step closer to their destination, the weight of the journey rumbled harder in Iryoku’s mind.

His thoughts drifted back to a few hours ago...

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“Look, Deborah, like this. Then you run and jump like this,” Iryoku explained, demonstrating the jump they would need to make.

“Grawh… grauh…”

After a few practice attempts, he finally managed to get her to follow his instructions correctly.

“And remember, avoid transforming at all costs,” he reminded her firmly.

Once they perfected the technique, they returned to the skeleton and said their goodbyes.

Deborah stood there, silently watching the shiny skeleton. She walked closer and gently rubbed her hand over the skull, love and sorrow reflected on her face.

“Grwar gauh,” she spoke softly, her usual growl filled with emotion.

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Iryoku thought she must have said something heartfelt. Placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder, he offered silent comfort.

Kneeling on one knee beside the skeleton, he spoke in a low, gentle voice:

“This feels strange, doing this so late… but don’t worry. I’ll take her away from here. I promise I’ll give her love and a place where she can truly belong.”

He paused, a small, nervous chuckle escaping his lips. It felt almost like he was asking for the skeleton’s blessing—like he was seeking permission to take its daughter’s hand in marriage. In a way, that’s exactly what it was.

Iryoku stood up, ready to leave, something caught his eye. On the wall, among the familiar childlike drawings, there was a new one he hadn’t noticed before.

It depicted two figures—one taller with long hair and the other slightly smaller with short hair. It had the same innocent, playful style as the other drawings. It was Deborah’s way of expressing her happiness.

A wide smile spread across Iryoku’s face. His heart felt warm, knowing what this simple drawing meant.

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Fast-forward to their current situation: as they reached the cave’s opening, one final obstacle awaited—a big jump into the void.

Iryoku, holding Deborah’s hand, said softly, “Okay, honey, now’s the time.”

She nodded with a serious expression, then picked him up in a princess carry.

The embarrassment of the moment actually eased some of Iryoku’s nervousness. A few funny jokes popped into his head, but he kept them to himself, not wanting to distract Deborah from her task.

“Grrauh... Iryu...” she murmured.

“Right,” he responded in a low voice.

Without hesitation, Deborah sprinted toward the cave’s opening, her movements swift and precise. With a powerful leap, she propelled herself forward, defying the icy air that rushed past her.

As they plunged into the frigid void, the cold bit at their skin, spreading a numbing chill through their bodies. Yet, they endured it, focusing only on the landing ahead. They hit the ground smoothly on a level above the one they had just escaped, sliding to a stop within another cavern, its dark, walls looming around them.

The freezing air barely fazed Deborah, her body seemingly accustomed to the harsh temperatures. But when she turned to check on Iryoku, her breath caught—he was trembling, his arms wrapped tightly around himself as his body shook from the relentless cold.

“I’m okay, don’t worry,” he said through clenched teeth, forcing a reassuring smile. “Just keep moving forward.”

She nodded and started running toward the other side of the mountain—and toward their much-awaited freedom.

Suddenly, Iryoku’s eyes contracted as a chilling sense of danger surged down his spine. Time seemed to freeze as he shouted, “Run faster!”

A massive pillar of light came roaring down behind them.

PHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

An otherworldly sound pierced the environment, following the blinding light.

Both of them fell hard to the ground with a heavy thud. Instinctively, Deborah began to activate her transformation.

“No! Don’t do it! Just keep running!” Iryoku yelled, fear evident in his voice as he grabbed her hand and pulled her forward. both stumbling while trying to run.

They continued running as the tunnel split into multiple directions.

“Let’s go through the middle!” he urged her, and they sprinted ahead.

The beam of death shot past them in a straight line, missing them by only a few meters. Deborah glanced back and growled, baring her teeth as she kept running. Behind them, a massive gash had been carved into the mountainside from the blast.

The beam of light finally stopped, and all they could hear was their own rapid breathing as they pressed forward. Soon, they reached an area with a large hole slanting diagonally downward .

“Quickly! Let’s jump in! It’ll be faster!” Iryoku urged. Without hesitation, Deborah followed him.

Suddenly, the entire mountain trembled, and a deafening roar echoed through the cavern, shaking everything around them. Adding to the alredy scary situation. But they kept moving forward.

We can do it. We can do it. He won’t find us. I know it, Iryoku’s mind raced with frantic thoughts.

Then, the sound of crushing rocks rained down behind them, growing louder and louder. The roars, deep and monstrous, drew closer with every passing second.

Iryoku suddenly felt strange, and before he could process it, Deborah came to a halt, turning back.

“No! Don’t do it!” he shouted desperately, but it was too late.

Deborah fully transformed, her body engulfed in swirling dark energy. She let out a powerful roar, “GRRRRRWWWWWWW!” just as the monstrous beast finally caught up to them.