He was bleeding from everywhere. There was a gash on his forehead, cheek, and chin. By this point, they were not bleeding. Not enough time had gone by for a scab, at the moment, it was red and bloody while not runny.
The same couldn’t be said about the rest of him. Blood was running down the rest of his being. By this point, clothes were too complicated a process. If it wasn’t for the feeling of moving without a humanoid shape, that too would have been abandoned.
As for what put him in this situation?
Leo found himself in a black space. No lights, meaning a void without end or beginning. Shadow’s required light. Therefore, he was unsure of what these things were. Not only did physical things not exist in a way that could interact with him.
No, that wasn’t completely true. However, that was corresponding to his body, the sword. This was a projection of his mana mixed with a portion of soul. In theory, if this body was damaged or destroyed. Nothing should happen.
Any dull sensation from having pieces of his mana stripped away, regardless of the portion of soul that was in it. Happened far too many times. Days, weeks, years. An endless cycle of exploration ending 999,999,995 times out of a billion, with his mana and soul not returning to the room with his body.
He simply couldn’t remember what that pain was. Well, he just didn’t want to. First time felt as if someone was sawing him in half. If not for the pain and desperation he forged himself through by just opening the doors…
Wanting to sigh, all that came out was a single word, “Fuck…”
His body collapsed as a fog blew in at incredibly speed before a part of it solidified, turning into a three finger claw. Without time to recollect his original appearance, a second and third came and went as fast as the first.
As the third went, the second didn’t take a long route, as it very quickly spun around for a second attack. Focusing as hard as he possibly could, Leo focused on trying to recreate a new rune. Not one of the original twelve, this one was something new.
A very blurry object appeared in his hands as Leo concentrated as best as he could. Making contact with said object. Barely dodging the first shadow, that came after the second. Finally, the third took a bit of time as it came from a different angle that it disappeared from.
Some type of furry face that somehow matched a catfish with disgusting flesh whiskers appeared as it tried to bite both his arm and the object held in his grasp. Failing to multitask, a crack appeared in the blurry object.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
Stabbing from the inside, attempting to stab the weak flesh inside with as much weight as he could muster while focusing on the rune.
Inside that sealed dark space, a large number of cracks and fractures could be seen. Slowly, a rune was being etched into the air. As lines lit up, a portion met a fracture as it stalled. Once the dagger stabbed into the flesh, a tiny bit of fog was absorbed.
As the fog was absorbed, exactly where the rune was attempting to inscribe itself, the place with the fracture, extended past the fracture. More accurately, if looking closely, there was no crack where the rune extended from anymore. While still being visible on both sides of the line.
As quickly as this happened, everything came to an end. Not only did that crack reappear, the rune disappeared as more cracks appeared in its place.
From outside, it was possible to see Leo’s arm with the dagger, had both been swallowed by that fog creature. Rapidly vanishing as it moved into the distance. A tragic cry left his mouth.
Outside, two people were watching. Not Leo, these two were looking in a different direction. The only thing bearing witness to his struggles were bright lines.
Looking down from above, a large complicated oval drawn with multiple geometric shapes drawn inside and overlapping. All of them were brightly lit. From time to time, symbols on the outside would light up and darken periodically.
Elizabeth had shown up when she glanced over. Taking a step, she appeared inside one of Izic’s hidden laboratories. Contrary to what people believed, the number of laboratories on the surface, those possible to access, were a tiny fraction.
She knew that there was more than one that had never been discovered. Possibly never going to be discovered. Unless some unlucky fool somehow stumbled upon them. This one, was one without an entrance. To enter, one had to force their way in, therefore only two people in this world could access them.
Having come to study this special magic circle. Knowing before and after, Izic mind was simply built differently. Elizabeth saw Izic’s head as something created by the universe and not something born through natural process like everyone else.
A formation created to draw in soul energy. Fragmented power that lingers without any purpose. Now inside, they were given form, all so that the boy inside could use it to heal and progress. Turning to glance at Izic, she was about to ask a question when she noticed the messed up face he was making.
Looking over, she needed a second to see what exactly he was looking at. It was then, Jessica was thrown from the back of the minotaur. Izic’s face darkened further.
Elizabeth couldn’t help but ask, “Are you sure she was raised by Everblood? She is… Kind of stupid.”
“That is the problem with one-trick ponies. She only really fought in dungeons in which have malice hard coded into their very being. She is a killer and not a hunter. Against an intelligent or full on aggression, those petty tricks work.”
Exhaling, “Everblood took the hands-off approach and allowed her to grow on her own. If not for you, this should have been fine. There was always plenty of time to fix her problems. Only a certain someone came and brought a tsunami.”
Turning to look inside the formation, “How is being a bad parent my fault?”
A shady smile appeared on her beautiful face, “Bad parent, huh? Why don’t you go get that one to call you father.”
“Fuck off!”