102 Puzzle.
As I struggled to find my way through the depths of the Bloodwell, my mind was awash with a torrent of thoughts and emotions. Jasmine's words echoed in my ears, her final plea to let go of her, to forget her. But how could I? How could I simply erase her from my heart, from my memories, when she had become such an integral part of my existence?
The pain, the sorrow, the overwhelming sense of loss threatened to consume me. It felt as if I were drowning in an ocean of grief, unable to resurface for air.
But still I pushed forward, propelling myself upwards through the dark, viscous liquid, my arms flailing in a desperate attempt to break free.
Jasmine's revelation had shattered my illusions, revealing a world far more complex and treacherous than I had ever imagined. Beings watching over me, seeking to harm me, exploit me, and dispose of me. It was a chilling realization, a stark reminder that I was not simply a passive observer in this realm of magic. No, I was a player in a dangerous game, one where the stakes were higher than I could have ever anticipated.
Her mention of "him," the one who was listening and against whom she fought for control, only deepened the mystery. Who was this enigmatic figure, pulling the strings from the shadows? What did they want from me, and why was I being drawn into their machinations? The questions swirled within me, intertwining with the lingering threads of Jasmine's presence.
But amidst the confusion and uncertainty, one thing remained clear:'I couldn't let myself become a pawn in their game.' Jasmine's parting words echoed in my mind.
With each stroke, each kick of my legs, I propelled myself closer to the surface, my determination fueled by the love and memories I held for Jasmine. She had come herself to deliver a message, to warn me of the perils that awaited. I couldn't let her effort be in vain.
As I broke through the surface of the Bloodwell, gasping for breath, I felt a renewed sense of purpose coursing through my veins.
...
I sat in the hidden Chamber, looking at my palm like I had found a new toy. Blaze was in front of me, asking random questions about what happened in the Bloodwell, what I saw, and whom I met. But... haa, I can't tell him. I don't think it's even something I should be thinking about.
"She is no more," I continuously replayed her facial expressions and the way she said it... yeah, she crushed my expectations from the roots.
Because I don't know why, but I had the tiniest hope that she'd still be around. Why? Because this is a goddamn world full of fantasies. There is magic in here, and isn't magic supposed to make things happen when you least expect it? But... it's no go.
"Why do I feel fucking weak?" I asked and saw Blaze. Unlike the previous times where, whenever I questioned him, he just went into awkward mode, he was calm this time. Like he knew why and wasn't trying to hide anything. I felt a little assured that at least he wasn't panicking. That means everything is alright.
"I'm sorry," Blaze apologized with a straight face.
Well, I take back my words. This son of a bitch!!!!!!
"What do you mean, sorry?" I asked, my tone was low.
"Umm... y'know," Blaze fidgeted a little before saying, "You're back to the start now."
... Silence...
"Say what?" I think there was something wrong with my ears, maybe because of the water and all.
"In simple terms,of your world, we can say you've had a power reset or something close to that," Blaze explained.
"Oh, okay, I get it, I get it," I muttered to myself. Why? Why me? Why always me? Why not someone else? Why does it have to be fricking me? Just why?
"Hey, Princess! Don't die on me! It's nothing to worry about... not much... I mean, we should worry a little, but..." Blaze was having a hard time contradicting his own words.
"You know that Gorthan is still outside, right?" I sighed as I laid on my back.
When we entered this chamber, I'm sure that Gorthan broke out of Eldertree Pillar's bind. That means he's still there. And if I've actually been pulled back to the starting point, then that means I have no way of actually fighting that thing with my current strength. Damn it!
"Oh... that's... bad," Blaze agreed.
I lay there on the hard ground for a long time, feeling tired, exhausted, and, worst of all, stuck.
Normally, there's a way to get out of situations like this if I think about it carefully, but currently, there's no way out of here.
The first problem is Gorthan being outside, ready to kill me. The second problem is that I won't be able to fight him properly because my whole body has been rebuilt from every cell. But I don't feel too weak. It's not like I'm back to being a one-star mage, but...
"It's because you're in the Ember Initiate state. It's the starting point as a phoenix chick. It's... um, if I remember correctly, equivalent to a three-star mage in human terms. Meaning, you've actually dropped two stars in power," Blaze explained.
"How many stages are there?" Since there's nothing else to talk about, I asked.
"Seven, until the Demi-God stage," Blaze answered.
Humans are the weakest of all major races, just slightly above dwarves and a few other remote races. They have to go through sixteen levels. Elves have twelve levels until they reach the Demi-God realm, while beastmen have fourteen levels. And beings like dragons? Well, reaching the Demi-God realm is no biggie for a dragon.
*Sigh*
My stomach grumbled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten for the past two or three consecutive days.
I got up and scanned the area for my bag that I had brought from the store. I had left it behind when I crawled inside the Bloodwell because, well, there were certain things I didn't want to get lost in the water, including my food.
"Ah, here it is," I said, relieved as I picked up the abandoned bag from the darkness.
The bag featured a spacious main compartment with a secure buckle closure, along with various pockets and compartments for organizing travel essentials. Its sturdy handle and adjustable shoulder strap ensured comfortable carrying during expeditions.
"It held up quite well even during the fights," I muttered, examining the torn areas of the bag.
I had set it aside when I was engaged in one-on-one combat, but I kept it with me when I was on floors like the fourth and third, which were filled with mobs.
My hand delved into the depths of the bag, desperately searching for something edible. Ah! My fingers grasped onto something, and as I pulled it out, I was met with the sight of a Kobold's tail. It lay there, its scales glistening under the dim light. But wait, what was this? There was a black thread entangled in the intricate patterns of the scales.
"Hmm..." I tugged at the string, and to my surprise, it revealed a locket—the very same locket that my mother had given me. Memories flooded my mind, bringing with them a mix of emotions—Ren's words, the warmth and love of his parents. I had vowed to protect them, and now, holding this locket, that resolve burned within me.
I fastened the Winged Pardus's locket around my neck, feeling the weight of the tooth against my chest, and I let go of the bag. It fell to the ground, forgotten for the moment.
Turning my attention back to Blaze, I conjured a small flame in the palm of my hand. I took the Kobold's tail and began roasting it, the peculiar smoke and odor wafting into the air, assaulting my senses. "Gross," I muttered under my breath. It was far from an ideal meal, but I had no other choice. It would have been much more convenient if the system provided food as well.
"Hey, Smokeball," I addressed Blaze, my voice tinged with suspicion. "Jasmine mentioned that someone is watching me. The system has an owner, but it loses connection with them when we enter the hidden chamber, yet not when we enter the Nightshade Sanctum. Something doesn't add up."
"Jasmine asked me about my whereabouts, even though I was right in front of her. It didn't make sense for her to ask about my physical location. That means someone in the dark realm was keeping an eye on me. It implies that they can observe me even in this chamber, while my physical body remains in the physical realm," I explained, each word carrying weight as Blaze attentively listened.
"But then Jasmine signaled for me to stop talking. If the one she mentioned, 'He,' had complete control over her, she wouldn't have been able to do that. It seems like their control is not absolute," I reflected, recalling how Jasmine had gestured to me with her index finger, signaling me to withhold information about my position in the physical realm.
"However, she had knowledge about Bloodwell. This place wasn't even part of the game, and Jasmine never played it," I continued, pondering the significance. So, the entity that was eavesdropping on our conversation knew about Bloodwell, just like Blaze does.
"The only individuals who are aware of Bloodwell's existence, besides us, are the council members," Blaze exclaimed, a glimmer of realization in his eyes.
"Council members?" I tilted my head in confusion, unfamiliar with this concept.
"It's a council of gods, in essence," Blaze clarified.
"The person in the dark realm must be connected to the council," I deduced, checking off one possibility.
"But the council has numerous members. Why would they go through the trouble of monitoring and tracking you?" Blaze questioned, his voice filled with curiosity. "What could they possibly want from you?"
"How'd I know?" I was as clueless as Blaze was.
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[A/N: Mannnn!!!!why is so hard to find the identity of this so called "He"?]
