87 Cavern of Chaos-4



'its-'

I've experienced it before, this moment when I entered the world. It's a familiar scene, the same dimly lit room devoid of any defining features. The air carries a chilling coldness, yet it envelops me like a comforting embrace. Surprisingly, it doesn't unsettle me; instead, it feels oddly soothing, like an old friend I've grown accustomed to.

'But I have been here just once.'

Within the confines of this frigid chamber, I find solace in the stillness that permeates the air. There's a sense of serenity that accompanies the cold, a quietude that allows my thoughts to unfold and unravel.

I stand in this timeless realm, surrounded by the comforting coldness. I am filled with a mixture of anticipation and curiosity. I embrace the enigma that lies before me, knowing that within the depths of darkness, there is something I desire. I don't yet know what it is, but it calls to me, or perhaps I yearn to call it to me.

There's a neon flame floating in the middle of the air. I gaze at it, and unconsciously, my vision shifts to its side.

'Is there anyone here?'

In this solitude, I discover a sanctuary, albeit a modest one—a table. As I approach, I see two silhouettes sitting on each side, their appearance eluding me. Yet, their presence intertwines with a longing and glimmer of hope. It is a whispered promise that there is more to be unveiled beyond the veil of darkness.

Here, I am both the seeker and the one sought after.

I take a step forward, yearning to unveil the secrets that lie within.

Zzzz

Before I could reach the table and see who sat there, it vanished.

And so, I continue to step forward.

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 System Alert!!!

*Host cannot be here!

*Creator's will isn't responding!

*Preparing send back to the physical realm!

1..,0

 

------------------------------------------------------------------

Fishh

The neon flame at the center burns brighter with each passing second, and then...

...

"Argh!" I gasped, my eyes shooting open as I struggled to catch my breath. It felt as though an invisible force was constricting my throat, leaving me gasping for air.

As my vision cleared, the first thing that came into focus were the Sentinel's eyes, piercing and crystalline like frozen ice. They seemed to bore deep into the core of my being, leaving me unsettled and vulnerable.

My gaze shifted to the Sentinel's right hand, and I was met with a sight that sent a chill down my spine. There, in his grasp, was something unexpected. It appeared as though he was extracting a mysterious entity, the very thing he had mentioned earlier. A dark, pitch-black smoky essence seemed to be steadily pulled out of me, accompanied by faint traces of azure flames dancing around it. Yet, in comparison, the azure flames appeared minuscule and feeble.

Questions raced through my mind. What was this ominous black smoke? And what was the significance of the azure flames? A realization dawned upon me, a revelation that sent a shiver down my spine.

'Blaze!' I called out to him mentally, desperate for a response. But there was no answer, no reassuring presence from my companion. The silence only heightened my anxiety, intensifying the unease within me.

Was the Sentinel referring to Blaze all along? Could Blaze be the elusive "Soul Tracker" he spoke of? 

'..he-..y,' I struggled to discern the fragmented voice, barely audible amidst the chaos. It was Blaze!

With every ounce of focus I could muster, I strained to comprehend his words.

'Concentrate on the azure flame, I repeat... it's the most important,' Blaze's voice echoed, growing fainter by the second. I grasped onto his instruction, realizing the significance of the azure flame he spoke of.

Summoning my resolve, I fully opened my eyes, determined to take action. With a surge of energy, I expelled something that had resided within me all along. It was as if I was discarding a burden, making room for what was to come. In that moment, I gathered the fragmented fragments of azure flames, coaxing them to settle in the deepest recesses of my mind.

Thud.

"Ugh," I winced as I fell to the floor, my body drained of energy in an instant. I looked up.

"Oh, it seems I was mistaken. It's not a soul tracker but a spirit, and a completely useless one at that. Where did you manage to acquire such a half-assed thing? Even Banshees are more useful than this; at least they wail," Sentinel remarked, toying with the string of black spirits in his hands.

Yes, I sacrificed Blaze in order to form a contract with the Azure flame. Its nature is similar to Blaze's, but it lacks consciousness of its own.

"Hey, what is this thing... no, more importantly, why is it in such a state?" Sentinel inquired, his cold expression showing cracks as he displayed genuine interest.

...I didn't answer. Moreover, I couldn't. The nails were embedded too deeply in my chest, making it nearly impossible for me to breathe, let alone speak.

"Haa, why must you be so fragile?" Sentinel sighed. "That's why I agree with Svarog; he was right all along." With a flick of his fingers, a snowflake descended gently above my head, and...

!! I felt a surge of internal mana coursing through me, and I coughed up the excess blood. It seemed that all my internal injuries had been healed.

In a matter of seconds, just a few seconds, I managed to rise to my feet, now facing Sentinel directly as he continued to handle Blaze. My parasitic companion remained unresponsive, allowing the sentinel to handle him without resistance.

"Once again, where on earth did you obtain this?" Sentinel inquired, unwilling to let go of the topic.

Summoning my voice, I replied, "It attached itself to me some time ago,it was leaching off on mana beasts core. This spirit assists me in navigating through dungeons." I fabricated the explanation, determined not to reveal anything about Blaze.

"Is that so? Well, I suppose I should have just discarded it. It's more like a leech, causing more harm than benefit for someone like you with such a low mana pool," Sentinel remarked, his demeanor oddly more composed compared to a moment ago.

Sentinel twirled his index finger, guiding Blaze across the surface and then directing it back into my chest, returning the spirit to its place.

By discard,Did he mean to return it to me? 

He wants it to harm me? Ugh

"Now again, how was I summoned here?" He tilted his head, yeah, it's just too weird.

Taking a deep breath, I answered, "I was exploring this dungeon and managed to get to this floor, and that's when you got summoned here from the gates of the elemental realm. I don't know how that happened."

"?" The Sentinel's eyes widened a little. "Did I do something? How'd you know I come from the gates of the elemental realm? It's the first time a human ever recognized me as a Sentinel."

Gulp*

"Um... I thought since it's not possible for an elemental dragon to possess such strength and you... don't mind me saying, but the great Dragon doesn't look like a -" Sentinel raised his hand, indicating me to stop.

"No need to say a word more, you can go now. I won't hold you anymore since we are ordered to not meddle with lesser beings," Sentinel said. It's good since I was about to say the real dragon, but it would be an insult to him. Elemental dragons are sensitive about this topic.

"I can't go ahead since this floor is still uncleared," I stated. I haven't even seen a single notification from the system since the last alert note. Physical realm, huh.

"And what would you have to do to clear it?" Sentinel's question was met with a half-eyed stare from me. "Oh, you'll have to defeat me, right? Get ready, let's fight."

"!" I was taken aback by his sudden words. Me fighting him, that's more stupid than doing suicide.

"Pfft, look at your face now. You thought I was serious." The Sentinel started laughing out of nowhere. It's getting more and more complex than before. Why is he laughing?

"Step back," Sentinel brought his both hands in front as a lightning orb crackled in his palm. I stepped back.

.ZSZSZS.

The pulsating orb slowly moved ahead, and with a small shockwave, an entity emerged, brushing away my hair from my face, and I saw Sentinel giving me an odd look too.

I redirected my attention back to the orb. As I gazed upon it, something emerged... it's an Elemental Dragon, with an awe-inspiring appearance. Its majestic form is adorned with scales that shimmer like polished silver, radiating a brilliant glow.

Criclk.

The dragon's body crackles with an electric charge, sending sparks of lightning coursing through the air. Its wings stretch wide, resembling streaks of lightning frozen in time, pulsating with energy.

The dragon's piercing white eyes exude a sense of power but no intelligence, while its sharp, jagged horns symbolize the raw force of thunder.

Roar!

With each movement, the dragon leaves behind a trail of electric currents, illuminating the surroundings with dazzling bursts of lightning. It is a truly magnificent sight, embodying the very essence of the storms it commands.

"It'll bring the dungeon back to the flow. I'll be going then... Don't-" Sentinel's words hung in the air as he vanished from my sight. He's using an in-between space transportation skill.

...

In the chamber, the elemental dragon roared at me as it charged, and only one thought kept ringing in my mind.

"This dragon's not that big and scary, is it?" I don't feel intimidated at all.