Chapter 174: Misery [2]

Words : 1788 Updated : Oct 12th, 2025

"They finally left? Haa...i should get moving too." 'First, I'll begin by resuscitating the remnant Ether left in my core through my breathing.' Since i already began the process quietly a few minutes ago, it didn't take too long before i began to feel the small starts of its effects. I heaved in another hoarse and raspy breath and exhaled a deep misty sigh from my blood lips. As i did so, i felt a small thump behind my chest where my heart was supposed to be. And a very vague and fleeting sensation like a faint invigorating breath of fresh air spread from the area beneath my navel. It was merely a very small trickle of essence, almost like a single thread, spread from my core and into my torn muscles, though. 'It's too slow...' Alas, there wasn't much i could do about it. After that, i tried to get up. My lungs burned with intensity and my vision blurred like a haze. I hadn't been lying about the severity of my body to Deandra, Xavier, and Ceres, but i wasn't entirely honest either. The thing was... "Up we go..." —I was already healing. I barely forced myself to my shaky, unsteady feet. Every of my bones cried and creaked out in pain and defiance, causing my vision to blur even more. I was healing, but i wasn't healed. Way far from it, even actually. The process was slow and torturous. And even the effects weren't comforting or evident. It was painful — hard and full of agony — but i could still barely move like this. But Deandra, Xavier and Ceres didn't know that. —They didn't need to know any of that. As a matter of fact, i needed Deandra, Ceres and Xavier to leave. It so worked out that my current situation just happened to work in my favour. —Perhaps, a little too much. "Haah...haah..." Despite everything, i was still heaving and panting heavily just from rising to my feet. 'I took far too much damage.' All of the composure i was trying to show at the moment didn't actually help to really downplay the extent of my injuries. My consciousness was hanging by a thread, and if it wasn't for getting doped up on my Ether, i would probably have collapsed completely right now. 'But i can't.' Indeed. I couldn't. If i did, then there was no point. Nothing would be achieved. Ceres and the others already believe I'm out of the picture with this. I've managed to create some leeway for myself like that — some freedom, and some space to move. —but at the severe risk that i was already at my physical and mental limit. 'I don't have much time.' But despite knowing this, there was still a reason i was panicking. "Ham...let." my bloodied lips parted. —I still had a few cards more hidden up my sleeves... The clothes underneath my bloodied and tattered blazer bulged and moved as something slithered from underneath and leaped out to the ground next to me. -Boing —Jiggle Hamlet's silver blob form appeared at the edge of my hazy vision, looking as whole and buoyant as ever. I heaved in another hoarse breath and my lungs constricted painfully, at the same time, i felt essence run through my core and into my body — albeit a small muscle one. 'I still have to save enough Essence for later.' "Bring it out." I outstretched my right arm, just barely, at Hamlet. The Familiar stirred as its shapeless form seemed to convulse only lightly, then it spat out something into my outstretched arm. A fine black mask carved of lightless onyx black wood. The Mumur's Mask, with its ominous and unsettling description of a writhing demon with twisting horns and fangs in flames, felt cold, still, and light in my hand. As soon as the mask appeared, it gave off a strange, almost imaginary and oppressive chill. —Or perhaps it was all in my head. Regardless, For now i avoided directly looking at it and gave the unconscious figure of Don a glance from the side and swayed slightly. 'I still have to do something about him though...' my thoughts trailed And at it the same time, it just so happened that Don was about to wake up. He began stirring and groaning lightly. Then suddenly, the next moment, Don's eyes flickered open and he suddenly sat up in a daze. He looked pale and lost, almost so pitiful. However, before Don could fully awaken... "Hey..." I called out to him in a gruff voice. -Bam! —and punched him the straight in the face, against his eye. Don's head jerked backwards in the same sudden manner as he had risen and fell back to the ground with a muffled groan. The moment was so swift and sudden, it was like it never happened. And so, just like that, Don Clyde was knocked out cold again. —This time with an outstanding black eye, too... With that out of the way, my body swayed unsteadily again and i fell backwards with my back hitting the wall just in time, wether fortunately, or not. "Haaah...haahh..." My breathing was ragged and increasingly getting tighter. Cold sweat continued to drip from my face, and my insides churned and felt like crap. I was quickly running out of time. I didn't have much of it left actually. Ironically, my body was breaking down and collapsing more faster than my breathing technique was healing, or could handle. "I...i have to get going." The black mask threatened to slip out of my fingers, but i managed to hold on to it, then I forced myself to stand up straight to my feet — as much as i was allowed to at least. Languidly, i gave Hamlet a silent look. It was a meaningful one. Without a word, my Slime companion moved swiftly. It leaped into the air, and its shapeless form surged and spread open like a sudden tide. Hamlet's small football size instantly became robust during that moment — and spread open like a terrifying maw. -GURGLE! And then... -Glurp! —Hamlet devoured me. It was a bizzare experience no matter how many times i felt it. I couldn't say i was fund of it, but i also couldn't fail to admit or dismiss it's convenience during this moment. Less than a full second later, however, it was over; i was spat back out from Hamlet, and the slime reverted to its original harmless looking form. But this time, i was the one who was different. My bloodied, tattered, and utterly ragged uniform was gone, replaced by a deep pitch black outfit, with a long worn out coat with tattered wide edges streaming down my back. Black steel fitted gauntlets covered my arms, and slender black leather boots embraced my two feet Underneath, was a seemingly lightless black leather suit and outfit that hugged my broken body tightly, but wasn't impeding my movements in any manner. All of the blood, dirt, and grim had been erased off my skin and face, almost as if i had gone through a bath and had a wash. The black trench coat flowing down my back like an ebbing waterfall of shadows billowed slightly, fluttering like lightless feathers gently behind me. As i was immediately spat out all of a sudden, i stumbled lightly, but quickly regained my footing in time and leaned forward. I looked drearily to my side at Hamlet and gruffed dryly. "Neat trick." Hamlet surged again and changed as well. Without a single verbal command utterd from my lips, the Silver Slime quickly assumed the dreadful form and appearance of a massive lightless black-silver furred wolf with horns. It had four black fluffy tails that bloomed like dreadful petals of a flower, fluttering softly, enchantingly. It was a beautiful beast. A chilling monster which was halfway crossed between a fox and a robust wolf It went without saying, Hamlet's presence in the vicinity instantly became more pronounced and greater. Intimidating even. It's deeplly piercing eyes were like two pools of liquid silver that devoured with but a gaze. Those same eyes met my figure, almost making me want to freeze on the spot. But i remembered. This was my damned slime. "Bastard..." Pretending to not be phased by this oppression, i wobbled my way to the large hulking figure of the wolf, its fur glistening and full of...fluff. The four fluffy tails behind its back moved lightly. As i moved, Hamlet's Midnight Fox and Dire Fanged Wolf cross form curled around me. My breathing was hitched. Cold sweat glistening against my pale forehead and my lips were dried. I held unto Hamlet in Wolf form for comfort and buried my face partially into his fur and said hoarsely, finding it hard to breathe properly. "We...need to find Alexander, boy. Find...Alex." "Woof." Hamlet whimpered then tossed me on its large back in one fluent motion. Like that, i mounted Hamlet like a stallion, grabbing his fur tightly as i struggled against the dreariness scattered in my head oike a fog. I gave Don's figure one last fleeting glance before looking forward and wheezed with a light nudge. "Go." Hamlet sprinted instantly at my command, dashing towards a clear exit, with an unknown direction. I still had no idea how Hamlet was going to find Alex. But for some inexplicable reason this time. I felt... certain. 'Hamlet will find Alex.' Perhaps it was due to the vague nature of our connection as Familiar and contractor — it was kind of instinctual for me to understand Hamlet's intentions and emotions. That was why i somehow knew. It was only a matter of when. As Hamlet dashed through the ruinous archaic passageway of Dark Castle with the wind whistling by my face, i struggled to hold on tightly. My thoughts trailed from there, feeling the scenery rush by and essence slowly gather inside my core. I leaned forward and put my hand into an inner pocket as Hamlet ran, the speed of his large intimidating figure as swift, if not even faster, than a regular horse. I reached out and pulled out the black Murmur's Mask and stared at it dryly. Instantly, i felt assaulted by a barrage of sinister suggestions and whispers — countless Mumurs in my mind, peering into it. I gulped down dryly and my lips parted. "I should get ready, too."

Chapter 174: Misery [2]

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