Chapter 239: We found you....
Third Person's POV
'Fiends' was the name given to the corrupted beings who were no different from other monsters and desired to consume living flesh or corrupt other beings in order to increase their population.
There are two causes for that.
Dark Mana was the primary and major cause of corruption. If non-habitants, except the Fallen people, tried to enter the Fallen Continent, the first thing that would transpire was their soul crystal immediately getting corrupted. Soon after, their body would follow suit, and finally, their sane mind.
What remained was a grotesque monster, driven by a singular goal of survival through the consumption of other creatures, be the monsters or fellow humans, along with their tainted soul crystals.
While these Fiends were initially weaker, their insatiable appetite drove them to evolve. It was less of an evolution and more of a regression to their original state before the corruption set in.
Their bodies would revert to their human form, yet their eyes would retain a perpetual darkness, a telltale sign distinguishing them from ordinary beings.
Despite this transformation, they lost all memories of their previous life, akin to being reborn. However, their relentless hunger remained an unchanged constant.
"So, why the heck am I being chased by hundreds of soldiers now?" Eli muttered, his breath quickening as he sprinted away from the looming threat.
Before his daring escape from the Duchess House, Eli had utilized his arts to create a convincing illusion, masking himself as an inconspicuous servant.
Yet, Eli had overlooked a crucial detail.
"Hey, when did Madam Phoenix accept a male servant?" one of the soldiers questioned, scepticism lacing his tone.
"Hmm? Yes, Madam Phoenix rarely accepts a female servant, let alone a male" another soldier echoed in agreement.
"Hey, servant!! Come here" A soldier's demanding call cut through the air, reaching Eli's ears.
Knowing that engaging in conversation would only stall the inevitable, Eli had foreseen he might get caught but not like this. Anyhow, As part of his cautious approach, 'Just to be safe' he had already conjured an illusion of himself, positioning it strategically near one of the rooms.
"Oh! That Fiend!!!" Eli suddenly pointed in a specific direction. The soldiers, caught off guard, reflexively turned their attention to the indicated spot.
"!!!!" The soldiers were on high alert, their senses heightened as they observed someone fleeing.
"KILL THAT BASTARD!!"
"YYYESSSS!!"
Exploiting the chaos, Eli deftly slipped away, navigating through the shadows of the estate's gate.
As he exited, a sigh of relief escaped him, the tension momentarily lifted.
However,
"You can even create illusions…ah?"
A thoughtful voice echoed behind Eli.
He instinctively used his Arts to sense the surroundings, but there was nothing.....no discernible presence.
"Where are you?" Eli asked calmly as if he didn't care.
As Mariel had surmised, Eli only avoided confronting others and did not want to kill unnecessarily as they doing their part of the work..nothing more,
However,
That didn't mean he would allow others to trample on him.
"Oh? That's interesting you can't even see me?"
Even now, Eli couldn't feel anyone near him. His body remained on high alert, yet he dared not open his eyes. The revelation that his vision had coincidentally vanished when others had labelled him a 'Fiend' and Fiend's distinguishing feature was 'Dark Black Eyes'
Therefore, Eli didn't know how his eyes turned black, but it was best not to show it to others.
"I don't want to involve myself in other territories' matters, so run away.....Fiend"
With those words, a sudden impact struck Eli's stomach,
"BOOMM!!"
A forceful blow sent Eli hurtling through the air.
'Swoossshhh'
After a second,
"L-Lord Leonardo?" One of the soldiers approached the gate, having heard the commotion. They were searching for the Fiend that seemed to vanish into thin air in the middle of their pursuit.
The soldier looked at the middle-aged man.
"Hmm? If you are searching for the Fiend, it ran away" Leonardo said nonchalantly, pointing in Eli's direction.
"Huh? Understood. Thank you very much, Lord Leonardo!!" The soldier expressed gratitude and then relayed the information to his comrades.
"Soldiers, That Fiend ran this way!!"
"Huh?" Soldiers who searching for 'Fake Eli' momentarily froze, processing the unexpected turn of events, before sprinting in Eli's direction.
"Lord Leonard, I shall..." Just as the soldier was about to bow, he noticed,
"L-Lord Leonard, Y-You are bleeding!!"
"Hmm?…Oh, Oh!" Leonardo inspected a deep nail cut on his wrist, 'Fiend...ah?' Pondering the recent encounter with the mysterious Fiend. Unfazed, he dismissed the concerned soldier, who bowed and joined the pursuit.
Leonardo approached the gate, intending to step inside, but a sudden, ethereal sound, "sshhhsss" halted his progress. A barrier, unseen but felt, prevented his entrance.
"Still hate us… ah?" Leonardo muttered, seated outside the gate.
Meanwhile, Eli, some distance away, dusted off his pants, surveying the aftermath of the crater he had created. He gingerly rubbed his stomach, aware of the sternum that had absorbed the brunt of the impact.
Until the point of contact, Eli couldn't sense or hear the other party's movements, as if they emerged out of the shadows.
'He is not only strong but something else..' Eli thought. If he were able to sense the other party's location, Eli could surely block the attack.
"He is here!!"
Eli heard someone's scream but paid it no heed. It was undoubtedly the 'Zombie soldiers' who always scream like an idiot.
Eli used his arts to escape from them. After so many long hours, Eli managed to escape.
"Damn, bastard! They are stubborn!!" Eli's frustrated voice resonated in the plain area.
Finally breaking free from the relentless chase, Eli realized the tenacity of the soldiers. Even in their seemingly weakened state, low and mid-level as they were, their unwavering determination fueled the pursuit, refusing to be deterred by apparent fatigue or impending doom.
Some had attempted to end Eli's life, a threat that he skillfully deflected, contorting limbs without delivering lethal blows...this much he could do to avoid killing them.
"Where am I?" Eli pondered, trying to sense his surroundings, "Sigh, it seems I am out of the city" he concluded as he felt nothing but a vast plain around him. Trees and grasses were the only companions in this serene landscape.
Raising his arm to gauge the time, Eli felt the breeze and warmth on his left side from the setting sun, "I guess it's around evening…hmm…maybe within an hour or so, the night will arrive, and surely Scylla has started to panic, ask Adriana who surely come for me" Eli speculated.
Deciding to avoid encounters with local beasts, he climbed one of the sturdy trees and settled on a strong branch.
"Who was that?" Eli wondered about the person who punched him, because Eli could not even feel that man's presence, He couldn't shake the feeling that someone might be silently watching his every move. A cautious sweep of his hands, both in front and behind, confirmed no immediate threat.
Calming down a little, Eli lowered his guard.
As a gentle breeze brushed against his face, Eli's thoughts delved into the events of the day.
"Today sure was a hectic day…ah? First, the Resurrection script belonging to Mariel, then blaming me for some bastard's head, then Mariel's mix of hatred and love, and last but not least, losing my vision and being hunted by soldiers….hehehe" Eli chuckled. The roller coaster of emotions had made him feel alive, and he contemplated how to move forward with Mariel.
Eli was sure he wouldn't cross the line with Mariel until she reconciled with her daughters. Contemplating his sisters, he mused,
"So, they wanted to protect me" Memories of his father lying about his sisters' marriage resurfaced.
Finally opening his frozen eyes, Eli still couldn't see anything, yet there was no pain. "Protect…ah" Eli mumbled.
After the loss of his mother, Scarlett, Eli's older sister, stepped in as a second mother, offering care during his lonely times. She filled his loveless life with her lovely heart.
When their father broke the news that Scarlett was to be engaged to another person, Eli's heart shattered. Despite the pain, he resisted selfishness. He was just a soulless man who died within 100 years, unlike Scarlett who was transcendent.
Acknowledging that he wasn't suitable for his great-big sister.....He believed it was for the best, even if it hurt more than his mother's death. Eli chose to accept reality over delusions.
"Scarlett" The name was already etched in his heart.
Similar to his big sister, Mia, his little sister, was a cute and endearing presence, following him like a chick.
Mia took pride in Eli's every achievement, whether he was a humble farmer or a skilled swordfighter, she always praised him and boosted him to everybody....which was certainly a hectic problem for Eli.
Managing Mia's expectations posed a constant challenge for Eli. He showcased his best side to Mia while revealing his vulnerable side to Scarlett.
Even after discovering that Eli wasn't an awakened person, Mia remained proud of her big brother. If Scarlett played the role of Eli's mother figure, Mia was his proud daughter, convinced that her big brother was the best in the world.
This was the very reason Eli hesitated to cross certain boundaries with Mia. Since Mia stumbled upon Eli and Scarlett's 'Secret Act' she attempted to explore the realm of adulthood with Eli. However, Eli insisted she wait until she turned 17, hoping that she might change her mind in the future.
Even the idea of a simple kiss felt uneasy for Eli during those moments.
"Little Mia..." Eli muttered, genuinely wondering why she continued to be proud of him, regardless of his actions. If Mia truly wished to be with him, Eli would gladly accept, but not until he shared everything with her.
Knowing that both her father and brother held immense importance to Mia, Eli took his time to carefully unveil the truth.
"Mariel…" Eli's concerns about the consequences of his actions lingered. While he harboured no regrets about accepting her, the uncertainty of Mia potentially hating her mother haunted him. Dismissing unwanted thoughts, Eli focused on the gentle breeze caressing his face.
"Swooosshhh"
Accompanied by the breeze, a throwing knife cut through the air. Eli, reacting swiftly, caught the weapon in his hand.
"Who are you?" Eli asked as he fiddled with a knife.
"….Finally, We found you, Mr. Asher Eli"