Chapter 128 Same (2)
Chapter 128 Same (2)
Chapter 128: Same (2)
"Where were you?" Aimee asked, her tone mixed with concern and bitterness.
Although she hadn't said it aloud, Aimee could feel that Hunter had used a lot of strength that shouldn't have been in his hands. Keres within her screamed the name that shouldn't have been said, too, making her have a constant headache. It pierced her head so much, yet her heart was hurt the most, all because of concern.
It wouldn't have been weird for Hunter to be gone for some time. He was an adult man, after all. But that headache and Keres' screams said more than enough. Unable to keep it to herself, she shared it with Seraphina, and both of them were waiting for Hunter's return at their home.
Hunter teleported back to his residence and was now flanked by them.
"Where do I begin?" Hunter awkwardly whispered. As much as these two would hate him for it, he felt so happy that Aimee and Seraphina were so worried about him. It evoked the memories of his past life—Hades—in which he was alone in the underground. At some point, even the pet that was his only friend was forced to stay out of the underworld to keep unruly souls at bay.
It was a lone life. Now that Hunter was Hunter with Hades' memories clear, he could tell that Hades wanted a family that would be with him no matter what. Because of it, Aimee and Seraphina and their feelings were like treasures he never would be able to give up.
Treasures that he loved and would protect for an eternity. To have them by his side, he'd grant them his eternity as well, polish their skills, and make them an eternal part of his family. Those feelings broke out of his heart as though dam broke, and Hunter stood up with a wide smile on his face.
He twined his arms around them and pushed them onto himself, whispering declarations of love. That was how he began his explanation. In most cases, Aimee would have just glared at him and rolled her eyes, but she had become so perceptive about his feelings that she could sense that he was more than genuine.
It only stirred her curiosity and worries. Seraphina, although not that well-versed in reading feelings, sensed Hunter's warmth and instinctively understood how important each person here was for each other. She smiled and embraced Hunter tighter, then wrapped her arm around Aimee, too, like a sister.
At last, Hunter began the explanation from the start, "I got snatched to the guardian's domain."
As he started the story, the couple went to the table and sat down by it. There were already some snacks there, but no one was in the mood to eat. Hunter's story had shocked them as he revealed his other name, his origins, and that he had battled a fragment of Zeus.
It meant that there were more divine fragments scattered around the world, and all main forces were looking out from them.
Aimee commented, "The World Order might be keeping the balance so that no one finds them out."
"Sounds plausible," Hunter nodded.
The World Order's cruel methods somewhat lent weight to Aimee's theory. Was there really a point in keeping the world as it was? There were more demons on Lucifer's level, but it seemed spirits were fine with keeping Lucifer's resurrection hindered by compelling this damn balance.
But was just Lucifer worth it? What if there were divine fragments that spirits didn't want to return? In the first place, Hunter understood now that spirits and demons had been servants of divine beings of the past. For instance, demons were often seen working for gods like Ares, the god of war, seeing as cruelty followed this god's wake.
Zeus had spirits under him, for example. But there were a few demons subservient to him as well.
"Is Celestia… really a demon?" Seraphina asked, her voice weak. If that was the truth, then was her older sister manipulated? Otherwise, how could she work with a demon? Seraphina couldn't see it happening in normal circumstances, but Hunter had broken all her assumptions with his view.
"I think she was really missing Miss Charlotte and Miss Layla's presence after demons revealed her name. They must be really good friends," Hunter said. He didn't think he was wrong. Also, Celestia was within him, so any sort of manipulation would be easy to see through.
All that they had to do was to meet Miss Charlotte and check on her.
"I have to see Celestia anyway, so you two can go fetch Miss Charlotte here," Hunter said, "There's still a lot to work… and the battle you have been waiting for is ahead of you, Sera."
Hunter's words didn't go past Seraphina.
She figured that… Asmodeus was in his grasp.
-
Hunter entered his world, only to be immediately greeted by Brandi. It seemed the purple-black-haired maid had been waiting for him to receive more praises! She also worked hard in his absence, keeping an eye on Celestia.
Well, this woman couldn't be really constrained, though, so just thinking of her made Brandi's face contort. Only her master's presence was enough to make her smile!
Now that he was before her, Brandi was all smiles, "I have a report, Master!"
"Alright. What is it?" Hunter asked, his smile brighter.
"Celestia was forced to wear the maid uniform, so her strength is limited!" The first words nearly turned Hunter into a simp now that he imagined Celestia in the maid uniform weaved to be his maid! The colors, the emblem, and even his tastes were reflected in that uniform.
And that sexy boss was in those clothes?! America!
He composed himself real fast, though, "Hah! Those aren't that bad news! We got more control over her now, right?"
Brandi's face twisted, "She went ahead and defeated the second blood wave for you, Master! Control is the last word you want to use for her! She caught the vampire spirits that went mad for you and defeated the madness! It was screaming so much that the mountains trembled!"
The madness was simply mad at Celestia for bringing the fragment of Zeus to Hunter. It was too early for him to face that bastard, yet the countermeasure against Zeus had activated during that battle, and Hunter learned nearly everything about himself in that one battle.
The madness was, of course, Hades' madness at divinities and their servants. He had cast it away when he realized that it was mostly on him that the universe disrespected him. The madness took the form of blood and was sealed in the mountain to act as a challenge for his next reincarnation.
Hunter, in fact, spent many reincarnations. He was born in a lot of worlds and developed necromancy skills in nearly every life. But on Earth, there was no mana, and so his inheritance turned into poison which left him bedridden. But that was quite a blessing in disguise as it allowed Hunter to retain his memories from the previous life and shape himself differently in another world of mana.
Anyway, the madness had all right to be mad at Celestia. It boldly took her challenge and cast the second blood wave at Celestia! Of course, now that she was wearing Hunter's maid uniform, her strength was on the same level as his. It meant that she didn't have that much advantage over the madness that was weaker because of years of slumber.
"You could understand the madness?" Hunter asked, bemused.
Brandi shook her head, "Not really… but those dreams were akin to screams, and at least I could tell it was saying 'Fuck you, bitch!' time after time. It might be because I often heard Nakisha say the same words…"
"Yeah… it must surely be Nakisha's influence," Hunter agreed.
Before long, Hunter was guided to the cave carved on the first mountain. Inside that place was naturally Celestia, but she was not alone. Behind her were vampire spirits whose hearts were drunk with Hunter's blood. The love for it had turned them into women in love with him… but Celestia put them in their place, sitting straight at the helm of them, waiting for Hunter.
Their eyes met.
Hunter gulped. The maid uniform suited Celestia's style as it had a boob window, so she could expose her cleavage the way she did with her black armor. It seemed somewhat shorter, too, exposing so much of her legs that Hunter felt like rebuking himself for looking at her this way.
He no longer felt anything toward her, but he was a man who naturally would get charmed by a beautiful gender.
"You got me, Hunter," Celestia whispered.
Hunter nodded, "I am not planning to let you go."
"Nothing I can do about it," Celestia nodded and closed her eyes.
Hunter sat down in front of her and continued, "Why would you seal the spirit world first?"