ALL NOVEL Chapter 295: Eagered Learning
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Volume 11 Start
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Ty's eyelids grew heavy, and he succumbed to sleep, sprawled on the beach. Around him, a black sludge began to evaporate, burning away into nothingness. Deep within his half-conscious state, Ty thought he heard a faint cry emanating from the dissipating sludge.
Moments later, the visage of an old man, enshrouded in dark garments, appeared before Ty. The old man fixed his gaze upon him and declared, "You will soon shatter more of the Locked cores, gradually unveiling more of your true power. However, the possibility remains that you might not be the chosen one to inherit this power, and thus, I am restrained from offering you assistance."
As Ty wrestled with his thoughts, trying to formulate a response, a sharp pain pierced his chest. Looking down, he saw an odd orb slowly emerging from within him. This sight jolted him awake, drenched in a cold sweat, as a voice echoed in his head, "We could make quite the duo, you know?"
Promptly standing up from the bed, Ty made his way to the bathroom. Approaching the sink, he splashed water onto his face, trying to erase the remnants of the nightmare. The clock indicated it was 5:00 AM. "Ugh, no point in trying to sleep again," Ty muttered to himself.
However, when he gazed into the mirror, expecting to see his own reflection, he was met instead by the image of a skeleton adorned with eyes that burned a fiery red.
Instead of recoiling in fear or panicking, Ty simply stared at the reflection and took a deep breath. "I'm not escaping you anytime soon, am I?" he asked, his voice steady despite the oddity of the situation.
The voice responded, firm yet disembodied, "No, escape is not suggested."
With a sigh of resignation, Ty kept his gaze fixed on the mirror. "How about you stop being cryptic and just tell me what's going on? Why did Erebos do this to me? Why are you inside me? And what's the ultimate goal here?" His questions spilled out, a mix of frustration and curiosity coloring his tone.
The skeleton in the mirror, its eyes flaring red, met Ty's gaze. Despite its lack of physical movement, it communicated clearly, "All good questions, to be honest." It paused, as if considering how much to reveal. "However, much like the Demon King required you to sign that contract to aid your journey home, I too am bound by a contract to the vessel of the one who awakens."
Ty shook his head in disbelief. "What does that even mean? Am I speaking to the same entity that threatened my friends on numerous occasions?" His tone was a mix of frustration and incredulity. "I thought Erebos had separated you from me or something when he pierced his hand through my skeleton chest... There was so much blood; you must be aware of that."
The creature replied calmly, "Yes, I am aware. After all, that was my blood." It paused before adding ominously, "And given the right circumstances, I would likely eliminate everyone you love and everyone you detest. The locks that keep 'your' power contained are far more complex than you imagine. Unless I wish to be reduced to ashes and become as insignificant as an ant, I cannot fully explain.
However, if you do not decipher it, you stand to lose everything."
Ty, striving to maintain his composure, thought to himself about how to extract the maximum amount of information without causing the entity to breach its contract. "Okay, let's try to get some answers before I'm thrown back into that cell at least..." He then asked, "Why can't I use the souls of those I've defeated anymore?"
The creature provided an explanation, "Erebos took those when he siphoned a portion of your life force. Though your power will gradually return, it's a slow process."
Ty pondered for a moment before voicing his question, "So, if I were to end someone's life, would I then gain their soul and power?" He continued, trying to recall Erebos's complaints, "And Erebos... he seemed almost frustrated by my lack of something. I can't quite remember... But do you know anything about him and his purpose? Are you two collaborating?"
The Skeleton couldn't help but laugh before responding, "No, oh no. If anything, he is my greatest adversary. I can't divulge the details, but I can say that I have numerous foes who wish to see my existence obliterated. If you were to take someone's life, you wouldn't obtain their soul. However, I would.
Our connection isn't as it once was; you cannot utilize my regenerative abilities or my capacity to harvest souls."
"Your ability?" Ty interjected, confused. "I thought the regeneration belonged to that dead guy from the Demon King's realm."
The Skeleton, with a hint of a smile, clarified, "Yes, it was his. The great Suin-Jin—he was considered to be the last Demon King's most formidable warrior, boasting an incredible healing factor and the power to annihilate billions in an instant. So, naturally, defeating him granted me his regenerative capability...
Quite the convenience that the new Demon King would bestow upon me the bones of such a being."
Ty, taking a moment to digest the influx of revelations, mused on how beneficial it would have been to possess this knowledge prior to his encounter with the Demon King. "He seems like a clever individual... the Demon King, perhaps he orchestrated all this with a purpose in mind," Ty pondered, considering the strategic foresight of the Demon King.
With a thoughtful gesture, Ty pressed a thumb against his forehead, sifting through his thoughts for another query. "What about the locks—are those mine, or do they belong to you?"
The entity clarified without hesitation, "Ah, the eight locks. Referring to them as such doesn't breach any rules. Briefly, they are not directly related to me but are somewhat connected to you, albeit on a much grander scale."
"You know, there's no hurry. You can always pose your questions later," the creature suggested, attempting to pace the conversation.
Ty, however, brushed aside the creature's suggestion, driven by a pressing curiosity. "And this skin—why doesn't it decay or melt away?"
"I cannot provide an answer for that. However, a delve into some historical texts, should you find the time, will likely shed light on that mystery," the creature hinted, pushing Ty towards self-led discovery.
Suddenly, a loud knock disrupted their exchange. The Lieutenant was at the door, urgency in his tone, "Hey, time to get up and get moving. We need to have you back before it gets too early."
Seizing the moment for one final inquiry, Ty asked, "And what role does Jade play in all of this?"
The skeleton, betraying a hint of amusement with a slight smile, responded, "I cannot answer that."