Chereads / The Burdens of the Lost / Chapter 31 - Chapter XXX

Chapter 31 - Chapter XXX

Daesig stretches as he lands on the ground. Nikuyoku smiles as she realizes the point of the invasion. Nikuyoku wasn't a diversion from the invasion, she was also a target all along. She laughs as she instantly clashes with Daesig. Daesig's calm nature starts to turn to concern. Nikuyoku smiles, satisfied in the knowledge that Daesig was there for a reason.

Nikuyoku: "Am I your target, Dear Sister in Law?"

Daesig: "How would you know? Aren't you concerned with Vinlox?"

Nikuyoku: "Vinlox can wait, right now it's just me and you."

Nikuyoku's grin widens as the clashing continues. As Daesig's concern increases, her stance shorten, leaving her open for attacks.

Nikuyoku: "Gotcha!"

The shockwave felt from the punch sent Daesig flying through the forest. Trees blur as she notices Nikuyoku's grin, which immediately grabs her attention. A sudden wave of terror coursed through her veins as she tried to brace herself for the impact. Nikuyoku swiftly kicks her, making Daesig hit the exterior of a nearby cave. She crashes into the cave wall, feeling the air knocked out of her lungs.

Nikuyoku: "So, let's talk."

Before Daesig can respond, her consciousness is ruptured by Nikuyoku's fist. As her barrage continues, Aria appears and tries to hold Nikuyoku back as Daesig loses consciousness. Nikuyoku's barrage is relentless as Aria struggles to restrain her. The pleasure of beating someone senseless is too much for Nikuyoku to handle as her laughs become more psychotic. She will not stop until Daesig is nothing more than a broken mess.

Nikuyoku: "Come on Dear Sister! I just want to talk, I just want to talk!"

Aria: "Nikuyoku, stop this! You're better than this."

Nikuyoku shakes Aria off, readying one last barrage as Arino shows up. Arino blocks his mother's punch with ease as Nikuyoku's sanity worsens. Nikuyoku lashes out in anger and desperation, throwing wild punches that are effortlessly blocked by Arino.

Arino: "Mom, stop it!"

Nikuyoku: "I just want to have a nice talk with her! Nothing bad will fucking happen."

Aria: "I am so sorry you have to deal with this."

Arino: "I never knew Mom was like this."

Nikuyoku loses consciousness as her barrages lessen in number. Gradually, the intensity of her assaults lessens, and she feels the power to fight draining from her body. Her will and pleasure to fight die down as her essence calms down. Finally, Nikuyoku falls into a deep and restful sleep, allowing her body to recover from the exhausting battle. Aria carries Nikuyoku on her shoulder and apologizes for all the trouble. He looks down at Daesig's body as he waves goodbye. Daesig's fair skin, jet black hair, and warrior scars awaken something within him as he falls to the floor. He isn't prone to lustful thoughts, but it's never gone to this extreme. Within the same time frame, Katria wakes up from all the commotion to see tiny little stars. Noticing that something was up, she runs to the area where the stars are to see Arino, who has attempted to knock himself out and is drawing ever closer to Daesig.

Aria: "Arino?! What are you doing?!"

Arino can't hear Aria's pleads as he stands still. His own essence starts to ooze out of his body as the fight for control wages heavily in Arino's mind. Arino can't hear Aria's pleas as he stands still. His own essence starts to ooze out of his body as the fight for control wages heavily in Arino's mind. A sudden rush of clarity washes over Arino as he releases himself from the grasp of the tyrant. Before anyone could react, a flash of golden essence knocks Arino unconscious. Aria's eyes widened as Katria appeared in front of them. Her presence in the room seemed to bring an air of peace as she looked upon Arino with kindness and concern.

Katria: "So, mind to explain what happened here, Netami?"

Aria: "Let's clean up this mess first beforehand, please?"

Katria: "Deal, that disgusting essence made me wake up from my nap."

Aria: "So that's why you showed up? To keep him pure?"

Katria: "It still technically is my job after all."

Aria: "Seems like someone still values actual purity in this world."

Katria: "I have to, I know my father doesn't."

Aria looks at the eyepatch covering Katria's eye. The white essence starting to slowly cover up the wound. Katria felt a wave of relief as the white essence slowly covered her wound.

Katria: "Finally, I can take off this eyepatch."

As Katria takes off the eyepatch, Aria notices something strange. Katria's eye, originally silver, started to change color. Her right eye transforms from cool silver to golden. Aria is astounded by this phenomenon and cannot contain her surprise. Her voice seems to power off as she tries to ask Katria how it happened. Katria looks at Aria, puzzled, and doesn't seem to notice any difference. her own appearance at all. Aria stares in amazement as Katria calmly looks back at her, appearing oblivious to the transformation.

Katria: "What's up?"

Aria: "So, you can't see your new essence texture? Summon an organic orb real fast."

Katria: "Hold on."

Katria summons an orb filled with her essence. Her carefree tone morphed into shock. Arino wakes up soon afterwards, with the tips of hair turning silver. His left eye transforms into a cool silver color, shocking Aria even more. Katria was surprised as she recognized what was happening, she starts to blush after looking at Arino's confused face. The surprise was written all over Katria's face, as she quickly recognized what was happening to Arino.

Katria: "Is this what Nikuyoku was talking about?"

Arino: "What was she talking about again? I didn't really pay attention."

Katria: "How we are special cases or whatever. Is this what she meant?"

Arino: "Apparently, this is some kind of power that unbinds us from something. Like hell I know what that thing is."

Katria: "We'll probably find out soon enough."

Arino: "Hopefully so, I don't want this to be some unknown or unexplained power-up."

As Katria helps Arino up, her smile warms Arino's heart. Arino finds the smile very familiar, but his memory is still pretty hazy.