'…..Phantom…?'
Roy was groaning in pain down on the ground. The purple-colored gem in that bracelet was glowing in the dark light as if it was soaking up Roy's magic power.
Blood had started pouring from all over Roy's body as well. He was unable to even stand on his feet due to pain.
Seeing this condition of Roy, that voice also started coming again.
‡Looks like this power likes you a lot. Me, whom people used to call the Witch of neither world, had to wear this power myself, and here this power got itself attached to your wrist; it is unbelievable. ‡
"..Shut your crap…and tell me how to get it off from my wrist…."
Power of Phantom? I haven't seen or heard this in Legendary Hero's anime or heard my friends say something like this. So, where did this power come from?
If I don't remove this bracelet from my wrist, it will kill me; it is soaking my magic power like this-
Roy groaned in pain on the ground below, telling the voice to remove his bracelet. His eyes, ears, everything was hurting. Blood also started flowing from different places in his body.
The purple gem of the bracelet was glowing in the dark, and slowly it was soaking up all of Roy's magic power.
‡There is no way to remove it. This power has chosen you. Either you will be unable to handle this power and die here. Either this power will be yours. Do you know what this power can do? ‡
Roy couldn't even respond to that voice because of pain. He was desperately trying to remove the bracelet from his wrist, but the bracelet was stuck on his wrist.
And veins were visible all over his body.
"….I have nothing to do with it, take it off from my wrist.."
Roy, even in this condition, was asking the woman to remove the bracelet on his wrist, but the woman started speaking back without listening to Roy.
And Roy's red eyes started to glow.
‡Whoever becomes the master of this power, then everything in the world which has the ability to shine can become that person's eyes, and it will depend on your magic power that how far you will be able to see with the help of this power.‡
When the woman started speaking, Roy's eyes began to hurt a lot. Everything was coming in front of his eyes that was not even present in that cave.
Roy could see everything in the darkness of the night, from an owl to a drop of water lying on the tree from which the light was reflecting.
From the eyes of an insect to the water of rivers. From the floating water creatures in the river to the glowing claws of sleeping birds. Roy could see everything from the silver coin lying on the ground to the mirror in the room.
"….What is all this…."
Roy's eyes started hurting a lot, he could not understand at all what this was all about, and some blood had started coming into Roy's eyes too.
But that bracelet didn't stop soaking up Roy's magic power despite all this.
‡To whomever this power comes, then everything in this world that can shine, He is capable of changing everything according to his thoughts. ‡
While Roy's condition was slowly getting worse, his body started responding. He had just come to the verge of fainting.
But still, the woman did not stop speaking.
‡You cannot even guess the powers of this power; this power has been created by me, the Witch of neither world. It is the only power in the world, and no one can compete with it. ‡
Down on the ground, the bracelet was thoroughly soaking up Roy's magic power, and here that voice was magnifying her power.
She was speaking as if she was very proud of herself for creating this power.
‡I had created this power for myself, but even my magic power could not take this power under its control. Feel the magnification of this power; it is the result of my fifty years of hard work, which no one else can create except me. ‡
Roy's courage slowly started giving up. Even his attention was not able to get away from his pain, and the woman was speaking to him, but he was not even able to hear correctly.
‡The owner of this power can see whatever every shining thing has seen so far; he can hear whatever the sound coming near that thing. When I think about this, I had really invented incredible power. ‡
Roy's breathing was also rapidly increasing, and blood was coming out of his ears, seeing that it seemed like he was about to die.
But even in this condition, that voice was talking as if she did not care about Roy's condition; she was busy magnifying the power she had created.
The gem was slowly getting dark as if it was about to draw the entire magic power of the Roy.
When Roy was in this condition, that voice was taunting Roy, telling him to accept his death now.
‡Let it be; now, you don't need to bear any more pain. I was foolish that I could not know the power that I could not take, the Witch of neither world, what a fifteen-year-old child like you be able to handle? Give up; now, your death is inevitable. ‡
Roy was trying to ease the pain with his other hand by pressing hard on the hand on which the bracelet was on, but that too could not do anything.
The dark color was glowing in that bracelet's purple gem, and Roy could not relieve himself of the pain.
‡This bracelet will pull your whole power inside itself and keep pulling it till it gets more power than its own. Your survival is not only difficult; it is impossible. So now you should accept your death. ‡
Roy's voice was now barely able to come out; the bracelet was tied so tightly to Roy's wrist that he was utterly soaking the magic power from Roy's nerves.
He was not able to save himself from this trouble.
'…is my death…certain….?'
Somehow, Kazuo, there must be some way to get out of this; what is this power? And there must be some way to get out of it. Think Kazuo, think quickly.
I will not be able to bear this pain for a long time; now, my courage is also answering.
Will I really be killed like this now?
Roy's head had come down to the ground in pain, and he could no longer turn his head upwards.
'Is there nothing in my destiny….other than death?'
I have come here to save someone and not to kill myself. I came this far and faced so many difficulties to die for myself? Do I have no other way to save my life?
If it was so, then why did you come here, Kazuo? If you could not save anyone else, why did you come here believing in Roy's strength?
Why did you choose such a way if you just want to die? If you had given up the hope of living, then why choose such a difficult path?
Why wouldn't you stay there without doing anything comfortably and say that Amelia's life cannot be saved? If you have come this far, will you give up?
While Roy was thinking about all this, a picture of Kazuo's mother started appearing in front of him.
{What happened Kazuo gave up?}
When his mother asked this question in front of Kazuo, the picture of Amelia also started coming in front of him. As soon as the image of Amelia also started coming with his mother, only one thing came to Roy's mind.
'No…I will not give up. I have promised…that I will not let anyone else come out of the pain I am going through, because of myself.'
Roy tried to stand from the ground.
'Roy...you are powerful; show your strength.'
Seeing Roy, the woman did not stop speaking. Her voice was still coming, pushing Roy to accept his death.
‡Don't give yourself any more pain. If you accept death easily, then the pain will not be so much, and your condition is also not like those who will try, give up. ‡
Roy could not even open his eyes, but still, he was trying to stand up from the ground. The purple gem of the bracelet was glowing in dark light.
And Roy's pain was not going down, but he was still trying to stand up.
‡Now, I don't think you will be able to bear this power for a moment; by now, all your magic energy might have been absorbed by this bracelet. ‡
Roy did not stop getting up from the ground even at the behest of the woman; he was still trying to stand up while keeping one hand on the ground. Roy's eyes were still not able to open.
‡Now, just give up and let this bracelet absorb all your magic power; I don't think now you, too, would feel that you can be saved. ‡
Roy was still trying to stand up from his place.
'If I am going to die then-'
‡Just now, I don't think there will be magic power left in your body to absorb-‡
"..You need magic power, don't you? So take this, my magic power."
The gem of Roy's bracelet, which was glowing in a dark color, had stopped glowing in a dark color, but the light of bright color was slowly coming from it. And seeing this, even that voice was getting surprised.
‡Interesting, I didn't know that you would still have magic power left. ‡
Roy stood up courageously from his place, staggering, but he still stood.
The bracelet in his hand was facing down, but slowly, bright light was burning in the purple gem of the bracelet, and Roy, taking all the courage he could, opened his eyes and turned to the front, looking passionately.
"….You want my magic power, don't you?...So now soak as much power as you can…..I also see whether this power is big or I am powerful."
'-I will not hold back from applying all my strength.'
The bright color in the gem of Roy's bracelet slowly seemed to glow a lot more.
Roy's body was bruised, blood was flowing in some places, and he was feeling pain, but Roy was still giving his magic power in that bracelet.
‡The way to speak like this even after being in this condition? If you were not strong, I would have considered you a maniac. If you have asked the question now, then give the answer too, is the power more significant or you? ‡
After that voice spoke, Roy answered the question of that voice with a mocking smile on his face, even though he was in a condition where he could die at any time.
Even then, he was not scared.
"…is this also a matter to ask?…I don't even need to answer it whether the power is big or I because the answer is very easy –"
‡And what is that answer?‡
Roy started gathering all his strength in one place, and he began to raise his hand on which the bracelet was on; the bright light in the gem of that bracelet was now shining a lot more.
Roy raised his hand and started speaking as if he were making an announcement.
"–I am the biggest because.....I am the power.… I was the most powerful, I am the most powerful, and I will be the most powerful!!!"
As soon as Roy said, the bright light in the gem of his bracelet became so bright that it was as if it was absorbing the whole cave in its light.
Roy had poured all his magic power into the bracelet.
'I will not give up. I will live myself and will not let Amelia die either.'
Seeing the light of the gem of Roy's bracelet, that voice started laughing loudly.
‡Very good, very good. You drown my hopes in the water. But I am not sad about this. Instead, I am really proud of a boy like you. Which I, the Witch of neither world, could not control; you are doing that power in your control. interesting‡
Ignoring the woman's words, Roy was trying to poke all his strength into the bracelet, expressing a wake; his body also started sweating.
"You call it the Power of Phantom, don't you? Then listen. I, Roy Holt, today, considering the wind, water, and you as my witness, declare that from today this power is mine."
As soon as Roy spoke this one last time, the bright light in his bracelet became so bright that nothing other than the light could be seen there.
Nothing could be seen inside the cave except the light and only the sound of the woman laughing.
‡Finally, after waiting for so many years, I got free. Thou, see today, the one whom you imprisoned, because of this power, it got its new owner. Look, I'm free‡
There was a lot of joy in the woman's voice with some pain. Her voice was as if someone had freed her from the cage.
There the light was still not dimming. There was nothing but white light everywhere, and that voice was speaking with great joy as if she wanted to tell everyone that the master of this power had arrived.
‡Listen everyone. Listen to the air, the water, the sky, and all the sleeping creatures. The Witch of neither world is now free, and she has found worthy and entitled to the power she created. She is free now‡
That voice was screaming with great joy and telling everyone to see that she got free. She sounded pleased, as if she had been sitting with this hope for a long time.
"I am the power, No power has the ability to take me in his control. No one can rule over me except me because my name is Roy… Roy Holt!!"
Roy had poured his magic power into the bracelet with all his life, and that bright light was slowly fading away, and the things in the cave were becoming visible.
Slowly, that bright light started to enter the bracelet, and as soon as it started going inside the bracelet, the true form of the cave was coming out.
The cave was made of stones shining from everywhere. Everything was glowing from all the walls to the ground.
There was a platform in the front, behind which there was a place to go.
The bright light had also gone away from the path, which was to go out behind, and started showing the way out. There was a bottomless hole between the way out and the ground, in which only stones were visible.
It would have been impossible to escape if someone had fallen on those stones.
Roy had used all his might, and it was a wonder that he stood in his place.
His breathing was rapid, and the bracelet on his hand had also stopped squeezing his wrist. And the purple gem of that bracelet had stopped glowing as if it had accepted Roy as its owner.
He had also lowered his hand to which the bracelet was attached, and he was standing in one place in front.
Taking a deep breath, Roy was exhausted from exerting all his strength throughout his body. His whole body was covered in blood, but he did not give up.
He stood proud.
‡You are really amazing. I never thought that someday some owner of this power would be found. I am really pleased with your ability. ‡
As soon as that sound came, a ball of light was born from the ground, and it started going close to Roy, and the exact sound of the woman started coming from that ball.
‡You are a different type of person, which is impossible to meet in human beings. Are you even human?‡
That voice was musing to Roy in a playful tone, but Roy did not even dare to answer her. He could hardly stand in his place.
He was looking at the glowing sphere in front of him. The ball looked like a spirit. But it was impossible to find out where and how it was born.
Roy's whole body was in pain, and his breathing was fast. But even then, he did not move from his place.
'Is this spirit the real form of that woman's voice..?'
Is this cave looks like this? And was everything that was in front of me till now, was it all illusion. And what were the things my eyes saw a little while ago?
Was it the power of this bracelet?
I felt for a few moments that I could see everything that was reflecting from every object, which was shining, and not only see what was being reflected by all the things; I could hear the sound coming to them very well as if I am sitting there and watching everything myself.
This is a very dangerous power, but why didn't I see such power not even once, neither in the anime nor in that game, nor did my friends say anything about it?
This is a very strange thing, so much mighty power and not a single mention in the game or anime; why?
"…Keep your thoughts to yourself…I have no desire to talk to you…."
But even in this condition, Roy did not give up his pride. He was haughtily speaking to that voice. And seeing this, that voice was also astonished.
‡Despite being in such condition, such things? I have really become fond of you. If you were born 100 years ago, I might have forcibly imprisoned you with me. ‡
The ball of light started slowly disappearing as soon as she said this. That voice was sounding delighted.
Roy's head was kept low; he was breathing heavily as if he had just saved himself from fainting. He was so tired that he could not even look at the front.
He was answering the words of that spirit while looking down at the ground.
"… be quiet… shut your mouth and voice…."
I probably will not be able to bear this pain for a long time. I have to think of something or the other to reduce this pain; otherwise, I may lose my life.
I can't even stand. I have to find some way to fix this condition, or else I will die for sure.
Roy was unable to lift his eyes from below, and his condition was getting worse every moment, but his tone of speaking was the same as that of the arrogant.
Hearing his voice, that spirit was also laughing very loudly.
‡ha, ha, ha, you really are a lunatic. But you have freed me, so before I go, let me give you a helping hand. This is the platform in front of you; if you remove it, you can fix your condition thoroughly. ‡
When the voice of that spirit fell in Roy's ear, that what was the remedy to cure Roy's condition, Roy, with some courage, tried to look in front.
When he turned his gaze towards the front, he found that the spirit was slowly disappearing from the cave.
' I just can't let go of this spirit; right now, I have to ask who she is and what is the witch of neither world that she was addressed to herself. I also want to know the reality of this power from this and why it was kept here. '
Roy unconsciously tried to touch the spirit ball with his hand, seeing that spirit disappearing.
'I can't let it go anywhere without answering my question; it's crucial for me to get these answers.'
"… wait, answer my questions first..."
As soon as the voice from the spirit ball came, it slowly started wholly disappearing. It seemed to disappear completely, not responding to Roy's words.
When that ball of light was utterly disappearing, then one last sound came from that ball.
‡Well, it doesn't suit me, Witch of neither world, but even then, I tell you, you won't get a chance to hear this second time, so that's why you are fortunate. ‡
"… don't go without...answering my question…."
When Roy was about to touch the ball with his hand, the ball disappeared with his last voice.
‡Thank you for coming here and freeing me from my captivity‡
That ball of light was wholly erased; only the cave remained, where all the stones which were shining were placed everywhere.
As soon as that ball disappeared, Roy's courage also responded, and he fell to the ground on his face.
Roy's mouth was bleeding, and now he had no strength left.
'…What was all this..?'
I could not even ask the question far from taking answers from that voice; I wish I had a few more moments; maybe I could at least get answers to my questions.
But now, who will be able to answer these questions which are going on in my mind? And if I ask for this answer, I will ask from whom, who will be able to answer these questions?
Does anyone even have the answers to all these?
When Roy put his hand in front of his mouth, his hand was covered in blood, his mouth was bleeding, and his eyes were also getting heavy.
'...I won't be able to live for long...I have to do something to stay alive..'
Instead of thinking about it now, I should consider my own survival. Perhaps if I had listened carefully, that woman had said something about some platform.
Perhaps there will be something under that platform; after removing it, I will be able to get a cure for this condition.
But how can it be trusted?
Roy's mouth was bleeding continuously, and his eyes were also closing. He was lying down on the ground in such a condition.
'Kazuo, don't let your eyes close; if you let them close, you will never be able to open them in life….'
I have no choice but to trust that voice. Even if it turns out to be wrong, I have to believe what it says.
This will be my last path; otherwise, I will not be able to survive.
'My life is based only on whether that thing is false or true... my luck, my request to you is don't leave my side at such a time...'
Roy crawled towards the platform that had been built in front.
His clothes were also torn from place to place. There were injury marks in many places, and blood was coming out all over the body, but he was still crawling toward that platform.
'… Kazuo just a little further… you can do it...'
Roy had no strength left; all his magic power was consumed by his bracelet.
He was desperately trying to save his life.
'.. Don't let your eyes be closed... don't close your eyes, Kazuo...'
The only thing I wish at the moment is that I wish I could use healing magic on myself.
The game developers made Roy the most powerful by giving him all the magic attributes that he could use, and Roy mastered the use of all the attributes.
He was empowered by the developers so that he could face the protagonist and his party alone. But he also had to be killed because the protagonist had to win, so the developers gave him one most important thing he could also use all the rare attributes.
Healing was one of those rare attributes.
Healing magic does not work for those who can use healing magic in this world; they must depend on medicines.
If they got hurt or anything, they had to stay soft on the nutrition made from the herbs, due to which those who used the healing magic never even dreamed of becoming a warrior.
But Roy was different. He could use healing magic, but he still did not give up on his training, knowing that if the healing magician got a severe injury, he would not be able to recover on his own.
Roy did not tell anyone that he could use healing magic so that if Harrison came to know about this, he would not stop his training.
Roy always trained in search of power, so if we look at this aspect, Roy was a bit crazy.
'…Kazuo there is no use thinking about what is not there now….keep moving forward or else you will not be able to survive...'
Kazuo crawled closer to the platform. When he reached near the podium, he began to push one of his hands on the shining platform made of stone with as much force as he could.
As Roy started pushing, seeing that the platform shook a little bit, He started pushing the podium with both hands.
'.. move away... I will not be able to wait any longer….'
Roy had pushed that platform forward with all his life, and that platform went ahead and left some space in a small hole below.
As Roy pushed the platform and saw the place under it where the stone was earlier, his senses were blown away.
At that place, two flowers were blooming coming out of the ground.
The petals of that flower were leaving an arc of reddish yellow color, and something like a white-colored core was formed between those petals. Those flowers were so beautiful that their beauty could not be matched by anyone.
The outer part of the flower seemed to be made of glass, and Roy was looking at these two flowers in surprise.
'...Night Queen?...how did these flowers come here.'
In the game, when we passed those flying stones, there was a pond filled with lava in front of it. There was a stone in the middle of that pond where the Night Queen flower was located.
And that too is only one, but how can the Night Queen Flower come here, not one but two?
It was told in the game that these flowers never spoil. So, did that woman with that voice keep these flowers for some reason?
This could be a possibility.
Blood started pouring out of Roy's mouth, and his eyes were on the verge of closing.
'...I don't have time to think anything else...'
Roy started taking out one of those flowers along with the root with his hand, and as soon as it came out, he kept it in front of his mouth and started squeezing it.
Roy's eyes were starting to close, but Roy's hand was squeezing the flower completely with his fist closed.
Because of squeezing that flower inside Roy's hands, the juice started coming out of that flower.
Roy started swallowing drops of that juice in his mouth. As soon as Roy got some drops inside his mind, the light started burning on Roy's body.
Roy's wounds started to heal slowly, and his magic power, which was on the verge of ending, also slowly started coming back.
As soon as a few drops of juice came out of that flower, it dried up, became mud, and fell on the ground below Roy's hand.
Roy's wounds were healed entirely on seeing it as if there were no wounds.
As Roy's power returned and his exhaustion completely subsided, he opened his eyes and started looking at his body.
He was astonished to see that all the wounds in his body had healed.
'..it really is a very powerful thing..'
The only thing I could see on the game was that this flower blooms only for three hundred years, and it can cure all the diseases in the world with its juice.
But now, if its charisma is seen in front, it is really unique and a little scary.
Perhaps due to this reason, this flower would have been born a flower only after three hundred years, and that too only in a few places in this whole world.
Roy started standing from his place, and now he could not even feel the slightest pain.
The first sight he had as soon as he stood up was towards the bracelet tied to his wrist.
The purple gem in the bracelet was shining, but that bracelet was now so tied around Roy's wrist that no one could remove it.
And even Roy could not take his eyes off that bracelet.
'….I must go now…will think about it later, it is more important to save Amelia's life...'
Taking the idea of the bracelet out of his head, Roy took the second Night Queen flower in his hand and started walking backward in front of the exit.
Roy also put his sword, which was lying on the ground below, and put it back inside his sheath and started going out.
As he started going out, he looked down at the sharp stones which were between his place and the exit point.
'That woman really wanted to kill me, even if I had gone out, I would have been killed by falling on these stones. She was really cunning person.'
Roy turned backward and jumped over those stones. As soon as he jumped, he started going outside.
As soon as Roy came out, he was under the mountain from where the waterfall was flowing, and the lake started from there.
Seeing this, Roy began to prepare to leave for Turner Territory, back by the lake.
As he started running away, his attention started returning to his bracelet, and only one thing was coming to his mind.
'….Phantom...huh?...'
Roy started running back towards the territory, bringing his mind back to the front.
************