_Huh?_ Morningstar tilted his head as he looked at the words written in blood.
=Journey Of Lucifer Morningstar In Hell=
As his eyes scanned the words, he felt them blur and shift as if he were staring at them through a fog. A hazy image began to form in his mind of a huge, shadowy figure with red eyes seated on a throne made of bones and skulls was show to him. On the table lay a huge dragon skull whose mouth was open and from it floated a green, oppressive flame which silently lit up the table. The figure dipped a feather, bright as a phoenix's own into a bowl of dark blood that seemed to burn with a demonic energy. The figure's hand was covered in crimson chain-like runes and with the bloody quill, it wrote the words that floated before Morningstar's eyes, he felt like he recognized it but at the same time he didn't, plus he couldn't read it.
With each word the figure wrote, the atmosphere grew more and more oppressive, as if the world around it were trembling in fear. The ordinary-looking book seemed to grow heavier with each word as if it were somehow absorbing the power of the dark words inscribed upon it.
Then, as if a dark force had suddenly intervened, the vision-like state shattered, and Morningstar felt himself falling back into reality with the surroundings as noisy as ever. He was once again in the room where he had begun his meditation, in the same position as before.
Morningstar couldn't help but rethink, what was that book? Castle, dragons and environment?
Were they located inside this chain Rune or maybe the chain Rune is the medium to transporting him towards that place?
How can he even trigger it? Also to leave, must he touch that book?
_Wait, was that place even real to begin with?_ He quickly slipped back into a meditative state and checked his dantian. The tiny orb of energy was still there, pulsing softly with power. It was the same even when he had left that strange realm, the death force inside was so dense as usual.
This further confirmed his suspicion that the vision had not been just a dream. But what did it all mean? Especially when he saw that humanoid figure writing some weird words?
Was that Lucifer Morningstar? Why do they even have a similar name to begin with?
All these questions only served to confuse him the more, he couldn't help but suddenly feel the urge to get stronger in time and discover it. Now it's not only about his missing mother but himself, the secrets that lie in the deepest of the runes and that book.
_From now henceforth, it looks like I need to actively hunt zombies and mutants. Speaking of it, if all humans suddenly have such thoughts and we hunt them all down then, won't our powers become stagnant? Maybe some will suddenly start hunting humans to grow too!_ Humans are beings with wild thoughts especially when idling around and Morningstar was no exception.
_It's been long since I last checked my stats._ Morningstar's thoughts changed and for the first time in a day or two, he finally rested and got the chance to open his stats.
[Morningstar Amon]
Strength: 50.9
Speed: 40
Stamina: 50
Perception: 27.8
Endurance: 51.5
Skills: Metal Three Claws>>> Lvl 1<<<
uses QI energy as the base, the higher the user's strength, the stronger it becomes.
Ferociousness>>>LvL 1<<<
increases the user's braveness and makes him immune to fear, lust, happiness, sadness and curiosity. When used, the more angry the user gets, the stronger he becomes.
Sharp Sense:
>>>LVL 1<<< increases the user's six senses for a certain duration.
Chain Rune: >>>LVL ???<<< This rune chain has seven effects. Strength, regenerative, speed, elemental, spatial, illusions and (Unlocked) Dark Realm.
To use it, the user must always sacrifice a soul before activating it.
NOTICE: A special force has fused with your genes, granting you a permanent ability.
Dark Power: You can manipulate any ability related to darkness. Your ability will evolve as you level up.
Morningstar was stunned. Was this connected to the vision he had experienced? Was it possible that he had somehow gained a new ability from it?
He didn't even have the time to care about his current stats, rather his mind suddenly started feeling uneasy. Thinking slowly, doesn't it feel like his path was going smoother? Like it has been arranged by someone! How could he have suddenly gotten that necklace, gone into the rune world without awakening those dragons, not a single thunder hit him and worse part, no mechanical trap was triggered by him.
Morningstar shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. "I must be overthinking things," he muttered with a soft laugh.
He knew it was easy to get carried away when one's mind was clouded by the stress of a new experience. Maybe the vision had been just a dream, a random fluke of his subconscious mind. Maybe it had all been a coincidence.
Or maybe not. But no matter what, he had to remain calm and focused.
_Hey, Abyssal. Why have you been quiet all of a sudden? Quickly, I have some questions to ask you. While cultivating I suddenly found myself somewhere and I wanna share my experience with you._ Like a kid who got a new toy and wants to show it to his friend, Morningstar quickly called out.
The silence from Abyssal felt strange, almost eerie. Morningstar called out in his mind, "Abyssal? Are you there?"
The silence continued.
He had never experienced this before and it worried him. It was as if Abyssal had disappeared entirely, leaving him without his guide and companion, even though he was always wary that one day Abyssal would possess his body out of the blue, but he couldn't deny the fact that Abyssal had truly been helpful towards him.
He subconsciously started to think back over everything that had happened, trying to figure out what had gone wrong. It all seemed to have started when he had stepped into this Dark Realm.
"Don't tell me he's been chained somewhere in that place? Has he gotten lost and can't find his way out?"
Morningstar whispered under his breath, his face set in a determined expression.
He had to help Abyssal, no matter what. He couldn't just leave someone he considered his very first friend lost in there.
Thinking along the line, he abandoned all forms of reasoning and was about to try circulating the energy towards the chain when suddenly, he heard a soft knocking on his door. The sound was quiet, almost timid and it seemed to come from far away. But there was no mistaking it. Someone was at his door.
Caught by surprise, he stood up and walked to the door. His hand reached for the doorknob and with a twist, he opened it. On the other side stood a figure he had not expected to see. It was Li Xi.
"..." The figure looked up at him, her face uncertain, almost shy. She seemed to be waiting for him to say something, but he could only look at her without uttering any word.
Finally, she said, "Can you invite me in?" Her voice was soft, almost a whisper.
It took him a moment to process her words, but eventually, he nodded. "Come in," he said, his voice abnormally calm for some unknown reason.
Li Xi let out a smile, a small smile and stepped into the room. As she did, the door swung shut behind her, cutting off all sounds from the outside world. It was just the two of them left facing each other in the small smelly room but none showed any ouch of discomfort.
Li Xi let out a small sigh as she realized that he wasn't going to say anything else. "So what are your plans for the future?" she asked, hoping to prompt him into a conversation.
He sat down and crossed his legs, then closed his eyes. "I plan to explore this world and try to understand this strange power," he replied, his voice calm and steady.
"Isn't that too dangerous? Why don't you consider the captain's offer? With your power, you could easily rise through the ranks and with my father's support, you could even become a general yourself. Wouldn't that be more fulfilling than wandering aimlessly?" she said, her voice full of persuasion.
Morningstar considered her words for a moment, then shook his head. "No, I can't accept that. I'm not interested in becoming a general or being tied to any organization. I want to experience the world for myself, to see it with my own eyes."
"But-" Li Xi couldn't finish her words as he cut her off.
"Enough," he said coldly. "I know what I want, and I don't need you to tell me. If the military is going to take care of the citizens here, then there's no reason for me to stay. I'll leave and continue my journey."
She stared at him, her eyes wide with surprise. "But you can't just leave! You've done so much for us, for me! How can you abandon us like this?"
She felt her heart arch from pain, it was like it had been shattered by something spiritual and wouldn't heal easily. In truth, Captain Jane was the one who sent her, she thought with Li Xi's beauty, persuading Morningstar wouldn't be hard since most teenagers in their hormones phase tend to act irrationally before a beauty. Plus she loves him and wishes for them to be together that's why she easily agreed.
But Li Xi was wrong about him. She had only seen a small part of his life and didn't understand the depths of his feelings. He had been wronged and betrayed so many times, treated harshly by his uncle, and lived his entire life in suffering. At times, he felt like he had no emotions left and could never love anyone.
Li Xi felt a wave of sadness wash over her. She stood up, her head downcast, and walked to the door. As she reached for the handle and opened it, she saw Kofi standing right in front of the door, his hand outstretched as if he had been about to knock.
"What-" Kofi stammered, taken aback by the sight of Li Xi in Morningstar's room. He tried to push his suspicions away, reminding himself that it was none of his business.
"Is Obiɛno around?" he asked, lowering his hand from the door.
Not answering him, Li Xi walked past him.
_From her mood, it looks exactly like those soap opera movies where a girl who expresses her feelings gets rejected._ He thought inwardly as he peered at her passing him.
Without thinking twice, he stepped into the room.
"Obiɛno," he said, trying to sound calm, "I just wanted to ask, did you agree to join the Earth Federation?"
Morningstar opened his eyes. "No," he said.
Kofi let out a breath of relief. "I didn't either," he said. "And I think we should get out of here. They're probably going to send more people and if they outnumber us, they might try to 'persuade' us to join." He said.
( ╹▽╹ )