Before starting the chapter, You might have remember, I asked a question that, If they find a child then who'll take care of child... Esdeath Or Maruti.
And yeah, All of you said esdeath... But Now the time has come, You should tell me what kind of appearance should I give to that child?
I mean, Half black and half white/silver hair? I mean she is related to kaelith so... But still haven't decided yet, so please give me your suggestions...
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Esdeath's eyes fluttered open, but this time, it wasn't her. This time, "he" was awake—Fable.
His vision blurred, and a wave of dizziness washed over him, making it feel as though he had just awakened from a sleep that spanned centuries. Slowly, he rubbed his eyes, and as his senses sharpened, a strange realization hit him. He wasn't lying down. He was standing.
Completely naked.
Shock coursed through him as he glanced down at himself. "Did I… return to my body?" he wondered aloud. The thought filled him with a strange mixture of relief and confusion, but before he could dwell on it, his eyes fell on something—or rather, someone—lying on the ground a short distance ahead.
It was a girl with raven-black hair, her body still and lifeless as though she had fainted. Her skin was pale as snow, so hauntingly delicate it seemed unreal. And yet, what caught Fable's attention the most wasn't her beauty or her fragile state. It was the fact that she was unmistakably the real Esdeath Crimson.
For a moment, he could only stare, a mixture of awe and disbelief spreading through him. But before he could make sense of it all, he finally noticed their surroundings.
They were standing in a vast, endless void. It stretched in every direction, a blank expanse of pure white with no beginning or end.
Fable's brows furrowed as unease settled in his chest. "Where am I? Heaven? Who in their right mind would let someone like me into heaven?" he muttered under his breath, a bitter smile briefly flickering across his lips.
But just as the thought crossed his mind, the void began to shift. Slowly, colors seeped into the emptiness like paint spreading across a blank canvas. At first, it was faint—streaks of green, brown, and blue—then more vivid, until the scene around him changed entirely.
The ground beneath his feet became soft grass, the air filled with the sweet chirping of birds and the distant sounds of animals. He looked around, his heart racing, as he found himself standing in what appeared to be a village from centuries past.
The village was quaint, with modest wooden houses scattered across the landscape, smoke curling from chimneys, and people going about their lives. Everything seemed alive, yet strangely surreal, like a memory brought to life.
And then, his gaze was drawn to something—or someone—at the center of it all.
A large tree stood tall and proud in the middle of the village, its branches sprawling wide, its leaves rustling softly in the breeze. It wasn't enormous, but it towered just enough to feel significant, commanding attention without overwhelming the scene.
Tied to the tree by thick ropes was a woman. The ropes were wrapped tightly around her waist, binding her to the trunk, yet her hands were free. She made no effort to escape, no attempt to untie herself. Instead, she held something in her hands.
A harp.
"Esdeath?" Fable muttered.
The woman standing before him was hauntingly familiar. Her features mirrored Esdeath's, yet they bore the unmistakable marks of time and something far more sinister. Her hair was pitch black, cascading down her back like an endless shadow and were as big as her body, and her skin was ghostly white, almost luminescent, like freshly fallen snow under the moonlight.
But it was her eyes that held him captive. They glowed an eerie red, their pupils forming multiple concentric rings that seemed to twist and shift, as though alive. Fable couldn't look away, the sight filling him with both awe and dread.
And then there were the "horns.
Two sleek, dark horns curved gracefully from the sides of her head. They weren't large, just average in size,The horns made her seem otherworldly, a being teetering between beauty and terror.
This wasn't the Esdeath he knew. This was something else—someone else.
Before he could utter another word, the woman turned her glowing gaze toward him. Slowly, she raised her hands to the harp she held, her fingers gliding across the strings with practiced grace. The melody that followed was unlike anything he had ever heard—haunting, melodic, and heavy with sorrow.
And then, she began to sing.
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"When the blood moon ascends, its crimson glow will light the sky,
And the heart of the demon, pulsing, dark, shall you defy.
A fate intertwined, both cruel and divine,
You shall consume him whole, his power made thine.
Yet the stars above will weave their schemes,
Constellations aligning to shatter your dreams.
Thou shall succeed. Thou shall succeed.
To the world that wronged me, hear my hymn,
Your sins will drown in the echoing din.
The harp shall sing, the strings will cry,
Justice reborn in the crimson sky.
Raise the throne beneath your feet,
Turn the tides of karma, make the cycle complete.
For those who scorned, who cast shadows deep,
Bestow the reckoning, make the strong weep."
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As the melody ended, The woman's lips, once serene, twisted into a grotesque snarl, her expression a storm of fury and anguish.
"Ha-te… Hate…I Hate…"
Her voice grew louder, each word trembling with raw emotion—anger, grief, and an unrelenting thirst for vengeance. The once-soothing melody of the harp was now a discordant echo, each note resonating with despair.
And then, without warning, flames erupted from the base of the tree. The fire was not natural—it burned a deep, furious red, consuming the trunk and the ropes binding her in an instant. Yet the woman remained untouched by the inferno, standing tall in the blaze as though it were an extension of her fury.
"Hate… Hate…Hate Animals, Hate Humans, Hate Demons, Hate Friend, Hate Enemies, Hate heaven, Hate earth, Hate Constellations, Hate unsightly things, Hate Beautiful Things,Hate the scenery, Hate Nature, Hate Man-made…" she screamed again, her voice piercing through the roar of the flames. Her glowing red eyes were wide open, locked onto Fable, their ringed pupils spinning violently as though reflecting the chaos within her soul.
The fire climbed higher, enveloping her completely, but still, she didn't stop. Her screams of hatred echoed through the sky, louder and more chilling than the crackling of the flames.
Fable could only stand there, watching the scene without blinking.
"H-a-t-e… Hate… I hate…This world"
And then, silence. The flames vanished, leaving nothing behind but ash.
"What just happened? Was there any other character with black hair besides the Demon King?" Fable thought, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of the strange events. He felt dumbfounded. Nothing about this made sense—nothing at all.
His gaze shifted to Esdeath, hoping for some sign that she was unaffected. But then, his heart nearly stopped.
Her legs were gone.
Out of instinct, he glanced down at his own legs, and what he saw left him stunned. His legs weren't his own anymore—they were "hers". They had transformed into the same legs as Esdeath's, as if their bodies remained separate, but their souls were beginning to merge.
The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. From the moment he entered Esdeath's body, their souls had been merging. And now, the process was nearly 25% complete.
But before he could think further, his vision began to blur. The white void around him flickered like a dying flame, and then—darkness.
Everything went black.
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Inside the dimly lit room, Esdeath's eyes fluttered open. She sat up abruptly, her head darting from left to right as she scanned her surroundings with a blank expression. It took her a moment to register where she was. Her gaze fell on Maruti, standing at the foot of the bed, wearing a smug smirk.
The realization hit her instantly. They had escaped.
Maruti wasted no time and launched into an animated explanation of her encounter with the "Penetrator." She recounted the bizarre meeting, their conversation, and how she ended up here with Esdeath.
Esdeath's expression remained flat as she listened. When Maruti finished, Esdeath raised an eyebrow and said dryly, "So, you're telling me you met an anomaly, he gave you his name, and then you had a *farewell* moment?"
Maruti grinned and nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! Exactly!"
Esdeath stared at her, speechless for a moment. Then she blurted out,
"Fuck you!"
Maruti's grin vanished, and she snorted in irritation. "Hmph! Don't believe me, then! I'll prove it to you someday!"
Maruti stood up, brushing off the conversation. Esdeath groaned and got to her feet as well, but as she moved, her bra suddenly slipped loose. It had already been tattered from countless struggles, and now, it gave out entirely.
Before it could fall completely, Esdeath caught it with one hand, pressing it against her chest with an irritated sigh.
"How much did the healing cost?" she asked, her voice sharp.
Maruti scratched the back of her head awkwardly. "Uh... fifty silver coins. Thirty five for you, fifteen for me," she said, trying to sound casual.
Esdeath's eye twitched. Anger flared inside her like a storm.
Teleportation gates cost twenty silver coins per person. That meant she needed forty silver coins to cover both of them. She thought back to the painstaking effort she'd gone through to gather her savings:
- Refining the Moonblade Essence Stone first in her class, earning her a reward of twenty silver coins.
- Winning a gamble during Ethan vs corin's duel, gaining ten silver coins and sixteen bronze coins.
- Discovering the inheritance of that dwarf, which included another twenty silver coins.
- Purposefully getting beaten by a group of girls just to earn twelve silver coins in compensation.
- Deceiving Ethan by blaming Corin and taking twenty silver coins from him.
After all that effort, she had finally managed to amass eighty-two silver coins and sixteen bronze coins.
And now? Some random woman had come crashing into her life and taken fifty silver coins in one go.
Esdeath clenched her fists, her chest heaving with frustration. After all that work, they were short by eight silver coins again.
Esdeath's anger simmered beneath the surface, but she kept her face calm. There was no time to waste on emotions; she had work to do. With a sharp exhale, she straightened her posture and motioned for Maruti to follow her. They stepped out of the cramped bedroom and into the main room of the small wooden house.
The air felt heavy inside, the dim light casting long shadows across the room. At the center of the space was Scarce, sitting cross-legged near what looked like a small, square pond. The pond wasn't filled with water, though—it held a thick, bubbling black liquid that hissed softly as bubbles popped on its surface. It appeared as though the liquid was boiling, though no fire or heat source was visible. The container, a sturdy grey metal, seemed unnaturally durable, as if it were designed to withstand extreme conditions.
Scarce glanced up when she noticed Esdeath and Maruti entering. Her sharp eyes locked on Esdeath, and a knowing smirk tugged at the corners of her lips. "Oh, you're awake. Quite the different look you've got there," she remarked, her tone casual but curious.
Esdeath frowned slightly, instantly aware of the unspoken observation. Scarce was clearly hinting at her black hair and red eyes. But Scarce didn't seem concerned or alarmed, Who cares how her patients looks like?
The only thing she cared about is money.
Esdeath narrowed her eyes. "What's that?" she asked, pointing at the mysterious black liquid.
Scarce followed her gaze and chuckled. "That? Oh, it's a very toxic solution. Dangerous stuff. It can melt flesh and bones down to nothing. I use it when I need to, uh, 'clean up' injuries."
She shifted her position and tapped the edge of the container. "For example, if someone loses a limb and their wound closes over time, I have to cut through the old bones and flesh to regrow the limb fully. Whatever's left over gets tossed in here. Makes disposal quick and easy."
Maruti nodded as though she completely understood, but Esdeath felt a nagging sense of unease. Something about Scarce seemed… off.
Her eyes narrowed as she observed Scarce more closely. "What's that on your tongue?" she asked suddenly.
Scarce blinked, clearly taken aback. "What? Is there something on my tongue?" she asked, sticking it out slightly and scratching at it with her finger.
Esdeath sighed, shaking her head. "No, not there. A little further back," she instructed, gesturing toward her own mouth for clarity.
Scarce leaned her head back and probed deeper, her expression growing increasingly confused.
Esdeath sighed heavily and slapped her forehead in exasperation. "Ugh... wait. Let me help you." She stepped forward, determination replacing her irritation. Whatever this was, she wasn't going to let it slide.
Esdeath stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with cold intent. Scarce leaned closer, sticking her tongue out slightly so Esdeath could inspect it.
"Hold still," Esdeath said calmly.
But just as her hand got close to Scarce's tongue, a wide, wicked grin spread across her face.
Scarce's eyes widened in shock, but it was too late.
With a quick motion, before Scarce could react, Esdeath shoved her entire hand into Scarce's mouth.
Scarce gagged and struggled, but Esdeath's hand pushed deeper, reaching her throat. Esdeath had the ZK-20, in her palm. In the shape of a bracelet. She poured her mana into it, and Then, with a chilling focus, Esdeath manipulated the ZK-20.
Krrrrr...
The ball transformed into a large, spinning shuriken. The sound of metal tearing through flesh echoed as it beheaded Scarce in an instant. Blood sprayed everywhere, covering Esdeath's face and upper body.
Scarce's lifeless body fell to the ground. She had no chance to react,She was excelled at healing not combat or defense—her healing abilities were useless against such a swift attack.
Without hesitation, Esdeath grabbed Scarce's head and body and threw them into the bubbling black liquid. The solution hissed loudly as it dissolved the flesh and bones, leaving nothing behind.
In her rush, Esdeath's hand slipped, causing her bra to fall to the ground. Now half-naked, blood ran down her face and chest. She didn't care.
Licking some of the blood from her lips, she smirked and said coldly, "What a quick and easy disposal".