Individual inability can compensate for favorable circumstances.
This was a phrase that Rachel had once heard Winston tell her while on the 3rd floor.
She didn't think much of it at first, even though it stung her deeply within her soul.
But now, when confronted with the undeniable reality, and indifferent universe and her unimpressive place therein– forced to confront her own uselessness– there arose a certain feeling in her chest.
Like a knot, tightening around her heart, and a lingering, transcendent wish to prove such a sentence wrong. Prove the world wrong.
"You're evil." She stood still, wide eyes and shocked at this husk of a ruler before her.
Grand De Jah, the keeper of the Spirit Room and the Thorn placed within looked at her with his empty eyes.
Rachel balled her hand into a fist, her knuckles turning white as if in response to the rage she felt.
The half-dead king, a mere immortal skeleton pointed at Bam, the boy prophesied for greatness and proclaimed, "He is the true hero. His heart is pure and untained with malice. He is the one we seek. Why should we take the time to indulge in your wishes when clearly you are filled with such malevolence?"
The surrounding light, deep yellow in colour fell on her, casting shadows in all directions. She felt her vision turn a bit blurry as confusion lingered in her head.
Why? She screamed silently. Why was he chosen? Why... why does the world have to be so unfair...
Suddenly, tearing through all the confusion and shock, a voice sounded in her ears.
"Wait!" Bam said, turning to face the skeletal ruler.
"I think she should be able to participate!" He exclaimed.
Rachel felt her eyes widen as she stared at the back of this boy's head.
Grand De Jah and Grand De Lee also widened their eyes, staring at the boy in a mix of surprise and inquiry.
Bam turned back to her, his face impassive and spoke.
"I know that we're enemies." He explained. "But I don't want to rob you of this chance."
Rachel scoffed, unconsciously.
"Are you serious?"
Bam nodded without a word.
Seeing his dead serious expression, Rachel didn't wish to probe further, lest she ruins her chance.
Both of them turned to the two onlookers, standing in wait.
Grand De Jah shook his head and bellowed "It doesn't matter who it is that proves themselves. Whoever can do so will get our most heartfelt gratitude... and will also recieve the Thorn fragment in the Spirit Room."
His eyes momentarily rested on Rachel as he spoke in a clear voice, "Regardless, the Thorn will choose only the prophesied one."
His eyes seemed to shine suddenly, as if two miniature suns were blazing within them.
Casting his gaze down at them, he spread his arms and exclaimed.
"Then, let me tell you your task."
Rachel listened closely. Beside her, she felt Bam's body tense up.
"Go to south city. Whoever can liberate the city from Hell Joe's rule will be the chosen one!"
Instantly, Rachel's hopes died.
...
...
~~~
South City, Floor of Death.
It was chaos.
Hell Joe, after Karaka and the other regulars' arrival had announced his possession of the Thorn. Openly, he challenged the people that had gotten off the train to come to his city and take the Thorn.
And the outsiders wasted no time.
There was a woman outside his castle, holding two weapons in her hand and was able to kill the immortal soldiers.
The soldiers who had grown too complacent with their inability to die were thrown into shock and abject terror.
In the castle, Khun and Co made their way to rescue Grand De Sah, led by none other than the Red Witch- Hwaryun.
Hwaryun narrowed her eyes as they turned around a sharp corner.
The world around her seemed to be covered with a mist, a gray fog that impeded all vision.
Winston is nearby... there's no other explanation. Her expression betrayed her annoyance. She couldn't see anything anymore, the paths seemed blocked from vision, steering towards an unknown direction.
Suddenly, she stopped.
3 guards, each armed with swords ran at then from the front.
Suddenly, Zarhan stepped forward, in his hand a red spear made out of shinsu.
"I'll handle this." Khun instantly activated his enna core, ready to provide support while the rest of the team got ready.
Just then, another large explosion shook the castle.
Khun clicked his tongue, unknown to the group.
Damn it. Yuri's lost control and we're getting surrounded. We won't be able to destroy these immortal guards. There's no way out of here.
His eyes unconsciously travelled to Hwaryun.
She's also been acting weird lately. We can't be sure about her allegiance anymore. Compared to before, now, it almost feels as if she's losing a crucial part of herself, flailing her arms around wildly as she sinks into the sea...
Zarhan stepped forward without fear, his eyes shining with a red glow.
His dirty brown hair fluttered in the air as the armored soldiers, whose heads were built like emaciated skulls rushed at them, ready to tear them apart.
Zarhan instantly lunged forward, the crimson spear gleaming in his hand, casting a shadow over the walls.
The first guard didn't bother dodging, instead thinking of slashing at the regulars when their weapons was stuck inside him. Without a care, he dashed right into the spear!
Pui!
The spear went through his chest, protruding from the other side. But then, the soldier's hand stopped midair, twitching with a strange sense of pain.
He vomited blood.
His companion stopped in his tracks, his bony eye sockets somehow getting wider to express his shock.
Zarhan pulled back the red spear with a violent tug. The soldier dropped to the ground like a puppet that had it's strings cut.
Everyone stood still. Their eyes were riveted to the still carcass of the skeletal being which had vomited blood.
Slowly, Zarhan eyes travelled to the other soldier who stood in bafflement.
And throwing a short glance at his hand that still clutched the spear, he moved, instantly piercing through the soldier's fleshy throat!
He swiped his spear, gouging out a large chunk of the man's throat and saw him fall to the ground.
Behind him, he heard Amon mutter.
"Well that's convenient..."
~~~
~~~
A/N:
Hmm. I don't know what to say here. This was a pretty short chapter. And I've been having trouble coming up with stuff to write.
I still have an outline of the major events, but now, the further I get into the tog storyline, the more trouble I have filling up the in between.
I'll be going on a bit of a rent here so stay with me on this.
I realize that I've planned all this really really poorly. I didn't give enough time, or the personality to any of the side cast which I could've given, and now it's coming to bite me. I'm sure none of the readers may have felt this way, but as the story author who had the original vision for the story, it's a bit of a stretch to say that the story went exactly as I'd hoped. This point in the story was only supposed to be reached at like 200 chaps and each event was supposed to be better planned.
Things went as I'd expected, but the in betweens that I'd hoped to have didn't get enough time or characterisation to stand out and put an impact on the story. It might seem redundant for a fanfic, which, in all honesty, it probably is– but as a perfectionist and as someone that has made the readers invested in the story, it was my responsibility to deliver a good and fulfilled vision.
Anyway, there's not much I can do to fix that now. Rest assured, there will be an end to this story and it will hopefully coming in this year itself.
But the only thing I can say here is, if the next couple of chapters drop in quality, that's on me and my poor planning.
I wouldn't have written this tbh, but felt like I should give ya'll a heads up.
Worst case, I'll just make a new fanfic lol
(Just kidding... or am I?)
Anyways, cheers~