A shaky breath left my lips as I finally managed to put myself together. Even though I was now standing far from it, the black rock remained silent. I could still feel its poisonous tendrils still twisted around my heart like steel-wired thorns. The pain was there, but not as much as before.
I dragged my weak body to the stream, dipped my head in the water, and chugged in as much water as I needed. I was incredibly thirsty and my body still felt like it was on fire.
When I withdrew my face from the water, I realized something was wrong with me. I felt oddly stronger than before I touched the black rock. As if out of instinct, I summoned the system to see why I felt like this.
Name: Astrid
Species: Demi Dragon
Abilities: Dormant
Nexus Blessing: [The Fire], [Silver Child], [Child of Stars]
Job Aspect:—
Inventory: [Trusted Dagger], [Mind Walker]
"I am no longer human. I see." That explained why I suddenly felt stronger.
I focused my eyes on the description of the [Child of Stars] blessing.
Blessing Description: [This Universe is a single Nexus, a collection of Stars and Planets weaved together by the Creator. You wield Star Ether and therefore you're part of the Nexus.]
"What does that mean?"
'If I am part of Nexus. Doesn't that make me a Nexus Being?' I wondered.
Also, everyone with the system could use Star Energy. There was nothing special about me using Star Ether. Unless I wielded a much stronger version of it.
With that done, I dismissed the runes and picked up my dagger once more. To my surprise, there indeed happened to be an exit from this damn place; a large black door at the end of the meadow. It was wide open, revealing a path illuminated by glowing mineral rocks that stretched as far as the eye could see.
Driven by nothing but fear for the black rock, I crossed the threshold and followed path to the next chamber. I was aware of where the path was leading me. To Devon.
Without Nico, I don't I was going to win in a fight against someone like Devon. Like me, Devon consumed an S-Grade potion. The ichor worked and awakened his superhuman qualities by a lot, which was extraordinary at the time. He almost rivaled a real Hunter in terms of strength alone.
'And now he can use Star Energy. What a drag!'
But no. I wasn't going to jump to conclusions. Devon was no murderer, I was sure of it. Who could murder his family? Something must have possessed him. Yes. Devon wasn't capable of murder. I needed to remind myself of that.
I walked alone for a while, the sound of my footsteps reflecting off the black walls and back to my ears. I used the time of silence to think back to whatever had happened once I touched the rock. The distorted visions of my life and the history of humanity.
I had been born in a peaceful era, if I might say. An era where humans were no longer at war with themselves and unknown entities. Nexus Events were currently the only issue Humanity had learned to live with since it was also beneficial to us as well. Which was true.
But...
At the moment, I didn't know what to believe about our world and the state humanity was in. The existence of Monarchs was something Bloodhaul intentionally kept away from us. How sure was I that we were in a peaceful era?
What was the true purpose of Hunters and the Nexus system?
There was one way to find out. By becoming Nexus Being and earning citizenship on Beta 3.
I scowled at the idea of becoming a citizen. Then stared at the bracelet on my wrist. I could feel the Star Energy pulsing from its runes.
I then had an idea. A brilliant one, in fact. "If I can manipulate the star energy, I can force this thing open." I felt the corners of my lips curl upwards.
But before I could attempt that risky idea, I needed to test out my control of the star energy. Nico had shown me the ropes of how to use it and I had just grown my ability from the small concepts he taught me.
As per now, I was able to coat materials with star energy to increase their endurance and durability. Star energy wasn't supposed to be easy to use as a dormant human. But since I carried Three Nexus Blessings—which I was very proud of—Star Energy was more responsive to me.
'If I became a Monarch. I can save Ivy.'
Slowly, I was starting to see the benefits of becoming one of the great powers that ruled humanity. The Blood Monarch had a Domain on Beta 3. Or maybe Beta 3 was his domain. And how were domains expanded? I was sure we were part of the domain because his blood is what was used to create us or maybe even the ichor fed to us five years ago.
I made it to the end of the brightly lit path and drew in a sharp breath as I willed some star energy into the small dagger in my hand. The end of the path was a small staircase of black cobblestone leading down to the lower levels of the spire. Although faint, the smell of blood had reached my nose and the hairs on my body instantly went up. The more smelled it, the less faint it became. My senses seem to have grown stronger after I gained this power boast.
As I descended, the smell of blood got so strong that I could almost taste it.
My enter being started to shiver step after step. My chest rose and quickly fell while I got more anxious and nervous about what I was about to encounter. If it was really Devon, how was I going to kill him?
Was this dagger enough to take down someone like him? I had no idea.
When reached the end of the stairs, I found myself in yet another chamber. There was a faint blue light coming from the scattered crystals. And the smell of blood was strongest here.
I blinked and sighed quietly as I the first step. I was careful not to make a sound in case something attacked me. While tip-toeing my way through the chamber, I started to notice the signs of battle here. Faint glows of star energy were in the air, fading in and out to prove that someone had summoned something here.
The walls were covered in dents and craters small enough to have been made by a person's fist. And not just any person's fists. I was sure they had been created by someone who possessed some level superhuman strength.
I scanned the entire chamber in search of the source of the strong smell. The chamber was not as big as the previous one, but the poor lighting made it very hard for me to make out the details.
But as my eyes traveled around, I started to notice more important details. And soon, my gaze finally caught something that made me take an instant step back and raise my weapon right away. A person was lying on the floor, completely silent. However, they did not move even the slightest inch when I step back caused a little noise.
I gulped. "A corpse." I felt my body heat up as I traced the smell of blood to the person lying on the floor, lifelessly.
I hadn't seen their face yet but my body was already trembling at the sight. My grip on the Trusted Dagger grew weak and my breaths became harder to control.
"Come on, Astrid." I gritted my teeth and lifted one foot forward. My fear of death was back once again. Since when did I fear death this much? Oh yes, when the spire threatened my life.
After a few trials to walk, I made to the corpse. It belonged to a girl I definitely knew because she was in the same body suit as me. Her face was covered by dark hair, which had fallen over it like a wet curtain.
I crouched down and brought my trembling hand over her face. I hesitated for a second. Before I even lifted her hair, tears were already welled up in my eyes once I saw the marks on her neck to show she had been strangled to death.
I lifted her hair and a pair of lifeless green eyes were staring at me with shock. It was someone I indeed knew too well. It was Tyris, my sweet older sister.
Immediately, I found myself crying over her lifeless body like a child. I wanted to scream so badly but I forcefully covered my mouth as I let my tears do the talking. My soul felt so crushed at the moment that I almost lost all my strength.
I can't believe I was wrong. I thought everyone was going to survive because they were different from me. Tyris had consumed an A-grade potion, she must've formidable to make it this far without.
"Someone has murdered her." I stopped sniffing and cleared the tears with my hands.
'I need to find Nico.'