Chapter 84: Laughter in Chaos
Ikehara stood at the edge of the group, watching with a frustrated yet concealed smirk. The numbers had dwindled. From 50 to 43, plus Tessa. Seven people had been lost—one to the flies and six to those savage monkeys. And though it wasn't the massacre he had hoped for, it was progress.
His goal was clear, even if unspoken: thin the herd, little by little, until Tessa stood alone, weakened and vulnerable. And he was getting there, watching Tessa struggle to heal the 25 injured people from their latest encounter.
If not for her current state of weakness, all of this would've been over, Ikehara thought to himself, eyes narrowing. Her power was immense, but her vulnerability was just as evident now. She couldn't intervene in every battle. And that, he relished.
But then, something unexpected happened—a sound that felt out of place in the aftermath of a bloody skirmish: laughter.
Adrian, who had just been seething with anger, was now sharing jokes with Ecdy, of all people. The two stood near the edge of the group, grinning like lifelong friends, their earlier tension with Ikehara forgotten as though it had never existed. Even Tessa, who had just drained herself trying to heal the wounded, was smiling, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she watched the two banter.
"How can you joke after what happened?" Nymff muttered under her breath, trying to force down the unfamiliar mix of anger and confusion that bubbled within her. She couldn't understand how they could be so... unaffected.
Her gaze fell on Adrian, the one person she wanted to remain angry at, but for reasons she couldn't explain, the emotion wouldn't stick. The more she tried to hate him, the more absurd her feelings seemed. And worse, Adrian took no notice of her sulking. He was completely oblivious, which only added fuel to the fire of her frustration.
Finally, Adrian caught her staring. With a playful grin that could melt the coldest of hearts, he called out, "Hello, darling. What's up?"
Nymff's face turned crimson in an instant. Her usually steely composure shattered, and the once-legendary warrior of the Rhemonic race now found herself flustered—by a boy. Not just any boy, but Adrian, whose playful, carefree nature was becoming harder and harder to dislike. The irony of it all was too much. How had she gone from a fierce warrior to blushing in front of him like a schoolgirl?
Adrian, sensing her embarrassment, immediately took advantage. With the grace of a predator and the mischief of a trickster, he began to follow her, taking slow, deliberate steps as if hunting. "Where you running to, Nymff?" he teased, his tone light but laced with a playfulness that had everyone watching.
Nymff backed away, trying to regain her composure, but the more she tried to retreat, the more Adrian advanced. "Stop it!" she demanded, but her voice betrayed her, quivering with both irritation and something else—something softer.
"Oh, come on. You're not scared of me, are you?" Adrian smirked, clearly enjoying the cat-and-mouse game. "I thought you Rhemonic warriors were supposed to be fearless."
Everyone else in the group, including Ecdy and Tessa, burst into laughter, the tension of the recent battle melting away in the face of Adrian's antics.
The scene was surreal—moments ago, they had been fighting for their lives, and now they were laughing as though nothing had happened. Even the injured who were now being healed by Tessa seemed to momentarily forget their pain, chuckling at Nymff's discomfort.
Tessa walked slowly and calmly , her smile faint but genuine. Despite her exhaustion, she felt a sense of relief watching Adrian's carefree nature lighten the mood. They had lost people, yes, but they couldn't afford to be consumed by grief. They had to move forward and protect those who were still alive.
Ikehara, observing from a distance, clenched his fists. How can they be so nonchalant? he fumed inwardly. Seven of their comrades are dead, and yet they laugh as if nothing happened! Are they crazy, or am I insane for thinking this would break them?
He had expected grief, panic, even despair. But instead, they were laughing in the face of loss. Adrian's carefree attitude was contagious, and even in the midst of their perilous journey, they were finding moments of levity. It was baffling.
Nymff, now backed into a corner, crossed her arms defiantly, though her face was still burning. "You... you're impossible," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Adrian grinned wider. "Impossible? Nah, I just like having fun. Life's too short to be so serious all the time." He winked playfully, and Nymff, despite herself, couldn't help but crack a small smile.
The laughter that followed echoed through the clearing, lifting the spirits of everyone present. For the first time since the start of their journey, it felt as though the weight of the world had been momentarily lifted from their shoulders. Even in the face of death, they had each other—and that, in itself, was something worth smiling about.
As evening approached and the sun began to dip below the horizon, Tessa felt a surge of excitement. Her recovery was speeding up, and she could sense the energy of the moon rising. Tonight, once its silver light bathed the earth, she would feel her strength return. The god-like power within her would roar to life once again.
But for now, as the group settled into their temporary camp, Adrian continued his playful chase of Nymff, the sound of laughter mingling with the crackle of the campfire. It wasn't what Ikehara had planned, but it was what they needed. And somehow, that made all the difference.
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Ikehara, standing in the lead, watched the scene unfold. His plans were in motion, but for the first time, he wondered if this group might be more resilient than he had given them credit for. The path ahead was long, and there would be more trials, but these people... they were different.
He smirked to himself, his eyes narrowing. Let them laugh for now, he thought darkly. We'll see who's still standing by the end of this journey.