Chapter 89: A New Lead!
Tessa was poised, ready to press on, but something felt off. She scanned the surroundings, her eyes narrowing.
"Where's Ikehara?" she muttered.
"His ass is probably dumped somewhere after that combo hit you gave him," Ecdy quipped with a grin.
"He's still out there looking for his body parts," Lhiza added, smirking as she elbowed her twin brother, Lhize, who just shook his head, trying to suppress a laugh.
For the next 30 minutes, the group combed the area, but there was no sign of Ikehara. Tessa didn't seem too bothered, though, and kept her pace steady, moving with purpose.
Adrian, walking beside her, chuckled. "Tessa, did you hit him so hard we can't even find his remains? Poor guy's probably still stuck in orbit."
The group burst into laughter, the tension from earlier battles momentarily easing. Even Tessa cracked a small smile, though she kept her focus.
Just as the laughter died down, a slow shuffle sounded in the distance. Everyone turned to see Ikehara limping toward them. His right leg was twisted at an odd angle, clearly broken, while his left leg barely supported his weight. His entire body looked like it had been through a grinder.
He grimaced as he approached, his eyes locking onto Tessa, who stood, arms crossed, watching him without an ounce of sympathy.
"Tessa, please… heal me," Ikehara croaked, each word strained. "I'm in no shape to lead the group like this. Without my guidance, you won't find the cloak. Besides, what we've faced so far? It's nothing compared to what's ahead. If I'm not at full strength, you'll all be lost."
Ikehara expected Tessa to soften, to rush over and help. After all, he'd played the role of leader, albeit questionably, and he had information they didn't. But Tessa didn't move an inch.
Instead, she raised an eyebrow, her voice calm but cutting. "We might just get lucky without you. After all, you haven't exactly been helpful. Leading us into danger at every turn without proper warning? Makes me wonder if you're not the real danger, Ikehara."
The group exchanged glances, stunned by Tessa's words. Even Adrian let out an impressed whistle, leaning closer to her. "Moon goddess, I'm loving this new attitude. You've got bite now. Softness was never your style anyway."
Ikehara's jaw dropped. He was speechless. This was not the reaction he'd calculated, not in the slightest. In his mind, they would need him—desperately. But now, not only was he physically broken, but his authority was shattered, too. He tried to formulate a reply, but no words came.
Without waiting for him to respond, Tessa turned on her heel. "Let's move," she called out to the group, her voice clear and commanding.
The others fell in line without hesitation. Ecdy looked back at Ikehara for a moment before shaking his head, muttering under his breath, "That man's got the worst luck."
The group marched forward with Tessa in the lead, leaving Ikehara to trail behind. He hobbled, struggling to keep pace, but his injuries slowed him down considerably. Meanwhile, tension brewed. They were now moving blindly, with no guidance and no clear idea of what awaited them next. Every step felt like a venture into the unknown, and the air grew thick with the anticipation of the dangers ahead.
But one thing was clear: with Tessa at the front, no one dared complain. The moon goddess had spoken, and her authority was unquestionable.
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The night's veil descended over them, the sky a deep canvas splattered with stars, and the group marched on under Tessa's silent command. The air buzzed with their murmured conversations, but they all knew that this was Tessa's realm—the night hours. Her powers swelled with the rise of the moon, and even without speaking, they sensed her growing strength.
As the clock neared 9 p.m., they approached a crossroads—an ominous T-junction. The road ahead split into two paths, each as dark and foreboding as the other.
Nyala sidled up to Tessa, her voice low. "Do you think we should ask Ikehara which way to go?" She glanced back at the limping figure trailing behind, clearly expecting some input from their supposed guide.
Ikehara, catching Nyala's glance, straightened up—or tried to. His leg throbbed, but he puffed out his chest, ready to offer his expertise. Finally, he thought. They need me. Surely Tessa would pause, turn to him, and acknowledge his knowledge, his value...
But Tessa stood still, eyes fixed on Nyala. Her gaze seemed distant, as though she was lost in thought or... no, she was listening.
"Which way?" Nyala asked again, a little uncertain as Tessa's silence stretched.
Tessa blinked, her focus returning. "Let me use the Eyes of the Moon to search."
Nyala nodded, her trust in Tessa unwavering. They waited in silence as Tessa connected with the moon goddess, her irises shimmering with an ethereal glow. Moments later, the vision came to her.
"We go left," Tessa said confidently, her voice firm.
Nyala immediately turned to the group. "We're heading left."
Without question or hesitation, the group shifted direction, following Tessa's command. They moved as one, flowing into the left path, which, to the naked eye, seemed less promising. It was narrower, rougher, and more shadowy than the right. But they didn't falter.
Ikehara, on the other hand, froze. His mouth hung open in shock. Left? That couldn't be. He had studied this terrain for years, and anyone with even a basic sense of navigation would assume the right path. But—she was right. Left was the correct way.
How could she possibly know that? Panic began to gnaw at him. If Tessa could lead them without his guidance, then his entire plan was in jeopardy. Without his help, Tessa would reach the cloak, and he would be left with nothing. No cloak. No resurrection for Rhemon. Nothing.
Sweat dripped down Ikehara's brow as he realized just how precarious his situation had become. He limped faster, rushing toward Tessa, desperation flashing in his eyes.
"Tessa—Moon goddess—wait!" His voice cracked, almost pleading. "I—I'm sorry for everything. I haven't been completely honest, but I promise... from now on, I'll reveal every danger, every bit of information I have. You need me to lead. Please, let me lead you to the cloak!"
Tessa didn't stop walking. She didn't even slow down. Instead, a small smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. She didn't even bother to turn around as she replied, her tone playful but cutting. "You've done such a great job leading us into death traps so far, Ikehara. Why stop now?"
Adrian, who had been quietly observing, chuckled under his breath. "You've got to love her sarcasm," he whispered to Ecdy, who nodded in agreement, trying to stifle his own laughter.
Ikehara's desperation grew. He hurried, dragging his injured leg behind him, his heart pounding in his chest. "Please, Tessa, I'm serious! Without my guidance, you won't find the exact location. The cloak is heavily guarded—there's no way you'll get it without—"
Tessa waved a hand dismissively, cutting him off. "We'll manage. If there's one thing we've learned so far, Ikehara, it's that you're not as essential as you think."
The group laughed, some more subtly than others, but the message was clear: no one was taking him seriously anymore. Even Nyala, usually so diplomatic, gave Ikehara a look that said, You're on your own, buddy.
Panic fully set in. Ikehara's mind raced. If they didn't need him, if they didn't trust him, he had no leverage. He couldn't resurrect Rhemon, couldn't bring his plans to fruition. He had to find a way to regain control. But how?
Meanwhile, Tessa pressed forward, her stride confident. She could feel Ikehara's anxiety radiating behind her, but it didn't faze her. He wasn't a threat anymore—just a desperate man grasping at straws.
As they continued deeper into the path, the atmosphere thickened with the weight of looming danger. They were nearing the Temple of Akanon, a place whispered about in legends, a place where even the bravest feared to tread. Shadows stretched long across the ground, and the wind picked up, howling through the trees like a warning.
But Tessa didn't waver. Her connection to the moon goddess was strong tonight, and she would see them through.
Ikehara, trailing behind, was left to limp