"Our reunions are always so explosive," a deeply rich and resonant masculine voice pierced through Haruki's mind, bringing with it a sharp, unrelenting pain.
He abruptly closed his eyes, knowing he might see something he shouldn't. When he tried to cover his ears, he found himself unable to move. His mind raced under the crushing pressure, and he quickly realized that the bright light from earlier had been a binding spell.
Cursing inwardly, he tried to summon the wind again.
Nothing came.
He didn't know what was happening. All he could do was listen, but even that brought unbearable agony. The man's voice tore through his mind with a force that left him wondering why he hadn't fainted yet.
Lanling jerked his head toward the man, hatred seething in his gaze. His eyes turned completely white as lightning crackled and coalesced, mirroring his rising fury. He glared as though his stare alone could burn through the man's soul.
The man stood tall and lean, dressed in a black ballroom tail suit. His wavy—almost curly—shoulder-length hair was tied with a blue ribbon and draped over his shoulder. His features were sharp, and his amicable smile did nothing to diminish the cunning in his eyes.
Akiko stood beside him, the Staff of Sanctuary carefully held in her hands. She appeared like any other person, but the dullness in her eyes suggested she had long since died. Her mouth was slightly parted, though no words came out.
"You've become too skilled at handling the lightning element, No. 25," the man said with a sigh of amusement. "I really felt it when you killed me last time."
Number 25.
It triggered something in Haruki's mind.
On its own, it seemed harmless, meaningless even. But when spoken by that voice, directed at Lanling, it unraveled a flood of images in Haruki's mind despite his resistance like the right key to a lock.
They were children under the care of Kathaya, a community dedicated to helping orphans. Or so the public believed.
Beneath Kathaya's unassuming buildings lay a massive facility meticulously shaped into a hexagon. There, gifted children were quietly harbored—their immense potential groomed to touch godhood, but only through the crucible of relentless mental, physical, and spiritual strain.
Lanling was called No. 25 then.
Haruki's bloodshot eyes jerked open from the shock, and his chest tightened as his mind screamed at him to stop.
Don't try to remember the past anymore.
Lanling's voice echoed in his mind but how can you make yourself forget memories that were at the core of your life? No matter how much Haruki willed it—shutting his eyes, gritting his teeth, and repeatedly telling himself it's all fake—it clung like a birthmark.
"Why won't you stay dead?"
Lanling's winter-chill voice pulled him from his attempt at hypnosis. The urge to open his eyes and glance at Lanling almost overpowered his reasoning.
Lanling didn't scream, nor did he wildly pound at the barrier again. But the lightning around him expressed his fury, tearing down the already damaged trees and snapping them in half. They burned from the intense heat, and the once-silent swamp was once again engulfed in flames.
"Trust me, I've tried~" The man broke into a playful grin, though the emotion in his eyes remained constant.
"Have you tried swimming in lava? What about drinking a healing potion? I'm sure if you bathed in any holy water at any church, you'd feel your soul burn from how revolting you are."
Healing potions were cyanide to the undead.
Lanling almost wanted to continue listing ways to kill him but held back when he saw the man shrug.
"Lava wasn't for me, and healing potions aren't sweet enough. As for those holy punks..." The man's eyes abruptly turned completely black, and he stared dully at Lanling as though he were looking at a dead person. "They can't kill me either. So what's the use of gods?"
It was this look that made Lanling's body break into cold sweat. His heart stopped at the sight, and that brief moment of contact brought forth darkness throughout the world as his worst nightmare was about to be pulled. He quickly looked away.
"...Please, just leave us be."
Lanling's mind and soul were exhausted.
He only wanted to quietly spend the rest of his waking moments with Haruki. He didn't want anything else. He would offer his talents, his intelligence, and everything that had brought him to where he was, if it meant a peaceful life with Haruki.
Haruki's eyes shot open, his face contorting in pain.
The man who calmly reaped lives on the battlefield, the one who playfully made a deal with a creature from beyond this world, and his beloved general, who shone brighter than anything in this world...
Against the man behind him, Lanling could do nothing but beg.
Haruki hated that he couldn't do anything for Lanling. He hadn't even won against the mysterious force in his mind that kept trying to pry away the memories he wasn't supposed to remember...
"Lanling..." Haruki finally found the strength to speak, despite the splitting pain in his mind.
Lanling absentmindedly met Haruki's gaze, the longing in his eyes intensifying as he reached out, unable to resist the urge to touch Haruki. But instead, his hand met the barrier.
Haruki mustered whatever strength he had left and gave a reassuring smile. "I'm going to ask you a question. And I need you to answer it, okay?"
Lanling blinked and nodded slowly. His heart thudded in his chest as he guessed what Haruki was about to ask.
The pain in Haruki's mind seemed to travel down his spine, and his body almost trembled. But through sheer willpower, Haruki resisted the urge to break down, though he lightly shook.
A low, muffled laugh came from behind, but he chose to ignore the man.
"Then, can you tell me if we can escape if I remember everything?" Haruki gave another reassuring smile, coaxing Lanling to answer.
The man behind them laughed freely this time. The mockery in his voice was heavy, and the genuine pleasure he took in what was happening sent another chill down Lanling's back.
Lanling was startled by Haruki's question. His face etched with reluctance, he glanced hatefully at the man behind Haruki for a moment.
Then, their gazes locked for what felt like an eternity, though internally, both of them knew it lasted only a few seconds.
Two drops of tears fell onto Lanling's cheeks as he bit his lips and nodded.
"Oh, good." Haruki's reassuring smile faltered as one of his eyes closed involuntarily. He no longer resisted the pain in his mind, and he slumped to the ground.
He surrendered his consciousness.