Conclusion (3)
In a remote corner of the battlefield, Astrid lay beside Evan's battered body. As anxiousness and despair threatened to overwhelm her, she desperately tried to keep her emotions in check, as emotion didn't help the situation at hand.
What Astrid needed was cold, calculating logic.
Having just taken out Finn, which used up a sizable amount of the mana she currently possessed, her face was a little pale.
Taking out a mana replenishing potion from her storage ring, Astrid chugged it down in one go. Sensing the cool liquid travelling down her throat, she heaved a weary sigh.
'Why does everything in the world have to be complicated? I guess this is how life keeps on us on our toes all the time.'
Turning her gaze back toward Evan, Astrid patiently waited for him to regain consciousness.
Sitting beside Evan on the ground, she rested her tired body. Reflecting on the events which led up to this situation, a complicated emotion bloomed in her eyes.
'With the disappearance of Commander Vanderson, the outpost was in a state of chaos as it forced the military to request that Otto take charge. After that, coincidentally, the beta-level wyvern made its presence known, causing a change in the natural hierarchy of the region, making many monsters go rampant and out of control due to fear. The rampant monsters joined together to form a monster horde which was attracted to the outpost because of the strong human presence found there. Then we fought against the monster horde before the dark wyvern appeared. After which, Otto fought against the enormous abomination, hoping to give the rest of us time to retreat back to the outpost. Following this, a thunderstorm of epic proportions bloomed into existence, with Kang at its centre. I-'
Breaking Astrid out of her stupor was a weak groan as she found Evan's eyes fluttering open beside her.
"Where am I?" he weakly muttered.
Looking around, Evan found the plains littered with countless corpses of humans and monsters alike. Turning his gaze above, he found the last vestiges of a mighty thunderstorm dissipating in the heavens as his confusion deepened further.
"What happened?" Evan asked another question, confusion evident in his tone.
Taking a deep breath, Astrid narrated in a neutral voice.
"We are still currently on the battlefield. The Wyvern is dead after Otto sacrificed himself to protect the rest of us and Kang activated a Forbidden Art, slaying it in the end but not without paying the price with his life. After the Wyvern appeared, I rushed to search for you so we could return to the outpost. However, I found you crumpled on the floor with a gaping wound in your chest. Turns out Finn betrayed you. Citing the reason being that his employers wanted to get their avaricious hands on the martial art you possess."
Raising her eyebrow in Evan's direction, Astrid was inevitably curious about the grade of martial art that he carried on his figure.
Coughing lightly, Evan scratched the back of his head in embarrassment as he answered.
"I kind of possess a
"…"
Astrid's eyes widened as she pinched herself to see if all this was a dream. Feeling a stinging pain from where she pinched herself, she knew this wasn't a dream. Her perception of reality was still the same without any outside interference.
At a loss for words, Astrid just stared dumbly at Evan with the words
One had to know that humanity had no less than 8
So for one to not have any greedy thoughts of trying to claim that priceless gem of martial arts was a testament to that person's will and ability to suppress any negative desires on a whim.
Narrowing her eyes, Astrid appeared, deep in thought.
'So having possession of such an art must mean that his background is not simple at all.'
Gazing at her with an unreadable expression, Evan wanted to know what would happen now that she knew one of his secrets.
'There are a few reasons I told her this, namely because having many connections is useful in situations where strength is not advisable in a political situation, for example. Also, it's my way of showing goodwill toward her. I just hope she realises this, and her judgement doesn't become affected by greed.'
As the duo stared at each other's eyes, a gradual understanding enveloped both of them.
Reading in between the lines, Astrid acknowledged that Evan was taking a dangerous gamble by revealing information of such a clandestine nature to her.
Nodding to show that she accepted such goodwill, a small smile formed on her lips.
"Ugh. I just want to lie in bed for the next week and a half!" she said as a yawn escaped her mouth.
"After all we went through, that's the least we deserve," Evan responded as he began inspecting his body.
Moving his body and not feeling a sensation of pain, he was greatly surprised as he sent an inquisitive glance toward Astrid with a silent question.
"Ah, when I managed to find you, I conjured a tiny flame which cauterized your wounds and stopped the blood loss. Which allowed the effectiveness of the healing potion to skyrocket after you ingested it."
Calmly explaining what she did before Evan woke up, Astrid chuckled to herself after seeing him move his body as if it was for the first time.
Nodding, Evan raised his hand and placed it on his chest, feeling a massive bruise from the large wound caused by Finn's dagger. Wincing slightly, he wondered how he managed to hold on without bleeding to death before Astrid arrived.
'Did the azure ball in my brain cause a qualitative change to my body, enhancing various elements such as regeneration and endurance?'
Pondering, Evan rubbed his chin for a few moments before finding his mind blank, without any answers. Shrugging to himself, he threw the thought to the back of his mind as he began his journey back to the outpost.
Accompanied by Astrid, who stayed by his side.
With his back to the place where he once thought he would be safe, Evan gazed at the expansive plains with a melancholic sigh.
'Who knew that not only would I survive my first exploration into the Forbidden Wilds but also end up getting betrayed in the process? If there was anything this series of events has taught me is that currently, I am too weak! With the strength I currently possess, I'm afraid that I have no hope of surviving future events, let alone getting revenge on the Fletcher Family.'
Closing his eyes as he basked in the twilight of the day, Evan's thoughts were filled with the resolve and determination to succeed, no matter what blocked his path. With his family as a driving fuel, he felt as if he could accomplish anything.
Opening his eyes, Evan gazed at the figure beside him through his peripheral vision as she appeared to be having a moment with herself as well.
Wearing a wry smile on his face, Evan turned his gaze back to the plains before beginning to move his body, heading back to the relative comfort of the outpost.
Alas, before he could fully turn around, he noticed a shadow flicker across him, sending alarm bells ringing in his mind.
As his eyes widened in dark apprehension, Evan tried to voice out the new danger. However, before he could, he heard a rough voice growl in surprise.
"Oh! What an interesting human you are! Hmm, you have got a good body structure with just the right amount of muscle. You just need a little fattening up, so when I bite into the flesh, it is succinctly soft. Also, what marvellous blood you have there, I'm just salivating at the mere sight of it powerfully thrumming throughout your body!"
Freezing in fear like a deer caught in headlights, Evan turned around, slowly discovering the source of the voice.
A sight which made his blood run cold.
Standing tall with an impressive height of 1.9 meters, with green skin, patches of murky brown dotted across its body and a row of sharp teeth, the being across from Evan appeared especially menacing.
Feeling his senses screaming mortal danger, Evan attempted to move. Alas, as if predicting his thoughts, the green being opposite him simply swiped its hands.
Gazing at the two sets of eyeballs which appeared as if they would fall off at any moment, Evan's eyes widened in terror.
Only resisting for a brief second, his eyes drooped as he sensed a familiar darkness encroaching rapidly before engulfing him once again.