Ceaseless Circle (7)

I kept on running aimlessly, avoiding several long ranged attacks from the animals. Ranging from arrows, to random boulders and even tree trunks those Gorilla's somehow grabbed from the ground. It was ridiculous! To make things worse, I couldn't go that far either.

Everytime I passed a certain tree, the loop would be activated and I would be back where I started without me even knowing. It still hasn't been broken, so running away to the lake wasn't an option. The only choice left was to kill the "Master" of these animals, but will I even be capable of that? I'm not confident of that whatsoever.

'I really underestimated The Mulligan....'

I sighed in exasperation. Luckily, I managed to outrun the animals and find a place to hide, inside a bush, behind a large tree. My breathing was heavy and took a few minutes to catch it.

'What should I do now?'

I carefully considered what I should do next, i could go and try to fight the animals. I have already pretty much gained a decent understanding of their blessing abilities, also some of their Curses based on the way they moved. But that's risky, I could end up seriously injured, even if I win, it would be a satisfying victory if I'll be exhausted by the time I need to face the main villain of this whole situation.

So, fighting the animals that were after me is out of the question.

That leaves finding Isabella and assisting her. But that really depends on if I could find her right now, or if she is even alive. She might be suffering from an even worst attack than me a1nd she had already exhausted her innate spirit by fighting the tiger earlier. So, I can't hold on to much hope of her being alone. But I need her to be alive and she scolded me for not being optimistic enough, as well.

I need to place my faith in her. She is alive and I must go assist her. That's the best course of action. Together, we stand a much better chance.

'Splitting up is never a good idea...'

I shook my head and laughed. Then, slowly stood up and looked around. So, how exactly am I gonna find her? She did go that way, but she could be somewhere else hy now. I cant be sure. But since it's my only lead, I'll have to go that way regardless.

Thus, I began running in search for Isabella.

________________________________________

I stood upon piles of corpses of animal corpses. Monkeys, snakes, Gorilla's, Tiger's....all of them was beneath my feed. Killed by me with another air explosion, as I called it. This one deliberately much more destructive than the last. I exhausted the last bits of my innate spirit just to launch a final one.

Most of my tunic was torn. There was a deep wound on my shoulder and my right side, bleeding profusely. My face was even worse. My beauty unrecognizable. It was painful. So, so, painful. Even so, i held on. I won't give up. After all....this pain cannot compare to the hatred I feel towards my father and the determination to winning this game. It just doesn't.

".....Show yourself."

I stared into the darkness. I knew he was watching. When I first met him sitting on the throne, I immediately realized who it was. Because, after all, I knew him from the real world.

Stepping out from the darkness was a young man. He had bronze skin and messy jet-black hair that reached his shoulders, which was in desperately in need for a wash. He was wearing a torn black mantle with a hood. His eyes were a black-brownish colour, his build and facial features were average. This young man had an unassuming and gentle temperament, but that made him all the more dangerous.

Looking up and meeting her gaze, he spoke.

"Isabella. What are the chances of meeting you in this Godforsaken battle royal? You look as beautiful as ever.....let me guess, your father put you up to this?"

My eyebrows twitched at the mention of my father.

"I'm not looking for a conversation. Im gonna kill you, Dorian."

My eyes glistened with pure malice and hatred. Yes, I knew him. Dorian was the eldest child of one of my father's friends. So, we met a few times and discussed about The Mulligan together. One could even say that we were childhood friends, but I never really saw him that way. Unlike me, he was obsessed with The Mulligan and likely a willing participate of it.

So, im gonna have fun murdering him.

Dorian smiled.

"You talk big, but aren't you out of innate spirit? Besides, im not alone. There is another group of my animals waiting for their master to release them. So, im here to make a deal with you, Isabella. I have no interests of fighting you."

I raised an eyebrow, somewhat interested. Prompting Dorian to continue.

"I have been....searching for you ever since the beginning of The Mulligan to tea—

I interrupted, confused.

"What are you talking about? Searching for me? How would you know I'll participate in it?"

Dorian went silent. He seemed to be pondering something, before answering honestly.

"I knew because my father told me. Our father's planned on sending us both to The Mulligan together, ally ourselves, until we both are the last standing. They don't care about The Mulligan itself, or if one of us wins it, but they wanted us to pull that sword and bring it back to the real world...."

My eyes narrowed, my tone dripping with hatred and resentment at my next words.

"Of course. That sword. A sword that is a myth and no winner of The Mulligan managed to pull, or bring back to the real world. Why am I not surprised?"

I jumped down from the pile of corpses and approached Dorian.

"Tell me about this deal. You were the one who sent that tiger after me, weren't you? So that I'll meet Morgan? You were the one keeping our campsite safe from animals attacking, weren't you? I realized it the moment I killed that tiger because the overseer didn't announce the kill. So, what are you planning, Dorian?"

Dorian grinned. He didn't falter and answered leisurely.

"Well, it's very simple....all I want is to team up with you, of course. But You were wrong about the meeting Morgan part, I never intended for you to meet him. Instead, you were supposed to meet me and I'll be your savior from the tiger. But that guy got in the way of everything...."

My smiled faded into shock. I didn't speak, prompting him to continue.

"That's why I had the animals focus on attacking him, while also attacking you without the serious intent to kill. I had to make you both think that the animals were the villains, you know? But I don't understand. Why are you protecting that fool so much? We can kill him together, team up, find the sword and win The Mulligan."

He held out his hand, hoping for me to take it.

"Come with me, Isabella. We can achieve great things together. Just like our father's expected us to. We are.....meant to be."

I stared at the hand in silence for a few seconds. I wanted to laugh, because this reminded me of me extending my hand out for Morgan, when he was having trust issues. Considering Dorian's words, it seemed right. It seemed to be the correct choice, but....I hated it. I hated him. Atleast I don't despise Morgan, but it was different with Dorian.

I want to kill my father, while Dorian admired him. He must be thinking that my father was being grateful by sending me to The Mulligan. That im grateful towards him for doing it and that I genuinely want to find the sword for our father's, but he couldn't be more wrong. So, no. I won't accept the hand. I won't work with someone's ambitions that doesn't align with mine.

I looked up from the extended hand, back towards Dorian and opended my mouth to speak. But then—

"Hmph!"

A furious punch from the side sent Dorian hurling towards the trunk of a tree, one of his teeth flying out. I was astonished by the scene, glancing towards the frail, lean young man with smooth porcelain skin and long raven black hair.

"M–Morgan?"

I didn't even sense him coming. Since when did he become so stealthy? Something about him seemed different. Was it the newfound confidence radiating from him? He must have learned how to use yet another blessing. So, he is the type that improves during fights...

'How curious.'

Morgan faced me and asked, his tone concerned.

"Are you alright? What happend to you? You look like you're about to collapse any moment now...."

Right. I was....not in the best shape at the moment. For some reason, I felt self-conscious with him looking up and down my abused and wounded figure. But I also felt warm at the concern he was showing me. Someone actually cared, atleast.

I took a breath, composing myself.

"I'm fine. The animals did a number on me, but most of the wounds aren't serious and I have already stopped the bleeding. Right now..."

I turned my head and faced the tattered figure of Dorian that was already standing up after the surprise attack.

"We need to kill him."

Morgan raised an eyebrow.

"Is that the guy? The one animals are calling master?"

I nodded my head.

"And....I also sort of know him in realize, but that's a long story. Right now, we need to kill him before he calls for back-up. He still has more animals under his control."

Morgan was shocked by what I said, an astonished expression on his face. But he quickly schooled it back to normal, his face turning serious as he turned his head towards the figure of Dorian.

He stood up on wobbly legs, bleeding profusely from his mouth and his jaw seemed dislocated. Yet, he was able to spat out in anger and hatred towards Morgan.

"You....you bastard! How dare you interrupt the moment between us?!"

Then, he faced me.

"Isabella! Make your decision....join me! We can kill him together!"

Morgan seemed very confused and out of place at the moment. It was endearing. I would of teased him about it if the situation wasn't so dire. So, instead, I faced Dorian and said firmly, using the newly slightly replenished innate spirit to manipulate the air around me into a sharp blade.

"I refuse."

There was nothing else that was needed to be said. Just a firm refusal, my gaze unwavering.

Dorian seemed stunned.

"You....you are making a mistake, Isabella. What do you mean you refuse? Are you kidding me? After all we have been through? I thought you...."

He shook his head, his disbelief turning into anger.

"Fine. So, be it."

Then, he raised both his hands and raised his voice.

"My loyal servants! Feast! This time, you may eat the both of them!"

Just as he said that, from the depths of the jungle, lights popped out. Indeed, all of them belonged to an eye of an animal, that was slowly marching forward. There was atleast ten of them. I took a deep breath, steeling my resolve. The situation seemed impossible, but....I felt like we both could win this. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but that's okay.

Turning my head towards Morgan, I spoke.

"You focus on fighting Dorian. I'll handle the animals."

Morgan seemed surprised.

"Are you sure? At that state...."

Before he continued, i shook my head.

"Just do it. You're the one full of innate spirit right now and the least injured of the two of us. Dorian is dangerous. He may not seem like it, but he was able to kill all of these animals and turn them into his servants. There is no way I can fight and win him in this state. Only you can."

I sighed.

"I'll try my best to hold back the animals for as long as possible. Just make sure to kill that bastard before I die."

Morgan hesitated for a few seconds, before he nodded, determined.

"I will. Let's end this."

With that, the animals rushed forward and so did we. The final act has begun.