Chapter 144: Memory Back
The seven-armed mutant was noticeably nervous around Taja. With longing eyes, he stared at the unfinished pot of stew, drew back his neck, and hesitantly moved further into the surrounding gloom.
Ren maintained his position beside the campfire, perfectly still, his arm bent with his elbow on his knee. A subtle smile played on his lips as he shifted his gaze towards Taja.
Feeling the air grow chill, "Seven Arms" couldn’t quite pinpoint why, but he intuitively sensed danger and edged even more into the darkness. Not too long ago, he’d faced off against Ren, and the experience had convinced him that Ren was unpredictable and dangerous. While Ren often seemed calm and gentle, especially around Kestrel, in battle he was a force to reckon with, fighting fiercely without a care for his own safety.
This realm was shrouded in shadows, with the bonfire standing as the sole beacon of warmth and light. Its flickering flames cast a glow on one side of Ren’s face, while also hinting at Taja’s form further off.
Taja looked captivating, her youth and vulnerability accentuated by her white dress. To any observer, she appeared shy and meek, resembling a fragile human girl, evoking a sense of sympathy.
In her former life as an average human, Taja was frequently the target of bullies. At her own house, her older brothers, in the neighborhood, her inebriated neighbors, at work, her miserly boss—everyone seemed to derive joy from belittling her.
She was, it seemed, at the bottom of the pecking order, an easy target for any and all.
However, upon entering the Eyehole, a transformation occurred. Gifted with the strength of the deity, Taja became formidable, surpassing many. Although this place was eerie, chilly, and somewhat oppressive, Taja found solace here. She cherished the newfound power, the ability to manipulate and dominate the alphas.
She would ensnare these alphas, bending them to her will, and revel in their agonized screams as she inflicted pain, seeing their once-proud forms crumble under her touch.
Initially, Taja had approached this newfound power with caution. But as time passed, she grew to savor the intoxication that came with overpowering others, a feeling she had never known in her past.
Now, with a fierce gaze, Taja directed her resentment at Ren, who was still seated near the fire. His sudden appearance had thrown a wrench in her plans. The preceding night, she wasn’t sure about Ren’s actions, but she could sense Kestrel’s diminishing strength. Panic set in, and she couldn’t resist confronting Ren in Kestrel’s absence.
Taja recognized the threat. If this alpha wasn’t dealt with, they’d lose their deity in this world, and her newfound strength would evaporate.
Emerging from her shadow, her puppet alphas began to surround Ren.
With casual elegance, Ren spun a small white blade between his fingers. His eyes took on a mysterious violet luminescence.
He remembered all too well the one responsible for drugging him, which led to his humiliating defeat and resulted in Kestrel being trapped in this sinister realm. For Ren, this was more than a battle—it was a personal score he intended to settle.
The fiery clash erupted in mere moments.
From his solitary position by the campfire, Ren was the first to spring into action.
His eyes shimmered with a supernatural intensity, his face showing no emotion, cold and detached. With the swiftness and precision of a predator, he moved, ignoring the flurry of blades around him, zeroing in on Taja who was guarded by a throng of puppet alphas.
Suddenly, a vibrant crimson shadow emerged around him, slicing through the air like an electrifying force. While at times he appeared still, when he chose to strike, he was akin to a relentless monster. The multiple layers of alphas shielding Taja could hardly fend off this whirlwind of a fighter.
His singular focus was on Taja, brushing off any counterattacks as if they were mere irritations.
And before they could fully intercept him, his keen blade had already grazed Taja, delivering a near-deadly strike.
Caught off guard, Taja’s face lost its color. Desperately, she clutched the bleeding gash on her shoulder and swiftly moved back, all the while directing her alphas to encircle and subdue the raging Ren at all costs.
"Has Taja lost her edge? How could a mere human land such a blow?" From a shadowy nook, a mutant with a portion of its wing torn off alighted beside "Seven Arms", observing the intense showdown.
"It’s not that she’s weaker," Seven Arms explained. "It’s the divine energy that’s dwindling. Didn’t you sense it? Its potency has been diminishing recently. Taja was always frail, but with the borrowed divine might, she was a force to be reckoned with. Now, as that might fades, her strength does too."
Spotting Taja’s diminished power, "Seven Arms" covertly slinked from his hiding spot, quickly grabbing the simmering pot of stew, and then slid back into the shadows.
"What’s that?" The one-winged mutant inched closer, taking a whiff.
"Want a bite? It’s the alpha’s handiwork."
The mutant with a single wing extended its tongue, tasting a morsel, "Mmm, not bad at all."
"Delicious, isn’t it? He’s a decent alpha. I genuinely hope he survives. He promised he’d whip up more."
A third mutant quietly nudged in, looking curious.
This particular one hadn’t learned to articulate words yet.
Seven Arms graciously shuffled, making space for the newcomer by the pot.
The deep, mournful songs of the orca resonated from the abyss of darkness. A handful of mutants gently descended from the elevated platforms, congregating together. With the inviting pot of stew placed centrally, they were spectators to the dramatic battle playing out.
"Did this alpha level up or something?" One of the mutants scratched its head, looking puzzled. "I don’t recall him being this tough."
"He’s probably been powered up by Her. Why wouldn’t he level up?"
"Really?" The mutant, with an extra finger on its hand, wiggled its tiniest finger playfully in the dark, asking, "Did they... do the thing?"
"You need to clean your ears or what? Didn’t you hear all that crying and begging noise last night?"
"Man, I’m kinda jealous. Wish I could get powered up too. Maybe then I’d be as strong."
"Don’t be so sure about that. Not everyone can handle it. He’s got this big psychic incarnation thing going on, otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to handle Her."
Suddenly, all the whispers in the dark came to a sharp stop.
"Quiet down, everyone! They’re coming."
Even before Kestrel made her entrance, a chilling psychic pressure spread through the place, almost like the glow of the moon on a clear night.
