Chapter 217: Begone, You Mongerls!!
Eli found himself swallowed by an endless abyss of darkness. The haunting emptiness felt suffocating, and annoyance crept over him. He clicked his tongue in frustration, memories of his first encounter with Lilith flooding his mind.
"aarrhh, not again" Eli muttered, expecting the appearance of a strange and weird voice that would guide him out, just like before.
[You know, you shouldn't think like that after coming here a second time... I am not a weird voice and... I won't let you go like that before. You have to pay the price for coming here.]
"Oh, you speak like a normal being?" Eli raised an incredulous eyebrow, surprised by the sudden shift from mechanical tones to fluent speech
[...]
"Well, whatever. I am bored here. Let me go" Eli stated with a stern seriousness.
"....Then what should I do?" Eli inquired, frustration brewing, 'Seriously, Lilith, you throw me into another strange situation...'
[....You shall atone for acquiring knowledge meant not for mortal ears--]
"W-Wait!! I didn't even hear what the hell she was going to say? All I heard was some 'Guardians of the___________' That's all!!!" Eli's frustration peaked, making it clear he had no clue about Lilith's impending revelation.
[...That child told, and you, who are not deemed worthy of such revelations--]
"Yeah, yeah, right. Not worthy, unworthy, mortal, soulless... go on. I am ready to hear that same 'recorded tape'" Eli retorted with evident annoyance, waving his hand dismissively.
[...You are being insolent....Human]
The voice shifted to fury, and the once-still void now trembled like an earthquake.
Eli felt his legs transforming into shadows, mirroring the obsidian surroundings
[This realm is not void, Mortal...]
Eli, fixated on his changing legs, snapped at the revelation.
[This realm is filled by beings like you, who have been reduced to nothingness...]
A sense of impending danger surged through Eli, urging him to flee from this enigmatic entity.
"arrrhhh"
His attempts to move felt futile as if his very essence was entwined with the surroundings, leaving him with no escape.
'What should I do?' Eli contemplated his limited options. Mana Breathwork seemed impractical in this realm, given his real body resided elsewhere.
'Well, let's give it a try'
Mana Breathing
'Deep inh--'
"cough, cough, cough"
Eli coughed.
[Nothing transpires in my domain...Human]
Glaring defiantly, Eli attempted to assert his presence. The void responded with an intimidating silence.
It was then he heard something both haunting and familiar.
"Call...My Name..Asher.....Eli"
Eli calmed down a bit before,
"ANASTASIA!!"
The resonating words echoed through the void.
[....]
'Crack, Crack'
The space around Eli fractured as if a colossal force appeared behind him.
"RRROOOAAARRRRR!!"
A single roar reverberated, causing the entire space to shatter.
"Kitty?" Eli turned to gaze at the figure. The colossal form emerged, standing an impressive 50 feet tall. Its fur gleamed like white snow, adorned with diamond and gold ornaments around its neck and head.
With captivating blue and green eyes and black slit pupils, the figure glared in a specific direction.
"Let my master go" an ethereal voice echoed in the void.
[.....You filthy animal, How dare you trespass upon my divine domain?"]
Eli sensed the fury in that voice.
"...." Anastasia exhaled deeply before stating, "Master, Call another one".
"Another one?" Eli furrowed his eyebrows, 'Then why are you here for?' he really wanted to ask but....it was not the right time to joke, right?
"Yes, Your First Contractor"
"My first?....Hmmm When did I..Hmm?....Oh!!" Eli pondered a bit, recalling the summoning incident during a life-or-death situation, 'So, I contracted someone that....I didn't even know until now.....shit!'.
Slowly the void started to crack more so,
[Tsk....You, Human, have gone beyond my prediction and be grateful for my divine interventions....Now, Begone, You Mongerls!!" ]
As the space around slowly shattered.
[....]
"That's all" Eli explained to the worried women.
"...."
No sound came from them as they slowly digested the information
After emerging from that mysterious realm, Eli's expression turned deadly serious.
He couldn't afford to delay anything related to his wife, especially after hearing the cryptic words, 'Be grateful for my interventions' Eli sensed that something profound was at play, something that could affect him or his loved ones.
He was ready to die to protect his loved ones but not ready to lose them....again just because they were scared of letting him know the truth and getting hurt.
His hands were trembling recalling the incidents of the past....Controlling his inner turmoil, Eli used this serious moment to share every piece of information he had gathered. Placing an object on the table, he listened to the reactions.
'chucckk'
"arrhh"
"oohhh"
"What the...?"
"...." Lilith blankly stared with lifeless eyes.
The room fell silent as everyone covered their noses, witnessing a black, massive heart.
"E-Eli, This is..."
"Yes, this is the Dungeon Walker's heart" Eli stated, signaling Scylla to bring a sharp knife.
'cuk, kcuk'
With deliberate precision, Eli sliced open the heart, meticulously examining its contents. The others frowned, struggling to comprehend Eli's actions.
"N-No Soul Crystal?" Scylla observed with a grim expression as she guessed.
"Yes, There is no Soul Crystal attached on the outside...or even inside" Eli explained.
Before leaving the dungeon, he had taken the monster's heart and 'something powerful' instead of its full corpse, anticipating Nex's interest in it for 'Research purposes'.
"And it's emitting Lilith's Mana signature" Eli added, locking eyes with Lilith.
"!!!" Adriana was taken aback by the revelation, 'This is new to me!' She thought as she glanced between Eli and Lilith.
'So, she doesn't know anything about it' Eli noted Adriana's expressive face.
"....I truly don't know anything about this matter" Lilith expressed astonishment, her face revealing a genuine surprise.
"....I see" Eli scrutinized Lilith for any signs of deception but found none, 'Well, let's dig deeper, then'.
"This bastard, Knows you and....for some reason it was very angry at you" Eli said, recalling Dungeon Walker's intense emotions....anger, perhaps.....revenge?
"N-No, I don't know anything. I don't know.... I don't know anything about this monster or how he knows me..." Lilith's eyes darted nervously, her breath quickening. She rubbed her temple, her face contorting in pain, and her left eye twitched.
Seeing her distress,
"Calm down, Lilith. I am not doubting you; I just want to know more..." Eli reassured her, embracing Lilith.
Feeling the warmth of his embrace, Lilith calmed a bit and softly admitted, "I am one of the Sentinels--'Hmm'"
Adriana was about to intervene to stop Lilith's spouting anymore, however, Lilith was suddenly kissed by Eli. After a moment, he asked,
"Scylla, when will I be worthy?"
"...Once you mastered all the Arts" Scylla replied sternly.
"Hmmm...as for others?" Eli inquired, noticing Mia and Zera, who seemed oblivious to most of the discussion.
"They must attain the Early Monarch Realm or above" Scylla stated, glancing at both Mia and Zera.
"I see...Call Kitty"
"Yes, Master"
Eli gently patted Lilith's trembling body before turning his attention to the messy table.
Taking some pieces and dried blood, Eli then looked at Mia, who swiftly understood.
/Disintegrate/
Every remaining object turned to ash and vanished, leaving the table neat and clear.
"Adriana, I want you to examine every aspect of this flesh, compare it with Lilith, and if possible, try to separate the Dark Mana" Eli instructed Adriana more as a command than a request.
Adriana glanced at Lilith, who met her husband's gaze with a pensive look.
"D-Darlin--"
"Lilith Dear, I am just investigating something. There's nothing to worry about" Eli interrupted her softly.
"Adriana, if don't want to the-"
"I will provide you with the information within two to three days" Adriana responded, realizing Eli's seriousness.
"..." Lilith bit her lip, attempting to persuade Eli,
"D-Darling, you don't need to do that, I-I will take care--"
"Lilith"
A stern voice made her flinch.
"Adriana"
"Y-Yes"
"I am unworthy to know everything, but I am worthy enough to know about my loved ones...."
"Do.You.Understand?"
"...Yes, Eli"
"....Yes, Darling"
""...."" In an instant, Eli silenced both women like a scolding parent.
[I told you to stop!!! Why did you tell him!!! and now he is fucking serious about everything and he will surely contact those sentinels!! Fuck!! and what about the same signature mana thing...?]
Lilith heard a mental voice and replied with shaky eyes.
[....I don't know...I-I can protect-]
[Yes, You can protect him....just like you how you protected your 'friend'? Did you really forget about the ancient artifact that sealed you for nearly 100 years and how that Luifcer bastard took your friend from you.....and what's more we couldn't even find what kind of artifact it was]
[....] Lilith's expression turned grim.
[If push comes to shove, I will take him away from everyone and erase his memory]
Lilith suddenly glared at Adriana with a murderous look.
Both Mia and Zera flinched for a second while Eli observed every reaction from Lilith and Adriana.
"Master~Nya~"