Oblivion Whale (5)

An unfamiliar grand plaza came into view.

Soon after, I saw flames engulfing everything in sight. The fiery waves swallowing the city eventually began claiming people's lives as well.

Black smoke hung thick in the sky like storm clouds, blocking out the sunlight. Beneath the darkened sky, bright flames swept through every corner as screams echoed around me.

Turning my head, my eyes fell upon a single statue. A stone figure atop an altar inscribed with complex Imperial script.

Apparently already destroyed by someone, only its grotesquely remaining lower half was visible. Strangely, a woman sat beside it.

Could she be the one who shattered the statue?

As if in a trance, I walked toward her. Something simply told me I should.

As I approached, her previously indistinct face finally came into clear view.

'That's... me?'

Jet-black hair cascading down to her waist, ominously glowing crimson eyes. Pupils shaped like a reptile's, and delicate, pale white skin to complete the picture.

Though she looked slightly more mature, that was unmistakably Adel's appearance. But why would she be sitting there like that beside the statue?

'This is...'

Moving closer, I saw corpses littered around her - all with gaping holes through their chests or heads.

Every face was familiar. The Tower Master, the Crown Prince, even the Emperor.

Standing atop this hellish scene of carnage, I—no, Adel—was smiling brightly.

She casually shook off the thick blood coating her arm, then roughly wiped her blood-spattered face with the sleeve of her red dress.

The sight sent chills down my spine, making me instinctively brush down my own arms.

Adel, who had been sitting beneath the smoke-filled black sky, suddenly landed on the ground and began approaching me.

Frozen in terror, I could only stare as she came closer.

With each step she took, my heartbeat grew more violent. When the eerie-looking woman reached nose-to-nose distance, she let out a soft chuckle.

"Don't be so frightened."

That same voice I'd heard before.

Could the owner of that voice—the one who'd helped me—actually have been the real Adel, the true owner of this body?

Before I could finish the thought, she grabbed my chin and stared piercingly into my eyes.

After murmuring something in an incomprehensible language, she flashed a grin.

Just as I began feeling fear at that mysterious smile, Adel spoke to me.

"It's not yet time for you to be here."

"What?"

With those final words, she shoved me violently backward.

Before I could even process my confusion, my body tumbled back. Soon, my ears grew muffled and my vision darkened as if I were slowly sinking underwater.

The sensation of drowning in the depths made me forcibly exhale. Even when I tried reaching out and moving, my body wouldn't budge.

After struggling desperately for what felt like an eternity, the black void turned white again in a flash of light.

"Hack, cough... Gasp...!"

As if expelling all the breath I'd been holding at once, I violently gasped and opened my eyes.

Struggling to calm my rapid breathing with deep inhales, I wiped the tears from my eyes.

[Contractor, are you alright?!]

"...No. Not alright."

It had been so intense that I couldn't even pretend to be fine.

Had I ever experienced anything like this during all my regressions? I'd never once seen the real Adel's form before this.

I didn't even understand why I was suddenly facing the real her now.

Judging by the atmosphere, she didn't seem particularly resentful about me taking over her body either. Taking a deep breath, I reflexively asked Silpi:

"Katra?"

The moment the question left my lips, I immediately clamped my mouth shut. Damn it—time had rewound through regression, so Silpi couldn't possibly know about ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that.

Yet without showing any confusion, he answered in a calm voice:

[He ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠collapsed.]

"...Huh?"

Puzzled by his response, I asked again, and he pointed in one direction with his finger.

There, Katra knelt unconscious on the ground. The sight made my thoughts grind to a halt. What in the world had happened here?

When I shot him a questioning look, Silpi simply shrugged.

[Not sure. It'd take too long to explain now.]

He pointed at Yurp with one hand as he continued:

[First, we need to save Yurp.]

"Ah, right."

I tried to jump up quickly, but muscle pain throughout my body stopped me. Had something happened while I was unconscious that caused this?

"Now's... not the time... for this."

Gritting my teeth, I barely managed to stand. My arms and legs trembled so violently I could barely take a step.

Silpi, who had been watching me struggle, extended his hand toward me.

[Blessing of Wind.]

As blue wind coiled around my arms and legs, my body felt noticeably lighter. Turning to look at him, I saw Silpi standing with arms crossed.

["The duration is still 5 minutes."]

"Thanks, Silpi."

At my words of gratitude, he averted his gaze as if embarrassed and replied curtly.

[Yeah, yeah. You'd better hurry.]

"Right, of course."

Carefully cradling Yurp in my arms, I glanced toward the entrance I'd come through. The distance was so vast the opening was no longer visible.

Taking a deep breath, I kicked off the ground. Ignoring the slippery sensation of the fleshy mass beneath me, I sprinted forward.

[That direction.]

As Silpi spoke, the Blue Wind surged ahead, marking my path. Seeing this, I pushed my speed even further, racing after it.

I'd expected navigating would take time, but with Silpi guiding me, at least that was one less worry.

Not that it meant we had time to spare.

'No telling how long I was unconscious.'

Right now, all I could do was get out of here as fast as possible.

Whoooosh...

As if sensing my movement, holes began forming throughout the interior, spewing mist.

The fog spread instantly in all directions. Holding my breath, I charged straight through.

Tsk. Silpi clicked his tongue at the sight and shouted to me.

[Avoid as much as you can! I can't afford to block your breathing too!]

'Got it.'

Nodding at his urgent warning, I weaved between the mist-spewing holes.

Even if I had to risk inhaling some fog, speed was paramount. Clutching Yurp tighter, I pushed through the interior.

My breathing grew ragged, but stopping wasn't an option.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

We couldn't afford any more delays. Silpi said minor inhalation wouldn't harm me, so I could push harder.

After what felt like an eternity of running, the Oblivion Whale's maw came into view.

Standing on its pink tongue, I spotted the scattered fangs lining the entrance.

'That's the way out.'

To escape, I needed to force open this damned whale's mouth first. Gently setting Yurp down, I drew my rapier.

[You sure about this?]

"Escaping comes first."

Responding to Silpi's concerned question, I channeled wind into the blade. With a resonant hum, Blue Wind coiled around the steel.

Not as potent as when I'd faced Katra, but still formidable. More than enough to pry open this thing's jaws.

With that thought, I unleashed a Wind Blade.

Thwack!

The moment the blade struck the palate, crimson blood geysered in all directions.

GROOOOAAAL!

A pained shriek reverberated from beyond the throat, deafening.

Scooping up Yurp again, I barely dodged the thrashing tongue.

Silpi's power was waning—even these evasive maneuvers were becoming strenuous. As I desperately avoided the flailing muscle, the jaws finally parted.

Sccrrreee—

Unable to endure the sliced palate's agony, the maw gaped wide. Leaving the gurgling roar of boiling blood behind, I hurled myself through the opening.

Simultaneously, the spirit power faded, sapping all strength from my body. The muscle pain left me barely able to move.

Beyond the Oblivion Whale's maw stretched an endless grassland.

Fierce winds whipped my white hair across my vision.

'Oh, you've got to be kidding me.'

Who knew the damned whale was floating midair? Regret flooded me—I'd leaped without considering alternatives.

Was this why Silpi had asked with such concern?

Had I known, I'd have planned better.

'Save Point, please be close enough.'

As the grassland rushed toward me, I squeezed my eyes shut and clung to Yurp.

Biting my lip, I braced for the agony of a falling death.

Yet the violent winds vanished abruptly, replaced only by the sensation of being caught.

Cracking ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my eyes open, I found Abel smiling down at me.

"Still sloppy at finishing moves, I see."

"Hahaha..."

My awkward laugh did nothing to deflect his exasperated gaze. I deliberately avoided meeting his eyes.

He wasn't wrong. I'd rescued Yurp from inside, yet failed to prepare for the landing.

However I looked at it, this was my own stupid mistake.

"Ah, what about Yurp?"

At my question, he sighed and descended gently to the ground.

"How about worrying for yourself first before others?"

Following his pointed finger, I saw Yurp lying peacefully on the grass atop a white magic circle.

The sight drew an involuntary sigh of relief.

"I... This is the first time I've saved someone."

Back then, I'd been too weak to protect anyone. No—so weak I needed protection from people like Evan or Abel.

As if responding to my words, he gave a soft chuckle.

"Indeed. You've grown considerably stronger."