Drift Lifted
"Sigh. You idiot. What the hell did you do to end up like this?"
Hayes wouldn't stop crying. I straightened her snow-white hair. Once the strands were brushed aside, her face came into full view. It was identical to the World Tree's—same features. But while the World Tree had smiled, Hayes was still bawling her eyes out even after all this time. It was definitely her.
Hayes's condition was dire. Her Death Eye was shattered. Black blood kept oozing from it, and there was a stab wound in her side from something sharp.
"Really... really... Evan, is that you...?"
Her other eye, not the Death Eye, was cloudy and unfocused. Hayes blinked and reached out a trembling hand. The fingers that brushed my face were weak, as if she were confirming I was real. I laid my hand over hers.
"Ah... ah..."
Our hands overlapped, and fresh tears burst from her golden eye. To me, it'd been less than a month. To her, over fifty years of waiting.
I'd thought of a million things to say when we reunited. But the moment I saw her, all that vanished. I just smiled at her.
"I really... really missed you... Evan."
Hayes smiled through her tears. I wanted to savor this reunion forever, but there was still work to do.
Thud!
The Swallower, sliced by my sword and toppled, rose again. The chatty snake scratched at his chest. His beaming grin at me was infuriating.
- Ow ow! Hero buddy! We meet after so long, and you swing at me right away? That's cold! Just like the first time we met—no change there.
"..."
I ignored him. From my inventory, I pulled out the World Tree Fruit.
Whoosh!
Life force poured from the fruit. Just taking it out steadied Hayes's breathing.
"Here, swallow this."
I fed the fruit into Hayes's mouth. A glow of life erupted from her body. The hole in her side sealed perfectly. Color returned to her pale face. Focus sharpened in her hazy eyes.
It was a miracle of life. No wonder it outclassed any elixir.
"My body...!?"
Hayes touched herself in disbelief, her face blank with shock at her revival from the brink of death.
"World Tree Fruit. Pretty rare stuff."
It was valuable enough to ease my Drift debuff, which locked my status window. Even after devouring the fruit brimming with life, her Death Eye remained shattered. The core was broken—probably beyond repair. But with some scraping together, she might squeeze one more use out of it.
- Whoa! The Fruit of Life!! Looks delicious! As expected from you, hero buddy. You always bring the tasty-looking goods. But you sure that's wise?
Puhuhu!
The Swallower's eyes curved slyly at me.
- You're super weak right now. I know it. You can't even wield that Starlight Sword properly. And with me here, you feed the fruit to the dying elf instead of yourself? Still a fool. Puhuhu.
"Evan...!? Why give it to me..?"
Hayes startled at the snake's words.
"Shut your trap, punk. You think I can't kill an Abyss freak without one fruit?"
Truth was, I couldn't. In this state, no matter how hard I tried, the Swallower would win. Eating the fruit myself might've been the smart play, like the snake said.
But who abandons a hard-won companion like that? Sorry, but even saving the world, I never ditched my crew once.
At first, I saw them as mere NPCs—tools for world-saving. But somewhere along the journey, they filled my heart. Ditching a dying ally now, when I'm weak? That's Abyss thinking.
"Hayes, don't worry. Listen up."
I was weakened now. Hayes wasn't at full strength either. But it was fine. My experience wasn't just saving the world—it was clearing the game, Star of Adenia.
My improvised plan against him seemed solid. I channeled mana into our overlapped hands, vibrating it. The trick I'd used on Rapi. In a voice only Hayes could hear, I explained the plan.
Her eyes widened at my words, then she nodded. No questions—she trusted me. Years of fighting together built that bond.
I set her down gently. I approached the Swallower, who danced in anticipation.
- Yay! Finally done? Catch up with your pals okay? Wish you'd included me. Whispering secrets—how rude!
From my inventory, I drew spear and axe, aiming at him. The toothy snake had hijacked Spilvena's massive bear body. No clue how he revived, but the world was full of mysteries. Method didn't matter. What counted was killing him. This time, total annihilation.
"Curious?"
I spun the axe, cycling mana. Compressed power focused on the blade, forming Aura Blade.
- Yup!
Whoosh!
"Your mom."
I hurled the axe and charged. It pierced flesh cleanly. As I ran, I slammed the spear tip into the ground, bending it like a pole vault. Coiled my body's spring, then launched skyward on the rebound.
I drew my sword, aiming. At this height, I faced the snake's mug. He grinned at me. His arm moved. The bear paw tapped air lightly.
Thud!
"Tch."
Air blasted. To block the nature force on his claws, I raised my sword defensively.
Clang!
His strike was light, but threatening up close. I spun my rebounding body, dissipating momentum. Landed solidly.
- Aw, this body's no good for Aura Blade, so your sword hurts, hero buddy! No fair!
He acted cutesy—still annoying as ever.
- Kill me? You'd need a thousand tries!
"Then die nicely on my sword. Scared?"
- Yup! Even a weakened hero buddy might pull something!
Dying once made him cautious? I glanced at Hayes. She gathered Death magic. Plan's endgame neared.
- Hehe...! Prepping something big? Sorry, buddy—no waiting this time.
Crack!
- This time, I'll devour you for good.
Not just the snake mouth—giant maws erupted across the bear body. Monstrous form, monstrous mana.
I honed all senses to counter. The approaching Swallower paused, snapped fingers.
Crunch!
"...!!"
Teeth burst from my shadow, piercing my foot. Hayes's technique. He'd already devoured and wielded Death magic. Invisible, piercing defenses—unfair as hell from the enemy.
- Puhuhu. Too late, buddy. This body's packed with devoured druids.
Zzt!
Abyss-nature mix surged up the fang into me.
"Kuh—!"
My body numbed. Not just flesh—druid arts bound my soul. Crazy bastard. I charged boldly, crushed by one gesture.
Thump... thump...
The giant bear lumbered closer. I strained mana and muscle—no budge. This was it—snake chow.
Drip... drip...
His breath hot on me. Drool poured from every maw—disgusting.
Snap!
He flicked again. My neck loosened.
"Pulling all the bullshit."
- Puhuhu. Still potty mouth. Got an idea while walking. I'll lift you by the toes and eat slow! Right in front of your elf pal.
"No wonder Abyss freaks think small—no parents."
I sneered at his twisted face.
- Shut up!!!!
He raged. Earsplitting roar burst my eardrums—blood trickled. Low fuse.
- Scream that when I'm chewing you alive!!!
Bear paw hoisted me high. Sky neared. Below, snake maw gaped.
Hayes's power due any second. Glanced—eyes shut, sweating. Concentrating. Needed more time.
Ptoo!
Time-buy: spat at his flicking tongue.
- Gah!! You—!! Unforgivable!
Rumble!
- Huh?
Odd thunder. Here it came.
Kaboom!
Dark green lightning struck the Swallower.
- Under... world...!!!?
Screee!
Crackle!
Death exploded amid flickering green bolts. Stacking deaths—he clutched face, screamed.
Crunch!
Devouring sound. Snake lowered hand.
- Puhuhu. Surprised?
Grinning through fangs.
He'd devoured the underworld gateway with Swallower's Power.
- That your big plan? Lame. This body's a druid. Devoured underworld essence for ages—think a gateway kills me?
"..."
- Plus, can't use it twice. Elf's last gasp. Can't see, but she collapsed. Burned all mana forcing the gate. Puhuhu.
Crunch!
Green lightning vanished into Abyss maw. Death magic bloomed from him, gateway fully consumed.
- Fun while it lasted. My turn?
Hah!
Swallower clapped. Kaboom! More green lightning from Shadow Forest. His underworld gate. It spread like curtains—dark sky, earth, pale souls swirling.
Whoooosh!
- Now. I rule death.
Underworld overlaid Adenia. Bear fur blackened, green-black mana rose. Soul-shaking power. Swallower's Power plus Death—world-ending threat.
But.
"Heh heh..."
- Why laugh?! What's funny?! Tell me!!
Squeeze!
Bear paw crushed near-bone. Abyss eyes glared. How could I not laugh?
"Knew you'd devour the gate and rip the underworld wide. Predictable."
Opening a death gate? Obvious trap.
"Thanks. For opening it here."
Genuine.
- Ha!!! Bullshit!!
Snake sensed trouble, powered up. Paw swung. Rending force. Shadow teeth poised. Rumble! Death-mana pillars from underworld floor formed rock hands. Omni-death strike.
"Too late."
Eyes shut, focused inward. Vicious debuff locked status window.
Status: Drift
Sealed stats, traits, items. Incurable Drift hits external dimension travelers entering Adenia. Meaning: leave Adenia for outer dimensions, it vanishes.
Click!
Drift gone. Stats freed.
Click!
Sealed traits stirred.
- Die!! Hero!!!
Kaboom!
Starlight mana burst from me. Incoming attacks evaporated. Overflowing unprecedented power surged. Shattered flesh-soul bonds.
- Wha—!!!
Power flooded.
- What!! Impossible!! You were weak!!!
Sliced air lightly with handblade.
Shlick!
Lines etched death-bear, overlapping. Blood erupted wave-like from traces.
- Graaaargh!!
Bellowing bear knelt. Snake face panicked.
- How.. how..!! No no!!
Status unlocked—full condition. Power from thwarting doom, regained. Now stronger with comrades.
Underworld sky dark with pallid wisps, but I felt refreshed.
"..."
Before reuniting, I'd seized every solo anti-doom method. With them, blocked doom—power evolved beyond.
To kill him: all traits, skills unleashed. Hand out—fiery orbs like suns lit underworld sky. Inventory emptied: weapons levitated by telekinesis, aimed. Spears, axes, daggers, halberds, swords. Dozens, Aura Blades enshrouding entire lengths—not just edges.
Starlight banquet pierced darkness.
"Here it comes, Abyss. Time to butcher you for good."
Showing the Allmaster's power.