Chapter 515 – The Old Hag
"Don't tell … this really is another dinsion?" I frowned, inspecting the infinite and vast seas all around us. "If so, how are we going to break out?"
"… There is a spell that can get us out of this situation. However, I am not sure if you are strong enough to use it yet, Master."
"If it's the only way, then it's not like we have much of a choice," I said. "What is it?"
"… Ti," i Gui replied. "Rewinding ti."
"R-Rewinding ti…?" Lan Xiao Su's eyes widened. "Is that even possible…? I've heard legends of that being the most powerful Ti Elent spell of all, but its usage was lost to the ages…"
"It is possible," i Gui said confidently. "But only with the power of Chaos—for it is a Forbidden Rank Spell."
"Huh?" I raised an eyebrow. "I thought the Forbidden Rank was only for Chaos Elent spells—y'know, the special ones like Thief's Hand or Zero."
"That is partly true," i Gui replied. "However, due to the limitations of singular elents themselves, they cannot create such powerful spells on their own. With the help of Chaos energy, however, insanely powerful spells can be crafted. Each elent has a spell like this, and while there is no collective, formal term for them, I believe 'Lost Arts' is a suitable na—considering most have been lost to ti."
"And the one… for the Ti Elent is…" Yu An Xue trailed off.
"… Yes," i Gui finished. "Rewinding ti."
"Well then," I cracked my knuckles. "… How do I cast this spell?"
*****
– anwhile, Outside the Pocket Dinsion –
"Heheheheheh… it's over… I've trapped them in my perfect trap!" The old woman cackled evilly, shrieking like so sort of psychopath. "Are you seeing this, my son?! I'm using your invention to kill the only obstacles left in my path to securing your revenge! AHAHAHA!"
Of course, no one responded to her. It was just an old woman, rambling and screaming to herself mindlessly.
"Soon, you will all perish… from hunger, from thirst, from desperation… you will all DIE, at the hands of ! AHAHAHA!"
With those crazy words paired with laughter that marked her insanity, the old hag walked away triumphantly while holding the pocket dinsion Magic Artifact within her hand.
*****
– Inside the Pocket Dinsion –
"Close your eyes, Master," i Gui said. "Casting these high-rank Forbidden Rank spells require a lot more skill and understanding than normal ones."
I did as told, closing my eyes and easing my mind. We sat on the lone island at the center of the pocket dinsion, infinite seas all around us.
"To cast these spells, you must clear your mind, Master. Think of nothing else but the condensation of Chaos within your body, and feel your mana running through your veins."
I followed to her instructions obediently, keeping my breathing steady and my pacing even. Despite the situation we were in, I remained as calm as a feather on water, creating gentle ripples around it.
"Now… focus, and repeat in your mind after ," i Gui said. "Ti Forbidden Magic — Chronobreak."
Ti Forbidden Magic — Chronobreak.
Instantly, I felt a surge of energy erupt through my veins, and all around , a bright white flash ensued.
I was taken to a different world, a world with nothing except a large analog clock, and I witnessed as the clock's hand went backwards. Then, another flash ensued, and before I knew it, I was… back on the boat.
All around , the girls chattered happily, talking about everything from food to their favorite clothing brands.
I blinked.
"… Holy shit. It actually worked."
"Hm?" Lan Xiao Su blinked at in confusion. "What actually worked?"
"O-Oh, uh… nothing," I muttered in reply, sinking into thought at the sa ti.
So… it seems they are unaware of what happened… I also can't detect Anoch in my soul anymore. Terrarim and Aerim aren't saying anything about it either… it would seem no one except realizes what happened.
"Master, do not say anything unnecessary," i Gui suddenly said in my head, and I was taken by surprise.
… i Gui, you rember?
"Yes. As it is a Forbidden Spell, only those with direct affinities of Chaos will be able to rember what happened and sense the change. However, keep in mind that as we are in the past, take caution not to alter it too much, or the tiline will lead to unforeseen circumstances."
I see… that ans my father, who also shares a connection with Chaos—although not nearly as strong as mine—will have noticed it too.
"That should be the case, yes."
Alright… then we'll repeat the exact sa actions as we did earlier, up until when Aquira sends us to the surface, yeah?
"Yes, Master. We can figure out what to do from there."
With that, i Gui, Lan Xiao Su, Yu An Xue, and I dived into the water below the sa way as earlier, and thus began our journey for the second ti.
*****
We made our way through the temple like usual. Although i Gui and I had both already done this once before, we still acted like it was our first ti, and repeated the sa actions and dialogue we did before to the best of our abilities.
Even though we already knew how to solve the puzzle and what was coming next, we still had to pretend we didn't out of fear of altering the tiline, even by a tiny bit. Walking across that water bridge again certainly wasn't any easier, though, and despite knowing I won't fall—having gone through it once already—my stomach still felt empty as I walked across it. I didn't have to pretend to be scared for that one.
In any case, we soon solved the waterfall and chalices puzzle and arrived at the round room, where I was t with the sa question and answered the sa way. Aquira invited us into her private chambers, and we t her, she kissed again, shot a bullet into my heart, and so on.
At last, it was ti for the journey back up to the surface. Instead of having Aquira send us, however, I decided to employ a different strategy: Space Magic.
And so, when Aquira was about to cast her power and send us all to the surface, I stopped her.
"Wait. There's a much simpler thod. Everyone, gather around ."
The girls were perplexed, but did as told and huddled around. Then, I activated the Gate spell, teleporting us directly to the boat.
In a flash, we disappeared, and reappeared on the deck. The other girls who had not gone with us blinked in surprise at our sudden entrance, but i Gui and I had more important matters to focus on right now.
"You guys go on back," I said to the others. "i Gui and I still have so business to take care of, so we'll et up with you all at the beach."
"Eh? What is it?" Lan Xiao Su asked curiously, to which I awkwardly scratched my cheek.
"Uh… that's… well…"
"… Buying clothes," i Gui replied in my stead, and I turned to her in surprise.
"B-Buying clothes?"
"Yes. I require your opinion, Master."
"Oh… that kind of clothes, huh?" Qing Yue gave a smug snicker. "Okay, okay, we'll let you two figure it out on your own! See ya!"
With that, the boat took off, and i Gui and I hovered in the air while they left.
"… Alright. Now that that's taken care of… let's locate this old hag, shall we?" I smirked.
"Yes. By my calculations, she should not be far away. She must be in a place where she can observe us from, yet not out wide in the open so that we can see her. If that is the case, then…"
Both i Gui and I glanced at the small island in the distance—the only one in sight. Without a doubt, the person we were searching for was most likely there.
After exchanging nods, i Gui and I called upon invisibility and flew towards the island at full speed, like hawks searching for prey.
Soon, we arrived, and just as expected, spotted an old woman lying behind a telescope down below. She had leaves on her and everything, like a soldier in camouflage, but alas… nothing could escape i Gui's sharp senses.
As we flew down and closer, we could hear her mumbling.
"Goddamn it… why did the ship leave… why did the ship leave… I don't sense them in my pocket dinsion… why… WHY… did my son's invention malfunction? No… no way… my son is a GENIUS! His inventions would NEVER malfunction! No… no way… this must be a trick… this must be-"
"A trick, huh?" I cut in, suddenly picking her up by the hair.
"W-W-W-WHA-?!" She cried in shock, struggling to turn around to face but unable to do so. She was so short that I was double her height, and could pick her up with one hand.
"Hmph… you caused a lot of trouble, you know," I said, narrowing my eyes with hatred. "I had to walk across that stupid water bridge twice.. And for that… you're going straight to hell."
Reviews
All reviews (0)