Chapter 859: Bonding
Chapter 859: Bonding
The cracks on the crystal became so intense that it was hard for the Crystal to stay intact. Even under all the pressure, it was still holding on.
Unfortunately, it ultimately gave in as the stone turned to pieces. The roof of the Dungeon Split apart as the entire Dungeon started falling without any support.
Licorice dropped the stone pieces on the ground as he looked up. All the water started rushing inside the Dungeon from the roof.
He shot straight up. Now that the Dungeon defense was home, he didn’t want to stay even a second in the Dungeon. He couldn’t control himself. He shot up, leaving through the opening, not even caring for Lucifer, who wasn’t worth anything to him.
He didn’t realize the massive change that was taking place inside Lucifer. The strength… The immense strength was too much for even the world to contain, let alone Lucifer. All the cores started bonding with him in perfect sync, giving him immense control.
A symbol appeared on his body for each of his cores in the shape of that ability. A dark lightning bolt appeared on his right forearm. A whirlwind appeared on his right hand, signifying winds.
On the back of his left wrist, a tree appeared, which only had branches but no leaves or anything. It was like a dead tree that had lived most of its life already.
More and more such symbols appeared around his body, on his chest. Only his back was still intact without any such symbols. However, his back had an old tattoo of its own.
With the newly gained temporary abilities, some of that strength even seeped into that tattoo.
Lucifer was still in the process of bonding when his back tattoo started shining. Everything around him turned white.
As the colors returned to his surroundings, he found himself in a pale world which had nothing but barren land. The entire sky was covered in ashes as the volcanoes in the distance kept exploding.
Lucifer turned his back on the volcanos to notice the cliff he was standing at. He also noticed a man sitting on the cliff. The man had beautiful silver hair.
“Where am I?” Lucifer asked.
The man raised his head, glancing toward Lucifer.
As the man looked at him, Lucifer saw his face properly. The pale face and a blue and violet eye… This barren land… He couldn’t help but wonder if he had again come forward in time. Even if that was the case, why was he looking at the person from a different perspective? Why wasn’t he inside him?
“Am I in the future?” Lucifer inquired.
The man shook his head in response.
“So it’s the current time?” Lucifer asked, frowning. “Are you the person those seven stones lead to?”
“You mean stones like these?” The man responded as he snapped his fingers. Thousands of stones appeared all around the man and started circling him like he was their sun, and they were the planets. “The answer to your second question would be yes, but your first question would be a no.’
“So you’re that person… I was looking for you!” Lucifer exclaimed. “Why is the answer to my first question a no? This isn’t the current time either? It’s the past?”
“It’s neither the present nor the past and the future,” The man replied, talking calmly.
“Then what is this place?” Lucifer asked.
“I suppose you weren’t looking for me to ask about this place? I don’t think you have much time. You’ll have to go back when you’ve assimilated all my powers. You’ve been quite lucky to snatch that strength from him, I must say. I didn’t expect that.”
“You mean you were looking?” Lucifer asked.
“I have nothing to do here. Of course, I’ll look at you,” the man answered. “Killing your own self for your survival… A bold step.”
“I did what I had to do to survive,” Lucifer retorted. “He was siding with the wrong!”
“And you know what is right and what is wrong?” the man asked, frowning. “Everyone has their own definition of what’s right and what’s wrong. For him, he was right. For you, you were right. Ultimately, only the might makes someone right, proven by you standing here.”
“Tell me about me! Why are you so interested in me? Why are my eyes like you? Who am I to you? Am I your clone? Or am I another you like the other Lucifer was to me?” Lucifer asked, getting straight to the topic.
“You aren’t me,” the man answered. “You aren’t a clone of mine either. I didn’t create you. You would exist even without me if that’s what you’re asking about.”
“Then who am I? Where is my family? Who are we to each other? Are you my family member?”
The man simply turned his face towards the sky. “You see the sky? It’s so clouded that we can’t see the other side. However, even if we could see the other side, all we would find is darkness only.”
“What does that mean?” Lucifer enquired.
“Your bonding is almost done. Just remember, my strength that you luckily received is only temporary. It’ll soon overwhelm your body and destroy you if you don’t let it out. I won’t wish you luck though…” The man lazily said as he rested his back on the ground.
“That’s not my answer! I was asking…” Lucifer stepped toward the man; however, the surrounding started turning white again. “Wait… I’m not done yet… I can’t go back without my answers!”
Lucifer’s words didn’t have any effect as he woke up back in the real world, still standing in the Dungeon, which was already half filled with water. More and more water kept gushing inside.
He was frustrated at not getting his answers. For a moment, he even wondered if he had dreamed. He couldn’t do anything about it now. All he could do was go back with the stones to have a conversation again, this time without being in any hurry.
He raised his hand towards the sky, creating a wind wall at the opening on the roof to stop the water from rushing inside. He needed time to do something.
~~~~
Salazar was running towards Lucifer with the sword, only for the trembling of the Dungeon to start. He barely controlled his body and kept advancing. The trembling soon stopped, only for worse to happen. He noticed the water gushing towards him at full force.
Casting his Time Domain, he started running back. He needed to save Milena from drowning. She was unconscious and couldn’t swim.