Vengeance of the Returner

Chapter 144: Monster

He withdrew his hand away from her and stood in his place calmly.

"Are you an Outlaw?"

The angel, Yeril asked, rubbing her neck.

"You don't remember who I am?" Nix asked coldly. He might be blind he was still able to sense the mana of those around him.

She nodded her head and swiftly her eyes glimmered in golden yellow. Immediately she revived his vision.

"You are..." Although she tried to recollect who he was yet, she was not able to.  Moreover, his appearance had changed a lot including his physique.

"Don't remember my name?" He asked.

"Indeed..." She nodded her head and did not refuse.

"You banished me a year ago."

"Nix?"

She asked calmly.

Though Nix clearly portrayed his hostility towards her, she was strangely calm.

"Yes..."

"I see, I did not expect you to survive this long. May I know what happened to this city? We were passing by to the town called Theemai..."

"Well, this was destroyed due to a huge explosion. So, can I know the reason for you to visit the town?"

"Our city's knight, Rebecca seems to be found there recently according to our sources."

"Is that so?"

He questioned and waited for her.

And the soldier that came out of the three carriages and quietly stood there silently clutching their weapons. Certainly, Nix was not in the mood to fight over the past few months he was into fights several times. He wanted to talk his way out. His mind was kind of in an uproar.

Since the angel didn't reply he began walking slowly without paying heed to the soldiers who were on their guards.

"Zerast has been defeated... The city is completely destroyed. There are no survivors. The explosion has even disrupted the ecosystem beyond the walls and reached the Labyrinth of Lerinare. How did you survive?"

Yeril asked, watching his back as he walked.

" "

He didn't reply and stood in his place.

Few of the soldiers aimed their crossbows at him in a startle.

"Let him go... We cannot fight him."

Yeril ordered. It seems she understood he was not someone she could fight. She also came up with the theory of him being the reason behind the incident.

As though he remembered something he turned back at them.

"I will help you reach Theemai. Will you drop me there?"

He asked indifferently and waited for her answer.

"Well, then get in."

She replied and entered into the carriage parked by the side.

"Thank you..."

He uttered and got in and sat opposite her.

"Which route are you going to take?"

He asked the driver.

"Going through the mountain of sky ogres."

"I would suggest you take a different route. They are unstable right now. If you still have the idea of going through the mountain. Can you please drop me by the edge of the mountain?"

He requested politely.

"What makes you suggest that?" Yeril intervened with an intrigued expression.

"Because I disturbed the Sky ogres."

"Ohh..."

"Why was I banished ?"

Nix asked, staring at her.

"Firstly, I apologize... I have to accept the orders of the gods. I did wrong to you. I understand that you've gone through a lot of trouble. I just merely followed what I was ordered. I don't want to remain hostile towards you but, I don't know why gods ordered me to pursue the king to banish you."

She explained and earnestly apologized.

"Though, I cannot forgive you... You are a mere tool. But, answer me one question. Are there people like me? Those who were banished?"

"Yes... There are few of them."

"I see..."

He uttered and gazed at the path ahead which was also completely destroyed. The rocks and trees in the sideways burnt dark like coal. There were also few monsters lying dead burnt into a crisp.

Soon, they reached the edge of the mountain range.

"I hope our paths don't cross."

"Alright, Thanks for the lift."

He bid farewell and walked by the side of the mountain. The trees covering the first and edges were extremely dense. All the trees stood toweringly. It seems the explosion even reached the border of the mountain as the trees clearly portrayed the remains and recoils of the blast. It seems the Neon explosives were equivalent to that of an atom bomb yet, having different principles. 

Moreover, an atom bomb can destroy a whole country while Neon can only destroy a city and few kilometers.

"I'd be nice if Felishia teleports here..."

He mumbled and walked by the side. He didn't want to engage in a conflict with Skyogres. Indeed, he was fed up with the continuous battles he went through.

As he was walking Astaroth abruptly appeared out of the dagger in his astral form.

{I expected you to indulge in battle. But you did well.}

He praised him.

"Tch, I can't get into unnecessary fights. Now that you can stay awake, can you teach me a few skills in enduring anger? As we approach the town?"

It was midnight too. So he considered staying there. And, it seems Felishia wouldn't be coming any time soon.

Considering the number of portals she used plus, as the weakest Demigod in Empyrean. It'd take several hours for her to retain a certain amount of mana to teleport yet again.

{Ohh? Good... But, there isn't much to teach. Meditate, It'll relax and soothe your mind and body. Well, it can even soothe your soul.}

"I understand."

He nodded and walked into the woods. As he passed by, he hunted down the mountain rabbits. Without inducing fire he cooked them raw using his chain's fire attribute.

Sitting in the darkness without making a campfire. He sat on the soil leaning onto a tree and munched on well-cooked meat alone with several thoughts in his mind. 

Once again rewinding everything that had happened. 

'Is there not a way to go back to earth. Even the ways of Empyrean didn't mention anything about it...'

He mumbled.

{Reminded about your previous world?}

Astaroth asked with a smirk with his hands crossed to his chest.

He looked at him and nodded his head.

"Yes... You have really not heard about Earth."

{Yes, I have not.}

He shrugged.

"Hmm..." 

He mumbled and closed his eyes and began meditating.

{You remember how you sense mana right? Just control it while observing your breathing. If anything disturbs I'll take care of it.}

"Sure"

***

Sunlight pierced through the gaps between the branches of the trees and accurately fell on his face making him wake up. He rubbed his eyes with a yawn and turned his attention towards the dagger he had struck into the ground and picked it up. 

{Woke up already?}

Astaroth asked drowsily, lying next to him.

"You fell asleep too huh?"

He asked and rolled his chains around his wrist and began walking into the forest.

"Nix..."

A familiar voice struck from his back.

He turned and noticed it was none other than Felishia. She seemed pretty hesitant to speak until he began speaking.

"Can we go back now?"

"Uhh? Yes."

She nodded and teleported him to the town.

As he walked amidst the streets he felt strange it was as though they were looking at him in fear, Similar to preys that fear predators. They didn't even make eye contact with him and looked at the ground or somewhere else if he tried to look at them.

He stopped in his place and stared at Felishia who was still waking.

"I've been walking with you for five minutes. You didn't speak much. Sure, What I did is wrong. But..."

"Let's first get back to the Clan house."

She grabbed his hand and dragged him towards him to the clan house.

They approached the clan house. His non-core members also looked at him with fear. He felt like he was isolated. After all, he saved them and even went to the extent of destroying a city just to save his town. Although he had selfish motives he did save them so, the lack of warm smiles and gestures made him feel terrible. 

The gazes pierced him as though they were looking at a monster.

"Welcome clan lord..."

Helina bowed before him.

He nodded his head and went straight to his room and bathed first and returned. Cinzia was in her office. Even Camila looked at him in disgust.

He placed his hand on his head and stared at the dimly glowing lamp. His face was dull as though he was in his low spirits.

{Get your act together. You are the lord of this town. Should you care about this?} 

Astaroth said, staring at him.

" "

"Nix..."

Cinzia rushed and hugged him.

"I am glad you are alive..."

She said with an emotionless face. Noticing the small bead of tear that slowly dripped down from the corner of her eyes. He wiped it and smiled at her.

"Thanks, Cinzia. For Complying with what I said."

"Why did you do it?"

She said tightly gripping his shirt as she stared at his deep eyes that looked at her calmly.