*I LIVE IN ISEKKAI* ARC 14 : DARKNESS ARC
Chapter 66: "Separations"
Michi, Thelma, Appolo, and Henu ventured into the dead city, their footsteps echoing off the abandoned buildings. The city seemed like it had been abandoned for mostly a hundred years, with vines crawling up the walls and dust covering everything. They walked for hours, but found nothing but emptiness. As they turned a corner, they stumbled upon a old, broken fountain. Thelma, being the curious one, decided to investigate. She found a small, hidden compartment in the fountain, containing a cryptic message etched into a stone. The message read: "Time is not what it seems."
Appolo, being the skeptic, dismissed it as mere nonsense. But Michi and Henu exchanged a knowing glance. They knew that in this strange place, anything was possible. As they continued their journey, they came across a massive city square, with an old clock tower standing tall in the center. The clock tower seemed to be the only thing that was still intact in the city.
Suddenly, the clock tower started to move at 12 am, its gears whirring to life. Long pillars began to raise from the ground, separating Michi, Thelma, Appolo, and Henu into three different sides. Each group found themselves teleported to a different location. Appolo and Henu materialized in front of an old, broken statue of a king with seven eyes. They took defensive positions, ready for anything.
But to their surprise, two people approached them, hands raised in peace. "Wait, wait, we're not going to harm you," one of them said. "We're just researchers." Appolo and Henu were shocked. "Researchers?" Appolo repeated. "What are you doing here?"
The researcher, Joyce, explained that they were from Azais city, and had come to research the strange occurrences in the dead city. Appolo and Henu exchanged a disbelieving glance. "How did you get here?" Appolo asked. "No ship or boat dares to come near this place."
Joyce looked at them. But then, Tanush, Joyce's assistant, spoke up. "Professor, the statue is not that old. Only fifty years old from now." Joyce pulled out a diary and started writing. "Okay, year 571, we have discovered the age of the statue."
Appolo's eyes widened in horror. "Wait, what did you just say? Year 571?" Joyce looked up, confused. "Yes, it is year 571." Appolo shook his head. "No, it's year 998." Joyce dismissed him. "Don't joke around."
But Appolo and Henu started to tell them about Azais city, about the virus, and the fear that gripped the city. Joyce and Tanush listened, their expressions changing from skepticism to disbelief. Appolo showed them his diary, proof of the year 998. Joyce's eyes widened. "This place feeds on time!"
Tanush spoke up, "But how is this possible? We've been studying this place for years, and we've never seen anything like this." Joyce nodded. "We need to get to the bottom of this. Let's work together to uncover the secrets of this place."
As they started to discuss their plan, they heard a strange noise coming from the distance. It sounded like footsteps, but they were light and cautious, as if someone was trying not to be seen. Appolo and Henu exchanged a glance, ready for anything.
Chapter 67: "Soft Thorns"
Thelma found herself teleported to a place that looked eerily familiar. It was her own village, where she was born and tortured by the people she once called neighbors. The memories came flooding back, and she felt like she was reliving the nightmare all over again.
As she walked through the village, she noticed that everything was exactly as it was when she was a child. The same houses, the same streets, the same eerie atmosphere. But something was off. The villagers were all gone, replaced by an unsettling silence.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching. The villagers, now zombie-like creatures with deadly weapons and sinister smirks, closed in on her. Thelma was paralyzed with fear, unable to move or defend herself.
She remembered the day they killed her sister. The villagers had tied them up, and then started to break Thelma's thorns one by one. Her sister had screamed and screamed, begging them to stop. But they didn't. They kept going, until Thelma's thorns were almost gone. And then, they killed her sister. They cut off her limbs, one by one, and then her head. Thelma remembered the sound of her sister's screams, the sight of her blood, and the feeling of her own thorns being ripped from her body.
But then, two hands grabbed her throat from behind, and a cut-off head rolled in front of her. It was her sister's head, and it spoke to her in a voice that sent chills down her spine. "Big sister, I'm missing you a lot. Please don't leave me."
Thelma was shocked and horrified. She tried to struggle, but her sister's hands held her tight. She remembered how her master saved her from these villagers, how Michi helped her start a new life. With newfound determination, she summoned all her strength and used her thorns to break free.
The fight between Thelma and the villagers was brutal and deadly. She used every thorn on her body to defend herself, piercing and slashing at the creatures that once tormented her. But there were too many of them, and soon she found herself surrounded.
Thelma's thorns ripped through flesh and bone, but the villagers kept coming. She stabbed and slashed, her body moving on autopilot as she fought for survival. The villagers' screams and groans filled the air, but Thelma's own cries of rage and fear drowned them out.
She used her thorns to disembowel one villager, then used the same thorn to pierce the eye of another. She slashed at their faces, their arms, their legs, anywhere she could reach. But no matter how many she killed, more kept coming.
As the fight raged on, Thelma's body began to weaken. She had used most of her thorns, and her energy was dwindling. But she refused to give up. With a final burst of strength, she launched herself at the remaining villagers, her thorns flashing in the dim light.
She impaled one villager on a tree, then used her thorns to pin another to the ground. She ripped her thorns out of their bodies and used them again and again, until she had no thorns left.
When the fight finally ended, Thelma stood panting, her body trembling with exhaustion. She had no thorns left, and her hair was falling out in clumps. She coughed up blood, her vision blurring.
And then, she saw it. The head of her sister, laughing and disappearing into thin air. The villagers' bodies were gone, too, leaving behind only the trees with Thelma's thorns embedded in them. She stumbled forward, her mind reeling with horror and confusion.
She looked around, trying to understand what had happened. But all she saw were the trees, her thorns stuck in them like tiny knives. She had used all her thorns, and now she was weak and defenseless.
Thelma fell to her knees, her body shaking with fear and exhaustion. She coughed up more blood..
Chapter 68: "Darkness"
Michi found himself in a very dark place, surrounded by an inky blackness that seemed to swallow him whole. He screamed out for his friends, "Thelma! Appolo! Henu!" but his voice was met with only silence. The darkness was oppressive, making it hard for him to breathe. He stumbled forward, trying to find a way out, but every step felt like a betrayal.
Suddenly, a dim yellow light flashed on his face, illuminating the dark space. Michi squinted, trying to adjust to the sudden brightness. That's when he saw it – a big needle, hurtling straight at his hand. He jumped out of the way just in time, avoiding the needle by mere inches. But the relief was short-lived, as more needles appeared, attacking Michi from all sides.
He tried to defend himself, but there were too many. He got hit in the face and hands, but managed to survive the onslaught. The needles seemed to be everywhere, piercing his skin and making him feel like he was being torn apart.
Just when he thought it was over, a dark voice spoke out in rage, "I thought these might end you, if I gave you every day. But you've taken a better place to gain pity, you piglet!!!" Michi's heart raced as he tried to understand who was speaking and why. The voice was like nothing he had ever heard before – it was like a mixture of anger and sadness, all wrapped up in a bundle of hate.
That's when he saw it – one of the needles had pierced his leg, and he could feel himself starting to numb. His head began to ache, and he felt like his body was breaking down. Michi screamed in agony as he felt himself being pushed and kicked, his belongings taken from him. He was helpless, unable to do anything but lay there and take the pain.
The needle seemed to be moving, going deeper from his leg to his heart. Michi felt like he was dying, and the pain was unbearable. He heard the word "piglet" echoing around him, but he didn't know why. Was it a name? A insult? He didn't know, but it only added to his confusion and fear.
Just when he thought all was lost, Michi felt two soft hands touch his face, and a gentle voice told him to calm down. The voice was familiar, and Michi felt himself relaxing. He opened his eyes to see a figure standing over him, a figure he knew and loved.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself lying near a mountainside road. He stood up, looking around in confusion. He saw that he was in a very high place, and couldn't see what was below. The air was thin, and he could feel the wind whipping through his hair. Suddenly, he heard slow footsteps coming towards him from a distance…
Chapter 69: "Guilt"
Michi's eyes widened in horror as he saw Thelma approaching him, her body weak and bloody. She was coughing up blood, and her smile seemed more like a grimace. Michi's instincts told him to rush to her side, but Thelma raised a hand, stopping him.
"Michi, I was a fool," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't see anything, and only followed my emotions… hahaaha… I should be like you." Thelma's words were laced with a mix of sadness and regret. She took a step closer, her eyes locked on Michi's.
"I remember the day we met," she continued. "You saved me back then and helped me to get a new life. I was so broken, but you helped me pick up the pieces. I'll never forget that, Michi."
Michi's face contorted in concern. "What happened, Thelma? Why are you like this? Let me help you, I know Appolo and Henu are close by, we will treat you." But Thelma just smiled and shook her head.
"You can't help me, Michi," she said. "I've used up all my thorns. I'm a porcupine girl, and when we lose our thorns, we die." Thelma's voice cracked with emotion.
Michi's eyes widened in shock. He didn't know what to say. Thelma's words hung in the air like a challenge.
Thelma's eyes locked onto Michi's, and she smiled weakly. "Give my regards to Appolo and Henu, I will miss them… and Michi, thanks a lot for being my friend… thanks a lot for saving me that day… you are the best friend all people can hope for." Thelma's voice was barely audible now, and her body began to sway.
Michi tried to rush to her side, but it was too late. Thelma smiled at Michi and tears started to flow her eyes. Suddenly she jumped from the mountain side, and Michi screamed in terror as he watched her fall into the forest below. He rushed to the edge, screaming Thelma's name, but she was gone.
Michi collapsed to the ground, overcome with grief and anger. He punched the ground, screaming in frustration, as memories of Thelma flashed through his mind. He remembered their laughter, their adventures, their quiet moments together.
After what felt like an eternity, Michi stood up, his eyes red from crying. He looked down, saying his final goodbye to Thelma, before turning to find Appolo and Henu.
As he walked through the forest, his tears slowly dried, replaced by a sense of determination. He would find his friends, and they would get through this together.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps in front of him. Michi approached cautiously, and saw Appolo, Henu, and two unknown people looking at him with concern.
Chapter 70: "Time Goes"
Michi's voice trembled as he told Appolo and Henu about Thelma's death. Their faces fell, and they sat down, overcome with grief. Michi looked at them with sad eyes, feeling a mix of emotions: guilt, anger, and sorrow. He remembered the day they met, the laughter they shared, and the adventures they had together.
"I could have saved her," Michi said, his voice cracking. "But I…" He couldn't finish the sentence, the pain was too much.
Appolo stopped him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "No, Michi, you couldn't. It's true, when a porcupine human loses all their thorns, they die." Michi nodded, but the pain remained. He thought about Thelma's last words, her smile, and her sacrifice.
Appolo's eyes narrowed. "This might be another trap by the forest." He turned to Henu. "Tell Michi about the researchers, Joyce and Tanush."
Henu nodded. "They're from the past, Michi. Henu told everything to Michi.
Michi's eyes widened. "So this place is playing with everyone's emotions and times and feeds on them." He thought about the forest's power, its ability to manipulate and control.
Appolo's face twisted in anger. "Gluttony! It's the work of gluttony for sure." He clenched his fists, ready to fight.
Joyce spoke up, her voice filled with conviction. "You mean gluttony from the seven deadly sins." She looked at Tanush, who nodded in agreement.
Michi and Henu nodded in unison, understanding the gravity of the situation.
Tanush added, "Yes, this place has a rumor that the thief of the gluttony stone came here to hide it, but it's all in our time." He looked at Joyce, who continued.
"We've been studying the forest for years, trying to understand its secrets. But we never thought it was this powerful."
Appolo's eyes sparkled with determination. "It can't be a coincidence. We have to find more." He looked at Michi, Henu, Joyce, and Tanush. "We're in this together now."
Joyce's voice was laced with urgency. "Gluttony can devour everything, including emotions, time, life… everything." She looked around, as if the forest was listening.
As they spoke, a narrow path appeared in the middle of the road, and a sinister energy flowed through the air. Michi's sadness and anger still lingered, but he knew what he had to do.
"We've reached the place pointed on our map," Michi said, his voice firm. "Now let's retrieve the gluttony stone. We can't let Thelma's sacrifice be in vain. Let's go."
Joyce stepped forward. "Take us too. We shouldn't be here right now. We'll go with you, and don't worry about us. We're from the past, we have no room here."
Michi nodded. "I'll try to help you two." He looked at Appolo and Henu, who nodded in agreement.
With that, Michi, Appolo, Henu, Joyce, and Tanush started to follow the path, ready to face whatever lay ahead. They knew it wouldn't be easy, but they were determined to uncover the forest's secrets and put an end to gluttony.