Chapter 140: Chapter 140 Talk.
Soma is being dragged away from the place. He entered the crack in the sky that permeated a warm light that embraced his cold heart. With the blinding light nearing him, he closed his eyes before his body, wrapped by a gentle touch of the fluttering grass that swayed by the breeze that also caressed his cheeks.
"Are you alright, soma?".
A dignified and worried voice echoed above him as he turned his body to face the sky and found Martial Saint blocking his sight, looking down on him in worry.
"..Thank you, Martial Saint".
Soma tensed his torso before he woke up in a sitting position and saw the surroundings that he knew best. The place was like an Eden, different from earlier. It radiates an abundance of life that gives his heart a momentary peace.
The martial saint could feel Soma's anxious state muted as he let Soma calm his disturbed mind first before starting to have a conversation with him.
After calming down, Soma faced Martial Saint, who stood beside him while putting the hands on his back.
"Have you calmed down?".
"Yes, thank you for saving me".
"No problems. Since we have time. Let's talk about what is happening inside your consciousness".
Soma gulps his saliva when he senses Martial Saint's tone has changed, and the surrounding air, as if following his temperament, shifts to a heavy one. Martial Saint slowly bent his knee, sitting on the grass field as he crossed his legs and faced Soma.
Martial Saint keeps glancing at Soma, observing his features, making Soma feel uncomfortable. The Martial saint shook his head to the side and started to open his mouth.
"Do you remember what happened to your body while you were unconscious?".
"...No, not all of it. But I remembered it faintly…".
"I see. Listen, Soma…".
Soma began to keep his gaze toward the front and opened his ears. Martial Saint nodded his head and started to explain what was happening while he was blacked out.
The cry for help, the devil interfering, and the devil that wreaked havoc but managed to kill one of Soma's enemies in the battle.
As he heard the detail from Martial Saint, Soma felt something churning in the pit of his stomach, but it was not too severe, so he held it back and worked his brain to filter the information Martial Saint gave him.
"...So the current devil has turned stronger compared to past times".
"...Damn it".
Soma let out a whimpering curse at himself for the detail that Martial Saint gave him. The devil who starts possessing his body drinks another devil's blood, which enhances his power significantly.
However, despite hearing that bad news. There is also a good one where the enemy he fought was dead. At least one of them, but he still didn't know which demon he killed.
"With my current power, keeping these realms and fighting him fairly is the least I can do. Because I am already weakened".
"What?! Weakened, How?".
Martial Saint, who received Soma's stunned expression, smiled wryly as he started to tell the cause.
"It was at that time when I possessed your body, and we fought that lightning wolf. After I unleashed the third step, one of your limbs shattered, and I have to restore it back using a small amount of power I have".
"What?!".
This information was the first time he heard it. His mouth hung open for the guilt that he felt toward his careless action. Martial Saint notice the change in Soma expression, so he opened his mouth.
"So that is why, Soma".
"... Yes?".
"With the current power I have. I can only help you twice maximum, and my consciousness will disappear for all eternity".
Soma gasped as he heard the brutal words that the Martial Saint revealed to him. The heavy feeling in his heart start to gnawed his consciousness. His mind began to send a negative energy that runs through his nerves.
Martial Saint sensed that Soma was clearly shaken, and he smiled wryly, seeing him acting like his age.
"Don't worry, Soma. I am supposed to be long gone from the planet ever since. This time, I was blessed to meet you as my inheritor. …It seems there is not much time until you awake from this realm. So, let's talk about ourselves a bit more. Because since the first time we met, we have never talked about it".
"...Yes, with pleasure".
With the new topic they had, both of them started to share each other's lives outside the heavy and power-related conversation. The two of them merrily begin talking about their past rather than have some similarities with each other.
Cain was an orphan of war whose parents were killed in the Great War and longed for power to stop the war. Soma, whose parents were killed by the demon, longs for power to survive. The story to reveal their past turned into a sad story that synchronized each other's feelings of sympathy and made their bonds stronger as a person.
Slowly the heavy feeeling in Soma's chest dissipated as the talk start to escalates until their current situation.
"Martial Saint, are you happy with what you are doing in that great war?".
"...I don't know?".
"?".
"...Ever since I gained this power, my life has been decided, for I have skills that connect me with the thread of fate. So, I can't actually say that my action was a justified and happy one. But I am just doing my best to protect the planet. The place I live, that's all".
"Connected with fate…".
Soma blanked for a second as he saw Martial Saint's expression that was filled with nothing. There is no happiness, regret, and even longing. Only a genuine blank, no expression.
He starts to think back, then remembers that one of his skills was given by the author. The skill had greatly impacted his life in this world like he was being controlled by someone who pulled the string from above.
His heart started to feel heavy as he thought that all his actions until this time were probably led by fate, watching every move he made and correcting his mistakes so Soma could achieve the best outcome. Soma's body starts to shudder just thinking about those thoughts. Also, he is wondering about all of his actions. "Can he call that his own action?".
"Soma, what is wrong?".
"..Ah? Nothing. I just blanked for a moment. It seems we are the same also regarding that".
Martial Saint's eyes bloated for a second before he sighed in dismay.
"...I see".
As the conversation took a break. Soma's body started to fade, making Martial Saint raise his brows, then sigh in acceptance.
"Soma, please take care of yourself, and if you need anything, you can count on me. I will help you the best I can…".
"...Yes, thank you, Martial Saint".
Soma heard Martial Saint's offers to him and was determined himself to grow stronger than he currently is. So that he wouldn't need his assistance, his body starts to turn transparent, and then it disappears, leaving Martial Saint alone, who looks at the azure sky while sighing.
"So, you are also a person who cannot escape his fate, Soma".