A Core Ship From The Start
/ A Core Ship From The Start Chapter 703
Chapter 703: Chapter 518: Man of Darkness_1 Chapter 703: Chapter 518: Man of Darkness_1 “Hah…hah…”
She was almost spent, each breath seared her lungs like fire. In this deserted city, on these desolate streets, only the girl was desperately running. And behind her, the enormous, terrifying Steel Monster. Its steps were slow but persistent, like a predator playing with its prey, always close behind the girl.
“Hah…”
Finally, the anguish peaked. The girl halted, panting heavily. Her slender, delicate legs began to tremble. However, the relentless footsteps behind her continued to draw closer, showing no signs of stopping.
“Shirley…A'Xie…”
Calling out her friends' names, the girl gritted her teeth, her heart pounding as if it was about to explode.
Why had this happened to her?
She had accompanied her worried friend home, but suddenly, her friend screamed in fear as a bizarre black creature appeared behind her. The sight terrified the girl, but luckily, the monster didn't intend to harm her friend but seemed more interested in her own right eye.
So, the girl decided to distract the creature from her friend, but she hadn't expected that the monster would be this terrifying.
More importantly…
Where was this place?
The girl looked around. At first glance, it seemed like Fog City, but when the girl tried to open a door to hide inside a building, she found that the doors would not budge. They weren't locked but merely stone blocks resembling doors. So all the girl could do was run, run, and keep running.
To lead the creature away from her friend.
But then, what was she to do?
Just as the girl was deep in thought, a beast-like roar echoed again. She turned, just in time to see the terrifying Steel Monster practically upon her. It flexed its claws, glaring at the girl, bellowing a greedy howl.
“Golden Pupil… Give it to me…!”
“Stop… joking around!”
Her whole body trembling, fear blurring her consciousness, she clenched her fists and yelled back at the monster.
“I won't lose to you!”
“Boom!!”
Just then, a shadow descended from the sky, crashing between the girl and the monster, scaring the girl.
“Huh?”
Looking up in shock, she saw a man in a black cloak, towering over her, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, facing away from her with a black staff in his hand.
Who was he?
The situation left the girl disoriented. She wanted to say something but was at a loss for words. The Steel Monster also noticed the shadowy figure and once again flexed its hands. It was comical. Initially, the size of the Steel Monster had terrified the girl, but this dark figure was even taller, making the monster seem less scary.
“Guess we'll see if you're up for it!”
At the creature's roar, the shadowy figure huffed, holding his staff tightly, striking the ground with a heavy blow. A dark flame erupted from the floor.
What…was that?
Staring at the black flame, the girl's eyes widened in fear. For some reason, just looking at the flames sent shivers down her spine, chilling her. The body which was hot from running seemed to be doused in cold water.
Moreover, she noticed a strange figure conjured by the black and red arcs in the flame.
It was…
She had never seen such an odd figure, but a word suddenly flashed in her mind.
Predetermined Death.
A primordial destination of death and destruction, feared even by gods, where everything was destined to burn and turn to ash…
That was the last thing the girl was consciously aware of before she fell into a deep, dark abyss.
When the girl regained consciousness, it was two days later in the morning, and the apartment's landlady was beside her bed.
The landlady revealed a fact to the girl.
Two days earlier, someone had knocked on the landlady's door and when she went to see what was happening, all she found was the unconscious girl and her friend. The girl was running a high fever; even the doctor who was called in provided the same prognosis. Lucky for the girl, she had regained consciousness; but her friend was not so fortunate.
Unconscious.
That was the only diagnosis the doctors could provide. The girl's friend had no fever, showed no symptoms, she just lay on the bed, not waking up, just like Sleeping Beauty.
The news hit the girl harder than a thunderbolt on a clear day. Why had she awoken while her friend remained unconscious?
What was happening?
Had everything she recalled from that night been just a dream?
Of course, the girl didn't want to believe that was true, but reality is reality.
The first day, the girl took care of her unconscious friend.
The next day, famous doctors came one after the other to her friend's home.
On the third day, even the most renowned doctors could not awaken her friend from the coma.
On the fourth day, the girl spent the entire day in her room contemplating the events of that night — the pursuit of the steel monster, the dark city and streets, and the appearance of the Shinigami before her.
Then, the girl made a discovery.
That…. Shinigami. She had seen him before, more than once!
Indeed, although she did not see his face directly, his height was something she could never forget!
If she remembered correctly, the first encounter was by the Thames River when she had fallen into the water. It was him who saved her. She didn't have the chance to thank him at the time, as he disappeared before she could.
The second time was at Masters College. He stood in the shadows under the central courtyard tree, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, a black coat, and holding a dark cane. She had wanted to greet him, but she was too busy heading to class.
The third time was that night, on that dark street… Although his back was facing her, his attire, the cane, and most importantly, his height…!
Upon realizing this, the girl made a decision.
No matter what, she must find him. Perhaps she can find a way to awaken her friend from him!
There was only one method to do this.
She had seen him at Masters College before. She didn't know what he was doing there, but as long as there was a glimmer of hope, she would go…!
With that in mind, she gathered her thoughts, fixed herself up, and left her apartment to head to Masters College. Just then, she halted in her tracks.
Because she could see clearly under the shade of a tree not far from the street, a dark, towering figure stood there silently watching her.
“…………”
The girl felt a tad complicated because just as she determined to go through hell and high water to find someone, she stepped outside to find him waiting there for her…
Nevertheless, she took a deep breath, met his gaze, and walked towards the shadowy figure step by step.
So tall.
Although they had met several times, it was the first time she was observing him from such a close distance during daylight. Just being in his presence, the girl felt a peculiar pressure as if standing before her wasn't a human but a massive animal like an elephant, compelling her to maintain a distance.
However, as a lady herself, she of course would not disregard etiquette.
“Greetings, sir, I am Mary Clarissa Christie. By expressing my deepest gratitude here, I want to thank you for saving me from danger on numerous occasions.”
“Haah…”
However, to Mary's surprise, he just sighed in response to her statement.
“So, you can see me.”
“Pardon?”
“Come, let us take a walk.”
Having said that, Duanmu Huai turned around and walked off, with Mary hesitating a moment before following behind him.
The two of them walked along the riverbank for quite a while in silence. After what seemed like forever, the man finally spoke.
“How are you both faring?”
“Eh? Thanks to you, I'm quite well, but Shirley…”
“Shirley?”
“Ah, yes, my friend, Charlotte Bronte. She's still sleeping… We've had many doctors come in, but she still hasn't awakened.”
“Oh?”
Hearing this, Duanmu Huai raised an eyebrow.
“Still hasn't awakened?”
“Yes, if it's not too much trouble, could you please assist us…”
“No problem.”
To the surprise of Mary, Duanmu Huai quickly nodded his agreement.
“Take me to see her.”
“Alright!”
Eager that the agreement came so easily, Mary proudly led Duanmu Huai to her friend's home. However, what took Mary by surprise was, when they arrived at her friend's house, the maid who was taking care of her friend greeted only her, as if she was unaware of Duanmu Huai's existence.
“Don't mind this. It's just a little blindness-induced spell. I prefer not to draw people's attention.”
Though unsure of what was happening, Mary didn't have time to dwell on these bizarre circumstances. She guided Duanmu Huai into the room where Shirley was in her slumber. At last, Duanmu Huai met this Sleeping Beauty.
“I see…”
He squinted at the girl asleep on the bed and observed her for a moment. Then, turning his head, he looked at Mary.
“Tell me everything that happened that night, in as much detail as possible.”
Then, Duanmu Huai asked.
Chapter end
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