Chapter 433: [ You can never truly exist forever ]

Allen and Lime left the struggling Heron which was currently letting out deafening cries of hate and anger and walked away.

As they walk, Allen surveyed the entire surrounding.

The entire place was filled with ink black darkness but the moment he and Lime started walking; a clear white path suddenly appeared, as if leading them on.

At the end of the path lies a huge door. It was a magnificent western style with both faces of the door has huge skeletons struck on it until their waists.

The skeletons were crossing their bony arms in front of their chests and their mouths were opened as if screaming from pain.

This is…? Allen frowned. “What is this place?”

Lime raised her head and smiled at Allen. “This is the den of the beast… master.”

“Den of the Beast…?” What is she talking about? Allen stared at Lime perplexed.

Lime just smiled when suddenly, the huge door started opening, parting from each side.

Allen turned his head and looks at the door and was suddenly greeted by a blinding light. Because of this, he couldn’t help but close his eyes.

At this moment, “Seriously… almost dying, what a useless fellow…” a voice entered his ears. Allen felt the voice was familiar but when he was about to open his eyes, he heard Lime’s displeased voice, “Master’s not at fault… it’s that bird’s brain and besides, you didn’t even help so don’t criticize!”

Push! Allen who was still closing his eyes because of the blinding light felt a light push from his back and then… his consciousness suddenly started becoming fainter…

“What is?!”

“Sleep first master, its fine you won’t be able to remember this…”

But the instant before Allen’s vision completely turned dark, he vaguely heard Lime’s voice. Then, a strange cold sensation slowly enveloped his body… and he lost consciousness.

*** ***

Lime stared at her unconscious master and her hand lovingly strokes his handsome face.

For some reason, Allen’s delicate face showed no trace of masculinity, allowing people to easily mistake him for a girl.

“Sleep tight, master… everything will certainly be fine…” She muttered.

She was certainly happy at this very moment. In the outside world, she didn’t have this kind of sensation and sense of touch. She also didn’t have this kind of appearance. Thus, being with Allen in this world was really one of the best in her life.

As she was stroking her beloved master affectionately,

“We’re one and the same and yet, why is your attitude different when you’re with that ‘guy’?” A displeased voice rang out.

Lime’s brows twitched. She snorted as she raised her head.

Not far away from them, stood a demon. Ashy colored skin, a pair of curved horns, strange black markings on the body, red blood eyes and that revealing clothes –no, can it be considered proper clothes?

The youth in front of her was only wearing a fur coat and black jeans…?

However, if one looks closely, this youth was extremely identical to her beloved who she was holding in her arms right now. The only thing that differs him from Allen was the long glossy black hair.

“I don’t differentiate. In my eyes, both of you are one and the same. Both of you are my master…however; I just don’t like your vulgar attitude. Compared to my master, you had become a jerk,” Lime pouted. However, there was no malice or anger in her voice or expression although she was complaining. She was just like a girl voicing out her displeasure or dissatisfaction.

‘Allen’ smiled wryly. “What do you mean by vulgar?” he propped his chin with his left arm and stared at Lime and Allen with an evil grin. “Compared to the pure me, that guy is even more vulgar.”

“Heh, pure…” Lime sneered.

‘Allen’ shrugged with a faint smile. “Anyway, you shouldn’t forget about our deal…”

“… …” Lime looked down and gently caressed Allen’s face. “I know.” She responded.

“You will protect master this time and I will promise you, I will try not to lock you up and restrict your freedom again…” The Lime’s gaze turned cold. “… Of course, that is if you won’t think of doing anything against him…”

“… …”

“You can go stay here as long as you want. In fact, isn’t this also your own body? Then you should properly do your job of protecting it as well… you look like a useless Hikikomori…” Lime snorted in anger.

“See, that’s what I’m talking about! Your attitude towards that guy and me is completely different! Haven’t you remembered? I’m the first one you met and even the first one who loved you, you know~”

Lime snickered, “Jealous freak… what are you talking about now? I love both of you just the same. However, I guess I prefer the master because he wasn’t acting like a jerk like you…! If you act normally, then, of course, I won’t act like this…” Lime’s voice was steady and firm.

“… …” ‘Allen’ shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. Then he said, “Let’s forget about me for now. We can talk about it after we overcome the current dilemma.”

“… …”

“That damn bird… since you had caught it before it integrates itself into ‘my’ body, without its soul essence, the current situation will slowly kill ‘my’ body from outside, burning it into ashes…” while speaking, he emphasized the word ‘my’ causing Lime to roll her eyes.

“Then, what do you want me to do? Let it occupy master’s body without doing anything? Hell no!”

‘Allen’ shook his head and replied, “But you should know! Making him sleep inside the ice coffin created by my Frostmourne was only a temporary solution! It won’t solve anything! I can protect his soul but our physical body will slowly burn to ash from the heart of flames without the Firebird's protection!”

“I had already thought about that!” Lime said as if she knew ‘Allen’s thoughts. She added with a calm voice: “It’s alright if he can refine and absorb the Firebird’s soul essence instead and gain its power…”

“Easy said and done,” ‘Allen’ snorted. “…How the heck would you do it? It would be fine if he was awake but if he did was awake, his soul would also be hurt as if he was being burned alive. Besides, the chances of him successfully refining it was less than 10%. I thought you called me here because you don’t want him to suffer that…?”

Lime’s lips curled up and her arm rose towards ‘Allen’ pointing at him with her finger.

Seeing this, ‘Allen’s eyes shot wide open in shock and he shot up from his frozen throne. “Are you joking with me, Lime!!?” His voice rose. His eyes turned red in anger.

“You do know that I had already integrated with the Frostmourne! And you still want me to refine that idiot bird?! Do you want to kill me!!? Is that what you wanted??!”

‘Allen’ was completely different from Allen whose elemental energy inclination was varied and completely versatile. ‘He’ had already integrated with the Frostmourne and his soul had already been filled with ice-cold energy. Thus, if he absorbs any kind of heat or fire energy, his soul would surely suffer very serious damage.

But Lime was still unperturbed. “Actually that was a good idea…” she joked.

“LIME!!”

“Calm down for a second, please.” Lime smiled faintly. “I’m not saying that you will refine it yourself. What I want you to do was that… instead of an Ice Coffin, put master and the Firebird inside a sealing type formation together using your ice energy. And then, for the master to raise his chances of refining it successfully, give the master a bit of your own soul power…”

“You bastard!!” Hearing Lime’s plan, ‘Allen’ immediately snapped. “Are you treating me for a fool?!”

“… …”

“If I give that bastard even a bit of my soul, I would become weak and he would instead become even stronger! Do you think I would do that!!? Dream on.” A hint of ridicule passed through the ‘Allen’s eyes. “I will help him survive but, making him stronger? What? To bully me in the future? Do you think I am an idiot?”

‘Allen’ was extremely angry. If it wasn’t Lime in front of him, he would have already blasted her into oblivion!

“… Give it up. I won’t do it. In any case, even if he dies, he would still be able to resurrect. So why are you still worrying about it?” ‘Allen’ snorted and he turned back towards his throne. But before he could sit, Lime responded.

“If he dies, it would not be good for you either.” Lime’s voice was soft.

“… …” ‘Allen’ halted and his brows furrowed.

“Do you think that resurrecting is just that simple?”

“… …”

“Let me tell you this, even if master resurrects successfully… the rules of heaven will work on us!”

Lime spoke while gently stroking Allen’s head that was sleeping on her lap. “I don’t care what will happen to me, I might probably not be so lucky this time… but what about you?” Lime raised her head and stared at ‘Allen’. “The rules of heaven state that there can’t be any two souls in one single body… during rebirth! It should be fine before since you’re not a soul but a speck of personality… but what about now?”

“… …”

“Just like what happened to Solomon who was affected by the Mark of Cain, he was torn apart between Dante and Virgil, you and master were also torn apart by the curse of the fell which was also a curse from the Mark of Cain… now, you are two different souls. After rebirth, both of you will be separated… unless you merge with the master’s soul… but can you do that?”

“Isn’t that the best outcome? I can finally have a real body…” ‘Allen’ smirked and shrugged.

“Are you really saying that?” Lime’s eyes narrowed. “If you do that, what happened to Dante and Virgil will also happen to the both of you… trying to absorb each other…”

“… …”

“Since you are an incomplete soul, just like what happened to Virgil, your existence will also have a time limit, unless you managed to successfully absorb the master, you can never truly exist forever… your existence will slowly dissipate over time…”

‘Allen’ stared at Lime. Confusion and doubt flashed across his eyes. “How do you know all of this, Lime?”

Lime’s lips curled upward. “Master Solomon told me everything I need to know before he disappeared. Because I am master’s guardian…” She looks up at ‘Allen’ while showing a proud expression.

“… …”