"Is this the only way?" Master asked as he looks at the obstruction in front of us. A door shaped in a circle, forged of metal that even master failed to make so much as a dent on it.

Master decided on another approach.

[Kai, Analyse.] He ordered as he placed his hand on the door.

Within less than ten seconds, the results came back. [It appears to be made of a steel called Azunmite. Strong metal but its density is low. A light but tough steel.]

[How tough?]

[It won't make a dent even if you use up every last ounce of your power and strength.]

[Are there anyways to break it? Cold temperature? Stronger metal? That's gotta be something. Titanic sunk after all.]

I heard some unfamiliar words from master and Kai's conversation but interrupting them just to ask for the meaning of the word "Titanic" would be boorish.

[No data available.] Kai responded.

Master sighs.

We are currently at the other end of this huge city, on an altar after climbing hundred flights of steps. After finishing eating the delicious fruits, we embarked on a few hours long journey, climbing hundreds of steps, and only to meet with such obstacle in our path. Master has yet to divert his frustrated glare at Nilin.

After humming to her thought for a while, Nilin finally replies "Yes. This is the only way, Hyx Atlas." For some reasons, she is being very polite with her speech and conduct but she is hiding from master, behind me. Whenever she response to master's question, she only peeks out from behind me like a totem pole. "There are other ways out but one is on the end and the other one is through the dungeon rivers."

"Rivers? Would that be possible?"

"No. Not even fish can make it out using the waters. Too much obstacles and the current is too strong. I haven't even mention the depths yet."

"I see." Master said.

I wonder what master did or said to her to make her so docile. She's even grasping tightly to my robe's hem.

I call it a robe but it is just a large piece of cloth that I wrapped myself in. In becoming an Oni, I have loose my temperature toleration. The reason why goblins are always naked is because we have high tolerance for extreme temperatures. It seems an Oni looses that trait.

The robe was just something master found and asked me to wear it when he noticed my shivering. How considerate. As expected of master.

Aside from that, Nilin is being too close to me. She even lightly rubs her cheeks against me whenever the opportunity present itself but she stops whenever I glance at her.

"I can't brute force my way through it. There is no other way out except through here. So, how do I open this door?" Master asked with a solid glare at Nilin.

Nilin shrieked in a hush but I caught that voice of hers. "I.... I don't know." Nilin spoke with a falter.

Master narrows her eyes. Uh oh. Not good. Master's pissed. Nilin felt it too as she grasped tighter on my robe's hem.

"How could you not know?" Contrary to master's aura, he is calm and collect with his tone.

"We are Spirits. We don't walk. We have different ways to travel between places. We wouldn't know the way mortals travel. I'm just leading you on a path that I deemed it accessible to mortals. I....it's not my fault there's a door here." Nilin explained. She looks scare and angry at the same time. Must be because she's afraid of master and she's trying her best to suppress her haughty attitude. She really looks cute in this state.

Eh? Why are you staring at me for? It's not my fault that you failed to mention this obstruction beforehand, you know?

"Great. Just great."

"Stuck?"

"What to do? What to do?"

The duo asked, they were exhausted from the climb. Citra is indifferent since she's hitching a ride on Cormac's arm.

Nilin wasn't the least bit tired since she shift into her Wisp form as she ascended the steps.

Putting that aside, Bartholomew and Cormac didnt ask what happen to Lubac. I wonder if they hated him, forgot about him, or they could simply read the mood. I decide to ask them when a more suitable time comes.

Eventually, master lets up with a sigh. I lost track of how many times master has sighed. Must be a lot. With a view overlooking the whole city, master points his finger at the largest building with a shape of a hemisphere. I remember passing by that incredibly large dome. "That dome seems like a good place to take refuge in for the time being."

"Sorry." Nilin mutters in a voice that only I have pick up.

I pat her head. "It's alright. Master isn't that angry." I lied.

Hmm? Her head is heating up. I wonder why.

The dome was by no means close but for some reasons, master insisted on that place. When I asked Kai, he offered no response. Something's wrong with master. Actually, I noticed something off about master when we passed by that dome.

Another few hours passed as we traced back our steps to the dome. Bartholomew and Cormac complained to master about their tiredness and for some reason, Citra joins them in doing so. Since my evolution, my stamina has also increased. So I am fine.

While the three make a fuss to master, Nilin has not taken her eyes off of master. She's not in love master by any means but just very cautious. Since this is a fallen city, a ruin, there were debris in our path and master clear them all with ease but every time master invoke his magic, Nilin's grasp on my hem only got tighter.

She's really afraid of master and I think I know why. She sees master's a Mimic. Although I have never personally encountered a Mimic before, I have heard stories about them from my elders. Mimics are always depicted as deplorable and despicable even among monster due to their nature.

Though I can't be sure whether master is indeed a Mimic. I only thought master to be a Mimic since he is a magic beast in a human form. I have heard of other kinds of beast taking on a human form but a Mimic is the most common magic beast who disguise themselves as humans or any Sagax race.

With that being said.... why are you clinging to my arm now, Wisp?

I like to believe I have manged to found reason with her but she has become a little bit less talkative and snobbish. In fact, I think her personality took a huge turn. I wonder what master have done to her.

[Master didn't do anything, you did it yourself.]

I did? What did I do?

I tried to think back but I couldn't find any reason that could make her become so attach to me. Furthermore, I have barely spent anytime with her.

Master who saw my situation only offer me a wry smile. With his lips, he form the words "Good Luck" without voice.

Good luck? For what?

The dome we arrived at turns out to be a temple. It stood over twenty meters tall. The engravings and inscriptions that covers the whole temple have long faded but the traces are still clear to the eyes.

Of course I know a little about faith but next to almost nothing of what a temple is. Thanks to some of Master's shared knowledge, I gained the comprehension of the concept call faith and a temple.

According to master, the large open room we entered is the reception area, the forefront of the temple. There are stone platforms scattered in the room. Master found it odd that there are no statues on top. I wonder if these stone platforms are pedestals for statues.

Citra immediately took a spot on one of the platforms. She is making sounds that I can only perceive it as happiness and satisfaction. She wriggled and squirmed on top of the platform like she had found the perfect spot for a nap. After a few more squiggling and squealing, she finally calmed down.

""Aww~"" Bartholomew and Cormac let out such sounds at her.

After that, she rolled herself up and fell asleep. Bartholomew and Cormac are watching Citra sleeping with adoration gleaming in their eyes. I don't know if I find it heartwarming or just creepy. Cormac is even drooling. Personally, I don't think the sleeping figure of a small snake warrants that much adoration.

"I don't like it here. Something feels wrong." Nilin remarked.

I agree. With my heightened senses and perception, I also felt the faint dark presence lurking among the temple. Since master chose this place, there must be a reason for it.

As I am about to ask master for his reasons, master said something that caught me by surprise.

"Stay here. I'll be back." Master said and turn to leave.

"Hey! Why are you leaving us all alone here again?" Nilin springs up from my lap which she has claimed it as her resting place at whenever.

[Huh? Master, where are you going?] I asked master through telepathy. [Aren't we looking for a way to get through that door?]

Master stops just right before he leaves the room. He glances back over his shoulder. "I didn't manage to kill them all."

"Who?"

"The goblin bunch who kidnapped you and Lubac. A Hobgoblin escaped by using a teleportation item. I was searching for him while we were walking to the exit and I found him when he passed by here. He's hiding beneath this temple with some twenty more goblins. They are probably supplementary troops."

So that's the reason master chose this place.

"Don't worry. No one will get the drop on us like back then. They know a power stronger than them lurks in their "territory". So they are lying low for the time being until we leave this place."

I see. "Did you planned for this all along?"

Master makes a difficult face. He's hesitating. "Not exactly. I was planning to let it go but since we're no longer in a hurry, I figure I could settle the vendetta."

"Vendetta?" I'm not asking master for the meaning but rather what vendetta is master talking about.

"Vendetta? What's that?" Nilin asked. Since she doesn't seem like some one who can read the mood, I clasp my hand on her mouth. For some reason, I feel her temperature rising.

"Lubac's. Who else?"

Master intends to take revenge? "But why? Did Lubac's death really bothered you to this extent?"

"I don't know. I guess I will find out." Before he disappears from my sight, he stops and glances back at me once more. "I wasn't able to avenge Muo Li and Clammis, at least I can avenge Lubac."

"But...."

[Let it go, Thomas. Master needs this. I know you worried for master's mental state but I can promise you I won't let master do what is more than necessary. Giving master the right amount would be therapeutic. So you can be at ease, Thomas.]

"Plus, there is some strange Mana fluctuation beneath this temple and goblins are gathered around. I think it's the key to the three variant's evolution."

[I'll be with master, Thomas. Rest easy, for now.]

"Fine. Just.... be careful."

"You too. See you in.... half an hour?" Master said and disappears through the doorway.

"MMMMMM~!"

Huh? What's that sound?

I look down at where the sound came from.

Yikes!

I quickly released my hand from Nilin. I have forgotten about her and ended up suffocating her.

Struggling to even breath, Nilin said "Meanie.... To think that orcs are into such plays?" with tears bubbling in her eyes.

Huh? What is this Wisp saying now? What plays? And I'm an Oni now, you know?

"Love? Is this love?"

"Tommy is handsome now. Possible. Possible."

Bartholomew and Cormac are saying even more incomprehensible stuffs behind me.

"Mou~ This sort of acts should be done in a more dignify way and in p...private."

What acts? What does she meant by in private?

I look to the two for help but they are only giggling at me.

Why? What's with the giggles?

And Nilin, why are you blushing so red and burying your face into my sleeve?

Despite how she looks, she's got quite the strength. It made me spared more effort than I thought to peel her off me.

"Is Master really that scary? You have been clinging on to me for a lot, you know?" I asked some question I plucked out of the air, hoping to disperse the current incomprehensible atmosphere.

"Um.... I know he's not a bad person but he is just too.... abnormal. He’s kinda scary."

Abnormal and scary? Coming from a two hundred years old plus Spirit?

"Eh. You're thinking of something rude aren't you, Oni?"

What is this? Can she read minds? "Stop calling me Oni. I have a name, you know?"

"T...then... call me by name too...." She flips her hair and flaunts her demeanor as she said so. "I'll let you have the honor of calling a Spirit of Nature like me by my n...name.... w...without honorifics...."

I just can't get this Wisp at all. I haven't been using any honorifics for starters. Why is she alternating her tone and personality? Is this how all Spirits are? Why is she having trouble speaking now?

Coming to an impasse with my thoughts, I sigh like my master. "Okay, Nilin."

She yelped when I call her name. "H...how can y...you say my name s...so casually?" And her face just got redder.

Hmm? Didn't I call her Nilin before too? "Nilin? Is not that difficult, you know?" I don't get what's saying. Saying a person's name isn't that hard.

"Heh~? No.... That’s not what I mean...." She said, twiddling her fingers.

"Tommy is clueless"

"Seems so. Seems so."

"What do you mean?" I asked Bartholomew and Cormac who were giggling more and more. The two seems to know what’s going on but they are not telling me. All they did was the same gesture and words master gave me.

“T...T...T...To....Tom...” Nilin was struggling to say.

“It’s Thomas now, actually but Tom is okay too.” I told her.

At first she looks surprised but then her face distorted. She is gritting her teeth and making some “Gununu” sounds.

Ignoring her weird ethics, I ask "Say, why are you still here?"

"Heh?" She stares blankly at me. Her "Gununu" sounds stop. "What are you talking about?"

Hmm? Did she not get my meaning? "I mean you already done your job, right? I thought you are itching to go back to your.... home?"

"Heh? Why...."

Nilin really has a blank look on her face. Does she not understand what I'm getting at? I should be more clear with her. "I'm well aware that we technically still haven't made it out of this place yet but that's not your fault, you know. We won't blame you for it. So you can head back now. I'm sure master already said so too, didn't he?"

Nilin is flapping her lips without stop. She looks like she want to retort but deciding not to. Did she not believe what I just said?

"Nilin?" I asked the quiet Nilin who is looking down at the floor.

"Even after saying all that, you still said something like this....." She mumbled. I couldn't have heard what she said if I didn't concentrate on my hearing.

"Nilin?" I asked her again but I patted her too this time.

But she slaps away my hand. Ouch, she's stronger than she looks.

Her face is then painted redder than ever before. “Mou~! Just go die, you stupid Oni! Stupid! Hmph!” She lashes out at me and kicked between my knee and ankle. Although I don’t have the same physical sturdiness as I did when I was an Orc but I do have a layer of magic armor shrouding me. I did not purposely invoke it but it has been there ever since I evolved. It seems to be invisible to people without Mana Vision.

Nilin who is a Wisp should have saw my magic armor but she still kicks at me with full force. It must have hurt since she put so much force into that kick but Nilin is not showing it. Instead, she just turn her back to me and cross her arms as she sat far away from me. “Stupid Oni.” She keeps muttering those word repeatedly. I can tell her feet is hurting from kicking me. Although she's stronger than she looks, her physical strength pales in comparison to my magic defense.

“Haiz~ Tommy is such an airhead in this matters.”

“Truly. Truly.”

Well, if you know what’s going then tell me. I tried asking the two but they said that this is something a “man” should figure out for himself. I wonder what makes them so knowledgeable about my current situation and riding the high horse.

Master, please come back soon.

It has been an hour and master has yet to return. Occasionally, I can sense surges of Mana from below the temple. It goes without saying it's because of master.

Cormac and Bartholomew are sleeping soundly along with Citra. The two dozed off shortly after watching Citra doing the same.

As for Nilin, she had gone into her replenishing state which is her original form while glowing faintly. She has reverted back to her annoying and loud personality before she exhausted herself of all her Mana.

Shortly after the intermittent Mana surges stopped, the lights outside the temple begin to dim. From my Mana Vision, the vines that are growing on the surface of the ceiling is absorbing their nutrients from somewhere deeper in this ruins. Master must have done something below but I do not know what.

Another hour went by and this place have gotten a whole lot quieter. No more Mana surges Though, I am not worried. If anything bad happened, I would know since I have a special link with master.

As I'm thinking of what I should do to pass the time, an idea sprang to life in my mind. I can take this opportunity to learn more about my new powers. I know master ask us to stay put but I need to be alone for this.

I found a smaller room just a few meters ahead from the reception area. Although it's not far from where I was but the distance should be enough if my powers went out of control. Though I have no basis for my statement.

Going by the objects present in this small room, it seems to be someone's resting quarter. But there are more than one bed and a few chairs. I wonder if the ancient people share a room in their slumbers.

Well, it's not like those things are of any bother to me.

Just by my will alone, a wall of text appears out of thin air.

Blaze of the Depths (Unique): Lv. 4

A unique Arcane Art form from the unison of [Abyss Magic] and [Crimson Lord]. Flames forged of the Abyss. A magic of assimilation into a form beyond mere flesh and blood. User gains immunity against [Fire Magic] and high resistance against [Dark Magic]. Due to the nature of this Arcane Art, the user will be granted powerful life force and blessed with a near-eternal life. User will gain the title: .

Wow. This ability of mine is stronger than I thought. I have a long life. Longer than an elves? I have heard they are the longest living Sagax race.

But anyways, how do I use it?

As I was thinking that, black flames ignited in my palm.

"Uwaah~!" I shrieked from the abrupt conjuration. I calm myself with a pat on my chest. How pathetic of me to get scared by my own ability but I guess being afraid of one's own ability might be a good thing?

And so, I indulged myself into learning more about my abilities. Looks like I have made the right choice in testing my powers in another room. I have made some damage and loud noises while I was familiarizing myself with my strength. I hope I didn't bother their Bartholomew and the other's rest. It went well at first but things became awry when I stumbled on to something.

A spear made of my Mana, a spear of black flames with a length of two meters, a spell I created on my own. I don't know how I did but I did. Might be an effect from the residue memory of master's.

And this residues are something I shouldn't have temper with.

"Kill. Run. Despair. Kill. Kill them all. Or run and despair....."

I flinched and hit a wall when such words enter my mind.

My mind is then flooded with countless images. All those images are of monsters attacking me and I have no way of defending against them.

Wait... Are those my memories? No. They are not. I don't recall having such memories.

If it's not mine, then these are.... master's....

I have also inherited a portion of master's memory. His emotion and feelings of that time is even transmitted to me.

Fear. Despair. Rage. Bloodlust. Sorrow. All sorts of negative emotions is overwhelming my mind.

In the split second that I let loose of myself, my disarrayed aura is unleashed to my surroundings, destroying the whole room. The roof came down but my aura of shadow flames disintegrated every piece of ruble.

What is this? What is this darkness I'm feeling? The pain... the fear.... is too much....

Is this what master felt before he obtained his current strength? I feel no shred of hope in him at that time. There was no true aim to his wanders. It was only sheer luck that brought him to us. I can feel he was piling lies on top of lies to kept himself from going. He made jokes and foolish remarks all the time to avoid his descend into the unknown darkness. He clings on to a hope that he doesn't even believe in.

The fact that master is still alive is only because of his good fortune.

Although I have suffer longer than master, the intensity of his suffering pales mine. A former human child with no memories left all alone in a dangerous dungeon. I doubt no one can even being to imagine just what he had gone through. Humans are fragile, I was taught.

After the grasp of darkness, I felt a warmth embrace. This.... this is it. I see. It wasn't luck that save master. It was this warmth. The tiny hope that resides within master. Master clung to this faint light of hope to survive. But where did this warmth came from?

And everything fades after that. When I came to myself, I noticed I have blown away not just this room but also the surrounding rooms. Thank the stars that I was faraway from the room Bartholomew and the others are in.

"Eh? An Oni? How?"

I heard a familiar voice from my back. When I turn, I saw a displaced floor tile and a hole in its place. And out climbed four goblins. All four of them are drenched in blood and covered in wounds. One of them is a Hobgoblin.

"You!"

I snarled at the Hobgoblin. Yes, he is the Hobgoblin that was with the Red Ogre. Master must have meant him when he said some managed to escape.

Good timing.

A torrent of negative emotions swarms me.

I was just wondering who I will test my new power on. Didn't think the most suitable candidate would show himself up. This is just perfect....

My skin began emitting black smokes.

Who would be better than my killer.

The smokes then burst into black flames.

[Blaze of the Depths (Unique): Exalted Skin]

At that moment, another foreign memory surfaced.

In this memory, I was slaughtering countless goblins and I ate them after that. Everyone who defied me ended up as food.

Is this also master's....? No. This is.... the Red Ogre's.... His memory.... No. Not just the Red Ogre's....

This is not good. I didn't just inherit master's memory but also the goblins'. Master have gave me a part of his curse too.

Among all the residue memories, the Red Ogre's screams the loudest.

His imprint.

A deep one.

It clouded my mind. Fueling my actions with rage.

I'm left with nothing but these words on a loop.

Kill them all.

Eat them all.

Become the strongest.

Loosing all control over myself,

I could do nothing but oblige.