Chapter 59 : Moonlight Leopards and Angry Katarina When the reptilian eye disappeared and I couldn't feel its presence anymore, I went back to the spot where we previously fought against the worms to wait for Jerome. I spent this free time examining the dead bodies scattered on the ground more thoroughly. I took samples from their bodies so Gladia could analyze them and determine their weaknesses, if they had any. Unfortunately, she didn't find anything interesting before we heard battle-drones approaching. It seemed like Jerome pushed his limits to the maximum and returned to the surface at breakneck speed. Despite his injuries, he returned in less time than it took us to get here the first time. The sound of their steps got closer, until I could see the shining reflections of the drones' armor in the depth of the tunnel. Jerome was at the front, leading a column of fifty battle-drones. "How is your body Jerome ?" From his faltering steps, I could tell Jerome was exhausted and near his limit. "pant...Not...Good." It was to be expected. If even I had trouble suppressing this unknown poisonous mana, it was a miracle in itself that Jerome could still be standing. If any unwanted substance or energy invades my body, I can minimize the damage by letting Tassadar deal with it, but other rifters cannot do the same. Out of all the squad members, I was the only one who absorbed the black matter during the Scylla protocols ; the other rifters had their human bodies absorbed by their black matter instead. This gave them better combat capabilities than me, but it also came with its set of disadvantages. Compared to me who was simply coexisting with Gladia and Tassadar in the same body, the other rifters were closer to real symbionts. If one of the entities within them gets harmed, the others will suffer the same. In my case, it is different. I don't know why or how my body naturally absorbed Tassadar and Gladia during the protocols, but in the end, it saved all three of our consciousness. While being in the same body, we kept our own self-identity. Even though the only times I was able to interact with Tassadar were when I was unconscious, I can always feel his presence. It's not as straightforward as conversing with Gladia, but I'm aware that I'm constantly transmitting my thoughts to him. We share the same body after all, and Tassadar has always been there for me when I needed him the most. The other rifters from my squad are symbionts with the human body as the primary vessel, the Obscura Materia filling it, and the Nihil Conscientia enhancing their mental capabilities... but only their human soul retained a sense of self-consciousness. Even under the influence of the Scylla's mind control that inhibited their emotions to make them brainless and submissive, their human side survived the protocols. This strange combination has given them talents well beyond mine : their bodies are stronger, their movements are quicker, their dark armor is thicker, and they can naturally process information as quickly as a Nihil Conscientia. However, because all three beings are so closely intertwined within each other without any form of control, anything that might hurt one entity will also affect the others. In my special case, Tassadar, Gladia, and I are more like three different entities riding the same boat while contributing to each other by doing what we are the best at. We are not exactly symbionts, but rather three distinct individuals trapped within the same vessel and obliged to cooperate in order to survive. Because my body and soul absorbed them, I kept control over them. In return, they retained their original abilities and own consciousness. I can not think or move as fast as the other rifters, however, both Gladia and Tassadar can outperform them in their respective field. Gladia's capabilities are better than all theNihil Conscientia of my squad members put together, while Tassadar is much more aware of its environment and versatile than the other black matters. I would have perished the first time I unleashed Void energy on Kar'goth if I didn't use it with the same arm that previously absorbed the Netherite stone containing Gladia. And even then, I survived only because Tassadar decided to absorb the Netherite fragments and merge them with my left arm on his own initiative during the third protocol. Instead of killing me, this highly improbable chain of coincidences gave me the ability to control the best power I could have ever wished for ; the most destructive force that exists everywhere outside of the universe, the Void energy. But most importantly, it gave me control over both Gladia and Tassadar. "You need to properly control your black matter, Jerome. It can slow down the poison running through your body." Seeing my comrade in so much pain and yet being unable to help him, I couldn't help but feel bad for him. "Unless we find a way to completely remove this poisonous mana from our bodies, you'll have to deal with it yourself." "pant...I may...have a solution...in mind. Kat might be...able to cure us." When I mentioned finding a way to suppress this harmful mana, Jerome thought about Katarina. Does her force field have anti-mana proprieties ? "If Kat has a way to deal with it, you should first go back to the ship and ask her about it. I can't let you fight these worms when you have trouble walking anyway." "Leader, let me..." "No." Jerome tried to negotiate with me, most likely to stay with me until we find Douglas, but I cut him off. I wasn't going to change my mind. I will not risk another of my squad member's life so pointlessly. "Even if you come with me, you won't be of much help in your current state. Compared to me, you have no control over your black matter, so you can't fight the poison on your own." He seemed disappointed, and I could understand him, but if he follows me inside the worms' lair in this condition... he will be more of a burden than anything else. "You said you thought of a way to deal with the poison, right ? You think Kat's force field may cure you ?" "Yes..." Jerome muttered, his head laying down. "Then leave this cave and ask her to help you. You can also ask the human mages accompanying the King of Lyssandra if it doesn't work. Your battle drones regiment is enough for me to deal with these worms, so get better soon if you really want to help me bring Douglas alive." The situation wasn't bad enough for me to overwork Jerome when he was clearly dying from this poisonous mana. From Gladia's estimations, the battle-drones regiment he brought was more than enough to deal with this nest. Jerome knew how stubborn I could be, so he just accepted my decision and slowly stood up to head back to the flagship. "Be careful on your way back, the enemy might have sent more assassins into the forest while we were exploring the cave." "Yes Leader. You too, be careful..." "I will." Jerome walked between his drones and left the area. I looked at his bloodstained back as he moved farther into the tunnel we came from, until I couldn't feel his presence any longer. "Follow me." Once I confirmed he safely left the cave, I also started moving. I engulfed myself in the dark gallery I previously explored, this time followed by fifty heavily armored battle-drones. It was time for us to clean up these fucking tunnels. ___ Far from the massive mountains towering over the Forest of Truth, a small group of people wearing animal masks and leather clothes were swiftly running through the dense vegetation. Each of them was as light and quiet as a feather, none of their movements made any noises. The sounds of the branches cracking beneath their boots and the little stones being pushed aside were all confined inside a narrow transparent circle around them. These individuals resembled the assassins Jun had previously faced, with one exception: they all had a long hairy tail attached to the lowest part of their back, which they couldn't hide beneath their clothes. The members of the Penumbra clan were all coming from various beastmen tribes, but these fellows fleeing the forest with all their might were all of the same race. They were part of the Moonlight Leopard tribe that lived on the eastern border of Lyssandra, near the kingdom of Aliomeri. Compared to the other warlike and aggressive tribes in the region, the Moonlight Leopard didn't join hands with the elves of Aliomeri simply because of their hate for humans or their enmity against Lyssandra. Instead, they did it to fulfill an old agreement made between their chief and the Queen of Aliomeri. It is said that during their youth, the Queen of Aliomeri, who was still a princess at that time, saved the life of the Moonlight Leopard tribe leader, who was still a naive youngster. After this event, the young master of the Moonlight Leopard tribe followed this cold-blooded elven princess and roamed the world with her for a few years. They met other companions on their journeys, and after wandering over the outer continent for a few years, they all formed strong bonds. Before parting ways and returning home, they promised to always aid each other in times of need. This was the reason why despite being slightly more powerful and influential in the region, the kingdom of Lyssandra has never been able to completely dominate and subdue Aliomeri. If the Lyssandra King decided to wage an all-out war against them, he would incur the wrath of the many tribes and kingdoms indebted to the Queen of the elves. 'How far are we from the edge of the forest ?' 'We will arrive soon.' Like Jun's squad, these people were able to communicate with each other without speaking thanks to small magical devices hidden within their earlobes. 'Captain, I believe we should first report to the chief before meeting the Second Prince. I do not trust these elves, especially this arrogant brat commanding them.' 'We have to follow orders. Do not forget that this elf you call an 'arrogant brat' is the second prince of Aliomeri, and our chief has a debt toward his mother. Do not shame our tribe's honor.' The captain of this small group of Moonlight Leopard frowned as he realized how blatantly rude his men were toward the elves despite being allies. In reality, he also shared their opinion but compared to his men, he was smart enough to not voice his thoughts out loud. That's how he kept his head on his shoulders while working with arrogant elves. 'Captain, did you not see what happened to the First Prince's main army ? Who the hell did these bastards offend for their enemy to exterminate ten thousand troops in a single spell and leave no survivors ?' 'I don't know, but I fear we may have to face a fifth or sixth circle mage in this conflict... I hope the chief doesn't plan to involve our tribe any further.' Most of them couldn't help but shiver when they recalled the carnage they witnessed just a few hours ago. They had just arrived at the Second Prince's camp outside the Forest of Truth when the first proton torpedo detonated on the First Prince's army, illuminating the dark sky of the night with a bright mushroom cloud. They would have been among the thousands of corpses littering the forest if they had arrived a little earlier and the Second Prince had ordered them to go monitor the main army with the Penumbra assassins he previously sent. After this insane explosion shook the ground and tore the sky over the entire region, the Second Prince sent another Penumbra squad to investigate what happened. They waited for a while, yet nobody from the second squad came back from this damned forest. Afraid of losing the support of the Penumbra clan after sacrificing so many of their assassins, the elven prince decided to send the Moonlight Leopard this time. They have been tasked to follow the missing Penumbra squads' trails and find their whereabouts. Their goal was to locate the missing Penumbras and assist them if needed, but... they have all been found dead near the explosion site. The few scattered bodies they uncovered were either filled with deep circular holes, a gore pasta smashed to the ground, or a pile of limbs and innards shredded into pieces. They couldn't even have been recognizable if not for their scent. After another hour of searching, the leopards discovered only one guy still breathing. A single person out of ten thousand. He was the captain of the first Penumbra squad that has been previously dispatched by the second prince to spy on his brother's army. Even though he was an experienced peak 3-stars assassin, which is considered a powerhouse in the outer continent, he still ended up in a critical state. The only reason this guy survived was probably because of his instinct to dive deep into the water when the explosion broke out. He was discovered unconscious on the brink of a river. Half of his body was burned, his skin had completely melted, and the charred flesh on his back reeked a horrible smell, different from usual burn injuries. The leopards didn't know what kind of spell hit the main army, but no matter the quality of the potions and ointments they used to heal his injuries and keep him alive, nothing worked. It was as if this violent explosion also caused an unknown disease to those who have been hit by its flames. This could also explain the air in this area being thick with a particular scent of death and decay. Even the Moonlight Leopards, famous for their high resistance to anything that could affect their senses, felt dizzy and sick just by staying near the ravaged explosion site. After another one of his men puked everything he had eaten for dinner, the captain understood something was wrong and they shouldn't stay in this place any longer until they figured out what happened. 'Everyone, prepare to leave.' Chasing the rest of the second squad far into the forest in these conditions, without knowing the strength of the enemy or if any of the Penumbra assassins who had fled were still alive, was akin to suicide. He carried the dying first squad captain on his back and ordered his men to quietly leave the forest as fast as possible. He had to report the situation to his Tribe Chief and the Second Prince at all costs. He hoped the first Penumbra captain would not die before they reached the camp outside the forest. He was the only one who witnessed what happened here. 'I now understand why people call this place the Forest of Death...' ___ "You need to bear it if you want to be cured." "Argh..I...know...but...this...is...too...much...Kat..." "You're the one who asked for it, and now you are complaining ?" It has now been more than an hour since Jerome came back to the flagship, completely exhausted and on the verge of losing consciousness. On the way back, he thought about how shameful it was to let his leader fight alone, once again. Both Jerome and Kat have been traumatized by their isolation in the cryo pods. In their mind, they failed their leader and their squad the moment they lost control of their mind to the Scyllas in the Golden Hangar. If their Leader didn't expect this to happen beforehand and didn't order Alpha Zero to stay close by in case something went wrong, they would have been successful in capturing him. They didn't know what would have happened if they captured him and brought him back to the Scylla at that time, but one thing was certain : Jun would have been tortured, and all the squad members would probably have died horribly. Their Leader stood alone against an entire Scylla fleet and fought them with all his might without any fear. He even went as far as planning to sacrifice himself just to protect his squad. If not for Gladia awakening them at the last moment, Jun would have been dead by now and their entire squad would have been sent back to Earth with the Void legions who fled the Singularity, condemned to live with the dishonor of abandoning their savior for the rest of their lives. Jerome felt extremely bad to leave his leader behind inside the worms' nest, but he couldn't disobey. Whether he likes it or not, his leader's orders are absolute to him. When he finally arrived at the ship, he was welcomed by a quiet... but enraged Katarina. Her body was unconsciously emitting a part of her force field all around her. The pressure was so intense that some of the natives inside the camp, more than a hundred meters away from her, fell unconscious just by gazing at her blurry figure. "Where is the leader ? Why are you back alone with such injuries ?" she asked with an inquisitive tone when she saw him in this pitiful state. Jerome was in such a terrible condition because of the poisonous mana raging inside his body that he even had difficulty walking straight. The moment he saw Kat, Jerome knew how mad she was. He could tell at first look that her emotions were on the verge of exploding. The only thing that prevented her to go to Aliomeri by herself and massacre every single one of the elves living in this foolish kingdom was Jun's order to stay near the lake and protect the ship at all costs. Jerome explained to her in detail what happened during their search for Douglas ; he described how some half-beast half-human assassins ambushed them, and how dangerous was the entity controlling the worms inside the mountain. He also told her how they have been poisoned with a strange kind of mana they never saw before. If his guess was right, Kat might be the only one able to cure them. Before she could say anything, Jerome asked her to use her force field on him at its maximum output, hoping that it would cure him from this poisonous mana. This surprised her. Katarina's ability had the unique property of dismantling molecules at an atomic level. Jerome's theory was that it could also suppress mana particles. This was the reason why he was now crouched on the ground, suppressed by Katarina's force field at its full power. At first, Jerome first thought that if her force field was as strong as when they faced the young elf lady, it would be manageable... he learned in pain how wrong he was. At that time, Katarina didn't unleash all of her strength to not kill her on the spot. "Do not blame me, it was your idea." "Urgh..." Kat seemed to take satisfaction in tormenting Jerome. Because of his robust constitution, she knew he wouldn't die easily. While being powerful enough to force anyone under its effect to beg for death, her ability wasn't as effective against her squad members because of their black matters protecting them. Thus, in addition to curing him of this weird poison, Jerome was also the ideal test subject to relieve her accumulated stress. Under the frightened look of all the elves and humans who were watching the scene from afar, the massive but pitiful Jerome was trying his best to not die inside Katarina's force field before the poisonous mana inside his body completely vanished. "Keuk!...It's...done...now...stop...it..." "What did you say ?" "Stop...it...Arghh!" "I don't hear you, speak louder." Jerome would rather be eaten alive by a Giant Ant than be forced to endure Katarina's emotional roller coaster any longer. "Urgh...Alright...I'll defend...the ship...so you...can go...help Leader...so please...STOP IT!!..." Kat gladly used the excuse of curing him from the poison just to vent her frustration of being left behind by their leader, but the moment she heard what she wanted to hear, she instantly retracted her force field and grabbed him by the shoulder to bring him inside the ship. "See ? It wasn't that hard." she murmured near his broken helmet, a frightening grin hidden behind the black glass of her visor.