Seeds of Chaos: Chapter 53 (The Void’s Avatar)

 Chapter 53

“Hurry up; we need to get as far away from the island as possible!”

Upon reaching the airship, Russell quickly ordered the captain to depart. Although confuse, the old captain did what he was told after Russell’s aide handed over the artifact needed to keep their equipment from malfunctioning.

The artifact looks like a metal ball with strange runes strewn all over it, was actually created through the cooperation between the gnomes and the acolytes using a mysterious material they found inside the ruin that was capable of countering the effect of the magnetic field that’s affecting their equipment.

Although the mysterious material has the effect of counteracting the magnetic field of the island, it could only do so in a small area. To ensure that the artifact was capable of protecting an entire airship from the magnetic field, the gnomes and the acolytes have to work together.

“Your Highness, where is the girl?” The old captain asked after the airship was no longer affected by the magnetic field.

Russell didn’t answer immediately and stared at the island that was slowly getting smaller as the airship flew higher. “She stayed behind to give us more time,” the prince finally replied after breathing out a heavy sigh.

The old captain’s hands trembled in agitation after hearing that Rennel had chosen to stay behind before forcing himself to calm down. “Just what happened, Your Highness? Why did the girl have to stay behind?” The old captain asked in a slightly shaking voice.

While they were still searching for the prince and his crew, the girl did a lot of thing that endeared her to the crew of the airship not including the fact that she played a big role in the success of their mission. As the youngest person in the expedition team, she, along with the other two girls, made what could have been a dreary journey more bearable.

Also, being naturally curious, Rennel often spoke with the old captain to ask him about the airships and other similar subjects. Because of their constant contact as well as the fact that he have grandchildren of his own and was starting to miss them, the old captain started treating the girl as his own granddaughter.

“It’s my fault. I’ve befriend and cooperated with someone that hailed from an infamous organization known for their unsavory actions,” said the prince.

“Your Highness, please don’t blame yourself. You only did that to protect everyone,” the prince’s aide quickly countered.

"No. My initial reasoning does not matter; it still won’t change the fact that I did joined hand with the members of the sect.” Russell said after shaking his head.

The sect!

“My prince… you cooperated with the members from the Sect of the Void? Then those people are…” The old captain turns his eyes towards the unfamiliar humans that board his airship along with the prince and the others. Although curious who they were at first, the old captain didn’t ask any question and let them board the airship. Never did he think that these people were actually from the infamous Sect of the Void!

“I know that you have a lot of question in your mind, captain. But hear me out first. Back then cooperating with them was our best option if I were to ensure the safety of my crew.” The prince explained. “Even though our cooperation fell apart at the end, I still think that I made the right decision. For example, the artifact we use to counteract the mysterious effect of the island was only created through our cooperation.”

The old captain shakes his head. He’s not a narrow-minded person. Although the sect was known for their atrocities, it’s not like one cannot reason with them. If the prince thought that cooperating with them was the best choice then there must be someone among them worthy of that trust.

“No, I understand where you’re coming from your highness. If I was in your position back then, I might have done the same,” said the old captain. “Still, I want to know why the girl has to stay behind.”

Russell nodded his head indicating that he understood and narrated everything that happened from the very start. He told him how they meet, what they did in order to survive, the discovery of the ruin, the creation of the artifact, the meeting with the girl’s scouting group, and the conflict that ensued after the girl discovered Carl’s and his companions’ identity.

“So the girl discovered their identity the moment they met but didn’t reveal them until you’re all out of the ruin?” The captain asked the prince for clarification.

“Yes. I was very surprise as well. It actually took me more than a week before I discovered who Carl and the others were. And that’s only because Carl purposely leave out clues.” Russell explained.

“I see. As expected of the girl,” the old captain praises. “But her own excellence and straightforwardness might have been her own downfall. If she had kept it a secret a bit longer, at least until we reached the mainland, then she might not need to fight the envoy alone,” he commented in a regretful voice.

The old captain stared at the direction of the island. He actually had the mind to go back and rescue the girl but knew that if he did that, her sacrifice would have been in vain.

“What now, Your Highness?”

After staring at the dark, foggy sea for some time, the old captain finally found his bearings and turned towards the prince and asked for their next course of action.

“First we need to get as far away from here as possible and return to the mainland. After that we’ll asked help from the empire, the kingdoms, and the other powers. Although the girl is powerful, I doubt she could stop the possessed Carl for too long,” the prince started. “If Carl manages to defeat Rennel, he would surely go after us and cause chaos and destruction everywhere he go. To have the slightest chance of winning, we might also have to ask the titans for their assistance.”

“Are, are things that serious?” Hearing the prince plan, the old captain could not help but be taken aback. They were just dealing with a possessed envoy of the void, and yet they needed the help of the titans?

“It’s necessary. The danger I felt that time was very intense to the point that my legs almost buckled up in fear,” the prince explained his reasoning with a helpless smile on his face. “I believed that it’s better to be overboard than be underprepared. If the god of the void is –“

“What is that?!”

While the prince was explaining, one of the gnomes saw something in the horizon and screamed.

****

Rennel stared at the huge pillar of darkness that suddenly shoots out of the envoy’s body. It consumed the envoy before piercing through the fogs.

“How terrifying…” The pressure from the pillar of darkness made the girl’s heart shudders in fear. It was so terrifying that her legs couldn’t help but tremble. That said, he felt the terrifying pressure oddly similar to that of her teacher. “Teacher…”

“What?” Chaos asked after being quiet the entire time. And upon seeing the girl's expression Chaos could only let sigh. "You wanted to try fighting that thing?"

After the others left, Chaos obviously stayed behind. Carl might have called the girl foolish for staying behind before losing to the god of void, and being consumed by the pillar of darkness but with Chaos on her side, the girl was in reality, not in real danger.

Chaos might have chosen not interfere on many things to ensure that the girl didn’t become dependent on him but battling a godlike being like the god of the void was not on the list of things he would not interfere with. After all he wanted Rennel to grow stronger. Not be killed by some random ‘god’ that pops out of nowhere.

Moreover, he and that so called god of the void were outsiders and shouldn’t really interfere with a developing world. Admittedly, Chaos already interfered when he granted three inhabitant of this world with his ‘seeds’. Still, compared to the hands on approach of the god of the void, Chaos was still a lot better.

Whereas he only blessed three of this world’s inhabitant with his seeds; what the god of the void did was far worse as he actually influenced many people to create a terrorist organization that wanted to destroy the world by letting the god of the void himself descend.

“Yes teacher. I wanted to try fighting the avatar of the god of the void.” Rennel answered while tightening her grip on Jade Thorn in order to give herself some encouragement.

“I advise against it. You’re not his match yet. Even though it’s just an avatar, it’s still much more powerful than you,” replied Chaos.

“I’m aware of that teacher. But I still want to give it a try. Only by fighting him and seeing the vast difference between our powers would I have the chance of another breakthrough,” Rennel argued.

Hearing her reasoning, Chaos no longer tried to argue. Since she already made up her mind, he would just let her do whatever she wanted. If she could really figure out the method for her next awakening, then it would be worth it.

“She has certainly grown up….,” said Chaos to himself as he reminisces. “Maybe it’s time that we part ways and let her pave her own path. Still, I’m a little worried. Fortunately…”

It hadn’t actually been that long since he rescued the girl from a fate worse than death and when she started learning under his tutelage. And although he usually didn’t show it, Chaos is actually very fond of the silver-haired girl that he coincidentally met during his descent into this world. He’s fondness for the girl was so strong that he was even willing antagonize the administrators of this world just to protect her.

That said he couldn’t really stay by her side forever. For the girl to grow and realize her full potential, she must experience hardships, and awaken her seed through her own effort.

“I thought I could stay with you a little longer but then you have to encounter someone that could be possessed and be taken over by a god. Seriously, just how bad is your luck?”

The pillar of darkness vanished; replacing it was the envoy Carl whose injuries are now fully healed. No, it was no longer the envoy known as the ‘Gentleman’. The person that the girl is currently facing is now the god of the void’s avatar.

“So this is the mortal body that was prepared for me? How pathetic. It’s so weak.” The avatar complained after examining Carl’s body. “But then again what do I expect from a mortal body. I guess it’ll have to make do for now.”

“Now then… What do we have here?” The avatar turned its eyes at Rennel, no, its eyes is only looking at Chaos. “I thought I would be the first celestial being to enter this world. Well, beside those so called administrators that is. But then again, those weaklings barely classified as celestials so it didn't really count.”

Since his presence was already revealed, Chaos decided to just show himself. Seeing his current form, the avatar raises one of its eyebrows.

“Hm? It doesn’t look like you took possession of someone else’s body. Did you create an avatar instead?” The avatar of the god of void asked. “So wasteful... If that avatar of yours got destroy then your losses won’t be minor. It would have been a lot better for you if you just possessed a ‘disposable’ body.”

Hearing the avatar of the void calling Carl’s body, disposable, almost made Rennel want to stab the avatar in the face. But upon remembering that the body was just being ‘borrowed’ by the god of void, allowed the girl to calm herself. That said if she had the chance to do so in the future, Rennel will make sure to make the annoying god pay for threating other people’s body as disposable tool.

“You sure talk too much for a celestial. Why? Were you that lonely without anyone to talk to for so long?” Chaos derided the avatar of the god of the void after seeing the girl looking very upset. “Maybe you could try making friends instead of always plotting how to conquer and devour words?”

Being derided by Chaos greatly upsets the avatar of the void. Looking at the dark expression on its face was enough to tell anyone that the only way it could calm the hatred brewing in its heart was to destroy Chaos’ avatar.

“Preposterous! Do you have any idea who I am? How dare you run your mouth in front of me?”

Angered by Chaos deriding words, the avatar of the void of the god released more of its aura as if trying to intimidate Chaos. Unfortunately for the avatar, its action was for naught.

****

“Are you done throwing tantrum?” Chaos sneered at the avatar of the void that seemed to be throwing a tantrum after being insulted. He then turned towards Rennel who was sweating buckets because of the pressure being released by the avatar. “If you want to attack that bastard now’s the time. Just remember though, I will only save you if you’re close to death. Do you understand?”

“Yes teacher!”

Rennel took a deep breath before walking forward and brandishing her spear. And without saying anything, she flew towards the avatar of the void without care for her own safety!

Seeing a human girl baring her fangs at a celestial almost made the avatar laugh out loud. It was truly unbelievable… In the countless words it had devoured previously no mortal had ever thought of facing it in battle, let alone put that thought into action. And yet in this primitive world, a weak human, a female even dared to face it? Truly Laughable!

“What’s the meaning of this nameless god? Why are you sending your toy to face me? Are you perhaps tired of playing with her that you’re willingly sending her to her doom?” The avatar of the void asked while looking at Chaos as if he was a fool.

Chaos didn’t bother with the avatar’s words, and merely gave it the side-eye. Rennel on the other hand finally reached the avatar that was floating without care in the sky after forcibly ignoring the pressure that the avatar was releasing. The fact that it didn’t even try to put on any defenses was a proof that it was looking down on her.

Ignoring the avatar’s disdain towards her, Rennel channeled all of the mana available to her – knowing full well that unless she gave it her all, she won’t be able to break through the avatar’s skin. As such for the sake of that single strike, the girl didn’t even bother to use mana to protect herself. Instead, deciding to forgo defense for the sake of offense.

It was a gamble; a very dangerous move that could potentially kill her in an instant. The only reason the girl even dared to do such a thing was to avenge her former opponent, and because of a promise from her teacher, Chaos.

Jade Thorn stabbed at the avatar’s head without being challenged. It was as if the proud avatar was purposely allowing the girl to stab at it. Maybe it’s just pride or disdain on the avatar’s side. Or maybe, the avatar just want the girl to experience complete feeling of helplessness once the attack that she put everything she had into, failed to do anything to the avatar.

The avatar of the void watches the jade-green spear approaching its forehead with disdain. Although it feels like it’s beneath it to play along with the human girl, the avatar still decided to do so on a whim. An instant later the spear hits it mark and the avatar… was sent plunging into the dark sea!

****

To be continued

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