Einder Bloodline

Chapter 30: Pain

This time, Cray was not surprised by the current disappearance of the scenery. The scenery then changed as it had reverted into the thick forest. It was still evening, and he could see Nick waking up.

"Where am I?" Nick looked around and saw his unconscious brother. "Gilbert!" He then attempted to move his body towards him only to find that his own body was likewise restrained similarly to Gilbert's.

But even if he was tied tight, he still struggled hard. After a while he felt hopeless, so he began to call out for help.

"HELP! Is there anyone around? We need help! Please!"

He then heard the bush near him rustled.

"Who's there?"

Without answering Nick's question, a person who was covered in black clothing had come out from the bushes and once again knocked out Nick.

After observing everything so far, Cray noticed that most of the time there would be a change in scenery every time Nick lost his consciousness. He also took note of the large time discrepancy between the first and second scenarios, however, this third one appeared to be a lot more recent to the second scenario due to his mostly unchanged appearance. However, Cray was still unable to make any conclusions as to what was happening but he had his guesses and so Cray could only wait for the next scenario to play out but all of a sudden, he felt his body being dragged towards Nick's.

"Wha-Wait! What's happening!"

After that Cray heard a voice coming inside his mind.

"Trial of Fire commencing!"

What? What's the Trial of Fire? He thought as he was confused about the new words that he had heard.

Despite Cray's questions, the scenario did not stop as it continued to play out. The assailant who had struck at Nick earlier was now looking confused as Nick who should be out cold hadn't been knocked out.

"How are you able to withstand the-" The moment the Nick heard the assailant's voice he was surprised as he felt that this voice was very familiar but he can't seem to recall where he had heard it before. The assailant, however, didn't even finish his sentence before he decided to attack once again. He punched Nick with his right fist expecting that Nick wouldn't be able to dodge it because he was still restrained.

"NO!"

Nick shouted as he tilted his head to dodge the incoming fist and counterattacked with a headbutt. The assailant who had seen how Nick had responded had grabbed Nick's head with his open left hand.

"You little brat! I'll kill you!" Nick directly saw that the assailant had a murderous look. But he directly looked into those eyes. Surprisingly, Nick for his age had a very strong mental resolve. It was strong enough that his primal instinct to fear death could no longer be felt thus making him capable to withstand the murderous gaze that this mysterious figure gave him.

Cray, on the other hand, could feel all that Nick was feeling. He felt that his head was about to explode from the pain. He could also directly see the murderous gaze that the assailant was giving that was all that he could see.

At this moment, the assailant had started to use his right fist to once again punch Nick. But Nick was very tenacious as he kept his stare at those eyes.

One punch...Two punches..."Let's see how long you'll last!"....Five punches.

Every punch was headed straight towards his gut. Cray was also feeling those punches. He wanted to puke. His insides were a mess. He knew that he would no longer last long. He wanted it to stop. He did not like this pain, however, Nick endured. He continued to stare daggers at the person in front of him while enduring his battered and beaten body. Even if he knew that this might be the cause of his death he never waivered.

Cray who had been one-sidedly receiving not only the beating but also the influx of Nick's thoughts was surprised at how much of a one-tracked mind he had. 'I must stand my ground. I must stay alive. I'm going to save Gilbert. I'm going out of here with him. I'm going to protect him. I'm going to be fine. I can still do this. I'm not giving up. I'm not going to...'

"DIE!" 

The moment that shout was made, the hand that was holding Nick's head let go. Soon, a punch came straight towards his face.

Cray who could feel what Nick was feeling had also felt that solid punch, he felt that one or two of his teeth were removed, his cheeks swollen and his eyes bloodied.

"Alfoollt mahhhi illi bruftha!" Nick had managed to at least utter these incomprehensible words before he closed one of his eyes.

However, unlike what Cray had expected, he did not pass out, instead, he heard a voice that seemed to be filled with resentment. 'Do you want power? The power to stop this person.'

Cray then saw images of Gilbert getting hit and dying. Those images felt like a premonition as he looked at the current situation.

"Ghhheeerrvert!"

Nick who had also seen this screamed. He no longer could determine the difference between what he saw and the reality.

'I can give you the power to stop that guy. I can even give you the power to kill. All you need to do is to agree and make a contract with me.'

Cray could feel that something was wrong. He didn't know where the voice was coming from nor did he know what kind of power the voice can provide. In short, Cray wouldn't agree with accepting the power as he knows that nothing in this world is free and that everything comes with a price.

But due to their difference in circumstances, Cray and Nick's choices did not coincide, while Cray could still have the leverage to think about accepting the deal, Nick did not. Nick was in a crazed state as he heard those sweet words. So, without a moment to think about anything else, he had accepted it.

"GIIIBB MIHH DAH PAWOOOHH!"

After Nick had agreed to it, a vortex began to appear from his back.

Hands with sharp claws came out, it was followed by two horns sticking out from the forehead. The figure had big bat-like wings and a pointy tail. Its face had an ugly grin as it made its sinister laugh.

"The contract is now established."

It then made its way towards Nick's body as if to merge with it.

The assailant had widened eyes. It then had a fervent gaze towards the creature who was merging with Nick.

The assailant had removed the black cloth that was hiding her face. She was the woman who had danced with Gilbert at the party. Nick who saw this immediately noticed his mistake. He had finally remembered where the assailant's voice was in his memories but it was already too late.

The contract was now a done deal.

"I- What did I d-"

And before he had managed to regret even further he let out a scream. Just a few moments ago, he only felt the pain that was inflicted externally. Now, however, he could feel the pain coming internally. It was like his insides were twisting in directions that they were not supposed to. His bones felt like they were being crushed bit by bit slowly smothering them into powder. His muscles felt like they were being twisted while being torn continuously.

The pain was simply excruciating. Imagine stubbing your toe on the table but this time the pain a hundred-fold while feeling that the pain all over your body.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"

Nick and Cray cried out as they both felt the pain.