King

CHAPTER XXXV

It took a couple of minutes before Al finally stopped screaming. I was thankful that he did because I felt like my head was going to explode.

“Is he…” I heard Haneul whisper. I looked at her and smiled.

“Yeah, he’s fine, for now,” I answered. She looked at me and I can see the evident pain in her eyes. “Don’t worry, we’ll settle things in the past once we’re done with everything,” I said to appease her.

“I know,” She said and looked towards Zynrick. “So, what’s the plan?” She asked.

“I don’t know,” Zynrick answered.

I don’t know how to feel about Zynrick at this moment. I didn’t expect him to kill so many people in just one go. But I think I’m partially to blame because I didn’t stop him.

“How did you know the spell to release a familiar?” I asked. It bothers me that he knows when I didn’t even teach him. Could it be that it’s in a progenitor’s nature?

“I don’t know,” He said and looked at the cat sith. It was just staring at us as if it doesn’t know what’s happening. I looked at it intently because I don’t know if he could turn into a human just like how Al and Haneul could turn from their real forms to weapons.

“What do you mean?” Haneul asked while giving Zynrick a criticizing look.

“It just came into my head,” He answered, “It felt as if it was something I was supposed to know from the beginning,”

I looked at him and remembered what he said. I’ve never asked Zynrick how he became half progenitor. It wasn’t even in Al’s memories.

“You said that you’re a successor of Avalon. A progenitor can only transfer its powers to its offspring or to a person he trusts through a transfer ritual. Now that I think about it, you never told me how you became a half progenitor.” I said while looking at him.

He clenched his jaw and fisted his hands, “Al was supposed to be the progenitor because he was the son of the researchers who were working on it. I wasn’t supposed to know but I heard his parents talking about finding someone else to replace Al. Since they adopted me and I cared for Al, I volunteered to be the replacement. They told me that there won’t be any certainty that I would survive if I turn into a progenitor but I agreed anyway.”

So, that was what it was. I looked at Al in my hands. That was why he did all of those. “He cared for you, you know that, right?” I asked because I don’t know if the hatred Zynrick felt towards Al was real or if he was faking it.

“I know that,” He said and he started trembling. I could see the tears forming in his eyes so I walked up to him and hugged him.

“Let’s finish this and sort out or messy relationships, okay?” I said and wiped his tears away.

He nodded and then smiled at me, “I’ll make it up to you once everything’s over,” He said and I nodded.

“So, are you done being lovey-dovey?” Haneul asked making me turn to her. I could feel my face heat up when I heard what she said.

“Let’s look for Tyrone,” I said and walked ahead.

I don’t know where I’m going but this is better than having them see my embarrassed expression. I was walking aimlessly when I heard a loud crash behind me.

“Zynrick!” I yelled when I saw him thrown away.

Tyrone was standing in the middle of us and his back was facing me. I could feel the magic coming from him. What’s happening?

“Stay out of this, Elle,” Zynrick said while glaring at Tyrone.

“How can you say that to me?! We’re supposed to be in this together,” I said and was about to attack Tyrone from the back when an arrow was shot at me.

I was able to dodge it in the nick of time. If I was a second late, I would’ve had an arrow through my neck. I raised my head and saw Erin from a floor above us.

“Get down here!” I yelled. I want to finish things with her.

“You’re not my boss,” She said and ran away.

I ran as fast as I could to chase her when I felt Haneul grab my arm. “What is it?” I asked in annoyance.

“You can’t fight her like this, Elle,” She said with her eyebrows furrowed.

“What do you mean?” I asked with my eyebrow raised. Now that I remember everything, I also remembered how many times Haneul and I clashed heads.

“The magic barrier is still up and you can’t use me as a weapon.” She said which reminded her that she isn’t supposed to be for combat. “Izamu, he’s not okay right now so you can’t use him.” She added.

I nodded, “I know, I remembered,” I said and looked at the ground. “Do you know how to take down the barrier?” I asked.

“I do,” She said and ran ahead. “Follow me,”

I followed her and it seems like in all of the years that she was stuck here she was able to memorize the whole building.

“Here,” She said and entered a room. I went inside and saw a huge contraption. Is this how they put up artificial barriers?

“Pull that lever down,” She said and pointed at a red lever.

I was on my way to shut down the barrier when another arrow was shot at me. I looked in front of me and saw Erin once again.

“Haneul, mom restricted you to attack unless provoked, right?” I asked as I prepare to dodge the second arrow Erin pointed at me.

“That’s right,” She answered from behind me.

“Is this a sign of provocation?” I asked hoping I can use her.

“No, you have powers so unless you are critically injured then I can’t be used,” She answered.

I sighed and wanted to ask mom why she had to cast a restriction on Haneul. “Alright,” I said and prepared to be hit.

I just have to let her hit me in a vital spot so I can call out Haneul. I waited for Erin to release the arrow. I didn’t move because I thought the arrow would hit me near my heart but I was wrong. The arrow sunk in my shoulder.

“I can hear the two of you talking, you know?” She said and gave me a small smile.

That was stupid.

“I know that too,” I said and charged towards her.

Al is asleep right now but I can still use him like a dagger. He’s still sharp so I can at least hurt Erin without using Haneul.

“Elle!” I heard Haneul yell but I ignored her. I don’t have any other choice but to use Al. If I use Haneul for an attack without any provocation, I might end up killing her because of the restriction.

“You really are stupid, aren’t you?” Erin said and slashed my neck.

I was able to dodge quickly so the cut wasn’t deep enough to kill me but with the barrier still, up I can’t heal this wound.

“Haneul, come,” I said and she turned into a bow in my hand.

“Don’t do anything as stupid as that,” She said while she was in my hand.

“I know, I’m sorry, I was desperate,” I said and kept Al in my pocket.

I stood up properly and prepared to aim at Erin. I can’t afford to miss it. I don’t have the time and luxury to waste valuable time on her.

“I’m sorry,” I said and released my arrow. She was quick enough to dodge but as she did I released three arrows in one shot.

Haneul’s an amazing long-range weapon. She can give me an unlimited amount of arrows and she even allows me to shoot more than one arrow in one go.

“Elle, don’t shoot aimlessly, wait for my signal and instructions,” She said and I nodded.

“I forgot, I’m sorry,” I said and aimed at Erin. For a human, she was quick feet.

I was just following her while preparing my aim. “Now,” Once I heard Haneul’s command, I immediately released an arrow but I didn’t see her release her arrow before mine. I dodged and missed so I shook my head in an attempt to stay focused.

“Elle, calm down,” Haneul said so I took a deep breath.

Thinking about the wound in my throat and Zynrick fighting Tyrone alone was keeping me from being focused.

“Let’s take her down on the next shot,” Haneul said and I just nodded.

I could feel myself getting dizzy as time passes by. I was losing too much blood and if I can’t hit her in the next one I don’t know if I would still be able to go back to Zynrick.

“Now!” Haneul said and I fired the shot. I saw that we released the shot at the same time but I was too slow.

“Elle, revert me and let’s turn off the barrier before she recovers and kills you,” Haneul said so I called her name.

“Haneul, revert,” I said and she did.

She grabbed my arm and guided me towards the lever. But she stopped a few meters away from the lever.

“Why are you stopping?” I asked and looked at her.

Damn, I can’t even see her properly, my eyes are too blurry.

“I can’t go there because I’m made of pure magic. You, on the other hand, have a human body. If I go I’ll vanish,” She said and I understood.

I looked at the lever and tried my best to go there. “I’ll go so take care of Erin,” I said and she nodded.

I walked to the lever and when I was only a few feet from it, I was grazed by an arrow on the arm. I wanted to turn and look but I didn’t have time to waste. I trust Haneul so I’ll leave it to her.

“Just a few more steps,” I said. I could hear Haneul and Erin struggling to fight each other in the background but I ignored it.

Haneul is an amazing martial arts fighter but without any weapons, with her, she can’t fight Erin fair and square.

“Finally,” I whispered when I felt the lever but just as I was about to pull the lever down, I felt something almost hitting my chest.

Erin, that b***h.