32 Aftermath

"[Air Jump!]"

Jin dodges again by jumping sideways and they finally closed in.

"[Earth Surf!], [Earth Armor!]"

The troll then in a surfing stance with dirty covering him came close to Jin. They clashed with fist and Jin was pushed back.

*Boom!!*

"[Air Jump], [Corruption Gauntlet!]"

They clashed again with a fist and this time when they met the fist covered with earth slowly crumbles.

*Boom!*

"[Air Jump!], [Enhance!]"

Jin jumps to the side to evade a large swing hook from the troll and stack another enhanced that only gave him 50% more defense and power in each case. Jin then punched the troll's lung area and the earth armor crumbles. Jin kicked his knees making him lose balance and punched out again.

"Urgghh!!!" Troll suffers a direct hit and collapse. Jin smiles at it and retreated.

"That was very hard. You almost got me at the start.," Jin said.

The troll nodded and finally breathe normally after a couple of minutes. The area under his arms finally came back to its natural brownish color of his skin.

"That hurt... It feels like you remove my lungs there," The troll said. Jin smiles at him and offers a hand but the troll still having fear from his hand refuse. Jin got back to the apartments. Its door is open as long as someone is outside and only at night will they close it for Henry to open in the morning.

-----

The night comes, Henry creeps out of his hammock going inside his private man-cave.

As soon as he closed it, Henry leans on the door and sits while shivering. Stress and anxiety on his face. His whole body quivering he buried his head in between his legs and hug.

"I almost Diee... I almost Diee... I almost dieee... Ha.. Haaa... Haaa... I don't want to die... I don't want too... Mom..... Help me... Mom..... Haaa..... I want to live..... I don't want to die..." He was mumbling non-stop as he sit there trembling.

Henry has long term PTSD or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Early age, he didn't get any guidance and help to get over his mother's death as his father also in the same state as him. He can't watch movies, videos, and photos of Dead person as he will lose a night to deal with it.

The unexpected death of his father fuels more of his survival mentality. He will always find a path to retreat and make it out alive whatever means necessary but he still didn't cross the line of sacrificing life for his own by earning strength from his hard work.

Only now, did he get a chance to confront his fears but he got a back-up in case of something when wrong. Why he did it?

For his benefits, in the rule of the world. Power is the law and it never wanes only change in form. This is the only thing he can use to have a better life for some time to prepare. He didn't know if his title of being a Champion will stick with him till death.

"I need more... I need more time... Yes..... I need more time to prepare....." Henry mumbles and starts to crawl to the center where books are piled up.

He starts to browse books by books and stops on one special. It was the book Hagard gave him for contacting Deities and he needs another one Deity for his goal.

Henry started to read through pages finding a specific Deity that will give him what he wanted and needed.

*Knock... Knock!!*

"Hey!! Get out there and eat with me," Navea yelled from the outside. Henry snaps out of his frenzy. He quickly sorts things out and hastily walks to the door.

"Sorry..." Henry walk out of the room closing it fast.

"What's wrong?" Navea asks looking at him with a deep frown. He looks dirty and traces of tears still on his face.

"Nothing!! Hehehe..." Henry replied keeping his back faced to Navea walking to the bathroom, cleaning himself, and changing clothes.

The two sit opposite each other. Henry looks at her in the eyes as he smiles but Navea did take it and walk behind him.

"You know that Nymph is also called guide right? Even if I'm not a pure nymph, I'm still raised as one. Besides Celedor that seems to be kidnapped or he escapes as he can't live like them. I know when someone is troubled and I know when you need a hand," Navea soothing voice coupled with her soft hands caressing his stiff shoulders.

"It's just... Haaa..... I'm afraid," Henry honestly replied.

"Afraid of what?"

"I'm afraid to die..." Henry's hand started to tremble again but mildly.

"You can tell me... I already tell you who I am."

"It's my mother... I saw her get killed with my own eyes and I didn't manage to do anything except stay there like a fool..." Henry's eyes moisten Navea hugs his neck.

"Did she resent you?"

"No....." Henry replied.

"Then what?"

"She wishes me to live, it felt like a curse that I can't break..." Henry said recalling times when he almost jumps to death but fear and anxiety will suddenly hold him back.

"She wanted you to live, aren't you doing it now? You have an amazing life and a beautiful roommate isn't that a perfect life for a human?" Navea whisper in his ears.

"You know, your way of guiding is rather seductive. I won't be surprised when I suddenly attacked you in the future," Henry chuckles forgetting his fears.

"What!? Are you playing with me!? It's how we express our sincere compassion and understanding!" Navea steps back from Henry.

"Well, what you just did is what we humans call a pillow talk or rather close to it. Why don't we try having some pillow talk to share our own unique culture? I won't trick you to bed you. Well, it would be a consensus as you agree. Going to the next stage will just be an easy yes or no. Maybe, add phrases like 'I felt hot', 'I like your eyes', 'Let's get it on...'," Henry seriously said. Navea gulps her saliva and quickly gets her food and enters her room before giving him an index finger that makes Henry erupt in laughter.