Ch.53 Buried Memories

"Return home?"

Ronan's face showed a peculiar expression.

This isn't something to be said lightly.

You have to understand, in a certain sense, "going home" basically means returning to one's hometown... permanently.

Are you trying to kill me?

Perhaps unaware of Ronan's strange expression, the shadowy figure continued speaking endlessly.

"You came from the darkness, and to the darkness you shall return."

"Someone deceived you and took you away from the embrace of darkness."

"You should feel it, right? Every time you come into contact with dark energy, your body undergoes changes!"

"Those wonderful changes are irreversible!"

The shadow's unpleasant voice grew stronger.

Ronan couldn't help but furrow his brow.

To be honest, what the shadow said wasn't wrong, because he could indeed feel it.

Every time he absorbed dark beings, his body underwent some small changes.

This is also why he could be known as the top sorcerer-puncher in Kamar-Taj.

But, wouldn't it be better if it were a succubus?

Just that mature woman style, dressed in a pitch-black long dress, showing off long legs with every step, even with a slit up to the thigh.

And the voice could be different, more like a bewitching female voice.

Wouldn't that tempt more people?

"Ronan!"

"What are you hesitating about!"

"Return to the embrace of darkness, and you will gain unparalleled power!"

Seeing that Ronan was unmoved, the shadow tempted him again.

However, Ronan's expression only grew stranger.

"To be honest, I was a little tempted, but then you said that last sentence."

"If I return to the embrace of darkness, I will gain unparalleled power."

"If your power is so strong, why do you still need me to take the initiative?"

"Wouldn't it be better if you took the initiative?"

"I'm the kind of person who likes being passive, likes being on the bottom."

Ronan looked at the shadow opposite him with full expectation, as if waiting for the other party to make the first move.

However, the shadow fell silent.

It seemed like it was also at a loss due to Ronan's unexpected behavior.

Why aren't you playing by the rules?

This is the second time already!

Why does it feel like you're playing with me?

And what are you planning to do with your left hand???

"Aaaah!!!"

With a shrill scream, a massive suction force burst out from Ronan's left hand.

The terrifying suction force instantly extinguished the three candles around the shadow.

It also began to pull the shadow from a distance towards Ronan!

"Aaaah!!!"

"Ronan! I curse you!"

"You will be trapped in the most terrifying memories of your life!"

"You will be…"

However, before the shadow could finish speaking, it was swallowed by Ronan's left hand.

"If seduction fails, then threats."

"You guys are really something."

"The most terrifying memory of my life was being confessed to by a dozen girls in turn."

"That scene, I was more afraid for my kidneys."

Ronan pouted, obviously not taking the shadow's words seriously.

However, in the next second, a sharp pain shot through the back of Ronan's head.

In the moment before losing consciousness, he understood.

He was ambushed!

...

In the silent night.

A scream tore through the sky, disturbing the dreams of many.

Ronan was also awakened by the shrill scream.

"What kind of skill is ambushing?"

"If you have the guts, face me one-on-one."

When Ronan opened his eyes again, everything before him had changed.

The glaring lights on the ceiling shone directly on his face, making it difficult for Ronan to open his eyes.

Instinctively, he tried to raise his hand to block the light.

But he suddenly realized that his hands seemed to be bound.

"Wait, where is this?"

Ronan's memory was still stuck on being ambushed.

But now, it seemed like he had come to a completely unfamiliar place.

Where exactly was he?

Before he could figure out the situation, the screams rang out again.

This time, it wasn't just one or two screams, but countless voices wailing in agony.

Bang!

The bedroom door was pushed open.

A blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman stumbled towards Ronan.

From Ronan's perspective, this woman looked more like a giant!

However, before Ronan could remember who she was, the woman running towards him suddenly collapsed.

On her back was a sharp weapon as long as a spear.

The sharp weapon had pierced through her body, and the crimson blood had already stained her clothes.

And the woman's falling body caused a violent tremor, which left Ronan, who had never seen such a bloody scene, dumbfounded.

What's going on?

Are we shooting a horror movie now?

Let me tell you, just this scene, you should at least give it a rating.

This alone would make it an R-rated movie at least!

However, despite the severe injury, the woman still didn't die.

With her remaining willpower, she continued to crawl towards Ronan.

"My son…"

Before the woman could finish her sentence, a mouthful of blood spurted from her mouth.

Instantly staining the carpet red.

But still, the woman didn't stop.

Once…

Twice…

Thrice…

The blood flowing from her abdomen left a clear trail as she dragged herself forward.

The entire room was filled with the pungent smell of blood.

By this time, Ronan was already stunned.

The impact of the scene before him nearly shattered his worldview.

What exactly… is happening?

Where exactly is he?

The screams outside the window continued, each one sounding like the final, unwilling cry of a person.

The chaotic footsteps had long pierced through the night, combining with the continuous screams to create an image of hell on earth.

Finally, finally…

The woman finally crawled to Ronan's side.

She used all her strength to reach out her right hand, slowly reaching towards Ronan's face.

It seemed that in just a few seconds, she would be able to touch Ronan.

Bang!

Crack!

A deafening roar echoed through the sky.

Then, a crisp sound of bones breaking.

Ronan watched as the right hand was ruthlessly stomped into the ground by a foot!

The last bit of light in the woman's eyes completely vanished.

Hiss…

Ronan couldn't help but take a deep breath.

No, no, no.

This situation seems a bit off.

"What are you doing?"

However, just as Ronan said this, the clear sound of a baby crying suddenly filled the entire room.

It was only at this moment that Ronan realized he had become a baby.

And not just any baby, but one who had just lost his mother!

What?????

Is this for real?

"Heh..."

"Such a wonderful taste, such a pure dark spirit…"

"If I offer you as a sacrifice to the Master, I too will gain great power."

A rough voice, like sandpaper scraping, rang out.

A man with bloodshot eyes and a strange face painted with bizarre makeup appeared before Ronan.

Ronan could clearly see the cracked skin around the man's eyes and the terrifying dark red color.

There was no doubt about it.

He was the owner of that foot!

The man slowly extended his right hand, caressing Ronan's face as if it were a precious treasure.

His rough palm made Ronan feel a sharp pain.

In the man's eyes, Ronan saw greed, saw desire.

But in the next second, something even more despairing happened!

The man suddenly clutched his own throat with both hands, his face twisted in pain.

Amidst his labored breathing, a slimy hand emerged from his mouth!

Such a Cthulhu-like scene would never pass censorship!

Yet here it was, happening right before Ronan's eyes!

"Wha-! Are you kidding me?"

Ronan couldn't help but curse, but his voice turned into the clear cry of a baby again.

He was just a baby, he couldn't even curse properly.

The hand emerging from the man's mouth grabbed Ronan's body with a speed he couldn't even see.

Instantly, a strong sense of suffocation overwhelmed him.

Am I going to die?

This was the only thought in Ronan's mind at that moment.

But in the next second, a golden light flashed before Ronan's eyes.

The hand grabbing Ronan's body was severed at the root.

Bang!

The man standing before Ronan was sent flying by a massive force.

In the next moment, Ronan was picked up by a pair of warm arms and held tightly against a chest.

A dazzling array of scenes flashed before his eyes, and when Ronan regained his sight, all he saw was a familiar face.

It seemed…

Was that a bald head?

"Ancient One!!!"

A non-human roar echoed.

The man who had tried to devour Ronan completely transformed.

But this scene, Ronan could no longer see.

To the man's furious roar, the woman holding Ronan seemed unfazed. She focused all her attention on Ronan.

"Sleep, child…"

"What you have endured is already cruel enough."

As she spoke, the bald woman gently touched Ronan's forehead with her index finger.

For some reason, Ronan felt

 a wave of drowsiness, and his eyelids grew heavier.

As he closed his eyes, the last thing he saw was the woman's faint smile.

But just as Ronan closed his eyes, a mechanical voice echoed in his mind.

Host detected to be awake…

[System officially activated!]

[Confirming current world…]

[Confirmation complete!]

[Current world is an extraordinary world, highest level: ???]

[Activating highest version of the system, concealing the host's current world's fate.]

[For the purpose of protecting the host, today's memory will be sealed until the host unseals it themselves.]

[Activation complete!]

[Wishing the host a longer life]

In an instant, Ronan's body seemed to emit a faint glow.

The Ancient One, who had been watching Ronan, frowned almost imperceptibly.

Because in her perception, in that moment just now, the future seemed to have… changed ever so slightly?

"This child…"

The Ancient One murmured, a trace of surprise in her eyes.

However, her surprise was quickly interrupted by a voice.

"Ancient One!"

"It's you again!"

The monster that the Ancient One had kicked out of the wall crawled back, roaring at her.

But the Ancient One, holding Ronan in her arms, had her earlier smile turn into extreme coldness.

"Dormammu…"

"You are still unwilling to give up!"

This was the last sentence Ronan heard before losing consciousness.

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