44 - Meeting the face stealer

One month later

Levi and Acnologia were atop a high hill overlooking a vast swamp, it stretched as far as the eye could see with no end. It was covered with trees and the air was damp, 'It should be here.' thought Levi as he used his enhanced vision to observe even the deepest parts of the swamp from where he was.

This was how he remembered Koh's environment to look like from the show, it looked like the exact same swamp Aang had gone through.

Looking at his stats and abilities that leveled up in the past month Levi had a satisfied smile on his face, he now had more assurance to hold his ground against any threat that might come.

[Spirit body (Active/Passive) level 29: ...]

[Divine armament (Active) Level 8: …]

[Spiritual bond (Active) Level 5…]

[Vitality +1]

[Stamina +1]

[Strength +1]

[Agility +1]

[Endurance/Willpower +1]

Levi had been flying constantly and working out during the past month, and that was enough to increase his stats as such.

Right now he could even manifest a full body armor from Divine armament and even he didn't know how many weapons there were in it now, so far he could manifest anything he wanted, he guessed that any further level up from now on would only increase its power and durability.

As for spirit body it had been leveling steadily ever since he got it, not showing any signs of slowing down, and if the pattern continued on repeating like this he should get a new ability at level 30.

He could now also manifest more body parts of the spirit animals he's bonded with and utilize their abilities better, he guessed that before long he would be able to completely transform into any spirit animal that's bonded with him, aside from that he now also has an extra slot for one more spirit animal that he hasn't used yet.

Taking a deep breath in to prepare himself mentally Levi turned towards Acnologia and crouched down to his eye level while petting his head, "You can't go with me this time alright buddy?." asked Levi to which Acnologia protested.

Thanks to their shared link Levi knew exactly what he was trying to say, 'You think Am not strong enough to fight the centipede?'

Levi couldn't help but laugh at that, he had been calling Koh a centipede repeatedly during their travels here and it seemed that Acnologia had picked it up from him.

Levi thought about telling him that it didn't matter how strong he was when he faced Koh, cause he would steal your face as long as you show emotion no matter your strength, but he scrapped that idea.

Acnologia was still just a kid and there was no way he could control his facial expressions like that, and he might just insist that he was strong enough that he could resist Koh's ability.

"The opposite actually, I want you to stay behind to guard my back, I can have someone ambush me while I am not looking can I now?." said Levi, deciding to go with that approach, and it seemed to work.

Acnologia stood tall and puffed his chest out, 'You can count on me.' he relayed, earning him a chuckle and a pet from Levi.

Levi was happy that he convinced the small dragon not to follow him and so nodding at him he jumped from the high hill he was on diving straight down before he summoned his wings halfway and flew just above the treetops.

Acnologia watched him from behind for a moment before jumping into the sky. If he was going to guard his friend's back then the best way was to do it from high up so that he could spot all threats before they were even close.

***

Using his eagle vision Levi could spot even an insect's wings flapping from hundreds of meters away and he relied on that to navigate his surroundings as he ventured deeper and deeper into the swamp forest.

He could feel Acnologia following him from higher up behind him, Levi sent him another message to slow down and not move too close to him, he didn't know Koh's ability range and it would be stupid to risk it, he trusted himself to keep neutral face but he didn't know about Acnologia.

After flying around for a while Levi noticed a peculiar lion below him, it had golden hair all over its body and looked no different from a normal lion from the physical world, except that it was stumbling from tree to tree knocking into all of them as it walked as if it were blind, upon a closer look Levi could see that it had no facial feature!

It was missing everything from his mouth to nose to eyes, the only thing remaining that might give him a semblance of sense and direction to the outside world were his ears but Levi didn't know how helpful would that be, he suddenly understood how dangerous Koh's ability really was, it was so dangerous that it sent a chill down his spine.

'I am close.' thought Levi seriously as he made sure to maintain a neutral expression, he didn't want to risk it and show any emotion right now even if Koh was nowhere near. Diving straight down Levi landed in a swamp splashing water all around and even on his body but he didn't care about that right now.

Surveying his surroundings wearily Levi didn't notice anything else that was weird, apart from the lion he saw at first that is.

Conjuring a two-bladed sword in his right hand and a round shield in the other Levi started to slowly walk forward, making ripples spread in the water as he moved, he didn't conjure his armor as it consumed more Chi and he didn't need it for now, even if he could increase his reserves by bonding with spirits he shouldn't be wasteful.

The further he moved into the swampy forest the more eerie he felt the place seemed, he had also encountered other spirits along the way without any faces almost making him frown his brows, but he held himself back, that would be considered showing emotion and he couldn't risk it.

Although he couldn't help but feel disgusted at Koh's abuse of his power, it seemed that he didn't care who it was, as long as someone was close to him he'd steal their faces.

Before long he was in front of a large tree, its trunk seemed to be shaped like a cave going downwards, seeing that scene Levi knew he was in the right place, that was the place Aang had gone through.

Looking around the place he wondered if he could find the monkey he saw in the show but it was no good which he should have expected.

Taking a deep breath in while keeping a neutral expression Levi entered the tree trunk and proceeded underground.

His danger sense didn't flare up and he didn't feel nervous or afraid which he thought must be a good thing, but it most likely was his gamer's mind keeping him calm.

After going through a bunch of twists and turns he finally reached an underground opening with no light coming through, but it was no problem to Levi, he could see everything as clear as day, as he surveyed the place and he could see only wet rocks, broken tree branches and bones of dead animals lying around, 'Apparently the centipede likes to feast from time to time.' he talked with Acnologia to which the dragon replied in envy.

Levi shook his head in amusement, 'What else did I expect from….'

"What do we have here." a voice came so suddenly from behind Levi that it almost made him jump as a chill crawled up all over his body.

'Apparently the centipede was better at stealth than I gave him credit for.' thought Levi as he didn't notice him approaching at all.

Turning around he saw what he had been expecting, a human-sized centipede that stretched its body to the ceiling with the wrinkled face of an old man.

Staring at him for a moment Levi decided that if he was going to get his help he might as well show some respect, disabling his sword and shield to show he came in peace and holding his fist in his hand Levi bowed down ever so slightly and spoke, "I was sent here by a friend, he told me you could help me." said Levi as he got up, his facial expression not changing in the least bit.

"And what might you want from me, HUMAN!" said Koh, screaming the last part as he lunged at Levi with a face of a feral wolf showing its teeth and growling, almost making him jump on reflex but he held on, but deep inside Levi was starting to get angry.

It seemed Koh wanted to steal his face, why else would he be trying to get a reaction out of him?

"I desire an entrance into the physical world." said Levi not showing his anger at all, pausing for a little he decided to add, "And I can't wait until the harmonic convergence."

"Oh? What a peculiar request indeed, people often come to me asking for all kinds of knowledge but never have anyone asked me this." said Koh as he circled behind Levi his face and voice changing to that of a young girl, unintentionally making him remember his younger sister.

Levi got on guard as Koh moved behind him, he didn't show any emotion but he was ready to summon his armor and defend himself at any second.

'Unfortunately I have no option but to come to you.' thought Levi in response to what Koh said but he didn't say it out loud.

"I would have rather not disturbed you but I don't see another choice" said Levi with a blank face.

"Oh how polite, it's been a while since someone as polite as you came around here, sadly for him he got a little agitated." said Koh as he changed his face to that of a man , which Levi assumed was the polite person.

'Is he threatening me?' thought Levi almost frowning, and it seemed Acnologia had noticed his annoyance as he sent him a prob to ask if everything was alright to which Levi replied it was fine.

"I would rather not take any more of your time, if you could help me find my way back home I would really appreciate it." said Levi, trying to get out of there as soon as possible, he didn't want to stay any longer and risk it, he might just show a facial expression by mistake.

"Well by all means, it gets lonely around here and I could use the company, there is no need to rush hahahaha '' said koh laughing maniacally.

'He's messing with me.' thought Levi getting angrier at the antics of the centipede but he didn't show it, it seems that long periods of isolation can cause people to develop some weird traits.

Seeing that Levi stayed silent this time Koh changed once again into the face of an old woman and spoke, "There is no way into the physical world, not until the harmonic convergence, so in the meantime why don't you just stay HERE WITH ME." said Koh screaming at the last part as he turned into a roaring polar bear, almost getting a reaction out of Levi due to his past experience.

Levi guessed that it must have been just a coincidence that Koh chose that face but it got on his nerves nonetheless, seeing that he couldn't get any help from Koh, he was just about to turn around and leave when…., 'No, no, no, Acnologia don't come here go away.'

He could feel Acnologia descending down the cave and was already behind him, he must have felt his anger and agitation which was why he came, at this moment Levi regretted not keeping Acnologia inside of him instead of letting him roam free.

He was so focused on maintaining a neutral facial expression and on finding a way home that he didn't notice him until the last second, but by then it was already too late.

*CRACK* *CRACK*

The sound of something steeping on tree branches could be heard as Koh turned his attention towards the entrance spotting a small black dragon.

'Acnologia!! Don't show any emotion, remember what we talked about' send Levi as fast as he could, sadly for him it seemed that Acnologia wasn't listening as he snarled at the centipede showing its teeth.

'NOOOO' that was all Levi could think as in the next second he heard a laugh that seemed to come straight from the depths of hell sending shivers down his spine as Acnologia's face simply disappeared with the dragon falling straight down, unconscious.

"NOOOOO" screamed Levi at the top of his lungs as he saw his friend like that before he caught himself, but by then it was already too late he had already shown emotion.

"HAHAHAH, TWO PRECIOUS GIFTS IN ONE DAY?, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I'VE BEEN SO LUCKY." screamed Koh in exhilaration as he looked straight at Levi, but what they both expected didn't happen, instead…

[DING]

[Foreign intrusion detected]

[Gamer's body activated]

[Resisting intrusion]

[Intrusion Successfully Resisted]

"What? How is this possible? WHO ARE YOU." screamed Koh in shock, and for the first time since he met him Levi could actually detect genuine fear in his tone.

But he didn't care about any of that now as he looked at the motionless body of Acnologia lying on the ground, the only thing giving him a semblance of calm is that he could still feel that he was alive thanks to their bond.

Quickly processing what just happened, Levi's gaze turned chilly as he uttered one word at a time, "Give.me.back.my,.friends.Face." immediately after he finished speaking a full body golden armor manifested on him with a sword appearing on his right hand.

Activating limit breaker for a split second Levi felt the rush and excitement he always gets from it but he ignored it all as he dashed at Koh, he wasn't taking any chances and was going to go all out from the beginning, he would make the disgusting centipede pay.

***

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