Chapter 228: Arrogance Has a Price

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Right now for Adryan that didn't exist. Only absolute darkness.

He didn't even know if he was falling or rising, or moving forward or backward. All his senses were shut down.

He couldn't even feel his body, he couldn't even feel the passing of time.

He felt as if he had been here an eternity but also only an instant...

'I died again?'

He didn't know if he was talking or thinking, everything in him was muted.

'No... Although similar, this darkness is not the same as that limbo I was in before... What the fuck is going on?'

'That guy was familiar but where have I seen him... Ah... I think that was John Lennon, the liber of Dead Rose... I knew he was crazy but to make a kamikase just to send me to this place? What a piece of shit...'

If he could have he would have clapped his hands.

'At least I'll give him a little applause. It's been a long time since I was caught by surprise like this...'

Looking or at least he thought he was looking... all he could see was that familiar but so distinct darkness.

Despite being in this strange situation and feeling the snake of fear coiling in his stomach for what was to come... Strangely, Adryan felt no fear for this darkness.

And this confused him immensely.

He was more afraid of what would happen when he came out of the darkness than he was of staying here.

In the face of this doubt, realization struck him and he stared in wonder at the darkness.

In a hesitant and unsure voice, he tried to speak.

"...Hunters Hallow?"

The darkness that was familiar to him vibrated a little, he didn't see that or feel it but something inside him told him that the darkness had answered him...

Hello

At that, the redhead froze for several seconds...

"Ha...haha...hahaha...HAHAHAHAHAHA."

Unable to help himself, Adryan let out a laugh at what was happening. 

He was still alive!

And not only that but he had just talked to Hunters Hallow!

His theory was correct, the robe is alive and conscious to some extent!

And right now it was protecting him from whatever was going on outside. That's why he couldn't feel anything!

"Ah~ This is Unbelievable" Adryan shouted to the darkness who again responded in that strange way that told him it was listening to him.

"Well old friend, how bad do things look?" 

A horrible feeling was born inside him that made him want to arch.

Taking a moment to collect himself, Adryan let out a hollow laugh.

"That bad huh?" 

An affirmation this time. 

Letting out a sigh and looking around, he asked another question.

"Why haven't you ever tried to talk to me? Don't tell me the Bastard told you not to?" 

At the insult to its creator, the darkness didn't get angry but rather Adryan felt it answer him and made him want to raise an eyebrow.

"Asleep?"

Affirmative.

Before he could ask another question, the darkness spoke to him...

You're coming out already, get ready to fight.

"Ou~ I assume you're not going to give me a hand? I'd would appreciate it a lot since my other toys let's say... are with some problems."

No, it's too early. Your body isn't ready, as soon as you come out I'll go back to sleep.

"Tch, that's annoying. There isn't anything you can do to fix my toys in here?"

Adryan clicked his tongue in annoyance but he was already expecting that answer, it couldn't be that easy...

No, they beat me to it.

"Huh? What do you mean-"

You're going out. See you later Master.

"Wait-" 

Before Adryan could do anything, all of his senses came rushing back stunning him so he couldn't cover his body for the impact.

Bam! Plap!

Falling on something fleshy and strong smelling of blood, Adryan opened his eyes and looked stunned as he stood on a mountain of flesh and blood.

'Are these the people that the door swallowed?!' 

He could feel on his bare hands the warm blood...

Wait, feel?!

Looking down at his hands, Adryan watched in shock as Creeping Hunger and Vecchio Pomodoro had disappeared and judging by the skin that wasn't covered in blood he had returned to his original appearance!

Looking at his left bicep, Adryan grunted. The Burnt Band was gone too!

'Shit! Shit! Shit!'

Fush...

His sharp ears caught something moving through the air and without thinking, an explosion passed under his foot propelling him to the side.

Where he had been before something fell hard sending flesh, blood, and rock flying.

As he flew backward, Adryan saw a tall, muscular creature rise and look at him with its glowing yellow eyes.

Recognizing the creature immediately, Adryan clicked his tongue in annoyance as he taped his palm twice quickly.

As his Eagle Sight flared up, he could see his surroundings better. He was in some sort of natural cave, the height of the cave was up to 40 meters. There were multiple openings where this cave was divided.

'Unknown terrain, an unknown number of enemies, no visible escape, and no artifact at hand... What a nuisance.' Adryan thought bitterly as he shouted towards his enemy at the same time as his feet touched the ground again.

"How many of you stray dogs are out there?!" 

The Werewolf grinned and he immediately felt the ground vibrate.

His pupils shrank and he jumped extremely high as he used Sky Walk to get further away from the ground.

Not a second his feet left the ground again, the ground broke and a massive amount of rotting arms reached out trying to grab him.

'Zombies?!' 

'If there are zombies then!'

Fush!

Twisting his body, a spear of ice grazed his cheek cutting him, blood did not fall because the wound had frozen.

Looking at where the spear had come from, Adryan could see a pale man smiling at him.

Without thinking, a spear of fire formed in both hands along with several fireballs and he threw them hard toward the Zombie and the Werewolf.

They moved aside, dodging the attack.

Adryan didn't bother with this but summoned several Fire Ravens that began to circle him protecting him in a bird cage.

Using Sky Walk he kept a good distance from the ground while dodging the spears of ice and debris that were thrown at him.

His eyes were darting from side to side. He could sense some familiarity with the Zombie and Werewolf and if they were who he believed them to be then the other couldn't be too far!

If he was possessed he was as good as dead, he had no way of hurting that man as long as he was in his spirit form.

And even with his Eagle Vision he couldn't see him and could only growl.

'This is bad, very bad. I have to find a way to escape from here and fast!' 

Thinking fast, he commanded the 20 Fire Crows surrounding him to charge with power toward the lunatics who managed to dodge but backed away which was just what Adryan wanted.

He immediately floored in the air and shot in the opposite direction of the Beyonders towards the opening which he could feel had a rush of air and could smell the water in the distance.

Seeing that he was trying to escape the Lunatics accelerated after him.

The Werewolf had a static expression as it chased after its prey while the Zombie was grinning madly and was in the lead running at top speed overtaking its wolf companion by a wide margin and leaving him far behind.

His speed was such that he was quickly cutting the distance getting closer and closer, looking sideways at this, Adryan smiled.

Even in this extreme situation with no sealed artifacts, a Hunter was never unarmed!

Pulling a tripwire from his hidden pocket, he immediately formed several Fire Crows around him that rushed at the Zombie.

Without turning around he continued to run through the air.

Watching as the Ravens arrived, the Zombie just smiled arrogantly and continued straight ahead without trying to dodge, a layer of ice formed over his body like armor.

Taking the Ravens head-on, which did little more than slow him down for a few seconds, the Zombie grinned madly as the cave grew smaller and Adryan was forced to descend to the ground.

Looking over his shoulder, the red-haired man's face filled with horror at how close he was.

The Zombie's bloodlust grew at the sight and any guard he had was lowered as he accelerated without caution towards Adryan whose expression of horror grew as he saw the Zombie was just over 7 meters away from him!

But in that same instant, the red-haired man's horrified expression was replaced by a sharp grin and blazing eyes as he suddenly changed his direction and lunged at the Zombie!

"Idiot!" Adryan roared as his leg burst into flames and several Fire Crows formed around him.

The Zombie had bought his provocation!

The change was so abrupt that the Zombie barely had time to cross his arms to block a powerful flaming kick that sent him flying backward, towards a Werewolf who didn't wait for that move and was hit by the flying body of his partner sending them both backward and falling to the ground!

Before both could recover the Fire Crows came rushing towards them and circled around them multiple times.

In an instant, they were both tied together in a trip wire!

Adryan knew the cable wouldn't hold but he just needed to create an opening!

Throwing a punch to the ceiling above the Beyonders, a mighty torrent of fire shot out.

Boom! Rumble!

Seeing how the cave was coming down on them, the Zombie didn't think twice and formed a dome of ice over him and the Werewolf.

Not seeing his job and knowing that it would only buy him time, Adryan turned around and accelerated towards the end.

But he barely advanced a few meters when a huge winged figure stepped out of the shadows to the side of him!

Adryan quickly tried to create a wall of fire to make distance while crossing his arms in front of him but the figure was faster!

"%$#&!" A language full of filth, foulness, and corruption sounded less than five feet in front of Adryan whose body froze in the middle of crossing his arms.

Adryan tried to move but it was as if his body had turned to concrete!

The huge figure took not even a second and a huge fist slammed into Adryan's chest.

Crack! Booom!

The sound of bones breaking rang out along with the sound of a body smashing powerfully against the wall.

Everything was spinning, his mind was dazed and his vision blurred and bloody.

His eyes could barely focus and from what little he could see through the dust his arms were twisted and a bloody bone was sticking out of his chest.

'Ah... that's why I'm having trouble breathing...' Adryan thought in a daze, unable to move from his place buried in the wall.

'Apparently I wasn't the only one who thought of making a trap... Surely on the other paths are the rest of them.' Adryan coughed up blood as he let out a hollow laugh.

He had been careless and now he was going to pay the price.

In his blurred vision, he saw the huge figure shrink and take on a smaller, more human size without the wings and horns.

Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap...

With quiet steps, the figure walked until its feet were in front of Adryan.

With what little strength he had left, the red-haired man raised his head and saw the figure's face.

It took him a moment to focus his gaze because everything was spinning but when he did his eyes widened in shock and disbelief.

"Cough! Cough! Y-you?!" 

Smiling calmly, the figure nodded with his black eyes shining with satisfaction.

"You have no idea how glad I am that you remember me Mr. Kenway. After all..."

Crouching down until he was face to face with the ensanguined Adryan the man's smile sharpened.

"I would be very disappointed that you forgot me after taking everything from me." The man said with false sadness as his hand touched the red-haired man's cheek.

Adryan looked at the man who by all rights should be dead but he was alive and kicking...

The leader of the fallen Black Skull, Devil Joseph!