PHASE 34 - TAKE MY HAND AND I’LL HELP YOU DEFEAT THE DARK SIDE

I can’t believe it.

My friend Chrisprel, who was just living a few seconds ago, was turned into a lifeless charred corpse. I can barely recognize the body, for he was completely burnt black. He was killed for no reason at all.

Tears went down from my eyes. My hands and feet are trembling with the mix sensation of anger and fear. This is what I had in my . A burning house, and burnt corpses. It all matches the description! I was a fool enough not to believe it!

“W-Who the hell are you?!!!” I was shaking as I pointed my katana at the mysterious black man, whom I suppose is a Cursed Guardian.

Suddenly, the cloaked enemy ran and circled around me! He’s too nimble as if he has the speed of a falcon. Using my , I predicted his movement and his location for the next twelve seconds.

“!!!” I launched the projectile to his future location!

To my surprise, he caught the attack with his left hand as if it’s just a frisbee and melted it with his flame-hand powers.

I should have thought that I’m not his target. Because now, with his superhuman agility and monstrous strength, he caught another friend.

“Ranley!!!”

The Cursed Guardian prepared his sword to make a stab! According to my , Ranley’s heart will be pierced, and his body will be swallowed by flames and turn into a burnt corpse.

I was too far away from my friends, so won’t do! won’t work on this enemy, and will likewise injure my friends.

I...I don’t know what to do!

Suddenly, everything became black and white. Everything stopped moving as if the whole event was paused. The flames of the burning house stopped waving as if we’re just inside a diorama.

“Alaric Eisenhower. This is your time to become a real hero.”

It was The Outsider, who was walking casually in front of my face. As much as I want to slice his guts, I can’t. My body is frozen. I can only move my eyes and my mouth.

“You saw your own future. A burning house, and five burnt corpses. One down, four more to go.” The Outsider made a devilish smug. “I doubt that your friends and your teacher will survive this one.”

“I will not make a contract with you!” I shouted.

“Well then.” He raised his shoulders as he made a smirk. And for an instant, he disappeared. Time also retained its natural flow.

... I wish that it should have stayed frozen.

The red sword pierced through Ranley’s chest, all the way to his heart and spinal cord. Blood spurted from his mouth and eyes, but he used his remaining strength to hug the enemy and pinned him down for a while!

“Alaric!” He shouted with his last ounce of strength as his clothes and skin were eaten up by flames. “I’ll...hold him... for you...”

I bolted forward, wishing that I could catch up. But deep inside my mind, I know that whether or not I defeat the enemy, Ranley’s life would still end. He’s using himself as a sacrificial pawn...

Suddenly, four dark flames, about the size of a regular human-spawned from the ground and blocked my path. The four flames formed itself into a human body, which was identical to the Cursed Guardian. All four is a perfect clone of him!

Blinding hacks were made by the clones, and I got my ligaments and muscles on my right biceps and left leg sliced up.

“Haaaaa!!!”

I was about to make a counterattack when one of the clones grabbed my face and released flames from it!

Boom!

Half of my face was burned, and my shirt has been partially vaporized. I fell to the ground, as I had a glimpse of my big friend Ranley turn to a human charcoal. His sacrifice was in total vain.

Damn it! If only I have enough power to save my friends…

Time stopped once more. My eyes are already dizzy, but I still recognize the familiar leather shoe in the front. It was The Outsider again!

“Three persons left to save. Take my hand, and you will grant the remaining poor souls with salvation.”

“D...Don’t make me laugh!” I yelled. “I… I may be helpless… but I will never give in to your temptations!”

Time resumed its flow, and The Outsider disappeared once again. Now, the enemy’s target would either be Heushac or Daughty! I don’t have time to worry about myself!

But then… the four clones stabbed their swords to my arms and legs, completely impaling me to the ground! I screamed as I felt a burning sensation from my broken bones. It hurts so much that I want to die right now!

“Aaaaaaaaargh!” My painful voice echoed in the gloomy dark skies.

Daughty and Heushac realized the hopeless situation, so they resorted to run in separate ways. It was brilliant of them to do it, but the Cursed Guardian is ten times faster than both of them.

The black cloak chased Daughty first. When Daughty made the error to look back, his eyes were sliced by the edge of the enemy’s sword! Blood sprayed once again on the road as he was now completely blinded.

“My eyes!!!” Daughty crouched as he held his bleeding face.

The hooded assassin caught Daughty’s neck with one hand, raised him up, and combusted his body in just a matter of seconds.

Anger swelled in my nerves and veins. I tried to shake off the swords that have pinned me all this time, but the pain would prevent me to do so. My body keeps reminding me that if I move too much, my hands and feet would be cut off!

“Damn you!” Heushac rushed to the enemy with a wooden stick and smashed it into the enemy’s head. It was a direct hit, but the Cursed Guardian didn’t even move an inch. The stick was immediately broken.

It was Heushac’s turn to die. The hooded man grabbed his throat, making him unable to breathe.

Shit!!! I am so weak right now that the only thing I can do is watch my friends die! What’s the use of being a Gate Guardian if I can’t even protect my friends! What’s the purpose of seeing the future if I can’t change the fate! All I can do is cry!

“Please, give me strength!” I hollered.

I made a deep inhale and then released all the wrath inside my heart.

“Please give me the strength to kill that man!!!”

Time stopped once again. And the Outsider made his presence. He used his white sword to slash the Cursed Guardian clones, which killed them instantly. The clones disappeared into thin black smoke. Then the Outsider removed the swords that were used to keep me pinned on the ground.

His hands glow green and patted my head. It was the highest grade of that made me completely well in just a millisecond. All my deep wounds, all my broken bones, all my burnt flesh are gone.

“I heard your cry. But I wanted you to repeat it.” The Outsider has his red eyes seriously glaring at me.

“Please give me enough power to kill that man! I want to change my fate! I’ll do everything that you want! I’ll sell my soul to you, just to avenge Chrisprel, Ranley, and Daughty!” I cried.

“Granted.” The Outsider smirked. He touched his chest, and a gray ball of light, a special type of Quintessence appeared. “I will give you the power to break the laws of this universe and completely change your destiny. This will cause an imbalance to everything, so use it with caution-”

“I don’t care!” I cut The Outsider with my yell. “Just give me enough power to save my remaining friend!”

The Outsider’s eyes widened and his mouth remained open. He must be surprised with my determination to gain power. After a moment, he directed the gray Quintessence to my heart, which I completely absorbed.

I feel like my heart just stopped beating. It’s like my internal organs are being melted with an acid! My brain felt like it’s being fried!

But I didn’t flinch. I acted like there’s no pain at all. This is a small price to pay for a power of this caliber. I feel like I can do anything.

While the time was frozen, I rushed to the Cursed Guardian. I tightened the grip on my sword and positioned it so that I can cast my spell fast and correctly.

As soon as The Outsider returned the flow of time, I shouted! “!!!”

The drill-shaped tornado was fired in a point-blank range, so there’s no way he could evade it! Heushac was launched into the air and his back crashed to the asphalt. That may have broken him a few ribs, but at least he’s away from the enemy and not dead.

The Cursed Guardian had his cloak converted to tiny shreds, and now he’s revealing his metal bodysuit armor. His hair is completely platinum white, and his eyes are just like the Outsider; red irises with triangle sigil.

I think I’ve seen his face. It looked like a Japanese-British hybrid, almost identical to Tiara. He strongly resembles the Brightmore Witch to some extent. But this is like a male version.

“...Diadem Solstice.” I muttered.

Tiara’s evil twin gave a menacing smirk.