V3 Chapter 76

Cian wasn't entirely sure how long it was before he opened his eyes again. He knew he'd woken up a few times, because he had vivid memories of Amadea standing next to him, telling him quite sternly to rest and go back to sleep.

Looking around, he seemed to be back in the cave they have settled on- the dark, dim cave lightened by a magic core powered lamp.

He groaned but it was a long time before he could marshal his faculties to even a slight appreciation of the catastrophe that had overwhelmed him.

What happened?

He furrowed his brows in confusion when suddenly he recalled the vivid dream in which he had been fighting desperately against the Wind Wolf King.

Though, it’s clearly not just a dream.

His memories of the previous evening's horrible events came flooding back to him with such force, he felt the breath leave his body. His head was flooded with images of violence, blood, death, and suffering- though strangely enough, he felt as if he was not the one who had experienced it.

The recollection sent him snapping his eyes awake, jolting his body up. But then he suddenly realized, to his chagrin he found himself too weak to move. Worst, excruciating pain assaulted him every time he tried to move.

"Damn... could it be...?"

It seems like he was truly injured… and not just lightly injured, but a terrible one.

As he sat on the bed pondering his situation, he became aware of the gnawing of hunger and the craving of thirst within his slowly awakening body.

After burning an incredible volume of his blood within his body, it’s already a miracle that he has not died yet. Well, this is also thanks to the incredible vitality of a demon, as well as the power of special abilities he had accumulated through his journey.

Well, pain aside, I should already be grateful that I am still alive…

But damn, to think Aanuel would just suddenly disappear after messing with my body to this extent?

I will surely give him an earful next time.

But where are Amadea and Regina?

As he suddenly realized the absence of his lovers, at this moment-

“You’re awake,”

Amadea’s familiar voice echoed from the side. He turned around and saw his beautiful lover holding a woven basket full of fruits and strange herbs. She was walking toward him.

“You must be hungry now,” she said with a graceful smile he adores so much.

“You read my mind,”

Cian muttered as he looks at her with a gentle smile. His voice was not very clear. In fact, it sounded very raspy.

“Still hurts?”

Listening to his voice inexplicably made Amadea’s heart twinge.

“Mm.”

His voice was fading in and out, like a recorder that had its battery depleted.

“Did I win?”

“Is that what you cared more? Wining?! You almost lost your life, Cian! Almost!”

Amadea couldn’t help but snarl in anger after seeing his relaxed, and indifferent expression.

But Cian seemed to care less about the danger he had just survived from as he only replied with a simple- “Mm.” And then… turned quiet.

However, those two “mm” were filled with exhaustion, and hearing them in her ears caused a slight sense of worry as well as a slight ache in Amadea's heart that her anger felt fading, replaced by restlessness and anxiety.

“Why did you do it?”

Looking at his indifference, she was angered.

“Why, Cian?” she demanded again, her eyes blazing at him.

Cian was lost alread.

“Why did I do what?” he asked, baffled.

“I thought you were dead. How could you let me think that? How could you let any of us think that?”

She couldn’t restrain the venom in her voice.

Cian had expected this but still found he was unprepared.

“We could have run away! Cian, there’s no point in fighting that damn beast!”

“Amadea, you don’t understand.”

“Explain it to me then.”

Cian tried to open his mouth and answer her.

He wanted to say that he was not afraid of death. Not only he has many life-saving methods in his hand, but also, death is actually not a true game over for him.

With Night’s Blessing, he could revive no matter how many times he wanted, and so the concept of death is light as sleeping. Fighting and dying is just a part of the game. Just a bundle of experience points.

He fought, he wanted to win, even if it means his death- not because he doesn’t fear death, of course, but because, he knows he needed to.

He wanted to become stronger, but how strong can one be if he submits to someone else power and turned tail in cowardice?

The Beast King; The Wind Wolf King, is indeed incredibly strong.

But it’s not invincible.

The Beast King is not as strong as her mother, or even Bluebird, which he can look up but feels as if he would never be able to reach them.

It’s not even as strong as that human princess; Iris. And so, if he turned his back at that time, he felt as if he would lose something- well, he also wondered if it’s Aanuel’s influence that had made him do it. But one thing for sure, he would never be able to turn his back against the Wolf King.

He even believed that the moment he does so, Aanuel would surely not remain quiet and take over. Well, he still did though.

But was that really Aanuel?

He had believed, and even already define Aanuel from what he had seen his memories and heard from his surrounding. But the Aanuel he had met that time was completely different than the rumors.

It’s as if he had changed completely into a different person.

Could it be, he had changed after he had seen his memories?

That’s the only reason Cian can think of.

If he can see Aanuel’s memories, it should be safe to assume that he can see his as well. And perhaps, did that spoiled brat changed gears after knowing what lies beyond this world...?

“I can’t back down, Amadea… if the same thing happens again, I wouldn’t make another choice… I will stand and fight,”

“You could have died!”

Cian smiled weakly, somewhat feeling touched, as well as hurt, seeing the agony etched on her face as the fire in her eyes faded. He shook his head.

“Perhaps, but if I died, then that will be it. But if not, I’ll gain something more- something much more precious,”

“What can you even gain from it? Wounds? Death? Pride?”

“Power,”

“That’s nonsense!”

“It’s not…”

Cian stared at her with unwavering eyes.

“And it’s not the only way, Amadea. Just like the saying, something that couldn’t kill me will just make me stronger- I needed it.”

“But it doesn’t mean you can sacrifice your life, Cian! Retreat is also part of gaining strength. i don't know much about this world. But even I know that Death is the end- and retreat is still an aspect of the strong! There's no one who does not suffer defeat in their lives..."

"I am different, Amadea,"

"What's the difference?!"

Amadea groaned.

“Cian, you’re already strong enough! So why do you still chase after more power?! Just how much stronger will you become to make yourself satisfied!?”

“Until I can become stronger no more,”

Cian responded with a grim voice.

"... ...!!?"

“I won’t stop, Amadea. Until I cannot run anymore, I won’t stop.”

“... ...”

“It’s not because I wanted it, but it’s because it’s the only choice left for me. My life is not the only one depending on it, Amadea, everything depends on it.” he said as he stared at her coldly.

Losing once can be the end of everything. Time won't wait for him. If he cowers every time, he would lose everything!

“Is it about the vast world…?”

Cian nodded.

“You think I’m already strong, but out there, my power is nothing to speak of. My enemy is not limited to one either- the world is already my enemy.”

“... …”

Amadea opened her mouth, wanting to say something but then she closed them back, not knowing what to say.

Cian smiled and stretched his hand, feeling her cheeks. He gently rubbed his thumb across her soft, fair cheek and said, “If a little recklessness can lead me even a step closer to my goal, I would do it. I don’t fear death, Amadea…not before, never in the future. And besides, fate is on my side… I cannot die. I’m immortal! And I’m not just saying that…”

“Asshole… you’re really an asshole, Cian,”

“Ew, you kissed me with that mouth?”

Cian smiled teasingly.

Amadea glared at him. "I'm not joking with you!"

"And I'm telling you to be. Things had already happened... there's no use discussing this. Smile and celeberate that we survived... isn't that the most important? Or rather... what about the Wolf King?"

“… the Wind Wolf King is dead,” she then ignored him with an annoyed face, and took out a spherical fruit and started peeling it. “Happy now?” she scowled in annoyance.

“Hm,”

Again his simple hm, though, this time, Amadea saw his brows slowly loosened and she sigh.

She smiled wryly, her annoyance was gone like the wind, as her angry heart somewhat softened after seeing his smiling face.

That prideful, arrogant expression of his returning, despite the extreme exhaustion on his face.

She reached out a hand, sweeping the stray hairs in front of his forehead that was damp, wet by his sweat.

You idiot… your world is your enemy?

Then, so be it… I will take on the world for you. You’re not alone, and will never be…so you don’t need to risk your life for it.

Though she wanted to say that, but she knows how stubborn Cian can be. And she can only swear to herself that she would never let him suffer alone again.

“I told you I’ll win,” he said with a boyish grin.

Cian’s voice was honestly very hoarse, raspily scraping her heart away, yet he still did not forget to let out a confident smile.

However, instead of assuring her, Amadea felt like… her heart was going to be ground away into tiny little pieces soon… she sigh, and took a small chunk of fruit and offered it to him.

Cian turned his head toward her, his entire body can hardly move but not his neck.

“Don’t worry, this weakness will only be for a short time. I will return to normal soon. I just need to sleep,”

“You better,”

Amadea nodded her head while petting his head like a mother doting on her beloved son.

Cian turned towards her, “Right, what about Regina?”

Those eyes, which, because of his weakened state, seemed covered with a layer of mist, opened and looked at her.

He continued in that indistinct voice.

“I don’t see her anywhere,”

“You don’t need to worry about her. She has been with you ever since we came back. And in fact, she had never stopped crying and sobbing by your side, blaming herself for being too weak. The worst thing, your wound never showed any signs of healing. Even healing potions she has seems to barely work on you. She becomes a mess, so I can only ask her to leave and find medicinal herbs I can make medicine with to give her fresh air,”

“Is that so… though I have many healing herbs in my ring,”

“Perhaps, but have you forgotten that no one can take it out aside from you? Who knows when will you wake up. I think I need to remind you, a few moments ago your body is just an inch away from death…perhaps you might be able to revive like before, but do consider the feelings of the people who cares for you. Watching you in that state is…killing us,”

Amadea grumbled with an expression full of grievance.

“... …”

She sighs, “Anyway, it’s fine, I know where the medicinal herbs are, and she’s not alone. I sent a small branch of mine with her. I reckon they should be heading back now.”

“I see,”

Cian closed his eyes. Amadea look at him, and saw his new clothes suddenly dyeing in red, and she frowned. She stretched her hands and unbutton his clothes.

Cian was still bleeding from the last wound the Beast King inflicted on him. It seems like his self-healing had truly stopped or perhaps greatly weakened, causing his wounds to heal very slowly. Or perhaps, his self-healing powers is focusing on something more important- something that is keeping him alive. And so these physical wounds has been unattended.

“That last skill you’ve used, you should not use it often.” she said.

“It caused a great burden on your body, and if not for your innate vitality, you would have died right then and there. Losing that amount of blood is too dangerous. You were almost dried up. In fact, it’s already a miracle that you were able to last that long,” she examined his body, very gently so he would not inflict more pain in him.

Staring at her lover that has always been strong and immovable, but now reduced into this state, Amadea felt tears once again blurred her vision. She couldn’t believe how badly hurt he was.

The Beast King’s sharp claw had passed through the right part of his stomach, and that deep wound was still even bleeding.

He had other injuries, light, and grave, that had been taken care of before, but the bandages were already falling and she could see beneath them. He had been cut in both sides of his neck and slashed on the back. His handsome face was covered with bruises as the rest of his body.

Cian…

During that intense, desperate fight, he had been hit all over his body, on the left part of his chest, there was even a big wound that has not yet to heal.

He was slashed and cut all over his torso, and the bandage that dressed his wounds were once again dyed in red, drenched with his blood, that which is the little remain within his body.

If it was someone else, they would have died long ago. But as expected of a Demon, much less, the inheritor of the Heavenly Fox Demon, his vitality is still holding on to his dear life.

But still... one more hit, she reckoned would have surely killed him, no matter how many lives he has.

“You know that I’m not an ordinary demon. Even if there is not a single blood in my body left, I will not die. As long as my heart beats, a Demon is even harder to kill than a cockroach,”

Cian said with a wry smile.

Amadea snorted, and playfully smack his head. Though, the force couldn’t even kill a mosquito.

“That’s enough boasting,” she growled.

However, this time, her voice had lost all of its defiance from the previous conversation, but it still retained a hard edge.

“Eat this first, it will fill your stomach and hasten your recovery… though, the effect is minimal, it’s better than nothing,” after peeling the fruit, she would then split it into tiny chewable pieces before giving it to him.

External healing seemed useless. So it's better to might as well focus on his internal- enhancing and strengthening his vitality. And let his own self-healing do its best.

She repeated this action before almost half of the fruits in the basket has been eaten by him. Cian, his stomach now moistened and filled, let out a sigh, and before he knew it, went back to sleep. His current state is still not enough for him to stay awake for a longer time.

Amadea smiled gently as she stretched her hand and caressed his face. His even breathing finally relieved her off from her worries.

“What a ridiculous, and cruel man you are…”

But why can’t I seem to hate you at all…

Amadea sat at the edge of the bed, watching as he slept so deeply…

Because he had sweated, his skin seemed even more pale and smooth, and there was also a faint redness to his complexion. This rather unhealthy flush actually gave the side view of his face a softer sort of beauty…

His eyelashes fluttered. And she snapped, anxious that she might have disturbed him. But then… everything continued being still. Cian slept like a log. She smiled, relieved, and grasp the blanket properly.

“Sleep well, my demon prince, sleep well,”

She embraced him gently in her bosom, clutching her beloved close to her heart. Then, when her tears rolled down her face. Her body shone brightly with a red light and suddenly, she disappeared.

She had become a large red flower that enveloped him, nursing him inside his huge petals.

… …