Special Tournament 5
Chapter 17
In the mist of the arena, Ash's irises turned a soft leafy green.
Beside him, Shiro noticed Myrrh trembling. He reached out and placed a steady hand on his shoulder. "What happened?"
Myrrh took a few ragged breaths, then looked up with wide eyes. "Do you know the man called Kairon Marrow?"
Shiro flinched. That name carried a strange weight, familiar, yet filled with deep-seated hatred. He recalled the dream, the sheer overwhelming presence of that man. "Does he have green eyes and brown hair?"
Myrrh offered a crooked smile. "Seems you've done your research. Yeah, Kairon has those features." He pointed down toward the arena. "Well, for starters, Ash's legacy is Marrow. That means his father is Kairon. And Kairon… he's currently a Divial. On top of that, Ash hasn't appeared until now, which probably means his daddy just entered him into the tournament."
He sighed, gripping the edges of his chair. "His god is different, too, or gods. I've never seen anything like it. My best guess? Either Kairon created a god, found something stronger, or just… got lucky."
Shiro frowned, still trying to make sense of it all. "But… why was he allowed to join so late?"
Myrrh let out a dry laugh. "Because he can do anything with his daddy backing him."
Then, unexpectedly, his tone shifted. He clutched his chest, not in pain, but as if from emotional strain. Shiro laughed softly.
Wiping his eyes, Myrrh stood and dusted himself off. As he turned to leave, Shiro called out, "Wait, one more thing. From what I remember, Kairon was a god. So how was he able to come back as a human… and have a kid?"
Myrrh rubbed his temples. "There have been cases, rare ones, where gods reform themselves into human form. But Kairon's... different. Some things just don't make sense. Let the wonders be wonders." He chuckled and waved. "I'll see you later, Shiro. Be ready."
With that, a swirling black aura erupted around him like a controlled tornado. In a blink, Myrrh vanished.
Shiro exhaled in awe. "Wow…"
In the depths of a void, a lone figure stood, healthy green eyes, pale skin, and hair black as pitch fading to silver at the ends. He wore sleek black garb with glowing blue armor layered atop. Ash Marrow.
He muttered to himself, "Lust?"No response."Lusttt?"Silence."LUST!"
A voice echoed inside his mind. "Yes, Ash?"
Running a hand through his hair, Ash sighed. "How many potions do you have left?"
The voice replied, "Low on antidotes. Strength potions are nearly gone. Surprisingly, stamina potions are still full."
Ash frowned. "No Fage restoration?"
"Not a drop."
He groaned. "Just give me some stamina potions."
Ash opened his right eye. A faint spark crackled and flickered out. His iris cracked vertically, and from the fracture, a black void opened.
Three fingers clawed out from the shard, gripping the skin beneath his eye. Then an arm slithered through, writhing like a worm in dirt. Another hand followed.
The arms gripped Ash's face and pulled.
Hair poured out, black fading to silver. A head emerged, nearly identical to Ash's. Emerald green eyes. A stunning face. A wide, gleaming smile.
"Finally," the figure sighed, stretching his neck.
He pulled himself entirely free from the cracked iris. Lust stood tall, unarmored, dressed in sleek black clothes trimmed in deep blue. A sleeveless crop top revealed his torso, and two loose belts flowed down from his waist to his knees. His black shorts cut off just above the knees. A leather strap across his chest held tiny glass vials in assorted colors.
He cracked his back once more and huffed. "You're going to waste all the potions."
Arms crossed, Ash grinned. "I'll use what's left in the next fights. No one can stop me." He paused. "Did you cut your hair?"
Lust gave him a look of sheer disbelief. "Of course I did! You think I'd look this stunning with long hair?" He giggled, reaching into a pouch.
From it, he pulled a diamond-shaped vial, ocean-blue, capped with gold and white.
He tossed it to Ash.
Ash caught it and felt its surprising weight. "I haven't used this one before, have I?"
Lust clapped. "Nope!"
Ash uncorked it. A light mist rolled out, smelling crisp and clean. He tilted it over his lips and took a sip.
A cool rush surged through his body. Fatigue melted away. Energy roared back into his limbs. His eyes widened.
"It tastes… different."
"Of course it does! I made it." Lust puffed his chest, grinning.
Before either could speak again, a buzzing rang out.
Ash's metal sphere floated from his pocket, casting a pale glow. A screen flickered to life.
"Congratulations!"
[Status Update: Ash Marrow]—Name: Ash MarrowSex: MaleRace: DemigodLegacy: MarrowForeseeing Past: OverbornStage One: OutputBorn: Drouven
Ash and Lust read it simultaneously and muttered, "It only reached Drouven? Can't believe it's missing a whole world…"
In a cramped, dimly lit room, a lone figure lay on a cheap bed. Brown curls laced with red highlights, weary brown eyes staring up at the ceiling.
Shiro exhaled, clutching a now-folded piece of paper.
The door creaked open behind him. He stood quickly, peering into the light spilling from the hallway. The intruder's face was hidden in shadow.
Then the familiar voice made him smile.
"Hello, Myrrh."