Chapter 52
Beside the Stone Castle
Brylo stood excitedly, his eyes locked onto Sbyam, who gazed back at him in astonishment, staring in silence. At that moment, a distant explosion echoed from the city of Beura. The ground trembled briefly, and both Brylo and Sbyam were struck with shock. Sbyam looked up at the sky, now illuminated by the explosion, a strange sensation creeping over him. He whispered in a hushed, astonished voice:
"W-what was that?!"
Before he could catch his breath, Brylo's loud laughter erupted behind him. With a smirk, Brylo said:
"MAGNIFICENT! Spailo might have taken care of your students by now!"
Sbyam stiffened at Brylo's words, his body tensing as he prepared to take off. However, Brylo grabbed him firmly, preventing him from moving.
"Let go, Brylo!" Sbyam shouted in frustration.
Brylo chuckled mockingly, tightening his grip:
"What did I tell you? I won't let anyone interfere with the plan! If you truly want to leave, you'll have to kill me first!"
As Sbyam struggled to break free, Brylo held onto him tightly, his confident smile unwavering. This challenge was non-negotiable.
---
In the City of Beura
The vast city, now resembling a barren desert, felt almost devoid of life. The wind howled through the ruins, carrying away what little hope remained in this dead land.
Standing beside Spailo, the Phantom figure of Onoko watched Suero, who was kneeling on the ground, panting heavily as if the very earth beneath him had vanished.
"Damn it!" Suero muttered, punching the ground in frustration.
A large tear rolled down his face, reflecting the unbearable pain within him. He struck the ground again, this time with more force, his voice trembling with bitterness as he cursed himself:
"Damn you, you bastard!"
His tears fell onto the lifeless soil, his eyes burning with hatred. Then, with another furious blow, the ground beneath his fists cracked slightly. Blood began to seep from his knuckles as he let out a scream filled with rage and despair:
"How much longer will you remain useless?! Tell me, how much longer?!"
Suero's anguished cries echoed through the ruined city as he continued pounding the earth relentlessly.
Not far away, Spailo stood still, silently watching his brother, listening to his screams. Meanwhile, Onoko's Phantom form began to fade, his golden body shifting into that of Raizo. As the moments passed, Raizo now stood beside Spailo, laughing mockingly.
"It's done! We've wiped out the pests! Now, it's time to claim the 'Obliteration' power from where it fell!"
But Spailo didn't seem interested in Raizo's words. His eyes remained fixed on Suero, as if something deep inside him refused to move forward. Suddenly, a whisper escaped Spailo's lips, his voice laced with unease:
"Stop..."
Raizo flinched, halting immediately. He turned to Spailo, who stood frozen in shock, and questioned him in confusion:
"What? Why do you look so stunned?"
Spailo slowly raised his finger, pointing toward Suero, his face twisted in horror. In a voice filled with dread, he muttered:
"That...?!"
Raizo turned his gaze toward Suero, his eyes following every movement.
Suero was still kneeling, but strange violet electricity had begun to flicker around him. The phenomenon was unnatural, sending chills down Raizo's spine. His eyes widened as he whispered in disbelief:
"No… this is impossible!"
A heavy silence settled over the desolate city, broken only by Suero's ragged breathing. The violet lightning danced around him, radiating an ominous presence.
Then, with his eyes widened in pure shock, Raizo muttered:
"It's… it's the Onoko..."
At that moment, something bizarre happened. The space around Suero abruptly shifted, pulling him back into his real world. The sudden transition left Suero stunned. His tears stopped flowing, as if time itself had frozen. His eyes, filled with confusion, tried to make sense of what had just occurred. But before he could process it, the world around him changed once again—only this time, everything remained still.
—
The Contract Realm
The Contract Realm—an infinite, dark expanse—seemed endless. A vast desert of violet sand stretched beyond the horizon, with winds whipping up fierce sandstorms, blanketing everything in deep purple. In the midst of this boundless realm, Suero stood, bewildered and disoriented, staring at the vast desert surrounding him. He muttered to himself, his voice filled with astonishment as he struggled to comprehend the situation:
"What… What is this place?!"
At that moment, a small figure materialized before him. It was Yamato, who gazed at him with a sorrowful smile. Suero's heart sank upon seeing her, and he couldn't stop himself from whispering in shock:
"Yamato…?!"
The young girl smiled at him sadly, her words carrying a heavy bitterness:
"I left the Raimo Clan that day when I fled with my brother Veb's family, seeking freedom and safety…"
As she spoke, Suero watched her in disbelief. When she continued, her words carried even more pain:
"But it seems that I will never find safety, whether within the clan or anywhere else! As long as I remain in this world, security is nothing but a mirage!"
Suero's heartbeat quickened, his chest tightening with concern. He asked, attempting to understand:
"Yamato?! Are you okay?!"
She gave him a warm yet sorrowful smile before speaking in a gentle voice:
"Big brother! I promised you that I would stay with you forever!"
Suero focused on her, absorbing her words with wide, astonished eyes. Yamato continued, her tone growing more resolute:
"And now, we are in the Contract Realm so I can fulfill my promise!"
Suero stared at the scene in shock, processing her words:
"The… Contract Realm?!"
Gradually, Yamato's expression shifted to deep regret, her eyes filled with sorrow. She whispered, her voice so soft it felt like she was speaking to herself rather than him:
"I will protect you, and I will support you with my curse! I will never leave you alone!"
Her words shattered the silence of the place, yet Suero remained motionless, stunned, determined to understand more. These weren't the words of a mere child. There was an ancient sadness in her voice, as if she had lived far longer than her small body suggested. Yamato's voice dropped to a near whisper:
"And you… don't leave us! You said you would make those responsible pay for all this pain, so don't forget us, please!"
Suero froze, his eyes widening in shock. At that moment, he began to realize a truth he wasn't prepared for. And when Yamato spoke again, her words sent a shiver down his spine:
"My father was one of the leaders of the Raimo Clan! That's why… go to the Mana Organization, retrieve that book… and avenge us, please!"
Suero stood in silence, struggling to absorb each word. Yamato's voice carried a deep sorrow as she continued:
"Take revenge on this world… for we have never lived as free beings! We are cursed by magic itself!"
A heavy silence filled the space around Suero as he tried to process what he had just heard. He thought about the dark future that might await him, but in front of him stood a child bearing her pain, her trust, and the weight of her family's past.
Then, before he could respond, a sudden iron chain shot out, linking his heart to Yamato's. Suero's breath caught in his throat as he watched the chain connecting them, as if binding their fates together forever.
Yamato's voice rang out, strong and unwavering:
"I will bind my soul to yours, and my curse will remain until the end of your life! I will grant you the Phantom Onoko, the 17-meter-tall giant! And also… there is only one way to break the contract…"
Suero's stunned gaze remained locked on her. But before Yamato could finish her sentence, the realm around him began to shift rapidly. Suddenly, he was pulled back into the real world, leaving behind the mysterious moments of the Contract Realm—only to find himself facing an even more complex reality.
---
The Real World
Suero stood in shock and awe, violet lightning crackling around his body as the ground beneath his feet trembled and cracked under the sheer force radiating from him. In an instant, a golden thunderbolt burst from his form, shattering the earth and unleashing massive destruction. At the same moment, the sky split apart with a deafening violet thunderclap that shook the heavens, illuminating everything in its path.
The skies rumbled, the earth quaked violently, and arcs of lightning tore through the air with an overwhelming force. The winds transformed into a massive cyclone, sending Raizo and Spailo's clothes fluttering wildly. Both struggled to shield their faces with their arms, unable to open their eyes amid the raging storm.
The sound of violet lightning crackling and striking the ground was both awe-inspiring and terrifying, resonating as if it reached into the depths of existence itself. Then, suddenly, the storm subsided. The lightning receded, and a dense cloud of dust blanketed Suero's location, marking the end of the chaos.
From a distance, Raizo slowly lowered his arm from his face, squinting as he tried to see through the haze. When he finally caught sight of what stood before them, his breath hitched in sheer disbelief.
Before them loomed the Phantom Onoko Yamato—a towering, colossal figure. Her massive, feminine body was a pure, radiant white, adorned with luminous violet markings that pulsed with an eerie glow. Waves of violet energy radiated from her form, her long white hair flowing down to her feet. Her glowing black eyes shimmered with a terrifying purple light, while violet thunder danced wildly across her massive body.
Behind her, Suero was on his knees, staring at her in utter shock and deep terror, unable to move. His heart pounded furiously as he struggled to grasp the magnitude of what he was witnessing.
Raizo and Spailo were equally paralyzed, their faces frozen in a mix of astonishment and fear. Both stood motionless, their eyes locked on the Phantom Onoko Yamato, who gazed back at them with a terrifying, furious intensity, as though she were judging them from her imposing throne.
End of Chapter.