Earlier
Caelus opened his eyes, and he was greeted with a familiar area. A world reminiscing of a space, something akin to a galaxy, remains at the center. Caelus looks confused at why he's in here, but he decides that now is not the time and focuses on getting out of here. After all, he still has civilians to save.
As he gets up, he glances around before he approaches the center of this world. He hears harsh whispers coming from all directions, but he doesn't pay any mind. It was easy at first, but the whisper grew louder and he can hear more and more people speaking. From all the whispers, all he could hear was a word.
'Why?'
'Why? What do you mean why?' Caelus thought as he clutched his head. He feels a bit light-headed, and it's hard for him to move forward. But he continues to walk forward, trying to drown out all of the noise. It wasn't until he almost reached the center that a figure appeared out of nowhere.
It's a glowing figure reminiscent of a young girl. Caelus notices the figure stares at him judgmentally, which makes him slightly uncomfortable. Who is this figure?
"So," The figure spoke. "You are the one who ends up inheriting the lance. Honestly, I was expecting more..."
"...I don't have time to be judged by some unknown figures," Caelus says as he starts walking past the figure.
"Tell me," The figure calls. "Why are you so desperately willing to save those people? That young girl? They're nobody to you, so why are you willing to do so much?"
"...do I need a reason to do something right?" Caelus asks as he glances at the figure.
"I would accept that answer," The figure says. "If I don't know you're basically lying to yourself."
"..." Caelus didn't respond to that accusation.
"You had admitted to yourself so many times that you want nothing to do with this world. You preferred not to get involved, wishing that you could have a normal life. And yet, here you are, risking your life with powers beyond your knowledge to save just a few hundredpeople." The figure spoke.
"Don't you dare call them 'just a few hundred people, '" Caelus growls at the figure.
"So, why?" The figure speaks, ignoring Caelus' blatant attempt to threaten them.
"I don't have time to deal with your bullshit," Caelus growls as he continues to walk, but he feels his body get heavier at each step.
"Why?" The figure speaks louder than before. Caelus still ignores the figure.
"Why?" Caelus squints his eyes, feeling his headache grow more painful.
"Why?" Caelus' temper reaches the climax, turning around and facing the figure with rage.
"Why? Why? WHY?!!" Caelus roars at the figure, who is caught off guard and takes a few steps back. "Fine, you want my answer, here's one! I did it out of fear and guilt! Fear due to the knowledge I had in my mind and the guilt I might feel if I did jackshit! I may not want anything to do with this world, but not when it could lead to people's deaths! Everything in this world is real, and I can't ignore such a fact!"
"...but does it need to be necessary for you to protect them with yourbody?" The figure asks. "Risking your body, just to save a soul."
"I've taken worse hits than that," Caelus says. "Sure, I may whine like a bitch about the pain, but in the end, I got up, stopped whining, and kept moving."
"..." The figure didn't say a word, and Caelus took their silence as an acceptance.
"Now, if you excuse me," Caelus says before walking away. "I got saving to do."
"Wait," Caelus groans before turning around and looking at the figure with annoyance. "You forget something?"
"Huh?" Caelus grows confused before suddenly, waves of flames gather around. Caelus turns to see a small ember at the center and flames getting absorbed, slowly forming a familiar-looking lance.
"...so, you're the Guardian's Will..." Caelus says as he looks at the figure. "...was that a test?"
"No, it was a genuine question I asked out of curiosity. You are...quite confusing," The figure says, and Caelus gave it a deadpan stare. "In an interesting way, of course. But, being interesting isn't enough to gain the gaze of the AmberLord."
"...it is a test," Caelus deadpans before shaking his head. "Never mind that, so you let me take the lance?"
"It's always been yours to begin with; it's the will of the System." Caelus stops before looking at the spirit in shock. Did the figure just mention System!?! Before he could ask, the figure started to disappear.
"Oi, oi! Wait! I got more questions!" Caelus tried to stop, but it was of no avail.
"Perhaps, in another time," The figure says, and Caelus can see a faint smile on its body. "After all, you still have people to protect, right?"
"....yeah," Caelus says as he watches the figure disappear. "...fine, I'll hold on to that question. Now..." Caelus turns to look at the lance.
"...let's recreate the Arthurian legends, shall we?"
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Back with Everyone
Thanks to Caelus gives a huge opening for the PubSec and Cunning Hares, they immediately take the chance to take care of every fake officer in the area. Caelus was honestly impressed and shocked at the speed Qingyi and Anby moved to knock each of them down. Sure, some officers did take down a fair share of criminals, but those two were the highlights.
"Nah! (Boss!)" Caelus chuckles a bit as Slyboo tackles his leg into a hug. He pats the little Bangboo's head affectionately before he soon gets tackled again, this time by the little girl he saved and Corin.
"Wah! I'm so glad you're okay!"/"M-Mister, you're awake!" Both Corin and the little girl say in unison.
"Hey, easy there," Caelus exclaims. "I ain't dying anytime soon."
"But the blood..." The little girl sniffs, tears escaping her eyes. Caelus sighs before smiling and pats her and Corin's head.
"Don't worry, I'm fine," Caelus says.
"Caelus," The young man stiffens before looking at Zhu Yuan.
"H-hey, officer," Caelus says nervously as both girls take a step back. "Look, I can explain. I-!"
He didn't get the chance to say a word as Zhu Yuan slapped his head hard. Every officer, who is busy tying up the criminals, winces at the scene.
"O-ouch...I deserve that..." Caelus says as he covers his head. But, much to his surprise, he pulls into a hug with Zhu Yuan.
"You idiot..." Zhu Yuan scolds him. "Don't...don't be suicidal..."
"....sorry," Caelus says with a wince. He remembers how Zhu Yuan and some officers believed that his parents died in Hollow. In a way, his actions paint him as suicidal.
"Y-you are in big trouble!" Zhu Yuan lets go before she starts grabbing his collar and shakes him violently.
"O-Officer Z-Zhu Yuan!!!" Caelus says as he starts feeling dizzy.
"Junior," Qingyi calls, decided to save the poor young man. "I understand your anger, but we have more important matters to attend to."
"....Fine!" Zhu Yuan exclaims before letting go. Caelus's eyes comically turn to swirl as Corin helps him to maintain his footing.
"T-thank you..." Caelus says before noticing Anby approaching. "Oh, no. Not-!" Caelus was cut off by Anby, who hugged him. "Um..."
"Please, don't do that again," Anby mutters in his ears as Caelus merely nods awkwardly.
"Well, it's a good thing that Caelus is A-okay!" Billy exclaims. "But, one question remains, how are we gonna get all the civilians out of here?"
Billy's question made everyone go silent; no one was able to answer his question. Anby sighs helplessly before noticing Caelus smiling, which confuses her.
"Caelus, why are you smiling?" Anby asks, and she got her answer when a familiar-looking Bangboo arrived.
"Caelus, you really need to be more specific next time!" Wise's familiar voice comes out of the Bangboo, shocking everyone except for Cunning Hares, who widen their eyes in joy.
"Phaethon!" They all exclaim, surprising the officers. Phaethon is an infamous Proxy in the Inter-Knot, a figure every officer recognizes, both for his skills and his unique ability to communicate even inside Hollow. They didn't expect to meet said figure, and they also didn't expect it to be a Bangboo of all things.
"Sorry about that, I was in a hurry," Caelus says while chuckling. Qingyi remembers how Phaethon had called him casually and glances at her.
"You two were friends?" Qingyi asks while narrowing her eyes.
"Well...I'm more of the friend of Cunning Hares, who introduced their most-hired Proxy, who just happens to be Phaethon," Caelus says. "They gave me his contact."
'No, we didn't, you liar.' Nicole, Billy, and Anby thought in a deadpan manner.
"...let's just focus on saving these people first, then we'll have a very long talk," Qingyi says while pointing at Caelus.
"Yes..." Caelus sighs, ignoring giggles from the Cunning Hares and the girls. "So, Phaethon, can you find an evacuation route for all these people?"
"There's a train nearby that was just used not long ago," Wise explains. Everyone immediately assumed that it was the same train used by the criminals. "But, before that, does anyone here have an Ether Apitude?"
"No," All the civilians shake their heads, which shocks everyone.
"Well, this is going to be an issue," Wise says with a troubled tone. "The train is going through the Hollow."
"...wait, I heard one thing while spending my days adjusting in New Eridu," Caelus begins. "If we beat a certain number of Ethereals or kill a powerful one, we can decrease the size of the Hollows, right? Will that be enough for the train to move without going through the Hollow?"
"Yes, but to do that before Vision Corporation ignites their explosives, you need to beat the Dead End Butcher," Wise says as everyone goes silent. "W-what's wrong?"
"No!" Everyone exclaims as they stop him from moving.
"Guys, that is the only way," Caelus says as he moves them away. "Besides, that thing had lost some of its original strength after I blew its arm."
"I ain't gonna question about that last part, but still no," Qingyi exclaims. "You almost died not long ago!"
"He what!?!" Wise asks in shock.
"I won't this time!" Caelus exclaims before raising his spear. "I got this!"
"Master, I have detected a significant increase in energy reading from the target. The reading says it increases by 32.91%" Fairy had taken over the communication and said out loud through Wise's Bangboo.
"..." Wise didn't say a word as everyone stared at the Bangboo weirdly before he decided to break the awkward silence. "...please ignore that."
"Anyways," Caelus says as he already reaches the tunnel entrance. Everyone was taken aback by his quick feet as the young man waved at them.
"Sorry about the trouble, but someone needs to beat that butcher," Caelus says with a warm smile. "I failed to save my parents back then. I ain't failing to save them this time."
Everyone stares at Caelus with sympathetic silence as Caelus turns his back and walks into the tunnel. Without a single word, Anby decided to catch up with him, followed by Billy, Nicole, and then Nekomiya, and Corin.
"Caelus," Caelus turns to see that everyone follows him. "At least let us come with you."
"Yeah, bro!" Billy exclaims, causing Caelus to blink. "We may not be in the same factions, but we're friends! Gaming friends, remember!?"
"I ain't letting you die," Nicole says as she crosses her arms. "Not until I recruit you."
"I'm coming with you guys as well." Nekomiya exclaims. "I ain't letting Vision get what they want."
"I-I'm here to help as well, as a gratitude," Corin says meekly. "As a member of the Victoria Housekeeping, I will repay for your kindness in the form of an assistance."
"...thanks," Caelus says before he looks at the officers. "Qingyi, Zhu Yuan, and Seth, sorry, but we gotta go! I leave the civilians on your hands!"
Without waiting for them to reply, the temporary alliance rushes off into the Hollow. They have a Butcher to kill.
To Be Continued