Sam and Amelia didn't ask Maric for help this time since he was occupied with his own business, leaving them in Bravehearts Bar to rest and recover fully.
Because of that, they needed to find a circle of Beyonders on their own, but it wasn't actually that hard.
A Beyonders Gathering is nothing but a scheduled black market meeting to gather and organize trading of formulas, ingredients, information, and missions between Beyonders.
And with his criminal knowledge, Sam was able to easily locate it. It was especially easy since it was right under their noses, a wooden house around Bravehearts Bar, along Backlund Bridge, catering to Low to Mid-Sequence Beyonders.
Its specific location was Iron Grate Street of Backlund Bridge.
Sam decided to investigate the entire city and get to know its criminal hierarchies. He needed to find his own organisation as well.
It was a bit embarrassing, but there was nothing he could do about it. He knew about their base of operations in the northern side of the Loen Kingdom, but he had no idea what was happening in Backlund.
So he shared the location with Amelia and sent her to the Beyonders Gathering while he began moving through the city.
Looking at the hazy sky filled with smoke, he was reminded of the abyss, but at least here there was light. The abyss was denied even of that.
The abyss is a hundred times worse when it comes to pollution, he smiled faintly, inhaling the dirty air without any complaint.
He was born in the abyss, and thus his body was suited to such an environment, enduring and resilient. That's why he was able to fight despite his body suffering from extreme cold, injured and exhausted back then in the Mirminsk mountains. And that is why he was able to recover so easily too.
Hmm... I finally broke down the Rat King's poison, my life isn't in mortal danger anymore. Luckily, I managed to advance in sequence before time ran out, or I wouldn't have been able to find an apothecary to neutralise the poison in time. He thought, clenching his fists and feeling his body finally fully restored, regaining its stunning might.
My body is already used to poisons, so it was only a matter of time. However, I wouldn't have been able to last long enough for my body to adapt on its own. By becoming an Unwinged Angel, my poison resistance is strengthened, and the Rat King became part of me as supplementary ingredient, that allowed me to adapt to its poison easily. My Ether Body is far superior than it was before.
He frowned, venturing deeper into the east borough, vapour escaping his lips. Wait a second, can I develop skills by utilising my Ether Body? It's a manifestation of my vital energy and physical form. If Beyonders are able to use spirit body, astral projection and body of heart and mind, why can't I do the same with my Ether Body?
Hmm... I need to do more research. I think this is possible, and with it I'll be able to enrich my fighting style... He smiled widely, unclenching his fist, a determined look flashing in his golden eyes alongside greed.
That's right. I need a new Horizon to chase.
Thinking like this, Sam felt he had a new goal now, taking another step on the dirty road, humming a cheerful tune, his hands sliding into his pockets as he jumped over a pile of horse shit, unbothered.
But along the way, his cheerful humming slowly faded, watching three children on the road, two boys and a girl.
One of the boys was the older brother, another the youngest, while the girl was undoubtedly the middle child based on their heights and expressions. The older brother seemed more mature and responsible, the sister a bit awkward but warm, while the youngest was more cheerful, not even aware of the squalor he was living in, thanks to his siblings making sure he never had to think about their conditions.
Observing them, Sam felt a deep ache in his heart, his excitement for strength momentarily forgotten.
"Brother, did you beat them!? Haha, you look beaten up." The youngest asked his older brother with a wide smile, his eyes practically sparkling, while the older brother wiped dirt from his cheek and spat blood in displeasure.
"You should've seen the other guys, haha." He laughed, while his sister stared at him with worry, her expression tightening further as she gripped her dress, pursing her lips.
Then he crouched, facing his younger brother and ruffling his hair. "It's big brother's job to protect his younger siblings."
Sam remained motionless for a moment, then turned around and left without another word, his eyes dimming with melancholy as a sad smile appeared on his face.
"Brother! Look!" The youngest pointed, running forward immediately, his eyes wide with disbelief, and picked five gold pounds from the ground, instantly hiding them in his pocket.
As for Sam, he vanished into a dark alley, into the cold embrace of chilling shadows, slithering like a serpent.
Maybe someday... I'll be able to see you two again. Sam exhaled, his heart yearning to see his brother and sister once more. At the same time, for the first time in two years, he felt a guilt rotting his cold, unflinching heart.
It was a surreal feeling. He had decided to leave his emotions behind, abandoning any semblance of conscience when he became an Unwinged Angel.
So why did he feel like this? He didn't know, and that confusion brought more pain.
He felt like a drowning man staring up at the sun while being submerged, so close to the world above the pitiless water, yet with no air left in his lungs, unable to swim up, capable only of watching the light as he sank into the tenebrous abyss of the ocean, so near and yet so impossibly far.
"Don't be disheartened, Sinner. We're with you." Malice chuckled in his mind cheerfully, as if trying to encourage him but even that fell on deaf ears.
But I want my siblings...