Chapter 172: Chapter 172 Awoken.
"You came, Soma".
Martial Saint, who was always meditating below the tree, opened his gaze before he beckoned Soma to sit in front of him.
Soma nodded his head before he approached the place and chose a comfortable position before he sat and submerged himself in the soft grass before crossing his legs.
The two of them sat silently below the canopy, shielding them from the warm sun that cascaded into the lands. The serene atmosphere and the cozy feeling the tree gave made Soma close his eyes in comfort. His heart began to soothe, and the worry and problems that accumulated in his brain blew to bits. When Soma was submerged in the tranquil feeling, he had a clear and calm voice called out to him.
"Soma?".
"Yes?".
Soma opened his eyes as he stared straight at Martial Saint\'s eyes, whose aura seemed a bit different from what Soma knew.
"Is this about time you tell me about that time?!".
Martial Saint didn\'t beat around the bush as he straightly threw his question to Soma\'s face. Soma\'s face stiffened as he finally knew what was actually happening to Martial Saints\' composure, which seemed different. With his calm-like gaze, he stared straight at Martial Saint, sighing.
"Okay, so it was…".
Soma began to tell him about the skill he had and what kind of abilities he had. Of course, he disclosed the important things about the skill as a gift from the author and managed to explain it thoroughly without making Martial Saint shrink his gaze in doubt.
"I see".
Upon hearing Soma\'s explanation, Martial Saint\'s blinked his eyes before abruptly standing up, casting his gaze toward a faraway place reminiscent of something. He closed his eyes as he basked himself into the cool breeze that once again passed, bringing a soft rhythm from the swayed grass and clashed leaves. He walked slowly, showing his back to Soma.
Gradually, Soma also rose from his sitting position and stood four steps away from Martial Saint, looking at his broad back that seemed filled with worry and regret. Soma didn\'t know why, but as he saw Martial Saint back, his heart began to stir.
"Escape the bind of fate… I truly envy you…".
"Yes?".
Soma couldn\'t hear Martial Saint\'s last word. That was in a whisper. When he tries to ask what it is, Martial Saint shakes his head and keeps his gaze forward. Martial Saint softly sighs, then opens his mouth.
"Used your skill wisely, Soma. From what you said, it was truly a powerful skill that gives you so much freedom, for you are free from any restraint. There will be no one who could hinder your path, not me, the devil, or even heaven…".
Martial Saint paused for a bit before he continued.
"Because of usage of the skill, my remaining power hasn\'t reduced too much, and I can keep doing this borrowing power kind of thing for you to use in case you encounter something that you can\'t defeat".
"Martial Saint".
Soma was at a loss for words as he caught a slight regret upon Martial Saint\'s last word about mentioning Heaven. But he didn\'t dare to pry about it, and then he put away that thought in the corner of his mind.
"Mm, Like I said. I will help you for as long as I still exist. I am willing to use my remaining power to assist my inheritor. So don\'t worry about anything, and use my power as you see fit. Because I know you are not someone that will use this power for bad things".
"Thank you, Martial Saint".
"It is about time".
As the words from Martial Saint uttered, Soma\'s body began to turn transparent. Soma realized, in a moment, that he would be awoken. He bowed his torso to give thanks, and soon, his body dissipated into thin air, leaving Martial Saint alone.
Martial Saint, with eyes that usually had a calm composure, now filled with heavy regret that keep haunting him with the weight of memories that refuse to disappear from his mind, even in his death. He exhaled the uncertainty in his mind as he spoke.
"If I had that skill back then. Perhaps…"
***
On the other side of Eden, where the land was desolate and withered because of the miasma that exuded from every crack of the dry ground and the towering black tree that looked eerie, for it permeated a stench of death.
The devil who slept in one of its thick branches opened his eyes as he sensed a disturbing thought that came knocking on his door.
"Tch that brat. I already warned him not to trust that invader so willingly. Fool!".
However, thinking back to when Soma, the owner of the body, extracted his power for him to use. The devil feels slightly annoyed and also interested in what kind of abilities Soma has until he can forcefully extract his power.
"Well, he should at least experience something painful".
A sneer began to plaster his lips before he closed his eyes back and spent his time lazily on the branches.
"...Zzz!".
***
Soma, whose mind was heavy for some reason, gradually opened his eyes and found himself looking at the unfamiliar white ceilings. His hazy mind began to gather the scattered mind from all over the place and made him awake completely.
-exclusive
He turned his gaze to the side and found himself inside a wide space white sheet and bed. Beside him, there is a drawer with a vase on top of it containing a white flower he doesn\'t know the name of, but it gives a fresh fragrance that fills the entire room. A single chair on each side of the bed for the visitor.
Behind him, a window that filtered the sun\'s rays basked his figure with its warm embrace, giving him the spirit to awaken from the bed.
With a cracking sound, Soma raised his torso from the bed as he felt stiff all over his body. He twisted his shoulders several times, then his wrists before stretching his stiff muscle.
After loosening his stiff muscles, Soma slid the thin blanket and dangled his feet from the bed.
"What time is it?".
At the same time, Soma uttered those words. The door in the room slides open, revealing two figures of the beautiful girls who stood still, seeing Soma awoken from his bed.
"Hm? Ah, Hina, Xiao Lian, good morning".
The two girls who saw Soma\'s healthy face rushed ahead before embracing his body. The warmth that transferred upon the skin contact warmed the girl\'s heart, and a single streak of tears traveled across their cheeks.
"Soma, I\'m glad".
"Mm, Welcome back, Soma".
"I\'m back, Hina, Xiao Lian".