Chapter 61 — Welcome to the Underworld
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'It's cold...' That was the first thought that crossed Socrates' mind as he regained consciousness. His eyes lazily fluttered open, just for harsh winds to slam into them, causing his nervous system to activate at once, shutting them back without hesitation.
The harsh wind washed all over his body as white snow buried him into the ground, seeping through his clothes, biting into his skin.
'Is the cold from the wind, or is it because I'm lying on the floor?' Socrates asked himself as he tried to get up, but his mind kicked against it...
'Where on earth am I? Where did those Elders drop me? Wherever it is, it can't be a good location... I can't just lie around like this...' Socrates managed to convince himself to get up... He dragged his body up, muscles stiff and sluggish, as he slowly opened his eyes while using his arms as a shield against the harsh winds.
'Where am I?' He looked around, but all he could see was a vast expanse of land covered in snow, and a huge blizzard blowing. There was nothing notable—no house, no human, no settlement... And his vision didn't travel far because of the blizzard.
"Good. I was dropped in the middle of nowhere. Let me guess, first test... I've to find my way to the Underworld, or rather, this is part of the Underworld... I've to wait for my death." Socrates soliloquized as the ferocious wind hit him from behind, pushing against his back.
"Damn... That's too harsh, man... I won't survive if I keep standing here..." The red-haired teenager checked out his body as he realized that he was only putting on a brown old-fashioned shirt, black loose pants, and a pair of brown boots which did nothing against the cold. "I've to keep moving... At least they're sane enough not to keep me naked."
The images of the Elders flashed into his mind, most especially that of Elder Hestruin, who mistakenly leaked his aura, causing him to pass out instantly. He then recalled his sister, Amelia, who's at Laurel Academy. 'It's almost a year now, Sis... I wonder how you're faring.'
"I'm still weak... I've to get stronger... Stronger... I'm weak... I've to get stronger... Stronger... Weak... Stronger... weak... Stronger..." That was his rhyme as he pushed himself forward through the cold and unforgiving weather, each step sinking slightly into the snow with a dull crunch. . . . In another part of this cold and unforgiving environment, where the snow fell in large quantities, dozens of silhouettes could be seen running around, weaving through snow debris, scattered stone, and structures that were rooted to the frozen floor.
The majority of these silhouettes were putting on brownish-red fur coats which protected them from easily getting caught by the cold.
They were all running around, their clear goal unknown, until one of them bumped into another.
"Have you seen her?" he asked, breath visible in the air. The other shook his head, indicating that he hadn't come across her.
"Head right... She should be along this vicinity..." he added, and the other nodded, and they both dispersed immediately, boots crunching against the ice.
Meanwhile, behind a pillar that was holding a structure, was a female silhouette holding a box...
This box was an item box, and she desperately clung onto it... Her eyes were shut, and her breath was seized as she stood there motionless, hiding from those that were chasing after her.
'They're gone...' an object whispered into her ear, and she released the breath that she was holding and exhaled heavily, the vapor escaping her lips in a shaky stream... Taking in the cold, harsh air while clutching to the box.
The object that whispered into her ear was resting on her shoulder and was crafted in the form of a spider... A toy spider with four legs and a pincer like a crab, its small frame faintly ticking.
The lady didn't even spare her toy a glance as she veered leftward and continued running with all her might... Since two people came there before, it was only a matter of time before she was discovered.
Her purple hair swayed lightly, tightly bandaged with black bands, while her black boots clicked sharply against the frozen floor.
"Found her..." A voice drifted into her ear, which caused her eyes to palpitate—
'On the rooftop...' Her toy spider announced to her... Although in reality, it was just making weird noises, but she was able to understand what the object was saying.
She looked up just to see a silhouette jumping down from above and landing in front of her with a heavy thud that scattered snow.
She didn't hesitate in turning back at once, but then two other silhouettes who had heard the man's voice had already flanked her from behind...
They're in the middle of settlements, with the men blocking the most visible parts.
She took a step back, her grip tightening on the box, while keenly analyzing the three men.
"Why stress yourself, little girl? Give it up... Give up the power core to the Brownhound guilds... We will compensate you." The man said to her. He was not alone, but with a weapon... A short knife that was as sharp as the tooth of a wolf, its edge glinting faintly.
"No... The power core is my spoils of war... I won't give it up to anyone." The lady replied...
"Then die..." The man lost all patience and charged at her. Even the other two didn't hesitate...
'Spidey...' She called out to her toy object, which made weird mechanical noises before pointing its pincer at the rooftop...
A white rope was shot at the rooftop, and the force propelled the lady upward just before the men could reach her, causing them to slash nothing but the air.
She balanced herself on the roof within seconds, turned, and started running without hesitation...
Although she had saved herself from these men... She had also risked exposing her cover, as the men that were scouting from the rooftop started announcing to others...
"She's on the roof..."
"I repeat, target has been spotted on the rooftop..."
She ran with all her might as different silhouettes started climbing onto the rooftops while chasing after her...
'Spidey, we need to come down...' She said to her toy, which answered immediately and shot a web at a settlement on the other end, propelling her towards it...
But just as she was traversing, a man appeared right before her and, with a swift swing, cut the web that was connected to the settlement, ending her journey halfway and causing her to fall in the middle of a settlement...
The structures were made from snow debris and dry wood, and within those structures were individuals living there—but when they saw that it was the members of the Brownhounds guild, they retreated into their shelters... No one wanted a problem with this guild...
The lady looked left and right to see that she had been surrounded by dozens of men, about half of them armed...
'I'm sorry, Spidey... I don't have much choice than to give up this power core...' The lady apologized to her toy, which made weird, almost playful noises despite the tension.
Then she presented the small square box to the man that had cut the web...
"You can have it..." She gulped as the man stared at her fiercely.
"You should have given that up when you had the chance... but it's too late now... The Brownhounds thirst for blood..." The man licked his lip while fiddling with his long dagger.
"Kill her..." He announced, and the men charged crazily at the purple-haired lady...