SSS Ranked Awakening: I Can Rewind Time!-Chapter 29: Aelive Nightmarish Creatures.

The others all woke up just in time to catch a glimpse of the receding azure constellation, the large gaping wound in the sky oozing out, a bright red liquid. Bit by bit, the sky’s cracked surface emitted a blinding light. And with it...

Creak--!

The dark mist retreated into the depths of the shadows. And each time it did, it always left me with this strange sense of pleasure.

"Hah... how great it feels," I muttered under my breath, a smile tugging at the corner of my lips.

Beneath us, towering ancient structures protruded from the barren land, their surface weathered and monolithic. And with their emergence, various nightmarish aberrations emerged from the darkness. Each of different forms and sizes. Yet without a doubt, they were all grotesque creatures that could have only been carved out of one’s worst nightmare.

Perhaps something far worse.

"Good morning." I greeted no one in particular, eyes darting from one person to another.

’They all seemed to have had quite the good night rest.’ I noted. ’In contrast to me who had barely been able to sleep, mostly due to the fact that Livia’s words —her questions, which had unknowingly touched subtle parts of memories I had rather stayed hidden— had kept me awake all night.’

’How great.’

"Morning Dean," Livia replied, bringing me out of my reverie.

Turning to face her, I forced a stifled smile and said, "Morning Livia."

Shifting my eyes towards Mia, I asked with raised brows:

"So... what are the plans for today?"

Mia remained silent for a while. But then, she said, "We rest for today. We will continue heading north in three days’ time."

’Huh?’

Taken aback, I blurted out, "Come again,"

Mia frowned.

"I said we will head north in three days’ time."

"..."

I couldn’t believe it. Mia of all people, had actually opted for us to take a few days off.

"..."

’Weird. Very weird.’

I thought, assessing her with a focused gaze. Tilting my head to the left, my gaze sharpened even further. Almost to the extent of seemingly wanting to bore into the depths of her soul.

Sensing my intense stare, she glanced at me and frowned.

"What?"

Her word elicited an awkward laugh from me.

"Oh- nothing. Just... surprised."

’More than surprised actually.’

The crimson haired lady shook her head, and laughed lightly. For a second there, I felt something stir deep within me.

’Who could have known that her smile could be so... mesmerizing.’

What made matters worse, however, was the fact that she chose to hide such a thing.

’What a shame.’

"...I’m not a fool." It was then that Mia’s voice brought me out of my thoughts. Staring at me, she added:

"Everyone’s still worn out from yesterday’s battle. It would be foolish to head north with our current state of mind."

And for once, I had to fully agree with her.

"Makes sense," I muttered under my breath.

What she said did make quite a lot of sense. Especially when considering the threat of Livia’s vision that was still looming right above our heads, silently waiting for the perfect moment to... manifest itself into the intricacies of reality.

"Yeah, it does," said the crimson haired lady.

"..."

"..."

Sighing lightly, I walked away, and moved towards the makeshift vessel.

’Of course, I hadn’t forgotten about it! How could I afford to forget about my heavenly meals? I couldn’t. Not in ten lifetimes.’

Opening the makeshift vessel meant for a knight like me, I soon realized a problem:

There was no wood to start a fire.

I frowned, mostly due to my unwillingness to leave the dead carcasses unattended to.

’I couldn’t bear to be so... ruthless.’

Sighing lightly, I was about to stand up when I suddenly paused. Right about then, a smile slowly crept up my features. But then, it was replaced by a deep scowl.

’After all, for my plan to work, I needed the help of that bastard.’

I gritted my teeth.

’...But with the well- static and awkward relationship between me and Aezel, which made us more of enemies than actual friends, this made things quite... awkward.’

Grimacing, I knew I had no other choice.

’Damn it!’ I scowled. ƒreewebɳovel.com

Begrudgingly, I rose to my feet. Willing my legs to walk slower, even when I knew that wouldn’t change anything, I slowly approached Aezel.

...Soon, I was right before him.

"Huh?"

Aezel raised a brow.

I forced out a smile and said:

"Uh- I know we have both had some previous um...misunderstandings. And—"

"What exactly do you want Dean?" Aezel cut me off with a derisive laughter.

I simply laughed, scratching the back of my head in an awkward manner.

A few minutes later,

"...Um, that is it."

I was done explaining my plan to Aezel.

"..."

Aezel seemed surprised, taken aback in fact. Keeping his calm, he asked with a raised brow.

"Really?! Were you some kind of Arcane scientist in your past life?"

His words elicited a wave of laughter between us. It was then that I smiled and said:

"Perhaps. Who knows."

I wasn’t even sure of what the past me really delved into anyway. Most of the things I knew were either gotten from my fractured memories, or from Garren- the betrayal.

My face darkened at the thought. But then, I shrugged it off and exhaled.

Aezel nodded.

"But I have to say. It’s indeed quite a good plan. Making use of the combustion effect of the darkenstein fruit with the aelive oil to start a bonfire.

"...It’s indeed worth a shot."

But then, he frowned. "But... where do we find the Aelive nightmarish creatures?"

Pausing lightly, he continued with a raised brow:

"I haven’t even seen one of those fellas ever since I made it to this shattered dimension."

’True. I also haven’t really seen those fellows.’

I frowned. But then, a smile slowly crept up my face.

As long as there were muddy grounds in this wretched land, then we were bound to find the Aelive nightmarish creatures.

A dark smile appeared on my face.

"I think I know just where to find those sneaky bastards."

"..."

***

Before long, we were done explaining the plan to Mia and Livia who urged us to be very careful, and even opted to help out. But of course, I denied their help. As much as I hated admitting to it, Aezel was the only one who could take on those nightmarish aberrations.

Any other person would be useless. Even Mia. Talk less of the blind Livia.

With a dark grimace, I slowly descended down the dune structure. With aching muscles and ragged breaths, we soon touched the ground. After which, we began to move through the cursed terrain once beneath us.

Vast, ruined structures protruded from the ground, stretching towards the cracked sky as though to pierce through it. The world was dark and lightless. However, the worst of it all, was the bunch of nightmarish creatures roaming the very expanse of this shattered dimension.

...As we traversed through the dark maze, we tried our best to avoid as many nightmarish horrors as possible. Over the course of a few days of being with the cohort, I’d come to learn that avoidance was second nature to any one who wished to live long in this wretched land.

If you couldn’t even learn to do that, then only death awaits such person.

Sighing lightly, we both said nothing as we walked in the dark. The tension brought forth by the surroundings- the nightmarish creatures included, was becoming too thick and omnipresent to ignore.

Each step was weighted in dread and fear. However, before we could give in to the silence, we found our targets. And just like I said, they were found on muddy grounds.

As they reveled in the comfort brought by the muddy ground, the nightmarish aberrations failed to notice us, as we had long hidden behind a thick, gargantuan rock.

It was then that I turned to face Aezel, muscles tensed beneath my clothes.

"Should I distract them?"

"Nah. No need."

Aezel replied with a wave of his hand.

"For these petty creatures, I am more than enough."

A dark smile appeared on his face as he assessed his prey.

He indeed knew their theoretical weak spot- their head. But, even then, as an archer, it was important to study one’s target before leaping into action. That way, one’s rate of success was much higher.

...I stared at the centipede-like creatures. Crimson colored, they looked no different from a normal centipede. Perhaps, a little bit bigger, fearsome, and more nightmarish. But...

’That was it!’

For a second there, I found it hard to believe that this bunch of petite creatures were that dangerous. But, come to think about it, they weren’t really the dangerous fellas.

My expression darkened. ’It was more of their body’s oil being explosive on reacting with air.’

It could be said that only a crazy person would dare to fight such a naturally blessed set of creatures. For that was no different from courting death.

But here we were... doing just that.

Right about then, Aezel summoned his bow. Raising it up and stretching the strings taut, his body diagonally faced the crimson cracked sky above, and then...

WHOSSH!!!

WHIIISH!! WHISSSH!!

Three dazzling arrows streaked through the night at a breathtaking pace. It was then that the nightmarish creatures noticed the threat on their lives. But by the time they did, it was already too late.

The three arrows sequentially pierced through their heads. And since the oil sac couldn’t be found there, there wasn’t any explosive reaction. With a few additional shots, all the aelive creatures were sent into deep slumber, crimson blood dyeing the ground.

All in all, it went rather... smoothly.

As I stared at the Aelive creatures, crimson blood pooling around them, a voice echoed in the dark.

"See. No need."

I turned to face the approaching Aezel and shook my head, a light smile finding its way to my lips.

Gripping tighter the azure dagger while Aezel kept watch for unsuspected attacks, I got to work. Grimacing, while being very careful, I made sure the oil sac of the Aelive nightmarish creatures didn’t touch my skin.

Luckily for me, I had hidden the darkenstein fruits- the self-infliction fruits within the makeshift vessel back in the dune structure. And without any catalyst for the combustion reaction to occur, I proceeded with the arduous work.

Before long... I was done. Packing the Aelive oil into a few crimson shells, I threw Aezel a smirk.

"Mission accomplished."

Rising to my feet, I warily assessed my surrounding and said:

"...Now, let’s get the hell out of here, before some horrifying monstrosity decides to show up."

Aezel nodded, seemingly agreeing with my words. But just as I took my first step, a chilling realization settled deep within me.

’Huh, wait. Don’t tell me that was a death flag! Nah... no way.’

I could only force myself to calm down.

Step! Step--!

Just as we made way to leave, I sensed a presence in the endless darkness— It was cold, vast and suffocating.

In that moment, I felt a deep sense of dread rise from the bottom of my heart, as every hair at the back of my neck stood on end.