Prince of The Abyss

He had no idea how much time he had left until her patients ran out and came after him again. He knew that they both knew that he wasn’t going to ever leave the rings; she just hoped to do so because of his marks, and he wished not to kill him.

He hasn’t left his zones in a while, making Azel travel to the First Ring, but not near enough for the Sun to affect her, to get light, so that there were no shadows around them to say if he had left or not.

Of course, she could just ask the shadows outside if they had seen him leave.

He was nervous, that’s why he had done it. He knew that it wouldn’t help that much; it just made him feel better, safer.

”So... what now?”

Azel asked curiously, seated on top of a table, wiggling her legs in the air. She had always been childish, and yet, how has she been able to convince more than half of a population that lived a so-called perfect life, where every day was the same for everyone?

A true paradise.

And yet she was able to wake them up.

’Just what kind of person are you?’

He hadn’t spent that much time with her. While at first he would come back to heal, with Praise, he could wander around the Ring until they healed, and with how fast he has been challenging each Knight, he hasn’t been spending all that much time together to see her real personality.

She was quite similar to the people of the Second Ring; it ran through her genes, I guess. But while they were obsessed with repeating the same day, she was the opposite; she was just like them, and yet, she wanted to be different; she couldn’t keep her mind off it.

This whole personality she put on was fake; no one who acted like this could do what she did. Everything was an act, but not for others, but for oneself. While on the exterior, she looked as if she truly believed that the person she acted as was herself.

She knew deep in her heart, it wasn’t who she was, and she hated it.

Aether sighed, walking around the room, trying to think of a way, of something that would help him.

”I don’t know, really. I have no idea just what I’m supposed to do.”

He frowned.

But it was true, he really had no idea how he was supposed to kill the Queen. After all, he had already faced her, well, more tried to escape from her, and it had almost failed terribly. The only reason he was alive was because of her mercy.

If it wasn’t for it. He... would be long dead.

Azel hit her palm with her fist.

”I have an idea, what if we all went against her at once!”

He turned to look at her, trying to see if she was serious.

”That wouldn’t work. The only reason I stand a chance is because of my blade and path. A bunch of readers can’t lay a hand on her. And also, who is going to be protecting the zones?”

It was a terrible idea, he wonders if she also knew that, but asked it anyway, so that her facade can sit for longer.

But how was he really going to do it?

His poison wouldn’t work; she was immune to it, and it wasn’t something that he could somehow get rid of just like he did for The Jack’s ability. That only worked because his ability was copied, and the original user of that ability is none other than The Queen.

Thrusts would also not work; he even wondered if, with his rage, and the intensified power for his thrust was even enough to make a dent in her skin, but armor.

’So the what?’ He hit his head with his fist. ’Think, think, think, how can I kill her?

It was one of those times he wondered how this was a reader rank. I mean, he had gotten this far, how most people wouldn’t even reach the point he did... Or maybe he was the problem, maybe many that actually had a combat affinity or ability could have gotten here easily.

And maybe someone with an actual intellect would find a weakness.

He was neither smart nor strong.

All the fights he had won were because his enemies had been caught by guards, and had been looking down on him. So he was in no way strong... he just knew how to do some trick, how to manipulate some overly proud humans.

He was also not someone who had to think all that much to find his solutions... he made things up on the go.

Blinking twice, he repeated something.

”Making this up on the spot? It had gotten me past all the Knights except The Nine, so could it also work on the Queen? Probably not, right?”

But did he even have a choice?

If he did nothing, she was going to come and kill him, and if he didn’t fight, he would have to go back to the Outskirsts and leave the Rings completely. And since he couldn’t change the book’s ending anymore, it would mean he was going to be trapped for eternity. For his soul to wander the void.

He had to fight? So did waiting for something that he was never going to create a solution to sound like a good idea to him... it didn’t, he hated it.

Inside his heart resided a deep hatred for the Queen; he wasn’t going to let her have her way with him. He wasn’t going to leave, and he was also not going to let her come to him. He was going to come to her and kill her in her own palace.

He sighed, turning to Azel, who was confused by his saddened face.

”It’s time for the Third Ring, Azel.”

Her eyes widened instantly.

...

...

”Is this really a good idea?”

”It isn’t...”

Azel stared at The Fool with a nervous face. She hadn’t agreed to this expedition, so why did he not wait for her vote before going out? He hadn’t even waited for her.

And plus, how was he even going to get to the Third Ring? No one had ever passed, not even the Knights... no one has seen what’s behind the Fog. Luckily, the Queen had left her lanters with him that time, so he didn’t need to resist the pain, but it was still hard to see.

And breathe at that.

But it was worse for Azel, as while he was used to not having much oxygen to breathe, from his time in The Withered district, and if he had to say, his time in the Outskirst too, that had also helped him to improve his survival.

But she... she had only known the air of the Second Ring, and she hadn’t explored deep into the zones like he did, going to each one, and defeating its leader. Plus, his wonder inside the fog to find the zone of a Knight that never existed in the first place. He had gotten deep into the fog.

Which made him worry. The Third Ring had to be in the fog, since not only are the zones the protection of the last ring. But the Rings are circles; the only place it could be is deeper in the Second Ring.

Deeper in the fog.

Azel had lost most of her speed. So, to not slow him down, and her well-being, of course, he offered to carry her on his back. He knew that it was going to make things harder for him, but he just had to push through it.

They continued to walk deeper into the fog. Azel’s breathing worsened, but his also, yes, not enough to make it so he couldn’t continue forward. But he could feel the fatigue from carrying someone on his back.

He bit his lip, continuing forward without stopping. If he did, he could never start again.

...

...

When he had first seen it, he had thought that maybe it was an illusion his eyes were deceiving, trying to show him what he was wishing for, so that he would stop.

A giant castle stood deep into the fog, not near them, but enough for it to be in his vision. Even in such thick fog, by its pure size, it could be seen. It almost seemed as if it reached the clouds, the sky at that.

He stood, looking at it, before turning to Azel.

”We’re close, I think this is where we part.”

Azel looked at him weakly, coughing slightly.

”Parting ways? I’m coming with you.”

Aether sighed. He was annoyed, but he tried not to raise his voice to someone who was this sick.

”You can’t-”

”I can! Aether, first of all, do you really think I can get back now? No! And you’re not going to carry me back since you don’t know the way back, so how am I supposed to go back...

I’ll be of help, I promise.”

He was surprised by her sudden outburst, but when he tried to make something up, he couldn’t. After all, she was right.

He sighed in defeat.

”Fine, you’re coming. But I alone shall kill the Queen.”