Chapter 179: 179: Flashes
Eden held a hand against his head, trying to soothe the pain that rushed through his skull as he saw vivid images of him and the man he didn’t wish to think about.
Images of them together: chatting, eating, strolling down the park, hugging, and some other moments together.
He could see those images brush through his vision as his head hurt. He had a hand over his hair as tears began streaming down—slow, yet painful.
"What’s happening..." he muttered to himself, not with words but with his mind. He staggered in the air as he floated.
"Why’s this happening... why..." He had both hands over his head as he closed his eyes, trying to ease the pain.
Tears rolled, memories flashed—sharp and painful memories that had him losing consciousness, ones that left him in pain and tears as he struggled to breathe.
His eyes were still purple as the waves around the abyssal portal he found himself in grew heavier, affecting the level of memories that flushed in and the speed they did.
They ran through his vision with speed.
"Make it stop... Make it stop now..." Eden didn’t know who he was talking to. He didn’t even think he was referring to anyone in specific.
He just wanted everything to stop.
Everything that was currently tormenting him to tears. The pain that ran through his head down to his chest and heart. Everything that flashed painful memories through his mind.
He just wanted it all to stop.
"Stop... stop it..." he muttered, staggering through the air. "I said stop... I said... stop now..."
Tears rolled down his purple eyes and rushed across his face. He slowly found himself on his knees—floating.
As though there were a ground beneath him, he found his knees on the airy ground as both hands fell to his sides. Eyes closed, tears running down.
The memories flashed like camera rolls and he found himself growing weak from it.
"No..." He gently shook his head. "Stop... stop it..."
He kept muttering those words, but it didn’t seem as though they were helping. So he decided to get up and use his strength against whatever force was behind it—forces he didn’t even know existed.
He had both hands over his head, muttering some spells to himself—fighting one spell with another, going deep into his mind and struggling to break through whatever had come over it.
It was intense.
He could feel himself exploding. He felt as though a fiery feeling burned inside him. And while he muttered words to himself—
"Set me free... set me free... set me free..."
He could feel conflicting energies run through him. He felt overwhelmed as though he was going to explode.
Soon, he found his eyes glowing. Like a light about to burn up, his eyes glowed purple and the portal around him began vibrating.
Energies streamed around it and the place began falling apart. Soon Eden found himself growing weak.
And then he slowly calmed down, closing his eyes and staggering backward.
He soon began falling down unconsciously into the purple abyss....
---
Felix stepped backwards, closer to Lenny, as he said to Leo,
"My lord..." Damien said. "I don’t think we can beat them. We might end up losing our troops if we do that. It’ll be a waste... do you think we should continue...?"
Leo still had his eyes on Felix, contemplating whether to use all he had to fight or to draw back. He needed to make a choice fast.
"Why? Why aren’t you bringing your forces forward?" Felix questioned. "Don’t you want to fight anymore?"
Leo hesitated. "Of course we do," Leo said. "I’m just making sure that when the fight starts, I’ll destroy every one of you. No one shall survive it."
Felix raised his staff at him. "Well, bring it up already. I don’t have the whole world to wait."
Leo raised his chin. "Let’s see then."
Damien was scared. "My lord..."
Leo didn’t listen. He casually raised his hands at the soldiers.
They took their positions, ready to strike. And as Leo brought down his hands, the soldiers all attacked—armed men charging Felix, who was standing in front of the fox.
Felix didn’t stand by. He too used his staff as defense, skilfully waving it at them while sending them flying through the air.
Blue strikes emerged from the staff, sending blasts of attack toward them.
And while he fought, Leo had his eyes on Eden, who still sat on the fox.
His hands were on Lenny’s fur and his eyes were still shut. He seemed lost in some illusion—unconscious—and it was clear he wasn’t waking up soon.
"What’s up with him...?" Damien asked. "What is he up to now?"
Leo hesitated. "Get me a bow and arrow. This is my chance to strike..."
Damien didn’t hesitate. He handed Leo a bow and arrow, set it up, positioned it toward Eden, and soon shot it off—aiming for his heart.
The arrow flew and immediately headed toward Eden. Leo was good in archery, so he was able to make a perfect shot.
But too bad the shot didn’t hit Eden.
Because as it got close to Eden, everything suddenly paused.
As though someone had hit the pause button on the earth, everything stopped: the arrows, the soldiers, Felix and his powers...
Everyone paused. And only Eden moved.
Eden slowly opened his eyes. He gently looked around him while picking up where he was. He figured he was back to reality at least.
Then he brought a hand to his hair and massaged it for a while, shaking his head. "I guess I’m back..." he said as he looked around. He saw Felix and then saw the arrow coming at him. He saw Leo, who had also shot the arrow at him.
Eden blinked. "That brat..." he muttered as he reached out his hands, took the arrow, and snapped it into dust.
And then he stared at Felix. "I think we should leave now while we still have time..."