Chapter 102: The Missing Dragon
It was dark all around me, once again it seems I have fallen into this abyss. There was less of those times lately but regardless I’m here.
Not floating. Standing as someone slowly walks towards me in the distance. As they got closer it became clear that it was Rika.
"Rika!?!" I say with shock in my voice.
"Hey Rokuro. I didn’t think you’d be in here so soon." Rika replies with a slight smile.
In here it was always nice to see her like this since I don’t know if there will ever be an opportunity for us to meet in person. She’s been there since the beginning of it all and is usually helpful.
Ever since she disappeared to do whatever it is she had to do... I felt a bit empty.
"That’s sweet of you. I hear those thoughts dummy. I was expecting something pervy since it is in your nature." Rika continues on as she finally reached me.
Standing before me now, she is wearing a black dress with some sort of fancy red jewel on her stomach, her boobs were a lot bigger than I thought too... E’s? She also seems to have a necklace with some sort of diamond shape to it with another red jewel.
Her hair was still the same at least so that was good, I always thought the short curly white hair suits her well.
"I’ve been trying not to be like that too much." I respond nervously while keeping my eyes off of her boobs.
Her hand graces my cheek as her eyes meet mine. "I don’t mind as long as it is you. But I’m sure you have questions for me." Rika says with a bit of happiness in her voice.
"A lot actually... I just don’t really know where to begin." I reply with my nervousness kicking in more.
I don’t understand why I’m getting nervous around her when we talk all the time and this isn’t the first time seeing her. Have I been growing more into these emotions lately?
That would have to be my guess since I never really had all these emotions throughout the years. Most of them died with Minami.
All of them except hatred and rage towards those who continued to look down on me over and over again.
I suddenly feel her wrap her arms around me as the thoughts disappear. "I’ll happily tell you everything I can. I’m sorry I let you struggle with the bloodlust on your own." She says with an apologetic tone.
All these hugs lately... I really am starting to feel like everything isn’t so bad anymore. Minami would always give me hugs whenever I felt off or seemed like I was having a bad day.
Lately I get them so much that it is impossible for me to feel any of those shitty emotions. Only the good ones seem to be around lately.
"I’m ready to listen then." I respond with a calm tone in my voice.
She brings me out of the abyss and into a room with a place for us to sit. It was quite cozy compared to the empty space that we were just in.
I took a seat on the couch, it was definitely weird to be in a place like this while in the abyss.
"I’ll try my best to explain now." Rika says as she takes a seat next to me.
(Rika begins to talk about where she’s been.)
With how fast you’ve been improving with your understanding of our power everyday I needed to seek out some answers. The only way I could do that... Was by finding Seraphine.
There’s only so much that I can help you through before it is time for me to go on my own way. You still have a bit more time before I’m done with you but that day isn’t far.
S rank is where you currently reside with what you can use. Before I disappear you’ll be well on your way to at least the lower tier of SSS
."Did you find Seraphine?" I ask, briefly interrupting her.
"I’m getting there, don’t worry." Rika responds before continuing her story.
I traveled throughout the Abyss for what felt like years to me, all in search of Seraphine. She isn’t the easiest being to find by any means.
She usually only shows up when she has something that she wants to discuss herself so it is quite hard. But finally I found her after all of my searching.
Seraphine was confined in this strange space with chains holding her down from every direction. It didn’t make a lot of sense to me since she was definitely way above me in terms of power.
Who could possibly have her restrained?
"Rika what are you doing here?" Seraphine asked without hesitation. Her eyes not even looking up.
"I needed some answers from you." Rika answered while getting a bit closer.
"About Rokuro? I figured you’d be coming for them eventually." Seraphine says with a bit of a laid back tone.
She wasn’t even struggling against the chains that held her back from moving anywhere. Just laid back like usual, as if this was completely normal.
"Do I really have to leave him behind? Isn’t there a way to meet outside of this...?" Rika asked with a bit of sadness in her voice.
"Once he achieves the SSS rank, it might be possible for you to leave here. It’ll take some time to get out since this place is meant to contain a dragon like you." Seraphine answered with a bit of sympathy in her voice.
"Will it be enough for him to fight against...?" Rika intentionally leaves out the name of whatever she said.
"Honestly, I don’t know." Seraphine responded.
There was still a lot more questions I had for her but some of those I can’t share with you right now.
(Rika stops it there for now.)
"You really want to find me after I reach SSS?" I ask with a curious tone.
"I’d still like to help you on your journey to fix your world, so yes." Rika responds without even wasting a second.
She really does care about me quite a bit which I didn’t think about much since we first met... But I don’t think it would be the same if she wasn’t with me for the whole ride.
The star that started it all is still out there laughing at us all.
There is definitely someone behind it all and I want to put a stop to there damn madness so we can all move on with our lives. We don’t need to keep going through this over and over again.
Everyday is a fight for survival for most people in the new world.
"Rokuro. I want you to make sure that you don’t ever lose that side of yourself, the side that actually gives a damn about your world." Rika says with a genuine tone in her voice.
"I’d never lose it. There would be a lot of people disappointed in me if I ever became some monster who doesn’t care anything." I reply with a bit of a humorous tone.
"Then I’ll be back with you tomorrow. Go back to the others." Rika says as I feel her lips connect with my forehead.
Everything disappears around me within an instant as I find myself back in the room with the girls. The sun wasn’t up yet at all though, it was still pretty late.
The girls are asleep and I’m kind of stuck awake right now.
I don’t know how much further I have to go to achieve the rank of SSS but I’m sure it isn’t going to be easy. The path forward is going to be harsh and unforgiving.
There will always be people that want to stop me or keep me from doing what’s right. Not everyone wants to be saved from this new world of ours.
Some prefer the living we have now since they can do whatever they want.
Hunters can’t always stop those who want to bring harm to the innocent and sometimes it is hunters bringing harm to them. That is exactly why I want to change this world even more.
This war being prevented is a pretty big step in the right direction, at least as far as I’m concerned it is.
"Did you have a bad dream?" Ghost asks quietly from the right side of me.
"I’ve just been a bit overwhelmed lately. It wasn’t a bad dream, just a lot of thoughts." I answer while keeping my voice down.
Before I knew it, Ghost had wrapped her arms around me without giving me a chance to react. "That’s why you have all of us. Everyone here is going to help you so you don’t have to handle it all alone." Ghost assures me while hugging me.
Having all of them by my side like I do... That will make it a bit easier to push through it all.