God From The Abyss

Chapter 14: Chapter 014: The Camp In the Forest 1

Chapter 014: The Camp in The Forest

As he sped through the winding forest towards the center of the human continent, Mikael’s eyes also scanned and took in the surroundings.

The moon, which had previously been hidden by clouds, now shone brightly, casting dappled shadows on the ground and the trees loomed overhead, their branches swaying in the night breeze.

The town, Babel, seemed to have been located on the borders of Tenor, according to the boy’s memories.

So the capital of the Realm was probably far deep into the center of the continent, Mikael had deduced.

- -

Having run for almost an hour, Mikael wasn’t even sure where he was. He just kept on running straight, trying to keep the number of turns he made, few.

As he ran, he felt the mana he had absorbed had almost been exhausted, and his speed greatly reduced.

After about seven minutes, he finally exhausted the mana and had to stop as fatigue set in.

He scanned the surroundings once more as he now walked slowly, navigating a dark forest. The forest was filled with roars, chirps and the swaying of leaves, joined by the snapping of twigs beneath his feet.

Unknown to Mikael, he had simply traversed from one border to another border, very far from the Capital!

- -

Hours later

Suddenly, Mikael felt an immense aura just ahead. There was something up ahead.

Focusing on the source, he discovered more auras gathered together—like a sort of camp.

A camp!

Running that much distance had left him starving, another novel experience for the former Celestial.

"Lucky me!"

Meanwhile over at the camp, the stranger’s approach had been noticed.

"Something’s coming, my lady. And fast," a knight at the camp reported.

"What’s its rank, Arthur?" A young lady with long black rose-braided hair and a bohemian, floaty look, asked. She looked ethereal, her cool hazel eyes complimenting the aura she gave off.

Dressed in a black silk gown, even the knight Arthur couldn’t help but admire her beauty every time he saw her. If only he was of noble blood...

"Adept rank is what the watchman detected, actually. And it’s—or rather, he’s—human. However, judging from his speed, we can’t ascertain if he’s friend or foe, my lady."

"Call the mage and get some knights to the entrance. Get ready to intercept."

"Yes, my Lady!"

Some yards away, Mikael stopped running entirely and walked at a slow pace.

"Stop! In the name of House Lord Limnor! And state your business!" a voice commanded, as soon as he got closer.

The young man, dressed in black with a hood over his head, ignored them and continued toward the camp’s entrance.

A knight came forward with his sword drawn and aura released. Yet the young man didn’t seem to care and continued to move toward him.

"Friend, stop and declare your intentions, lest you have yourself to blame," Arthur said. Just moments ago, they thought of him as an Adept rank, but now he seemed coreless. Like he was... unawakened!?

The young man finally stopped.

"Who’s in charge?"

"Pardon?"

"I said, who’s in charge here?"

"That will be me."

"My lady! Please, go back. We’ll handle this."

The young man called out to Arthur. "Since when did guards command their leaders?"

Arthur dropped to his knees the next instant, bowing his head to the ground, trembling, his face nearly touching the earth—an involuntary response, courtesy of the Abysmal Gaze. Inwardly, Mikael groaned but stood tall.

The young lady, along with the knights, stood stunned. Their guards went up immediately.

Arthur, a Master-rank knight, was kneeling before this unknown young man,just from looking him in the eyes.

’He must be very powerful. Then why isn’t he radiating mana?! Is this the rumored flex of those high rankers I have heard of?’

"Pardon my knight, young sir. I believe we should talk," the lady said, composing herself, hands already on the hilt of her blade.

"It would seem this place is filled with Adept Ranks as well as a few Master Ranks..." Mikael’s mind wandered, already thinking up different escape routes, just in case worse comes to worst.

He had at first thought that his celestial essence would slowly recover as time went on. A hope he had held onto when he first awakened in the mortal world.

But he was greatly mistaken, what he had used to run was actually what little that remained after his gimmicks after he had awakened. Running at that speed had successfully drained most of what he had got left!

Thankfully, Abysmal Gaze did a wonderful job as usual. The humans here were now wary of him.

Beads of perspiration formed on his face, though he maintained his composure. He ambled into the camp, scanning the grounds thoroughly with quick precision.

The girl was around his— this body’s age, maybe older by a little and yet so composed. ’Humans have always been the most interesting species, haven’t they?’

The young man tilted his head. With a voice so casual, it sounded lazy, he muttered. "Hey there."

"Introductions, young sir?" said the girl.

"I am Isabell Limnor, daughter of Duke Alain Limnor. And you are?"

"Call me Mikael," he added with a shrug.

Plopping down on the log beside the fire caused Isabell’s companions to shoot themselves quick glances, before turning to glare at the relaxed boy.

"Lady Isabell?"

An elderly woman came up to him, face contorted in fury and arrogance.

"You get up from there,young man! I don’t believe the young lady offered you a seat? Weren’t you taught courtesies as a child?"

Mikael’s smile grew as he turned to the woman, who began to feel intense bloodlust emanating from him.

"Hey, old woman,"

Isabella and the guards flinched at the sudden shift in tone.

Mikael’s voice dropped with high precision, cold and murderous.

"One more word from you—just one—and I’ll sever your head faster than your thoughts can form. Or was it faster than you can blink? Whatever, you get the point."

The mild, half-listening voice of this young man sounded menacing. Scary even, Isabell thought.

’Though I have to intervene...’

"Mikael, I ask that you refrain from threatening my companions before me. And—"

"Shush."

Mikael’s hood was now off, and his glowing red eyes shone with an ethereal glow. The Abysmal Gaze immediately took effect across the entire camp, leaving Isabell and Arthur as the only ones still standing—though trembling.

The gaze, however, wasn’t as powerful as it was earlier.

Although Mikael himself didn’t fare too well himself as the streams of blood flowed again,this time even from his ears.

"My lady... he’s a foe. A very powerful one," Arthur whispered in fear.

Isabell thought the same as she stared at the warrior before her.

He radiated no mana, but his bloodlust and aura were akin to a high ranking awakened.

She muttered. "I have to stop him." Though she knew all too well she couldn’t.

"Sir I ask that you stop this nonsense at once, or you’ll have yourself to blame," Isabell warned, drawing a sword out of its sheath.

Mikael smiled so widely, he’d give a watermelon a run for its money.

And the very instant, he shot towards her at breakneck speed.

"He’s fast!"

Isabella entered a defensive stance, her eyes and perception barely tracking him just in time to block a direct stab at her chest! From Mikael’s dagger?!

Without warning, Mikael darted toward her again, his daggers striking in swift, precise arcs. Isabella parried each blow with difficulty, her sword slicing through the air to meet steel.

Mikael landed a few blows, slicing across Isabell’s arms and thighs. She grunted in pain but didn’t falter.

" Heed my call, and grant me your protection. Goddess’ Glow!."

A subtle glow enveloped Isabella’s body—a protective spell.

" Earth’s Rage." The glow now took on a brownish hue.

"Someone’s warmed up. I guess it’s time to step it up a notch."

Mikael felt like his head was splitting but he continued to maintain the gaze. But some of the knights were showing signs of recovery , meaning the Gaze was weakening. Fast!

He shot forward again, striking from above this time. Isabella countered with her now glowing ice sword.

Mikael leapt out of the way just in time as slabs of rock flew at him.

He zoned out long enough for the girl to finish her chant.

His eyes narrowed as he launched himself at her once more. He was actually beginning to enjoy himself.

Near powerless and being pushed to his very limits in mortal flesh, was a feeling he was beginning to enjoy.

Though his mortal body was weak, at least by directly absorbing mana cores, he could keep up with this girl, who was a surprisingly good swordswoman despite her young age.

As Mikael and Isabell exchanged blow after blow, the guards around them felt the pressure ease just a little.

Arthur studied the fight, looking for an opportunity to sweep in.

He knew Isabell had Grandmaster Rank talent while still being at the Master Rank and that her father had drilled her in the art of swordplay.

So for this man to push her into a defensive position meant he had to be a well trained Master Rank as well—or even at the Grandmaster Rank himself. Meaning their past assessment of him was very wrong. He didn’t even give her the distance or time to cast another spell after the first ones.

"I have to help my lady," he resolved.

Drawing his sword and strengthening his resolve, he muttered, "Divine Blessings". The glow enveloped his body as he charged toward the fray. However, he never got there....

His head fell off in that instant.

Mikael paused as he stared at the headless body, with disdain. He had already caught him with a side eye and decided to end him before he could join the battle. To prevent himself from being cornered.

Then again, cutting off the head was much harder than he had thought, making him put in more power than he had intended.

"Who said you could butt in, mortal?"

He walked toward the corpse and absorbed its core instantly, a wave of darkness draining it of everything. He needed to recover some power.

Isabella’s eyes widened first with shock—then fear. Then rage.

This man was not only strong enough to push her into the defensive, he slew her knight in less than a second.

Kael, noticing her discomfort, grinned in satisfaction.

"Stand tall, princess! Let’s go! I am finding this situation quite refreshing."

Even though he said so, it was obvious he was weakening. Thin streams of blood poured from his eyes and lips continuously.

He also had a stab wound in his stomach. The Captain hadn’t gone out just like that

" Curse you!" Isabell swore

She charged once more, albeit blinded by emotions and she lost her cool.