Free Web NovelChapter 131: Kestrel Was Taken
Ren opened up his psychic landscape to Kestrel. The world was filled with calm waves, beautiful gardens hidden below, and giant palaces with wide open doors. Even the tallest of these buildings and the most secret rooms inside them were fully accessible.
Kestrel jumped into this ocean, immersing herself in this untouched world, while also taking over the control of the unguarded body of Ren.
Starting wasn’t easy. Ren’s mind was a complex mix of beautiful and delicate places. Some parts were so sensitive that Kestrel had to be very careful. She didn’t want to accidentally hurt him and cause any deep mental scars.
She had two challenges: She had to steer Ren’s body in the ongoing battle and also make sure she didn’t harm his mind and body.
Taja, however, took over Ronin’s body without any worries. She was forceful and careless, unconcerned if she damaged the body she controlled.
"You’re not as strong as I thought," Taja teased with a giggle. "But that’s alright. Once you join us, you’ll get stronger."
Even though she was teasing, her smile was sweet and her voice sounded genuine. When she mentioned liking Kestrel, Kestrel almost thought it was real.
"But how many alphas have you tricked and killed with such words?" Kestrel shot back.
The cabin, which looked warm and inviting, had piles of preserved food, backpacks that looked like they were abandoned in a hurry, and battle gear from different groups. These items hinted that many had been lured to this place, met their end, and their stuff was now displayed like prizes.
"It’s not my fault," Taja responded, looking down and nervously playing with her hands. "I’m not strong like you. Staying alive is hard for me. Can’t you see my side of things?"
She sounded hurt, as if she believed she hadn’t done anything wrong and that Kestrel was just being unfair.
Ronin, even though injured, managed to get past Ren and now faced Kestrel.
Both parties knew that this battle would be over once one team managed to defeat the other’s beta.
Quickly, Kestrel pulled out her dagger. Its short, dual-colored blade barely stopped Ronin’s larger sword. Bright sparks flew when they collided.
There was a huge difference in strength between the two.
Kestrel did her best to move out of the way of the sharp blade. She rolled to one side, and a lock of her long black hair covered her vision for a moment. Her arm felt weak from blocking Ronin’s powerful strike and was shaking, almost making her lose her grip on the dagger.
Back in Ren’s psychic landscape, suddenly, Kestrel felt hands wrapping around hers — they were from Ren.
Caught off guard, Kestrel tried to look behind, but no one was visible.
In the deep world of Ren’s psychic landscape, his spirit lay asleep, suggesting he couldn’t actively participate in this realm.
Around Kestrel, a tender current flowed, wrapping her in its embrace. It felt as though Ren was right there, guiding her hands, showing her how to harness his power.
"Stop second-guessing yourself. Let me be the weapon you use," whispered Ren’s voice, melding with the gentle flow.
"I’m an alpha," the voice persisted. "In battle, I’d rather get hurt than accept defeat."
Back in reality, Kestrel’s grip on her sword became more secure, reflecting her newfound determination. Her deep eyes sparkled with a golden hint. Similarly, Ren’s eyes, which she was controlling, mirrored that gold gleam. She drew the cursed blade; its red side seemed hungry, feeding on every drop of blood it caused.
Initially, his actions were tentative. But with each moment, they became bolder. The horizon brightened with the red shine of his weapon, painting a deadly dance with Ronin.
Soon, Ronin found himself without an arm; it lay on the ground. Yet, even after losing a leg, he kept fighting, his face showing no pain. Ultimately, wounded and weakened, Ronin fell. His eyes dimly showed his unyielding spirit.
Ronin, who had actually died many years earlier, blinked once, a last gesture before eternal rest.
In the past, he had ventured into this gloomy city and met a thin girl hiding. She looked frail, with her hungry appearance evoking pity. Kindly, Ronin had shared his meal and even offered to take her safely home. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
Tragically, he met his end at her hands. She took full advantage of him, making sure he never experienced peace, even in death. Stuck in this shadowed realm, he wandered endlessly, until today, when he finally found release.
With fury clear on her face, Taja yelled, "You destroyed Ronin! He was good to me. My most cherished alpha! I begged so much to keep even just his eyes."
"Among those whom I’ve met," she added bitterly, her foot thumping in anger, "I only welcomed you. I didn’t hurt you. Why did you do this?"
As the mood thickened, dark figures started taking shape behind Taja. These ghostly beings moved quietly, their hollow stares chilling to the bone.
These were alphas, but no longer alive, similar to Ronin.
Their features were unsettling, with deep empty sockets instead of eyes. One by one, these eyeless alphas materialized, showing their ghostly faces. Soon enough, they aligned beside Taja, becoming a fearsome army.
Kestrel, preparing to defend, positioned Ren safely behind her. "What have you done to them?" she asked Taja.
Taja looked like an everyday girl; she definitely wasn’t a beta. Up until now, Kestrel hadn’t felt any strong psychic vibes from her. Yet, astonishingly, Taja had a hold over many alphas, turning them into puppet-like warriors for her.
It was as if she had a unique power that shattered the psychic realms of these alphas, then took over their bodies, making them fight for her, even though they were unaware of their own actions.
"Look, I’m just a regular person. There’s no way someone like me could pull off something this magical," Taja murmured, letting her skirt lift slightly for Kestrel to see. "It’s because of the deity. This grand being granted me this gift." ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
She pulled back the lace layers of her dress, and instead of legs, there lay a single tendril, twisted on the ground.
This tendril was kind of like Kestrel’s psychic incarnation, but it was greyish, with droopy, old-looking skin. It looked as if it belonged to a creature that was super old, almost falling apart, and close to its final days.
Years ago, when Taja was a kid, she and a neighborhood boy went into the Eyehole because her family was so poor and starving.
"It’s not dangerous if we stay close to the entrance," the boy had promised. "We might find something valuable in the upper layers. If we’re really lucky, it could be enough to feed you for a while. I’ve got your back."
But fate wasn’t kind to Taja. Nobody was truly there to keep her safe. She tripped in a slippery tunnel, fell, and landed on a building below. Even after that nasty fall, she found herself being chased by creepy creatures.
Scared and teary-eyed, just when she thought she was done for, she heard a whisper.
"Come."
"Come here."
Listening to that mysterious voice, she found herself going deeper underground. In the pitch-black, a broken-off tendril lay before her.
"Eat it."
"You’ll get my strength."
"I need more alphas."
"I’m old and can’t see anymore."
"I crave more offerings."
Desperate to live, Taja ate that creepy tendril, tears pouring out, and that was how she got connected to the deity’s force.
Her legs melded into one, turning into a tendril. This tendril linked her to this massive being below, letting her use its might.
After that, she became like a shadow. Looking like a normal person, seeming weak and needing help, she tricked alphas, guiding them deep down, offering them to the ’deity’—or maybe, this terrifying creature.
