Free Web NovelChapter 230: Leaving Mantidale (4)
That was the real body of the Mantidale Queen in reality. The Mantis Queen’s psychic incarnation faced Kestrel in the psychic landscape, while her real body stood in the hall filled with corpses, confronting the human warriors who had killed all the mutants in the castle.
The stuff happening was pretty intense, and even though the queen was usually fearless, right now, she was feeling a bit scared of something.
Before, she sometimes thought humans were laughably weak and not very important. But sometimes, something about them could really catch her attention, even if she didn’t really get why just yet.
"You’re not coming to us with friendly intentions," the Queen told Kestrel. "I can tell what you’re planning. And if you get your way, I think your people will start a fight with us, wanting to hurt us and take over our home. You’re thinking all this and still think we’d help you?"
All Kestrel said was, "But, the future could go so many ways. It’s full of chances for both of us."
Giving freedom back to humans — this could be the solution, for both groups who were fighting. The future was a big question mark, but it was full of hope, not like now where everything was stuck and really dirty, with humans getting more and more lost.
People were slowly heading towards a really bad end, something the smart folks could already see. In the end, even the creatures using humans for their own gain would be out of luck.
Kestrel had been on a long journey, uncovering the hidden stories of this messed-up world. Now, facing this queen who was the leader of the mutants, she said what she really felt and asked her - humanity’s big enemy - to give freedom back to the people.
The flower sea became quiet, the dark veil dropped, and the Queen started to smile just a bit. "I like you, you make me feel something new."
"I don’t really like treating humans as if they were just animals either. So, I’ll help you out this time. From now on, we won’t send dead bodies to the Tower, or do deals with the Queen in the Tower."
She removed her green gem necklace from around her neck and kindly gave it to Kestrel. "This is what you want, right? I said I’d give it to you, so here."
"Do what you think is best, brave little Kraken. I’m curious to see how far you and your team can get."
Kestrel took the gem and held it carefully. She felt like saying thank you but at the same time didn’t.
"We might see each other again in the future," Kestrel said, being honest. "If we do, it might be in a place of battle, with us still being on opposite sides."
"It’s hard to tell," the Queen said, standing amongst the beautiful flowers and smiling more. "I know humans pretty well too. You guys are really weird. Maybe one day, I’ll see humans who actually want to talk with us, trade, or even make official connections."
"Nobody really knows, right? Like you said, everything is full of endless possibilities." freewebnoveℓ.com
"I’m excited to see what that unknown world holds." As the Mantis Queen spoke, Kestrel’s psychic form retreated from the blossom-covered psychic landscape.
She blinked open her eyes, finding herself in the nearly destroyed castle. Dead mutants lay everywhere, pillars had collapsed, debris scattered across the floor, and the Queen was gone, vanished at the main entrance. Her hurt friends turned to her, their faces a mix of surprise and happiness.
Kestrel looked down, opening her hand to reveal the green gem, just as she had in the mental space.
"It’s time to head back." Kestrel gazed at the glowing, spinning green gem in her hand. "I’ve got what I came for, and I’ve learned everything I needed to."
She tightened her grip around the vibrant stone.
At last, they could retreat. Everyone was seriously hurt, but they were all breathing. Supporting each other, battered and bruised, they stepped over the wreckage and pushed on.
Floating flower petals danced in the calm, cool night air. The green gem in Kestrel’s hand emitted a gentle light, guiding them.
It was the Mantidale Queen’s necklace, a unique gem from this world. It would light up near the Verity Vault, showing them the way to their ultimate destination.
But honestly, they didn’t need any guidance; they all knew how to find their own way.
Kestrel’s tendrils spread underground, sharing the revelations she’d experienced in the psychic space with every team member.
Raymond was holding Rakan. Rakan, now missing an arm, whispered, "So, my teacher was used as a sacrifice back then."
Olivia was carrying Nicole on her back, who was exhausted and asleep.
"It’s because he uncovered this secret, realized they were secretly killing betas. That’s why they didn’t let him come back alive." Olivia’s voice was quiet but seething with deep anger.
Ren had remained silent the entire time. He had known from early on that his teammates were killed unjustly, and avenging them against the Tower had become his sole focus.
They exited the castle, stepping into the flower-filled night. freeweɓnøvel.com
Olivia pulled out the key to active the portal - a key given to them by a mutant when they first arrived at Mantidale. The key, shaped like a delicate, jade-like mantis shell, allowed them to leave.
Entering properly meant you got a key to exit; this was a particular characteristic of this place, Mantidale.
At first, they believed the mutants here were reasonable and kind, which seemed positive. But knowing the truth now, they understood that the ease of coming and going from the Polluted Zone reflected a loss of human qualities, a symptom of the Backbone’s full development.
This place welcomed and craved for humans to come and go freely, so it could easily devour the psychic incarnation of alphas and betas who died in the Polluted Zone, growing stronger in the process. Conversely, areas like the Erdtree’s Polluted Zone, where getting a key was tough, are where the Backbone still retained some human consciousness, not wanting to witness their own kind being devoured endlessly, hence they repelled human entry and exit.
Olivia threw the key into the air, and the escape portal that leads to the outside world opened up mid-air.
The ones carrying the injured left first, Raymond bearing Rakan, and Olivia carrying Nicole, their figures disappearing through the door.
As Kestrel was about to enter, the escape portal that was opened in mid-air suddenly closed.
"Carrying Her Majesty’s personal item, you are a VIP," a voice resounded in the air where the door closed. "Please, VIP, kindly use the main entrance, we will see you off properly."
The voice left no room for Kestrel to argue, the door closed, and the speaking voice disappeared into the air.
"Use the main entrance? And run back through this field of flowers again?" Kestrel couldn’t help but be speechless.
These mutants, who liked to mimic human behavior but couldn’t quite get it right, always came up with some absurd rules.
Kestrel turned to look at Ren.
In the quiet night, the scent of battle and the smell of blood still lingered on them. The two of them, unexpectedly left alone, had to traverse through the long flower sea park before they could return to the outside world.
Just the two of them, making their way through the flower sea once again.
For some unknown reason, a red hue appeared on Ren’s ears.
