Eternal Undying Chronicles

Chapter 61 Path Forward

Alicarde walked out of the elevator to a scene of absolute carnage. Corpses were piled high, and broken, ravaged bodies littered the area.

"Well, I have to say, I like what you've done with the place," Alicarde said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he surveyed the destruction.

He glanced back at the women and muttered under his breath, "Fear women."

Carrisa raised an eyebrow, her voice calm and poised. "Fear women? That is hardly an appropriate thing to say to the ladies who came to your rescue."

Alicarde shrugged, his tone cold. "Yeah, except I didn't need to be rescued. I'm not some damsel in distress." Internally, he made a vow to never allow himself to be in a position where he needed saving.

Argint, visibly tired, stretched her arms. "Ugh, we've been here for hours. Can we just go already?"

Elizalina sighed, her tone dripping with condescension. "How unfortunate that the reliability of dogs these days leaves much to be desired."

Argint growled, her wolf-like nature surfacing as her fists clenched. "Call me a dog one more time, and—"

Carrisa stepped in, her tone firm yet elegant. "That will be quite enough, ladies. There is no need for such bickering."

"She was growling though" Alicarde muttered earning himself a glare from Argint.

As the group trudged through the winding corridors, the oppressive silence was occasionally broken by the distant echoes of surviving chimeras. Alicarde led the way, his mind a whirlwind of dark thoughts.

Carrisa followed closely behind, her eyes locked on Alicarde's back, concern flickering across her face. Elizalina glanced at Argint, her usual disdain tempered by an unspoken agreement to maintain a fragile peace. Amena walked silently beside Alicarde, her expression unreadable but her presence a steady comfort.

"We must discuss what transpired back there," Carrisa's voice sliced through the silence, her words measured and deliberate.

Alicarde chuckled darkly. "Oh, you mean the mess you made of those poor chimeras? Quite the show."

Carrisa's tone remained steady. "That is not what I wish to discuss."

Alicarde didn't bother to turn around. "Fine. Later. When we're safe and far from this nightmare."

Carrisa sighed softly, accepting his response for the moment.

As they continued through the bloodstained corridors, a chimera appeared before them—an abomination with the head of an eagle, the body of a human, and the tail of a serpent. It glided toward them with predatory intent.

Without hesitation, Alicarde unsheathed his sword in one swift motion. His blade gleamed under the white light as he severed the creature's arms in a single, clean slice.

The chimera screeched in agony, but before it could react further, Alicarde's eyes flashed with a glint of cruelty.

He extended his hand, channeling his gravitational power, pulling the creature toward him only to kick it viciously. The impact sent it crashing into the wall with a sickening thud.

Blood splattered across the floor as Alicarde repeated the action, dragging it back with gravity only to send it flying again. The chimera's screams became weaker with each blow, its body convulsing under the relentless assault.

Alicarde's smile widened, a dangerous gleam in his eyes, as he continued his cruel game, tormenting the creature with precise, calculated kicks.

Carrisa's frown deepened, uncertain if she should intervene.

Argint approached Alicarde, her hand resting on his shoulder. "That's enough. Just finish it. We don't have all day."

Alicarde blinked, his smile vanishing. "Right. My bad," he muttered, his tone distant.

With a final, crushing blow, Alicarde stomped on the chimera's skull, his gravitational power amplifying the weight of his foot. The creature's head burst into a grotesque mess of brain matter and gore. He stared at the remains for a moment before turning to the group.

They soon reached the path leading to the surface, causing the arguments to die down. Elizalina squinted at Alicarde, her eyes narrowing as she took in his blood-soaked clothes.

"Alicarde, the surface is a hospital. If you emerge covered in blood, they may summon the authorities, or worse, assume you have robbed the blood bank."

Alicarde glanced down at his ensemble. The robe and coat, marred with stains, were far from presentable. "Hmmm, well, I suppose there's no helping it."

Elizalina smiled gently, brushing a few stray strands of his hair away from his face.

"Fear not. That is why I am here. Allow me to rid you of all this blood."

With a wave of her hand, the blood clinging to Alicarde responded to her will, shifting and sliding away, leaving behind only the grime that hemomancy could not remove.

"Thanks, Elly," Alicarde said, smiling. "But I am still covered in filth. Any chance you have a solution for that?"

"I do not," Elizalina replied, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Unless, of course, you are inclined to return home soaked from a water spell?"

Alicarde sighed in resignation. "No, thank you. I'd rather deal with the grime than be drenched. I can take a bath once we return."

By the time they reached the surface and exited the hospital, the first light of dawn began to touch the battle-worn group.

Alicarde glanced at the rising sun, the memories of his near-death experience flashing before his eyes. The pain had been a revelation, a reminder that while he was immortal, he was not invincible. This new day was a chance to settle old scores.

'I almost didn't make it to see another sunrise. This little misadventure taught me something. Immortality doesn't mean I'm invulnerable. I'm not a constant. If I get careless, I'll be destroyed, and everything I care about will be lost with me.'

He watched the ladies walk ahead toward a military-type SUV.

'Carrisa was right, that much I've learned. This world isn't kind to the weak. If I don't have the strength or resolve to take from others, I'll be the one who loses. My guilt won't erase the sins I'm bound to commit. I've accepted that I'm not a good person...'

Alicarde turned his gaze toward the sun. 'Those I care about are worth the suffering. They're worth killing for. They're worth going to hell for. After all, if I don't go to hell, who will? And when I do, I'll be sure to take every last one of my enemies with me.

I won't be going down alone.'

A cold glint settled in his eyes as he glanced at the vehicle, the battle with Wrath weighing heavily on his mind. It had changed him in ways he had not anticipated, and perhaps even broken him further.

Yet in that destruction, he had found new strength, piecing together the shattered remnants of who he once was. The truth was bitter and painful, but necessary. Ali Asad was dead, and in his place stood Alicarde... Alicarde Aeternus Asad.

'I only learned strength through my brokenness, through disillusionment. That truth, though harsh, has made me stronger.'

Despite this newfound power, Alicarde couldn't help but question whether this change was for the better. It left him feeling different, perhaps even disturbed, but the undeniable fact remained—it had made him stronger.

Exhaustion washed over him. He realized that whatever issue might be awaiting him, it paled in comparison to his desires. And right now, that was all that mattered.

"Alicarde, you would do well to hasten your pace. I realize the sunrise holds a certain novelty for you, but we truly must depart now," Carrisa's ethereal voice cut through his thoughts, drawing him back to reality.

With a light smile, he turned to her. "As you wish, mademoiselle. I wouldn't dream of keeping you waiting."

He approached the vehicle, climbing inside with Carrisa following closely behind. The interior was luxurious, though he had neither the time nor the energy to admire it.

Seated between two captivating women, Elizalina on his right and Carrisa on his left, Alicarde decided to make the most of the situation. The adrenaline of the night had begun to wane, and fatigue finally caught up to him.

'I've only been fighting for an entire night. No big deal.'

He leaned his head on Carrisa's shoulder, taking comfort in the fact that she wouldn't mind. The car sped off, leaving the hospital and the horrors of the night behind, bathed in the soft glow of the rising sun.