Chapter 17 Darkening
(Voice slowly increasing volume)
Vladimir!
Vladimir!
Vladimir, wake up!
F*ck, my voice can't reach him! What's happening to him? He looks like he's out of his mind. Is he possessed?
Wait, is this what they called the darkening of Vladimir?
People talk about it, claiming that he was mad, encircled by black flames, and possessed by demonic spirits.
In the Midnight location—which is akin to a pub—there is this knight who enjoys gossiping.
There's a notion going around that Vladimir's powers are due to his intense and uncontrollable emotions, which force him to lose control of himself.
Strangely, the novel didn't make any mention of it.
These black flames are the result of his darkening; he's like a devil. Then, how can I bring him back to his senses?
It's not good. Surprisingly, the black flame is not harming me even though it is consuming every living thing in the woods.
The teras that attacked me had been torched and reduced to dust by the time it assaulted me.
However, more teras arrived to exact retribution as a result of that teras cry. Vladimir is now up against 10 teras.
I yelled "Vladimir! Wake up, please!" as he mercilessly slaughtered the teras one by one.
My hands and legs are trembling as well. I'm afraid of him right now, and I can't hide it. He is out of control and looks like a true devil! Can I bring his consciousness back?
He used his gory black fire and lightning to exterminate all the teras before yelling madly, "Gagh!! Kill. Kill. Kill."
The technique involves burning everything, even shrubs, and trees.
It was terrible to see him use his black flame to forge a sword and smite every teras in his path like a vengeful fiend.
Will I get burned if I touch him? I'm scared, but I need him to get back to his senses, dammit! It's now or never!
But before my foot could reach his stomach, someone pulled me out. The person was flying! Carrying me like a bride above Vladimir.
*slaps*
I looked at myself with disgust, "I felt rubbish, thinking that you are my savior for saving me that day. I was truly grateful, and your showing me nice gestures and misleading words gives me hope that you like me and that's great because I'm starting to like you too. Thus,
all of a sudden I've come to know the truth behind that mask of yours gives me the mind-wrecking thought that Do I really like you? Or I'm just being poisoned by your f*cking love potion!"
I saw him smirk and look the other way, and then I heard his taunting laugh, "HAHAHA, good riddance, you found out that fast, I commend you for that. You really are suspicious of me. I thought I did a good job."
My heart sank as I heard his crazy reply: It scares me to see the transition of his naive face to an evil one, "I have my speculations because your plan is very disorganized, and I don't commend you for that. Very disappointing."
I said pretending that I'm not afraid of him and putting on a straight face.
His smirk faded after what I said, and he got agitated but tried to control his temper, "I suggest you shut your mouth. You don't know anything about me. You don't know how it feels to be abandoned and betrayed, because you grew up with a silver spoon in your mouth!"
However, he quickly went after me and squeezed his biceps and forearm closed, pushing my head forward with his other arm. I was being choked. If only I could strike him with my legs, but I can't because this f*cking dress and corset are giving me sh*t.
Because of Damien's betrayal, I was furious and yelled at him, "Go to hell, Damien." I experienced a tingling feeling in my palm, and I had the want to hit him in the face because it seemed as if something was pulsing through my body.
I was taken aback since I hadn't anticipated the consequences of my actions. I mistakenly believed it to be a straight punch, but it was really a tremendous punch!
I used the tree's underground roots, which allowed me to make a fist. Damien, though, was able to deflect my unexpected onslaught.
*thump! *
Ugh! This feeling—that my heart is beating faster—is overwhelming. *out of breath* I can't breathe; my sweat is pouring like rain, and my sight is slowly blurring. I can't stop now, I can't!
Queen?
I need to stop myself; my whole body is trembling as I try to restrain myself from giving in. I can't lose my rationality; I can still escape from this!
His smell is f*cking sweet! It's so addicting that I can't stay focused.
What?
No.
The earth began to shake. It is as though something is emerging from hell. Then I noticed enormous, thick roots emerging from the earth. I was surprised when it attacked Damien because it was all around us.
I observed him coughing up some blood after becoming entrapped by the roots, which resembled vines, and hearing him exclaim, "Ugh!"
This power is mine?
"You use too much mana!" I heard the real Estelle screaming in the back of my mind.
"It makes sense; you don't have proper training of course you'll be like this!" she added in a worried tone.
I saw Damien still trapped and struggling to escape from the vines. I need to act fast before--
*Thunderclap* *lightning* this overwhelming mana and pressure.
Vladimir? is he back to normal?