Fractal Plane: Purgatory Survivors

Chapter 14 - Overcome the Past

1

"There!"

Kazuki barely contained himself at the first sign of natural light. At the end of the corridor, a burst of light shone invitingly, managing to break through the moderate fog.

It was a much welcome change of pace, and he was certain that Amagi had also gotten very tired of seeing hallway after hallway. After wandering around for who knows how long and getting no closer to the where the Class B Nullity was, hope had finally shone upon them.

"Arata, be careful!"

Even with taking his friend's warning into account, his feet just cannot help it. Intervals between each of his footsteps shortened, and he could feel his heart pounding in excitement as the light grew in magnitude.

He glanced to the side to see his childhood friend running alongside him, and her eyes now shone with optimism. Despite her warning, she also raced across the corridor, keeping pace with him.

Salvation was at hand, and both of them knew it.

It did not matter that the ground around them shook or that Nullities began appearing out of the walls in front of them.

"Outta the way!" The two shouted in unison.

The arrows of light as well as the blunt force of the shield made quick work of the Nullities, and the two smiled as their feet stepped into soft surface.

Adding to their relief was the sound of heavy objects crashing onto the ground, and a look back was enough to confirm that the corridor they came from had collapsed. They could have triggered a trap, not that it mattered now.

"Ahhhh, it was getting stuffy back there!"

Amagi's bow disappeared, and the girl stretched her hands up.

"Where are we?" she followed up.

Kazuki looked around, and despite the fog that slightly hampered his vision, he could make out long walls around them.

"We're at the courtyard, it seems?" he guessed.

Given that he figured out that they were in a castle, a courtyard would be a reasonable guess. If that's the case...

Kazuki looked towards a certain direction, the one where he last felt the signal from the Class B Nullity.

"We may not have had any luck back then, but maybe we can enter another part of the castle through there."

He began stepping towards the general direction before looking back.

He was not alone, and even if he could force his body to push on, he was not sure about his companion.

Rest didn't sound too bad, after all. The initial bout of adrenaline had helped him through, but he can slowly feel his anxieties and stress coming back. A mental error could be very costly.

Not only will he lose his life, he will prove Ms. Sadohara right.

"You need rest, Amagi?"

She did not reply. Her slouched position and weary face told a story, yet her eyes remained determined to see it through. Getting the message, Kazuki just put his palm out.

"You don't have to push yourself too much. We can take a break."

"E-eh?" she reacted with surprise. "But, Arata, you—"

"I know I got you worried, and I really want to get to the Nullity and end this before anyone else can be dragged in. However, forcing it now would be pointless. We need to take a short break or else we'll just get destroyed the moment we face the Nullity."