Eternal Saṃsāra: The Wanderer of Worlds, Book 2

[234] Dead Snakes Shouldn't Act Up

Chapter 234: Dead Snakes Shouldn't Act Up

—

The heavy air in the Occult Research Club room from earlier was gone as if my presence alone brought relief to the atmosphere. They knew things hadn't quite ended and that more enemies could come at any time now, but with me walking in, those worries seemed pointless.

I scanned the room, noting the familiar faces. Kiba gave me a nod of respect, and I returned it with a brief one of my own before my eyes landed on Koneko, who was off to the side, standing relaxed. My [Jade Perception] had noticed her earlier, when the fight was still going on. Back then she was acting as if she expected something to break through at any second. Even her body language was tense and ready for a fight. Now, she slouched on the couch and sighed.

It felt nice seeing so many people relax at my sight. Not everyone, though. My head turned to the side. What's this? Even right now, there was a source of tension coming from the corner of the room.

Saji sat there, trembling like he was about to explode at any second. His hand was gripping his chest so tightly that I wouldn't be surprised if his fingers punched through his ribcage.

Sweat dripped down his face, his breathing was ragged, and there was this dark aura swirling around him. I could feel the energy radiating off of him, it was quite wild and dangerous. Familiar, though.

"The Black Dragon King, Vritra," I muttered, my eyes narrowing. My words made everyone turn to Saji. The two peerage groups were chatting among themselves, with Akeno thanking Sona, when I spoke. "It's reacting."

Everyone turned to them. Koneko's cautiousness returned immediately and she stepped toward him. "Saji... are you alright?"

"Koneko, step back," I yanked her back with a Sage's natural telekinetic control over the world. It was useless to reach out to him now.

His pupils were blown wide, and a low growl rumbled out of his throat. His body was shaking harder, barely containing whatever was surging through him.

"...Saji, answer me." Sona's voice was sharp and commanding, but even she couldn't break through whatever had a grip on him. "Saji, are you in there?!"

He wasn't. The guy was too far gone, lost to the power that was clearly building up inside of him.

I stepped forward in front of everyone, knowing what was to come.

A guttural, inhuman sound ripped from Saji's throat as he got to his feet, unsteady but powerful. His eyes burned with a dangerous red glow, and the temperature in the room dropped as the dark energy around him intensified.

His Sacred Gear—[Absorption Line]—came to life, the tendrils snaking out from both his hands like they had a mind of their own, hungry and writhing.

"You..." His voice was low and filled with rage. He sounded too deep for a human, and his bloodshot eyes locked onto me, full of fury. "You killed them... You killed them all..."

I raised an eyebrow, not moving from my spot against the wall. "The black dragons you're talking about, I assume?" My tone was flat. "I apologize, but I had no other choice." The strength I had absorbed from them was useful, it had made the battles in Pangeal much, much easier.

Unfortunately, I knew my words wouldn't help the situation. His body tensed, he blinked, and then he growled as the black tendrils lashed out toward me in a blur of movement. They were fast, I'd give him that. But not fast enough.

My hand shot up, catching the dark energy mid-air, the lines writhing in my grip. The room was silent for a moment as I looked down at the struggling tendrils in my hand. Then, with a simple squeeze of Dark Solar Qi, I shattered them into nothing.