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Chapter 89: Fuck You!
Sweat beads began forming all over, and his body couldn’t help but tremble in fear as he stopped walking towards the arm.
’Damn, so I really can’t use soul energy in any way.’ John wanted to use Umbral Drift to reach the arm fast, but it just didn’t activate.
’It’s the power of the seal. I am checking it now, and it seems there are multiple effects of the seal, and a few have been eroded away by the arm. Anyway, the owner of the seal had no mercy for others when he created it since it’s designed to kill people who approach the arm. That person must be in a rush since this guy must be escaping,’ Chuthulos said, speculating based on observation of the arm and seal.
’Although because of the erosion, the arm might be trying to lure people in.’
John managed to snap out of this storm of fear and took a step forward. Gritting his teeth with his eyes blazing, he walked slowly and replied to Chuthulos. ’Yeah, no. I was pulled down just because I flew past this massive gorge. It was that damn arm for sure then. It was an irresistible pull that could only be slowed down, barely. If not for Monster Paradise, I wouldn’t-’
John suddenly cried out as his knees fell onto the ground and his mind drifted away into a new reality, one filled with utter despair and cruelty.
"Oi, you better survive this, boy." The arm spoke and blinked. "Let me see how the seal is treating you."
"It looks like you don’t have many people you consider precious. Heh, I only see a dog."
"Wait, what is this? Strange..."
John knelt on the floor, trembling. He was screaming in his mind as he found himself in his past life, as if he had gone back in time when he was fifteen years old, but experiencing a new reality.
He and Alfred were scavenging for food.
"Oh, that packet is still sealed!" Little John excitedly threw his hand towards a packet of chips and cleaned it a bit to read the back.
"Heh, knew it. The expiration date bullshit made them throw it. Might be bad for others, but good for us. Right, buddy?"
"Woof!" Alfred barked, happy just like John.
Suddenly, some people arrived and started beating Alfred.
"Stop!"
One of the men grabbed John’s head and threw him back. As he fell, the second man behind stepped on his back.
"Stay down and watch."
Alfred cried out in pain as one of the men suddenly pierced his stomach with a slim rod.
Another man started peeling his skin while he was alive.
John couldn’t move except to hear the despairing cries of Alfred.
"Stop!" stop!"
John’s fingers dug into the ground and became bloody as he tried to get up and drag himself, but the weight of the man’s foot was too much for him.
He couldn’t even turn around to bite the leg. The foot was pressed into his back, unmovable.
"Alfred!"
Alfred was alive, but just twitching, his eyes on John.
John could see Alfred’s eyes filled with pain and despair as he cried and shouted, but to no avail.
"No...This is not true!"
The scenery shattered.
The arm blinked and spoke. "Oh, it seems there are people you care about, eh?"
’This is not real!’ John closed his eyes in the nightmare he was having.
’John, save me.’
Yuna’s voice rang in his mind, her body eaten by a bunch of insects as they crawled and ate all over her body.
’Bro, I was right there. Why didn’t you save me...’
Max’s voice called him out, showing him his dismembered body.
And then it was Azelis’s weak voice before her painful screams filled his head.
’Fuck, fuck!’
John stood up and slapped his head, and forcefully opened his bloodshot eyes while trembling.
He continued to walk as his mind was overloading with despairing lifelike experiences. Stumbling, he fell once, but stood up.
After three more steps, he retched and puked hard.
But he had fucking decided to walk it to the damn arm!
"FUCK YOU!" John shouted at the arm and continued walking despite the whirling of emotions and nightmares ravaging his mind.
However, his will had a single purpose, and nothing could stop it!
"Oi, it’s not me. It’s the seal that’s doing it to you. But damn, you’re doing good. Come here."
"Come here and free me, boy. We’ll get strong and rich together."
John walked, his eyes trembling and bloodshot. They reflected fast-moving scenery, overloading his brain.
However, the hazy dark cavern illuminated by crystal flame lamps and the demonic arm stuck on a wooden board never stopped flickering in his eyes.
’Fucking trash, I will touch you! How dare you fucking show me all that!’
The closer he got, the more intense it became. The world began spinning as he fell.
"Fucking hell, stop!" the arm shouted. "You will die and become useless at this rate!"
"Shut up!" John shouted before puking blood, his eyes and ears oozing blood as the voices of Alfred, Yuna, Max, and Azelis filled his head, his body.
’Fucking hell!’
’John, stop!’ Chuthulos shouted. ’Damn, you really become reckless when it comes to some things! Stop or you will die. Get your bearings!’
John’s eyes were open as he lay on the floor. He could see the arm just ten meters away.
And then, the cruel and despairing scenery blinded him once again.
’SHUT UP!’
John smashed his fist on the ground, getting up.
His legs slipped, and he fell flat on his face.
"Boy, you are provoking more response from the seal by showing this aggression! You’ll fucking die!"
"SHUT UP!" John’s hoarse voice rang, and he stood up, wrestling to get his physical body together and his mind shunning away the forceful invading nightmares.
"My mind is fucking mine to control! I DECIDE WHAT TO DO!"
John began walking towards the arm, unsteadily but without stopping, as he approached it with each step, his bloody eyes staring at the arm and the seal.
The wooden seal board glimmered in response to John’s stubborn will, increasing the intensity.
However, John didn’t pause in the slightest this time. Instead, he grinned his bloody teeth at the arm as blood oozed out, and he spoke. "Fuck your nightmares!"
Step. Step. Step.
"Show me whatever you want, but I am not stopping because-"
Breathing. Step. Step. Step.
"YOU CAN’T FUCKING STOP ME FROM REACHING THERE!"
"Why, you wonder?!"
Step. Step. Step.
"BECAUSE YOU CAN’T CONTROL MY MIND! BECAUSE I DECIDED TO TOUCH THAT FUCKING ARM, AND FUCK IT UP!"
"Wait, what are you saying, boy?!"
"Shut up the fuck up, you bag of Xhal Drops. We’ll be done soon," John said as he spat the blood to the side and continued walking.
"What are you saying?!" The demonic arm was confused. ’What kind of Madman did I pull down?’
Two meters left.
Suddenly, the wooden seal released a sharp, shrilling hiss.
John screamed as not only was his mind, but he was physically assaulted for the first time, as his eardrums instantly burst and blood leaked. His body began vibrating dangerously.
"Motherfucker, this seal never did this before! You made this bitch angry!" the arm shouted.
"Fucking hell!" John shouted in annoyance and vanished, entering Monster Paradise.
Seeing John vanishing, the arm was dumbfounded. "Damn, he escaped..."
Inside Monster Paradise, the Monsters with healing skills instantly healed John.
Chuthulos and other monsters were watching everything, so they were ready.
"Brother John, you’re being crazy."
John shot him a glance as he stood up. "I don’t have to waste my time more than I should. Especially on a mental fucking struggle!"
"I hate it when I am not in control of myself and get influence from others, especially when it concerns me, and it’s false!" John clenched his fist. "Like hell I am going to lose to fucking goddamn nightmares."
"That fucker thought it could make me insane, but it was just delaying the inevitable," John clenched his jaw, wrath burning him.
John had a spirit of endurance and stubbornness. It was the sole reason he and Alfred had survived whatever the cruel life had thrown at them.
He didn’t endure and survive because he was stronger than others. He did so because he refused to bow and give up just because of others!
He got his life together by himself with Alfred! He attained peace and chill from hell!
And now, that seal was trying to break him and make him insane? Nope.
John was the kind of madman who screams back at the void—and keeps walking.
And if you show him his worst memories to stop him?
He’ll drag them like corpses behind him and keep going.
He could keep going until he gets his vengeance or does whatever he has decided because it was fucking up to him to decide, not others!
"I am going out. Get ready to secure the arm when I touch it."
Chuthulos grinned. "Well, this is why I chose you, brother John. Alright, I’ll make sure the suffering you chose to go through is uber worth it when that arm and seal are brought in."
"That’s my promise."
John grinned, his eyes still bloodshot. "Welp, the images are flashing in my mind even without its effect, so I guess it fucking left a mark, but I’ll overcome that shit. For now, I’ll hold onto your promise. Better make it juicy."
"Boss, you are glowing," Cheron said.
"Yeah, you look wonderful," Sony said as he blinked and was dazed.
"What?" John tilted his head, confused.
"Boss John!" Crocky shouted and slammed his tail on the floor, looking thrilled.
Merc also growled and bowed at him. "Master John, you look glorious..."
"Master John, you appear exceptionally strong," Ophis said, her eyes shining.
"What’s wrong with you all?" John frowned, confused. "Chuthulos, what’s going on?"
Chuthulos blinked. "I get it..."
