Hetha

Even under overwhelming fear, that little shithead seemed to recognise me as he pointed at me with his trembling finger.

"A-ah, you are...! Th-the weird customer from the internet cafe!"

"Why of all places did you run inside here?" I growled in annoyance.

"Help me! Don't leave me behind!"

"How can we help you if we can't even help ourselves?" I clicked my tongue, wanting to kick his flailing hand away.

At that moment, we heard dozens of footfalls headed our way. The footsteps were accompanied by incoherent yelling and shouts, it reminded me of a yodel. I gasped to myself, hastily shining my torchlight to the stairway and just then, I saw their appearance clear as day.

"No, no! They are here!"

A group of humanoid creatures with a hunched back, and they had tribal tattoos all over their face. They were wearing armour made out of the sandworm hide, and they had pelt from the coyotes to keep themselves protected in the desert. They held spears, javelins and bows in their hands that glinted menacingly under the glow of the torchlight.

"Fuck!" I cursed to myself, reaching out and pulling Auldiane back, giving her the dagger again. "We have to find a way to escape!"

"Ah, bu-but that man!"

"Leave him be! He'll find a way to escape himself!"

"Aah! Aaaah!"

The little shithead pushed himself up and it seemed like his adrenaline kicked in. Despite bleeding out from his wound again, he sprinted into the dark corridor before huddling in the corner.

"I-I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I'm not dying..."

His desperate sobs echoed throughout the corridor.

"If you won't even fight back, what's the point?!" I barked, resisting the urge to run up to him and kick him. "Useless piece of shit! You lured them here!"

"Hetha! Here they come!"

"Fucking hell! Run like your life depends on it! Run!"

These are the only nasty things I don't want to meet inside the gate!

The two of us had no choice but to run into the dark corridor. Running out to the desert with an injured arm where the stench of blood would spread, and the tribal warriors chasing us, it would only mean death. At least, in the dark corridor, there would be a chance of survival.

"Wh-what are those things?! Are they human?!" Auldiane exclaimed, running alongside me.

"I don't know either! I just know that they are the most dangerous things in this gate, not the monsters outside!" I yelled back.

The tribal warriors continued yelling incoherently behind us, and one of them threw a javelin as it whistled past us. Apparently, they weren't aiming for us just yet, since the javelin went straight for that little shithead.

"Aaah! Aaaaaah!"

He was clearly howling in pain.

"It's dark over there! How good is their eyesight?!" Auldiane shireked in alarm.

"They are the apex predators in this gate! Just think of anything, and they can do it better!"

"That's insane!"

The two of us ran past that little shithead and I shone the flashlight on him. The javelin has impaled his arm, nailing him to the wall. He was flailing desperately, out of his mind, it seemed like the fear of survival had gone to his head. His screams of torment made us cringe back.

"&$%*(#!"

One of the tribal warriors decided to take matters into their own hands, sprinting and sliding on the floor towards us. They held the spear in their hands, positioning it and aiming it at us. My life flashed before my eyes as I saw the spear being aimed at the two of us.

"Aaaah!"

At that moment, it seemed like that little shithead triggered something along the walls. Three large circular saws emerged out from the tiny space within the walls, and the two of us screamed, diving forward. The large circular saws immediately sliced through the air, and an inch of Auldiane's hair was cut off. Without catching a breath, the two of us stood up and spun around. We reacted in the same manner, hastily looking away from the gruesome scene.

"Oh god."

"Look away!"

There were two dismembered bodies laying on the stone floor, a pool of blood surrounding them. Just thinking about the sight made the both of us gag, and we met each other's eyes, nodding to each other. The tribal warriors beyond the circular saws halted in their spot, observing the circular saws that were constantly slicing the air in bewilderment.

"I knew it, this place is full of traps." I spoke, biting on my lip impatiently.

"Traps like these have a time limit. We have to make use of the time to look for trigger points." Auldiane warned.

"I'll shine, and you'll guide me." I instructed.

"Okay, to the far left. Don't move."

"Mm."

I flicked the torchlight towards the far left. Auldiane concentrated on the spot, her eyes remained unblinking as if she was trying to find a single misplaced stone block. She muttered to herself, counting the number of blocks in between, committing the placement of the misplaced stone block to memory.

"Found it. Next, far right."

"Got it."

"..."

"..."

"The wall closest to us, left."

"Take your time."

"..."

"..."

The circular saws were gradually slowing down in their movement as we continued scanning the area for any misplaced stone blocks.

"Diane."

"I know. I have memorised their points, but..."

"We don't know what the traps are." I finished the sentence.

"If I only had more time..."

"I'm sorry but, the saws won't hold them back much longer and..." I spoke, my vision blurring slightly as I stumbled, tightening my hold on the flashlight. "I think my adrenaline is running out. The venom is affecting me, and my limbs are feeling numb."

Auldiane gripped my uninjured arm, her voice trembling. "...let's wing it. We have to survive."

There was a sudden silence as the circular saws came to a stop, and a second later, the tribal warriors released a guttural yell. We didn't hesitate and sprinted, Auldiane quickly reached for the closest misplaced block, slamming down on it with her fist. I gritted my teeth, controlling the flashlight and shining it on the walls.

"It's above! Jump forward!"

The two of us leapt forward as a stone wall came crashing down. We didn't dare look back at the revolting sight it left in its wake.

"The time limit of this trap is shorter! The next one, Diane!"

"Got it!"

"#@$*&^&%*!"

This time, it was a rolling boulder. Fortunately, it seemed like they installed walls around the trigger point to be pushed in to act as a fail-safe. We hid in the small spaces, avoiding the boulder as we heard the panicked and pained yells from the tribal warriors. It didn't take them long for them to climb over the boulder.

"The next trap!"

"I can't reach it! I have to throw the dagger!"

"Just do it!"

Auldiane threw the dagger at the stone block, letting out an angry grunt. I didn't hesitate to run ahead first.

Ping!

The dagger bounced off it as the stone block was pressed in.

At that moment, I shone my flashlight at the stone floor as it started to reveal a trap underneath the ground.

"Diane, jump!"

Auldiane sprinted and jumped, she stumbled forward, collapsing towards me as I stabilised her. If she had missed a single step, she would have fallen to her death. We watched as three tribal warriors fell to their death, impaled by the spikes.

"*&$%&&*#!"

Unfortunately, a single tribal warrior remained and despite seeing their comrades fall after one another, the tribal warrior did not give up on their pursuit. It didn't take them long to leap over the pitfall trap effortlessly, and we continued running. There was one final trap remaining, and Auldiane triggered it once more, her fist already going red from slamming down on the blocks repeatedly.

"..."

"...!"

We noticed the tiny holes in the spaces of the stone walls. This was the only trap I prayed not to encounter until we found something to shield us.

"That little shithead ruined it all." I grumbled to myself, grabbing Auldiane and embracing her. "This damn new life."

"No, let me go! At this rate, you'll die!" Auldiane screamed, trying to push me away as I stumbled back.

"How many times do I have to say–"

Multiple arrows shot out from the holes in the walls, and I felt three of them stabbing right into my back as I widened my eyes in pain. I coughed out a mouthful of blood, the metallic stench of blood flooding my black mask.

"HETHA!"

I collapsed onto the ground, watching as the tribal warrior took the hits from the arrows and walked through the trap without any fear. They simply pulled the arrows out from their body without flinching, marching towards Auldiane who was crouched beside me, crying her heart out.

"Hetha! Hetha! No, you can't die!"

"..."

"Wake up, Hetha! First it was my brother, and now you! I can't live on like this!"

I breathed out weakly, my vision growing blur.

I wonder how you reacted to my death in my previous life. Did you cry for my sake as well?

Even though I healed you to gain your brother's trust.

Even though I was such a bad person.

I breathed out once more, seeing a blinking light in front of me. The system window appeared before me.

[ Warning! Your death is imminent!

Processing...

Processing... ]

I smiled to myself.

[ Name: Qiu Xue Yi (Hetha), The Saintess

Rank: F

Active Skills:

Circle of Miracle (SS) - Sealed

Healing Field (A) - Sealed

Lifeforce Transfer (B) - Sealed

Breath of Spring (A) - Sealed

Single Heal (S) - Sealed

Invigoration (B) - Sealed

Mass Invigoration (A) - Sealed

...more

Passive Skills:

Indomitable Mind (SS) - Sealed

Resilient Health (SS) - Sealed

A Healer's Knowledge (SS) - Sealed

Regeneration (S) - Sealed

Poison Immunity (S) - Sealed

Just A Pretty Face (B) - Sealed

...more

Stats:

Strength: D (Sealed)

Agility: B (Sealed)

Mind: SS (Sealed)

Magic: S (Sealed)

Luck: D (Sealed)

Your time has come to an...

Processing...

Processing... ]

Diane.

Wait for me.

[ You have touched the hearts of the gods of time yet again. They will make an exception in the rule of time. Your rightful powers will be returned to you without any consequences or side effects.

Please reclaim your position once more, Saintess.

Welcome back. ]

My eyes burst open as a surge of energy flowed out from my body and the tribal warrior leapt back, getting into a defensive stance. I slowly stood up and came face to face with a teary-face Auldiane as she blinked rapidly in shock.

"Golden...eyes...?"

The injuries on my back began to heal, and the venom in my body was slowly cleansed.

[ Due to your passive skill, "Indomitable Mind (SS)", the hallucinogens in the poison have been nullified.

Due to your passive skill, "Resilient Health (SS)", the poison will not leave a lasting effect in your body.

Due to your passive skill, "Poison Immunity (S)", the poison in your body has been cleansed.

Due to your passive skill, "A Healer's Knowledge (SS)", the effects of poison immunity have been further amplified. The poison has been studied and can be used as an antidote.

Due to your passive skill, "Regeneration (S)", the wounds on your body have been completely healed. ]

I reached down for the dagger at my feet, picking it up and turning around, looking at the nonplussed Auldiane.

"I told you, didn't I?"

I smirked, unsheathing the dagger and twirling it around my hand before clenching it tightly. The wisps of golden threads surrounding my body billowed around me. I blinked, focusing my gaze on the tribal warrior who took a step back, his cautious gaze fixated on my golden eyes.

"I won't die."

×××

Memory Diary of Auldiane: #73

"She used her ultimate skill, Circle of Miracle."

"..."

Auldiane dropped the spoon from her ahdn, staring at her brother in shock. His sliver-black pupils resembled hers, but one was filled with sadness while the other was filled with nonchalance.

"She's...dead?"

"The boss within the Doomsday gate summoned down "Blood Rain". If it weren't for Hetha, there would be more casualties."

The television in the background played the recent broadcasted news. There was a conference between the government leaders, and a new association brought about by Zetheal.

The Hunter's Association.

"Did she choose such an ending herself?"

"..." Zetheal glanced away, scooping another bowl of serving for himself in the kitchen. "Perhaps."

"Zet, did you force her into it?"

"If it weren't for her needless interference, this entire plan would have come to fruition a long time ago, Diane." Zetheal explained. "Whether I forced her into it or not, this was a debt she had to pay for the number of innocent people she dragged into her affairs."

"So did you force her?"

"In the end, she chose it herself."

"Zet. I can be the person who drags you back from that hell since we experienced it together, but what about her? She had no one to rely on!" Auldiane raised her voice with a hint of anger. "She had no one on her side to confide in! Friends? Family? Lovers? She shouldered it all on her own!"

"That doesn't make it a reason for her to do the things she did! She chose that path herself!" Zetheal barked.

"..." Auldiane flinched back, burying her face into her hands. "I know."

The pair of siblings remained in silence for a while.

"...this also doesn't excuse the things we did, Zet."

"You did nothing wrong," Zet retorted. "You are the good one, and I chose to be the bad one."

Auldiane sighed heavily, fiddling with her spoon as she gazed at the clear soup. However, the clear soup seemed murky in her eyes. "If only there was a way to choose a different ending for all of us. If only there was a way to walk side by side, and prevent these series of tragedies."

"It's too late."

"I know, but this wasn't the ending any of us wanted." Auldiane spoke.

"..."

"Did you at least give her a proper burial?"

"I did."

Auldiane controlled her wheelchair and pushed it next to Zetheal. She grabbed his hand, a bittersweet smile on her face.

"Take me there, brother. I want to give her a bouquet of flowers."

"...sure."

"The last time I was in her office, I noticed lavenders all around the room. I wonder if that's her favourite flower."

"Who knows? It's too late for everything now."

The pair of siblings watched the news on the television. It was supposed to be a joyous occasion, and yet Auldiane couldn't control her emotions. She raised her other hand, wiping at her eyes and Zetheal listened to his younger sister weeping softly. He pulled his hand away from hers, patting gently on her back.