DEB 106

“So, to sum it up, the emotions I left behind in the swamp that day turned into another version of me. Like an avatar,” Huiyun remarked, finally grasping the situation after hearing the man’s explanation. 

He glanced around, his mind lingering on the thought that such a fragment of himself had been born in this place. 

It had been thousands of years, and the fact that he had remained unaware of it until now was rather surprising.

“Yes, Yasha. The one you left behind has existed in this swamp since long before I was born. He’s also the one who has worked the hardest to eliminate the swamp’s new ruler who recently appeared.”

“Why does my avatar want to get rid of the swamp’s new ruler?”

“If the new ruler isn’t stopped, the original ruler of the swamp will awaken, and a struggle for dominance will ensue. Such a clash between two entities would be catastrophic for the swamp. The swamp would tremble and collapse. And if those beings escaped into the world outside…”

“Chaos would ensue.”

Like Pandora’s box being opened, if the swamp extended beyond its boundaries into the realms of demons or humans, it would leave nothing but devastation.

In the past, this might have been unthinkable. But with the swamp’s current state, it had more than enough power to lay waste to an entire world.

“Yes. Perhaps he chose to remain here for the greater good. Usually, an avatar born from leftover emotions or traces of power wouldn’t survive for so long.”

“A very determined avatar.”  

“He embodies righteousness.”  

“Hmm.”

The more Huiyun listened, the more evident it became that the man before him deeply respected this other version of Yasha.

Just as Huiyun had his disciples, perhaps the other Yasha had this man to fill a similar role.

It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Huiyun patted Siho’s fur, feeling it might actually be fortunate that this man existed. 

If his avatar had been left alone, he might have lost his sanity, fighting loneliness for so long.

“What does it mean that my power grows stronger when I’m here?”

“Your fragment is still a part of you. When the main body arrives, it’s only natural that the fragment’s power would increase as well. Up until now, his power was too weak to deal with the new ruler of the swamp. But now that you’re here, the battle can be won.”

“So, he’s been fighting alone all this time?”  

“…My power was too weak to be of much help.”  

“That’s why you brought me here. It wasn’t the swamp’s new ruler who summoned me—it was your will that drew me in.”

Now, the situation made sense. Initially, Huiyun had thought the swamp’s new ruler had pulled him in, but it seemed that the man had called him here instead.

Considering the hallucinations he had been experiencing, it was likely that his unconscious mind had played a strong role in this.

The unconscious mind is a formidable force. Free from the constraints of various thoughts or limitations, it perceives what it desires with precision and can manifest it repeatedly with great power.

“Hmm…”

Huiyun checked on Siho, who showed no signs of waking up. 

That meant there was no immediate way to return, and with the quest still unfinished, the path ahead was clear.

“Then I must help you.”  

“…Wait, Yasha.”  

Moot grabbed Huiyun’s arm, pulling him close and asking if he was serious. Huiyun blinked innocently in response.

“Sigh.”

Letting out a weary sigh, Moot massaged his neck and rolled his head side to side.

“…If that’s your decision, then I have no choice but to follow. But doesn’t this seem suspicious?”

“Haha. I can hear you, you know.”  

The man chuckled. 

Moot ignored him, urging Huiyun to reconsider, but Huiyun was resolute.

“So what if it’s suspicious? We need his help to get out of here. He doesn’t seem like a bad person, and we have a shared goal, so there’s no reason not to help.”

“Yasha.”

“Besides, didn’t he say that my avatar has been trying very hard for a long time? As the one who left him behind, it’s my responsibility to alleviate some of that burden. As my disciple, you should be thinking of helping my avatar too.”

The admonishment, which could be seen as firm, silenced Moot. He no longer seemed inclined to argue, so Huiyun patted his shoulder and head alternately.

“Don’t be so uncomfortable. Excessive caution can narrow your perspective.”

“…You’re too lenient. What if their goal is to offer you as a sacrifice to calm the swamp?”

“…Well, even if that’s the case, I doubt I would be the one to end up as a sacrifice.”

“Hmm?”

Moot’s eyes demanded an explanation, but Huiyun, deeming it unnecessary to elaborate, pretended not to notice and addressed the man instead.

“So, future guardian, how would you like us to help? Should we go up and fight the swamp’s new ruler?”

“That won’t be necessary. Your presence alone is already a great help to him. He’ll handle the new ruler himself. Meanwhile, we need to explore deep within the swamp to investigate its source.”

“To find out why the swamp became corrupted?”

“Yes. If the underlying issue isn’t addressed, a new ruler will always emerge, so we must examine the swamp before it’s too late. We need to understand what’s happening in order to restore stability.”

“Good idea. But I’m a little worried about the children up above.”

Ash, Vina, Vita, Zenith, and Verita—all were excellent disciples whom Huiyun had nurtured and guided. Though there was nothing to criticize about them, concern was a natural part of being a master. His face reflected his anxious thoughts, and the name reassured him.

“They’ll be fine. Just as you love your disciples, so does he.”

…No matter what happens, he would lay down his life to protect them.

There was a hint of sorrow in his mutterings. Huiyun, sensing the emotions in the man’s eyes, closed his own.

“…I just hope the children won’t be too sad.”

Despite their appearances, they were sensitive and affectionate. If his avatar took on Yasha’s form, they would undoubtedly open their hearts even more.

Praying that the disciples wouldn’t be too deeply hurt, Huiyun, along with Siho and Moot, followed the man toward the source of the swamp.

The black darkness before them trembled as if it intended to swallow them whole.

***

“Hah… Huff…”

“Haah…”

Among Yasha’s disciples, Ash and Vita, known for their endurance, were now struggling to catch their breaths.

“Ugh, damn…”

Ash wiped the sweat from his brow, finally giving in and kneeling down to catch his breath. Vita also stopped and steadied his breathing. The two of them looked ahead to the figure in front.

“Yashaaa! Why are you in such a hurry? Can’t we… can’t we take a break?”

Turning around was the silver-haired child, who had been striding nimbly across the swamp. His divine aura and presence seemed to grow stronger rather than fade, even in this dark place.

He opened his mouth with a hint of realization.

“Oh, my apologies. I’m so used to traveling alone that I forgot about your pace.”

Ever since they reached what could truly be called the “swamp,” the disciples’ pace had slowed considerably. In contrast, Yasha continued moving as if he were gliding over the surface, his movements almost unnatural. The disciples watched in astonishment as he seemed to skate across the treacherous ground.

“How are you even doing that? What, are you wearing some kind of flying shoes?”

“You’ll get used to it eventually. Come on, if you’ve rested enough, let’s keep moving. We don’t have much time.”

“What? We didn’t even rest for a minute.”

Ash’s eyes wavered. Ignoring Ash’s grumbling, Vita focused on the young Yasha walking ahead and shook his head.

“…Now I’m convinced. That’s definitely Yasha.”  

“I didn’t want to be certain because of something like this.”  

“…Are you just going to stand there? We’re getting left behind. Let’s catch up, Ash.”

“Vina, you’re slower than me, so don’t act like that…”  

Even though he was exhausted, Ash eventually began to follow Yasha, letting out a groan of complaint. Zenith and Verita maintained a steady, albeit slower, pace, matching the group’s speed. Only the young Yasha continued moving ahead, seemingly in a rush.

The child who kept urging them on, saying there was no time to waste, suddenly came to a stop.

“Did we arrive?”

Vina voiced a hopeful thought, but judging by the expression on Yasha’s face as he turned around, it didn’t seem like a good situation.

“Too late.”

The young Yasha’s face darkened, muttering in dismay.

Rumble!

The sky roared violently. A sound like thunder echoed as a gray light pierced the earth, enveloping a black shape.

“Yasha!”

The disciples instinctively heightened their senses, surrounding the young Yasha. He watched them with surprise, then let out a breathy laugh.

“For people who were just struggling so much, you sure react quickly. It’s reassuring.”

“Is this really the time to say that? What’s going on here?”

Ash lightly chided the composed Yasha, drawing his sword.

The young Yasha looked at the spot where the gray light had struck and whispered.

“I tried to stop it, but it wasn’t enough. Get ready. The swamp’s new ruler has finally emerged.”

It was time to face the King of Wraiths in battle.