Searching for Andromeda 85 Agonizing Truth

Vashti's knees fell to the ground as she coughed blood. The laceration to her stomach unbridled fountains of blood as what seemed like a spear pierced through her belly.

"Heeeh. I thought even with the Half-breed you are; you'd still put up a fight."

The spear drew away from Vashti's back, which made her wrap her arms around her belly to conceal the bleeding. To make it stop. Vashti's body trembled as the blood continued to pour. 

Silent steps reverberated across the entirety of the space.

"How many of you were here? Five?" It was the voice of a man—mockingly laughing at Vashti as he approaches her. Vashti slowly turned around, but her efforts were in vain as the man stomped Vashti low to the ground; his boots stepping through her nape.

Vashti held her staff firmly and then chanted a spell, a fireball to counterattack.

"Hoh." The man licked his lips. "You're quite going onto the offensive, considering that cute face of yours."

Why can't I conjure a spell?! Vashti thought, No . . . why didn't I hear or detect his presence from the start . . . ?!

"I've cancelled your magic and your abilities," the man said. "In case you're wondering."

Vashti screamed at the top of her lungs. 

"Aah—ah, that hurt, you know!" The man clutched Vashti's hair and then with a loud slam to the ground, he smashed Vashti's face straight to the floor.

"Tch. I can't cancel voices. That's a shame." The man grinned. "Your cute face isn't so cute now, does it?"

Vashti slowly turned her head towards the man, looking at him from sideways.

"What . . . d-do you want f-from me . . . ?"

The man laughed exuberantly. "From you? Don't make me laugh. I don't have anything to do with you." He then pulled a fistful of Vashti's hair. "I'm searching for him."

"Him . . . ?" Vashti exclaimed, balling her hand to a fist—waiting to attack.

"That's right. The second incarnate—"

Vashti's fist landed on the man's face, making him lose his grip to Vashti and had served an opening for her escape. Vashti was able to pull away, coughing blood on the process.

"Impressive," the man exclaimed. "I expected no less from an Elf, Halfling as you are. However!"

A giant necromorph roared and threw itself to Vashti—fast enough to make her unable to dodge its attack.

The necromorph's claws dug themselves into Vashti's wounded stomach, deepening and widening the would even further. Vashti coughed blood in the process, but she was still able to stand. She still has Elven blood circulating inside her. She could still fight!

"You got guts." The man said. "I know who you are. Vashti Eclavesh Aredhel. You're still granted a blessed second name despite the Halfling you are. As expected from your noble bloodline."

Vashti was going dizzier as her vision goes blur and fuzzy; her head was gyrating and the pain was spreading to her body—like that of a poison agonizingly coursing through her veins. The pain was indescribable, but it was a sign that she was still alive. It was a sign that she may pull through this. 

"I'm surprised that didn't take you down. It means there's just so much potential in you." The man exclaimed, walking towards Vashti. "And that won't go to waste."

Vashti felt her power returning to her as she sees the fire she tried to ignite several times forming beside her staff.

"That's right. I'm returning your power because I now know that even with such a cute face, you're actually strong." The man grinned. Now that Vashti stood before him, she now had the full grasp of his appearance. 

He had a jet-black hair and similarly dark eyes; below his dark orbs was a burned scar sewn to the lighter patches of his skin. He also wore peculiar clothing in which Vashti couldn't describe in simpler words. But there was something notable about him other than these features. It was his gold necklace which had a triangular insignia that had an eye on the middle.

That familiar insignia that had appeared several years ago . . . ! 

"I don't know everything about you, but I do have a basic knowledge of your team. Yael, Hosea, Pelmon, and Arletha. And observing from a distance made me certain about something." He smiled at Vashti. "You care about them, do you?"

The necromorph's claw engraved on Vashti's stomach drew away as the man's fingertips glowed.

Vashti narrowed her eyes. Is this man controlling these monsters? But how could that be? The Book never stated anything about people being able to control Wahid's creations!

NO. She didn't have the time to think. Right now, she has to focus on defeating this man once and for all!

"HAAAH!" Vashti unleashed the fireball she had been forming for a while now to the man. He chuckled and then with a flick of his finger, the fire disappeared completely.

��You disappoint me. That was too simple. Too mundane. I expected a lot, Aredhel Halfling!"

Vashti, through her labor breaths, smirked. "You disappointed me . . . as well!"

"What?"

Fireballs from the top and from behind flared straight to the man, sending the entirety to a scorching inferno. She began to conjure as many attack spells she could to the necromorphs coming towards her. 

Vashti gritted her teeth. At this rate, she won't make it to the clock tower. No, she has to be healed by Hosea first. But then there's this man. She couldn't just go and leave Arletha and Samuel unattended! What if there's something that happened to them?! This man clearly is an enemy, despite his humanoid appearance. Who knows if he could've had comrades?

"Huh. I expected so much more. The agonizing truth cannot be averted, after all." The man sighed exasperatingly. "Necron."

And without even a single second, a necromorph appeared behind Vashti and then struck a giant claw to her back, sliding to her stomach as it creates a hole to her whole belly. It shattered her spine, her ribs, and her organs. Vashti's field of vision turned white. How did that happen? She burnt the necromorphs into scorch. Why didn't it leave a dent to them?

"agonizing tr-truth . . . ?"

"Yes. The agonizing truth that you're nothing compared to me. You're nothing but a Halfling with half-baked talents. THE AGONIZING TRUTH THAT YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO SAVE ANYONE BECAUSE OF THE HALFLING YOU ARE." The man licked his lips as he smiled. "Oh, despite the weakling you are, Vashti; you still shouldn't die yet. I still have to milk all your mana so that my Necrons will be able to regenerate faster."

Vashti's tears fell down to her cheeks. It frustrates her that he's right. She couldn't do anything now but to succumb to death. And at this rate, all of them—ALL OF THEM will die!

"Wh-wh . . why . . ." Vashti sobbed. 

"Why do I do this?" The man lifted Vashti's chin. "I told you."

"I am after Wahid's second incarnate." The man tightened his grip around Vashti's jaw, crushing her facial bones. "In short, I am after the man who came from another world. The Second Reincarnation, the one who was brought here according to fate!"

Chapter end