Moonlight came and went in turns. Entering through a gap, into a certain darkness. From within there, the sound of breathing was heard repeatedly.
The wind pierced.
That body had been there for quite a long time.
From outside, on the ship's deck. A group of people could be seen kneeling, although Ascella's eyes were slightly obstructed by the fog.
Stay calm... Damn!
Never thought the labyrinth could make me move so far from the city.
Losing Sinhart's trail.
Sneaking into a ship.
And now in this smelly barrel...
Was this a bad decision...
Wait...what are they doing
"...Those people," muttered Ascella from inside.
R'ogues' figure began walking toward the group of people that Ascella had been observing all this time. R'ogues began talking with Graem.
That person has something different about him.
...What are they talking about?
The sound of footsteps of two people on the deck floor, sounded close to Ascella.
Someone is approaching...
Ascella's breathing became slower and calmer. The sound of her heartbeat was almost inaudible even to herself. Very close to Ascella, the faint sound of the wooden barrel wall being struck repeatedly.
From outside, the two men could be seen sitting on top of wooden barrels. One of them swung his legs in the air and hit the barrel he sat on.
"Want to bet cigarettes... Who will die first among them?"
"Sounds interesting," replied the other man.
Ascella focused on listening to their conversation.
"I bet five of mine. On...the blond-haired one!" he continued while glancing at someone kneeling not far from him.
"Then I'll take the...ugly and weak looking one." His hand pointed briefly, before returning to support his body.
The fog began to fade. The moonlight grew brighter. Ascella's view became clearer.
"Start quickly R'ogues!" someone shouted.
His thumb touched the iron wheel, spinning it quickly. The spinning iron wheel scraped the flint. It sounded faint and repeated. Sparks from the friction ignited the gas. Fire lit in front of a paper stick filled with tobacco.
The smoke that billowed out met the cold air and quickly drifted away.
Ascella's focus returned to R'ogues. This time, through everything that had happened. Ascella knew what would happen to those kneeling people. From within that darkness, her eyes widened further.
Right now. Since earlier. Ascella had already released her Anima energy and was at the second sky. But Ascella held back the release of that Anima energy.
The suppression of that Anima energy could have many effects. The Anima energy could not be detected. The Anima energy could accumulate and its output could surge irregularly when released.
But—
Its suppression could also make the heart unable to beat strongly and burst. However what Ascella had done was close to perfect.
Even so, since its activation, Ascella had maintained it for more than a thousand seconds. Its limit would come.
The output of R'ogues' Anima Eugenes surged high. A small part of its influence was felt by Ascella's body. Even though covered by shadows, R'ogues' facial expression seemed to change.
"Ouch! Here it is... I guess I win!" A soft laugh from the man was heard.
The tip of R'ogues' weapon tapped the faces in the line of kneeling people. In the silence filled with tears, there was only one sound that became the center.
That event appeared quickly.
Without warning.
A feeling of disbelief. A nauseating sensation pierced the chest. Her eyes closed in disbelief. This was the first time Ascella had seen it. From Ascella's blood flowing within, something poisoned her mind.
The heartbeat grew faster. Somehow inside it was mixed with anger.
From within that darkness, a faint red glowing form appeared. The two people near her did not notice it at all.
The deck floor shook violently, shaking the empty barrels and casks. The Anima energy on the ship's deck was disturbed and for a moment lost its stability.
R'ogues and everyone on the deck were focused on the Anima energy that pierced them. But only one person regained focus quickly, Ascella.
Quickly the Anima energy was compressed in both of Ascella's hands. Bones and muscles immediately worked in sync.
Ascella's hands pushed hard upward. Even though the weight exceeded her, Ascella surpassed it with her strength.
The man who was still processing what had happened did not realize. The place he sat was lifted into the air. A surge of force was felt from his thighs. At that moment, his view was forced upward toward the sky.
The distant sound of dark water reflecting the sky broke loudly.
"What the?!" Ascella's figure was quickly seen at the corner of the other man's eye.
The feeling near him strengthened his reaction.
His hand moved quickly reaching for the weapon hanging behind his pants. A weapon with a long barrel quickly aimed at Ascella.
His finger pulled hard. The spring moved. The small hammer inside the weapon struck hard. A piece of steel hit the flint. Small sparks appeared. The gunpowder exploded loudly. From the barrel, it launched a hot lead ball.
The man looked at Ascella in panic.
The red Anima energy collided harshly. The lead fragments bounced back. Striking and tearing parts apart. Thick blood burst from the man's face. His body slammed to the floor.
Everything happened quickly.
R'ogues realized quickly. Glancing toward the sound of the gunshot. His view only caught a bloody body on the floor.
"..."
In silence. A slight ripple of his Anima Eugenes cloak. His eyes caught the trace of Anima energy. That feeling told him. R'ogues turned around.
Their eyes met.
Quickly R'ogues' staff rose. Blocking the compressed Anima energy attack flying toward his head. A hard collision. Both of their bodies were thrown away.
Earlier.
Ascella quickly performed a sky transition, rising one level. Sequential transitions gave greater intensity, both to the body and the technique.
A severe tingling sensation in her legs from performing high-frequency vibrations to strengthen her steps. A physical enhancement technique that could not be learned alone. Not to mention quickly and simultaneously compressing Anima energy in her fist.
Ascella's body was thrown backward hitting one of the kneeling people. Meanwhile R'ogues who was dragged in the opposite direction, held his ground perfectly.
"Where are these surprises coming from?!" R'ogues stood upright, resting his staff on his shoulder.
Children?
No...the piercing sensation does not come from her Anima energy.
Even so something must be happening inside the ship.
"Transition: second sky."
Along with the increase in breathing frequency and heartbeat. His Anima Eugenes loosened slowly, R'ogues' Anima energy surged. Slightly unstable compared to Ascella, but gradually becoming more controlled.
Dark yellowish Anima energy flowed replacing Anima Eugenes. R'ogues' staff now manifested with Anima energy. The Anima energy formed sharp wire coils covering the surface of the weapon.
Meanwhile. Ascella had just risen from her fall. The line of people saw her and one by one began to stand.
Ascella's gaze pierced R'ogues' face.
"You little child...you look like you really hate me." R'ogues' staff lifted toward Ascella, responding to her gaze.
At quite a wide distance.
The two faced each other.
The red Anima energy that had surged before became calmer. At certain moments, her breath felt cut off.
"Why—"
R'ogues with a faint smile cut off the words that were about to come out of Ascella's mouth.
"Ahh! I understand. The hatred that is always directed at me...," R'ogues' voice was heard by everyone on the deck.
"This must be your first time seeing it, right," continued R'ogues taking the conversation seriously.
The group of people behind Ascella also stared sharply at R'ogues.
"I don't know where you came from. But you must have never seen it...,"
"This is the outside world, kid. It is natural for the weak to die." R'ogues' grip tightened on his staff.
"We sorcerers! It is our nature to use this power to kill," said R'ogues seriously.
"Wrong!" shouted Ascella from the opposite side.
Ascella lowered her head for a moment.
"Now I understand," continued Ascella.
Even as the wind blew the torn part of her simple dress below. Ascella's face still showed her intent to answer R'ogues' seriousness.
We who are born with power...
Different from those who are not.
The suffering of the world?
It is always the weak and innocent who die.
So what is the purpose of that difference.
"Talking session is over, kid...,"
R'ogues' leather coat slightly gleamed, reflecting the moon in the sky. The hard staff glowed. A dark yellow color in the night. Even though his face was annoyed, that conversation entered R'ogues' mind.
Not ignored.
One thing was still on his mind.
R'ogues' smile faded.
-When I Open My Eyes: My Journey Begins-
End chapter 9