“Ugh... Ughhhh... Ughhhhh!”
Butuh cukup waktu untuk mengenali bahwa gumpalan mengerikan di hadapan mereka memang seorang manusia, dan untuk menemukan di mana wajahnya berada. Ini bukan hanya karena keadaan sosok itu yang rusak parah, tetapi juga karena penampilannya cukup berbeda dari manusia biasa.
Di kepalanya tumbuh tanduk raksasa, sementara sepasang sayap besar mencuat dari punggungnya. Lengan dan kakinya ditutupi bulu tebal dan panjang, sehingga sulit dibedakan bentuknya. Saat diperhatikan lebih dekat, wajahnya tampak seperti campuran aneh antara manusia dan binatang.
Yuder, yang pernah bertemu banyak Pembangkit dengan penampilan yang agak berbeda, jarang menjumpai yang tampilannya begitu khas dan asing. Lebih tepatnya, justru kelangkaan itulah yang membuat Pembangkit ini mudah diingat.
‘Akan lebih sulit melupakan seseorang dengan penampilan sekhas itu.’
Kishiar, yang cepat menyadari reaksi halus Yuder saat mengenali sosok itu, mengucapkan pertanyaan tanpa suara.
‘Kau mengenalnya?’
Yuder sedikit mengangguk, tapi cukup jelas bagi Kishiar untuk menyadarinya.
‘Dari pihak mana?’
Apakah dia dulu sekutu atau musuh.
Yuder merenung sejenak, menatap Pembangkit yang mengerang kesakitan itu. Lalu, dia menulis ringan di punggung tangan Kishiar.
‘Dulu dia anggota Kavaleri. Tapi dia mati lebih awal.’
Nama Pembangkit ini adalah Elpkins. Di kehidupannya yang sebelumnya, dia baru bergabung dengan Kavaleri sekitar satu tahun setelah mereka membubarkan beberapa arena tarung ilegal di selatan. Dia dikenal karena kekuatannya yang luar biasa, penampilannya yang aneh, dan kemampuan regenerasinya yang lebih menakjubkan, yang membuatnya mendapat harapan tinggi di Divisi Shin.
Namun, Elpkins punya sedikit masalah dengan temperamennya. Dia mudah terpicu berlebihan karena hal-hal sepele dan, begitu marah, akan menyerbu bertarung tanpa pikir panjang. Obsesinya terhadap kekuatan juga jauh lebih kuat dibandingkan rekan-rekannya.
Kecenderungannya melampiaskan amarah dalam pertarungan berlebihan, sering mengabaikan nasihat rekan-rekannya saat kegiatan tim, selalu membuat reputasinya di dalam Kavaleri berada di dasar. Ada beberapa kejadian ketika dia sengaja memicu kondisi mengamuk untuk mempercepat kemampuannya.
‘Setidaknya dia tahu cara bersikap di depanku... tapi hanya sampai di situ.’
Elpkins, yang semakin tidak mampu mengendalikan amarahnya, menemui ajal yang mengerikan saat sebuah misi, tidak mampu menahan satu lagi kondisi mengamuknya. Kemampuan regenerasinya, yang selalu dia andalkan untuk menyelamatkannya dari segala bahaya, tragisnya gagal saat itu.
Kematiannya menjadi katalis penting bagi Yuder untuk serius mengakui bahaya kondisi mengamuk seorang Pembangkit. Itu juga berkontribusi pada pembentukan norma di dalam Kavaleri, mencegah anggotanya dengan gegabah memicu kondisi mengamuk demi mengejar kekuatan.
Yuder menyampaikan peristiwa ini secara singkat kepada Kishiar, sambil masih menatap Elpkins, yang terus menderita.
‘Aku tidak pernah menyebut bahwa kami bertemu di selatan di kehidupan sebelumnya...’
Memang, tidak ada yang mau mengakui pernah ditahan di tempat seperti itu. Apalagi Elpkins yang sombong dan ganas.
Dalam ingatan Yuder, Elpkins selalu bisa menggunakan kemampuan regenerasinya dengan bebas, tapi sekarang dia terbaring berlumuran darah dan tidak mampu menggunakannya, pemandangan yang membuat Yuder tidak nyaman.
‘Kekuatan penekan yang memenuhi seluruh ruang bawah tanah ini pasti menghambat kemampuan regenerasinya...’
‘Bagaimanapun, kita harus menilai kondisinya.’
Yuder sempat melirik Kishiar sebelum melompat turun dari langit-langit untuk mendekati sosok itu. Bahkan saat dia mendekat, Elpkins tampak tidak menyadari kehadirannya.
“Ughhhh…”
“...”
Dari jarak dekat, luka Elpkins jauh lebih parah daripada yang terlihat dari jauh. Sayapnya yang berlumuran darah terpelintir dan patah, dan tidak ada satu pun anggota tubuhnya yang tidak terluka. Bulunya, yang semula putih dan biru, lebih dari separuhnya tercabut, meninggalkan kulitnya yang compang-camping dan terkoyak.
Dibandingkan dengan itu, hidung dan wajahnya yang penyok dan bengkak tampak hampir tidak separah luka-lukanya.
Namun, lebih dari luka-lukanya sendiri, pandangan Yuder sangat tertarik pada secarik kain compang-camping yang hampir tidak berfungsi sebagai pakaian Elpkins. Dibuat seolah-olah hanya untuk tujuan pertunjukan, bukan untuk menutupi atau menghangatkan tubuh, pakaian itu adalah pemandangan yang memalukan.
‘Aku sudah berencana menghancurkan tempat ini setelah ikut bertarung besok... tapi memikirkan harus bertarung dengan pakaian seperti itu membuatku ingin mempercepat rencana kita.’
Namun, justru kain compang-camping inilah yang mengungkap sesuatu yang penting. Yuder menghela napas pelan saat menyadari luka dalam Elpkins mencoba menutup, gagal menyatu, lalu berhenti berulang kali. Bahkan di bawah penekanan kekuatannya, kemampuan regenerasi Elpkins berjuang untuk muncul, menandakan kekuatannya yang cukup besar.
Dia jelas bukan orang yang akan mati sia-sia di tempat seperti ini.
Kishiar, yang mendarat di samping Yuder, bergumam dengan suara rendah.
“Hmm. Kondisinya tidak baik. Dia butuh perawatan segera.”
Kishiar bukan orang yang mudah menunjukkan emosi, tapi nada suaranya menyampaikan pesan yang jelas. Dia juga telah melihat dan menyimpulkan hal yang sama seperti Yuder, dan ini jelas menimbulkan akumulasi ketidakpuasan yang besar terhadap arena tarung itu.
“Untungnya, dia pulih dengan lambat...”
“Meski begitu, memperpanjang penderitaannya tidak baik. Biarkan aku mengambil alih sebentar.”
Kishiar, pemilik kuasa ilahi yang besar, jarang menggunakannya di luar untuk merawat Yuder, sampai hampir setengah terlupakan bahwa dia memiliki kemampuan seperti itu.
“Kau yakin bisa mengatasinya?”
“Aku mengujinya tadi dan menemukan bahwa kekuatan penekan di sini sangat mengekang kekuatan Pembangkit, tapi tidak terlalu memengaruhi kekuatan lain. Merawatnya tidak akan menjadi masalah. Namun...”
Kishiar mulai memancarkan cahaya putih menyilaukan dari ujung jarinya, bergumam pada dirinya sendiri.
“Mengingat parahnya kondisinya, ini akan menghabiskan banyak kekuatanku, jadi aku mungkin tidak banyak membantu setelahnya.”
Itu bukan masalah. Bahkan jika Kishiar tidak melakukan apa-apa, Yuder bisa bertindak, dan kehadirannya di sisi Yuder akan lebih menenangkan. Namun, jika Kishiar memaksakan diri sampai membahayakan kesehatannya sendiri, itu akan menjadi kekhawatiran serius.
‘Aku percaya dia tidak akan berlebihan menggunakan kekuatannya, tapi aku tetap khawatir.’
Merasa lebih cemas terhadap kesejahteraan orang lain tidak biasa bagi Yuder, terutama menyangkut Kishiar. Itu perasaan yang aneh dan menggelisahkan, mengingat hidupnya yang biasanya tanpa gejolak.
“...Berhati-hatilah.”
Yuder berbicara singkat sebelum melangkah mundur. Segera, Kishiar mulai menyalurkan kuasa ilahinya dengan sungguh-sungguh, memulai proses penyembuhan untuk Elpkins.
Butuh cukup waktu sebelum cahaya itu akhirnya meredup.
“Sudah selesai. Hanya itu yang bisa kulakukan untuk sekarang.”
Kishiar berkata demikian, tapi Elpkins, setelah penyembuhan selesai, tampak hampir pulih sepenuhnya dari luar.
“Patah tulang dan luka luarnya sebagian besar sudah sembuh, tapi bahkan dengan kemampuan regenerasinya, masih butuh beberapa hari perawatan lagi untuk pulih sepenuhnya.”
Kishiar, setelah menarik napas dalam, terhuyung saat melangkah mundur. Yuder cepat menopangnya, menyadari wajah pria itu menjadi jauh lebih pucat hanya dalam waktu singkat.
“Kau tidak apa-apa?”
“Hanya salah langkah... tapi kekhawatiranmu begitu besar, sampai membuatku ingin tetap seperti ini.”
“Ini bukan waktunya bercanda.”
Mendengar suara Yuder yang dingin namun penuh kekhawatiran, pria itu tersenyum lebar. Dia lalu menyandarkan kepalanya ke rambut Yuder.
“Um... Dari semua kekuatan yang kumiliki, yang ini tampaknya paling tidak cocok untukku. Bahkan aku tidak bisa cocok dengan segalanya.”
“...”
“Tapi bukankah rasa kepuasan setelah menggunakan kekuatan seperti itu tak terbantahkan? Aku tidak ingin bersembunyi dan tidak pernah menggunakan kekuatan yang kumiliki. Jika ada orang yang membutuhkan, itu harus digunakan.”
Yuder menatap Kishiar dan, setelah beberapa saat, mengangguk dengan susah payah.
“Uh...ughhh... K-kau... siapa kau?”
Saat itu, Elpkins akhirnya membuka matanya. Setelah sadar, dia sempat ketakutan oleh orang-orang asing di hadapannya, tapi tak lama keterkejutannya berubah menjadi keheranan saat menyadari tubuhnya telah pulih sepenuhnya.
“Aku... aku terluka parah karena kekalahanku hari ini... Bagaimana ini bisa terjadi? Apakah kalian yang menyembuhkanku?”
“Ya.”
“Bagaimana...? Seharusnya tidak ada yang bisa menggunakan kekuatannya di sini...”
“Itu rahasia.”
Kishiar tersenyum diam-diam dan meletakkan jarinya di atas bibirnya. Menyadari bahwa orang-orang asing ini memang telah menyembuhkannya, Elpkins tidak mendesak lebih jauh tentang bagaimana dia dirawat.
Sebagai gantinya, dia mengamati Yuder dan Kishiar dengan tatapan waspada namun bergetar.
“...Kalian bukan bagian dari gang Nukijo, kan?”
“Bukan.”
Chapter 660
“Ugh... Ughhhh... Ughhhhh!”
It took a considerable amount of time to discern that the grotesque mass before them was indeed a person, and to identify where the face was. This was not only due to the severely disfigured state of the figure, but also because its appearance was quite different from that of an ordinary human.
Adorning its head were enormous antlers, while large wings protruded from its back. Its arms and legs were covered in thick, long feathers, making it difficult to discern their outline. Upon closer inspection, the face seemed to be a bizarre mix of human and beast.
Yuder, who had encountered many Awakeners with somewhat different appearances, rarely came across one with such a distinct and alien look. More precisely, it was this rarity that made this particular Awakener memorable.
'It would be harder to forget someone with such a distinct appearance.'
Kishiar, quickly noticing Yuder's subtle reaction upon recognizing the figure, silently mouthed a question.
'Is it someone you know?'
Yuder nodded slightly, yet noticeably enough for Kishiar to discern.
'Which side?'
Whether they had been allies or enemies.
Yuder pondered for a moment, gazing down at the groaning Awakener in pain. Then, he lightly wrote on the back of Kishiar's hand.
'He was once a member of the Cavalry. But he died early.'
The name of this Awakener was Elpkins. In his previous life, he had joined the Cavalry only about a year after they had dismantled several illegal fighting rings in the south. He was known for his immense strength, peculiar appearance, and even more remarkable regenerative abilities, which had garnered high expectations in the Shin Division.
However, Elpkins had a slight problem with his temperament. He would easily get overly excited over trivial matters and, once angered, would charge blindly into battle. His obsession with power was also much more intense compared to his peers.
His tendency to lash out in excessive fights, often ignoring the advice of colleagues during team activities, always kept his reputation within the Cavalry at rock bottom. There were several instances where he deliberately induced a rampage to accelerate his abilities.
'At least he knew to behave in front of me... but that was about it.'
Elpkins, increasingly unable to control his rage, met a gruesome end during a mission, unable to withstand another of his rampages. His regenerative abilities, which he had always relied on to save him from any peril, tragically failed him that time.
His death became a significant catalyst for Yuder to seriously acknowledge the dangers of an Awakener's rampage. It also contributed to the establishment of norms within the Cavalry, preventing members from recklessly inducing rampages for the sake of power.
Yuder briefly conveyed this event to Kishiar, while still looking down at Elpkins, who continued to suffer.
'I never mentioned that we met in the south in his previous life...'
Indeed, nobody would have wanted to admit being held captive in such a place. It was even less likely for the proud and fierce Elpkins.
In Yuder's memory, Elpkins had always been able to freely use his regenerative abilities, but now he lay bloodied and unable to use them, a sight that unsettled Yuder.
'The suppressive power permeating this entire underground space must be hindering his regeneration abilities...'
'Anyway, we must assess his condition.'
Yuder briefly glanced at Kishiar before leaping down from the ceiling to approach the figure. Even as he drew near, Elpkins seemed oblivious to his presence.
"Ughhhh…"
"..."
Up close, Elpkins' wounds were far more severe than they had appeared from a distance. His blood-stained wings were twisted and broken, and there wasn’t a single unmarred limb. The feathers, originally white and blue, were more than half plucked out, leaving his skin tattered and torn.
Compared to these, the flattened and swollen nose and face seemed almost less severe.
However, more than the wounds themselves, Yuder's gaze was strongly drawn to the ragged piece of cloth that barely served as Elpkins' clothing. Made seemingly for the sole purpose of display rather than to cover or warm, the garment was a humiliating sight to behold.
'I had planned to demolish this place after participating in tomorrow's fight... but the thought of having to fight in such attire makes me want to hasten our plans.'
Yet, it was this tattered cloth that revealed something significant. Yuder exhaled softly upon noticing Elpkins' deep wounds trying to close, unsuccessfully fusing and then halting repeatedly. Even under the suppression of his powers, Elpkins' regenerative ability was struggling to surface, indicating its substantial strength.
He certainly wasn't someone to die helplessly in such a place.
Kishiar, who had landed beside Yuder, murmured in a low voice.
"Hmm. His condition is not good. He needs immediate treatment."
Kishiar was not one to easily show emotion, but his tone conveyed a clear message. He, too, had seen and deduced the same things as Yuder, and this evidently led to a significant accumulation of discontent towards the fighting ring.
"Fortunately, he is recovering slowly..."
"Even so, prolonging his pain is not good. Let me take over for a moment."
Kishiar, a possessor of great divine power, rarely used it outside of treating Yuder, to the extent that it was almost half-forgotten that he possessed such ability.
"Are you sure you can manage?"
"I tested earlier and found that the suppressive power here strongly restrains the power of the Awakener, but doesn’t affect other powers as much. Treating him won't be a problem. However…"
Kishiar began to emit a dazzling white light from his fingertips, muttering to himself.
"Given the severity of his condition, this will use a lot of my power, so I might not be much help afterward."
That was not an issue. Even if Kishiar did nothing, Yuder could take action, and having him at his side would be more comforting. However, if Kishiar overexerted himself to the point of harming his own health, that would be a serious concern.
'I trust he won’t overuse his power, but I'm still worried.'
To feel more anxious about another's well-being was unusual for Yuder, especially concerning Kishiar. It was a strange and unsettling feeling, given his usually uneventful life.
"...Be careful."
Yuder spoke briefly before stepping back. Soon, Kishiar began to earnestly channel his divine power, initiating the healing process for Elpkins.
It took a considerable amount of time before the light finally faded.
"It's done. That's all I can do for now."
Kishiar spoke thus, but Elpkins, upon the completion of the healing, appeared almost fully restored on the outside.
"The external fractures and wounds are mostly healed, but even considering his regenerative abilities, it will still take a few more days of treatment to fully recover."
Kishiar, after taking a deep breath, staggered as he stepped back. Yuder quickly supported him, noticing the man's face had turned significantly paler in just a short time.
"Are you alright?"
"It's just a misstep... but your concern is so great, it makes me want to stay like this."
"This is no time for jokes."
Hearing Yuder's cold yet worried voice, the man smiled broadly. He then leaned his head against Yuder's hair.
"Um... Of all the powers I possess, this one seems to suit me the least. Even I can't be compatible with everything."
"..."
"But isn't the sense of fulfillment after using such power undeniable? I don't want to hide and never use the power I have. If there's someone in need, it should be used."
Yuder looked up at Kishiar and, after a moment, nodded with difficulty.
"Uh...ughhh... Y-you...who are you?"
Just then, Elpkins finally opened his eyes. Regaining consciousness, he was momentarily frightened by the strangers before him, but soon his surprise turned to astonishment upon realizing his body was fully healed.
"I... I was seriously injured from today's defeat... How did this happen? Did you heal me?"
"Yes."
"How...? No one is supposed to be able to use their powers here..."
"That's a secret."
Kishiar silently smiled and placed a finger over his lips. Realizing that these strangers had indeed healed him, Elpkins did not press further on how he had been treated.
Instead, he scanned Yuder and Kishiar with a look of wary yet trembling eyes.
"...You're not part of the Nukijo gang, are you?"
"No, we're not."
[BL] Bermuda
Leonardo Blaine, the true war hero of the Raina Logia Empire and the commander of the Armsilver 11th Squad, is dishonorably discharged for disobeying orders during the final battle that could have led the Empire to victory in the territorial war. People criticize and point fingers at him, and after being released on parole from prison, he disappears without a trace.
Three years later, his name has been forgotten by the world. The Council has been persistently pursuing him, but he has proven difficult to capture. Frustrated by this, Hugo Agrizendro, the commander of the Council's army, decides to personally apprehend him.
"Since when have you been watching me?"
Leonardo was calculative and astute, so it wouldn't be surprising if he had been observing Hugo for some time now. However, Leonardo's answer was something that even Hugo had not anticipated.
"From the very beginning."
[BL] Cloudless Sky
Jin Soram, the top-ranked hunter representing South Korea's Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters, is stronger than anyone else and lazier than anyone else. As soon as he arrives at the office, he buries himself under a blanket and falls asleep. When he goes out on a mission, he causes accidents and returns to the office, often shirking his duties.
"Do you know how it feels to play a game that's already messed up? ...Anyway, the next round will come, so this time, I'm just going to play it recklessly."
In fact, his true identity is someone who has regressed through three lives, trying to save the world from the Great Rift but failing each time. After repeating a life where he couldn't sleep peacefully even for a day, he became completely exhausted before this life even began.
"I know. You worked hard, Jin Soram."
And then there's Han Tae-un, the man who saved Soram and died in all three previous lives. As he did in every life, he comes to Soram's side once again. The Great Rift is approaching soon. It's impossible to resolve it in this life without any preparation. Soram vows to save Tae-un in this life and die himself. At least, he won't let Tae-un save a failure like himself again.
"For now, until then, let's sleep..."
As Soram sluggishly lives his life waiting for that moment, a gradual change occurs in his heart.
'I thought this was a messed-up round... but I want to live a little longer here.'
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