Chapter 325 What Are Times
Northern and Raven stood before the river of lava, it was the only thing protecting the settlement of Red Walkers from them.
Or them from the settlement of Red Walkers.
Whichever one it was, aren't we about to find out soon?
Even the said group of monsters seemed ready to face the inevitable.
They lined themselves at the other edge of the river and anxiously waited for the two drifters to cross.
Snarling and growling like hungry beasts.
They were just like the White Walkers too, but they had red stony skin, fiery red eyes, their teeth were protruding out of their mouths like wild orcs and their horns were a bit shorter than that of the White Walkers.
But overall, they looked stronger, crazier and packed more power in their stone-moulded muscles.
Some were even more pronounced than the others, with larger body builds and tiny cracks of lava running through their stony skin like veins.
They held crude weapons, axes, spiked clubs, spears, unruly swords—shark shaped and unhealthy for the timid mind.
But Northern and Raven stood alone, Raven held two swords, Northern equally held two swords.
Both of them fixed the horde of monsters with a cold, unwavering gaze.
There was not a hint of fear on their expressions.
Even though they were unevenly overwhelmed by numbers, they showed no sign of hesitation or remorse.
Northern particularly hailed himself internally. Because usually, this many monsters would be causing him to choose to flee rather than to fight.
Because the numbers were simply overwhelming and he had always thought there was no shame in living to fight another day.
But clearly now, he could see that perhaps he had been using that as an excuse for his cowardice, which was not expected of him.
Having made up his mind to leave that old self in this rift and become someone better, someone stronger, stronger than anyone could imagine, not bound by the limits of ranks.
He was more than determined to plunge his way through. If his life would be what he would give for such level of strength.
Then he was ready.
If he really does die then that means he didn't deserve to be strong—Northern made peace with that.
But that would also mean that all his strength thus far had been luck. Now, that was what he wanted to check in this rift.
Had it really been luck? Or did he work for it?
If it had been luck, then how much more would he gain if he actually put in the effort?
And if he did work for it, why did he leave that rift and suddenly become a coward and a fool?
This battle for Northern was going to be a very long and deep moment of self-reflection.
And he didn't want to get distracted.
So he decided to summon just two clones and summoned Lamla, commanding the monster to go find Ulzred.
The two clones would serve as the extra hands, they would bring him clones from the side which would cause his harvesting of talent fragments to be faster.
He materialized the new item he got and just as expected.
A cleaner katana-like blade appeared in his hands.
"I would explore it later for now, you take it," Northern gave it to one of his clones.
And equipped the two daggers to the other one.
He himself was armed with Soul Taker and Mortal Blade, his buddies from the beginning.
He didn't know if he'd be able to part with them, first of all, he hadn't even explored half of the things Mortal Blade can do.
And the soul damage Soul Taker dealt made a lot of things really easy for him.
Northern smiled smugly and turned his head to Raven who also seemed to be at the ready.
"What?" She questioned, her tone dripping with a hint of arrogance.
Northern looked away, trying his best to get rid of the delighted smile on his lips, he said as he did:
"It's nothing, I was just reflecting on my first meeting with you. To think I hated you and yet here we are…"
"...leaving your back for me to protect as you do mine."
"Kid yourself not, I still don't trust you enough to do that."
A cunning grin crawled up Raven's lips, she tilted her head with a red light glinting in her eyes, like that of a thousand-year-old fox.
"I think it's otherwise though. I think you trust me, but you are just embarrassed to admit it."
Northern rolled his eyes away, "Oh please. Will you just focus on the coming battle and make sure you survive, I'll take care of my own back."
Raven nodded and tapped his shoulder, "Don't worry friend, I've got you."
With his face contorting with irritation, Northern retorted, "Uh? Who the hell is your friend?"
Raven looked forward, her face breaking into a stern look of determination.
She lingered then said, still looking forward.
"I promise you, I'll get you out of this rift. And you won't have to suffer like you did the last time. On no occasion will I leave you alone to suffer, if someone will be trapped, then I'll make sure it is me and not you."
Northern bowed his head as she spoke, his fist was tightly clenched and even clenching harder that they were trembling.
He didn't understand. Who the hell is this girl? Why? Just when he was beginning to understand again, she just had to go and ruin everything.
Who was she to say she'd never let him suffer, she'd sacrifice herself—or what had she meant by if someone would be trapped, then I'll make sure it's me and not you.
The statement was making Northern's intestines boil with anger.
Does she want to be a hero that badly? Did he ask for her help? Her sympathy?
Raven by the way just stared at him with a blank expression on her face, she looked away. And then muttered audibly.
"I'm sorry for having built this way. All my life I have received a lot of hurt, my past, my childhood is so brutal that when I remember it, I puke, I shiver in fear, I'd never wish it for anyone. So, I'm sorry for being like this."
Northern inhaled and exhaled then wiped the anger off his face, he looked up with a straight expression and said:
"Let's just focus on what's in front of us Raven. Which is right now, killing as much monsters as... no, killing all these monsters."