My (Monster?) Hero Life

Kace was taken aback by Terrell's statement, as was everyone else around them. However, only Sophia truly understood the implications of Terrell's statement. She cast a cautious gaze over Kace as she tried to look for any warning signs that Terrell was right. On the other hand, the moment this was said, Kace instinctively knew that Terrell was right.

It was as if a haze had just been cleared from his mind. Leaving him to wonder when it had even appeared in the first place. 'Is this because Sylvan gained some power back? Am I really still not strong enough to handle it?' 

This revelation left Kace speechless. It was evident to him now that he had been too complacent with how he dealt with the foreign consciousness that had invaded his mind. Although they were natural allies, he had to remember that Sylvan was also a potential threat from now on.

'Sylvan! What's the meaning of this?' Kace was furious as he tried to reach out to his weapon. 

However, Sylvan seemed to have withdrawn into Kace's inner mind. The parasitic weapon had become unresponsive when he had been freely talking before. Kace could only give Terrell an apologetic expression as he signalled the others to put their weapons away. 

"My apologies. I seem to have lost myself for a moment there." Kace's expression was sincere like he was thanking the Hero for showing him the threat he was under.

"Don't worry about it. Greater existences than you have fallen prey to those weapons." Terrell appeared to be thinking about something as he calmly returned Kace's gaze. "In fact, Zornok is the only person I'm aware of to have succeeded in taming a Parasitic Weapon. Don't ask me how he did it, though."

Kace's eyes went wide at this piece of information. 'Is that how he seals magic and abilities? Or is it a hidden trump card?' Kace's evaluation of Zornok's threat level suddenly went up by several tiers. It was clear that the Hero had already left a deep impression on him, never mind adding another factor to consider.

"Ok, I guess we should wake Rysa up now." Terrell grabbed Phillip by the throat and dragged him in front of where the Soul Cage was as if he could see it. 

However, what he did next took everyone by surprise. In one swift move, an emerald sword appeared in his hand and drew a line through the air where Phillip's neck was! The move was so quick that Phillip's expression turned to shock only after the deed had been done.

At that point, his head slid from his neck and bounced forward as it hit the floor. A moment later, a dull thud rang out in the room as the remainder of his body slumped to the ground. His blood leaked out from the wound to create a puddle for his head to rest in.

Then, it came. Phillip's whole body went up in a burst of flame. Reducing it to ashes. A moment later and the ethereal version of Phillip screaming while being covered in fire appeared in the centre of the room.

'So that's what it was!' Kace gaped at the scene as he realised that every time the ethereal Phillip had appeared, it must have coincided with Yul constantly killing him. 

Terrell nodded in satisfaction while Josh displayed an uncomfortable look on his face. Being a wraith meant he had a connection with the souls of the dead. Allowing him to understand certain things about them. However, Phillip's soul, for that's what this projection definitely was, caused a strange reaction in his senses.

He could feel the Hero's life force inside of it, but there was also something else. That something made the soul feel like it belonged in a living body rather than one of the many realms that gathered souls.

"You're kidding me!" Josh suddenly blurted out when he finally understood what he was looking at.

However, Terrell only smiled while everyone else turned to look at him. Before anything else could be said, Terrell reached out his hand and grabbed at thin air! 

A noise that sounded like breaking glass rang out, and Phillip's soul suddenly showed a wild look on its face as it escaped the area it had been bound to! Purple flames appeared where the cage had been and gave off a blistering heat before flying directly through the ceiling.

At the same time, Phillip's souls appeared to shout with joy as it dove into the ashes that lay on the chamber's floor. Kace glanced around with a confused look before settling on Terrell.

"What did you do?" Kace growled. He was worried that Terrell had set Phillip free from his curse without bringing Rysa back.

Terrell limited himself to reveal a genuinely happy smile before giving an answer. "Just give it a few moments. All will become clear."

Kace felt tense as he stared at the ashes strewn across the floor, waiting for something to happen. Eventually, a slight breeze entered the chamber that was deep underground. Kace frowned at this sight as an aura with considerable pressure began to emanate from the ashes. 

Sophia, Grugda and the other monsters all felt a need to step back from that place. Leaving only Kace, Josh and Terrell in their original positions. These three were the only ones with enough power to withstand that presence!

The ashes began to rise into the air as they swirled around in the breeze. Kace could feel the hair on the back of his neck suddenly stand up as a magical presence soon joined the aura. As everyone stared at the strange scene, the ashes began to form a curtain of sorts that blocked anyone from seeing what was taking place in the centre of the mini-tornado. 

A bird-like cry suddenly came from within the ash tornado, dispersing it into nothingness. Standing there was a man, dressed in Phillip's clothes and with his features. However, his hair was now wild and reached his shoulders while turning into a fiery-orange colour.

Embers would suddenly spark in the air surrounding this man as he breathed in deeply before opening his eyelids. A pair of bright blue and white coloured eyes were revealed as the man glanced at everyone present curiously.

"Where is my mother?"