Shadow Slave: Divergence of Hereos

Chapter 7: A prison befitting of a King

(Klaus)

I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. My mind was still reeling from the fact that I had somehow survived fighting with Mori Jin. 

And now, he had given me one of the rarest items from his world without a second thought.

Well…to him it was considered as a common item.

Mori waved his hand dismissively, turning his back to me again. "If you can even call what you did fighting. But… you've got a long way to go." 

He started walking toward the mouth of the cave, his voice echoing through the stone walls. "Rest up. You'll need it."

I watched him go, still processing everything. 

He had healed me, given me a second chance, and yet, he didn't want to acknowledge it openly. 

It was his way of maintaining the upper hand, of keeping his pride intact.

But now I know something important. Buried beneath the nonchalance, Mori Jin had recognized me—if only for a moment. 

And I'd be damned if I didn't earn that recognition properly next time.

I watched as Mori Jin's figure moved toward the cave's entrance, his back a silhouette against the dim, flickering light of the cave. 

My body still ached, every step a reminder of the gruelling battle I'd just endured. 

But despite the exhaustion, something pulled me toward him, a need to see beyond the confines of this relentless stone chamber.

The cave's mouth was a jagged wound in the rock face, letting in a sliver of light that gradually widened as we approached. 

With each step, the faint glow grew brighter, promising a world beyond the suffocating darkness. 

Mori stepped out first, and I followed, my battered body moving with effort. I winced as my foot hit the uneven ground outside, but I forced myself to keep going. 

When I finally emerged, I was greeted by a sight that took my breath away.

The world outside was a vast expanse of breathtaking beauty. The sky above was a canvas of shifting colors—vivid streaks of gold, pink, and violet merging in a celestial dance as the sun began its descent. 

It was as if the heavens themselves were bowing in reverence to the figure standing in front of me.

The landscape stretched out in a sprawling panorama, with rolling hills covered in lush greenery, their contours softened by the warm light of the setting sun. 

Flowers of every hue blanketed the ground like a vibrant quilt, their delicate petals shimmering in the twilight. In the distance, a crystal-clear river meandered through the scene, catching the last rays of the sun and scattering them in a dazzling display of light.

Mori Jin stood at the edge of the cave's mouth, his figure framed against this ethereal backdrop. He seemed almost like a part of the landscape itself, his presence seamlessly blending with the grandeur of the scene. 

His staff rested casually on his shoulder, the golden light catching the intricate designs etched into its surface.

I stumbled out of the cave, my eyes wide with awe. The sheer beauty of it all was overwhelming, a stark contrast to the brutal environment I had just fought in. 

It was as if the world outside had been sculpted to honour the Monkey King, a fitting tribute to his strength and presence.

As I took in the view, I felt a mix of emotions—relief, wonder, and an intense longing to experience more of this world. 

My body was battered and bruised, but standing here, amidst such splendour, made the pain seem almost trivial.

Mori's gaze remained fixed on the horizon, his expression unreadable. 

He seemed to absorb the scene with a quiet satisfaction, as if he were intimately connected with the beauty before him. 

"You've seen it now," he said, his voice carrying a hint of something softer, though he masked it with his usual casual tone. "Not everything is as harsh as it seems in the dark."

I nodded, though the gesture was more of a wobble, my body struggling to stay upright. 

The scenery before me was a testament to the world's grandeur, and it was impossible not to feel a deep sense of awe.

"Do not even think about leaving this cave, the weakest creature here to your standards is a Great Titan."

Mori turned to face me, his golden eyes reflecting the hues of the sunset. 

"Rest up. There's much more to learn, and this isn't the last of your trials."

He started walking away, his figure growing smaller as he moved toward a distant path lined with towering trees that seemed to stretch into infinity. 

The warmth of the setting sun bathed the landscape, casting a golden glow over everything.

I took one last look at the magnificent scene before me, letting its beauty sink in. It was a moment of peace amidst the chaos, a brief respite in the relentless struggle.

A Great Titan, I was so ridiculously far from that standard it was almost crazy.

Yet to someone who is able to deal with Outer Gods, this was probably not even worthy of an effort from him.

Was it time for me to check my Runes from the spell?

But Mori Jin must have had his reason for not allowing me to check them before…maybe he didn't want me to be overly reliant on the spell?

The Spell did make all awakened lives much easier….

Well, I don't think it was my place to question the intentions of a God.

And it was not like knowing my Aspect would help me now, considering that everything here could kill me whenever they would want to.

For now, maybe it was time for me to practise swinging my staff a little.

After hours of nonstop movements, some semblance of muscle memory must have been built into my body.

As I went back and held Ryuji Jingu, I couldn't help but want to try something.

"Extend, Ryuji Jingu."

I closed my eyes and waited for a second, hoping that the staff would respond to my pleas.

But there was no difference, and the staff stayed at its original size.

After that failed experiment, I swung the staff around a little, and I could feel some sort of instinct telling me if and when I moved in the wrong manner.

It was akin to a sportsman's instincts, after completing a certain movement, I would feel something at the back of my mind telling me that I moved in the wrong way.

With the staff in hand, I began to practise in the open space just outside the cave, the sunset casting long shadows across the ground. 

I swung Ryuji Jingu with determined strokes, each movement a testament to the hours of gruelling effort from the previous fight. 

As I moved through my practice, I could almost sense a subtle resistance from the staff—a silent guide correcting my form. 

Each misstep was met with a sharp, instinctive nudge from within, a reminder that my technique was still rough around the edges. 

The staff seemed to have its own way of communicating, responding to my clumsy attempts with a gentle but firm correction.

The surrounding landscape was a stark contrast to the cave. The golden light of the setting sun enveloped everything in a serene glow, casting a magical aura over the scene. 

Even as I practised, the beauty of the world around me was a comforting presence, a reminder that there was more to fight for beyond the immediate struggle.

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