【Story】(Route A) Chapter 2: You Saved Me Again

Ch. 2　You Saved Me Again

Part 1

“Don’t Forget”

Enoch: You… You poisoned the blade…
Baal: It’s not poison. It’s a special agent. I’ve been talking to you because I was waiting for it to start working. 
Enoch: You… You monster… 
Baal: Hah, what a scary look you have in your eyes. I was worried that the drug would lose its effect on you. But even though you possess the power of the origin, you’re just a human after all.
Eve: That’s a drug invented by Laplace. How could it possibly not work? As soon as the drug enters his brain and knocks down his consciousness, he’ll become our toy.
Baal: Yes, but it’s still risky to be here. Let’s get him—
???: Stay away from him!
A shrill voice echoed through the quiet forest. Attacks full of elements were directed at Baal and Eve in an unstoppable manner, forcing the demons to recede and keep a distance from Enoch. When the air was filled with dust and sand, the person landed in front of Enoch to help him up.
Ingrid: Enoch! What happened to you?
Enoch: Ingrid… I’m alright… Dagda got hurt… He’s in a coma… 
Ingrid: You can’t even move, how could you be “alright”! And you are still worrying about other people, you idiot!
Enoch: I’m sorry… I made you worry.
Ingrid: I… I won’t forgive you. I’ll punish Dagda and you really hard when we get back!
Suddenly, they heard someone clapping; it was Eve, the demon who had a smile so charming that everyone would fall for her. 
Eve: I’m so touched by your friendship, but do you think you can bring both of them back by yourself?
Baal: Considering our friendship in the old days, I’ll spare your life if you stop interfering. 
Ingrid: “Friendship in the old days”? … Ah, that’s it. That’s why Enoch is injured. You’re such a good actor, Mephibo. 
Baal: So are you— Ugh! I didn’t know you were so aggressive.
When Baal was still speaking, Ingrid had already launched an attack. She conjured power to activate her senses and jumped above Baal in an agile move, waving her wand-turned sickle. Baal was quick enough to have dodged it, but a few strands of his hair on the forehead were cut away. He was lucky.
Ingrid: I am furious right now. My crush is injured, my friend is hurt, and a companion of mine, whom I had believed in, betrayed me! Take this!
Eve: Hey, don’t forget about me!
And so, the battle between Ingrid and the two demons began. Confronting two enemies by herself, Ingrid knew very well that she was outnumbered. Instead of attacking them directly, she utilized the environment to stage ambushes, hoping that she could break out and take Enoch and Dagda away.
But her hopes were soon dashed. As more demon soldiers flooded into the forest,  Ingrid found it increasingly hard to defend herself. At the same time, she heard a roar and sensed imminent danger. Looking at Enoch’s direction, she saw the demon monster that she had met in the North. It was slowly approaching Enoch and Dagda.
Ingrid: Darn it, stay away from them— Ugh!
Eve: Don’t be distracted, it can be dangerous.
But Ingrid could spare no more effort to save them. She could only watch as Cherufe, the diabolical monster, stretched his enormous palms towards Enoch— 
Cherufe: Roarrr—
Cherufe covered his wound and growled desperately. A captivating lady appeared in the darkness, holding the monster’s right hand. She frowned in displeasure, but her beauty was not slightly affected.
Daji: I was enjoying the time with Jiang Shang, but now I have to deal with this. So annoying.
Enoch: Da… Daji… and Marshall Jiang… 
Jiang Shang: My master detected a strange aura in the forest and sent me here to investigate. Turns out there are really some demons here.
Enoch: Uh-huh!
Daji: Hey! What happened to you? You look pale.
Ingrid: “Even if Jiang Ziya and Daji would help, the battle can’t be won immediately. Enoch is affected by the demonic miasma; he has to get proper treatment as soon as possible. We can’t delay anymore… I’ll give it a shot.”
Plugging her wand into the ground, Ingrid poured all of her power into the wand and yelled at Daji.
Ingrid: Daji, switch into your true form!
Daji: What? Come, Jiang Shang!
Turning into a nine-tailed vixen, Daji ran away as soon as she grabbed Dagda and Enoch. Jiang Ziya was also asked to jump on her back. The demons followed them without hesitation, but they all fell down. The ground was shattered by Ingrid’s magic.
Enoch wanted to grab Ingrid, who was standing in the middle alone. Affected by the miasma, however, he hardly had the strength to lift up his fingers. His eyes were fixed on Ingrid as they were drawn further apart.
Enoch: No… Ingrid… Don’t… 
Ingrid: Don’t worry, Enoch, I’m not giving up. I’ll still send you birthday gifts!
Though they were separated by distance, Enoch could still hear Ingrid clearly. His consciousness faded as he heard Ingrid’s reassuring voice…

Part 2

“There is a Way”

Enoch: Hmm… This is… our base?
Opening his eyes, Enoch saw the tip of the tent. He sat up and found that the wound on his shoulder was properly bandaged. His body still felt cumbersome, but it was so much better than not being able to move at all. Enoch’s movement woke up the young boy who was sitting in the corner.
Dagda: Enoch! You’re finally awake! Let me tell them!
Enoch: Huh? Dagda, wait— He’s gone, but he looks energetic. I guess he’s alright… 
Being left alone in the tent, Enoch regained his consciousness. Things that happened earlier started flashing back in his memory.
Enoch: Ingrid… how are you… Mephibo, have you really forgotten everything we’ve been through?
As Enoch recollected his sorrow, a pitter-patter brought three people into the tent – Dagda, Gaia, and Hephaestus. Gaia came close to his bed to check on his wound. The quick-tempered Dagda couldn’t help asking.
Dagda: How is he? Is he alright? Will he die?
Enoch: Calm down, Dagda. You’ll scare Gaia. 
Gaia: It’s okay… The wound on your back is recovering; all it needs is a bit of time, but… 
Enoch: Just be honest, I can take anything.
Gaia: The substance that entered your body through the wound was so unusual that I couldn’t get rid of it completely. I tried my best to minimize its effect on you, but I’m afraid it wouldn’t last long. I’m really sorry.
Enoch: … No, you’ve helped a lot.
Hephaestus: Now that Enoch is injured, should we postpone our ambush?
Enoch: Of course not! Once they are all assembled, there’s no way we could win!
Dagda: But Mephibo knows our deployment now. It’s impossible to win.
Enoch: It— There must be a way. A plan that will surprise him.
Ingrid: “Don’t worry, Enoch, I’m not giving up. I’ll still send you birthday gifts!”
The last thing that Ingrid had said to him popped up in his head, which only led to more questions.
Enoch: Birthday gifts… Why did she mention that at that particular moment… Did she… send me those gifts?
Dagda: Hey! Enoch…Enoch, why are you throwing things around all of a sudden? Are you too stressed that you’re out of your mind?
Enoch: Not here… No… Not here either… Oh, it’s here!
Enoch jumped off his bed abruptly and started searching the shelves of his closet for his magic robe. That was what Enoch received for his birthday last year. Enoch had received birthday gifts from an unknown person since four years ago. Though he’d very much like to find out who the person was, he lacked clues.
He had never associated the gifts to Ingrid until she mentioned that.
Enoch: “If she was the person who sent me the gifts, then she must know where the hidden pocket is.”
Enoch searched the hidden pocket of his magic robe and found something inside – it was a box and a slip of paper. After reading what was written on the paper, he exclaimed in amazement.
Enoch: “Oh, Ingrid… You just saved me again…

Part 3

“Resonance of Energy”

Hundreds of miles away from the Enochian Tower, a human girl was detained in the tent of the general in the demons’ provisional military camp. She could only move within the radius of a metal chain, which was connected to the metal ring surrounding her neck. Her hands and feet were confined by magic handcuffs, preventing her from using her magic power.
The girl looked exhausted and kept her eyes shut. Suddenly, a young man lifted up the curtains of the tent and brought in a bowl of steaming soup. He talked to the girl gently.
Baal: I’ve asked the chef to make you this soup. It’s almost been a day since we brought you back last night—
Splash! The girl was not at all grateful. She pushed away the bowl with her body, spilling the hot liquid all over the place.
Baal: What a waste, my lady.
Ingrid: Who am I to be called “your lady”, Lord Baal, the King of Protodemons?
Baal: Sigh, you’re still as stubborn as ever. It does no good for you.
Ingrid: Humph, if you want to kill me, do it and stop your bullshit!
Baal: Quit pretending. You knew I wouldn’t kill you; that’s why you used yourself as bait to help them escape.
Ingrid: …So you want to hold me as a hostage now?
Baal: Don’t put it that way. I’m just trying to make a deal with him.
Ingrid: Ha, fancy words. You’ve fooled everyone by design since the very beginning, and now you’re pretending to be a good guy?
Baal: Well, I can’t deny that. But who are you to judge, you Kremier witch? You must have approached Enoch for your own schemes, too.
Ingrid: …
Baal: In the realm of witches, the Kremier is the most pious worshipper of the primordial dragons among the 5 clans. You believe in Ghroth, the Ruler of the Dreamland, and perform worship regularly. The witches chosen in the ceremonies will become its ambassadors.
Baal lifted Ingrid’s chin with his finger and looked right into the depths of her consciousness, as if he was trying to knock down her determination.
Baal: You came for the inner power of Enoch, didn’t you, Kremier witch? In fact, we are on the same boat—
Ingrid: No way! We are not the same! I, I… Enoch—
Whoop! The curtains of the tent were flipped open. As Eve made her entry at an elegant pace, Baal went over and kissed her right hand. Their interactions were so natural that it was somehow pleasing to the eye.
Eve: Baal, our enemy has arrived. The savants have obeyed your orders and retaliated.
Baal: I thought he would surprise me. So they’re sticking to the original plan? Sigh, what a disappointment— Why are you laughing?
Ingrid: Ha, because you’re too stupid…
Ingrid: “There you are, Enoch… But isn’t it a bit late… Gotta punish him when I get back!”
Baal: “Her… her body is radiating powerful magic!”
A brilliant spectrum shimmered on Ingrid’s body. There was no wind, but her hair swayed freely. 
Eve: Your magic should’ve been confined. How did you do this?
Ingrid: Do you really think you can seal the Ruler of Dreamland with such a ridiculous amount of magic? Take this!
The metal handcuffs were shattered with a light push. Regaining freedom, Ingrid stretched out her right hand and summoned her wand.
Precisely at the moment that Ingrid touched her wand, a red eye emerged on her forehead. The eye glared at Baal and Eve, arousing a nameless fear inside them. Baal tried desperately to suppress his tremble and asked agitatedly.
Baal: Are you— trying to summon the Ruler of the Dreamland? You can’t do that with your magic power.
Ingrid: You’re absolutely right, I can’t do this alone. But I could use some help!

Part 4

“Connected with Dreamland”

The joint army of humans and gods stopped on a plain 5 miles away from the demon army. A young boy who was in his mage robe held his wand as he stood amidst an enormous magic circle. Light dusts of the five elements scattered everywhere in the circle, surrounding a sphere of light set in the middle.
Sweat was trickling down the boy’s pale face, which twisted in agony. Before long, he knelt on the ground, overwhelmed. 
Enoch: Ugh—!
Dagda: Enoch! I told you not to do this. Your wound hasn’t recovered, and some unknown miasma is still inside your body. How could you use such an energy-consuming formula now? Do you want to kill yourself?
Enoch: …I…I’m alright. I have to continue… so that I can beat the demons and save Ingrid. 
Dagda: You— Sigh, I can’t stop you if you insist. But… Does it really work?
Enoch: … It surely will. Ingrid left me the message, and I… have faith in her!
Enoch: “It’s true that I was betrayed by a long-trusted friend, and disappointed by what my mother did… I should’ve learnt my lesson and stopped believing other people so easily. But when it comes to Ingrid… I simply have to trust her.”
Enoch got up again and returned to the centre of the circle. The conjuring of elements continued, but obstacles came one after another— The five demon savants led their own troops to surround them. 
Frost Savant: Time for revenge!
Illuminated Savant: Hold on, we should only do what Lord Baal told us to do.
Yuanshi Tianzun: Hark, my Xians! Defend our land and stop the demons!
Gaia: Everyone, it’s time to atone for what we did.
Yuanshi Tianzun and Gaia confronted the savants with their troops so that Enoch could carry on with the ritual. Looking down on the battlefield from the heights, blood and sweat spilled all over the land. It was exactly like what Enoch had seen in the black-and-white world— the never-ending war. 
Enoch: “Please… Hurry… Ingrid…”
His prayer seemed to have been heard. A gigantic, blinding pillar of light rose from the demons’ military camp and pierced through the sky. One can feel the power of the pillar even from afar.
Enoch: “Finally… She’s connected to the Dreamland… One more step and we’re done.”
Enoch: Listen, my soldiers! Go to your assigned position right now!
Upon receiving Enoch’s order, the soldiers stopped fighting with the demons and quickly retreated to an area covered by mysterious runes. Meanwhile, Dagda brought the Xians, the Zodiacs, and the mages to Enoch.
Dagda: Enoch, everything’s ready! Use our power as much as you want!
Enoch: Thank you. Now, it’s my turn.
Making his way to the centre of the circle, Enoch held up the palm-sized sphere which Ingrid had placed in the box as a sacrifice. Holding his wand, he steered the elements inside him to activate the magic formula, which unleashed splendid luminous colors that covered the entire army. 
Enoch held the sacrifice up high. Curiously, the fleshy sphere started wiggling and opened its core as if it were alive, exhibiting a crimson eye. As the eyelids of the ball were lifted, Enoch could see through the demon camps. His consciousness connected with that of Ingrid.
Enoch started uttering syllables that were indecipherable to humans, synchronizing with Ingrid, who was in the demon camps.
Enoch: Goth nfta R’Cthulhu Geb’L Og’throd Tuggan N’gm (I shalt live in Dreamland and rest in eternity).
Ingrid: E’donr D’f Rthea Mglw Dgpll Cthulhu qnd G’Nth (Thou shalt perish in reality and be reborn in brilliance).
Dazzling beams of light were emitted from Ingrid and Enoch. Millions of eyes emerged in the brightness.
Inferno Savant: What…what is this? I…I’m losing my consciousness…
Withered Savant: Urgh…Something is invading my body…
Nightfall Savant: This is terrifying… There’s no way we can take this… We can never compete with an existence like that…
Stared by the eyes, the demons lost their will to fight. Their spirits were crushed by a tremendous and mysterious being. It was an unprecedented experience, a mind-blowing ride. But soldiers on Enoch’s side were kept safe from the eyes, thanks to the protective runes.
Enoch: Dagda, take care of this. I’ll go and save Ingrid!
As victory was secured, Enoch hopped on a horse and galloped to the demon camps despite his fatigue—