Chapter 252: Bow your head

The domain sapped the strength from his muscles, as Micky felt the stone walls closing in on him. It was over. The only way out was through the Holy Child. Suffice to say, taking on a Blue just wasn’t realistic. In fact, Micky found it difficult to even move an inch right now…

‘How?! Just how did he find me?!’

He’d truly thought he’d lost him. He was sure he’d done everything right, yet the kid had still caught up, somehow.

“You look confused.” the boy’s grin widened. “I admit, washing away your scent was a smart move. As was pacing yourself and varying your path. Did you come up with that by yourself, or is there someone helping you?”

Micky just stared at him, pretending he couldn’t understand him. The boy clicked his tongue, seemingly disappointed by his lack of a reaction.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. Unfortunately for you, I had you in my sight for way too long. By now, there’s very little you can do to mask your trail from me. I can sense even the slightest trace of your mana. The faintest ruffle of your feathers… Your fate was sealed days ago.”

Hearing that, Micky felt crushed. Outwardly he didn’t show it, however, doing his best to keep a stoic expression. Out of options, he reached out to the only person who could help him.

‘Percy… I’ve been caught.’

he sent through the cord.

A jolt of shock and horror soon reached him, followed by stunned silence.

But it didn’t last more than a couple of seconds before shifting to cold determination.

‘I don’t know what he wants from you, but I doubt he went through all this trouble just to kill you.’

Percy said.

‘This means we’ve still got a chance. For now, you need to figure out his intentions and keep me updated.’

Oblivious to their discussion, the Holy Child raised his hand, an eerie red glow radiating from his palm. Instantly, Micky felt a suffocating grasp intruding in his body. It was even worse than the domain, violating his very essence, exerting dominion over his soul.

In some ways, it resembled the connection he shared with Percy. It was intangible. Ethereal. Closer to an idea than a physical object. But in other ways, the two couldn’t be further apart. Whereas his bond with Percy was one of equals, this one was the exact opposite. A cold chain, grinding painfully against his mind, robbing him of his freedom.

The glow faded, the Holy Child slowly lowering his hand.

“Bow your head.” he commanded.

How ridiculous was that?

How vain?!

But Micky found himself unable to resist. The moment the words reached his ears, his body acted against his will, his gaze lowering in submission. He fought back, of course, but the only thing he achieved was to hurt his neck.

‘At least, he doesn’t have access to my thoughts.’

he noticed.

It was his only solace. The chain the kid had inflicted on him seemed to lack many of the ethereal cord’s features. He doubted they could share mana either. Apparently, the boy had to voice his orders for the bloodline to take effect. Still, the situation was grim, to say the least. His mind was trapped in a body that refused to obey him, like a puppet subject to the Holy Child’s whims.

Confirming he had achieved his vile objective, the boy exhaled in relief.

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“You know, I wasn’t sure this would even work on you. I’ve never met a Yellow beast as smart as you… Can you even be considered that, actually? Having two cores and everything?”

Micky didn’t reply. One advantage he had was that the boy didn’t know he could speak. And he’d rather keep it that way. If he found out, he might order him to spill all of Percy’s secrets. As things stood, he doubted he’d be able to resist.

“Hey, don’t look so gloomy!” the boy spoke again. “You should be honoured to serve me. I’ll reach godhood one day, and you might just be able to follow me.”

Then, he scratched his head.

“Well, I think so... The truth is, nobody with my bloodline has made it that far before. No beast has reached godhood either.

At least, not on Remior.

But hey! There’s a first for everything!”

Waving his hand, the boy caused the construct to shatter, a cloud of dust filling the area. That, too, settled forcefully on the ground, forming multiple mounds of dirt and sand all around them.

The boy ignored all that, already walking away. He was heading a few degrees east of Percy’s group. Micky guessed he was probably planning to return to Goldenfield town first.

“Come on. We have to pick those idiots up. They’re annoying, but I need them. Preparing my own food is a pain.” he said, gesturing at him to follow.

Micky waddled along, physically incapable of doing otherwise.

“I’m Acton, by the way.”

***

The tension in the air was palpable as the trio walked along the dirt path. The chirping crickets and the bright rays of the morning sun did little to improve everyone’s mood, as they all scrambled to think of a solution. Naturally, Percy had already relayed Micky’s predicament to his companions.

“Should we return to the town? We still have a few days until they get there. We can try ambushing the kid too.” Elaine suggested.

Percy shook his head.

“I don’t feel confident against a Blue, ambush or not. Do you?”

Elaine’s head drooped, but she didn’t give up.

“We can’t just leave Micky behind though! Who knows what that brat will do to him?!”

“Of course not…” Percy muttered, before sighing. “We know where the kid is headed. As soon as he fails to find his underlings, he’ll either wait for the Root to assign him a new group, or, most likely, he’ll just go to the Thirsty Valley on his own. Do you understand what that means?”

Nesha drew a sharp breath, being the first to realize the implications.

“We need to get there first!” she exclaimed.

Percy nodded.

“Currently, the only way to grow strong enough to beat the Holy Child is to advance. It still might not be enough, mind you. Our gap will shrink, but his domain is still going to be a problem. That said, this is our only hope to free Micky…”

As things stood, everyone in Percy’s group was closer to their next promotion than the kid. Not only were they a decade older than him, they’d also used a lot of Aurora Dew in the past. And they’d continue to do so as soon as they got some more ingredients. They were a week closer to the Thirsty Valley too, as Micky had lured the boy quite far over the past few days.

Unfortunately, all their advantages were fleeting. The boy travelled faster than them, and he wouldn’t have to sneak into the Thirsty Valley either. He could just introduce himself and enter directly, probably saving a lot of time there as well.

Elaine gasped as she realized what he meant.

“If he gets to Violet first, it’s over…”

Percy nodded.

Should that happen, they’d never catch up. Even with Aurora Dew, their next promotion would be over a century away. Needless to say, that was way too long – even inside the Thirsty Valley. Not to mention all the elixir they would need to get there. Currently, all their supplies had come from House Tantalus. Percy had no intention of taking down another ten Houses anytime soon…

‘Micky. Do everything you can to delay him. The more time you buy for us, the better.’

he transmitted, getting a mental nod back.

“It’s not so bad, everything considered.” Nesha said, trying to lift the mood.

“How so?” Elaine asked.

“Well… think about it. The kid will keep Micky fed, at least. Nobody will dare touch either of them, nor ask any inconvenient questions. In some ways, it’s easier for Micky to travel this way. We won’t have to worry about him starving, or getting discovered.”

Percy shook his head, however.

“That’s the part that worries me the most.”

The others gave him a questioning look, prompting him to elaborate.

“Sure, the kid can easily locate and kill beasts for Micky to eat if he wants. But, would he bother to go through all that trouble?”

Elaine tilted her head.

“What’s the alternative? He can’t just let him starve, after everything he did to capture him.”

“No. He can’t.” Percy said. “But there’s an easier way to feed him…”

Elaine’s eyes widened in shock as she realized what he meant.

“He wouldn’t!”

The colour drained from Percy’s fist, some blood dripping from his knuckles as his nails dug into his palm.

“Let’s hope not…”