Chapter 1610 — 1610: Perfection is a flaw

Fenrir and Malfoy looked towards Little Blue, a sudden realization filling them. Little Blue, on the other hand, was suddenly filled with a sadness that came from its very core.

It was suddenly reminded of that fateful day that human fishermen hunted down his family, sparing only Little Blue because he was too small - or more realistically, because he swam through the golden doors of the Midnight Inn.

Tears welled in the corner of his eyes as those feelings returned, just as intense and sore as the day it felt them.

"Hush, little one. There is no need to cry," said Mr. Big-fat-guy softly, his voice coming from the skeleton of a massive Kun Peng partially submerged within the lake.

But the more he tried to console Little Blue, the more he began to cry. From the bones, Little Blue could sense a feeling of warmth and closeness that reminded it of the family it had lost.

"Do not stop him from crying," Mrs. Big-fat-guy said softly. "Let him vent his feelings. I can feel, in the very core of his soul, a sorrow he has buried deep. This way, he can finally let go."

Fenrir, who heard everything so far, bowed deeply to the distant bones, as if expressing his deepest gratitude towards the bones.

"Come, little one. The gift I have for you is one of the lost legacies of our people. Absorb it, and allow it to once more grace Vaelûn with its presence."

Mrs. Big-fat-guy spoke a name, yet the three of them heard nothing. It was as if their existence could not tolerate the knowledge of the name, and so to protect them, shut down entirely.

The three of them collapsed, yet they did not fall. A soft power wrapped itself around them, and slowly lifted them into the air and brought them towards the skeleton in the lake.

Far, in the distance, there were countless other skeletons, just as powerful, and just as massive as the one in the lake, each one of them giving off a power so vast it could shock even those living today in the universe.

"Their friend is trying hard outside," said a third voice, speaking to the skeleton in the lake. "Will you reward him as well?"

"He cultivates a power from beyond Vaelûn," Mr. Big-fat-guy answered. "Not to mention, he hides within his soul one of those broken toys. He will find no heritage here."

"Yes, but even if his cultivation is foreign, his origins are not. Nor has he absorbed the System into his soul. He even bears the mark of the Tower of Providence, and in his mind I feel the aura of an old, forgotten friend. He is the perfect agent to receive a heritage."

"Perfect itself is the ultimate flaw. He will get nothing - speak of this no more. At most, if he can manage to enter the inner jungle, I will reward him with knowledge that he seeks."

A hush fell onto the land, and no one questioned Mr. and Mrs. Big-fat-guy. Perhaps a reward of any kind was more than enough, and getting a heritage was never their objective to begin with. After all, there are some destined to create their own legacies, instead of continuing on what already exists.

In the meantime, the trio were flown over to the skeleton of the Kun Peng. Little Blue flew right to the forehead, while Fenrir and Malfoy were carried to the back.

A soft, blue light entered their bodies, beginning to change not only their body and soul, but transmitting to them ancient knowledge forgotten across the universe.

*****

Outside the jungle, in the castle walls of the Midnight Castle, the entire Midnight Inn staff stood solemnly. Behind the walls, Kaemon and all of the mercenaries stood as well. It couldn't be helped.

So far, they had seen a lot in Abaddon. Now, though, they were seeing things that they had no business seeing. Armies, not just of locusts, but of wraiths and chimeras and monstrosities far more dangerous, had gathered all over the horizon. Their strengths were not limited to just the mere Earth Immortal realm. Instead, all realms seemed to be present - including Demi-Dao Lords and actual Dao Lords.

The only redeeming factor was that these armies weren't looking at the castle. Instead, they were looking at the jungle.

If there was to be a fight… they would not survive. There was nothing any of them could do to protect themselves, and even Z did not believe that Lex could somehow save them.

Of course, just because death was inevitable did not mean that Luthor took things easy. No, he was the Innkeepers assistant - even if many forgot that. Something like death would not deter him.

"This castle was not designed to move," he said softly from the throne where he sat, his voice reaching every one of those inside. "So we must move the very ground that surrounds it. Assume your positions. Neither death nor failure is acceptable."

The armies of Hellhounds and Wraiths began to form, and around each one of them was a chain that seemed to fuse into the very ground around the castle. Countless formations activated within the castle, and countless techniques began to flow out of its walls, some targeting the ground, and some targeting the air.

The earth groaned, but then it broke free as a large chunk of land around the castle stayed solid, pulled out from the very ground.

The two armies began to drag the castle… towards the jungle, their only hope, as the abominable armies continued to grow on the horizon.

Among the members of the army, there appeared a single addition who was different from the rest. Instead of staring at the forest, the Black Knight stared at the castle, being dragged away from him.

"Run while you can," he murmured. "Your time is running out."

Though the Black Knight's gaze was fixed on the escaping castle, he did not try to give chase. He could not break ranks, nor could he venture forth before the army.

The battle between the jungle and Abaddon was as old as time itself. It had continued without change since eternity, and it would likely continue for all of eternity as well. He was not foolish enough to get involved in something like that - even if he had already died once before. There was no guarantee of what would happen next time.