The Star Of Depravity - Chapter 12

Seo-rin’s expression was flat, her pale lips were in a thin line. Sweat mixed with the monsters’ blood fell in droplets down her face. Her pale pink hair had been sticking all over her neck and forehead. She’d been fighting these god-damn monsters for hours, and they just wouldn’t stop coming her way.

Her arms throbbed from all the slashing and stabbing she’d done, her glowing sword gripped firmly in her calloused hands.

The Keeper made it clear what would happen after they touched the obelisk; she’d get to experience part of the power the Deity possessed. She’d basically be a vessel, and Seo-rin wasn’t going to lie. She’d like to live longer, and maybe it was one of the reasons as to why she took the bait.

She made up her mind that she’d think about what to do after arriving in Lestra.

Seo-rin still couldn’t believe that she awoke inside a floating balcony.

At first, she panicked. She was confused and bewildered at what was happening. It was odd that she had to be placed at the colosseum’s farthest corner, her balcony separated from the rest.

Seo-rin wondered if that meant something, but she quickly forgot about it when Ira made her descend from her sanctuary.

After she touched the obelisk that emitted the whitest light, she came across an omniscient being.

The Deity, who called herself as Ira, had the most beautiful face she’d ever seen in her entire life.

The Deity had platinum white hair, and it was in a pixie cut, her eyes the brightest gold with an outer ring of silver on it. She was the one who bestowed upon her a sword she protested she didn’t know how to use.

Ira, the Deity, introduced herself as the Light Deity and told her that she didn’t need to worry about not knowing how to wield a sword.

Seo-rin was quick to refuse the weapon, but when the Deity revealed that she’d need it against monsters that conquered this world, she’d quickly made up her mind to survive.

It was only logical that she did since she was in an unfamiliar world, and she doesn’t have a weapon to help her protect herself from impending peril.

Just like the person that she was, Seo-rin was quick to decide. It was her impulsiveness that might save her from this world.

She was always sure and calculated in every decision she’d make, a plan already running in her mind as to how she’d make it out of this place.

Or will she? She couldn’t shake the anxiety off.

Ira emphasized that her power will support Seo-rin against the Agma and will manifest itself instinctively.

Seo-rin held onto the words of Ira, and let herself be manipulated like a marionette.

She was given one quest: eliminate the remaining Voidspawn Agmas on the place she’d descend upon.

She was one of the first vessels to be transported to Lestra.

Upon descending, soon, she found herself lashing out like how a lioness rips on the flesh of its prey. She was advancing like a professional knight that knows her way.

Seo-rin danced with her sword, and she cut down almost a hundred Voidspawn Agmas like she’d been doing it for a long time.

She was like a veteran—almost as if the sword had been part of her life all this time.

A spark of light overlapped against her dark eyes, and whenever she positioned herself to advance, the spark would glint with the purest light, and she’d feel the tension in her muscles, her shoulders steady, her hand gripping at the handle of the sword. She’d lock her target with her shining eyes, and with rapid movement as fast as breathing, she’d stab her sword straight to the monster’s body, no matter how far its distance is from her.

Her sword glowed whenever an Agma would come her way, and her speed was immeasurable that she couldn’t feel her face whenever she’s fighting them.

She threaded through trees like she was a bolt of lightning ready to strike down at anyone who comes her way.

She wiped her forehead with her hand that was covered in blood, while her sword still glowed.

She whipped her head to the side when she heard a commotion coming toward the other side of the forest.

Seo-rin was already done from this side, so she immediately fleeted, and followed from where several screeches were coming all at once.

She had cleared the Voidspawn overruling the inner forest, and as if by chance, she even spotted another vessel nearby.

Seo-rin didn’t know where the other vessels landed, but she’d been sure she’d seen several streaks of light plummeting straight toward the other side of the forest.

The other vessel she saw was a man that breathed fire, and for a second, she thought the vessel was the spawn of a dragon.

She didn’t know what creatures lie within Lestra, so she’d expect the worst of what she’d only seen in fairytale books come to life before her very eyes.

The other vessel burned monster after monster, but he didn’t consider the trees that surrounded it.

Nevertheless, Seo-rin didn’t have time to chit-chat with him, so she decided to continue to the other side of the forest.

When she arrived, she quickly spotted a screaming woman with fiery-red hair. She clutched at the cuff of her shoulders, her arm limp as if it had been dislocated.

Then, at the center of the swamp, several Voidspawn had been screeching and eating something—their eyes held a feral hunger she hadn’t seen with the other ones she’d been killing earlier.

Seo-rin squinted her eyes—it wasn’t something…! It was a someone, and she couldn’t believe it was a human!

“A vessel?” she blurted out.

The woman with auburn-hair snapped her head in her direction. “Help him!” her voice shook, hopeful, and loud.

Even if the woman didn’t ask for her help, Seo-rin would’ve initiated to rescue the man either way.

Seo-rin couldn’t believe that the human was being eaten by a bunch of Voidspawn Agmas, scrambling their beaks and claws to the unmoving food before them.

Blood pooled all over the swamp, spreading as if it had been that color all this time.

Seo-rin moved with her instincts, and she ran fast. She jumped high—she found herself above the sky, the light of the sun beaming at her sparkling eyes, her hair waving with the wind, and her body light as paper.

Then, with utmost speed, she took it as an opportunity to plunge into the swamp.

Her skirt flapped along with her gray coat, but she didn’t mind. Her mind was preoccupied with saving the vessel below.

I’ll save him— 

It was the same thought she had before she died and wind-up in Lestra.

* * *

“…you?” Ervin couldn’t feel his lungs.

Despite the immobility of his body, he still didn’t die.

The thought of ending his life was quickly evoked by the fact that Seo-rin towered over him, a smudge of dried blood on her forehead in contrast with her pale skin.

I told you, Zyros said with a bored tone, you’re semi-immortal. 

But he ignored the Deity and focused his attention on the person who descended like she was the sun’s light.

In front of him was Seo-rin. The woman who was once nicknamed as the ray of sunshine in his company.

She was the person whom everyone liked. Her smile was one they’d always talked about in a good way like she was a breath of fresh air in a midsummer’s day.

She was the reason they’d all laughed during a meeting, and was also the one who’s design sold the most number of shoes.

Ervin recognized her clothes—it was the company’s corporate uniform.

She’s still wearing it…? 

The confusion showed on his face as Seo-rin cocked her head to the side, her hair following her angle.

Seo-rin’s coordinated uniform looked as if it had been ripped by massive claws. The material was all bloodied, her face pale and unreadable. Ervin couldn’t see a single spot on her clothing without a smear of dirt and blood, though she was still fully clothed as compared to his bare left arm.

“Ervin,” her call wasn’t in the form of an inquiry or concern, but rather a direct statement.

Her expression was as blank as a sheet of paper.

Ervin caught sight of her fists, and they were balled tight, her skin reddening from the pressure.

She watched him silently, the Voidspawn Agma’s screeching closer to the water that served as their shield. They tried penetrating it, and soon they’d be able to get to where they were.

Her eyes filled with distaste as she beheld Ervin’s almost rotting corpse.

He laid stiff on the damp soil. His bright hazel eyes were the only part of his body that he could move.

The feeling was mutual for Ervin—he also felt disgusted with himself. He was purely pathetic at the state that he was in, and Seo-rin had to be among the few people who’d see him like this—in a vulnerable state that made him want to personally bury himself six feet under the ground.

The last time they saw each other inside the convenience store, he felt an immeasurable feeling of shame and resentment toward her—especially to himself.

She made him feel as if he didn’t deserve to live.

They didn’t exchange any hurtful words at that time, but Ervin felt the weight of her accusing stare on his chest.

The feeling of distaste lingered in her eyes, and it was what triggered him to end his life.

And in return, Ervin quickly blamed her—

This woman was the one that caused his current chain of miseries.

The guilt quickly transitioned to rage. The resentment burned within him like a hot fire that can melt any metal. And soon, the wounds inflicted by the Voidspawn throbbed. It pulsed several times until he felt his flesh stitching itself up once more.

Seo-rin didn’t say anything, but when the Voidspawn erupted a loud screech, she quickly ducked her head, her hands covering both of her ears—

The auburn-haired woman’s uninjured hand trembled in pain. The water that she held-off mid-air wobbled along with her swelling muscles, Seo-rin’s light shield burst like a mirror, and it danced in the air like tiny white sparks.

Ervin felt his body spasm, and soon he was able to stand from where he was.

With her hands covering her ears, Seo-rin let out a cry when the Voidspawn surged down on them along with the water that turned into a mini tsunami.

Ervin got washed out, but Seo-rin managed to pull him up a few feet mid-air.

The red-head let out a scream as she pointed her palms at the water, the wind thrashing at them. She managed to calm the water, and soon, it settled down. She leaned on the bark, gasping for air.

Seo-rin swiftly threw Ervin’s limp body near the auburn-haired woman who clung to her life on the tree’s bark.

“Take him,” said Seo-rin.

The Voidspawn in the area hadn’t cleared out much yet, and if she chose to stay in Lestra, she’d have to make sure that she wipes them all out.

Seo-rin clutched her sword, her bare feet moving forward, leaving imprints on the soil.

Without waiting for their reply, she took off to the sky.