Artificial Fantasy

Chapter 42: Plasma

Ow... That really hurts... Guess I'd been so focused on the argument that I hadn't noticed that the barrier had broken and the vine almost squashes us to bits. I was just glad that I was still alive and that my staff was still safe. But where was Wind? There seems to be no trace of his presence due to the dust obscuring most of my vision. After what had just happened in front of us, I began to regret my decision to take on the monsters by myself and disobey his insistence on saving ourselves. He could be annoying with his overprotectiveness, but I could never forgive myself if something happened to him in this world.

Now worried about him, I called out his name many times throughout the domain. And as much as I wanted to blow this dust away with my magic, there was a chance that those monsters would locate me and attack me again if I did. Eventually, the dust began to settle and there, I witnessed a horrifying sight. I found Wind, but I found him underneath the large [Malevolent Vine] as it raised itself against him.

"Wind... run..."

I muttered as I fought to shake off my shock. And as the vine started to fall on the top of my brother, I screamed again.

"WIND, RUN!!! BEHIND YOU!!!"

At this point, most of my thoughts stopped as I watched him turn around to see what was behind him. He managed to see the danger, but it was too late. If that vine squashed him, then he would die and I woul,d be alone in this domain. What had I done? I hadn't meant this to happen. I just wanted to protect this forest and keep my promise to Bai Hu! And yet, because of my stubbornness against his warnings, he won't be able to return to the game for sometime.

This was just like that time. I wanted to get help, but it wasn't just because my former tormentors preventing me from taking that action. I didn't want anyone to worry over of me. And even if Hayate didn't care about me back then, I also didn't want him to get involved for the same reason. However, after he saved me from my bullies, I began to see him as my strength. He gave me the reason to keep on moving past my trauma and my problems in school. Because of him, most of my bullies stopped harassing me after our parents caught wind of the problem, and I managed to go through my first year of middle school without any additional harassment and bullying.

But as time passed, his overprotective actions towards me had become rather annoying, to the point that I had to hide from him whenever became overly worried about me dealing with something dangerous in his eyes. But now, just seeing my brother about to be killed by the hands of a high-level boss monster made me realized that not only that I had I been too dependent to Hayate for many years, but my eagerness to explore the world of <Volo> had caused most of our problems rather than help solve them. And even if this wasn't real, I couldn't do anything other than watch his impending death.

I could only reach out my hand towards Wind despite the distance between use. And as the vine came down, about to squash him, my eyes started to tear up.

"HAYATE!!!"

[NOTICE]

[Due to your recent actions, your hidden racial skill, [Silent Invocation] has been unveiled and activated.]

My eyes widened as I saw this new notice suddenly pop up right in front of me. But why did it appear right now?

Before I could react to this, I noticed several lights blinding my eyes. When I looked at where they came from, I gasped at what I saw, namely my [Plasma Staff's] stones were starting to glow yellow and red lights. And not only that, I saw my other hand, which was reaching towards Wind's direction, was now enveloped in electricity. Before I knew it, the electricity released itself and transformed into a lightning bolt, which for some reason, was covered in flames as it stabbed the [Black Willow's] right eye.