Chapter 480: Why me? (1/2)
When Harry entered the room and set his eyes on both Monk and Gary, it looked like he was looking at two completely different people. They were no longer the students who he had attended the academy with, they carried the air around them like that of royalty and the equipment they wore reinforced this.
Carefully crafted and made of high quality beast crystal, it would have to be at least king tier gear the both of them were wearing, maybe even higher. At first Harry thought that maybe Monk had a fate similar to himself where he had been captured and had decided to work on their side as a spy of sorts. But when looking into his eyes he looked possessed.
In fact, if he was to compare the two of them side by side, Gary's eyes were the ones that still looked human, they had colour in them, while Monk's had been completely lost.
'Is this the power of the demon possessing the Dragon hammer? Is it too late to bring them back and save them?' Harry thought clenching his fist, maybe there was still hope for one of them.
”It has been a long time Harry.” Gary said. ”Welcome to the Lion's mouth, I was hoping we would have one more join us but it seems no one is aware of his whereabouts.”
'Is he referring to Ray? Maybe the theory of the two shadows not working together were true after all, or it means that Ray wasn't defeated by the shadow ant and is still alive out there somewhere.'
”Monk, Martha would be disappointed to see what you have become.” Harry said.
By mentioning possibly the one who was closest to him at one point, Harry wanted to see if he was truly a lost cause.
”Perhaps,” Monk replied, ”But whether she is pleased or not is none of my concern. Besides, look at all of this here, now I am second in command of such a large army.”
Hearing this greatly disappointed Harry. Either Monk was a first class actor or he truly was beyond saving now. Every so often, Harry noticed that Monk would stare at the gauntlet that covered Gary's arm as if he was possessed.
'So why did you bring me here?” Harry asked.
”I believe my men have already answered that question for you, or you are not smart enough to figure that out?” Gary replied. ”I want you to join us of course. You are strong Harry, far stronger than Avrion takes credit for and maybe even yourself, here you would be able to grow.”
Harry was starting to wonder if they really did just want him to go other to his side after all. Did Gary really mobilise such units just for him? It didn't make any sense. In the Divine beings vision Harry never played an important role in any of this.
”Is that why you sent those creatures after me?” Harry said almost sarcastically, as it seemed Gary actually wanted him dead.
”I knew you would survive, if you couldn't survive that then what was the point of me trying to recruit you? Many people will die in this war Harry, and I don't want you to be one of them.”
”What about Ray?” Harry asked. If he couldn't get through to Monk who he originally thought would be the easier of the two, then maybe there was some of Gary left inside of this person. ”How would he feel about all of this, seeing you on the other side going against the people he promised to protect? He at one point wanted to protect you two as well, he still does feel this way.”
”Then where is Ray!” Gary shouted in anger and his eyes glowed, his gauntlet seemed to be reacting as the gauntlets crystals started to slightly glow. After calming down, Gary continued to speak. Monk smiled seeing the gauntlet's power. ”Ray was the reason for all of this, if it wasn't for him trying to look for the Dragon hammer in the first place then I would have never seeked out its power.”
”What are you talking about, don't you remember Gary? That gauntlet attached itself to you. At one point you were willing to do anything for Ray, so much so that you risked your own life to try and help Ray by removing the gauntlet off that strange man and the power latched on to you. You never seeked out its powers.”
For a second, Gary stopped and hesitated, as if he was trying to recall the events. What happened in his head and what Harry had told him seemed to be two different things. ”Lies, I remember exactly what I had done. After removing the hammer from the man, I picked it up and allowed it to attach to me.”
It was harder for Harry to make his case to Gary, for he wasn't there at the time and the only thing he could go on was based on what he had been told. But he was sure that what Jack had said was true, and that was the reason why Gary had just hesitated seconds ago. Somewhere the real Gary was still inside.
”I think you have my answer Gary.” Harry said. ”I refuse to join you. My loyalty lies with Ray and not just him, but you, Gary, and Monk as well. The real Gary and Monk are the ones who had saved Avrion that day from the evil that was brewing within. Those are the people I serve. If you wish to kill me, then so be it.”