Chapter 367: A Pigs Belly (1/2)

'Li,' Arthur repeated, his mind piecing together the riddle of a masked man he knew. Li spoke to no one but him, and when he did, he spoke in an ancient manner too.

'Can they be the same person?'

The white light that outlined the man's shape made it impossible to see his features. After staring at him for a while, Arthur realized he couldn't confirm his suspicions simply by staring.

”Are you...”

Arthur's voice trailed because he realized there was no way to confirm it. What did he know about Li, other than his abnormal strength?

Simply by being at the Demi-rank, Li could hold back Astra-Rankers using the sword he summoned. Arthur couldn't see a sword with the man.

'Is it a coincidence? Are they people with a similar name and ability?'

Arthur could remember Li's domain of gravity in great vividity. The way he made everyone unable to stand simply by being in his domain was indisputable proof that Li could control gravity.

Yet, the man in front of him was simply aspiring to control it. As he walked behind the man, Arthur's mind wandered as it formed ideas and shot them down.

He already knew that he was in a previous timeline from the fact that Solomon was alive. If he treated that as a fact, it would also explain Li's existence in the Spirits Realm.

That means that Li was a Spirits Contractor and that he was from a different age. Arthur felt as if the clouds of doubt were dispelled from his mind because it made sense.

However, it only made sense because Arthur threw whatever he knew as 'impossible' and 'possible' out of his mind. He treated this as a jigsaw puzzle that needed to be solved.

”You haven't told me your name yet, friend,” Li said with a respectful nod. Arthur pondered his options and decided to go with an alias.

”Romeo,” Arthur blurted out without thinking, and Li simply nodded. ”My name is Romeo.” He repeated it not for Li but to remind himself. After all, he now had many aliases that he couldn't remember all of them.

”I understand. Good name!” Li said, and Arthur looked at him emotionally. Everyone said he had a terrible naming sense, but he knew that wasn't true. The names proved it: Kira, Mero, Nero, Lilo, and many others.

”Thank you, good friend,” Arthur said with a nod. ”I'll help you contract a spirit.” His word made Li shocked, and he simply stared silently at him. ”I harbor no ill will, but it is fate that brought us together.”

Arthur wasn't lying, as it was indeed fate for him to meet the past version of someone he knew from Earth. Li saved his life many times, and it was only natural that he helps him contract a spirit.

”I don't believe in fate,” Li said with a shake of his head. ”Existence is chaotic, and it acts without regard to who you are. However, it's inappropriate to turn down a helping hand.”

”Whatever floats your boat,” Arthur shrugged, and Li looked around with confusion.

”I don't have a boat?”

”I...” Arthur was speechless and didn't know how to explain his meaning. ”I'm saying random things, never mind. Do you want to contract a spirit from the Earthen or the Skyey World?”

”The Celestial World,” Li said with determination. ”It can only be that, right?”

”You're aiming to be a god.” Arthur laughed. ”Well, as long as you can make it past the stairway.”

”That's what I plan on doing,” Li said firmly. Arthur admired his ambition and didn't say anything more. Then, the flame willow trees started to grow scarcer, and they met the first spirit in this place.

”Is that a giant flying pig?” Li said with shock, pointing at the pig eating the leaves of the willow trees. It had four giant wings on its body that allowed it to fly without flapping them.

”Well, I guess no one can say 'when pigs fly' anymore,” Arthur muttered as the two looked at the giant pig. ”Do you want to contract it?”

”No, this is not the one. Moreover, its face is kind of scary.” Li said, and Arthur couldn't help but agree.

The pig's face had human features, making it quite scary to observe. It nibbled on the leaves of the giant tree, eating one branch at a time.

As if sensing the judgmental gazes of the two people, the pig turned to them with a frown. Then, it opened its mouth and let out a shocking sound.

”Moo~!”

”...”