Chapter 260 - THE APPROACHING DANGER II (1/2)

'You didn't know?'

Will shakes his head and then said with a smile

'I was somewhere else.' Sofia almost stopped herself from saying

'Are you living under a rock somewhere?'

At this moment, there is no one in the world that does not know the Death Monarch, the ruler of Pandemonium and the strongest man in the world.

After Death Monarch display of power in the World Government Island of Peace, that title The World Strongest Man that used to be Raymond title after Azief supposed death has been returned back to the rightful owner.

And her own title as the strongest woman in the world is doubted since Katarina has returned.

Many people still believes that Katarina is still the strongest woman on Earth just like Death Monarch is still the strongest man in the world.

Her sword the Red Snow is once again making an appearance as she seems to be hunting many monsters in Russia and participating in raids.

And with her position now as the High Chancellor of the Senate, her authority over the world events does not pale to comparison with Death Monarch.

Sofia shakes her head and then she said

'Fine. I will tell you' Sofia begins telling Will about what happen since then.

She told him about what happens after the Battle of Poland, told him about the summoning of all heroes in Azief camps, the seven Battlestar that departed and the great battle in the World Government Island of Peace.

When she reached the part where Azief usurps the Will of the World Will was clearly pleasantly surprised.

Hearing the story Will was shocked.

A lot has happened when he was absent. Then he smiles as Sofia finished telling him everything he needs to know.

'Good. Let us go tomorrow to Pandemonium and met Azief' Sofia was silent for a while and then she shakes her head

'I will not go' hearing this from Sofia Will frown. He was about to say something but he hold back his tongue when thinking about it.

Then thinking back he notices that each time Will talk about Azief there is this painful expression on Sofia face.

Subtle face expression did not really escape Will eyes. He is a Speedster meaning he is faster than most people.

Conversely it is because he is fast everything seems slow for him.

Nothing could hide from him, every slight smirk, a hidden snickering expression, as long as one did not carefully guard from him, he could see all this.

'Did you and him…' then he stop himself.

That was insensitive of him. He just nodded and smiles bitterly. The awkwardness between them increased.

Will then thought back to his journey all those years ago with Azief and then he sighs. He at least needs to help his sworn brother.

Then taking a deep breath Will said.

'I don't know what happen between him and you but….I know he really love you' Sofia was just silent as Will continues his word.

'When I was with him all those years journeying the many worlds trying to find our back home, he would tell me story about you every once in a while'

'About me?' Will smiles and chuckles a bit and nodded his head.

Sofia then shakes her head.

'They would probably not many stories. Because we were not yet together at that time. I was the only one that had feelings for him at that time'

Will smile mysteriously.

'Hmm. I would not be too sure about that.' Then looking at Sofia he smiles and then said

'You were in the same school when you were teenagers didn't you?' Will ask her. She nodded. It is probably why he saved her in the first place in that mall all those years ago.

Because they both know each other.

Will then laughs.

'You want to know something about him? I don't think he ever told you this. He had a crush on you when you were in high school' Sofia was shocked.

She did not know this.

Then a little bit startled she said

'He never told me that' she said before regaining her calm back. Her eyes seems to be looking at Will and the Will knows she want to know more and he is happy to oblige

'Yes, I thought so. It was an embarrassing moment for him. No wonder he would never tell you about it'

'What does that mean?' Then she said fuming a bit

'Do you mean he was embarrassed having a crush on me?' Sofia asks.

Will shake his head vigorously.

'That is not what I mean'

Then he looks at the sky and with an apologetic expression he said

'Sorry, brother. I will tell your woman your embarrassing story'

Then he looks back at Sofia and began telling the story.

'He told me that when he was a teenager, he is timid and shy…especially to the people he liked. Every time he wanted to talk to you, the first thing he saw was your eyes. And each time he sees your eyes, he become speechless. His mind go blank and whatever he wanted to tell you, remain unsaid. Well, that is how young love usually goes. Thinking about it he is pretty innocent'

He did not say the other words he kept.

”Compared to now, he was really innocent during those teenage years” Will think to himself.

Looking at Sofia face that is slightly blushing Will added

'He never told me how his crush on you begins. But he did mention to me that he once saw you crying in a rainy day once. He recognizes you at that time. But he reckons you do not recognize him' hearing this Sofia eyes widened.

'It was him?'

And then her memory brings her back to that moment as she thinks of that day.

She remembers how she was crying outside a convenience store, hugging her knees; the sky above her was dark and the rain pouring down heavily.

She let the rain fall down on her body, drenching her with water, shivering in the cold. She wanted to get sick. She didn't care at the time.

She wanted to feel pain more than the pain her heart was feeling so that it could cover up the pain in her heart.

The reason was stupid when she thinks about it now. But at that time she was young and stupid.

Everything seems like a life ending crisis to her.

It was about love. It was always about love when it concerns her. She never got that lucky when it is about love.

She was always with the wrong guy and she always left the most important thing remain unsaid.

She feared getting abandoned, afraid of getting hurt, dreaded to be unneeded.

At home she is faced with an abusive and alcoholic father, but at school she is adept enough in hiding her scars and pain.

She was a woman with a secret, leading a life that was not hers.

And because of how adept she is at hiding her scars no one is the wiser.

Because at school she is a different person from when she is at home and she didn't want people to know about her at home.

She was afraid people could see what she is. Because she herself don't like who she is. A broken, pitiful child.

At school she felt more alive. There are people who love her…and needed her even though what they love and what they like was superficial

If Will knows about Sofia past he would surely say that Azief clearly had a type. Because all of the girls that he loves and loves him all have in some way father issues.

So, there she was crying her eyes out outside a convenience store. People passed her by and all were rushing to take shelter from the rain.

And then a person comes out from the convenience store.

He was standing beside her.

Without saying a word, that person shielded her from the rain without saying anything with his yellow umbrella

She keep crying, her tears keep falling and that man…..keep standing beside her, shielding her from the rain.

When the heavy rain subside and the rain only drizzle, that person put down his yellow umbrella beside her and run through the rain

Before she could even thank that person all she could see with her limited visibility and through the dark is his back.

She kept that umbrella for years before she lost in a New Year Eve of 2016.

Back at the present, hearing this story, somehow, something tugged her heart string and Sofia looking at Will, had tears pooling in her eyes.

And before she knew it, that tears falls down like pearls.

Then she slowly pushes away her tears with her hand feeling her heart in pain.

Will do not understand why she cried but he understand that it is not his place to say console her because he did not know how to and he don't think it should be him who console her

This is their love story.

He could not console her but he could tell her what Azief said to him through those years they spend together.

So Will then said, his voice was gentle and calming

'Every time he saw you he was speechless. Every time you were holding your hands with him, he was happy. Each time he kisses you on your cheek he was nervous. Every time he kisses you on your lips, he could not believe it that you were the person he was kissing and he was with you. Sofia…..all those years when we are searching our way back home, with no promise of returning, we need something to make sure we do not break'

He paused for a while and then staring at Sofia he said

'For me, it was my sister. Each time I want to give up searching for a way home, I picture her face in my mind…and each time I did that I got the energy to go through another day.'

Then Will shakes his head looking at how Sofia tears is falling down faster and faster.

She is shaking her head, her hand keep wiping down more tears that keep falling down, her body is trembling and then Will said.

'For him, it was you. You were his North Star. No matter how much he wanted to give up he knows you are waiting for him. So….he keeps his feet forward, each day taking a step moving forward to return home.'

Sofia then turn her face away from Will and Will understand. He was still sitting on his bark and she is still sitting on her bark.

But Will slowly got up and went away from the area letting Sofia to think about what he said.

Because he knew that Sofia had to face whatever she is facing alone.

This is not his battle and it is not a problem he should involve himself with.

Then just as he was walking a few steps away from that area, he heard the sound of an arrow being shot into the sky and then a voice echoes around the forest

'Thank you for telling me that, Purple Speedster. We will meet again' as the voice fades and Sofia is no longer here in this forest.

Up there on the sky, Will could see an arrow traversing the clouds.

Will sigh.

Then he thinks about Azief and shakes his head with a smirk on his face

'Loki did say you have a complicated love matters but I didn't think it was this bad. Thinking about it even your love life with Na Eun on Earth Two was not smooth sailing'

He shakes his head as he return back to the campfire area. He saw the half uneaten meat still on the grill over the fire and the empty bark opposite him.

He sat back down on the bark and then thinks back to his plan.

He moves one of his fingers and the uneaten meat flew to his hand. He takes a bite and smiles in satisfactions, the chees dripping on the side of his mouth.

'Should I really go to Pandemonium right now? Judging from what just happened probably the Divine Archer is returning back to Pandemonium. Or should I seek the Temple as fast as possible and take the Legacy away?'

He took a deep breath and then he sat back down on that bark and grabs his cup of hot chocolate and takes a sip.

If only Azief could see him now. He didn't like chocolate but his sister always did. The smell reminds him of his sister.

He could not visit her….because he fears opening a pathway for other creature to enter that world.

It happened before on Earth 2 and he would not risk it on the very world where his sister is at. The world where his sister is at is medieval and backward in terms of technology and even in science progress.

Even though his sister is only at Pillar Forming on that Earth she was already stronger than most people on that Earth.

Earth Prime however is a little bit different.

Not to mention there is a lot of powerful people here that could even end the invasion of the Demonic Kind but there is also the debuff effect of the World Orb.

It was why the Weronian were so disadvantaged on Earth. If not for the World Orb weakening them considering their prowess they would have easily conquered Earth

Will especially knows a little bit more than anyone else even more than Azief about how special the World Orb is.

In the years after he found the Temple of Asargan, he had learned many things, secrets of the universe that involves a Great War five thousand years ago.

And the fact it happens on Earth or to be more accurate happen because of Earth was shocking for Will.

Earth is special.

But in the past it was because people thought Earth was special because it could sustain life but it turns out there are millions of planets out there that could sustain life.

But that is not the only thing that makes it special.

Will know this.

'Hmm' he sighed as he lean his body back to the branch of the tree.

Only five temple left. He had learned about the history of the Speedster and the Savi'krian race and the Eterna of Speed Asargan from his teacher.

He learned about a Supreme Being called the Destroyer, the very personification of all Destruction and the Creator the personification of all creation.

His teacher told him all about all this and she also told him about herself though it is not much.

His teacher was reduced to a white lightning bolt consecrated in one of the Temple of Asargan to hide from someone.

His teacher took a female form because that is what she is before on her home planet. She was a Speedster like him, but her lightning color is white and she is faster than him

While he could move forward and could theoretically break the space time continuum and go to the future, she could move backward and at time even reverses time.

'The Destroyer' he said as he looks at the sky and his face turns solemn.

He heard this name mentioned many times when he was in the Three Thousand Worlds of the Jade Empire.

He heard it on the Giant Ice Walls of the Jotuns. He heard it when he was crossing the Duat Crossing while avoiding the creatures of Osiris.

What kind of power that a being such as the Destroyer possesses that he could devours stars and extinguishes Universes just by breathing?

And what kind of existence is the Creator that could raise an entire multitude of Universes just by willing it to exist?

Will thought he had seen powerful beings in his journey but hearing the feat that these two mighty beings could do fills him with a feeling of fear and dread.

'The Eterna what kind of race is that that they could contend with these two forces?' he muttered.

He comes out from the Speed Source because he also wanted to seek the temple on Earth.

He needs to find his Path…just like his brother. He never knew what Azief Grand Path is but Will could guess it even though Azief did not say anything.

And he also wanted to meet Azief.

He had spent time with him as brothers and they would die for each other. This kind of trust….Will have never experienced before and vice versa.

And he owes Azief too much. How many times his brother have saved him from peril. He would not hesitate to do anything that Azief would ask of him

In adversity their bonds were forged.