Chapter 774: 763 (1/2)

Title: Gasps of the Dead

”Fascinating,” Morgan whispered with a mesmerized expression. The boat needed to be rowed, a task falling in the generous hands of Nik and Jennifer while Angela had her sword clutched with full focus. Her pupilless gaze focused on the phantoms surrounding the dark, wooden ship. The stream on which the group sailed quite wide with the banks already reaching the horizon while the river only grew wider with each passing moment.

But, this was not the main issue.

”He bears the snake,” Angela heard a gasping whisper. It was nothing but an unintelligible whisper in the mist layering the stream, but Angela and Loki could hear these whispers clearly. Even Morgan had to strain herself slightly to understand the contents but Nik could simply ask Angela whatever these phantoms hissed.

The soothing sound of water being pushed by the pedals filled the surroundings alongside eternal hisses.

”I'll say it! This is creepy as hell!” Janet shivered.

”Preach, sister!” Poole shouted in agreement.

”It's alright. Just think if all of them attacked us,” Nik chuckled, making the expression of everyone on the boat turn grim.

”They don't look that tortured to me,” Nik continued as he gazed at the phantoms with an eased expression, ”I've seen ghosts... and these aren't one of them,” Nik stated while he felt his spine turn cold. The thought of that ghostly encounter as the woman kept looking for a cat named Kuro... 'Damn, there's some strange shit. Now that I think about it... will there be ghosts in Hell?' Nik thought with a deep expression.

These phantoms came in many colors. But more of them were darker shades of grey, blue, and purple.

Hearing Nik's words, Loki chuckled, ”These are the souls who have lost their earthly bounds. Unlike gods and beings of other dimensions that are given special preferences, these souls only hold their basic instincts now. To attack living beings and gods from other realms and to fear the Hel-snakes for their poison. As we move forward, we'll come across more tormented souls. Those that still keep their faces, their emotions... their regrets.”

”I'll say it again, I'm never siding with you again,” Jennifer snorted, completely chilled out by this cruise. What should have been a calming voyage turned out to be an extremely traumatic experience.

*Marzha Jixcv*

Morgan's gaze flashed with purple lightning as a sparkling violet chain pierced out of her chest and latched onto one of the nearest shadows.

”Hmm?” Everybody's attention now fell on Morgan who coldly looked at the brownish phantom writhing in pain, struggling against the shackle only to be pulled towards Morgan.

”Are you out of your mind?!” Loki growled.

”I think there is a need for souls for my next research. If they are present here, of course, I'll capture a few.”

Morgan looked towards Nik with a narrowed gaze, 'Since we already have one method of actively unshackling ourselves, why not test it and build on it? Souls... I don't know if these can be considered souls similar to what we are born with. All these might just be spirits. But, testing it will prove beneficial.'

Nik then looked towards other phantoms, his eyes flickering in greed. The quicker he breaks his shackles, the greater his understanding of his own soul and the quicker he will find out why he's being hunted for his soul.

If experiments on these souls can work out then...

'Say, Sky, are these really souls? Or just some form of phantoms?'

'Impure and injured souls, but yeah, what that necromancer said could work out for you guys.'

”The moment any of these souls disappear, or are affected more than their natural destiny, the ruler of this realm will be notified!” Loki shouted, ”So, for god's sake, let go of this soul. Make allies with the lord here and you'll get your fill, you damned woman!”

Morgan frowned, a little unwilling to stop her harvesting. Seeing the look of hesitation, Loki quickly persuaded, ”If you want souls, Hel is not the only place to find these delicacies but it certainly is one of the strictest realms. Even if this does not work, I have a few sources to harvest souls.”

”Fine,” Morgan pursed her lips as the chain instantly crumbled apart. Meanwhile, the Phantom instantly shot back and hovered with other souls.