170 Bright Edge (1/2)

*SWOOOOOOOSH!* I have to do something or I'll die helplessly here! What should I do?! Where is Scy when we need him the most?!

-Icy Plains, Near Mysterious Castle-

*Akko's POV*

”Have you found any clue, Elou?” We've been searching the cave where Elou said that Scy is currently at, thanks to his tracking mastery. The only problem is that the snow in this Icy Mountain is really thick that the tracks will easily disappear after a couple of seconds so we have to find him ourselves. Lili, Elou and I decided to find him.

”There's still nothing but I can tell that he went this way because there are a lot of tracks below. It looks like the enemy's army assembled here, not to mention there is a wide hole here which I think leads to the center of the battlefield we saw earlier. Also, I can tell that Scy was not alone when he passed here.” We didn't really participate in the war yet because we don't think that we are welcome to help and finding Scy is currently one of our main priorities.

We passed the area with the wide hole and decided to move on. We found an exit which leads to a place with a broken bridge. It looks like there's another entrance inside that cave. It's really weird though because the cave looks like a skull, really disturbing.

”Hey, Akko! We found him!” Elou together with Lili found Scy!

”Is he alive?!” I rushed towards them trying to check if he's ok.

”Yes he's alive but if we didn't arrive just now, he'll be dead in just a couple of minutes.” Lili healed him but why is it taking so long?!

”Ugh... *cough cough*” Scy woke up and coughing really bad with blood!

”Hey, Scy are you ok?!” I asked him while tears are falling from my eyes! I can't stop crying because looking at him like this, I felt so sorry for him. There is blood around his body and also bite marks of some sort. He really suffered a lot alone here.

”Jeez, I'm fine, like hell I'm going to die that easily. *cough cough*”cy... you dummy...

”He's currently sick because of too much cold. He's also really hungry, tired and dehydrated. That's why Lili can't completely heal him because she can only heal wounds but can't replenish lost blood. Jeez, you overdid it this time, Scy.” Elou explained. Elou opened his backpack and pulled out some herbs.

We took care of him for a couple of minutes. We can't really stay here for too long and we need to go back. He seems like he's not going well either.

”Hey Akko, can you carry my bag for now? I'll carry Scy at my back so we could go back as fast as we can.” Elou suggested.

”Of course. Let's go!” He gave his backpack to me then he carried Scy.

”I'm sorry, Elou. Never in my wildest dreams that you have to carry me like a princess.” Scy...

”It's fine. Don't worry, this is the last time. Also, this is not how you carry a princess.” They look like they are brothers.

Thank God he's not dead. Well, I know we over think too much about our lives in the game but reaching our current level is no joke too. I'd rather be so sick than have to grind weeks again.

-Outside the Mysterious Castle-

We managed to reach outside the cave safely. We can now see... just what the heck is going on?! Before we went inside the cave, the Thirteen Gods are currently winning the war! But now... all I can see is the army of allied forces pulling back.

”It looks like the Vanguard's Stronghold is the first to go down, just like I thought,” Scy said. What does he mean?

”What do you mean, Scy?” Like me, Elou's also puzzled.

”What do you think happened to me that I look like this now? I didn't just twist my ankle and dropped to the snowy ground. I fought the other Legendary Bosses and also the World Boss by myself.” Scy explained.

”Sounds like a suicide plan to me. Anyway, we need to go back fast and help them.” Elou said.

”No, it's too late now. We don't have much time and what do you think we can do with my current state? Even the Thirteen Gods didn't stand a chance. We have to go back and plan a counter attack. I know that Siegriel wouldn't like to give up their castle but their only choice, for now, is to escape. I'm pretty sure most of the people already left the place and only those who can fight are defending the castle.” Scy's right. We have to regroup and plan our next move.

”But... well, if that's what you think. I never questioned your decisions and that will never change.” Elou trusts him.

”Thank you, Elou. Oh, and please run faster. You're too slow.”