Anima Requiem: I Bought a Katana Online and Triggered the Apocalypse-Chapter 64: You’re an Idiot

Sh*t

Axel spun around, foot pushed off the ground, launching him forward.

He broke into a sprint, down the hallway, the bats and insects behind him.

The ground trembled as the burrows brought down the upper floor, joining to form a larger wave coming after Axel.

Axel shuddered at the sight, imagining what sort of horror it would be if they caught him.

Glancing over his shoulders, he noticed the burrows still hot on his, rimming over the wall of the tunnel, making it look like some sort of terrifying maw, reaching for him, hungry for his blood.

Axel’s speed suddenly increased as his muscles tensed even further from the fear.

As he approached a crossroad in the tunnel, his eyes darted rapidly between the two roads, trying to determine which would be the better choice.

At that second, his ears picked up a faint rumbling, coming from the left path.

Whatever that was, it had helped him make up his mind, his eyes finally settling on the right.

And that proved to be the best decision because as he grew closer, the rumbling also got deeper and louder.

As Axel reached the crossroad, his eyes widened, he was right, the left was filled to the brim with the burrows, rapidly closing in.

Axel spun on one foot to face the right, and dashed forward, the two waves of burrows crashing behind him a second later.

For a few seconds Axel kept running, eyes darting around, searching for an exit or where to hide but he had no luck.

The rumbling sound acted as a somber reminder that the minute he stopped, he’d be reduced to bones. But he knew he couldn’t run forever, sooner or later he’d get exhausted.

As he ran, Axel noticed something about the hallways.

The architecture was changing, no, not just the architecture, the age of the hallway, from crumbled hallways crawling with moss and roots, he soon saw those with reduced signs of damage, weathering and less moss.

It almost looked like someone was maintaining this region.

At that second Axel’s eyes lit up, as he noticed in the distance, light spilled around a corner, possible exit.

Moving even faster with renewed vigor, Axel finally turned the corner, but his stomach dropped, there was no exit, just another hallway stretching forward, dim light emitting from the crystal lamps.

But the most surprising thing was an old man, limping slowly in the corridor, hands dragging along the wall.

His head jerked back as he felt the tremor, and heard footsteps rapidly approaching him.

The man’s aged eyes widened, breath caught as he saw Axel, no the wave behind him.

As Axel got close to the man, he felt the urge to save him.

But...his much logical side won, carrying the man decreased his chance of survival. And that was not worth any information or favors.

Sorry old man

Axel passed, his gaze straight ahead, face straight.

The old man’s cloudy eyes widened—not just in surprise, but something else.

With jaws clenched tightly, Axel continued moving.

But before he could go far, the snake around his neck jerked back, pulling him to a stop.

It’s head pointing towards the man.

"Little bastard, not now..." Axel tried to run, ignoring where it was pointing.

But the snake pulled back again.

"Fine," Axel spun around, frustrated, he effortlessly swept the old man onto his back.

The old man gasped in surprise, His gaze studied Axel, not in fear or anything, but rather curiosity.

But Axel didn’t notice, he kept sprinting forwards.

"Right," the old man whispered.

"What?"

"Move right." He repeated.

Axel looked forward, he was approaching an intersection, the choices here were go with his gut or trust this old man.

Fuck it, he wouldn’t lead us to our death, and he has most likely been here longer, so...

Axel turned right, but he instantly regretted it.

In front of him was a wall, no door, no exit, just solid rock wall.

"No" He looked behind, but it was too late the burrows were already closing in.

They were pincered between burrows and a dead end.

"Old man, what now?"

"You didn’t lead us here to die did you."

The old man dropped, and moved towards the left wall, tinkering with it like he was searching for something.

Axel eyes darted between the old man and the burrows, his feet bouncing nervously on the ground.

"Oh there it is." The old man’s hand pressed on a seemingly normal rock, but the next second, the wall sank in, revealing a tunnel.

Axel grabbed the old man and leapt in, then he held the large rock and pushed.

He roared, muscles stretched taut as he pushed, but the rock didn’t budge and the burrows were almost there.

But at that second, the rock rumbled and moved back, slamming into place, blue liquid spraying onto Axel’s face as it squashed some burrows who were eager to enter.

Axel breathed a sigh of relief and slumped against the rock, safe.

"Are you stupid?" The question came, sharp and direct.

"What,"Axel looked up, a dim tunnel with stairs leading into darkness unveiling itself before him. The old man looked at him like an idiot.

"Are you dumb as well?"

Axel’s eyes narrowed, what is up with this despicable old man, shouldn’t he be thanking me, why is he insulting me.

"You could have just pulled the lever," the old man pointed.

Axel looked up, next to the entrance was a lever, too close the door no doubt.

He coughed awkwardly, "I didn’t see it."

The old man tilted his head, his face scrunched up, "No...You’re just an idiot."

I should have just left you out there you bastard, let’s see how you’d have dealt with those burrows.

"And why are you naked?"

Axel looked down at his naked body, just a little patch of his trouser covering his crotch.

He cleared his throat, "you won’t believe me, but a despicable dragon struck me with lightning, as if that wasn’t enough it tried to roast me alive, but luckily I am too tough to kill, as a matter of fact it barely hurt, it just got my clothes unfortunately."

Axel breathed, a faint smirk on his face as he saw the old man’s face scrunched up in confusion, but the feeling of victory shattered at the man’s next words:

"Okay." He nodded, Axel couldn’t tell if he was serious or not.

"But you helped me, although I wonder why you weren’t so inclined at first?"

Axel looked away, how do I say this, yeah the snake forced me.

"My conscience."

"Oh, really?" The old man’s eyes narrowed to a slit.

Axel simply nodded and stood up.

"I doubt that, was it that thing around your neck?"

Axel took a deep breath, "look old man, I saved you, that doesn’t mean I have to answer every one of your questions."

That doesn’t sound right does it?

He scratched his head, "Anyways, what’s an old man doing in a place like this?"

"I live here of course, why else" the man tilted his head, his tone straight as if stating the obvious.

"The real question is what are you doing here?"

"Nope," Axel shook his head, "I don’t think so, you live here as in a village or something."

The old man’s eyes narrowed to a slit, "Now why would anyone build a village here..." The man shook his head as if disappointed, "see why you’re an idiot."

Axel felt his brow twitch, how was I supposed to know, anyone in their right mind would think you’re.

The old man turned around heading down the stairs, "you coming?" He called.

Normally Axel would have been wary, even outright refused, but after spending weeks without human contact, he decided to follow the man.

After all, what was the worst that could happen.