Hero Regresses with Villain System-Chapter 24: Monster Within (2)

"Keep moving," Henry told Natalie before leading her forward with his arm.

It had been an hour since they woke up in the Temple. Since then, all they did was walk. And walk.

The place was like a labyrinth, an endless showcase of weird humanoid creatures. None of the halls seemed to go anywhere except for another array of holographic portraits.

However, he figured that had to change at some point. Aria was confident that there was an artifact here, which meant she was told directly by one of the headmasters. If a headmaster said an artifact was here, then an artifact was here.

Therefore, he had resumed his quest of endless walking with Natalie. As he pushed her along, a soft smile crept onto his lips. He hoped he didn’t have to carry her this time. But it wouldn’t be the worst thing either.

"What do you think happened to the others?" a soft whisper asked from beside him. Natalie.

"So you can speak? Heh. Well, uh, to answer your question... I don’t know," Henry answered truthfully, even though its harshness cast a shadow on both of their faces.

He was certain everybody else was safe. After all, in that illusion, Natalie was the first to die, and yet here she was. It wouldn’t make much sense if someone else had died then, so he didn’t let doubt linger in his mind.

’I can’t believe that new guy outlasted me...’ Henry thought, dismayed that there was yet another person above him. It had sucked that ever since he joined a year ago, the prick Varek was so much stronger than him.

However, even though Adam seemed nice enough, his abundant strength only angered Henry more. He could excuse Varek by claiming evil natures naturally bred power. For someone like Adam—who was admittedly rough around the edges but a good enough person nonetheless—for someone like him to be stronger...

Then there was simply no excuse.

"I think they’re alive," Natalie whispered, her soft voice cutting into his thoughts.

Her quiet yet stern affirmation made Henry’s mind go blank, even if for just a second. Out of everyone in their team, Thea and she were the ones he’d first expect to break.

It wasn’t that he felt women were weak or anything. If he did, Aria would quickly erase that idea.

Those two were simply just weak.

They were simply weak, timid people that were no different than a baby turtle making its dangerous trek to the sea.

Looking at her calm, resolved face, he couldn’t help but feel that was changing. Maybe slowly, but still. She was growing a shell, adapting to this cruel and ever-killing world.

Matching her conviction, Henry nodded and said, "Yeah. We’re all alive. We’re all going to survive this."

...

’What the fuck is this?!’ Varek screamed internally as he splashed some kind of black goo. Submerged in it from the waist down, he frantically sounded against the goo with all the force he could muster.

Splash! Splash! Bam! Bam!

There was no bottom—none. Right now, he was floating in whatever the fuck this was. However, his feet weren’t standing on any kind of floor. Instead, it was like he was treading water in the middle of the ocean, trying to stay afloat.

’What the fuck is this?! What the fuck is this?!’ Varek screamed in his mind again, unable to speak as his own voice was muted.

Ever since he saw the... thing... his voice had completely left him.

A small tear flowed down his left cheek as pure terror took over him. Throughout his life, he had seen horror and felt pain. He knew what it was like to lose, to suffer, to live every moment in pure, agonizing torture.

Yet until now, he never knew despair.

Whatever it was that was lurking in this goo—that endless darkness that fed itself a strict diet of only blood—it was still here. Under the surface, hidden from sight but invading his mind.

He almost wished the bastard would just pounce. If it attacked him, he would have a concrete image of the terror. If it attacked him, his mind would stop going wild.

But as it stood, Varek was barely staying afloat in this black goo. For the second time in his life, he was truly helpless.

So when the goo began bubbling right in front of him, it was no wonder every follicle of hair on his body stood straight. The thing came out slow, gradual, but certain. As it rose, its first row of eyes was already locked on him.

Pitch-black eyes that held all the brightness of a sun.

Then a second row, a third, and a final fourth row of eyes were staring at him. Varek wanted to turn away, wanted to flee back to the headmasters.

It was always stupid fucking Aria trying to prove herself!

It was always him being punished for it!

He just wanted strength, he just wanted to—

"Shhh.... child," the thing muttered as it raised a tendril from the depths of the goo and placed it on Varek’s lips.

Varek shook as his entire core shuddered against this touch. Not because it was repulsive or alien but because it was inviting and familiar.

Like a mother caressing its child.

The thing rose even further, revealing its giant maw. Even though it was still closed, to Varek, it still looked like a cave. A cave filled with dead bodies impaled by its stalactites.

Blood dripped from its entrance—a fresh kill.

’No... no...’ Varek was shocked to a complete still as he watched the corpse convulse. A corpse that looked almost human but entirely different—like a reptile taking human form. It shook and fought against the thing’s grasp even after death, but the struggle meant nothing.

In the end, only death remained.

A low, guttural hoot of delight erupted from the thing as the teeth shifted in its mouth. Each row moved back the distance of a tooth, replacing the front with a new, clean row of teeth.

"Now... my child..."