Death... and me

3025  About Time

Foliana and Little Fisha heard Rean's words and wondered if there was something wrong with his mind.

Rean could guess what they were thinking but just ignored it. Instead, he contacted Sister Orb. 'Is it a formation?'

[Definitely,] Sister Orb answered. [However, it seems different from the ones we have seen so far. It is very old and based on a trapped Spiritual Sense. I could try to hack it, but that Spiritual Sense would notice, so I wouldn't say it is a good idea.]

Rean nodded. He knew one could leave their Spiritual or Divine Sense behind if the conditions were right. It would stay in a slumbering state for many years without dissipating. Kentucky's Father did a similar thing back in the Realm of Gods, leaving behind a father with a sleeve of his Divine Sense. It only woke up after Kentucky got close to it.

'What about the elders outside. Aren't they seeing this? Was it them who set up this trap?' Rean asked again.

[I don't think so,] Sister Orb answered. [The monitoring ability of the Spiritual Canyon Formation doesn't seem to reach this deep. There is a good chance they don't even know this place exist. After all, the real treasure is supposed to be the Algae and the Pond.]

'I see...' Rean pondered about it for a moment and decided the next steps.

Rean then went back to Little Fisha's back and pulled Foliana over. "Well, nothing will change if we stay here. Let's go, Little Fisha!"

Little Fisha felt like crying but could only follow the orders since death was also the only other choice if she refused. As for Foliana, she wasn't even sure if she should continue looking for it now. "Rean... if you want to turn back, we can try to come another time..."

"Why?" Rean didn't seem concerned. "Let's go now. Also, there is no point coming back later. This Spiritual Canyon is sealed and doesn't allow anyone above the Nascent Soul Realm to enter. Even if you wait to reach that level, it won't make much of a difference."

"Isn't that even worse?" Foliana insisted. "You are definitely not above the Nascent Soul Realm either. This is suicide."

"Hum?" Rean looked at her. "That's true. Hahaha! Anyway, you can increase your speed, Little Fisha."

Little Fisha and Foliana just didn't understand Rean anymore. Didn't he just agree it was suicide, and now he wants to increase the speed. Little Fisha reluctantly increased her speed and kept diving while following Foliana's needle. Suddenly, Little Fisha and Foliana felt their bodies being dragged away again. Rean used his strength and Spiritual Energy to create a hole in the wall that could fit even Little Fisha inside before entering it.

A few seconds later, another one of those attacks passed, now even stronger than before. "Seems like we are getting closer. That's good."

They continued, and Rean every time the attack came, Rean did something to get them out of the way. The two females were indeed scared at first. But after Rean successfully saving them several times in a row, they had to admit Rean had everything under control. He obviously could tell when the attacks came and helped everyone every time it happened.

Finally, Rean's Spiritual Sense caught the source of those attacks. The formation Sister Orb mentioned seemed to be blocking the passage ahead. It began to shine as Spiritual Energy gathered around it. Seeing that, Rean once again took Little Fisha and Foliana out of the way, and the formation missed another attack. Now, Rean could see it charging for another one.

"We are close," Foliana mentioned on the side. "The reaction from the needle became very strong in the last few minutes."

Rean agreed with her. "Yeah, my Spiritual Sense already caught the source of the attacks. Anyway, it is charging now, so keep going, Little Fisha."

They had to avoid another two attacks before getting to the blocked passage Rean saw. This place was a lot more illuminated than the path to this place, though, making Little Fisha feel uncomfortable. She wasn't a demon beast used to light, just like the lower-level Swordhorn Sea Demon Beasts.

In any case, Foliana and Little Fisha were able to see the formation that blocked the path shining again. Even they could tell another one of those attacks was coming, so they took a safe spot with Rean straight away. *Zush!*

Because they were so close, they still felt it hard to resist the pressure caused by the formations' attack. Rean had to use his Spiritual Energy to protect them so they didn't get hurt. Once the attack was gone and the formation began to charge again, they came out of their hiding spot and reached the formation. *Bzzz!*

Rean tried to touch it, but sparks of Lightning Element came out, forcing him to pull his hand back. "Hum... there are plenty of Spiritual Energy charging this Formation. Well, that makes sense. We are in the Spiritual Canyon, a place where Spiritual Energy converges. This formation has pretty much unlimited Spiritual Energy to use."

Foliana looked at the formation, and especially at an emblem right at the center. "Rean, it is truly here. That's my family's crest." She then pulled out a medallion from her Spatial Ring, showing it to Rean.

Rean compared the image on the medallion and the one on the formation and nodded. "Indeed. They are the same."

*Plin!*

Suddenly, the medallion began to shine and came out of Foliana's hand, much to her surprise. She tried to catch it back, but Rean stopped her. "Don't touch the formation. It is too much energy for your body."

They watched as the medallion floated to the center of the formation. Then, it slotted right in the middle of the emblem of Foliana's Family, causing a shift to occur. Out of nowhere, Spiritual Energy gathered and created a projection of an eye. The eyes looked at the medallion and then at Foliana not far away. Rean and Sister Orb weren't the least bit surprised. Sister Orb already said a Spiritual Sense was left behind in the formation.

Right after, a Spiritual Sense reached their minds. 'It was about time a descendant of the Nasfivil Royal Family appeared.'

And as always, any Golden Tickets and Stones are welcome. ;)