Death... and me

Chapter 3770: Worse?

Roan immediately stopped Rean. ’We don’t have time for that. What will you do? Stay here and protect the weak Umbras for the rest of your life? No, wait... that isn’t a bad idea. Yes, stay here. I’m leaving.’

Rean’s mouth twitched. ’I’m obviously not staying, idiot. I’m not delusional. I’m aware that this isn’t the kind of situation we can change. Do you think I didn’t feel it? I also noticed that Xian’s situation is worse than he said.’

’So you aren’t completely blind,’ Roan agreed. ’Yes, he mentioned that he doesn’t really want to absorb those mindless shadows outside because they could become Umbras in the future too. However, it is pretty obvious that Umbras don’t have any other way of recovering their energies. The simple action of thinking already uses energy, and the Umbras can’t use any other energy other than absorbing other Umbras. If he doesn’t want to disappear at some point, he is destined to absorb more Umbras until the end of time.’

Rean had seen how things played out in this place. ’What I meant with my words earlier is that we at least owe Xian a little. And don’t say you don’t want to do anything. I’m well aware that you hate owing favors more than anything, even me.’

’Hmph!’ Roan might not like it when Rean is right, but he wouldn’t deny that part. ’So what? What exactly can you do to help him? This is likely the only place where he can get the shadow energy to survive. It is not like we can bring him out with us. Unless you decide to make him a puppet and put his soul inside.’

’That won’t work,’ Rean shook his head. He had done such a thing in the past, and he even got a Universe Foundation Fragment back in Lisan by providing a puppet to the fragment’s owner. ’Xian and the other Umbras’ souls are not your normal soul. I wouldn’t even know where to start to make a puppet for them.’

He continued. ’Above all, the souls I transferred to the puppets in the past could still survive out of Divine Energy. Xian’s soul can’t. He would always need the Shadow Energy to keep his soul going. In the end, bringing him out as a puppet or not would have the same ending.’

’As long as you understand that, then it’s fine,’ Roan already guessed as much. ’So, what exactly do you want to do?’

Rean sighed in response. ’I truly have no idea. I want to at least give Xian a hand for the help he provided us, but I don’t know what could possibly help him in this situation. If anything, it might actually make him stand out and complicate his life.’

Roan could see where it was going. ’Simply put, the best help we can give him is to not help at all. At most, we can do some small things, like protecting him for a little longer, so he can at least absorb the mindless shadows without worries. He needs that energy now that he gave some to these youngsters.’

Rean wanted to do more than that, but it was already a start. This place is safe from the Spatial phenomena outside, so he was using pretty much no Light Element anymore. Even if he spent a few days with Xian, it wouldn’t make a difference in the reserves inside the Dimensional Realm. Besides, since they are safe, they aren’t really in a hurry. That could actually give them more time to think about other plans. ’Yes, let’s do so.’

---

After Xian finished giving most of the little Shadow Energy he had to the smaller Umbra, he looked like he could collapse at any moment again. However, Rean held him with his Divine Energy without anyone noticing, contacting him with his Divine Sense. ’Let’s go back to the tunnel. We will keep you safe while you absorb more of the mindless Umbras’ energies.’

Xian was surprised, quickly nodding but not saying anything. He is the only one who knew Rean and Roan were in this place, after all. But before that, he spoke to the Umbra, who seemed the oldest there. "I’m going back to the connector to get more energy."

"I understand," the Umbra nodded. "I’m also leaving soon to try to gather some more. I just hope Calanti won’t spot me too soon."

"Oh, talking about Calanti," Xian began to talk...

...but he was interrupted by Roan. ’Don’t say he died. This could actually put you in more danger. Just say he decided to leave this region or whatever, anything that isn’t linked to you.’

Xian was taken aback for a moment, but he quickly changed his words. "Calanti got angry after fighting Tissal."

"Tissal appeared again?" The Umbra shook his head. "Then we are probably in for a lot of pain. Calanti always gets in a bad mood when Tissal appears to rob his energy supplies."

"That’s what I wanted to talk about," Xian continued. "Calanti said he was sick of it and decided to leave. He won’t appear around this region anymore... or so he said before disappearing."

"Calanti is gone?"

"Really?"

"Big brother, are you sure?"

The other young Umbras seemed excited to hear that. It seemed like Xian was far from being the only one Calanti took energy from.

Yet, the older Umbra didn’t look the least bit excited. "This is not good..."

Xian agreed. "Without Calanti, Tissal will definitely come by more often, and so will others when they notice Calanti is gone. So, be careful outside when you are absorbing energy. The same goes for all of you. Don’t fight back. Just let them take the energy again and bear the pain. It is better than simply dying, do you all understand?"

"Yes!" All the small Umbras nodded.

Finally, Xian left the floating sphere building, going back to the tunnel where he usually captured mindless Umbras.

Rean and Roan also looked at each other as they followed. ’Did we perhaps make the situation worse by killing Calanti?’