Chapter 121: Let’s walk down the aisle together

The puzzle pieces finally clicked into place.

The Grand Canyon was a constellation.

Kaelen was yet to see these man-eating bugs, but was almost certain the canyon was their territory, and what stopped the wolves from chasing him and his mother into the canyon was the bugs, which didn’t discriminate.

That explained why his mother made such a hidden place into a constellation, but left the family trademark outside to be recognized.

Her warning was also to repel any innocent person from entering, because unlike the other constellations, this one attacked all who ventured within, and it was probably intentional because it was the last and closest constellation protecting the ruins of Akkad.

As for how his mother managed to survive the man-eating bugs herself, that was probably as a result of his mother’s unique ability.

Kaelen couldn’t remember in detail, but the one thing he knew was that his mother had the ability to control minds with her speech.

The man-eating bugs were probably under her spell till date, used as guardians for the last constellation she decided to set up there.

And that explained everything.

"W-What? What do you mean we’re going to walk through the man-eating bugs?" Lindsey blurted in panic on hearing Kaelen’s words, but didn’t dare stop or fall behind.

"Lindsey, you seem to be forgetting something." Yelena said calmly.

"What?"

"Kael stated his ability can attract or repel beasts. He knew it wouldn’t work on the wolves, which explains why he ran first. But seeing him this confident, knowing fully well what is up ahead, do you still think he’s gambling with his life?" She asked.

"I-I guess that makes sense." Lindsey replied and went silent.

Meanwhile, Yelena’s words clicked with something in Kaelen’s head, and he suddenly pulled her closer to whisper.

"You don’t look surprised. You seem to know my bloodline allows me to make it safely to the other side. That’s the reason you came back for me, isn’t it?"

Yelena tilted her head to stare at him for a moment. "Not entirely, but I guess you’re right." She replied calmly, but her hands tightened around his.

"Let me ask you something. How’d you know I was Kaelen Cross? And how long have you known for?"

"From the moment you stepped into the village carrying that beast on your shoulder, I knew it was you."

"What? How’d you know?" Kaelen asked with a frown.

The Mask of Mediocrity should be a Mythic-tier item. That was a big deal for everyone else, except Kaelen, of course.

"I have an ability which reads the information of every target I set my eyes upon." Yelena said and tilted her head to look over his head. "Your name’s floating above your head as we speak. I can also see your evolution realm."

Kaelen peered into her eyes for any signs of deceit. There were none.

’Tch. What a convenient ability. If I had one, it’d be really useful in assessing the enemy before battle, but eating her wouldn’t guarantee I’d get that ability, just like she can’t copy mine because it’s not my original Talent.’

"I’m curious," she began. "The infamous Slime I know should have the ability to copy skills and Talents just like mine. I wonder why you haven’t attempted to copy any of mine, or have you already tried and it didn’t work like mine didn’t work on you..."

Kaelen suddenly halted and abruptly turned his head to stare at Yelena in surprise and disbelief. "Wait a damn minute..."

"Back when you told me your Talent doesn’t work on me, did you say that to let me know you’re aware I can copy abilities too? That’s why you exposed your Talent to me because we’re the same."

Yelena stared at him for a moment, before her lips curled up in a faint smile. "I know where you’re going with this. So yes, I genuinely believed you had the ability to attract or repel beasts, except I thought you probably copied it from someone. This made me also believe you intentionally let Berthold die to cause distrust amongst the mercenaries. Until..."

"Until I just told you my bloodline would allow me to pass through the canyon safely, not because I had an ability to repel beasts. You didn’t know about the bloodline until I exposed it myself."

"It’s disappointing that you’re kinda slow. But it’s also cute to watch you slip up every now and then."

That was the reason for her strange reaction when Kaelen mentioned he could pass safely because of his bloodline.

Yelena had come back for him because she genuinely believed Kaelen’s made-up ability could get them across the Grand Canyon without casualties. That was also the reason for her strange reaction when he mentioned he could pass safely because of his bloodline. She’d stared at him and squeezed his hands because she had just realized Kaelen was bluffing all along and could only make it because of his bloodline, but that didn’t guarantee she and Lindsey could also make it through as well.

Which meant she had better chances fighting her way through with the Commander while the man-eating bugs were still feasting on the others than with Kaelen, where the targets would be just her and Lindsey.

Kaelen wanted to be angry at exposing himself due to his misinformation about the secretive Yelena. She barely even reacted when Kaelen exposed himself, and Kaelen would’ve thought she knew all along if it weren’t for her last question.

But her strange reaction to his reveal told him something. After acting tough all day, Yelena was still human and was afraid of dying. That was his interpretation of her pause and subconscious squeeze of his hands.

She just discovered she had zero chances of surviving even with Kaelen, who’d been bluffing about everything.

This made Kaelen feel better. He counted it as an indirect win on his end.

Kaelen’s lips curled up into a smile.

"G-Guys, I can hear the buzzing sound up ahead. W-We’re close."

"Lindsey—" Yelena suddenly called out.

"Uh-uh." Kaelen’s hand immediately tightened around hers as he felt it slowly slip away.

"It’s disappointing that you’re trying to run away now. But it’s also cute to watch you lose your composure every now and then." Kaelen said in amusement.

Yelena didn’t reply and simply stared at him with a complicated expression.

She didn’t let it show, but it was obvious she’d been cornered, and she was smart enough not to fight the infamous Slime that could blow up the entire canyon faster than she could bat an eyelid.

"Now, shall we walk down the aisle together?"