Extra's Perfect Ending

Chapter 112: Hammock

"Truthfully, this lowly one doesn’t know exactly what the blue gem does," Hammock explained respectfully, "but I’ve heard it can open up some passageway. I’ve seen it used by two-eyed beings like yourself."

The head’s eye never left Reeva, filled with a mix of fear and reverence.

"Do I need to exert some mystic force to touch that thing?" Reeva asked, curious about how to proceed. Originally, he’d intended to snatch the gem and run, but now that he had someone knowledgeable, he wanted to confirm a few things.

"Great being, everything in this place contains some mystic force. If you wish to interact with your surroundings, you need to exert some of your own," Hammock replied. "That’s why a Hollow like myself is considered a lesser being."

"Hollow?"

"Just a term for a lowly being without mystic power," Hammock explained, eager to keep talking with Reeva.

"Then I’ll bring you out of this place first." The mention of the blue gem’s use made Reeva want it less. Where would this blue gem be used to open anything in such a vast place? He’d have to search endlessly, and even if time meant nothing here, his patience had limits.

While walking through the fields of black rocks and reeds, he could zone out because everything looked the same. But if he had to search consciously for a door with intention, he feared he might go insane.

The walk didn’t take long, as the cave wasn’t that big. Finally, they arrived outside, where the chaos had first begun. Reeva saw some of the monsters again.

"Do you know what that is? Are they the same as you?" Reeva asked, pointing at a black, two-legged creature eating another.

"In your eyes, perhaps we are not so different, but this lowly one can at least communicate with the great one!" Hammock replied, a note of pride in his voice.

"Sure, you’re clearly better," Reeva said, half-sarcastic, half-serious. He found Hammock’s constant flattery ridiculous, but at the same time, he appreciated the company after being alone for so long.

Hammock couldn’t contain his smile. At that moment, Reeva’s eyes widened in surprise. Holding Hammock in his hand, he felt a strange sensation. When Hammock smiled, a faint mist began to form around him—a happiness fog.

Reeva’s survival instincts kicked in. He quickly absorbed the happiness generated, then dispersed it immediately. The process only took a split second but it could all be for naught. He could hear the sound of the blade quickly approaching him from behind.

It was almost too late. The sound of a massive piece of metal cutting through the air, the noise echoing in his ears as it approached. But his quick reaction had saved his life once more.

"What is that…?" Hammock asked, surprised, as the metal’s sharp edge stopped just short of reaching them. Even if he didn’t have lungs, his breath was taken away.

"That’s why I don’t use mystic power here," Reeva explained. "That giant thing will just turn me into minced meat," Reeva said with a stressful voice, he almost suddenly ended this run of the dark castle tour.

"Great one, does your mystic force stem from emotion?" Hammock inquired. Seeing that he displays some emotion. His guesses were right.

"Happiness. Every time someone feels happy, it generates my mystic power."

Hammock’s eye widened. "Esteemed one, your power is rather rare for an angel. I’ve only encountered an extension of our god, but I’ve heard of beings like you with unique abilities… However, I don’t understand… Why did the giant one attack the esteemed one?"

"I was hoping to get that answer from you," Reeva replied, mentally taking notes of all of Hammock’s ramblings. It was valuable information about this place.

"Please punish me for my ignorance…" Hammock said, his voice filled with anxiety.

"I’m not doing anything to you..." Reeva said. "Do you know anything about this giant thing?" He walked past the sword, giving Hammock a better view of the skeleton.

"The giant one was originally one of us lowly beings, but they received a blessing from the very god and were transformed into what you see now..." Hammock sucked in a sharp breath as he saw the skeleton more clearly. "It’s Sir Raphael!"

"That’s Raphael?" Reeva was shocked. He had thought Raphael would have at least two eyes, like him, given the respect in Hammock’s voice.

"There’s no mistake," Hammock continued, his voice trembling with awe. "That’s the pure mystic robe that the god bestowed upon him. We were taught from childhood that the Guardian Angel Raphael was one of the first to receive the god’s blessing and ascend to one of the most important figures. He could have ascended to two eyes long ago, but he stayed true to his roots and remained with one eye.

An angel who ascended from our race."

"Then why is he attacking me?" Reeva asked, feeling frustration build.

Hammock rolled his eye, thinking hard. "Before he was reduced to this... state, he was tasked by the god to patrol these lands and report any potential danger. You, oh great one, as an outsider, may have triggered something in Sir Raphael..."

"So he’s still attacking me after his death because of a god’s order?" Reeva muttered.

"Is there any way to stop him?" Reeva asked, hoping for a favorable answer. If he could stop Raphael, he could roam this place freely without worrying about encountering the skeleton again.

"…"

Reeva waited, but no answer came from Hammock. He glanced down at the head in his hand and saw that Hammock was in no state to respond. His single eye was filled with tears, his mouth quivering as he struggled to speak.

The sadness appeared on Reeva’s face. He realized it must be hard for Hammock to process. From what he could gather, Hammock had no idea the palace had fallen into this state. The shock must have been overwhelming—like waking from a long sleep to find your entire house on fire and your hero lost forever.