Listening to Lucia finish recounting this magical history, Geno was somewhat surprised.
This world really was magical; it held all kinds of people.
"In other words, you guys won't be attacked by Ethereals?"
"...Yeah."
Lucia's mood was a bit low. Because of this trait, when their group slept at night, they would be influenced by the 'Night Demon' and involuntarily sleepwalk into the Hollow, then turn into Ethereals under Corruption.
That was exactly why she had met Geno in the Hollow.
At the same time, because of this trait, their clan was always the first to be abandoned by other companions...
Just like when they left the Old Capital back then...
'Anyway, you won't be attacked.'
'Hide well. We'll come back to save you when we have the capacity.'
Most Night Watchers had heard such words.
But many times, they wouldn't wait for the follow-up rescue.
After all, aliens were always the first to be ostracized.
And 'Night Watchers' were those aliens.
Lucia was very scared now, scared that Geno would be like the others, abandoning her here and running away.
She didn't want to lose the first friend she had made outside her clan.
"Lucia..."
Lucia's ears suddenly pricked up; she seemed to be able to imagine what Geno would say next.
But she had no way to stop it; she could only clench her staff tightly, waiting for the judgment to descend.
"Lucia, take this."
"Eh?"
Seeing Geno throw something over, Lucia subconsciously caught it in her hand. Looking carefully, it was actually the medicine bottle she had found earlier.
What did this mean?
Soon, Geno gave an explanation.
"Since you won't be attacked by Ethereals, then it's up to you to help me take this out."
Saying that, Geno began to move heavy objects to block the door.
"What? Wait! What about you!"
"I'll go distract them. You take the chance to run to the stairwell."
After all, Lucia wouldn't be attacked by Ethereals. As long as he attracted most of the Ethereals away, and without the crowded Ethereals blocking the stairwell, she could escape.
"It'll be fine. Just like you won't be attacked by Ethereals, I am an Ethereal myself. How could I be beaten to death by my own family? Once you leave, I'll just blend in as one of them, and then sneak out, right?"
This was a lie. The battle just now wasn't like what Geno said. That Thanatos had attacked Geno without hesitation, completely not treating him as one of its own kind.
"You're lying! How could I let you sacrifice yourself..."
"Lucia!"
?!
Geno suddenly grabbed Lucia's hand, catching her somewhat off guard.
"We are friends, and friends keep their promises, right? I promise you, we will definitely escape together. It's a deal."
Geno extended a pinky finger. He didn't know if this was popular in this world.
But seeing Lucia also extend the pinky of her other hand, his tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed.
"Hook our pinkies, hang them tight, for a hundred years, no change in sight. Whoever lies must swallow a thousand needles! Alright, the oath is made. Whoever lies has to swallow a thousand needles, so I will definitely survive."
Geno smiled and rubbed Lucia's head, then rushed out of the room to find that group of Ethereals.
Leaving Lucia standing there alone, watching Geno's retreating figure, her expression somewhat dazed.
Last time, who was the person who made an agreement with me...
"It's a deal. We... made a promise."
-----------------
Rushing out of the room, Geno quickly attracted the attention of a group of Ethereals, including the Thanatos.
Immediately after, the Ethereals on the entire floor began to chase Geno and launch attacks incessantly.
Some faster types pushed their characteristics to the extreme; the whole thing was a track and field race, just the life-threatening kind.
"Holy crap, does it have to be so exaggerated! I'm just an ordinary little Ethereal! Aren't we of the same kind! Why did the Doppelganger want to fck me up, and now you guys want to fck me up too!"
To be fair, Geno felt there was something fishy about him. Even if he used a human appearance, Ethereals chasing people didn't rely on appearance. Why did they follow him so relentlessly!
It was simply like dogs seeing a pile of sht... Ah ptui! I am not sht!
But no matter how much Geno complained, he would still be chased.
Especially that Thanatos; every now and then it would flash, followed by a slash. If not for Geno's fast reaction, he would have been done for long ago.
'Lucia should have run out by now. Next, I should also figure out a way to retreat.'
Dragging this group of fanatical fans behind him for half the day, calculating the time, Lucia should have already gone downstairs. Next, it was his turn.
Bang!
A strange sound rang out and entered Geno's ears. Immediately after, the building beneath his feet began to vibrate.
Casually dodging an attack from a Tyrfing, Geno looked through the window towards the downstairs direction.
The scene that entered his eyes caused his pupils to shrink, and immediately after, he shouted in surprise.
"Lucia!!!"
"Run!!!!"
-----------------
Time rewound to a few minutes ago. While Geno attracted the Ethereals' attention, Lucia smoothly arrived at the stairwell.
Although she encountered a few small Ethereals on the way, as long as Lucia didn't attack them, these Ethereals naturally ignored Lucia.
She easily entered the stairwell and began to move down the stairs.
'Geno... you must not have an accident... We, made a promise.'
Thinking that Geno was currently being chased by a group of Ethereals, Lucia's movements quickened a bit, because only if she left faster could Geno escape danger sooner.
She really wanted to turn around now and go back to help Geno, but she knew she couldn't.
With her current strength, if she went back, she would only become a burden to Geno.
Just like before, in order to protect her, he got entangled by Ethereals and couldn't get away.
'Clearly, if he just ignored me, it would have been fine...'
Lucia held the medicine bottle, her fingertips turning white.
'I won't be attacked by Ethereals anyway...'
She pushed open the building's door and saw the moon obscured by black clouds.
'What a dummy! Big dummy!!'
She stepped out, trotting towards the outside of the base.
"Lucia!!"
!
Lucia froze. She seemed to hear Geno's voice. She involuntarily looked up, but looking at that pitch-black building, where was there even a shadow of Geno?
Just when she thought it was her auditory hallucination and prepared to continue moving forward, a spot of red light shone on her body.
"Run!!!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Lucia looked at the rockets flying towards her, feeling that time suddenly slowed down.
She could even clearly see the red protrusions on the missiles, as well as the perpetrator who launched them.
It seemed to be a black military mech; she had seen a scrapped version in the Hollow before.
And in the next second, when the missiles were finally about to hit her, she finally realized the reality that she was dead meat.
Subsequently, she closed her eyes.
Quietly waiting for her death.
And that bottle of medicine Geno gave her was tightly protected by her, praying it wouldn't become tattered together with her.
'In the end, the one who couldn't fulfill the promise...'
'Was me.'
Boom!
Oh God! Give me another ticket!
____
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