A Wanderer's Lies

A BOOM was heard as Zigg dropped to one knee, exhausted.

Zigg, Netero, Monet and Isaac all currently stood before the large white wall made of strings.

They'd lost track of time as Netero helped as much as he could, channelling what was left of his Aura into Zigg.

Zigg"s control of his string, as well as the strength of them had severely decreased after the atmosphere changed.

Therefore, if they tried to leave the way they came in, they wouldn't make it 10 metres before the string wall came apart and whatever monster was lurking caught up with them.

Additionally, fighting was out of the question, seeing as how they could barely stand.

Netero hated to admit it, but they were trapped.

"Would it be too much to ask for help?" Netero asked, glancing to Monet.

"You know I can't interfere. I am but a spectator, nothing more. If things truly descend into chaos, i can only promise to escape with the boy, seeing as how he still needs to be questioned." Monet replied, sitting with moving a muscle behind them all.

'Idiots.' Monet spat inwardly.

'They are only delaying the inevitable. Such a strategy is doomed to fail. Flaring their Nen for every creature in the vicinity to see? Hell, using their Invisible Ten and hiding in the darkness would work better.'

Monet would often find herself commenting on whatever was happening around her.

Despite wanting to involve herself sometimes, she'd use this as a way to cope.

As Monet thought this, another BANG could be heard.

"I cant hold it for much longer!" Zigg yelled.

"Just a little more!" Replied Netero.

Hearing Netero, Monet raised an eyebrow.

'A little more? For what?'

Netero clicked his teeth, seeing how he was completely useless in this situation.

'There's nothing they can do. They've already exhausted themselves. They have a few more minutes at most. I might as well just leave with the boy.'

Looking back to Isaac, Monet noticed the boy staring at the scene unfold before him, unmoving.

However, she couldn't help but stare at him, feeling something was off.

His emotionless demeanour despite their near end only seemed to put her on edge.

"I'm at my limit!" Zigg yelled, cutting off Monet's thoughts.

As he said this, Monet darted her eyes to where Isaac was standing after noticing some movement, however, she was left speechless.

Isaac had suddenly fallen apart into a bundle of white strings, soon disappearing back into Nen.

"What…?" Monet uttered. However, it wasn't long till she understood what was happening.

In the blink of an eye, she changed into her human form, her blond hair falling to her shoulders and her blue eyes shining in the darkness as a heavy Aura erupted from her.

"Where is he?" She had barely finished her sentence as another BOOM was heard.

However, this time, it didn't come from the wall of string before them. Instead, it came from the direction when Don resided.

Seconds after the explosion, an ear piercing screech was heard as a familiar black blue shot past them.

Creating a small hole in the wall of string leading outside, the black blur did not hesitate to leap through, disappearing into the Dark Continent.

Meanwhile, Zigg seemed to have regained some colour on his face as he mumbled.

"Holding back those monsters out there, I can deal with. But subduing that skeleton is a whole other level."

"Well we've done our part. It's up to him." Commented Netero.

"Do you really think he can do it?" Zigg asked. He couldn't help but be a little sceptical.

"Don't underestimate the boy, Zigg. I'll have a feeling he'll surprise us all."

***

Surrounded by an endless amount of plantlife, a boy with bright amber eyes, messy unkempt black hair and a compass pointing toward where he was facing came to an abrupt stop after feeling an ominous and foreboding feeling before him.

After running for an unknown amount of time toward the direction his compass had been facing since the first day he found it, Isaac forcefully smiled.

"I've finally found you." Isaac spoke.

As he said this, movement could be heard as a figure appeared from the darkness.

"The Sirens Lament: Desires Sacrifice."

What came into Isaac's few was a 7 foot tall tree with countless cracks and crevices adorned on it.

The tree was visibly old, however, it had a supernatural aura to it. It didn't help that if one looked closely certain crevices could be seen outlining a face, mouth and eyes.

"I'm surprised you've found me. Usually I'm the one who seeks out those in need." The tree spoke with a hoarse tone. It seemed peaceful, even wise, yet the reverberation made Isaac's hairs stand up.

Isaac tried to reply, but he couldn't help but feel countless gazes upon him coming from the shadows.

"Don't mind them. Think of them as my little helper. They will not harm you." Hearing the Siren speak, Isaac relaxed.

"I surprised myself in finding you too. If it weren't for this…" Before Isaac could finish, the tree interrupted.

"The compass. Yes, I'm aware. I've been following your adventure through the Dark Continent ever since you mysteriously arrived in Aionthos."

"Good. Then you know why I'm here right now. I wish…" Isaac was once again cut off.

"You seem to be mistaking me for the Ai. I do not grant wishes. I provide a deal. But I ask you, child. Why should I give you what you desire?" As the Tree said this, Isaac grinned.

"Because you have no choice."

The tree paused, staying quiet.

"Am I wrong? You see, on my way here, I thought of an amusing scenario. You, like every other monster, were once a human. A human, who at death, was granted his lifelong desire for power."

Isaac was not wrong. It didn't take a genius to realise the Siren held a god like power.

"But, you had no choice but to sacrifice the ability to ever wield such power yourself. Forced to bargain with desperate humans."

"Is this why you've come to me? To tell me about your fantasies?" The Siren spoke.

"Still playing dumb? Well tell me this. Does the name Givor Gordon ring any bells?" Saying this, a dark and ominous aura seeped out from the Siren as Isaac could notice the crevices on its face contort, as if it were disgusted.

"You think you know me?" The Siren spoke, its voice changing from a wise old man to a bitter onlooker.

"Just because that filthy Kurta told you about a convoluted backstory. No, in reality, I was not a lucky king thirsty for power."

Isaac always knew Monet had somewhat told a biassed version of the story, but he didn't think it was much different to what actually happened.

"In reality, I saw the threat Nen posed to humanity. Such a miracle power appearing from nowhere was too good to be true. I tried to convince the nations to hide the discovery of Nen, but I was ignored."

"Additionally, upon the rise of the Kurta who presented themselves as miracle workers and glorified Nen, my opinion was further ignored."

"Therefore, I decided to put matters into my own hands. By having the nations destroy each other, I'd planned to rise as the single emperor of the world, ridding both the Kurta and Nen from the world."

Isaac stared with an emotionless demeanour as silence descended the area.

"How ironic." Isaac muttered as the Siren listened.

"You feared Nen, yet you were the reason humans were nearly driven to extinction."

Once again, silence.

The crevices soon changed on the Siren's face as it spoke.

"Isaac, your current desire, for your friends to escape, shall be granted. However, in return, you must sacrifice something of equal level. Your peace" The Siren spoke.

"You too shall be forced to roam the Dark Continent for the rest of your days, imprisoned."

Isaac stayed quiet for a few seconds. Despite what he'd been told, his expression didn't falter for a second.

"Do it."

***

Meanwhile, in the distance, Zigg sweated profusely as a wall of string blocked the hole in the wall.

"Where is he?!" A powerful Aura erupted from Monet as Netero barely got to his feet with a smile on his face.

"Why don't you ask him…Oh, how unfortunate. It seems the boy has turned into a bundle of string." Netero replied mockingly.

"Don't play games. You were behind this. You plotted for his escape."

"Actually, that's where you're wrong. See, this was all his idea." They both paused as Monet grinned her teeth.

How could she, a gatekeeper and honorary Kurta, be fooled by a boy.

"I told you not to underestimate him…" Before Netero could finish, the scenery had suddenly changed.

In the blink of an eye, the three of them had been seemingly teleported out of the cave, onto a small canoe barely fitting the three of them with what seemed to be a scarecrow paddling.

"The…guide?" Netero muttered. This "Guide" was the same entity that was responsible for transporting individuals to and from the gate. And he, along with Monet and Zigg were somehow aboard it.

"How…?" Zigg asked. But only Netero somewhat had an idea on what happened.

"It was him."

***

The Siren stood before Isaac as it began to speak in a far wiser and joyful tone than before, as if he were mocking the boy.

"Like Don Freecs, the best you may do is extend your life and help future travellers, however, you will never step foot outside…" Before the Siren could finish, Isaac revealed a menacing grin, which was quickly noticed.

"You…"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realise how rude I was being. I just couldn't help myself." Isaac said, still grinning.

Before Isaac, a window appeared reading the words, "Congratulations!"

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