Chapter 5

*Warning: sexual harassment*

Rayleigh panted as he hurriedly ran over to the other side of the tunnel. Tears were springing on his face that he wiped off frustrated as his eyes kept getting blurry.

He can hear heavy footsteps trying to catch on to him as he used his ability to block the spaces to gain more time.

He couldn't believe this was happening. Why did his dad have to die? He didn't even had time to mourn for his father's death. He had to run straight to the other side of the tunnel to escape.

Who were those people anyway? Why are they looking for him? And whose the Chaos God?

So many questions were running throughout his mind. But he knew that the only thing he could do right now is run to save his own life and maybe he could go and see if maybe there's a chance that he's still alive.

Just as he already sees the light that indicates that he is close to the end of the tunnel, his hair was grabbed rougly by a man 2 times his size.

"Ha! Got you! Sire, I got him!" the man said as Rayleigh struggled in his grasp, kicking and punching the man but his struggle was futile.

He used his ability to spring up a root from the side of the man's head which caught the man off guard and made him loosen his grasp on Rayleigh's hair then Rayleigh kicked his chin before running to the exit and blocking the entrance once again.

His hope however was crushed once he noticed the it was the end of a cliff. He had nowhere to go.

He was nervous, scared and hopeless. No one was gonna save him. What is he gonna do now? Is this the end for him?

He was so lost in thought that he didn't see the seal on the entrance torned and the soldiers coming out along with Apollo.

The man who caught him once, angrily took a hold of Rayleigh's neck and squeezed it so that Rayleigh couldn't breath much.

Rayleigh didn't want to die by the hands of his dad's murderers and so kicked the man.

"You're such an annoying little fucker. I've had enough of your struggles. Sire, your orders?" the man said squeezing the air out of Rayleigh's body. As the other continued to struggled, scratching and still kicking the man.

He couldn't breath and he couldn't use his ability either.

"Do whatever you want, just kill him" Apollo ordered lazily looking at his surroundings before he turned around and left so the only ones left were the man and Rayleigh.

"You heard him. But I must say, you have quite beautiful for a man. I guess I'll have fun with you before I kill you then" the man said as Rayleigh's eyes widened as his kicks became more rash and sloppy.

"L—Let m—m—me g—go" Rayleigh managed to squeeze out.

The man then slammed Rayleigh to the ground and started touching him in places he didn't want.

Rayleigh struggled harder and managed to kick the man in the crotch. He quickly got away from the man and coughed.

"You're really annoying me now, you little bitch. I don't care anymore, I'm gonna kill you" the man said and unsheaths his sword and then stabbed Rayleigh once he stood up.

Rayleigh spatted out blood just as the man pulled the sword back and pushed Rayleigh off the cliff.

Rayleigh stared at the sky as he could see his memories flashing clearly through his mind. Is this what those books mean where people who dies would see their life flashing through their eyes?

What's this? He hasn't even done anything in his bucket list yet. He forgot. He forgot because they have been living peacefully these years.

The world was a cruel place. His dad said that before that's why he didn't want Rayleigh going outside the forest. That's why he still has a curfew. Rayleigh couldn't even let out a chuckle as darkness swallowed his whole being.

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Livius stopped the horse once he reached the place in the map that he really wanted to go: The Forbidden Forest.

Just like the books say, there really wasn't anything you can see from beyond the barrier. All he could was mist.

He got off the horse and tied the horse to a nearby tree. He first took in the surroundings and observed if anything was wrong.

Unfortunately, there seems to be a bit of a problem.

"Come out" Livius said. He knew that some beings were following him since he entered the forest.

'Bandits, huh?' he thought as the beings came out. There are about 12 of them from different species.

"What do you want?" Livius asked.

"Give us all your belongings and we'll let you out alive" the beings who seems to be the leader said. From his looks, he's probably a rouge wolf.

"And if I don't? What are you gonna do about it?" Livius said as he made eye contact with the leader, his eyes glowing confirming that he had official control on the being's body.

"Well, I guess, you'll have to die then" the leader said as he attempted to throw a punch at Livius only to stop just before his fist made contact with Livius' face.

"W-What?" the leader stuttered before he again attempted another punch but his fist stopped halfway.

"Turn around" Livius commanded and the leader did so.

"W-What's this? Bastard, what did you do to me?!" the leader shouted as he tried to control his own body.

"Attack your comrades" Livius commanded and just as he commanded, the leader attacked his own comrades.

"Boss, stop!! What are you doing?!" the elf bandit said as she tried to dodge the leader's fists, only to collide with a tree and for the leader to throw a punch on her gut which made her pass out.

Livius just watched as the group fell apart but grew bored and sighed. He walked towards the mist. He seems to have passed the barrier because he felt a ripple in his body.

He was blinded by a bright light but when his eyesight adjusted, he was in a white room. It was not the forest that he imagined. What is this?

"Welcome, being" a mechanical voice said resounding throughout the room.

"Who's there?" Livius said as he readied his sword and stayed alert.

"Don't be frightened, I'm only a shapeless voice in this room created to welcome guests who dares to go inside the Forbidden Forest" the voice explained.

"Where am I? I assume, this is not the Forbidden Forest?" Livius asked.

"That is right, being. This is what you call a testing area of the forest. As you know, it is the Forbidden Forest and not everyone can enter as they please" the voice explained.

"So what do I have to do to pass?" Livius asked.

"You just need to answer my question" the voice answered.

"What is it?" Livius asked.

"The question is: Why did you come to the forest?" the voice asked.

"That's it?" Livius asked.

"Yes" the voice answered.

"I need to be find someone" Livius answered.

"Who?" the voice asked.

"What's this? I thought you only have one question" Livius said.

"Don't be mistaken. This is part of the question" the voice said.

Livius sighed and said, "My mate"

"Why?" the voice asked once again.

"Because I need him" Livius answered.

"Why?" the voice asked once again. It was then that Livius knew what was happening. The reason why no one had been able to enter.

It was because they were being questioned infinitely with a question that they thought was only an easy one. It wasn't easy. This question was meant so that no one could enter. They had no one to attack and nowhere to destroy to get out. So their only choice was the give up and leave and by that, the system would overwrite their memories so that the being would have no memories of what happened.

Some people have probably thought of this.

"Because I have to cure a prophecy and create another path to my own destiny" Livius answered.

The voice was silent for awhile before continuing its why question. Livius' theory was confirmed. There was no shapeless voice. It was a real being.

Livius continued to answer the questions and observed the room. It was a completely boxed and no exit nor enter door.

Its impossible that there wouldn't be anyway to get out of this and enter the forest. Even if the question is infinite, if you find a way around it, there should be a way.

And just when he thought of the question, he found an answer.

"Why are you asking me these questions?" Livius asked and the voice couldn't say anything.

"I'm the one asking questions" the voice said.

"Who decided that? You only told me to answer the questions not that you are the only one whose gonna be questioning" Livius said.

"So tell me, why?" Livius asked.

"Why what?" the voice said, the irritation was clear on its voice.

"Why are you asking me these questions?" Livius asked.

"Because I want to" the voice answered.

"Why?" Livius asked.

"B-Because w-well" the voice said stuttering. It was clear that the owner of the voice was flustered and didn't know how to answer.

Livius smirked inwardly.

"Tell me why?" Livius once again asked.

"........" the voice continued to be silent.

"......... You can pass" the voice said and Livius smirked victoriously.

The wall infront of Livius opened and revealed the forest. Like what the stories have said, the forest really was majestical. Trees and plants that have many colors. Some were even real gold trees. The treasure was not the only thing that was special in the forest. The power coming off from the whole forest was so strong.

But he didn't come to sightsee and look for treasures. He has something more important to look for. The rumored creature who is called the Lost Soul.

The Lost Soul is not only famous for its beauty but also for the power that it holds. It is a powerful creature who can boost the power of its contractor. And more importantly, it can find anyone that its contractor wants to find.

The Lost Soul is only one of its kind, that's why its special and can only be seen in the Forbidden Forest.

Livius who was lost in thoughts suddenly felt a pain on his heart. It felt like it was being pierced by a sword.

Because of the pain, he even kneeled and clutched his chest. He couldn't breath, what was this?

Just then, heavy footsteps can be heard thumping on the ground and several voices that were heard. He quickly hid himself behind a tree and slumped on it with a heavy breath.

Who are these people? How did they get it? More importantly, why does my heart feel like its being pricked by a million needles them being stomped on by a giant feet?

'There were other people who was here?' he thought and hid himself behind a tree.

The footsteps came closer and so were the voices that became louder allowing Livius to hear them.

"That little shit really did a number on my balls" one said as he grumbled.

"You should've just killed him. Speaking of which, I think their omegas" another one said.

"Are you stupid? Omegas were extinct since long ago. Plus that would be freaky" another one butted in.

"But I mean they could still be alive you know. I heard only omegas were more beautiful than women. And their all males"

"But don't you know?"

"Know what?"

"Omegas have two personas. They might seem gentle but they could kill you in your sleep you know. I heard that omegas were the one who caused the Crimson Massacre"

That piqued Livius' interest. 'Crimson Massacre? Why haven't I read any of that in the books? And omegas?'

The group then proceeded to go away. Livius took a deep breath and weakly stood up. His body still feeling like its being killed.