Vengeance of the Returner

Chapter 172: Endurance

"Ahhh!"

Nix's scream resounded throughout the whole floor.

The beasts in the distance were intimidated by the wounded man's cry. Both Ferdinand and Jerina looked at him with pity and fear. They did not understand in the slightest, why he was continuously going through agony. 

He kneeled down in pain clenching his stomach and raised his head towards the ceiling in agony and screamed at the top of his lungs as a pillar of energy surged out of his mouth. His eye was foggy filled with brightness. His skin crackled and rifts in his skin emanated brightness. 

His own mana core was bombarded by the waves of the impure mana orb which reverberated his mana nervous system and made them go haywire. The mayhem bombarded every vessel that carried mana throughout his body.

While regeneration continuously helped him in healing his tissues. Within a second the burning sensation and agony stopped.

[You have obtained 1 Magic point]

[Your body has endured both internal and external pain to the extremity of human limitations]

[As compensation you have acquired 12 Endurance points]

A satisfied smile bloomed on his face while the duo healed him with questions to ask in their minds.

Gaining stat points of more than five can be seen as an unusual phenomenon and moreover obtaining them through training is not such an easy feat.

So, gaining twelve points is something that could happen once in a blue moon through a natural way of training is nothing but an extraordinary achievement. Most people among Outsiders solely rely on level-ups which will give them ten stat points in one go. Since Nix didn't have such privileges he had to choose the hard way to equalize himself with them.

"Thanks, people"

Nix said politely.

"Uhmm... Mr.Nix may I ask something personal. If you don't want to say I won't insist on it though..."

Jerina asked hesitantly.

"Hmm? Why am going through this shit? What for? That is the question you want to ask me. I presume...."

Nix said indifferently.

"Yes..."

"Well, As I said this is part of my training to become stronger."

He shrugged and began to walk again washing off the things as though they were not that big of an ordeal.

During their journey, he faced several Cerberus monsters. His pain tolerance had greatly risen and his perception over the attacks that came towards him was at the pinnacle. He did know he cannot face titans that dwell on the fourth floor yet, he wanted to face them. 

But, over a few hours, the couple became overly fatigued and fell unconscious. Which made him stop his pioneering for the night.

He constructed a campfire after carrying the couple into a crooked hollow inside the wall of the Labyrinth. It was a location that seemed to be not infected by monsters and hidden from their sight.

"Yo man come out, I need your suggestion"

Nix asked with his regular friendly tone looking at the dagger which he had shoved into the ground opposite to the fire.

Astaroth seeped out of the dagger smoothening his beard like the wise old man he is.

{You have been exploring for over three days as of now. Even though you possess great mental strength it certainly has a limit. You are better off leaving the labyrinth now. If you were to go through a more traumatic experience you will suffer side effects.}

"Isn't it better for me to train more? If the war is about to raise I have to be prepared."

{I do understand what you are trying to convulse here but, this is your limit. When we get the time to train. we will start to train your mind to handle mental pain but, we will pause things for now.}

"Hah, I understand."

He sighed and continued talking.

"I believe I can sleep then?"

{Well, if you have a death wish sure you can. But you do possess instincts that will awaken you from dangers so, you can}

Astaroth shrugged.

"Alright, I hope you'll have your eyes out for me."

Nix said and laid on the Cerberus fur he had amassed like a bed.

One needs to have a good sleep to overcome fatigue and such good sleep comes only from comfortable terrain or else one had to prepare it. In Nix's case, he used the soft fur of the Cerberus.

The following morning the fresh aroma of meat getting roasted in the fire perked his nose. His instincts never intimidated him meaning it was not someone dangerous.

When he opened his eyes the couple caught his eyes cooking in front of the fire by roasting the Cerberus they had been carrying around.

"Morning Mr.Nix."

Jerina greeted with a slight bow followed by Ferdinand.

"Morning and thanks for the food."

Nix said non enthusiastically and grabbed the meat.

"We will leave today."

He said casually while munching on the meat sitting on the rock bed.

"We understand..."

They both said in unison.

As soon as they finished their breakfast they began their journey back to the ground floor.

"You both still plan on following me?"

He asked as soon as they returned to the first floor. 

"Yes..."

"Alright, I wonder why you want to follow me. I think you both have the ability to great. Anyway, you both are priests, right? Then can you make a divine connection with Heredia?"

"We can...But her holiness wouldn't accept it without proper reason."

"Well, I kinda think she will understand and accept the connection."

He asked because there were several doubts inside his mind. Firstly it seems like she had predicted that he will meet this couple inside babel and secondly it was possibly her plan in the first place to stir his mind. To urge him to train. 

Soon both Ferdinand and Jerina began to draw a circle and made Nix stand in the middle. Within a few seconds, their communication was accepted by Heredia. It was a big surprise for the couple who had failed in connecting several times as Nix fell unconscious in the middle of the circle.

As soon as he opened his eyes he found himself inside a grandeur chamber where a single bed was placed in the center. He was inside the bed chamber which was closed with a cloth.

Soon Heredia's captivating voice entered his ears as she slid the screen that hid her inside the chamber.

She looked at him laying on her king-sized bed wearing velvet lingerie. He couldn't help but question her ways. Why would she even accept the connection If she wouldn't show him basic respect?

"Did not predict? Should I believe those words?"

He questioned without showing any kind of reaction on his face.

"Nah"

She rose from her bed and covered herself with a robe though she was alluring as ever.

She said with a smile.

"Hmm, I truly wonder if you are really a goddess. I mean my expectations were something different. You seem rather like a normal young woman and no offense. If you feel like those words were disrespectful as well. I apologize."

Nix said politely looking into her eyes.

"Connection between us huh? Meaning you are allying with me. And why did you want me to meet them?"

As he asked she smiled.

'So the gods even knows my ability's future potentials even though I haven't reached such ranks yet huh?'

He thought to himself and began speaking.

"I see. But what's your part if you are not my ally?"

She said with a smile.

'Aint it her way of saying that we will be allies or might become enemies.'

He contemplated to himself and said.

"So, You are neutral huh? I guess that's better than becoming any enemy of gods."

As she said he abruptly felt a force waking him up.

When he opened his eyes he found the couple lying unconscious.

'Well, they are not angels to steadily maintain a connection.'

He shrugged and picked both of them on his shoulder and began to walk towards the exit of the first floor.