Unsealing Emptiness

Chapter 295: Flashback.

Although Ozul’s orders were a little unexpected, Haley didn’t waste a minute as she immediately left off to complete the given task.

After everyone had left, Ozul finally released a tired sigh before lumping back on the couch.

He was left there staring vacantly at the air for a few minutes before he eventually mustered up his strength to raise both of his hands in front of his face.

Luckily for him, no one dared to disturb him during this time. Ozul just had the air around him right now which almost physically spoke to people not to approach him.

In his eyes, the time seemed to slow, his surroundings becoming a blur to him as he mused.

“This satisfaction... this fulfilling sensation that seeps deep into my body... this contentment of being complete again...”

Following another pause and a worn-out sigh, he could only mutter the following words,

.....

“... Still I feel so hollow...”

He had finally achieved what he wanted to for years now. He had gotten all of his limbs back. But still, there was a certain something that felt out of place.

‘Why didn’t I feel like this when I was born?’ he contemplated.

The memories when had just been born were all quite vivid even now and he could tell for a fact that he didn’t feel that way back then. So what changed?

Not getting any answers yet again, he shook his head. After regaining his last limb, he had all the time in the world to figure things out. At least now he wouldn’t have to constantly worry about anything.

Now that he had gained all of his limbs back, the power boost he received together with his last limb was sufficient enough that he was now confident to easily deal with all of the Rank-10 Mages, even if they worked together against him.

As for Old Gu, he would first have to figure out how strong the old man actually was to predict the outcome if they were to fight.

His own level of strength also remained vague and he was planning to first test his own limits.

Fortunately, he had enough time to figure out everything that he needed to.

One needed to become familiar with their own being before looking for answers outside.

Just that he didn’t feel like doing anything right now. Even thinking on a particular matter made him think twice as much about whether he should just go to sleep again.

Again mustering up his will, Ozul stood up to leave the tower.

His personal room wasn’t as peaceful as it was before. Last night too, the formations set on each floor to block the noise either didn’t seem to work or his senses had improved a little too much.

Jinx could be seen walking down the stairs from the top floor as she joined behind.

Many things changed, but Jinx was still the same. The stronger he got, the more connection he would feel between them, but nothing more informative than that.

He had no way of knowing what kind of connection they had.

Just then, he suddenly paused in his steps as he realized something, ‘Connection? Maybe that thing could help...’

He took a glance at the unbothered Jinx before resuming his footsteps.

Getting out of the tower, he noticed the presence of the Rogue Crew. They immediately jolted at his presence and began to follow him around from a distance as well. It was what they were told to do so.

While walking towards Raven and Blaze who were cultivating in the training ground, Ozul contemplated what they should be improving now.

One of the reasons they were brought along to the exploration was also so they could get the fighting experience, which they did.

But it was also true that you could never gain enough experience. For whatever competition Old Gu was going to arrange though, it should be enough.

Then again, they had only contented themselves against Beasts. Humans were far trickier than any Beast despite having lower strength.

While Beasts would mostly use the same set of spells every time, the humans could make as many spells as they wanted and could even make use of the artifacts.

All in all, where Beasts had the advantage of strength, the humans were far more cunning.

It also wouldn’t be as effective if he were to spar with them. Not only were real perilous situations more fruitful, but his fighting style was also different from the humans.

For example, he didn’t have to think about draining his Mana Pool or chanting the right spell because not only did he not have a Mana Pool to hold him back but he could also just change the form of the Ball of Purity whenever he wanted and however he wanted.

He was limited only by his understanding of his own self.

‘I should give them some actual missions...’ Ozul came to a conclusion because no matter how much he personally trained them, experiencing it for themselves would be a whole different thing.

While Ozul and Jinx walked towards the training ground, he didn’t notice how similar both of their movements had gotten. Although he didn’t walk anything like a cat, his steps were almost as graceful and leisurely as Jinx.

“Less than a year remains till Old Gu makes his appearance again, they can lead the operation...” Ozul muttered to himself.

He entered the training ground and noticed both Raven and Blaze sparring without using offensive Spells.

Raven looked determined and a lot more energetic, mostly because he had gotten all of his limbs back. On the other hand, Blaze looked somewhat perplexed, he had things going on in his head.

Ignoring the scene, Ozul interrupted their spar, “Stop.”

As always, his voice almost made them jump. He and Jinx were always silent in their steps. Unless they wanted to, there was almost no one who could detect their presence.

The two stopped sparring and immediately made their way towards him.

After coming back from the exploration, both of them could naturally feel their improvement. Their actions were faster and more fluid.

One of the main reasons that fighting experience was needed rested on the time it needed to think of the movements. If a person had fought hundreds of actual life-threatening battles, their body would automatically move to counter an attack or protect themselves.

“Rest for a few days. Cultivate as you like. Later, both of you will be leading a few tasks I have for the organization,” Ozul informed.

“Hm? What kind of tasks?” Raven asked with confused expressions. All of what they did until now was so that Ozul could get his limbs back, but now that he had, what more was left for the organization to do?

“The Three-Eyed Strangers have already infiltrated most of the giant or minor organizations on the continent, but most of them are still not trusted enough to be exposed to sensitive information,” Ozul explained in an unhurried voice as he took a seat.

Jinx didn’t wait a second before jumping onto his lap as well.

“I want both of you to speed up the process. As for how... figure it out,” Ozul was too lazy to devise a plan for them as well. They were mature enough to make their own decisions.

Raven and Blaze didn’t mind doing things on their own, but they were curious about what type of information Ozul wanted now.

“Do this first, you will know what I want information on later as well,” Ozul naturally understood what they were thinking about.

“Unless a Rank-9 Mage is directly involved in whatever you would be doing, don’t bother asking for any help. I won’t help. Work together or separately, I don’t care,” Ozul said without a change in his expression.

On the other hand, the duo’s eyebrows unconsciously twitched. Ozul always made it seem like he didn’t care about their lives at all. And they were more than aware of how untrue it was.

After all, who would do things for him if they were gone?

“Get rest for a few days and tell me before you are about to leave. I will be in the forest,” Ozul would rather be at peace in the middle of a forest than around any humans now.

Even that soundproof room of his wasn’t working because of his senses.

Before walking out of the training room, Ozul glanced at Blaze who was quiet all this while. By now, Raven had also noticed something wrong with Blaze but she didn’t know what.

On the other hand, Ozul was fully aware of what was going on in his head.

How could he forget his own promise?

——

*Flashback*

It was around the time when he had brought Blaze home.

Sitting beside Ozul in the old garden, Blaze mustered up his courage when Raven had gone inside the house.

“Uhm...u...a...”

“Speak what you have to say clearly,” Ozul interrupted.

His cold tone made Blaze instantly shut up. For a few seconds, he contemplated if it was alright to even say anything.

“I... you will surely help me take revenge right?” Blaze asked with expectations visible in his eyes.

The only reason he gave up on his plan to brutally kill everyone in his road to revenge was because of Ozul. Worse things had happened to the latter, and he was so calm about it. In Blaze’s eyes, there was no man more admirable than him.

But following Ozul didn’t mean that he didn’t want revenge on the person responsible for turning the whole village against him back then.

“I can’t promise you that,” Ozul shook his head, disappointing Blaze who couldn’t help but purse his lips.

But just the next moment, Blaze regained his spirit when he heard the, “But...”

“If that person is alive by the time you are strong enough... I promise you... you will have your revenge.”

The confidence with which Ozul promised Blaze was surprising because by now, he had also understood just how powerful the Church of Light was.

However, coming from Ozul, Blaze did not doubt those words. He instinctively put his trust in him.

——