Skybound Throne

Riruru quickly and carefully shifted into her human form as the boat creaked under her weight. Fortunately, the boat didn't break.

She had panicked upon waking and finding Skyler missing—only to sense his presence deep in the water, along the familiar aura.

Her pale skin bore bruises and small burn marks from pulling Skyler out of the water, but they paled in comparison to the severe burns and wounds covering his body.

He looked almost unrecognizable, his breathing far too shallow and weak.

"What... what should I do...?"

Riruru whispered, her voice trembling.

She clutched the jacket Skyler had draped around her sleeping figure earlier, pressing it gently against his wounds in a desperate attempt to stop the severe bleeding.

Her fingers shook, red-rimmed eyes filled with panic. She was furious, heartbroken, and in a lot of pain—all at once. So, when her gaze met the vacant, crimson eyes of the glowing figure in his arms—someone who felt like a part of her—she didn't ask about her well-being. She didn't care. Not now. Not when Skyler looked like this. The figure parted her lips and spoke faintly.

"I want to die..."

Riruru instantly snapped at her, angry.

"Shut up! Shut up!"

She shouted, her voice cracking.

"Can't you see how injured Skyler is? All because I was in pain when I heard you! Because I wanted to save you!"

She broke down, her voice a whisper.

"This is all your fault..."

A sob escaped her lips.

"No, it's mine. It's our fault."

The transparent figure frowned; finally, she sensed the warm presence beside her—the shallow breaths brushing against her neck.

Her mind was too hazy to understand her. She fell silent, watching as a wave of water burst forth from Riruru's body, repelling the approaching boats with a powerful surge.

The water enveloped Skyler's body, striving to heal his wounds—after all, water too has healing properties. When that failed badly, she summoned the energy within her soul.

It was very weak, and she knew she would suffer from using it. Yet, it didn't matter—as long as he woke up, as long as he was fine.

She only calmed down a bit when his eyes fluttered open, and he silently shifted to lay down on his back, reaching out to wrap his hand around her neck and pull her closer.

Skyler pressed his head against Riruru's.

His voice was gentle, yet also stern.

"I'm fine. Really, my dear. Don't cry… and stop using the power you are using this instant. It's consuming your lifespan."

The white-eyed figure in his subconscious had been the one to tell him this—and had even jolted him awake to stop her.

Riruru wanted to argue—he was still so injured—but he raised his voice firmly.

"Now!"

She flinched but obeyed, then blinked in surprise as he smiled and kissed her.

"I will heal on my own in no time."

Skyler hissed as he felt a hand grasp his arm, only to turn and see the transparent, glowing figure he had found and rescued from the searing crimson water. His heart raced instantly—faster than it should have for a stranger whose name he didn't know.

Despite lacking a physical body, she was undeniably beautiful, and the tattered rags draped over her soul did little to conceal it.

She had long, flowing red hair and a pale, delicate face. Her lips were soft pink, and her slender figure—taller than Riruru's—held a quiet grace. But it was her eyes that truly caught him: deep, familiar crimson, filled with an emptiness that saddened him.

He already had a theory in his mind after everything that happened—one he wasn't ready to accept yet. It felt too far-fetched.

Also, he was still missing key pieces.

But if he were to believe it, then Riruru and the woman before him might be the same person—one with a body, and one without.

That's why Riruru felt her pain and wanted to save her. The actual question was how—how had Riruru's essence, her soul, broken into pieces yet survived? And was there any way to merge it...? It was all so confusing.

Skyler needed time to piece everything together and reach a clear conclusion.

After all, the 'two him' in his subconscious had said that his Riruru carried the largest fragment within her, having absorbed what he had found. That was why she could feel the pain and presence of the others. Not to mention, the powerful gatekeepers of Hell had declared that Riruru was incomplete.

Skyler reached out and tapped her head.

She blinked, staring at him silently.

"Why the frown now, Miss Beautiful Red-Haired Ghost who wants to die?"

He joked, trying to lift the mood. But his smile faded the moment she spoke.

"Can't you kill me? Your warm presence made me feel relieved... so, can't you?"

He sighed and covered her eyes.

"No. Everything will be alright. You are not in pain anymore. I am sorry I was so late."

She fell silent and closed her eyes.

Skyler lifted himself up with Riruru's help and sighed in relief upon seeing that the storage ring he wore had survived. It had lost its color, but its contents were fine.

He had left the others back in his room, safely hidden beneath his bedding—this was the only one he had kept on him.

He pulled out a fresh set of clothes and began changing, grimacing as the fabric scraped against his unhealed wounds.

"My elemental crystals don't have Evol."

He muttered, knowing that he needed to escape this place to replenish them.

His gaze drifted as he scanned the many wooden boats that surrounded their boat.

"Things couldn't get worse... could they?"

Riruru leaned in closer, gripping his arm as she noticed the other woman reaching out to hold his other arm quietly with closed eyes. He grimaced but didn't pull his arms away—he was already in pain; what was a bit more?

A wry smile tugged at Skyler's lips as he strained to think of a way to escape Hell.

He flinched as Riruru's voice whispered close to his ear—strangely soft and quiet.

"I have Evol."

Skyler blinked, trying to grasp her meaning when suddenly a massive burst of clear, icy water erupted from their boat, toppling and scattering the surrounding vessels. A smirk tugged at his lips as he let out a chuckle.

"I almost forgot my dear Riruru is more powerful than me—she's a 13-star!"

He rested his head shamelessly on her shoulder and even closed his eyes.

"Alright, I'm counting on you."