NOVEL WEB Chapter 557: Finding Them!
I activate my scouting ability. I need to know, and I need to see for myself! Please let her be alright!....
Soon, the scene appears clearly before me. The stunning water sect with water flowing everywhere is no more. Everything is dried up. On the ground, I can see traces of battle. There are depressions in the stone pavement too.
I can feel my heart beating. I'm scared to look forward. My brain is already imagining all sorts of horrible scenarios. That's when I lose control of my ability.
THUD!
[No! This can't be!]
I came here expecting a fight. I was going to be valiant, defeat the Water sect, then rescue my friend. But instead, I find this. What is even this?! She is fine, right?!
They all seem to be gone, all of them! Where did they go?! This doesn't make sense! Factions don't just disappear that easily. They have Aqua watching over them too!
"Let's head inside. My Gus are not signaling any danger. Let's find some clues about what happened. Perhaps they ran away before any real danger?"
[You mean it?!]
I know he just says that to give me hope. I know it. But right now, that's what I want to hear. I just want someone telling me that everything will be alright. But I also want to know the truth. I'm an idiot, I know.
He nods, smiles warmly, and helps me get up. I'm in a mood that I didn't even notice or care about myself falling down. It feels like my whole body isn't my own right now. All I can think about is: Is she fine?!
"Giving up this easily isn't like you. You're the man that fought the sect leader of the Sun sect without batting an eye. You're the man that single-handedly screwed up the Gu sect's heritage ground. Let's go shall we?"
He gives me an encouraging smile. Yes, he's right! As soon as I don't see her corpse, then there is still hope! Right now, I just have a bad feeling! Perhaps circumstances are explaining this all!
I quickly rise up, steady my once trembling knees, and I take a step toward the city! We will get to the bottom of this! As we reach the gates, they are completely intact.
"This is a good sign. If an overwhelmingly strong power attacked them, chances are they would have been surrounded first. Every gate would likely show some damage, at least. There didn't seem to be any fighting this side at all, meaning they had an escape route available!"
It kind of makes sense, but a strong enemy would just jump above it and slaughter everyone. This is especially so with the Water barrier gone. But it's true that no combat is good.
As we enter, we notice various items lying around. There are vegetables, various tools, dolls, and even weapons. Why would there even be weapons on the floor with no one lying dead next to it? A surrender, perhaps?
This could be bad, however. It likely means that they were caught by surprise. They had to flee urgently, otherwise, they would have packed their stuff up. No, they urgently fled.
The more we progress and the more depressions we see in the ground and in the buildings. It seems to be thin and long. This can only be one thing.
"Arrow, this was made by arrows. That's the only sign of combat there is. Whoever attacked them did so using bows and arrows. There are a few candidates that come to mind..."
[What about the...Wait, what was it again? Ah, right! The Ever-Reaching sect! Someone told me they attacked this place for a week straight long ago.]
"It seems extremely likely. Judging by the perforating power, these guys are true masters of their weapons. It shouldn't be a cover-up."
This makes sense. We keep going, but all that we see is subtly destruction everywhere and a ghost town. This is bad for my nerves. The unknown stresses me more. I need to keep talking, easy.
[What do you think happened to them?]
"There is no blood at all. They either escaped, fought someplace else, or surrendered. In all cases, there is still hope."
[Which one is the most likely?]
"It depends really on the god. Some gods ask for sacrifices, but others prefer to enslave their defeated foes instead. I have no idea about the Ever-Reaching god, to be honest."
It all boils down to: did a relatively peaceful sect attack them? Couldn't they wait for me to be back before getting sieged?! If only I were a hero. They somehow all arrive at the perfect time something is about to go down!
"Where should we check first? You've been here before, right?"
[We need to find the cells. I have no idea where that is, but she would have been their prisoner. It obviously wasn't on the itinerary when I toured the city.]
I remember her smile as she brought me along and when we launched the paper boats. It was so warm and pure! I really hope she's fine....otherwise I don't know what I'll do.
"Maybe we can follow the water pathways? It should lead somewhere, right?"
He's right. I can't help but find it ominous that all the water is gone. There are two places I can picture them fighting for their lives. The lake where we fought or Aqua's pond.
The lake is most likely. They would use that huge body of water as fuel for their magic. It probably lost a lot of potency after the earlier events, but still. Ah, wait a minute!
[What if they are all safe in their water palace! They would have removed all the water everywhere else to fortify their defenses! For all we know, they could still be huddling up there as we speak!]
This is possible! Super possible! I run forward. Soon everything will be alright. I will find them in their water bunker, and they'll thank me for saving them. Then I'll punish them for betraying me, take my friend away, and everything will be perfect!
I finally come in sight of it and...!
THUD!
No, this can't be! Please tell me this is a lie! Please! I feel like vomiting. No, I'm vomiting. I don't care. I just want...
I can feel my friend pat my shoulder. In front of us is a scene of carnage. I force myself to look at it. I feel my entire body shaking like a leaf. We found them. We found them all. There they are.
In the middle of a dried-up lake, there is a pile of bodies. There is a big puddle of blood. All of the water people are stacked together. It makes a small hill.
There are so many arrows in their bodies that they look like porcupines. They made their last stand here. It really was the last stand.
That's when I rise up. This isn't the end. I'll find her body. I'll keep searching until I know for sure, I'll...