bookpower Chapter 159 - 159: Roots and Connections Part 2
Chapter 159 - 159: Roots and Connections Part 2
Ronald's expression darkened, his fists tightening. With a heavy heart, he began to speak.
"At first, we had no idea what was happening, but after six months of that constant pollution, everything started to change. The plants, the animals, even people. It was like the world was mutating." He paused, his expression hardening as he tried to find the right words.
"Animals turned into monsters, plants became sentient, and even sea creatures started acting out."
No words were exchanged for a few seconds.
"Then, around 2026, the demons came through. They began taking over, forcing humanity into a corner. We fought back, using weapons, but it wasn't enough."
Ronald's voice faltered, and he looked away, his fists clenching. The memories clearly still haunted him.
"How did you survive?"
Ronald's eyes darkened as he looked down.
"That's when the Awakeners showed up. Humans who gained powers. They could stand toe-to-toe with the demons. But even with them, the battle raged on without end." His voice cracked slightly.
Asher took a moment to process everything—it was just too much to take in.
"Then, are you an Awakened?"
"No," Ronald shook his head. "This type of strength is normal for humans now. Awakeners are much stronger."
"I see,"
The response annoyed Ronald a bit.
"Why are you too calm?" he demanded, his eyes narrowing. "Our world was taken over, you know!"
While he could understand Ronald's frustration, he knew that overreacting wouldn't fix anything.
"Let's get back to a more important topic—how did you end up here in the first place?"
From the man's tone, it was only logical to assume that this world was somehow more connected to his old world than he had realized.
"I don't even know," Ronald shook his head.
"I just woke up here out of nowhere, alongside other people. "
"That doesn't make sense," Asher muttered, more to himself than to Ronald.
Unfortunately, the topic was too complicated, so he decided to ask a different question.
"How did you know we're from the same world? None of the other slaves noticed me."
"Well… " Ronald scratched his head, "I actually saw your picture,"
"My picture ?" Asher narrowed his eyes, he wanted more information about it.
"I work as an information broker in one of these so-called guilds," Ronald explained. "I remember seeing a missing person bounty with your description. The color of your hair and eyes might be different, but the outline and features of your face are the same. Before becoming an information broker, I was also a forensic artist, so I'm really good at remembering faces."
"Someone is
While that wasn't exactly Asher's plan, the idea wasn't entirely off the table. It wouldn't hurt to test the portal by teleporting back to his old world before attempting the far more complicated task of reaching the Void.
"Yes,"
Ronald's eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope, a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time. His hands trembled slightly, and the despair etched into his face eased, if only a little.
"Thank you so much!" he knelt, bowing his head deeply in gratitude, his voice trembling with emotion.
"No need to thank me," Asher replied firmly. "Just keep this between us. We can't afford to attract attention."
He paused, glancing toward the door as if ensuring no one overheard. "I'll also make sure the others go easier on you."
***
Authors Note: (IMPORTANT)
To avoid violent reactions, Ronald just said, "Partner" . It was just Asher who assumed things.