Beyond the Bloodline-Chapter 293: Her Name

"...But why the hell is that energy coming from the Amphitheatre of Eternity of all places?"

The thought unsettled them, and they crossed their arms, mulling over the implications.

"This could have an adverse effect on our plans. I need to know the source of that energy surge."

But when they glanced at the Amphitheatre, they clicked their tongue in annoyance.

"I could go to the Amphitheatre myself and investigate, but that damn Vampire Empress is there. She’d notice me the moment I arrived. I can’t afford that—not now."

Their gaze shifted slightly, as though searching for answers amidst the stars. The entity’s thoughts turned to the unexpected developments unfolding in the galaxy that were so different from expectations.

"To think three of the Hybrids are within this galaxy...

I had confirmed all their locations beforehand, but they just had to go and come here for whatever reason.

And Jamie Westley himself... I thought he was still in the Vela Galaxy after that mess with the elf. I left that place precisely because of him. And yet, here he is, in Pinecone."

They exhaled sharply, their frustration evident.

"And John Cathedral...there’s no way he came here just to battle Westley’s replica for no reason. What is he after? His sister was there too."

Despite their probing thoughts, the answers eluded them. No matter how much they tried to piece it together, the chain of events refused to make sense.

"I at least know Richard Cathedral is somewhere in the Western Sector of the Universe and Sarina Aster is lingering near the dead zone...

Do I need to have someone confirm Miranda Scott’s location again? Damn it!"

They clicked their tongue again, before turning their attention to the enormous thing floating in the void beside them.

The Corpse of the Amorphous Space Beast.

The faint traces of energy lingering within its remains seemed to react to the recent surge of energy from the Amphitheatre, and he knew this was bound to attract the attention of the watchers Lapis assigned to the corpse.

"I really wanted to act now..." they began, their voice trailing off. Then they shook their head.

"There’s too much commotion. Between the energy surge at the Amphitheatre and Jamie Wesley’s sudden appearance, everyone’s attention will be drawn there.

If I make a move now, it’ll only draw unwanted eyes."

Their gaze lingered on the corpse for a moment longer before they turned away.

"When things calm down and when everyone is focused on the Amphitheatre’s Eternal Trials once again... that’s when I’ll make my move."

With those final words, the entity extended a hand, tearing a spatial gate into the Underworld Dimension.

Without a backward glance, they stepped into the swirling portal and vanished, leaving the corpse of the Amorphous Space Beast to slumber in silence once more.

◇　◇　◇

She opened her eyes and found herself in a clear green forest. In front of her was a shiny lake reflecting the light of the moon and stars dotting the night sky above her.

Looking down at her hands, a flicker of surprise crossed her face before her gaze shifted to the man standing a short distance away.

She tried to rise, to push herself to her feet, but her body refused to obey.

"Oh..."

The realization washed over her like the soft rustle of the trees.

"I’m really disappearing, aren’t I?"

Her voice prompted a response from the man.

"What? Starting to regret your decision now?"

"No... I’m just surprised you still went through with it. Then again, I shouldn’t be. You were always the decisive type, Jamie Westley."

For the first time, she spoke his name aloud and Jamie turned to meet her gaze.

The constant motion of the shifting shapes in her eyes had slowed, a clear sign she was nearing the peace she longed for.

"You took my power, didn’t you?"

"I did."

"I see..."

She murmured a response, a faint trace of a smile playing on her lips.

"It’s surprising, though. I thought something like that would mean so little to you. But it seems even someone like you can stumble every now and then, huh?"

She leaned back against the sturdy bark of the tree behind her, letting her fingers trace the soft grass beneath her as she spoke.

"...I wasn’t planning to say anything, but... seeing your condition like this, not quite the way I imagined, I suppose I don’t have much of a choice.

There’s so much I want to say... but not enough time to say it all."

Pausing for a moment, she looked up at the sky above her, her eyes catching sight of the silhouette of a ginormous entity staring back at her.

"So that’s where my body was..."

A soft, almost bitter laugh escaped her lips.

"You know... that bastard may be dead, but his subordinates are still out there. I know because one of them tried to absorb one of my cores."

Her tone shifted, laced with sardonic amusement.

"Well, too bad for him. The energy overloaded him and destroyed him from the inside."

Her words made Jamie’s eyes widen in shock.

"You didn’t think to mention this earlier?"

She tilted her head slightly, her expression calm despite his reaction.

"I was rather scared you’d keep me alive by force, just to extract everything I knew.

But honestly, it’s not as much as you think."

She exhaled deeply, her fingers drumming absently against the ground as she issued a warning.

"Beware of Black Dragons... especially those with Death powers. I don’t know which one, but one of them is trying to control my corpse.

I suspect they’re aligned with that bastard. They showed up not long after that wannabe Herald blew himself up trying to absorb my energy core. I recall something he said that made the connection clear.

They didn’t succeed all this while because I was still around, but once I’m gone, they’d probably face little resistance."

Jamie’s eyes narrowed, her words sinking in. A Dragon of Death attempting to control the corpse of the Amorphous Space Beast?

For what reason? Since when had they started attempting this?

He voiced his questions, but she shook her head, her lips pressing into a thin line.

"I don’t know.

It’s not like the dragon gave a long-winded monologue laying out all his plans near my cores before that Lapis woman went and extracted them from my corpse... oh."

Her words faltered mid-sentence as her gaze dropped to her hands. They were growing translucent, the edges fading into nothingness.

"Looks like my time’s just about up." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"It is."

"A shame. Talking with you turned out to be the first time I ever had a real conversation with someone. My first... and my last."

She let out a wistful sigh, her translucent arm extending toward Jamie.

"You all have taken to calling me Amorphous Space Beast, but I’ll have you know that I do have a name."

That caught Jamie off guard. It wasn’t something he had ever considered before.

"I’d like it if someone—anyone—remembered it, even if it’s just one person."

As she said this, Jamie exhaled softly and stepped back, lowering himself to sit on the ground beside her. His gaze lifted to the night sky as he asked.

"And what’s that name?"

"...Amara."

Hearing the name she mentioned, Jamie chuckled.

"The irony. You named yourself ’Freedom’, yet it’s the one thing you never had."

"Ironic indeed."

She replied with a faint, self-deprecating laugh, reaching out toward Jamie’s arm, but her hand passed through him like mist.

"But it’s a nice name."

When she heard Jamie’s words, her eyes widened slightly, before an impish smile spread across her face.

"Of course, it is... it’s my name, after all."

And with that, her translucent body dissolved into countless shimmering motes of light, rising into the night sky as Jamie watched in silence.