Endless Debt-Chapter 928 - 44: Star Map Expansion (2)

"Do you dare to gamble, Hill? Let’s bet on whether you can kill me."

Hill clenched his fist, wanting to accept the bet. At the same time, the man before him was changing, thick darkness expanding from him, carrying a howling gale that spread wantonly, extinguishing all the nearby fires.

Darkness descended, devouring all light.

"Be cautious with your decision."

The man shouted, his voice booming like the thunderous blasts of a thousand storms exploding by Hill’s ear.

Hill understood that the man was no ordinary being; perhaps he was the sinister Demon God from myth, and he himself was just a mere child, an utterly ordinary mortal. Could he really have the ability to kill the man? 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Would this bet be yet another wicked trap, leading him to an even more tragic fate?

Hill thought quickly, the man claimed all decisions rested with him, but he also said, he had given Hill a gentle push, that crucial slight assist, like the first fallen domino, leading Hill towards a completely different destiny.

Thinking rationally, Hill’s best decision would be to ignore the man’s bet. As long as he refused him, he wouldn’t fall into the trap, but... but could he really accept such an outcome?

Could he set aside his anger and hatred just like that?

This was impossible!

Hill’s eyes reddened, everything he cherished had burned away in the flames; it was all he had in the world.

"There’s nothing worth caring about anymore," Hill then shouted, "Alright!"

Hill tried to grasp the man’s hand to seal the bet, but as his hand almost reached it, a blinding white light tore through the darkness.

A thunderbolt several meters wide spanned the night sky, striking the man with precision, as if divine retribution in anger. The explosive lightning carried the flickering starlight; Hill felt the impact head-on, then was knocked over, falling into the recently extinguished bonfire.

The scorching ashes seared Hill’s body, the burning pain bringing tears to his eyes. Around him, people screamed and shouted in terror, fleeing in panic. Meanwhile, more lightning descended; a sudden storm swore to crush all evil here.

In the rolling ashes, Hill could only curl up as best as he could. He mustered the courage to face the blazing light directly. In his tear-blurred vision, he spotted large, bright patches.

Amidst the chaotic thunder, the man’s heavy black robe was torn to shreds, his silhouette sharply contrasted against the lightning. In the sky above, another figure enveloped in wind and thunder roared as it approached.

Like a battle between Celestial Gods.

Each thunderbolt was enough to cleave stones, but as they fell upon the man, they merely elicited bursts of black mist. He felt no pain at all; instead, he laughed maniacally.

Hill could not discern the outcome of the battle. Among the countless arcs of energy, a slender one struck him, the searing pain like a blade piercing through his chest. Hill immediately lost consciousness, the gradually dimming sight showing him the figure entwined in lightning, a Light Blade piercing through the man’s chest.

The man did not perish. In the brief moment after the Light Blade hit, his figure began to dissolve, eventually turning into a viscous tar spreading across the ground, as if that sinister, twisted liquid was his true essence.

His hazy consciousness slowly coalesced over time. When Hill awoke again, it was already the next morning. Hill appeared somewhat dazed, bewildered.

After taking a few seconds, Hill recalled what transpired the previous night. He fearfully touched his chest, finding his palm stained with vast amounts of blood, sending waves of sharp pain.

Hill coughed painfully, looking around. The once familiar landscape was now devastated, large trees felled and charred, roots uprooted like pulled by immense force, countless craters scarred the ground as if it had been plowed by heavy bombardment.

"You’re awake?"

Another voice sounded beside Hill. Hill nodded in response, surprised that he survived. He quickly turned his head to see the person standing beside him.

It was a young man, his handsome face weathered like a traveler from afar, his eyes filled with exhaustion.

Beneath a dark green cloak was a chain armor of silver and white, threaded with gold weaving along the edges, stretching to the cuffs. A faint halo reflected on the metal, flowing with strange radiance.

The young man asked, "You wagered with him, didn’t you?"

Hill hesitated for a moment, then nodded. For some reason, he felt an inexplicable closeness to the young man, willingly answering his question.

"Yes, he... he caused all of this."

Remembering the tragic memories, Hill’s voice started trembling uncontrollably, filled with resentment and indignation.

The young man, seemingly aware of Hill’s experience, nodded and tossed him a potion, saying, "Drink it, we have a long road ahead."

Hill was stunned, "We?"

"Weren’t you planning on avenging him?" the young man retorted, "I happen to be tracking him too. You carry his bet, his tether. As long as you’re with me, we’ll encounter him again eventually."

Hill was left bewildered by the young man’s words. Nervously, he asked the question he most wanted to know.