A Wanderer's Lies

Chapter 28: Return [1]

As Isaac stood before the 7 foot Siren, grinning widely, a voice came into his ear.

"Isaac, my boy. Are you there?" A familiar voice rang in his ear.

"Netero? Is that you? How can I hear you?" Isaac yelled out loud, ignoring the confused Siren.

"It's an ability of Monets'. She can amplify sound waves. Where are you?" The old man asked worriedly.

"Don't worry, I'm going home." Isaac replied with a smile.

"Is that so? Is it true, you aren't from around here?" Isaac was slightly taken aback, pausing.

"Oh please. Don't think I haven't noticed your confused look when I spoke of Hunters or the V5 nation." Isaac couldn't only sigh in defeat as he heard this.

"It's okay. You could be from a land on the other side of the Dark Continent for all I care." Netero laughed loudly.

"Hey, boy. You're quite resourceful, I tell you. If you ever happen to be in town, ask for directions to the Zoldyck residence. I'll be sure to pay ya back." Zigg yelled as Monet continued shortly after.

"Before you go, just tell me. How did you arrive in the Dark Continent and when will there be more?" In reality, there were countless questions Monet wanted to ask.

Like where he was from or who he really was. But she had to put her priorities as Gatekeeper first.

"Don't worry. There won't be more."

'At least, I don't think so.' Isaac followed up.

"But to tell you the truth, I couldn't tell you how I arrived even if I wanted to." Isaac still had little to understand about everything Orion told him.

Monet paused, realising she'd once again been played for a fool. That was now the second time.

"One more message. I can't keep this long distance sound barrier for long." She grumbled, seemingly unsatisfied while taking a seat.

"Isaac." Netero called out.

"I'm here."

"I want you to know, my boy. You'll be a fine warrior someday. When that time comes, be sure to visit me. I wouldn't mind going a few rounds with you." Netero chuckled.

"Yeah right, old man. As if you'll last till our next meeting. How about you take it step by step and wish for tomorrow." A vein bulged on Netero's forehead and Zigg laughed hysterically.

However, Netero soon let out a warm smile.

"Goodbye, Netero." Like a phone being hung up, it's as if Isaac could hear a click as the voices disappeared.

***

"That kid sure is something." Zigg commented as he leaned back in the kanoe.

"Yes, he is." Netero added, turning to Zigg.

"What are you going to do when we return? And what of the Ai?"

Zigg nonchalantly shrugged.

"That good for nothing kid of mine should have some children of his own by now, am I right?" Zigg asked, to which Netero nodded.

"Not only are you a grandfather, but a great grandfather too."

"Is that so? Perhaps I'll have one of them help me out."

"Tsk"

As the two men spoke, Monet clicked her teeth as she slumped onto the ground.

"What's her problem?" Zigg asked, annoyed at her vigorous movements which made the canoe shake.

"Quiet, midget." Monet hissed.

"What? Perhaps the copious hair in your system is causing you to forget you're talking to a Zoldyck, Feline!"

Monet's eyebrow twitched.

"Zoldyck who? Allow me to show you the true power of an honourable clan. Fear the Kurta!"

Monet shot to her feet as a thin blue barrier coated everything around them.

"Pathetic. There's a reason your people live in the trees and mud in today's age. Your legacy has ended. Deal with it."

Zigg stood as thin strings wriggled around his fingers.

Meanwhile, Netero sighed as he sat between them.

'This is going to be a long trip.'

***

"Sorry for that." Isaac smiled whilst staring at the Siren.

"Does your sacrifice not bother you?" The Siren asked, watching the boy nonchalantly smile.

"Ah, well you see, I'm at the mercy of a force even greater than yourself."

"What is the meaning of this?"

As Isaac said this, he glanced to a window that had appeared ever since he'd been granted his desire.

[Survive the Dark Continent.]

[Completed!]

"You see, ever since arriving and seeing my Quest to survive, I had assumed I'd only be able to go back upon leaving the Dark Continent. But I was mistaken."

"You see, my quest wasn't to escape, but to survive. Like Don Freecs."

The Siren narrowed its eyes.

"With no hope of escape, all he could do was survive. But in his journal, he mentioned something. After the encounter with you, he'd never met something quite as terrifying. It was because he survived you that the rest of the Dark Continent seemed less threatening."

"Are you suggesting that surviving me means surviving the Dark Continent."

"Hey, take out the big boss and the rest'll be small fry. Every street thug knows that much." Saying this, Isaac rummaged through his pockets.

"Now…" Isaac pulled out a familiar blue book from behind him. Simultaneously, an ear piercing screech that echoed through the forest was heard.

"I have a debt to repay. No hard feelings, eh?"

Waving his arm, Isaac tossed the blue book into one of the many crevices of the Siren as the book squeezed into the tree, seemingly disappearing into a dark abyss.

"Don Freecs, take your revenge."

"You-"

Crashing through plantlife like a truck, the black skeleton instantly appeared before the Siren.

Wasting no time, the black skeleton dug its hand into the Siren, then did the same with the other. In a matter of seconds, the skeleton could be seen tearing through the Siren as branches and wood flew through the air.

"You bastard!"

"Haven't you ever been told not to trust a Scam Artist?" Isaac shrugged with a grin.

He could feel his body becoming lighter, as if he were about to be turned into gas itself. He smiled at the thought of finally leaving this hell and returning to earth.

'How long has it been? Weeks? Months?'

"No!" A feral howl could be heard from the Siren interrupting Isaac's thoughts.

However, before he could say anything more, a figure launched toward him from the shadows.

Seeing the familiar human set of teeth, durable exoskeleton, large beady eyes, antenas and insect-like limbs, what Isaac remembered as a former enemy had bolted toward him.

Isaac darted his eyes toward the figure. He was taken off guard. He'd become too cocky, and because of this, he couldn't react in time.

The insect slammed its palm onto Isaacs mouth, wrapping its three long fingers around his jaw.

However, that wasn't what scared Isaac. The attack itself wasn't anything too powerful. Instead, it was the unknown substance that was shoved into his mouth.

The unknown substance which he'd involuntarily gulped down, swallowing completely.

Lifting his leg and kicking the insect away, Isaac dropped to the ground, clutching his throat as an indescribable feeling rushed through him.

But this didn't last long.

In a second, Isaac had disappeared. All traces of him were wiped from existence.

As if he never existed in the first place.

Meanwhile, the mother insect watched this, confused. But despite this, it didn't mind that the human had disappeared. After all, it had accomplished its goal.

Instead, it set its sights on the humans currently leaving the Dark Continent. Specifically the white haired male.

Glancing over to the Siren on the ground, torn to shreds as Don walked away with a book in hand, the insect walked over to it, widening its mouth.

It wasn't done yet. It still had to enact its revenge. And it would travel to the ends of the globe to do so.

***

"That is all that unfolded whilst on my mission."

Monet could be seen in a dark room, her head lowered, eyes closed and voice subtle and respectful, contrary to her usual condescending tone.

She had just finished recounting all that had happened since she'd ventured into the Dark Continent.

"I see." A figure before her spoke with his back facing her.

In his hand, the figure held Don's Diary, flipping through the pages.

He'd long since finished the book, reading all its contents, yet he could help but reread and repeat it all over.

"There's a page torn from the book." The figure spoke in a calm and soothing tone, halting on the last page after the conclusion of Don's story.

Pausing for a second, Monet soon replied.

"It must have been the boy. I…"

"It's okay." The figure cut her off.

"You're dismissed." Monet couldn't help but stare at the figure.

After a few seconds, she smiled, turning around and preparing to leave.

"Yes, Lord William."

As she left, the figure leaned against the nearest wall, turning his head to reveal a rather handsome man with blond hair, striking blue eyes and a mole under his right eye.

"You idiot, Don. Why must you always carry the responsibility of the world on your shoulders." William's voice cracked slightly as he lowered his head, a single tear falling down the side of his face as he muttered once more.

"Of course I forgive you."

***

In an endless dark void, silence prevailed as one could see a boy floating in the air, seemingly asleep.

As his eyes flickered open, revealing his bright amber pupils, Isaac regained consciousness as he looked around.

'Where am I?'

The last thing Isaac could remember was an overpowering sensation running through his body after…

'The Insect! It lived! Am I dead? I should be back on Earth.'

As Isaac awakened, looking around to try and make sense of the situation he was in, a window appeared before him.

[Survive the Dark Continent]

[Completed!]

[Completion Rank: SSS]

'SSS?' Isaac asked inwardly.

It didn't take a genius to realise 'SSS' was good. And because of this, Isaac grinned widely.

But before he could rejoice, another window appeared.

[Rewards will be distributed accordingly]

'Rewards? If my rank was this good, how well will I be rewarded?'

Isaac could feel himself drooling as he relished on the thought that this all may have been a blessing in disguise.

'Perhaps I'll be given a super secret technique, or infinite Nen.'

As Isaac's imagination ran rampant, a thought suddenly occurred to him.

'Wait a minute, now that I'm returning to earth, will I even be able to use Nen?'

He could feel his heart sink at the thought of this nightmare, however, he wasn't left alone with his thoughts for long as he suddenly felt a familiar fleeting feeling in his body.

However, before he left, a final window appeared before him in red.

[CAUTION!]

[As per the rules of the Dark Continent, a Calamity has followed you to Earth]

"Wait…WHA-"

Before Isaac could say anymore, he disappeared without a trace as silence once again prevailed in the dark void.

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A Geologist was once asked what their favourite stone was. They replied yelling, "POWERSTOOOOONES!"

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