Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 640: Confinement

Chapter 640: Confinement

Baba Yaga stood over where her hut once stood, with nothing but burn marks serving as a reminder that something once persisted at that location.

About her, ash trees grew but in that location, they seemed to avoid it like a plague.

It remained to be seen if it was because of the corrupted air around the area or perhaps due to the burn marks that came about as a result of Arwen’s death flames.

In any case, Baba Yaga, using her pestle as a walking stick, seemed weaker, even more crooked than before, her expression unreadable as she stood silently at the center of the space.

Just then, a series of golden particles began to emerge from the ground, catching the attention of the Undeath.

The golden glow of the particles reflected in Baba Yaga’s irisless pupils as they began to congregate at a point before finally reforming into a familiar face.

Baba Yaga went wide-eyed, surprised to see a face she thought gone for good.

Before she could react, the individual in question acted, conjuring a portal beneath the Undeath, sending her straight into Purgatory.

Snorting derisively, Elena muttered. "Good riddance."

Then, she turned her attention toward the mountain in the distance.

"Wait for me."

***

"You are awake." A familiar voice intoned, snapping Alex out of his reverie.

He glanced in the direction it had come from to lay eyes on Arwen who had just entered the hall.

Instead of a cloak made of black feathers, she wore a white cloth that covered her privates, leaving everything else for all to see.

"Arwen, what’s going on?"

"Nothing is going on," Arwen replied as she approached the bed forged of stone.

"The others told me that you were corrupted by the Afterlife."

"I was but I’m okay now."

Alex furrowed his brows. "You are?"

"Of course!"

"If that’s the case, why am I tied up?" Alex inquired. "Also, why are you dressed like that?"

Arwen flashed a seductive smile as she came to lie down beside Alex. "Are you willing to listen?"

"... Talk to me."

"I have a plan, one that would free the world from death for good."

Alex frowned because Arwen’s words sounded a bit too good to be true. "What’s the plan?"

"If everyone dies, don’t you think there would be no need to fear death any longer?"

"... Are you insane?... Is this Arwen talking or is this madness?"

Arwen grinned. "It’s Riona."

"You..."

"Anyways, I had considered bringing everyone back as undead creatures; that way, we’d be able to keep on living in Eventide; however, after meeting you, I’ve realized that there’s a much better way."

"What are you talking about?"

"The Dark Lord." Arwen, or rather, Riona muttered. "I’ve learned enough about you from Arwen to understand that you are what’s left for me to perfect my plan. My mastery of death would cleanse this world of life and your master of darkness would be able to bring everyone back, not as undead, but as undying."

"I think you are mistaken about something."

"Oh, don’t worry, I am aware of your current weakness, but that won’t be the case for long."

"That doesn’t sound ominous at all," Alex said in a sarcastic tone, earning a chuckle from Arwen.

She leaned in closer and placed a finger on his cheek causing Alex’s frown to deepen.

"I intend to carry out a ritual using the Silent Curtain."

"What is that?"

"It’s a relic that was formed during my first attempt to conquer death. It’s capable of allowing us to transcend our current states to become more."

"To become deities?"

Arwen snorted. "No, my darling, more."

"So you want me to partake in the ritual with you?"

"Indeed. As long as we both partake, we will be able to reach our full potential. I will become Death, and you, my darling, will become the Dark Lord made manifest."

"Then what?"

"Then, we can create a world without death," Arwen replied as she tried to kiss Alex only for the latter to back away.

"Don’t you dare misuse Arwen’s body?" He warned coldly, causing Arwen to back away with a sigh.

"So conservative. Fine then, but it doesn’t change the fact that as Death and the Dark Lord, we will be together."

"Do I have a choice?" Alex inquired.

Arwen shrugged. "What do you think?"

"What about the others?"

"Currently under confinement. Naturally, their states aren’t the best due to the corruption they suffered at the hands of Ulysses patron."

"I see."

Arwen leaned in again as she intoned. "There’s hardly a need for you to consider refusing, after all, the power you could achieve as the Dark Lord would leave you towering above most in this dying world."

Alex seemed to fall into deep thought, pondering his options before he remarked. "Fine then, I accept."

"Wonderful..."

"On the condition that you set Arwen free."

Arwen paused, taking the time to study Alex before she let out a long, drawn-out sigh. "Her body is the perfect host for me."

"You will let her go or no deal."

"... Fine then, but that is until when the ritual is almost complete."

Alex pursed his lips, aware that this was the best he’d get from the conversation.

The current situation was moving at a pace that he couldn’t hope to manage so this was his best bet at doing what needed to be done.

Hopefully, his plan wouldn’t end up backfiring.

***

George was currently placed under confinement, in a cage within the Peaks to ponder his mistakes.

Of course, instead of doing so, he found himself thinking about Arwen’s peculiar state.

The only reason he’d managed to recognize Arwen after so long was due to the familial ties between them.

But the problem was that the ties between them were slowly being incinerated, almost like they were no longer family which meant only one thing.

Either Arwen had cut off ties with him, which was unlikely... or she was being replaced by something and there was no way George would sit back and watch his daughter be erased from existence.