Ch.197 Goodbye, Buddy

Prologue 

Ch.1 End of a New Beginning 

Ch.2 End of a New Beginning Pt. II

Ch.3 End of a New Beginning Pt. III

Ch.4 End of a New Beginning Pt. IV

Ch.5 Return of the Champions 

Ch.6 The Champions History 

Ch.7 Power Orientation 

Ch. 8 Into the Marsh

Ch.9 Fear of Demons

Ch.10 The Underground City of Belrim

Ch.11 Night of the Betrayed 

Ch.12 Unspoken Truth  

Ch.13 The Redbeard Pt. I

Ch.14 The Redbeard Pt. II

Ch.15 Reunion 

Ch.16 Before the Storm

Ch.17 Flashpoint

Ch.18 The Fatal Swordsman

Ch.19 Rebirth

Ch.20 Into the Abyss

Ch.21 Overseer 

Ch.22 Demon General Balor Balor Pt. 1

Ch.23 Demon General Balor Balor Pt.2

Ch.24 Demon General Balor Balor Pt.3 

Ch.25 Demon General Balor Balor Pt. 4

Ch.26 Fallen King

Ch.27 Last Wish

Ch.28 Awakening 

Ch.29 Aftermath

Ch.30 All That Remains 

Ch.31 Chances

Ch.32 Gearing Up for Yalti

Ch.33 The Jungle of Yalti Pt. I

Ch.34 The Jungle of Yalti Pt. II

Ch.35 Armlocke Village 

Ch.36 A Rogue Healer  

Ch.37 Moving Forward 

Ch.38 Invasion

Ch.39 Tempo Blaze

Ch.40 Scream of Liberation

Ch.41 Retaliation 

Ch.42 Green-Band

Ch.43 Green Band Pt. II

Ch.44 Serpent Pool

Ch.45 The Silent Swordsman

Ch.46 The Serpent King Pt. I

Ch.47 The Serpent King Pt. II

Ch.48 The Serpent King Pt. III

Ch.49 The Serpent King Part IV

Ch.50 Prelude to Freedom 

Ch.51 Queen of Elbaronce 

Ch.52 Bounty

Ch.53 New Horizons

Vol.1 Afterword

Ch.54 Tyranny in Darmin

Ch.55 The Pink Sea

Ch.56 Wreckage 

Ch.57 Gathering of the Most Wanted

Ch.58 World of Champions

Ch.59 Womcos Wasteland 

Ch.60 Making of a Marksman 

Ch.61 Outfit Three

Ch.62 Unspoken Truths Guild

Ch.63 Goals & Decisions 

Ch.64 Captain Butch Jones Pt. I

Ch.65 Captain Butch Jones Pt. II

Ch.66 Captain Butch Jones Pt. III

Ch.67 Dragon Foot

Ch.68 The Message Pt. I

Ch.69 The Message Pt. II

Ch.70 The Message Pt. III

Ch.71 Time Will Tell

Ch.72 A New Adventure

Ch.73 A Deserted Island

Ch.74 Chimpa's Animal Kingdom

Ch.75 A Rising Threat 

Ch.76 Devil of the Sky Pt. I

Ch.77 Devil of the Sky Pt. II

Ch.78 Vessel of the First King

Ch.79 Humbled 

Ch.80 Kanon

Ch.81 Becoming a Symbol 

Ch.82 Emergence

Ch.83 True Colors

Ch.84 Phoenix

Ch.85 Our Beginning 

Ch.86 The Sixth Member

Ch.86 The Double Agent

Ch.87 The Astlin Pirates

Ch.88 A Worrisome Threat

Ch.89 Whistling Bounty Hunter

Ch.90 Stone Island Zetra

Ch.91 Havok

Ch.92 Out of the Shadows, Darmin's Rebellion

Ch.93 The Third Brother Pt. I

Ch.94 The Third Brother Pt. II

Ch.95 Locked Away

Ch.96 Prisoners

Ch.97 Examination

&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Chapter 197:&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;strong&#x3E;&#x9;Goodbye, Buddy&#x3C;/strong&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;The proposition of Avalanche X was surreal. Only one true mythological being in this world could make. It is like selling your soul to the devil. Only this one wanted to create pain so real, it would make endless death immortal. Lloyd surely would suffer from unimaginable pain before his long-awaited death.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;He sat on the pavement before he could answer again. His eyes sobered with fear.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;To save Jai&#x2026; and the others. I must die?&#x201D; Lloyd whispered. &#x201C;Is there really no other choice?&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Lloyd looked around the capital of Darmin. He watched as the people of the rebellion, his friends, and citizens smiled. They were happy for one of the few times in this world. He could see Lucy, Calum, Yucci, and his best friend Jai smiling.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;I wish I could have told her you to know. Lucy.&#x201D; Lloyd sat on his butt talking to Dante. &#x201C;Her and I both I think loved each other so much. We never really wanted to admit it out loud, &#x2018;cause then it would become real.&#x201D;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Dante felt awkward Lloyd sat up and talked to him. Avalanche backed off and already prepared the ice cube for Lloyd. The answer was complacent, and he allowed Lloyd to have a second to recollect himself.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Calum was an interesting guy. But I think although he preferred solitary. He is becoming our big brother to us. Yucci might have been a klutz, but she and I were on the same wavelength. Just wanted to make it together. Magnus and Natasha might have been our new guild members. I wouldn&#x2019;t have complained since the girls are about to outmatch the guys in numbers.&#x201D; Lloyd smiled. His eyes shut as he turned to his left.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;He looked at Jai and Kanon who were both unconscious. He could only smile with a small tear finally falling from his face. After years of anger, he never thought he could cry. Even in lasting moments. His mind only allowed one droplet to fly down before the two members of Roku Zaiden could see.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;You were my best friend. In my darkest time in life, you showed me what it is to be alive. I hated you but you tested me all the time. I say Lucy was the reason we became friends. In hindsight, I think it was because we were soulmates as brothers. You and I, Jai. Little Omar and Magnus I guess in a way. Red hair and all. Hmph.&#x201D; Lloyd complimented the resemblance.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Lloyds bit his lip. He gripped his knuckles so tightly he could feel the blood vessels popping inside of them. He continued to remain strong until the end. &#x201C;You&#x2019;ll be okay. Lucy and you both. I love you guys. You two were truly my family. Just live on. Drink a shot for me, I&#x2019;ll make a toast wherever I go.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Lloyd finally stood up on both of his feet. His eyes were satisfied with whatever it is he had left to say.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Before Lloyd, approached the small ice cube, he turned back to Jai. Who remained unconscious from the longing battle he endured. Lloyd looked at him the same a proud parent would at their child&#x2019;s greatest achievement.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;I guess this is it. Huh?&#x201D; He muttered.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;He turned away from Jai. &#x201C;Goodbye, buddy&#x2026;&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;The path to Avalanche X&#x2019;s open arms felt like a war. Ten feet from Lloyds, he stood holding the cube. Lloyd looked back at the memories of his childhood all the way to the events of the present.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;He remembered the times when Aran Spades actually was a good father. When he left as Lloyd turned seven, he could envision the times his stepdad entered his life. He was a cold, malicious man who probably got what he deserved the night he died along with Lloyd&#x2019;s mom. His mother, however, was a kind woman, who only wanted Lloyd to dream big.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;What do you want the most, little Hendrix?&#x201D; He could remember his mother&#x2019;s voice asking him.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;The young Lloyd looked at his parents with a bright blush smile full of joy.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;I want to be a superhero who saves people!&#x201D; The young boy answered.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;No doubt in my mind, you will be someone people will remember forever! A real superhero my little Hendrix!&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;His mother and Lloyd both jumped in hooray that day. When she died all Lloyd could remember was the deep hatred he had for Aran. He never could understand. Why did Aran kill them that day?&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;In his last moments, that is all he wanted to know.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Maybe. Jai will find that out for me.&#x201D; He smiled.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;In another life, maybe I would have had the courage to tell you how I feel,&#x201D; Lloyd said looking at Lucy.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x2026;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;His mind took him into a turmoil of emotions. Showing off the first moments he met both Lucy and Jai. The Sakura blossoms spread across campus that day. A wind of fury followed behind Lloyd. He could feel the pain and suffering the winds bearded too. The same as he did.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Hey, you! You&#x2019;re the new exchange student from Australia, right?&#x201D; An angelic voice asked him.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;He did not want to turn around, but when he did his life changed. A beautiful majestic golden-haired angel carrying three books waved at him. His eyes sparkled with his matching colored blush.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;She&#x2019;s beautiful.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;I&#x2019;m Lucy. Lucy Bell. I work with the exchange program giving the tour of the school to the newbies.&#x201D;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Oh, right. That&#x2019;s you!&#x201D; Lloyd responded.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;AH!? Lucy. Where is my lunch? You said you brought your grandads famous rolls!&#x201D; An annoying voice asked from afar. Lucy held her smile, but the vein on top of her forehead clearly popped.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;One second, please. Seems I am on the disciplinary committee too.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;JAI!? What the hell are you doing? Make your own damn lunch.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Jai screamed in his athletic gear. &#x201C;Forgive me!&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;He hid right behind Lloyd, catching his breath. &#x201C;Man, that woman is insane, bro. She is trying to kill me for asking for my lunch. I mean come on. Carbs are delicious.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Jai, what are you doing with our new star player?&#x201D; Lucy asked.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Star player? Wait&#x2026; you&#x2019;re the basketball god from New Zealand? This is him?&#x201D; Jai shook his head.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Lloyd looked displeased slapping himself across the face. &#x201C;And you must be the know-it-all kid from the team last year, who got the entire other teams teched out?&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;This is Jai. Jai Marshall. Jai this is Lloyd Hendrix.&#x201D; Lucy introduced them.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;The memory began to fade away when Lloyd finally turned to Jai that day. He held out his hand with a cocky look.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Don&#x2019;t get mad at me when I take your minutes,&#x201D; Lloyd muttered, then whispered into Jai&#x2019;s ear. &#x201C;And your hot friend.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Why I ought a!&#x201D; Jai responded.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x2026;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Those good memories seemed so surreal now. He sat right in front of Avalanche X staring the being in his eyes. He accepted defeat but a comfort knowing he would stand by his word.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;You are the first one to accept the cube like this. I am shocked. If you choose the second choice after the offer was completely made. I would have still killed them all. But this determination of a man. I cannot deny it. Your friends will be left alive. Whatever happens after this day, however, is unknown. But you have bought them another day.&#x201D; Avalanche X said handing the cube.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Lloyd smirked at him. &#x201C;Another day is all AFK needs to get stronger. If my life is what gets them there. Then I will bet everything on the table.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Foolish.&#x201D; Dante fainted, turning to the exit.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Now, I wish you a more sorrowful and painful death. To replace your friends.&#x201D; Avalanche X muttered.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;The hand of Lloyd wrapped around the cube. Avalanche X tapped his hand one time, but nothing happened.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;What?&#x201D; Lloyd said.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Death&#x2026;&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Right on cue, Lloyd could feel slices and slices around his body being circulated. Explosions, the feeling of being ripped apart by savage dogs, mutilation, poison, dying from a fall, drowning. Every possible scenario for death hit Lloyd all at once. He let out a large gulp of pain.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Avalanche X stood beside him embracing the pain with him. He touched Lloyd where he could feel the pain too. A white light began to circulate around Lloyd. His eyes became bloodshot red. Avalanche quickly exited from the state and moved to the side of Dante. His eyes were feral.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Time to go, Dante. With this, the message of the Roku Zaiden has been made.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Sir,&#x201D; Dante responded, with the screams of Lloyd continuing.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Avalanche used a warp gate to surround them both, as the suffering continued. &#x201C;Time will remain frozen until the suffering is complete. He is already becoming feral. He still has a month more torture before the cube dissolves. No man can survive the Roku Zaiden.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Yes, not even foolish humans.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;As Avalanche X and Dante warped to another part of the world. Lloyd continued to suffer the consequences of his choice. Saving Jai meant allowing himself to go through thirty-day torture. Seven hundred and twenty hours of constant pain. Forty-three thousand and two hundred minutes. Two million, five thousand, and ninety-two seconds of pain. And it would all be over.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;As long as the cube remains connected to the tortured person, they cannot die. Lloyd would suffer a fate indeed, worse than death. Lloyd looked up to the free sky seeing everything around him frozen in an eclipse of time. His eyes wanted to see the end, but it became so unclear. His eyes finally blacked out into the constant pain. His body and mind were still conscious, but his eyes stopped working.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;Likely his eyes were stabbed in a replay of death. As they shut, where he could no longer see life itself. A finger pointed at him, while his eyes remained shut from the pain. One grasping for him from afar. Someone who managed to break through the frozen time. Kanon sat beaten and battered from the events. She could only mutter a whisper.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;Raigun.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;He reframed his apology to his friends.&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x201C;I&#x2026; have&#x2026; no&#x2026; regrets&#x2026; thank you, guys. For saving me.&#x201D;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x26;nbsp;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x9;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;

&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;strong&#x3E;A war that has caused a continuing rift between two worlds!&#x3C;/strong&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Mysterious rifts open around the globe, transporting regular people to another world. On a normal day a teenage boy, Jai Marshall and friends are sucked in. The group is forced to serve as champions of the world. This sequence of events is not at random considering Jai&#x2019;s older brother Omar was formerly a champion of this world. Jai will do anything to ensure the safety of his friends inside a world where the unexpected is constantly broadened. Even though the group is equipped with ancient abilities from past champions, the task they have been given is a great mountain to climb. Can Jai and his friends survive this world?&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;

AFK 