Chapter 21: Devil Vegetable

Chapter 21: Devil Vegetable

Team 11 joined up with a small group of bandits. The bandit boss was taking revenge on the country that destroyed their clan. Mateo, Luar, Ofurd, Kamil, Thrynn, and Asual went into the woods to find some fruit. Valtor, Qyren, Zephric, Orvian, Kryndel, Jorvek, and Able-Nuts went to find clean water and seafood.

Asual said, "We will meet at this spot ok guys."

Both groups took different routes.

Luar went up to Ofurd. He said, "Hey can you tell me more about the IF?"

Ofurd said, "I think I already told you everything I know."

Luar said, "Like do you know anything else? Something I haven't asked about yet?"

Asual said, "Hey guys what are you talking about?"

Ofurd said, "Uh... lost." He thought to himself, "Yet we were talking about a night."

Asual said, "Huh? What do you mean by that? Like night as in day and night?"

Ofurd said, "No. We were talking about the country we came from. There was a royal guard involved. We were talking about him."

Asual said, "Which one of the four hundred countries are you from?"

Ofurd and Luar looked confused. Ofurd said, "Uh what do you mean by that exactly?"

Asual said, "I thought it was very common knowledge. Everyone knows about the four hundred countries. I thought you adventurers would know about them."

Mateo said, "Yes I remember. Sometimes we forget things because we get into a lot of fights."

Mateo said, "Asual which country are you originally from?"

Asual said, "Ebla."

Ofurd said, "Oh. When we came to your area there was another guy. Lorfer. I don't think you said his name before. Is that right?"

Asual said, "Oh. You mean Able-Nuts. Yes I know who you are talking about."

Luar talked with his IF in his brain. A country name popped into his head.

Luar said, "Ebla."

Asual said, "You are from Ebla? That makes sense."

Kamil said, "It took us about three weeks by sea to get here."

Asual said, "Three weeks? Let me check the map." He spread the map out. He said, "Can you guys help me find Ebla?"

Luar pointed. He said, "Look over here. Is this it?"

Asual said, "Nice. You found it fast."

Ofurd thought to himself, "This guy is a nuisance." Then he said, "I think we have already spent a lot of time here. We should find something to eat."

Asual nodded. Then he touched his eye with his hand. Mateo noticed.

Mateo said, "Hey boss. What was that?"

Asual said, "A few years ago I touched something. I don't know how but I could see like a clock in my eye." He started telling the story. He said, "A lot of years ago I was with Lorfer. We got into a fight and lost many friends. A red light came in the sky like an explosion. It went everywhere. I touched it and ever since I could see the clock in my right eye."

Mateo thought to himself, "When Erevos took my third eye he gave it to the chief."

Mateo used his ability to stop time. A mark appeared on his hand. Mateo went to the void.

Mateo said, "Erevos where are you?"

Erevos replied, "Hey. You don't have to scream."

Mateo said, "When you took my third eye from me what did you do with it?"

Erevos said, "I gave it to the chief and threw it in the twenty-first wall."

Mateo said, "I had a lot of abilities but I forgot to count them. How many were there in total?"

Erevos said, "Around thirty-seven."

Mateo said, "How many were taken?"

Erevos said, "Around twenty-five to thirty or something."

Mateo said, "I had one ability in my right eye that I never unlocked. What does it do?"

Erevos said, "You can see time. Past, present, and future. It can also detect traitors. It can look into the future, past, sole taker, possession, copy, and illusion."

Erevos said, "Can you tell me why you even need it? You don't even have that power anymore."

Mateo said, "I have joined up with a bandit. My boss has this ability. I think he put his hand on his eye."

Erevos said, "Ok I think you should leave. Your time bending is about to run out."

Mateo said, "You said there are still some of my third eye powers that have not been claimed. Can I get them back?"

Erevos said, "I have to talk to the chief."

Mateo said, "Why don't you say his name?"

Erevos looked Mateo dead in the eyes. He said, "You and I both know that is the worst thing for me to hear."

Mateo left the void and went back to the Animus. Mateo relaxed his hand to undo the time bending.

Asual said, "So I touched the thing and then one night I put my right hand on my right eye and I could see a big clock."

Mateo said, "Look up there. Bananas."

Kamil jumped up and grabbed the bananas from the tree.

Asual said, "Oh there are more bananas over there as well."

Asual started grabbing bananas. Then he saw a glowing stone in the middle of the banana bunch.

Asual said, "Hey everyone look over here."

Everyone gathered around. Mateo said, "What is that?"

Asual said, "This is the same thing I saw three or four years ago."

Kamil tried to grab it. Mateo said, "Don't touch it."

Asual said, "That includes me?"

Mateo said, "Yes. That is the same thing you touched a few years ago. The same red eye."

Mateo said, "The one who is our boss should touch this orb."

Asual said, "So I am free to grab this thing?"

Mateo said, "Yes boss. But you must eat it."

Asual looked confused. He said, "Why should I eat this?"

Mateo said, "This thing allows you to get speed. These things are known as devil vegetables. One person can only eat one. You will get a power that gives you speed."

Ofurd and Kamil said, "How do you know this much about these devil vegetables?"

Mateo ignored them. He told Asual to eat the vegetable.

Asual said, "So you are telling me to eat this thing and it will only give me super speed?"

Mateo said, "No that is not correct. If you touch one of them for ten to fifteen seconds you will only get the power. But if you eat one you will get the speed in your veins."

Asual said, "So if I touch another one after eating this one is that fine?"

Mateo said, "Yes that is one hundred percent fine. But if you touch another one after eating this one it will not disappear. You can even try to eat it but if your saliva gets into contact with it then you will disappear from the face of the world. You go to a place known as the half void."

Asual said, "You know something. You talk a lot. You keep on responding to your own words."

Luar tried to eat it. He tried to grab it. Mateo held Luar tight.

Mateo told Asual, "Eat that thing."

Asual said, "So like how can I eat this?"

Mateo said, "You eat the whole thing. Five bites."

Asual started taking bites one after another. His mouth was full. He tried to talk.

Mateo said, "Don't talk. Only break that thing in your mouth."

Asual broke all of it in his mouth.

Mateo said, "Don't cover your nose and mouth."

Asual did the same. Then he said, "Something is happening in my belly."

Then Qyren and the others showed up. Jorvek was bleeding. Qyren was breathing hard.

Qyren said, "I am sorry boss. But they showed up from nowhere. There were fifty of them. All royal guards. And I think they had the third princess with them."

Asual clenched his teeth. He said, "These bastards."

Asual told Qyren, "How many were there?"

Qyren said, "There were fifty of them. All royal guards. And I think they had the third princess with them."

Asual said, "We are going to war. We will take our revenge on these barbarians. Kill them all in the name of Asual."