Chapter 173: Udana’s Motivation

Chapter 173: Udana’s Motivation

The battle is over, but mysteries about Udana remain unanswered.

Emily and Udana lie on the floor, gazing into each other’s eyes even through the pain from having their limbs severed. Blood spills from where Emily lost her right leg. The same is true for Udana, who has lost her right arm and left leg. Their blood paints the floor red beneath them.

“So this is it…” Udana murmurs weakly. “It all comes to an end for me…”

“There’s something off about you,” Emily says, forcing herself to stay focused through the pain. “Why exactly do you follow Kogen? What has he done for you?”

Udana exhales slowly. Her gaze drifts, unfocused, as memories surface.

“How I got to this point…”

***

Eight years ago.

Udana sits alone at the counter inside a bar. Her hair is a bit disheveled, some strands sticking out. Her clothes consist of dark leather that shows a lot of skin. She drinks alcohol from a glass cup. The entrance door creaks open, and a man with an eyepatch steps inside. It is Kogen.

“Listen up,” Kogen announces. “I’m looking for strong, capable assistants! Is there anyone in here that thinks they are strong?”

Many people in the bar turn to look at him but don’t answer.

Annoyed, Udana stands and turns around to face him.

“Shut up!” she shouts. “Don’t think that you are some strong badass just because you wear an eyepatch!”

The bar falls silent as attention turns toward them.

“Then maybe you would like to see my strength?” Kogen replies calmly.

Udana readies herself as Kogen begins charging his magic while smiling confidently.

“You must have some sort of death wish!” Udana yells as she charges forward.

She swings for Kogen’s face, but he catches her arm effortlessly and counters with a punch that sends her crashing into a table.

Udana draws her sword as she grits her teeth in anger. “You’re dead now!!”

She rushes forward, readying her blade in the process. She slashes repeatedly, but Kogen evades every strike. In a blur of motion, he grabs her and slams her hard into the floor.

“As you can see, I am the real deal,” Kogen says with a confident smile.

Udana stares up at him in shock. “I have never been so easily dominated.”

“Even so, I can tell that you are strong. Become one of my assistants and you will get anything you want.”

***

The next day.

Kogen and Udana sit on a bench in a public park.

“So why are you looking for assistants?” Udana asks.

“You know of the Great Chaos, correct?” Kogen asks back.

“Yes. What about it?”

“Enough sitting around just waiting to know if the Light Goddess can protect us. I want to take control of this world so we can put our protection in our own hands.”

Udana’s eyes widen. “That hits home for me.”

“Oh, does it?”

“About five years ago, I lived in a town at the bottom of a mountain. We were one of the remaining towns of the Earth Den people. A small horde of demons invaded and killed everyone. I was the only survivor. Official authorities ruled it as caused by an unknown natural disaster. They wouldn’t believe me about the demons.”

Kogen frowns. “They are either in denial or very foolish. Humanity almost came to an end in the last Great Chaos. Following me, you will finally get the chance to take vengeance.”

“If I can really get vengeance and be able to fight the demons, I will follow you to Hell and back.”

“Good. This won’t be a fast process, though. It will take time.”

“That doesn’t matter to me.”

***

Back to the present.

“And so that is why I follow Kogen,” Udana finishes.

“So you’re an Earth Den…” Emily says quietly. “Just like me.”

“So you are one too?” Udana asks. “I should have figured, considering your magic.”

Emily drags herself toward her severed leg, gripping it tightly. With effort, she reattaches her leg, forcing herself upright.

“I now see and understand why you want to do what you are doing…” Emily says. “But it’s still wrong.”

She stands, injured, but back in one piece.

“You can’t force people to do this.”

“Very well,” Udana whispers. “You can try to stop it, but Kogen is far stronger than I am… I’m about to bleed out…” Her breathing grows shallow. “Fisha, you said you would see me in Hell… You’re about to get your shot at vengeance…”

Tears spill down Udana’s face as her strength fades.

“Emily, I have one last request,” she says softly. “If you somehow defeat Kogen, go to the town I grew up in that was destroyed by the demons. I have a suspicion that they did not want to destroy the town just for the sake of destroying the town. Go to New Gringe Town and find out why they wanted it… Take… my vengeance… for me…”

Udana’s eyes remain open as her life fades away.

Emily kneels beside her, gently closing Udana’s eyes with her hand. She rises slowly and looks down at the body.

“It’s a shame that it came to this…” Emily says. “I will do what you ask of me. But Kogen comes first.”

Udana’s motivations are now clear. Emily understands why Udana followed Kogen and where her path will lead next.

Chapter 173 END
To be Continued in Chapter 174: March To Kogen’s Throne Room