Neil struggled to push the wall, but he kept pushing through, despite his efforts yielding no results. Neil began pushing the wall, and his mind wandered, thinking about his condition.
"What happened to me suddenly back then, and there was something there." Neil tried to remember what he saw. "I saw that sword which... which I think I've seen somewhere, but..."
Neil took a deep breath and exerted more pressure on the wall. He constantly tried to remember the sword. "Okay, I remember. It was in the first room I went to, and from where I found that water catalyst."
Neil pushed the wall continuously while thinking about the sword. He began to think about the energy released from it. Neil took another breath and pushed again.
During this time, the water level had reached just a few centimeters below his knee. Neil didn't pay much attention and focused on the energy more and more.
Neil recalled, "When that energy was released, it rushed out, but it was very close to me. If my body had absorbed that energy, then I could..." Neil suddenly stopped. He retrieved his arms and looked around. After a while, he stared at the top of the area, which was made of solid rock.
Neil then looked towards the wall he was pushing and slowly began to push it, but nothing happened. Neil was shocked and confused and continued pushing the wall in that state.
Neil recalled the energy released from the sword when he first came across it. Suddenly, a memory appeared in his mind. "My head was hurt, and then... then I saw that same energy.
My eyes were very heavy, so I couldn't see it carefully, but I'm sure I saw that same type of energy. But... the pressure released from the sword was different and much more powerful than before."
Neil focused on that energy more and more and recalled, "Some of the energy entered my body." He placed his palm on his right shoulder top. "I still feel that warm energy in my shoulder, but I'm not sure. If that vision or memory is true, then..."
Neil swallowed his saliva in fear, and his words stopped. He slowly calmed himself and continued, "If I'm right, then that means... that means this isn't reality. So how can I escape from it?" Neil began to panic, but suddenly another memory flooded his brain. "My head is hurting again... what is happening?"
Neil fell to his knees, overwhelmed by the pain and the flood of memories, and began to scream. He forgot everything he was doing, what he had to do, and why he was even there.
The pain intensified with each passing moment.
"I cannot falter again. I have already faltered once. If... if I fall down again, I... I won't be able to wake up in time," Neil muttered, barely able to breathe under the crushing pain. His pain intensified, followed by his screams. After a while, everything stopped, leaving the place eerily calm.
Neil didn't move an inch, remaining frozen in place. His eyes turned red as his blood vessels expanded in pain. Neil roared in anger and self-hatred, "What are you doing, Neil?" Tears began to gather in his eyes, but none dared to fall. Despite the tears that would normally help his eyes heal, this was different.
Neil rushed towards the area where his sword had fallen, ignoring all risks and fears, and jumped. "My people... my people need me, and I..." Neil's tears began to form large drops as he continued his search. The water pressure began to scratch his skin.
The rushing water carried debris with it. At such speed, even small debris became a life-threatening hazard. A stone struck Neil's right shoulder, bending his armor. The impact broke a piece of the armor, which pierced his skin. Blood began to flow from the wound, but Neil paid no attention.
Stones rushed and hit Neil, but he didn't stop. After four to five minutes, Neil saw something shining in the water. He extended his arms to grab it but failed and fell into the current.
The pressure was at least 1.5 times greater than he had encountered before. His body was swept away by the current, and he tried to stop and return, but the more he struggled, the more pressure the water exerted on him.
The scratches he had received earlier worsened under the pressure. Blood flowed from his wounded shoulder, leg, arm, back, and face. As soon as his blood touched the water, it was washed away, leaving no trace.
Neil spat blood from his mouth as his internal organs were also injured. His spine ached severely, and his body temperature was dropping rapidly.
Neil's struggles began to cease as his eyes closed for the final time. "I suddenly feel warm... I guess that was just a dream... a bad one. Acroniya is safe... yes, Acroniya is safe..."
Neil's feet lost their support, and he was swept away by the current.
A tear fell from Neil's eye into the water. Suddenly, everything became still. The water, which had been splashing and destroying like a tsunami, was now as calm as a still, fresh lake. There was no movement, no splashing, and no life-threatening debris. In the center of the lake, Neil's body floated, showing no signs of life.
Next time in Seventh Slayer of Acroniya.
"Neil, please be safe..." a voice muttered in a far land of Acroniya.
"I will not die yet..."