Chapter 570: 11.96 First Green Star - Punishment World: "Labyrinth - The Creepy Clown" (26)
Bill was wallowing in his sadness in the bas.e.m.e.nt not knowing the dangerous being watching him from some dark corner of the room. A pair of glowing red eyes were hidden within the dark but Bill didn"t notice as he was covering his face as he cried.
Pennywise took this as his chance. He appeared before Bill at a certain distance. He had restrictions as a demon after all. Only when his prey reached a certain fear value would he be able to touch him.
"Why are you crying, Bill? Did you miss Georgie?" asked the clown. His tone seems worried but when one saw his exaggerated expression no one would believe his worries as he was clearly acting.
Bill was shocked that someone like this clown had appeared before him. He is quite smart for his age and he listened to his parents" warning well. There is no way someone is able to enter the house and trespa.s.s it without his parents noticing.
He put his guard up and looked at the clown in front of him with vigilance in his eyes, "Who are you? How did you enter my house? Dad!? DAD! Someone"s in the bas.e.m.e.nt!!" Yelled Bill.
Seeing such a rational action from Bill, Pennywise felt he had once again kicked a metal plate. One that looks like a soft bun but a spicy one instead.
Pennywise had no other choice but to show Bill an illusion of his younger brother, Georgie.
Illusion Georgie appears from behind the Clown and suddenly calls out, "Brother Bill?"
Hearing such a familiar voice he had been longing to hear all this time made Bill shut his mouth. He reluctantly turned around and saw Georgie"s figure standing beside that creepy clown. He startled, trembling in disbelief. There is rejection from within his eyes yet extremely yearning as well.
Bill calls, "G-Georgie? Is that really you?"
"I"m sorry Brother Bill. I lost the paper boat you made for me..." said the fake Georgie.
The fake little one is only an illusion made by the evil clown.
Pennywise"s thoughts at the moment, "Get closer. Much closer. As long as you enter my reach... You would be dragged by me~" he was already smiling deep inside his heart due to his excitement and hunger. Aside from fear, this demon clown also feeds from sadness. Though it wasn"t as satisfying as fear it is enough for him to continue existing.
Bill is so delighted that he is seeing his younger brother right now. He wanted to deny all of this as it was quite unreasonable but... He misses his younger brother too much that he couldn"t bear to hold back his yearning. Because of this Bill even ignores the presence of the dangerous being standing beside his fake younger brother, this clown from h.e.l.l.
He was about to run over to touch the little Georgie when someone suddenly hugged his waist and a voice that could make his heartbeat louder lingers in his ears.
"Brother, stop! That is not me. He is dangerous. Stay away from him!" shouted the real Georgie who had just arrived on time.
Bill was stunned when he felt something pull him back. When he turned around he saw his younger brother, Georgie, suddenly appearing behind him. His tears had once again strolled down like a fall on his face. He was delighted and shocked by this happening.
Bill spoke, "Georgie! It"s you. It is really you! Where have you been? I"ve been looking for you all this time?"
"Brother, I miss you so so much too~" responded Georgie.
The brothers were hugging between tears and smiles. On the other hand, the demon clown had a dark face and a menacing glare on him. He was staring at the brothers as if he wanted to eat them all alive, especially for Georgie who was supposed to be in his stomach a few days ago but was saved by those annoying players.
Pennywise spoke, "It"s you! This time let"s see if those annoying b.a.s.t.a.r.ds are able to save this time." he reached out his hand trying to catch the brothers.
But before he could touch them a wall of fire prevented him from approaching. He felt the power of DemiG.o.d and the essence of the sun.
The clown glared at the man who suddenly appeared behind Georgie. It was Zhi Yang who materialized behind Georgie.
"Brother Zhi Yang!! You came with me?" asked Georgie with a wide smile.
Zhi Yang replied, "Under the orders of Lord Hei. I am here to protect you two."
The clown said, "How could a DemiG.o.d appear in this world!? Impossible! Plus you are those guys" servants, does that mean they... They... Are they Go-?!"
His mouth was suddenly burned by Zhi Yang preventing him from speaking further about his lord"s origins.
Zhi Yang spoke coldly at the demonic clown. "Watch your mouth, demon. If not for the restrictions you would be dead the first time you angered the Lords."
Pennywise complained in his heart. He couldn"t believe that G.o.ds from the outer worlds would enter there just to play around. He knew they were playing around, that beautiful soul from before has a very pure soul. But it was quite weak which is why he was greedy for it for a moment but who would have thought that the pure soul would have an evil one protecting it.
An evil soul whose darkness is even thicker than what he possesses. A natural evil existence that he himself is considered as the almighty.
Pennywise upon hearing what the G.o.d"s servant had said shut his mouth. Even if he is the law in this dungeon, he is nothing but a mere NPC boss compared to those hidden G.o.ds. Moreover, due to his job as the guardian of this dungeon, it is his responsibility to make sure they follow the rules of the dungeon. This is why he restricted their actions only to be allowed when the targets lead them to his territory. If not for the restriction, after p.i.s.sing off that beautiful and pure soul, he would have died on the spot.
He moved his gaze from Zhi Yang to the brothers cuddling in the distance. Obviously, the older one didn"t know that the youngest was only a ghost. As for how he was able to hug him, those players must have given the little boy a prop to allow himself to solidify his soul temporarily.
"Kekeke~ don"t be so happy, fast Bill. The only way to completely free your younger brother is by defeating me," said Pennywise.
Startled and confused, Bill asked, "What do you mean?"
"Hah! Do you think that the one in your embrace is a living thing? No, no, no I"m afraid not. Bill, Georgie is dead~ hahaha!" said Pennywise before once again disappearing within the darkness.
While Bill was left bewildered the effects of the soul condensing talisman had been used up. Bill felt the emptiness within his arms and saw himself pa.s.sing through the transparent figure of his younger brother. He was dumbfounded and had an inkling of what was happening. He also tried to touch that man who protected them and as expected his hand had just touched the air.
In his shock and realization, he looked at Georgie with reddening eyes. He knew... with the proof before his eyes that a reality he didn"t wish to accept.
When he was missing his younger brother, he finally returned.
But when he finally came home, neither he nor his parents would be able to touch their youngest anymore.
Because he had returned home as a ghost whose vessel had died. Bill could only cover his face in despair, guilt, and regret. The past that they have can never be realized anymore as the two of them are living in different worlds now.
One of the dead and one of the living.
Georgie didn"t know how to comfort his elder brother and also started crying seeing his usual strong brother bawling like he had lost his most precious thing.
Zhi Yang watches the two children with indifference. As a being created by G.o.ds, he had no attachments to mortals and the mortal world. His only sources of emotion are his alter ego, Zhi Yue, his creator Lord G.o.d Ye and his master, Lord Hei.
So he commented as he was tasked to. Lord Ye ordered to make the target realize the need to find the territory of the demon clown. Only by then, they would be able to end this dungeon.
Zhi Yang spoke, "You are focusing on the wrong thing, human child. Your younger brother is long gone and his body is no more. But now his soul is imprisoned in that demon"s world, he couldn"t enter reincarnation and remain as a soul for a long time. If this continues he would disappear for good. Not being able to be reborn but be gone for good. Is that alright for you?"
Bill finally looked up when he heard what Zhi Yang had said.
"W-What do you mean?" asked Bill in shock.
Zhi Yang replied, "No ghost can exist forever. He would disappear either way. Unless you put his body in eternal rest. By cremation or burial."
Bill asked in a panic, "What would happen if his body didn"t reach eternal sleep?"
"He would disappear forever. Not even being able to reincarnate as your brother in the next life," said Zhi Yang.
Bill showed a terrified face when he learned about the consequences of his younger brother not being reincarnated.
"W-What should I do then?" asked Bill.
Zhi Yang answered, "Gather your friends, they should be able to help you. The location is the abandoned mansion on the 13th street. Underground."
Georgie smiled at his brother and said, "Brother doesn"t need to be stressed about it. I"ve been dead for a long time. My body had longed perished already. I"m okay~"
"No! I will save you! No matter what I would give you peace!" said Bill.
Georgie grinned and said, "Be careful brother. There are big brothers to help us. Don"t be afraid." Then before Bill could reach out he already disappeared with Zhi Yang.
Bill calls out, "Wait, Georgie!" but all he could touch was an empty s.p.a.ce.
He stares in dazed as if he wasn"t sure if he was imagining that he saw his long-lost younger brother. It was only when the paper boat he made floated down in front of him. Once it landed above his palm, he hugged it towards his heart.
"I will save you. I will definitely save you," murmured Bill.
---
On the other in Richie"s place.
Among all the targets only this boy is unafraid as he plays his usual games at home. With his house being a game center, Richie is the only one among the target who is surrounded by many people which made it hard for Pennywise to make situations to scare him. So he skipped him and when targeted the only girl and the newcomer which were Beverly and Ben.
Han Ya who was tasked to look after Richie was in a bad mood. Not only was he separated from his beloved, but this target"s place is also so noisy and full of life which is not compatible with him as an undead.
Richie was enjoying his own playing street fighters.
"Go. Go... Lower kick. s.h.i.t! Head kick! Yey! K.O." Richie shouts as he plays his game.
Han Ya"s eyebrow is twitching. He was holding back his fist as if he didn"t stop him he might be the one to K.O. the brat.
"Phew~ calm down me. You calm beat up that stupid brat. Clown come over and let me beat you up or I might end up killing this annoying chatterbox." murmured Han Ya now decided to treat the brat as air.
Richie is such a lucky brat.