Dungeon Raider System-Chapter 606: I remember

Albeit short, Uriel's reply was actually the answer to most of their questions. Their encounter with the gastropod cryptid wasn't even life threatening, yet it caused deep scars in in those who were affected by it.

Just learning that there were cryptids that could hide their presence from her senses was enough for Medusa to doubt her own senses at all times, Luna was left with a deep seated fear of bathrooms and despite trying to hide it, Nika's appetite had diminished to the point where she was starting to get thinner.

Uriel wasn't an exception, only it affected him in a different way. He wasn't afraid of cryptids showing up without him noticing like Medusa, neither was he afraid of going alone to the bathroom like Luna nor disgusted by the gastropod visage to the point of losing his appetite like Nika. It wasn't the cryptid's gross appearance what haunted him, but the fact that he recovered his memory.

Losing his memory had actually felt like a vacation to him as it relieved him of the many horrors weighing upon his shoulders making him feel at ease for the first time in his life. Unfortunately, as pleasurable as that felt, the pain of his memory returning in a single go was more than he could handle.

His miserable past life in the slums, the effects of Medusa's trait, the cosmic horror that Water warlock was and even the shock of finding out that Mister Scofield was dead, all those feelings had slowly returned to him causing him an emotional pain he couldn't endure.

It affected him on his daily life and forced him to carry on while hiding his feelings from everyone, but this wasn't the worst part.

"It's Rapa Nui." Uriel added when he noticed their confusion.

"Easter Island?" Medusa tilted her head.

"If this is about what you did to Sam, he had it more than deserved." Nika scoffed.

"I wish it was about that. No, this is far worse." Uriel spoke with a wry smile.

"You almost scared us to death so make this make sense." Medusa tried to sound angry, but her tone was soft as honey and she even grabbed his hand.

"Keeping secrets between friends is not right." Luna muttered, only to drown in the flux energy released in response to her two faced comment. After all, her trait had been a mystery for the longest time and she even refused to speak about it when asked.

"This will sound crazy, mostly because it is, but it's all due to the cryptid I saw."

"What was its name, level, gender, appearance..." Luna voiced out a long list of things she wanted to know, her cold eyes demanding an answer.

"I can't say." Uriel shrugged.

"You must." Luna insisted.

"I don't mean to say I don't want to, I literally can't speak about it. Just seeing that creature affected me in ways I can't even explain. I'm alright most of the times, but I spend every waking moment fighting against the effects it caused me and I'm afraid that speaking about it will only makes things worse.

What I can tell you is that Manu is still alive, I didn't kill him." Despite declaring something that should have eased his conscience, Uriel seemed even more troubled.

"That's a good thing, isn't it?" Medusa said, unconvinced of her own words due to his expression.

"Not really. When he said I had to sacrifice him I should have listened to him, but I was too stubborn and couldn't get myself to do it. Because of my weakness, the unspeakable thing that affected me is probably out there now."

"We could go back and make things right." Medusa attempted once more to lift his spirits, though judging by his the sound of his voice she was starting to doubt if that was even possible.

"If what Uriel says is true, there might not be a place to go back to." Luna muttered.

"I wish I could say this is all, but there's more. Back then learned about the ancient civilization and many things that can become useful, but Sam probably knows them too." Uriel lowered his gaze and remained silent.

"There's something else you're not telling us. I can see it in your eyes." Nika spoke when she saw a spark of light in Uriel's usually glacial eyes.

"There is," Uriel dropped on the ground surrounded by the remains of what used to be his bed then turned beet red. "I may have pickpocketed Jon when he purged out his flux."

Judging by his look it was obvious that he was embarrassed, but there was also a hint of sadness which neither Nika nor Luna missed. Medusa, however, was unable to see Uriel or even sense his presence.

"How dare you take advantage of uncle Jon when he was at his weakest!? That is the lowest of the low!" She snarled, unaware of the bitter expression drawn on Uriel's face.

"Of all people present you're the least qualified to judge me about this!" Uriel snarled making Medusa flinch, though more than angry he was actually sad. "When I was a child I had nothing but the pocket knife my father left me and one of Jon's books. I grew up reading it time and time again to the point where I fantasized of being an explorer and an archaeologist like him.

He was more than my role model, he was my hero. How do you think I felt when I finally met him and he turned out to be a jerk that stole from me just because I was too weak to defend myself?"

"I..." Medusa stuttered, but Uriel continued venting.

"The bastard even laughed at me, you were there and did nothing. Now, when I did to him the same thing he did to me, you're ready to point your finger at me and call me names."

"It's because he's a holy rank hunter! If he wants something no one can stop him. Not even me!" Medusa rebuked.

"The same applies now. You couldn't stop me even if you where there. You know, for a minute I thought of killing him," Uriel smiled wryly at Medusa who gasped and fell out of words. "I know this will sound hard to believe, but it wasn't out of hate. I just saw him in so much pain I thought it would have been better to put him out of his misery."

"You can't possibly be serious." Medusa's tears soaked the blindfold on her face making it stick to her skin and after tears started running down her cheeks. This time it was Luna the one who intervened to calm her down.

"I thought the same when I checked him. His vitals were steady, but his body was torn to shreds. It's unnatural for anyone to remain conscious in that state, it was torture."

"In hindsight, I'm glad I didn't do it. Especially after what I found in his wallet." Uriel showed a picture of a scrawny man with a messy hair and a distracted look on his face. and a faint apologetic smile.

"What did you find?" Unable to see the picture, Medusa asked when the silence became unbearable.

"It's a picture of my father." Uriel said before exiting the room.

***

Before crossing the gate of the megacity that used to be Texas Jon was stopped in the entrance by a couple of heavily armed guards who asked to see his ID card. They weren't a match for him despite his flux energy reserve being low since his holy rank physical prowess couldn't possibly be matched by modern weapons, but Jon decided not to open his way with violence and show his hunter ID instead.

He patted his back pocket to take out his wallet, finding the answer to why had Uriel been so nice to him ever since he started recovering from his wounds.

"Cheeky lad!" He let out a helpless chuckle when he realized his wallet was empty. Not only did Uriel steal his hunter Id and his cash money, he also took all the coupons and mementos he had stored in it only to place the empty wallet back where it belonged before he noticed it.

"Who are you talking to?" One of the guards asked behind the steel mask that protected him not just from injuries, but also from being identified.

"To myself, I guess. I don't have my ID at the time, just tell whoever is in charge now that Jon Hunter is here and they'll let me pass."

"Jon Hunter!? Dude, you're a hero!" The guard patted him in the shoulder.

"We heard you died fighting the titan, just wait until Miss Charlie hears about this!" The other guard opened the way to let him in.

"Charlie, as in the ranger Charlie?" Asked Jon receiving a nod in reply which made Jon smile as he inwardly thought of the waste it would have been if the voluptuous ranger had died. "I'll pay her a visit later."

He would have loved to grab a few drinks with her and see how far he could get, but there was an important business he needed to resolve. Jon focused some strength on his legs before springing towards the nearest rooftop and making his way across the city by leaping from building to building with ease until he reached his destination.

It was a small chamber hidden in the basement of one of his favorite hotels where he kept his belongings. The room was almost destroyed, but the hunter grade safe remained untouched. Or so it seemed, until after inputting the combination the door opened and revealed to be completely empty.

"Bollocks!" Jon groaned.