Eternal Thief

Ace was still walking in the Cinderfall of Doubt, and after almost falling into a trap, he was doing everything to avoid slipping into that state again. He was using the pain to stay away, but it was too difficult to achieve since he had to stop himself from succumbing to the pain.

At this moment, Ace's footsteps suddenly stopped abruptly, and his eyes narrowed because right in front of him, a small sphere of black flames appeared!

'What is this?' Ace was cautious. It was his first time seeing another color in this white flame sea, and for some reason, this small sphere of blame flame gave him an eerie feeling.

He was about to avoid it by walking around it when a melodious, gentle voice rang, "I can help you get out of the Cinderfall of Doubt!"

This voice was strangely speaking in the common tongue of the Mortal Sky Heaven.

Ace's eyes narrowed, and he couldn't help but scoff, "Tsk, another trick; like hell, I'm going to fall for such an obvious trap!"

He started to walk around it, but then that flame moved and again appeared in front of him, "Hey, hey, hey, this is not a trick! I'm real!"

Ace was startled. He looked at the black flame suspiciously and tried to ask the system, "What the hell is this system!?"

However, from the moment he entered the Cinderfall of Doubt, the system went dormant and didn't reply to him, and now it was no different.

'If this were some kind of trial, the system would've already alerted me like before. So could it be this is real?' Ace thought with an iffy look in his eyes.

"Look, I know you're doubtful, but I'm really not here to obstruct your way anymore. I'm even here in front of you, so you won't have to turn back. Just listen to me!" The voice spoke again with a hint of annoyance.

"Since you can help me get out of this place, then you want something in return, right?" Ace finally spoke, but he didn't let his guard down.

"Fufufu, I like dealing with intelligent beings like you, little doll." The voice replied as if in a good mood, "Indeed, I want something from you in return, and if you agree, then not I can help you with the Cinderfall of Doubt, but I can directly send you to the end of the Primordial Ascension Path of Mortal Sky Heaven. You won't have to pass the upper section of the path!"

Ace was startled, for he wasn't expecting this response.

"Who are you?" He was really interested now, but he didn't dare agree since he had no idea what this thing was or if it was even real.

"Fufufu, if I tell you, you might wet yourself, little doll!" The voice replied with disdain and arrogance.

Ace's expression fell as he didn't like this narcissistic remark, "I knew this was a waste of time."

Without hesitation, he began to walk away. When he crossed the black flame, despite feeling its eerie aura, nothing happened. He became even more sure that this was an illusion.

"What!? Y-you have no respect for your elders!" The black flame was startled before quickly chasing after Ace while complaining, "Don't ignore me, boy! If you make me angry, you'll lose the biggest opportunity of your life."

Ace looked at the black flame following him and felt perplexed, "I'm not interested; I can pass this path on my own."

"Curses!" The voice cursed in annoyance, "Are the youngsters these days this arrogant? They had no respect for their elders! Damn it, stop ignoring this lord! If you still don't believe me, you'll have to believe after this!"

The black flame suddenly shimmered, and Ace thought it was about to attack him. He was ready to fight when the excruciating pain suddenly vanished!

Ace was bewildered as he no longer feels like his soul was burning nor his body, he looked at the black flame which seemed to be slightly lessen in size and his expression were stern and iffy.

"Who are you, and what do you want?" He asked again, but this time, he was serious and far more cautious since this thing might really be telling the truth.

But this just made it even more eerie since it could easily get rid of his pain that the system was helpless against.

"Fufu~ you finally willing to take me seriously? About damn time, you little rude brat!" The voice unhappily huffed.

'Is this some child?' Ace really wondered, but he didn't say it out loud and replied in a neutral tone, "Forgive me ignorance, but I can't trust anyone in this place. If you can just tell me who you are and what you want in return for your help, I can judge better."

"Tsk, greedy brat, you have no respect for your elders, do you?" The voice sarcastically remarked, "Sigh, I'll be magnanimous and forgive your rudeness. As for who I am, I really can't say out loud or even repeat with telepathy since it will draw a very troublesome fellow's attention. If that hateful thing found that I've regained consciousness, it'll be a huge hassle. Just call me Your Holiness! I'll allow you this honor."

'What a narcissist crone!' Ace thought, but he was still astonished despite this voice's antics. If someone could talk to him in this place, then they were nothing too normal.

After mulling it over, Ace asked, "Then, Your Holiness, what do you want in return for helping me?"

"Fufu~ you can be taught, little doll." The voice was very pleased when Ace finally called her 'Your Holiness' and spoke grandly, "It's very simple. Actually, I'll give you an insignia, and you just have to take that insignia outside the Primordial Path of Mortal Sky. Simple, right?"

He was startled again, for this task was really simple—too simple, actually. But he wasn't an idiot. As someone who had seen many old monsters using mortals for their personal schemes, he knew better than to trust a 'gentle voice' giving him free benefits.

'Just what is this insignia? Don't tell me if I take it out, this thing will be set free? After all, if this is so simple, then why didn't it do itself? Or why would it still be here since it could've asked others before me to do the same? After all, I'm not the only one who has ever stepped in this place…' He thought grimly.

But who was Ace? He was a thief, and it wasn't easy to trick him or do something to him. So, if he plays along well, he can easily trick this eccentric fellow.

Ace finally decided what to do and said, "Your Holiness, I accept your generous offer. Thank you for showing such kindness!"

"Fufufufu… you can indeed be taught, little doll!" The voice sounded very pleased, "Let's fucking go~, I can finally see the light of day! Oh shoot, I thought out loud!"

A deadly silence suddenly falls between the two as Ace looks at the black flame strangely!