CHAPTER 35: Beneath The Surface
The door closed softly behind Julius, leaving Zodac alone once more in the quiet, sunlit room.
For a long moment, he did not move.
The air smelled clean—herbs, warm cloth, faint incense. It was nothing like the damp stench of blood and monsters that still lingered in his memory. His fingers slowly curled into a fist, then loosened again, as if testing whether his body truly belonged to him.
Three days.
He exhaled through his nose.
Too long.
Zodac swung his legs over the edge of the bed. Pain flared instantly—sharp, deep, familiar. He welcomed it. Pain meant awareness. Pain meant control. He placed his feet on the floor, stood, and steadied himself without assistance. The scars across his body pulled and tightened, reminders etched into flesh rather than memory.
"So they healed me," he muttered.
His gaze drifted to the drawer beside the bed. He opened it and found his belongings neatly arranged: his cross bag, cleaned and repaired; folded cloth; and beneath it all, his pouch of silver. He lifted it, weighed it in his palm.
Heavy.
Exactly as it should be.
A faint flicker appeared at the edge of his vision.
The system panel bloomed into existence.
ELEMENTAL WOOD — LV 17 Status: Condition:
Stable Restrictions: Lifted
Mana Pools:
Reserve Mana — Filled
Blitz Mana — Filled
Dark Mana — Half Full
Pure Mana — Half Full
Dragon Mana — Quarter Full
Soul Mana — Empty
His eyes lingered on the last line.
Soul Mana.
Still empty.
Zodac's expression hardened. Whatever that pool represented, it was something deeper—something that could not be filled through ordinary monsters.
"Figures," he murmured.
He closed the panel with a thought and reached for Kogestu. The blade materialized in his grasp with its familiar weight and quiet hum. He planted it lightly against the floor, testing his balance. Better than expected. Not perfect—but enough.
A knock came at the door.
"Enter," Zodac said flatly.
The door opened, and two attendants stepped in, followed by several men carrying equipment. At their center was a familiar silhouette—dark, reinforced armor carried with reverence rather than carelessness.
Zodac's eyes narrowed slightly.
His armor.
They laid it out piece by piece on a nearby stand. The metal gleamed differently than before—cleaner, denser, etched with faint green lines that pulsed once before fading.
Julius followed them in, clasping his hands behind his back.
"As promised," he said carefully, "your armor. Our craftsmen worked through the night."
Zodac approached without hesitation. He ran his fingers across the breastplate. The surface was cool, smooth, but alive in a way it hadn't been before.
"Illeaum reinforcement," Julius added quickly. "Not much—just enough to strengthen it without interfering with… whatever force surrounds you."
Zodac didn't respond. Instead, he lifted the breastplate and inspected the inside.
Light. Balanced.
Functional.
One of the craftsmen swallowed nervously as Zodac met his eyes, then immediately looked away.
Fear.
Good.
Zodac began equipping the armor himself, piece by piece, without asking for help. Every movement was deliberate, efficient. When he finished, the armor fit him perfectly—as if it had grown with his body rather than been shaped by tools.
He flexed his shoulders once.
No resistance.
"Hmph."
Julius released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
"You're… welcome to stay as long as you wish," Julius said. "The town owes you everything. Supplies, shelter, information—"
"That would alright" Zodac said,
After having his meal he walks out of the town central inn as he could see, he was given the best room out of all, Julius really pulled it through for him, he felt grateful but did not actually show it.
With his cross bag hanged around his neck as he and Julius exited the inn into the bustling busy streets of the town and Julius dismissed the others.
"Let me show you around" Julius said enthusiastically but Zodac shot down his plan,
"I'll be taking my leave" He said out of the blue,
"Why?" Julius asked in shock, Zodac stayed quiet and unfazed, yes Julius has been so kind to him, but with his reputation sticking around for too long would bring chaos to the town.
Feeling the eery silence Julius didn't press any further instead bows his head as he decided to personally escort Zodac out of the town,
"You know in times like this, people often throw parties in order to celebrate or commemorate heroes, but knowing you enough made me realize you don't seem to be that kind of person whose into parties " He Said.
Zodac remained silent still,
"In that case let me personally escort you, it's the least I can do" Julius said as the turned and began walking towards the towns entrance.
Zodac looked around from ear to ear, seeing the town much more lively than it was a days ago when he arrived, not too far he saw construction work going on, renovation and building of new houses, this was the third one he has passed by today.
"You seem busy, doing a little remodeling?" Zodac asked,
"Yes" Julius replies,
"I'm just astonished, How does a town change so much in only 3 days?" Zodac asked,
"Well before the whole monster invasion and all that my father the former town head discovered the illeaum crystal cave and soon after we became the top suppliers of illeaum crystals all around the kingdom" He explains,
"Then when monster's began invading the mines, for the sake of everyone's safety my dad had to shut it down he fell critically I'll before he could do anything about it and passed the title of the town head unto me when he died"
"Hmmm" Zodac response,
"Still that doesn't explain the quick progress"Zodac Said,
"Back then a lot of good able men lost their jobs and source of lively hood the moment the mines were closed, some moved out while others stayed to find something else to do, most were former colleagues of my father, and when given the chance to mine illeaum that has been left for so long they didn't hesitate after hearing the monster were wiped out and on getting to the cave we confirmed it true"
"We mined all night, gathering scores and scores of illeaum crystals, we didn't even need to mine, there we shards just lying all over the place and I must tell you, those all timers looked so happy like they found buried treasure" Julius explains and they both burst into laughter,
"I got in contact with some of my dad's old friends who we were supplying to and they were more than happy when they found out the mine was open once again and so development began from there" He said as a carriage passed by beside them,
"Hmm, what was the town main source of income before the illeaum cave was open again" Zodac said,
Julius face darkened at the question,
"Trading" He Said,
"There were a few people who were responsible for trading that was what been pulling little income to keep the town flourishing, then the began to threaten me and if I don't hand over the town to them they'll stop thier trade and stop supplying the town, and even came together to form some group."
"Called themselves the council of Sito" Julius explains,
"Council ?" Zodac asked shocked l,
"You've met them, the trader who you traded illeaum with and the men who were the first to meet you in the mine" He explains
"Oh them?" Zodac said,
"But now with the mining now going more smoothly than ever, they've outlived their usefulness and have been officially disbanded" Julius said with a devilish grin,
They kept going until the got to the very entrance of the town which he had walked into several days ago.
Zodac turned to Julius, a hint of amusement dancing on his lips.
"Thank you so much for all you've done for me," Zodac said, his tone sincere.
With a nod, Zodac turned to leave, but Julius's next words froze him in his tracks.
"No Thank you wood Elemental Hero!"
Zodac's eyes narrowed, and he turned, his gaze pinning Julius to the spot. The pressure was palpable, and Julius felt his skin prickle under the intensity.
"Hero?" Zodac scoffed, his voice low and menacing. "When have I claimed to be such?"
He took a step closer, his eyes glinting with a feral energy. "I am the Elemental Devil," he declared, embracing the moniker the people of Sundara had given him.
"Not a hero. Never a hero."
The air seemed to vibrate with the weight of his words, and Julius swallowed, his eyes locked on Zodac's as he turns to leave.