Chapter 22: Your Prayers Were Not Answered
[Welcome, Finn Martin]
[Age: 13]
[Partners: Jake the Dog]
[Harem: Rony, Marceline]
[Pawns: Simon]
[Abilities: Magma Devil Fruit, Soul Extraction]
[Store (5350∆)]
"When did Jake get added to the partners list?" Finn asked in confusion.
[It seems you took a liking to him in your last mission, and unintentionally added him. By the way, there are no rewards for partners—only for harem members, and if you're lucky, for pawns.]
Out of the corner of his eye, Finn noticed movement in the distance. Focusing, he identified a small group of four or five foxes. Instantly, he recalled his incomplete mission and was grateful that the ones he had already killed weren't the only ones left. He had slain 98 so far—just two more remained.
He sprinted forward and leaped into the air, diving toward his prey. His arm melted, piercing through two foxes as the others fled in terror.
[Congratulations]
[Mission 9 Complete]
[Reward: 1100∆]
[See what you almost lost because of sentimentality?]
"Forget that point, there's something more important now." He steadied his arm and spoke seriously. "Can you really heal Rony?" he asked cautiously.
[Of course, but everything has a price.]
"How much?" he asked directly.
[1200∆]
"What?! Why so much?!" He was shocked by the cost.
[What happened to her is more severe than you think. I can fix it, but it won't be cheap, and it will take time.]
Finn fell silent for a moment. "Fine, do it."
[Understood.]
[1200∆ -]
[Countdown: 500 days]
"A year and a half?!" He was stunned by the timeframe, which shattered his expectations.
[Yes.]
[For now, focus on leaving this desert.]
Time passed. Exiting the central desert alone was exhausting, with scarce water sources and relentless monster attacks.
After an entire month of traveling, he finally crossed the central desert. The surrounding desert was much larger but significantly less dangerous, with more available resources.
Through time, training, and absorbing the remainder of Rony's vitality, Finn reached Level 10 of the Beginner Phase and improved his hand-to-hand combat skills while searching for a proper sword.
He had never expected the desert to be so vast, requiring four full months before spotting the lush green of forests in the distance. The sight spurred him to quicken his pace.
It had taken Finn and Jake a week to travel from the treehouse to the entrance of the Great Desert. Now, after emerging from it, he estimated at least another week for the return journey.
The boy who had stepped out of the desert had changed—he was now fourteen, had reached the peak of the Beginner Phase, and according to Sika, could now defeat Level 9 opponents of the Entry Phase with ease and Level 10 opponents with some effort.
However, stepping up to battle those in the True Phase would be far more difficult. The bottleneck between phases created an enormous power gap compared to the smaller-level differences within a phase, and overcoming it was exponentially harder.
At last, his desert journey had ended. Before him stretched a striking contrast between the golden sands and the lush, verdant expanse of the forest. They were close yet created an undeniable dichotomy—like a painting split into two opposing halves.
As his foot pressed into the fresh grass, stepping out of the desert's hold, a small smile formed on his lips in celebration of what was to come. "Your prayers were not answered, my princess..." he whispered before launching forward at full speed, cutting through the endless greenery.
——
It had been nearly five months since Finn's supposed death, according to PB. Jake's state was unknown—upon hearing that Finn had sacrificed himself to save Princess Bubblegum from powerful monsters, he had secluded himself in the treehouse, and no one had heard from him since.
In the first month, he had relentlessly searched the fabricated crime scene where PB had claimed the incident occurred. Like a madman, he scoured every inch, chasing even the smallest slivers of hope that his friend, partner, and brother was still alive. But it was all in vain. When that last glimmer of hope was extinguished, he withdrew to the treehouse, neither speaking nor engaging in his usual heroic duties.
Most people mourned Jake's state and grieved even more for their fallen hero, Finn—the boy who had wielded his sword against every looming threat, striving to bring peace to the kingdoms around him.
But none of them truly understood. They didn't know what Finn had meant to Jake. He wasn't just his brother or his friend—he was a piece of his very soul. He had raised him, protected him, watched him grow. And now, he was gone. Not even a body had been left behind.
Aside from the month he spent searching, Jake had remained in the treehouse ever since. The very air around the place felt heavy, as if drenched in grief, making anyone who passed by feel its weight.
——
//Candy Kingdom
Princess Bubblegum rode atop her giant bird, soaring over the green fields with a sorrowful expression. She had just returned from visiting her best friend, someone she had desperately tried to reconnect with, to console after what Finn had done to her. But it was all in vain. The girl still doubted the story she had been told about Finn, and, worse, had done everything in her power to keep the princess at a distance.
With a heavy sigh, PB flew over the towering walls of her kingdom. Her eyes flickered as an abrupt chill ran through her body. Instinctively, she scanned the kingdom below, ignoring the citizens who greeted her with respect and admiration, instead searching for an inexplicable presence that had momentarily pierced through her.
She saw nothing. Shaking her head, she continued toward the castle, unaware of the figure standing in the shadows of a nearby building, watching her intently.
——
Inside her laboratory, PB donned her long white coat. "Assistant Peppermint, any issues so far?" she asked the short candy servant, who stood behind a thick glass panel, observing a sterile white chamber with a single elegant structure at its center.
"No, my lady. It remains stable for now. Even after adding fifty grams of star crystal, it continues to function as if it were ordinary fuel." The disbelief in his voice was evident as he stared at the experiment before him.
"We await your command to proceed with the first experiment, Your Highness," the assistant addressed the princess with utmost respect. PB nodded, deciding to set a later date for the trial. "If this vessel succeeds, I will have once again surpassed myself," she mused with a smug smile.
Finding no urgent issues in her most important project, she opted to return to her chambers for a brief rest. Entering her private quarters—a place forbidden to nearly everyone in the castle—she shut the door, the darkness of night already settling in.
Hours later, a cautious knock echoed on her door. "Your Majesty, it is time for the royal dinner. The court awaits your presence," the assistant spoke politely.
"Yes… Yes, I'm coming," her hurried and somewhat tense voice responded. Satisfied with the reply, the small assistant left. Two minutes later, PB stepped out, her cheeks still carrying the last traces of a fading blush. She pressed a series of numbers on a keypad by the door, a code known only to her.
Twelve digits. No one else could ever memorize them.
She walked away toward the dining hall as two Banana Guards took their places on either side of her chamber's entrance.
While the upper echelons of the Candy Kingdom indulged in their lavish feast and the rest of the kingdom either ate or prepared for sleep, a lone Banana Guard patrolled the long pink corridors. Passing by a window, he was suddenly tackled to the ground, his arms pinned down.
"What the…" The guard looked up at his attacker, his expression freezing as if he had seen a ghost. "F-Finn?" he stammered in disbelief and confusion.
"Where is the princess's room?" Finn whispered coldly. Despite being one of PB's closest friends, she had never taken him or Jake there, nor had she ever even mentioned its location. All he knew was that her room was a heavily guarded secret within the palace.
"What are you… Why would you…?" The guard's mind reeled with questions, but before he could finish, Finn's hand plunged into his back, sinking into the soft banana flesh. The guard let out a scream, one that could have alerted the entire castle if not for Finn's other hand clamping over his mouth.
"I'm the one asking questions. Where is it?" Finn demanded. Tears welled in the guard's eyes as he weakly pointed down the corridor from which he had come. Finn slowly removed his hand from the guard's mouth.
"Fifth door straight ahead… It's the biggest one, and also…" He coughed violently, writhing from the pain coursing through his body. "…It's light pink. The others are darker."
Satisfied, Finn smiled and dragged his hand across the guard's body. A final scream tore through the hallway before the Banana Guard was split in half, leaving a sticky yellow residue on Finn's fingers. He wiped it off, grabbed the fallen spear, and proceeded toward the princess's quarters.
Two guards stood rigidly at the door, their watch dull and uneventful. A sharp whistle from Finn's lips sent a single arrow piercing through one of their skulls before the second guard even had time to react. Before he could sound the alarm, Finn retrieved the arrow and drove it into his throat, slicing cleanly through. The bodies were swiftly tossed out the nearest window.
Dressed in a black pair of pants and a yellow, zipperless jacket, Finn inspected the door.
[We know she's in the dining hall having dinner. So why are you here when the room is empty?]
"Of course, I want to make her feel something she's never felt before. But first, I need to confirm something." Finn ran his fingers over the door's surface. "Can you unlock it? I'd rather not break it—it would leave behind evidence that someone entered."
[I have no control over technology. It's sealed with an advanced locking mechanism.]
Finn sighed in surrender. "No choice then. Purchase a Phantom Gate."
[Purchase complete.]
[100∆ -]
Lifting his palm, Finn unleashed a green beam onto the wall. A faintly glowing portal appeared where the energy struck.
[Phantom Gate: As its name implies, it allows passage through otherwise inaccessible places. It is not spatial or dimensional—it simply lets you bypass physical barriers. For example, placing it against a wall lets you pass through to the other side. Its simplicity is why it only costs 100∆.]
"Why are you telling me this again?" Finn asked.
[Just ignore it.]
Stepping through the gate, Finn was immediately engulfed by the sweet scent permeating the room. The entire chamber was bathed in pink, radiating warmth and tranquility.
The walls were adorned with delicate paintings in soft colors that complemented the room's aesthetic. The artwork depicted serene natural scenes—trees, flowers, and meadows. The ceiling was illuminated by small, star-like hanging lights that cast a gentle glow, making the space feel almost ethereal.
His gaze settled on the bed—an emblem of luxury. A plush, pink velvet blanket draped over a grand mattress, with sheer curtains cascading from the canopy, swaying gently with the air's movement.
Shelves lined the walls, filled with neatly arranged books and magazines, interspersed with small stuffed toys and artificial flowers that added a touch of life. In one corner, a small desk with an elegant lamp stood, its surface meticulously organized with papers and writing utensils.
A lavish rug covered a portion of the floor, its soft texture inviting comfort with every step. Across from it, a sleek wooden wardrobe housed a collection of carefully arranged garments, and beside it stood a large mirror reflecting the elegance of the room.
Every detail of this chamber spoke of refinement and sophistication, as though it belonged to another world entirely. Finn took in the surroundings, acknowledging the meticulous effort poured into creating such a personal sanctuary.
But he had not come for the view. He had come to uncover the darkest of secrets—secrets that no one would ever expect to lurk within a room of such elegance.