WALLACE GARRET
"Can’t we take a little more rest? We’ve been trekking for hours now!" I pleaded with my companions as we continued our journey.
It was so cold in this desolate place that no signs of wildlife, trees, or plants could be seen. The bone-chilling atmosphere seemed to seep into my very bones, making me long for something to warm my freezing body.
The harsh conditions instilled a primal instinct within me, urging me to seek shelter and find respite from the unforgiving cold.
Thoughts of a crackling fire, a cosy blanket, and the comforting embrace of warmth filled my mind, driving me to find solace in this icy wilderness.
"I think we can push a bit further," Kei suggested, his determination evident in his voice.
"We just need to escape from this place, and then we’ll finally be free of this route," Elsie encouraged, her words filled with a sense of hope.
As I surveyed my surroundings, the realm unveiled itself in all its chilling grandeur.
As we ventured along the fragile icy path that stretched endlessly before us, resembling a boundless frozen lake, our every step threatened to shatter its delicate facade. Yet, time and again, it defied our expectations, holding firm under the weight of our presence.
Above, the stars of the night sky cast their shimmering glow upon the path, creating an enchanting phenomenon as their celestial light danced upon the mirrored surface.
In this realm untouched by the rays of daylight, perpetual night reigned supreme. The frozen lakes, glistening like polished mirrors, mirrored the constellations above, refusing to release their ethereal grip on our vision. Silent sentinels in the form of small snow-covered mountains stood stoically, guarding the frozen landscape.
Midst this nocturnal expanse, our salvation appeared on the horizon—a colossal structure of extraordinary proportions. Its form mimicked that of a grand tree, its translucent branches reaching towards the heavens, while a captivating aqua-blue hue pulsed through its ethereal frame.
Radiating a soft, otherworldly brilliance, it became our sole source of illumination in this darkened realm.
Though bathed in eternal night, our surroundings became remarkably clear thanks to the beacon-like glow emanating from the majestic structure.
Its vibrant light cut through the darkness, unveiling the details of our path as if basking in the full light of day. Thus, we bestowed upon it the name "beacon," for it guided us towards our desired destination—the exit of this captivating domain.
We were in Niafell, the 13th realm.
"The past three weeks have tested the limits of our endurance, teetering on the edge between life and death. This final realm of Route 64 marks the threshold to our freedom," I sighed, reflecting on the arduous journey we had undertaken.
"The harshness of our surroundings only grows as we approach the beacon. Stay alert," Kei warned, emphasising the growing challenges we faced.
Indeed, were it not for my cultivated Zen state, the biting frost would have claimed me within a matter of hours. It was imperative that I maintain my focus to withstand the relentless climate of this unforgiving place.
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"It seems there are no monsters here. Our challenge is simply surviving the journey towards the beacon," Elsie observed.
"You are correct. There appears to be no monsoon. Something drew my attention just as I was about to conclude my sentence.
Kei and Elsie mirrored my concern, redirecting their gaze towards the source of the approaching disturbance. Shadows gradually emerged from the depths, drawing closer to our position.
With a sense of urgency, I addressed the unknown figures, demanding to know their identities. Silence hung in the air, and the shadows loomed larger, gradually unveiling their true form.
A series of crimson dots, glowing like sirens, adorned the figures. Their amorphous mass exuded an inky blackness, denying them any discernible shape. As the pack of creatures revealed itself before us, a bolt of realisation struck me.
"What exactly are these?" I cut Elsie off just as she was going to say anything.
"Form up. Prepare for combat. Show no mercy. My commanding tone emphasised the gravity of the situation.
Acknowledging the gravity of the encounter, Kei swiftly responded, his realisation aligning with my own.
These creatures—we had encountered them before. They had ambushed us during our ill-fated expedition with Reed and his crew to scale Kipduff Mountain. In that previous encounter, our inadequacy had cost the lives of our comrades.
But this time, things would be different.
*
In a state of serene focus, I readied myself for the imminent clash as a creature lunged towards me, its form taking shape with spiky white teeth protruding from its ever-changing body, poised to pierce and poison me.
Swiftly, I hurled my chain scythe towards the creature, anticipating its evasive maneuvers. It shifted its form in mid-air, eluding the piercing blade. However, I had foreseen this tactic and pulled the chains, altering the trajectory of the weapon.
The blade swiftly changed direction, aiming to strike the creature from behind. To my astonishment, the creature transformed into a flat disc, evading the impending hit once again.
Undeterred, the creature soared towards me, jaws wide open, while the momentum of my scythe’s blade waned, descending towards the ground. It was at this critical moment that I tapped into the first phase of space weaving.
My vision split into two, and time seemed to slow down. I had to anticipate the creature’s location when I unleashed the spatial distortion. With unwavering concentration, I patiently awaited the opportune moment. As the creature drew closer, I established a connection between the two spatial points, enveloping myself in a web of spatial distortion.
I watched in awe as the creature, instead of reaching me, succumbed to the allure of the spatial distortion, vanishing before my eyes. It reappeared in the other distortion, having been instantaneously transported.
Meanwhile, the second spatial distortion had materialised precisely where my scythe’s blade would have struck the ground. Instead of making contact with the earth, the blade impaled the creature, which had recently appeared in its path.
The creature’s form contorted, and it erupted in a burst of destruction, its splattered black mass bearing witness to its demise.
My attention shifted to Kei, who was locked in a fierce battle with two similar creatures. A shroud of black mist had enveloped his surroundings, evidence that he had harnessed the power of death weaving’s first phase.
The creatures appeared agitated by the mist; their movements were sluggish, and the gleam in their eyes was growing dim. Seizing the opportunity, Kei swiftly launched his daggers at each of them. The velocity of the daggers was so immense that their movements blurred before my eyes.
In an attempt to evade the assault, the creatures contorted their forms. They might have succeeded, but the mist of death that enshrouded them disrupted their morphing process, rendering them unable to keep pace with the daggers’ speed. Consequently, both creatures were impaled, meeting their ultimate demise.
Meanwhile, Elsie found herself struggling as she confronted one of the creatures. It lunged at her with ferocity, but her crystal gauntlets provided a semblance of protection against its attacks.
"Watch out!" I shouted, realising that another creature was stealthily closing in on her from behind, its teeth dripping with poisonous intent. Unfortunately, Elsie was preoccupied with the first creature and couldn’t react in time.
My own energy was depleted, leaving me unable to conjure a spatial distortion. The impending danger of Elsie being bitten and poisoned loomed over us. Frantically, I raced towards her, desperate to intervene. However, before I could reach her side, something extraordinary occurred.
The creature, moments away from reaching Elsie’s vulnerable back, began expanding in size like a balloon being inflated. In a sudden burst accompanied by a sonic boom, it exploded, its remains scattered across the ground. Perplexed by this unexpected turn of events, I heard a voice from behind me—a voice resembling that of a young girl.
"You’ve done well holding them off. Leave the rest to me."