As the resonating words "The Blessing of Seersight has been awakened" echoed within my consciousness, a profound metamorphosis seized hold of me. Even with the golems closing in and their colossal stone fists threatening to strike, an unshakable tranquilly enveloped me like a still lake undisturbed by ripples of fear or despair.
It was an emotionless state, with my body feeling strangely cold, and yet I found myself strangely unbothered.
A mesmerising sight unfolded before my eyes: faint afterimages began to coalesce around the golem’s menacing hand, elongating its trajectory and causing the world around me to decelerate.
This effect was unlike anything I had experienced during my usual Zen state. While Zen heightened my senses and awareness, this new power seemed more like an ethereal illusion, a gift to aid my understanding of the unfolding events.
"Seersight... I see," I murmured, a spark of realisation igniting within as I grasped the profound implications of this newfound ability.
The semi-transparent afterimages offered a glimpse into the future trajectory of the golem’s attack, enabling me to anticipate its impending impact. Empowered by this foresight, I evaded the incoming blow with graceful precision, deftly avoiding the path outlined by the ghostly afterimages.
Yet, as one threat was mitigated, more afterimages manifested as the other golems geared up for their assaults. The multitude of images cluttered my vision, complicating evasion.
It seemed nearly impossible to dodge all the strikes without exposing myself to another attack. Yet, midst the sea of afterimages, I noticed a small pocket of emptiness, a fleeting window of opportunity. I seized it with unwavering determination.
As the golems unleashed their strikes in an orchestrated fury, their fists met only empty air, missing their target. In an unforeseen twist, their attacks collided with one another, initiating a chain reaction that led to their mutual annihilation. The once powerful and imposing golems crumbled like fallen giants, reduced to mere fragments of stone.
A thick cloud of dust rose, obscuring the battlefield as the echoes of their demise subsided. In that moment, the room itself seemed to undergo a transformation, shifting back to its original form, and my vision returned to its usual state. The wondrous effect of the blessing had concluded, leaving me to grapple with the aftermath.
Despair crept in as I attempted to reawaken the dormant blessing, feeling its essence burning within me as though engraved upon the very core of my soul. My eyes closed in concentration, and I reached out for the fleeting power that had blessed me briefly. But try as I might, it remained elusive, receding once more from my grasp, leaving me with a lingering sense of both awe and frustration.
The revelation dawned upon me that the blessing’s utility was bound, confining its application to a finite duration of time.
With anticipation, I opened my eyes, fully expecting to confront an expanded room teeming with more golems. However, much to my astonishment, the chamber had reverted to its original form, revealing a new pathway that led to an adjacent room.
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
A sigh of relief escaped my lips.
"Fortunate indeed. The blessing allowed me to evade the golems’ attacks even without resorting to my Zen state. Nevertheless, their sluggish nature and lumbering movements played a significant role. Had I faced a swifter and more agile adversary, my survival would have been at instant peril, leaving me no time to react to its onslaught," I contemplated, acknowledging the limitations of my newfound power.
Taking a considerable respite, I rested until I could harness the Zen state once again, gathering my strength and composure for the journey that lay ahead.
**
As I ventured forth, I was greeted by a sight akin to the previous room yet unique in its own right. Once more, intricate carvings adorned the walls, fashioned from pristine white stone that gleamed with an ethereal marble-like luster. However, the configuration of this new chamber bore striking differences.
This time, the room manifested an inverted structure, resembling a well with its towering ceiling shrouded in mystery, beyond the reach of my sight. In stark contrast, the ground floor was remarkably diminutive, offering me a mere sliver of space to tread upon. It felt as though I stood upon a minuscule platform suspended within the vast emptiness of the well-like expanse.
Intrigued by this peculiar design, I carefully examined my surroundings, contemplating the significance of this spatial arrangement.
The high, unreachable ceiling seemed to evoke a sense of infinite potential, while the confined ground spoke of limitation and restriction. It was as if I stood at the precipice of boundless possibilities yet was encumbered by the constraints of reality.
"Ah, Zen-Glide, the perfect solution for this very predicament!" A revelation surged through me as I harnessed the power of sol, directing its flow towards my legs to activate the unique ability I had honed during my time at Kipduff Mountain.
This extraordinary ability had proven its worth before when I confronted the formidable Skeletal Whale in the treacherous Sea of the Devils, and it was during that epic battle that my spatial abilities were first unlocked.
Without a moment’s hesitation, I embarked on my daring feat, wasting no time in taking action. My body walked on the wall like an elegant gecko, inching its way upward towards the elusive roof of the chamber. The white stone surface served as my pathway, and with each graceful movement, the ceiling seemed to draw nearer, inviting me to venture further into the enigmatic depths.
Just as I thought I had eluded all dangers, an arrow abruptly pierced through the very spot where I had stood only moments before. My senses, heightened by the profound awareness of my Zen state, had saved me from a potentially perilous fate.
Aware now of the lurking traps in this chamber, I reminded myself to tread with utmost caution. Navigating through this elaborate maze required a strategic approach, for danger lay hidden in the most unexpected corners.
Water began to fill the room below, its level gradually rising, posing an entirely new challenge. The realisation struck me that I had to maintain a pace faster than the encroaching flood, lest I meet a watery demise.
"I perceive the situation clearly now. It appears to be one of those classic scenarios where I must outpace the rapidly rising water to avoid meeting a watery demise. I wonder, though, how many more chambers and trials await me in this dungeon." I mused aloud.
An overwhelming sense of unwavering determination washed over me, igniting a fierce fire within my heart. With newfound resolve, I pushed my body to move even faster, the adrenaline coursing through my veins driving me forward.
My mind was laser-focused on the challenge ahead as I readied myself to face whatever awaited me. Nothing would deter me from pressing onward, and I braced myself for whatever trials and obstacles lay in my path.