KEIICHI MIURA
"Have you heard of the ‘Voidwalker’?" Karan inquired, sparking my interest.
The term had been circulating throughout Limbo for the past six months, but I hadn’t delved deep into its meaning. Curious, I decided to let Davy and Cliff carry on with the conversation.
"Yeah, I’ve heard of it, but there isn’t much concrete information available. People speculate that the Voidwalker might be associated with the void order because sightings of this individual have been reported in multiple compounds. That’s impossible for a Venturer since we are usually bound to one compound after our initial arrival," Cliff explained with a touch of uncertainty in his voice.
"Indeed," Davy added thoughtfully, "but I doubt he has any ties to the void order. Voidshades rarely expose themselves so openly. This enigmatic figure’s appearances in both Compound 007 and 004 have caught people’s attention, adding to the air of mystery surrounding him. Venturers have taken to calling him the ‘Voidwalker.’
The name ‘Voidwalker’ itself carried an air of mystery. It implied someone who traversed the void, someone who held the power to navigate between the different realms with ease. The fact that this person remained elusive and yet seemed to have a presence in various compounds added to his enigmatic allure.
Eager to know more, Davy inquired further, "What specific information do you have about him?"
Karan replied, "As of now, he is in Compound 009. After being seen in Compounds 007 and 004, there have been claims of his presence near the 38th realm. This information is just two weeks old."
The details provided by Karan were valuable. If the Voidwalker posed a potential threat, we needed to stay vigilant in case we crossed paths with him. The fact that he moved freely between different compounds indicated a level of power and influence that was uncommon among venturers.
"Thank you for sharing the information. In return, what do you want to know?" I inquired, wanting to fulfil the exchange.
Rahul, Karan’s friend, spoke up: "We are seeking information about the last realm at the bottom of Limbo and its location."
The subject of the final realm at the bottom of Limbo was a topic shrouded in mystery for Venturers. Only paladins who had successfully reached the bottom knew the answer, but they guarded that knowledge as if bound by an unbreakable oath. It was an enigma we could only solve once we ourselves reached the bottom.
"I’m sorry, but..." Davy began to reply, but the old man sitting at the bar raised his hand, halting Davy’s response.
"If you’re referring to places beyond the passage, there are five more realms below this one," the old man stated in a hoarse voice.
We were taken aback, our eyes wide with surprise at the unexpected revelation. "How do you know that?" Karan asked, clearly sceptical.
"In the ancient tales of our extinct race, it is said that when this realm was born, the creators moulded the first generation of our people and granted them intelligence. They implied that this realm was one of the 49, and our responsibility was to protect it from invaders until outsiders arrived," the old man explained.
The creators he referred to were likely the overseers, possibly including Nelchael. And the "outsiders" mentioned in the ancient tales were probably the Venturers. Since Venturers often passed by this tavern, the old man must have overheard us referring to this realm as the 44th, leading him to speculate that there were five more realms beyond this one.
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"If this is true, then we are indeed close to the bottom. The realms beyond this one will undoubtedly be the most treacherous," I deduced.
As we continued our conversation and shared information for a few more minutes, the topic shifted to the activities of the void order.
"The void order’s silence over the past two years is intriguing. If the Voidwalker is truly associated with them, it might explain their silence. But if he isn’t, then something ominous may be on the horizon. Karan’s words came to an abrupt halt, and he froze, as if sensing something dangerous.
Suddenly, an overwhelming tension gripped the air, and our eyes were drawn to two ominous red dots peering at us through the window. Gradually, the red dots ascended, revealing a sinister black mass surrounding them. An aura of malevolence permeated the surroundings.
"Speak of the Devil! Voidlings!" Cliff exclaimed, recognising the dark entities.
The voidlings began to creep out of the window, moving towards the door as if sensing our presence. In response, I swiftly unsheathed my daggers, determined to protect the old man at the bar and preserve the tavern from the invaders.
Davy, Cliff, and the two Venturers accompanying us acted promptly, joining me at the door. As we stepped outside, shock overcame me at the sight before us.
There were numerous voidlings scattered everywhere, crawling like malevolent insects, their eerie red eyes watching us closely.
"Run!" Karan and Rahul yelled in unison, their swift reflexes allowing them to evade the creatures, and they dashed back towards the previous statue.
Davy, Cliff, and I stood our ground, captivated, as the twelve voidlings with their twenty-four piercing red eyes came closer to each other. In a bewildering display, they began to merge together, their amorphous black forms intertwining and fusing into a single entity.
Upon the completion of the transformation, a shadowy figure emerged, standing about three metres tall. This peculiar being lacked a discernible mouth or eyes, but instead, red dots crawled and wriggled along its inky body. Its elongated arms and legs seemed to stretch like rubber, adorned with menacing spikes.
"It’s a Voidborne," Davy informed us, revealing the evolved form that voidlings undergo when they believe they are in mortal danger. This evolution is driven by their survival instincts.
A sense of resolve overtook me as I prepared to face the creature, followed by a smirk on my lips that said, "It’s weak."
**
"Kei, thank you. Your powers saved us once again," Cliff said, his voice laden with relief as the battle drew to a close.
Examining Cliff and Davy, I noticed their torn and bloodied clothes, evidence of the intense struggle they had endured. Meanwhile, I bore only minor bruises, my peculiar abilities seeming to shield me from the worst of the onslaught.
My gaze shifted to the lifeless form of the Voidborne, which now appeared ethereal and mysterious, its once dark hue now translucent, and its eyes turning an eerie white. Slowly, it began to disintegrate before us.
"If it weren’t for your enigmatic powers, we might not have made it through this encounter. Thank you, Kei," Davy expressed his gratitude, acknowledging the enigma that surrounded my abilities.
Despite our victory, a sense of foreboding lingered. "There are more," I stated, my instincts alerting me to an impending danger. A deafening noise suddenly echoed through the area, emanating from a specific direction.
"Let’s go," I declared, my voice firm and determined.
*
Davy and Cliff hurriedly followed me as I raced towards the origin of the deafening noise, which led us to the towering statue above the one we were on. Cliff attempted to weave a wooden path to bridge the gap, but the wood collapsed just as we set foot on the stone of the statue.
Finally arriving at the source of the disturbance, my eyes widened in shock.
A blackish mass was scattered all around the area, slowly disintegrating, giving the impression of a receding black wave that had engulfed the place.
"These are the remains of the voidlings. Someone else is here!" I exclaimed, urging us to delve deeper into the area.
Soon, we spotted three imposing figures covered in red dots.
"Three Voidborne! Davy, we should retreat. We can’t hinder Kei while he handles them!" Cliff’s voice shook with fear and despair.
But just as I was preparing to confront the monsters, I abruptly froze.
The figures did not react to our arrival; their red dots were not shifting, and the black flesh covering them was motionless. They resembled statues. Suddenly, the figures shattered as if they were made of glass, the tiny black shards scattering in all directions.
As I gasped in surprise, the sound of footsteps echoed from every direction, as if the person were omnipresent. At that moment, a figure emerged from the shadows, and my heart skipped a beat—the features were unmistakably familiar. He wielded an icy weapon adorned with chains and a scythe at its end.
"It’s been a long time, old friend," he said with a knowing smile.