WALLACE GARRET

After the intense battle in Compound 001 came to an end, a pitch-black orb emerged from the remains of Zlamaos, the keeper of time. The orb occasionally flashed with white light, its mysterious energy palpable in the air.

This precious orb resembled the essence I had acquired after Cyanthos’s demise, which I later used to craft my current weapon, Glacireave. It was a rare and invaluable reward, as the strength of a Voidkeeper far surpassed that of a Voidshade. Crafting a mystical item or relic with this essence could exponentially increase my power.

As I gazed at the orb, filled with excitement and gratitude, Kabir Khurana, the First Herald, approached me with a smile. "You fought well, Wallace. I must admit, you exceeded my expectations. This orb is yours as a token of appreciation for your valiant efforts."

"Thank you, Kabir. I shall treasure it," I replied, carefully placing the essence into a small container in my pocket. It was a momentous occasion for me, and I wanted to ensure its safety.

"You know, you should take some rest. It has only been a few minutes since the battle ended," Kabir urged, concern evident in his voice and expression. "You have some wounds, and even though your Eternal Zen state is healing you, you shouldn’t push yourself too much."

"I appreciate your concern, Kabir, but I still have some strength left. The battles in other compounds may not be over yet, and I feel the need to lend a helping hand if any of our fellow Heralds are in danger," I explained, feeling the weight of responsibility on my shoulders.

Kabir nodded, understanding the urgency of the situation. "You have a point. Your ability to enter other compounds makes you uniquely suited for this task. Just promise me you’ll be careful."

"I promise," I affirmed with determination, knowing that every moment counted.

Without wasting any more time, I tapped into the first phase of sol-weaving, activating my power to traverse the void and enter another compound. In a flash, I disappeared from Compound 001 and arrived at its edge.

As I landed on the shimmering black grass beneath the cosmic sky, I saw the familiar figure of the old man—the caretaker of compound 001. His weathered face held a mix of worry and relief upon seeing me.

"I have lost connection with the caretakers of Compounds 004 and 007!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with a sense of urgency.

My heart sank at the news. "Does that mean...?"

"The 4th and 7th fragments have most likely been taken away!" he confirmed, leaving us both in a state of despair and hopelessness.

Despite the dire situation, a glimmer of hope surged within me. "Maybe there is still a chance! I can check them out for you and offer my assistance."

Before the old caretaker could caution me about the dangers that awaited, I had already vanished into thin air, determined to help my fellow Heralds and safeguard the precious fragments from the encroaching darkness.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

*

In an instant, I materialised on the edge of Compound 004, but as my feet touched the ground, the entire area trembled violently, as though an earthquake had been unleashed.

Cracks spider-webbed across the illusory glass wall on my left, reflecting broken scenes from the vast Limbo. The black grass beneath me seemed to ignite with an eerie white flame, and the menacing black dragons hovering above screeched in agony, disintegrating into oblivion. The very fabric of the place was collapsing, engulfed in what felt like an apocalypse.

An ominous wave of fear surged through me as I peered through the illusory cracks in the glass, catching glimpses of the unfolding chaos within Limbo. I could see the entire battlefield, and the lifeless body of the Fourth Herald lay sprawled on the ground.

The once solid ground split open, and the entire battlefield crumbled before my eyes. The fragment had indeed been taken away—Compound 004 was succumbing to destruction.

Midst the turmoil, the caretaker emerged before me, her form disintegrating and her presence ethereal. It was clear that she had suffered the same fate as the compound.

"We have lost..." Her fading voice uttered those sombre words, and in the blink of an eye, she vanished into thin air, leaving behind only a sense of loss and defeat.

*

Without a moment’s hesitation, though my body ached all over, I mustered the strength to tap into my powers once again, escaping the desolate scene of Compound 004 and arriving at the edge of Compound 007 in a flash.

As the space ripple dissipated, the same dreadful sense of despair washed over me. The sight before me mirrored what I had witnessed previously—crumbling debris and a dying compound. Yet there was a glimmer of hope as the caretaker appeared, his form slowly disintegrating but still relatively intact.

"There is still time!" He exclaimed, pointing towards the cracked screen.

My eyes caught the devastating scene—another crumbling battlefield and the lifeless body of the Seventh Herald. But alongside the corpse, a woman with pale-yellow skin and numerous wounds struggled for breath. In her hand, she clutched a radiant purple shard, seemingly containing an entire galaxy of Sol.

She appeared to be a Voidshade on the verge of collapse, barely clinging to victory as she sought to escape with the fragment.

Joy surged within me, and without hesitation, I vanished from sight, desperate to seize the last glimmer of hope. In an instant, I reappeared far away from the fragment’s location, not wanting to draw her attention as I aimed to deliver a swift and decisive blow while she was weakened.

Calling upon my blessing, "Nelchael’s Eyes," I conjured an illusory ocean, its waves violent and tumultuous, mirroring the chaotic state of the sol’s ecosystem. Midst the surging waves, I detected a small fluctuation taking the shape of illusory threads.

Realisation washed over me, confirming the validity of my choice. She was using these invisible threads to shield herself from surprise attacks, but my blessing granted me the ability to perceive and navigate them.

Seizing the opportune moment, a ripple formed in the air behind her, and before she could react, an icy scythe emerged from the disturbance, severing her head from her body. I stood there, witnessing her severed head with worms crawling over it—a chilling sight.

From the decapitated head, a fading voice lashed out, but I paid it no heed, turning my attention to the completed portal and the precious fragment lying on the ground.

"You coward! I won’t let you take the fragment!" The severed head exploded after letting out a final voice, a desperate attempt to take me down with it.

As the blinding light from the explosion enveloped me, I had no choice but to warp a short distance away for safety. When the chaos subsided, I rushed towards the fragment, only to find it being drawn towards a small portal, no larger than a window.

Desperation took hold, and I cried out, "No!" My attempts to grab the purple shard were in vain as the portal vanished, taking the fragment with it. My heart sank, and the realisation of my failure engulfed me. Compound 007’s hope had been snuffed out, and I stood there, defeated, amid the ruins of the battle.