Chapter 65: The Omen of the Ruins
As the manta ray soared through the sky, the tension among the recruits became evident. The golden hues of the setting sun soon gave way to the bruised grays of twilight, and Abel’s heart pounded in his chest. The others shifted uneasily, all aware that the mysteries of the ruins awaited them, but there was still an uncertainty among them. Gravedigger’s voice cut through the silence, stern but measured.
“Before we reach the ruins,” he began, his deep voice resonating through the cool night air, “we need to understand each other’s strengths. If we don’t, none of us are making it out alive. This is no ordinary mission. Now, what are your abilities? I’ll go first. I control bones,” he continued, motioning to the massive femur strapped to his back. “I can manipulate them, shape them, even animate them. You’ll see it in action soon enough.”
He turned to Abel, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You, Stargazer, what can you do?”
Abel hesitated for a moment, still uncertain about how much to reveal. He wasn’t comfortable exposing the full extent of his connection to the stars, not yet. “I’m connected to the stars,” he began, his voice measured. “I can sense their energy, and it helps me navigate… and sometimes, guide me. It’s not fully developed yet, but I’m working on it.”
Gravedigger nodded. “That will be useful. Next.”
Ronald stepped forward, looking at the group before speaking. “I’ve got a water affinity. I can manipulate water—create barriers, and heal minor cuts. I can also sense moisture in the air, which might come in handy when we’re in the ruins.” His voice was calm but serious, reflecting the weight of the mission.
Tina, arms crossed, rolled her eyes slightly but spoke up next. “Earth affinity,” she said, her tone sharp. “I can manipulate stone and soil. I’ve trained for a while to build barriers, and manipulate terrain. I’m not a liability if that’s what you’re worried about.” Her eyes flicked toward Abel as if daring him to question her abilities.
Jane, standing beside Tina, nodded politely before speaking. “Wind affinity,” she said softly. “I can control air currents, create gusts, and even use the wind to fly short distances. I’ll help with mobility if we need it.”
Gravedigger listened, his eyes sharp and attentive. He turned to Gerald, a non-gifted who shifted awkwardly before speaking. “I… I’ve been experimenting,” he began. “I’ve managed to grow a magical fungus inside me. It gives me a kind of regenerative ability and a connection to certain Fungi. It’s… weird, but I’m still figuring out how to use it offensively.”
Abu, the sharp-eyed non-gifted recruit, cleared his throat. “I’ve got the eye of a Dirt Eagle implanted. I can see far distances, and I’ve been learning to communicate with birds. It’s still a work in progress, but it helps with scouting.” He looked around for a bit which allowed everyone to see that one of his eyes glowed in a faint brown color.
Lastly, Luke stepped forward, scratching the back of his neck nervously. “Uh, I consumed a Marsh Parasite. My body can produce dangerous fumes that disorient others, and I can make a cloud of smoke around myself—good for stealth and escaping. It’s… not the most glamorous power, but it’s gotten me out of a few tight spots.”
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Gravedigger nodded, his expression unreadable as he processed the information. “Good. We have a range of abilities here. We’ll need every one of them if we’re going to survive what’s ahead. This expedition isn’t just about strength—it’s about teamwork. Learn to rely on each other, or we won’t make it out alive.”
Before the group could fully digest Gravedigger’s words, the serene night was abruptly interrupted. A thick, supernatural black fog began creeping in from the horizon, rolling over the landscape at an unnatural speed. The stars above disappeared, swallowed by the mist, and the manta ray beneath them began to tremble, its once graceful movements becoming erratic and panicked.
“What’s happening?” Jane asked, her voice barely audible over the strange hum that filled the air.
The manta ray let out a deep, unsettling sound—a resonant hum that vibrated through the air, shaking the entire group. Abel gripped the side of the wooden carriage, his heart racing as the fog twisted around them, creating eerie shadows that seemed to move of their own accord. The smog played tricks on their senses, the shadows taking on grotesque, nightmarish shapes before dissolving into nothing.
“We’re losing altitude!” Ronald’s voice was tight with urgency as the manta ray’s wings faltered.
Gravedigger acted quickly. “Hold on! I’ll stabilize it.” He grabbed the femur from his back and raised it high into the air, summoning his bone magic. With a swift motion, he created a series of skeletal tendrils that wrapped around the manta ray’s body, anchoring it in place and preventing it from shaking to the point of breaking the carriage.
The creature’s shuddering slowed, but the fog continued to distort their senses. Shadows moved and flickered at the edge of their vision, the whispers growing louder—voices that seemed to come from nowhere. Abel could barely focus, the strange hallucinations disorienting him.
“Abel!” Gravedigger barked, his voice cutting through the confusion. “We need you to guide us!”
Abel closed his eyes, shutting out the eerie whispers and the moving shadows. He focused on the faint pull of the stars that he could no longer see. They were still there, beyond the fog, their celestial energy calling to him. Slowly, he let that energy wash over him, guiding his senses. His eyes glowed with a faint blue light, cutting through the fog.
“There,” Abel whispered, his voice steady. “The clearing is that way.”
Gravedigger didn’t question him. He directed the manta ray toward the direction Abel had indicated, using his bone constructs to keep the creature stable as it glided through the mist. Gradually, the hallucinations faded, and the oppressive fog began to thin.
They escaped the fog, and the manta ray seemed to calm as Gravedigger retracted his bone structure, turning it back into the femur and placing it on his back.
As the ruins came into view, Tina shot Abel a glance, her expression conflicted. She hated relying on him, hated that she had to depend on a non-gifted recruit for their survival. But she couldn’t deny the truth—without Abel, they would have been lost in the fog.
The ruins loomed ahead, dark and foreboding, their ancient stone walls covered in thick, twisted vines that pulsed with a strange energy. The fog clung to the ruins, casting long, eerie shadows across the landscape.
“We’ve made it,” Gravedigger said, his voice heavy with the weight of what lay ahead. “But this is only the beginning.”
As the manta ray touched down near the base of the ruins, the group disembarked, each recruit silently preparing for the trials that awaited them. Abel’s connection to the stars had saved them, but the tension between the gifted and non-gifted was far from resolved. And deep down, Abel knew that this was just the first of many challenges they would face in the ruins of the Malancia Nomads.