POV Narrator:
Battle cries and desperate screams surround the glowing Demon portal. The portal’s light brightly illuminates the massacre around it. Tens of mermen warriors float in a desperate formation as the numerous demons relentlessly assault them. Looks of fear and hopelessness are etched on each of the remaining mermen’s faces. “Why has a group of demon’s appeared? There have only ever been one or two demons emerging from a portal, not a group. Is this our fate?” a sorrowful merman pleads from the formation.
A light tremor shakes the water around the mermen, but none of them notices. A minute passes and another merman falls at the front of the formation. The unnoticed tremor morphs into a rhythmic quake. Around the crumbling merman formation, the water’s chaotic movements disorient both the demons and the mermen. Both parties finally take noticing of their surroundings as something emerges from the darkness.
Each quake is worse than the last as the deafening sound causes both groups to recoil. The enormous figure emerging from the darkness rapidly approaches the two warring parties. With one final step and a soul-shaking force following its path of destruction, the Colossus comes to a stop next to the portal. Like a mandate from the heavens, the Colossus’ granite arm slams down between the two groups, separating them.
Before either party could react, the gigantic arm slams into the demons. The blow, without exception, instantly kills all the demons, as it throws them hundred of meters away from the portal. “Good, all the elementals are peacefully separated. You shouldn’t play so rough.” the Colossus’ naïve, but rumbling voice shakes the merman formation from its daze.
From his shoulder, Merrick and the other merman quickly swim down to the other mermen. Their gazes are filled with anger as they survey the battlefield. “Sir, I’m glad we made it in time!” Merrick calls out to the merman Commander. A concerned looking merman covered in gold coral armour observes the approaching scouts and the towering Colossus behind them.
“Care to explain, scouts.” the Commander asks in a tired voice as his vigilantly stares at the passive Colossus. Seeing the Commander’s haggard state, Merrick quickly explains, “Sir, we were assigned to guard the inactive cliff portal, but it suddenly reactivated and a demon emerged from it. We only managed to survive because this benevolent being saved us.”.
A suspicious look surfaces from the Commander as he asks, “Why would it save you?”. “Well, it kind of landed on the demon and accidentally squashed it, but suspect it doesn’t know that it killed the demon...” Merrick elaborates, his voice getting softer with each word. The Commander’s expression turns from suspicious to confused, but before he can ask for Merrick to clarify, the Colossus’ rumbling voice fills the surroundings, “Ah, it looks like the bigger elementals have decided to take a nap rather than continue playing”.
As Merrick hears the Colossus’ ramblings, a nervous laugh escapes his lips as he says, “Commander, the rock creature is a bit strange, and I have no idea why it’s down here, but what I’ve told you isn’t the most shocking part. The creature destroyed the cliff portal and it agreed to help us destroy the others!”.
The Commander’s tired face becomes incredulous before it's slowly replaced with a serious expression, “If that’s true then we might still have a chance.”. “What do you mean?” Merrick asks. “Well, from what I’ve deduced by the sudden activity of the cliff portal and the mass influx of demons from ours, it’s apparent that the demons are invading in full force. I fear that the other portals are in an even worse situation than ours.”.
Panic grips Merrick’s heart as the Commander continues, “Now, the city portal will be fine because we’ve conquered it, but we need to quickly reinforce the other portals. Scout, we don’t have much time. Quickly, go ask the stone monster to close the portal. I’ll trust what you’ve said for now because we are out of time and options.”.
A flame of determination kindles in Merrick’s eyes as he swims toward the colossus enormous face. A complex expression on the Colossus’ face as he observes the approaching merman, “All of these elementals are so small; my head is easily several larger than their whole bodies. I’m beginning to worry that all of my old brothers are gone, but why did they leave me behind? I don’t like being alone; it’s not fun being on my own.”.
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Mere meters away from the Colossus’ intimidating face, Merrick pleads, “Can you please close all the portals, we have no one else to turn to.”. A kind smile surfaces from the Colossus’ complex expression as he says, “Don’t worry small elemental, I’ll destroy the lights. I can’t stand the darkness, but I’ll do it if it makes you happy.”. With the Colossus’ reply, a bit of warmth returns to Merrick’s battered body.
Without wasting a second, the Colossus takes a step towards to portal and gently places his granite hand on its surface. A force seems to be trying to pull his hand through the portal, but the Colossus just frowns and says, “I’m not sure which twisted place this leads to, but something feels wrong with its essence. Well, it doesn’t matter anyway.”. Which a small push, the portal under the Colossus’ hand buckles as it folds in on itself before disappearing.
The mermen soldiers stare in shock at this unprecedented event. A fiery passion ignites in the Commander’s eyes as he stares at the Colossus’ rapidly darkening figure. Without giving the soldiers a moment to process, the Colossus bends down and gently scoops up of all the mermen soldiers, dead or alive, into his hand and places them on his shoulder. “Where is the next portal, I hate being in the darkness for too long?”. On the Colossus’ shoulder, Merrick turns towards the Commander who only returns a confirming nod. “That way.”, Merrick says without hesitation, as the Colossus restarts his destructive march.
In a couple of minutes, they near the next portal, who’s in a similar situation. Without missing a beat, the Colossus ‘gently’ pushes all the demons away as he places more mermen on his shoulder. The Commander quickly explains the situation to the soldiers, but before he could finish, shocked gasps escape the soldiers’ mouths as the Colossus crushes the portal, blanketing the surroundings in darkness.
Hours pass as the Colossus approaches the final remaining portal next to the cliff on the opposite side of the ocean. On his shoulders, hundreds of mermen cling on in a daze as they tend to their wounds and gather the fallen soldiers. This portal’s situation is the same as the others, albeit with fewer remaining mermen.
As the Colossus crushes the final portal, the mermen gather in front of him. In the lead, Merrick approaches him and exclaims, “We’ve done it, we’ve stopped those damned demons and it’s all thanks to you! I don’t know how we can repay you.”. The Colossus’ gaze drifts from the mermen soldiers towards the cliff as he says, “I don’t mind, I’m glad I could help. No one has ever needed my help before, so your thanks are enough; but, It’s time for me to go, I wish you the best tiny elemental.”.
Bewildered looks flash on the mermen soldiers’ faces as the Colossus, standing over a hundred meters tall, waves at them with his granite hands. The shocking events of today will echo throughout the whole merman culture, as they retell the tales of the fierce stone behemoth that crushed all their enemies. Whenever their children feel scared, they’ll always know that their protector is out there.
The Colossus glances one last time at the mermen before turning back to face the cliff. “I’m going to miss those small elementals,” he says as he kicks his foot into the side of the cliff. By breaking holes into the cliffside, he manages to gradually climb towards the surface. “I couldn’t find any of the old water elementals, I guess I am alone. All alone…” a deep sadness weaves itself throughout the Colossus’ white granite body.
As he nears the surface, rays of light pierce the darkness. “I might be alone, but I still have my dream. I’m sad I can’t be together with the others, but I must keep on moving forward. I’ve been given a chance to become what I’ve always dreamed of and I can’t waste it. I’ll chase the light in my heart.”.
With a final pull, he breaks the water surface and is bathed in the warm sunlight. His eyes fill with the green landscape in front of him as he confirms, “This is just the start.”. As he prepares to take his next step, a notification suddenly appears in front of him and a soft sigh escapes his stone lips, “It’s always at the worst moments.”.
Ocean Treader Title granted for being walking through the deepest part of the ocean floor.
Colossal Dream Requirements met... evolving.
Completion time 1000 years.
Without completing his first step on the green continent, the Colossus falls over into a deep sleep. His enormous granite body viciously impacts the ground. Falling face-first into the sand, his body gets partial buried. Only his lower back and legs are left uncovered. The legendary spear of Xikshu, still wedged in the Colossus' foot, pokes prominently out of the ground.