Amid the boundless sea, bubbles begin to form on the surface. All at once, an enigmatic figure emerges from the fathomless depths, ascending slowly and hovering above the water's expanse. A veil of mist emanates from its form until the very beads of water upon it vanish.
Cloaked in humble, tattered garb that shrouds it from the neck below, its eyes open gradually, unveiling a hue of ethereal azure, within which arcane symbols swirl, their meaning lost to time, like frosted glass. Its hair, like wisps of ancient ether, sways with an otherworldly grace.
It gazes unto the heavens, discovering the origin of light, which bears no resemblance to the sun from the past. It now dwindles into the abyss, akin to fading dust.
It surveys its surroundings, but all is tranquil until its head suddenly swivels in a distinct direction. It extends an arm and, with a delicate gesture, points towards that destined path.
In an instant, a fracture materializes before it, and the enigmatic figure gradually traverses this rift. The chasm promptly seals, as though it had never been, fully engulfing the figure in its enigmatic embrace.
----
In a particular subterranean haven, deep beneath the earth's surface, which stands as the safest refuge for humanity, two figures emerge at the entrance, preparing to venture outside.
Both are clad in armor fashioned from animal hides, shielding their vital areas. The rest of their bodies remain exposed, marked with scars that trace the contours of well-defined musculature. They bear immense, club-like weapons on their backs, crafted from melded metals.
"Sigh... how is it possible that our supplies are dwindling? Could someone have stolen them?" Anakh, born with the absence of his left ear, remarks to his companion. His deformity is considered among the lesser afflictions. Sun'i, on the other hand, was gifted with just one eye, his right one, and three fingers on each hand.
"I don't know... perhaps there are more who survive, the children I mean," Sun'i responds.
".. maybe....sigh..."
They continue to walk for a while toward the forest, enveloped by an eerie, pitch-black miasma that shrouds it. Their faces are concealed beneath cloth coverings, with only their eyes remaining visible, and they fall into silence.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
It doesn't take long before a low growl penetrates the air. In response, they swiftly ready their weapons in their hands.
A creature suddenly springs into view, its legs coated in a dark, glistening skin. Sharp teeth protrude from its mouthless visage, and it bears no eyes. Its long tail glimmers at the tip, making it easily discernible to them.
The creature leaps towards them, but Anakh strikes it with his weapon, revealing their ability to defend themselves. Undaunted, the creature begins to circle them, utilizing the cover of the surrounding trees as it waits for the opportune moment.
On the other side, Anakh and Sun'i remain as composed as ever, their gaze unwavering in their surroundings. This isn't their first expedition to procure food supplies, and they share a unique understanding of the creatures that dwell here.
A swift, almost imperceptible sound, and the creature leaps from the underbrush. However, they are well-prepared to meet the impact, swiftly forming their weapons before them and bracing themselves.
The creature manages to throw them off balance, poised to leap at them once more. Yet, it suddenly realizes that one of them has vanished.
Sun'i swings his weapon from the creature's side, catching it off guard and hurling the creature away. It fixes its gaze on the man who struck it. Suddenly, the creature dashes toward a tree, crashing into it. Anakh seizes the opportunity, leaping onto its back and wielding his weapon to choke the creature.
For a while, their struggle continues, with the creature repeatedly colliding its body into the nearest tree. Anakh proves resilient, enduring the onslaught. Realizing its efforts are in vain, the creature redirects its attention to the other man.
The creature charges at him, using its four legs to leap in his direction. Sun'i readies his weapon to intercept the oncoming assault. As they collide, his weapon bears the brunt of the creature's teeth, while his body sustains scratches and cuts from the creature's claws.
After a prolonged struggle, the creature gradually loses its strength. It stumbles to the ground, lifeless, with the human emerging as the victor.
Sun'i, marked by cuts and wounds on his body, finally breathes a sigh of relief. Anakh, dismounting from the creature's back, walks over to his companion. Holding his stomach, he eventually reclines upon the creature's back.
"Are you all right...?"
"I think... I've broken a rib..."
"...Fortunately, we've killed it, so we can return now..."
"Yeah, sure... You carry it."
With a grunt from Sun'i's mouth, he agrees. The creature isn't overly large, only about the same size as them, but it takes both of them to defeat it. Sun'i hoists the creature onto his shoulder, leaving his weapon with Anakh.
"Alright... Let's head back... before other beasts catch wind of us."
"Yeah..."
They journey back to their underground home. The entrance to their dwelling is concealed by tree leaves and chunks of metal, hidden from prying eyes. However, as residents of this place, they know precisely where the entrance lies.
The path leading to their home is lengthy and narrow, with numerous twists and turns resembling a labyrinth. After walking for a while, they finally arrive at their destination. It's too grand to be considered a village but it is more than just a group of people.
Despite being deep underground, there are special crystals that have naturally formed, providing a soft illumination in the darkness. While not as bright as fire, these crystals, depending on their size and when grouped together, can shine brightly enough to allow them to see clearly.
Anakh and Sun'i head towards a particular hut constructed from dirt. This hut is specially designed for storing their food supplies. They deposit their hunt inside, knowing that someone will process it later, and then return to their residence.