________________________________________________________________________________________
!ERROR! REPAIR NEEDED. LV2 DEVICE REQUIRED.
Skill List:
Kanji (lv0): Aspect of Energy: Electricity, Thermal.
{Skill points: !ERROR!}
[Full destructive power limit: Village]
Skills: [1. Infuse/Absorb] [2. Energy travel] [3. Energy trail] [4. Energy bolt] [5. Energy wave] [6. Energy blade] [7. Energy shield] [8. Energy dual conduit] [9. Energy healing] [10. Umbral Cape]
Inventory: Geographic sphere, mechanical soap, spyware device, tungsten-infused nanotech silver chain, tech tablet (Portal) (Hide, Input, Output, Convert, Compress), night vision goggles.
Claire (lv0): Aspect of Creation
Skills: [1. Create (Slots: 5)]
Inventory: Black cloak, crossbow, crossbow bolt (modified with rotatenium), ammo pouch, Fanfics, mechanical soap, a spyglass.
David (lv0): Aspect of Form
{Skill points: !ERROR!}
[Range limit: Self]
Skills: [1. Expand (x2)] [2. Spikefacation] [3. Delay (1-10s)] [4. Shieldfacation] [5. Trigger] [6. Transform pattern Wave] [7. Net Transform] [8. Whip transform] [9. Blend around] [10. Uno]
Inventory: Iron bat, AK-47, mechanical soap.
Amelia (lv0): Aspect of Reality
{Skill points: !ERROR!}
[Attack type: illusion] [Attack range: x3 field of view]
Skills: [1. Third-person vision] [2. Blurring Mirage] [3. Double] [4. Connect] [5. Vision Swap] [6. Disguise] [7. Flash Mirage] [8. False movement] [9. False Touch] [Mentaltomisis]
Inventory: Frying Pan, knife, mechanical soap.
Sarah (lv0): Aspect of Fiction
[Skill access: 1 skill for each item] [Conjured item 1]
Inventory: Mechanical soap, Nezha’s leopard bag (Nezha’s ring).
Noah (lv0): Aspect of Emotion
Skills: [Emotion infusion] (Emotional requirement: High)
Inventory: Gilded axe, mechanical soap, a sharpening stone.
Diana (lv0): Aspect of Law
{Laws unlocked: Law of Friction} {Limit: Only manipulate small values}
Inventory: Mechanical soap, a pickaxe.
Adrian (lv0): Aspect of Knowledge.
{Connected Minds} {Info Extraction} [Limit: half of basic info}]
Inventory: Mechanical soap. rope.
Azan (lv0): Aspect of Change.
{Limitation: 1. Follow under the concept “change” only. 2. Changes under other aspects require hand-holding.}
Change slot: 1
Inventory: Metal suitcase, mechanical soap
Mina (lv0): Aspect of Time
{Limitations: 4 skills (Currently).}
Skills (!ERROR!) (Auto Input Activated): |1. Aging| |2. Time Exchange|
Inventory: A machete, mechanical soap.
Gwen (lv0): Aspect of Destruction
{Limitation: Gas only}
Inventory: Mechanical soap, Izzybot, ???.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Hours had turned to eternity since Karnat issued the edict to scour Earth.
Sadly, Fortune played coy with the General.
KARNAT "FUCK! FUCK!!! WHERE THE FUCK ARE THEY?!"
|Incoming Transmission|
Karnat's gaze pierces the warning signal, a shudder coursing through his right hand as he dares to answer the call.
"Good morning, General Karlac."
KARNAT "Good morning, your majesty. It's a pleasure to hear your glorious voice."
"Humph. Enough with the flattery. Tell me some results. How are our "targets" doing?"
KARNAT "Presently, they are... undetectable. I believe they learned of the method for how we tracked their location. I'm sorry for this terrible news, your highness."
"That's unfortunate. But don't fret, you have plenty of chances to make up for your mistakes once you find them. That's all. Good Luck... Oh, I suggest you tinker around with Quantum Coordinates. It might help with your search."
|Transmission ends|
KARNAT "Whew! She seems happy. I don't know why. Maybe it was something I did... Nah! Who cares?! Let's focus!"
His hands dance over myriad holographic displays, flitting between tabs before landing on a chaotic one.
KARNAT "Ha, here it is! Searching statistics. Hmmm... We searched about 98 percent of Earth's terrain. Still no sign." "Are they in a different dimension? No, there's no way. SHIT! Maybe I do have to fuck around with Quantum Coordinates. That's mean... fuck. I have to call HER."
With a resigned ~sigh~, the General's choice is clear.
A flick of his wrist summons a panel to his left, revealing the transmission hub. A litany of connections, each bearing the general's mark, unfolds before him.
________________________________________________________________________________________
|Transmission forwarding|:
1. KJ (SG1)
2. XC (SG2)
3. AC (SG3)
4....
5....
....
________________________________________________________________________________________
Eyes shielded, Karnat winces, his hand deliberately inching towards the third choice.
|Transmission occurring..... Success|
KARNAT "Here we go. Hi, Cogarath Amaraz."
AMARAZ "Yo, K.K! WOW! You actually contacted me! Anyway, how has it been?! Oh! You should have seen what I saw today! Something fell out of the sky like "WOOOOSH!" and then-
KARNAT "STOP! NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR YOUR RIDICULOUS RAMBLINGS!"
AMARAZ "There's the cranky grumpy boy I know! Anyway, what do you want? Help with machines? Robots? Weapons?! A GIANT WORLD-ENDING GADGET!"
KARNAT "No, not something that extreme. I need help using Quantum Coordinates to find a couple of humans."
AMARAZ "Quantum Coordinates. BOOOOORRRRRINNGG! But, I will do anything to help my hive mate! Meet me by our Hive Mound around 6 pm tomorrow. BYE YAA!!"
With a swift motion, Karnat cuts the transmission.
KARNAT "Thank god! That's over! Talking to her is a pain. What do I do now?... hah. I guess I'll just wait and hope those wielders don't become stronger."
________________________________________________________________________________________
Upon the shores near Stockholm, eleven forms lie still, scattered like forgotten shells on the sand.
With the dawn's debut, they stir, waking from their icy dreams.
The chill bites deep.
Among them, a solitary figure stands out, a cloud of discontent hanging over him.
Dave "Well, shit! How am I gonna get my drone now?!"
Gwen approaches her perturbed companion, clutching a peculiar, tablet-like object. With measured grace, she raises it, her shoulders easing back.
The screen comes alive, a veritable maelstrom of fragmented data swirling before Dave's eyes.
Dave "Yo, what the fuck is this shit?! Some NASA quantum mind-breaking Giga device 5000?!"
Gwen "Actually, it's a Project Tracking Apparatus. Or P.T.A for short. I keep it to remember all the projects I started and their progression. But you don't need to know that. Dave, please look here."
With a slender finger, Gwen guides his gaze to the screen's upper left quadrant.
Dave narrows his eyes, trying to decipher the miniature script.
|Delivery Location changed... Transferring to the correct Location. Estimated time: 48 hours 16 mins 56 seconds|
Dave "So like two days. That's good to hear, bro."
Amelia "Dave! I was honestly worried! You didn't say any "bro", "dude", or "man" like at all. But thank god! I'm bloody glad that you haven't changed."
She leans in, leaving a fleeting kiss on his cheek.
Gwen surveys the scene.... a strange fire igniting within her. It's a distasteful, repugnant sensation.
Without a word, she turns her back on it all.
Gwen "Lucky."
The trio ambles forward, aligning with the rest of the group... Their countenances oddly draw toward the sea's vast expanse.
Gwen "You guys admiring the view. Or is there something of interest that catches your eye?"
Kanji's arm extends, his finger tracing the island's silhouette in the distance.
Gwen "Those islands, huh? Wait... now that I think about it. This place feels... familiar."
Adrian "Oh, maybe you've been before."
Gwen "Adrian... you might be correct. Let me try to recollect my memories... well... ah... I was a kid... perhaps five years of age. I remember now!"
A sudden movement draws their attention, as Gwen bolts towards an adjacent tree.
Gwen "Yes, this was... one of the precious times where I actually felt like a normal kid. Playing on the sand and splashing in the water with my parents. I can't believe I forgot about this!"
Their eyes follow her view.
Claire "Awww, did you carve this?! This carving is so sweet!"
Gwen "Yes, as you can tell the middle little girl holding the flower is me. On the side are my parents. I vaguely remember them telling me that they once wished to be explorers during their youth. A funny dream really but one I wish they pursued."
The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Mina "Really, now! Er... I mean... what a good wish!"
Dave "Yo, I think they got fucked over by Capitalism. Dude, that shit can make you stuck."
Kanji "Ok, settle down. Did you find any strange gems during that time?"
Gwen "It's a bit foggy... all I know is the fact that this place is near Stockholm. But why would you need that since we're planning to search the sands for it either way."
Kanji "Yeah..... about that... Baltic Coast includes ALL the shores that are connected to the Baltic Seas. Meaning we have to scour through kilometers worth of sand!"
Gwen "Ah... that was quite short-sighted of me. I'm sorry."
Mina "Cheer up, Gwen! Everyone makes mistakes!"
Gwen "Thanks for the encouragement, Mina. There's no use in crying over spilled milk. I'll start digging through my memories. Perhaps there might be a clue after all."
Mina "Cool! That's the spirit! The rest of us will search everything nearby in the meantime!"
Kanji "Agreed. Everyone spread out and begin the gem hunt!"
Scattering like leaves in the wind, they each embark in various directions. The hunt is on!
Gwen "Off, they go..."
Gazing out to sea, those islands trigger something in her. A memory? A figure, familiar yet blurred — was it her, or her parents? They had tossed something into the sea. A glinting, golden object.
The remnants of her memory crystallize into a singular image — the yellow brightness drifting towards a particular island.
She espies a massive stone slab and perches atop it.
Suddenly, a revelation strikes.
Gwen "That's it! It's over there!"
With a gentle touch, the Aspect of Destruction retrieves Izzybot from her inventory. The small machine unfurls four root-like straps, latching onto her waist and shoulders, transforming into a backpack.
Izzybot affectionately nudges its screen against her cheek.
|I Miss You Nya|
Gwen "I miss you, too. Before we do anything, be careful! Every time I move my arms, purple sparks pop out of my shoulders. Can you avoid those at all costs?"
|Aye. Aye. Avoid Purple Stuff Command Added Nya|
Gwen Good. Now, can you wave to the others?"
|I Understand Nya! Commencing Wavy Hands.|
Dave's eyes are the first to pick up on Izzybot's tender motion.
Dave "Da fuck?! Guys! I think Gwen got something!"
They converge on Gwen's position, following the line of her extended arm toward an island.
Kanji "Is that our clue? That island furthest from here."
With a firm nod, Gwen confirms their new target.
Kanji retrieves a raft from his subspace and one by one, they step aboard.
They commence paddling, their strength having no sign of slowing down.
Dave "Arr me mateys. We seek the gem of yellow out on ye island."
Diana "We're not pirates! You shithead! We're sailors!"
Dave "Sailors, laaame! Me captain would agree"
Kanji "Knock it off, you two! Jesus, I feel like I'm dealing with children."
Dave "Woah! That's a bit harsh, dude. We were just playing around. No Kap."
Noah "Can you guys like... focus on paddling?" "My god! The waves are scary!"
Sarah "Yeah. And is it me or are the waves getting stronger?!"
An impact jolts the raft.
Azan "Yeah! No shit! Kanji, what do we do?!"
Kanji "Everyone remain calm! We're almost there! Just follow my lead!"
He veers left, and like a team of experts, they all match his rhythm.
They quickly skirt around a cluster of menacing rocks.
Kanji's commanding grip guides the raft to the right, and everyone adapts, paddling in unison.
They narrowly evade a towering wave.
Now, a calmness reigns, the water is placid and the air is warm. The sea is crystal clear... too clear.
It's as though their vision betrays them, and the reality beneath the water's surface is a mere illusion.
Dave "Yo, this is so trippy man. What the fuck am I looking at?!"
Kanji "Don't worry, this is most likely caused by the strange way light is displayed in this area. Let's keep moving. Remember the goal in mind."
With a final collective effort, they touch the shore. As they prepare to disembark, each of them vigilant of the surroundings, something feels amiss.
The moment their feet make contact with the sand, an unsettling sensation seizes them.
In unison, they spring back onto the safety of the raft.
Amelia "What the bloody hell was that?! The sand!"
Kanji "Everyone relax! We need to think through it carefully. Let's test something first."
Kanji extends his hand, pressing down on the sand. It indents unnaturally like the surface of a trampoline yielding to pressure.
Yet amidst this oddity, he discerns something even more peculiar.
Kanji "The sand appears to have the same property as that rubber. But something else caught my attention, my action didn't emit any sound at all. This entire shore goes against logic! This is good! We took a chance and struck gold."
Diana "So, what do we do now, boss? Now that we know the crystal is nearby."
Kanji "I suggest someone volunteer and test if it's safe to traverse. I think I should take-
Azan "No, I will do it! You're our leader. It's better to let someone else take responsibility."
Mina "I'll go as well to help you."
Kanji "Ok, I guess it's decided then. Careful, you two."
The pair of wielders step onto the deceptive surface, wobbling dangerously.
However, they find stability, clutching onto each other's shoulders, their unity creating a stronger balance.
Azan "Hey, I got an idea. Do you trust me?"
Mina "Of course, I trust you Azzy!"
Azan "Ok, copy what I'm doing."
Azan flexes his knees, a motion mirrored by Mina. The idea ignites in her eyes!
In perfect synchrony, they catapult into the air, their landing a testament to their flawless teamwork.
Armed with this newfound strategy, they bounce across the shore, hunting for the origin of the anomaly.
One more leap.
Oh no.
Mina's grip on Azan's hand tightens.
Mina "Azzy, what's happened?!"
Azan "I think I found the source. Damn it, why does this spot stretch deeper? Wait, what is that-
In an abrupt upheaval, Azan and Mina are hurtled skywards.
Mina clings to him, as his mind churns in search of a solution.
Nearing the earth, Azan's sharp gaze catches a small protrusion from the sand.
Seizing the opportunity, he reaches out to seize it.
Success?
Freed from the sandy embrace, the object restores the shore to its natural state.
Mina touches down first, her landing marked by a handful of minor injuries.
Azan, however, isn't as fortunate.
The bone-jarring impact reverberates in his ears, his hand a tableau of torn flesh and exposed knucklebones.
His agony echoes through the air, a guttural scream.
The others, alerted by his cries, hasten to his side.
Gwen springs into action, examining his wounded arm with the precision of a surgeon. Mina watches on, a knot of anxiety tightening within her.
Mina "He's going to be alright! Right?!"
Gwen "No, this doesn't look good. His arm is completely broken and all the genetically modified cells are destroyed due to the strain of falling from such a great height. Darn! I wish I did more testing on that end!"
Mina "Can you fix it?!"
Gwen " Of course, I can. Izzybot if you please."
Izzybot morphs, sprouting a pair of needle-like branches. Without hesitation, it plunges these new extensions into Azan's injured arm.
Mina "Hey! What is she doing?!"
Gwen "Now. Now. She's injecting some anesthetic to reduce the pain... and some of her cells."
Kanji "How would that help?"
Gwen "Glad, you asked that. You see Izzybot has full control over every single cell in her body and even the ones completely detached from her. All possessing biological data of her mind, thoughts, and memories. What's more, is the complex amount of control she has over them. They are like microbes but as smart as an advanced AI."
Mina "All of that is enlightening. But is he going to be ok?!"
Gwen "Yes, he'll recover. Unfortunately, he has to sit out for a while. I suggest putting him inside Kanji's subspace."
Kanji summons a portal, aiding in moving Azan through the dimensional gateway. Once they've ensured his safety, they reemerge into the open air.
Kanji "Now, about this gem."
He presents the object for all to see, a word mysteriously etched upon it.
Kanji "Anyone has any idea what language this is?"
Adrian "Me! ME! I know what this is! It's Latin! The word spells "Summon"."
Kanji "Summon, huh."
The gem pulses with light, levitating above their reach.
From within its glowing core, cracks begin to form. But there's something else...
Twin orbs— one a smoky grey, the other sun-kissed yellow— orbit harmoniously within the gem's heart.
It breaks.
"CNOHEHUSOKOHEONFOSIA."
A cacophony envelops the group, the sound warped and unintelligible, defying human comprehension.
Dave "Dude, the fuck was that spooky shit?!"
Kanji "We have triggered an unknown event. Our first course of action would be to decipher those cryptic words."
Sarah "Right, as if any of us know what that means! Heck, I'm the eldritch girl and I don't know what the fuck it said!"
Amelia casts around, her confusion is apparent amidst the unfolding events. Spotting this, Diana navigates her way through the group to join her.
Diana "What's wrong, Amelia?"
Amelia "I don't get it. What distorted words?"
Kanji "Huh? Didn't you hear it?"
Amelia "No, not at all really, just one very loud and clear voice. I believe it said "Arise two souls. Three islands north. A cave shall come forth." if I remember for the life of me."
Gwen "That's it! Maybe the sounds had a form of memetic effect causing anyone who hears them to not understand their meaning. Amelia, you weren't affected because of your new ability."
Amelia "Wow! Gosh! That's lucky ain't it? I guess we now know where to go."
Kanji "It said "Three islands north" which is straightforward meaning the distance is about three islands long north from here. "A cave shall come forth" might mean the place is a cave that rose out of the sea. As for two souls, one can only guess what that means. My theory is that they are the guardians of the anomaly crystal. Am I right, AN?"
AN "Ah what... oh sorry! I was a bit distracted. Checking up on our update on the whole Ascender ordeal. Things have gotten pretty rough on our end. But, you don't need to worry about that. And about your question, I have no idea since no wielder in history attempted to find an anomaly crystal."
Mina "Wait, pause for a second! Can't AN use the healing effect on Azzy?"
Kanji "I believe that would be a waste since he is already in the process of healing. I also don't think using it will speed up his recovery."
Mina "Oh. Well, I'll just wait and hope he gets better."
Kanji "Ok, since AN has no info, we will go with my assumption that we're dealing with two enemies. So before moving forward, I recommend that Gwen you stay outside on the raft when we get there. We'll signal you if the situation becomes dire."
Gwen "Ummm.... fine. I can see why that would logical."
Kanji "Great! I'm happy you understood. Now, we shall move onward. North!"
Hoisting the raft, they traverse to the island's opposite side. The moment the inflatable touches the sea, they clamber aboard, paddles slicing through the water, their course set northward.
The waves are eerily quiet, a dense fog shrouding their path. Undeterred, they press on.
Gradually, their watch locks onto a trio of black rocks, their angular forms jutting ominously from the water's surface.
Kanji "That must be it! Everybody prepare your weapons."
Having arrived, Kanji studies the exterior. Curiously, the material resembles obsidian, but with a sleeker and darker black hue.
Kanji "Interesting, but let's do more inspecting later. Focus on this cave here."
A door bars their entry, its outline daubed in red paint and adorned with incomprehensible texts that seem to defy logic.
Kanji "Shit. Amelia, can you read this?"
Amelia "Yes, I can. You know what I think this will be much better."
Amelia uses |4. Connect|
Dave "Wow, that's so good lol! Dude, why didn't we do that in the first place?"
Kanji "Yeah, we just overlooked that ability. So... before we proceed. Adrian have you linked your mind with everyone."
Adrian "Yes, Kanji. I'm guessing you want a way to contact Gwen."
Kanji "Correct. We won't know what will occur in this place."
Gwen "Ok, that's fair. I'll just guard the entrance then."
Izzybot creates a rope and Gwen skillfully secures a section of the raft to the cave entrance, stabilizing it.
The rest of the group glances back at the enigmatic words, previously incomprehensible but now legible.
Kanji " "May the hand of the holder grant this sanctuary reformation." I think "holder" means "wielder. Maybe if I-
His hand makes contact with the door and the cryptic words fade away. A sudden gust of wind propels the door open, granting them passage.
Claire "Woohoo! You did, Kaney!"
Diana "That's our boss for you!"
Kanji "Guys, it was simple really. Now, we need not waste more time. Let's travel further."
Further, along the diagonal pathway, a wall obstructs their progress. On closer examination, it becomes clear that tiny pebbles have been meticulously arranged to form an upward-pointing pentagon shape.
On each side of the Pentagon, one of the five vowels "a, e, i, o, u" is positioned, following a clockwise arrangement.
Sarah "Guys... you might want to look at this."
Casting their attention towards the ground, they discover a similar pentagon shape etched into the floor. Resting atop the top point of the shape is a metallic ball.
Sarah attempts to dislodge it but to no avail.
The ball remains firmly in place.
Sarah "Alright, there goes my idea. Anyone else cares to try?"
Diana "I'll have a go."
A pair of colossal hands descends, tightly grasping the spherical object. With every tug and pull, they strain against its resistance. However, success is out of reach.
Diana "Shit, is it super glued?"
Kanji "No, I think there's another force that's driving its motionless state. The only clue we have is the wall. Seeing it has something to do with vowels. We can assume that this puzzle involves sound. Everyone stand back. I'm going to test something."
Drawing closer to the object, he utters a brief and simple "a."
The ball rolls to the right, shifting its position.
Amelia "Nice! That was bloody easy."
Kanji "In terms of moving the thing, yes. However, solving this may take more than that. I believe the puzzle wants us to move it in a certain pattern. So, I shall begin test number two."
Once more, he vocalizes four letters consecutively: "e," followed by "I," then "o," and finally "u."
Following his command, the sphere completes a full rotation.
All eyes remain fixated on the wall, eagerly awaiting a response. However, nothing happens...
Kanji "Shit. Perhaps in reverse."
Kanji forcefully utters five additional vowels, one after another.
The sphere reverses its motion, returning counter-clockwise to its initial position. Despite Kanji's efforts, nothing changes.
Filled with frustration, Kanji slams his fist into the ground, causing cracks to form. The Aspect of Knowledge approaches him with concern.
Adrian "I have.... a .... suggestion. Sorry, is this a bad time?"
Kanji "Nah, go on. I'm just expressing my frustration."
Adrian "Alright, maybe we are looking at this all wrong."
Advancing towards the ball, Adrian bends down, uttering the word "aeiou."
The ball pops out.
Noah "Now, what?" "Good job Adrian!"
Adrian "I'm not really sure. I think we suppose to move it manually now."
Adrian carefully returns the ball to its original position, then starts rolling it clockwise along the carved shape.
An odd ticking sound echoes through the air.
Without any forewarning, the ground beneath them fractures open, plunging them into a vast and impenetrable void of darkness.
...
Kanji "Is everyone alright?"
In the midst of the enveloping darkness, something casts a luminous glow, revealing their surroundings.
Dave "Yo, what is that?!"
Claire "Oh. Sorry. Was that too bright?"
In Claire's hand, she holds an exceedingly bright lantern.
She promptly dims it down to a more manageable level.
As they survey their surroundings, they realize the gravity of the situation. The group stands upon a narrow vertical cliff, with nothing surrounding it but an abyss of unfathomable depth.
Diana "Guys, look over there!"
As they shift their gaze in that direction, their eyes land upon an object protruding from the wall. Resembling a glass basketball hoop, it juts out, inviting them to inch closer to the edge.
Kanji "Are we supposed to throw something over there?"
Adrian "Hey, check these out!"
Moving closer to The Aspect of Knowledge, their attention is drawn to the ground.
Lying there are five grey rubber balls.
Kanji "I'm guessing these are what we're working with. Which may mean we have only five chances."
Dave "Sweet no problem! I used to ace and slam dunk basketballs when I was a kid, dude. I'll g-
Kanji "Stop! It might be a trick! Consider the previous puzzle. We can assume that these balls also have a special effect."
He reaches out and retrieves one of the grey rubber balls, then releases it with a gentle toss, allowing it to drop just above the ground.
The ball swiftly zooms upward, colliding with the ceiling, before descending.
Thankfully, Dave reacts swiftly, intercepting the ball and preventing it from plummeting into the abyss.
Dave "Yo, that was close! Man, what do we do now?!"
Kanji "I guess we have to try our luck. Measuring from here to there, I said that you need to perform a flawlessly across-the-field swish."
Dave "Wow, yes. Surely, I will succeed. And since I'm the only one who had any experience, might as well take my fucking chances, dudes."
Dave seizes another ball from the ground and hurls it toward the glass rim. Unfortunately, it narrowly grazes the fragile structure before disappearing into the depths below.
Unbothered, He takes another shot, this time leaping into the air. The ball strikes the wall and sets off a rapid series of ricochets, causing the wielders to duck for cover.
Fortunately, the ball avoids hitting the rim, eventually finding its way into the chasm.
On his third attempt, Dave tries a new tactic, simultaneously launching two balls in quick succession, hoping that at least one will find its mark. With intense concentration, the balls soar through the air.
They collide with the side of the rim, rebounding off its surface and disappearing into the cavity.
The impact left the rim visibly fractured, showing signs of heavy damage.
Dave "Yikes! Sorry, dudes! One last sho-
Diana "Gimme that! You suck! Here's how you do it!"
Acting on impulse, Diana hurls the object directly at the rim.
The glass shatters into countless pieces.
All eyes turn to Diana.
Diana "Errrrr...Ummm... I... I didn't know my own strength. Sorry..."
Dave "Didn't know my own strength, my ass! You threw straight at the fucking thing!... Wait... do you guys hear that?"
What begins as faint tremors quickly escalates into a full-fledged earthquake, jolting the very foundation beneath their feet.
Amelia "Dave, what's going on?! I'm scared!"
Dave "Yo, Amby! Don't worry! I'll protect ya!"
Kanji "Stay calm everyone!"
Sarah "But Kanji, I think we failed this fucking task!"
The shaking subsides.
The group directs their attention downward, discovering a remarkable sight. Countless rocky slabs are slowly emerging, intricately arranged to form a spiraling staircase around the vertical cliff.
Filled with relief, they proceed downward without questioning the sight.
Kanji "I get it now! I knew that rim is somewhat odd! Especially why its material is very different from the surrounding. It was meant to be fragile enough to be destroyed by the rubber balls. Thanks to Diana's recklessness. We passed that puzzle."
Diana "Yes... I attend that to happen."
She moves next to Dave, giving him a smug look.
Diana ["Suck it, Icarus."]
Dave ["No, fuck you."]
As they descend further, the bottom of the pit comes into view, revealing a door crafted from the same yellowish material as the gem.
Sarah "Oh, Cthulhu's ass! Another fucking door! Why?!"
Kanji "Yeah, just hope it isn't another puzzle."
To their amazement, Kanji effortlessly pushes the door open, granting them access to the room. As they step inside, Claire's lantern suddenly extinguishes...
Complete darkness envelopes them.
With a sudden whooshing sound, the room illuminates once more, revealing the surroundings. The door swiftly closes behind them, sealing their entry.
They find themselves in an underground chamber resembling a spring, with towering metal totems emanating an enigmatic light from an unknown source.
From the corner of the room, their gaze is drawn to a clouded grey mist taking the shape of a bizarre figure.
The battle commences.
(To be continued)