The moment Dimi exhaled, her breath had already condensed into a fine mist that twirled violently amongst the countless streams of tendril-like shadows that were sweeping past her body and towards the small, solitary figure sitting cross-legged at the centre of a small clearing.
Running her tongue along her sharp teeth, at least compared to a human's, Dimi scanned the two-meter-high grass surrounding the small clearing as it rustled noisily.
Nearby, there were the corpses of a few dog-like creatures as well as a three meter long, decapitated snake.
Even though the fading night had been clear up to half an hour ago, now that she looked up, all Dimi could see were rolling ominous clouds blotting out the once brightening sky.
Crossing her arms to suppress a subconscious shiver, Dimi couldn't help but rub her chest to try and ease the discomfort the rhythmic pulse emanating from Nyx caused.
To the beast, it felt as if her bones and flesh were vibrating in time with the strange sound.
Looking at Nyx, who had a thin film of black, sticky substance seeping from her pores, Dimi released a near silent grumble. "Just what sort of tribulation is this? It's more like when a Gem master breaks into the sixth rank and is forced to leave the continent than a rank up from a core realm."
Wiping the slight trickle of sweat from her forehead, even though she was shivering due to the unnatural coldness of her surroundings, Dimi reluctantly took a few steps back and pocketed the ink brush in her hand knowing that now wasn't the time for petty revenge or games.
Accompanied by a gust of wind, the tendril-like shadows suddenly increased in number, flowing towards Nyx like a raging river of serpents.
The frown that had been steadily growing disappeared as Dimis eyes widened and her head shot back. -"Don't tell me? She's not consolidating her rank but going for a second breakthrough?"
A dull thud, accompanied by a flicker of what appeared to be black lightning from Nyx's body, all but confirmed her suspicions.
Dimi could only watch in shock as the energy generated by the formation of Nyx's core's tenth layer forced back the shadows and surrounding grass.
Moments later, Nyx vomited a large mouthful of clotted, bright red blood, staining the ground as well as her dark grey robe.
After the pause, which generated a deafening silence as even the wind seemed to have been pushed back, the shadows surged towards Nyx at a terrifying pace like a starving beast that had discovered a free meal.
In the time it took Dimi to blink, Nyx's body had been entirely concealed by the black shadow-like mist, seemingly growing and shrinking in time with the strange pulse that had long since masked her heartbeat.
Suddenly, Dimi's complexion paled as she stamped on the ground and rushed forward. "Idiot! Know your limits."
However, even though she planned to knock Nyx out of her cultivation trance, Dimi felt as if time had slowed to a crawl as an oppressive, somewhat terrifying force started to press down against her.
Realising, Dimi's body came to an abrupt halt.
Just as she was about to stomp on the ground and push herself back another dull thud, quickly accompanied by the boom of thunder above, reached Dimi's ears. -"She's insane. This cub's totally insane. A triple breakthrough. Even if the tribulation doesn't kill her, the best she can hope for is to be crippled for life."
Dimi's breathing quickened as all thoughts of escaping fled her mind. Instead, her gaze had turned razor sharp as it locked onto the swirling mass of shadows before her.
However, her expression lasted only for a brief moment as Dimi' pupils abruptly shrank as a wall of blackness exploded from Nyx's body and expanded at a terrifying rate.
Before Dimi could even react, the wave of black had moved past, leaving her in a world of darkness.
Blinking a few times and shaking her head, Dimi's instincts screamed at her to flee, yet her eyes remained locked onto Nyx's figure.
Nyx was still sitting on the ground but had lost the robe and blindfold that she had been previously wearing. Instead, a mantle of living shadows was wrapped tightly around her body.
-"This..." Noticing that Nyx's figure was much taller than she remembered, Dimi looked around as her heartbeat started to slow. -"This is an illusionary tribulation."
As if in response to her thoughts, shapes and figures started to form from the darkness at the edges of her peripheral.
However, as if trying to peer through murky water through dirty glass, the shapes and figures remained faint and indistinguishable.
-"I... I somehow entered Runt's tribulation." Looking around again, Dimi realised that she could still feel the turbulent breeze and smell the distinctive scent of the grassland. -"But how? This... this should be impossible?"
Crouching down, Dimi released a relieved sigh as she found that even if she couldn't see it, she could still feel the grass beneath her. -"It seems I am only partially trapped."
A strange glint flashed across Dimi's eyes as her lips twitched into a small smile. -"This type of tribulation uses one's fears and regrets to test their will. With this..."
Dimi's breath stopped as she looked up and noticed that Nyx's stormy blue eyes were staring in her direction.
However, as if she couldn't see or sense her, Nyx's gaze carried on, passing through Dimi and into the shadows that haunted the darkness behind.
-"That's right. This world is illusionary. She can't see or hear me." Chuckling, Dimi started breathing again. However, it wasn't long before the smile on her face fell away. -"But out of all tribulation types, this one has the lowest success rate and a crippling backlash. Added onto that Runt forced a breakthrough three times..."
"Nyx."
Dimi jumped at the sound of the ancient, feminine voice as it boomed into existence.
Looking towards the source of the sound, Dimi frowned slightly. -"So she really is called Nyx?"
A few meters before Nyx, a majestic white throne had shimmered into existence. It was set on a pyramid-like platform, rising to at least four times the height of Dimi.
Sitting atop the throne, an old woman dressed in a vibrant, blood red dress glared down at Nyx as if looking at an ant. "You finally returned to me."
Even though Dimi knew it was an illusion, she couldn't help but take a step back, her instincts and mind telling her that the old woman was something that she could never hope to beat. -"Just who in the seven hells is this woman?"
As she gazed in awe and fear, the clarity of the throne room slowly expanded, revealing a grand hall.
Lining both sides, statues of the woman, gradually getting younger and younger the farther away they were, stood in proud, unyielding poses.
Seeing the statues, Dimi's eyes suddenly went wide as she recalled the images recorded in the Sect's hidden vault. -"The Mad Summoner!"
With a face and complexion that looked like it had eaten something shockingly disgusting, Dimi's head snapped towards Nyx.
"Return?" Ever so slowly, as if she were an ancient being herself, Nyx slowly raised her head revealing a smile so emotionless and cold that left Dimi feeling as if she had fallen into a frozen river.
Instinctively, a dagger appeared in Dimi's hand as she stepped away. While she sensed overwhelming power from the old woman, even if she was just an illusion, the feeling she got when gazing at Nyx left her insides squirming uncomfortably as every hair on her body stood on end.
Nyx casually stood up, causing Dimi to retreat a few steps further, her joints cracking loudly in protest before matching the old woman's glare.
Tilting her head to the side, Nyx's smile grew. "Now, now. This isn't quite right; is it?"
The old woman smiled coldly. "Do you feel that you can manipulate a heavenly tribulation that easily?"
"What's there to manipulate?" chuckled Nyx as she glared up into the old woman's eyes. "It's just some bits are more enjoyable to relive than others."
The old woman frowned, but just as she was about to open her mouth, both the surroundings and her body started to warp.
The once majestic hall was now in ruins. Most of the statues were shattered or damaged beyond recognition, and long cracks led away from the throne which was now nothing more than a smoking crater.
The sound of intense fighting, the metallic tang of blood and stench of charred flesh heavy in the air, seeped through the tall, shattered, mosaic windows that skirted the walls.
Mangled bodies started to form from nothingness. Their blood and innards spread haphazardly across the rubble-like floor, partially buried under the remains of what once must have been two ornate, wooden doors.
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"This is more like it." After taking a deep breath and looking around, her smile becoming more natural, Nyx took a step forward. As if angered by the scene, the shadows that wrapped around her body lashed out at their surroundings. "For a while, this must have been one of my biggest regrets..."
"Really?" laughed the old woman, now laying on her back nearby. Her right arm had been destroyed, and a large bastard sword had impaled her stomach, pinning her to the floor.
Towering above her, with an axe held high, was a gold plated warrior. His face was twisted in a mixture of anger and despair.
However, unlike the two women, as well as their unknown witness and the sounds coming from the outside, the room seemed to be frozen in time.
The old woman chuckled again, blood oozing from her mouth. "While you and I both know that is a lie, it isn't too far from the truth."
Dimi Frowned as she leaned forward, believing that she had seen the silhouettes of two small figures behind the old woman for a split second.
"How old are you now? Six, seven hundred years? That's a lot of time." The woman's voice turned hoarse and raspy, like sandpaper.
However, instead of a pained expression under such grievous wounds, the woman revealed a malicious grin as her head rotated unnaturally so she could face Nyx. "More than enough to build a mountain of regret and weakness."
Yet instead of rising to the taunt, Nyx only frowned.
After a few seconds of silence, Nyx sighed. "The real... you summoned me when they were sixteen. They died at a place like this at four hundred and twenty-seven. Eighty or so years have passed since then so... I should be around... five hundred and thirty-eight."
Dimi's body trembled, her eyes trying to take everything. -"This... this is the end of the Great War of the prime continent? Runt is really 'that' Nyx. By the gods... The rumours..."
The old woman's smile vanished as Nyx forced a laugh and shook her head. "Who would have thought I would live so long."
"And those that you left behind?"
"Left behind?" Nyx laughter abruptly ended as her eyes narrowed. "They left me."
The grin reappeared on the old woman's face. "Then why don't you kill yourself? Let yourself fall into madness. End your pain and suffering once and for all."
Nyx sighed. "If only it were so easy."
"Coward," snapped the old woman.
"Indeed I am," responded Nyx. "The real you taught me a valuable lesson."
Nyx's leg lifted, hesitating for a few seconds before she shakily took a step forward. "The grass is rarely greener on the other side."
"Or is it something else?" The old woman's smile became mocking as she flicked her chin towards Nyx's right.
Dimi's gaze followed the old woman's gesture only to fall upon a man kneeling amongst a pile of dismembered, mutilated bodies.
Frozen in the air, arrows, spears and even a sharp, spiked shield hung, all seemingly heading towards the gravely injured man as he revealed a manic, almost insane smile.
The man's body was a mess, barely hanging together yet his dark brown eyes were locked upon the spot of the old woman, a hint of bliss hiding in their depths.
Behind him, a warrior stood, dressed in robes covered with ancient runes, swinging a glowing white sword towards the man's neck.
Even though death was inches away, the man appeared oblivious.
Dimi felt her insides turn cold. While nowhere near as profound, she had seen that smile before and couldn't help but swallow hard.
The old woman cackled mischievously. "Your largest regret? Could it be that you regret letting my body die?"
"Not a chance." Snorting loudly, Nyx shook her head. "I regret not being the one to plunge that axe into your head and end your miserable existence once and for all."
Nyx's cold eyes fell upon the axe-wielding man's face. "Pathetic. Even with so much power, he still couldn't do the job right."
"How cold..." The old woman vanished from the floor, appearing a few feet away from Nyx. However, unlike her old, weakened state before, the woman looked no older than twenty-five years old. "Especially when you once loved me."
"Love." Nyx's upper lips twitched into a sneer. "Nothing more than Stockholm syndrome. A method to shelter my psyche."
The beautiful woman giggled, hiding her mouth behind her hand in a shy manner even though her eyes were as sharp as any bird of prey. "Even though it lends to one of your greatest strengths, and why you believe you were able to survive when so many others faded into the void, your emotions are still your biggest weakness."
The woman twirled, letting her red dress flutter outwards. "Even with everything I did to you. Forced you to do; you still can't convince yourself that I don't hold a place in your heart."
"A place for you in my heart?" With a wave of her hand, a spear of darkness erupted from Nyx, piercing towards the woman's chest. "Does not exist."
However, instead of the spray of blood Dimi expected, the surroundings violently warped.
Holding the spear in one hand, thunder and blue lightning booming in the sky stained with pillars of smoke, stood a large man with golden wings on his back. "Then why, if you hate me so much, were you slightly happy to see me?"
"Happy?" The emotionless mask on Nyx's face cracked, revealing a disgust. "Why wouldn't I be happy?"
Nyx limbs, covered by shadows, shook. "Now that I know you are alive, I can rectify that mistake."
"I will kill you," Nyx voice grew in power as she leaned in. "Mind, body and soul. There shall be nothing left."
"Kill me?" chuckled the man, shaking his head as his eyebrows rose.
Just as she was about to open her mouth, Nyx stopped and quickly closed her eyes.
Taking a deep breath, she released a profound sigh as the raging energy around her started to slow and condense.
Opening her eyes, she smiled. "Of course I won't kill you. You are not real. That hag on the other hand..."
Ignoring the dead bodies and overturned carriage nearby, the two figures stood smiling as they stared into each other's eyes.
Slowly, the man reached out with his right arm and, without any form of resistance, affectionately stroked Nyx's face. "Do you think that you could really harm your master?"
"Without a shadow of a doubt." Nyx leaned into the man's hand as she whispered. "And they are no longer my master. They are nothing more than another target. Another skull for the mountain of corpses that lay beneath my feet."
While the scene, if you ignored the surroundings, the two looked like a pair of lovers.
However, the surging energy emanating from Nyx caused Dimi to retreat a dozen steps, sweat running down her face.
"As for you..." Nyx continued. "You are nothing more than an illusion. Something that will cease to exist the moment I complete this tribulation."
The smile on the man's face grew as he shrugged. "Illusion or not. Even if you don't want to accept it, you know I speak the truth. You shall never escape me, my precious little weapon. You are, and will forever be, mine."
While the words seemed harmless, the last sentence caused Nyx's complexion to pale as she stepped back.
However, as the man's hand dropped, instead of moving back, it moved towards her chest as his hand curled into a claw.
With a bone-chilling crack, the hand was knocked away as Nyx's eyes narrowed until they were almost slits.
Chuckling, the man's face and body shrunk, turning into a fat, bald man. The man only had one eye, a scar running down the right side of his face.
Dimi watched as Nyx's face twitched slightly. "How surprising. Before your master, in both forms, you could maintain your facade but before the weak, insignificant man that soiled your body once..."
A snake-like hiss escaped Nyx's lips. "They are not my master."
Without warning, the surroundings morphed into a stone cell with a straw bed in the corner. On the stone table in the centre, completely naked, was a maimed girl laying on her stomach. A sticky, white liquid dripped down the inside of her thighs before landing on the floor.
As the girl rolled over and sat up, Dimi couldn't help but suck in a cold breath. While the hair and eye colour were different, no one would dispute the origins of the girl on the table.
With a sad expression, tears trailing down the sharp curves of her face, the girl stared into Nyx's eyes. "Am I really this weak?"
-"Even the voice is exactly the same," thought Dimi as glanced at Nyx.
The girl's face, which matched Nyx's to an eerie level, started to smile maliciously. "I wonder. Should I use the method that I used to solve my other... issues?"
The shadows around Nyx flailed about, yet her face was calm as she revealed a smile of her own. "Do as you wish. That body of flesh no longer exists in this world nor is it mine."
A burst of blue light, accompanied by a deafening boom, caused Dimi to cover her eyes.
Furiously blinking so she could clear the after images, Dimi looked at the table only to find the young girl had been turned into a charred corpse.
"You mean this?" Laughed the corpse. "Do you really believe this changes anything?"
"Who am I?" The white teeth revealed by the smile were a stark contrast against the burnt flesh. "No, that's not right, is it?"
As if mocking Nyx's earlier words, the corpse was grinning so wide that the charred flesh split and started to seep. "The questions should be, what am I?"
Stepping forward, Nyx's hand slashed outwards and without any resistance, Decapitating the girl before her. "You... are nothing."
"Then what are you?" A man appeared to Nyx's right, the rolls of fat under his chin rippling with his sinister chuckle as he licked his lips and looked Nyx up and down. His right eye was gone, replaced with a gaping wound that still bled.
Nyx's body tensed for a split second, only long enough for Dimi to barely notice, before relaxing again. "Enough of this. I'm growing bored with these petty mind games. Let's get on with the main course."
"As you command, princess." The fat man chuckled menacingly as he started to fade away.
Nyx's body shivered slightly at the words, the sound and tone matching exactly when she first encountered the man, but otherwise didn't react.
"However, I'll leave you with two of your own quotes. One's perception is their reality, and their reality becomes their perception, and all it takes is a grain of sand to change the course of a river."
Watching the man fading into nothingness, Dimi's frown grew as the uneasy feeling that had been growing in the pit of her stomach started to make her feel sick. -"This... this isn't the end?"
"Nyx." More than a thousand voices erupted at once, causing the illusionary world to shake. "Face your sins and accept your punishment."
While she knew it wouldn't physically affect her, Dimi's mind still reeled at the imaginary power behind the voices causing her to stagger a few steps to the side.
"Sins?" Unlike Dimi, Nyx showed no reaction other than starting to laugh.
With her back straight, Nyx threw her arms out to the side and lifted her head. "You feel that you can punish me?"
As quickly as it came, the laughter stopped as the shadows that encased her body started to surge outwards, and the glow in her eyes intensified. "It's not like you can throw anything new at me."
Seeing the haunting smile, almost an exact replica if not for originating from a female, of the man before, Dimi couldn't help but shiver.
Moments later the sensation of dread only increased as her skin started to crawl as if she had fallen into a nest of fire ants.
Before her very eyes, Nyx's snow-white skin had started to dissolve. It was replaced with an abyss-like blackness that seemed to absorb any light that dared to get too close.
As her human body faded, Nyx's shape continued to twist and contort, forming many strange ways, some recognisable while others seemed like they had crawled from the depths of hell.
-"A Nightmare... She's a Nightmare! A divine beast..." Dimi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. -"No wonder we couldn't work out what she was... She's a creature that should have been extinct. But how? They were slaughtered after the old gods were banished from the world."
Without warning, Dimi's face suddenly cramped as the image of a symbol floated into her mind. -"... was that symbol?"
The shock was so notable that Dimi took a couple of seconds for her to realise that her surroundings had changed once again.
She was standing amongst huge buildings with so many windows that she wasn't sure that she would be able to count them all. At their foot, passing through her as if she was a ghost, hordes of people rushed around. Noisy, metal boxes to dominate the limited space in the middle.
Nyx, standing amongst the illusions like a dark spectre, released a sigh as her shoulders sagged slightly. Her face cramping as she looked about with a sad, almost reluctant eyes.
"Then, shall we start at the beginning~." Though it sounded like a question, the tone of the many voices rang out like a command. The sound was so chilling that the hairs on the back of Dimi's arms stood on end as she looked around, searching for the source of such a dreadful sound.
Realising that the strange scene was something that someone like her shouldn't know about, no matter how much she wanted to know, Dimi tried to turn around to run out of range of the tribulation.
However, much to her surprise, she quickly found out that no matter how much she attempted to move, she remained at the same spot.
Feeling her heart sink, Dimi could only turn around and, due to her curiosity, and follow Nyx's line of sight towards a grumpy, middle-aged man who was shouting into a strange square held up to the side of his head. -"If I am going to be damned with heaven's secrets, I might as well find out as much as I can."
It didn't take long for the strong, proud lioness to regret her decision.