As I fell, time seemed to stretch and warp, each second drawing out into an eternity. The vibrant colors of the underwater world below melded with the dark, ominous shadows above, creating a swirling vortex of light and darkness that spun around me. The air was cold and biting as it rushed past, clawing at my skin like icy fingers, sending shivers down my spine.
I could feel the force of gravity pulling me down, the sensation of weightlessness juxtaposed against that chaotic whirl of colors disorienting me and making me want to vomit.
My heart pounded in my chest, the adrenaline coursing through my veins making every sensation sharper, more intense. I braced for impact, the muscles in my body tensing as the ground—no, the abyss—rushed up to meet me. But then, something utterly bizarre and unexpected happened.
One of those strange mushroom-foot creatures I had seen earlier suddenly appeared beneath me, its soft, bouncy texture absorbing my impact. I landed on it with an outstretched foot, and instead of hitting the ground with a painful thud, I found myself springing back up into the air as if I flown back up into the air.
“Whoa… what just happened?” I muttered in disbelief, my mind struggling to process the sheer absurdity of the situation.
The creature’s weight propeled me skyward. It felt like landing on a giant, living marshmallow. My surroundings were a blur as I bounced higher and higher, the sensation of weightlessness returning, but this time it was tinged with exhilaration. The cool air whipped past me, ruffling my hair and clothing as I soared through the air. A bubble of laughter escaped my lips, a mix of disbelief and joy bubbling up inside me. For a moment, the fear and tension melted away, replaced by a childlike glee at the sheer ridiculousness of it all.
Ahead of me, I spotted another one of these odd beings, its tiny, human-like wings flapping lazily as it drifted through the air. With a twist of my body, I angled myself toward it, the momentum of my bounce carrying me effortlessly from one floating platform to the next. The creature’s spongy surface cushioned my landing, propelling me even higher into the sky.
As I continued to bounce through the air, I noticed something shimmering off to my right. Amidst the bizarre assortment of floating monsters, a glint of reddish-gold caught my eye. My heart skipped a beat as I recognized it— the Red Aurentum coin Blake had mentioned, its surface gleaming in the dim light like a beacon. Excitement surged through me, and I adjusted my trajectory, using the bounce of each creature to steer myself toward the coin. The creatures seemed almost to anticipate my movements, drifting into position as if guiding me toward my goal.
With each leap, my determination grew. Five more bounces, and I was within reach. The anticipation built as I soared higher, the red-gold coin tantalizingly close. With a final, powerful jump, I extended my hand, fingers outstretched, and snatched the coin from the air.
Liz’s voice echoed in my mind, a welcome sound in the midst of this surreal chaos.
[You have received Red Aurentum. 1 of 6. Collect all six for an additional golden page upon leaving this zone.]
Though her tone was calm and factual, I could detect a hint of satisfaction, as if she was pleased with our progress.
A triumphant whoop burst from my lips, and I thrust my arms into the air, exhilaration flooding my senses. But as the rush of victory washed over me, reality came crashing back. I looked around and realized with a sinking heart that there were no more floating creatures nearby—no tiny feet, no human-like heads—nothing to catch me if I fell. The creatures had scattered, leaving me suspended in open air with nothing but a vast expanse of emptiness beneath me.
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“Oh, no,” I muttered, panic creeping into my voice as I started to free-fall toward the massive lake far below. The water’s surface shimmered like a dark, glassy void, impossibly far away, stretching out endlessly beneath me.
The sudden, commanding voice in my mind jolted me into action. {Quick! Use a barrier on yourself.}
It wasn’t Elizabeth’s voice but someone else’s—unfamiliar, yet oddly comforting, as if they had guided me through dangerous situations before.
I didn’t hesitate. Instinctively, I summoned the energy and cast the barrier spell, wrapping myself in a protective shield just as I plummeted toward the water. The impact was brutal, the force of the fall driving me deep into the lake with a resounding crash. Water exploded around me in a frothy, chaotic surge, the barrier absorbing most of the impact before shattering under the immense pressure.
[You have taken 50 damage. HP remaining: 5.] Liz’s voice was cold and clinical, the notification stark against the backdrop of my near-death experience. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat a reminder of how close I had come to dying. For a moment, I just floated there, stunned by the sheer intensity of the fall, the water’s cold embrace numbing my limbs and making my skin prickle.
Pain radiated through my body, sharp and unyielding, but I couldn’t afford to let it paralyze me. Gritting my teeth, I cast a healing spell, feeling the warmth of the magic course through me, mending my battered form.
[You have healed 30 damage.] Liz’s voice was slightly softer this time, a hint of reassurance breaking through her usual monotone.
With the pain easing, I wasted no time. I began to swim, the icy water stinging my skin and numbing my fingers, making every stroke an effort. My muscles screamed in protest, but I forced them to move, desperate to find the shore or something solid to cling to. The water was thick and heavy, each stroke like pushing through syrup, but I had to keep going. I had to survive.
But before I could catch my breath, the floating creatures swooped down, their tiny, human-like feet kicking at my head and shoulders with surprising force. I twisted and dodged, trying to avoid their relentless attacks, but they were relentless. Each kick felt like a jab from a blunt weapon, the force of their blows sending ripples of pain through my body. My heart raced, panic setting in as I fought to keep my head above water, the cold sapping my strength with every passing second.
Suddenly, a powerful current caught me, dragging me deeper into the depths. The water grew darker around me, the light from above fading into an inky blackness. The pressure in my chest grew unbearable, my lungs burning with the need for air. I thrashed and kicked, desperate to break free, but the current was too strong, pulling me further into the abyss.
And then, just as despair began to set in, I saw it—another coin, its red and golden glow a beacon in the darkness. It was just within reach, tantalizingly close. My hand shot out, fingers brushing against the cool metal as I snatched it from the water.
But as I did, a terrifying realization hit me: I was so far down that I couldn’t tell which way was up or down. The world had turned into a disorienting swirl of darkness, the pressure in my chest growing more and more unbearable. Panic surged through me, my breath coming in short, frantic gasps as my lungs screamed for air.
[You have received Red Aurentum. 1 of 6. Collect all six for an additional golden page upon leaving this zone.]
“Crystal, help!” I shouted in my mind, my voice tinged with desperation as I struggled to find my bearings.
[Relax, the run will be over soon.] Crystal’s voice was calm, almost teasing, as if she found some amusement in my plight.
“What?” I exclaimed, incredulous and slightly panicked.
[I kid, I kid. Hmm, from your current position, turn right and head that way. It should lead you upwards, toward the surface.] Her tone was casual, almost nonchalant, but her instructions were clear and precise.
Despite the fear gripping me, I forced myself to follow her directions. My movements were frantic, the urgency in my strokes betraying the growing terror inside me. My lungs screamed for air, the instinct to breathe becoming almost overpowering. I could feel the last bit of air escaping my lungs, bubbles rising around me as the pressure grew more intense. My vision blurred, the edges darkening as my strength began to wane.