"What about the others?" I asked now that I had a couple of seconds to think.
"We barely got out of there with our lives, now is not the time to think of the others!" Breta hurriedly spoke.
With a sense of urgency and concern, I turned my attention to Breta. The fate of the others weighed heavily on my mind, but her words snapped me back to the immediate danger at hand.
"You're right," I replied, my voice filled with determination. "Surviving is our priority now."
Before I could delve further into our next course of action, the sky suddenly transformed into a horrifying shade of blood red. The atmosphere crackled with intense energy, foreboding an imminent catastrophe. In an instant, a deafening explosion shattered the tranquility, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.
Flames erupted, stretching across the horizon and reaching even our distant location. The force of the explosion unleashed a powerful shockwave that tossed us into the air, sending us tumbling through the chaos. As we spiraled uncontrollably, I focused my concentration and summoned a water shield, surrounding us with its protective embrace.
Breta, using her divine magic, added her strength to reinforce the shield, infusing it with a faint golden glow. Though the impact was still jarring, the shield absorbed much of the blast's power, shielding us from the full brunt of the force. Our descent was slowed, but the ground rushed up to meet us with alarming speed.
As we crashed to the earth, the impact rattled our bodies, but we were fortunate to have survived the cataclysmic event. Dust and debris billowed around us, obscuring the aftermath of the explosion. The once serene sky had been torn asunder, revealing a gaping hole through which the chaos of the world beyond was laid bare.
Taking a moment to gather myself, I held onto Breta tightly, ensuring her safety. The sight before us was both mesmerizing and alarming, a stark reminder of the grave threat we faced. We had narrowly escaped one disaster, only to find ourselves thrown into the midst of another.
With a renewed sense of determination, I stood up and extended my tail to help Breta back to her feet. As I surveyed the shattered sky, the magnitude of the situation grew increasingly apparent. The once serene sky had cleared out to reveal the vast expanse, that had been transformed into a haunting tableau, revealing glimpses of colossal figures moving amidst the vastness of space.
Using my draconic eyesight, I peered into the distance, my gaze fixated on these otherworldly beings. Their immense forms were deeply unsettling, emanating eerie auras that sent shivers down my spine. The mere sight of them caused my heart to race, and a sense of foreboding gripped my very soul, causing my soul space to shake.
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However, as I strained to maintain my gaze, an overwhelming sensation washed over me. Agonizing pain surged through my eyes, and I felt blood trickling from them. A sudden realization struck me, and I quickly averted my gaze, shielding my eyes with my wings. The sight was too much for me to bear, a forbidden image that I was ill-equipped to comprehend.
Breta, concerned, reached out to me, her voice filled with worry. "Aether, what's wrong?"
I took a moment to collect myself, wiping the blood from my eyes with the use of water magic. "It's… something we shouldn't look at directly," I managed to explain, my voice strained. "Whatever those are, they are beyond our understanding, and their very essence is dangerous to behold. You must have felt it as well."
Breta silently nodded, her face turning paler as she stared at me. We stood in silence for a moment, the weight of what we had witnessed hanging heavily in the air. I knew we couldn't afford to linger here any longer. The imminent danger and the need to find my siblings propelled me forward, overriding any fear or hesitation.
"We need to press on," I said firmly, determination resurfacing in my voice. "We have to find the others, and regroup."
As the distant rumbling persisted, it became increasingly evident that the very foundation of this world was under immense strain. It seemed as though the planet itself was on the precipice of collapse, quaking under the weight of an unseen battle waged by the higher deities. Yet, despite their valiant efforts, it appeared that some of the bastards had managed to breach their defenses.
A mixture of frustration and uneasiness coursed through my veins. The thought of these insidious bastards slipping through the defenses unsettled me. How had they managed to infiltrate the realm? How many of them were there?
The words were stuck in my throat as I witnessed the horrifying sight before me. The oppressive aura of the abomination loomed over us once again, its presence suffocating and unnerving, following which the palm emerged from the distance, leaving a trail of red behind it. In one of its many humanoid-faced fingers, was the lifeless corpse of Zeph. The eternal expression of disbelief etched into his features served as a grim reminder of the merciless force we were facing.
Breta and I locked eyes, our decision silently communicated. Her decisive action set our plan into motion. Her spear imbued with divine energy suddenly materialized in her hand, glowing as bright as the sun before she hurled it at the abomination. The palm seemed to pause for a second, its one eye shone with an ominous light, yet it did not attempt to dodge.
Wrong decision, as the spear made contact with the humanoid-shaped fingers, it instantly collapsed, but that didn't matter as the real attack followed right after. In that momentary stillness, I seized the opportunity. The darkness mana surged forth from beneath the palm, ensnaring it and holding it in place. It was a fleeting moment, but it was all I needed. The cosmic mana, guided by my will, descended upon the abomination's form.
The single eye at the center of its palm widened in realization as the feeling of imminent danger washed over it. It struggled against the darkness mana, attempting to break free and escape its impending demise. But its arrogance proved to be its downfall.
The cosmic mana surged with unparalleled power, overwhelming the abomination's defenses. Its body, once towering and menacing, disintegrated before our eyes, dissipating into nothingness. The malevolent presence that had haunted us vanished, leaving only a faint echo of its sinister aura.
"Fuck you!" I couldn't help but curse out as the bastard disappeared.