My right-hand slide along the warm walls of the cavern, scuttling along through the snake-like tunnels which seemed to go on for miles. The only comfort sat in my left hand as the gem glowed lighting the path in the seemingly endless darkness. Luckily, the fish didn't have the brains to follow me, or perhaps it was due to the new limbs they hadn't adjusted to yet.

Walking along the path for what seemed like hours, gave me time to somewhat grasp the situation I was in. Trying to understand what the notification's actually meant, the gem was peculiar and gave me a sense of ease, but how it had revived me or cured the mutation that was eating away at my body, was a puzzle I couldn't seem to figure out.

After acquiring the gem I could look at the very core without the overbearing light burning my eyes. It resonated with a white energy that seemed to calm you the longer you lay your eyes upon it. The skill purify was obtained because of the stone, as it was cleansing my body I gained the ability to use it. How to use it on the other hand, I didn't know. Saying the word or thinking of the ability did nothing.

The bigger questions like who Cosmos was, shook me to the depths of my very being. Be it a god or actual person, I knew Cosmos was the cause of the meteors raining down on Earth, possibly even the nukes being launched around the world. Anything with that amount of influence was something to be feared and avoided, not confronted. The thought of Serenity crossed my mind, continuously replaying the last moments we spent together. The uncertainty of her well being scared him, they hadn't exactly separated under favorable circumstances. The look in Azel's eye when he fired the gun wasn't that of a sane person, the darkness and hatred are something you don't forget.

Sweat soaking my tattered clothes, I continued down the winding path, in the distance a small red glow appears. Growing bigger as I advanced. Stopping at the mouth of the tunnel, magma flows endlessly below.

" A river of magma, and no other path. I guess I'm supposed to hover above it and look for an exit right?"

Muttering to myself, gas filled the room as the magma bubbled below, making the room hazy and hard to look around. Glancing back into the endless darkness of the tunnel, I stare down at the flowing magma cursing my luck.

"How can such bad luck exist?" 

Thinking to myself before cutting my loses, I turn around heading back into the dark. Just before turning an explosion erupts from the magma, sending it flying in all directions. Frantically trying to get away my feet stumble underneath me, before hurdling towards the magma. Screaming at the top of my lungs,

"SHIT, SHIT, SHIIIIIIIIT!!!!!"

Plunging through the magma, I slam my eyes shut waiting for the burning death that awaited. Until nothing happened, peeking through closed eyelids I swim towards surface dazed. Looking at the magma that I floated in, a realization occurred.

"This is fucking water? Toxic and bloody water?"

Thinking about it, all the water came from the lake above. The last time I saw the lake it was a dark pink, mixed with this toxic shit from the missiles created a cesspool.

"Shit, where did that gem go?"

frantically searching for the stone. I Dive under the surface swimming as deep as I can go to no avail. floating in the water, the hope of escaping the underground prison slowly diminishes. After all, why would I expect my luck to change now of all times? 

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Staring at the toxic water a small light glows deep beneath the surface, the light glowing brighter and looking clearer as each second passes. The water around the gem slowly converts to a murky blue, before turning crystal clear. Seeming to purify the cesspool of toxic water, Shin dives too quickly recover the gem.

The ray of the light seemed like hope, as he approached the warm and embracing gem. Reaching the bottom, he grabs the gem with a large grin on his face. The only good thing to happen to him being the small round stone, it felt like a part of him now. 

The water now clear thanks to the gem, Shin could easily see his surroundings. Swimming at the bottom of the stream gave him better visibility, although the water was warm, it wasn't as hot as the gas filled room above him. Feeling his luck turning around he begins to follow the stream in search of an exit to the never-ending cavern. Eyes forward, an object comes into view before his overjoyed heart comes to a standstill. 

Approaching the object the water around him seems to chill as his heart pounds rapidly in his chest, It was hard to breath already being underwater, this just made it nearly impossible. That's just what this was, impossible for her to be here, yet here she was floating in this cesspool, forgotten by the world. Her name echoes through his mind in quiet whispers, Serenity.

Gently lifting her body Shin paddles downstream, his body numb and the air oddly cold around him. Tears drip down his face as anger claws at his heart, not being able to say goodbye or thank you was eating at him. For the first time since the Earth collapsed into chaos, from the very depths of his being, he cursed the Gods for damning the world. Reaching the end of the stream he raises her body out of the water, before placing her down with care. 

"This should be me, not you Sen." 

The words narrowly escaping his lips as more tears start to fall. Looking at her body shook his soul, her flesh barely clinging to the bone. The state of the remains would look grotesque to the average eye, but to him, she radiated peacefulness and fond memories. Hovering the gem over her body he looks over his dear friend before he notices a hole above her left ear. 

"A bullet hole."

Wiping his tears away, he stands on unsteady legs, before walking away from her body. Gripping the stone he strikes the ground, each hit stronger than the last. His cries echo through the cave as the small area in the ground begins to slowly break apart. Sweat and tears fall from his face as he attacks the ground relentlessly, forming a small hole.

Hands scraped and bloody, he drops the gem on the ground. Hours of digging a shallow hole was the only thing he could do for his best friend. After placing the body in the hole, he stares at the lifeless corpse the memories they shared together forever in his heart. After looking a final time Shin begins to bury Sen, hands shaking with every handful of dirt dropped on her body. 

"A grave without a gravestone, you deserve so much more than this."

Kneeling Shin places the gem over her grave, before closing his eyes.

"Serenity Malentai, I swear to you. As long as there is breath in my body, and blood in my veins. Even if my bones were to break and skin reduced to nothing but ash I will find and kill Azel Striker. I swear it on my name Shin A. Venge."

His eyes open with a clarity, before picking up the gem.

"Ding!"

[The Spirits have heard your vow, and grant you the manifestation of life force!]

"Ding!"

[Congratulations! You have discovered Spirit Energy]

Spirit Energy: SE The ability to manipulate your life force by will, the ability will grow with the user. View in My User.

 "Ding!"

[Skill - Clairvoyant discovered]

Skill: Clairvoyant Mastery: 5% Description: Using SE to listen to the spirits. Consumption Rate: 10 SE per minute

Closing the notifications Shin look towards the water, before hearing a whisper.

"Sh.n. Shi.. Shin? Can you hear me?