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Chapter 8 - Makeshift Blades
Kyrios' eyes popped open with a startle, immediately shooting up to a sitting position. With a groan, he blinked, adjusting to the dim light that permeated the enclosed chamber. His raspy exhales echoed through the cavernous tunnel, and the coolness of the stone floor beneath him sent bitter shivers through him. Kyrios welcomed the sensation—it meant he was alive.
He checked his body, relieved to find that his wounds had healed considerably. The twinge on his back had dulled to a mere ache. "Right, I wasn't exactly human anymore."
Pushing himself up, his eyes ran through his surroundings. The chamber, suffused with an eerie aura, seemed to pulsate with a faint glow. But didn't he faint outside the entrance? How did he end up here?
A wave of cold enveloped him as he remembered the event before he lost consciousness.
"Oh, yeah. The moss."
His finger traced the bumpy surface of the moss, and he could feel its rhythm resonating in his mind. "You saved me, didn't you? Are you trying to draw me to your main body?"
It didn't respond.
"Whatever. At least I'm still alive. Thank you."
His eyes wandered back to the entrance, noticing the moss once again leading him as usual. "Well, I guess I should follow you then."
As he made his way out of the chamber, he felt a little less apprehensive. His steps grew more assured, and his pace became brisker as he approached the passageway. Although he had no idea where it led, he felt strangely drawn to it. He needed to find the mastermind behind it; was it human? A monster? Or something else entirely?
Following the moss, he ventured back on the path he had taken before and eventually made his way back to the colossal chamber he had previously encountered. As he entered, his senses heightened, instinctively scanning the expansive space for any lurking threats. To his relief, there was none.
Naturally, the once resounding echoes had faded into silence, leaving behind a haunting stillness that filled the air. Without the insect's humming, the chamber appeared desolate, its grandeur overshadowed by a melancholic aura.
He took a moment to absorb the atmosphere, allowing the weight of solitude to settle upon him. Tranquility hung in the air like a contrast to the blood-frenzied battle he had endured. He wandered back to the insect's corpse and crouched over it, touching its blades. The creature's hard exterior was as cold as ice. Colder than the ground.
The remnants of the system notification lingered in Kyrios' mind, vivid and undeniable. Three distinct skills had taken root within him, though two of them were incompatible. He supposed his body had to change or evolve somehow. At least, it meant he was mostly still human.
"Rejuvenating Claws," he repeated in his head. He focused his thoughts on the concept but couldn't quite figure out how they worked. He looked back at the creature, noticing how its claws felt like an extension of its forearms. Maybe he could use them like that?
Closing his eyes, Kyrios envisioned the claws as an extension of his own forearms. He pictured them sharp and deadly, ready to strike with precision. Slowly, he extended his arms in front of him, mimicking the creature's posture. With a clear mind, he willed the energy within him to manifest as thin blades. The effort strained his brain, causing him to lose focus.
"Aaaahh, damn it."
He tried again, but the result was the same. Nothing happened.
Kyrios clenched his fists, his brows furrowing. Frustration welled up as his attempts proved futile. His initial excitement at the prospect of wielding the mantis' blades waned, replaced by disappointment.
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As he stood there, a spark of inspiration flickered in his mind. "Screw that. We're going primal mode crafting."
Perhaps there was a different way to use the claws. If he couldn't tap into the skill's properties directly, he would adapt and find another means to wield them. With a resolute nod, he approached the motionless creature, its form still sprawling on the chamber floor. He knelt beside it, studying the menacing weapons protruding from its limbs.
Gripping one of the mantis' razor-sharp claws, he applied pressure, testing its resistance. It was surprisingly sturdy, like a testament to the creature's natural armament. As he located its joint, he lifted it and drew his strength. He exerted his pressure, and with a satisfying crunch, the claw snapped free from its lifeless owner. Repeating the process on the other side, he soon held the two formidable daggers.
They were light yet deadly, and their curved edges glinted in the dim light of the chamber. Using the insect's forearms as handles, the blades even had a decent grip. He envisioned himself wielding them with his own forearms, picturing their tips slicing through the air like an assassin. The thought brought him a wry smile, and he gave them a couple of test swings. The blades hissed as they cut through the air, eliciting a thrill in his heart.
"I'll give you this, monster. Your weapons are amazing."
He took a moment to inspect the blades further. Its overall composition gave it an aesthetic quality as well, one that would catch the attention of anyone with a discerning eye.
"Well, no use staring at it forever. Guess I should get moving," Kyrios muttered, breaking his gaze from the blades. Pushing himself upright, he dusted off his clothes and mustered the resolve to continue his exploration.
He followed the trail of vibrant moss that snaked its way deeper into the abyss. Each footfall echoed softly against the stone walls, reminding him of the vastness that surrounded him. He traced his fingers along the rough surface, making sure he didn't get lost in the mega-chambers. They stretched out before him, seemingly endless in their expanse. The eerie stillness was broken only by the faint rustle of his own footsteps and the occasional faraway drip of water.
As Kyrios's hand grazed the rough surface of the wall, he felt a subtle tremor ripple through the ancient stone. Before he could fully comprehend what was happening, his attention snapped to the shifting wall before him. It slowly parted, revealing a colossal figure emerging from the depths of the rocky enclosure. The behemoth was a golem of magnificent proportions, its stony exterior expertly blending with the surrounding wall to create a perfect illusion of stillness.
"Wh-what the hell is that..."
The golem's towering form loomed over Kyrios, its immense presence casting a shadow that seemed to swallow the light around them. With a slow, deliberate motion, it raised its colossal stone fist, its weight seemingly defying the laws of nature. The air crackled with electrifying pressure as the massive fist descended, hurtling towards Kyrios with an unforgiving force.
Reacting with lightning-quick reflexes, Kyrios leaped backward, his muscles straining against the blow. The ground quaked beneath the impact of the golem's strike, sending tremors reverberating through the cavern. Dust and debris filled the air, a choking miasma that stung his eyes and lungs. He coughed, squinting through the haze, desperately trying to pinpoint the golem's location.
Pushing himself to his limits, he propelled his body forward, barely avoiding another colossal strike that landed with a deafening thud. The thunderous footfalls of the golem echoed behind him, each step shaking the very foundation of the chamber.
Kyrios darted through the twisting labyrinth of the golem's domain, his mind racing to find an escape route. He didn't know much about the creatures that dwelled within the Rift, but he knew they were not to be underestimated. Their strength was unmatched, and their resilience seemed to be limitless.
"Shit," he cursed, his eyes searching for a way out of this death trap. His eyes darted frantically around the vast expanse of the golem's domain, searching for any glimmer of hope.
Realizing that outrunning the colossal golem was impossible in such a vast space, he knew he needed to find refuge—a place where he could temporarily evade the relentless pursuit of the golem. He held the mantis' blade above his head, covering for most debris that would land on him. And with every stride, he scoured the surroundings, desperately seeking a narrow opening or a hidden alcove that could provide a respite. As he sprinted through the treacherous landscape, his gaze fell upon a dramatic transformation in the terrain. A glacial-like region stretched out before him, brimming with towering ice spikes that threatened to skewer anything sorry enough to be caught beneath them.
Immediately, Kyrios altered his course, veering toward the frigid sanctuary—at least, it seemed to be. The ambiance grew crisper, like stepping into a completely separate biome. His breath formed misty plumes in the frozen atmosphere. Ice shards rained down intermittently, an oddly sublime dissonance resonating as they shattered against the arctic ground.
In the face of the golem's tenacious pursuit, he saw a chance for refuge. With its colossal size, the golem wouldn't be able to maneuver through the narrow gaps and jagged crevices that the glacial region presented.
It was a precarious gamble, but he had little choice.