The sandstorm above writhed like a living thing, its patterns growing increasingly erratic. Without warning, the mesa beneath their feet began to shift. Around them, land bridges crumbled and reformed, some growing perilously thin while others disappeared entirely.
Jelani dropped low, instinctively finding stable ground as others stumbled. Beside him, Greta drove her staff into the stone, using it as an anchor. The world continued its violent reformation for several minutes before finally settling.
"Everyone okay?" Mary called out, her usual gentle tone edged with worry.
"We're good," Jelani responded, checking his group. Pandora had maintained her footing, while Isaac looked shaken but unharmed.
“We good but I thought this was supposed to be some easy shit! what the fuck goin on bruh?!” Malik responded dusting off rocks and dirt from his knees.
Their original path had vanished, replaced by a series of interconnected mesas stretching into the distance. A red scroll materialized:
[BOSS MONSTER SPAWNING]
A crimson beam pierced the dark sky, centering on a distant mesa. Waves of energy pulsed outward, distorting the air itself.
[RECALIBRATION COMPLETE]
[EXIT REROUTED UNTIL VORTEX IS CLEARED]
"What in the hell—" Tyson started.
"I've never seen anything like this," Mary interrupted, her composure slipping. "Did we trigger something coming back in?"
"Has to be more to it, the system spawned a boss monster so it looks like we have to clear this vortex" Tyson responded.
"Everyone gather up!”
The group assembled closer, tension visible in their postures.
"Everyone got that system anomaly message right?" Mary asked for confirmation.
Greta's fingers were tight around her staff. "Yes I did. We should've known better. This system, these 'gifts' – they were never meant to help us. They want us to fall in line,"
"Are we trapped?" Charles' voice carried barely controlled panic. "The exit's gone! How are we going to get to safety,"
"Everyone breathe," Tyson cut in, though his own voice held an edge. "Yes, this is out of the ordinary but vortexes always throw us into the unknown. It looks like we are paying the price for wanting a safe way to get you guys ready for the real world,"
"But why now?" Mary questioned. "This is what, our sixth time in here?"
Jelani felt the weight of the scan lingering on him, but kept quiet. ‘Multiple anomalies,’ he remembered. Whatever triggered this wasn't just about him.
"Maybe there's another way back," Isaac suggested quietly. "If we look—"
"System's made it pretty clear," Tyson interrupted. "Forward is the only option now." He gestured toward the altered landscape ahead. "And that means whatever's waiting for us ahead,"
Pandora gripped her shotgun tighter, eyes fixed on its decorative panels. "Perfect. Just perfect. First chance to actually prove something and we get thrown into the deep end."
Tyson's voice cut through their fears. "Only option now is forward. Whatever's waiting for us, we face it together." His eyes swept the group. "Mary and I will take the lead. Stay close, stay alert."
They moved as one unit across the land bridge connecting to the next mesa, wind carrying stinging grit against their faces. Ahead, jagged rock formations jutted from the mesa's surface like broken teeth, creating natural corridors across its flat top summit.
Tyson's shield materialized – a teardrop shaped shield of silver metal with a crystal at its center that pulsed like captured water. They entered the stone maze single file, rock formations pressing close enough to brush shoulders.
"Movement ahead," Isaac whispered from beside Jelani, his own shield glowing faintly as he processed the threat.
The group stopped with a clearer visual of what was ahead. The corridor opened into a wider space, and Jelani's breath caught.
Eight bipedal creatures prowled the center of the mesa, each twice the size of the geckos they'd faced. Their bodies were deep brown with scaled hides stretched over powerful muscle.
Crocodilian snouts housed rows of jagged teeth, while curved claws indicated the sharp grasp they’d have on anyone who got in range. Skeletal protrusions ran along their spines like organic armor, and their eyes burned blood red in the strange light.
Jelani activated his threat radar. The creatures appeared highlighted in crimson – the system's warning for lethal threats.
[Duna Carnufex]
"Mary," Tyson's voice was unusually soft. "Can you use your sense skill?"
She nodded, raising her staff. A small halo of light detached from its tip, floating high above then flying towards the creatures. When it returned, Mary's face had gone pale.
"Enlightened rank," she whispered, regret heavy in her voice.
“Fuck… Fuck! How did we go from a weak awakened rank vortex with pathetic enemies to them all of sudden evolving into the next rank up!”
"We can back you up though, right?" Saveon cut in, already shifting to support stance. "Y’all are enlightened rank right so—"
"It's not that simple," Mary interrupted gently. "Tyson and I, we're support types. Built for defense and healing, not direct combat. A vortex of this size would usually need ten enlightened rank radiants to clear,"
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"Which means," Tyson added grimly, "if we mess this up, if Mary misses a crucial heal... some of you aren't making it home."
The reality of their situation settled over the group like a physical weight. Jelani felt fear coil in his gut – not the familiar tension before a fight, but something deeper. He'd heard stories of lower-ranked radiants facing enemies just one rank above. Those stories rarely had survivors.
‘Well, this is what I wanted isn’t it? A real chance to gain some power,’
But looking at his teammates' faces, seeing the mix of determination and fear, he wondered what the point of having power was if he couldn’t help anyone else survive.
"Two options," Tyson's voice cut through their fear. "Try finding the exit, or push forward and clear this thing." He gestured at the Carnufex. "And realistically, that exit's long gone. System made its choice for us."
"Then we fight," Jelani said, surprised by the steadiness in his own voice. The others turned to him, a mix of relief and apprehension on their faces. Someone had finally said it out loud.
The massive reptilians prowled ahead, each movement radiating lethal grace. The group fell into tense silence, reality settling over them like a physical weight.
"First thing's first," Tyson continued. "You all got points from those geckos. Priority is durability – might mean surviving one hit instead of getting torn apart." His grim tone left no room for argument.
Jelani opened his status window, mind racing. First vortex, and already facing death. But unlike last time, he had advantages:
Name: Jelani Von
Strength: 8
Durability: 5
Speed: 5
Source: 5
Mind: 5
Stamina: 5
Current total: 33 pts | 467 pts to next rank
Souls available: 11
Source pts available: 30
He’d gotten three kills in the last mesa which translated to nine kills worth of points. Azaron's system was generous. He'd have to be careful not to draw attention.
He flipped to his skill page and looked over the options in his skill tree:
Hex-fire (Level 1) - 5 SP
A figure conjured green flames that clung to enemies, burning both flesh and spirit.
Spectral Vision (Level 1) - 5 SP
Eyes blazing with otherworldly light, revealing hidden threats and weaknesses through walls.
Spectral Shield (Level 1) - 5 SP
Ghostly barriers forming from cosmic energy, protecting against both physical and magical attacks.
Hex-arrow (Level 1) - 5 SP
Corrupted source energy condensing into projectiles that could pierce through a target with critical precision.
Combat Veteran (Level 1) - 5 SP
A passive skill enhancing reaction time and battle instincts, drawing on ancient warrior knowledge.
Around him, others began their stat increases. Isaac's face contorted as he forced points into durability, each addition making his shield pulse brighter. Pandora handled it better, but her knuckles went white around her shotgun with each surge. Even Malik's usual bravado cracked as the energy reshaped his body.
"One at a time," Tyson cautioned, watching them struggle. "Pain gets worse if you rush it."
Jelani weighed his options. The offensive skills were tempting, but flashy abilities would raise questions. He could maybe get away with enhanced slash and hex if he times its uses in the middle of the chaos.
Combat Veteran though – that could blend in, seem natural. He confirmed the purchase, feeling ancient battle knowledge settle into his muscles as the passive skill appeared in his active list.
The armory tab caught his eye next. Plenty of points to spend, but equipment would be harder to explain than skill.
‘I’ll save that card for later if it comes down to it,’
Jelani focused on durability first, adding three points. Pain lanced through his body like hot liquid being poured into his bones. His knees buckled, neck straining as his flesh and organs grew denser, stronger. He waited for the sensation to fade before adding three more sets after small breaks.
Through gritted teeth, he watched the others. Charles had collapsed to one knee, his face full of defeat. Greta maintained her composure but sweat beaded on her forehead as she forced the points in. Even Tyson and Mary showed signs of fresh enhancement, their movements carrying the stiffness of recent pain.
‘Twelve points in durability should help, but against enlightened rank enemies I can’t act over confident, gonna need more punch too..’
He channeled his remaining points into strength, each addition feeling like his muscles were being shredded and rewoven.
Name: Jelani Von
Strength: 21
Durability: 17
Speed: 5
Source: 5
Mind: 5
Stamina: 5
Current total: 58 pts | 442 pts to next rank
Souls available: 11
Source pts available: 0
"Listen up," Tyson called once they'd recovered. His voice carried new authority, backed by fresh power. "As the strongest sentinel here, I'll take the role of controlling the field and drawing their attention. My shield abilities should keep them focused on me while we whittle them down."
He turned to the ranged fighters. "Pandora, Davi – you're our sharp shooters. Stay back, take clean shots. Sorcerers, same deal. Support with what you've got." His eyes found Mary. "She'll keep us breathing, but she needs a direct line of sight to help you. Don't break formation."
"Warriors and sentinels," he continued, "work your sides. Jelani, Isaac – take the left. Malik, Saveon – the right. Wait for openings, strike fast, get out. These aren't geckos – they'll counter if you get greedy."
"Okay Tyson! We might be able to work with this," Mary added encouragement to Tyson's practicality. "This plan could work."
"It better," Tyson sighed, touching his temple. "Added some points to my mind stat, so it better be making me think clearer. You all have potential. If we all do our part we might just make it home tonight,"
Pandora re-summoned her shotgun, the weapon's ornate design catching the strange light. "System wants to test us? Fine. I didn't come this far to fail now."
“See I like you twin! what the hell this bitch ass system talm bout? This penalty shit ain’t stopping us,” Malik now fueled with inspiration summoned his battle mace.
Jelani felt something shift in the group's energy. Fear wasn't gone, but determination had taken root. His hexblade materialized, dark metal drinking in the light. "System doesn't get to decide our limits. I ain’t gonna be easy to manipulate,"
Tyson studied them, something like pride breaking through his cynicism. "Maybe... maybe we're not as doomed as I thought. Young bloods like you, facing this head-on..."
Mary touched his shoulder, sharing a look that carried years of shared battles. He nodded, teardrop shield reforming in his grip.
"One goal," Tyson's voice rang with fresh conviction. "Everyone makes it home. Now let's show these overgrown lizards that they fucking with the wrong n**gas."
image [https://i.ibb.co/nkcdDFQ/tonyxstorm-cinematic-anime-scene-final-fantasy-7-concept-art-st-6d699433-c8a6-4dc4-84a4-00153b574f99.png]