Extract from the -{ Tome of Light }- the divine scripture of the Church of Light.

"In the sanctity of my dominion, let the disobedient tremble in fear. As the hammer of my judgment falls upon their souls, only those who wear the chains of obedience shall find refuge in the shelter of my divine grace." (Chains of Obedience - 4:2)

................................................................................................

Asher stood rooted to the spot, his mind reeling with a maelstrom of confusion and uncertainty. The meticulously arranged collection of his belongings and carefully gathered crystals had vanished without a trace, leaving behind an unsettling void. His eyes darted frantically across the barren ground, searching for any sign of his possessions. The air seemed to thicken around him, charged with an inexplicable energy that set his nerves on edge.

In the midst of this bewildering scene, a sudden disturbance shattered the oppressive silence. The very earth where his possessions had rested moments ago began to warp and twist. A dark vortex spiraled into existence, its edges shimmering with an ominous intensity that both repelled and captivated Asher's gaze. The swirling abyss seemed to devour the light around it, creating a pocket of absolute darkness that defied the natural laws of the world.

From the depths of this otherworldly portal emerged Inky, the Shadow-Coil Ink Kraken. Its form materialized gradually, coalescing from wisps of shadow and mist until it stood before Asher in all its enigmatic glory. The creature's presence seemed to alter the very fabric of reality around it, bending light and shadow in impossible ways.

Inky glided towards Asher with an air of familiarity, its movements fluid and graceful despite the bizarre circumstances. The Kraken exuded an aura of quiet satisfaction, as if returning from a brief but profoundly fulfilling journey. Its ink-black tentacles undulated gently in the air, creating mesmerizing patterns that seemed to whisper of cosmic secrets.

Sensing Asher's bewildered state, Inky drew closer, its large, intelligent eyes fixed on its companion. With a deft movement, it waved one of its appendages before Asher's face, the motion leaving a trail of shimmering darkness in its wake. As Asher's gaze locked onto the creature, Inky extended one of its arms to the side, a peculiar glint in its eyes that spoke of newfound power and understanding.

In a breathtaking display of otherworldly prowess, a small, swirling vortex materialized along the path of Inky's outstretched limb. The air around it crackled with an eerie energy, dark tendrils of power reaching out before dissipating into nothingness. The vortex stood in stark contrast to the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy above, a pocket of midnight in the heart of day.

With fluid grace, Inky dipped its tentacle into the heart of the vortex, its limb seeming to elongate impossibly as it reached into the depths of the shadowy portal. Moments later, it emerged with something clutched firmly in its grasp—a crystal that pulsed with an inner light, as if alive with captured starlight.

"Ohhh," Asher breathed, his voice barely above a whisper as realization dawned upon him. The pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place, revealing a picture of extraordinary growth and adaptation.

Inky, true to its nature as a Void Kraken, had unlocked a remarkable new ability akin to the inventory systems Asher had read about in light novels and experienced in games. This newfound power had allowed Inky to safeguard Asher's belongings, neatly stowing them away in its own extradimensional space for safekeeping and ease of transport.

A rush of excitement and pride surged through Asher as he contemplated the growth of his two extraordinary companions. Inky floated serenely before him, emanating a sense of quiet satisfaction at having assisted its human companion. Asher's gaze was drawn to a dark purple crystal, similar to the one adorning Jormu's forehead, now nestled between Inky's eyes.

The crystal shimmered with an ethereal glow, pulsing gently as if infused with the very essence of the mysterious powers that had bestowed it upon Inky. Its presence seemed to have transformed the Kraken, enhancing its already formidable abilities.

Inky had grown noticeably larger, its skin now adorned with a glossy black luster that appeared thicker and more resilient. The muscles beneath rippled with newfound strength, hinting at enhanced capabilities that Asher could only begin to imagine.

Driven by curiosity, Asher cautiously extended his hand towards the open portal, its swirling depths both alluring and terrifying. But before he could make contact, Inky swiftly intercepted with its tentacles. The Kraken's movements were gentle yet firm, its tentacles waving in a gesture that clearly communicated a warning not to touch.

Asher withdrew his hand, a shiver running down his spine as he contemplated the potential dangers of meddling with void affairs. Instead, he reached out to gently stroke Inky's head, his touch conveying silent praise for the Kraken's ingenuity in storing their belongings.

"You did a good job, Inky," Asher murmured, his voice filled with warmth and pride.

The Kraken wiggled with joy under his touch, its tentacles curling and uncurling in a display of contentment.

Their moment of connection was interrupted by another ghastly wail echoing through the cave, its eerie resonance reverberating off the walls. The sound sent a chill down Asher's spine, a reminder of the otherworldly nature of their surroundings. It was Jormu, successfully capturing another spectral entity lurking in the depths of the lake.

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

With Inky at his side, Asher found their crystal collection efforts significantly enhanced. The Kraken's spatial abilities streamlined the process, allowing for efficient gathering and storage. Each newly discovered crystal was deftly transported into Inky's subspace, their cache of gleaming treasures growing with each passing moment.

As they worked, Asher's senses were bombarded by the eerie atmosphere of the cave. The air was thick with the musty scent of ancient bones and stagnant water. The occasional splash from Jormu's movements in the lake punctuated the otherwise oppressive silence, creating a rhythm that seemed almost hypnotic.

Meanwhile, Jormu continued to roam the bone-strewn bottom of the lake, its sinuous form visible through the murky water as it hunted. The wyrmling's movements were purposeful and predatory, each successful capture marked by another unearthly cry that echoed through the cavern.

The task of collecting beast crystals from the lake's bottom consumed an entire week of painstaking effort. As Asher worked, the true nature of the lake revealed itself. What had once been a much deeper body of water was now filled with the bones of fallen creatures.

Determined to unearth every crystal, Asher devised a new strategy. Using vines gathered from the surrounding vegetation, he fashioned a crude but effective net. Jormu and Inky worked tirelessly to fill it with bones, their efforts creating a constant backdrop of splashing and clattering.

With each haul, Asher would drag the net to the surface, his muscles straining against the weight of waterlogged bones. The net's contents would spill onto the lake shore with a cacophonous clatter, and Asher would meticulously sift through the macabre pile, his eyes alert for the telltale glint of hidden crystals.

The repetitive task became a grueling routine, the sound of bones clattering against each other a constant companion. This grim melody was periodically punctuated by the ghostly wails emanating from the depths where Jormu continued its relentless hunt.

As the days wore on, Asher's determination only grew stronger. Each crystal retrieved added to their burgeoning collection, whispering promises of potential power and wealth. The lure of discovery, coupled with the thought of strengthening his companions, drove him onward even as exhaustion threatened to overwhelm him.

The cave's eerie ambiance seemed to intensify as time passed. Shadows lengthened and deepened, creating pockets of absolute darkness that seemed to watch Asher with malevolent intent. The air grew thicker, heavy with the weight of untold secrets and lingering spirits.

Yet, amidst the unsettling atmosphere, Asher found solace in the growing capabilities of Inky and Jormu. Their rapid adaptation and mastery of newfound powers filled him with a sense of pride and wonder.

Inky's spatial affinity had evolved to an astonishing degree. The Kraken could now summon its dark vortex near Asher from a distance, as if possessing an innate sense of its companion's spatial coordinates. This ability allowed for effortless retrieval of stored items, with Inky deftly fetching and delivering materials from its inventory using its sinuous arms.

The convenience of this newfound power became increasingly apparent as their work in the cave continued. Whether Asher needed a tool, a weapon, or a valuable crystal, Inky's mastery over its spatial abilities streamlined their operations. A simple request from Asher would result in the swift delivery of the required item through a vortex linked to Inky's inventory.

Jormu's abilities, in contrast to Inky's more conventional spatial manipulation, delved into the realm of spectral control. The wyrmling had somehow managed to contract one of the specters encountered in the cave, maintaining dominion over a single wraith. Asher watched in fascination as Jormu effortlessly commanded the ethereal being with subtle gestures and eerie whispers that seemed to bypass the need for verbal communication.

As time passed, Asher found himself contemplating the future implications of Jormu's growing strength. The prospect of controlling more powerful specters offered tantalizing possibilities for their continued exploration and inevitable encounters with unknown threats.

The contracted specter proved to be an invaluable addition to their team. Its tireless nature allowed it to stand guard during their rest periods, requiring no sleep and maintaining constant vigilance. Asher had witnessed the specter in battle, marveling at its considerable strength and unique abilities.

One particular skill that left a lasting impression on Asher was the specter's ability to turn translucent, rendering itself invulnerable to attacks. However, this state came with limitations – the specter could not launch counterattacks while translucent and could only maintain this form for short periods before reverting to its usual ghastly blue hue.

Through observation and experimentation, Asher had discovered that physical attacks infused with magic and purely magic-based attacks proved effective against the specters. Purely physical assaults, however, merely passed through them when they were in their translucent state, a fact that Asher filed away for future strategic considerations.

The specter Jormu had contracted was a sight to behold – larger than the wraith Asher had encountered earlier, with longer, sharper claws that seemed capable of rending flesh from bone. Its lower jaw was missing, leaving a gaping maw from which a grotesquely long tongue lolled. Tattered clothes hung from its ethereal form, and long, wispy hair gave it a haunting humanoid appearance that sent shivers down Asher's spine.

As Asher pondered the specter's origins, questions swirled in his mind. How had such a being come to reside in the lake? The absence of human bones among those at the lake bottom only deepened the mystery. Was this specter truly a spirit of the dead, or something else entirely – a manifestation of the cave's dark energy perhaps?

Over the course of the week, Asher had noticed a disturbing change in their environment. The corpses of the mother snake and Kraken, which had remained eerily preserved since their arrival, had begun to decay and rot. It was as if the energy that had kept them fresh had suddenly dissipated, leaving them vulnerable to the natural processes of decomposition.

This observation, combined with his limited knowledge of the strange world they inhabited, he now had a hunch about the origin of the crystals they had seen adorning the bodies of the two beasts. The implication was fascinating, hinting at a cycle of power and transformation that defied conventional understanding.

Asher found himself grateful for the seemingly instinctive knowledge his horrors possessed about their needs for growth and strength. As he was clueless of how he can help them in the long run.

As their week of relentless digging drew to a close, Asher noticed Jormu exhibiting unusual behavior. The wyrmling had been repeatedly hovering around a particular spot on the skeletal floor of the lake, its movements purposeful and insistent. It was as if Jormu was searching for something specific, driven by an instinct.

Intrigued by this change in behavior, Asher approached Jormu cautiously. Typically, the wyrmling would coil around Asher's arm in an affectionate gesture, but this time it remained focused on its task. With deliberate movements, Jormu pointed its head toward the ground beneath it, its entire body tense with anticipation.

Taking the cue from his companion, Asher decided to excavate the area that had captured Jormu's attention. He enlisted Inky's assistance and commanded the specter to aid them, forming an unlikely trio of explorers united in their purpose.

For hours, they diligently dug through the layers of bones, each movement careful and deliberate to avoid damaging any potential find. The work was grueling.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of sifting through the macabre remains, Asher's efforts were rewarded. Amidst the tangle of bones and debris, a sparkling blue crystal emerged, its ghastly hue reminiscent of the spectral abilities demonstrated by Jormu and the specters.

As Asher carefully extracted the crystal from its resting place, he couldn't help but marvel at the intuition displayed by Jormu.

As Asher held it up to the dim light of the cave, watching its facets catch and reflect the ghostly illumination, he found himself smirking at the accumulating wealth of himself and his companions.