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

“When you wake up from death, you will find yourself in my arms... for 'I' am the ever living beyond Death.” ( The Inevitability of Light - 1:11 )

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The ape-beast exerted its strength, muscles bulging as it fought to tear apart the shadows coiling around its limbs. For every binding it shredded, new tendrils emerged from the ground, ensnaring it in an endless cycle. The weight of the mist-laden figures clinging to its body further impeded its movements, their touch chilling and oppressive. Dense fog obscured its vision, especially around its face, prompting the beast to intermittently swipe with its massive hand to disperse the mist and reclaim some clarity.

Suddenly, the beast halted its struggle, startled by another ghastly wail emanating from the wraith. The sound sent shivers down its spine, a primal fear taking hold. In that moment of distraction, a searing pain erupted in its back. The beast roared, its agonized cry echoing through the misty battlefield as it swiftly turned to confront a short figure wielding a spear. The carefully impaled weapon in its torso caused excruciating pain with each movement, fueling the beast's fury. It lashed out viciously, its massive arm sweeping through the air towards the figure.

In that critical moment, Inky materialized behind Asher, his tentacle arm gently resting on Asher's shoulder. With a whisper of shadow, both vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving the beast's attack to cleave through empty air.

The ape stood dumbfounded, its eyes wild with confusion and rage as the figures made of fog continued their relentless assault from all directions. Each attack seemed never-ending, a torrent of misty claws and ethereal limbs. Despite its attempts to disperse them with a wave of its free hand, more would materialize, an endless army of spectral assailants. The constant struggle against the crowd and the effort to break free from the shadowy binds were draining its strength. The combined assaults from the wraith and the short figure were also wearing it down, causing the bleeding beast to slow down and lose its vigor with each passing moment.

Without warning, two thick chains emerged from opposite directions, crafted from pale blue metal and ensconced in a chilling blue flame that belied its icy touch. They wrapped themselves around the beast's massive arms before snaking into its chest from either side. Upon penetrating its flesh, the chains tightened with an unforgiving force, pulling the ape's arms in opposite directions.

The ape attempted to resist, its muscles straining against the ethereal bonds. But fatigue weighed heavily upon it, sapping its strength. The segment of chain embedded in its chest not only drained what little energy remained but also clouded its mind further. Each tug of the chains brought the beast closer to exhaustion, weakening its resolve and physical strength.

The shadowy tentacles continued their relentless ascent, enveloping the ape's lower body up to its stomach. Meanwhile, the ghastly blue flames encircling the chains on its arms numbed the ape's senses, rendering it devoid of any feeling in those extremities. The ape's gaze fixed forward, its bloodshot eyes struggling to focus as it sensed movement amidst the dense fog.

There, the short figure that had pierced its back before emerged again. The ape's agitation intensified, a low growl rumbling in its chest. But suddenly, the blue flames intensified as well, overwhelming any burgeoning resistance within the beast. Its roar of defiance died in its throat, replaced by a whimper of pain and defeat.

Asher cautiously approached the ape, now completely drained and ensnared by the soul-devouring chains of Jormu and the shadowy tentacles summoned by Inky. The beast appeared to falter each time it attempted to resist, as if dazed by the overwhelming effects of the soul-devouring chains slowly consuming its essence from within.

With measured steps, Asher advanced towards the towering ape, bone spear in hand. The weapon, crafted from the toughest metallic bone found deep within the bone cave, gleamed in the eerie light. Chilling, ghastly flames of soul fire licked the surface of the spear, a testament to Jormu's power, yet controlled and harmless to Asher. The beast loomed over him, twice his size, shrouded in writhing shadow tentacles that unfurled from the dark space beneath it.

The beast attempted to growl menacingly at Asher, but two thick shadowy tentacles emerged from below, wrapping around its mouth and silencing its threat. Asher calmly raised a foot and a sinuous shadow tentacle extended towards him, slipping beneath his foot and lifting him gently into the air. As he hovered, an arrogant disdain flashed through Asher's mind at the sight of the towering beast staring down at him.

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Now at eye level with the beast, Asher's voice was calm and monotone as he addressed the creature that glared at him with fury through its bloodshot eye. "It was a good fight, a pity you were outnumbered," he remarked casually. With a swift and precise motion, Asher aimed his bone spear at a vulnerable spot. The beast's thick bones presented a challenge, but Asher targeted a weak point near the junction of its collar bones. He drove the spear downwards, the soul flame enveloping its tip as it pierced the beast's chest, aiming for where he believed its heart lay.

The beast's body tensed, a final spasm of resistance before it went limp, hanging from the chains that bound it. The ethereal restraints around its arms unwrapped and dissolved into the dissipating fog. The writhing shadow tentacles also dispersed, vanishing along with the chilling flame that had coated Asher's spear.

With a deep breath, Asher finally felt a sense of relief wash over him. They had successfully hunted an awakened beast together. Satisfaction and weariness mingled in his expression as he surveyed the scene, the fog slowly lifting to reveal the aftermath of their battle.

If the primate had struggled a bit longer, Asher and the two horrors would have had to retreat as the two were nearly exhausted by now. The realization of how close they had come to failure sent a shiver down Asher's spine.

Eventually putting the corpse in Inky's inventory, he returned to his home with the two hungry horrors. The journey back was filled with a tense silence, each lost in their own thoughts about the battle they had just survived.

However, Asher encountered an unexpected sight back at the cave. Sitting on the wooden chair Asher had crafted for himself, was the hunter. The man was missing his left arm, a grim testament to the dangers of his encounter, yet there he sat, patiently waiting beside the crackling fire he had lit. The sight of the hunter brought a flood of memories and emotions rushing back to Asher.

With practiced movements, Asher carefully arranged the meat from the ape over the crackling fire, watching as the flames licked at the raw flesh, filling the cave with the savory aroma of cooking meat. He settled into the wooden chair opposite the hunter, who leisurely nibbled on forest berries placed in front of him. Inky, with his shadowy form, had retreated into the shadows of the cave, ready to spring into action if needed.

Across from them, the hunter ate in silence, his gaze occasionally drifting towards Asher and the unusual creature lurking in the darkness. Despite the missing arm, the hunter exuded a quiet strength and resilience that seemed to emanate from years spent navigating the perils of the myriad realms.

As the fire crackled and the meat sizzled, a comfortable silence settled between them, broken only by the occasional snap of burning wood. Asher remained attentive, his senses heightened by the presence of the ‘stranger’ in his sanctuary. Previously as they had returned from the hunt he had sensed something amiss upon entering the cave, prompting Inky to retreat into the shadows in preparation for any unforeseen developments.

With each passing moment, Asher's initial wariness began to increase. Memories of a few months back surfaced, reminding him of the hunter's ambition and goals, which he knew the man would complete regardless of the cost. The issue was however that, Asher was no longer certain if completing the task by the system was what the hunter was after still now after all these months had passed.

Asher was quiet for a moment as he processed his thoughts, the hunter on the other hand broke his silence first.

"I see that you have contracted two beasts with rare bloodlines. Congratulations," the hunter remarked casually from across the table. Asher felt his heartbeat speed up a bit.

'Rare? Oh.' Asher didn't bother correcting the hunter. 'He noticed so quickly,' Asher thought as he kept his face neutral and nodded.

'Smart kid,' Gabriel thought as he watched Asher across from him with a smile on his face. 'He has grown quickly and even learned how to hide his cards. Smart indeed.'

Truth be told, when Gabriel was attacked by his enemy, he thought he would fail the task given by the divine will as Asher was still a greenhorn when the hunter was forced to leave his side. During the time he was dealing with his enemies, he was pleasantly surprised to see that the task was still active via the creation system after many weeks flew by.

"You have been hurt badly," Asher observed, breaking the silence. "Were they that strong?"

Gabriel replied with a shrug. "Strong? Not really. They were just very tricky and caught me unprepared. I thought I had some time before they made their move against us, however, it seems I was wrong and paid the price." He pointed to his missing arm, the stump a stark reminder of the dangers that lurked.

Asher nodded to Gabriel's answer, not asking any further about who attacked them. The less he knew, the safer he might be.

'Hmm, the more I observe his pets, the more surprised I am,' Gabriel mused silently. 'A shadow bloodline beast and a beast that seemed to have an affinity with spirits and soul. Just how did this kid manage to get hold of such beasts?'

Hunter quietly observed Asher who got up to turn the sides of the roasting meat. Looking at the beast on his shoulder, a hint of greed appeared in the hunter's eyes before he promptly suppressed it.

'No, I need to complete this task,' Gabriel thought to himself. 'If only we were not being targeted right now, I could have taken those beasts regardless of the task. Alas, this lad has luck on his side.'

With a sigh showing his regret, Hunter apologized to Asher, "I'm sorry to have wasted so much of your time and also put you at risk."

Asher briefly looked up at the hunter from the fire pit before replying, "It's okay. It's not your fault. Some things are uncontrollable." His voice was steady, but there was a hint of wariness in his eyes.

The hunter then continued, his voice taking on a more serious tone, "By tomorrow, most probably the task given to me by the divine will is going to end, and you will probably be sent back to where you are from."

Asher was briefly shocked for a bit, the implications of the hunter's words sinking in. His eyes were drawn towards what the hunter took out and placed on the table. It was a glimmering golden fruit with dragon-like scales, radiating a powerful aura that seemed to fill the entire cave with its presence.

The sight of the fruit sent a jolt through Asher's body. He could feel its power even from where he sat. Questions raced through his mind: What was this fruit? Why was the hunter giving it to him? And most importantly, what would happen if he accepted it?

As the firelight danced across the scales of the fruit, casting otherworldly shadows on the cave walls, Asher realized that he stood at another crossroads.