The edifice shuddered once more, its very core trembling as if in the throes of an otherworldly quake. Stones tumbled from their lofty perches, falling from the ceiling as beams that once spanned the rafters twisted and groaned, their timeworn strength giving way. A low, guttural moan echoed throughout the vast hall, a mournful chorus as the foundation itself contorted, the ground beneath them shifting ominously. The very floor cracked and buckled, parts of it tilting to the side, defying gravity and reason. The intrepid group struggled to maintain their footing amidst the onslaught of chaos, their world tilting askew.
"We gotta get outta of here," Randal's voice rang out urgently, his actions swift as he pulled Tim to his feet. The summoning chamber was left behind, the group retraced their steps into the main hall. A cacophony of crumbling stone reverberated in their wake as a cascade of light infiltrated the darkness. Tim turned, his gaze drawn to the wall that was dissolving into an eerie black mist, a grotesque transformation that heralded the intrusion of a monstrous presence. A colossal head emerged, melding with the very fabric of the room, two eyes atop stalks surveying them with an otherworldly malevolence. Whispers of perpetual darkness escaped from its cavernous maw, a silent roar that sent tremors through their souls.
"Run! To the Mule, as fast as you can!" Tim's voice surged forth; a desperate command that cut through the maddening noise that echoed in his mind. A frenzied dash ensued, their steps a symphony of fear and determination as they descended the hill. Behind them, the abyssal entity surged forth, its form an enigmatic snail-like shape forged from writhing darkness that consumed the very earth it traversed.
McKenzie's lithe form reached the Mule with astonishing speed, Randal close on her heels. An onslaught of empowered arrows erupted from her bow, each shot imbued with a surge of energy that slowed their relentless pursuer, creating a vital window of respite. Aerith arrived first then Tim joined them and seized control of the Mule's driver's seat. His hot breath formed white clouds in the frigid air as he slammed down on the throttle, his desperate maneuver propelling them forward. The sails unfurled, absorbing mana as they transformed, catching the wind and propelling the vehicle with newfound speed.
The perilous distance between them and the malevolent force expanded, yet the Mule couldn't maintain this pace for long. A sense of impending doom loomed, threatening to consume the group. But Tim's preparations were not in vain. The memory of the cannon's potency resided within his mind, a glimmer of hope amidst the encroaching darkness. "Deploying armaments!" Tim's voice reverberated through the chaos, a declaration that set his plan into motion. Two peculiar contraptions emerged from the rear corners of the carriage, their metallic forms bristling with potential. A second set of mana-absorbing sails unfurled, wired directly to the weapons system and leaving the Mule looking like some demented beetle with wings outstretched.
"Mac, Randal, slow it down!" Tim's plea rang out above the clamor, his companions rallying to his call. With newfound strength, the duo moved swiftly to the rear of the carriage, gripping the weapon's handles. As McKenzie fired, a surge of white-hot plasma erupted, cutting through the air with a searing intensity. The weapon pivoted, and a relentless torrent of energy was unleashed upon their pursuer.
Minutes stretched into an eternity, the relentless barrage hammering against the monstrous entity. McKenzie and Randal strained to find a weak point in the behemoth's colossal form, the eyestalks, the shell, the mouth, but nothing proved effective. And the Mule's reserves were dwindling, its energy waning as the voidborn adversary pressed on with unyielding determination.
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"Try crossing the beams!" McKenzie's voice rose above the din, a plea that cut through the tempestuous tumult.
"Don't cross the beams!" Randal screamed.
"Too late!" McKenzie's response came, determination and desperation merging into a symphony of resolve as their beams intersected.
The fusion of their beams created a blinding convergence, a brilliant illumination that pierced through the consuming shadows. A seismic shockwave resonated outward, a collision of energies that sent ripples of discord through the very fabric of reality. The monstrous entity reared its otherworldly head back in a silent howl, its form writhing and distorting under the pressure of the combined assault.
Darkness recoiled, a churning maelstrom of malevolence now held at bay by the defiant radiance of their efforts. The voidborn monstrosity faltered, its relentless advance stymied by the overwhelming force of their united attack. Time seemed to stand still as a precarious battle between light and shadow ensued.
The surrounding landscape shuddered, as if in response to the cataclysmic clash. The ground trembled, and fissures tore through the earth, snaking toward the monstrous form. The creature twisted in a crescendo of despair that tore through the valley.
As the light and darkness continued to wage their battle, the ground beneath the entity began to crumble, swallowed by the abyss that had once been its essence. The colossal form wavered, its strength ebbing away as its connection to this realm grew increasingly tenuous. The very air crackled with energy, a symphony of ethereal harmonies as the boundaries between realms blurred and distorted.
A brilliant surge of radiant light erupted forth, its intensity increasing exponentially. The Akkorkaumi let out one final, silent, agonizing wail, its form shattering into fragments that were carried away on the currents of fading darkness. The voidborn creature dissolved, except for one small fragment that crystallized. The crystal was thrown and fell upon the rear bumper of the Mule, where it lodged. Its shimmering darkness blended into the vehicle’s black paint.
The world around the four seemed to exhale, a collective sigh of relief as the threat subsided, and for a long while they traveled in an eerie silence.
“To be honest,” Tim said breaking the quiet, “I was curious what would happen when the beams collided.”
Several days elapsed before the weary group found themselves safely ensconced within the protective embrace of Erraat's towering walls. Randal and McKenzie disembarked on the first level, their return marked by a profound sense of relief. Meanwhile, Tim and Aerith embarked on their separate paths after reaching the guild compound. Aerith ventured towards the quarters reserved for employees, while Tim guided the Mule into a makeshift resting spot behind the warehouse, his depleted energy precluding a thorough stowage. Completing his task, Tim made his way to a private sanctum, the warehouse office overlooking the tranquil expanse of the lake.
The crow that changed the world was a bit grumpy at its lack of daily treats. It had taken the infraction as a personal offense and was full and ready to give the human a full-on squawk. An air of disgruntlement clung to the creature, and it eyed Tim with a smidgen of reproach. However, fate appeared to intervene, sparing Tim from the crow's voluble proclamation. A mysterious contraption, a noisy black marvel, had halted its approach. The crow that changed the world regarded this enigmatic creation with cautious curiosity, its beady eyes taking stock of the dormant beast. The once-deafening clamor had yielded to a hushed dormancy, hinting that the contraption was now sleeping. Emboldened by this perceived lull, the bird embarked on a tentative descent, alighting gingerly upon the slick expanse of the beast's back.
Hopping about with a mix of curiosity and circumspection, the bird embarked on a systematic appraisal, its sharp senses attuned to the telltale scent of humanity that clung to the black marvel. Perhaps the black thing was not as evil as it first seemed. Gradually, a flicker of acceptance ignited within the crow's consciousness.
Just as the crow that changed the world was on the precipice of resuming its avian pursuits, a glint of radiance, something achingly shiny, ensnared its keen attention. Something on the end of the beast, nearly hidden, tantalized the bird.