Scott's gaze lingered on the blood-red lettering of the system message, a heavy silence settling around him. Though the flaming apparition of the elders spoke, their words dissolved into the void of his shock.
“Someone died?” Scott murmured, his bewilderment tangible. Faces flashed before his mind's eye—Zara, Slim, Fi-Fi, Llorva, Ember, Orion, and the asura—but he couldn't discern who among them had passed.
The notion of death being a definite possibility amidst the ranking games, where cheating fate seemed paramount, rattled him.
Could it have been her? Scott wondered, the image of a towering androgynous woman haunting his thoughts.
With a mere thought, a crack shimmered in Scott's right eye, birthing a portal within the expansive hall. Before the elders could grasp the situation, the portal whisked him away.
Scott plummeted through gray skies, hurtling toward the rugged terrain below with alarming speed. His eyes, clear yet restless, scanned the surroundings, seeking something—or someone—impatiently.
In a heartbeat, he spotted them: figures clad in pristine white robes, each adorned with distinctive bloodstains. Amidst the diverse eight-member party, one face stood out—a familiar figure engrossed in lively conversation with her companions.
The eldritch knight sighed, feeling the grip of anxiety loosen slightly in his chest. With a thought, another portal materialized several feet above the ground, and Scott vanished noiselessly as he emerged elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Zara and her alliance members sensed an unusual urge to raise their heads, but only the dull gray night skies greeted them. Without dwelling on the odd sensation, they continued their journey.
In another location, Scott emerged from a portal onto solid ground, finding himself in a room enveloped in thick, fragrant steam.
“Where in the hell am I, and where's Slim?” Scott muttered, scanning the room for his skeletal companion. Slowly, he explored the expansive area resembling a massive sauna, the steam unable to hinder his sharp gaze. Despite finding no traces of living beings, occasional giggles and chortles echoed through the space.
Pressing on, Scott remained mindful of time passing. The further he ventured, the more the giggles intensified, their familiarity unsettling him. Following his instincts, he navigated a winding path until he reached a vast indoor pool.
There, he observed several champions adorned in unique and exotic swimwear, either swimming or lounging by the pool with drinks in hand. Some reclined-on massage tables, attended to by voluptuous creatures resembling humanoid slimes, each possessing distinct human features.
Amidst the excited champions, Slim lay on a table, grinning widely as the voluptuous creatures glided over his bones, smearing them with a pinkish liquid.
“Look at that dumbass enjoying himself,” Scott muttered under his breath, exhaling softly as his anxiety ebbed once more. Another portal opened before him, and without a word, he vanished again. Unlike Zara and her companions, Slim remained unperturbed, fully absorbed in his massage.
Scott vanished and reappeared in two new locations in rapid succession, ensuring Fi-Fi and Llorva's safety without either detecting his presence. Among the seven bearers of his imprint, only three remained unaccounted for: Orion, the asura, and Ember.
Emerging from another portal, Scott held the back of his head, his right eye throbbing incessantly and his vision periodically blurring. In this new location, gentle winds caressed his face, tousling his hair, while melodious chimes reverberated in the air. The clear skies stretched over lush mountains, where fairies and various miniature creatures flitted about, accompanied by a symphony of musical instruments.
Scott's gaze roamed from person to person until it settled on Orion, who lay on the ground, entranced by the sky. Sensing Scott's scrutiny, the mage sat up, turning towards the eldritch knight.
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Their eyes met, and Orion smiled, poised to speak. But Scott beat him to it. “I can't talk now. Let's rendezvous at the first neutral ground. Before then, I'll take you to a place where you can access data beyond your imagination.”
Another portal materialized before Scott, and he vanished. Meanwhile, Orion's smile widened at the prospect of discovering data intriguing enough to captivate Scott.
As Orion gathered himself, preparing to depart, a stray thought intruded his mind. “How did he arrive here? Does he possess the ability to traverse between different floors? And his demeanor...was he relieved when our eyes met, or am I reading too much into it?”
The mage stared at the clouds once more. “I think I’ve relaxed enough. I should get going,” he muttered softly.
The mage moved with deliberate steps into the distance, his thoughts swirling like leaves in a tempest.
Meanwhile, Scott emerged from yet another portal, thin lines of blood tracing along his face like squirming worms as the cracks within his eye pulsated with fervor. His breath quickened noticeably, his complexion paling with each passing moment.
As Scott emerged from the portal, his expression grew serious, confronted with a scene of utter devastation. Smoke hung in the air over the rocky terrain, deep crevices still crumbling at the edges. Dust clouds mingled with scattered flames, while surviving vegetation swayed in the breeze, a silent witness to the chaos.
Ignoring the chaos around him, Scott's focus zeroed in on three figures, each dressed in striking silver armor. Fury contorted his features as he noticed the severed heads they held. Casting a brief glance to the east, he spotted the asura's corpse buried under a barrage of glimmering swords.
His rage gradually ebbed as he stared at the lifeless body of the asura. Though he couldn't discern how it met its end, he could sense the ferocity of the battle that led to its demise. The lack of visible injuries on the trio implied their overwhelming power.
Scott regarded the corpse emotionlessly. They hadn't journeyed together long enough for any genuine bond to form, let alone for him to seek revenge on its behalf. The fleeting surge of anger at the creature's fate surprised him, but it quickly dissipated.
Extending his hand, tendrils hidden within the asura's corpse silently surged toward him, merging back into his arm.
Turning his attention back to the unknown assailants, Scott remained clueless about their identities. As he prepared to depart, the figures halted, a fiery voice echoing in his ears, “Who are you?”
A chill ran down Scott's spine as he instinctively dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding an explosion that erupted where he had stood moments before.
The war hammer of the mad god materialized from the darkness, and Scott willingly grasped the malevolent weapon, its surface revealing lustrous blackened steel etched with intricate markings.
Scott, flanked by the three figures, slowly appraised the trio clad in identical armor. The champions on either side of Scott sported exaggerated white masks, yet he paid them little attention. Instead, his gaze fixed upon the man standing before him.
His eyes widened within their sockets, and his lips trembled slightly. “Alex?” he murmured softly; disbelief evident in his voice. Memories flooded his mind, as vivid as if they had transpired yesterday. Two men, once brimming with passion and curiosity, discussing fervently which fantasy universe they would prefer to inhabit. But the man before him now possessed eyes devoid of emotion, as if all light had been swallowed by an unfathomable darkness.
Alex took a step forward, his grip tightening around his longsword. His beard, particularly his goatee, swayed with the whims of the wind, while the distinct clank of small rubble against his pristine armor echoed in the air.
Standing a few feet away from Scott, his sword aimed at the eldritch knight, Alex commanded, “Remove that mask. I want to see your face. I won’t ask a second time.”
Scott chuckled, shaking his head. “I knew it was only a matter of time before I encountered one of you assholes. I was hoping it would be those jocks. But it hardly matters,” he said, resting the Warhammer on his shoulder. “Pleasure to meet you, you bloody bastard. We've got a lot of catching up to do, but I suppose I'll have to settle my score with you first.”
This time, it was Alex's turn to furrow his brow as his thoughts raced. Moments later, disbelief clouded his face, swiftly followed by rage as he erupted into maniacal laughter. “I knew it! They all said I was paranoid, but I knew there was no way a dirty, slimy bastard like you wouldn’t worm your way into the tower.”
Alex's laughter crescendoed, fueled by his surging rage. His bloodshot eyes glowed with an otherworldly bloodlust, while a pulsating aura enveloped his outstretched sword.
The man's maniacal laughter abruptly ceased, his chilling gaze fixating on Scott. “Long time no see, Scott. Or should I address you as the Eidolon of Envy?” He mocked as he took another step forward. “I sincerely hope you’ve been enjoying your miserable life so far, because you’re absolutely about to get your shit rocked. That much I can promise you.”