Amid complete darkness, Nathan found himself thinking the disorienting question, “Where am I?” He scanned the void, but there was nothing to see except an abyss that swallowed all light. It was a desolate place, devoid of any recognizable features. As Nathan attempted to grapple with his current circumstances, failing in the process, he decided to turn his attention inward. Astonishingly, he discovered he possessed no physical form. Instead, he existed as an incorporeal consciousness, seemingly adrift in the vastness of space. Within his new form, Nathan’s perception was eerily limited. He was devoid of any sensations except for a peculiar tingling within his irises. Nathan wished to vocalize his confusion and ask the void a question hoping something would answer, but his attempts at speech were futile, his words only materializing within the confines of his mind, or whatever the equivalent was in his new form.
Time became nonexistent in this desolate void. Whether a few seconds or a millennium had passed, Nathan could not tell the difference. He sat motionless, suspended in an unfathomable emptiness, the weight of eternity pressing heavily upon his ghostly essence. A feeling of desperation loomed as he teetered on the precipice of insanity, relinquishing hope of understanding and escaping this mysterious realm.
Yet, just as his sanity waned, a transformation stirred within him. The vibrations that had resided within his eyes surged forth with intensity, and at the same time as this surge, the darkness surrounding him underwent a dramatic change. The very fabric of reality seemed to contort and convulse as if twisted by invisible hands, threatening to rend it asunder.
The bleak void dissolved, replaced by an ancient brick road that wound through a scene reminiscent of a medieval era. Towering buildings adorned with architectural details from an ancient time surrounded him, and the sky above was colored with a crimson hue, casting an uncanny glow over the mysterious landscape. Before him, stood four figures, nearly identical to the shadow Nathan had just met. However, each of them possessed eyes of distinct colors. Nathans vision struggled to focus, the scene appeared distorted, similar to peering into the haze of a distant memory. Yet, despite the blur, he experienced a peculiar sensation, he could feel. He found himself in a humanoid form, granting him a material presence after what felt like an eternity without one. With anticipation, he attempted to move his limbs and communicate with the figures that stood before him. However, his efforts were in vain. He remained immobilized, a mere observer trapped within this mysterious body.
Unease stirred within Nathan as he struggled against his immobility, trapped in a body that denied his agency. Yet, as his panic swelled, the shadow positioned farthest to the left, a figure with eyes of vivid blue dots and the shortest of the group unexpectedly broke the silence. A voice resonated through the air, dripping with frustration, yet possessing a semblance of normalcy that set it apart from the distorted tones of the shadow he had encountered before.
“Even if the Celestials have pushed back our forces, we have to find another way. We will gain nothing from sacrificing another one of our own!” The blue-eyed shadow exclaimed furiously. A touch of sadness tinged the air as the figure adjacent to them, a shadow with eyes that looked like red dots reached out, placing a hand upon the shoulder of the blue-eyed counterpart,
“I understand your anger,” the red-eyed figure replied, “but the deal they struck with the ##### ####,” their voice was momentarily distorted as they mentioned an obscured entity, “It has cost us dearly, and there may be no alternative left for us.” The weight of regret burdened their words. The blue-eyed shadow turned, a glimmer of sorrow emerging in their response,
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“If we just wait a little longer, we can find a true path to victory.” The blue-eyed shadow's voice began to quiver, and Nathan could hear sniffles that held the noticeable tone of sadness, “I don’t want to lose anyone else.” With a powerful surge of emotions, Nathan's body reacted to the statement, a faint smile forming on his lips. He moved towards the blue-eyed shadow, his voice, soft and resonant, broke the silence as he began to speak,
“Iacchus, don’t worry, I’m doing this of my own volition. This needs to be done.” The red-eyed shadow seemed to nod and replied in an equally soft voice, most likely trying to comfort the blue-eyed shadow,
“In a mere day, the celestials decimated over half our ranks. Within a week, we shall face utter annihilation. The only path to victory lies with him.” All of the shadows turned their attention to the body through which Nathan perceived this mysterious world, “We will never forget this…thank you, Erebus!” they spoke in unison, their gratitude evident in their voices.
Forcibly, emotions surged into Nathan's soul, filling him with happiness and honor. Yet, amid these newfound feelings, he began to question the reality of what lay before him. He wondered if the shadow he had just encountered on the dark city streets was similar to the figure’s standing right in front of him and if he was currently looking through the eyes of that shadow.
Thoughts raced wildly in Nathan's mind, only to be abruptly halted by an unsettling sensation that emanated from his chest. Mirroring Nathan's curiosity, the body he inhabited tilted its head downward, and its eyes widened in astonishment. A black blade protruded from the very core of its chest, sending a jolt of fear through Nathan's heart. As an overwhelming heat engulfed his body, time seemed to slow to a crawl. With a pounding heart, Nathan's gaze lifted, catching sight of the four shadows sprinting toward him, with equally surprised and worried expressions.
However, before the rest of this mysterious encounter unfolded, the vibration within Nathan’s eyes surged with an intensity that bordered on torment. The fabric of space around him contorted and ripped apart, unleashing a sea of anguished screams and a bone-chilling roar, emanating from an indescribable beast that defied human comprehension. Images began to flash before Nathan like a slideshow. The first scene that appeared before him was a city, eerily similar to the one he had just left. However, this city was engulfed in roaring flames, its once towering structures reduced to smoldering rubble. The air was thick with smoke, and the ground was littered with countless bodies, their blood staining the streets. Yet, despite the vividness of the scene, a shroud of darkness veiled the bodies.
The next vision transported Nathan to an entirely different scene. The barren landscape he found himself in stretched endlessly, reminiscent of Earth's salt flats, with not a hint of life or vegetation. Amidst this desolation, hundreds of shadowy figures were gathered, their forms indistinct and hazy, all kneeling before a grand wooden podium with their hands tied behind their backs.
Atop this podium stood a figure of undeniable authority and power. He was tall, his stature majestic, with pure white hair that did not fall past his ears. His eyes were equally white, and his skin was pale. Clad in meticulously crafted black and dark red armor, he addressed the sea of shadows before him with his hands clasped behind his back. The figure moved his lips, but Nathan could not hear a sound. Suddenly, one of the shadowy figures convulsed violently, its head exploding in a burst of blood before collapsing lifelessly onto the parched ground. A wave of revulsion and anger surged through Nathan as he witnessed what seemed to be a brutal execution.
Yet, before he could fully process the horror of what he had witnessed, the scene shifted once more. This time, the man on the podium turned his gaze directly towards Nathan. Those piercing white eyes seemed to dig deep into Nathan's soul, sending shivers down his body, until the images and sounds ceased abruptly, plunging him into a frightening silence.