The storm raged around them, its winds shrieking like a chorus of tormented souls. Willie and Ghoida pressed forward, shielding their faces as rain began to pelt them in heavy sheets. The glowing beacon within the storm’s heart grew brighter, beckoning them deeper into the chaos.
“Are we sure this is a good idea?” Ghoida shouted over the noise, her voice strained.
“Nope!” Willie replied, clutching the artifact tightly. “But we don’t have a choice!”
Lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating a massive structure ahead. It stood precariously on the edge of a floating island, its jagged spires reaching into the storm like skeletal fingers.
“That doesn’t look ominous at all,” Ghoida said sarcastically.
As they stepped onto the island, the storm suddenly shifted. The winds calmed, the rain ceased, and an unnatural stillness enveloped the area. The only sound was the faint hum of the shards in Willie’s hand, their glow intensifying.
“We’re in the eye of the storm,” Willie murmured.
“Great,” Ghoida said, scanning the area. “What’s the catch?”
The ground beneath them rumbled, and cracks spread across the surface of the island. From these fissures, shadowy tendrils began to emerge, writhing and twisting as they took shape.
“Found it,” Ghoida said, drawing her sword.
The tendrils coalesced into a towering figure, its form shifting and flickering like smoke. Two piercing red eyes opened, locking onto them with an unsettling intensity.
“Another one of these things?” Willie said, his voice shaking.
“This one looks worse,” Ghoida replied, taking a defensive stance.
The creature let out a guttural roar, and the storm around them roared back in response. It lunged forward, its massive arm crashing down where they had been standing moments before.
“Willie, do your thing!” Ghoida shouted, dodging the attack.
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Willie fumbled with the shards, trying to focus their energy. The artifact pulsed erratically, its light flickering as the creature’s presence grew stronger.
“Hurry up!” Ghoida called, slashing at the creature’s arm. Her blade passed through it like smoke, barely leaving a mark.
“I’m trying!” Willie yelled, sweat dripping down his face as he concentrated.
The creature’s movements became more aggressive, its tendrils lashing out in every direction. One of them caught Ghoida off guard, knocking her to the ground.
“Ghoida!” Willie shouted, his panic breaking his concentration.
“I’m fine!” she grunted, pushing herself up. “Just—figure it out already!”
Willie’s mind raced. The shards weren’t reacting like before—there had to be something he was missing. Then he noticed the faint lines of energy connecting the creature to the storm itself.
“It’s drawing power from the storm!” Willie realized. “We need to sever the connection!”
“Great! And how do we do that?” Ghoida asked, dodging another attack.
Willie scanned the area, his eyes landing on the spires of the structure nearby. The lines of energy converged at their tips, pulsing in rhythm with the storm.
“The spires!” Willie shouted. “They’re acting as conduits!”
“Then let’s break them!” Ghoida said, sprinting toward the closest spire.
The creature roared, its form shifting as it tried to block her path. Willie followed, clutching the shards as they began to glow brighter.
Ghoida reached the spire first, slamming her sword into its base. The metal vibrated with the force of her strike, and cracks spread across the surface.
“Willie, do your thing!” she called.
Willie held the shards up to the spire, their light surging as they made contact. The spire trembled, and the energy lines connecting it to the storm began to fray.
The creature roared in pain, its form flickering.
“It’s working!” Willie shouted. “Keep going!”
They repeated the process with the remaining spires, each one weakening the creature further. By the time the final spire crumbled, the storm’s intensity had faded, and the creature’s form dissolved into the air with a final, mournful cry.
The island stabilized, and the eerie calm returned.
“Not bad, Willie,” Ghoida said, breathing heavily.
Willie gave her a tired smile. “You weren’t so bad yourself.”
As the storm dissipated, the structure ahead began to glow faintly. The artifact in Willie’s hand pulsed in response, guiding them forward.
“Looks like we’re not done yet,” Ghoida said, nodding toward the glowing entrance.
Willie sighed. “We never are.”
With renewed determination, they stepped into the structure, ready to face whatever awaited them next.
As the storm dissipated, the structure ahead began to glow faintly. The artifact in Willie’s hand pulsed in response, guiding them forward.
“Looks like we’re not done yet,” Ghoida said, nodding toward the glowing entrance.
Willie sighed. “We never are.”
With renewed determination, they stepped into the structure, ready to face whatever awaited them next.
> End of Chapter 13