'W-what the hell was that?'
The voice elicited a wave of fear and terror within . However, as I stood in the suffocating silence, an even more pressing question found its way into my mind.
'W-where did it co from...?'
My muscles tensed.
The voice. It sounded like it ca from my back. Except it was close. Too close...
My heart clenched as I scanned the area.
"Hu... hu..."
In that mont, sweat poured down my face as I made use of the supernatural detector.
However, I found...
"...."
Nothing.
Only silence. The kind that presses down on your chest, and makes it harder to breathe. Harder to think.
Clench!
My hands tightened at my sides, fingers curling into fists. And before I knew it, I licked my dry lips, once and then twice, trying and ultimately failing to maintain my calm.
But I knew I had to stay composed. If I wanted to understand what was going on, I had to stay calm. So, I forced myself to breathe.
"Hu... huff..."
In and out, I forced myself to breath through the haze clouding my mind.
The voice.
'It spoke just after I killed the Negéth. And from what "they" said, it seed that the act of killing the Negéth had made stronger.'
At that mont, with a frown on my face, I glanced at my arms and noted the subtle difference. Surprisingly, I realized I'd indeed grown stronger.
...Even if only barely.
Of course, on any normal day, I would have been happy about such a thing, if only it wasn't so unsettling to think about.
'A voice that's heard after one kills another creature? W-What kind of eldritch horror was that?'
I couldn't help but wonder. However, the more I thought about it, the more the pieces unsettlingly aligned.
"Is it just or did it sound rather... familiar." I muttered, brows drawing into a frown. Seconds clocked by into what felt like minutes, and before I realized it, my eyes widened as the words slipped out of my lips:
"The spell..."
An entity or perhaps a force responsible for bringing the Arcane Trial and Ascensions to life. Based on how it behaved, no one really knew if it was sentient or not. And honestly, I could care less.
So far it didn't harm , whatever it did had nothing to do with . However—
The scowl of my face deepened further.
'If the killing of another creature causes its materialization, then why didn't it do so after I killed the Djinn?'
The question was disturbing and unsettling to say the least, but more so the answer to it.
That was even more dreadful to think about. And honestly, I really didn't want to think about it, either.
'Or perhaps, I am just overthinking things, and the dark mist is responsible for such an anomaly.'
I couldn't really say. So, it was better not to think about it. At least, not until I'd gathered enough clues to arrive at a certain conclusion.
"Hah..."
Exhaling lightly, I allowed a fleeting smile to creep up my features. For a second there, I wanted nothing more than to lie down and rest for a while.
But unfortunately,
"Aah..."
I knew ti was ticking, and since the dark maze was a supernatural echo- which ant the influence of the dark mist could and would certainly stretch its fangs into its confines, I had nothing more than a few hours— seven to eight hours at most— before the dark mist ca gushing back once again.
"Ugh!"
A soft groan slipped past my lips.
To be honest, I was anything but willing to take a single step further. But, it wasn't like I had any other choice. Hence, I could only grumble and begrudgingly rise to my feet.
What else could I possibly do?
Worn out and hurting all over, I was about to leave when I suddenly rembered about the carcass.
How could I forget? I had fought tooth and nail for it. I'd be damned if I left it behind!
But unfortunately, life as always, was cruel in the sense that:
I couldn't find anything that could store the 'al.' Mostly because the carcass was not only big and enormous, but so parts of its body also couldn't be stored- due to their chaotic trait. And even more importantly, most parts of its body parts were rather useless, and I would do well to discard them. Which I intended to do.
"But first things first."
I had to find sothing to take the al along with. The thought of leaving the al behind just didn't sit well with . Not after I had almost died in order to get it.
I gritted my teeth, fists tightening at my sides, as various thoughts raced through my mind. And just then—
Flick!
It clicked into place.
I wiped the sweat off my brow, grinning widely as I stared at the enormous body of the Negéth.
Since I couldn't find a makeshift vessel, why don't I just make one. I an... how hard could it possibly be?
I already had the theoretical knowledge. Hence, I didn't believe I wouldn't be able to make one.
Dropping to my knees, just beside the corpse, I pried loose one of the creature's arms, its edge sharp enough to cut through iron.
Crack! Kaa!
With a few swift strikes that sent jarring pain through , I was able to sever the joints, the sickening crunch echoing through the dark maze.
The sound sent a chill through . However, I forced myself to ignore them.
"Hu..."
Exhaling sharply, I rose to my feet and began to strip vines from nearby trees. Twisting them into rough ropes, and knitting them tightly around bundles of crimson flesh.
For smaller cuts, those that required lesser force, I worked quickly, using shards gotten from the Negéth's scale as a makeshift knife. Before long, the hollowed-out shell of the Negéth beca a carrying vessel.
'My very own makeshift vessel.'
Looking at the 'masterpiece,' lying before , a smile slowly crept up my face.
"Who knew I was this skilled."
I muttered, nodding mostly to myself, before tying the carrying vessel to my back with braided vines. However, as I hefted the load onto my shoulder, a grim expression darkened my features.
This had better be worth the trouble.
"Huu..."
I let out a light exhalation, a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips.
"Well... Guess I'm eating like a knight tonight!"
A light laugh slipped past my lips, and with nothing left to do, I imdiately kicked off the ground and proceeded forward.
***
Step! Step!
I hastened my footsteps. After all, I needn't be told to know I had certainly wasted a lot of ti on the makeshift vessel.
And,
Thump. Thump.
With my familiarity with the shadows, I could feel it. I probably only had six more hours at most, before the Dark Mist made its grand appearance once again.
"Shit!"
The thought of the Dark Mist sent a chill through , but I forced myself to focus on the more important task at hand.
Getting to the nearest dune structure.
I proceeded forward, my breath growing more ragged with each step. My lungs were hurting and so were my legs.
But on the bright side of things, I guessed I was getting close to the nearest Dune Structure. With my improved eyesight, and strange attunent to the shadows, I could sense its silhouette— A beacon of light in the suffocating darkness.
'So... It had to be the one.'
And this only further hastened my steps. The thought of surviving. Of living... It was enough to keep going. Enough to make endure.
And as I bolted forth, I caught a glimpse of it—
"...!!"
The crimson constellation.
It was retreating. Inch by inch, it receded into the depths of the night. And the more pressing matter?
The azure constellation would soon rise, and I needn't be told to know what it would bring with it.
"Curses!"
I cursed under my breath, fists tightening at my sides as I ran even faster.
'And it's all because of that damn Negéth!'
I cursed as I ran. Because of it, I only had four hours at most to make it to the nearest dune structure.
...Even the all-powerful fla wouldn't be able to save from the clutches of the dark sea this ti around.
Honestly, could my luck get any worse?
Just then though—
"...."
I froze mid-step, heart hamring against my chest.
My eyes.
They were drawn to a plant: a mix of crimson and a haunting darkness.
"Self-infliction fruit?"
My brows arched upward as a deep scowl marred my features.
In that mont, mories of the self-infliction fruit resurfaced. And—
Clench!
The mories were anything but pleasant.
Like how it had made do things I wouldn't have thought possible. Things like clawing out my own intestine, liver, lungs, and so much more that I never wanted to think... about.
"Huk... Huk..."
Gritting my teeth, I forcefully shove down the mories into the depths of my mind. Into a place where I hoped it would haunt and gnaw at no more.
I exhaled sharply and stepped towards the plant.
Step! Step!
My steps echoed through the silence, each one growling louder than the last.
Ahead, the tree's branches seed to be shrouded in a desolate darkness, casting eerie shadows across the walls. Shadows that seed to flicker with each step that I took.
And as I crept closer, heart hamring, my breath hitched, and,
Step.
I suddenly froze.
Why?
Because there was no such thing as a free gift or so heavenly manna falling from heaven. That's just hearsay!
At least within the confines of this cursed and wretched land. And sa could be said of the natural resources found here.
"Tsk."
I clicked my tongue in annoyance.
Acting as though nothing was wrong though, I stopped and waited, as if I were expecting soone. However, a few minutes passed by in total, nerve-wracking silence and yet... nothing changed.
There was still nothing but an endless, suffocating silence. One that mimicked the rhythmic pounding of my heart.
A frown tugged at the corner of my lips, as various thoughts ran through my mind. Yet... one stuck.
"Risky but worth it."
I murmured under my breath, and then—
Thud!
I sprawled across the floor as though I'd lost consciousness.
I did this, just to give whatever was out there, the sense of calm that it had the upper hand and would be able to incapacitate before I could react. However, minutes passed by and still... nothing. Nothing changed.
Whatever it was seed very unwilling to leave its hiding spot. But, even with all that, I didn't think, not for a second, that I was being paranoid.
I had after all been in this cursed land for quite a while and was one of the very few people who knew about the treacherous nature of its supernatural creatures.
'I had experienced one first hand after all.'
So... I waited a while longer. Mostly because I desperately wanted the self-infliction fruit. And, more so because, I just couldn't shake off this strange feeling that there would be a need for it.
"..."
Call it intuition. However, even with all that, I soon grew restless, a slight tinge of fear rising within .
I didn't have much ti before the Dark Mist made its grand appearance once again. However, at the sa ti, I was very much unwilling to leave behind this opportunity.
Still sprawled across the floor, I gritted my teeth, anger simring just beneath my skin. Yet, it seed whatever was out there. Waiting. Watching. Was as careful as any predator could get.
Hence, it left with no other choice.
A grim expression darkened my features.
"I have to lure it out."
In simpler terms: make use of myself as bait.
The plan was good? Yes. But if only it didn't include with it the risk of dying. As a result of the "death factor," it beca quite a risky plan. Perhaps, a little bit too risky, as no sane person would go on with it.
'How was that any different from courting death?'
After all, before one could implent such a suicidal plan.
First and foremost, one had to have an adequate —if not a very deep knowledge— on the hidden supernatural creature. Secondly: one had to know its strengths and weaknesses.
Know if it was fast? A kind of berserker? And what was paid in return for said abilities?
But, I had no idea about either of this, and for once, I knew absolutely nothing about this hidden adversary of mine. And, that didn't really with well with .
However, that wasn't even the worst part.
...With how dangerous this plan was, and with the various unforeseen variables at play. Any slight mistake and I was as good as... dead.
This was the kind of situation where being smart really did nothing to help out. Not when I knew it could result in my death.
However, even with all this...
I gritted my teeth, fists tightening at my sides.
"I have no other choice."
Step! Tap!
I moved toward the self-infliction tree, heart pounding with each step.
As I moved closer, the thumping of my heart grew louder. Faster. And with each step I took, its grip on intensified.
Fear.
It began to creep in. And just when it began to overpower the walls of my mind.
"...!!"
A blur of shadow to the left and then.
Pain!
A jarring pain shot through . However, having expected such a thing, I had raised the Antraizel spear just in ti to block the strike.
As a result, I hadn't suffered any serious injury, but...
"Agh!"
It still hurts like hell.
BAANG! BAANG!
I was thrown into the distance. Mid-crash, I curled myself into a ball, careening across the ground before finally coming to a stop.
"Ukh!"
A pained groan slipped past my lips as I fell to my knees, blood dripping down the corner of my lips.
Drip! Drip!
The sound echoed through the silence, intensifying its grip on . In that mont, my gaze snapped towards the petite creature.
"..."
It looked no different from an ant, perhaps a little bit taller. But... that was it!
And if not for the pain still rippling through , tearing through every fiber of my being, I would have laughed my ass off at the thought of fighting such a creature.
No, at the thought of such a creature trying to fight .
Yes. It was that ridiculous. But now? Now, I dared not have such belittling thoughts.
My expression darkened as I concentrated on the supernatural creature, heart hamring in my chest. My muscles tensed as I readied myself for any unsuspected attack.
And then—
"...!!"
It moved.
Faster than I could blink!
In an instant, the creature vanished from my line of sight.
'Such speed!'
My eyes widened in sheer terror, and for a second there, I froze- unable to react.
Just then—
I felt it.
"...!!"
A cold, unnatural chill rose behind .
'Not good!'
As the arms ripped through the air, I desperately tried to shift my body. And, as the harrowing strikes crept closer, a solemn expression crept up my features.
In that mont, I had no doubt about it. One hit and,
Thump. Thump.
...I was as good as dead.
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