And I would be ready. Ready for any horrors headed my way…
***
Although I'd made my decision, and I intended to go on with it— not like I'd any other choice.
However, the thought of the horrors I'd encounter should I venture into the desolate landscape elicited within me, a wave of fear.
Ba- thump! Ba- thump!
My heart hammered against my chest, and the sound echoed through the suffocating silence.
And to make matters worse?
If I ever wanted, even the smallest of chances of escaping this cursed land, then I had no choice but to steel myself and venture into this "unexplored" region.
However, the fact that no regression of mine had ever brought me here did nothing to comfort me. If anything, it only served to further intensify the eerie discomfort and unease swiftly rising within me.
After all, despite its many disadvantages— especially the prospect of visiting Kêlúthà, the other side—regression still had its perks.
Most notable of them all would be: Knowledge.
With the endless regressions, I had slowly pieced together the characteristics of the landscape I was previously trapped in. However, that was before I acquired the chaotic flame at the ruined temple, and... before being teleported to this even more bizarre, desolate region.
And now that I thought about it. I realized that there was really nothing much I could do about what I'd encounter. And... that was the cold truth.
For, even my endless regressions couldn't escape the cold, chilling grasp of fate.
And the most annoying thing was:
Apart from brooding and grimacing— which really did me no good— there was nothing much I could do about it.
In simple terms, I was ignorant and clueless of the dangers and horrors I could encounter in this region. And that only further served to intensify the paranoia hidden within me. Making it even more lethargic and… consuming.
"Huh…"
Letting out a slow heavy breath, I decided to drown out all thoughts and simply head back to my huddled, sleeping spot.
I had to calm my mind.
'Yeah. That should help…'
I was about to take a step when.
Tick—!
A subtle, ticking sound echoed through the cold night.
For a second there, I froze, heart hammering.
And then,
Tick—!!
The ticking sound came again. This time louder.
And then, it came.
"....!!"
'...W-what's that?'
Confusion marred my features as I took in the view of my surroundings.
"..."
'An eldritch horror?'
I mused under my breath.
After all, only an eldritch horror could somehow break into the supposedly impregnable dune structure. However, the thought marred my face with a grim expression, fear rapidly creeping in.
But on closer inspections, my surroundings were eerily quiet and silent, giving off the illusion of absolute safety.
Yet.
Thump… Thump…
I knew better than to revel in it.
In that instant, I snapped shut my eyes, trying to detect the eldritch horror. However, seconds stretched by in total silence and I found... nothing. For once, the grim nature of the cursed land didn't bare its fangs at me.
'Perhaps it was just a hallucination,' I thought, trying to convince myself. But I knew better than to believe that.
And the longer I stood in the silence, the more uncomfortable it became.
Finally, left with no other choice.
"Huh…"
I closed my eyes once again. And just as I expected, the ticking sound came again but this time around, I calmed my rapidly beating heart and tried to listen.
~~~!
It was rather difficult and the thought of being suddenly attacked did nothing to calm me down, but I was left with any other choice. To figure out what was happening, I had to first figure out where the sound was coming from.
And so far so good, making use of my sight brought no substantial… result. Hence, I was left with no other choice but to make use of my ears.
Tick—!
Step—!
Seconds stretched into minutes as I listened attentively, and walked through the endless darkness, while trying to ascertain the object or being emitting the sound wave.
Tap—! Tap—!
My steps echoed through the darkness, a suffocating pressure pressing on me from all sides.
Slowly, before I realized it, my steps began to mix with the spine-chilling ticking sound in an unnatural, grotesque manner.
Step—! Step—!
Every single second in the endless darkness deepened the grim look on my face. And to make matters worse.
The chilling wind crawling their way into my pores did nothing to help out either.
And every other second, I'd shudder, brace myself, and keep moving forward.
Given the vast expanse of the Dune Structure, I expected difficulty in locating the ticking sound— but that didn't make it any less unsettling. If anything, I bordered on the fringe of discomfort and… apprehensiveness.
"...."
Slowly, the sound became louder, and although subtle to the normal human ear, I could still somewhat hear it. And at that, very clearly.
Right now, it felt deafening to my ears, sending a rush of blood through my skull.
'Almost there... Ukh-!'
Step—!
I forced through the haze, and with a stifled groan, took another step forward.
"Huh… huh…"
I stood on the spot, breathing heavily as I tried to shake off the pain still coursing through me.
Having arrived at the spot, I finally opened my eyes in what I deemed, a soothing relief.
"...."
My eyes slowly fluttered open, and the sight before me only further served to deepen my... unease.
The word etched onto what seemed like a door… a portal perhaps— except that this portal was made of an endless expanse of darkness— was something I'd seen before.
Where? I couldn't say. But I was sure I'd seen the word… or rather, the name, somewhere in the past.
'Nyarlath.'
Although I wasn't sure if it was one, I knew better than to call upon the name of an eldritch horror.
Hence, I muttered it inwardly. However, even that had its risk. In that, it could be used as a source of connection to induce maddening upon me. Or even instant death.
"Huh…"
Letting out a mouthful of air, I tried to calm down. Tried to breathe...
Right now, I could only hope this creature or whatever it was wasn't strong enough to achieve said effect. I could only pray so…
Calming my rapidly beating heart, I tried to assess my current situation.
If I was correct, then this door should be a portal, just like the one I came across in the temple. If so… it should be able to send me to another region.
Perhaps, a region even safer than this desolate, ruined landscape. But, at the same time, it also carried with it the risk of me being sent into an even more bizarre region.
And that was honestly, a risk I couldn't afford to take.
But then—
My gaze shifted to the name.
'Nyarlath...'
It couldn't have been etched onto the door for no reason, right? There had to be a reason for it to have been etched onto the door.
Perhaps it was to inform anyone seeing it, of something, or perhaps… to warn them of someone.
Either of the two seemed plausible.
"..."
It could even be the two.
Yet, l don't have enough clues to come to a logical conclusion.
"Huff…"
Letting out a light breath, I stood in total silence, basking in the soft, eerie glow casted by the door before me. And the longer I stood before the unsettling glow, the creepier it got.
Right before my eyes, it seemed to morph and shift into numerous faces. Faces contorting, twisting and screaming in unending agonizing pain.
And as I stood before the creeping darkness, a thought slowly began to take root within me.
'…Perhaps...just perhaps, I can learn more about this world's past in the next region. And perhaps through that… my forgotten memories.'
The thought crept into my mind, over and over again, and each time it did, the urge to take that final step became even more alluring.
And eventually, I exhaled shakily, hoping this decision wouldn't break me.
'Yet I had a feeling it would. Very much so.'
Nevertheless, I steeled myself and then.
Step—!
I took a sharp step into the door, phasing through it as an endless darkness materialized around me, and before I knew what was going on—
It swallowed me whole.