'W-What the hell was that?'
The voice elicited a wave of fear and terror within me.
However, as I stood in the suffocating silence, an even more pressing question found its way into my mind.
'W-where did it come from…?'
My muscles tensed.
It sounded like it came from… my back. Except it was close. Too close.
My heart clenched as I scanned the area.
"Hu… hu…"
In that moment, I forced down the fear swiftly rising within me, and instantly made use of the supernatural detector.
However, I found—
"...."
Nothing.
Only silence. The kind that presses down on your chest, making it harder to breathe.
Clench!
My hands tightened at my sides, fingers curling into fists.
I licked my dry lips, and tried— yet ultimately failed 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 it said, it seemed that killing the Negéth had made me stronger.
At that moment, however, with a frown on my face, I glanced at my arms and noted the subtle difference. Surprisingly, I realized I'd indeed grown stronger.
If only barely…
Of course, on any normal day, I would have been happy about this, if only it wasn't so unsettling to think about.
A scowl marred my features. A voice that's heard after one kills another creature?
What kind of eldritch horror was that? I wondered, a grim expression creeping up my features.
However, the more I thought about it, the more the pieces unsettlingly aligned.
"Is it just me or did it sound rather… familiar." I muttered, brows drawing into a frown.
And before I realized it, my eyes widened as the words slipped out of my mouth:
"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 me, whatever it did had nothing to do with me.
However—
The scowl of my face deepened. 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 being too paranoid, 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 some certain conclusions.
"Huh…"
Exhaling lightly, I allowed a fleeting smile to creep up my face.
And for a second there, I wanted nothing more than to lie down and rest for a while.
But unfortunately,
"Haa..."
I knew time was ticking, and since the dark maze was a supernatural echo- which meant the influence of the dark mist could and would certainly stretch its fangs into it, I had nothing more than a mere few hours — seven to eight hours at most— before the dark mist came gushing back once again.
"Ugh—!"
A soft groan slipped past my lips.
And to be honest, I was anything but willing to take a step further.
But it wasn't like I had any other choice.
So, 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 remembered about the…
How could I forget? I had fought tooth and nail for it. I'd be damned if I left it behind!
'Meal.'
But unfortunately, life as always, was cruel.
I wasn't able to find something or anything that could store the 'meal.'
Mostly because the carcass was not only big and enormous, but some parts of its body also couldn't be stored- due to their chaotic trait.
And even more importantly, most parts of its body were rather useless, and I would do well to discard them.
"But first things first."
I had to find something to take the meal along with.
The thought of leaving the meal behind just didn't sit well with me. Not after I'd 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 when despair began to creep in. Just when it ignited within me—
"...."
Click—!
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 mean, how hard could it possibly be?
After all, I already had the theoretical knowledge. Hence, I didn't think that I wouldn't be able to make one.
With a fleeting smile touching my lips.
Thud!
I dropped to my knees, just beside the corpse, and 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 a jarring pain through me, I was able to sever its joints, the sickening crunch echoing through the dark maze.
The sound sent a chill through me. 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 became a carrying vessel. My very own makeshift vessel.
Looking at the 'masterpiece,' lying before my very own eyes, a smile slowly crept up my face.
"Who knew I was this skilled."
I muttered, nodding mostly to myself, and tied the carrying vessel to my back with braided vines.
As I hefted the load onto my shoulder, a grim expression darkened my features. This had better be worth the trouble.
I let out a light exhalation, a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips.
"Guess I'm eating like a knight tonight!"
A light, humane laugh slipped past my lips, and with nothing left to do, I 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 time on the makeshift vessel.
And,
Thump—! Thump—!
With my strange 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.
"Tsk."
The thought of the Dark Mist sent a chill through me, 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 attunement to the shadows, I could sense its silhouette—A beacon of light in the suffocating darkness.
And this only further hastened my steps.
The thought of surviving. Of living...
It was enough to keep me going. Enough to make me 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 one 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.
'Just great!'
Even the all-powerful flame wouldn't be able to save me from the clutches of the dark sea and its unseen shadowy hands this time around.
Honestly, could my luck get any worse?
Just then—
"...."
I froze mid-step, heart hammering against my chest.
My eyes.
"..."
They were drawn to a plant. A mix of crimson and a haunting darkness.
"Self-infliction fruit?" A deep scowl marred my features.
In that moment, memories of the self-infliction fruit resurfaced. And—
Clench!
The memories were anything but pleasant.
Like how it had made me 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.
"Hu... Hu..."
Gritting my teeth, I forcefully shove down the memories into the depths of my mind.
Into a place where I hoped it would haunt and gnaw at me no more.
"Huh..."
I exhaled sharply and crept toward the plant.
Step! Step!
My steps echoed through the silence.
The tree's branches shrouded the desolate, dark surroundings, casting eerie shadows across the darkness.
Shadows that seemed to flicker with each step that I took.
As I crept closer, heart hammering, my breath hitched, and,
"..."
I suddenly froze.
Why?
Because there was no such thing as a free gift or some heavenly manna falling from heaven. That's just hearsay!
At least within the confines of this cursed and wretched land.
And same 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 though I were expecting someone. 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 muttered under my breath.
And then—
Thud!
I sprawled across the floor, as though losing 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 decimate me into pieces before I could react.
However, minutes ticked by and still... nothing.
'Nothing changed.'
Whatever it was seemed 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 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 because, I just couldn't shake off this strange feeling that there would be a need for it.
"..."
You can call it intuition.
However, even with all that, I soon grew restless, a slight tinge of fear rising within me.
I didn't have much time before the Dark Mist made its grand appearance once again. However, at the same time, I was very much unwilling to leave behind this opportunity.
'Fuck it!'
Still sprawled across the floor, I gritted my teeth, anger simmering just beneath my skin.
Yet it seemed whatever was out there. Waiting. Watching. Was as careful as any predator could get.
Hence, it left me with no other choice.
A grim expression darkened my features. I had 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 me dying.
As a result of the "death factor," it became quite a risky plan.
Perhaps a little bit too risky, as no sane person would go on with such a plan.
'How was that any different from courting death?'
After all, before one could implement 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 such 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 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.
"But..."
I gritted my teeth, fists tightening at my sides.
I had no other choice.
Step—! Tap—!
I crept towards the self-infliction fruits, 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 me intensified.
And just when fear began to creep in. 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 every fiber of my being. However, in that same moment that it did, a dark grin slowly crept up my face.
At the very last second, I had raised the Antraizel spear— just in time to block the strike.
As a result, I hadn't suffered any serious injury, but...
"Akh—!"
It still hurts like hell.
BAANG! BAANG!
I was hurled into the distance.
Mid-crash, I curled myself into a ball, careening across the ground, before finally coming to a stop.
"Ugh—!"
A pained groan slipped past my lips.
Now on my knees, blood dripped down the corner of my lips.
Drip! Drip!
The sound echoed through the silence.
My gaze snapped toward the petite creature before me.
And,
"...."
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 me, 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 me.
Yes. It was just that ridiculous.
But now? Now, I dared not have such belittling thoughts.
My expression darkened as I concentrated on the supernatural creature, heart hammering against 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 me.
'Not good!'
As the arms ripped through the air, I desperately tried to shift my body. And as the harrowing strikes crept closer, my expression darkened even further.
In that moment, I had no doubt about it.
One hit and,
Thump... Thump...
I was as good as dead.