My first instance of consciousness was infested by pain.
Everywhere hurt to the point of me forgetting why I hurt or even how it happened. In the void of space, I couldn't ask for any answers and just had to deal with it. Dealing with the pain, however, was something I was NOT doing well.
My muscles felt like they were ripping apart with staggering ease, turning into a bundle of mush and paste. Each time I attempted to move, the nerves surrounding my muscles screamed in agony, sending alarms throughout my body. Every single one of them told me to stop moving, but I couldn't sit still as my body was restless, resulting in more pain.
Each nerve in my "body" pulsed with an otherworldly rhythm, singing a song of pain and spasms with every passing second. The pulses disoriented me, causing each subtle shift I made send electric shocks to every fiber of my "body." The increasingly growing shocks had me reeling in position, stiffening and jerking around like a madman on drugs.
The bones in my body were splintered and shattered like shards of glass from a mirror that just got smashed in by a 10-ton wrecking ball. They all crackled and screeched when I moved, creating a rather unnerving sound of muted grinding.
Pain was my sole companion in the lightless void surrounding me... until I lost even that.
"Eh? I can't feel it anymore?"
'Had I crossed over to the other side? Is this what death is like? I thought it would be more... painful. Wait. What am I talking about?!? Am I a masochist or something? Why was I expecting MORE pain?' I mentally shook my head until the thought left me, so I surveyed my surroundings. I found nothing but darkness. There was no light, sounds, or even a hint of movement - just an overwhelming sense of nothing.
It was deafening but not in a horrible way. The nothingness enveloping both my surroundings and myself was sort of... peaceful. It was relaxing and calming to sleep after a long day of work like a good night's sleep. The darkness lulled me to a sense of safety, reassuring me that everything was okay and that it was fine to take a nap.
'Speaking of taking a nap. Do I even have a body to sleep with?'
Looking down, I saw a faint echo of my "body," with each movement leaving after-images. My "body" looked like how people described ghosts but with the appearance of a mutilated corpse.
The blood that once covered me phased through my "body," falling into the endless void. Holes littered my "body" to which the fresh painted crimson blood flowed through, but now that I was something like a spirit, the blood phased through my body instead of dripping down it. Disturbingly deep, probably of the 4th degree, burns were scattered across me, showing bone, deep layers of skin, and veins.
Although I could see the outside of my body, I could also see what was within—all of my vital organs, my skeleton, the placements of tendons, muscles, blood vessels and veins, and all the nerves that made up my body.
'I wonder if I can...'
I pressed my finger against my left cheek, and to my astonishment, I realized I couldn't feel my body. My finger slipped right through my cheek, reaching my spine. Panicked, I yanked my finger back, causing me to lean forward and tumble. It felt like my body did not weigh anything at all.
'What the?!?'
'This is so strange. Am I going to be stuck like this forever?'
Suddenly, as if the void heard my thoughts, a faint light appeared in the distance. The light twinkled like a star shining in the night sky while rippling as if it was a pool of water disturbed by movement. The little star crept closer until it covered my eyesight entirely.
"- and her baby safe," a voice entered my ears as I felt a soft pull on my legs.
'Thank the gods! Light finally!
At that moment, I noticed several footsteps drawing near. Two to be exact.
"It's time to move, Leon. They are closing in on us," a soft female voice announced.
"Mason," the voice named Leon commanded without hesitation. There was a sense of direction, confidence, power, and seriousness behind the voice, as if he was a high ranking military commander servaying a campaign.
Another voice quickly replied, "Aye aye, Cap'n."
The second male voice was much more relaxed and calm. It was layered in sarcasm and a playful demeanor. Yet, simultaneously, there was a hit of understanding and confidence. What I heard assured me that whatever the voice asked would be done with ease despite the playful nature of their tone.
The blinding white light that enveloped my vision slowly—and I mean very slowly—began to dim. Each passing second reduced the light reaching my eyes until they adjusted to the bright light blinding me.
Feeling my eyes widen, and justifiably so, I took in everything I saw like it was my lifeline.
A vibrant, multicolored, and heavily nature-filled panorama showed itself to me. The world shown before me was one of lush and rich leafy greens, dark brown mixed gunmetal grey colored tree bark, and joyfully light green hues that swayed all across the floor.
Most of the forest was governed by trees, ranging from baby sprouting to towering goliaths that stood dozens of feet in the air. Each tree was unique in its stature, coloring, and patterns, creating an almost artistic aspect to the forest.
Sunlight dappled the forest floor, illuminating the vibrant green patches. Tall blades of grass reached upwards, thriving in the light. The healthy vegetation was colored a rich, lime green hue.
Dark, almost black colored bushes swarmed the forest. A blanket of vines covered each one, creating a dense, thorn-filled wall. The twisted thorns were reaching out like the welcoming arms of family... who were ready to get rid of you.
In the distance, beyond all the trees, stood an unyielding mountain range. Each mountain in the group withstood the test of time, maintaining a relatively structurally sound-looking shell. The grey structures of nature spanned miles long, with spearheaded shaped peaks reaching well beyond the clouds. On one of the mountains, a waterfall splurged out and rampaged down from seemingly nowhere, free-falling down into wherever the water wound up.
Turning my gaze to the person holding me, I finally caught a glimpse of Leon, the confident voice that was the first to reach my ears.
Leon was a young man with a defined jawline and a semi-muscular build, complemented by his fair skin. His warm brown eyes sparkled with mischief, creating an intriguing contrast to his otherwise serious expression. Hidden beneath his shirt was a gold chain, presumably a necklace.
Leon's serious expression grew in intensity. His ears twitched, and his eyes moved around with hunger. Seemingly noticing something, he handed me over to the woman accompanying him.
The young lady radiated an irresistible charm that was hard to ignore. With her slender yet curvy silhouette and rich dark chocolate skin, she was a vision of beauty. Her large, enchanting blue eyes sparkled, and her dazzling white smile amplified her allure. The playful cascade of her blonde-brown hair danced behind her, enhancing her captivating aura. I found myself completely entranced by her striking looks. To top it all off, she wore a mesmerizing pink gown that elegantly faded into a pure white at the hem.
"Elaine, stick close to me." She stuck closely to her companion without delay, squishing the dirt and mud beneath her.
Leon, our group leader, frequently glanced back at me, his gaze intense and searching. He searched with his life, taking note of every detail, movement, and how the environment was set up.
'What is he looking for? Why is he so cautious? Is the person or group chasing us that dangerous? Or is he being safe rather than sorry?' Many questions flowed in and out of my head, and I decided to ask some questions.
"Excuse me? Why are you carrying me? Can I not walk? Huh? Why do I sound like that? Am I disabled? HEY! Can you guys even hear me?" I rambled on about various things - pretty much anything to get the group's attention.
Instead of directly answering me, they talked amongst themselves.
"How many are there, Leon?" Elaine talked in a concerned, hushed tone. Her voice was heavily toned down and contained trace amounts of worry. She seemed almost... scared of what was after them.
"Just one. My chances of winning... I'm not sure. He's a monster—an abomination. A nightmare become real. Nothing I have EVER faced has remotely come close to that-" he stopped talking and swiftly twisted his body 180 degrees within breathtaking speed, speed so fast I couldn't even see him move.
Facing Elaine and myself, his face was drastically different. It was once filled with focus, determination, and seriousness that was palpable in the air, full of panic. Now, he was overwhelmed with spine-chilling panic and fear. He looked as if cornered by a fearsome apex predator ready to end his life. Beads of sweat dripped down his forehead, ominously glistening in the darkening rays of sunlight.
'That shouldn't be happening this fast. What in the world is going on?!? Where on God's green earth did I end up?!?!' I exasperated to myself as I mentally took note of the immediate error unfolding right before my eyes.
The sun was high in the sky mere moments ago and was now gone. Instead of the bright blue sky, filled with billowing clouds swanning across it, a sea of crimson red clouds swarmed the troposphere, raining down strangely shaped white rocks. Each rock ranged from the size of an ant to a tennis ball. The uniquely shaped white rocks were random, ranging from oddly shaped balls to Jigsaw puzzle pieces.
In the wake of the blood-red clouds, a similar colored fog trickled in from seemingly nowhere.
Once brightly filled with a wide variety of colors, the forest was given a ghastly red tincture. Spreading its nonexistent wings, the red fog scoured the forest, infesting it with an eerie atmosphere that would shake any bravery, confidence, and will to venture within and come out alive.
The fog transformed itself into tendrils in the corner of my peripheral vision. They moved like parts of a transparent jellyfish floating in the air, enticing me to enter the range of their seemingly harmless tentacles. The carefree movement of the tendrils swayed me into a sense of security, thinking that it was insanity to believe that the fog was harmful.
The red fog was enthralling, demanding my attention—my everything—forever. Nothing else mattered but what lay within the welcoming color of red. It was like one of my dreams had come true, and I needed to see where it led. All of my wants and needs were there—deep within the red haze.
Little did I know that none of this was true -nothing would be gained from venturing into the belly of the beast- the red mist. At least, nothing that I wanted. No, instead, all that would be gained was the virtuous gift of a painless death.
***
My body screamed at me, telling me to run as far as possible and not look back.
The sirens metaphorically blaring in my ears seemed so real that I got a headache. They encircled my head, spinning around at the speed of sound and causing my balance to sway. Each second that I disobeyed my instincts and stood my ground, the time I spent resisting the urge to run for my life, I began to question myself.
'Why am I trying to fight something I have no hope of winning against? Heis not someone I can ever beat in combat. No matter what I do -discipline myself, train myself in the art of war, expand my magical capabilities- it cannot prepare me for the fear I felt when looking into the eyes of The Ghost.'
Normally, I would never act or even think in a self-deprecating manner. Instead, I was a very calm and collected person and strongly prided in my strength as a warrior. However, my well-hidden doubts, worries, and fears were uncontrollably surfacing. They rose up from the depths of my psyche, becoming clear hindrances to what was coming up.
It was obvious why, considering my current situation...
"Abaddon," I whispered into the red mist.
The name held significant weight in the bloody history of this nation, as it was almost as renowned as the current King.
Every couple of years, spanning since the Copper Age, Abaddon would resurface, in name only, during retellings of battles, in which survivors swore that he was there. They would tell of how his beastial roars eclipsed the sounds of war, signaling his arrival. They would tell of how blood followed in the monster's wake, always claiming the lives of the mightiest warriors of each battlefield. The unworthy, or at they that was what the thing called them, were left alove only to spread his name -one that would spark many myths, legends, and pre-battle practices believed to gain the favor of Abaddon. Survivors of such conflicts refused to speak his true name and instead referred to his alias, The Ghost Of The Battlefield, or The Ghost for short.
After the tales of Abaddon ran rampant across Terra, a 100,000,000 gold piece bounty was placed on Abaddon by the reigning king at the time, hoping to end the nightmare that was The Ghost. Warriors across the world of Terra scoured battlefields, believing that Abaddon was awaiting them. They took to arms to bring glory, fame, and wealth to their name. As a result, thousands of adventurers lost their lives, mysteriously disappearing after declaring that they would be the one to succeed - to be the one to end the legend that was Abaddon, The Ghost Of The Battlefield.
Now, that same monster, one revered as a God on the battlefield, has come to my doorstep looking for me. He has come to see what makes me special—to see what it means to be a rising star of talent in my generation. Abaddon wants to know what makes me tick, how I consider everything when fighting, and what I act on.
When I was considering how to act, a voice reached my ears. Its weight, intensity, and power chilled my spine and made my limbs thin like paper.
"I can smell you, Pup! Your deepest, darkest thoughts and emotions arouse me to intoxication -fears so visible I can see them in the darkest night, doubts so loud I can hear them in the wake of my carnage, and worries so grounded they shake the ground I walk on. Oh, how I've longed to see this: my prey struggling to stop the inevitable!" The powerful voice was deep and animalistic -like a guttural growl- and filled to the brim with unbelievable lust.
Somewhere within his beastial tongue lied the hollow echo of someone who wasn't quite alive. Abaddon spoke with the sharpness of a thousand blades, as if his words could cut me like butter. The coldness in his voice was as chilling as the Artic winds. Yet, despite all this, his voice was lush with arousal, excitement, and anticipation.
All of the conflicting emotions and tones that flowed and meshed so seamlessly together brought me to unsettling levels of unease.
A hive of insects crawled beneath my skin, causing an unimaginable itch that could not be relieved. Instead, I stood ready for the inevitable encounter that would change my life for the worse.
*
All I could do was stand in frozen in fear, with every fiber of my being demanding that I leave while I still had the chance. Of course, I didnt listen -not that I could- and I simply turned to stone. I became like the rest of the world -frozen.
Time didnt seem to exist as the environmental clock didnt show itself in the sky. The rustling of the leaves and the spurging of water ceased the moment the red haze appeared.
With its appearance, the world was thrown into disarray. The animals that once scoured the forest vanished without a trace -as if they took never existed. The winds that had blown through the mountain range disappeared and left silence in its wake. Even the four of us, who were talking and moving before became nothing more than marble statues.
My mind, which was filled with thoughts of only Leon, became quiet. Instead of thinking about what would happen, my brain shut off my thoughts, leaving me in complete silence.
laine activated her spell, we set off for our home.
The path ahead was eerily quiet, as if all the creatures in the forest had vanished. As we cautiously made our way through the woods, I sensed several traces of mana. With each step closer to these traces, I became increasingly vigilant, guiding the group through the vast expanse of the forest. The towering trees dominated our field of vision as we approached the sources of the mana signatures.
In the distance, vibrations in the ambient mana relayed information to me, telling me everything I needed to know. I turned back to Elaine, and she nodded as well.
According to Mason, two formidable foes were approaching the village. With every step they took, the very air trembled, and the mana surrounding them seemed to quiver. Creatures fled in terror, vegetation withered, and humidity vanished due to their presence.
"They seem to be closing in on our hideout. But how did they discover it? I used Standard Class illusion magic. Did they see through it? If that's the case, how?" Elaine inquired, her voice laced with anxiety.
"They have reached a stage of power where they can traverse an illusion, their mere presence shattering them. Conceal your mana signature as much as possible."
Mason, my invisible friend, and most trustworthy scouter relayed more information via mana frequencies, "I've just detected a third presence that I hadn't noticed earlier; the others concealed its signature from me. Taking down that one should be straightforward, but the others are a cause for concern. I'm uncertain about our chances of victory, so I've ensured the villagers are ready to evacuate if necessary."
I thanked Mason and then shifted my focus to Elaine, saying, "While I can't say I'm fond of it, we need to face them directly. Keep yourself safe, and let us handle the tough part."
"Abaddon, John said that we're in the right location. Remember that our goal is to mark him for the upcoming ritual. Stay focused, and don't let the battle distract you," a calm yet mildly sarcastic voice said.
"Don't worry, Jaeger; I won't go overboard. Just let me enjoy myself a little. It's been centuries since I've felt this excited about a fight," a harrowingly energetic second voice said.
"Abaddon? You can't mean..." I whispered in fear.
Abaddon is a tale deeply rooted in Terra's history, a legend everyone knows. This enigmatic entity, often thought to be a ghost, is said to haunt the aftermath of violence.
The tale originated as an urban legend about a man who mercilessly pursued bands of adventurers, leaving one survivor to recount his horrific deeds. When a legion of soldiers set out to track down this monster, they stumbled upon a nightmarish sight: the remains of the adventurers, torn apart and completely drained of blood.
The most chilling detail was that each corpse was decapitated, a precise sword stroke marking the separation. It's important to highlight that these adventurers were the most skilled fighters of their time.
The myth started thousands of years ago, with its resurgence appearing every century or so.
To think that I, a recently graduated academy student, had stumbled upon such a foe left me bewildered.
'There's no way I can win against something like that. We need to retreat immediately!'
Just as I was about to transmit my message using mana frequencies, a massive shadow suddenly loomed above me.
'What the?!?'
Without thinking, I quickly grabbed Elaine and transformed into a small firesprite. The three of us became intangible instantly and darted away from our original position.
In the next moment, an earthquake shook the forest. Violent tremors like war drums went off, felt even in my intangible body.
'That doesn't even make sense! How did he know I was there?'
"Little pup, where did you go? I felt the fear emanating from you, like a nice fragrant midnight snack waiting to be eaten. Come out, Leon Valcaress!"
Flying around and through the seas of bright green trees, I put a considerable distance between us and our pursuers before returning to my normal bodily form.
"Mason! You need to get these two out of here now! We stand no chance of surviving with them here! I will hold off the intruders and await your return with Arnold," I sent into a set of decodable frequencies in the mana surrounding us, which only those close to me could understand.
"Thinking of escaping my pups?" Not a chance!" A voice cackled behind me.
I snapped around, turning to the menacing voice while, in the process, summoning my most formidable weapon, Arondight.
This sword was forged from a celestial metal, a rare gift from the gods themselves. Centuries ago, skilled Dwarven blacksmiths and the enchanting magic of Fairies came together to create this legendary blade, known to have few competitors. Though it faded into obscurity over the ages, my brother Samuel stumbled upon it during his adventures.
Arondight gleamed brilliantly in my grasp, its blade adorned with blue, black, gray, and white hues. The pommel, a striking blue cone, elegantly transitioned into a larger ring at the base of the handle, merging flawlessly with the cross guard. The handle was wrapped in a pattern of black Xs, intricately interlocking as they spiraled up and around the slender grip. The cross guard of Arondight was impressively large, featuring a bluish-gray tone and a graceful upward curve.
The blade was straight above the crossguard, forming a sleek and formidable edge. It began with a vibrant blue near the crossguard, gradually shifting to a deep black by the midpoint. The fuller, a striking grayish-white, originated in a teardrop shape at the crossguard and tapered elegantly to a fine point at the blade's tip.
Held firmly in my grasp, I stepped back and did a straight stab without even visibly registering my foe.
A white hand met my fearsome weapon, stopping it with a finger.
At that moment, I could finally take in one of my adversaries. A towering figure, standing over 7 feet tall, was as thin as a piece of paper yet radiated a strength that refuted his slender frame. Abaddon was clad only in black shorts, his pale skin contrasting with the dark fabric.
Curiously, it seemed he had managed to get a military buzz cut before arriving here. It would have been amusing if his unsettling appearance didn't send chills down my spine; his body was adorned with shifting black skull tattoos that enveloped him like a shroud, their mouths opening and closing slowly, releasing soft whispers with each movement. His eyes, with their inky black sclera, looked almost liquid.
"You're a quick little snake, aren't you? Leon Valcaress, I presume? I'm Abaddon; nice to meet you." A sinister smile grew appeared on Abaddon's face.
"My appearance? To gain favor from my leader, I had to give up something. But let's not dwell on that; what truly matters is that I'm finally meeting you. You seem to have quite the reputation," he remarked as I struggled under the weight of his overwhelming power.
"I know my reputation, but why provoke me if you're not prepared for the consequences? Turn back now, and I'll spare you," I replied, noticing the strange distortion forming in the space behind Abaddon, a smile creeping onto my face.
I started to warn him, "You should step back now before it's too—" but Abaddon interrupted me without hesitation.
A chilling grin spread across his face. "That's not happening. I can't retreat when I haven't encountered a worthy adversary in ages. I trust you can meet my expectations."
Every pore on my body was drenched in sweat as I bellowed with all my might, "MASON, RUN!"
Abaddon seized the blade of my sword and hurled me through the trees. A thunderous, bear-like laugh echoed around me as I watched Mason desperately attempt to escape into the shadows with Elaine.
Gliding through the sky like a hawk, I collided with tree after tree, spiraling and thrashing about like a fish stranded on land, shouting curses as I exceeded the limits of how much my sight could understand. A voice echoed in the chaos, which I eventually recognized as my own, releasing cries of agony.
The wind seemed to stir out of nowhere, wrapping around me like a living entity, pushing back against the force driving me onward. Elaine attempted to harness the winds to halt my speed, but her efforts were futile.
I was hurtling forward with such intensity that it felt like I might ignite, like a comet streaking through the sky. Yet, that wasn't enough to slow me down as I crashed through tree after tree, each impact sending jolts through my spine.
"Phoenix Dash."
I appeared next to Elaine as my body ached and sore beyond measure.
"Hey, Leon, are you alright? I can't handle this kid alone if you bail on me, you deadbeat," Elaine teased, tossing a vibrant green mana blanket over me to mend my injuries. It felt like a gentle dog's tongue soothing my skin, each caress revitalizing me and filling me with energy.
"Let's go princess! We need to leave!" Mason suddenly materialized next to me.
Mason was renowned for his mastery of stealth tactics. His unique ability made him almost effortlessly shift between being visible and invisible at will. At times, it was challenging to remember his appearance due to the enchantment that caused a brief memory lapse unless one focused intently on him.
He had an average build and donned clothing that could easily merge with any environment, a signature of his stealth skills. On this occasion, he sported green camouflage gear, topped off with a crown of green leaves that complemented his vibrant green hair. The only aspect that stood out from his disguise was his striking blue eyes, alertly scanning the surroundings for potential dangers.
The two began to turn into shadows - the domain where Mason reigned supreme. Slowly descending into the dark, intangible shadows, they bid me farewell.
But before they left, two long hands snatched the necks of Mason and Elaine, raised them out of the shadows, and held them like kittens.
"No witnesses, sorry." The voice named Jaeger spoke.
Infusing my weapon with blazing fire, I summoned the fire mana particles swirling around me: "Pyre!"
A spectral dance of crimson flames, shimmering with golden sparks, enveloped Arondight, empowering me to slice through matter at the atomic level.
Turning my blade at the newcomer, I brought down my enflamed sword with all my might, with the power to shatter a mountain. Despite that, I could not sever his arms, no matter how much I strained myself.
"You won't be able to cut me, no matter how hard you-"
A sense of unease washed over me, akin to a tsunami swallowing a beach full of people. With a smile on my face, I backed away as Mason spoke a chant quietly:
"Arise, Shadow Of The Serpent, Orochi."
Mason waved his hands dramatically, culminating in a transformation that turned them into a dark, swirling substance that shot toward Jaeger.
As it neared, the liquid quickly transformed into a massive shadowy serpent. Orochi showcased a striking contrast of white and black, with the white sections taking on a skeletal appearance that defined the creature's shape. The black markings looked like intricate, slashing tattoos that embellished the snake's body, from which black smoke billowed forth.
Orochi, the colossal shadow serpent, expanded to an enormous length of over 100 meters, forcing the terrifying man-demon to retreat. Bursting forth from the darkness, Orochi unleashed chaos upon the land, obliterating the serene forest and the dwellings of its inhabitants.
"Get them out of here, Mason!" I shouted as I raised Arondight above me and chanted a word to activate another spell: "Sever!"
Sever turned all the flames on my sword from Pyre and made them disappear. The flames were transferred to the blade's edge, which I could throw out in a powerful slash.
Orochi gave its master a chance to escape, disappearing into the shadows and away from the dangerous forest.