Wu Hei's chest heaved as his opponents crumpled to the ground, their form dissipating into the aether of the Battle Arena. The air was thick with the scent of scorched stone and singed cloth.
Victory, finally.
Without hesitation, Wu Hei strode toward the treasure that awaited him. At the corner of his vision, the catgirl sat cross-legged, her hands glowing faintly as she tended to her wounds. But Wu Hei's focus was unyielding. He reached for the chest, its surface etched with runes that shimmered in anticipation.
The lid creaked open, revealing the aero shard nestled within—an intricate crystal pulsating with a soft breeze that seemed to whisper promises of untold power. As Wu Hei wrapped his fingers around it, a surge of vitality washed over him, mending his fatigue and restoring his essence. The burns on his skin faded as if they were never there, and his spirit felt lighter like the winds of the Floating Archipelago themselves.
Clutching the shard, Wu Hei turned to leave, but his path was obstructed by the catgirl and her blond companion. They stood side by side, blocking the exit of the tunnel, their eyes wary and calculating.
"Move," Wu Hei's voice was calm yet firm, betraying none of the turmoil that once plagued him as a solitary gamer back on Earth.
The pair exchanged a glance, uncertainty flickering between them. Wu Hei met their gaze evenly. "It's 3 shards vs 2 shards," he warned, referring to the power he now held against theirs, "don't start something you can't finish."
A moment of tense silence stretched between them, charged with the electric potential of combat. But then, slowly, they stepped aside. Wu Hei nodded curtly, an unspoken acknowledgment of the truce, and walked past them into the light.
Emerging from the tunnel, Wu Hei felt the familiar pull of his newfound aero shard. With a thought, he commanded small gusts of hot air to swirl around him. They lifted him off the ground, granting him flight amidst the floating islands of the archipelago. Here, where gravity was but a suggestion, Wu Hei soared above the terrain, the wind under his command.
He allowed himself a brief smile, the rush of freedom coursing through him. This was his element now—the sky, the boundless horizon. And with each beat of his heart, Wu Hei knew he was one step closer to mastering the Shatterweave. And in this world of shattered realities, he would carve his destiny.
"Wait!"
The sharp call cut through the air, halting Wu Hei mid-ascent.
He turned, hovering on currents of warm air, to see the catgirl advancing toward him with determined steps. Beside her, the blond man kept a wary distance, his gaze never leaving Wu Hei.
"We're called Yuna and Kael," she said without preamble, her feline ears twitching atop her head. "We want to propose an alliance for the next biome."
Wu Hei studied them, his mind racing. They knew the lay of the land better than he did, which could prove advantageous. And with three shards at his command, he held the upper hand. If they tried anything, he could end it swiftly.
"Fine," Wu Hei agreed curtly, "but cross me, and you'll regret it."
"Understood," Kael replied, nodding once.
Together, they ascended, cutting across the sky towards the edge of the Floating Archipelago. Below them, the vastness of the next challenge loomed—a giant swamp shrouded in mist and dotted with colossal mushrooms.
As they descended into the damp atmosphere, a chilling sight greeted them. Blood stains marred the ground, sprawling across the swamp's entrance like morbid artwork.
"Careful," Kael muttered, landing with a soft squelch.
Wu Hei crouched, inspecting the crimson swathes. The metallic scent filled his nostrils as he pieced together the gruesome puzzle. Shreds of wing, a splintered beak—remnants of flying mantas, creatures known for their agility and strength.
"Whatever did this..." Wu Hei began, trailing off. The killing had been brutal, thorough—a warning that something far more dangerous lurked within the swamp.
"Let's move," Yuna urged, her tail flicking anxiously. "We don't want to meet the same fate."
Nodding, Wu Hei rose, the trio treading cautiously deeper into the unknown. Whatever lay ahead, Wu Hei knew he would face it with the might of his shards and the fragile trust of an uneasy alliance.
Wu Hei's keen eyes scanned the swamp, wary of any sign that would hint at the brutal force capable of dismantling flying mantas. The trio steered clear of the blood trail, navigating through a thick fog that clung to their skin like wet silk. They ventured westward, hoping for safer passage.
"Keep your eyes open," Wu Hei muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, but loud enough for Kael and Yuna to hear.
Their steps were cautious, each one measured to avoid the softest patches where they could sink. The murky waters held secrets, and Wu Hei felt the weight of unseen eyes tracking their movement.
Without warning, the ground beneath them trembled. Wu Hei's instincts screamed as a massive wave of mud surged up from the depths, towering over them like a behemoth awakened from slumber. He barely had time to brace himself before it crashed down, engulfing them in its earthen grasp.
Gasping for air, Wu Hei clawed his way to the surface. Mud caked his hair and filled his mouth with grit. Beside him, Kael and Yuna struggled free, spitting out the swamp's foul taste.
"Trap!" Yuna hissed, her feline eyes narrowing.
Two figures emerged from the mists—a pair of tall women with gnarled features and eyes that gleamed with malice. Hags, denizens of the swamp, craving the power that Wu Hei and his reluctant allies possessed.
"Can't... use fire..." Wu Hei grunted, trying to summon flames only to find his powers stifled by the thick layer of mud coating his skin.
"Nor can we fly," Kael added, his face grim as he assessed their predicament.
Wu Hei pushed through the sludge, desperate to reach solid ground. His movements were sluggish, his normally nimble body weighed down by the heavy mud.
Kael, ever the strategist, gathered the mud around his feet, infusing it with his own shard's power. With a grunt of effort, he hardened it into a dense projectile and hurled it toward their assailants.
The rock whistled through the air, forcing the hags to duck and scurry for cover. Seizing the moment, Wu Hei lunged for a patch of grass, scrambling onto firmer terrain.
"Come on!" he called back to his companions, who followed suit.
Wu Hei eyed the closest giant mushroom, its cap large enough to serve as a platform. With a deep breath, he tapped into his aero shard, feeling the familiar surge of power course through him. The mud slid off his body as if repelled by an invisible force.
He leaped, the shard's energy propelling him upward. As he ascended, the swamp seemed to shrink below him, offering a brief respite from the chaos. Landing atop the mushroom, he looked down at the hags now searching for their quarry.
"Let's see you dodge this," Wu Hei whispered, readying himself for the next move.
Wu Hei steadied his breath, focusing on the retreating forms of the hags below. He extended a hand, channeling his inner fire through the shard's bond. A flicker of flame danced at his fingertips before erupting into a roaring fireball that he launched at the nearest hag.
But the swamp had tricks of its own. The fireball ignited a cloud of spores released from the giant mushrooms, causing an explosion that rocked the very air around him. Wu Hei's eyes widened in shock as the force sent him hurtling upwards into the sky, far above the mushroom canopy.
"Damn!" Wu Hei cursed under his breath, using his aero shard to steady his ascent. His mind raced, but panic did not take hold. Instead, his gamer instincts kicked in, and he maneuvered through the air with the grace of a leaf on the wind.
He spotted another mushroom cap below, this one broader and sturdier. With precision, he guided himself to it, landing with a soft thud that barely disturbed the surface. He crouched low, observing the chaos he had inadvertently caused.
"Can't make the same mistake twice," he muttered.
This time, he called upon the aero shard first, feeling the air around him respond to his command. He wove the currents into a stream, directing them towards the second hag's hiding place. They carried with them fine particles picked up from the swamp's floor, creating a trail of flammable dust.
Once satisfied with the path he had created, Wu Hei summoned his fire once more. The flames sprang to life, rushing down the prepared trail like a hungry beast. In moments, the hiding spot was engulfed in a fiery maelstrom.
"Got you," Wu Hei said, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his otherwise impassive face. He watched as the flames did their work, ensuring there would be no further surprises from the swamp hags.