The scalinzins all gazed at me, their eyes flashing with a concentrated beam of murderous intent.
Silence.
It lingered. Right until-
Step--! Step--!
Their massive feet moved swiftly across the ground, causing slight undulations to spread across the lightless space. However, that was the least of my worries.
'Curses!' I cursed under my breath as the three nightmarish aberrations chased after me.
Step! Step--!
Pushing myself beyond my limits, I sprinted towards a large rock towering in the far distance.
However, before I could do so much as to take a single step forward, one of the nightmarish horrors was already behind me, its pair of claws slicing through the air at an astonishing pace.
Just at the last second, I rolled across the ground and ricocheted off the floor, just as the pair of claws scraped past my hair, cutting through a nearby rock. For a second there, my heart skipped a beat. But that didn't stop me from running.
Not when doing so could spell my doom.
"Huff, Huff…"
I continued to run, straining my muscles to the extreme as I headed for the dark, abysmal rock. However, apart from running for my life, which was honestly quite important, there was a much more devious reason for which I ran.
A dark smile curled up my lips in the same moment, that…
Creak.
…Already blinded by their thirst for revenge, the aberrations failed to take note of the approaching crimson haired lady. And by the time they did, it was already too late- it seems.
Flick--!
Mia's golden sword shone with a bright incandescent light as it cleaved through one of the nightmarish creature's legs, severing the joint of its body. With one fluid twist, she continued with the motion, her body shifted to the left as a pair of claws struck her armor with just enough force to darken her features.
Grimacing, she gripped tighter the golden sword and leapt into the air, slashing forward with every ounce of strength she could muster. In its violent arc, the golden sword shone with a furious, incinerating light before piercing through the injured scalinzin.
The scalizin swayed, then slumped onto the ground with a loud crashing thud.
Creak--!
Crimson blood of their kin splattered into the air, disorienting the last two horrors for a split second.
'There it is!' My eyes lit up.
Seeing such an opportunity, I ran and leapt towards a nearby rock, using it as a force to propel myself towards the back of one of the nightmarish creatures.
Now consumed by a burning, all-consuming hatred, the nightmarish creatures unleashed upon Mia, a fury of devastating strikes. Hence they didn't notice the petite figure streaking through the air. Until the very last moment.
…And by the time they did, I had already landed on the strong and thick hide. The nightmarish scavenger I was on, to its credit, wasn't as mindless as it appeared. It attempted to fall and squash me with its back.
But how could I let it do so?
A cold glint flickered in my blue eyes as I struck down with the azure dagger, easily piercing through the weak conclave located at the back of its neck. As it crashed onto the floor, I rolled to the ground, gasping for air.
"Huff, Huh…" I struggled to breathe through the haze clouding my mind.
It was also then that I turned to glance at Mia.
…She was just a second away from ending her battle. With insane fast reflexes, she dodged a pair of stygian claws that sought to cleave her body into two. Continuing with the fluid, almost inhuman motion, she twisted her body, gripped the edge of her sword even tighter, and then…
RIIP!
She slashed forward with every ounce of strength she had left. A golden light rose from the sword as it cut through the nightmarish aberration. Stepping through the crimson liquid, the creature dropped onto the ground behind Mia, its body ripped into two as its innards and organs fell onto the floor.
"Huh…"
The crimson haired lady heaved a sigh of relief as the adrenaline within her slowly ebbed away. But even then, she could still feel the pain and the agony that lingered in her muscles.
…And somewhere deep down, she knew it had only just begun.
This was just the beginning.
***
[...Your darkness grows stronger.]
Listening to the melodious tune of the spell, a subtle smile crept up my features.
"That's the way to go," I muttered weakly as I fell to the ground, a piercing agony ripping through my muscles.
Grimacing, I stared at the dead carcasses surrounding me. Crimson liquid along with ruined innards were strewn across the ground, the scene both grotesque and appalling.
In that moment, I summoned forth the runes.
Dark Fragments: [13/1000]
"A long way to go. But this is a start," I said, staring blankly at the seemingly abysmal number.
Exhaling sharply and with a pained groan, I rose to my feet and stared at the carnage, a smug grin tugging the corner of my lips.
…I had, after all, earned it.
The treacherous plans and schemes, be it the ones employed mid-flight, or those employed before it, had diminished the sheer difficulty of the battle. Even if only barely.
Aezel's scornful gaze lingered on me, but I could care less. After all, unlike a certain someone, I at least took part in the skirmish.
...As for his mocking gaze, I could care even less.To me…
'Victory was victory, even if it came with a touch of insidiousness- or as I liked to call it, tactical schemes.'
"It isn't everyday that I get to finish them off so easily anyway," I muttered under my breath, indulging in the rare taste of triumph.
"Hah..." I exhaled sharply.
I knew things were about to turn for the worse, and I might as well enjoy myself while I still can. And that was exactly what I was trying to do!
Who could blame me anyway. At the end of the day, it was all Livia's fault.
'Yeah,' I nodded. 'It's all her fault.'
If she hadn't told us about the dark shadow, wouldn't I have simply lived my life in peace without having to worry about the constant threat of death looming right above my head.
…However, at the same time, I knew not knowing would have made it worse. It would have terrified me.
'Imagine being killed by something before you even know what hits you.'
My face paled. 'That... That was even more dreadful to think about.'
I couldn't help but shiver from the various paranoid thoughts racing through my mind. With a light sigh, I decided to shove down the thoughts that clung to the wall of my mind. Because…
At the end of the day, I could only try my best to stay alive. Any other thing mattered not to me.
Aezel's voice suddenly cut through my thoughts.
"We should move," His gaze lingered on the pale crimson constellation, its light fractured by the cracks in the sky. "Time isn't on our side."
By that… I knew he was referring to the dark mist. As a result…
"Yeah." I nodded in acknowledgement.
***
...Our journey resumed, a strange silence accompanying us. For once, the land wasn't actively trying to kill us. Or so it seemed.
...But like all things in this wretched land, that soon came to an end.