Muffled sounds of sharp howls and animalistic, soul-piercing screeches thundered the entirety of the once-dead silent grass fields.
The slow, comforting air breeze transformed into a turbulent gust of wind that complimented the already worsened atmosphere in its own ways.
Darkness had long since fallen onto them in the form of night, as they stood in pitch dark with little to no visibility.
Relying on their instincts and physical senses, they could only try their best to stay as alert as they possibly could.
Kai hadn't completely healed from the abrupt mind attack either. Some faint tremors and numbness still haunted his body, while Xavier quickly ran back to his position and got hold of his weapons once again.
"Bad... This is very bad..." Kai mumbled under his breath, his eyes slightly widened.
"The visibility of the field has become zero... Damn you, clouds!"
Just like he cursed, the sky that was crystal clear until a few hours ago had been completely filled with a thick blanket of clouds, making it impossible for even the slightest bit of moonlight to pass through.
"Good thing is, that 5 minutes have already passed. Raise your shields, everyone, it's not the time to worry about anything else." He muttered in a low voice.
Damon, Daniel, and Xavier—all heard him loud and clear as they raised their shields and grouped together, creating a rough semi-circle-shaped dome while their fingers tightly wrapped around the weapons in their other hand, ready to subjugate the enemy any second.
---
[Time passed - 10:45 minutes.]
---
A system window softly glowed at the left side of Kai's face.
Several minutes had passed, but even though the Never Ending screeches only seemed to be getting louder, not a single monster was to be seen.
'Why is it that even though I've sensed the presence of a Champion, neither he nor any of the lower monsters are coming out...'
Kai's eyes continuously searched the entire area, craving to see even the slightest bit of movement in his surroundings.
He was in a predicament.
Even though his plans were perfect and the muffled sounds of monsters had come so close that it felt as though his ears would burst. He couldn't believe that not a single monster was able to find its way inside.
"Hmm... It's alright though... I shouldn't care about anything... At all..." Words slipped out of his mouth in rather strange tone.
His voice seemed to be breaking almost as if he was being forced to blurt such words.
However, at another glance, he looked to be completely fine. In fact, he looked as though let alone being forced, he was saying all of that on his own accord.
His eyes seemed to have lost their focus as his pupils dilated. His face carried a rather ominous smile that stretched far wide, while a faint, breaking voice escaped his lungs in the form of a chuckle.
"Heh... Hehehe... I-I shou...ld... Just l-let it all go...hehe..." Kai's voice wobbled as weird noises kept slipping out wrapped around his words.
Even though his body was yet to move, his behavior had changed completely.
His eyes remained wide open while a certain pinkish glow slowly slithered its way through his irises, creating a layer of glowing pink that covered his eyes.
Let it all Go...
Stay with me...
I'll keep you safe...
Strange thoughts began to encroach on his mind as someone's or something's voice seemed to flow into his mind.
The voice was enticing—almost enchanting—as it wrapped itself around his soul.
***
Within the walls of his mind, Kai's consciousness floated in the infinite world of thoughts. Its shape reflected his own current self, although much lighter and gleaming in a white glow.
As the consciousness floated horizontally with its hands extended outwards and feet bent downwards, its eyes glowing in the same pinkish glow.
Suddenly, a minute particle of what seemed like a bright pink-colored cloud appeared near his body.
Within an instant, it expanded and coiled around Kai's dormant consciousness like a snake from its feet all the way up to his head.
Its form extended and reshaped itself, forming long and slender hands that wrapped around his chest and an exceptionally beautiful, enchanting face that remained close to his—almost touching but at the same time, not.
Almost as if it were being blocked off by the gleaming white glow that enveloped his body.
Stay with me...
I'll keep you safe...
Her voice softly echoed through the realm of his mind, entering his ears as he began to repeat her words in a dull, slightly chipped voice.
Hearing him repeat her very words, a smile slithered onto her face as she slowly opened her mouth once again.
The corners of her lips kept expanding as the muscular tissue around her jaw began to stretch inhumanely.
The crystal white teeth that seemed to compliment her beautiful face lengthened themselves, transforming into carnivore fangs.
Her face began to close its distance as her long, thin tongue rolled out of her mouth, its tip split into two like a snake.
With her jaw wide open, she kept persisting towards his face, almost as if desperately trying to devour his consciousness.
That's correct...
Stay with me, forever!
Unlike before, her voice lost its enticing charm and had become rather hoarse and louder as a hint of a slight giggle slipped alongside.
Just as it seemed that she would surely devour his consciousness now, a calm yet eerily authoritative voice appeared:
"Do you think that an insect like you, is worthy enough to devour me?"