Do you have what it takes to venture out and enjoy this world's beauty and luscious lands of Rich's or the terrifying world that lies beneath it?
This question defies the very reason as to why I never got to say goodbye to my family. Part of me wishes to turn back time and redue this all over again, but I can't. I can never do such a thing. Let alone bear the consequences of such actions. As I turn off the lights and close the door. I was met with Atlas looking at me, his eyes questioning me with everything that has happened.
(Atlas) Where have you been retro? Do you know how much I was worried!
(Retro) I was just trying to get back in one piece.
(Retro) I will talk to you some more in the morning alright kid- no Atlas you're not just some kiddo anymore. You've grown a lot over the last year.
(Atlas) Alright, but you better tell me everything otherwise I'll hit you with a pan again
The night was getting short so we went to our respective beds. When morning rose, Nexus was outside playing in the Snow. Atlas was cooking in the kitchen while I just sat in my bed thinking about all the events that lead up till now. What a grueling year it has been.
First dying and coming to this world and spending the first few nights out in the woods, then meeting atlas. Building this house and making ourselves a farm, being stalked by two different entities that I somehow know their names. Meeting someone from the future and dealing with one unknown person, then being stranded god knows where, now I'm just here.. Becky seems to have gone back to his timeline and now there is a kid that has tremendous power.. I feel as if something bad is going to happen soon.. I eventually got up and walked to the door.
**Atlas pov**
(Atlas) Man, I have to be careful using this shadow step relic. It can cause physical damage if I use it too much.
(Atlas) I can't get anything useful from the shop today. I'll try it out tomorrow. It seems Retro is outside on the bench, he's still spreading out his aura to sense if someone is approaching the cabin. Nexus is already playing with the snow outside I can tell from his shadow which is unique to anything I have seen up till now.
Atlas ponders on what to do with Nexus as he will have to accompany Retro to help him with obtaining the other gems for the night slayer. Considering how many are left and each gem helps Retro get his memories back alongside the sword's abilities.
(Atlas) I'll have to ask Retro later about that. I'll just focus on the present right now, cooking a good breakfast, maybe eggs benedict or some tamagoyaki. Maybe an omelet over rice I can't decide. hmm which is the most nutrients an omelet over rice will probably have enough nutrients but I'll save that till lunch so let's make some tamagoyaki with some bacon and toast with some orange juice
[Atlas starts cooking as the perspective switches to Retro]
(Retro) This kid is interesting, he has the ability to control the shadows. Fade in and out of this plane. Being able to control such power needs to be trained properly. We can only start slowly for now.
(Retro) Hey Nexus! Let's do a small fight and the winner gets to bury the other in the snow.
(Nexus) Okay, tell me when to start!
"They both get up, retro points too beside the house"
(Retro) Let's go over there so we don't damage anything alright? Nexus.
(Nexus) Sure!
"They both walked over to the side of the house"
(Retro) Stand over there and when this rock hits the floor hit me with everything you got kid. Just to be nice I will go somewhat easy on you alright!
(Nexus) Okay! * So I just hit him with everything I got okay. What about this? *
"Retro throws the rock into the air and puts his hands in his pockets. Nexus looks perplexed at this and proceeds to shift into the shadows moving behind Retro only to see Retro looking at him"
(Retro) Kiddo I said when the rocks hit the floor it hasn't hit the floor yet..
*As the rock is floating in the air*
(Nexus) Then I'll make it hit the floor!
(Retro) That's the Spirit kiddo!! Show me what you got!
*as the rock hits the floor Nexus attacks Retro only to find himself on the floor confused*
(Nexus) Huh? What happened? I thought I was hitting you!!
(Retro) "laughed at this site" well when you hit me I had grabbed you and put you on the floor..
(Nexus) Don't count me out yet I have more tricks up my sleeve!
(Retro) "Still laughing" alright kiddo hit me with everything you got!
"Nexus starts to emerge into the shadows creating a gate of sorts and creating more around the area each being his size. He starts popping out of one into the other getting faster as He fades in and out, He goes for Retro. Retro turned around to catch him but was hit upside the head with a frying pan by Atlas, stopping the fight"
**Atlas pov**
(Atlas)I finished the food, I'll go get them to eat before the food gets cold…
"As Atlas walked outside he saw both fighting. Atlas starts to use shadow step to appear behind Retro hitting him with a frying pan"
(Atlas) What the hell are the both of you doing?
(Retro) My head.. "as he grabs his head"
(Atlas) You haven't answered my question Retro, answer me?!
(Retro) I was testing his abilities for myself. "Grabbing his head"
(Atlas) Even so, there is still a chance you go too far Nexus could have been hurt.
(Retro) Look at the kid…
(Nexus) The winner gets to bury the other in the snow!!!! "As he is jumping around"
(Retro) I mean like really…
(Atlas) He can't use his abilities on a whim; he has limitations while shadow manipulation is one of the best abilities for defense and combat; it's one of the most difficult to master!
(Retro) Now is the time to train him slowly. And no it's not.. once you learn the basics of how shadows work you can basically do anything with it. Like this.. "as retro vanishes from thin air"
(Atlas) We both know while I can't see your shadow I can still sense your glitching presence.
"As atlas senses Retro in the kitchen eating food"
(Atlas) god damn it Retro wait before everyone gets to the table and have some manners, will you!!
(Nexus) Where did he go??
(Atlas) He's in the cabin eating breakfast without us. I made tamagoyaki for everyone
(Nexus) Yeah!!!! "Jumping around excitedly"
(Atlas) Let's head on inside and eat before it gets cold okay?
"As they left the area to met up with Retro inside the house to eat we see white eyes appearing on the trees. Noon starts rolling around, we see Retro and Nexus fighting with Atlas looking at them. Nexus seems to be out of breath, Retro just has his hands in his pockets."
(Nexus) "Huff and puffing" why can't I hit you!!! "Visibly frustrated"
(Retro) Come on kiddo you got this. Once more!
(Nexus) "Argh"
(Atlas) I think that's enough retro.. he is at his limit.
(Retro) No he's not.
(Atlas) Yeah he is.
"As they are arguing, retro looks towards Atlas, and takes a step back from Atlas instinctively evading Nexus punching the air in front of Retro.
As Nexus evaded both retro and Atlas senses. Leaving both Retro and Atlas stunted for a moment. In that moment Nexus punched Retro in his face making him take a step back again."
(Nexus) "Huffing and puffing" I hit you finally!!
"As he falls to the floor Atlas grabs him and takes him inside to rest."
(Atlas) Well now Nexus, that got both of us. "Softly chuckling to himself"
"Retro is taking a moment to regain his bearings from being hit in the face like that"
(Retro) Well now kiddo that's some straight up ingenious quick thinking..
"Before Retro can move he looks at the trees behind him and stares at the horizon line."
(Retro) There's no hostility nor killing intentions. What could they want? Ummm.. Atlas would have let me know by now I guess he hasn't sensed them yet.. so long as they don't cause trouble for us it's fine.
"Turning around he walks to the door of the house and turns back around to look at the tree line only to see someone looking at him. standing on the tree as if nothing matters they vanish from thin air"
(Intermission brought to you by Nexus sleeping in Atla's arms. Atlas is like a doting father.) (no this is not boys love)
(Atlas) Time to get you to bed Nexus, I'll wake you up when it's morning
"Atlas with Nexus still in his arms approaches Nexus's room ready to put him to sleep. As he finishes tucking Nexus in he goes back out to Retro and uses shadow sight to ensure that Nexus is asleep and not rummaging through the fridge"
(Atlas) Alright, Nexus is fast asleep. Now then Retro… I have something to ask of you.
(Retro) What is it, Atlas?
(Atlas) When I gave you the gemstone, what memories did you regain?
(Retro) "he looks at Atlas with sad eyes" The death of my family, friends, and people I once knew.
(Atlas) Oh I'm sorry you had to experience that. again I'm guessing the person who looked like me also died.
(Retro) Atlas, remember I'm old, older than time itself. Yes, even Aryan, he was like a son to me.
(Atlas) We're going to find a way to get you back to your realm as soon as we get all of the gemstones for your sword. Alongside that we still have mine to find as well. "Atlas shows Retro his pocket watch with two gemstones filled one of a red color and another purple and 6 empty slots and a crescent moon "
(Retro) My sword is on the shelf inside my room. Ok, looks like we got something to be doing for a while.
(Atlas) Do you remember the sunstone? the gem is in the middle of the stone, mind helping me get it out?
(Retro) Yeah, I don't mind helping you out. I gave it to you, remember I tossed it to you and Becky.. before that crap went down.
(Atlas) I put a sealing on it, so yeah it's just been inside the depths for a while. I can bring it out quickly, wait here.
(Retro) Oh lord.
"Atlas opens a gate to the depths of reality and goes to mystic's old shop area and grabs the sunstone out of the drawer below the TV and walks out the gate"
(Atlas) Alright, now I'm closing the gate before one of those monsters gets out, anyways here mind prying the gem out of the relic?
(Retro) This is.. we need to move to the field first before I can do it.
(Atlas) Alright just in case, I'll cast a few walls before we do this.
(Retro) Enhance the walls so that they can withstand the sun's heat.
(Atlas) Retro don't worry I can just transfigure it into some harder material plus I don't need that flash bang to interrupt Nexus sleeping
(Retro) Alright, don't want to disturb him either.
"As they move to the fields beside the house Atlas throws up walls and enhances them"
(Atlas) Ready when you are!
(Atlas) By the way, I removed the weird thing, that phantom used to detect us when we grabbed it. The first time back at the temple!
(Retro) Ok
"Atlas hands Retro the sunstone. He looks at it before trying to break it with pure strength. As the sun's rays shine through the rock, The heat intensifies while Retro's hands are starting to be scorched. [Going white to black damn brother]
(Atlas) Retro you doing alright I can restore any damage you take during this now that I can use Transfiguration from medium distances
"Retro grab the stone with both hands as it begins to heat up more and more."
(Retro) "Agh"
"As it gets brighter Atlas covers his eyes. Sensing the immediate danger he threw up a wall and tried to throw one up in front of Retro. An explosion happened destroying the walls and making Atlas take a few steps back."
(Atlas) RETRO?? Are you ok?!!
(Retro) Kind of..
"Retro is breathing heavily as his clothes are somewhat tattered, he is holding on to a gem like stone with a sunflower engraved into it."
(Retro) "Huff" "Huff" "Huff" damn that hurt like a truck. "Huff"
(Atlas) Hold on Retro let me heal you back up.
"Atlas uses his transfiguration gem to heal back the clothes and injuries"
(Retro) Thanks kid. "Huff" for healing me but this fatigue won't go away.. I need to sleep. It's almost night. "He puts the stone in Atlas' hand and falls to his knees" damn that hurts.
(Atlas) Are you sure you're ok? "With a wary look on his face"
(Retro) It's not the first time I've taken an explosion straight to the face. "Softly chuckling to himself" is quite the jarring experience.
(Atlas) you're still making dumb jokes. "Softly chuckling"
"As Atlas helps Retro get up off the floor, we see Nexus at the door with groggy eyes look at the scene in front of him"
(Nexus) "Yawning and holding his hand to his mouth" what happened?
"Atlas holding Retro"
(Atlas) Nothing really, just Retro testing out new magic that backfired.
(Nexus) I'ma hold the door for you. "Still sleepy"
"Nexus holds the door open for Atlas and Retro to walk through. They make their way over to Retro's room, as Atlas helps Retro sit down, he flops backwards onto the pillow. The only sound to leave Retro was a snore. Atlas smiles at this scene and turns to leave when he sees Nexus looking at the sword on the shelf."
(Nexus) Pretty sword..
(Atlas) Let's get you back to bed Nexus.
(Nexus) Ok "as he yawns, trying to cover his mouth"
"After tucking in Nexus, Atlas slowly makes his way to his room when he feels heavy hostility towards him. He spins around, pulling out his ice sword only to see no one in the hallway"
(Atlas) What the hell was that!
"Atlas turns back around to a noise behind him. He sees someone sitting in the chair drinking something out of a cup. Atlas tenses up and gets ready to attack, but the world slightly wraps around him causing him to black out. As he wakes up in his bed sweating to the morning sun rays"