Ruffling his short curly brown hair Ethan smiled as he leaned in closer, his red eyes gleaming with concern as he spoke.
"The others might not realize it, but I know you've been staying real close to Damon since his eleventh birthday, I'm sure Mother and the attendants know too." Pointing to his own right eye Ethan continued, "I also possess the mystic eye skill, so I know you had to have seen something that day to be acting so strange, but whatever you saw can't be that serious if Moth-."
"You don't understand!" Vincent replied, interrupting Ethan, lowering his gaze, becoming noticeably agitated as his shoulder began to shake as he was reminded of what he had seen that night.
That Night, Vincent had travelled to Damon's room on the thirteenth floor, intending to check up on him after the small pizza party they had. Upon reaching the floor, he sensed something about it that felt eerie.
The silence felt suffocating and unnatural
As he approached Damon's door, he noticed a pool of blood suddenly seeped out from beneath.
Thick, Bright red. The stench of iron was suffocating.
One look told him. It was no ordinary blood, the blood oozed to the center of the hallway before stopping as the door began creaking open.
Creak…
His heart pounded out of his chest .
Activating his mystic eyes skill, Vincent moved closer.
Peeking through the open space in the doorway, Vincent's breath caught in his throat as he saw the visage of what seemed to be a tall slender figure.
A woman, dressed in a dark night gown, blood at her feet, The skin exposed was visible rotting and festered with maggots. The most terrifying part of all, the woman only had half a head.
Towering over the sleeping Damon, Her hands dug in to the exposed brain matter with an unsettling calmness. She slowly smeared the grotesque fluids on his forehead , as if it belonged there.
The sight nearly made his soul leave his body as he was overcome with fear, completely forgetting about Damon, Vincent's instincts told him to run.
Despite recently acquiring skills, he knew this wasn't an entity he could fight. In fact, he wasn't even sure mother would be its match either.
Swiftly turning to make an escape despair set in, as he realized the entity was now right in front of him.
Reaching out to him, it caressed his face with is rotting elongated fingers as it made incomprehensible sounds
#@??tbkx????
Crack!
Unable to comprehend her words, excruciating pain shot through Vincent's entire being as he heard a crack.
"AAAHHHHHHH!"
Releasing a bone chilling howl, Vincent collapsed, convulsing and clutching his head until he blacked out.
Recalling that memory, Vincent felt a throbbing as if his head was being split out.
His breathing became shallow,frantic .
Blood begun to run from his eyes as his face paled.
Noticing the situations escalating, Ethan reacted quickly. Activating his technique and healing skill simultaneously, his energy surged forward enveloping Vincent.
Immediately, Vincent's eyes went blank as he stared into Ethan's eyes, he felt like he was looking at a calm beach shore.
"Viny! Look at me, alright? You're safe. I'm here, just focus on my voice. Nothing's going to happen to you, Damon or anyone else. I promise."
Gasp.....gasp....gas
Feeling himself being pulled into Ethan's embrace, Vincent's breathing began to steady. His shoulders slowly relaxed as he sunk further into his brother arms.
"I know you're trying to be strong and fearless for the younger ones, but you don't need to bear that mask, we're still just kids after all. It's normal to be scared of the unknown, but we can't let that fear overwhelm us." Wiping away the blood on Vincent's face with his white shirt sleeve Ethan continued, "Its fine if you can't tell me what happened but when you feel strong enough we can go to mother together."
Noticing the commotion, Cassie approached them wearing her usual black shirt trousers combo and black choker, her straight black hair reaching to her back swaying slightly as her round face was overcome with confusion. Studying them with her deep black eyes, she spoke, her mouth nearly turning into an "O" shape.
"Boy's love!? Oh! My Goddess!, with your brother no less, Ethan! How could you?!"
"Huh?"
"What are you yapping about?"
Mutually confused both brothers just stared at Cassie, "Oh lighten up you two, not so fun when you're the ones being messed with right?" she said shrugging with a light laugh.
Ignoring her, Ethan released Vincent and pointed at Cassie.
" See Viny? No point pretending to be fearless for the others when there's psychos like her around."
"I'm honored you feel that way about me, dear brother."
"It wasn't a compliment!"
Watching their banter, Vincent couldn't resist laughing.
"Hahahahahah!"
Hearing his laughter Cassie put on a sorrowful expression, "To think his dear younger brother Josh is currently suffering due to pain enhancer serum, and he's here laughing, Oh how I sweep for Josh's soul."
Once again both brothers were left too stunned to speak.
******
Waking up in a giant hall, Josh began observing his surroundings.
Recalling Vincent's explanation on the test, He knew he was currently a clone body in the dimension linked to his test. Clenching is fists, he was immensely surprised by the realistic sensation that spread through his fingers.
'It really does feel like my real hand.'
Reaching for his trouser pocket, he shook a set of six pills a couple of times. Worrying about his safety Henry had told him about the pain enhancer serum and gave him these pills he'd 'stolen' from Cassie. They're meant to push spiritual energy towards the pain receptors in the brain, making them more resistant for Ten Minutes.
Airing on the side of caution, Josh decided to take one now. Returning his gaze to the surrounding he noticed something. The hall he was standing in was the most imposing he'd ever seen, just the sheer size of the place was shocking, but the walls adorned with the giant skulls of rams filled him with terror.
Josh suspected the hall was over a kilometer wide!
The place was covered in black and red, evoking a feeling of Ancient evil with lanterns on the walls seemingly made from human skulls.
Planning to take a look around, Josh took a step forward.
SHING
Thump!
Josh fell forward in surprise, barely catching himself with his hands.
Looking back, he noticed there was a bleeding stump where his right leg ankle was supposed to be.
'What? Where's my right foot ?!' Josh Thought in Panic as pain tore through his mind.
"Aaarrgghhhh!"
Josh's hand clutched his right leg as his entire body was engulfed in pain, and it became near impossible to breathe as his vision started becoming blurry. Grimacing, he resisted the pain as he tore his shirt sleeve, rapping it around his leg to stop the bleeding.
'How..... did this happen!? What... attacked me!?'
Huff.... Huff... Huff!
Trying to steady his breath, his thoughts scrambled on what to do next.
He knew he would fail if he passed out now; he was sure whatever attacked him was lurking nearby, just waiting for the moment he did.
With no weapo,n Josh did the only thing he could think of, smashing his fist into the ground below using his enhanced strength. Hoping to escape the enemy's line of sight.
-Bang -Bang -Bang
Despite the cracks spreading on the flood beneath him, Josh was unable to break through. Realizing thi,s his face drained of color as he began sweating profusely. Panic had set in.
Suddenly, his instinct flared as Josh rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding an incoming attack.
Thump!
A loud thump
echoed through the air as something heavy landed behind hi,m denting the marble floor and causing a shockwave that slammed Josh into a wall.
"Oh? You were able to dodge this time. That's a surprise! It seems I misunderstood you due to your visage."
As the smoke cleared, what stood before him was a muscular man with red skin, four arms with talons, covered from head to toe in white tattoos and wearing a mask made from a ram's skull. His body seemed sculpted for war with no visible weaknesses.
His voice sounded deep, arrogant, and slow" State thy name, young one. The great I will permit thee to speak."
Hesitating for a moment, Josh replied, "My name is Josh, Josh Redhill."
"Ah! A fine name it is indeed, Thy will may need to be tempere,d but thou art worthy enough. Rejoice Josh, for you shall be baptized in the sacred ways of my peopl.e"
Slowly he approached Josh with a leisurely step without sound" I see thine eyes are drawn to my skill, 'tis no surprise, given thy inexperience. I'm merely circulating spiritual energy around my feet, that they touch not the earth in truth. To thine eyes it may appear I stand upon the ground, yet in truth ..... I do not."
coming to a halt a few centimeters from him, Josh felt his breath leave his body as the seven-foot-tall being stood over him.
Crouching down to his height, the being spoke once again.
"..... There is yet another guest I must attend. Thus, I shall make this swift and merciful, and see thee safely upon thy way home."
Jamming a talon into Josh's temple, waves of information began surging into Josh's mind.
The world turned black shortly after.
******
"Huaaaa....!"
Josh's eyes flared open as his body hunched over.
Sweat poured down from all over his body as he took deep and unsteady breaths.
"I'm-m... Haaa... back?"
He struggled to grasp his situation as his mind flooded with questions.
'Who was he...? Did I pass?'
"How are you feeling, Josh?
"Uh?"
Hearing Ethan's voice, Josh blinked and looked up, meeting his gaze.
"Ah, I'm fine, I guess" Despite what he said Ethan's eyes could see the slight trembling of his shoulders. Before he could say anything, Vincent approached with an apology.
"I'm really sorry, Josh, I slipped you some pain enhancer serum because I thought you'd need the extra strength to pass the test. I didn't realize how much danger I was actually putting you in. "His voice was shaking as he spoke.
"Um.... Well, it did work out in the end, if not for the serum, I would have been crushed into paste, but I'd be happy to forgive you for your dinner tonight."
Rolling his eyes, Vincent responded," It's always food with you, fine you've got a deal, but if you hate tonight's meal no second chances."
"So what did you get?" Interrupting the banter, Ethan spoke as Cassie also leaned in for Josh's response.
" I think the Technique is called 'Dismember', it allows the user to remove qualities from a target via silent omnidirectional slashes, it seems to be an advanced version of the basic skill Extraction." Josh said ,frowning in confusion.
"That makes sense," said Ethan. "That's usually how techniques are made, when a specter learns a skill, they can increase the spiritual energy output needed for the skill to create a technique that possesses the base of the skill but has different expressions based on the user."
" Maybe you can use it to remove some body weight," said Cassie, Nudging Josh's right shoulder.
Glaring at her, he retorted, "I'm not fat!, I'm a growing boy."
"I wonder how Damon's doing?" Said Ethan
"Ha! I'm sure he's doing just fine if chubby here could pass so quickly."
Cassie let out an amused laugh as she spoke.
"I said I'm not fat, Tell her Vincent!"
"HAHAHAH!"
"Oi"