Ophieus felt the cobblestone vanishing beneath his boots as the cold fog passed by him. The world around him faded into hazy shapes and dull colors, all of it blurred by the swirling gray fog. He kept moving as he outstretched his hand and listened for anything. But there was only silence and the cold damp air that left a bit of moisture on his cheek. The thin fog kept on growing denser every step.
But he could still see plants, trees, and bushes as shadows in the haze.
Ophieus glanced around him with his golden eyes that shone in the dim light. He took another step forward, his boots making a soft crunching sound as he pressed down on a branch. Every breath he took carried a chill and shivering every time he brushed aside a bush or a branch.
The leaves… Are they gray? Ophieus eyes narrowed, from what he recalled. The leaves should be green but are now gray and teal with them being extremely cold.
He moved a hand and gently grip one of the leaves with his fingers before his eyes widened. As he saw the leaves breaking down and falling down to the ground.
"Are the leaves here dead?" Ophieus whispered as he glanced at the looming trees with branches twisting overhead like claws.
Ophieus continued walking forward, his curiosity outweighing anything else he felt. During the walk he tried stirring up any memories but no matter how much he tried to tug. But only flashes of the same things, robed figures, gray fog, burning buildings.
It was then he was brought out of his thoughts from a faint crunch. Golden eyes widened as he knew it wasn't from him but somewhere deeper into the swirling fog beyond his sight. He paused, glancing around but he didn't see anything except for the familiar silhouette of the trees, branches and bushes.
Ophieus walked forward, hand subconsciously drifting to the hilt of the black sword at his side. Then the sound of twigs snapping repeated with the rustle of the bushes.
Something is near! But is it in front? Or next to me? Ophieus kept hearing sounds but then saw the trees themselves seemed to tremble. Their shadowy trunks shaking in the swirling fog, making him know something was around here.
But it isn't striking… Not yet. Ophieus kept walking as he felt a sense of thrill through his body.
Even at the sounds of movement, the trembling trees, the belief something was close by, all Ophieus felt was excitement in his chest. A touch of unease clung to him, but it only made him smile wider as he grip the sword a bit tighter. He continued with his steps slower as his heart sped up every time the sound of branches snapping grew closer.
Then Ophieus caught glimpses of it, shadows other than trees and bushes. The forms looked similar to an animal or something else, he didn't know. But the snapping of wood grew more frequent, sometimes behind, on his side, and ahead. He couldn't tell if he was being followed or simply surrounded.
As Ophieus took another step.
The fog split open without warning, as a monstrous jaw lunged towards Ophieus face. He could smell the blood on its breath and the shadow on its gums before Ophieus hands shot up.
Instincts he couldn't remember having moved his body, catching the beast's jaws in mid-air. His palm scraped against the odd fur that felt wet and pushed towards the left. The creature's head was hurled sideways as it smashed into the hazy brush with a heavy thud.
All while a grin was on Ophieus face.
Ophieus grasped his sword, pulling it out as it released a hissing noise before he moved back. A low growl rumbled across, as his eyes began glancing left and right as he saw it. Seven pairs of crimson eyes peering at him through the thick fog.
With them being so close, Ophieus could see more of the creatures.
They were shaped like wolves as they circled around him, their furs made of smoke and darkness. The light-blue smoke around them twists and curls around their limb mixing with the gray fog. Some had twisted skulls for faces, others with lions, others with bears, and other creatures faces.
"Just what are you all…" Ophieus muttered, his hand tightening on the black sword.
The first creature lunged towards Ophieus, leading him to shift to the left and evading the jaws. Before his sword chopped down, slicing a line across the beast's belly as he moved forward. Black mist burst from the wound and the wolf crumpled mid-leap just as two more charged from opposite sides.
Ophieus chopped down with his black sword on his left side while driving his kneel into the right one side. The blade sliced through the skull creature while his knee connected with the bear creature's chest. The bear creature let out a deafening roar as it stumbled back, its chest caved in. Before he rushed forward and plunging his sword into the bear's face.
Black mist exploded, as the creature collapsed to the ground.
Three down.
Ophieus twisted his body just as black streak rushed past him, lightly scratching his arm. The white jacket was struck but he ignored it as he rushed forward, his sword slicing through the air. The blow landed with a crunching sound and then a whimpering cry rang out after.
Two more creatures rushed forward as a team.
One feinting from the front while the other lunging from behind. Ophieus moved, two quick steps forward, making the one lunging from behind missing. While the front creature's eyes widened as a black sword appeared from below and slicing through its spine with a clean cut.
The lion at the side tried to adjust, but he spun around with his black sword sweeping out, dragging his blade across it. The black mist leaked out as the lion face creature fell down.
Then the final creature was faster, appearing behind him with its jaw descending down on him. Ophieus instantly lowered his body while thrust his sword behind him, puncturing through the jaw of the creature. The shadowy wolf fell down as the black mist spread out and the forest fell silent.
Ophieus let out a chuckle, looking at the falling body of the creatures. He was surprised at how easily he fought and how natural it felt, making him wonder if he was a warrior or soldier. He then shrugs, pinning it down as something to figure out later.
And it was then he saw the creature's body begin to shine.
A soft blue glow began to spread across their bodies and then a small light rose up. Ophieus blinked in surprise as he saw the light turned into a tiny orb. It pulsed softly as its light casted patterns across his face but for some reason it didn't hurt his eyes.
But before he could say anything, a familiar gentle voice appeared in his head. It was the one from the gray fog dream washing over him.
Ophieus… look at the light. Reach for it, you don't need to be afraid.
Ophieus didn't remember moving, but his hand up and reached out as if moved by invisible strings. His fingers brushed against the orb before a shimmer of silver spread across his body. He felt every hair on his arms stand up before he then felt at peace.
Before the tiny orb rushed towards him into his chest.
Ophieus gasped as he felt countless thoughts appearing in his mind, a mix of words, symbols, numbers, and blurry images. All while he felt tingling warmth through his body before then his chest began to shine.
Looking down, Ophieus saw the glowing silver outline of a key. It burned through his black shirt and white jacket, the shape itself expanding in white lines before then fading away. He swayed a bit before stopping as he pressed a hand to his chest as the last shimmer of silver was gone.
A chime then sounded out.
Ophieus realized it wasn't in the air but in his mind as then a silver screen of light appeared in front.
[Welcome, Master of the Silver Key.]