*Click*
As my consciousness returned, it was already too late I had turned the handle on the knob.
Instinctively, I threw myself to the side without a second thought. It turned out to be the right decision.
A second later, the door was split apart down the middle by black, pulsating veins.
'the hell is that!!!!, and how did... how did I see it attacking me before... is this what they call instinct no... its closer to premonition... shit nows not the time to be thinking about it!'
I froze, lying flat on the blood-soaked, sticky floor.
whatever happened I can think about it later, I clamped my hands tightly over my mouth, muffling my shaky breaths. The metallic tang of blood filled my nostrils as I fought the urge to gag.
Strangely, I had a feeling that it would shrink back out. Perhaps desperation had clouded my judgment. After all, when you're drowning, you'll cling to even the weakest rope.
'Don't move.'
'Don't make a sound.'
'Don't…'
The dark crimson veins writhed like serpents, tapping the floor methodically, as if tasting the air for prey. Each motion made my heart pound louder in my chest, threatening to betray me.
With every passing moment, holding my breath became harder. My lungs burned, screaming for air.
Then, at last, the veins recoiled.
I gasped quietly, greedily sucking in air as my chest heaved. My relief was short-lived.
then without me even realising my body moved bolting to the left just as the black veins struck, drilling a hole in the floor where I'd been sitting moments before.
If I'd hesitated for even a second, I would've been skewered.
But now that I was moving, I realized something terrifying. It could sense me better when I wasn't still.
'What do I do?'
The veins contracted, then lunged again. I dodged, but not fast enough—one grazed my shoulder, leaving a shallow, burning cut.
I gasped, chest heaving as adrenaline coursed through me. My heart was pounding louder than ever. Fear and panic churned within me, but strangely, there was something else… excitement?
'I don't know... I don't know what to do! ugh I dont have time for this... The space I can move around in is shrinking, and I can't defeat whatever this thing is. I need an escape plan. lets think look at the surroundings survival 104 always be aware of the surroundings'
blood... gems... bones... roots... wait gems?!
My vision blurred momentarily, then shifted, overlaid with glowing symbols, words, and diagrams. A translucent silhouette resembling a human appeared in the corner of my vision, it was picking up the gems or at least trying to...
Circles highlighted the tiny mana crystals littered around me, making them easy to spot.
'Alright,' I thought. 'If this helps me get out of here, lets pick them up'
I weaved between attacks, narrowly dodging the crimson veins as they struck. At first, their movements seemed chaotic, but as I focused, I noticed a pattern. Their attacks weren't random—they were predictable, almost mechanical.
Taking advantage of this, I darted toward the glowing crystals. One cyan, one purple, one pale jade, and one crimson gem—all as smooth and vibrant as polished glass.
' these should be enough?" I thought aloud, strongly despite the situation being worse and worse I was calmer than before and I dont know why but I believed... I trusted I could get out of this hell hole.
from the moment I picked up the very first gem off the floor, I could sence it, I could feel the pull in my mind...
it wanted me to say...
"initiate engraving"
as just those words left my mouth a wave of strong wind currents repelled the incoming crimson veins and some symbols started to appear in front of my eye... more accurately in the corner of my eye and strangely enough I could understand what they were...
[ Conditions met. ]
[ Initiating sequence… ]
[ protocol activated. ]
[ Bypassing mana privileges… ]
[ Engraving mana crystals… ]
[ Engraving spell: Drench… ]
[ Engraving spell: Frost… ]
[ Engraving spell: Electricule… ]
[ Engraving spell: Shatter… ]
[ Engraving complete! ]