CHAPTER 19: INDENTED
The dome stretched endlessly above them, a vault of steel and glass woven into a giant geodesic lattice. The structure swallowed light and bent it, letting beams spill like liquid gold through triangular panes. Inside, life thrived in unnatural perfection: rivers meandered through mossy banks, waterfalls spilled down black stone cliffs, and elevated wooden pathways curved gracefully among towering trees. Hanging pods and crystal observatories glimmered from stilts, their surfaces half-swallowed by vines, blending the artificial with the wild.
To their right, the terrain gave way to an expanse of forest so vast it seemed endless, as though the dome itself opened into another world entirely.
Siah turned in astonishment, his gaze darting between the shimmering canopy and the endless green beyond. He glanced back at Kale, who stood rooted, face grave and unreadable.
Siah broke the silence with a half-cough, half-scoff.
"Are you a member of the Crew family?"
Kale chuckled low in his chest, though his eyes never softened.
"Don't lose the cocky attitude you had earlier."
Siah's smirk faltered. His jaw tightened as he took two cautious steps back, hand sliding into his pocket. A long sigh escaped him.
"Dealing with someone with a deep background is troublesome."
Kale's eyes narrowed, his stare sharp as a blade. Disgust twisted his face.
"How are you able to walk around freely?"
Confusion flickered across Siah's expression.
"I get that look a lot from you Stillness. Do I have something on my face that's bothering you?"
Kale broke into laughter—harsh, exhausted, almost bitter.
"I think coincidences are just blindspots in our awareness."
Siah pulled a small pocket knife free, the metal catching stray glimmers of light as he chuckled.
"I think so too."
Kale extended his left hand. Fingers spread wide, his palm trembled—then bubbled. A froth like living foam spilled between his fingers, seething down his wrist. The substance writhed, swirling, reshaping until it congealed into shimmering bubbles. They rose, delicate yet eerie, surfaces glistening faintly in the dome's dim glow.
Siah's eyes widened, body tightening like a spring.
"When has life ever been fair?" Kale said, lips curving in a sly, mocking smirk.
Siah didn't wait. He spun and bolted into the endless forest.
Behind him, Kale's voice rang with cruel amusement.
"Good. Now I have someone to explore the dangers of this complex plain."
Kale followed at an unhurried pace, each step deliberate, measured.
Siah's breath tore ragged in his throat as he sprinted through the forest. His heart thundered, his mind a blur of curses.
"Damn it—that bastard's playing with me."
He pushed harder, lungs burning.
"I can only buy time. But for what?"
A heavy sigh rattled through him as he ran.
"Tch. This Kushim is useless."
The forest thickened around him, shadows shifting unnaturally, the canopy swallowing the dome's light.
"Aren't we on a Tessel? This place feels like a different world altogether."
Realization struck him cold. His eyes flared in alarm.
"Damn it… this was that bastard's plan from the start. He's using me to test the dangers of this place."
His breath caught, mouth gaping as panic threatened to take him. He forced himself calm, forcing words through clenched teeth.
"Think, Siah. Think. That bastard's a Stillness. If he fears this place, then something greater must be here. All I am is bait."
He bit down hard, lips pinching into a thin, determined line.
"So… do I go back and take my chances with him, or dive deeper into this forest and gamble with time?"
Resolve hardened across his face. He darted deeper into the forest.
Kale paused. His lips twitched, and a soft, mirthless laugh broke free.
"Impressive. What an odd character."
He pressed on, laughter trailing him.
"If I knew cleaning this place would be so time consuming, I would've just joined a set."
Suddenly, his body stiffened. His steps halted mid-stride.
He blinked. Once. Twice. The smirk drained from his face.
"My… bubbles vanished. How is that possible?"
His skin paled, wrinkles of shock cutting across his face.
His right hand ignited with a fierce blaze, the flames radiating an intense HUE, far beyond the spectrum of ordinary fire.
"An Ascendant Echelon Hue Beast… roaming this complex plain? If that's true…" His voice broke into a whisper, disbelief lacing each word.
"…we should have died the moment we set foot here."
His gaze snapped upward, to the towering dome of glass.
"Is it… tamed? Impossible. Vex said he discarded this complex plain when he broke through to status three. How—how could he have tamed an Ascendant Hue Beast?"
He waved sharply, and the bubbles reformed, scattering like drifting lanterns into the forest, vanishing among the trees.
Far ahead, Siah collapsed against the trunk of a massive tree, chest heaving.
"Damn it. I can't keep running. I need to hide."
The air shifted. The forest went silent.
Then, a whisper curled against his ear:
"Play time is over."
Every hair on his body stood on end. His eyes snapped wide.
Kale was there. Next to him. Smiling.
Siah jerked back, knife raised.
"Save that for a more formidable enemy," Kale said, laughter bubbling up from his chest.
Siah's brows rose in disbelief.
"Have you lost your mind?"
Kale's grin widened, unsettling.
"I never got your name."
Siah glared, jaw set.
Kale only laughed, shaking his head.
"I guess it's too late for that. I am Kale Bates."
Siah's frown deepened, muscles tensing as his eyes swept the shadows around them.
Kale inhaled deeply, shoulders rising.
"I wanted to clean this place up… but it seems I was in over my head."
Siah's voice was low, grim.
"Something tells me we could die at any moment."
Kale erupted into laughter once again, the sound ricocheting through the trees.
"You have very good instincts."
Siah steadied himself, lifting his gaze toward the glittering glass canopy.
"What is this place?"
Before Kale could answer, the sky split.
A creature descended passing through the glass canopy—ethereal, bird-like, wings unfurling into jagged tendrils of light. Its luminous body blazed with impossible radiance, and its shadow blanketed the forest floor. The dome shuddered beneath its presence, both Kale and Siah froze.
Paralyzed in fright.