Chapter 75 – The Leap of Faith
The wind howled across the cliff like a warning.
Peterson stood at the edge of the massive drop, staring down into the deep canyon below. A river rushed violently through the bottom, smashing against jagged rocks as white mist rose into the air.
One wrong step here meant death.
Naëlle stood beside him, arms crossed as she looked from the cliff… to him… then back to the cliff again.
"Alright," she said slowly. "I'm going to assume you didn't bring us all the way here just so we could admire the view."
Peterson scratched the back of his head.
"Well… technically we could admire it for a few minutes."
Naëlle turned her head slowly.
Peterson quickly raised his hands. "Okay, okay! I have an idea."
She raised an eyebrow. "An idea?"
"That look worries me already."
Peterson glanced back the way they had come. The forest behind them stretched endlessly, filled with the sounds of distant beasts and rustling leaves.
"We've been walking for hours," he said. "And the statue is clearly on the other side."
He pointed across the canyon.
Far in the distance, barely visible through the morning mist, stood the gigantic four-horned gorilla statue.
Even from here it looked massive.
Ancient.
Watching.
Naëlle followed his gaze and nodded.
"So what's the plan, genius? Grow wings?"
Peterson smirked.
"Something like that."
Naëlle frowned.
"…Peterson."
He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.
Inside his mind, the system interface flickered faintly.
His body still hummed with energy from training and the battles they'd fought earlier in the forest.
He didn't need the full power.
Not the dangerous kind.
Just a little.
Just enough.
Peterson clenched his fists.
A thin layer of dark energy rippled across his body.
Not the full Midnight King transformation.
Just a fraction.
His muscles tightened, veins glowing faintly with shadowy energy.
His posture straightened slightly as the power settled into his limbs.
Naëlle immediately noticed.
"…Peterson?"
He opened his eyes.
They were sharper now.
Focused.
"Ten percent," he muttered.
Naëlle tilted her head. "Ten percent of what?"
Peterson didn't answer.
Instead he turned toward her.
Then he suddenly bent down and grabbed her around the waist.
Naëlle blinked.
"Peterson—what are you doing?!"
He lifted her easily.
Naëlle's eyes widened.
"Put me down!"
"Nope."
"Peterson!"
He stepped back from the cliff edge.
Twenty meters.
Thirty.
Naëlle stared at him.
"…You're not thinking what I think you're thinking."
Peterson cracked his neck.
"Oh I am absolutely thinking it."
Her eyes widened.
"You're insane."
He grinned.
"Probably."
Then he started running.
Fast.
His boots tore through the grass as the ground shook under his accelerating steps.
Naëlle grabbed onto his shoulder instinctively.
"Peterson, this is a terrible idea!"
"Too late now!"
They reached the edge.
Peterson pushed off the ground with everything he had.
The earth beneath his feet cracked.
And the two of them launched into the air.
For one terrifying moment…
They were flying.
The canyon rushed beneath them.
Wind roared past their ears.
Naëlle buried her face against Peterson's shoulder.
"I swear if we die I'm haunting you!"
Peterson laughed.
"We're not dying!"
They cleared the canyon edge.
Barely.
Peterson's boots slammed into the opposite side of the cliff.
The impact forced him to roll forward across the grass.
They tumbled several meters before finally stopping.
Silence.
Wind rustled the trees.
Naëlle slowly lifted her head.
"…We made it."
Peterson lay flat on the ground, breathing heavily.
"Told you."
Naëlle sat up and punched his shoulder.
"You absolute idiot!"
Peterson winced. "Ow!"
"You could have told me first!"
"That would've ruined the surprise!"
She stood up, brushing dirt off her clothes.
"…I hate you sometimes."
Peterson sat up with a grin.
"But we made it."
Naëlle looked back toward the canyon.
"…Yeah."
She paused.
"…That was actually pretty cool."
Peterson stood and stretched.
"See?"
"Still reckless though."
They continued walking through the forest.
This side of the canyon looked different.
The trees were taller.
The ground was thicker with moss.
And the air felt…
Heavier.
Naëlle noticed it too.
"You feel that?"
Peterson nodded.
"Yeah."
"Something's different."
A rustling sound came from the bushes ahead.
Peterson raised his hand.
"Beast."
The bushes exploded outward.
A one-horned gorilla charged toward them, roaring.
Peterson stepped forward calmly.
He dodged the beast's swing and drove his fist into its ribs.
CRACK.
The gorilla collapsed instantly.
Naëlle blinked.
"…Okay."
Peterson stretched his fingers.
"Still weaker than the ones earlier."
They continued forward.
Soon they encountered another group.
Two two-horned gorillas.
These ones were larger and more aggressive.
Naëlle drew her water blade.
"Mine."
She dashed forward.
One swift slash.
The first gorilla dropped.
The second tried to attack Peterson.
Peterson stepped aside and elbowed it in the back of the neck.
The beast crumpled.
Naëlle sheathed her blade.
"That was almost too easy."
Peterson nodded.
"Something tells me the stronger ones are closer to the statue."
They kept moving.
Occasionally more gorillas appeared.
Mostly one-horns.
Sometimes two-horns.
Once they encountered a three-horned gorilla that forced them into a longer fight.
But together they handled it.
As the sun slowly shifted overhead, the massive statue finally came into full view.
Up close…
It was enormous.
At least fifty meters tall.
A giant stone gorilla standing upright, carved from dark rock.
Four massive horns rose from its head.
Its eyes stared forward as if guarding something behind it.
Naëlle whistled softly.
"Okay… that's creepy."
Peterson nodded.
"Ancient too."
The stone surface was covered with weathered carvings and strange symbols.
They walked around the base of the statue.
And then they saw it.
Behind the statue…
A structure.
Hidden until now.
A massive stone temple built into the mountain.
Tall pillars.
Broken stairs.
And a dark entrance leading inside.
Naëlle stopped walking.
"…You see that?"
Peterson nodded slowly.
"Yeah."
The entrance looked ancient.
And silent.
Naëlle crossed her arms.
"Well."
She looked at him.
"Should we head inside?"
Peterson stared at the temple entrance.
Then he smiled slightly.
"Yeah."
"Let's do this."
They walked toward the temple doors.
And the darkness waiting inside.
End of Chapter 75
Author's Note: I've been trying to write more than 1 or 2 chapters in advance just to makeup for those missing days, also I made my chapters slightly longer so you guys can enjoy it a bit more in just 1 chapter . Hopefully you guys don't envy me for making you wait too long. Also I need you guys supports in comments I'm not asking for money, I just need your opinion and I take advices. Also I'm still working on the artwork for Veve's path.