CHAPTER :EIGHTEEN
(Written by Solomon Paul)
Amon and Elioth were separated. Their bodies had been flung apart when the Dark Knight's shadow split the ground beneath them. Elioth searched for Amon in the Crucible world, but there was no hope of finding him soon. His arms still burned from holding back the giant's blade, and every breath felt like fire.
The world shifted again, creating an arena with numerous fighters.
Elioth: I guess the only way to go through this is to fight my way through. Amon doesn't have his dagger… I just hope he's safe.
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Meanwhile, at the other side of the Crucible…
Amon: Elioth, where are you? We suddenly got separated… I need to find him quickly. It's too dangerous here.
His throat ached where the shadow claw had gripped him. Every step was heavy. Suddenly, visions of death appeared before his eyes—memories he thought he had long forgotten. He saw his home, his family, slaughtered before him. And in the distance, he still heard the whisper that had haunted him during the Dark Knight's attack:
"…bound… the blood-cage holds him fast…"
Amon: why do all these keeps coming to my head.
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The Mystical World
Amon's body shook violently, his screams echoing as the Crucible forced his trauma to the surface, while Elioth's body began to bleed from invisible wounds.
Wyvern (Raul): They don't look alright. I think we should bring them back.
The Mysterious Being: No… this is something they must overcome.
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The Crucible World
Amon: I feel like I'm drowning… What is this immense pain? This doesn't belong only to me—it's like the whole world is crushing me.
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Meanwhile, Elioth…
His muscles were already shredded from holding back the Dark Knight, and now he faced wave after wave of new horrors. Every strike burned through him like fire in his veins, and the ground beneath his feet felt like it wanted to swallow him whole.
Elioth (bleeding): I'm not sure I can make it…
Still, he fought on. His body screamed with every movement, but his spirit refused to surrender.
Elioth: Looks like Amon might finish this test without me… but I can't give up here!
He forced himself up with the last strength left in him, swinging his fists, driving his knees, throwing everything he had. But the Crucible didn't relent. Each blow he landed only brought more enemies, more blood, more pain.
His vision blurred. His breath grew shallow. The world tilted beneath him.
At last, his knees buckled. He collapsed, crashing to the ground, blood soaking into the broken earth. His hand reached out as if still trying to fight, still trying to rise… but it trembled, then went still.
Elioth (weakly, fading): Goodbye… brother. Guess… this is as far as I go. Take it from here.
Life slipped away from him, fleeing fast like water through his fingers. His chest fell silent.
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Meanwhile, Amon was trying to endure the pain. Through the haze of agony, he turned—and saw Elioth's lifeless body lying in the distance. His heart dropped.
Crawling forward, enduring the crushing pain, he reached his brother.
Amon (shocked): Hey… are you alright? I'm here now, we're in this together, remember? Wake up!
But no matter how much he called, nothing worked. Elioth had already crossed into the afterlife.
Amon: Aghhh!!!
It's all my fault… He never wanted to be here. He only wanted to return to his family. But I forced him into this, I deprived him of he's loved ones and happiness, This cursed world!
Darkness surged through Amon's body, consuming him whole. A seal within him shattered, unleashing an overwhelming power that had no end. The very fabric of the Crucible world trembled, collapsing under his presence alone.
Amon: What is this power boiling inside me? I can't sense an end to it, is it really mine… But first—what do I do to a world like this.
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