Flame was panting.
He wasn't an awakened, but he still thought he might have a considerable stamina compared to others as he has been wandering inside the Rifts for the last couple of years
'like hell'
Belle and others have already ran ahead into battlefield with their Awakened physiques, while the Descendant Flame was carrying the luggage
'Javier. Javier. Damn it! don't die'
Javier was the captain of the team and one of the most powerful Awakened known in his academy. Flame always idealized Javier's fighting style. Whether it be his sword style, his team work or even the efficient use of the Skills.
also, Javier was the first one to propose the idea of giving Flame the Job of Porter of their team.
So, Flame felt a little uneasy for Javier.
Soon, at a distance he saw a chaos of Dark-blue festering in the air and overwhelming the Awakened humans. The huge humanoid bodies moved swiftly as they hobbled around the tasty humans.
Suddenly Flame noticed something and froze
'They… are not Awakened…'
Flame gulped as he saw the harrowing creature towering around 250 cm. their thick Dark-blue skin oozed with an insatiable bloodlust that even made Flame sweat standing at the distance.
Their whole body below their neck looked monstrously muscular as it stuck against the blades of the Awakened humans.
As Flame turned his eyes to look at their head. He suddenly froze.
Flame had seen these types of monsters many times, and every time he wondered the question of the same missing piece of their humanoid anatomy.
Head.
Instead of a head there were sharp, serrated spikes protruded around their neck like a cluster of thorns. These creatures were blind, dead, with no nose, mouth and no skull to survive.
And yet, they are considered one of the most ruthless monsters that the humanity had ever encountered.
Because, the only thing they sensed was…
Blood.
"Belle! Cover me quick"
Mathew yelled as he parried the incoming sharp crystal spike with his sword and turned his attention to the huge swarm of monsters overwhelming Javier.
The blade with the beautiful golden pommel sliced through the air, leaving behind a golden trail, before slicing the spikey monster's body from the middle.
The pitiful creature didn't even have the liberty to wail even during its last moments as it noiselessly fell down and flailed its limb, before eventually succumbing to death.
Mathew's respite dint last long as he felt the air behind him tearing and huge rush of bloodlust drowned his ears. instead of facing the incoming monstrosity, he turned his attention to the next spikey monster.
Soon, a sizzling sound of molten liquid echoed in the battle ground.
Belle swiped the sweat of her forehead, but she couldn't rest now. she quickly nocked another arrow and left the tight strings of her bow.
The arrow sizzled through the battlefield, deafening the clangor of blades, before piercing the Dark blue flesh of the Headless creatures
three more arrows shot from her beautiful bow in incessant motion, almost forming a pentagon of arrows on the body of spikey monster.
four arrowed lounged into the 4 respective limbs of the Awakened monster while the first one somehow got stuck into the cluster of thorns instead of piercing them.
The mobility of the monster was drastically decreased, but it was still not enough. Without wasting anytime, Belle quickly recited the incantation under her breath and soon all the five arrows flared with Dark flames.
In just couple of seconds, all of which remained of the monster was just the shiny crystal of his spikey head.
"you bastard! How do you expect me to shoot inside that spikey head!"
Belle shouted as she continued her continuous assault of arrows
Out of all of them Madam Samantha and Javier were dealing with the most of the spikey monsters.
'they are not fighting Awakened monster! They are fighting the Chaotic ones!!!"
Flame almost choked on his breath as he saw Javier and Madam Samantha fighting a monster whole rank above them.
Chaotic ones are much more powerful than the Awakened ones and fighting one of them as Awakened is nothing less than breaking the norms.
There were around 8 monsters left, out of which 3 were Chaotic and rest were Awakened. Mathew and Belle were dealing with the Awakened, but they were outnumbered.
Madam Samantha was dealing with one of the Chaotic, while the other 2 Chaotic monsters plunged on Javier. Fortunately, Belle was able to ease some of his pressure, using her swift arrows and Skills.
Flame felt a rush of adrenaline seeing Javier and others washed in the ghoulish green liquid of monster, mingling with their own crimson blood.
He gulped a mouthful of saliva 'I…I have to run'
At last, the only feeling he felt was fear.
Suddenly something vibrated around his wrist violently and he felt his heartbeat quicken.
He slowly looked at the clock like device and saw red coloured digits flickering incessantly.
[00:10:00]
His eyes widened
'10 minutes? Only 10 minutes? It will at least take 30 minutes before reaching the Rifts gate.'
Flame felt at a loss.
His mind went blank.
The main reason why Descendant were given these Timers was because they weren't made to enter the Rifts in the first place.
Rifts are the unknown magical gateways which brought mana to the outside world. The Earth. These Rifts are found out to be harmless if left on their own. but they brought a different problem along with them.
The existence of Descendant…
The Strange holographic screens appeared out of nowhere and people started hearing the Ancient murmurs of infamous Call. Those who were recognized by the Ancient Call, were termed as Descendant and those who didn't…were disappeared from the face of earth. Like they never even existed.
Different Rifts brough different grades of mana into the earth and different grades of mana affect differently to people of different ranks.
The rift of the Tyrant's Marble city was of Awakened mana rank. It wasn't made for someone of Descendant rank being.
If a Descendant was exposed to Awakened mana for a longer time…
'will I turn into those monster? Or will I just cease to exist? That doesn't sound good, but what if I cannot return to earth…' Flame chuckled awkwardly, but he couldn't muster him to act brave and fearless now.
Nothing. Nothing came to his mind which can save him. he was somewhat sure that Javier and others will deal with the rest of the monsters as it had happened before many times, but by the time they will finish, he might become some mindless raving monster.
In this case, a Headless monster…
Flame shuddered in fear.
Suddenly, the pain in his head increased. He didn't know when, but since the pain appeared, it fluctuated randmly, torturing his mind to an alarming degree.
After a couple of seconds, Flame was rolling down the ground and clenching his head.
he pleaded to dispel the pain, but no one listened to him and the agony continued to increase
Chi…f….sa..ge
Chi…cri..e..
The enchanting murmurs in his ears echoed like a call of dreadful deity, forcing all his reason away. His hazy eyes looked past the horde of monster, into the endless span of white soil.
Under the scorching sun, Flame saw a blurry silhouette hovering forlornly above the enchanting white ground.
He knew that the silhouette can help him.
It can relieve him from all his problems.
"I…I have to g—Ackkk!"
Flame shrieked as suddenly, a piercing pain coursed through his entire body as a pair of sharp fangs plunged into his neck and his eyes regained their former colours.
He panted heavily and looked on his shoulder. There he saw a beautiful white snake was staring at him with blank eyes.
Flame slowly turned his head to his wrist.
[00:58:23]