Mournfell Canyon
This was a world stripped of color. As far as the eye could see, there was only monotonous gray and white.
Though the Sanguis Plateaus were the front line against the Dark Tide, other areas still retained a semblance of natural life. Only here was a truly dead, barren wasteland.
From the moment he stepped into this domain, Ray could clearly hear it, an ancient whisper lingered in his ears, burrowing into his mind like a malignant growth.
"Tch..." He shook his head forcefully, trying to dispel those persistent, tangled noises.
It wasn't just him; his companions were all affected to varying degrees.
Carlotta clutched her chest, her face pale. "This place... it's nauseating."
Luno, though also frowning, had gradually grown accustomed to the Dark Tide's erosion as an Oracle Maiden who often accompanied hunters into battle. "Hold on. The Dark Tide does interfere with one's mind, but as long as your will is firm, it can't truly erode us. Besides, we have the anchor points with us. This is all the Dark Tide can do."
"Mmm... this is awful..."
Suddenly, Anby wobbled out of the Resonance Mark. It looked exhausted, its eyes drowsy as it floated in front of Ray, rubbing them with its little paws.
"What is this place? I feel all limp, like I can't muster any strength..."
"And this smell..."
"No, I... I think I'm gonna be sick..."
Ray watched Anby's listless state, this was the first time he'd seen the little guy so weak.
"Feeling unwell?" he asked softly.
Anby nodded weakly. "I don't know why, but as soon as I stepped in here, I got super tired..."
Ray frowned with concern, but there was nothing he could do now. He could only gently urge, "Maybe you should go back and rest for a bit?"
"Okay..." Abby responded feebly, yet still mustered the energy to wave its little paw. "But if there's danger, you have to call me! I'll come rushing out to protect everyone!"
"Alright, it's a deal." Ray smiled and gently rubbed its little head.
With a flash of golden light, Abby transformed into a stream of light and vanished back into the Tacet Mark.
"What's wrong with Anby?" Carlotta had also never seen the little guy so listless.
In her memory, this little one was always bursting with energy, especially spirited when faced with delicious food.
Ray shook his head. "Not sure. Maybe it's the influence of this area. If even Anby's showing signs of abnormality, this place is more dangerous than we thought." He turned to Luno. "The source of the distress signal is just ahead, right?"
Luno nodded. "Mm, not far now."
"Then let's pick up the pace." Lupa rubbed her temples, letting out a stifled groan. "Tch, the longer we stay here, the heavier these negative feelings get."
They wasted no time, following the terminal signal's guidance and moving swiftly forward.
"There!" Luno suddenly pointed ahead.
Looking in the direction she indicated, a plain shrouded in deathly stillness unfolded before them, shattered weapons and mutilated corpses lay scattered everywhere, an ominous aura pervading the barren land.
They stepped into this death-shrouded wasteland.
Carlotta surveyed the gruesome scene around her. Even someone as accustomed to blood and death as she couldn't help but furrow her brow.
This wasn't a hunt. It was pure slaughter.
Ray bent down and reached his fingers toward the breath of a mutilated corpse, then shook his head grimly. "No signs of life."
Most of the bodies here were incomplete.
The pale rock face was splattered with coagulated, dark red blood and gore. Severed limbs and broken remains were strewn everywhere.
One corpse had been torn apart at the waist, its entrails trailing on the ground. Another was missing its head entirely, the severed neck caked with muddy Dark Tide residue.
Shattered bone fragments and scalp still attached to hair were wedged in the crevices of the rocks. The thick stench of decay was almost tangible.
Luno closed her eyes, unable to bear the sight any longer.
She softly chanted a prayer for the departed, her fingertips trembling slightly.
"...Unforgivable." Lupa clenched her jaw, cold fury burning in her eyes. "When I find the one responsible, they will pay!"
Ray's expression was grim as he walked toward the solitary terminal at the center of the plain, this was clearly an obvious trap, but to draw out the mastermind, they had no choice.
Just as his fingertips were about to touch the terminal,
A sharp, fierce wind struck from behind!
Without hesitation, Ray spun and swung his sword. The piercing clash of metal shattered the dead silence as he forcefully blocked the fatal blow.
"Couldn't wait any longer?" Ray snorted.
Whoosh—!
A crimson longspear tore through the air, its scorching air current ripping through the atmosphere. The afterimage of their assailant abruptly retreated, barely evading the fierce strike.
"So it's you?" Lupa's eyes blazed with fighting spirit, the tip of her spear pointing directly at the figure. "Your blood will honor the souls of my fallen kin!"
Luno stared at the gradually materializing figure, her pupils contracting. "Kelpie? No... there's an even more repugnant aura clinging to you. An incarnation of the False Sovereign's power?"
Meanwhile, Carlotta's fingertips spun lightly, and a spear carved like a gemstone materialized silently.
She raised her arm calmly, the gun barrel locking onto the target. Her voice was cold and clear.
"In that case, kill it, and everything ends, right?"
The moment the words left her lips, she pulled the trigger without hesitation.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three consecutive gunshots. Crystal bullets tore through the air, embedding themselves precisely into Kelpie's defenseless back.
The searing pain drew a piercing shriek. Kelpie violently shook off the impacts, transforming into a blood-red blur as it lunged straight at Carlotta!
Facing this murderous charge, the silver-haired young lady stood motionless. A faint, graceful smile even curved her lips.
Whoosh—!
A blazing white arrow tore through the air swifter than lightning, more decisive than judgment.
The arrow pierced Kelpie's chest, carrying it backwards and pinning it firmly to the massive rock behind!
Luno stared coldly at Kelpie pinned to the rock face, her fingertip drawing the bowstring taut once more. "Whatever you're plotting... slaughtering the people of Septimont, killing innocent lives for this alone, I will never forgive you!"
The arrowhead gleamed with a cold light, poised to strike.
But Kelpie suddenly threw its head back and let out a rending roar!
The surrounding, previously dormant Dark Tide erupted in response, surging wildly like an awakened beast.
The thick, murky darkness condensed rapidly, transforming into a towering, crashing wave,
"Fall back—!"
Ray's pupils contracted sharply, but before the warning could fully leave his lips, the surging Dark Tide had already swallowed all light and sound.
.
.
.
.
Vote Powerstones