The floor below me crumbles. My ears twitch at the new sounds that envelope the area. My breathing is slow and steady. I'm pacing myself almost. My back is pressed against a rough, jagged floor. Everything around me feels lighter, gentler.
My eyes twitch open to the sight of scrappy hair matching mine blowing gently in the wind. My breathing tenses. A voice calls out to me. It booms a bit louder as it repeats. "Silas, get up." A cold, familiar voice repeats itself. I know that voice, Sylan's voice. "I said get up!" Sylvan's voice gets louder, more frustrated. A shake in my chest makes me jolt forward. Taking in the unfamiliar surroundings as I gasp for a breath of some air. "What…is this place?" I asked Sylvan breathlessly. "Hell if I know," Sylvan responded harshly. He glared at me a bit, but dropped it softly.
An empty land with scattered destroyed blades and armor fragments stood before Sylvan and me. "How did we get here…?" My voice cracked. Tears well up behind my eyes a bit "I'm scared, Sylvan,". "Well then, man up or something? Don't gotta such a pussy all the time, y'know.", Silence crosses the distance between Sylvan and me. He scoffs after his rude remark. He walks away from me, slowly. "Wait, please don't go," I called out to Sylvan. My voice cracked with each word "Please," I pleaded. Sylvan continued walking away from me, his steps carrying the weight of bitterness behind them. Tears filled my eyes. "You're just gonna leave me here? Alone?", I cried out. Sylvan turned to me in irritation. "Maybe if I didn't have such a useless and helpless little brother I'd give a fuck? Maybe, I'd care if you tried to do something for yourself for once." Sylvan gritted his teeth. His words bore his own bitter hate for me. His hand clenched. A sharp pain spread across my left cheek. For a second I stood there stunned. "You hit me…", the words fell from my mouth, they tasted foreign yet familiar at the same time. Sylvan paused for a moment and looked at me. A flash of regret filled his eyes. His lips quivered.
"Look, Silas, I'm sorry. You know since…well..forget it." Sylvan bit his tongue and moved away. Father's voice covered Sylvan's. The image of him covered Sylvan. "Get up, we need to move." I snapped back to reality for a moment. Sylvan gestured at me softly. But even then, I lay there, quietly. Holding my cheek with my hand. Mouthing the words. "You hit me."
Sylvan let out an exasperated sigh and looked at me. His expression softened almost. Something remained though. Those hurtful eyes, I can't forget those eyes. I felt it, he had contempt for me. Right? Hate. Hate in his heart. Hate for his own brother? Right? Right???
For a second I actually considered getting up, but this empty feeling he gave me. Helplessness, it kept me still for a moment longer. "Silas, I said I was sorry. Please. Get up." Sylvan pleaded in that same desperate tone I spoke in. His eyes looked just like our mother's. Expect his missing her pure heart. He was more like father.
I looked at Sylvan, quietly. I don't know what moved me, but I got up. I held out to Sylvan's hand. He looked at me, studying my hand. Even if it was just a second. I noticed something unusual. His eyes grinned. He grabbed my hand abruptly. We began walking.
Sylvan and I continued walking around the weird landscape, but nothing was here. Nothing. I kicked a couple of rocks down the path, rubbing at my forehead a bit I started to think about a couple of things, like how we even ended up here. The last thing I could hardly remember is some…type of magic? Pulling him and me in, well. Now we're here. In some place, completely foreign to us.
In the small time I had with Sylvan, I held onto his hand tight, not to let go of the little love he gave me.
We walked for a bit, longer than I thought we would. A jolt of force pressed beneath us, and a rumbling noise shook the ground. Scrapping encircled our area. The sound of gnawing wretched our ears. A creature's tiny screech pierced our ears. Sylvan pulled me back. "Silas, stay alert". He said, confident in himself.
Suddenly, from below a giant creature emerged. It was covered in a multitude of spikes, and the sunlight reflected off its back as it roared to the sky. Sand dripped off the spikes, and pieces of ground broke off from its face. The spikes ran down its back, glistening. They were dark in color and seemed to be absurdly sharp. Its face was long and a plethora of razor teeth made their way all across its head.
Was it some type of worm? I think…? What the hell is this thing?
Sylvan pushed me back and let go of my hand. "Stay back Silas!" he shouted.
He started threatening the beast with his sword. "I think I know what monster it is," his words were strong and dignified, just like they always were in combat.
"I've been reading a bit of that monster index mother and father used to have, it's pretty useful. Especially in situations like these" Sylvan gripped his sword's hilt, he held a strong warrior presence, not backing down from the beast ahead. "It's a disaster sand worm, they're not uncommon, but in a place like this? Unlikely they'd thrive. I mean, there is hardly a food source."
I should note that when Sylvan isn't being a hot-head he's decently intelligent.
"I know it's vital points so stay back and try not to get hurt, okay?" Sylvan's words were reaffirming, but a part of me still felt like a burden to him, I wish he hadn't felt the need to
Protect me right now.
The giant beast slithered forward to attack Sylvan, its teeth glammered against the ground. Throwing pieces of mud into the sky. Its front teeth dug into the dirt in the spot Sylvan used to be in. In that split second it attacked, Sylvan had leaped into the air using his mana to increase his speed. He had used his mana to physically enhance his body to move at a superhuman pace. His body flowed in the air.
Raising his arm, Sylvan's sword glided through the air, cutting it like butter. The shiny glint of the sun beaming right off the beautiful silver. The blade crashed down and slid across the beast's jagged skin. The sound of sparks and ripped pieces of keratin roared off the beast's side. Sand-covered spikes chipped and flew in all different directions. The sword pierced its left side and dug into it. Purple blood sprayed off the initial wound. Sylvan's grip on the blade let go and he pulled back a fist. "Ignition," he shouted, unleashing a surge of mana across his arm. By spontaneously igniting mana particles in the air around his arm he's able to manipulate fire.
Sylvan grabs his sword by its hilt, getting a strong grip around it. "Ignition, drive." he roared. The steel on the blade started to progressively heat up at a tremendous rate. The blade explodes into roaring flames. The side of the beast is scarred by the fire.
The creature screams in agony, gnawing at the air ahead. It begins to vibrate and shake, attempting to throw off the intruder on its side. Sylvan leaps off the creature's side, catching his fall on the floor. Rocks scrape off the ground where Sylvan landed. Dispersing all around in the air. "Shit, I need my sword back, quick Silas toss me a rock." Quickly, I leap to a sharp rock in front of me.
The monster before us roars, letting out a mighty battle cry. In pain, it prepares to make a desperate fatal attack on Sylvan. My hand grazes the rock before me, clutching it. With great might I throw the rock towards Sylvan. He catches it. "Ignition, drive." The rock inside Sylvan's hand bursts into flames. He throws it at the beast's head, forcing it away.
Sylvan looked at me. "Bullseye." he laughed. I cringed. Sylvan launches himself forward and grabs the hilt of the sword. He slashes and cuts more skin off the beast and climbs over the surface of the beast, carving at it.
Quietly, my eyes watched his shadowy figure, who was now covered in purple blood scrap
And stab at the giant monster before us.
His eyes reeked of bloodlust, holding the sharp tip of his blade to the beast's jugular. He gritted his teeth. "Vile creature." Such violent words were ripped from Sylvan's mouth. Sylvan's hand trembles before pushing the blade deeper into the scarred flesh, digging deep into the throat of the creature. Purple blood sprays across Sylvan's face, and a distasteful look forms under the blood-stained face. The blade is wiggled around before being ripped out of the creature's neck. The sound of dripping filled the familiar silence between Sylvan and me. Abruptly his eyes met mine for a moment, then he looked away from me. "We should be leaving, preferably soon, Silas." Sylvan's voice was calmer. I paused, my mouth didn't budge. I just looked at Sylvan, quietly. My tongue poked around in my mouth. My hand roughed the ground for dirt, just to feel something in my hand. "Yeah we should," I remarked quietly. I threw the dirt.
I shudder for a moment and take a deep breath in. I'm still really taking in what's happening. My eyes got one final look at the area before I decided to get up. Ahead of me, Sylvan stood there quietly, gazing in the distance. During moments like this, I wonder what Sylvan is thinking. The air grew chiller, and small ripples formed around us. A sudden shriek shook both Sylvan and me. The air trembled abruptly and the ground cracked. From behind me a looming shadow made its presence clear. The sound of sharp teeth rattled behind me. Clinking and clanking, rubbing against each other in fury.
Sylvan eyes dart in my direction. His mouth falls agape, and a scream I will never hear leaves his mouth.
A giant explosion envelopes the area, dust crumbles around me, and splinters my eyes. Dirt slams against my forehead. Rough air fills my lungs as the floor below me sinks and rumbles. My body is violently thrust and scraped against the rugged floor. My body is jumbled and battered against the ground as blood leaves my mouth, pouring down from the sides of my face. Dirty scratches ravage my arms and legs, leaving horrific cuts spread all over.
Above me stands a giant disaster sand worm, it looked to be related to the one Sylvan had just killed. Its teeth rattled against each other, dripping with green saliva. The saliva drips onto the ground and a sizzling noise disturbs the peace at my feet.
Such a disgusting creature.
The beast goes to finish its attack on me but suddenly, the creature halts its movement, its body starts to go limp, and it trembles with itself. It wiggles for a couple of seconds while its body starts to convulse and shake uncontrollably. Shrieks from the creature flood the area, it's in agonizing pain. The salvia in its mouth starts shifting into pure steam. Dark smoke leaves its mouth as the tannish color on its body starts changing into a reddish and orange hue. For a split second, my eyes catch the hint of a mana surge before a giant explosion of fire erupts in front of me. Fire rages from the creature's mouth, scorching it from the inside out. Flames dance from inside the creature's body and cracks of destroyed skin run rampant all across its body. Fire seeps all over the ugly worm, corrupting it. A giant scream of agony leaves the monster's mouth before losing control over its own body, it limps and is dragged to the side. Its huge body falls to the ground, making the floor shake with great force. As the smoke clears, a single figure stands from the back of the beast, it's Sylvan.
His arm gauged inside the beast. Glowing a hot red, mana ripples across his body, and intense heat is emitted in his surroundings. In his eyes, I see an unfamiliar look, something I've never seen in his eyes before. There was no murderous trace in those eyes, he looked guilty almost. Purple blood sprays onto his face as he rips his arm from within the creature. "Silas, are you okay?" a worried Sylvan shouts. A perpetual understanding of true fear clung to my throat, my words stuttered at the idea of speaking. A spark of unusuality filled the vast emptiness between Sylvan and me and a lump filled my throat. His gaze met mine, without that familiar disdain I've always known. My lips quivered. "Yeah, I'm okay". After a prolonged uncomfortable silence, I finally mustered the courage to speak. Sylvan's eyes rested subtly. "Okay, good, let's keep moving before more come," Sylvan said. Even with his calm expression, I knew my brother remained alert, and unnerved. The unfamiliarity of this land and its deadly inhabitants keep Sylvan and me on our toes.
From above a large sound suddenly comes. "Hello everyone, welcome, welcome. To my apocalypse.". The voice spoke boldly.
"Apocalypse?". I looked at Sylvan, fear riddled my face. "Sylvan, what's happening?"
Sylvan's face blanked, his words caught on themselves.
"I've summoned the world's greatest warriors and heroes from across land and time to participate in my little tournament.". The voice spoke again. Sylvan's face hardened, his gaze intensified. "Silas, stay close." I nodded to Sylvan's words and promptly got closer to him. The sound of a portal struck from behind, mana particles within the air sizzled and faded out of existence being consumed by the spontaneous force. The sound of the portal blocked out the words coming from the sky. A vacuum of force pulled Syvlan and me closer, our bodies dragged by overwhelming intensity. We're flung into the energy radiating behind us.