Noel, still in his mental space, was grinning in happiness. But then he remembered that he had to go back.
He quickly left his mental space and returned to the city.
Everyone now looked better than before, though some still had sour expressions.
"Likely, they've gotten a bad ability," Noel said with a chuckle, drawing a few looks toward him—just when Seraphina's voice cut in.
"All of you… if you have completed your work, let's go. We have things to do."
Noel and the others walked forward through the city, and for the first time, they saw what it had become.
It was filled with skyscrapers, heavy traffic—yet everything was covered in fire and ash.
Buildings were torn apart, as if rampaged by some monstrous being. Everywhere they looked, destruction reigned. Showrooms were shattered, cars destroyed, and debris littered the roads.
"My God… what has happened here? How has the city changed to this degree?"
People stood trembling in fear, staring at the ruins of what was once familiar. Their lives had been destroyed in an instant.
"Grrrrrrrr…"
Boom.
Boom.
The ground below everyone started to shake as suddenly earthquakes started .
"What is happening?!!
The survivors shouted but nobody had time for that right now.
As in front of them a large monster appeared it easily towered over small buildings and by its build it looked like an ancient entity that was supposed to be extinct.
Now. What is a T–rex doing here?!!
Noel asked. There was shock and fear both present in his voice.
We don't know but we have to kill it if we want to move forward.
"Sigh…
"Leave it to me, let me check my new skills.. Noel said to Seraphina.
"And everybody gave him space to do his thing and curious too for what skills he had gotten.
Seraphina too was concerned about him but still knew that if the situation went haywire she could herself quickly come forward for support.
"Be safe. Leaving these words she too came back .
"A large grin appeared on Noel face as he walked forward.
"I can't wait to test this for first time. Noel thought
"Excited by the notion of using the skill.
He came forward and now stood in front of the large towering monster. No fear was present on Noel face just excitement.
The monster T rex was as described in the books large body with hunched shoulders and its teeth practically like a predator waiting to devour everything in its path.
The T–rex was the first to make move as he attacked with his large and sharp claws intending to slice Noel in half.
Seraphina,Neil and others went concerned seeing Noel do nothing but just standing like a fat sheep.
But just when the claw was close to Noel neck a grin appeared on his face and he said in a deep voice.
Come forward".
The world of Grey.
As Noel voice fell a strange silence fell everything went quiet for a second before two spectral lines erupt from Noel feet—one black from his left and one white from his right. They diverged outward like a living network covering 20- meters radius covering everything in the world of white and black.
The buildings the debris of car everything in the surroundings of 20–meters was covered by the lines and was under Noel dominion.
Even the T–rex the monster the place where he stood to was covered in black step and he was pushed back space expanding and he was practically sent at the edge of the 20–meters dominion.
"Now, shall we play a little game of chess? Noel said with a chuckle, mocking the monster.
"Who got even angrier by that, but who could do nothing, as in front of him was no path, just one black and one white constructs floating like a chessboard.
"It's just a small game, wouldn't you entertain me a little..? Noel asked politely but there no expression of politeness in his face.
The monster couldn't understand what Noel said still he could sense the intent behind it.
"And that made him angry. Too angry in fact and there is saying that .
Losing yourself in Anger is the easiest way to get a ticket of underworld.
And it showed as the monster did a drastic mistake without thinking he took a step forward towards the black construct.
As his legs touched the construct intense warning bells rang on the monster his instinct warning him but it was too–late.
From the construct thin white lines spread all over the monster's left leg which he used to take a step.
Slowly a feeling of dread came not only towards the monster but in Noel too sweat started forming on his face his legs started shaking while his hands shivered in fear.
And the situation of the monster was even more dire as from the construct a portal opened from which was covered in a strange darkness that was between white and black.
It was a world of grey.From there came twisting creature born in the spaces between void and reality.
All of them quickly came and started eating wherever the white and black lines were spread in the monster leg.
"In just a second before even giving the chance for the monster to feel pain. His leg was gone, the only thing remaining in its place was a grey fog and a darkness of void.
Making it a no step zone.
Huh" i didn't thought the skill has this effects too. Noel thought
Screeches of pain was coming from the monster as with one leg he lost balance and fell on another white construct.
"This time nothing happened but like fate was mocking him his tail landed onto a black step.
Again the portal opened and the creatures from void came to devour.
Slowly by this process the monster lost all his limbs whereas Noel just sat there like a king.
Outside the people were worried for him as for 5 minutes Noel was inside in that strange dome.
"Do you think he will be fine.? Asked Neil.
He will be". Replied Seraphina with conviction leaving no room for doubts."
Inside the chessboard from white and black now was turned grey. All the limbs of the monster were devoured by the creatures between void and reality.
And how far was the monster towards Noel.?
"He was still 10 meters away.From where Noel was sitting in his throne.
"It's been a good game but the time has to end. Noel muttered
He stood up looking at the monster who was riling up in pain and was trying to crawl to reach Noel.
Noel waved his hand and a phantom of a reaper came behind him, and uttered a single word .
Checkmate.
As his voice fell all the construct from white and black fell in the perfect manner to complete a chessboard and in front of it was the fallen monster covered by pawns, bishop and knight from all sides having no chance to escape it as practically a–
Checkmate.
Finish the game Aragoth.!!!
Noel shouted and a circle formed from white and black lines,the thing inside the circle was the monster awaiting his fate.
And he didn't have to wait for long as from below him again a portal opened but this time it was big.
The view of the other side was visible a little more. Still before Noel could see anything his instincts screamed him to kneel.
He gritted his teeth and slowly fell on his knees and right then a large mouth came from the world of grey and devoured the monster in a single bite.
"Leaving again with turning asundering the world grey.still giving a last look towards Noel as if examining him.
"Gruff gruff
What was that.?!!! Noel thought
I didn't knew the meaning of Aragoth would be literally a summon of some entity shit i first have to read the description of this skill . Noel said and opened his screen.
(From the fading mote of rhythm, a profound truth resonates: all paths converge, yet discord devours the unwary. You have grasped the Network of Duality.
When activated, two spectral lines erupt from your feet—one black from your left leg, one white from your right. They snake outward like living veins, weaving a 20-meter radius cage of monochrome dominion around you. Opponents trapped within cannot escape this boundary; flight, teleportation, or external aid fails utterly. To break free, they must slay you—but the path ahead is no simple stride.
The ground transforms into a chessboard of peril: alternating black and white tiles stretch toward you in a labyrinthine pattern. Each foe may step only on one color upon entry—white or black, their choice binding them irrevocably. Alternate thereafter, and they falter.)