As Claude struggled in vain to break free from the clutches of the shadowy figures, he could hear the man's voice in the background, preaching with fervor.
"You see, my friend, this is what happens when one defies the will of God. He punishes those who do not follow his path, those who stray from the righteous way. And you, my friend, have strayed far from the path. You have denied God's grace and rejected his offer of salvation. You have angered him, and now you must pay the price."
The man's words echoed in Claude's mind, adding to his terror. He had never believed in God or any religion, but now he wondered if he had made a mistake. Was there really a higher power out there, one that could control his fate and punish him for his actions?
He had always known that death was inevitable, but he never thought it would come in such a horrific way.
As the shadowy figures closed in on him, Claude felt his strength give way. He collapsed onto the ground, and his body was wracked with pain and fear. He felt the cold embrace of death envelops him, felt his life slipping away.
In his final moments, Claude thought of all the things he had left undone, all the people he had left behind. He wished he could turn back time, do things differently, and make amends. But it was too late. Death had come for him, and there was no escaping it.
However, before Claude could draw his final breath, he heard a roaring chant in a foreign, ancient word. The voice was deep and powerful, and it seemed to shake the very foundation of the illusion around him. For a moment, Claude felt a glimmer of hope, a sense of fervor that he had never felt before.
As if driven by madness and wrath, Claude's eyes abruptly turned bloodshot, his muscles tightened and brimming with explosive power, and he had the urge to tear everything that stood in his path. It was like his primal instinct had been forcefully roused awake.
However, before he could rampage his way through everything, the same voice with a different chant resounded again in his ears.
This time, Claude felt his body become heavy and sluggish. His mind was flooded with images of himself lying in bed, surrounded by empty snack bags and discarded video game controllers. He could feel the weight of the blankets on his body, the softness of the pillows beneath his head. He wanted nothing more than to stay there forever, to never leave the comfort of his own home.
As the conflicting emotions of fervor and lethargy clashed, Claude felt a strange sensation in his mind. It was as if something had snapped, and a wave of clarity washed over him. Suddenly, the illusion surrounding him began to dissipate, and he found himself back in the middle of the street.
His heart beat rapidly in his chest. He couldn't comprehend what had just happened to him. Was he losing his mind? Or was he really stuck in some kind of supernatural trick?
Claude looked around and saw that there were no shadows or dark creatures looming over him this time. The only presence he felt was the man standing a few feet away, his eyes blazing with fury. Claude felt a sense of relief wash over him, but it was quickly replaced with fear as he remembered the man's previous threat.
"Imbecile! Where are you? How dare you ruin the sacrifice ritual I'm about to offer to my lord?!" Claude could see the anger boiling inside the man's eyes. He seemed to be on the verge of exploding in a fury.
"You think you can just wander around here and disturb our sacred ritual? You are nothing but a nuisance, a filthy rat in our grand plan!" the man continued to shout, his voice echoing through the deserted street.
"I will not let you ruin everything! Not when we are so close to completing the ritual and achieving eternal power!" he added, his words filled with fanaticism and zealotry.
Claude could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he looked at the man, who seemed to be completely lost in his own madness. He knew he had to get out of there before things got even more dangerous.
"Step back a little." A soft voice with a hint of authority suddenly sounded from behind him, followed by a pat on his shoulder.
This...
He had already heard this voice before. Its familiarity was unmistakable. Just moments ago, it had rescued him from the clutches of death itself. Without it, Claude shuddered to think of the horrors that awaited him.
Claude hastily turned around, but only manage to catch a fleeting glimpse of the figure's back as it passed by. Yet his eyes were drawn inexorably to the delicate earlobes, adorned with exquisite ruby-colored teardrop earrings. Their intricate beauty left him momentarily speechless, afraid that even the sound of his own voice might damage their delicate splendor.
Claude couldn't help but notice the person's long, raven hair drifting in the wind, giving it an otherworldly appearance. The dark locks seemed to have a life of their own, flowing and swaying with each passing breeze. As the person walked away, its alluring aroma wafted through the air, leaving Claude entranced.
It turns out the person who rescued him was a woman!
He watched in silence, his eyes still fixed on the mysterious stranger's back as she walked into the distance. Claude felt a strange pull towards the person, a desire to know more about her. Who were this person with the mesmerizing earrings and enchanting scent?
He then looked down and noticed her attire. She was wearing a pair of tight-fitting shorts that showed off her long legs, and a black windbreaker that fluttered in the wind. Her outfit gave off a sporty vibe, but the way she carried herself exuded confidence and grace.
As she walked away, Claude couldn't help but feel a sense of regret for not being able to see her face clearly. He wondered who she was and why she had saved him from the clutches of death. The only thing he knew for sure was that he was deeply intrigued by this mysterious woman, and he couldn't wait to find out more about her.
Wait, that's not important!
"That guy is dangerous! Call the police!" Claude cried out urgently. His phone had already dropped somewhere when he was caught in the middle of the illusion. Therefore, he could only place his hope on the woman to call the police.
She didn't even flinch, simply waving her hand dismissively as if his warning was nothing.
'What's she going to do?' Claude was astonished. The woman didn't take out her phone, nor screaming for help. Instead, she approaches the man fearlessly.
Suddenly, she pressed both her gloved palms into the ground, and the earth shook violently. The wind howled, and the sky grew dark as if anticipating the chaos to come.
A deafening rumble filled the air, and the ground collapsed at a terrifying pace. Sharp, jagged bone walls erupted from the soil, trapping the man within their deadly embrace.
He tried to escape, but it was too late. The sinking earth and rising walls were too fast, and he was caught in the midst of their devastating grip.
Ren watched from a safe distance as the ground around the man crumbled half a meter deep, and the walls rose five meters tall, creating an eight-meter-wide boundary. The woman had unleashed a power that was beyond human comprehension.
After the man was trapped, he looked no less than a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. He was trembling, and his eyes were literally bulging out of their sockets.
The area around them was a complete mess. The ground had sunk, and the bone walls had erected with such force that the surrounding trees had been uprooted and snapped like twigs. The birds had flown away, and the only sound that could be heard was the man's labored breathing.
...
Claude's jaw hung agape, the elasticity of his muscles stretched to the limit. If his eyes could pop out of their sockets, they surely would have. The supernatural phenomena he had just witnessed were nothing short of miraculous.
As a reasonably superstitious person, Claude had always believed in things like the Zodiac, Feng Shui, ghosts, spirits, and supernatural things. But seeing it with his own eyes was an entirely different experience. The ability to instantly create enormous bone walls and a sinkhole was beyond anything he had ever imagined.
Claude was sure even the most experienced shamans would be left speechless and questioning the authenticity of their own power if they were to witness what he had just seen. Compared to the incredible display of supernatural ability before him, their own capabilities would seem insignificant.
As he stood there in shock, Claude's palms grew slick with sweat, and the temperature of the surrounding area seemed to rise noticeably. Then, he saw something that terrified him.
Claude couldn't believe his eyes as he saw the vortex hovering behind the mysterious woman. It was as if hell had opened its door on Earth and was ready to unleash its fury. The vortex was dreadful to behold, and the surface was covered in foreign, ancient runes, making it appear more imposing than any black hole picture he had seen on the internet. The runes seemed to glow ominously, pulsating with a sinister energy that made Claude's skin crawl. The vortex itself was dark and menacing, swirling and pulsing with an otherworldly power that seemed to defy explanation. Claude's mind raced as he tried to comprehend what he was seeing. Was this some kind of portal to another dimension? A gateway to hell itself? Whatever it was, it was clear that the vortex was not of this world, and it was not to be trifled with. As he stared at the vortex, Claude felt the surrounding temperature rise, and he began to sweat profusely. The heat was intense, and he could feel his skin burning under the in
Evernight City, 9.30 p.m. The moon shone brightly, casting a silvery glow over the entire city. It was as if a celestial being had draped a silky veil over the night sky, and the stars twinkled like diamonds against the dark canvas of the universe. The moon's light illuminated the streets, casting long shadows from the tall buildings and trees, creating an almost ethereal atmosphere. The tranquillity of the night was only interrupted by the distant sound of crickets and the occasional passing of a car. The beauty of the sky and the moon was a sight to behold, and it left a feeling of serenity in the hearts of all those who gazed upon it. As the night deepened, the world seemed to slow down and the only sounds that could be heard were the gentle rustling of leaves and the occasional hoot of an owl. The air was cool and crisp, carrying with it the sweet scent of blooming flowers and freshly cut grass. In the distance, couples could be seen strolling hand in hand, their laughter and wh
After successfully convincing the dormitory security to let him in, Claude climbed up the stairs to the second floor and fumbled for his keys. His exhaustion had reached its peak and he couldn't wait to collapse onto his bed. Upon entering his dorm room, Claude was immediately greeted by the familiar sight of his roommates, Lumine and Bernard, who were engrossed in a game on their phones. As he scanned the room, Claude noticed that there were two other guys he recognized in the living room. One of them was busy cooking in the kitchen, while the other was staring off into space with a blank expression. The scent of cooking food wafted towards Claude, making his stomach growl in hunger. He realized that he hadn't eaten anything since lunchtime. However, when he saw the person who was responsible for the tantalizing aroma, he immediately resisted the temptation to sneak a taste. It was the guy with the blank expression who suddenly looked up and noticed Claude's arrival. His eyes wide
Content Addict, William.Claude and his roommates had given William this nickname, and it stuck. William was obsessed with creating content for his social media accounts, which included everything from photos of himself working out at the gym to videos of him sleeping. His Toktok user information read like a life biography, with details about his birthplace, zodiac sign, age, relationship status, and contact information.William was a pretty narcissistic person with a fiery passion for social media. He was someone who had the motto that everything must be done in style. When drinking, the process that could be done in a few seconds could be lengthened into fifteen seconds due to him acting in every possible way to look aesthetic. The same goes when he sleeps. He could spend a lot of time just adjusting his position to look artistic.Even Claude sometimes wondered whether William had some screws loose in his head.Anyway, his narcissistic trait could be reasoned. William was undeniably
It was a quiet night, and Claude was sound asleep when he suddenly stirred in his dream. A unique ringing tone filled his ears, jolting him awake. The ringing continued, making his head and ears packed in uncomfortableness. "Hmmm...what the heck is that sound? Who's setting up the alarm!?" Claude cried out, trying to earn a response, but what he got was nothing but silence. Feeling bewildered, he hastily rose from his lying position to stand. His drowsiness quickly dissipated as he took in his surroundings. The air was thick with an ancient smell, like something he had never experienced before. As he looked around, he realized that he was no longer in his dorm room, or even in his own world for that matter. Instead, he found himself standing in a vast, empty space that seemed to stretch on forever. The floor beneath his feet was cold and hard, a smooth white expanse that appeared to go on forever. In front of him loomed a towering structure that seemed to reach up into the ver
Claude and Lumine sat side by side at their desks, their eyes drooping and their bodies slumped in exhaustion. Professor Smith was still rambling on about some obscure topic that none of them could follow. The fluorescent lights overhead flickered incessantly, casting a glow on their weary faces. Claude's eyelids felt heavy, and he struggled to keep them open, but every time he heard Professor Smith's voice, it was like a sedative that lulled him into a deep sleep. Lumine was the first to break the silence, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Man, I swear, Professor Smith's voice is like a lullaby. I can't help but doze off every time I'm in his class." Claude let out a loud yawn, stretching his arms and legs as he tried to ease the stiffness that had settled in his muscles. "I know, right? It's like he's hypnotizing us or something." "By the way, Lumine, let's be honest here. Is Professor Smith's voice really soothing, or is it just that his class is so boring that it puts you to sle
Claude's heart raced as he watched the figure, hoping that he wouldn't approach him. He felt exposed and vulnerable, like a deer caught in headlights. But to his relief, the figure didn't move from his spot. Breathing a small sigh of relief, Claude slowly started to back away, careful not to turn his back on the mysterious figure. He kept his eyes on the stranger, afraid that any sudden movement might trigger a chase. As Claude took a step back, the figure cloaked in shadow stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Claude. "Have you seen my daughter?" the figure asked, his voice low and raspy. Contrary to his expectations. The man didn't immediately lunge in his direction while brandishing a sharp knife like a hot-blooded killer. Instead, the man asked his daughter's whereabouts as if he were just a random passerby asking for directions after getting lost for a long time. He hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say. "I'm sorry, I haven't seen your daughter," Claude said, trying to s