With the moon ascending to its peak in the sky, casting an illuminating glow over the once concrete forest, now transformed into a verdant landscape of lush vegetation, the team of three—Alayn, Luvern, and Aidan—delved deeper into the darkness, their mission clear: to find a water source and gather any available resources.Amidst the trees and bushes, bathed in the gentle silver light of the moon, Luvern lowered his voice, speaking in a tone audible only to the other two players. "Are you certain about the direction we're taking, Alayn?" he inquired, a hint of confusion marking his face in the dim light."To be honest, I'm not entirely sure. It's a fifty-fifty chance, I suppose. I acquired this information from Solarael using my credits. He advised us to head east from our camp, and judging by the sunset and moonrise, I believe we are indeed moving in the right direction," Alayn responded, sharing the situation with his teammates."The only remaining uncertainty is the distance we nee
Luvern rushed toward the counter with a sense of urgency, his footsteps quick and determined. As he reached the counter, he slammed his hands onto its surface, trying to convey the gravity of the situation."Please, Solarael, we need to be teleported back to our camp immediately. I'll pay whatever credits you require," he implored, his concerned expression reflecting the turmoil of thoughts racing through his mind. His heart was heavy with worry for his sister's safety, and it showed in every line of his face and voice.Alayn chuckled inwardly, amused by the turn of events. "Well, it seems like I don't even need to intervene," he thought to himself with a mischievous grin. Luvern's concern for his sister had taken precedence in his mind, making him forget about that he they could also use Solarael to send a message to Aidan or guide the situation in their favor.Alayn found himself impressed by how circumstances had unfolded naturally, aligning with his hidden agenda without any direc
Darkness swathed the forest, enshrouding Alayn's team in an unsettling cloak of obsidian. The distant symphony of crickets, once a comforting melody, now fell into an abrupt silence, as if nature itself was holding its breath. A sense of foreboding encircled them, catching them off guard and rendering them unprepared for the impending onslaught. Approaching footsteps echoed ominously, each one drawing closer, raising the hair on their necks and sending shivers down their spines. The cold wind whispered chilling secrets, but it was not the sole harbinger of unease. It felt as if death itself prowled these woods, inching ever nearer to the six players gathered in the desolate parking lot. Amidst the darkness, their faces painted with moonlit pallor, the team exchanged anxious glances, searching for a glimpse of reassurance in each other's eyes. The tension in the air was palpable, as they braced themselves for the unknown threat, their senses honed, alert to every rustle of leaves or
The night air was filled with a chilling breeze that carried the metallic scent of blood across the parking lot. Above, the moon shone down upon the lifeless figure of Mortis, sprawled on the ground like a discarded puppet. The scene was surreal, and the team stood frozen in shock and horror. "Ten seconds are over," the woman with the round-rimmed glasses said, her voice quivering with a mix of pain and fear. As if her words were a cue, the oppressive power of slumber that had nearly engulfed Alayn dissipated, leaving him weak and disoriented. He dropped to his knees, struggling to regain his bearings. Beside him, Serene's cries of anguish pierced the air, reflecting the collective despair of the team. Mortis, the mighty player they all looked up to, had been taken down by a single well-aimed dagger, leaving them shaken and vulnerable. Aria's face displayed a complex interplay of emotions. Fear and sadness mingled with something else, an enigmatic expression that set her apart from
In the shadowy palace, surrounded by a veil of swirling grey clouds that concealed its true grandeur, sat a majestic figure on a throne. The mysterious being had blurred facial features, as if veiled by some divine mist, giving him an ethereal and godly aura. The very air around him seemed to tremble with a mix of reverence and fear, and even the ambivians, raven-like creatures that flew around him, appeared to acknowledge his authority. In front of the godly figure, a crystalline screen floated, reflecting his blurry image. Despite the obscurity of his visage, one could sense a sinister smile lurking behind the veil. His gaze, like an all-seeing eye, penetrated through the crystal, seemingly able to observe events unfolding in distant realms. "So, you actually killed one of your teammates," he spoke, his voice echoing through the chamber with an otherworldly resonance. "Well, you kind of deceived the rules by killing a player with a life orb, but oh well. A promise is a promise,"
Alayn crumpled to the unforgiving ground, his consciousness slipping away like sand through his fingers. The consequences of channeling 20% of his newfound godlike ability had caught up to him, leaving him feeling as though every sinew in his body had torn asunder. Though he had foreseen some of the repercussions, he hadn't expected the toll it would exact on his very existence. Even a mere fraction of a god's authority was overwhelming for a mere human like Alayn. His mortal vessel, unaccustomed to such power, strained to endure the sudden surge, and the ten-second time limit had now elapsed, forcing his body to revert to its natural state to withstand the strain. As the searing pain of the power's drawbacks coursed through him, he also found himself grappling with the excruciating wounds inflicted by the blond-haired woman's deadly daggers. While the bleeding had ceased upon his victory over Neo and the absorption of his ability at 20% potential, the wounds themselves remained, a
After checking the time until midnight using Mortis' watch, which they had adjusted to the realm of the fallen world with the help of Solarael, Neo continued to shake Alayn desperately, trying to rouse him from unconsciousness. Witnessing this scene unfolding before them, one of the two enemy team members, a boy with black hair who appeared to be around Neo's age, cautiously approached the fallen Alayn. As Alayn had fainted just after killing their leader, the blond-haired woman who stood beside them, everyone grew wary of the boy's intentions. Neo looked up at him, his voice filled with urgency as he shouted, "Stop! What are you trying to do? Stop where you are!" Though the boy with black hair and brown eyes seemed to approach Alayn with malice, he held no such intentions. At least, not at this moment. As he drew closer to the unconscious Alayn and Neo, the boy's voice resonated with caution, "I'm not trying to hurt him. I'm trying to help him. Let me help him. My ability can heal
Slowly opening his eyes, Alayn mustered the strength to sit up on the ground, feeling a lingering heaviness in his head. He instinctively touched his temple with his right hand, gently massaging it. While the physical wounds had been miraculously healed due to the midnight reset that the angel Viviana had mentioned, the mental toll of using his ability at 20% potential was not as easily washed away. The experience left his mind in disarray, making it difficult for him to focus clearly. Alayn knew that using a fragment of the authority of gods, even at a mere 20%, would come with consequences. After all, it was merely a fraction of the power he was meant to wield once he reached 100% potential. The mental burden he endured surpassed his imagination, and he understood that such power came at a cost. However, Alayn also knew that he couldn't afford to rest for too long. Time was not on their side, and the Pantheon's trials were far from over. As he tried to gather his thoughts and rega