Looking at the back, Shambala saw Krystal walking forward with determination in her eyes. He seemed almost oblivious to his injuries and the pain he had previously experienced. His steps, as he marched forward, seemed abnormal. Even for him. “Krystal!” …. He yelled at the top of his voice as he approached him. “Krystal, hold on. We need to sit back and strategize. Figure out a long-term plan for the beast’s seeming invincibility. We need…”He suddenly halted because he was not even stopping to listen to what he was saying. He didn’t even appear to see him. Only likely to see through him.All his efforts to dissuade Krystal, saying that what he was about to do was dangerous as he was already gravely injured and vulnerable, went unanswered.Vladimir, seeing the attempts made by Shambala, realized that something else was up. He had never even seen Shambala speak so many words all at once in quick succession.Shambala was really a man of few words. Vladimir decided he would pitch in to h
Valdimir turned to see Grover back on his feet: He was desperate in his movements; sitting, standing, squatting and even jumping. Anything that might work.Grover had gotten up in shock seeing how fiercely Krystal was fighting. He was suffering several injuries, but pressed on regardless. He fought like a man at the edge of a crevice; fighting hard to stand strong. But weren’t they all?Grover and Vladimir shared a glance at each other and then in unison they looked at Shambala, as though pleading with him to intervene. Their silent looks pleading with the powerful man to intervene.“Is there anything that can be done to stop him while I try to master my artifact?” “None”, he replied grimly. “He has to either successfully stop himself, or die trying to kill the beast who will only rise stronger and smarter.”Grover noted the grim look on Shambala’s face as answered them that there was nothing he could do. That was very unlike him. But then again these were very strange circumstance
Krystal heard himself talk as though out of his body. It sounded like someone else had spoken near him. However, his consciousness was returning so he knew for sure that it had been him who had yelled.He had lost energy and crashed to his knees, but now he felt a sudden surge of energy flood every part of his being. His mind, and his soul were strengthened.And he couldn’t quite place his finger on it just yet, but then it occurred to him. He felt this strong because he had finally become all that he could be at this current level of power.He had faced the battle that has in the past brought several other comrades to their knees, and yet he had won. Everyone watched as Krystal mustered himself to stand up. His knees had felt like he had shattered every single bone in them when he fell and yet here he was being able to stand and staunchly support his frame. His eyes which had first developed a keen glint and then eventually turned a bright shade of red once again got altered. They
The fight between Krystal and the beast started and for the first time since they encountered the creature, it was at a position of disadvantage. Blow for blow, power for power and raw energy at the highest possible peak. The speed they fought with was so unreal it was difficult to catch their movements at times. This phase of fighting made the earlier confrontations seem like nothing more than a joke. The ability was unfathomable. It would have been impossible to tell that this battle had been going on for several hours.Even the beast seemed to sense that something had changed with Krystal, but since it wasn’t the sort to give up, it continued to fight. Krystal came at the beast with so much force that it tumbled to the ground and Donna back the hole that had been created earlier in the fight by Shambala and Vladimir.The beast gave a swipe at Krystal which would ordinarily have knocked him off his feet and drain his strength, but Krystal simply got out of the range of the animal
As Shambala remained in his thoughts, he remembered a scenario that had something similar to this, where a warrior was overcome by his artifact. Stark. In the past, Stark had once activated this power when they were in danger. It had seemed like the only hope at that point, but it was a battle won at a very steep price. Apparently, there were lots of dangers associated with using artifacts one could not effectively wield. These dangers became real to him, and he had first-hand experience with them. And now, because there were a lot of dangers when using it, he decided not to use the power to its full extent.Even though it was a sort of limitation to him, he vowed not to make use of a certain aspect of the artifact again. He made use of some parts again and again, honing them, but only as a shadow function. As for the rest of that power, he shunned it, so it did not get the best of him. Countless stories have been told of warriors who were swallowed up by malevolent powers who made
Shambala frowned, not knowing what Krystal wanted to do. He thought several things and imagined lots of scenarios, but couldn’t bring himself to stop Krystal from approaching Grover. He didn't do or say anything, but just watched. Previously, Grover had looked scared and had been cowering in awe, but somehow, he had gotten bold and courageous and now stared directly into Krystal’s eyes. He wondered what any other person at that place with them was thinking. It was a surreal moment.Grover frowned, looking at Krystal, who had previously felt scared but now was bold. It was as if Krystal’s eyes spoke a message directed towards him without saying anything. Words were not needed. He seemed to say, “I will not hurt you," and Grover believed him.Ordinarily, Krystal was not a man who inspired fear without being provoked. Of course, there was always the occasional person who perceived a threat without cause, but not because of any effort on Krystal’s part. However, it still occurred to Gro
Grover felt like a door had been opened for him. He felt able in that moment, free from the weakness he had been feeling since Shambala told him that he was going to be the one to rescue them in the next test.He turned towards the beast, who looked at him curiously, as though suddenly seeing him for the first time. He hurriedly stood up and walked towards the beast, who had not seemed to make much sense earlier but now seemed relatable.All the sounds they thought were feral growls and groans coming from the beast turned out to be coherent words spoken in a language different from their own. It sounded like one of the ancient languages that had been lost to the world of men.Maybe it was only lost to men, but it is still a viable language in the realm of spirits. What was strange to Grover was that he could understand the creature’s words perfectly.“Man, what do you seek? And why should I let you pass?” The beast’s voice sounded thunderous, loud, and clear.“We seek only passage to
Grover knew that from the looks on his comrades’ faces, they knew he did not know the answer to the question asked.“How far east can you travel before you start traveling west?” That was the question he had asked. Who asked these types of questions anyway?What they did not know was that Grover expected it.He knew very well that he might not be able to answer the questions the beast would put to him, but he decided not to show it. He decided he would let the beast ask all of its questions, and just as he expected, he didn't know even a single answer to all of its questions.Question two: the beast had said almost smugly, “How much of himself can a man give before there is nothing else to give?” Almost smugly because the beast displayed little or no emotion on its face.Again, meeting Grover’s silence, the creature pushed on to the next question.“Of your companions, all of you are distinct in your composition. Apart from earthly and acquired qualities and materials, what makes you u