NOVEL NEXT Chapter 94: The End?
All the dead bodies of the creature vanished in thin air, with the rift not producing any more creatures. Though still rippling vigorously, as if expecting something terrible to step through that defined the very laws of physics that the mortal realm was based on.
"As I was saying," Cain said, turning his head back to Marcus. "Don't overdo it with that move, you know the aftermath, just as well as I do."
Marcus didn't twitch a muscle, though Cain knew he nodded. Cain ordered his men to set up camp since the rift hadn't closed yet, which meant something else was still coming their way, but the question was: What is coming? Since the circle changed its level, which was now even above the matrices of the Circle of Pillars.
The trio leapt onto the floor closer to Marcus, as they were completely spent. None of their abilities wanted to come forth, since fighting such high-level creatures required a lot of mana and power, both of which depleted nearly instantly for the trio.
Some of the other Adventurers were sprawled on the ground, lying as if they were going to make snow angels. Everyone was tired, and no one wanted this dungeon break to prolong further, but unfortunately for them, destiny didn't give a shit about what they wanted or didn't want.
"I'm so tired," Nova said to the other two, his voice low, his head down. "I can't fight anymore. My head is aching, my stomach is aching, my entire body, for that matter, is aching. I can't even move my muscles."
Elesch nodded as she rested her head back, breathing through her mouth. Even her rapier went dull, as the mana that fueled it was thinning by the second. Adam was in the same boat; his claws were glitching in and out of existence, as if he was getting a boost in mana, but not at the same time.
"Everyone, rest up as much as you want, because the second the creature from that rift comes out, it's go time," Cain muttered loudly.
Everyone nodded, closing their eyes in unison, feeling the aching go away slightly, relaxing their body, and entering a state of peace. They meditated lying down, standing up, sitting, and however they liked.
Soon, the clock rang noon, and the sun was at its peak, hotter than usual. The air was filled with the smell of death, blood, and just pure and absolute gore, which was still spread across the battlefield.
The rift still rippled above them like a heart, rippling abnormally; there was no rhythm to it, it was all too erratic. It loomed overhead, a constant reminder that there was still one last battle that was left incomplete, which didn't sit well with the Adventurers, since their bodies begged them to hesitate and turn back.
Cain stood at the edge of the battlefield, right in front of the giant rift in the sky, as his men swiftly assembled, arms folded, as he watched the warped sky. He hadn't allowed himself the luxury of an empty mind since the nation depended on him and Marcus to survive.
Around him, his syndicate members arranged barricades, sharpened their weapons, and, more importantly, began cracking open crystals. The crystals were bright, each one glowing green, condensed with an enormous amount of strength and energy.
One by one, they consumed the crystals' essence, while also distributing their supply to the Adventurers as well. Some pressed them to their chests, others crushed them into powder and inhaled the luminous dust, like cocaine.
Their veins lit up with energy. The Adventurers felt their energy come back, their mana restoring, their strength increasing, thinking they were ready for the upcoming threat.
Cain finally took one for himself, gripping the crystal until it cut his palm. He inhaled sharply as its light burned through him, making his body feel lighter, his strength increasing. The power wasn't gentle, it never was, but everyone had to welcome the slight surge of pain afterwards, for some it was barely noticeable, for others it was life-altering.
Marcus remained in complete silence. The ground around him was covered in shadows, forming these thick layers of shadows that normal shadow manipulators wouldn't even dare to muster. Cain gave him a sidelong glance but said nothing. Marcus didn't need crystals. He was a different kind of monster who still had a lot to learn.
The trio sat in silence. Nova rubbed his eyes, forcing himself upright. Elesch dragged her dull rapier across her lap, clutching it tightly despite its faint glow. Adam sat cross-legged, claws twitching in and out of existence with every unsteady breath.
The minutes bled together under the heat of the sun. The battlefield reeked of iron, blood, and flesh, but worse than that was the anticipation. The rift had not stopped rippling one bit. If anything, its rippling had grown more violent, as though something on the other side was dying to come out and rot the world of its filth.
Then it finally fucking happened.
The rift rippled stridently, collapsing inward before bursting outward in a silent explosion of distortion. The sky darkened, the sunlight smothered. A figure slipped through, not with force, but with class, like water spilling from a cup.
He hovered above them, weightless. The Adventurers froze, breath catching in their throats. Cain and his syndicate tensed, hands tightening on weapons. The trio's eyes widened in unison, two of them knowing who it was, though helpless against it, in their current form.
The figure was both grotesque and beautiful, the kind of contradiction that made the mind race. His face was sculpted, impossibly flawless, lips curled into a smile that was both inviting and malicious.
His hair, black as it could be, radiated with faint colors as though catching a light that shouldn't be possible. His skin was pale, yet faintly marked with glowing, swirling patterns, sigils embedded into his very soul.
Crimson robes clung to him, loose and flowing, though they never touched his feet, which were just inches above the ground.