NOVEL NEXT Chapter 81: Eternal Banishment
Ethan cracked his neck, the ritual was ready. Everybody was in place and was supplying the needed energy. He himself pressed his bleeding hand firmly into the monster's forehead, pale blue blood dripping down its face while leaving a trail of ice in its wake. He took a deep breath and activated his aura, while its purpose was clear he needed it to be something different. He needed control, not only over the ritual but over the monster in front of him to make the ritual work.
His time of playing around with plagues was over and so his aura needed to reflect that, to strengthen his abilities. Four thick chains broke from the ground, the spikes that usually covered its length were gone, in their place curved barbs appeared. Nasty things that would dig deep into the flesh of his enemies with the only way of getting them out was force.
He took a deep breath and when he exhaled pale blue vapor started to escape from his mouth, pooling beneath his feet. Winter is dominion, no matter what comes its way, the claws of an icy death will always win and only release the world once the time is right. Winter is inevitable, it's unmoving and unforgiving.
Ethan's aura began to change, slowly at first but instead of the feeling of sickness and weakness it felt different. It began with a light pressure that seemed to come from all around but that was only the beginning. The world felt darker and colder, the pressure turned into a force, shackles to lock you in place. It felt like thousands of eyes were watching every move you made, their big pale blue pupils penetrating your very soul. It felt like you lost control and were now in a world that played the tunes of winter. Small white spheres began to pull themselves together from the cold air that was infusing the aura. They formed complex figures before spreading out, like a net that floated on the edge of the aura, watching and waiting for a mistake.
Update [Aura - Domain of Necrotic Winter(Special)] -> [Aura - Dominion of watchful Winter(Special)]
[An oppressive, winter-infused aura that constricts and disorients opponents. It manifests as an icy pressure that locks enemies in place, as if shackled by unseen chains. Piercing, pale blue eyes seem to watch from the darkness, giving the impression that every little movement you make will be watched and judged. Ethereal white spheres coalesce into intricate, web-like formations, acting as silent sentinels that monitor and await the mistakes you might make. This domain weaves a chilling atmosphere of control and dread, sapping the enemies strength and instilling fear in all who get trapped inside.]
Ethan smiled and suddenly there was so much control in his grasp, right now he used that control to dominate the monster in front of him, pale blue eyes snapped jerkingly into place, rotating around the amalgamation, while he and the monster could see them the others weren't aware of these silent watchers. Always vigilant, always judging. Winter is controlling and everwatching, those eyes themselves dripping with an aura so thick it could crush you if Ethan wanted that. He was in control now.
The ritual finally began, the elves supplied their magic and slowly the drawn lines lit up with a pale blue light. Each ring glowing softly while the four lines seemed to steam as the light in them turned dark blue. Ethan smiled, he will never control this element with his skills but in rituals…there was nothing stopping him. Cold, dark blue flames burst from the straight lines and crept towards the monster, while Ethan could freeze the monster in a cage he could never be sure that it won't survive…so he decided to burn it.
The ritual so far was used to imprison him, freezing the beast completely, from its black skin down to its bones but this wasn't enough for Ethan so once the flames reached the now frozen form of the demon he stepped back, the block of ice was engulfed in cold flames, he watched as the monster started to smoke inside the block of ice. The ice that captured it served as fuel for these cold flames.
Ethan called everyone back, the elves stepped out of their circles and gathered on the edge of the basin, Ethan soldiers stepped closer to the block, keeping watch as they were disposable. He retreated to the others and watched his work unfold, in concept the ritual was easy but being such a strong monster the energy that was needed was substantial. The first elves sat down, exhausted from this constant struggle. Some of them even started to laugh or cry, hugs and pats on the back were exchanged.
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He watched them, smiling at their behavior but in all honesty they earned it so he let them relax, he just kept watching the flames piercing the skies. Burning the monster alive.
At one point he let himself become weak, sitting down on a block of ice while finally deactivating all his abilities. The soldiers collapsed into heaps of snow, his chains vanished and the aura pulled back from this world. He looked at his trembling hands and wrapped them tightly around his staff hoping to stop them from shaking.
While in thought he only noticed Lorena once she sat down next to him, giving him a reassuring smile. "You did it Ethan, you saved not only my people but also the guardian and this entire jungle. I'm very grateful for what you did here today. The others went to sleep, you should rest…for hours you watched those flames."
Ethan checked his timer and was surprised how long everything took. Time was flying during the preparation of the long ritual that felt like it was over in a second. The time he watched and reassured himself that everything was going fine.
Time remaining in the tutorial: 00:15:11:59
In less than a day, he was soon finished with this tutorial and would return to his world, a world he won't recognize. The only thing he had was a hope that might actually bring his sister back to this world.
Ethan sighed and nodded. "I try to relax a bit but there is not much time left. I feel like I should do something with it but there is nothing coming to mind, just sitting here feels wrong."
Lorena stood up and grabbed his hand. "There are plenty of things to do Ethan, you just need the right person for it." She gave him a knowing smile and despite his mood he could only laugh, like a lovestruck boy he followed her away from the camp.
Once back another five hours were shaved from his timer but he didn't mind, he felt like a phoenix rising from the ash, well he was still a bit unsteady on his feet. Lorena on the other hand had a spring in her step and she actually looked happy for once.
When they got back from...well doing things, they saw the other elves standing in front of the sphere. A sphere that was cracking and breaking apart. Ethan and Lorena joined the others right when the guardian broke through it, the sphere not even a real obstacle for his strength. Using his magic Ethan guided the hundreds of tiny ice pieces away from the elves. Even then some of them retreated all the way back to the camp.
The guardian crushed the last pieces of ice under his massive feet before focusing on the people standing around it, his gaze settling on Ethan. His thoughts connect to the guardian.
You did well Ethan, very well. I must thank you for protecting my child, she is everything to me and now…now I will entrust her into your care. With my last heavenly favor I will make her egg one of your rewards but for that you need to go…prepare yourself for I will open the rift soon.
The guardian looked at Nora who was wrapped around Ethan's arm, since coming to the mountain she was usually inactive but when she felt those eyes on her she carefully looked over Ethan's shoulder.
I hope you share Ethan with my daughter, she waited so long already, just waiting to stretch her wings out and be free. Please accept her child of Ouroboros.
Nora nodded and her thoughts felt like a whisper. I will do my best, harbinger.
There is nothing else I would ask of you my child, you're both young and only beginning your lives. While I would love to accompany you, my time has run out long ago…I'm just an echo of the past like everything here. So tell my daughter to not mourn a father that died millenia ago.
Ethan wanted to ask what he meant by that but then the guardian flapped it's wings, sending a gust of cold air towards the crack in reality. With an explosion of force the hole was ripped open, revealing only a black void behind it. The air was sucked into it and Ethan could feel himself getting pulled along.
While he tried to glue himself to the ground with his ice he noticed that everybody else seemed unaffected, not only that but frozen in time. The force grew stronger, forcing Ethan to use more mana but to no avail. The void was stronger and just ripped him away, making his body float towards the darkness.
Now floating in the air Ethan spotted the guardian's egg and with a chain of ice he pulled it towards him, his entire body wrapping around the gigantic white egg.
All three of them are floating towards the void. Ethan closed his eyes firmly and just waited for the inevitable to happen. He took a deep breath and felt himself enter the darkness….
…the ending of the tutorial.
But suddenly everything seemed to snap into place and he found himself in the library again, in front of him sitting two men…the old man from before and his patron, Ouroboros.
"Hello Ethan, we need to talk…"