The wanderers' eyes landed on the tattered lady sprawled atop a jagged rock. Asahi darted to her side. He was desperate to rouse her. Meanwhile, Aletha's suspicion simmered. Could Narcissa be plotting betrayal? All the while, the device's timer pulsed on, each second a warning.
(00:29:57)
Asahi rushed to Narcissa and shook her shoulder. Her eyelids fluttered open, and he exhaled in relief. "Narcissa, a-are you okay?" he asked, helping her sit up.
"Narcissa, a-are you okay?"
Her round brown eyes dilated in shock. She began to hyperventilate, then hunched down to the ground. Words stumbled from her pale, dry lips.
"N-No… I could have sworn I was in my Palace? W-Where am I? Where did everyone go?!"
A wave of relief washed away her worry.
"Oh, it's you, Asahi..."
She tilted her head, then gasped in shock as she noticed Aletha standing impatiently behind him.
"W-Who is... that beautiful girl?"
Aletha's face flushed red.
"O-Oh... are you talking about me? D-Did you say... I'm beautiful?"
Aletha's gray eyes sparkled with awe, and she quickly dismissed her suspicions. As Narcissa and she introduced each other, Asahi chuckled lightly and crossed his arms, whispering to himself.
(Well... this confirms it. Narcissa's curse is gone for good. She never said 'beautiful' until now. But now's not the time...)
Sensing danger, Asahi quickly called out to the others as they shook hands.
"It's good that you introduce and trust each other, but now's not the time. Everyone else had vanished, and we searched everywhere in the forest, and that light from the vase reached us. The only place we haven't looked at…."
Asahi guided them to the edge, revealing a disk-shaped structure below, bathed in eerie purple light and forged from ancient stone and scattered rubble. Narcissa and Aletha's eyes widened in awe and dread. Asahi pressed on.
"...Is there, and the only way down there is through that cliff. We should get to that place immediately-- I sense hundreds of souls lurking there."
Narcissa and Aletha shuddered in fear and quickly followed Asahi over the cliff, skidding down the slope. They leaped and weaved through debris strewn across the ground as they moved in the direction Asahi led. The purple glow intensified, casting strange shadows. Asahi turned to the others and shouted.
"Over here!"
Aletha and Narcissa nodded and drew their weapons—Aletha with a sword and Narcissa with a staff. Asahi unsheathed his sword as well. Moving cautiously, their feet skidded across stone floors as they entered the area. They analyzed their surroundings, seeing tall, overgrown concrete walls encircling a massive stone platform, with water streams leaking like a moat around the circle.
They heaved and hurdled over a wall and approached the stone platform, seeing the device count down and unleash small purple pulses. Applause followed by a robotic-sounding voice echoed over the walls.
"Well… well… well."
Asahi, Aletha, and Narcissa froze at the center of the area. They held out their weapons, with the wanderers clutching their swords, while Narcissa emitted a bright brown luminance at the center of her staff.
Narcissa turned to the wanderers and whispered to them in a serious tone.
"I feel… a familiar presence lurking in here. I hear thousands of voices bouncing in my head, screams begging for help and escape. It's that Device. We must shut it down, now."
"D-Do you know what it is?"
(Step)
(Step)
In a rush, as the footsteps grew louder and louder, Narcissa swiftly notified.
"It's a device that I'm familiar with. This occurred elsewhere in the world. A few years ago, rumors spread that it was constructed by a faction called The Ending. It's a destructive device, and if fully activated, it will unleash destruction in its surroundings. Well, that's what they say--" Narcissa explained quickly.
Narcissa got interrupted.
(Clap, clap, clap…)
The harsh applause rooted them to the spot. Distant voices slithered through the air, stealing the words from Asahi, Aletha, and Narcissa before they could speak.
"Wow! I'm so proud of you, Queen of Narcissa! Not only did you manage to come here of your own will, but you also took the time to explain the device. Good job… heh heh…." the robotic figure taunted.
A blurry purple line of light struck Narcissa and tossed her into the air, bashing her head against the walls. Asahi and Aletha's eyes widened in shock.
From the swirling smoke stepped a figure, bathed in a harsh, luminous spotlight. He wore sleek, shadowy armor, a menacing helmet shaped like a devil, and a cosmic purple cloak that rippled behind him.
The wanderers realized that the previous false friendly voice from a distance belonged to this menacing robotic being.
In an instant, memories of the ruined village and past clashes with this foe blazed through the wanderers' minds.
The robotic individual rubbed his hands, grabbed Narcissa by the neck, lifted her, and choked her to anger the wanderers more. He mocked them as he heard Narcissa struggle and flail her arms.
"Good job… indeed."
The robotic figure hurled her against the wall with brutal force, sending tremors through the chamber as chunks of stone crashed to the ground.
As the robotic individual slowly tilted back to the wanderers, the wanderers hastily grew alert, stepped forward, and screamed the man's name with rage.
"TEAR!"
He slowly shook his head and clenched his fists, his visor shining a bright purple.
"Oh, don't look at me with those faces. This… should have been expected."
Tear vanished in an instant, reappearing on top of a wall as if gravity were nothing to him, casually walking along it. The wanderers' hearts raced as they tried to reach Narcissa, but strewn bricks and rubble blocked the path.
With no other options, Asahi and Aletha climbed the wall, trembling as they kept their eyes fixed on Tear. At the top, they saw him slowly unsheath a mighty technological black sword from his pocket.
"Do you realize how much pain… I have endured. Are you two TRYING to become the HEROES of your world? Pathetic. I should've expected better from you."
The wanderers stilled, then stepped forward, eyes fixed on Tear as he laughed, his grip tightening and his stance challenging them.
"Oh, don't look at me with those surprised faces. It should have been EXPECTED. After all, if you're going to be passive, then go right ahead. I know that those trapped souls will be 'thankful' later," Tear mocked.
Asahi and Aletha trembled in fear just thinking about all of their friends trapped in one place. Tear strutted his blade diagonally and threatened them with a deep voice.
"I honestly don't care if both of you die. I couldn't care less either way."
He shrugged his shoulders.
"Who would need gods that abandon their Asahi and Aletha clenched their jaws, fury coursing through their veins as Tear's taunts fueled their anger.
"Who would need cowards who don't take action and 'save' their 'precious' nation. After all, you standing there makes my job a lot easier," Tear jeered.
He pointed to the timer.
(00:28:22)
"Tick-Tick."
Asahi and Aletha stepped forward, pointing their blades toward Tear's direction without remorse. Tear gasped and clutched his blade, flapping his cosmic cape in the air.
"Oh, being feisty… huh? That's unexpected. I thought you two were wise. But alas, my theory was wrong," Tear said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
His friendly tone in his voice altered to a more threatening one.
"If one of you two DARE take even just one tiny step, you're willing to deny my offer for you to flee, and instead, challenge me. I destroyed The Great Fountain for a REASON! You know…. I've missed battling for so long-- so don't expect mercy from me if you do choose," Tear growled.
As Tear descended off the walls and planted his strong metal boots on the ground, casting his shadow over the wanderers, he clutched his sword even tighter, sparking a purple luminance between his fingers.
"I have been STARVING for a good battle. No one dared challenge me because of my power compared to the others. Flee now, or stand there. I don't care… The timer is ticking," Tear declared.
Tear stepped forward after a moment of silence and screamed at them with frustration, anger, anticipation, speed, and aggression.
"Just do it already! Take one step; I dare you-- I triple dare you! Take one more step and 'try' to show me how much of a HERO you two really are. Do it-- I'm waiting! Move. FLEE… OR I'LL KILL BOTH OF YOU AND NARCISSA! This incarnation of the world doesn't matter-- It's an anomaly from the start!" Tear screamed, his voice rupturing and echoing over every wall from the ruins. Asahi and Aletha's hearts froze.
Their blades quivered, hearts pounding, as anger crept up their spines like a living thing.
Though they wanted to save others, they couldn't help but dwell on the thought of abandoning their own world.
All memories from the events experienced so far have hastily flashed in both Asahi and Aletha's minds.
. . .
From awakening in the Forest of Plados to traveling to Pladtioa city and meeting new faces. From watching the nation's respected Fountain being demolished in front of the citizens' eyes to training with Sadki and discovering their ruined nation lying in the middle of nowhere.
A torrent of memories surged through their minds.
Meeting people from lands afar, remembering their past, fighting the Kitsune in the depths of Dreamtoe Forest, seeing the souls of their parents, battling a cursed goblin, seeing Belial transform into a demon, meeting a raven man, sparking an insurgency against the whole nation, and finally… relieving the ruler from a self-devouring curse.
These memories were the fuel that had driven Asahi and Aletha to this very moment.
And despite all of this, they hadn't found a trace of their lost sister in sight.
Yet, among all their millennia of wandering, this journey had carved itself deepest into their hearts. It had changed them, stirring something fierce and new within the wanderers.
Memories fading, the wanderers locked eyes with Tear. As the countdown ticked, they sprang forward, swinging their blades.
"HAAAAHHHHH!"
(Cling)
Tear blocked their attack with his blade, kicked them back, then retreated to the Fountain walls. Asahi and Aletha regained their footing and charged, while Tear shouted in excitement.
"A Challenge it is! Show me what the rulers of this world can REALLY do!"
. . .
(00:27:17)
(00:27:16)
(00:27:15)
It unfolded in a blur, so swift that they barely had time to register what was happening.
Tear struck from above, clashing brutally with the wanderers and driving them back with vicious blade swings.
As the wanderers were forced back from the continuous attacks, Tear commented.
"Oh, well, isn't that a pity, huh? I sense no power in you. Go and try, don't even ask about what I did. It was all for a good reason," Tear sneered.
Successfully distracting Asahi and Aletha, Tear unexpectedly pulled a trick from his sleeve.
"Take this!"
Tear launched coils of corruption that snaked around them, sapping strength and forcing their weapons to fall.
Echoing in the air, Tear circumnavigated the wanderers, clashing his blade, forming purple sparks in the air, and leaving trails of smoke.
"The Fountain was too much for the nation. Don't think you will win. I have slain more than you even realized," Tear declared.
He hacked his blade and pivoted his arm to Asahi's head. Aletha blocked Tear's attack and intertwined her blade with his; Tear's cape flew in the air and kicked Aletha down to the ground. As they struggled to get back up, Tear taunted the wanderers.
"Oh, these attacks. They're so familiar… to... Her. Their hacks, slashes, thrusts… and evasive maneuvers… It's enough to make me question who I'm really serving," Tear mused.
He swung his sword toward Asahi and threw corrupting vines toward Aletha, forcing her to fall to the floor.
"Aletha!" Asahi screamed, blocking and kicking Tear away from him.
She kicked her legs up, got back on her feet, and raced back to Asahi, breathing and sweating heavily.
"I'm fine…." Aletha gasped as Asahi turned over to her.
"Okay."
(00:24:00)
(00:23:59)
(00:23:58)
The wanderers' bodies felt weighed down by the constant pressure coming from The Device. Asahi and Aletha charged at Tear with aggression and desperation, sprinting in opposite directions, jumping up, and leaving trails of their strikes in the air.
As their blades skimmed only a portion of Tear's armor, he hastily vanished, leaving a purple streak extending toward the opposite end.
"Ha, don't think it will be THAT easy."
Short, his presence vanished again, and a surprise attack greeted the wanderers. They were forced back in the air, crashing toward the walls. Tear asked mockingly as Asahi and Aletha struggled to stand up.
"Oh, why so quiet? Did the spike of fear get into your bones? Heh heh… I can feel your anger emerging from your heart. It feels good; I want to grab one of you by the neck and RIP your hearts out!"
Tear caught Asahi's neck in his left hand, trying to squeeze him until he choked.
Asahi struggled like a landed fish. Tear picked him up and swung him several times on the solid stone. He dropped the boy and slammed him even more, with relentless force.
"ASAHI!" Aletha screamed. In fury, as Tear choked Asahi, she pushed upwards, hurled her blade toward Tear's legs, and kicked his knees. But her fist barely touched Tear's armor…
"Don't think that I can focus on you too…."
Aletha's eyes widened. Dread asphyxiated her. She was forced down through the concrete stone as her legs got pummeled by Tear's boots—Dust smudged out from Aletha's body.
Asahi's eyes shrank with horror.
"A-A…A…ALETHA!"
(00:18:34)
(00:18:33)
(00:18:32)
Flailing his legs, hearing Tear chuckle as Asahi slowly lost energy. The white-haired boy forced his blade through Tear's metal chest. Sparks flew out of him.
"AHH! YOU--
Tear hunched forward, dropping Asahi. He clenched his fists as a purple glow formed in his hands, unleashing rage.
"Oh, now you have done it! I wish it didn't come to this… but now I have to use it."
Dust spilled from her wound. Asahi pulled Aletha up and whispered as Tear raged.
"Sis, are you alright?"
She nodded silently. Asahi smiled.
"G-Good. Stand by me next time."
"O-Okay," Aletha replied while she reached for her sword.
The wanderers urgently pushed themselves up and jolted to Tear.
(00:15:43)
(00:15:42)
(00:15:41)
He struck his arm into the air and unleashed fifteen purple strikes from his hand. The wanderers dodged the lasers, feeling the ground tremble as they crashed down like thunderbolts. They advanced further to Tear, steadily raising their blades.
"Stop!"
Tear shook his head. Another blade appeared from thin air. He caught it and struck a pose, tackling the wanderers. He forced five to ten strikes on their faces.
"HAHAHAHA! Weak! Weak! Weak"
As they felt their bodies sinking through the solid ground, a disembodied voice suddenly spoke out to them.
"Don't lose hope…."
Dust poured from wounds on Asahi and Aletha as their bodies lay battered.
A cyan luminance arose from their bodies and ruthlessly assailed Tear directly on the chest. Tear flew into the air and collided with the walls, forcing chunks of stone into the ground.
Asahi and Aletha's wounds immediately healed; they pushed themselves up, grabbed their blades, and discharged green luminescent arrows from their hands.
They pierced straight through Tear's body and formed more sparks and malfunctions on his armor. His visor glowed a dark red; his armor heated up, and his palms glowed a lethal purple.
(00:12:10)
(00:12:09)
(00:12:08)
Asahi and Aletha felt hope rush back into them. Adrenaline pumped in every corner of their bodies. Thousands of voices erupted in their heads.
As the voices echoed in the wanderers' minds, a string of colors emerged from their souls.
Red. "Don't give up. You got this!"
Green. "All of us are counting on you two. Don't be a demon, like I was…."
Pink. "Don't stop now; we are SO close to victory."
Purple. "Buttons and Asahi, listen and don't SCREW up! I'm counting on you, hard heads!"
Cyan. "This Universe is filled with endless elements. And among them, you two are the most important."
Baby Blue. "P-Please… we are all counting on you-- For EVERYONE who has suffered in this nation."
Orange. "You two have proven your beauty and changed me as a whole. Failure is the best teacher, and we faced many problems, but even after that… we still managed to become closer."
Yellow. "You got this fece-face! Although there are many times to joke around, this is not one of them. TEACH 'EM WHO'S BOSS!"
As the storm of colors encircled Asahi and Aletha, they opened their eyes and felt encouragement run down their bodies; the lights forced into Asahi and Aletha, reinvigorating and amplifying their strength.
Tear shook his head, clutched his blades, and jolted to the wanderers, forcing roots to emerge from the floor. Asahi and Aletha grabbed their swords in one hand, and a magical essence ran through their other.
(00:10:12)
(00:10:11)
(00:10:10)
Asahi and Aletha charged at Tear. Suddenly, their legs moved faster than usual. They felt their bodies toughen and strengthen. Nourished with the soul's powers, they were showered in blessings.
All powers erupted at once.
In eight major blows… a gust of wind propelled Tear back, purple lightning bolts struck his side, and green luminescent thorns emerged from the ground and struck his neck.
Tear tried to move his blade, but the wanderers managed to strike his swords to the ground.
"Not today."
But even with that power, it wasn't enough to stop Tear, as he was seen slowly lifting back up.
(00:08:59)
(00:08:58)
(00:08:57)
The timer was nearing zero. All fifteen blows were struck against Tear, tossing him from side to side like a rag doll.
"AGH, AGH AGH!"
He forced his fist through the floor and chuckled.
"Heh…heh… heh… I see. I guess you two are stronger than I thought you were. No matter, that was nothing but a smidge of my ability. Face my true power."
(BOOM!)
The sky thundered from above… a barrage of flying purple meteors descended from the sky. Asahi and Aletha tilted up and clenched their fists.
They hastily grasped their blades and jolted at Tear, striking and shunning his hips, damaging and denting his armor.
They hear the tiny meteors growing closer, and instantly, eighty luminescent white strings emerge from their bodies, piercing through all the falling rocks and forcing chunks of them to rain down onto the ground like snowflakes.
Having realized that his attack backfired, Tear adjusted his suit and transformed his arm into a blaster.
"Take this!"
(00:04:27)
(00:04:26)
(00:04:25)
A massive, lethal, long-lasting purple laser beam struck through the wall and glided slowly across the Fountain, leaving an enormous trail of burn marks in its tracks.
As Tear noticed that the wanderers dodged the attack, he hastily returned to his arm, grasped his two blades, and swung at Asahi and Aletha repeatedly.
One of their devices dropped from his hands. Tear's arms appeared to be fastened to his sides. The wanderers' legs intertwined, and their feet disappeared into the smoke. They lost their blades and were forced to use their given powers, but suddenly, all of them vanished.
"H-Huh?"
(00:02:22)
Tear was giving his life up, throwing all concerns aside, and using all the power he had at his disposal. He couldn't afford to give up… not yet; he just had to endure the pain until that timer on the device reached zero.
(00:02:00)
After the wanderers and Tear struck, clashed, and battled around the ruins of The Great Fountain, a white emergence bloomed and sprouted over Asahi and Aletha. Though shocked, he persisted in fighting, flinging his swords out of frustration. As he stood in front of the wanderers… a gargantuan beam summoned and burst from their palms and struck barbarically through Tear's armor.
The force of the white laser pushed him so hard that his armor started to crush and deactivate.
He was hurled through the wall. Each surface of the dark armor was dented. Rocks crumbled on his body. A cloud of Dust fogged up the area, with the purple light glistening.
And yet, this was just a tiny portion of the wanderers' true power.
. . .
Silence.
They panted and sweated, breathing heavily. Slowly, they fell to their knees. Their swords slipped from clammy hands and toppled to the floor. Their eyes trembled in disbelief. Skin was caked in bruises.
(00:01:59)
The countdown was near its end. Asahi and Aletha didn't have a moment to react. They were extremely exhausted. Everything in their bodies felt like it was shutting down.
Yet despite this… they crawled and dragged themselves toward the device.
"C…Come…o-on… just…."
They dragged themselves over the floor and lifted the device. They saw a small pink button on the bottom of its black exterior. Their eyes widened in relief. Finally, hope surged back into them.
"Pr…ess…it…."
(00:01:05)
(00:01:04)
(00:01:03)
The device hummed, with pink sparks fuming over. Their fingers slid and skimmed over the button.
"Al…most…"
As their hands were about to put pressure on the button, their arms were pushed away from it slowly. Their hands trembled, but they were so exhausted they couldn't be angry. It felt like a needle pierced their hearts once they saw who pushed their hands.
(00:00:59)
(00:00:47)
(00:00:42)
Narcissa tremblingly muttered.
"I-I'm… sorry… I don't know what's happening to me…."
A woman with tattered bruise marks, messy brown hair, and fearful coffee-colored eyes obstructed the button's reach. Asahi wailed.
"Narcissa, w…what are you doing?!"
She trembled.
"Please… I don't know what's going on. I feel this power; something is controlling me; I don't know what it is. It feels peaceful. It feels like I'm finally free from the shackles of reality. I can breathe, I can move… I don't want to let go."
(Save the nation)
A sudden burst of energy erupted from Asahi and Aletha.
They swiftly pushed themselves up and pushed Narcissa away. However, she returned to her position and blocked the wanderers from going. Asahi clenched his fists, resisting the urge to attack Narcissa.
"Please… just move… Why are you doing this? After all I did for you, this is what you repay me…?!"
Tears flew down Narcissa's face.
"N-No… It's all wrong. When I touch this, I see the truth. Everything… all of it… I don't want to let go, I don't want to let go, I don't want to--
. . .
The world slowed down.
Their eyes lowered.
Dust gushed out from the wound like blood, and the silver blade was dragged out of her. She collapsed to the ground and dissipated into dust.
The wanderers gasped.
A dark silhouette emerged from the smoke.
The boy took slow footsteps, his legs extended, and grew.
Asahi and Aletha slowly backed away and saw the person brush his slender fingers on the ground.
His long silver hair flocked from the gusts. His eyes were filled with a color of lavender and blue. His skin was blindingly pale, with a black streak extending down to his cheek. His dark armor crumbled and crashed onto the floor, echoing over the silent walls.
A luminance enshrouded him with the outline of his appearance, rapidly growing. His silver hair grew longer, his tail flocked faster, and his claws enlarged outward.
"Don't meddle in my duty."
A click sounded from the device. A sonic boom enveloped the land, causing trees to crumble and propelling a massive shockwave that surged over the ocean.
Asahi and Aletha reacted by ducking over; dirt pellets flew overhead like a flock of birds. Their hearts skipped a beat, growing weary, and they planted their arms over the grass.
They hesitated, wanting to speak but unable to muster the will to fight.
Never would they have thought that Tear, their sworn enemy, the one who destroyed the village, demolished the prized Fountain, and ambushed the city, was the kind, prudent Sadiki himself.
Ignoring the voices, they stepped forward and watched the shimmering brown dust fall to the sleek, cracked floor— Narcissa's blood.
"Huh?"
Asahi and Aletha's hearts thudded. Their hands shook, and they darted glances all around them.
Right in front of them was a floating dark figure, traced by his long silver hair, tainted in a purple; a blue swirl orbiting his chest, and last but not least, the black mist that touched his feet.
"Behold… my true… form…"
Sadiki insisted as he grasped his blade.
"Remember me?"
His eyes looked different, as if the preliminary aspects of a dark purple fog had clouded them up. Asahi squinted at him and yanked Aletha away, whispering.
"Aletha, ignore him. Just follow me! Don't even try to help Sadiki. He's far more corrupt than it seemed."
Aletha nodded with a trembling smile.
"Okay…" She mumbled.
Shaken by confusion, the wanderers refocused, gripped their blades, and dashed away from the Fountain at top speed. Meanwhile, the Destructive Device began a countdown.
"Ten…"
Asahi and Aletha were so paranoid that they had utterly forgotten it was still there; yet they continued to flee from the ruins.
"Nine…"
Adrenaline rushed through their hearts. They felt their feet slip on the muddy ground. Streams of water ran from the ground, forcing all hills to slope downwards toward The Fountain. They had no choice… but to interfere.
"Eight…"
That number… It reminded The Wanderers of the intelligent, confident genius of Akwan. They recollected all the adventures they had with him, Drimi, Belial, and Sally. Despite going through a different route, the wanderers still reached their destination.
"Seven…"
All the hearts of Pladtioa thumped as one. The wanderers felt all their faith coursing through their veins, their legs, their hearts, and finally their minds. It sparked a devastating uproar of determination.
"Six…"
The ground trembled, matching the magnitude of a 10.0 earthquake. Despite the destruction, trees were seen to emerge from the ground as if it was thriving in the land's own annihilation, followed by crumbling mountains rising. Pladtioa City didn't seem to be affected either. Asahi and Aletha tried to escape, but the device increased pressure.
"Five…"
A strange, grueling sound emitted from the device. Sadiki didn't even bear to fight; he was embracing the last moments of the fight. The wanderers stared intensely at the counter, feeling the sky crumble above them, as if it were a solid, tangible object.
"Four…"
Pulses flew about, and Asahi and Aletha felt their feet slowly rising upward. Dirt, rocks, bushes, ferns, and even the smoldering remains of the ruins of The Great Fountain seem to all be levitating to the sky. Aletha panicked.
"W-What's happening…"
Paralyzed by fear, Asahi remained silent, unable to speak.
"Three… Two…"
Time seemed to slow down as they saw Sadiki standing on the rising platform with the wanderers. He still grasped his blade; his dark, corrupted eyes met those of the wanderers, and swiftly, he charged. They clutched their swords and flew toward Sadiki, clashing and jolting as the platform continued to rise with floating trees.
"One…"
(BOOM)
The speed of the calamity was so quick that not even sound could catch up to it.
A giant magenta and blue-colored laser shot up into the sky, lighting up the night into daylight, breaking clouds, and shriveling the stars. It looked like the sky was fighting back the beacon of light, forming a wall of hundreds upon thousands of clouds and rippling the heavens like water.
The sheet of clouds neared ever so closer to Asahi and Aletha. The beacon of light shone over the nation of Pladtioa as if it were the gleaming rays of sunlight. Time froze, and only their eyes cooperated to take a mental picture of what was beyond that thick fleet of clouds. It certainly wasn't the stars.
Dark mist suffocated their vision. Sadiki held on to the platform, trying not to fall, and dropped his blade, coughing up dark, slimy mucus.
"This… wasn't what was described… when The Ending gave me the device."
From the pulsating, densely clouded area, a massive black pillar detached from the fog and sank into the world. The mysterious object is outlined with traces of black and white, featuring bleached luminescent lines that stretch down from the bottom to the circular top. It looked far too advanced for this world, like an object alien to this world.
The wind from below propelled the platform, followed by the device, enhancing its pulsating tower of purple. Asahi jolted to Aletha.
"Hold on tight…"
They clutched their hands, hunched over, grabbed onto the platform, and felt a freezing gust blow from the foggy area. But beyond the massive wall of clouds, it looked to be industrial towers extending upside down.
As fragments of the clouds were mangled and pulverized by the immense force of power emanating from the black pillar, the platform, along with the flow of gravity, tilted. The wanderers grew dizzy, and just as night turned to... day as they passed through the horizon of clouds, their vision flashed to darkness.