Day 724[1] in Jerrica's Labyrinth
Returning our attention back to the Trials of the Bad, we were all transferred to different locations through the personal portals provided to us. Since it separated us, let's go through everyone's encounters. Alex was first up on the watchcam. The newly evolved Tengu Warlord was antsy, eager to see what the labyrinth had in store for him.
Alex stepped out of the portal into an alien jungle, its haunting beauty both mesmerizing and foreboding. Towering trees with twisted, gnarled trunks loomed over him, their bark a deep green, nearly black in the dim lighting. From their branches, long tendrils of bioluminescent vines draped down like curtains of living neon, their vibrant purples, blues, and reds pulsing softly, giving the illusion of breathing. Beneath them, demonic flora sprouted from the dark soil, their petals curling like claws, exuding a faint, eerie glow that barely cut through the oppressive gloom. The entire jungle had a surreal vibrance, an unnatural intensity as if it had been painted in the colors of a nightmare.
The sounds of the jungle layered themselves into a discordant symphony. Insects with clicking, metallic wings buzzed around unseen; amphibians released guttural croaks that echoed unnaturally through the trees; distant cries of alien birds cut sharply through the thick, humid air. But what stood out the most was the unsettling absence of any wind. Despite the heavy canopy and wide-open expanse before him, not a single leaf rustled, not a single branch swayed. It was as if the forest itself was holding its breath, watching him. Overhead, five moons hung in the sky, their pale gazes piercing through a blanket of crimson-streaked clouds. Not a single star dared to shine alongside them.
"Woah… spooky-looking place," Alex muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
His scarlet eyes scanned his surroundings, searching for anything familiar—something to ground him in this strange, unnatural environment—but everything felt foreign, down to the air he breathed. Not even the smells felt right. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, but there was something else too—something acrid, metallic, almost like the aftertaste of burned mana lingering in the atmosphere. His nose wrinkled at the foreign stench.
"Where the hell did it even take me?" he wondered aloud, exhaling a long breath.
But before any real concern could creep into his mind, he shut his eyes for a moment and centered himself. His father's words surfaced in his thoughts, as steady and unwavering as ever.
"Don't worry about things you can't dictate. Let your gut pull you through anything the labyrinth throws at you."
A calming warmth settled in his chest, pushing away any budding unease. His father had always been a grounding force in his life, and just the thought of his guidance brought Alex back to a memory from that very morning—the day he left home to meet the others before venturing toward Goblin Cave.
Flashback:
4th Day of the 3rd Water Cycle, 1999 g.c.
The house at the center of Talasi had never felt more alive than when Glynis and Shukaku moved in. The morning air had been thick with the scent of freshly cooked meat and herbal tea, an unmistakable sign of his mother's early preparations. The walls, adorned with cultural relics from his father's lineage, stood as a testament to their heritage. The warmth of the space always made it feel like home to him.
As Alex stood by the front door, his mother and father flanked him, each with a vastly different approach to his departure. Glynis, ever the doting mother, wrung her hands, her worry bleeding into her words.
"I'm just saying, he should take my health potions with him. I have at least three left that he can carry."
Shukaku, calm and confident, let out a soft chuckle, crossing his arms. "You worry too much, dear. Our little Alex is the strongest in the house. He'll be fine. Besides, you need those yourself for your trip to Lashun."
"But that labyrinth is no joke," Glynis insisted, her ruby eyes narrowing slightly. "I barely made it through in one piece, so I want him to have a much easier time."
Shukaku placed a hand on Alex's shoulder, gripping it firmly. "Alex has been keeping up with his cousins in martial skills and battle power. He will return to us even stronger, you'll see."
Glynis sighed, shaking her head. "That's what worries me. A lot of power has never brought any true peace to the people in my family. Even my baby sister seemed to become cursed with problems when they handed her the clan's artifact."
"Yet it would be impossible to protect what one loves without power," Shukaku countered, his voice steady. "Alex has a good head on his shoulders. Put faith in his strength and our ability to raise a warrior."
Glynis exhaled sharply, finally relenting, but not before glancing at Alex with soft yellow eyes. The deep concern she held for him was evident, and despite her hesitance, she knew she couldn't shield him forever.
Alex, who had been quietly absorbing their words, felt his face heat up slightly at the weight of his father's praise. "Thanks, Pops."
A warm smile played across Shukaku's face as he reached up, ruffling Alex's snow-white dreadlocks. "Besides, you may one day return to Aldo and fix the broken pieces of the Zo Clan."
Glynis stiffened at the suggestion. "It's not fair to put your regrets on Alexander's shoulders."
"Haha, yeah, I know," Shukaku admitted, scratching the back of his head. "Sorry, Alex, I was living out my fantasies vicariously through you. Give 'em hellfire, son."
Despite his father's laugh, Alex had caught the glimmer of sorrow hidden beneath his eyes. Shukaku carried the burdens of his past, no matter how much he tried to move forward. But to Alex, his father was no lesser for it. If anything, he admired him even more. Shukaku was a mighty warrior in his own right, someone who had faced hardship without the luxury of a Vessel Skill.
End of Flashback:
4 minutes later...
With the memory fresh in his mind, Alex opened his eyes once more, his expression settling into determination. His father was right—no point in worrying about what he couldn't control. The labyrinth had thrown him into this eerie jungle for a reason, and he would face whatever came his way.
Cracking his knuckles, he took his first step forward into the unknown, the dense foliage swallowing his silhouette whole.
As Alex snapped back to reality, the lingering memories of his father's words solidified his resolve. He clenched his fists, his sharp claws digging into his palms, and took a deep breath of the thick, unfamiliar air. The scents were still alien—floral but tinged with something twisted, something that reminded him of places soaked in blood. The ambient noises of the jungle were alive with unnatural chirps and guttural croaks, echoing beneath the red-clouded sky. The moons above seemed to watch him, judgmental and patient.
"I'm going to make you proud, Old Man," Alex muttered, the words barely escaping his lips before the fabric of space before him began to unravel.
A small tear in reality formed, jagged edges crackling with indigo energy as a portal forced itself open. Without warning, several objects dropped from its swirling void—a cloth-wrapped bundle, two weapons, and a mnemonic crystal shaped like a crescent moon. The moment the items hit the jungle floor, the portal stitched itself shut, the distortion fading as though it had never existed.
Alex stared at the items, his brows furrowed in confusion, before kneeling down to pick up the wrapped bundle and the crystal moon. As soon as his fingers touched the cold, smooth surface of the crystal, it flared with soft, luminescent light. A message projected forth in a glowing script:
Those old clothes are looking a bit small and beat up. Here's something from ya Big Bro.
The words made Alex pause. He knew exactly who sent it.
"Xiro?" he muttered, disbelief flashing across his face.
His grip on the crystal tightened as he instinctively activated his new [Worldwide Detection], a skill evolution of his prior [Area Detection]. Mana surged through his senses, expanding outward in an unseen web of awareness, feeding him an overwhelming flood of information. He staggered slightly, adjusting to the sheer amount of data, before focusing on what he truly wanted to find.
Yet, even as his senses combed the vastness of this alien world, my presence was nowhere to be found.
"Wow, this place is huge. But how come I can't find Xiro's or any other Wolfpak signature? Are they in different dimensions? How in the hells did he find me?"
He attempted to reach out through his telepathic link, but all he received was static—an empty void of sound. After a few more failed tries, he clicked his tongue in irritation and gave up.
His gaze dropped to his own tattered gi, the once-fitting dark fabric now torn apart by his recent growth. His evolution into a Tengu Warlord had brought on a surge of height and muscle, leaving his old attire barely clinging to him in rags. He glanced back at the bundle Xiro had sent and smirked.
"Fuck it. Appreciate it, my nigga! I hope he heard that."
Alex chuckled as he unwrapped the package, revealing a fresh set of red and black clothes tailored perfectly for his new physique. The craftsmanship was immaculate—dark, reinforced, enchanted fabric designed for both flexibility and durability. He pulled the new outfit on, appreciating the snug yet breathable fit, before his attention shifted to a piece of red armor that had come with it.
A chest plate, sleek yet sturdy, rested beside the bundle. Another mnemonic crystal accompanied it, activating the moment he picked it up. The projection detailed its specs:
Cerberus - Forged from enchanted Magisteel and Obsidium, capable of withstanding the explosion of a dying star. Boosts both physical and magical defense. Special Enchantments: Auto-Repair, Aurora's Vengeance.
Alex whistled lowly, eyes gleaming as he ran his fingers over the smooth metal. "Damn. This is some serious gear."
Besides the armor, two shortswords gleamed under the raspberry light of the sky. They bore a striking resemblance to the pair he had lost during his fight with Taurus. He gripped the hilts, testing their weight, and immediately felt at home.
Before he could fully appreciate the weapons, the voice of the Prime Realm System boomed within his mind:
«The Trial of the Bad is about to begin. Completion of the trial's objective is based on the defeat of this world's champion waiting ahead.»
Alex exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders as he adjusted the final touches to his new look. He tucked the mnemonic crystal away, made slight adjustments to his pant legs, and reached up to fix his nose ring.
"Guess I better get moving. But damn, does this gear fit perfectly. How in the hells does he do that? Wait... what happened to the other arm sleeve?"
With a smirk, he strapped both swords to his waist, taking one last look around the eerie jungle before stepping forward. The air grew heavier as he moved, an unspoken challenge lingering in the shadows of the towering neon flora.
Whatever was waiting ahead, he was ready for it.
Alex's trek through the rainforest stretched deeper into the unknown, his mind filling with questions as the path ahead grew darker. The neon vibrance of the previous flora faded, colors draining into a creeping monochrome. What once pulsed with life and brilliance now seemed swallowed by the ever-expanding shadows of the canopy. The eerie contrast felt unnatural, like something was draining the world's essence the further he walked.
"Everything looks bleak now. Plus, this hike is getting boring with no one to talk to," Alex muttered to himself, shifting the weight of the crossed swords on his back.
His thoughts drifted to them, to weapons he lost in the fight with Taurus, and the ones he'd just received. Xiro's blade, The Red Queen, could speak and more. A Guardian Armament. Weapons that didn't break, that responded to their wielder's call. A concept that had been burned into his mind since witnessing the raw power they possessed.
"Damn, it would be cool to have my own Guardian Armament. Weapons that don't break and are always at your command just sound so badass."
His musings were abruptly cut short by a creeping realization—something was wrong. The air around him felt heavier, pressing in like an invisible weight against his skin. He strained his ears, but the once ever-present sounds of crickets and toads had vanished. No rustling leaves. No bird calls. No wind. Nothing.
Dead silence.
He frowned, stepping forward onto a stray twig—only to hear nothing. Not the expected snap, not even a dull crunch. His breath hitched as he instinctively tried to speak, but no sound came from his lips.
"What's happening here? I can't hear anything, nor can I speak. Am I under a curse?"
His fingers brushed against his chin as he searched for an explanation, eyes scanning the dimming jungle. That's when he felt it—active mana in the air. The structure of the spell felt familiar in style, reminiscent of Taurus's Domain Art. That realization set his nerves ablaze. This wasn't just some passive enchantment; someone had set the stage for an ambush.
The attack came without warning.
A sharp impact struck his back, sending a dull shock through his body. He turned, barely catching a flash of movement before another force struck him across the brow. A splash of blood left his forehead, suspended in the still air like fireflies before vanishing into the darkness.
Instinct took over.
A third blur lunged from the void, aiming for his neck. But Alex was already moving. He twisted into a backflip, swinging his leg upward. His foot connected with the oncoming assailant, sending it hurtling into another unseen figure behind it. The two collided with a sickening thud against a nearby tree, though not a single sound followed.
Alex landed in a crouch, blades unsheathing in a smooth, practiced motion. His chest rose and fell as his body processed what had just happened.
"What the hell was that? And what hit me?"
His [Super Self Regen] activated, sealing the wound on his forehead, but leaving behind a thin, fresh scar. His gaze sharpened as he cast [Worldwide Detection], his mana igniting in a deep scarlet glow. The feeling of noisy spiritons began to feed Alex data. The jungle was suddenly alive with presence, grey silhouettes darting through the void like predators circling their prey.
"Still no sound when either of us made contact, which means these pussies are going to try more sneak attacks." He thought.
His grip tightened around his swords. His body thrummed with adrenaline as he traced the erratic, high-speed movement of his opponents.
Then, one of them stepped into the open.
The creature descended from the canopy, arm-wings flapping in a slow, heartbeat rhythm. A humanoid demon, her barely clothed body strapped with minimal garments, her maroon-knotted hair framing glowing teal eyes and a bat-like nose. Her pinkish leathery skin had purplish tints along her stomach—softer areas that matched the inside of her palms.
And then, she spoke.
But not aloud.
Her voice invaded his mind with a telepathic whisper.
"We are not cats, you ignorant half-breed. We are Murinas, daughters of the Eastern Sky. And you will be the next sacrifice in the name of our queen."
Alex scowled. Not only had they stolen his voice, but now they were freely speaking into his mind? That alone pissed him off more than whatever bullshit they were rambling about.
"Fuck what you're talking about. Do you want this fade or not?"
A rush of bright red mana pulsed from his body, illuminating the darkened jungle like a bonfire. His power surged, raw and untamed, painting the area in an ominous glow.
The lead Murina hesitated—just for a moment. The unexpected rise in his magick, the sheer audacity of his reply, caught her off guard. But she quickly regained her composure, slowly gliding backward as she reentered the shadows of the canopy.
"I see why you stayed in the shadows with a face like that. You ready to die now?" Alex cast [Telepathy] right back at her, his tone dripping with mockery.
Her expression twisted into something ugly. "Is that a threat, you diluted half-breed? You will regret not taking my option for a quick death."
She snapped her wings open, ascending slightly. A signal.
The three other Murinas shifted, preparing for another assault. No words were exchanged, yet the tension in the air was thick, suffocating. The battle had truly begun.
The tension grew thicker with an oppressive weight as the four Murinas silently circled above, their blackened wings cutting through the damp, moonlit fog of the rainforest. The atmosphere pulsed with eerie energy as the demons began to shape potent concentrations of Yin Mana, sculpting it into jagged shards of violet light that shimmered with deadly intent. Each Murina leveled their aim, targeting Alex from different angles, forming a synchronized execution with their attacks.
Alex let out a low breath, his muscles tensing as he calculated his escape routes. "Damn, I was hoping they were going to rush in," he thought, a flicker of disappointment flashing across his features before the first shard hurtled toward him.
He twisted his body, dodging just as the projectile zipped past his face, slicing through the thick humidity with a whispering hiss. Another shard came from the left, then one from above. Alex moved like liquid, barely avoiding the deadly spikes of energy, his reflexes keeping him ahead of death by fractions of a second.
Then, the rainforest exploded.
One of the Yin Mana shards collided with a tree behind him, erupting into a violent burst of concussive force. The shockwave sent Alex off balance, forcing his feet to stumble across the uneven ground. A second explosion followed, and before he could fully recover, three shards slammed into his chest, detonating on impact. The force catapulted him backward, his body crashing through thick foliage before finally skidding across the dirt in a cloud of dust and debris.
Laughter rang through the trees, sharp and cruel.
"Hahahaha. Look, sisters, he's just a puff of bravado. A useless half-breed with no real strength. This will be easy," one of the Murina demons sneered, her voice laced with venomous amusement.
Alex groaned as he pushed himself up, rolling his shoulders before glancing down at his chest. His armor had taken the brunt of the damage, though his ribs ached from the blunt force. He exhaled sharply, shaking off the pain as he locked eyes with the airborne demons, their wings beating in a steady rhythm above him.
"That stung, but I can survive a lot more. Now, to pay them back in folds," he mused, reaching over his shoulder to slide one of his swords into its back holster.
His free hand stretched forward, fingers curling as he focused on gathering his mana. "Let's try this out."
Crackling energy surged around his palm as he attempted to form the spell. Tiny magiton clusters popped and sparked, struggling to stabilize into a usable form. His breathing deepened as he focused on the evocation, his will pressing against the flow of mana, but the spell refused to take shape.
"Damnit. I can't get [Electric Mana Arts: Lightning Dance] to work. I think I still need to chant first for that one."
The Murinas cackled, their laughter thick with amusement. The sparks of power they had sensed from Alex earlier now seemed like a fluke—a pathetic, floundering effort.
"A hopeless weakling too stupid to notice that in our domain, mana controllers are locked under a silenced curse," one of the demons taunted, her fanged grin stretching unnaturally wide. "You will not be permitted to chant here, nor speak. For the very air belongs to our queen, The Silent Siren."
The realization hit Alex like a slow-moving dagger. A silencing curse. That explained why his spell failed. He clenched his jaw as the demons gathered more shards of Yin Mana, preparing their next barrage. There was no time to dwell—he had to move.
As the deadly projectiles launched toward him once more, Alex bolted into the rainforest, weaving between the thick trunks of ancient trees. The demon squad pursued, their barrages relentless. Shards detonated against the bark, tearing holes into the foliage as Alex moved with increasing speed, using the environment to shield himself. He leaped from branch to branch, his movements becoming sharper, more controlled.
The Murinas hesitated. Their prey had vanished from sight, but the rapid shifts in wind pressure signaled that he was still near. They hovered in place, scanning their surroundings. Then, in unison, they activated [Echo Location].
A pulse of unseen soundwaves rippled through the forest, feeding the demons detailed information about every disturbance, every movement—except it was too slow.
[Worldwide Detection] warned Alex the moment he was marked. That was his cue.
Exploding from a treetop, he moved at hypersonic speeds, twin swords gleaming like streaks of ruby lightning. His first target had no time to react. He plunged one blade deep into the demon's chest before swinging the second sword in a clean arc, separating her head from her shoulders. Blackened blood sprayed through the air like a misted fan of burnt scarlet.
The severed head hadn't even left the air before Alex used the body as leverage, kicking off it and launching the head at another demon. The impact stunned it just as a razor-sharp blade carved through the night, following behind the improvised decoy, impaling both its skull and the head in front of it. The blade carried through, embedding itself into a distant tree, pinning them like grotesque trophies.
The last two demons barely had time to process the carnage. The bright red flash of Alex's attacks had blinded them for a split second, just long enough for him to close the distance.
The third Murina shrieked, realizing its doom too late. Alex's sword moved in a blur, slashing through its wings, then its arms. Limbs fell like dead leaves, the demon's face twisted in horror as realization set in before its head lolled forward, life already stolen away.
The final demon recovered just as its [Echo Location] gave it fresh data—Alex was gone. But the moment it looked up, its fate was sealed.
Alex plummeted from above, his body spinning like a drill, his heel glowing with condensed force. The downward axe kick connected, sending the demon hurtling toward the floor. The impact was catastrophic—a crater formed upon collision, cracking the forest floor beneath them.
The Murina gasped, twitching from the pain, its broken body struggling to move. A final shadow loomed over it.
Then, a blade fell.
The sword embedded itself into the demon's skull, silencing it forever. Alex landed shortly after, standing over the carnage he had wrought, his breath steady, his eyes cold.
The rainforest was silent once more.
The final Murina Demon fell, and the jungle's oppressive silence shattered. A flood of sound returned—the rustling of enormous leaves, the distant calls of creatures unseen, the rhythmic hum of an environment teeming with life yet unnervingly alien as before. The air, thick with the scent of iron and damp earth, carried the weight of something sinister. The surreal flora pulsed faintly, as if breathing, their twisted, bioluminescent forms reclaiming the space now absent of immediate carnage.
A grin split Alex's face as he exhaled, stretching his shoulders. "I can talk again? Fuck yes!"
He cast a glance around the battlefield, scanning the debris, the remnants of his fallen foes. His gaze locked onto the glint of his second sword, embedded in the ruptured tree a few meters away. With fluid grace, he leaped from the crater, his white hair billowing as he landed beside the weapon.
Plucking the blade from the tree, he sighed. "I really need to master [Chant-Less Cast]. I still struggle to use Xi's Blessings consistently. If only it worked like [Chant Reduction]."
His mind wandered through his past battles, thinking of the difference between magick that flowed without a word and the cumbersome ritual of incantation. Every second counted in a fight—his enemies rarely granted him the courtesy of preparation.
As he stood, sword in hand, an odd sensation rippled through his being. A tingle, sharp and electric, surged from the depths of his Soul Core, spiraling outward in a cascade of unseen force. The sensation climaxed at his fingertips before fading into a gentle tickle as if the very essence of his spirit had momentarily brushed against something vast and unknowable.
"The hell was that?" he muttered, flexing his fingers. The sensation was gone as quickly as it had come, leaving only questions in its wake.
Before he could dwell further, the space around him shifted. A sound—soft yet unmistakably present—danced into his ears. It was a voice, smooth as silk, flowing like a melody that refused to be forgotten. Then came a giggle, light and effortless, teasing the edge of his senses before forming words that dripped with amusement.
"To defeat four Duke-Class demons so swiftly is truly impressive, mortal child of Infernia."
Alex's instincts flared. He spun, expecting an ambush, but the true threat had already wrapped around him in unseen tendrils. A thick, heavy mist began to rise from the mutilated corpses of the Murina Demons. It poured from their gaping wounds, a deep crimson vapor infused with raw mana. The mist twisted and coalesced, moving with unnatural purpose, forming a spiraling mass of pulsating energy. A grotesque ballet of gore and sorcery took shape before his eyes.
The mass compressed, condensing into a figure—a woman-like entity with two elegantly curved horns. A sickly sweet scent filled the air as the mist coiled and condensed. It moved with unnatural precision, wrapping around itself, twisting, shaping. And then—eyes. Piercing. Crimson. Alive. The swirling mist seeped into her being, sinking into her skin until nothing remained but her solid form. Her presence was undeniable, her disdain palpable. Her skin, a shade of dark lavender, bore patches of crystalline growth—sanguine mana crystals that shimmered as they formed an elegant dress, flowing with ethereal grace. They mirrored the mana crystals that adorned her crown and large, bat-like ear lobes.
"I've never seen a descendant of the Scarlet Wolves achieve so much magickal power," she mused, her tone laced with curiosity and quiet authority. "Not even here in Infernia has one risen to such heights. And for you to hail from the mortal plane... it merits more questions."
Alex's grip on his swords tightened. His stance steadied, his eyes locked onto the woman. Instinctively, he activated [Enhanced Scan], attempting to probe her power, but the moment he did, a force unlike any other clamped down upon his senses. It was as if her mana signature itself denied his intrusion, an unseen wall standing impenetrable against his skill.
The woman tilted her head, an amused smirk playing on her lips. "You there, mortal child of Infernia, are all Tengu as strong as you?"
Alex's gaze remained steady. "How'd you know I was a Tengu?"
A melodious chuckle escaped her lips, rich with amusement. "Hahaha. Is that a serious question? Your mana signature is laced with the scent of hellfire. Only the Scarlet Wolves of Infernia command it to such a degree that it stains their very essence. And those mongrels are one of the Tengu ancestors."
The words struck something deep within Alex. "Scarlet Wolves?" The mention of them stirred memories—fragments of conversations with his father rushing to the forefront of his mind.
"Didn't Pops say his father was from a pack of Scarlet Wolves or something?"
The image of Shukaku Zo's red ears and tail sharpened in his thoughts, the puzzle pieces slotting into place.
"What is your name, mortal child?" the woman asked, her eyes gleaming with unspoken knowledge.
"Alex Zo, of the Mikazuki Clan."
She gave a nod, her expression unreadable. "Well, Mr. Zo, you stand before the Queen of the Eastern Sky. I am Whitty Huton of the Ars Goetia. And I don't like repeating myself... So answer me, are all Tengu as strong as you?"
Her words came with something else—an invisible force, a suffocating pressure that bore down upon the land itself. The rainforest trembled, the trees groaning as their roots clawed at the earth in silent agony. Even the sky seemed to darken as if cowering beneath the weight of her power. The sheer magnitude of her presence sent ripples through reality, warping the very air Alex breathed.
Yet, despite the overwhelming force pressing against him, Alex remained standing. His eyes burned a deep crimson, the glow of his mana intensifying as he resisted. Thoughts swirled within him, the realization dawning that he and I were more alike in origin than he had ever considered.
"Honestly, I don't know," Alex admitted, his voice unwavering. "I haven't been around other Tengu since I was a child."
Whitty observed him, scrutinizing the invisible layers of mana coiling around his form. A slow grin crept across her lips, but there was no warmth in it—only a cruel and insatiable hunger for entertainment.
"Then show me what you are capable of, Tengu," she purred. "You'll be facing one of the Cardinal Kings of Infernia. Entertain me before you perish."
Her wings snapped open—black, leathery, vast—and then came the storm. Mana surged outward in an unrelenting tide, an explosion of pure, destructive force. The very planet beneath them convulsed in protest, its core unable to contain the pressure. The ground cracked. The sky twisted. The land ruptured into cataclysmic upheaval. Then, with an earsplitting roar, the planet detonated. The air began to swiftly rise in temperature as the very lands screamed in protest.
A burst of unimaginable heat and energy consumed everything.
Alex barely had time to react. His body moved on instinct, escaping the splintering land, only for the force of the explosion to engulf him. Fire and light swallowed his vision, and for the first time in the trial, true danger bared its fangs.
Within moments, the entire planet was torn asunder, reduced to nothing more than colossal shards of debris and continent-sized land masses, now drifting aimlessly through the void. The blood-red sky that once loomed above was no more, shattered alongside the atmosphere itself. In its place, the infinite abyss of space stretched outward, swallowing all in a deafening silence. The broken remains of the world were now framed by the distant glow of scattered stars, but their dim light brought little comfort. There was no telling if anything had survived beyond this graveyard of stone and ruin.
Yet, amidst the chaos, beneath a floating landmass that drifted beneath the looming figure of the Queen of Oriens, stood a single figure, unshaken.
Alex Zo remained with his stance firm, his presence defiant. A cocky smirk curled at the corner of his lips as if the destruction of an entire planet was little more than a minor inconvenience. His crimson eyes burned, swirling with a scarlet-colored mana, pulsing with his unyielding spirit. He rolled his shoulders, the casual pop of his neck breaking the eerie silence, before tilting his head up at Whitty Huton.
"So, you want this fade or nah?"
The sheer audacity of his words was almost laughable, yet undeniable in its weight. He had not only survived the obliteration of the planet but still had the gall to taunt one of Infernia's Cardinal Kings.
Whitty's eyes narrowed, intrigued yet unimpressed. This mortal child had defied expectations, and perhaps that was worth something. Still, his boldness required tempering. Without a word, she lifted her palm, the space around it bending as a swirl of Wind Mana began to gather at its center. The air itself trembled under her command, shaping into a concentrated sphere of raw atmospheric pressure.
The very essence of the winds howled within the sphere, an orange-tinted mist infesting the growing mass like oil spreading through water. The power within it churned, unstable yet absolute, as if the heavens themselves were kneeling before her call. The weight of her presence grew heavier, pressing down on the floating debris, making even the drifting remains of the shattered planet tremble.
Her voice, like a whispered tempest, carried the spell into existence.
"Creation of the Heavens, Superior [Wind Mana Arts: Sky Palace]!"
The sphere erupted outward, expanding at an exponential rate, devouring the void in its path. What was once empty space was now reborn, molded by her will. A planetary-sized construct formed, a proto-atmosphere surrounding the remaining landmasses as they began to realign, orbiting an artificial core made entirely of Wind Mana.
The vast expanse of open sky returned, clouds birthing from the newly forged heavens, rolling over the floating archipelagos of jungle-covered terrain. A world reborn in an instant, not through science or time, but through the absolute dominion of magick.
She had forged the battlefield herself.
The Queen of the Eastern Sky had effortlessly created her stage.
And the battle with Alex Zo was only beginning.
[End of Chapter]
[1] Year Five.