Shry was so close; just a couple more centimeters and he would've made it, but, just like every other time today, it seemed like the universe itself wanted him to fail.
Shry's legs split into three parts, the thigh, knee, and ankle, immediately causing Shry to fall down. Though this time... he wouldn't be getting back up.
"NOO-O-OOO!" Shry's distorted voice rang through the darkness.
Shry tried to get up, pushing against the dark void below him, but as he failed at doing so, he crashed back onto the ground and ended up being bounced back, like the ground had become a trampoline, putting him in a worse position.
With his body flat on the ground, Shry had to tilt his head up in order to look forward, at his parents specifically.
From below, Kanum and Shelt's figures looked so big and mighty, like he was looking at two great and powerful historical figures...
"PLLLEEE-AAASSEEE," Shry screamed, holding his eyes shut, almost as if he was praying, while tears began to flow down his cheeks again.
This realm didn't even allow Shry to see his parents properly, as his entire body, separated into numerous sections, continuously oscillated back and forth even though he's currently idle.
It was then, as Shry's vision was constantly being shifted, that Shry noticed that Kanum and Shelt's bodies had begun to change, drastically at that, as it only took less than 10 seconds to finish.
From a statue-like stature, Shelt's figure was the first to change, quickly followed up by Kanum. Both of their bodies, like a paper towel dropped in a tub of water, were quickly turned transparent, getting rid of all their distinguishing features, reducing them to clear crystals vaguely shaped like a human.
And as this transformation ended, just like the family Shry saw at the start of the search, a bright, defiant golden-orange glow began to emanate from Shelt and Kanum's chests.
Shry was terrified...
This was his last chance, a chance that nobody else gets, and yet...
He failed.
...
…
.
This was the end; there is no saving them anymore.
"AAAA-AAHHH," Shry's voice distorted as he screamed in defiance.
With all the willpower he could muster, Shry began to crawl, causing his arms to severely distort.
As Shry crawled, every part of his body's severed appendages was stretched apart like there were invisible strings holding them together as they constantly drifted in different directions.
"I WILL NOT GIVE UP." Whether it be by sheer willpower or a coincidence, Shry's voice was able to break through the distorted filter, yelling out in defiance.
Shry tried to raise his hand to reach his parents, but again, misfortune struck, and one of the segments swung in the worst direction, colliding with Shry's head.
"Argh!" again, Shry somehow bypassed the filter even though it was just a grunt.
The damage of the impact was close to none; it didn't even leave a red mark on Shry's face, but, because of how this realm works, it started a chain reaction, making him roll across the oscillating terrain.
Even as he rolled, Shry never took his eyes off his parents, still holding onto the slight ember of hope.
However, as he stopped rolling, he suddenly felt his body stiffen.
His body parts that were constantly moving also began to stop, and soon, slowly, they all retracted back to their normal positions.
All four of his limbs were the first to reconnect and solidify, leaving cracks from when they were disconnected.
The next to reconnect was his body, snapping together, but this time it wasn't just scars that were left behind because as it clicked into place, more cracks began to form starting from his chest.
Finally, it was his head's turn, which felt different from the rest, making Shry feel extremely uncomfortable and even painful at times.
Finally, since he entered this realm, Shry's body was whole again; however, this is not good news for him, because as soon as his body reformed, the same dark gray sheen Kanum and Shelt had begun spreading all throughout his body, freezing his current state.
...
His breathing stopped; everything that is supposed to function in the human body halted, and even the mind was dampened.
However, even with all of that, Shry still maintained his vision, as it stayed stuck in a position where he could only see his parents in the corner of his eyes.
This moment felt extremely long, as Shry continuously retaliated, trying to get even one of his fingers to move, though... no matter how powerful his thoughts were, it all just stayed in his mind, driving him insane.
(C'MON, DO SOMETHING, ANYTHING)
(I'VE ALREADY COME THIS FAR!)
(SOMEONE, PLEASE SAVE TH-)
Slowly, Shry's inner voice began to dip, spinning further and further into an abyss as his consciousness began to fade, not even being able to finish his thoughts.
Just like what happened to Shelt and Kanum, Shry's body began showing signs of transitioning to the next state, the presumed last state before his soul itself is completely wiped out of existence.
...
…
.
Finally, everything went quiet; it had been like that for a while, but as Shry entered, it was almost like his heartbeat, breathing, and even thoughts brought a modicum of life to this realm, where no living, breathing beings had ever been.
Shry was the first, the first to ever enter an active Slette and even survive long enough to experience this odd realm; however, this is the end of the road....
Or is it?
Colorless particles began to erupt from every crack along Shry's body.
The form of these colorless particles was a combination of a blob and spiky flame, as they continuously sprouted from Shry's body, and with its colorless essence, which could only be described as a fusion and separation of black and white, it completely dominated the space around it.
This feat is unprecedented because, not only is this realm unreachable by any human or even demi-gods, but also this space itself, in simple words, is the higher realm, so if anything could possibly go against it, that would mean that whatever it is that stood up against it is possibly on par or higher in strength.
Slowly, as more and more colorless particles departed from Shry's body, it began to form into rings surrounding Shry, seemingly protecting him. And even more amazingly, Shry's body, which was on the verge of entering the final stage before destruction, also began to regain the dark gray that colored his body.
It was like the influence of this realm was slowly being cut off, all thanks to this new mysterious force.
It was then that Shry's consciousness suddenly returned; even his vision was slowly coming back, and theoretically, if this new force were to be unobstructed, then Shry could possibly return his body back to normal.
"What is this? Where's Mom and Dad?" Shry's voice stopped distorting, presumably due to the influence of this colorless force.
Though Shry had regained his consciousness, he seemed to be having some complications with his eyesight. He can tell that his eyes were opened, and he sees some colors, but anywhere he looks, everything just looks like a jumble of hazy black and gray pixels.
Finally, the colorless particles and the rings it formed started to move, expanding into an orb that surrounded Shry's body and, subsequently, putting a halt to every single effect in this realm, including the odd-feeling floor.
...
Outside of the orb that surrounded Shry, the space in this realm began to stir, producing violent waves, rumbling as it formed shard appendages.
With an ominous energy emanating from it, the realm took action the next second, piercing through the orb to get to Shry.
*ZAAA-AAAKKK* A crash sounded, having its sound be distorted as both forces clashed.
Immediately, both opposing forces fought against the other, with Shry unaware as to what was going on.
It was then, as the colorless particles fought to protect him, that Shry's body began to regain movement, the worst thing that could possibly happen during this skirmish between two incomprehensible forces.
Because, ever since Shry had regained his thoughts, he had been brutishly demanding his body to move, so, as soon as he regained his mobility, like releasing a rubber band, Shry's left hand swung forward much stronger than he intended to, causing the segments of his arm to shift apart before it retracted, getting caught in the crossfire between the two unknown powers.
Instantly, Shry lost control of that arm, and soon, everything else followed, as the fine cracks along his body began to get worse, creating a sludge-like darkness as they opened up wider.
Now that the opposing force has an easy point of entry, the force within Shry's body began to get overwhelmed despite the power that it exuded when it first appeared.
And now, with the two forces clashing through him, Shry's body is now in a worse state than before, sending him into critical condition, as they terrorized his body, truly trying to rip his body apart this time, making sure that it stays permanent.
"Mom, Dad, please help me," Shry said in a whimpering voice, as fear finally began to sink in.
Almost like his call actually did something, Shry's vision suddenly cleared up, only just enough to see his parents...
Onto seeing his parents's last moments.
Black visible cracks, just like the ones around Shry's body, spread all throughout the two crystal figures's bodies, gathering at the still ethereal golden glow in the middle of their chests.
It was then that two horrific cracks sounded.
*Crak*
*CRICK*
Shelt and Kanum's unidentifiable crystal bodies croaked and shifted and eventually shattered with an eerie crack.
The light in the center of their chest is now exposed, facing against this incomprehensible force, a useless battle, but yet, at that moment, that light grew significantly brighter, temporarily warding off that force.
Both lights shone so bright, they could outshine the sun itself; however, like dark heavy clouds blocking out sunlight, the realm fought back, shrouding the two lights in a shell of shadow, dimming them...
More, and more, and more...
Until their lights were completely extinguished, wiping out everything that was left, leaving the space they were inhabiting empty.
"A—" Shry choked on his own words.
Again, after regaining so much hope, it was stripped away right in front of him, as he bore witness to the ending of two very precious lives.
Uncaring of the force infiltrating Shry's body while he was distracted, the colorless force within Shry fought relentlessly. Suddenly, this event, which should've brought Shry immeasurable physical pain, was reduced to nothing as it went up against the face of despair Shry now faced.
Slowly, although the force from within Shry had managed to return his body to its normal colors, albeit with the new thick cracks, a glow began to emanate from Shry's chest as well.
Like he has been strung up as a puppet, Shry's hands move on their own, forcing his body to form a T shape.
After that, Shry didn't even try to regain control; he just allowed that force to continue exerting its influence onto him.
Then it was his legs, pulling both to opposing ends and forming an upside-down V, before both legs were stretched out as far as they could naturally extend.
Finally, it was the head. And oddly enough, this body part was the one that put up the most resistance, as Shry tried to look away from what was in front of him.
With all that done, the realm's force took another strike; this time, it went directly to his core, displaying through outlines of ominous external tendrils, pointing their pointed ends at Shry's light.
Internally, as the hostile force from outside bombarded the light, the mysterious force that is within Shry actively provided defense, a clash between the inevitable and the defiant.
But yet, what's defiance without the will to sustain it?
Frozen and unmoving, the body of a child with an immensely bright future was desecrated as inky black cracks plagued his body, slowly eating away at him.
...
…
.
Finally, without even a last word, everything around them, buildings, furniture, street signs, and all kinds of miscellaneous items vanished, leaving Shry as the only thing in this distorted realm, like closing the curtains after a play.
A speck of light still shone where Shry's core was supposed to be, and on a closer inspection, there were still thousands of tiny dots lining the light that had been shrouded by this ink-like force.
One minute passed: the dots still remained, not faltering for even the slightest bit.
2 minutes pass: One dot disappears.
3 minutes pass: 2 dots disappear.
*Eeeeeiiiiiiiikk*
With an eerie ring, the realm drastically changed all of a sudden, flipping colors from black to white.