The city was almost silent, save for the murmur of light emanating from the wall. It wasn't an ordinary wall, but a living tapestry of withered eyes gray creatures, their bodies crumbling like ash, their eyes glowing like burning stars. Each eye was connected to the city wall, each beam of light forming an impenetrable fortress.The city was almost silent, save for the murmur of light emanating from the wall. It wasn't an ordinary wall, but a living tapestry of withered eyes gray creatures, their bodies crumbling like ash, their eyes glowing like burning stars. Each eye was connected to the city wall, each beam of light forming an impenetrable fortress.
Haito sat on the edge of the observation platform, a wad of paper held to his mouth, pushing the half-burned sunlight away from his eyes. Around him, the five-person team moved silently, each with their tiny devices ready to gather light from the withered eyes if necessary.Haito sat on the edge of the observation platform, a wad of paper held to his mouth, pushing the half-burned sunlight away from his eyes. Around him, the five-person team moved silently, each with their tiny devices ready to gather light from the withered eyes if necessary.
"Is everything ready?" Mia asked, her fingers trembling slightly as she calibrated her light-absorbing device."Is everything ready?" Mia asked, her fingers trembling slightly as she calibrated her light-absorbing device.
"Yes… no time to waste. Every second wasted weakens the wall," Ryo said coldly, watching the gray horizon stretching beyond the city."Yes… no time to waste. Every second wasted weakens the wall," Ryo said coldly, watching the gray horizon stretching beyond the city.
Haito stood up, a pang of anxiety creeping into his heart, but he didn't show it. "Remember, don't go too far. The Wither can sense any light… any movement."Haito stood up, a pang of anxiety creeping into his heart, but he didn't show it. "Remember, don't go too far. The Wither can sense any light… any movement."
They stepped outside the wall, their feet sinking into the ash floating in the air, moving like a living thing. Every step forward felt like they were getting closer to their potential graves.They stepped outside the wall, their feet sinking into the ash floating in the air, moving like a living thing. Every step forward felt like they were getting closer to their potential graves.
"I see movement there!" Mia shouted, pointing to a distant gray vortex."I see movement there!" Mia shouted, pointing to a distant gray vortex.
The first Wither appeared, its body gray like ash, its shape shifting, its eyes glowing a terrifying white. The team froze.The first Wither appeared, its body gray like ash, its shape shifting, its eyes glowing a terrifying white. The team froze.
"Move! Now!" Haito yelled, shooting a faint light from his fingers."Move! Now!" Haito yelled, shooting a faint light from his fingers.
Ryo advanced with his staff, creating sparks of light that struck the Wither's eye, but the creature was faster than they expected, hurtling among them like a deadly gust of wind.Ryo advanced with his staff, creating sparks of light that struck the Wither's eye, but the creature was faster than they expected, hurtling among them like a deadly gust of wind.
A scream mingled with the gray storm… Yara, one of the team members, was pulled into a vortex of ash before anyone could react. A terrible silence.A scream mingled with the gray storm… Yara, one of the team members, was pulled into a vortex of ash before anyone could react. A terrible silence.
Haito felt a sharp sting in his right eye. A searing pain, as if the light he'd extracted from the withered ash was burning inside his retina.Haito felt a sharp sting in his right eye. A searing pain, as if the light he'd extracted from the withered ash was burning inside his retina.
"No… not now!" he muttered, trying to focus despite the pain."No… not now!" he muttered, trying to focus despite the pain.
They fought with all their might, gathering light wherever they could, but the withered ash wasn't gone. It reappeared, from every shadow, from every swirling ash, as if multiplying with every step they took.They fought with all their might, gathering light wherever they could, but the withered ash wasn't gone. It reappeared, from every shadow, from every swirling ash, as if multiplying with every step they took.
When they finally reached the wall, half the team was injured or missing, their wounds horrific. Exhausted and weary, Haito stumbled inside the glowing wall, lifted the bandage from his eye, and stood breathing heavily.When they finally reached the wall, half the team was injured or missing, their wounds horrific. Exhausted and weary, Haito stumbled inside the glowing wall, lifted the bandage from his eye, and stood breathing heavily.
"What is this… didn't I prepare myself?" he muttered to himself, seeing gray lines widen across his retina. The pain was unnatural, and a cold fear crept into his heart."What is this… didn't I prepare myself?" he muttered to himself, seeing gray lines widen across his retina. The pain was unnatural, and a cold fear crept into his heart.
He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to process what had happened. The wall, the withered ash… everything was more powerful than he'd imagined. Yet, he couldn't ignore the cry of curiosity within him. If the wall was built on these creatures… what lay beyond?He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to process what had happened. The wall, the withered ash… everything was more powerful than he'd imagined. Yet, he couldn't ignore the cry of curiosity within him. If the wall was built on these creatures… what lay beyond?
He pressed against his injured eye, a burning pain mingling with fear. But it was also an invitation to explore, something he had never experienced before.He pressed against his injured eye, a burning pain mingling with fear. But it was also an invitation to explore, something he had never experienced before.
Haito had crossed the wall today. And though regret and fear consumed him, he knew that turning back was no longer an option.Haito had crossed the wall today. And though regret and fear consumed him, he knew that turning back was no longer an option.
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Thank you for reading it. Please excuse any spelling mistakes, as I'm new here.