That na...
Seared itself into his brain like a brand.
"Does that na strike a chord in you?" The demon found pleasure in the bewildered look on that beautiful, expressionless face. Even as his voice began to break, as the ice froze its flesh.
Trembling, Moulin's eyes sharpened. "He will be avenged."
"Oh, he's not dead."
Crack! The creature's face started to crumble. The grotesque smile on its face did little to keep its flesh together. Bits of at and skin broke off.
He's not dead...
"Where is he?..." A voice, so low escaped Moulin while he barely restrained a desperate look. If Alsander were alive...
His blood boiled at the nurous possibilities his friend had experienced at the hands of these wretched creatures. "What did you do to him?"
"AHAHAHAHAHAHA! The heaven's darling is indeed a sentintal fool!" A mocking laugh resounded in the realm. It irked Moulin, but if he had to search for answers, he had to keep this demon alive. He had to know...
Unfortunately, even as his magic slowed its devouring, it cannot be undone. The demon seed to revel in Moulin's predicant, burning in rage and desperation.
A piercing roar filled the realm, making the youth flinch. Shifting his gaze, he saw the giant worm writhing helplessly underneath the golden lord's feet. Its thick body gave a final shudder before, limping lifelessly. A violent electric current continued to ravage its corpse. Endlessly torturing it even after death. Atop it, the golden-eyed man yanked his sword from the ss of scale and flesh on the worm's head before eting Moulin's eyes.
"What a monster..."
Moulin paused, turning back. The demon was already at death's door; its body breaking apart like a fragile sculpture. The formation was devouring him faster than he thought. Gripped in urgency, Moulin clenched his jaw. "Where is Alsander? What has your devilish cult done to him? Answer !"
The demon answered him with a laugh. His body toppled over. Head, breaking off its body, yet it continued to mock Moulin with a taunting grin.
"Don't… worry... Soon, you will... et."
The demon disintegrated into ash, and with a deafening rumble, the ice pillars collapsed.
"Ugh…" Moulin steadied himself, glaring murderously as the ashes scattered in the breeze. His heart pounded, unable to quell the emotions inside him. Damn it…
He heard a call and expressionlessly returned to Hadrian's side.
"We are trapped..." Moulin declared as they looked upwards, towards the cracks in the realm's sky.
Within it, one could witness the terrifying sight of huge worm-like bodies writhing into tight folds like a human brain. Their actions forcibly widened the cracks, causing the space to tremble in resistance. Moulin knew that it wouldn't take long for these things to co falling and engulf the entire realm.
"Trying to corner us towards the only exit possible…" Hadrian glanced at the dark portal of Gohtel in the distance.
"Can you not warp out of the realm?"
"I cannot. It seems they have already isolated the space while we were busy."
Moulin wanted to laugh. Their enemies had really laid out all their cards to trap them. Such complex traps should have equally dire consequences. Uldher…
They are running out of ti. Moulin shook off the thoughts in his head and raised his hands, concentrating his mana. "Perhaps, I can redirect the portal elsewhere… There is bound to be a trap waiting for us. If we have no choice…"
Silver eyes narrowed dangerously. "Might as well… escape."
A silver glow illuminated his whole body as he faced the portal. The air thrumd with his mana. Focusing his heart and mind towards weaving the magic formation, Moulin interrupted the portal's corrupted energy flow. It was the first ti he had ever applied a complex portal-altering enchantnt. Like jumping into a pool of black tar, it was difficult for him to move and breathe. Potent dark energy gripped his soul the more he tried to tamper with the portal.
"Can you do it?"
Sweat dripped from the youth's forehead as he forced a smile. He replied to Hadrian. "Please, who do you think I am?... Hadrian, take Snow and the relics in my study… We need to hurry…"
The golden lord gazed deeply at Moulin before heading towards the house. Soon enough, multiple roars filled the entire space. A sliver of fear began to climb up Moulin's spine.
The realm was littered with cracks, widening to offer entrance to giant, demonic worms. One would be trembling in fear, witnessing countless demonic creatures slithering through the cracks. Moulin tried not to shift his gaze elsewhere. Silver pupils glowing brightly, fighting specks of darkness trying to overtake his control.
His suffering was without results. Finally, he saw the portal flickering slightly, shifting towards a new view. Unfortunately, he could not fully determine the specific place. Whoosh! The portal glowed brightly, showing nothing but a glowing white wall.
The youth's heart thudded. Considering their predicant, this was the best he could do. The formation was too stubborn to hold. Sand slipping through his fingers.
"Hadrian!" He called.
In a few seconds, in the corner of his eye, he saw the man hurrying towards him, carrying a certain white furball. Snow was trembling, ears pulled back, and burying itself into Hadrian's arms. His frightened state mirrored Moulin's soul.
"I can't… hold on anymore…" The youth squeezed out. A line of bright red dripped from his nostril.
With his energy strained and soul exhausted, Moulin felt himself at the brink of unconsciousness. His body, once a calm temple, was burning within. He felt a strong arm wrap around his waist, pulling him close to a warm body.
A voice spoke to his ear. "Ready…"
Moulin nodded with a clenched jaw.
Crash!
The sky split, cracks spiderwebbed throughout the realm, and countless demonic worms forced themselves through, mouths' openings like endless dark tunnels. Their roars reverberated through the air, soil, and water. From each wound, more breaches tore open, and several monsters erged.
At the sa ti, Moulin felt his body weight lightened. The air whooshed through his ears as Hadrian swiftly carried him towards the portal. Heart pounding erratically, Moulin prayed that wherever they end up, no demon was waiting for them.
Or at least grant them a place to catch his breath…
He shut his eyes as he let go of the strain. The portal engulfed them both, unwelcoming and resistant. However, the pair broke through.
Gone was the noise, and countless thoughts filled the youth's mind. Was Na'El alright? He hadn't inspected the Arcan chamber for the last ti. And the forbidden scroll, he left it in his study. Everything in the realm should be destroyed now.
Splash!
Moulin's senses were assaulted by a sudden surge of water. His eyes were darting around him in panic. Surroundings dark and damp, his heart pounded through his ribcage.
Hadrian sensed the youth's terror and held him tight. Finding themselves subrged in a dark ocean. His strong legs quickly kicked, bringing their bodies towards the dim surface. Regaining his composure, Moulin followed Hadrian's movents, swimming upwards as his chest tightened from the lack of air.
He had the urge to conjure a glowing crystal, but instantly scrapped the thought. The light would attract every abomination nestling within this dark abyss.
"Pwah!" Both of them inhaled a lungful of air while they struggled to keep afloat.
"H-Hadrian… Snow-" Moulin panted as he turned to the man. He kept kicking his legs to keep floating.
In an instant, he found Snow pitifully climbing up on the top of Hadrian's golden head. Hadrian winced as the fox, tremblingly, held on to his head desperately. Feeling those claws dig into his skin, Hadrian frowned, "He's frightened."
"What… Hah… else?" Moulin panted, craning his neck up as the saltwater splashed against his cheeks.
Where are we?
A vast dark ocean under thick gloomy skies filled Moulin's vision. They were surrounded by endless, fierce waters trying to separate the pair. Confusion and shock filled his eyes.
Here they were, floating helplessly like a piece of wood.
'What in the world…' Moulin's pupils trembled. It was fortunate that his magic worked, but he didn't expect it to transport them into the middle of the ocean?!
"Land…"
Interrupted by Hadrian's voice, Moulin turned to where Hadrian was facing. His silver eyes caught sight of a humongous dark mountain in the distance. Moulin's gaze brightened slightly. It didn't seem that far, and they can probably make it in an hour or two…
Without another word, the pair and a little wet fox began swimming towards the island. Waves threatened to swallow them whole, and currents tried to drag them to the depths.
…..
Haah… Cough… Haah…
Lying on the black sand on his elbows, the youth felt the saltiness fill his throat and burn his nose. He lay on the rocky surface in front of him, while facing Hadrian, who was panting while facing the sky. The man's large body sank slightly into the sand, so he shifted a bit towards the big rocks.
Shifting his eyes, Moulin saw Snow, damp as a rag, and looking like a wet squirrel, sitting on the rock beside Hadrian. The little fox hurriedly shook his body until he looked like a white porcupine.
Lowering his gaze while trying to steady his breath, Moulin tried to keep his eyes open. He felt his arms and legs going limp in exhaustion. But once again, he underestimated the stamina and strength of maeruthans in this world. To think he could swim several kiloters in monster-infested waters… It was a feat he would never try again.
Turning back to the ocean, Moulin abruptly froze.
Beyond the dark shore, sharp ribbed fins tore through the waves. Dozens of them circled the sea in front of him. Creatures waiting to strike. Moulin had wondered why he felt like sothing was watching them while they swam. But seeing that they weren't attacked… were they just curious or afraid?
"Haah…" The youth exhaled loudly and raked a hand through his damp hair. 'I'm exhausted.'
"Ugh…"
A groan sliced through the youth's thoughts. He turned and saw Hadrian bowed against the sand, forehead creased in strain and veins bulging from his temples. He looked to be in excruciating pain, pulsing with uneven breaths and muscles locked. A low, strangled groan tore out of him as he folded forward.
"H-Hadrian…" Moulin stuttered as he hurriedly went to his knees beside the man.
"Don't… …"
Moulin held his shoulders in confusion. "What-"
"Don't touch !" Those glaring golden eyes filled Moulin's vision; scorching golden pools contaminated by dark splotches of dark red. The veins on his handso face grew dark and prominent like roots spreading. Hadrian's face is contorted in unconcealed rage, bare and vicious like he were ready to tear Moulin into pieces. He continued to groan as though trying to resist sothing that was forcing its way out from inside him.
'Not good…' Moulin fell back as his heart pounded. The miasma in this place is too strong and is affecting him. The results of their purification sessions have disintegrated into nothing, and there was no place they could escape from this miasma-filled island.
The best he could do is try to rein in the corruption and seal it temporarily. But it would result in Hadrian lashing out if the seal finally breaks…
Fists clenched, Moulin strongly pushed Hadrian to lie down and straddle his waist. Hadrian lets out a guttural sound as he seized Moulin's arms, but the youth slaps them away with all his might before placing his trembling hands on the man's firm chest. The mana he wanted to hide bursts from his palms, spreading relentlessly into Hadrian's body.
As though a knife was plunged into his chest, Hadrian's eyes turned bloodshot, and he wrapped his hands around Moulin's arms in a crushing grip as rage filled his eyes. The youth's breath hitched, feeling his bones being crushed.
Despite the pain, Moulin leaned his forehead against Hadrian's. His slender brows furrowed in worry. "Stay with …"
Within the dark island brimming with potent malevolence, a tiny and faint drop of pured energy existed briefly. The magic seal was slightly difficult to enforce with only Moulin's spirit, but its divinity will help quell the darkness inside longer if needed.
Finally, the noises stopped. The world held its breath.
…
With one last push, the seal was enforced.
The golden-haired man fell unconscious under Moulin's body. When his face was finally in a state of relief and calm, Moulin released a long sigh as his shoulders trembled.
Thank goodness…
It was faster than he thought.
Perhaps it was the golden lineage helping Hadrian's case. The young man lay on top of Hadrian's chest wearily. Long silver lashes quivered as he closed his eyes.
Earlier, his heart lurched as though it no longer rembered how to beat at the sight of suffering and wrath in Hadrian's face.
But now… he was so tired he just wanted to sleep forever…
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