My face quickly changed. Not because there were people floating in the skies, not because they most likely represented Hatmandor. No, it was due to how they looked. 'Impossible!', I exclaimed in my mind. These people… creatures or whoever they were, they looked exactly like the Dark Traveller from my dreams. "Are you that shocked to see us, Human?", one of them asked.
I stood there stunned, unable to say anything. So many thoughts ran through my mind, I wasn't able to think straight anymore. "...What about Bramans?", I finally managed to squeeze out a question. "Bramans? They are already gone", he said before turning his head towards Eterians. "Did you really think that pity plan of yours would work? Did you think we would've left Bramans alive, if we didn't have countermeasures?", he asked.
The faces of all Eterians changed. They lost, and they knew the consequences of losing. Others looked at each other, and asked themselves, "Does that mean the war is over?". The hooded figure extended his hand, and flicked his finger. The Eterian leader got knocked to the ground, as if something heavy pressed on him. "I will take care of you later, we came here for much more pressing matter", he said and looked at me. 'Me? Do they know about the Dark Traveller?', I asked myself.
The hooded figure extended his hand, and pointed it at me. "Boom!", the ground where I used to stand, caved in. "Oh, you evaded that?", the hooded figure asked. This time though, he didn't extend his hand or made any motions with his fingers. Yet, I could still feel many attacks flying my way.
"Boom!, Boom!, Boom!, Boom!, Boom!...".
"So it wasn't a fluke, you can really sense the Formations", the hooded figure said. "Why are you attacking me? We are not enemies, as far as I'm aware. Moreover, I was planning to do your job", I said. Another hooded figure stepped forwards, "Watch your words Human. Master was only...". The so called master stopped him, "I didn't ask you to interfere". The other hooded figure bowed down, and backed away.
"You have something that belongs to us, Human. Return it, and we shall leave you alone", he said. I shook my head, "I have no idea what you're talking about. I never took anything from you. This is the first time we met". "Oh but you do", he replied, pointing at my arm. To be precise, at my right arm. 'Frosty?... Is that why you hid yourself? Are they the ones after you?', I asked myself.
The hooded figure continued, "You have no idea, do you Human? Why don't you come out, King of Glaciers... Belagor". I looked at my arm again, 'Belagor? King of Glaciers? Is that who you really are Frosty?', I thought. My arm lit up suddenly, and a voice reverberated through my mind. 'Run Nex!'. I took a step backwards, and disappeared. "Do you seriously think we will let you escape this time?", the hooded figure asked. I could feel something coming towards me, something big. Without hesitation, I used the Blink Formation and appeared dozens of metres away.
"BOOOM!", "Crumble!, Crumble!".
A whole area spanning about thirty metres in radius, simply collapsed inwards, creating a huge crater. As if a huge hammer smacked the earth in its face. 'This is bad', I thought without stopping. "How about I increase the pressure?", the hooded figure asked. I felt another Formation coming. No, it was a few of them. "BOOOM!, BOOOM!, BOOM!", "Crumble!, Crumble!". I was barely able to evade, as the ground received the beating of its lifetime. 'He is strong… This is no longer a realm of Inner Limits… This guy is at Primal Limits stage', I thought and ran at maximum speed. My goal was to get out of the North, leave towards Endrosian Empire.
"How about I make it more interesting?", the hooded figure said. Suddenly I felt danger all over me. Even though I used the Blink Formation to its fullest, I still felt danger. "BOOOM!, BOOOM!, BOOOM!, BOOOM!, BOOOM!, BOOOM!...". There was no way I could escape that kind of area of effect attack. "URGH!", I was caught up in one of those blasts, and got slammed into the ground… hard. Every bone in my body rattled, even though I used my Auras as well as the Formations placed on the armour, to protect myself.
"Nex!", I heard Fox's cry. I struggled to pick myself up, the blow was really too hard. "Stay… Stay back!", I shouted while lifting myself up to my feet. "I'm surprised you came out of this unscathed. Those Lizards made a great armour for you. Have they finally figured out the existence of Elements?", the hooded figure asked. I grabbed some medicine, and drank it immediately. 'This is hopeless, I can't escape this. This guy is simply too strong', I thought, and looked at my arm again.
Frosty was with me since the first time I visited the North. How could I abandon him?
"Do you think Belagor cares about you Human? He simply uses you as a shield. He doesn't care whether you die or not. The question is, why should you care?", the hooded figure asked. "He... is... my... friend!", I shouted and retreated again. "You know…"... "BOOOM!"... "I never understood you Humans..."... "BOOOM!"..."With your knowledge in Arts and the ability to use Auras… perhaps you'd have a chance at escaping. If you actually reached a higher stage"... "BOOOM!", "ARGH!". I was blasted into the ground once more.
"Ungh...Pat!", I couldn't pick myself up anymore. "I dealt with a few so called masters in those Arts. Nothing special in my opinion. You are a bit different Human, you seem to know more than the masters I faced in the past", the hooded figure said. I tried picking myself up again, but this time someone's hand helped me. "Fox?", I asked. "You are not alone, there are others who will help you in need", she said while looking back.
Crow, Harlin and others were there too. They stood there between me and the hooded figures. I shook my head, "It's… pointless… We can't… win… Leave, before he… attacks you as well". She shook her head and held onto me no matter what. "Your resistance will play no difference. But, if you are sick of your lives, I will grant you that request", the hooded figure said. Just as he was about to smash us into pieces, a voice travelled through the area.
"Wait!", Alicia screamed. "Hmm? The Elusive Grey Lizards left their little hideout?", the hooded figure asked. "Don't kill him. He tried to help you, he wanted to prevent Hydra from escaping. That must count for something", Alicia said. "As soon as Belagor is released, we will not take this matter any further", he replied. Alicia turned towards me. "Nex, give them what they want. There is no hope when you die, life matters the most". I was about to decline, when my arm glowed and a creature appeared in front of me.