The sky was crimson on an eternal afternoon, the sun was halfway set beyond the horizon. A red haze filled the air as the smell of blood filled my nostrils. The caw of legions of crows is the only sound that could be heard. Dry bones of various creatures lay strewn all over the floor as the crow themselves help pick whatever flesh remains on them.
The sound of cracking was audible as I walked towards a spire of blood and gore, watched by the crows with their dark black eyes. Countless lifeless bodies piled up in large numbers slowly decaying, from the most recent kill at the top to the dry bones at the bottom.
A figure sat on a throne of bone, adorned only with the beings that were adequate to entertain it. I gazed upon the huge figure filled with barbaric nature, his hand rested upon his throne on which his cheek rest on his fist. Scars cover his bulging body that was filled with tight muscles. An aura of mad slaughter permeates upon the figure stopping me to proceed further. His diabolic arms lay rested upon his side, an ever-changing weapon that had drank the blood of many. I felt its gaze upon me, as it hungered for my blood.
The figure slowly woke up, his crimson eyes stared upon me like a predator towards its prey. The crows stopped their cacophony, aware that their master was awake. His eyes opened wide, the red veins in them were visible from where I stood. He smiled in a maddened glee.
With a swift move, he plucked a bone from his throne and threw it at me. The bone flew faster than a bullet, it arrived in front of me without even a second. It punctured my forehead and pierced through my skull, it mushed up my brains and exited leaving a large hole on the back of my head. I started to fall down wide-eyed unable to comprehend what was happening.
"Hmphed...You are always no fun, Enthymema."
A deep voice echoed as the crows started flying. I watched them swirl in the sky creating a storm of black. I smiled and stepped my foot backward preventing me from falling down.
I stood straight once more and gazed onto the mad figure, the hole in my head was slowly regenerating, like a scene played in reverse the wound started disappearing.
The figure reached upon his arms as it slowly morphed into a bastard sword, he wielded it with a single arm unimpeded by the weight of the heavy blade. He jumped high up from his throne towards me, and with a downward swing, with a blow with all his strength plus the weight of the bastard sword, he chopped towards me, intending to cut me in half.
I smiled towards the figure, like looking at an old friend that you haven't seen in a very long while. I slowly reach my hand towards the blade that was quickly heading towards me.
The blade was now mere inches near my hand and moments later it would cut it in half along with my body but with a flash of light, a sigil of a mirror was projected in a circular pattern.
The force of the blow made the sigil tremble a little, the figure was not surprised that his blow was fended off, it only resulted in his smile growing even bigger.
The figure used the kickback from the collision of his arms with the sigil and made the distance from me. He transferred his arms towards his other hand as it morphed into a large bow that could be considered a ballista, and with a fluid motion, he drew the string. An arrow of hardened blood manifested, the crimson glimmer of its point glinted as it reflected the rays of the setting sun.
I exhaled and closed my eyes prepared for the incoming attack, my arms wide open as a large mirror manifested at my back a few moments later I opened my eyes with a glint of clear focus.
The figure released his hands from the bowstring as the crimson arrow flew towards me, I quickly joined my hands with a loud clap as the arrow arrived in front of me. I watched as the arrow that was quickly spinning bounced back towards its owner. The mirror behind me shattered, its purpose was over. The arrow impaled the figure on his abdomen making him fly towards a wall of bones. The crows that were swirling in the sky dispersed, some of the unfortunate ones fell down dead due to the collision of great powers. Black feathers started to slowly fall down like snow in early winter.
I watched as the arrow stopped lodged on the wall, the figure skewered between the two lay slump like a lifeless corpse. I sighed as I slowly made my way towards the figure.
After a few seconds, I arrived some distance from the figure. The figure still lay slump, the crimson arrow pierced his abdomen and lodged deep on the bone wall, the figure was not breathing and not moving at all.
"You are not a good actor Ferox."
But the figure still lay slump, unmoving, calm like the dead. I sighed as I called out once more
"No being suffering from heavy injury would still be clutching his weapon, ready to strike his opponent after putting his guard down."
After hearing my words, a few seconds passed and the figure started twitching. The figure soon laughed easily dislodging himself from the wall, the crimson arrow that was stuck in his abdomen transformed back into blood and entered his body, and after a few moments, the hole disappeared without leaving any scar. The figure then face me with its wide grin, his crimson eyes glowed as it stared at me.
"So, what might be the purpose of the great Enthymema in my domain? Even though you shouldn't be here at this time, No?"
"Cut the pleasantries Ferox. An unprecedented event has occurred and the being wants you to train the boy."
Ferox frowned hearing what I had just said.
"Now? Are you kidding me Enthymema? What do you want me to do, teach a chick that has not even developed its feathers how to fly. Do you even hear yourself talking?"
"The tyrant died and the prisoner is in a desperate situation. Currently, the Plains of Sleep is on the verge of disarray."
Ferox opened his eyes wide open.
"The tyrant? That pest died? How could that happen? Wasn't it blessed by the power of the prisoner and quite strong even in its infancy?"
"Even the being was shocked upon seeing what transpired. The boy had successfully brought an artifact and somehow it developed a will, enough to self-destruct and deal a large amount of damage towards the tyrant."
"But even so, that is not enough to destroy that pest. Countless cycles had been prematurely ended due to that pest, and even more when it reached its full potential."
"Yes it was so, but the girl has awakened into a Lucid dreamer and somehow reconnected his connection with the artifact "The Guide". It manifested its soul form and thoroughly destroyed the tyrant."
"So the prisoner is mad that his direct underling has died?"
"Yes, and very much so. The prisoner had already created the maelstrom and tried to escape countless times."
Ferox was stunned and stood in place, after a few minutes he put his hand towards his chin.
"But that would not warrant my presence to be called out early. Even so that "Bitch" would be called before me. Hmmm, how could that pest die so early? I still could not believe it..."
Ferox started to mumble. In contrast to his barbaric visage, he was thinking deeply.
"Ahem...So Ferox. I need you to teach the boy how to fight and use his power efficiently."
"Wait why now? Even though it pains me to say, wouldn't that "Bitch" be a better option to teach the boy first so that he can preserve his life longer?"
"You are right there Ferox, but you don't know what sort of predicament the boy is in now."
"Do tell me."
"The boy is trapped in the deepest part of the abyss, and a short distance away from the prisoner."
Ferox opened his eyes even wider, after a few moments, his face had a big smile. He laughed from the deepest part of his body, excitement filled his heart. The joy of facing the unknown which he almost had forgotten bubbled up from the surface.
"HAHAHA!!! Enthymema. I told you I should hunt that prisoner down and make it into one of my trophies but you did not listen at that time. You and the being. Look at what happened now! HAHAHAHA!!"
Ferox wiped the tears that were on the corner of his eyes after his fit of laughter
"Bring me to the boy and let us start this hunt."
In a dark cave, a boy with his back leaned towards the cave's wall was suddenly startled.
"Huhuhuhu, Hahahahaha, HAHAHAHAHA!!!"
"Um…En?"
"I AM NOT ENTHYMEMA BOY! TREMBLE IN FEAR AS THE GREAT FEROX HAS ARRIVED."