"Alright! Now that we've rested a bit, we can continue!" Sothis declared, punching a fist into his palm.
My body felt a little lighter and stronger, so the break was definitely worth it. I felt like whatever trial it was would be a cakewalk.
Sothis walked over the river, and I followed suit. We walked through the plains like before until Sothis started running, "Let's race to Mother real quick! Ready. Set. GO!" Sothis suggested, giving me no time to react.
He intentionally said it fast to catch me off guard, "Wait up!"
He was fast! But in the time I've been here, I managed to get much faster than before. I was barely keeping up. We hovered and jumped over mirrors and hills like it was nothing; it was actually kind of exhilarating. The walk took us maybe half an hour to complete last time; this time, it took us less than a minute.
I panted a little, reaching Mother while Sothis looked like he could keep going. My stamina definitely improved, but Sothis's was on another level.
"Was that the trial?" I asked, confused about how much easier that was compared to the others.
"Nah, that was just a little warm-up for you!" Sothis exclaimed, snapping his fingers.
As soon as his fingers snapped, my surroundings instantly warped in the blink of an eye.
'Just head down the stairs, and you'll find the void. Good luck, you're gonna need it.'
I was transported to a square dungeon-like room. The walls are made of an ominous dark stone brick. The ceiling was a nest for hanging chains, some even holding decaying skeletons. Hidden in the far corners of the large room were cages holding the corpses of unidentifiable creatures. Either they decayed beyond the point of recognition, or they were just animals never seen before, was something I couldn't tell. Chains protruded from the ceiling, and some black substance oozed from the cracks. The floor was also moist and cracked beyond belief. I felt disgusted by just standing on it. The cherry on top was the many skulls decorating the entire room. I could only recognize the human skulls; every other was unidentifiable.
I immediately felt the immense, unwelcoming pressure from all corners. There was what sounded like screaming coming from a distance on all sides. What I couldn't see too well were cages within the walls. As soon as I noticed that, I immediately felt the presence of onlookers.
"That feeling again…" I whispered to myself.
Well, in any case, I had to continue on. Just ahead was a large flight of stairs going down. It was nauseating just how many steps there were.
The stairs weren't any better as they were laced with more rotting corpses. As you can imagine, the smell was incredible!
The walls also contained cells, adding to the sense of being watched.
It took me a while to finally reach the bottom, and it was much like the first room, just a lot more grotesque, which I didn't even know was possible…
It was a much larger room, almost like a football field, with many more remains sprawled and splattered all across it. It was a warzone of a room, to say the least.
However, the most significant thing in the room was a giant creature held by extremely thick chains traveling into the walls from several angles. Its back was turned to me, so I couldn't tell from the front, but you could tell even from the back that it was absolutely built. Bulging muscles protruded from its back and arms. Its skin was light red as if it was covered in dried blood. There were stitches along its arms and back, which complemented the scarred and rough figure. Its lower body was that of a horse adorned with hooves and black fur.
It looked like it wore a mask from behind. Its other clothing was a torn and ragged brown skirt or shorts held up by a belt of skulls. It was a kind of weird combination of themes, in my opinion.
A bright red energy flowed like a river from the walls into the creature, clearly restraining him.
The closer I got, the higher the aura of the room became. It was like being at the bottom of the ocean. I also caught a glimpse of what looked like guillotines in the far corners facing the creature.
"Damn…" I whispered to myself, coming to a stopping point.
I stopped at least twenty feet from it, ensuring there was still some distance.
Now that we were closer, the height difference became surreal. Even while kneeling, the creature towered over me four times my height!
!!!
The room began shaking uncontrollably, catching me off guard, "Woah!"
Then, I noticed the slightest movement, and it seemed he finally noticed me. But it was far more intense than I initially thought.
"What t-the h-h-hell…!!!" The already intense pressure grew exponentially, bringing me down to my knees.
The room's gravity became so intense that I'd be crushed by its sheer pressure! Damn it!
There was only one other option!
— — — —
Engulf: Yes
Head: Yes
Torso: Yes
Right Arm: Yes
Left Arm: Yes
Right Leg: Yes
Left leg: Yes
ALL: Yes
— — — —
"YARGH!" I roared, managing to stand up against the pressure.
The energy dissipated.
The chains smashed to dust.
It's time.
Whatever happens, I know I won't be another one of the splattered remains in this room!
The giant twitched and slowly got up.
This guy must be three times taller than the shadow figure I fought!
My nerves dreaded what would come next, but I knew I had to keep calm.
He slowly turned around, allowing me to see his face- or rather, his mask. It was a stitched-up leather mask. It reminded me of a scarecrow with a maniacal smile or a jack-o-lantern.
He stared down at me, realizing that I was still standing against the intense pressure.
*BOOM* *BOOM*
"HYYYAAAAAAAAA!!!!" He roared, stomping his hooves on the ground.
"W-WO-WOAH!" I tripped and stumbled.
His earthquake-causing stomps and grotesque roar made me struggle a little bit more, even with my entire body engulfed.
WAIT!
*BOOM*
He punched straight downward, leaving me no choice but to jump back; it was mind-numbingly fast, too.
I may have gotten faster since meeting Sothis and now even more engulfed but he had little trouble keeping up with me, quickly removing his fist from the ground and bolting my way.
"SHIT!" I exclaimed right before, "AAGH!" Getting sent flying into the wall with a right hook.
He wasted no time and immediately made his way to follow up, "HYYAAAAA!"
It took mere moments for me to react, and within a fraction of that time, I could feel this next attack's immense power and strength. I may have been stuck in the wall, but I could still block, and I did.
"NNNNGHHHH!" I struggled, getting pushed further into the wall.
*CRACK*
"MMMGH!?" My forearm!? My bone broke!
Soon after, he found the proper leverage to pivot his punch to the right, sending me through multiple walls.
"AGHH!"
I was flung right into the opposite wall, almost knocked unconscious.
HEHE!
His rampage had decimated the walls, but suddenly, he stopped and looked at me from across the arena. Even with the mask, I could tell that he was enjoying himself.
But… There's no way I can get knocked out now!
A dark feeling grew in the pit of my stomach; it was bitter. It could've been anger or terror, but I couldn't let it take over me.
Stay Calm
Stay Calm
Stay Calm
Now, thinking about it, Sothis gave me that sudden warm-up right before entering this place. Maybe that could've been a hint, but it was only running. Considering the strength gap, that might be my best bet since constantly charging at him the same way would be stupid. I'll have to move as fast as possible to maneuver his attacks while looking for an opening.
Although I didn't feel it that much, the bones in my forearm are definitely broken.
Roughly ten seconds had passed, and he obviously hadn't had enough and had charged my way.
"GYYAA!" *WHOOSH*
*SMASH*
I jumped upward as soon as he smashed into the ground, decimating it and sending shockwaves throughout the room. I figured he'd do that, so I stayed close to the wall.
He saw through my plan to counter by jumping off the wall into him and, with his free hand, dug his palm into the wall.
I'd been able to react just in time, swerving my body and grabbing his forearm to climb. With this, an opening presented itself; there's no way I'd let it slip me by!
"HYYAA!" I roared, gaining footing on his arm and sprinting across it.
With as much force as I could put out, I swung a right hook straight to his jaw, causing a massive explosion.
*BOOM*
There was pushback, but unlike last time, I didn't get blown away that hard.
Wait…
"GYAAA!" He roared, pulling out his arm, dug into the ground, and grabbed me instantly.
"Huh!?"
It was so fast that I didn't even realize what had happened until he threw me again!
"OOF!"
My head ached, and my body shook. I could barely stand. My only option was to add more intensity to my flames. I could start to feel my body hit its limit as I coughed blood.
My only option was to try again!
*BOOM* *SMASH*
*SMASH* *CRACK* *BOOM*
Now, it was a game of cat and mouse. He never tried anything new besides charging at me, so all I did was dodge and avoid, looking for openings. The ground soon became increasingly difficult to traverse as he stomped and smashed his way through it. I had to adapt and use protruding platforms to jump over him as he flew into the walls.
I could tell by my constant dodging he was getting more agitated as the fight continued, but that was worse for me since my stamina was draining fast. I was getting slower until finally…
"Woah!?"
*SMASH*
I was grabbed by my foot and flung across the room again, but this time, it felt like the end. The sheer power that sent me was unmatched, and I was paralyzed after crashing.
"Aak.. ach…" My body twitched.
He sprinted to me, yanked me from within the large crevice of the wall, and threw me straight into the ground. He proceeded to continuously punch down. One after another, it seemed to be an endless barrage of them. My flame was losing its intensity.
*SMASH* *SMASH* *SMASH* *SMASH* *SMASH* *SMASH* *SMASH* *SMASH* *SMASH* *SMASH* SMASH* *SMASH* *SMASH *SMASH* *SMASH* *SMASH
This is the end. My body's becoming numb. I could almost feel myself ascending from my body.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? YOU JUST GONNA GIVE UP LIKE THAT!?
Who… is this? They have the same voice as me… So why do they sound like a completely different person?
For just a moment, I felt like giving up; the fire's intensity was waning…
I WON'T LET IT
A Strong Will Requires a Strong Heart
In the midst of near death, you still have the powerful will to live
__________
Constellation Progress:
— — — — — — — — —
3 of the 3 trials completed
___________
̷W̸e̸l̴c̴o̸m̸e̷ ̶B̸a̶c̸k̷ ̵C̵o̸m̸e̸t̷
̴
̸ ̶T̶h̴e̷ ̴P̷h̵e̶o̷n̴i̴x̷ ̵&̷ ̶K̷o̷m̸o̵t̴i̸s̸ ̷a̴r̶e̸ ̶n̴o̵w̴ ̸y̶o̷u̶r̴s̶ ̸t̴o̶ ̷k̷e̷e̵p̸.̴
Yet you're still missing something…
*BOOM*
A much more massive explosion expelled from me, pushing him back. I climbed out of the massive crater bloodied and broken, but I could now feel this aura of strength. I'll be able to go on for a little longer.
Instinctively, I sprinted and launched myself into his face, landing my palm on his mask and releasing what I could only describe as an immense beam of fire point-blank.
Of course, I was pushed back and landed safely on the ground. That all happened within an instant, and I wasn't in control of any of it; my body just moved on its own…
He just stood there after, almost defeated, and looked up. His entire body was scorched, but his mask stood on his face.
Slowly, he reached behind his back, and a purple aura came from his back as he pulled out something.
"What the…" I muttered in amazement.
He managed to pull out an enormous hammer made solely out of lightning! It was at least twice his height!
The murderous aura of the room increases along with the pressure tenfold. He charged me, but this time, he circled me and ran in multiple directions, trying to disorient me.
Right! Left! Left! Back! Front! Right!
Where is he gonna hi-RIGHT THERE!
He swung down with so much pressure and bloodlust that I could feel it from a mile away. I still wasn't fast or strong enough to do much to counter; my only option was to block!
"NNRGHH!"
"GYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
As my engulfed hands made contact with his hammer, a large wave of electricity dispersed from all sides of the hammer into every corner of the destroyed arena.
"AAAHHHHHHH!" I roared, pushing as hard against it as I could.
Getting my constellations had extended my body's limit, but now there was no going back. If he doesn't die first, this will end in my death!
The more we struggled, the deeper we'd be pushed underground.
"YYAHHHHHHH!"
"GYYAAAAAAA!"
*BOOOOOOM*
Our struggle was followed by an incredible explosion that decimated the entire arena.
There was silence. My body collapsed, and I could no longer move.
"Halt, Thor! That's enough!" Sothis declared, putting his hand up.
With the bit of consciousness I had left, I could see Sothis standing before me.
Is it over?