The world of darkness disappeared from my eyes as I felt a nudge to my side. One of my eyelids fluttered open to see Lucet poking me gently on my arm. I grabbed her wrist and sat up onto the wood-floored cart.
Lucet blushed ever so slightly while staring at our hands, I don't even want to imagine what was going on through her mind. Wha-? Its still pitch black outside with the few twinkling stars far off in the heavens.
(''Why did you wake me up Lucet? It better be a good reason. And I am telling you in advance that there is no cuddling to be going on!'')
(''Aww you really read my mind. Well that was the primary reason for waking you up-'') I don't know what I should feel at this point.
(''Secondary reason is that, we are surrounded by more Sand Serpents! Tee Hee'') What? No we aren't-
SSsssssss
SSsssssss
(''AHHHH'') Shit we really are surrounded! What the hell is this?
(''Why haven't you killed them, Lucet? They might break the cart and kill us!'')
What the hell is Lucet thinking leaving the serpents to slither around. Even in this situation a wide smile was plastered across her face, outlined by her luscious red lips. Hey eyes glistened like gemstone from the light emanating through out the cart. A small firestone lamp was lit in the corner of the cart, its light dancing across the surfaces.
(''Well~ I can't use my light magic since its dark outside. Come on Abby, you should've thought about that.'') I refuse to believe that this goddess loses all of her power potential at night. I faintly remember pillars of light impailing Void along with screams of agony echoing through the foggy land.
(''You are lying, I know you annihilated Void and saved me, there is no way you can't fight during the night.'')
(''Alright you got me. The real reason I didn't kill them is because this opportunity is too good to pass up. It is pitch black out here which will give you the opportunity to grow more accustomed to your frin as well as atmospheric frin.'')
That is…very nice of her. She must've been aware of my feelings of futility, though I don't know how she could sense it. Someone as dense as her being able to read the room? It's a shock to me.
Six giant serpents circled our cart getting ready to pounce on us. The way Sand Serpents eat their prey in the desert is by sneaking up on the target and jumping on them. Their sheer weight could crush just about anyone leaving them in a soggy puddle of blood. During the day time light bounces off of them in the same way it does on sand, creating a camouflage effect. It's rare to see so many in the span of a few hours, let alone travelling in bunches. The monster encyclopaedia contains hundreds of interesting facts about them.
Sand flung towards from the slithering tails, creating a smoke screen from which one spit acidic venom. It barely missed my head, hitting the ground and melting through the stone. That is one of their most lethal attacks.
I stood up on the shaking cart then jumped onto the cold sand with a thud. Pages flew open revealing texts which I had written. Shadow magic will be the only type that is effective right now as there is no nature to sap on. No roots for miles meaning that my Nature magic wouldn't work.
The darkness hovered all around, I could feel the frin particles moving to enter my core and be utilised. A glossy darkness corrupted the skin on my arms as a black crown formed around my head. This is what I learned from battling Void, and in comparison…you are nothing but a stepping stone!
My feet picked up pace onto the uneven terrain. Each foot hold gave out and filtered down toward the pit between dunes. I needed something more solid to stand on, something that could follow my every movement right as I reached in to attack.
Changing forms into the shadow puddle wouldn't work, in the form I am not tangible so I can't strike back. On top of that changing between forms takes a few seconds. What about shadow platforms? Theoretically since there is darkness everywhere it should work.
Think. Frin is an extension of my being, something that exists everywhere. Let it guide me and move towards the path that is necessary. My lungs filled up with the chilly air, scraping its way down. I closed my eyes and imagined the foot holds.
I can see! My eyes are closed but I can see clearly. The different colours signify different frin particles. Yellow particles clumped close to each other, resembling the giant serpents. Motes of gold formed an ocean of static frin which could lose shape with a step of the foot. But this wasn't enough, I had to visualise shadow frin to a point I can accurately create foot holds.
Take frin and condense it, in the same way I was to create a sphere. Imagine a circular thin panel that was composed purely of frin.
My feet moved on their own forward along the uneven sand. Slowly with every new step I started elevating along with the ground which was becoming more stable by the second. I did it! The absence of light strained my eyes slightly after fluttering them open. I could clearly see the platforms reaching up to the moving serpents. I've got a chance now!
I picked up my pace and leaped, sword in hand at the great beast. It shook its body violently trying to unhook my blade from its thick skin. With both hands lodged into the beast I had a good enough chance of not being flung onto the endless sand dunes. But one issue has arised, something that cannot be overlooked.
My sword wasn't enough to cut through it. I need something that could sever its head cleanly with one strike. A longer sword wouldn't work since I would have to create it to be just as thick as it long in order for it to not snap.
I wriggled my bladed arms free of the serpent and backed off towards the cart. These shadow panels are quite useful, I am sure I could come up with more applications for these in the future. Like a shield or even a transportation device to carry multiple people. Shit. No time to think about that!
Something that can pierce is a start. (''Shadow Garden!'') Thousands of spikes shot from thin air to impale each serpent. Just as quickly as they stabbed through they retracted into nothingness. Blood trickled from the new holes, painting the sandy skin a deep crimson.
Still not enough, shit. These spikes were too thin to make any real damage, all it managed to do was agitate the serpents who now have picked up pace.
I twisted my head back at Lucet who was scribbling in her note while occasionally lifting her head up towards me. To the front of the cart, Alia was tending to the horses, making sure they didn't run or get killed on accident.
(''Ghh'') A pool of acidic venom grazed my arm, burning my skin slightly, not enough to do any real harm though. I picked up my speed and tumbled to dodge another slimy bolt of acid. The sizzle of the stone filled my ear. I struggled to gulp down after imagining what it could do to my bone.
Dozens of spikes shot forward creating footholds and objects onto which I can grapple on to. My heart was beating harder and faster than ever before, is this what growth feels like? (''Haha. Woooo'') Every cell shook in my body from the ecstasy. My shirt fluttered in the wind as I picked up more pace. The crown wrapped around my head disintegrated and its shards flew over the serpents.
Closing my eyes I could see the colour filled dotted world spread around me. The pure yellow particles on the serpents were no more. Small shadow shards had dug themselves in between the grooves on its skin. Perfect!
(''Die'')
Spikes grew from point blank range into the beasts. My eyes fluttered open revealing the skewered snakes wriggling violently. I could see the tips sticking out from their sides, leaking more blood onto the already dirtied skin. Yet this isn't enough.
The Sand Serpents grew weary, delaying their attacks in order to heal from my wounds. Their hissing was starting to grow more annoying. They've even started shaking their rattle like tails.
(''Lucet, what can I do to win? My attacks aren't inflicting enough damage!'')
She peered over from her notebook and smiled at me, almost as if she was waiting for me to ask her.
(''I assume you know about the realm of creation. That's how you created your swords and crown right? I need you to create a medium ranged weapon.'')
Of course. Why didn't I think of that? The realm of creation was one of the biggest tools of spell creation.
(''Thank you Lucet, you are a lifesaver. Literally.'')
(''It's no problem at all deary!'')
(''Buy me some time Lucet, this might take a bit.'')
(''Anything for you dear.'')