Chapter 25: The Ensnaring Shadows
As Inarius scanned the enigmatic planet with his Eyes of Infinity, he remained oblivious to the insidious threat lurking beneath the surface. Sinister black tendrils resembling coiled serpents emerged from the ground, stealthily invading his heightened senses. Despite his ability to see in a full 360 degrees, even with his eyes wide open, this malevolent creature managed to bypass his defenses and inflict harm upon him. Another tentacle pierced his abdomen, causing excruciating pain to ripple through his body.
"Ah!! Ah!! Ah!!" Inarius cried out in agony, feeling his energy being drained by this parasitic entity. Paralyzed and unable to move, he became aware of Aurora's urgent warning echoing in his mind.
"[... WARNING! This entity, whatever it may be, is draining your energy, much like it is doing to the planet. You must stop it immediately, or you will be drained to the point of death]," urged the voice of Aurora.
Inarius let out a primal scream, his energy being siphoned away by the relentless tendrils. These sinister appendages resembled leeches, draining his life force while ravaging the planet itself. But as the ground trembled and quaked, a colossal creature slowly revealed itself. It resembled a towering spider, but possessed a horn protruding from its head. Without hesitation, the creature lunged at Inarius.
In a burst of electric arcs, Inarius unleashed a torrent of raw energy from his body, causing the ground to rupture and explode into an enormous crater. The mighty creature was flung several meters backward, but its hunger for the unprecedented energy Inarius possessed made it relentless. Undeterred, the creature regrouped and pounced once again, only to be met with Inarius conjuring a massive lightning spear, three times the size of his own form. With a fluid motion, he raised both hands into the air, propelling the spear towards the spider-like behemoth and successfully cleaving it in two equal halves. Exhausted, Inarius collapsed to the ground.
Before he could even catch his breath, Aurora's urgent voice echoed in his mind once more. "[...we have to get out of here now!]" Inarius questioned her, seeking an explanation for the urgency.
"[...That creature, though formidable with its parasitic abilities, could not have single-handedly reduced this planet to such desolation. It is not alone; more of its kind are coming]," Aurora warned. This planet, with its potential for life and the presence of a red dwarf star in its orbit, should have been teeming with vitality. Instead, these creatures were draining its energy, rendering it barren.
As Inarius prepared to leave, his eyes caught sight of something within the crater caused by his lightning blast during the battle. It was a black crystal, gleaming like obsidian and the size of a football. Curiosity piqued, he dusted off the debris and lifted it, feeling its weight in his hand. Just as he was about to request Aurora's assistance in scanning the crystal's properties, the ground rumbled once more. This time, a massive maw resembling an abyss materialized at his feet—a gaping worm-like maw, its countless rows of teeth revolving like a complex machine, presenting a terrifying spectacle.
Attempting to fly away, Inarius discovered his movement impeded by a viscous, glowing substance that ensnared his leg, its serpentine form gradually constricting around his body. Unleashing a lightning-formed sword, he swiftly severed his binding and blasted his way out of this forsaken planet. Before departing, he retrieved the lifeless body of the spider creature he had slain, holding it tightly, and cl
imbing the black crystal firmly in his hand. With determination, he escaped the clutches of the planet, leaving behind its desolate landscape.