Chereads / Once upon the Void / Chapter 28 - CHapter 28 | Of Monsters and Men

Chapter 28 - CHapter 28 | Of Monsters and Men

Marching sounds…] [drip..] [drip…]

[whispers] [murmuring]

The intrepid party pressed forward, their footsteps echoing through the dimly lit corridor. A sense of foreboding hung heavy in the air as they navigated the labyrinthine passageway. Every step brought them closer to their destination, yet the path seemed to stretch on endlessly. The hallway, bathed in an eerie glow, was a macabre sight to behold. Sinister roots, pulsating with a deep crimson hue, snaked their way across the walls, pillars, and even the ceiling. They seemed to writhe and twist, as if possessed by a malevolent force.

The very essence of life seemed to have been corrupted within these blood-red tendrils, casting an unsettling aura over the surroundings. Despite the unsettling nature of their surroundings, the party pressed on, their determination unwavering. Each member felt a mixture of trepidation and curiosity, their senses heightened by the otherworldly atmosphere. They knew that whatever lay at the end of this hallway was something sinister. 

"Feels like we're walking straight into a nightmare," Joize murmured, her eyes darting around the unsettling scene.

"I've seen some creepy places, but this one takes the cake," added Vincent, his voice barely a whisper.

The faint, ominous sound of blood droplets echoed through the air, emanating from the sinister roots that wrapped their way along the hallway. With each drop, a vivid crimson hue stained every corner, leaving a macabre trail in its wake. As they ventured along the winding path, a macabre spectacle unfolded before their eyes. The scene that lay before them was nothing short of horrifying, causing their stomachs to churn in revulsion. The putrid stench that permeated the air grew increasingly potent with each step they took, assaulting their senses and threatening to overpower their resolve.

"It can't get any creepier than this," said Nira, her voice tinged with a mix of disbelief and disgust.

"Just wait, Nira. I'm sure it can," Rhox replied, her tone dry with a hint of sarcasm

After what felt like an eternity, the group had finally navigated the labyrinthine corridors, their very essence tainted by an otherworldly malevolence. They arrived in a realm that defied mortal comprehension, a chamber that exuded an aura of ancient dread. It appeared to be a sanctum of regal power, a throne room that whispered secrets of forgotten empires and promises of unfathomable dominion. The very substance of flesh, akin to the sinewy tendrils of a thousand writhing serpents, ensnared the walls and pillars of the accursed throne room. 

"This place...it feels alive," murmured Vincent, his eyes wide with a mix of awe and horror.

"Alive and very, very angry," Joize added, trying to maintain her usual upbeat demeanor, but her voice betrayed her unease.

A grotesque tableau of crimson rivers, pulsating organs, and quivering sinew adorned every inch of the chamber, a macabre tapestry woven from the very essence of horror itself. Their eyes beheld the sinewy tendrils, akin to veins of some otherworldly creature, writhing and throbbing with an eerie vitality. These tendrils, like a macabre network of lifeblood, meandered and intertwined, ascending towards an unknown destination. And from their twisted depths, a torrential downpour of scarlet droplets cascaded, as if the very heavens wept crimson tears.

"This is beyond anything I've ever seen," said Brek, his voice shaking slightly. "Are we sure we should be here?"

Rhox quipped, "Well, it's not exactly a vacation spot, Brek. But we're here for a reason, and we stick to the plan."

Rhox's eyes followed the twisted path of a dark, vein-like tendril that crawled across the walls. The malevolent root seeped into every crevice, staining the ancient stones with its dark essence. With a sense of dread, her gaze rose, tracing the root's journey as it pierced the ceiling and disappeared into the unknown above. The sight was both mesmerizing and horrifying, a twisted mockery of nature.

[SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEECH!!]

From the darkness, an otherworldly wail echoed, tearing through the silence. The group, gripped by instinct, raised their weapons, eyes fixed on the ceiling. The tendrils writhed like veins of some ancient creature, filling the room with an eerie resonance.

"Ready yourselves!" Joize shouted. "Stay sharp, everyone!"

"We've got company!" Vincent added, steadying his aim.

With precision, they cocked their weapons, showing their determination and readiness.

[Thump!] [Thump!] [Thump!]

The room fell silent, except for the continuous thumping. Each beat echoed like a heart pounding in fear. Blood dripped from the ceiling, covering everything with a relentless intensity. The atmosphere grew heavy with doom, turning the room into a nightmarish scene.

"This place just keeps getting better and better," Rhox muttered sarcastically.

"Yeah, like a haunted house attraction from hell," Brek replied, trying to lighten the mood but failing to hide his unease.

In the dimly lit room, a heavy silence hung in the air. Time seemed to slow, each second filled with growing dread. Suddenly, a faint sound broke the stillness—a crack, like splitting stone. All eyes turned upward. The ceiling trembled, a jagged crevice forming. Slowly, the crack widened, revealing glimpses of something sinister.

A sickly green glow seeped through, casting eerie shadows. The air grew thick with malevolence, as if darkness had taken form above. Whispers of ancient horrors filled their minds, sanity teetering.

"What the hell is that?" Nira whispered.

"Whatever it is, it can't be good," Vincent replied, gripping his weapon tighter.

Rhox narrowed her eyes, focusing on the crack. The air crackled with anticipation. She saw a massive, monstrous eye, blood-red and fixated on them. Blood dripped from it, staining the ground with its presence.

Without a moment's hesitation, Rhox's heart pounded in her chest as she locked eyes with the creature's malevolent gaze. She knew, deep in her bones, that a battle with this abomination was unavoidable. Her synthetic arm, pulsating with power, tightened around her anti-material cannon, ready to unleash its devastating force upon the looming threat.

Rhox's resolve was unwavering. Without hesitation, she unleashed a barrage of relentless firepower upon the sinister eye. The cannon, an extension of her very being, roared to life from her synthetic arm, each shot echoing like thunder, piercing the darkness with fierce intent.

[BANG!] [BANG!] [BANG!]

[SPLAT!]

Her determination burned like a raging inferno, unyielding in her fight to vanquish the creature that threatened their very existence. A blood-curdling shriek pierced the air, followed by thunderous thuds reverberating from the ominous depths above. The cacophony grew in intensity, shaking the room's very foundations. Cracks spiderwebbed across the ceiling, sinister fractures in the fabric of reality. Then, in a cataclysmic crescendo, the ceiling surrendered to the relentless force, crashing down in a terrifying display of destruction.

[THUD!] [CRASH!] [THUD!]

The room trembled under the weight of impending doom. A sinister haze filled the air, suffocating the very breath of life. The acrid stench of destruction mingled with the taste of fear as smoke billowed from the shattered remnants that had crashed down. Shadows danced in the swirling mist, whispering secrets of chaos and despair. In this ominous shroud, the battle for survival would ignite, turning the room into a battleground between the forces of darkness and the desperate souls trapped within.

Suddenly, a cacophony of deep roars, bone-chilling screeches, and ear-splitting screams filled the room. The air grew heavy with an ominous presence as the terrifying sounds reverberated off the walls, sending shivers down the spines of all who listened. Each roar echoed like thunder, shaking the foundation of the room, while piercing screeches cut through the silence like a dagger.

"This is bad," Vincent muttered, his eyes darting around the room.

Vincent's sharp, piercing gaze locked onto the horrifying sight before him. From the depths of the darkness, a swarm of banshees emerged, crawling out of the gaping hole that loomed ominously in the ceiling. Their twisted forms contorted and writhed, their wailing cries piercing the air and sending shivers down Vincent's spine. Each banshee seemed to carry an aura of malevolent energy, their glowing eyes radiating a sinister light that cut through the darkness.

Vincent's eyes widened with a mix of terror and determination as he unleashed a barrage of bullets from his rifle. The deafening cracks echoed through the air, each shot a desperate attempt to fend off the banshees. "BANSHEES!" he shouted, his voice filled with a sense of urgency and warning. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat a thunderous reminder of the imminent danger that loomed above.

[BANG!] [BANG!] [SHREEEEK!!]

[BANG!] [BOOM!]

With a bone-chilling shriek, the banshees descended from the cracks in the ceiling, their ghostly figures twisting and contorting in grotesque shapes. Their piercing wails sliced through the night like a thousand tortured souls. The sight of them, ethereal yet terrifyingly real, sent waves of dread coursing through the group.

Vincent's fingers tightened around the cold metal of his weapon, his knuckles turning white as he fought against the rising tide of panic. The banshees, with their glowing eyes and razor-sharp claws, descended upon him with a ferocity that defied reason. Shadows danced around him, their sinister presence casting an eerie glow upon his sweat-soaked face. He felt a chill run down his spine, but he stood his ground, determined to protect his comrades."

[BANG!] [BANG!]

The group's hearts pounded with adrenaline as Vincent's exclamation snapped them into action. With weapons drawn, they unleashed a torrent of bullets towards the banshees emerging from the ominous crack overhead. The deafening roar of gunfire echoed through the room, each shot a desperate attempt to fend off the encroaching horrors.

[BANG!] [BANG!] [BOOM!]

[ZAP!]

[SCHREECH!!]

The banshees, their twisted forms contorted with malice, screeched in agony as the onslaught of bullets tore through their ethereal bodies. The air grew thick with the acrid stench of gunpowder and fear as the battle unfolded in a deadly dance of life and death. Shadows danced wildly on the walls, as if possessed by malevolent spirits, while the banshees' haunting screeches echoed through the chamber. The room was instantly transformed into a battlefield, the clash between mortals and monsters reaching a fever pitch.

Rhox and Joize found themselves on the opposite side of the room, separated from the rest of the group by the fallen debris and the beast that had descended from above. The room was eerily quiet, the silence punctuated only by the distant echoes of battle.

"Well, isn't this just perfect," Joize muttered with a wry smile, trying to lighten the mood despite the grim situation. "Separated from the group and vulnerable"

Rhox smirked, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of movement. "Just another day in paradise, huh?"

Before Joize could respond, Rhox's expression shifted, her eyes momentarily glazing over as a voice echoed in the depths of her mind, "This beast... is not the brood mother I have assigned to guard the relic... It has consumed the brood mother, taken its essence, power, and control over the beasts I had formed. A mysterious creature, beyond my control..."

A bone-chilling gust of wind enveloped Rhox, causing her skin to prickle with unease. The air seemed to carry an eerie presence, and then, a sinister whisper slithered into her ears, "Beware... the enemies of the void have pierced reality... enticed with your soul… the soul of such beast… is a good candidate… for such fuel…"

Rhox shivered involuntarily but quickly shook it off. Joize noticed the change in her demeanor and stepped closer, her concern evident. "What's wrong, Rhox? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Rhox shook her head, trying to shake off the lingering sense of dread. "It's nothing. Just... voices in my head, reminding me how screwed we are," she said, trying to keep her tone light but failing to mask the underlying tension.

Joize raised an eyebrow, a small smirk forming on her lips. "Voices, huh? Must be some pretty persuasive ones to get under your skin."

Rhox managed a weak chuckle. "Yeah, something like that. Just keep your guard up. There's more to this place than meets the eye."

Suddenly, a distant rumbling echoed through the chamber, and the ground beneath them trembled. The sound grew louder, more menacing, as if something massive was moving in the depths of the room. The fallen debris shifted slightly, and the faint glow of the room's eerie light cast long, wavering shadows on the walls.

"We need to find a way back to the others," Joize said, her voice steady but filled with urgency. "We can't handle whatever's coming on our own."

Rhox nodded, her mind racing with possibilities. "Agreed. But first, we need to figure out to stay on our wits in this area…a beast is on the prowl"

Joize's eyes widened slightly. "Then… it's probably a beast that controls the banshees right? A brood mother of some sort"

Rhox nodded grimly. "I don't think so… It's something... different. And it's dangerous."

Joize took a deep breath, steeling herself. "We should watch our surroundings, we won't know where the beast would be skulking about"

As they cautiously moved through the room, the eerie silence was occasionally broken by the faint whispers and distant screeches of unseen creatures. The atmosphere grew heavier with each step, the sense of impending doom looming over them. Rhox's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, her senses heightened as she tried to piece together the puzzle of the mysterious beast and its connection to the void.

"Do you think the others are okay?" Joize asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"They're tough. They'll hold their ground until we regroup," Rhox replied, her tone firm but laced with a hint of uncertainty. "We just need to focus on getting through this and finding them."

As they pressed on, the room seemed to stretch endlessly before them, the darkness closing in like a suffocating shroud. Rhox couldn't shake the feeling that something monumental was about to unfold, something that would test their limits and redefine their understanding of the void.

"Stay close," Rhox muttered, her grip tightening on her weapon. "And whatever happens, don't let your guard down."

Joize nodded, her determination unwavering. "We've come too far to back down now. Let's show this beast what we're made of."