Five years ago, on that fateful day, Mae and I were engrossed in a game with our mother when an unexpected interruption shook us to our core.
A deafening explosion ripped through our yard, causing our humble abode to tremble violently.
Amidst the chaos, our mother's quick reflexes saved us from certain death.
As we caught our breath, we saw our mother gazing up at the sky in horror. It was then that we saw it - a demon, hovering menacingly above us, responsible for the terrifying blast that had nearly claimed our lives.
The sight was enough to send shivers down our spines.
"Sean! Take Mae to a safe place!"
Mother commanded, her voice laced with fear and urgency.
The air was thick with tension as the demon stood before them, poised for attack. In a flash, our mother grabbed a sword and rushed forward to meet the demon head-on.
Mae and I watched from a safe distance as the fight unfolded before them.
Our mother was clearly in the lead, using her speed and agility to her advantage. But there was something strange about the demon's fighting style.
It remained calm and collected, waiting for the right moment to strike.
And when that moment came, it was like nothing we've ever seen. The demon launched a devastating attack that even Mother couldn't react to.
We watched in horror as our mother was being pushed back, struggling to keep our footing against the demon's strength.
It was a battle of speed versus strength, and Mother was clearly outmatched.
But Mother refused to give up, fighting with every ounce of her being.
The demon may have held the advantage in strength and technique, but Mother had something even more powerful on her side.
The air crackled with energy as the two combatants faced off.
They were both equally strong, and their mere presence alone was enough to make the surroundings burst.
The demon was a formidable foe, but my mother was a skilled warrior, and she had been fighting it for what felt like hours.
As the battle raged on, Mae and I could feel our strength waning. We knew we couldn't hold back any longer, and at any moment, we would pass out.
Suddenly, Mae started to grab my arms and cry. I tried to comfort her and calm her down, but it was no use. We were both at our breaking point.
Mother seemed to notice our current situation and lowered her presence.
This gave the demon a chance of winning, and it seized the opportunity. It performed an ultimate technique that could kill all of us in one breath.
But mother didn't let it happen.
She performed one of her original techniques that caused an end to their battle.
As they launched their techniques at each other, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.
It was as if the moon and earth were clashing together.
The aura when their techniques met was indescribable, and in the midst of it all, our house was completely wiped out. The place we were hiding almost gave up, but Mother saw this coming and had made an advance preparation to protect us.
Just as Mother's technique was about to fall, she managed to perform another attack that held the demon's technique.
And then, that technique burst.
The whole city was filled with light and Mother's massive aura. The demon was also affected by it, and with this technique, Mother successfully managed to surpass the demon's technique which was capable of destroying an entire country in one move.
Single-handedly.
I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed. It was like something straight out of a novel.
Just when it seemed like the fight was over, the second burst came out of nowhere. But this time, there was no damage to the surroundings and it only made a loud sound.
As the dust settled, it became clear that the battle had ended. However, the demon and mother were nowhere to be found.
They had disappeared without a trace.
As I looked around, trying to make sense of what had just happened, I couldn't help but remember the words that Mother had spoken to me just before unleashing the second burst.
"If it's you, I know you can do it, son. Take care of Mae for me,"
She said in a warm tone.
With a heavy heart, I realized that it was now up to me to take care of my sister and carry on my mother's legacy.
~
~
I can't still forget her last voice, I miss her. But still, why am I suddenly dreaming about this, why do my eyes feel teary, did I successfully ascend to Ethereal?
"-ean!"
A voice called out my name, jolting myself back to reality.
As I opened my eyes, I saw Beira, her gaze fixed upon me, a look of concern etched on her face.
Sean could tell that she was worried, yet she looked incredibly cute with her furrowed brows and pouting lips.
As I looked around, I realized that the darkness had enveloped us completely.
The only thing that shone bright was Beira, glowing and shiny. I couldn't help but wonder where she had sent us to.
"Where is this? Where did you send me to? Are we in Ethereal right now?"
I asked perplexed.
Beira turned her gaze towards me, her expression annoyed.
"Don't ask too many questions, it's annoying. We were in Ethereal, but from the looks of it, my portal seems to have sent us to a very huge cave or something like that, I think."
I was amazed by how she could see in the dark, and I couldn't help but ask.
"You can see? Is it because of that divine eye or whatever it's called?"
"It's a spirit eye, idiot! I'll let you borrow my aura. Focus it on your eyes."
Beira snapped back.
Having that said, I once again obeyed Her Majesty Beira and did as she will.
Moments later after learning night vision view, I found myself transported to a strange location - a place I had never seen before.
It was chaotic and disorganized, much like my sister's room. As I looked around, my eyes widened in amazement.
This is how spirits view the world.
But my moment of wonder was quickly interrupted by Beira's sudden behavior.
"Someone is coming here. Quick, hide!"
She whispered urgently.
Beira's hand shot out and grabbed my shoulder, pulling me behind a large stone. I followed her lead, crouching down beside her as we waited in silence.
It wasn't long before we sensed a presence approaching.
Beira's eyes narrowed as three humans came into view. One of them was armed, but the others looked relatively unremarkable.
We watched as they approached a massive door, which appeared to be their destination. I was about to step out from our hiding place, but Beira's hand stopped me.
"Wait a moment, Sean,"
She whispered.
"What's wrong?"
I asked, confused.
She leaned in close to me and spoke in a hushed tone.
"This is not a cave. Looking at that door, it looks like we've been transported to a dungeon. I sense a strong aura behind that door. That's where this dungeon's strongest demon is waiting."
My heart raced as I realized the danger we were in.
Beira's words sent a shiver down my spine. I couldn't help but worry about the three unknown strangers in danger.
I desperately wanted to help and warn them about the strong demon lurking behind them, but Beira's grip on my shoulder tightened, preventing me from moving.
"What are you doing?! Now that I know those three are in danger, how can I sit here and do nothing?!"
I exclaimed, my voice shaking with fear.
Beira's expression turned grave as she warned me to keep my voice down.
"They'll hear us. We should observe first and find out what kind of demon is resting there. But if it doesn't look good, we'll help them."
Though I was hesitant, I had no choice but to agree to Beira's suggestion. As much as I valued my life, I couldn't bear the thought of leaving those strangers to their fate.
I couldn't risk my life for some unknown strangers without knowing what we were up against first.