(Chapter 91 Wait of The World)
Tempest remained kneeling in place, frozen as the illusion of Furina dissolved into a cloud of smoke. His bloody hands trembled uncontrollably, the weight of what had just transpired sinking deep into his soul. Slowly, he raised both hands to his head, pressing them against his temples, his body wracked with the urge to release the scream of anguish building inside him.
His breath came in ragged gasps, chest heaving as he began to hyperventilate, each breath quicker and more desperate than the last. His body yearned to cry out in despair, to release the overwhelming flood of emotions, but he held it back. His throat tightened, refusing to give in to the raw, guttural scream that clawed its way to the surface. Instead, he stayed there, silent, his mind unraveling under the weight of it all, trapped in a storm of grief and disbelief.
"Augh, you're boooring~"
The woman's voice chimed in, dripping with disappointment but still laced with playful mockery.
"I was expecting more of a reaction... but you're just sitting there, brooding. How dull!"
She teased, her voice echoing through the room, taunting him as if his suffering was nothing more than entertainment to her.
'Calm down, Tempest, you need to slow your breathing. That wasn't the real Furina, I promise.'
Nahida's voice echoed softly in his mind, trying to soothe him.
'Still, it was strange how she acted... why would she do that?'
Her concern lingered as she tried to unravel the illusion's intent while guiding Tempest back from the brink of his despair.
'You need to move, Tempest. It's time to go.'
Nahida urged gently in his mind, her voice steady and reassuring.
Tempest, still trembling from the weight of the illusion, took a deep breath, steeling himself. His heart felt heavy, but he knew she was right. He had to press on.
"One day... these feelings I have for her will burst out, I promise you that."
Tempest said, his voice steady despite the turmoil within.
With a deep breath, he rose to his feet, his resolve hardening as he prepared to face whatever came next.
"You rat! You're ruining our game! MY GAME!"
The woman snarled, her voice dripping with fury. It was clear that Nahida had interfered, disrupting her twisted fun.
'Tempest, I've managed to break through, but I need more time. Just give me five minutes. I won't be able to communicate with you during that time, I have to focus on breaking the final barrier. Promise me you'll be okay.'
Her voice faded, leaving Tempest alone with his thoughts and the looming threat. Tempest clenched his fists, knowing he was on his own for the next crucial minutes.
"You think it's going to be that easy?"
The woman sighed, a mix of disappointment and amusement dancing in her voice.
"I was hoping to play a little game of hide and seek with you personally. It's been far too long since I indulged in that delight. But since you're trying to cheat, I suppose it's my right to bend the rules as well~"
Her tone shifted, laced with a playful menace, as she prepared to turn the tables on him in this twisted game.
Tempest didn't respond to her. He walked closer to the fifty-first door, his hand trembling slightly as he reached for the doorknob. Casting one final glance at Furina's room, his heart heavy with the lingering echoes of the illusion, he took a deep breath and exited into the unknown beyond.
The moment he stepped out of the room, the lights flickered ominously, bathing the hallway in a harsh, unsettling red glow. This was different, far more intense, and foreboding than the other rooms he had encountered.
"Well, my job here is done~ Good luck trying to survive this one. Spoilers: you won't survive~"
The woman's voice chimed, dripping with mockery before fading into an unsettling silence that left Tempest feeling more isolated than ever. The weight of her words hung heavy in the air as he prepared to face whatever lay ahead.
As usual, Tempest instinctively sought refuge in a nearby closet, the familiar action providing a fleeting sense of security. But this time, an unsettling intuition gnawed at his gut, urging him to abandon his hiding place and run. This wasn't like the others; the atmosphere was charged with a palpable danger that sent shivers down his spine.
Just then, a chilling sound pierced the air, a grating creak, reminiscent of metal grinding against rust. The eerie noise echoed through the dimly lit corridor, amplifying his sense of dread. Tempest's heart raced as he wrestled with the choice between hiding and fleeing, knowing that time was slipping away.
Tempest's eyes widened in horror as he caught sight of the creature lurking in the corner. Its eyes snapped open, gleaming with a predatory hunger, and its jaws gaped wide, exposing rows of razor-sharp teeth interspersed with unsettling pink eyes nestled within its maw. A bone-chilling roar erupted from the creature as it spotted Tempest, the sound reverberating through the air like an ominous warning.
Left with no choice, and feeling the instinctual pull of survival, Tempest dashed toward the closet, throwing himself inside just in time. He pressed himself against the back wall, heart pounding in his chest, praying that the darkness would conceal him from the monstrosity that hunted him. The fear coursed through his veins, and he held his breath, straining to hear any sign of the creature's movements outside.
Tempest jolted violently as the creature pounded against the closet door, its powerful strikes sending tremors through the wooden frame. The beast roared in a primal fury, each sound echoing like thunder in the confined space, as it desperately tried to force its way inside. With adrenaline surging through his veins, Tempest clutched the edges of the closet, straining every muscle to hold the door shut against the relentless assault.
As he peered through the narrow crack in the door, his blood ran cold at the sight of the multiple eyes peering back at him from the creature's gaping maw. Each eye blinked independently, filled with a malevolent intelligence that seemed to relish in his fear. The horrifying realization that this abomination was intent on devouring him only heightened the terror coursing through him, as he fought to keep his composure. He knew he couldn't let it in; he had to hold on just a little longer.
"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"
Tempest shouted in panic, desperation fueling his frantic efforts to keep the closet door shut against the creature's relentless assault. He could feel the wood creaking and splintering under the pressure, and his heart raced as he realized the door was cracking. With wide eyes, he faced the looming terror, feeling a sense of dread wash over him, nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
Suddenly, the creature's grotesque tendrils shot out, wrapping around him with a vice-like grip as its gaping maw opened wider, ready to devour him whole. Just when he thought all hope was lost, a radiant sigil of Dendro materialized in the air, illuminating the darkened room with a vibrant green light. A circle formed at the base of the creature, and thick vines erupted from the ground, ensnaring the monstrous being and holding it in place.
The creature roared in fury, thrashing against its restraints as Tempest stumbled backward, hitting the ground hard. He gasped for breath, his heart pounding in his chest, as he tried to comprehend the miracle that had saved him. The vines tightened around the creature, but it continued to fight, its monstrous eyes burning with rage as it struggled against the Dendro chains.
'RUN!'
Nahida shouted urgently in his mind, snapping Tempest back to reality. Without a second thought, he sprang to his feet and sprinted down the corridor, adrenaline surging through his veins as he raced from room to room. The sound of the creature breaking free from its restraints echoed ominously behind him, its roar growing louder and more ferocious with each passing moment.
"How much longer?!"
Tempest shouted breathlessly, his voice tinged with desperation as he navigated the chaotic corridors, knowing that the monstrous entity was hot on his heels. Each echoing roar served as a chilling reminder that the creature was relentless, and time was running out.
'A little more! Just keep running! Don't ever look back! I cannot do that again!'
Nahida shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. Tempest could feel the urgency in her tone, a reminder that he had to escape this nightmare. With every ounce of strength he had left, he pushed himself to run faster, forcing his legs to move despite the exhaustion threatening to pull him down.
As he continued running, Tempest suddenly found himself at a three-pathway corridor, uncertainty creeping in as he quickly weighed his options.
"HE'S MINE!"
The door on the left burst open, and the distorted figure of his Father emerged. With a roar, his Father charged forward, colliding with the creature in a desperate attempt to distract it, buying Tempest a fleeting moment of reprieve.
Seizing the opportunity, Tempest bolted down the center corridor, his heart racing as the echoes of their struggle reverberated in his ears.
"Finally, you did something good to me for once..."
Tempest muttered under his breath, a mix of relief and bitterness swirling within him as he continued to sprint down the corridor.
'It's ready! Just a few more seconds, Tempest!'
Nahida urged, her voice echoing in Tempest's mind, cutting through the chaos. He could feel her determination fueling his own, a lifeline amidst the overwhelming darkness that surrounded him.
As Tempest approached the fifty-eighth door, he quickly realized it was a dead end. His heart sank as he surveyed the scene before him, noting the eerie stillness that filled the air. On the wall, a single piece of paper was tacked up, taunting him with its message: "Cheaters don't win~"
Tempest spun around, his heart racing as he caught sight of the creature rapidly closing the distance. Its roar echoed through the corridor, a chilling sound that reverberated in his bones. What sent shivers down his spine was the horrifying sight of his Father's distorted form clinging to the creature's gaping maw. The remnants of his father's features were twisted and unrecognizable.
"YOUNG PASHA!"
Tempest shouted, desperation lacing his voice as the creature lunged forward, its jaws wide open, ready to engulf him. Just as he felt the rush of cold air from its maw, a vibrant green portal materialized behind him, shimmering with an otherworldly light. Vines surged from the portal, wrapping around him with a firm yet gentle grip. In an instant, they pulled him away from the clutches of the ravenous beast, yanking him to safety just as the creature snapped its jaws shut, missing him by mere inches.
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"Well, that was disappointing~ Still, it was fun while it lasted."
Columbina said, stretching her arms above her head as she rose from the couch. With one eye half-open, she cast a lingering glance at Tempest, who lay unconscious on the couch, his face pale and vulnerable. A smirk crept across her lips as she turned away, feeling a sense of satisfaction in the chaos she had orchestrated.
"I really hate cheaters~"
She added, her tone dripping with playful malice, echoing in the quiet room as she walked off, leaving behind the remnants of their twisted game.
"Hm?"
Columbina paused, her senses tingling as she heard a sound behind her. When she turned around to check, Tempest suddenly pounced on her, his hands gripping her neck with fierce determination. They tumbled to the ground in a chaotic struggle, Tempest's golden eyes glowing, blazing with fury as he sought vengeance for the nightmare she had inflicted upon him.
"Well, this is a surprise~"