In the distance, at a point that even his enhanced vision couldn't make out clearly, Grey thought he saw a faint orange light, like a firework, created by someone or something.
"Could it be… that there's someone else in this area? No, it could also be some kind of monster that caused that fire."
Grey adjusted himself, took another bite of his meat, and squinted, trying to focus better.
"But it doesn't look like a natural flame, and it's too small to have been caused by a fight between nightmare creatures... Should I go investigate? It's at least a few kilometers away. I could get there in two or three days if I stick to a straight path and don't get sidetracked."
He grabbed the piece of meat that was already done and sat on the edge of the platform, surveying the possible routes he could take.
"It's quite far, and I'll probably run into some monsters. Besides, there's no guarantee that whatever caused that fire is still there."
The day moved on as Grey seriously considered whether it was worth following that trace of a possible person — perhaps another sleeper — and the chance of finding human life.
The day had passed quickly, and the afternoon was already approaching the forgotten coast. The sun was setting, and the silence, broken only by the wind, gave Grey plenty of time to think about his next moves.
The large number of deadly spiderwebs covering the entire crimson maze was a problem. Even if Odyssey could cut through them easily, one wrong move was all it would take to end up sliced.
The maze was vast and unpredictable. Many paths that seemed to lead to his destination could end in a dead-end wall, dangerously delaying his progress.
That's without counting the possible monsters that could appear and the inevitable fights he'd have to endure.
It was a dangerous journey, full of uncertainty, where one bad decision could condemn him to defeat, and eventually, to death.
Fortunately, he had received a powerful ascended-rank armor, which could at least withstand the sharp webs.
"But I can't stay here forever either. At some point, I'll have to move forward."
"At least I have a possible target if I go there. Whether human or monster, it doesn't change the fact that I need to get off this giant rock."
Grey looked at the sky and noticed the abnormal darkness approaching from afar, covering the sun and plunging the world into thick shadows.
"Damn."
A storm was coming.
...
The black sea churned violently, and the waves reached the cliff where Grey stood.
The storm seen in the distance hadn't yet arrived, but the black sea had already risen, flooding the endless expanse of the crimson maze.
"Tonight will be rough, huh?" Grey muttered. "At least I'll get some water to drink, though I'm not sure if it's drinkable."
He looked at the dark clouds approaching dangerously, sighed, shrugged, and smiled crookedly.
"It's that or die of dehydration, all or nothing... how unpleasant."
He raised his arm, and with a single thought, white sparks began to form a beautiful black-and-white spear.
Odyssey rose into the sky, as if challenging the raging storm, before slamming forcefully into the ground, embedding itself deep into the rock.
"Alright, try to get me out of here… if you can," Grey thought with defiance, staring at the storm that threatened to throw him into the black sea, where horrific creatures awaited.
...
The waves rose, crashing against the platform, trying to drag Grey into the treacherous waters filled with horrors.
He stood firm, gripping the shaft of his spear, while gazing at the dark clouds above with a serious, unperturbed expression.
"Let's see if you're drinkable," he thought, letting a flicker of doubt cross his mind before opening his mouth to let the rain touch his tongue and flow down his throat.
It was sweet and cold. His body, thirsty for water, absorbed it eagerly.
"Ah, refreshing."
Minutes passed, and Grey remained firm, not moving an inch, despite the constant battering of the sea waves.
He did nothing but drink the rainwater, standing still, unafraid of being thrown into the sea.
The noise of the storm faded from his mind, ignored, while his concentration remained calm. The sound of water hitting the cold rock didn't matter to him. The freezing wind whipping his body was repelled by the armor, keeping him warm despite being soaked.
Thankfully, the water couldn't penetrate the blue scales of his armor, keeping him dry and protected from the elements.
...
Hours flew by, and exhaustion slowly began to creep over Grey's body. Though he had withstood the harsh trials of the dream realm, the constant tension in his muscles had worn him down.
At some point, his hands began to bleed slightly, and his muscles protested against the continuous strain.
But none of that stopped Grey.
He stood firm, despite the pain and the sleep threatening to consume him as he endured the storm.
Finally, the black sea started to calm, and the clouds began to dissipate in the distance. Grey watched the soft glow of the warm sunlight on the horizon.
A deep sigh escaped his lips as his legs gave out, and his arms fell helplessly to his sides.
His back hit the cold rock, and his eyes closed from exhaustion. Many hours of effort had taken their toll.
His eyelids drooped involuntarily as his heart, once racing, began to settle. The small wounds on his palms slowly healed, though a few drops of blood still fell.
His muscles, both in his legs and arms, throbbed with pain, and his chest rose and fell in an irregular rhythm.
A whisper escaped his lips, accompanied by a soft smile that lit up his handsome but strained face.
"It's finally over."
At last, he let his worries fade away, and his eyelids closed, embracing the sweet sleep in a realm where no dreams existed, only the nightmares of harsh reality.
---
Several kilometers away, a woman advanced with a silver sword in hand, its simple hilt and sharp double-edged blade gleaming.
She was cutting through the fine webs blocking her path, making her way to an elevated area, just a few kilometers from her location.
At the corner of a coral road, a giant spider turned in her direction, its many eyes filled with crazed madness.
"Another one? Fine by me."
The woman smiled and pointed her sword at the creature as she prepared for battle.
"Come on, you disgusting, stinking thing."
****
Note: I really admire the creativity that novel authors have when it comes to stretching out a tension-filled scene. I liked how I wrote the storm part, but I couldn't really think of much more to add to the scene, even though I sometimes read things where a similar scene happens and it lasts for an entire chapter and part of another. I wish I could have that level of creativity, haha.