Morgath walked south through the ravaged landscapes of what was once Germany, the road stretching endlessly before him. The Earth had changed since the awakening of spiritual energy, a transformation so subtle yet profound that it marked a clear divide between the world he had known and the one that now existed. As he journeyed, the signs of this shift were everywhere, stark reminders of humanity's struggle to adapt to the new reality.
The first thing Morgath noticed was the absence of the elderly. The streets, once filled with people of all ages, now seemed to be missing entire generations. It wasn't that they had disappeared suddenly, but as the spiritual energy spread, those who were too old or frail to survive in this new reality and simply died off. It was a hard, brutal truth of the new world—only those strong enough to endure could survive.
Abandoned cars littered the highways, rusting hulks that spoke of a time when fuel shortages hadn't been a concern. Now, with no fuel left to power them, most vehicles had been left where they had stalled. Their owners had either walked away or perished. Morgath passed hundreds of these cars on his journey south, their windows shattered and interiors stripped of anything valuable. They were relics of a world that had collapsed almost overnight.
More buildings than it used to were in a state of decay, their walls crumbling as nature slowly reclaimed what had once been mankind's. Entire towns lay in ruin, some burned down, others simply abandoned, the inhabitants either dead or having fled to more secure places. The silence of these places was eerie, broken only by the occasional sound of wind whistling through shattered windows or the creak of rotting wood. Once in a while, Morgath would catch the sickly sweet stench of decay—rotting corpses, left where they had fallen, sometimes alone, other times in groups. It was a grim reminder that not everyone had been able to escape the chaos that had ensued after the awakening.
Morgath's expression remained impassive as he walked, his sharp senses ever alert for threats. The journey was long, but he moved swiftly, his enhanced body tireless. He knew that he was not alone in the world anymore—other humans had survived and adapted, but they were not his concern for now. His destination was the Sahara, where the next wish would soon spawn. His mission was clear, and he would let nothing distract him from it.
After weeks of travel, he finally approached the southern edge of Europe, his eyes set on the Gibraltar Strait. The narrow strip of water that separated Europe from Africa was all that stood between him and his destination. Standing on the rocky shore, he gazed out across the strait. The water was calm today, shimmering under the sun, but he knew it would not be an easy swim.
Morgath took a deep breath, checking his gear one last time. He had no intention of leaving it behind, but thanks to the repair spell he had mastered, he didn't need to worry about damage caused by water. Anything that happened to his weapons or his other equipment could be quickly fixed. Satisfied, he stepped into the water, the cold sea embracing him as he began to swim.
The swim itself was taxing, but nothing he couldn't handle. His powerful strokes propelled him through the water with ease, his body cutting through the waves. The sea stretched out endlessly around him, and for a moment, Morgath allowed himself to simply enjoy the rhythm of his movement. But the peace didn't last long.
He felt it before he saw it—a disturbance in the water, something large moving beneath the surface. Morgath's heart quickened as he scanned his surroundings, trying to pinpoint the source of the disturbance. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw it: a massive fish, its body cutting through the water like a torpedo, heading straight for him.
"Damn it," Morgath cursed in his mind.
The fish was huge, easily the size of a small boat, and from the way it was moving, it was clear that Morgath had been marked as prey. He knew he couldn't fight it—not here, in its element. He'd be at a massive disadvantage underwater, unable to use his swordsmanship effectively. His only option was to flee.
Morgath kicked harder, his muscles straining as he tried to put distance between himself and the creature. The fish was fast—faster than him—but not by much. He could feel it gaining on him, the water around him churning as the predator closed in. He didn't bother looking back; he could feel its presence, its hunger, like a weight pressing down on him. For a moment, he thought he might not make it.
Soon it closed the gap and attacked him, his protection spell defended him. Seeing that its attack didn't do anything, it gave up. It veered off, deciding that Morgath wasn't worth the effort. Perhaps it had expended too much energy already, or maybe it sensed that he wouldn't go down easily. Either way, it was a relief when the creature disappeared into the depths.
Breathing hard, Morgath pushed himself the rest of the way to the shore. When his feet finally touched solid ground, he dragged himself out of the water, collapsing onto the sand. His heart was still racing from the encounter, but at least he had made it.
He lay there for a few moments, catching his breath, before sitting up and shaking the water from his hair. His clothes and weapons were soaked, but a quick casting of the repair spell ensured that rust wouldn't show up. As the spell worked its magic, Morgath couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. It had been a good decision to master the repair spell before setting off.
As he stood and began walking inland, Morgath asked the system, "What the hell was that fish? Why was it so big?"
The system's familiar voice echoed in his mind. [Not only humans can cultivate. Animals have access to spiritual stones too. In fact, in the oceans, where humans have little influence, many creatures have begun to evolve at a rapid pace. The stones that fell into the seas were claimed by various species, and some of them are already high in the first rank. That fish you encountered had likely absorbed several spiritual stones.]
Morgath frowned. "How far can animals evolve? I don't see them mastering spells, because of their lack of intelligence."
[Animals by consuming enough spiritual stones to reach Rank 3 gain intelligence. By Rank 6, they can transform into human form.]
That revelation gave Morgath pause. He had known that spiritual energy affected everything, not just humans, but the idea of animals evolving to the point where they could take human form was unsettling. It was yet another reminder that the world was no longer what it used to be.
Weeks passed as Morgath traveled south, crossing through Morocco and finally into the vast, empty expanse of the Sahara. The desert was unforgiving, its endless dunes stretching out in every direction, but Morgath didn't mind the isolation. In fact, it suited him. There were no distractions here, no people, no creatures—just the endless sands and the occasional gust of wind.
He had reached the rough center of the desert when he decided to stop. The air was dry, the heat oppressive, but Morgath found a small outcropping of rock to provide some shelter. This was where the wish would spawn, or at least, this was where he believed it would appear. The system had hinted that the wish manifested in places of great challenge, and the center of the Sahara certainly fit that description.
While he waited, Morgath meditated, focusing on his comprehension of the death spell. The desert, though not a place of death in the same way as a graveyard or battle field, still offered a connection to that finality. Life was sparse here, and the overwhelming sense of emptiness seemed to enhance his focus.
By the time for wish to appear he got an idea what the incantation should mean, but he still didn't manage to translate it to true language.
"By shadow's breath and night's decree,
I summon death to come to thee.
Through veins and bone, let darkness creep,
To steal thy soul and silence sleep.
With whispered doom and final breath,
I bind thee now to fated death.
Let life depart, let blood run cold,
By ancient power, this fate unfold.
No light shall save, no shield shall stand,
Thy end is sealed by my command."