"What? How? Why would they do that? We're all participants!" My voice rose in disbelief.
"That's a long story," he replied. "But, there must be something significant in the shadow skill that the system gave Light mages a countermeasure."
I couldn't help but feel amazed at how thoroughly he had grasped the situation.
So he's not just a man with the face at all.
"Well then I guess we're no use to you here," I said with a shrug, "I haven't learnt any of those skills anyway."
I glancing at Garis as a signal to leave. He nodded and we began to prepare to leave.
"Wait, Kira," Tahlia interrupted with full of disappointment face.
"It looks like you're also new here," Caleb's voice stopped us in our tracks. "We can help you while you figure out your skills."
"Yes, Kira, please stay!" Tahlia held onto my arm.
"I'm going to hunt more mutants," Caleb said as he headed toward the tent's exit followed by Arlen.
"Kira, he's never done that for any shadow before!" Tahlia exclaimed like she's also surprised. "And he's right, we can help you!"
I hesitated and weighing my options. Staying with these participants even without officially forming a team didn't seem like a bad idea at all.
I glanced at Garis. He met my gaze and nodded in quiet agreement.
"Alright," I said finally, turning back to Tahlia. Her face lit up with relief and excitement.
"So, what do we do now?" I asked while staring at the mutant bodies scattered across the table.
"We're trying to figure out how to extract the antidote from the mutants' bodies."
"How long have you been here?" Garis asked.
"We've been here for six months. Over time, more participants have arrived from other dimensional Earths. I guess Altiris keeps sending more because too many don't make it."
"Have you tried looking for the antidote elsewhere? Maybe it's hidden somewhere?" I suggested.
"We explored for three months," Tahlia sighed. "But there's no sign of it. It's difficult to go further without a Mecha in our party. It's just the three of us."
"What does a Mecha do?"
"They build gear, transportation, and other equipment. But most Mechas go solo. If they join a team, they usually end up building exclusively for that team which means they can't sell anything in the store. Still some team up for protection but we just haven't found any yet."
"You guys must be exhausted from the portal," Tahlia stopped her explanation. "Get some rest."
As I turned to find a corner to rest, Tahlia stopped mid-step like she's remembering something. "Oh, Kira! Also, there's an item in the shop, a drug, that makes us… you know, stop needing to do basic things. And next you just need to buy virtual food from the store as well."
I rolled my eyes internally.
Ah, that misunderstanding again.
"Thanks. That's… surprisingly helpful."
"Yeah, go get it! You too, Old Man," Tahlia added.
I couldn't help but smile faintly. Maybe things would be okay after all. All I needed now was just a quick nap.
***
As I went deep into sleep, I found myself by the purple lake again. Maerion was seated on a rock.
"Do I have to see you every time I go to sleep, Maerion?" I am very annoyed now.
Khe. Khe. Khe.
Kira, Kira, Kira.
What do you think you're doing? Don't be lazy. Collect more Fragments of Chaos.
"What are they, really?" I pressed.
They're exactly what their name suggests!
Maerion grin widening.
I frowned. "Fine. Just give me the Shadow Infusion skill then."
Maerion's laughter grew shrill.
You barely have any fragments, and now you're asking for more skills?
Kira, Kira, Kira.
Collect ten more Fragments of Chaos, and I'll grant you the skill.
"Fair enough," I muttered.
Thinking back to how frustrating it had been to learn Shadow Summoning, doing what Maerion suggested sounded far easier.
Suddenly a booming voice echoed through the void. It was full with power and I felt it ripple through me like a shockwave.
MAERION!
My knees buckled as overwhelming weakness washed over me. It was as if my very essence was being drained.
Maerion froze, its usual confidence replaced with unease.
With a flick of its finger, I jolted awake.
***
I slumped on the shabby couch in the tent. My head throbbed.
"Kira! Your nose is bleeding!" Garis asking full with worry.
I touched my face then my fingers coming away sticky with blood.
What just happened?
Before I could dwell on it, Caleb walked in carrying a pile of mutant bodies. He dropped them unceremoniously onto the table. "Clear the table and examine these," he instructed.
I sat up while still clutching my nose.
Caleb noticed me and raised an eyebrow. "What happened to you?" he asked with dead tone.
I shook my head and stood up, "What can I do to help?" I asked.
Without a word, Caleb grabbed my wrist and led me outside the tent.
I saw his face from aside and couldn't help but admired his face.
"You can help here," he said while tossing me forward.
I stumbled but turned to face him.
"Show me your skills."
For a moment, I thought he was going to help with my bleeding nose.
I was dead wrong.
[Skill Activated: Shadow Summoning]
[Skill Activated: Tendril Strike]
"Interesting," Caleb said as if he was studying me intently. "Your Shadow Summoning is somehow different."
"Elaborate, please?"
Instead of answering, he lunged at me without warning.
[Skill Activated: Veil of Darkness]
My skill activated instinctively deflecting his attack. I pushed back and sending a Tendril Strike toward his leg but he cut off the shadow with a swift movement.
"ARE YOU CRAZY?" I yelled.
"KIRA!" Garis rushed out of the tent, his roots erupting from the ground to shield me.
"Trust him, Old Man!" Tahlia holding him back.
Garis hesitated but stopped, decided to watching the fight for now.
Caleb still run through me and cutting all of my tendril strikes. Each swing of his massive blade sent shockwaves rippling through the air.
This crazy bastard kept coming at me.
"Don't holding back," he provoke.
"DON'T BE STUPID!" I growl back.
He was not only fast but incredibly strong. I could barely keep up and each move keep pushing me closer to my limit.
As he kept getting closer, I summoned every ounce of shadow I could muster. He suddenly lunged toward me and his massive blade slicing through the air.
"BLADE TEMPEST!" he shouted.
The massive blade in his hand began spinning at an incredible speed creating a whirlwind of sharp energy that sliced through the dense shadows.
I barely managed to dodge the whirlwind.
"What are you doing, you crazy man!"
Without realizing it, I slammed my palm against the ground and an overwhelming surge of darkness erupted outward. The shadows stretching across the surface, it was an all-consuming void that swallowed everything around me. The wave of shadows expanded and blanketed the surroundings until there was no light left to pierce through. The entire area was plunged into absolute blackness.
My chest heaved as I grasped of what I had summoned.
Caleb stopped mid-stride and his piercing blue eyes scanning the abyss now enveloping us.
"You're very interesting," Caleb smirk played on his lips.
The shadows have swallowed us whole now.
[Skill Unlocked : Shadow Dominion]
[Skill Activated : Shadow Dominion]