Kuro's lips curved into a faint smile at the sight of the stone flowers blooming at the base of the towering statue. Their grayish petals shimmered faintly under the dim, pulsating glow of the labyrinth's fleshy walls, a stark reminder of beauty amidst chaos.
"Regardless of whether this was a calculated move to gain trust or just an act of kindness," Kuro murmured, turning toward Luke, "this is appreciated. Thank you. Now, bring Eleanor over. We need to discuss our mission."
Within moments, the trio gathered near the statue of Kael. The massive stone figure stood as a symbol of the labyrinth's origins and the fractured legacy of its inhabitants. Kuro's gaze lingered on the statue for a brief moment before he began explaining the situation.
"Alright," Kuro started, his tone firm but deliberate. "The location of the Abnormal Relic is unknown to any Abnormal." He paused, letting the gravity of his next words settle in. "The only one who ever knew its location was Kael, and he entrusted it to the humans."
Both Eleanor and Luke froze, their eyes widening with shock.
"Wait," Luke said, his voice tinged with disbelief. "If Kael gave the relic to humans—"
"—and humans no longer exist in Aethereon…" Eleanor continued, her voice trailing off as her gaze met Luke's.
The implication hit them both like a hammer. They exchanged uneasy glances, a shared understanding dawning between them. It was an impossible task.
Wait. Isn't this a good thing? Luke thought, a faint flicker of hope igniting in his mind. Our mission is to ensure that the relic doesn't fall into the hands of the Hands of Fate. If it doesn't exist in Aethereon, then wouldn't that be the ideal outcome?
The trio stood in silence at the center of the labyrinth. Around them, Abnormals moved like a steady current, their grotesque forms blending into the labyrinth's ever-shifting backdrop. Each one saluted the statue of Kael in quiet reverence before moving on, as if compelled by a deep, unspoken tradition.
While the central area was typically forbidden for prolonged gatherings, the presence of Kuro made the space an exception. No one dared to challenge him. He was a figure of respect, even in a realm as chaotic as this.
But then, a voice broke through the hum of movement.
"Excuse me, Sir Kuro?"
The voice belonged to a figure that could only be described as a walking embodiment of disarray. A towering blob of flesh, roughly six feet tall, shuffled toward them. Its form was an amalgamation of protruding appendages, pulsating skin, and chaotic asymmetry.
"Ashtor?" Kuro said, his brows furrowing. "What are you doing here?"
"I happened to be passing by," the creature replied, its voice a peculiar mixture of gravelly tones and soft murmurs. "I overheard you were looking for the Abnormal Relic?"
"Yes," Kuro replied, his tone cautious. "But there's no need to worry. It hasn't existed here since Kael gave it to the humans."
Ashtor's form shifted slightly, his limbs twisting as he responded. "But, Sir… the humans returned it to us."
All three froze, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"What?" Eleanor breathed. "How… How could they have returned it? Humans left this realm ages ago."
"They used the essence of a human to teleport the relic back to a location of Kael's choosing," Ashtor explained matter-of-factly. "That's why Kael allowed them to borrow it. He knew it would eventually be returned."
Kuro's expression hardened, his mind racing. Kael was no fool. It's possible he planned for this outcome, relying on the humans' promise to return the relic. But could they be trusted? After all, they betrayed him… they killed him. Still, if the promise was fulfilled, we'd gain the relic. If not, we'd only lose time.
"Do you know where Kael might have chosen as the location?" Kuro asked, his tone sharp.
"I can think of three places, Sir," Ashtor replied. "His home, the Glow Gardens, or the Heart Nexus. I believe he would have chosen one of those three locations."
Kuro nodded slowly. "Very well. Thank you for your help, Ashtor."
"It's no trouble, Sir," Ashtor said, shuffling away as if his words had been no more significant than idle chatter.
Eleanor tilted her head, watching the blob retreat into the crowd. "Who was that exactly?"
"Ashtor," Kuro replied. "A powerful Abnormal and a close friend of Kael's."
"Then why not bring him with us if he's so strong?" she asked, frowning.
"We're suspicious enough as it is—me, a human, and an elf wandering the labyrinth. If Ashtor joined us, it would all but confirm to others that we're after something important. We can't afford the attention."
With that, Kuro turned and began walking, his steps purposeful. Eleanor and Luke quickly followed.
"So," Eleanor asked, "where are we headed first?"
"The easiest place," Kuro said without hesitation. "His home."
---
After hours of traversing the labyrinth's twisting corridors, they finally arrived at a hole in the ceiling. Pale light spilled through it, creating an ethereal contrast to the dark, organic walls.
Luke stood at the base of the vertical shaft, staring up at the opening far above where pale light spilled through. He glanced at Kuro and Eleanor as they effortlessly ascended, his heart sinking further with every passing second.
Eleanor's movements were smooth and calculated—she bounded from one fleshy tendril to another like some kind of predatory animal, her lithe frame twisting midair as though the climb was a mere game. Kuro, on the other hand, clawed his way up the organic wall, his talons digging into the fleshy surface with unsettling precision, creating his own path where none existed.
Luke, however, stood at the base, staring upward in dismay. "Wait! How am I supposed to get up there?"
Kuro glanced down briefly, his expression unreadable. "This is the Abnormal Kingdom, Luke. You either adapt, or you die."
Luke bit his lip, his frustration bubbling over. Are you kidding me? How do you expect me to do this? He looked around, desperate for a solution, but the uneven ground and grotesque walls offered no immediate answers.
Alright, Luke. Think. He forced himself to breathe slowly, wiping his sweaty palms on his shirt. You have the ability to reshape objects. How can you use that to get out of this hole? His mind raced through possibilities. I could create a platform to boost myself up… but the stability would be an issue. A tower like that would probably break at the base before I could get halfway up.
He clenched his fists, feeling the weight of their expectations pressing down on him. How are they doing it?
Luke tilted his head back, studying his companions closely. Eleanor's method reminded him of a wild acrobat's exaggerated version of rock climbing, each jump perfectly timed as she latched onto the fleshy tendrils protruding from the wall. Meanwhile, Kuro ascended methodically, his claws tearing into the organic surface with a brutal efficiency that seemed almost second nature.
Could I do something similar?
He pressed a tentative hand against the wall's surface. The strange, tendril-like material felt warm and pliable under his touch. He focused, whispering the word that had become his lifeline.
"Code."
Instantly, a surge of green binary lines radiated from his hand, spiraling outwards like an intricate web of data. The wall shifted under his influence, reshaping itself to grip his palm. Luke's breath hitched as he lifted his weight off the ground. For a moment, he dangled there, the tendril holding firm around his hand.
It's working.
He pressed his foot against the wall next, repeating the process. The tendrils curled around his shoe, forming a makeshift foothold. He tested the grip, his heart pounding. From my encounter with Kuro, I know I can manipulate surfaces even if I'm not directly touching them with bare skin. That means my clothing isn't blocking my ability. This might actually work.
With renewed determination, Luke began his ascent. Every step, every hand movement was calculated—he shaped the wall as he went, using Code to mold tendrils around his limbs. He tried not to look down, focusing instead on the rhythm of his movements.
Step. Grip. Shape. Move.
The process was slow and grueling, each adjustment taking precious seconds, but he was moving. His arms burned, and sweat dripped down his face, stinging his eyes, but he pressed on.
They make this look so easy. He glanced up to see Kuro and Eleanor already at the top, their figures silhouetted against the light. They hadn't even slowed down. Is this really what it takes to survive in the Abnormal Kingdom? To keep up with them?
His breathing grew ragged, his muscles trembling with effort. Every few feet, he had to pause, clinging to the wall to catch his breath. The tendrils he shaped felt sturdy, but the strain of maintaining his grip was beginning to take its toll.
Come on, Luke. You can't stop now. You didn't come this far just to fail.
---
At the top, Eleanor and Kuro waited. It had been over thirty minutes now. Kuro paced back and forth, his golden eyes glinting with unease. Eleanor leaned casually against a boulder, but her sharp, knowing smile betrayed her amusement.
Kuro kept a wary distance from her, his movements stiff. She noticed and let out a soft chuckle.
"Scared, are we?" she teased, her voice laced with mischief.
"You're a devil in disguise. Obviously, I would be," Kuro muttered, his tone begrudging. He shifted his weight as though ready to bolt if she made a sudden move, his gaze darting occasionally to the hole below.
Eleanor grinned wider, tilting her head. "You're no fun, beast."
Kuro prayed silently that Luke would soon get up. The waiting was unbearable, especially with Eleanor's relentless teasing.
Eventually, they saw a hand grasp the edge of the opening, trembling slightly but firm. Moments later, Luke hauled himself up, his body sagging as he collapsed onto the ground. His chest heaved, and sweat glistened on his face as he tried to catch his breath.
"I… can't believe… you forced me to do that," Luke panted, glaring up at Kuro.
"Think of it as training," Kuro replied flatly. His claws flexed, recalling their first encounter. "You almost lost to me then. And let's not forget that you probably would of if not for…" He pointed toward Eleanor with a claw. "…this monster."
Eleanor grinned wickedly, crossing her arms. "Don't be so dramatic, Luke. You made it, didn't you?"
Luke groaned, still too exhausted to retort. But as he turned his head, his gaze locked onto the scene ahead, and his breath caught.
He hadn't recognized the path due to the labyrinth's constant shifting, but now it was unmistakable. They had emerged through the same hole he had first entered, which could only mean one thing: Kael's home was the massive, warped tree looming before them—the tree that seemed to defy time itself.