Luke and Eleanor followed Kuro as he moved purposefully away from the grotesque, towering tree. The tree's sheer size was unnerving, its surface writhing with tendrils of flesh and pulsing veins that coursed like rivers beneath its bark-like exterior. The air around it felt heavy, almost suffocating, as though the tree itself exuded a presence far greater than its physical form.
With every step they took away from the unnatural giant, time around them seemed to stir back into motion. The world exhaled. Birds resumed their chirping in disjointed melodies, leaves finally fell, spiraling lazily to the ground, and the distant hum of the forest returned.
When they turned to look back, the tree's immense, fleshy branches shifted erratically, writhing and curling in grotesque spasms.
Our whole interaction there was less than a second outside? Luke's thoughts churned. What sort of Advent is capable of this?
Kuro knelt, his expression a blend of reverence and melancholy, and picked a cluster of vibrant flowers growing near the edge of the tree's sprawling roots. Without a word, he tossed the blooms toward the base of the monstrous entity. The moment the flowers touched the fleshy ground, the roots snatched them with unsettling speed, dragging them beneath the surface. In seconds, the blossoms dissolved into a murky, nutrient-rich sludge.
"You really care for the tree, don't you?" Luke asked, breaking the tense silence.
Kuro's shoulders tensed, and he hesitated before responding in a voice that barely rose above a whisper. "It's the only thing I have left."
The gravity of his words lingered in the air. Recognizing the weight of the sentiment, Luke and Eleanor chose not to question him further. Instead, they pressed on.
Before long, they arrived at the edge of a massive pit. The gaping hole in the ground was nearly 100 meters across and appeared bottomless, its depths cloaked in impenetrable darkness. The fleshy, pulsating growths clinging to its walls twitched in rhythm with an unseen heartbeat, their grotesque movements eerily synchronized.
"This," Kuro said, his tone neutral, "is the entrance to the Abnormal Kingdom."
Eleanor stared into the abyss, her elven eyes narrowing as though searching for any signs of life within its dark expanse.
"Alright, listen up," Kuro continued, turning to face them. "There are a few things you need to know before we go down there. One: Luke, you never leave my side. The second you step away, it's like painting a giant target on your back for every Abnormal down there. Two: Don't speak to them unless they address you first. And three…" He paused, glancing at Eleanor. "Actually, you should be fine. They don't really care about elves."
What the hell did humans do during the Relic War to cause such hatred against them? Luke wondered, unease creeping into his chest.
"So… how exactly do we get down there?" Eleanor asked, her voice betraying a hint of skepticism as she eyed the fleshy tendrils clinging to the pit's walls.
A grin crept across Kuro's face. "Oh, that's easy."
Before either of them could react, Kuro lunged forward, grabbing both of them by the arms. With a laugh that teetered on the edge of madness, he leapt into the darkness.
"ARE YOU INSANE?!" Luke and Eleanor screamed in unison as they plummeted. The wind roared past them, and the oppressive blackness of the abyss swallowed them whole.
The ground rushed up at them alarmingly fast.
BOOM.
The impact reverberated through the cavern as Kuro landed, crouched low on two feet, his form absorbing the brunt of the fall. Dust and debris exploded outward, the sound echoing in the vast space. Luke and Eleanor clung to him, their breaths coming in ragged gasps.
Kuro's body had transformed mid-fall. A bone-like exoskeleton covered his chest, his exposed ribcage forming a natural shield. His posture had shifted into a hunched stance, his muscles bulging and his skin thickened into something resembling armor. After a few moments, the transformation receded, leaving him in his usual form.
A defense-specialized form, Luke thought, still trying to steady his breathing.
As the dust settled, they found themselves in near-total darkness, broken only by occasional shafts of light filtering through holes in the cavern's ceiling.
The Abnormal Kingdom sprawled before them. The labyrinthine walls of the city were alive—constructed entirely of flesh, sinew, and organs. Eyes blinked and swiveled along the surfaces, their gaze following the intruders. Ears twitched and turned, absorbing the faint sounds of movement. The walls shifted constantly, rearranging the maze-like structure in an endless, nauseating cycle.
"We should keep moving," Kuro said, his voice cutting through the oppressive silence. "The walls won't stay still for long."
Eleanor's sharp eyes darted around, but even her vision struggled in the dim light. She felt exposed, vulnerable. Luke felt far worse. The eyes embedded in the walls focused on him, unblinking and accusatory.
"Kuro," Luke whispered, his voice tight with anxiety. "Is it normal for the walls to be looking at me?"
"Oh, that's completely normal," Kuro replied nonchalantly. "When Abnormals die, their bodies get consumed and absorbed into the walls. They probably sense you're human."
Just stay close to Kuro, Luke reminded himself. Apparently, they won't do anything if I'm near him.
As they moved through the labyrinth, they passed countless Abnormals. The creatures varied wildly in shape and size—some were amorphous blobs of flesh, others towering, skeletal monstrosities. Some were animalistic, while others bore warped features of familiar races: draconic elves, undead sirens, and hulking, crystalline beasts.
Their living conditions were horrific. With no stable shelter in the ever-shifting labyrinth, the Abnormals were forced to scavenge and fight to survive. It was a brutal, lawless existence.
Eleanor's expression hardened as she observed the chaos, her familiarity with Sylvera's slums granting her a grim understanding. Luke, however, was overwhelmed.
The atmosphere shifted when the Abnormals began to notice Luke. Whispers and growls rippled through the crowd. Many prepared to attack, but each time, their aggression dissipated when they noticed Kuro's presence. It was as if his mere proximity commanded respect—or fear.
Eventually, they reached an open area, a circular chamber illuminated by a single shaft of light from above.
"Here we are," Kuro said. "The Beacon."
"A beacon? In a moving labyrinth?" Eleanor asked skeptically.
"Yes," Kuro replied. "Because this is the one place the labyrinth—or the Abnormals—dare not desecrate."
At the center of the chamber stood a massive statue. The figure was haunting: Kael, The Hope, depicted as a grotesque amalgamation of humanity and Abnormality. His form was an unsettling blend of exposed organs and translucent skin, glowing cracks running like veins of light through his body. Yet, despite his grotesque appearance, there was an undeniable dignity in the sculpture.
At the base of the statue was a plaque inscribed with the words:
"Kael, The Hope"
"Compassion needs no justification; the purest kindness arises simply because it can."
Around the statue, no Abnormal dared commit violence. It was a sacred place. Offerings of strange objects and makeshift tokens lay scattered at its base. Despite its stability, no one lingered long; the reverence demanded quiet and brevity.
"Who was he?" Luke asked.
"The hope of the Abnormal Kingdom," Kuro said. "He was killed by humans during the Relic War. When he was alive, this place was far more organized. The Abnormals were once the most peaceful race."
Eleanor drifted closer to the statue, her presence accepted by the Abnormals watching nearby. Luke, however, drew sharp stares.
Feeling their distrust, Luke crouched and gathered a handful of rocks from the ground. Infusing them with his green Essence, he shaped the stones into flowers—delicate, intricate, and glowing faintly.
With careful movements, he placed the flowers at the base of the statue. The Abnormals stiffened at first, but as they recognized the gesture, they relaxed. Kuro smiled faintly, and a few of the Abnormals nodded in silent approval.
Maybe, Luke thought, I can earn their trust, even if just a little.