Li Qi needed just one more wrathfruit. Only one. And she could see them, glinting faintly under the crimson haze, a mere five steps ahead. Just five steps… It shouldn't have been difficult.
Just five steps…
But then—flick.
Her eyes betrayed her, fluttering closed for the briefest moment. A single tear escaped, sliding down her cheek before splashing onto the cursed ground of Echo Hollows.
The cavern came alive, its sinister delight unmistakable. The wails of hatred and cries of despair swelled, their volume and intensity rising like a twisted symphony. It was as if the hollows had been starving, waiting eagerly for this offering. Now, they feasted, their cries growing louder, sharper, more persistent.
Li Qi is unlike most Malvorians, her connection to anger and hatred is far more intense than others could fathom. It was both her curse and her strength.
The rage stone pendant around her neck blazed with a furious red glow. These stones, sharp black rocks that reacted to negative emotions by emitting a dark crimson light, were both a burden and a solace to her kind. Known to absorb small amounts of hatred and resentment, rage stones were often dulled, polished, and worn as everyday accessories—tiny shields against the storm of emotions that plagued Malvorians. But for Li Qi, even the strongest of stones couldn't keep up with the chaos within her.
She managed just one more step before collapsing, her knees hit the jagged ground with a painful thud. "Ah!" she gasped, the sharp sting radiating through her legs.
"I have to survive. I have to live," she whispered through gritted teeth, her voice trembling as tears streamed uncontrollably down her face. The cavern's unending chorus of hatred battered her ears, each echo a blade slicing at her very existence.
When you're surrounded by hatred long enough, even if it isn't aimed at you, it begins to feel personal.
Li Qi clenched her fists, digging her nails into her palms to ground herself. She whispered her mantra over and over, as though it were a spell protecting her from the cavern's wrath. "I have to survive. I have to live."
Knowing her limits, she didn't waste her strength trying to stand. Instead, she clawed at the ground, dragging herself forward inch by agonizing inch. The jagged rocks tore at her hands, drawing blood that mixed with the sweat and tears streaming from her body. Her rage stone burned furiously, its glow almost blinding in the dim cavern light.
"I HAVE TO SURVIVE! I HAVE TO LIVE!" she screamed at last, her voice raw and defiant. The cavern's angry echoes didn't quiet down, but her own shout became a focal point, drowning out the chaos in her ears.
Finally, her fingers brushed the smooth surface of the wrathfruit she had been chasing. "Got it," she croaked, her voice hoarse, as she clutched it tightly and stuffed it into her belt pouch. A faint smile tugged at her lips despite the blood, sweat, and tears streaking her face. "Let's go, babies," she whispered to the fruits, a flicker of humor returning to her bloodied face.
She wasn't done. Not yet.
"I WILL SURVIVE! I WILL WIN THIS COMPETITION! TO HELL WITH ALL OF YOU!" she roared, her voice shaking with raw fury and triumph.
Dragging herself out of the Echo Hollows, Li Qi collapsed onto the soft soil just outside its entrance. Her body hit the ground with a heavy thud, her strength finally giving out. But she had done it. She had survived.
She rolled onto her back, gasping for air, her chest rising and falling as if every breath were a battle. The sky above her is grim and stormy, lightning tearing through the dark clouds, but to Li Qi, it is a sight more beautiful than anything she'd seen in days.
Tears continued to spill from her reddened eyes, but a faint smile lingered on her face. She stared up at the ominous sky, her body battered and bruised.
As her breath began to slow and her body eased into the dirt, she let her eyes drift closed.
She shall rest. She shall survive. And she shall win.
No one knows how long Li Qi had slept beneath that dark crimson sky, lulled by the continuous symphony of lightning clashing across the realms. Yet when she finally stirred, it felt as though she had woken up from a slumber that had lasted centuries.
She sat up slowly, her body aching from the countless bruises and wounds etched onto her skin. Every movement tugged at her injuries, sending sharp twinges of pain through her, but she endured it in silence.
Pushing herself to her feet, Li Qi began the long, weary walk back to her home—a simple place that doubled as her humble eatery. It wasn't much, but it was hers, a sanctuary in the middle of a hell-alike realm waiting for her to return.
Li Qi pushed the kitchen door open, her bandaged hand leaving faint smudges on the worn wooden surface. The room was just as she had left it: chaotic, cluttered, and alive with the scent of spices and herbs. Normally, the sight calmed her, made her feel like she had everything she needed within reach. Tonight, it felt like the first step in an uphill battle she will have to face in the future.
Li Qi is not scared of losing and losing her life. She is only scared that she won't be able to reach her goal, that her calculations all these years were wrong.
The wrathfruit sat on the counter, their glossy crimson skins catching the dim light like molten jewels. Li Qi stared at them, the memory of the cavern's crushing malice still fresh in her mind. Every step she'd taken, every scrape and bruise, had been for these.
She let out a shaky breath and headed for the washroom. The cold water hit her skin like needles, shocking but necessary. She scrubbed until her arms ached, trying to wash away not just the dirt but also the dried blood.
After she's done, she tends to her wounds, wincing at the sting of antiseptic. The bandages weren't neat, but they'd hold.
With a towel draped over her shoulders and exhaustion tugging at her every move, she found herself back in the kitchen. Her hands rested on the counter as she stared at the ingredients piled high around her: baskets of herbs, jars of spices, and the glowing red fruits that now felt like they were mocking her.