Chereads / The Endless Dimensional Path / Chapter 12 - From frying pan to fire

Chapter 12 - From frying pan to fire

Maya activated a life-saving item provided for situations like this. As she reached for Leo's arm, grabbing it, they flashed through the maw just as it clamped shut. Noticing its prey escape, the beast sank back into the earth, causing ripples that moved toward the direction of Leo and Maya.

Without hesitation, the two of them sprinted madly through the forest in a desperate attempt to escape the vile abomination that stalked them. The undulations constantly on their heels made its presence known. The beast was fast, rapidly closing the distance between them. Gritting her teeth, Maya knew they couldn't rely on the device frequently. It had dimmed somewhat, revealing its limited use. Reluctantly, but with no other choice, she reached for the life-saving device once more. Grabbing Leo's arm, she activated it, and they turned into a flash, vanishing from the beast's sight. The creature roared in discontent, furious at losing its prey.

Miles away, appearing in a different region, they took a moment to catch their breath. The forest around them was dense and unfamiliar, the air heavy with the scent of foliage and earth.

Catching his breath, Leo turned to Maya and exclaimed, "That was close."

"I agree," Maya affirmed. She noticed his gaze directed at the device in her hand and responded to his curiosity. "This is a life-saving card my family gave me to escape situations like what we've just been through."

he nodded faintly to show his understanding, but his eyes betrayed his jealousy. While he was a random nobody who had just awakened with nothing, he envied the fact that she had a family to provide resources necessary for her improvement.

Suddenly, a subtle shift happened in the atmosphere, alerting both him and Maya. Weird laughing noises started ringing around them. Leo honestly began thinking that he had used up all his luck. They had just landed in the middle of a whole hyena pack! Beasts of the third dimension. From his view, Leo counted eighteen beasts so far, and he still hadn't caught sight of the alpha yet.

As the mass of sinister, laughing hyenas closed in on them, they knew they were in serious trouble—a perfect example of the saying "from the frying pan into the fire." Slowly, the pack closed in, and when they were close enough, they simultaneously lunged for them. Just moments away from their demise, Lin communicated with him, saying they had to merge. Lin warned that after the fusion, he would be dormant for at least four months. With no other solution to the situation at hand, Leo gritted his teeth and accepted.

Although this interaction seemed lengthy, in reality, the communication happened within milliseconds. The refreshing feeling of wholeness came over him once more. Not having time to savor it, he grabbed Maya by the waist. Using his newly created sword energy and his now omniscient-like mind, he directly cut through space, leaping through the tear with Maya in his arms. As they passed through the tear, space rapidly repaired itself, preventing the vicious pack from following them.

 

Jumping out of the other end of the tear, they landed back in the pit that Leo's vanquished foe, the sword wyrm, once inhabited.

Following the momentum of their landing, the two of them rolled across the ground, leaving an embarrassing sight: Maya in Leo's grasp, her head on his chest as he hugged her to reduce the impact of the collision for her. Coming back to their senses, they realized their awkward posture. She quickly jumped out of his grasp.

In an attempt to break the awkward silence that followed, she asked, "How did you do that?"

"Even I am not clear on it myself," Leo replied with a hint of disappointment. He noticed that the fusion between him and Lin had ended, his mind reverting back to its mundane state.

Maya just stared at him, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Everyone has their secrets!" she commented, her eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and empathy.

This made Leo feel a little misunderstood since he sincerely didn't understand what he did when he was in fusion or how he did it. Ignoring her comment, he asked, "How do we proceed now?"

Maya knew what he meant. "We have to move together. Let's work together and each kill the beast that we both need," she replied.

Looking at her, Leo had a foreboding feeling as he asked, "Don't tell me, that monster is what you've set your eyes on. If I'm not mistaken, that thing should be in the ninth plane of the fourth dimension."

Maya looked at him, her eyes filled with determination as she responded, "What's wrong? It's just a beast in the end. The reason we were put in a spot last time was because we were unaware of its abilities." Then, with a taunting smile, she added, "What, are you scared?"

Of course he was scared. That beast could literally change the state of matter and alter its very shape and size. How were they going to best that? Seriously, Leo was shocked by the abilities these ninth planar beasts had. The black shadow beast that had hunted him was one, too. Though he was also in the ninth plane of the first dimension, he didn't have abilities like them.

But he suddenly remembered the skill he showed when he was in fusion state. Maybe he did have cheat-like abilities, but he was still in the dark about how to use them. Thinking back to the information on Blade Dancer, which was also in the ninth plane of the third dimension, he realized Maya was right. They would have to work together to vanquish beasts of that level.

Turning his gaze to meet her own, he replied, "Why would I be scared? It's just a beast, after all."

Grinning, Maya nodded and added, "That's the spirit!"

"Now we need to rest and recover. We have to be at full strength in an hour's time," she stated, sitting in a corner, exhausted.

Leo nodded and collapsed into the cold embrace of the earth. With Lin out of commission, it was up to him to supply himself with energy. Fortunately, a part of his soul was already rooted in the first dimension, allowing him to absorb energy from the atmosphere. Though not as efficient as Lin, he had to make do with what he had.

For now, the two of them rested, preparing for the toughest battle they had faced so far. The stillness of the pit where the sword wyrm once dwelled offered them a brief respite. Both Leo and Maya knew that this was just the calm before the storm.

They sat in silence, gathering their strength. Leo's thoughts drifted to the many challenges they had overcome, and the even greater ones that lay ahead. Maya, with her unwavering determination, silently reflected on the battles and growth she had experienced.

As they rested, the ambient energy of the dimensional zone began to seep into their bodies, gradually restoring their vitality. The quiet moments were filled with the hum of distant energies and the soft rustle of the alien foliage that surrounded them. They had an hour to replenish their strength, an hour to steel themselves for the impending clash with a creature of immense power.