Zami staggered through the colossal stone doors of the Abyssal Cradle, his breathing ragged, blood dripping from his numerous wounds. Behind him, the chamber of the Wailing Dread loomed like a nightmare he couldn't escape. The eerie hum of the vessel's high-frequency sound still echoed faintly in his ears, a haunting reminder of his countless failed attempts.
He stepped into the cold expanse outside the cradle, the oppressive darkness of the colony surrounding him. Here, the only sources of light came from glowing vines clinging to jagged rock walls and faintly luminescent fungi sprouting from crevices. The faint flicker of a distant torch danced weakly, casting shadows across the uneven terrain.
Zami leaned heavily against a boulder, clutching his side where a deep gash oozed blood. His katana, now chipped and stained, dangled loosely in his hand. The bone dagger he carried was cracked but still intact, tucked into his belt alongside the hidden shard of the Bone Monarch.
He coughed violently, a fresh spatter of blood staining his shirt. His body had revived time and time again, but the toll was evident. His muscles ached with phantom pain from each death, and his mind was a storm of frustration and exhaustion.
Karesh's voice echoed in his head.
"You're pushing yourself too far. Even with all your abilities, some battles require more than raw determination."
Zami ignored him, sliding down to sit on the ground. The cold stone bit into his back, but he welcomed it, his silver eyes fixed on the faint light ahead.
"I can't beat him," Zami muttered to himself, his voice barely audible. It wasn't an admission of defeat, but an acknowledgment of reality. The Wailing Dread was beyond him—for now.
Karesh's voice softened, uncharacteristically gentle. "You've done well to survive this long, Zami. Retreat isn't failure. It's strategy. You'll need time to recover...and to grow stronger."
Zami reached into his pouch, pulling out the Bone Monarch's shard. The black stone glinted faintly in the dim light, its surface etched with glowing white symbols. It pulsed faintly, as if alive, a reminder of the power it once represented.
His grip tightened around the shard, frustration bubbling in his chest. "Even with this, I couldn't..." His voice trailed off as he let the shard fall back into the pouch.
For the first time in years, doubt crept into his mind.
The area outside the Abyssal Cradle was eerily silent, save for the faint rustling of vines swaying in an unseen breeze. Zami's gaze wandered over the landscape. Jagged cliffs stretched into the distance, their edges glowing faintly with bioluminescent moss. Pools of dark water dotted the terrain, their surfaces reflecting the faint light of the surrounding flora.
He spotted a narrow path winding upward, leading away from the cradle and deeper into the colony. It was a long shot, but perhaps it would lead him to something—someone—that could help.
Rising to his feet with a groan, Zami sheathed his katana and adjusted his cloak, the fabric torn and bloodstained but still functional. He limped forward, each step a reminder of his battered state.
His thoughts lingered on the Wailing Dread, on its impossible strength and relentless attacks. Even with all his techniques, even with the Flow State and the Bone Monarch's shard, he had failed.
But he hadn't given up.
"Rest...regroup...and return," Zami muttered, his voice firm despite his exhaustion.
Karesh's voice returned, approving yet cautious. "Good. But don't rush. You're not invincible, Zami. Even your revival has its limits."
Zami didn't respond. His silver eyes fixed on the path ahead, he pushed forward into the darkness, the flicker of determination in his gaze stronger than ever.
For now, he would retreat. But the battle was far from over.