Unearthed Whispers
Upon reaching the Uncanny Nexus, Timothy was taken aback. The caverns they entered were in shambles—repulsive and perilous to navigate without risking one's life. Traversing the deteriorated terrain demanded determination and carefulness to evade falling rubble or larger boulders.
Broken bridges connected the caverns, shrouded in darkness, presenting a challenging path. To address this, Timothy utilized his flames, casting an orange glow that brought life to the caverns' shaded walls and ruined pathways.
Despite the desolation, there was an absence of any signs of life or creatures; no ants, spiders, or even flies. The area exuded emptiness and decay, casting a gloomy atmosphere that left Timothy uneasy.
Nevertheless, Timothy and his comrades ventured here with a purpose—to locate their sole potential adversary, Onnamon.
Timothy pondered silently, contemplating the enigma of Onnamon amidst the desolation.
"Onnamon... I wonder. Can a place this ravaged still hold energy? Does he sense high-energy presences, or is it mere assumption?" he mused, progressing through the dark tunnels resembling caves.
As he continued, thoughts unfolded, "And if we discover him siphoning the residual energy in the Uncanny Nexus, how do we thwart his absorption? Perhaps Etuna possesses insights, but is it practical to seek her guidance here before Aurora?"
Timothy cast a distant gaze into the shadowed caves, holding his questions close before facing Etuna's judgment.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Uncanny Nexus, beneath foggy grey skies, Onnamon awaited. Standing atop a ruined house, he was far from the core, plotting to inherit the leftover power from the gods' ancient war on this dark land.
Grinning like a sinister clown in pursuit of prey, Onnamon outlined his sinister plan. "The energy I need is within that sphere above the narrow tower. A mere touch with my palms, and I'll absorb its power. Then, I'll be strong enough to defy the divine seat and overpower the Holy Light's throne. The Vast Expanse will soon be under my command!"
His menacing laughter echoed through mountains and canyons, reaching the clouds. The energy he sought lay not far away. "Prepare to meet your new leader. I, Onnamon, will wield the powers of gods and demons. Not even your divine protector can save you from my devilish thirst."
Leaping over the ruins, Onnamon zipped toward the center of the Uncanny Nexus.
Meanwhile, Faustina and her marine group were on the pursuit, with Faustina adjusting her fedora. "Land of the fallen... The Uncanny Nexus. Hard to believe such an unsightly place still cradles the residual energy of the divinities. We should have found a way to rid it and keep this land out of reach. But today, multiple foes converge, either in protection or theft. And, of course, I'm here to halt it, because no one else possesses the skill to do so."
The marines behind Faustina were puzzled by her self-talk.
"Um, captain... You're thinking out loud," one of the marines pointed out. Faustina sharply turned her head, giving them a horrifying expression filled with annoyance and anger.
"Shut the hell up and be useful, rookie! Hurry up and enter this land!" she snapped, prompting nods from the marines. "Yes! Of course! We're sorry, Captain Fanny!" they replied, eager to comply.
"Captain... What's our strategy? Charge in to find our target, or set up an ambush across the entire land?" inquired a marine, while Faustina confidently rested her hands on her hips.
"Dispatch groups across the entire land and establish an ambush. This way, we'll have a clearer view of any approaching enemies aiming for the power source," Faustina directed.
The inquiring marine comprehended the orders, organizing groups to discreetly position themselves around the island, ready to strike at any sign of human presence.
With the plan in motion, Faustina opted for the nearest roadway to access the center where the power source awaited. Accompanied by some marines from her crew, she swiftly advanced into the Uncanny Nexus, not far from the caverns explored by Timothy and his allies. They were practically worlds apart, separated by both the sky and the underground.
Climbing through the caverns, Timothy vaulted over the ruined structures to ascend further, assisting Aurora by allowing her to grasp onto his arm. Etuna, on the other hand, effortlessly traversed from platform to platform using her teleportation abilities. Raindrops formed bubbles, cascading from the ceiling and creating puddles on the ground.
Despite their progress, the trio had not yet reached their destination. Entering the central area where the standing core was located would take some time. Upon reaching a stable section of the bridge, they found themselves before a gate draped in moss and vines. At that moment, an idea dawned on Timothy.
Turning to Etuna, he addressed her with a calm yet puzzled tone, "I understand you can teleport us only once, but couldn't you do it when we're closer to the target? The distance isn't too great, is it?" His query hung in the air as Etuna, arms crossed, observed Timothy's reaction.
"There's an invisible barrier encircling the tower, preventing gods and higher beings from breaching it. Human blood, however, is distinct from that of the divine and was crafted to thwart beings of our stature. This barrier is designed to halt us gods in our tracks, and attempting to cross it would likely result in being torn apart or burned alive. Hence, I had to teleport us to a sufficiently distant location to avoid detection by the barrier. I may need to remain in a safe zone, allowing only you to enter it," Etuna explained, shedding light on the intricacies of their predicament.
Timothy stood, hands on hips, disappointed by the information he received. He sighed, expressing his resignation, and then quipped, "I'll end up stuck in another problem, alone. It's the same thing over and over again." Twirling his fingers through the back of his hair, he broke into laughter, confusing those around him.
"Doesn't matter to me. If I can do something to stop that guy, surely that's good enough of a show-off!" Amidst echoing laughter in the caverns, Aurora and Etuna exchanged glances, failing to comprehend. Nevertheless, they shrugged off their confusion and followed Timothy towards the gate, likely the first entrance into the Uncanny Nexus, the forgotten land.
To be continued...