14. Valeria

I stood back and watched as Sam stared at the obelisk in front of him. He stepped up to the obelisk, almost touching it, and stared intently at the dark crystal. I pulled in a sharp breath as he stared into the depths of the crystal, but suddenly he was pushed hard to his knees and grunted in pain. I tried to take a step forward and almost screamed in pain as a huge amount of pressure pushed down on me. It felt like I would be crushed to paste if I took another step forward.

'He will be okay... He's a Cultivator right? He will be fine.... Won't he?' I thought to myself as I watched Sam close his eyes and begin meditating. As I watched, the obelisk just disappeared, it was there one moment and the next, it was just gone! Just as I was about to try again, the pressure disappeared and Sam opened his eyes.

"Wh-Where did the obelisk go, Sam?" I called out, my voice shaky, as Sam rose from the ground and looked over at me. He pointed at his head.

"The Pillar of the Universe is in my knowledge sea now. I can study it at any time now. It contains the Law of Gravity, one of the Supreme Laws that old man taught to me. Watch this." I watched as Sam leapt into the air, soaring higher and higher. He leapt about 60 feet into the air before floating down and landing lightly in front of Me. I looked at him, my eyes wide and my jaw dropping open. He grinned at me before finishing his explanation.

'Gods I love his smile!' I almost flinched at the thought as it passed through my mind.

"It's not flight, but it's damn close!" Sam laughed loudly before freezing suddenly. He turned around and standing about 60 feet away, at the other end of the clearing, stepping out of the shadows, was a massive tiger.

This tiger stood about 10 feet tall, it had void black fur that seemed to draw in all light around it, the stripes on it's body were a dark fog grey. The tiger also had a long black mane that sparked with dark energy. Its eyes were a dark violet with void-like slit pupils. The beast's muscles bulged under its fur as it reared back its head and opened its tooth-filled maw and let out a mighty roar filled with pure power.

The Liger looked down at us from its position as it finished its roar. I felt the pressure of its presence pushing down on me as it took a single step towards us. The ground underneath its paw seemed to simply vanish as the gravity around the creature destroyed the ground it walked on. I took an involuntary step back as the pressure tried to push me to the ground. Somehow, Sam was able to alleviate the power of the Liger's aura enough to be able to move.

I watched with bated breath as the Liger pounced toward Sam. He raised his blade to strike its massive clawed paw. The ring of steel meeting steel could be heard as the Liger's claws met Sam's sword. He tried my best to hold his ground, but the Liger's strength was enough to push him back 20 feet. I gritted my teeth and wanted to step up to help, but I couldn't move forward for some reason.

'Damnit! I'm useless!' I cried inwardly as Sam stood from the ground.

"Then I'll show you my current strength!" I heard Sam yell as he propelled himself forward, I could feel the energy gathering around him. He swung his blade over head, pouring as much energy as he could into the strike.

BANG!

The sword struck the Liger directly between its eyes, stopping on the barrier it put up. I watched as Sam pushed with all his might, his muscles bulging and cracks beginning to form on the barrier. Suddenly he was pushed back and the Liger stood from its fighting position.

'Was this all just a test? Why would this creature just be testing Sam?' My mind was a whirlwind of thought as the Liger lowered its head a fraction before stepping to the side and allowing Sam and I to pass into the valley entrance behind it.

I marveled at the Liger as I neared, looking at its beautiful fur and dark eyes that followed me as I stepped up to Sam. I clenched my fists at my side, 'I refuse to be a damsel that needs saving! I have power too, and I know how to use it!' My resolve strengthened, I looked at Sam before stepping ahead of him into the valley.