Dark Shura?

Rubel and Marcel immediately leaped to their feet, wary. Yet my gaze was still inviolable and unperturbed even as the scripture dissolved wordlessly into the river.

A slight grimace formed on my face. 'Could I be wrong?' I wondered.

Forthwith, indecipherable characters formed on the waters surface.

"The divine language!?" Marcel announced uncertainly.

As if spurred on by his voice the characters changed, familiarity returning to them. "Ssenkrad yllanrete sllewd ni eht diov, ylno ot eb emocrevo yb deifirup thgim".

I rearranged the characters in my minds eye fully unprepared for the catastrophic explosion that would follow. In a flash the scenery before my eyes shifted. My surroundings crumbled like a brittle sheet, revealing a magnificent scene.

The expanse of space spread out endlessly. Clashing with the lightless void below. Nonetheless from the voracious void appeared the first bit of land.

[ The ancient Egyptians believed that from the chaos of isfet arose ma 'at, the first conceptualization of order. 

The Romans and Greeks believed that from the primordial chaos the earth was born. The Hindus believed it was chaos which gave to the first gods. So many different variations of the same truth] 

"who are you?" I called out in a slightly undulating voice. [ Hahaha that really shouldn't be the question to ask, besides that you wouldn't believe me if I told you. What is important is for you trust yourself. You already know what you must do. Descend forth and embrace it, a power envied by the gods themselves]

Perhaps I shouldn't have trusted an existence I knew nothing of, and yet I found the menacing void below becoming larger in my eyes. Soon I sunk entirely into it, vaguely aware of a strange feeling. In time I sensed it, that I was disintegrating in the void.

However even that awareness began to blur and fade. But now a different sensation arose. Torrential streams of energy gushed into me without end seeping into my flesh, bones, no even deeper.

Sinking into my cells without end. Its purpose unknown.

Suddenly it was all over. I returned to reality and my eyes snapped open in alarm, my chest screamed in agony as water filled my nostrils.

In my panic I roared expelling the water from its bed in one massive shower, drenching the bloody earth in a deluge.

"I have definitely had my fair share of water trauma. If we get back I'm staying far away from it".

"You need it to survive idiot".

The shower subsided to reveal two drenched figures that stared at me dumbly. Rubel gazed at me with bulging eyes as he asked with a shaking voice. "Did you do that?"

I glanced at the erratic waters, replying in a voice that betrayed my disbelief. "I think so".

***

"Why did you guys think it was a good idea to drown me in the river that tried to murder us?" I asked accusingly as I munched on the dry rations Rubel had handed me.

"Phobos is the lord of all spirits of terror. His control over them only exceeded by Nyx. The primordial incarnation of night. I recon if you were her legacy they probably wouldn't have formed in your presence. Either way you're immune to the Lethe's effect and having already survived it so are we. It is nothing but ordinary water to the three of us. We have already collected as much of it as we can." Marcel answered.

"You entered a strange trance after the divine characters in the Lethe reversed, a mysterious wave of power surged out of your body and it wouldn't stop produce a nasty gooey black liquid. We thought that if it was an ailment, the Lethe would help you as a descendant of Phobos. 

But now it looks like you went through some strange metamorphosis. Besides the obvious, I have a feeling…." Before Rubel could finish a sharp whistle sliced through the air, immediately followed by a shattering sound. I turned over the back of my palm, observing it now bruised surface.

A pulverized shard thrown by marcel lay on the earth in flecks. The bruises began to heal at a visible speed. The two wore a mask of unbelieving expressions. The stupor on their faces only exceeded by mine.

"What exactly did those reversed words tell you?" marcel asked incredulously. A smidgen of foreboding warned not to reveal the strange maxim.

"It was a ten-word phrase. It didn't really make any sense. And I cant remember it clearly either. Strangely Rubel and Marcel both nodded as if the untruth I spoke couldn't make more sense.

Seeing the incomprehension on my face. "Sacred arts don't grant abilities, contrary to the folklore. The first sacred arts arose as a result of the evolving human capacity to perceive knowledge and the miraculous capabilities of divinity. The fusion of both in shuras gave rise to sacred arts. Put simply they are mere words containing unspeakable profundity.

Once comprehended the flow of divine power within oneself changes, becomes much more convoluted, and it sculpts the body in turn, bringing it infinitely closer to its desired state. However they can only awaken abilities you already possess, they cannot grant abilities beyond your biology."

My irises shone with comprehension, yet some puzzlement smoldered within. Despite Marcel's vehement claim, I was certain the strange maxim had changed something within me. A fact that excited and frightened me. "

Either way your strange change works to our advantage" He tossed over a gaudy silver broadsword. "Rest up good, Rubel and I can handle the watch for the night. Tomorrow, we head for that".

My eyes trailed the direction of his fingers to register a strange peak that rose above the cups of the mountainous range. Its bloody soil dampened space itself. An ominous cloud crowned its apex, erratic flashes of lightning rioting within it.

Even a safe distance away the chill of death tickled the nape of my neck as I stared at it. Several questions swirled within my mind yet they were unable to overcome the drooping of my eyelids.

I belated realized Rubel had placed his palm on my forehead and was humming a strange lullaby. One that sunk my consciousness deeper into darkness.

One detail impressed itself in my mind as my consciousness faded into oblivion;

The warm glow of a fading vermillion light, and the jarring sound of a creature's roar occupying the entirety of space.

My eyes snapped open to unveil a terrifying scenery. Deep glowing neon white eyes measured my insignificant figure.

A flowing endless winged draconic body that could effortlessly coil around the known realms as well majestic horns and fiendish talons marked its identity as a dragon. However, it was more than that. 

Deep within the sentient glow of its eyes lay a indecipherable mysteries. Eons of life. Suddenly its expression become a hostile one as its colossal maw bridged apart to unleash a roar unlike any other.

The only testament to my consciousness;

my quivering pupils.

Vast amounts of fear and awe trapped me in place. Yet this sound paled in comparison to the one I would subsequently hear.

A new dragon appeared in space. Identical to the first, however twice as large. Its scales glinted a darkened shade of crimson and the scarlet glow of its eyes spoke volumes of its endless rage. Screams of hate and bloodlust escaped its maw in the form of a roar. The two beastscollided and the scenery changed.

I was no longer in the strange void, rather an ancient temple stood before me shrouded by a dark miasma. Space shifted, and a new scene coalesced. A grand hall unlike any other. At its scenter a crimson breach was etched into space, glinting eerily.

A joyfully hued emotion surged within me, however some basic instinct lurking within the depths of my mind warned me to be wary of those who came bearing gifts. 'Look again'. My eyes returned to the strange room. Intently searching for something I prayed I wouldn't find.

The floor blinked out of existence like a mirage revealing the fiendish death trap that occupied it. Jet black pieces of what appeared to be obsidian floated amidst a churning mass of vermillion death.

A glistening blood colored sea of magma. Even in an astral form I could hear its call.

Oh how it wished to embrace me!

My mind steadied as i rejected its call.

I had made oath to my mother. I would become so strong no evil would ever befall those I loved, a drive imbued so deep within me it was now my only purpose.

And so, I allowed the darkness of sleep to condense around me once more awaiting the wails of tomorrow.

 "Faster" Rubel chided as he swept the blunt sideof his lance across my legs. I lurched forward in a pronounced tumble until I was but a crumpled heap of Adam on the floor.

I rose to my feet almost immediately as a I dusted myself over. " That was dirty!" I accused.

"Has anyone ever heard of an enraged demonic beast playing fair." He retorted cheekily. Even so his frivolous expression vanished into an appraising one, " You're a very fast learner. 

To have come farther in a few days than marcel and I did in several years is remarkable. You have a talent for this. Factoring in your hard body and above human abilities I doubt there are many 2nd circle beast that can claim your life". "

Am I stronger than you?" I jested. "ha-ha not even close." he retorted with an equally bright expression. "but I suppose in a way you are indeed much stronger than I am".

His statement elicited a curious glance from me. To which he replied. "Which bewitching soup did you feed lady Theia?. Marcel and I are mobbed by ladies wherever we go but you put us to shame".

I stared blankly at him for a moment. Ascertaining whether or not he was serious, whether someone so strong could possibly be this depthless. I had no interest in regurgitating so naturally I had to change the subject.

"how did you guys become lady Theia's servants anyway?" I was unprepared for the flash of darkness that masked his eyes, warning me that I had encroached upon something I shouldn't have. His hardened visage gave away no secrets.

"We were saved. Like you". His voice came to an abrupt end unwilling to continue.

" Guys, it is just a few more paces up". A powerful voice brightened the now turned dreary atmosphere. A golden haired youth sauntered above the barren land, an ecstatic smile plastered onto his face. Such flagrant expressions of joy were a rarity for marcel so this could only mean one thing. He had found the tower.***

" umm I kind of never asked this; why are we heading up the dangerous temple". I belatedly as us the three of us hiked vigorously through the eerie miasma.

"Breaches are likely to form in places where space is unstable. Something like that could only be a nexus of interflowing currents. You see divine energy runs between all facets of the ancestral realm. Like a current through a wire.

Think of a realm as an infinite bundle of wires. Some objects places or people are deemed as more important and have a larger current around them. If a current gets big enough to create an interference in space it is called a nexus.

" A vague radiance surrounded him as he patiently explained. He had the ambience of a researcher. " ithought as i asked "So, you're hoping to find something powerful enough to disrupt space in the temple?" I asked.

His eyes brightened and an appreciative smile donned his face. It seems he rarely found an intellectual equal, but his smile soon dimmed until it was almost despondent.

"Yes, the only way out.....is through.'"

Throughout the course of our conversation, I was vaguely aware of the sequential yawns stemming from Rubel's direction.

The miasma thinned up a head. The majestic countenance of the ancient temple unveiled itself. Acres of ancient jade greeted us proudly. A gargantuan stone dragon like the one I had witnessed in my dream coiled around it loosely, radiating an aura of majesty. " No this doesn't make any sense…"

Marcel contrasted the awed expressions of I and Rubel with a disbelieving one of his own. Noticing our curious gazes he broke out of hismusing fit and began. "This temple was built by dark shuras".

"No wonder its so dark. But that is a given no?. we are in the nether death lands after all its not so shocking for them to want to build something lasting before they died." I nodded in accordance to Rubel's statement.

Marcels grave expression remained unchanged. "Yes but why is there a statue of Ying long. Shuras do not worship anyone, not even the old gods.

Rubel and I still stared at him, uncomprehending.

"Dark shura's and shuras are polar opposites. They don't just hate each other, there is a natural revulsion between them. Why would perishing dark shura clan construct a temple for a righteous god, what's more the statues features are 100% like they're supposed to be in the records. 

That is undoubtedly Yin long. Something isn't right. 

After listening to his words, the soles of my feet found some compulsion to ground yet a certain silhouette etched ever closer to the jade gates. They wordlessly opened, the pitch-black darkness within; a warning in itself. However, he stepped into its embrace. "Idiot"

Marcel's expression grew ashen as he rushed in before they could close. I also, quicker than I knew I could move rushed into the gates. "haha"Rubel's mischievous laughter informed me that he was on my right even before my eyes could adjust to lightlessness of the hall.

Forthwith a faint crimson light filtered out of the walls. Bringing about a slight sinister luminescence to deathly temple.

"God help me if I die here, my last act will be to bequeath unto your family a curse so horrendous". Marcels menacing words only seemed to fuel Rubel's unbridled laughter. Even I couldn't help the smile that danced across my lips.

A gentle flowing vermillion light soon silenced our chatter. Its source?A large crimson breach a few meters up ahead. We had succeeded. "ha-ha and after all your whining it turns out I was right." Rubel's rambunctious laughter filled the room.

The ecstatic grin on marcels face betrayed the fact that he didn't mind. Just this once he was happy he was wrong. Yet I the frailest one, the one that should have clung on to life the most remained silent.

The walls of the hall were piercingly familiar and a faint illusory feeling arose from the floor on which I stood. Deep gray strands of energy arose to fill my vision. I wasn't seeing anyone's fear this time. I was seeing mine. A slight tumor ran from underneath the soles of my feet.

Immediately I gabbed marcel and Rubel as my body twisted inhumanely, hurling them into the air just as a voracious explosion tore through the floor.

Crimspn red maga surged around me, dousing me in its rage.

My vision became a field of scarlet and a soul piercing pain invaded every single one of my pores.

First came a weightless feeling then the sensation of smashing into an unforgivingly dense surface.

The entirety of my body screamed in pain as I groggily got to my feet. The previous scenery had transformed into a familiar hellish landscape. 

Patches of obsidian rose through the purgatoric scarlet lava. Unfortunately, another pang of painassaulted my vision as I staggered. "Be careful".

A familiar arm caught me, no I felt the support of two people. My arms were slung around the shoulders of marcel and Rubel as they marched towards the breach despite the blood lusting terrain. "Thank you" 

A voice so soft I couldn't discern its direction spoke to me. I was vaguely aware of the flowing crimson hue growing closer, we were drawing closer to the breach. The quickening footsteps of those beside me betrayed their excitement. Nothing was ever that easy though. Three figures rose out of the churning magma.

The first was a large burly old man with gray hair and chocolate skin. The next was suave young man with features reminiscent of a person I couldn't quite place my finger on. And the next was….. It was....was the slender figure that appeared in my dreams ever since that fateful day. 

Before I registered my actions I was going against the tug of my companions with every bit of force my frail body could provide. Tears gushed out madly from my eyes as I screamed no doubt making a fool of myself.

Yet I was far too weak. My groggy actions bore no fruit. All of three of them had suffering expressions were all knee deep inside the crimson magma. The sounds of grinding molars appeared on booth sides of my ears, however the steps they took toward the breach only became more resolute. Unfortunately, we weren't going to make it. 

For after persuasion came…force.

As if incited by my thoughts the crimson magma erupted in a burst of scarlet. A chaotic funnel cloud coalesced from the carnage. The three figures wailed and ruptured into the same broiling scarlet liquid in a manner reminiscent of the water demons earlier.

The funnel cloud collapsed in a flurry of movement.

Rising from within was an endlessly long dragon. It was identical to the dark crimson dragon I had witnessed in my dreams. Down to its glowing scarlet eyes.

Itsmenacing viperous aura froze space itself with its malice. My vision became a field of grey. I saw the columns of fear rising from the normally immovable Rubel.

Even marcels calm exterior had collapsed into frailty. The very realm shook in trepidation. When it locked its eyes on us I could sense the vibrations in space maddening.

I shrugged of Rubeland marcel as I called to every bit of strength left in my body. "Get to breach. Ill join you when I can". I cooly advised. Yet as Rubel gaze trailed my shaking sword arm he no doubt realized I was not as calm as my exterior professed. Marcels lips began to move. "y-".

"Do not insult my gift to you." I shut him down but in my excitement I revealed it. His eyes shone with incomprehension for within mine there was no trace of fear. Bloodlust, yes bloodlust.

I was seething. I hated the fact that a lifeless glob of lava had raised an impersonation of my mother only to trample over her once more. This was the vilest form of sacrilege and I would never forgive it.

Never!

I brandished the short sword in my right as a jet-black spear appeared in my left. My rage filled body moved as if on instinct, hurtling forward toward the massive monster. I could swear that as I raced towards it, it blinked once in confusion.

Perhaps it thought 'What is wrong with 

this puny human?' Nonetheless I leaped forth with a yell and slammed the entirety of my weight onto the side of its maw.

Perhaps in normalcy my feat would have terrified me but as of now the only emotion I had the capacity to feel was rage. The dragon had an endless amount of it too as it flung its head upwards. Throwing me an impossible height into the air.

It lunged at me as my momentum failed and I was hurled back at the ground, its maw opened wide in attempt to swallow me whole.

I was vaguely aware of Rubel and marcels figures waving at me from the scarlet breach in space at the scenter of the grand temple hall.

Unfortunately, this fight would not end until one of us perished. I hit the ground with a deafening boom. A jolt flashed through the core of my being, one that carried a faint painful sensation.

 Immediately I climbed to my feat, the closing jaws .of the dark crimson dragon engulfing me.

"Clang"

It was fang against blade and spear as my two arms forced its colossal maw into an impasse. I couldn't break free, and it couldn't devour me. Its large draconic wings flashed as it plowed me into the earth. 

The floor erupted into chaos several miles around me as a massive sandstorm raved. Yet my blades were still lodged within fangs. A greatly frustrated roar sounded out and the beast agitatedly threw back its head.

I allowed myself to be thrown up into the air but I would be on the offensive this time. I called lightless back to my left palm, navigating the torrents with the additional weight.

I hurtled, straight towards the creatures eye, every atom of my being exploding in righteous fury as I ruthlessly lodged lightless into its eye.

An incensed wail shook the very fabric of space as the creatures form ruptured into the broiling scarlet liquid.

I took no notice of its darker color as I sailed into it. The acrid scent of burning flesh filled my nostrils as a thousand stings danced across my skin.

The liquid filled my every orifice in a vengeance.

And the same time. [You're stronger than it. Fight it].A strange voice sailed to me amidst my collapsing bearings.

But even that awareness soon forgot its place. Darkness filled every corner of my world like it had many times before.

***