Surfacing

An endless expanse of sand dwells in Blake's vision. Dune after dune as far as the eye can see sucking up any greenery with it. "The battle is ever changing" Pyres advice rings in his mind.

Powering up his keepups, he begins to navigate the simulated space before him diligently keeping an eye on any changes or disturbances.

''Even the sun has warmth to it'' His thoughts fire through as his body takes in familiar sensations. Sand starts to find its way in the creaks and insides of his boots.

''How do they even come up with something like this'' Mulling his thoughts through a green trail is left in the wake of dunes disturbed by his forming speed.

In his navigation the embrace of the sun is eclipsed by a black vulture. Wings spread wide encompassing the light of the sun. His eyes are drawn to the sublimity of this creature coming into view.

''PAY ATTENTION'' The low reverberating tone rings out in the depths of his mind.

Instead of listening, his usual anger bursts out in his mind. ''TELL ME WHO OR WHAT YOU ARE'' His thoughts becoming more and more demanding at the lack of response he's gotten so far.

Again silence. Whatever ringing out in his mind refuses to make itself fully known. Getting swept up in his anger he neglects the warning.

"ARRRRHH what the hell was that"! Blake yells out in response to the forming pain. A set of inky black fangs sink their way into Blakes thigh sending a foreign substance throughout his body.

[-2hp]

[28/30HP]

[Quest activated]

[Defeat your enemy]

[Failure outcome: Certain amount of stats lost]

[Reward: Randomized ability similar to opponent/+2 stat of your choosing]

[Reward 200 EXP]

[450/500 EXP]

A familiar translucent screen finds its way into Blake's vision making itself fully known to him. Chiming away in an attempt to get his full attention.

Putting his pain to one side he addresses the screen before him.

"If I win this I'll level up. I don't even know what that will bring. But if I lose, everything will come crashing down".

"Again"

"More of an incentive to win I guess".

"Not that I'm going to let myself lose" He says clenching his prosthetic, the motors and servos whirring out in response.

[You have been poisoned with tracking venom]

''Certainly want to stack up the challenge on this huh".

"Wouldn't be any fun otherwise" A wide grin forms on his face. The rush of battle seeping through him dominating any panic that might try and find its way into being.

In the corner of his vision he catches the familiar vulture, gaining immense speed as it nosedives towards the ground. Pulling up at the last moment, a gust of wind follows this slingshot of momentum.

"He he he, easy peasy".

"Sorry kid, I'm winning this one. My family will return to prominence"

"I'll make sure to end it quickly though" A bald dark skinned man comes into view clinging onto the feathers of the vulture. His tattoos dominate any skin available. A set of goggles cling to his eyes, scouting the ground below him thoroughly alongside his own vision.

The vulture starts to home in on Blake intently. Soaring close to the dunes of sand the vulture's wings brushes against the dunes. Kicking up a massive cloud of sand towards Blake.

His vision immediately gets clouded as particles of sand obscure his whole vision. Before he can get his bearing a set of feet plant themselves into his face firmly. Sending him flying across the dunes. In the same motion those same feet land on a black surface.

[-10HP]

[18/30HP]

A shark starts to swim through the depths of sand at incredible speed honing in on Blake just like the vulture. The man's hand clang to the fin of the shark, burns slowly started to form. Rapidly it continues forward cutting through the sand like butter. Only for its wild maw to split open revealing a set of ivory white teeth breaking up the overall composition of black.

Catching the disorientated Blake in its jaws. The black shark clenches down as hard as he can. Piercing its teeth through his torso puncturing the skin. Tearing flesh and bone in the process. Only for it to flick its head and inhale Blake's whole body into its inky black body.

[-15HP]

[3/30HP]

"Did I overdo it" The guy says as he flicks his goggles up.

"My turn". The same familiar voice establishes its presence. Before Blake can even yell out. A feeling of detachment snaps throughout his mind. Looking out of his eyes his own directions refuse to go through.

An ominous presence asserts control. The feeling of pain washing away entirely its presence.

''What"

"THE HELL'' His mind went into overdrive as the feeling that kept surfacing took hold of him fully.

"Finally I can have a turn on the body" His voice and tone changed significantly compared to before. A lower, much more mature voice starts to leak out of him. A tone indicative of desire.

"Being cooped up in there for so long is so boring" A hungry smile forms on his face. A crackle of sparks bounced off him. As his legs coil in response to the level of force demanded. Tearing partially with each demand given.

"I WILL WIN"! His eyes spark with a green fury in them. Rushing forward recklessly he clings his hands to the black insides of his captor. Blood poured out of the fresh holes in his body. All the muscles in his body begin to surge with power, a foreign feeling of electricity permeating its way through every fiber.

"I can't, I can't control it, what the hell is this"!? Blakes psyche crying out in the darkness of his mind. Only a porthole of vision into his world even perceivable. His detachment bringing about a level of chaos he hasn't felt since the lightning.

''Win, win win win''. A surge of thoughts infant-like in nature dominate the usual silence of his mind. The porthole of vision becomes more and more detailed in the process.

In the depths of the shark's stomach electricity begins to dance. Erratically ripping apart the integrity. Immediately the voltage soars. Forcing apart the ink composing the shark. Green static runs rampart on his prosthetic, a familiar spot of energy being mistaken for it.

"WAIT"

"STOP YOU CANT REVEAL THAT"! A desperate plea echoes in his mind.

"Fine". The first response Blake has ever gotten is received through the bleak darkness.