Chapter 4: Awakening IV
Despair etched across their faces as they gazed upon the grievous sight of Chris impaled by the ancient sword.
His mother moved to rush forward, driven by desperation, but Rhessan's outstretched hand stopped her in her tracks.
"Mother, don't. I've encountered this weapon once in the akashic records. It's a weapon that bestows true death. We can't be certain of its effects if you touch it," Rhessan cautioned, his voice laced with apprehension.
"Alright, I won't go near it. Let me use my power," his mother declared, determination coloring her voice.
"Saint Heal!"
As if the heavens themselves responded to her plea, a spectral figure imbued with an aura of sanctity materialized behind her. Radiating a sense of divine presence, the phantom stood as a testament to her unwavering resolve. With its appearance, a mesmerizing cascade of golden light poured forth, filling the room with a celestial radiance that bathed Chris's prone form.
In this luminous embrace, ethereal visions of a higher realm unfurled—a mesmerizing tapestry of celestial landscapes, shimmering constellations, and awe-inspiring vistas. The atmosphere was charged with an otherworldly energy, as if the very fabric of reality had momentarily given way to a glimpse of the divine.
The golden light intensified, its brilliance reaching a crescendo as it enveloped Chris's body, forming a protective cocoon of luminescence. The room itself seemed to hold its breath, suspended in a fleeting moment that teetered on the edge of hope and uncertainty.
A vibrant aura of verdant green enshrouded Chris's form, a vivid manifestation of the formidable power being channeled into him. The room was transformed into a sanctuary of emerald radiance, the luminous glow painting the air with an otherworldly hue. It was a spectacle of grandeur, a testament to the immense power being harnessed for the sake of one man's life.
Yet, even as the room was suffused with this awe-inspiring display, the ancient sword's grip upon Chris's heart remained unrelenting. Its malevolent power defied the vibrant green aura, a stark reminder of the grim fate that had befallen him. The sword's presence stood as an unwavering symbol of the forces they faced, an unyielding force that resisted the combined efforts of divine healing and familial determination.
The green radiance persisted, a beacon of hope amidst the encroaching despair, but it gradually waned, the brilliant light dimming in the face of the sword's unassailable darkness. And as the luminous aura faded, a sense of profound helplessness settled upon the room, each family member grappling with their own emotions as they confronted the cruel reality that their efforts had not yet yielded success.
"It's futile. Our efforts bear no fruit," Sierdan, the third eldest brother, spoke with a tone of resignation. As a holder of a unique System 1 ability, he wielded the power of a "Game Holder." Once a day, he could call upon abilities and items from within games.
The room was filled with a heavy silence as the family members stood in a circle around Chris, their powers and hopes failing against the inescapable truth—Chris's life hung in the balance, his fate held by the grip of the ancient sword.
As despair seemed to tighten its grip, an unexpected phenomenon unfolded before their disbelieving eyes. The ancient sword, once an unyielding harbinger of death, began to tremble, its form quivering as if caught in the throes of a reality-shifting force. The green radiance of the Saint Heal effect had faded, leaving behind a sense of resignation. And yet, against all odds, the sword appeared to waver, as if its very existence was being called into question.
In a surreal twist, the sword's edges began to blur, as if it were phasing into a realm beyond their perception. The metal seemed to waver like a mirage, defying the laws of the physical world. The profound nature of the moment hung in the air, a hushed uncertainty mingling with astonishment.
And then, as swiftly as the sword's unsettling movement had begun, it ceased. The weapon, which had moments ago been impossibly embedded within Chris's heart, now lay beside him as if untouched by its sinister purpose. The room, once a battleground of despair, was now a stage for bewilderment and disbelief.
The family members exchanged incredulous glances, their expressions a reflection of the unfathomable events that had transpired before them. The air was charged with a palpable tension, as if the very fabric of reality had been temporarily bent to a different will. The sword's inexplicable shift left them grappling with a myriad of questions, a mix of hope and trepidation flooding their hearts.
Amidst this enigma, Chris's form remained unchanged, his slumber undisturbed. The room, though now free from the sword's malevolent grasp, seemed to echo with the echoes of the uncanny occurrence. It was as if the very laws of existence had momentarily faltered, leaving behind an indelible mark upon their understanding of the world.