• Terror In Darkness

Drum! Drum! Drum!

That was the sound of Spheris's heartbeat hammering inside his chest as they sprinted towards the source of the anguished cry. Their feet smashed tiny stones, wind pouring on their faces as they stampeded on the dry soil. 

Finally arriving at a small rock, they quickly sought cover behind it and rested to catch their breath. They were close enough to the yells, which didn't stop at all.

Exchanging meaningful glances, Spheris and Cerene realized that they would have to observe the unfolding scene and try not to be detected.

And so with a silent nod, they both peered cautiously above the rock, and at the same time, felt their hearts fall into their stomach. Their eyes widened in shock and horror at the sight before them.

'What the hell are those things?' Spheris thought in repulsion. 

Three grotesque creatures, resembling skeletal monstrosities, circled around a helpless lone girlish figure who lay frail on the ground. The creatures were massive — eerily massive, each one the size of a healthy stallion. They did not have any kind of skin whatsoever. Not carapace, not scales, not fur... nothing.

Their bodies were only composed of red, hardened bones, emaciated and bedecked with sharp, extending spikes. They had wings made of the same reddish bones and some bloody, ugly, shredded skin attached to the frames.

The creatures' heads resembled human-like skulls but with multiple spikes protruding and a wide mouth filled with numerous sharp teeth. Their heads hung low as they toyed with their prey.

The girl — who most of her figure was covered by the three beasts — yelled continuously in fear and desperation. Spheris could feel the dread inside her as her screams tore into the air. 

But the creatures continued to toy with her. It was as though they derived twisted pleasure in tormenting her. They snapped their jaws menacingly and kicked her continuously with their clawed limbs.

Spheris knew that eventually they were going start devouring her, but they must be extremely maniacal to toy with their prey in such a manner.

He felt some kind of righteous anger welling up within him. An urge to save the girl. To be fair, he wasn't going to do nothing and leave her to die... was he? 

Spheris sighed inwardly. He wasn't. Though, he had to be honest to himself. Part of the reason he had this urge was selfish. He hoped to harvest their Soul Fragments afterward, praying silently they had a high rank, preferably Epic.

But then, Spheris felt that spike in his neck. [Umbric Intuition]. With alarm, he noticed one of the bone creatures lifting its head in a deliberate manner, its gaze shifting toward their hiding spot. Reacting swiftly, Spheris grabbed Cerene and pulled her down behind the rock, hearts pounding.

"Unconjure your Influence," he whispered to her, remembering Yograg's words. 

"What?" she whispered back.

"Turn it off! They can sense it!"

Cerene manipulated her water back into the flagons and pressed her back to the rocks. "Those are Dreadwingers," she said in a hushed undertone.

'Dreadwingers.' Spheris thought bitterly. 'What a fitting name.' 

When he turned to look at her, he could see the raw fear reflected in her eyes, which worried him all the more. Cerene had slain five different types of beasts already and yet she seemed genuinely scared of these Dreadwingers.

"What level are they?" he asked.

"Epic."

Oh boy, how bittersweet was that? The last Epic ranked beast he faced was the dungeon Gorgolith. But he had barely survived that encounter. In fact, if not for the presence of the other thieves who had been sacrificed to save himself, he most definitely would have died.

Spheris let out a deep breath of resignation. At least, if he was going to risk his life to save the girl, then the beasts had to be high-ranked. But with that rank came increased danger and difficulty.

"One is approaching us," he said to Cerene.

"How do you know?" she whispered back.

"Its shadow... I can sense it. I can sense it moving. It's closer now."

Cerene gulped. "We're going to have to have to fight."

"I know." Spheris agreed. But even though he was fairly excited for the challenge, he was scared shitless as well. One Epic ranked beast was difficult to battle, but three? Are they going to even survive? Was it worth it? Shouldn't they just run?

"We'll have to work together," Cerene spoke. "Have you ever done that before? Working together?"

He cocked a brow at her. Surely she wasn't taking a shot at him, not when they were in this situation. "What is the plan? The creature is closer now."

"Dreadwingers basically have no weak points, when you slice through their bones, it reforms again in seconds."

"Talk... faster."

"The only part of their body that isn't pure solid bone is the cartilage that connects the head with the neck. Do you have any weapons?"

Spheris started to shake his head, but then a thought flashed in his mind. "Hold on." He rubbed his hand through his pockets and finally drew out his small digger knife from a safe pocket in his sleeve. "Yes."

Cerene gazed at him half-surprised. "Okay. I'll draw their attention, one by one, and you go for their —"

"It's by the rocks! Be quick!"

"The cartilage, Spheris! Cut their heads through the cartilage, that way it doesn't grow back!"

Spheris shot her a face that said 'you have to be kidding.' Why didn't she just say that in the first place!?

Crawwwwww!!!

The screeching yell of the Dreadwinger tore into the air as it stood on the rock above them. It raised a claw and struck it at Spheris's direction.

[Leaping Shadow], and suddenly the Avatar disappeared, [Leaping] into the rock's shadow below.

Cerene's eyes widened in horror, seeing that she was alone with the beasts. Crawwwwww! It cried louder, turning to face her. "Spheris, you snow-skinned bastard!" she cursed as she rolled out of harm's way. 

The Dreadwinger jumped down from the rock and slowly approached Cerene who quickly conjured water out of her flagons to defend herself. "How dare you abandon me again?"

Suddenly, from the Dreadwinger's shadow, Spheris emerged with lightning speed, his digger knife in his hand. But pulsing around the digger knife was the same dark energy that normally pulsed around his fist. 

Before the creature could react, Spheris swiftly slid in the space between it and Cerene. He tossed the knife from his right hand to his left, and like hot knife through butter, sliced off the cartilage neck of the beast, sending the head toppling down to the floor.

Cerene stood frozen. Shocked, as the Dreadwinger's headless body crumbled to the ground before her.

Spheris emerged from the dirt and slowly walked to her. "I didn't abandon you," he said calmly.

She looked up at him, almost awestruck as she felt her cheeks redden. Then composing herself, she frowned. "Good."

"And it looks like my powers amplifies the damage of my digger knife." He raised up the weapon to study it.

"I noticed that too," was Cerene's reply. But she wasn't looking at him, she was looking straight ahead at the two other Dreadwingers who were snarling and closing in on them. 

'Hmm?' Spheris followed her gaze to their direction. 'Oh.'

Then he heard his glyph whir, the notification that he was eagerly waiting for. He sunk his hand into a safe pocket and pulled it out.

[Beastslayer Bonus granted] 

[Bearer, you have slain the beast, Dreadwinger]

[Secret Assignment has been completed]

[You have been granted 40ip]

[Power Growth has been discerned]

[Power Level increased]

[Power Level is now at 190ip]

[Commendations, Willful Bearer. You are now Adept]

[For in the Night there is Darkness, and in Darkness there is Terror, but for only those who can not wield it. For you, Willful Bearer, Darkness is your Ally]

'Hmm.' It was in fact the truth. Darkness had always been his ally, and now he had the power to truly wield it and make it do as he wished.

Spheris let out a defiant breath as he returned the glyph to his pocket. 

'Alright then.' He tossed his digger knife to the air, catching it expertly to strike a fighting a pose. Cerene conjured her glowing tendrils of water and readied herself as well. 

'Come at me, you hideous skeletons!' he demanded in his thoughts. 'No one has ever faced an Adept Spheris Arnadel before. You're about to be the first.'