Chapter 347: Abrupt change

It all happened too abruptly, too fast. It was truly ridiculous, One second, we were all enjoying our flight, gazing upon the beauty of this different world, the next, the tranquility and awe of our flight were shattered, replaced by chaos and terror. The sudden explosion of Ravensong's body jolted us all out of our reverie, leaving us stunned and disoriented. Before we could fully comprehend the situation, a tremendous pressure bore down upon us, forcibly driving us toward the earth below.

As we hurtled towards the ground, the impact was devastating. My colossal form collided with the mountain, causing it to crumble and collapse under the sheer force of the impact. The once majestic peak now lay in ruins, a testament to the violence of our descent.

The chaos of the crash dispersed us across the landscape. Breta, was thrown to the side, leaving a deep crater where she landed. Meanwhile, Serenia and Zeph vanished from my sight, their fate unknown in the aftermath of our collision. I strained to locate them amidst the chaos, but my vision was obscured by the dust and debris that filled the air.

Through the haze, my attention was drawn to the remnants of Ravensong's body, plummeting to the ground. As it fell, an eerie obsidian hand emerged in the sky, reaching out to claim the remains. This hand was unlike anything I had ever seen, its fingers replaced by grotesque, elongated faces that sent shivers down my spine. The aura emanating from it was disturbingly familiar, reminiscent of the ominous presence I had encountered during my encounter with the door alongside Sidus.

Fear gripped my heart as I assessed the situation. Whatever force had caused Ravensong's demise and unleashed this grotesque hand was beyond comprehension. It was clear that we were facing a Shade.

Questions raced through my mind, demanding answers. How had this bastard appeared so suddenly, catching us off guard? Why had we not sensed its presence until it was too late? And where were the higher gods, whose responsibility was to maintain and fix the outer shield?

The weight of these unanswered questions only added to the overwhelming sense of dread that enveloped me. But there was no time for doubt or self-pity. I needed to focus on the present, on the imminent danger before me.

As the eerie hand clenched Ravensong's remains, a blood-red eye materialized in the center of its palm. The intensity of its aura grew, threatening to crush my spirit and keep me down. But I refused to yield. Anger surged within me, replacing fear with an unwavering resolve.

With a mighty roar, I rose from the rubble, the ground trembling beneath my feet. The rage that burned within me fueled my determination. The arrogance of its presence, the audacity to threaten our existence, ignited a fire within me that could not be extinguished.

My scales shimmered with cosmic energy, and sparks of lightning crackled along my massive frame. The very air around me crackled with my fury. I refused to bow down before this fucker.

The ominous hand seemed to ignore my presence completely as it turned its focus on Ravensong's remains, instead, an unsettling crimson hue emanating from its grasp, casting an eerie glow on the surroundings. A primal sense of danger coursed through my veins, urging me to recklessly engage in a head-on confrontation. However, my rational side prevailed, overriding the instincts that threatened to consume me.

The situation had become too precarious, too shrouded in mystery and perilous unknowns. Charging blindly into battle would only serve to put myself and Breta at greater risk. I needed a plan, a strategy to navigate through this unsettling encounter.

With a firm resolve, I shifted my attention to finding Breta amidst the chaos. She had fallen a distance away, creating a small crater upon impact. My heart clenched with worry, but I pushed it aside, knowing that I had to stay focused. Next, I had to reunite with my siblings. I could only offer a silent prayer to the King, that they had not encountered any Shade like I did, and that they remained safe.

With no time to think of any consequences my next actions would cause, I hurriedly reached out to the cosmic mana that surrounded my body and instantly teleported toward the crater where Breta had fallen. The second I appeared next to her, however, my scales went numb as my sense of danged flared. Breta had her eyes wide open and was staring behind me.

I subconsciously turned my head only to come face to face with the giant blood-red eye. Without thinking, I reached out for Breta with my tail, wrapping it around her before I tapped into the cosmic mana that enveloped me, teleporting both myself and Breta away from the ominous presence.

As we reappeared in the sky above the human fortress, a surge of relief washed over me. However, the intense rush of adrenaline left my body trembling, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of concern for Breta's well-being.

Quickly assessing my own condition, I checked for any injuries or missing body parts, relieved to find myself physically unscathed. Turning my attention to Breta, her pale complexion and wide-eyed expression revealed the impact of our narrow escape. With a gentle touch of my tail, I sought to provide comfort and assurance amidst the chaos.

Taking a moment to catch my breath, I tried to steady my racing heart. The encounter with the abomination had shaken me to the core, and the implications of its presence weighed heavily on my mind. I knew we had to regroup with Sidus and Ynos as soon as possible, but I also had to ensure Breta's well-being.

"Are you alright?" I asked, concern lacing my voice as I met her gaze. Breta took a moment to compose herself, her breathing gradually steadying.

"I'm… I'm fine," she replied, her voice slightly shaky but determined. "That was close… too close."

Nodding in agreement, "Stay close to me," I said, my voice firm and resolute. "We need to find the others and devise a plan-" Before I could continue speaking, the familiar aura reappeared once more. This time, I could feel it rushing from a distance, its presence akin to an ominous flame in the middle of the night.

"Fuck!" I cursed.

"Aether! We got to leave!" Breta shouted, and her emotionless expression crumbled as her face paled.

I didn't reply and instead held her in my claw before I teleported once more. In an instant, we were whisked away from the human fortress, leaving behind the chaos and uncertainty that had enveloped us.

As we reappeared above a forest we had passed by before, my grip on Breta tightened as I assessed our surroundings. The urgency of the situation weighed heavily upon us, and I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins. Breta's pale face mirrored my concern, her eyes wide with fear and determination.

"We can't stay here," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "That aura… it's too dangerous. We need to keep moving."

"I know..." I cursed under my breath.

"Just what the hell is going on?!"