Dunes Mirage: Trials in the desert (2)

The potion filled with liquid green flying towards Aksel was blown aside by snowstorm.

Aksel found it strange since he didn't activate his ability. Looking past his shoulder to see if someone else did it, he saw Ivan and Thea in the distance.

It was a coincidence. For Aksel and Ivan to have the same ability, but this awoke another question for Aksel, he recalled Ivan having the ability to summon guns.

In the current situation, he had no time to be thinking about that. The chaser in front was getting ready to throw another liquid green potion. He wonders why's this chaser so keen on eliminating him. He doesn't recall offending anyone… Unless behind that black smoke coverage is someone he knows. The thought of that worried him since that would narrow it down to only three people.

Out of nowhere, a foot lands on the face of the chaser keen of killing Aksel.

Thea sent the chaser flying a few meters away, twisting her head back and telling the others to activate the monument right away.

The other two monuments had already been activated. The monument they're at is the last one needed to be activated, making it the main target for the chasers.

Thea recommended that players with abilities that could be used as defense should stay while the rest with offensive abilities should go.

It was a dire situation, making the team lineup a bit messy.

The rest remained while Thea, Aksel, Latio and Ivan headed inside the ruined building where resided the monument.

Arriving at the spot, it was empty with only a monument in the center.

Thea whispered, fearing about something.

She stepped closer to the monument. Within a certain area her foot touched, the whole monument lit up, the ruined building started shaking tremendously, and a barrier was casted around. Her fear came true. The objectives this time isn't just a simple monument activation.

The four stared at the spirit in formidable armor—a great sword in its hand. The great sword shifted upwards with a powerful swing, sending a strong wave at them. Ivan barely managed to keep his stance while Thea and Aksel went flying, their bodies bashing agaisnt the sandstone walls.

In Aksel's eyes, this seemed like bullcrap. A spirit like creature in formidable armor does not seem anywhere near like a puzzle. To even make it that strong… He wondered how the others even managed to defeat the other two so easily, because his team seems to be suffering. He himself cannot keep going with this throbbing pain tormenting his vody as of right now.

Thea, noticing Aksel's condition moved over, protecting him from any incoming strong waves.

In that moment, Thea noticed something. Despite the pain, she pushed herself to open her screen. As she suspected, the monument they stumbled upon wasn't the same as the other two. Unlike the other two monuments which were actually puzzle solving, the one they just stepped into was a clash objective

They had stumbled upon death.

Impact caused by other players who do not possess cards cannot kill, but this time they were facing an ingame enemy. A boss at that.

Aksel was struggling to keep his eyes open.

She wore a panicked expression, "Hang on Aksel!" Thea yelled in an attempt to keep him awake as it was a terrible moment to pass out.

Amidst the struggle, Latio was the only one left standing, unbothered by his surroundings.

Ivan wondered how. Even for a skilled player like himself, this boss was difficult.

His confusion was answered when he saw a violin emerging in the hands of Latio.

It wasn't the violin that Ivan feared but rather the person who Latio truly was.

Puppet strings lurked behind the spirit, tangling it within the web with ease. The spirit boss was now a mere puppet controlled by strings.

Ivan was doubtful, but seeing the strings being controlled by a violin, it was the nail on the coffin for him.

"Latio… You're the Violinist puppeteer?…" Ivan spoke in a low tone, fearing the truth.

Suddenly a voice reached them from where Thea and Aksel bashed against.

"You're being too careless Latio," spoke Thea.

Ivan was baffled by her calmness. The Violinist puppeteer was a famous and feared individual among the players of Domain of Greed.

What peaked his popularity wasn't just his skills, but the fact that he is favored by the game creator, who even went through the trouble of creating a custom ability for him. The ability was named Violinist puppeteer, where his title came from.

One thing that all players of this game fear the most is having to play in the same game as the Violinist puppeteer.

Strangely enough, despite his popularity, no one knew his true face. The Violinist puppeteer was known to only appear when he's playing as a chaser. Those who have seen his face, let it be a runner or another chaser, would all disappear without a trace. The game creator's favoritism is what enabled him to do so.

Ivan having seen the Violinist puppeteer's true face means he'll definitely be erased off the face of earth.

He didn't care whether Thea feared this man or not, he needed her to combine her power with his to fight off Violinist puppeteer, but what he got instead was a surprise ploy.

He should've known better.

When he considered it, this fight should have been child's play with Thea's ability on their side. She could have simply commanded the spirit to stop or self-destruct, just as she did with the chaser they encountered earlier.

Thea's palm settled on Ivan's face, gripping tightly enough to make him fear his flesh might separate from his skull.

He felt defeated knowing Thea had sided with the chaser faction. Death seemed inevitable for him, yet it did not come.

In a commanding tone, she spoke, "Heed my words, Ivan Sokolov will not remember the events which happened this round," finishing her sentence, she let go of Ivan.

Ivan panicked at her words, futilely attempting to fight back, but it was too late. With a single command from Thea, he dropped unconscious to the ground, forced into a deep slumber.

Brainwashing might've been an overdo, but she couldn't allow her older brother to be exposed just yet.

Latio inquired whether they should do the same to Aksel, just to make sure.

Thea insisted it'll be fine, after all, it won't matter even if he does. Not when the ones he's going against are them. He won't stand a chance.

***

A fierce clash took place as the runners who remained outside tried to defend against the chasers. It was becoming increasingly difficult for two more chaser had joined the fight.

One was the chaser then encountered earlier, the lady with a biwa. As for the other…

The air thickened with the menace as an unfamiliar chaser joined, her presence undeniably ominous. The black fog hovering around her body which seemed more sinister compared to the other two chasers.

Scarlett's resolve wavered: the sinister aura of the new chaser sent shivers down her spine.

Rationally, Scarlett activated her ability. An eye opened up above Scarlett, its pupil scanning the ominous chaser.

That ruthless chaser held her hand up at the eye. As her hand curled into a fist, a mysterious substance wrapped around the eye, bursting it into smaller pieces of flesh.

Scarlett's face twisted in horror as she stared at the remains of the eye. Never did she think it was possible to destroy an ability. She had… Lost her Divine judgement ability.

The remains took a toll on her, sapping her fighting spirit. For someone who aspired to be a doctor—specifically, a surgeon—she felt she should have been able to withstand it. But this wasn't just blood and flesh; it was the exploded remains of a large eye—her ability in pieces.

Zena quickly leaped to save her. Scarlett was in no condition to fight as of right now. There were also too many chasers for Zena to be tending or protect Scarlett.

Running out of options, Zena was forced to leave Scarlett alone. A soldier stepped between her and Scarlett. Just like the chasers, it was drenched in black fog and surrounded by a sinister aura, but unlike the chasers, it was a summon of Dominik who had come to protect Scarlett.

Zena thanked the soldier, noting its bashful nod. She then quickly returned to the battlefield.

It was a rough battle with only Zena, Dominic, and Johannes on the field. The other half of their faction was on the other side of the map. Aksel's group was busy with the objective, and they had to hold on until it was completed.

For now, they could take it easy thanks to Dominic's summons, but it wouldn't last long.

Dominik sensed something was off. The chasers seemed to be missing a member.

Realizing the potential danger, he quickly directed Johannes to use his clairvoyance ability. As he suspected, Nadia had sneaked into the ruined building.

Dominik gritted his teeth, feeling the pressure of being the losing team.

Zena whispered a few words to calm him, "I trust she has a reason."

"What reason?!" Dominik tried to calm but it was impossible, considering their situation.

Suddenly, a huge explosion erupted from within the building. Nadia was blasted into the sky. Swiftly activafing her ability, Zena leaped up, catching Nadia and securing her fate from death.

As the smoke cleared, Thea and Latio emerged, carrying Ivan and Aksel on their backs.

Zena and the others exchanged puzzled looks, wondering what could have caused such a terrible explosion inside the building.

A harsh kick landed on Zena's chin, sending her flying backwards. Nadia jumped away from the crowd of runners.

While the others saw her lack of gratitude as ungrateful, Zena, more aware than she let on, paid it no mind. She casually stood up, dusting the sand off her clothes.

The numbers are a bit more even now, with Thea and Latio join them, overpowering the chasers, or so they thought.

The chaser possessing the Card emperor ability stood still in a triumphant manner as the other two chasers began attacking. They took orders obediently. It seemed as if he was recognized as a leader by the two.

It evoked a feeling of distress in Thea, realizing it is one of the three requirements of the Card emperor trial.

The chaser, drenched in an ominous aura, aimed at Aksel, who was unconscious in Thea's arms. A shockwave washed over the chaser, freezing her in place just millimeters from Thea. Unfortunately, Thea mistakingly froze only one of the chasers, leaving the others free to wreak havoc.

Step by step, Thea backed away as the Card emperor possessor approached her.

When this chaser appeared from beyond the dunes, he bore no aura, he felt benign, however, it was different now.

Zena, Dominik, Johannes, Latio. They all stood still in a stiff manner as the card emperor possessor strode his way towards Thea.

Backed into a corner, she was overwhelmed by this diabolical aura, which was far more terrifying. She was unable to use her ability. Her lips did not dare part ways under his presence.

If this keeps up, they might as well spend the remaining four hours in this map.

She was in a tight position, left with no options at all. She began brainstorming hard to think of ways to escape this, but with the biwa chaser ready to wield her biwa—the chaser with the ominous aura ready to strike again, and the card emperor possessor who could crush them any moment.

Just then, a hand rose up from behind her. Her eyes widen at it. Followed by was a faint yet cold voice, uttering: "Winter's will activate."

A fury of blizzard erupted, dispersing the chasers to a distant land.

They stared in disbelief at his performance. That was to least expect from a newbie like him. It even awoke Scarlett. The sudden cold was unconventional in a scorching desert like this.

Thea let Aksel down, overjoyed to see him awake. Just then, she felt something mushy and squishy under her foot. Looking down, to her disgust, were the remains of some kind of flesh.

"This…" She uttered in utter disgust.

Finally collected from the previous event, Scarlett spoke, her mind now steady and calm, "It's my ability," she said.

"Your what."

Scarlett said what she said.

Aksel still seemed in a daze despite his just magnificent performance. She got a gross idea and decided to push his head, making him face the remains.

Aksel immediately jumped up, cursing at the Thea.

Scarlett happened to notice Ivan hadn't woken up yet, "Did something happen to Ivan?"

Thea turned to look at Ivan, her eyes devoid of life. Turning back to Scarlett, she wore a mask of nonchalance, "He took a direct hit from the spirit in there, but it's nothing he can't handle."

Scarlett was relieved it was nothing serious, but his continuous unconsciousness is causing unease within her.

Meanwhile, Aksel began to question what had happened after he passed out. The glimpse he caught—eyes devoid of life—haunted him. He couldn't help but wonder what lies behind her mask, for the person before him is not the one he once knew.