Sam's Odyssey

The mansion's structure was already in ruins but, the explosion was the final nail in the coffin, completely destroying everything in its path.

This time, a massive crevice could be seen in that area, a demonstration of the power the sacrifice of self-detonation can bring.

Despite the necklace's protection, I landed hard, dazed and disoriented, as the shockwaves also affected us, sending us flying.

As I struggled to regain my footing, the dust settled. The crevice stretched before us, a chasm of destruction.

Aunty Gloria, whose body had gone back to its normal state—unlike the shadowy form before—rushed to my side, concern etched on her face.

"Sam, are you alright?"

Uncle Matthew stood, albeit weakly, surveying the altered landscape. "I hope that was enough," he muttered.

A faint roar echoed from the crevice's depths, and the Serpent's mangled form began to rise.

A massive chunk of flesh was torn from its chest, but despite fatal wounds, a radiant glow enveloped its body.

In an instant, the gash sealed shut – less than two seconds had passed.

Aunty Gloria whispered with measured solemnity, "Such regenerating power."

Uncle Matthew's eyes narrowed. "The difference in power levels is too great."

His voice weak, he continued, "Everything and everyone has been lost."

Pools of blood beneath the critters bore witness to the devastating toll on the house's inhabitants.

"A losing battle, isn't it?" Aunty Gloria whispered, her gentle caress failing to soothe my trembling hands.

"Teleportation is out of the question," she continued. "The space is fractured, and the power he wields… the void energy, the most destructive force in the world."

Uncle Matthew's eyes clouded with despair.

"What power lies behind the Great Abyss? We've suffered unimaginably, yet fate's trajectory remains unyielding. Who can dictate its course?"

His words were cut short by a piercing, menacing roar.

The Serpent's ember eyes locked onto us, radiating an unbridled, malevolent intent that sent shivers down our spines.

But this time, another emotion could be portrayed in its mind: unwillingness, internal conflict, hesitation, and… pain.

The emotions portrayed were met with reactions of befuddlement and confusion from us.

We reckoned there was still a bit of Lima within, that still wanted not to kill us, but we knew at this point, the time was of the essence.

Aunty Gloria yelled, "Matthew, do this now!"

And immediately, Uncle Matthew's forehead lit up with runes.

Several of them illuminated his whole body as his hands started accumulating a fierce, ethereal glow.

And in that exact moment, the ember eyes of the serpent suddenly snapped open, its pupil pinprick containing an ominous resolve.

"Not in my volition," it hissed soberly, yet its jaw snapped open, a whirlpool of dark energy on its course of ejecting out of its mouth.

"Ultima Sealing," Uncle Matthew's whispered words rang out.

With the enunciation of his words came a massive sphere of energy sent hurtling towards the serpent.

At that moment, the whirlpool of dark energy ejected from the serpent's mouth, hurtling toward them.

In a blinding flash, the two energy masses collided, sending shockwaves around.

Uncle Matthew's energy ball gained the upper hand, instantly sealing the serpent's energy. The serpent itself was momentarily immobilised by the force.

However, a fraction of the dark energy broke through, streaking purposefully toward us.

No time for relief, the relentless dark energy closed in.

Aunty Gloria sprang up, backed by the weakened Uncle Matthew. Various weapons and shields materialised.

Aunty Gloria's eyes blazed with determination. "Aegis of the moon!"

Shimmering silvery shields formed around us, reinforcing the physical shields at the front.

The escaped dark energy struck the forward shields, disintegrating them upon impact. It continued to bore into our defences.

Uncle Matthew's skin had slowly begun to pale, blood trickling from the corner of his lip as he spoke in a weak, yet resolute tone.

"It's a do-or-die affair right now; our only chance is to gamble everything on this desperate attempt."

Without hesitation, he placed a trembling hand on my shoulder and another on Aunty Gloria's, commencing the intricate process of harnessing and projecting space magic.

His knees buckled slightly, eyes stricken with exhaustion, and hands limp, yet he clung to consciousness, his life force dwindling.

The moonlight shields, once our safeguard, now lay breached, exposing us to the ominous dark energy.

Its malevolent presence loomed, reflected in our urgent gazes.

Aunty Gloria, at the forefront of the battle, stood vulnerable to the energy's merciless assault.

Just as all seemed lost, I felt the space around us begin to warp and distort.

Uncle Matthew's desperate bid to muster the strength needed for teleportation had yielded astonishing results.

As the familiar sensation of displacement washed over me, I closed my eyes, reeling from the sheer complexity of the magic.

This was an expertly executed manoeuvre, a testament to Uncle Matthew's mastery of space magic.

Teleporting through distorted space, while avoiding catastrophic consequences, required precision and skill.

Uncle Matthew had achieved the impossible, ensuring our safe passage.

However, at that moment, I failed to recognize the necklace's subtle yet crucial role in facilitating the successful teleportation.

Its influence remained hidden, awaiting discovery.

As I struggled to open my eyes again, a gruesome and heart-wrenching scene unfolded before me, searing itself into my mind.

Aunty Gloria lay wounded, a deep and savage gash boring mercilessly into her abdomen, threatening to claim her life.

Her once luscious hair now fell out in clumps, like crumbs crumbling from bread, framing her anguished face.

Her vibrant complexion had given way to a pale, almost translucent hue, and her features were contorted in unbearable agony.

The sight pierced my heart like a dagger, filling me with anguish and despair.

Dizziness overwhelmed me, anchoring me to the dunes as I struggled to comprehend our surroundings.

The world around me spun wildly, making it impossible to focus. Disoriented and reeling, I fought to cling to consciousness.

The horrific images of my benefactors dominated my fading consciousness, etching themselves into my mind.

Uncle Matthew lay nearby, his skin cracked and fissured like brittle glass, veins bulging in a violent rhythm as if protesting the trauma inflicted upon his body.

His eyes remained open, yet lifeless, and unmoving, devoid of the warmth and kindness that once shone within them.

Only the faint, intermittent blink of his eyelids hinted at a lingering spark of life, a fragile thread connecting him to the world of the living.

His chest rose and fell with shallow, laboured breaths, a stark contrast to the serene surroundings.

The soothing sound of waves gently lapping against the shore and the distant rush of water created a contrasting serenity, suggesting we were by the riverbank, a tranquil oasis starkly at odds with our desperate situation.

Desperate to stay awake, to remain alert and focused, I bit hard on my lips, drawing blood.

The sharp pain was a fleeting respite from the crushing weight of my emotions, but ultimately, it was a futile attempt.

But as I continued this futile fight against the encroaching darkness, a whisper drifted to my ears, its soft, warmth-filled tone barely piercing the haze of my dwindling consciousness.