Ch 18 The Ashes of Yesterday- 18

  With a simple step, David continued on. As he stored his sword, forgotten were memories he had left behind.

  Approaching the dead thing, David was captivated by a delicious smell and felt an overwhelming urge to indulge his ever-growing hunger. His stomach felt wide open and ready; with a growl, David claimed every scrap of meat he could find in the depths of the ant's red carapace.

  In a delightful surprise, the once tranquil air suddenly danced with a breeze, carrying a beautiful melody that filled the atmosphere. Once again, a divine hymn enveloped him, the air buzzing with an unspoken bond, as the timeless tune transformed into heartfelt words, creating a magical moment that resonated deeply.

  He had been awarded thrice after picking every last tasty morsel off the carcass. The meat was insufferably dry, and David had to find a way to quench his thirst. An idea rang out in his head, gently bringing it to his attention—a singular way to earn him extra points and quench his thirst.

  David dipped his head into the beast's body once more and drank greedily, lapping every last drop from the cup that had become the ant's chitinous body.

  David tried to swipe at the multiple messages stacked in front of his eyes, but his fingers felt the tactile sensation of air. He angled his head and began tapping along his chin; a heavy burden suddenly assaulted his mind.

  " Not important, " The voice sounded in his mind again.

  He had waited for this moment. David flexed his fingers around the hilt of his sword, drawing inspiration from the connection.

  " Who are you? "

  " Bond, sleepy, "

  " Wait, " David shouted, clearly panicked. " Which bond are you speaking of? "

  " Sleep now, talk later. "

  As abruptly as the voice had materialized, the heavy presence within David's mind dissipated like mist under the morning sun, leaving him enveloped in a profound silence and grappling with his unanswered questions.

  " Was I talking with my sword? " David's spoke his thought into the cavernous halls.

  Just a few days ago, David would have laughed at the very notion that he could entertain such wild thoughts. Yet here he stood, mesmerized by a world where magical wonders danced before his eyes, enchanting songs echoed with divine brilliance, and children faced off against monstrous beasts.

  Even swords seemed to come alive, their whispers weaving tales of heroism. What was once unimaginable had now become David's newfound sense of reality and everyday life.

  Determination flashed through him as his eyes darted about, seeking new adversaries. Driven by a restless need to fulfill the promise of progress those tantalizing blue boxes held for him.

  When a mild flash of green light caught his eye, David's mind stumbled momentarily, grappling with doubt. But then, after gripping familiar steel at his side, a surge of courage washed over him like a warm tide.

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  David knew he was becoming dependent on his sword to regulate his fluttering fears. Currently, all he could think of was staying alive, so naturally, he relied on it as a crutch. Still, somewhere in the dark recesses of his mind, David knew it was an addiction he needed to cure before it could become a faithful companion.

  Yet, something deep within him whispered that the journey along the path of Sciath demanded more than mere steel; it required a trustworthy ally by his side, one that could genuinely guide him through the shadows ahead.

  The flashes of green turned into a dog-sized being with a long, sinuous body. It had six wings, seemingly formed of pure energy, its body sparsely covered in green chitin, an abdomen ending in a vicious stinger, and only two legs; before him was a hybrid of dragonfly and scorpion.

  Unlike a scorpion, this amalgamation's tail curved downward in a menacing manner. It maintained its position in flight, nearly grazing the stalagmites suspended from the ceiling through mystical means. The wings did not produce the characteristical buzz typically associated with a dragonfly.

  Instead, it remained silent, hardly giving off any sound, as it sped downwards and pierced through a gray-skinned child with unbelievable speed. With a crunch from its mandibles, the youth's head disappeared into a maw of teeth.

  With a soft thud, the beast balanced itself perfectly, landing on its two legs and devouring the rest of the child.

  Try as he might, at the green fiends turned back, David attempted to sneak up on his prey unaware, which failed magnificently; his echoing steps quickly alerted the beast to his arrival. Steadfast, his gaze remained as he approached the beast, determined to end it swiftly.

  With a swift motion, he drew the sword from its disproportionate hilt, the blade gleaming as it expanded in his grasp. Just in the nick of time, David raised the weapon to intercept the deadly stinger aimed directly at his heart. The clash echoed in the air, a tense second of defiance against the looming threat.

  The moment subsided when the beast disappeared, leaving him behind with incredible speed. David had lost his target due to his inexperience, and as it produced no sound, he could not locate it again.

  Tension crackled in the air, a momentary stillness stretching forever, beads of sweat forming on David's brow. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of vibrant green! With a jolt of adrenaline, he spun around, eager to seize his quarry, but the elusive insect darted away, leaving him frustrated at the game of cat and mouse they seemed to play.

  A surge of danger enveloped him, and in a split second, he twisted his body just in time, narrowly escaping what could have been a fatal blow. The line of blood left behind a stark reminder of the peril he faces. As he turned, the thrill of the chase slipped through his fingers—his target had vanished into thin air.

  The dangerous dance of death continued. Frantically, David searched every inch of the cave, hoping to see another flicker of coruscating green. A shiver of danger coursed through him, sharpening his senses to a razor's edge. Instinctively, his sword sprang to life, rising high, sensing the threat before he could see.

  With a deep, reverberating clangor, metal screeched against the vicious stinger. Animal and youth were preserved, untouched by each other, and the cycle of finality carried on, but this time, David came away unscathed.

  The creature loomed once more, its presence an ominous shadow in the night. He stood prepared, ready to embrace the challenge that awaited. Chitin clashed with steel in a fierce encounter, and David seized the momentum, twisting the barb into a mesmerizing dance. A dazzling shower of sparks erupted at the point of contact, illuminating the shadow with bursts of light and energy.

  With his enemy on the brink of escape, David unleashed a tremendous display of power, forcefully shoving the creature aside in a thrilling clash that sent shockwaves through the air.

  This exposed a weakness in the fiend as it failed to right itself, giving David a chance. With a dramatic dash, he rushed to it and rotated from high to low, slicing a singular wing of his prey.

  The creature made a feeble attempt to right itself, but it stood no chance without the wing and only two legs supporting its bulk. A simple kick crushed its head, gore and chitin flying about.

  Unperturbed by the viscera on his boot, David cracked open the tasty morsel. Butchering the animal came with ease, and the flavorful aroma carried a sense of satisfaction through the air.

  David cut off its tail, acting on instinct. Somehow, he knew to cut along its chitinous shell to expose the tender white flesh beneath. As if it was a lobster, he began digging into the beast, slurping out juices with greed.

  David feasted on every last scrap and washed it down with the fluid that had once animated the beast.

  Boxes slowly disappeared from sight, leaving him only with a pleasurable shiver running down his spine at the repeated words displayed. His body felt stronger, and the depth of his mind deeper.

  > Seier and strength have increased drastically.

  Euphoric bliss overshadowed his fleeting courage, but the sharp pain of his arm grounded him quickly.

  David spread his hand against the dusty ground. As he drew upon the earth's healing power, green flickers of emerald flame danced about his wound. With disappearing light, the only trace of the scuffle was a slight tear in Davi's tunic.

  With renewed vigor, David satisfied his curiosity by catching brown beetle-like creatures as he danced about in battle like a trance. They quickly disappeared, like aperitifs in a waiting buyer's maw, unable to quench his ever-growing hunger for battle.

  David effortlessly dispatched any green scorpion-like fiends he found and eliminated the few red ant-like creatures with practiced grace. Some other youths approached him, greed in their eyes, claiming his kills for themselves. With a swift flourish of steel, the distractions were gone as more whispers arrived at his ears, and blue boxes told him of his progress.

  Deeply immersed in the insect genocide, he never saw the proverbial dagger coming from the dark. A memory from hours ago seemed to whisper of Deja Vu to him. Youths of differing states had surroundend him.

  " Tsk, tsk, tsk, " A dark-haired youth said to David in a mocking tone. "You really put on a show, just to be mocked as the clown by the end. No matter this time, the trials end will not save you."

  The figure spun his arm around the cavern, highlighting the many carcasses left behind. David took the tens of slain beasts and admired the sight before a shadow of doubt crossed his heart.

  " We win, " The familiar voice stated matter of factly. " Just kill."

  Seized by a wave of horror at the thought, David felt a chill creeping down his spine. The voice, uncanny and perceptive, seemed to tap into his very thoughts, reducing his fear and objection as it read the turmoil in his mind.

  " Just kill, then eat. More growth, simple. "

  This had the opposite effect on David's mind. He shook off the force, trying to compel his mind to tune out the eery voice.

  " Today, " The leader of the group began. " I, Leon, a disciple of Elder of ashy torrents, declare that you have no place here, rule breaker. My Oraculi has given me the object of your demise. Neither death nor trials end will keep me from taking your life today! "

  Before Leon had even ended the speech, David had already dashed away. He cleaved apart two of Leon's henchmen in passing as he began the mad dash toward the safety of shadows nearby.

  David lost himself in the shadows, and Lady Luck's favor must have smiled upon him. There was no sound close by; only the slight breeze of the Song accompanied David while he hid in the labyrinth of shadows he found himself in.