Chapter 1093: Monster From The Depths [Pt 1]
The morning sun cast a soft golden glow over the Goblin Village as I said my final goodbyes, Gobtia's and the Chief's sincere wishes ringing in my ears.
I stepped out of the village boundary and turned to look back one last time, carrying with me their hopes and the warmth of their home.
With a deep breath, I began my journey, trekking through the thick forest, across the gleaming white sands of the beach, and finally onto the brilliant blue sea.
As I distanced myself from the shore, the vibrancy of the world gradually waned.
The once radiant azure sky was now a murkier grey, its vast expanse punctuated by ominous clouds.
The winds grew colder, and the sea began to swell and heave. Slowly but surely, I was approaching the Dark Waters.
The transformation was gradual but relentless. The further I traveled, the more the atmosphere grew oppressive, heavy with a sense of foreboding. T
he once benign, playful sea was now a tempestuous beast, its waves frothing and crashing against me. The sky was shrouded in dark clouds, their underbellies roiling ominously as they churned in the restless sky.
Reaching the edge of the Dark Waters, I could feel the raw, primal power of the sea.
It was here that I had lost my satchel, here where I had met the monster that lurked beneath these waters.
And it was here, once again, where I felt the threatening pull of the undercurrent, a menacing force that seemed eager to drag me into the abyss.
I paused, taking in the sights and sounds around me. The storm brewing overhead, the lashing waves, the chill in the air.
It was terrifying, yet I felt a strange sense of calm.
I knew what I was up against, and I was prepared.
Summoning my magic, I erected a protective barrier around myself. I could feel the pressure of the sea against it, a constant, crushing force.
But I held firm, focusing on maintaining the shield.
With a deep breath, I flew above the tumultuous waves, the chilling wind whipping against my barrier. The darkness around me seemed to thicken, yet, within me, a fire was burning.
I was not the same man who had first encountered these treacherous waters. I was stronger, more determined, and I was not going to back down.
As the storm raged around me, I plunged forward, defying the gusting winds and the lashing rain.
The monstrous silhouette seemed to stir beneath the water, the luminescent eyes flickering to life.
A surge of adrenaline coursed through my veins as I charged forth, ready to face the monster once again.
Despite the fear, despite the uncertainty, I felt a glimmer of hope. Hope that I would succeed, hope that I would retrieve my satchel, and hope that I would save Karlia, I was determined to overcome the Dark Waters, to confront the monster beneath, and to emerge victorious.
No matter what lay ahead, I was ready to face it.
"Let's begin. Spellcraft..."
~WHUUUUMMMM!~
The creature emerged from the abyss, a monstrous silhouette against the roiling Dark Waters.
Its eerie luminescent eyes glowed with an intense, hypnotic light.
But I was prepared. I focused on the constant flow of energy circulating around me, a protective veil that warded off its influence.
'Things won't go your way this time!'
"[Nether Infusion]!" I intoned, as the air around me began to shimmer, three Nether Cores orbiting around me.
My casting speed skyrocketed, faster than I had ever been able to manage before.
The creature lunged towards me, its gargantuan form cutting through the stormy waves like a dark blade.
I darted out of the way, the wind whistling past me as I narrowly avoided the behemoth's strike.
"[Nova Strike]!" I called out, drawing upon my Nether energy, condensing it into a brilliant beam of light.
The spell shot out, cutting across the darkness and crashing into the beast's tough hide.
But it wasn't enough.
The creature howled, and I could see its wounds already beginning to close.
Its regenerative ability was astonishing.
"[Corona Burst]!" I yelled, using Spellcraft to manipulate my Nether energy, forcing it to explode outward in a dazzling corona of destructive power.
"RUAAAAAAARRRRGHHHHH!!!" The creature roared in pain as the burst hit, but it was far from defeated.
Suddenly, the beast's eyes flared, and a massive burst of energy shot towards me.
I could read the flow of energy, feeling it ripple through the air around me, and I pushed off, just in time to avoid the lethal beam.
"Radiant Chains!" I countered, conjuring glowing links of Nether energy that shot forth, wrapping themselves around the creature's body.
I tugged, pulling it off balance and buying me some time to regroup.
My heart pounded in my chest as I faced the creature, its monstrous form dwarfing mine.
But I was not defeated. I was stronger, faster, and smarter than before.
And I was not going to give up.
I could feel the power of my Nether Cores, pulsating with untamed energy. I could feel my heightened casting speed, my improved Spellcraft, all my hard work culminating in this one fight.
We were in a stalemate, but that was about to change.
"Starfall!" I shouted, pouring every ounce of my energy into this one spell.
It was my trump card, a spell of such destructive power that it would obliterate anything in its path.
There was a moment of silence, and then a brilliant, blinding light descended from the sky. The beast roared as the spell hit, its body being consumed by the light.
My heart pounded as I watched, waiting for the light to fade. I was exhausted, my body aching and my energy nearly depleted.
But I held on, hope flaring in my chest. I was determined to win this fight.
'No matter what it takes...'
*
*
*
[A/N]
Thanks for reading!