The Omen, page 33
part #5 of Eden's Gate Series
I glanced up, and my heart beat a little faster when I realized it was coming from Solomon.
Careful, father, Sora warned as I started walking toward the head Faithsworn’s body.
When I reached Solomon, he was mangled and covered in deep wounds all over his body. Blood soaked his robe, and an arm and a leg were twisted into positions that clearly indicated that they were broken. It was amazing that he was still alive.
“Heal me…” Solomon said in a sad, weak voice. “Please heal me.”
“Yeah right,” I snorted. I glanced over to Sora before looking back to Solomon. I slowly pulled my sword from its sheath. “In fact, I think I’ll take your head to give to King Rutherford.”
“No… please,” Solomon pleaded.
I pointed the tip of my sword to him. “You had no mercy for me in the Arena, so give me one reason to spare you now.”
“I only wanted to know, Reborn, wanted to study you, find a way to be like you. Otherwise, I am nothing. We are nothing.”
“You’re right,” I said cockily. “You’re nothing. And your Faithsworn army has been destroyed.”
“Maybe I alone am destroyed, but others will take my place… The faith will never die.”
I huffed and raised my sword. “Okay, well, let’s find out.”
“Kill me and you learn nothing.” Solomon coughed and blood spewed from his mouth.
I shook my head in confusion at his words. “What would I want to learn from you?”
Solomon’s eyes went wide, and he began laughing hysterically as he spoke through his blood-covered lips. “There are others. Reborns are not the only immortals in Eden’s Gate. I… have created… a monster.”
“Yeah?” I questioned.
“Yes!” Solomon said with wild eyes.
I sighed and shook my head. “Well, whatever you created, fuck you.” I slammed my foot on Solomon’s face, giving me a good clean look at his exposed neck. With both hands, I hammered my blade down with all my might, cleanly decapitating him.
Blood poured everywhere.
You have received 1,000 XP!
I kneeled and began inspecting Solomon’s pockets and bag, finding 1200 gold and a couple of items that were very worthwhile.
You’ve received: Scroll: Lightning Strike. Summon a powerful bolt from the sky above to strike down your enemies. Requires 20 Intelligence. Lightning Magic Lvl 20. Durability: 10/10. Quality: Average. Rarity: Epic. Weight: 0.1 kg
You’ve received: Skeleton Key. Durability: 998/1000. Quality: Average. Rarity: Rare. Weight: 0.1 kg. This key can open any non-magical lock. It is destroyed upon use.
I pocketed the items, and then grabbed Solomon’s head by his bloody, matted hair. I thought about cutting some cloth from his robe to wrap it up in but decided against it due to lack of time. Instead, I just opened my unburdening bag and dropped it inside.
You’ve completed the requirements for the bounty quest: Solomon Creed. Return to the King of Highcastle to collect your reward.
Disgusting… Sora said.
Indeed, it was disgusting, but I had seen so, so much worse. It wasn’t the first decapitated head I had carried around in my bag either.
If I had more time, I would’ve looted the rest of the dead men, but they were scattered out, and I had a limited amount of time to finish the quest from Eanos.
All in all, I ended up netting Solomon’s items, two health potions, a couple bandages and 1,950 gold.
Let’s get out of here, I projected to Sora, and she lowered herself for me to pull myself up
Though I had been pretty pissed when Sora was stolen, obtaining the saddle turned out to be a pretty good deal. Hopping on her was so much easier, and I felt even more confident riding her.
I pulled out Eano’s runebook and turned to page 103—Hallowhaven. I had no idea what to expect… only that the zone was a little out of my level range. “Be ready for anything, Sora,” I said out loud before focusing on the rune in the book.
The rune began to glow, and my pet and I started to fade away.
Chapter Forty
2/6/0001
It was pitch black, and the only indication that I had reached my destination was the heavy patter of cold rain and feeling of getting soaked.
I cast Divine Sight on myself, and saw that we were basically in the middle of nowhere. In every direction there was nothing but black soil and tall grey, geometric pillars that rose from the ground. Vines wrapped around the pillars, and scattered about was the occasional barren black tree. All of them looked dead and halfway uprooted.
The wind was blowing hard, and I could also see strange humanoid creatures walking around aimlessly. They were six-feet tall but hunched over, completely bald from head to toe, and unclothed. Their skin was grey and withered, and though their head was shaped like a human, they had no facial features at all—not even a mouth.
Name: terrorscream
Race: monster
Level: 26
Health/Mana/Stamina: 200/150/100
Status: unknown
The closest of the monsters was 30 or so meters away, and it hadn’t seemed to notice us, but they were literally everywhere. We’d have to travel carefully or we’d have a hell of a fight on our hands—something I wasn’t looking forward to right after the battle with the Faithsworn.
I reached in my bag, grabbed my compass, and when I found east, I urged Sora slowly that way.
Walk quietly, I said. Try not to attract any of them.
Though Sora was doing the walking, I could tell that each step on the cold ground was uncomfortable and muddy. Occasionally, Sora would step on a light branch or hardened vine, which would crackle over the rain and cause me to tense up.
We traveled carefully for 10 minutes, weaving through the terrorscreams, trying our best to keep our distance, and the density of them only seemed to increase as we continued.
Eventually, we reached a location where ahead, the aimless wanderers looked to be spaced only 15 or so meters apart. The ground sloped upwards on our left and the right sides, so unless we wanted to climb the slopes, we would’ve needed to backtrack and circle around, and if we did that, there was a risk that we’d lose our bearing and continuing east would cause us to miss our target.
I navigated Sora to behind a stone pillar and reached for my bow on my back. Thus far, silence had worked, and if I could take down the terrorscream to the furthest right, we’d probably have plenty of room to navigate past the other two.
I nocked an arrow to my bow and focused in on the area right below the terrorscream’s neck. It had been a long time since I had used my Snipe Shot, but I still remembered how to focus on shooting a silent critical strike.
My heart skipped a beat as the arrow flew through the air, and thumped into the terrorscream’s neck.
The terrorscream made a low, agonizing squeal and turned its head in the direction from which the arrow came. The two terrorscreams nearby turned their head towards the one who had squealed.
The monster pulled the arrow from its neck and ran awkwardly towards us, but halfway to reaching the stone, it stopped and looked down. Suddenly, it just started walking around aimlessly again as if nothing had happened.
These creatures are very strange, Gunnar.
Yeah, I agreed, raising my chin in the direction we were heading. But look… Now that he’s moved, there’s room for us to get by.
We circled around the injured terrorscream and eventually passed the other two that were wandering close together.
For another five minutes, we passed through Hallowhaven without incident, but at some point, we passed a terrorscream who had been perfectly hidden out of sight and a little too close.
The monster turned its head as if it could see with its eyeless face, and immediately started running towards us.
Run, I urged Sora.
Sora started sprinting, jumping over vines and still trying her best to avoid the terrorscreams that were scattered out and wandering around aimlessly. When it seemed that we were far enough out of distance that we had lost the monster behind us, we stopped beside a tree. But no sooner than we stopped, another skinless monster jumped from somewhere out of the tree, right in front of us.
Name: faceless atrocity
Race: monster
Level: 29
Health/Mana/Stamina: 300/100/300
Status: unknown
The creature had no facial features like the terrorscreams, but it was further hunched over, and out of its palms grew long, white bones, that were shaped and sharpened into blades. Four lengthy tentacles were writhing around wildly on its back.
Taking a moment to inspect the creature proved to be a bad idea when it nimbly leapt from the ground and lunged one of its blades out to strike.
I instinctively held my hand up and cast a Fireblast, which struck the creature in its face and caused it to fly backwards. It flew back without making a sound, but instead of falling, it gained its equilibrium in the air and managed to land on its feet. I wondered if I was just too weak to cause damage to the monster or if my Fireblast was less effective due to the rain.
Run, I urged Sora.
The atrocity gave chase as we continued further east, and it was much faster and consistent than the terrorscreams. While Sora was speedier than the monster, each time I looked back, I could still see it far off in the distance.
Sora slid through the mud as she suddenly stopped. Father.
Ahead of us was another row of tightly packed terrorscreams, and on a nearby tree, I could clearly see another faceless atrocity’s tentacles wriggling around—now that I was looking for them.
I glanced back again to see the atrocity running towards us, so I knew there was no time to nock an arrow and try to sneak by. I reached for my sword and held it out to my side. We’ll have to plow through them.
Plow through them? Sora asked. I could sense the worry in the voice she projected into my mind.
We have no choice. Just run and leave the rest up to me.
Once again, Sora sprinted ahead, and when we reached the group of terrorscreams, the closest one immediately turned for us.
I swiped my sword across its throat as we passed, and a grey liquid came spewing from the wound. The attack attracted the attention of its two closest friends, who immediately gave chase.
I looked back to watch the wounded terrorscream grab at the wound and tremble, but after a few seconds, it flung its hands down, tilted its face up, and let out a terrifying screaming noise that must have echoed for miles.
Suddenly, all the monsters behind us, to the side of us, and in front of us turned their attention our way. Faceless atrocities were leaping out of trees, and all the terrorscreams started running our way.
“Oh shit!” I said out loud.
Bad idea, Sora said.
“Just keep running!”
I swung my sword to the right, and cast a Fireblast to the left. As we approached a large group of terrorscreams ahead of us, I focused on channeling a Firebomb, which I lobbed at them, creating a small path through the flying bodies.
You have gained 1 point of Intelligence!
Unfortunately, none of my attacks had been enough to kill the monsters, and all terrorscreams that were injured let out high-pitched screams seconds after being attacked, causing more and more of the monsters to join in on the fray.
The horde of monsters ahead of us grew so thick, that I knew we couldn’t cut through them much longer.
A cave! Sora said.
I glanced over to see a small cave that was carved into the side of a hill. Go!
I shot Fireblast, Arcane Missiles, and swung my sword every which way as Sora dodged, jumped, and ducked as many of the monsters as she could, and as soon as we slid into the tiny mouth of the cave, I cast a Fire Curtain behind us.
In front of us was nothing but a dead end and a set of bones, so the only way out was back.
I swallowed hard as I heard another high-pitched wail from a terrorscream, and as the fire flickered at the mouth of the cave, I saw the frightening tentacles of several faceless atrocities, waiting for the flames to go away.
I closed my eyes and breathed heavily as I thought. What do I do? What do I do? My death flashed before my eyes—a faceless atrocity jabbing my throat with its blades, and terrorscreams ripping my flesh off with their smooth, bare hands.
Can you cast multiple bombs? Sora asked.
I shook my head. I don’t know. But even two wouldn’t be enough. I’ll eventually run out of mana, and they take some time to channel.
So, this is it? Sora asked.
No, it can’t be… I can’t let you die like this. If I dismiss you, you can find a way back to the Otherworld, right?
I can’t pass over in the heat of battle. Peace is required to enter the Otherworld.
“Fuck,” I cursed out loud.
I closed my eyes, listening to the patter of rain, and slither of strange tentacles, trying to prepare myself for imminent death, but then I remembered I had another weapon in my bag.
“Wait,” I muttered as my eyes darted open. I reached into my bag and grabbed the All-Seeing Eye, feeling its strange power pour into me. “As soon as the fire subsides, start running again and don’t stop for anything.”
You’re going to use that? The same thing that dragon seemed to be after?
I have no choice, Sora. Run straight east when the flames die. I’ll try to push them back.
Almost immediately after the words left my mouth, the flames of the Fire Curtain dissipated, and the monsters stormed forward.
I held the eye out and focused on casting the Lumen Ray.
The energy that shot out of the eye was so powerful, that my hand jerked back, and I had to steady it to maintain control. But, as soon as the energy touched the monsters, they were thrown back into the whatever was behind them, pushing each other back further and further. I moved the eye left and right, pushing back all the monsters and carving a path ahead of us.
You have gained 2000 XP!
Sora sprinted forward in a straight line between the clear cone that I created ahead of us, and as she ran, I occasionally got more XP notices. Most of the monsters were simply injured or incapacitated when they were struck, but some of them were dying.
You have gained 1500 XP!
You have gained 2000 XP!
We plowed through the monsters for several minutes, before the Lumen Ray connected with some sort of magical field that flickered up ahead. It didn’t seem to damage the field, but bright purple streaks shimmered when contact was made. As we grew closer, it seemed that the field was shaped into a large dome, and behind it were shades of green.
No monsters were passing through the field, and the attackers that were chasing us were coming from everywhere but there.
Is that the Eternal Ravine? I wondered. I urged Sora towards the dome.
When we were right upon the magic field, we backed up to it, I turned around and focused the energy beam on the surrounding flood of monsters, pushing them back as far as I could.
Do you know how to get through this? I asked Sora.
Try your other magic, Sora suggested. Blast it with something!
With one hand continuing to push the naked monsters that were still approaching back, I reached behind me and held my other hand out. I was about to cast a Fireblast, when I heard a strange, sing-song voice in my head.
Just step inside…
Did you hear that? I projected to Sora.
Hear what?
I rattled my head in doubt. Instead of casting a Fireblast, I tried touching the field, but my hand slipped right through it.
“It’s nothing!” I yelled to Sora. “Just jump inside!”
Inside how? Sora questioned.
Overhead, I heard the distinct shriek of a dragon, and my heart jumped out of my chest.
“Just go through!” I insisted. “Through the barrier!”
Finally, Sora turned and leapt through the field, and I immediately put away the All-Seeing Eye. Suddenly, we were no longer in the rain.
Chapter Forty-One
2/6/0001
I breathed heavily, and scanned the area around us as my heart rate started to slow. We were standing at the entrance of a small ravine, and the rocks that rose up on each side were covered in a green moss. It looked like it was sunny inside, and it wasn’t from my Divine Sight.
Beautiful, dark grass was below our feet, and mushrooms were speckled all around. Far ahead, I could see a small cave, and to its side was a waterfall rushing into a small pool of water below.
I turned around to look from where we had come, and standing beyond the magic barrier were hundreds of terrorscreams and several faceless abominations. They simply stared at us, but after a few seconds, they fell away and lost interest. The terrorscreams seemed to just go back to wandering around aimlessly.
It made little sense how the ravine existed in the middle of such a terrible place, but I had seen many strange things in Eden’s Gate, so I didn’t question it.
Father, Sora said.
What is it?
I am feeling sleepyyyyy…
Sora stumbled and suddenly tumbled over on her side. I basically had to jump off as she fell to the ground to avoid getting crushed by her weight.
“Sora!” I shouted as I reached over and placed my hand on her side. Her chest was heaving and her eyes were closed. It was like she had suddenly fell into a deep, narcoleptic slumber. “C’mon, girl. Wake up!”
Reborn… a sweet voice said from somewhere. This time it seemed like it both entered my mind and echoed overhead.
I turned in every direction, looking for the source of the sound.
She’s fine, Reborn. She’s only sleeping. Come. Come forward.
