"Ah…our guests have finally arrived."

The chilly voice resounded from the top of the scaffolding as the robed creature slowly turned to look down at us. As we looked up to meet its hollow gaze, we could see the pristine white bone of its jaw and the long bony fingers gripping and holding a rather plain-looking hammer. The undead, however, was rather… lackluster, which was a cause for concern considering the situation.

It wasn't emanating a soul-crushing aura or bloodlust built upon decades of malice. If we had not seen the evidence, it would have been easy to disregard the creature as a normal person. And of course, the fact that it was at the bottom of a dungeon, standing next to what is undoubtedly the core of this infernal place.

I wanted to use Soul Sight to catch a glimpse of the monster's nature, but I didn't dare do so. Avasta may have augmented it, but the amount of mana floating about was unprecedented. It was not hard to imagine that the only thing I would see was a blinding flash of light before I went blind. Staring into the sun would most likely be less detrimental.

Bowen moved forward with measured steps as he glared up at the undead. "And what might you be exactly? It sounds as if you were expecting us," he asked.

"What? Who? What does any of that matter anymore? I've long forgotten. And of course, we were expecting you. Who wouldn't notice such a group of outstanding individuals wreaking havoc in their home?" the monster responded.

Bowen's face slowly gave away to a hint of confusion, but he shook his head and said, "It's the first time I've ever seen or heard a guardian of a dungeon talk before. I don't imagine you would be too willing to divulge everything you know about the subject for the sake of the world?"

A weird, crackling noise emanated from the monster, sounding almost like laughter. "Me? The guardian? I'm no such thing. Those are all gone now; you destroyed them. I could be considered to be a craftsman of sorts. But that was long ago, I believe. Now I'm more of a servant."

"It's—not the guardian? And those were? But…" Varnir asked nervously.

The effect was immediate. Many of us gripped our weapons a little tighter and scanned the room for threats. If the creature was to be believed, then there was something far more dangerous here. Lurking somewhere, we could not see or sense it.

"And why would a dungeon need a servant outside of protecting it? I highly doubt you are a cleaner," Bowen probed.

"No, I'm no mundane cleaner either. And my purpose is nearly finished. It has been a long, arduous task. I am rather excited despite feeling almost nothing but rage for centuries," the creature said dismissively with a wave of its hammer.

"And what would this grand task be?" Lord Vasquez growled.

The monster went back to work, hammering a thick bolt to secure another blood red chain to the mountain of crystals. "Why tell you when I can show you? But you are impatient, and your journey was long. I suppose, a reward is in order. It is a matter of revenge. Simple, yet sweet revenge."

The hammer echoed in the silent halls with thundering booms that no mundane tool could ever produce. Even from down below, I could feel the vibrations in my bones.

Lord Vasquez gripped the shaft of his ghastly green axe and bent low. "Stop the creature! Whatever it is, it can't be good!" he roared.

At the exact moment, the ancient monster uttered a single command. "Captain, release the chains."

Finally, extra movement could be heard. Our movements halted not because of something in front of us. But instead, the swift movements came from above, in the darkness of the room.

The whistle of the wind could be heard as the figures came into the light. They were the undead retinue of the Dullahan that we had faced earlier. Yet there was something off-putting about them. As the living corpses fell through the air, each wielding their weapons, they barreled down toward the chains connected to the pillars, nowhere near where any of us were.

All we could do was watch them cut the chains with the full might of their fall. The great chains burst apart with every weapon, with the loud cracking of metal ripping the stone out. The corpses of the Ghouls splattered against the stone floor into fragments of fetid blood and armor, their tasks complete.

And as the chains broke free of their prisons, they whipped around and up into the darkness, destroying the stone pillars apart in a whirlwind of crimson metal and rock as if being pulled by a great unseen force. The talking corpse simply continued its work, and the Ghouls did not stir back to life either as their blood pooled on the cracked floor.

We were forced to dodge and dive away from the falling rock, taking shelter under the magic we collectively summoned. By the time the storm ended and we began to stand again, there was the deafening sound of wind being moved as a black blur impacted the open space, sending a wave of dust and stone into the air.

The shockwave was at least beaten back by Sylvia's blood, protecting us, and once the noise died down, she let the barrier fall. And as if that barrier was the only thing holding it back an eerie bloodlust permeated the air as the looming figure rose to its full height.

The creature's body appeared to be made of pitch-black stone. Deep crimson ravines ran the length of its gangly body like veins. However, its lower body was missing; only a faint wisp of dark shadows suspended it in the air. The abomination's long arms twisted down from the thick torso, and the fingers on its hands ended in long razor sharp daggers. A twisted neck sprouted from it and carried the vague shape of a triangular stone head. But there was only an empty darkness where a face should have been.

Bowen was the first to react. He took a step back as his face twisted in horror. Any semblance of calmness or determination was wiped clean in the face of the creature.

"A Wound…how…how is a Wound here in Illyrcium? Not just a small one but a Gaping Wound? They…they are supposed to reside in the deepest parts of The Scar," Bowen said fearfully.

Lord Vasquez shifted awkwardly and asked, "Can we fight it?"

Bowen immediately shook his head. "I don't know. The only time anyone has ever seen such a creature was when one escaped into The Dunes. Thousands died, and an entire kingdom was left empty before it was taken down…they are supposed to get weaker the further they get from the source of The Scar," he answered.

"Then it can be done. I'll go fir—"

However, Lord Vasquez was cut off as the creature lunged. Its after image was like a twisted shadow, and in the blink of an eye, it was already in front of us. Lord Vasquez only managed to raise his axe as its arm swept toward him. The Wound batted the War God away with a single strike.

I caught only a glimpse of the shredded Mythril armor and the deep gash across the man's face before he was sent flying into a stone pillar. The feeling of spell cores being formed was instant, and my Fire Lance was already nearly formed, as were many others. However, the monster was just too fast.

It glided across the ground and closed the distance to Bowen in a flash. It's hand reared back, its claw-like fingers closed together, ready to burst through the tiny Human. A wave of fire was released from Bowen, but the flames did nothing to the black stone's body.

A single sword met the claws as Professor Garrison tried to block the blow from striking Bowen. But just like Lord Vasquez, Professor Garrison was helplessly flung back by the force. His body made a deep gash in the stone as it slid across.

Fire, ice, and blood struck the monster, but our magic was completely ineffective against the creature. It didn't even react to it. However, it did move against the two charging targets. Its shadowed face gazed at Cerila and Sylvia as they ran toward it.

The monster moved back and forced its claws into the ground, sinking them deep into the stone. Then ripped the stone free with a slash, sending boulders hurdling toward the two. The two were forced back under the onslaught, and I had barely enough time to move away and dodge those that made it past. Sadly, Tssara and Varnir were not so lucky.

I heard Tsarra scream and Varnir grunted in pain, but I couldn't afford to look back. The air around sizzled, and it hurt to breathe as my orange flames turned white. And even though I was forcing all the mana I could. Channeling it properly and maintaining all the focus I needed. It still felt like an eternity.

The Wound already turned its attention back to Bowen as it shifted towards him. Its claw hand opened, ready to grab the mage, but another blur intercepted it. There was a scream, followed by a spray of blood. Ms. Taurus had shielded Bowen with her body. Her spear only managed to block a few of the clawed fingers, then one managed to sink itself into her flesh. The finger had ripped through her armor, and most of it protruded through her back.

"That will do. Toss it here, beast," the skeleton ordered calmly.

The Wound's body shuddered at the command as if trying to resist it. The monster let out a voiceless howl that sent shivers down my spine, but ultimately it was futile. The beast ripped its arm back and sent Ms. Taurus flying toward the mountain of crystal. Her body hit it in a spray of blood as it slid down and tumbled down the surface, leaving a trail of red.

"No!" Bowen howled.

I gritted my teeth as the white flames finally condensed into blue glass. With the spell ready, I released it. A deafening crack echoed from the halls as the Railgun soared toward the monster. With our distance, it should have been impossible to dodge, but the creature still almost managed it.

Its body shifted back, but still not enough to escape. My spell hit the monster directly on the shoulder. The sound of stone cracking and dozens upon dozens of inhuman voices broke out. It was like thousands of people crying out in pain. The noise grated not only on my ears but also on my mind. It felt like hot needles being pushed into my brain. I fell to my knees, and I could feel warmth leaking from my nose and in my ears.

I managed to look up, and my eyes drifted toward the motionless body of Ms. Taurus. Around her was a haze of mana that seemed to be seeping free from her body. At the same time, I saw my mother, who had managed to get to her and was attempting to drag her away. But as she yanked and pulled, Ms. Taurus would not budge as if she were tied to the mountain of crystal by invisible chains.

The blood of Ms. Taurus began to sizzle and burn as the crystals of the core released a blinding radiance. The chains hanging around the mountain and on the walls began to move. At first it was nothing more than a faint shudder. But as the blinding light grew more intense, they started to rattle uncontrollably in the room. Ripping free from their purchases.

"Finally. It is done. I only ask that you remember our deal, Godling," the skeleton said.

The chains soared through the air like missiles straight at the Wound. They wrapped around the monster, constricting it. As they squeezed the monstrosity, they began to retract, also wrapping themselves around the core. The light was so bright I barely managed to see the shadow of my mother escape its radiance.

I was forced to close my eyes and look down to avoid the light. All I could hear was the inhuman wails of the Wound and the sound of stone and glass breaking. An explosive warmth spread out from the center, enveloping me. I could feel my mana surging as it quickly refilled itself to the brim.

But that wonderful feeling was fleeting as searing pain spread through my body. The mana that was ever present in my body was uncontrollable. It was rampaging against my very soul, threatening to burst out or rip me apart from the inside. I screamed, but no noise came from my mouth. It was only the bright light and the Wounds wailing.

Then, there was nothing.

I managed to take a shaky breath and slowly opened my eyes. My body was torn between ecstasy and blinding pain. A storm was raging unseen inside of me. Even so, I was unable to look away.

The mountain of crystals was gone. The talking skeleton as well. And the Wound was replaced by something else entirely. Its black stone body was gone, and in its place was a pristine white shell. Some black remained along its edges, but the white looked so pure, as if made of light.

At the center of the chest was a bright crystal glowing with ambient mana. The head was now a radiant cone of pure light, and sprouting from its back were a pair of angelic wings. The horror the Wound presented was replaced with a splendid creature of the opposite nature.

And yet despite its appearance, the being emanated a dark, foreboding, soul-crushing bloodlust. The world around it seemed to shudder and cower away at its mere presence.1

The entity took a moment to inspect its clawed hands with its faceless head. Seemingly pleased, it let its arms dangle at its sides, and it spoke with a spine-chilling chorus of a thousand voices.

"AH…BAELOR. ONE OF OUR MOST LOYAL FOLLOWERS. YOU HAVE COMPLETED SOMETHING TRULY AMAZING IN SUCH A SHORT, YET OPPORTUNE TIME. WE COULDN'T HAVE EXPECTED MORE. THEREFORE, WE SHALL HONOR OUR DEAL TO ITS END."

I felt it before I even knew what was going to happen. Even without eyes, I could tell where the creature was looking. My gut wrenched into knots, and my pain-addled body moved with tremendous speed. Mana coursed through my body like a raging river. My tendons burst, bones broke, and blood seeped from wherever it could.

But it did not matter. Even if this were to be my end, I will buy them time.

The entity moved at a speed that made the Wound look slow. Its clawed hand moved and sliced at Sylvia and Cerila. But my body and spear met it first.

I watched my spear shatter into splinters, and the force alone took my arms. Even so, I managed to plant my feet into the ground with gravity magic. But the following attack lifted me from the floor like a child. One of the clawed fingers impaled me just like Ms. Taurus.

A momentary flash of pain came over me. It wasn't just my body but my very being that felt like it had been cut. The pain was worse than anything I had felt, no matter how fleeting it was. Simply put, nothing could compare.

The only lucky part was that I barely had a chance to register it. After a moment, I felt nothing. Saw nothing. Heard nothing.

Because all of it was gone.

—

Sylvia Talgan's POV.

It all happened in a flash. Nearly everyone was defeated with a single attack. Even Ms. Taurus died. I could tell she did just because her blood smelled different than usual. And there was something extremely wrong with it. It was unnatural in every regard. But I didn't even have time to cry out because everything changed when…

That thing appeared.

Dragons, the Lich, Dullahans, even the Wyrm, paled in comparison. That thing wasn't even of this world. That was what my gut told me. Something impossible had descended into the world. And it was here to destroy it.

As the monster examined its claw hands and spoke with countless soul-crushing voices, I could feel its gaze penetrate me. It was heavy, and my body refused to move. I wanted nothing more than to shrink away and disappear. But I couldn't move. No, I didn't dare move.

I watched its body tense and move, but as I blinked, I suddenly smelled a familiar scent intensifying, and my heart sank. Warm liquid splattered across my face as I opened my eyes. My scream fell on deaf ears as I watched Kaladin's armor and weapon be reduced to fragments and his arms be sliced clean off. Even so, he managed to stand his ground. But that was before a sword-like finger ran him through and lifted his limp body into the air.

I watched in horror, and I forced my body to move. My hand reached out to grab him, but it stopped. And it wasn't the only thing that stopped. It felt like the world itself had come to a standstill.

The blood fell to the ground. The golden entity. Everything ceased.

Besides the sound of approaching footsteps behind me.

Once they were to my right, I managed to move my eyes and see the figure's side profile. It was… familiar. A large, rotund man with dark skin and piercing golden eyes. The silks of his beautiful attire swayed with his movements as he brought a hand covered in gems to his beard and stroked it.

He looked over to me and raised an eyebrow, but then nodded to himself. "I shouldn't be surprised to see you, Ms. Sylvia. After all, you are also part of a Pack. Even if unwillingly," the man said with a sigh.

Deguzman?

"That's right…ah, you are probably wondering why I'm here? But rest assured, I am only keeping my part of a deal—a rather important one at that. Sadly, my side will not come without consequences. I will bear most of them, but I can not undo this," he said.

What? What do you mean?

The enigmatic man sighed deeply and with a worried look gazed up at the golden entity. "I can… give almost everyone another chance. But in doing so, I will put things into motion that not even I can anticipate. I can only hope that this gamble will all be worth it," he answered.

You! You can save Kaladin!? And everyone else!? Then do it! You can have my soul! I don't care what you are! I'll pay the price, whatever it is!

The man let out a friendly chuckle that seemed out of place in this setting and shook his head. "You have nothing I want. And this deal was between me and him. However…I can not stop the other one from crossing over now. It is…very different from the usual Agents. It has remained powerful. And has only grown since arriving. Now my actions will release what little barrier young Kaladin had. And I'm not even sure what will happen as a result. But I can only put my faith in the now, I suppose."

"How ironic! I have long since forgotten what it feels like to be in the dark!" he laughed.

I—I don't understand!

Deguzman slowly turned to me. "But you will soon, since he's already here now. And I have a feeling he will be more than capable of dealing with this little avatar. I will never see you again, Ms. Sylvia Talgan. But I do hope that your future blooms into what it was meant to be."

With his words came a torrent of bloodlust. It wasn't nearly as overbearing or soul-crushing as this radiant entity. But it was sharp, dangerous. And frighteningly cold. And… familiar.

No—again? How—

My thoughts stopped as another figure loomed over Deguzman. I had seen it before but only in my head when the slime had trapped me in my own dreams. And now its form was far clearer.

It towered over Deguzman, and its body was covered in sleek black armor made from an unknown metal. Crimson lines traced across its body and pulsed and hummed with unknown power. It looked down at me through its blood-red glass visor.

"It's time to get to work."

Author's Note- Click this link for the artwork! https://i.imgur.com/zOnCbxQ.jpeg