The Slayer Ascension: Cursed and Blessed.-Chapter 61: Earnings a monster’s attention

Chapter 61

Gazel cursed under his breath. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Damn it... damn it... we’re not going to make it. No way we’re making it."

The gateway was only several meters away now. Close enough to see. Close enough to taste hope.

Too close.

The ruined temple was already falling apart, screaming at them with every collapse that escape was not guaranteed. Stones crashed. The ground split. The air itself felt like it was tearing.

Gazel’s eyes hardened.

No more hesitation.

He steeled his resolve and hurled himself forward, body snapping through the air like a thrown weapon. He slammed straight into the path of the gateway, giving it everything he had left.

For a heartbeat, it felt like he was too late.

Then, by the thinnest sliver of chance, he crossed through.

The gateway collapsed behind them with a thunderous boom.

The world shook violently. Reality twisted. A blinding light swallowed everything.

Gazel and Blaze were expelled from a rippling portal that tore itself open through cracks in reality. They crashed onto solid ground, rolling across smooth marble flooring before finally stopping.

Gazel groaned and forced his head up.

His vision swam. Blood dripped down his face. His body felt like it had been dragged through hell and back.

They were in a massive open space. People surrounded them, staring with complicated expressions. Shock. Suspicion. Awe. Pity.

Anyone could tell they were covered in blood and bruises, like they had just survived ten rounds against a dragon.

Gazel forced his eyes to focus.

Two figures in black were approaching.

His gaze locked onto one thing. A badge on the chest of one of the men. Silver. Etched with the insignia of a sword crossed with a shield.

Gazel smiled.

Relief washed through him.

They had escaped.

They had made it to the Shural large base.

Far away, within the massive bulwark.

Inside a room filled to the brim with artifacts.

Swords. Spears. Arrows. Torches. Devices both practical and strange, scattered across the floor and mounted along the walls.

A man sat on a well furnished throne like chair.

He wore pristine white clothes that made him look like a sage. Calm. Untouchable.

The aura pouring off him was anything but.

It was suffocating.

On the table before him rested a circular device. At its center floated a green orb, glowing softly. But the device was damaged. Cracks ran across its surface.

That alone was enough to darken the black haired man’s expression.

Someone had dared to enter the small world operated by the device on his table. Worse, judging by its condition, those intruders were destroying his created worlds.

The thought made something tighten in his chest.

"Kill them," he thought.

No.

Bring them to me.

He would personally give them the best death they deserved.

Then the artifact cracked again.

The green orb dimmed.

The device went dead.

Veins bulged along the man’s temples, thick and furious. His eyes burned deep red.

A violent gale exploded outward.

Invisible force slammed the people in the room into the ground, smashing their heads against the floor.

"What is wrong with Master C?" one of the Shurals gasped, his face pressed into the ground, blood pooling beneath him.

Despite the blood, his voice was calm. Too calm. Like someone who had experienced this far too many times.

Another Shural tried to shrug.

Or he would have, if he was not pinned just as brutally.

"Judging by the amount of aura he’s releasing," he muttered, "someone is about to have multiple bones broken just to appease his rage."

He gulped.

Master C truly lived up to his reputation.

"We should get out of here," the first Shural whispered. "I don’t feel like breaking any bones today."

The others nodded.

Already planning how to survive what came next.

Because whatever had escaped that small world had just earned the personal attention of a monster.

--------

Meanwhile, the very cause of the rift brewing within the Shural Association was still trapped inside the small, crazy world.

Inside the ruined temple.

It had reformed, but not into its pristine state. The structure stood half broken, wounded, frozen in a state between collapse and rebirth.

Xon lay at the center of it all.

Back in his human form.

Around him were the shattered bodies of the samurai warriors, broken beyond recognition. Clay, metal, and fragments littered the ground like corpses after a massacre.

He had overpowered them.

All of them.

But it had not been easy.

Cracks ran across the mirror eye that replaced his left one. Thin fractures spread through its surface, sending sharp waves of pain through his skull. Xon winced once, then ignored it.

He knew the price of the power he wielded.

He had accepted it long ago.

Xon slipped his eyepatch back into place and rose to his feet. He walked toward the back of the massive chamber until he reached what looked like a large stone locker embedded in the wall.

Placing his hand against it, he channeled his essence.

The locker responded.

Subtle patterns lit up, rotating slowly, clicking into place. After a moment, the stone door slid open.

Xon stepped inside.

The world changed.

It was as if he had been teleported into an entirely different realm. Lush greenery stretched as far as the eye could see. Massive trees rose into the sky. The air was warm, gentle, almost tender.

Peaceful.

Too peaceful.

Like a scene ripped straight out of a fairytale.

Xon did not stop to admire it.

He kept walking.

Soon, he spotted what he had come for.

Atop one of the largest trees stood a small white bead, floating in the air. It emitted a dazzling glow, pure and irresistible.

With every step closer, Xon felt lighter. Stronger. His exhaustion melted away. His lost strength returned. His power surged back into place as if it had never left.

By the time he reached it, he felt reborn.

Xon smiled as he took the bead into his hand.

Power flooded into him. Near overwhelming. Wild. Alive.

"Worth it," he muttered.

Everything he had endured. Every near death moment. Every gamble.

All of it had been worth this.

Still, he knew better than to wield it now.

Instead of storing it in his Shural badge, Xon pushed the bead directly into his mirror eye. It vanished without a trace.

Xon turned to leave.

Then he stopped.

A strange sensation crawled up his spine.

He looked to his right.

At first, it was just more forest.

But his instincts screamed.

Xon followed the feeling, pushing deeper until he found it.

A portal.

Standing guard before it were two samurai.

These were different.

Their bodies were formed of deep jet black obsidian. Perfect. Sharp. Their posture alone radiated danger.

Xon’s expression hardened.

He had never heard of clay warriors like these. Had no idea what kind of power they possessed.

As much as he wanted to find out, his instincts warned him clearly.

Face them, and he would die.

Xon exhaled slowly and shook his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips.

"Just how many creations did Master C make," he muttered.

Then his smile twisted.

"Those two newbies will take the full blame for what happened in this small world."

A cruel amused glint flashed in his eyes.

"Hopefully they don’t get killed by him before they even get the chance to take the trial."

"That would be a real tragedy."

To be continued.