Pulsing, writhing, vibrating. The orb is still high in the sky and emanating pressure around the whole area. Ripples appear at the center of the lake and begin to roll towards the shore.
[Rick] "Lady Tiss. Please get out of the lake. I don't know what's going on, but I need you to stay behind me."
Tissela says nothing, but immediately obeys. She hops out of the lake and then quickly places herself behind Rick. She doesn't bother taking the time to put her boots on.
Elyssia now equips a large staff. The pole is pure white. Embedded into the head of the staff is a crystal about the size of an apple. It shines with a gorgeous blue as deep as the ocean.
I do nothing, really. All I have is a stick and a turtle shell. I don't have magic, either. If anything happens, my best bet is to just make a run for it.
[Elyssia] "I've never seen anything like this before, but I can feel incredible mana coming from it. Last time I felt this..."
[Tiss] "A Named Monster?"
[Elyssia] "Exactly. I fought with
[Rick] "Listen to me. All of you."
Hey. whoa! This is getting so serious. And so fast. Let's all calm down and maybe just leave the forest? Then we can have a picnic when we go through the plains! Yeah, that's better than this heavy atmosphere.
[Rick] "I need you three to start running. Split up. Don't let it catch you."
[Wade?] "Rick, you're gonna run too... right?"
[Tiss] "..."
[Elyssia] "..."
[Wade?] "...?"
Nobody says anything. I think Rick intends to give his life to protect us. I can't understand the scale of things right now, but the look in Rick's eyes is telling me how grave this situation is.
I open my mouth to beg Rick to run away with us, but the orb in the sky pulses again. The pressure it's radiating intensifies to a far greater magnitude. Tissela, Elyssia, and I all drop to our knees. Rick equips his greatsword and then stabs it into the ground to keep himself standing.
The orb lowers itself from the sky at a slow pace at first. Then it suddenly has a burst of speed, creating a deafening boom as it rockets down to the surface of the lake. The orb stops moving in an instant as it nears the surface of the lake.
It pulses again. The pressure stays strong enough that none of us can stand. I lock my eyes onto the orb. All of us do. It's the only thing that anyone can focus on.
White threads appear from behind the orb and begin to extend outward. Threads weave themselves together and begin to form a vaguely human shape. Like a child drew their mommy and daddy in class. The head is a large O shape with the black orb in the center. The body is shaped like an awkward stick figure.
Once the threads fully form into this odd body, the thing starts to move in a strange pattern and rhythm. It's arms and legs wobble and wriggle, the head sways from left to right.
[Elyssia] "....Scan."
Elyssia mutters the name of a skill. One that I recognize
[Elyssia] "It's strange... I can't... see it's level... but it's name... is
None of us can manage to get any words out in response. The pressure is too strong. I'm surprised Elyssia managed to speak at all.
Suddenly, the monster seems to grow massive in an instant. Though, it's not like it grew. A second ago, it was in the center of the lake. Now it's standing only a foot or so away from us, it's weird, wobbly feet hovering an inch off the surface of the water.
Rick pushes his body up higher, using his greatsword as leverage. He stares STRING THEORY right into it's black, pulsing orb. Rick has a look of defiance. As Tissela's knight, he's sworn himself to protect her with his very life. Rick's eyes are filled with every ounce of his resolve.
[STRING THEORY] "~uNRavEL~"
A shaky, strange voice ripples through the air as STRING THEORY's arm arcs up and then taps Rick on the nose. Rick freezes. Then the top half of his head is shredded into ribbons, blood spraying out the back of his head. His skin and bones are scattered into the air and fall to the ground, fluttering like paper scraps. Everything above his lips is gone. Rick's body slumps to the ground. Blood spills out of what is left of his head.
We all try to scream. To call out his name. I don't care about the bullying when we met. Rick was a great guy! Rick! RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICK!
None of us can scream. The pressure is only growing more intense.
Elyssia manages to lift her arm and aim her staff at the monster.
[Elyssia] "Flash... Free-"
[STRING THEORY] ""~diSPerSe~"
Elyssia's body is thrust backwards as a shockwave slams into her. She crashes through a dozen trees or so before she's completely out of sight. The loud crash of her landing can be heard a few second later.
Only Tissela and I are left. She's collapsed down and is sitting on her butt, knees pressed together with her feet pointed out to her sides. She's bracing her upper body by holding onto her knees.
I, on the other hand, have only been forced down to one knee on the ground. I still have one foot firmly planted. If there's a moment of reprieve from the oppressive pressure, then I can make a run for it... Maybe.
I look at Tiss. She's struggling. Her knight is dead and her friend was launched away. I'm just a weirdo that she's been forced to watch over. She's alone right now. I see her eyes meet mine. Tears are streaming down her face. She wants to break down.
This poor girl.
[STRING THEORY] "~rEMoVe~
The pressure disperses entirely as STRING THEORY raises both arms and touches the ends together above its head. As it pulls them apart, a massive orb of black mana is formed.
My first instinct is to run away. To get myself away from this thing. Whatever that black orb is, getting hit by it must mean certain death, right?
STRING THEORY swings the black orb downward right at Tissela. My legs move on their own. I instantly spring up off the ground. I thought I was going to escape, but I found myself jumping towards Tissela. To push her out of the way. I don't know why I would do something like waste this brand new life of mine, but for some reason I feel like it's the right choice.
Forgive me, Fishing God! If you're still having a chill time fishing somewhere in that Astral Plane or whatever, then please pull me up again. I promise to be more thankful next time.
The orb crashes down. I didn't manage to push Tissela away. She's with me right now as we're both consumed by pure darkness. This is the end.