Death

The Lunar Eclipse happens in a flash. Ray is left in the open with the creature. He's now experiencing the most terrifying thing in his life.

Ray: (Sis??…Celsius??…Guys??)

No one respond. The connection has been cut.

Ray is standing frozen solid. He tries to speak but no voice came out from his mouth.

Ray: (What's happening?…)

The eyes of the creature penetrates his soul. Its gaze is fix on his face. He tried to turn his head but he couldn't. A tremendous pressure holds him down.

Ray: *thump* *thump* *thump* (…what is this?…) *thump* *thump*

Ray is now a captive of the creature's gaze. Nothing can be heard except the sound of his heartbeat. The longer he stares feels like an abyss that is eating him down slowly. Complete darkness is eating his soul. Fear takes over him.

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The eclipse lasted for about an hour but it seems forever. Ray's body stands still. He slowly regains his sight. Light above the plains is once seen again. With the time passed by he felt like he was stuck in an eternal madness.

He slowly rubs his eyes as he adjusts to the blinding rays of the sunset. It almost dusk. All he can do is glance at his surroundings. The creature was nowhere to be found. The encounter seems like it never happened.

Ray: *pant* *pant* (…The red eyes…Was it all just an illusion?…But it felt real...)

The wind blows and passes to his body.

Ray: "Brrr.." He shivered.

"Kewk!"

Ray: "Huh?"

He's still holding the Inoki in his hands.

Ray: "Oh…I almost forgot about you…Wait---your size!"

It turned just the size of his palm.

Ray: "What happened to you?"

"Kewk! Kewk!"

Ray: "I can't understand what you're trying to say."

"Kewk!"

The Inoki suddenly jumps and slips from his fingers.

Ray: "Hey come back here! I still need to get you to the others."

"Kewk! Kewk! Kewk!"

The creature bounced up and down as if it's telling something.

Ray: "You're---you're not escaping…"

"Kewk!…Kewk! Kewk!"

Ray: "Are you telling me to follow you."

"Kewk!"

Ray: "Okay. But I still need to find sis and Celsius. I couldn't reach them."

"Kewk! Kewk! Kewk!"

Ray: "Okay. Okay. I'll go with you. But after this, we're going to find the both of them."

"Kewk!"

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The moon turns to light up the entire plains. The wind turns cold.

After a miles of walking, Ray noticed two figures lying on the ground. His heart begins to beat faster.

Ray: "I hope this is not what I think it is."

"Kewk…"

He slowly walks to identify the two figures on the ground. The sight devastates him.

Ray: "…no…no…No! This can't be!" He kneels on the ground. "What happened?"

He found his two companions lying on the ground unconscious. Blood stains are all over their bodies. Celsius eyes are gone. Bloods flow from their eyelids. Both of Nympha's arms were gone as if it was torn by something. Celsius' one arm was bitten off while his legs were twisted. It's a hideous sight!

Ray: "Sis…Celsius…open your eyes…speak…"

The Inoki feels Ray's sadness. It went to rub his back.

Griefs and painful cries from all the habitants on the plains are carried by the colds winds. All the creatures are lamenting. The Plague brought terror to the living creatures above.

Ray: "…this can't be…NOOO!!!!"

The ground shook terribly, the whole realm felt it.

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=Underground City of Ambeist - Madam D's Apartelle=

The two goddesses are having their tea at the veranda when they felt the terrible shake on the ground.

A.I. put down her tea cup.

A.I.: "What was that? It's the first time the realm shook like this."

Vienna did not answer. Her face went pale.

A.I.: "What's wrong?"

Vienna broke her cup and her scarlet hair turns to blue.

A.I. rose from her seat.

A.I.: "What are you doing?! Do you plan to use your Authority?! Are you out of your mind?!"

Vienna comes into her senses.

Vienna: "Tch!…that horrid creature! Doing as it please! If I ever spot it I will put it into its eternal slumber."

A.I. felt an overwhelming pressure from her sister. Vienna's hair once again turned to scarlet. She takes a seat and continue with her tea.

A.I.: (What's going on with her? I felt like I miss something.) Vienna's action confused her.

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Ray starts to move their bodies when suddenly he felt Celsius' fingers. He quickly holds Celsius hand.

Ray: "Celsius!"

Celsius: "Hey…" *cough* *cough*

Blood comes out from his mouth. Ray held his hand tightly.

Celsius: "Haha…" *cough* *cough* "…my body feels numb…" *cough* "I didn't know nomads can survived that…"

Ray: "Don't---don't talk to much. I'm going to get you guys out of here.We're going back to Ambeist. Just---just hang in there." He's voice is trembling.

Celsius force to smile.

Celsius: "Where's…" *cough* "…where's Nympha?"

Ray: "Right beside you."

Their bodies are close with each other.

Celsius: *cough* "…give my thanks to he---" He fainted.

Ray: "Celsius!" He quickly place his ear to Celsius' chest. "…he's heart is still beating! Thank goodness!"

Ray quickly rushed to Nympha's side and put his two fingers on her nose to check her breathing.

Ray: "…you're really strong sis...I'm sorry I couldn't save you guys…"

Nympha suffered most from the attack. Her skill, SACRIFICE, is a skill where all the inflicted pains suffered by an individual who is protected will be transfer to the caster.

*Kewk…* *Kewk…* *Kewk…*

Ray: "Why are you crying? They're still breathing." He suddenly felt his surrounding spinning. "Wha---" *cough* *cough* *cough*

Dark red stains were on his hand. His coughing blood.

Ray: *cough* *cough* *cough*

He slowly turns his head down.

Ray: "So that's…the reason…why…"

Ray's body collapsed on the ground. He didn't notice a grievous wound on his body. There was a large hole in the left side of his chest. The Inoki's grief was meant for him in the first place.

The party's mission ends gravely.

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=Underground City of Ambeist - Guild of the Shield Faction=

Lhem rushes to the guild.

*BLAGG!!*

Lhem forcefully opens the main door. All the people in the reception hall ceased their actions.

Lhem: "BRING THE GUILD MASTER OUT!" He shouted loudly.

The head receptionist is annoyed by his unexpected action.

Ms. Kara: "Hey! What's your problem!"

Lhem ignored the head receptionist and keeps on.

Lhem: "SIR ESLEY!! GUILD MASTER ESLEY!"

The Guild Master went out from his office.

GM Esley: "Lhem! What's the matter? Why are you being like this?" He quickly notices Lhem's odd behavior.

The post guard was known as a calm and decent man. Something must have happened.

Lhem: "Sir Esley! Thank goodness you're here." He runs to him and quickly whispered something.

The guild master's face slowly turns grim. All the glasses of the windows shook and the lights flickered. A heavy atmosphere was felt inside the hall.

GM Esley: "Where are they?"

Lhem: "At the entrance gate of the city."

The guild master went straight ahead. The people inside are confused on what's happening.

The head receptionist is flabbergasted. It's her first time seeing the guild master acted like that. She slowly approached the post guard. She noticed the redness on his eyes.

Ms. Kara: (Did he cry?) "Lhem, what happened?"

Lhem face is grave. He turned to face the head receptionist.

Lhem: "…something happened…to the children…"

The head receptionist hearing the sad news fell on her knees.

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= 1st District - Main Entrance=

The guild master arrives at the main entrance. One of the guards approached him.

Guard: "This way, sir."

The guild master slowly approached the body of a boy.

GM Esley: "!!!"

A strong wind was felt in the area. The guild master took a deep breath and composed himself. He found the young kid lifeless. Ray's body was cold as ice.

GM Esley: "Where are his companions?"

Guard: "We rushed them to the infirmary to get treated."

GM Esley: "I see. Thank goodness."

The guard looks at the corpse.

Guard: "What are we going to do about the kid's body, sir? We should at least inform his parents."

GM Esley: *sigh* "That's my concern. I don't even know who are his parents. He never once mentioned them."

"No need, I'm here." A woman voice spoke.

The scarlet haired woman approached Ray's corpse. Her face reveals no emotions.

GM Esley: "Who might you be, madam?"

She didn't answer and just looked at the lifeless body.

A.I. then appeared. The guild master lowers his head as a sign of respect.

GM: "I'm sorry."

A.I. just tapped his shoulder.

"I'll take his corpse." The women suddenly declared.

GM Esley: "I'm afraid you can't do that, madam. I cannot let Ray's body be taken away. We need to give him back to his pare---"

"I'm Vienna…I'm his mother…"

The guild master immediately bows his head.

GM Esley: "I'm sorry…I'm sorry for your lost."

Vienna: "Don't be."

On Ray's vest a small creature pops out. It's the Inoki that Ray has caught.

*Kewk!* *Kewk!*

Vienna: "Thanks, little one."

A.I. slowly approached Vienna. The two vanished in an instant carrying Ray's corpse.

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