Part Two - New World - Chapter [064]
We approached the blooming evil tree. IT really felt like we were at the most incredible depths of the under dark. A structure that already seemed to go for miles and miles.
But when we reached that tree, and looked at it's roots. We found and even deeper network of roots spanning even longer into the darkness.
Arslan threw a rock into them and it clashed and bumped until the sound became so distant it was almost impossible to hear. But listening closely faint taps could still be heard. Even after the rock had completely disappear. Sounds were still being made.
The tree itself was supported by the roots themselves. There was no soil to speak off, except the soil that comprised the ground beneath our feet. The tree itself was surrounded by a large agape whole. Where the roots twisted and turned.
There was another detail.
Miasma was flowing through this roots. And into the tree itself.
"How long does it go for? How far down does the roots dive?" I asked Arslan.
"No one really knows," he explained.
He looked at the roots.
"It's an unexplored network that dives so deep some people claim it an ocean - an ocean made of roots." He explained.
"There are some explorers specialized in going down there - but most of them don't come up - the miasma so heavy - one wrong move and it'll curse you," he said.
"Curse you? How so?" I asked.
"Well - it's sort of like brine water - the miasma holds itself back - but at the same time - some of it seeps out - we can try and contain it - but the root network is so big - eventually another tree of evil will be formed in the under dark - and thus the miasma will seep out into our world"
Brine water? Fresh Water under Salt Water?
Our world is the salt and the miasma is the brine?
That doesn't make a lot of sense.
"Entering is easy - but the deeper you go - the more dense the miasma becomes - coming up - hastily - results in loss of humanity," he continued.
"How does one lose their humanity?" I asked.
He got real serious and started into root abyss.
"Some loose their sanity because they're unable to find a way up - other's come up quickly and their bodies morph and distort into conscious blob creatures that are unable to move eat or even worse - die."
I swallowed - still looking at Arslan. Not letting my eyes wonder from his face.
"It's the curse of looking for the root -"
"The root of what?" I asked.
"The root of magic of course - some say it's down there - the answer,"
"The answer to what?" I asked again.
"To everything - the universe - creation itself - life and death," he explained.
"Like The First Sphere many believe exploring The Roots of the Under-Dark will lead to a discovery that will change humanity and the way we see the world. Or infinite wealth and power - no one can be sure.
I've already been to The First Sphere - or at least my spirit has. I know how it's like up there. I still retain memories of that place - like a distant dream that never was. Every moment it fades away - but still lingers - bits and pieces. At least I felt peace up there. Like some sort of heaven - or a place called Elysium. Even if for some reason the angels up there didn't quite like me.
I sat down Arslan was comfortably kneeling.
"So The First Sphere - is that like heaven?" I asked.
"Not really - it's a place we can go too - but I be the angels won't be to happy we visit them - it's a place where all worlds converge - "
Apollo suddenly chimed in.
[REDACTED]
My vision glitched and I couldn't hear the rest of what Arslan had to say about that.
He didn't notice either because his face turned back tot he root abyss.
"Aren't you tired?" A voice - spine chilling - suddenly spoke to me. I knew this voice. I've heard it before. I didn't want to think it's true. But it was the same voice that had called me a Shepard back when the demon invasion came to Vinymar.
"Aren't you tired of having that stupid AI dictate your every move?" It spoke again. I didn't know where it was coming from.
Time almost seemed to slow to a crawl.
I could barley hear Arslan voice but he started to notice something was wrong.
It was like he was speaking in slow motion.
"W —— aaa —— ttt —— 'ss — ww — rrr—ooo—nn—ggg?" He spoke slowly like a record being played down it's normal speed.
My head started to hurt.
Was Apollo fighting of this enemy?
This demon?
"I can help you get rid of it - unlock your true potential - just come with me - dive in -" it said.
Arslan was standing up.
But my head turned almost on it's own.
I knew where the voice was coming from.
From the darkness far below where the roots extend far beyond human comprehension.
I let go - it felt like peace finally washed over me. A darkness enveloped me.
I looked down at the abyss. And finally saw it.
It staring back at me.
-
Arslan could barley make it in time - it all happened so fast. The white demon grew in size from the ignite depths and suddenly splashed out of the miasma - embracing me whole. It's body much like mine. His arms embracing me from behind.
I was already falling into it anyway - the call of the abyss pulling me deeper.
Arslan reached out his hand - his expression worried - he was screaming for me not to go.
But it was too late.
I fell over on my side as the demon was holding me.
[ERROR] - [ERROR]
Before I knew it my whole body entered the miasma as If I was jumping into a swimming pool.
[ERROR] [ERROR]
Something else happened, Apollo shout out of my body and stayed behind. His hologram appearing just like in my room before all of this happened.
[Warning - Timeline Sequence]
[BROKEN]
[Rebooting]
[ERROR]
[Unable to Repair Timeline]
[Rebooting x^2]
[ERROR]
[Timeline Sequence Broken]
[Rebooting x^100]
[ERROR]
[Timeline Sequence Broken]
[Rebooting x^∞]
[ERROR]
[Timeline Break Detected at Server Level]
[Checking Server Status]
[PERSIAN, PHYRGIAN, TIBURTINE : ONLINE]
[CUMAEN: CRITICAL FAILURE]
I saw Arslan try and reach out for me. But my body descended into the root abyss.
Deeper and deeper. His light slowly becoming dimmer. Until the place I had jumped into disappear into the darkness.
Where light could shine no more.
I was falling deeper and deeper into the abyss.
Being pulled by the white demon.