Chapter 17: The Calm Before the Storm

Observations in the Repercussions

With the weight of the encounter on their shoulders, Derek and his group left the ancient ruins. There was something unsettling about the place, and even after they had vanquished the dark force, they could not stop being intrigued by their rescuer's identity.

They made the decision to camp for the night as soon as they arrived at a nearby clearing. The stars shone brightly in the open sky above them, a sharp contrast to the dark energy they had just fled.

Lila sat close to the fire and gazed into the flickering flames. "What we battled was more than just an adversary. It seemed intimate, as though it had some connection to us.

Emma agreed with a nod. Something is lacking from our situation. That shadow was aware of us. That wasn't a coincidence.

Derek sat silently, lost in contemplation. His thoughts were constantly going back to the scene when the enigmatic white figure had come to their aid during their lowest point. "That person, whoever they were, knew more about what was going on than we do," he continued slowly. They appeared to be aware of us and understood how to halt the shadow.

Kai, who was always full of optimism, rested against a tree and gazed up at the sky. "Perhaps they are a relic of some sort. A kind of guardian, keeping an eye on us as we go up.

"Or they might be something completely different," Emma cautiously said. We cannot just presume that they are on our side. They have; yes, they assisted us, but it doesn't imply that their motives were honorable.

Sighing, Derek ran a hand over his hair. "We must learn more information. Regarding the shadow, the remnants, and the individual who had left that. However, we cannot enter blindly.

A Brief Interlude of Relief

There was a brief period of lightness in the otherwise somber environment when Kai started to relate their voyage in a humorous way, adding details to make others chuckle.

"And then, standing tall, I hit it with the biggest energy blast you've ever seen when the shadow was this close," Kai stated, holding his palm inches from his face. It happened suddenly! Next, however—

With a sly smile, Lila interrupted his narration and hurled a little stone at him. "If my memory serves me correctly accurately, you almost burned yourself, and your "biggest energy blast" accomplished nothing.

Kai gave a shy smile. "Details, details. Our survival is what matters most, isn't that right?

For the first time in what felt like days, the group let themselves relax and laughed briefly, which released some of the stress. Moments like this, even in the face of peril, served as a reminder of their friendships and the bonds that had strengthened them over time as a team.

Dream of Derek

Later that evening, Derek fell asleep fast while lying outside under the stars. However, his dreams were far from tranquil.

In his dream, he was by himself in a big, deserted meadow. Everything around him appeared to be stuck in time, and the air was motionless. He sensed a presence—recognizing one—and spun to find the ruined person standing at the field's edge, dressed in white.

"Who are you?" Inquiring, Derek's voice resounded across the silence. "What made you assist us?"

The figure took a while to respond. Rather, they moved ahead, the hood of their cloak still covering their faces. "You are not prepared to comprehend the complete reality," the figure stated in a composed yet stern tone. But be aware that you are traveling down a far more hazardous route than you think. You have a major role in what is about to happen, and forces that are much beyond your comprehension are at work.

Heart raced in Derek. What does that signify, exactly? How am I meant to proceed?

The figure's head was slightly curled. "You have to keep going." ahead. You will have to make some difficult decisions. Decisions that will impact not just your future but also the future of our planet. However, heed this warning: not every person you meet will be who they appear.

The figure faded before Derek could ask any further questions. He cried out, "Wait!" but the dream was already vanishing, with the figure vanishing into nothingness.

The Storm That Is Forming

With a start, Derek woke up, the dream still fresh in his memory. Rubbing his eyes, he sat up, trying to process what he had just gone through. The figure's words "Forces far beyond your comprehension..." reverberated in his mind.

With the first rays of dawn peeking through the trees, Derek saw that the adventure was far from over. Their mystery ally had warned them of perils they weren't yet ready for, and the old opponent they had confronted was only one piece of a much bigger jigsaw.

Derek recounted his dream with the others as they started to stir. He said, "Whoever that person is, they know more than they're letting on." "Going ahead, we must exercise caution. There will be a significant event soon; therefore, we must prepare.

Lila's brows were knitted together as she scowled. "Isn't it usually something significant? Although we have faced danger every day since the beginning, something about today feels different.

Ever the tactician, Emma raised her voice. "We want further details. Regarding the wreckage, the silhouette, and the person. There must be an expert out there somewhere.

Kai rose and stretched, popping his neck. Then, it appears that we have our upcoming task. It's time to turn to the books—that is, the ancient scrolls, secret libraries, and hidden archives. Whatever is necessary.

The crew packed up their tent and headed off again, their minds fixed on the obstacles that awaited them. They were full of resolve now. Even though they had previously faced overwhelming odds, this time seemed different—as though they were on the brink of something far greater than themselves.

A Novel Enemy Draws Near

They had no idea that a veiled person with strangely luminous eyes was observing them from the shadows as they traveled toward the closest city in the hopes of finding answers.

A sly smile twitched at the corner of their lips as they said, "So, the outliers are on the move again." "This is going to be... enjoyable."

The person waved their hand and vanished into the night, leaving only the tiniest sign of their existence.

Note from the Author:

"Universal Ascension: The Path of the Outlier" Chapter 17 lays the groundwork for Derek and his team's next adventure. The stakes are higher than ever, with fresh secrets emerging and a bigger threat approaching. As the journey progresses, stay tuned for more excitement, mystery, and surprising turns of emotion!