Threads of Fate

Astel's screams pierced the air as he writhed on the ground, his body engulfed in flames. The agonizing sight froze Amon in place, his legs trembling and refusing to obey his desperate mind. Ying Yue clutched his shoulders, her voice frantic as she tried to pull him away. "Amon! We need to go!"

But Amon didn't move-no, he couldn't move. His legs had betrayed him, his mind reeling in fear and disbelief. The flames consuming Astel began to subside, their brightness fading into a sinister glow. His screams quieted, replaced by an ominous silence that sent chills down their spines.

Then Astel stood, fully transformed.

His charred red skin gleamed like molten rock, veins of fire pulsing beneath the surface. Two goat-like horns jutted from his skull-one piercing through his left eye, now an empty, oozing socket. His remaining right eye was an abyssal black, so deep it seemed to swallow all light, radiating a malevolence that made Amon's blood run cold.

"Hello, my friend," the creature purred, its voice layered with an ancient, otherworldly echo. The sound reverberated in Amon's ears, each syllable like a jagged blade carving into his mind. "It is I, apostle of ⧫▣⧫."

Amon winced as the strange, forbidden language seemed to twist the very air around him, suffocating and oppressive. Then the creature smirked, breaking into a mocking laugh. "Oh, enough with the sophisticated act!" it said, its tone suddenly casual and mocking. "But my, my-what a surprise! Who would've thought he sent not one, but two apostles to little planet 2-3B5? And you two seem awfully close."

Before anyone could react, the apostle vanished and reappeared in front of Ying Yue. His clawed hand gently tilted her chin upward, forcing her to meet his abyssal gaze. "Isn't this a cute little friend you've got here?" His words oozed malice, his aura so suffocating that neither Amon nor Ying Yue could move.

The apostle turned his attention back to Amon, his grin widening. "Oh, and about this body…" He gestured at himself mockingly. "Yes, it was your friend's didn't it but now, it's mine."

Amon's breath caught in his throat as the apostle laughed, the sound echoing like the toll of a funeral bell. The weight of despair crushed him, rendering him unable to speak or act. The apostle's grin twisted into something even darker.

"You can also say goodbye to this planet now," he continued nonchalantly, as if discussing the weather. "It's already served its purpose-as nutrition your's truly awakening. A pity, really. Such a waste of life."

Ying Yue's grip on Amon tightened as she tried to muster her strength, but it was futile. The apostle's aura was an insurmountable force, pinning them in place like insects under a crushing weight. Amon's chest burned with helplessness and rage, but his body wouldn't obey him.

"Huh, it's a shame we apostles can't kill each other before the carnival," the apostle mused, his tone dripping with mock regret. "But don't worry-I'll be seeing you in ten years." He turned, his smirk widening as a blood-red glow gathered in his palm.

"Bye~" With a flick of his hand, a searing blood beam shot toward Amon and Ying Yue. Time seemed to slow as Amon braced himself for death, his eyes squeezing shut. But instead of pain, a shimmering shield of light erupted in front of them, blocking the attack.

A deafening clang resounded as an ancient message appeared in the air, etched in golden light:

[Any form of offense between two apostles is prohibited.]

[System is rejecting this fate.]

[System is initiating a random teleport.]

The apostle hissed in irritation, his smirk fading for a brief moment before returning. "Tch, so that's still in place. No matter." He stepped back, his gaze lingering on Amon with unsettling amusement. "Enjoy the reprieve while it lasts. I'll be waiting. Oh, and try to get stronger, would you? It's no fun if you're this pathetic next time."

With that, the apostle vanished into thin air, leaving behind a chilling silence. 

Amon, still frozen in place, felt a strange pull, as though invisible hands were dragging him from reality itself. His body was weightless, yet the sensation was far from comforting. Ying Yue's grip on his shoulder tightened, her panicked voice barely audible over the hum of the system's interference.

"Amon! What's happening?!" she screamed, her voice laced with terror.

The distortion grew stronger, enveloping Amon and Ying Yue in a cocoon of shimmering light. The apostle took a step forward, his blood-forged hammer materializing in his hand once more. "You think you can escape me that easily? You're only delaying the inevitable!" He raised the hammer, its crimson glow intensifying, but the same golden message flashed in the air again:

With a final pulse of light, the world around Amon and Ying Yue shattered like glass, fragments of reality swirling around them before vanishing into an endless void. The apostle's laughter echoed faintly as the two were pulled into the unknown, his voice the last thing Amon heard before everything went black.