The Artifact

"Well, that doesn't sound good." Key muttered as Speedy's defiant yell cut through the air. His purple eyes pulsed with an eerie glow, scanning the area to see exactly what had set her off.

He exhaled sharply, gripping his wrist to restrain himself.

Don't intervene. Don't break your promise to her.

It took everything in him to stand back.

The only thing stopping him now was the massive surge of Abyssal Energy approaching—still about twenty minutes out.

And then—

"MASTER!!"

"KEY!!"

"DEAR KEY!!"

Oh shit.

Key barely had time to process before he heard his name screamed from three different directions, each voice carrying its own level of urgency and rage.

He snapped into a 'surfer dude' voice, feigning innocence.

"Hey, dudes! What's up!?!" he called out, drawing out his words with exaggerated cheer.

"Fuck you, Key! You left us!" Sketch shouted, his voice sharp with betrayal.

"Yeah!" Spam echoed, just as indignant.

"That was so mes—"

"Alright, alright, I know, I know! Y'all can kick my ass later—AFTER we deal with that Abyssal Horde." Key cut in, hands up in mock surrender.

Gamble narrowed his eyes, scanning the area. "Speedster's Abyssal Energy definitely attracted them."

"Ya think?" Thana scoffed. "We could've been in the Abyssal Chasm and still felt it."

The air grew tense.

"Master…" Zyrenna's voice was quiet, but urgent.

Key immediately turned to her, noticing the way her gaze was locked on something ahead. The others followed her line of sight.

"Look ahead."

A low, collective curse rippled through the group.

Eunoia's face darkened, eyes narrowing. "Goliaths."

[Abyssal Goliaths LV. 100] (x50)

Towering eldritch horrors, their forms a grotesque fusion of writhing abyssal tendrils and obsidian-black armor that seemed to devour light itself. Their glowing, malevolent eyes radiated an eerie energy, and every step from their massive, clawed hands cracked the very ground beneath them.

A single one of these was bad enough.

Fifty was hell.

Spam's breath hitched. Her wide eyes darted sideways before she froze in terror.

"Are those… the clowns?!"

She clung onto Ravenna, shaking.

"Oh shit, THEY ARE!!" Ravenna screeched, immediately grabbing onto Spam.

Wait.

What?

[Cursed Clowns LV. 50] (x60)

Nightmarish entities of madness, grotesquely warped by eldritch horror and twisted carnival aesthetics. Their hollow, glowing eyes and jagged, unsettling smiles radiated pure malice, while their tattered, dark clown costumes swirled with pulsating abyssal energy.

Their long, clawed fingers twitched unnaturally, bodies moving in erratic, jerky motions as if they were glitches in reality.

Key blinked. "How the hell did clowns even get down here?"

Sketch chuckled despite the dire situation. "Beats me, but Spam and Ravenna are scared shitless of em."

"SAVE US!!" The two screamed, diving behind the group for cover.

Gamble sighed. "We're not done."

The air shifted, thick with a suffocating, spectral presence.

[Void Drifters LV. 50] (x30)

Ghostly, hooded figures drifted soundlessly through the endless abyss. Their tattered, flowing robes rippled like liquid darkness, obscuring all but their piercing, glowing eyes. Strange runes pulsed faintly across their forms, radiating an ominous, unreadable energy.

[Void Crawlers] (x200)

Insectoid horrors emerged from the abyss, their twisted chitinous bodies covered in shadowy armor that absorbed all light, making them seem one with the darkness itself. Their multiple, glowing eyes burned with a hungry, malevolent gleam, scanning for prey.

Eunoia took a sharp breath. "How do you want us to handle this, Key?"

Key exhaled, glancing toward the horizon.

"We do what we do best." His voice was steady, but his grip tightened. "I'm worried for Speedy, but I promised her I'd trust her. She'll be fine."

Dheerash nodded. "Looks like we have no choice…"

PING!

Key's heart stopped at the familiar sound.

[/!\ Warning Important Quest /!\]

Key's eyes flickered. 'Damn. Been a while since I've heard from you, Game.'

A new message appeared.

[Destroy the ?? Artifact to stop more Abyssal Beasts from coming.]

Key frowned. 'Wait… Artifact? The hell are you talking about?'

Meanwhile.

A heavy, tense silence filled the air.

The bloodied and ragged Skinwalker leader held a small black dagger to a child's head.

Her screams were muffled, her tiny body writhing in his grip.

Behind him, a mystical, glowing red crystal pulsed ominously.

The leader's lips twisted into a dark smirk.

That thing had been here since they arrived. And they quickly realized just how insanely 'Beast-attractive' it was.

If that little bitch didn't stop, he'd raise hell.

His head snapped up.

Footsteps.

A presence approached.

His breath hitched.

There she stood.

Her hair veiled her face, but the pressure radiating off of her was suffocating.

The leader stiffened. His grip on the girl tightened.

"Take one fucking step and she dies! I'll activate the crystal!!"

SHUUU—

A whisper of wind.

A spray of crimson.

A sickening silence.

The Skinwalker leader's body collapsed, blood misting the air.

Speedy lowered her hand, her breath ragged but steady.

She knelt, looking at the trembling girl still clutching onto her arms.

Speedy softened her expression, offering the child a small, reassuring smile.

"…Are you okay?"

The girl hesitated, then threw herself into Speedy's arms, sobbing.

"Yes!! Thank you, Miss!!"

Speedy exhaled, steadying herself.

"You don't have to worry anymore… It's time to g—"

BOOM.

Speedy barely had time to react.

The Artifact pulsed violently.

Blood dripped onto its surface.

And that was all it needed to activate.