Linegias

The Earth had been swallowed. Absorbed by the new world, an infinite ocean dotted with continents stretching as far as the eye could see. Humanity found itself thrust into this place, left to fend for itself in hostile lands teeming with creatures and civilizations from multiple origins, ripped from their own realities.

Where the Earth once stood, another world took its place. Then another. And another. The cycle had begun. Each conquered world was duplicated, absorbed in turn, fueling the inexorable expansion of this endless domain. An unknown force wove this network of universes, engulfing everything in its path.

Ages passed.

What remained of humanity? Feared remnants. Captured by the Tower of Chaos, which had risen without warning. On the continent of Winet, the first earth to have been absorbed, the landscape had transformed. Once dominated by humans, only one thing remained of their reign: the Tower, immense and menacing. It had taken the strongest.

Those who had not fallen under its yoke were now a scattered group, too insignificant to weigh in on history. To the new inhabitants of Winet, they had become rare creatures, objects of desire and fascination. Symbols of wealth and power, they were held captive, weakened, carefully studied to prevent the awakening of their potential.

And it’s in this delightful chaos that I, Mana, find myself working. Enslaved by beings even more terrifying than myself, I’m condemned to watch the world descend into carnage, to dig through past ages for stories worth telling.

Really, what a mess.

___

"Please note that the current coverage is provisional and does not belong to me."

Chronicles of the Engulfment

Domgis ran, his breath short, his legs on fire, yet he knew he had no choice. This was the umpteenth time he had traversed this cursed tunnel, and each attempt ended in the same failure. Still, he kept trying, over and over, hoping that this time would be different.

His feet struck the smooth floor, an endless echo resonating around him. Behind him, the mirrors reflected images that weren't quite his own. Sometimes motionless, sometimes advancing slowly, these silhouettes multiplied with each pass, as if they were accumulating his failed attempts. This realization pushed him to the brink of panic.

He finally stopped, bent double, hands on his knees, desperately trying to catch his breath. When he lifted his head, he noticed a glow at the end of the tunnel. A point of light in this hell of glass. He hesitated, but the thought of staying there, trapped between his own reflections and the shadows dancing behind him, was worse than anything.

He walked toward the light, first slowly, then faster and faster. The tunnel seemed to stretch as he advanced, but he persisted. When he finally reached the source of the light, he stopped abruptly.

Before him, suspended in an unreal void, was a heart of glass. Gigantic, it pulsed softly, emitting a gentle, hypnotic glow. With each beat, a wave passed through the tunnel, making the mirrors even more vibrant.

Domgis approached slowly, fascinated despite himself. But with each step, he felt a growing resistance, as if the ground itself wanted to hold him back. The shadows in the mirrors now stirred frantically, and a voice, soft but insidious, echoed in his head.

He shook his head, trying to ignore this invasive presence. But the closer he got to the heart, the more oppressive the voice became.

"There is no way out. Why fight?"

The heart's beats quickened, resonating in his skull like a war drum. Domgis felt his legs weaken. An invisible force seemed to press down on him, crushing him slowly.

He tried to scream, but no sound came out. His entire body seemed to give way, his mind withering…

Domgis opened his eyes abruptly. He was lying in his room, a small alcove carved into the stone. The familiar ceiling of the cave reassured him. He breathed deeply, smelling the damp rock. Had it been a nightmare?

He sat up slowly. The oil lamp on the table burned softly, casting shadows on the walls. Everything seemed normal, but a strange sense of unreality gnawed at him. He wiped his sweaty forehead with his hand.

He observed his room carefully. One detail caught his eye: the lamp. It had never been there before, even though he felt as if he knew exactly what lamp it was. And then, there was the silence… absolute. No distant dripping of water, no draft.

Domgis stood up, his bare feet on the cold floor. He moved toward the lamp, reaching out his hand. The moment he touched the glass, the scenery cracked. Literally. Black lines appeared on the walls, like a spiderweb spreading rapidly.

The room collapsed around him with a deafening crash. He screamed, falling to his knees, but the ground gave way beneath him.

Domgis woke with a start, gasping for air. He was back in the tunnel of mirrors, lying on the icy floor. The reflections were there, motionless, but he knew they were watching him.

Before him, the glass heart still glowed, but something had changed. He could feel it. He clenched his fists, a new determination burning in his veins.

"I suppose it's you behind all this, isn't it? You're the one who trapped me here," he murmured in a low, accusatory voice, slowly getting to his feet.

The shadows in the mirrors began to tremble, and the heart pulsed faster, as if it understood that its prisoner was becoming dangerous.

Chapter 5 : The prisoner of the tower