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

The group could now clearly see the features of the mysterious stranger. His eyes, a metallic gray, seemed to glow with an eerie light, and his smile, though apparent, couldn't quite hide a certain malice.

The elf observed them with amusement, an enigmatic smile playing on his lips.

"You can call me Khael," he said calmly. "Let's say I'm… an observer. Someone who was here before you happened to pass by."

Eryndel frowned, his features tightening with suspicion.

"An observer who hurls massive creatures into the air and uproots entire forests?" he quipped sarcastically.

Khael let out a light laugh, almost warm, but it sent a shiver through the entire group.

"Touché," he admitted, tilting his head slightly. "But that wasn't an attack… just an experiment."

He gestured casually toward the inert creature.

"That thing was nothing more than a test subject. A tool. I had to test my new power, didn't I?"

His eyes lit up with an enthusiastic gleam as he swept his arm across the uprooted trees, the scattered debris, and the broken carcass.

"Ah, isn't it magnificent?" he said, his voice almost reverent.

He took a step forward, his radiant smile fixed on the group, his eyes gleaming with an almost childlike mischief.

"My master… What generosity. What vision. To entrust such power to a humble servant like me—isn't that proof of his greatness? You're lucky, my friends. You're witnessing something new, something marvelous."

He raised a hand, palm open, and an invisible pulse began to thrum around his fingers.

"That poor creature… It didn't survive the experiment, that's all. But this is just the beginning."

He took a deep breath, savoring the moment, before concluding with a satisfied smile:

"And believe me, I haven't been disappointed for a single moment."

A sudden burst of laughter erupted from his throat, filled with a disturbing joy. He turned slowly toward them, raising a finger as if to emphasize an important truth.

"But you, oh, you! You're far more interesting. Not wild beasts or insignificant trees… no. You're alive, thinking, capable of feeling fear and pain."

His gaze lingered on Claude, then shifted from one companion to the next, as if savoring every detail.

"I must thank you, sincerely. If you hadn't had the good idea to pass through here, I would have had to make do with those poor primitive creatures. But no, here you are, right in front of me, so vulnerable, so perfect."

He paused, tilting his head slightly, his smile widening even further.

"And what a sacrifice," he murmured in an almost affectionate tone. "It touches me deeply. You see, I was just missing living targets. It's so hard to find interesting adversaries in this forest."

His tone was light, almost cheerful, but every word carried an implicit threat that sank into their minds like an invisible dagger. The group stood frozen, torn between fear and anger, as Khael gently raised a hand, a dark, vaporous aura rising around him, ready to explode at any moment.

Chapter 18 : The Ashes of Vallombre