《A Journey Away - Book One of The Eternal Flame》Chapter 4
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Waking up in a jarred state of mind, Michael looked around in confusion as he felt his body jump every bump of the way. A constant rumbling of metal wheels and hooves sprinting shook him as he tried to get his eyes used to the change in environment. All he remembered was being carried down a winding staircase that looked to be endless.
Now, he was covered by a thin blanket while the sun filtered in from a window just a few feet away from him. Getting up with the creaking of the bed he had been sleeping on, he let his feet dangle as he sat on the edge. His hands were still the same, dirty and skeleton-like, yet he had an expensive robe covering him instead of the rags he used to have on.
Looking around the caravan wagon, it was packed to the brim with boxes of metal and wood. In them clinked the sound of what seemed to either be glass or light metal. The only space to get to stand was the path towards the exit and right in front of his bed so he can get out of it.
Another massive bump jarred Michael as he almost fell off the bed he was seated on with the rise of the entire wagon. Standing carefully, he made his way through the maze of things towards the door at the front. The window that was supposed to be there was replaced with a sheet of metal, making it impossible to look out of.
Waiting in front of the door, he held on to a few of the boxes to keep himself steady as the caravan kept moving forward relentlessly. Michael closed his eyes as he focused on hearing what was outside. In the darkness of his mind, he heard the crashing of horses barreling their way on a graveled and leveled road. Their riders panting as much as the animals themselves, trying their best to get as far as possible from whatever they wanted to escape.
Seating directly in front of the door were two people with familiar voices speaking to each other. Jax, unlike himself, was holding an entire discussion with Bialo as the wind snapped around them. Their words were muffled by the winds and wheels, but Michael was able to make out a few words by pressing his ear onto the door.
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“... Liege… him… insanity… status... pay,”
Insanity? Status?
Frowning, he could not make heads or tales of what they were saying, but it was made clear in but a few seconds as a bright light caught him off guard. Looking away, he tried to protect his eyes, yet no matter how quickly he turned or whether he had his eyes open or closed, the source of the light found its way directly in the middle of his line of sight.
Focusing on the light itself, a screen similar to the storage screen he had seen from his ring came into focus. But this time it was a bit different.
Status ~
Name ~ Ruthar Ges Lunar Kinderal III (Michael Collins)
Affliction ~ Greater Insanity (Greater Stability)
Your mind is not like others. It has become two in the makings of one. The first is of great madness, comparable to the kings of Carth. It binds you onto the path of self/worldly - destruction and sin. The second is of significant stability, its path is paved by the virtues and commandments of The Highest Power - He who is Light upon Light.
His left eye began to twitch rapidly the longer he read, as though its effects were taking place only now. Both his eyes began to burn, the right more so than the left. Falling down, his hands shook in an effort to not claw at his eyes, but the itch and pain that assaulted him was unbearable. Instead of using his nails, he harshly pressed the balls of his palm onto his eyes, pressing as hard as he could without damaging them.
Unknown to him, his eyes were changing, becoming more than human. Their color and the very whites of his eyes began to morph. On the left, the whites were pure no longer, rather a black so deep and dark it had become the night itself. The pupil changed into a slit rather than the circular shape found so often to those of human ilk. It's color a bright gold that reflected the light.
On the other hand, his right eye became clearer than ever before. Whiter than milk if at all possible. No coloration, blood vessels or anything else, only the purple of his irises shining brightly; leaving a trail as they moved to and fro.
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Gasping in pain, time seemed to still, elongating the suffering he had to endure. Every second felt like ages, centuries passing in a blink of the eye. Longer and longer it lasted, his whimpering voice unable to utter a scream, this torture was his alone with no one else to share it with. He felt his throat lock up, unable to bring air into his desperate lungs; they burning and begging for a reprieve.
Barely able to open his eyes, he stared at the ceiling of the rumbling caravan wagon. An endless black invading the very edges of his sight. Promising a much-desired warmth and stop to this all. Whispering and convincing, slowly leading him down its wanting path. Yet, a tiny voice at the back of his mind spoke words that echoed farther than what should have been possible. Warning him of the illusion that had been created to take him away. It screamed of insanity that could not be recovered from, a madness that will shake the world to its core. Showing him images of burning landscapes, of once water abundant ocean turning into scorching deserts uninhabitable by any life whatsoever.
Closing his eyes, he pushed from the last time. He knew deep down that if it did not end soon he would not make it through, Michael would not exist rather a hallowed vessel left in his place. Exerting all his force, he tried to will his way through, only to come short…
His mind screamed in retaliation but he knew it was too late. He was falling down a bottomless sea, floating in its murky waters decorated by the blackness of the deep, of the abyss. Raising a shaky hand he stretched it trying to reach the light and freedom that felt so close, yet so far away.
Crack
The deep sea he was drowning in fractured. It started as a single tiny crack, but it slowly exploded into a mosaic widening every second. With another world shatter Crack the world he had been in shattered, making way for reality. Gasping for breath, he sucked in lungfuls of air. Hurting his throat in the process, he coughed over and over again as he tried to find up from down. Flailing his arms, he needed something to grab, to give him a foothold in the real world.
As he wildly swung his arms, a massive body grabbed him. Steading his circulating mind, he clutched for dear life. Afraid that if he let go, the abyss would return to take him, the whispers would lead him so connivingly again. He shook in his spot as a third voice unlike the rest tried to get his attention. One familiar and comforting even if he did not make out a single word it spoke.
It took too many tries for Michael too willingly listen to the actual words rather than bask in the peace and tranquility they brought him. Slowly they gained meaning to him. Opening his eyes he smiled shakily to the owner of the voice. Close to him sat Bialo trying to get through to him, worry lining his weathered face. His mouth moving in ways that seemed hilarious to Michael without the audible words making it to him. Laughing, he finally heard them, heard the sounds that were uttered.
“Young Master! Can you hear me? Say something, please. Young Master?!”
Bialo’s voice ached with distress and hope of success. Fear that he may not have been there soon enough to make a difference to a destroyed mind. Continuing his laughter, that same voice at the back of his head slowly nudged him to reply. And reply he did even as the whispering voice tried to rope him into not responding.
“Yes, Bialo I can hear you. My ears are working just fine. If anything, your incessant screaming directly into them might be causing more damage,”
Smiling at the relieved expression he saw on the old man’s face, he felt lightheaded and his eyes heavy. With an eased mind, and the careful direction of the voice in the back of his mind, he allowed himself to close his eyes and fall to a quiet and much-needed rest.
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The Dungeon Hive
One thing I noticed about most dungeon stories is that most races mistakenly believe that dungeons have a hive-mind and I go, “That make sense.” Considering the various powers and how big dungeons can get, wouldn’t it make more sense for them to have a hive-mind? So this is it; my take of the world’s first dungeon and the hive that controls it. Watch as it stumbles, fall, survive, strive and…procreate? Watch as it changed the world of Ioplon…for better and for worse. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For edited version of the story, the full trilogy (Book_1: Fantasy Begins, Book_2: Dungeon Flames, Book_3: Spread of the Dungeons) are now available on Amazon. Please take a look, and leave a rating. Thanks
8 288Core Defect
In the 264 years since the Great Singularity Wars, the world has been irrevocably changed. Technologies like nanobots and rogue artificial intelligences have caused the planet's wildlife to evolve in dangerous and powerful ways, pushing humanity to the verge of extinction. However, the remaining survivors are not without ways to fight back. Nanotech can enhance humans just as well as beasts, but perhaps most surprisingly, humanity has found an unexpected ally: a group of human-neutral AIs called Daemons. Val is a 22-year old woman striving to become a User: a nano-empowered human paired with a Daemon that serves as society's final and most powerful line of defense. When a critical issue in her nanosystem's core seemingly leaves her unable to serve as a User, she's given a difficult choice: give up on her dreams or accept a potentially unstable AI, Noir, as her Daemon partner. Val and Noir are stronger together than they are apart, but can they survive long enough to unlock their potential? Can they find a place among the other pairings like them, shunned by society but essential to civilization's survival? If Users are humanity's last line of defense, welcome to the sacrificial first line: the Defects. Updates are currently once a week, aiming for the weekend. Chapters usually 2k-3k in length.
8 207Life, the struggle for existence
What would happen when man had to, once again, fight for its own right to live? Would the evolutionary counterparts of our ancestors manage to life through the struggle for survival? What would happen to society if a new reason for living came up, other than the enjoyment of the well-built environment? A reason that could either unite or destroy humanity.This is the struggle for their right of existence.As earth and its inhabitants are faced with the fear of unknown danger and the peril of monstrosities, some will falter, some will die and some will live on to tell the tales of those forgotten. As reality dictates, most will be part of the first two groups and only a small faction will be part of the latter. *This is my first attempt at writing fantasy, so I do hope you’ll enjoy it. The story is one of apocalyptic nature, with gigantic monsters, unfathomable powers and also a critial view on humanity and what it means to be human. I will definitely try to stay away from any tropes that are not neccesary to write fantasy, as I thoroughly despise non-creativity. There shall be no harems, no unrealistic behavior and absolutely no standard scene of dimwitted bandits that try to rob whatever similarly rock-brained princess they encounter. The main character is not black and white, because no human is completely good or completely evil. They’re human, not some idealistic concept of what one is supposed to be. Enjoy!Warning: Tagged 17+ for the occasional strong language and violence, some mild sexual content can occur in the distant future.
8 144Masters
NOTICE: Upon greater contemplation, I have decided to put this story on indefinate hiatus so as to focus on other projects. However, I have decided to start a new project in it's Place. In an infinite universe full of endless possibility, there lie worlds beyond compare, treasures and resources with great power, monsters that never truly die, and peoples of all kinds with mysterious powers and abilities that can be learned like a martial art. Join Nicholas Xed and his friends as they blaze a trail into the unknown to meet their destinies! Note from Author: This is the first time i've done something like this and as such is a huge learning experience on my part, so please be patient with me if I make revisions. I promise I won't change any of the core narratives or characterizations and will do my best to make this the best story it can be! Note 2: This is a montly serialization without a fixed day in each month, so please expect every new chapter to come within the frame of each month.
8 123The Forgotten Portal
Luke was used to tragedies in his life. He wasn't used to portals, monsters or bad ass girlfriends.
8 156[ Xuyên nhanh ] Tra nam tẩy trắng sổ tay
https://wikidich.com/truyen/tra-nam-tay-trang-so-tay-xuyen-nhanh-XDHyElS4CGWUrvwENhiệm vụ: Xuyên qua các thế giới biến thành tra nam, hoa thức tẩy trắng.Vệ nói rõ là cái kẻ lừa đảo, nhưng hắn không như vậy cho rằng.Lừa cả đời, giả cũng liền biến thành thật sự.Bổn văn vì tô sảng phục vụ, hư cấu vô logic, lôi giả thận nhậpCái thứ nhất thế giới: Tra cha không tra hoàn thànhCái thứ hai thế giới: 90 niên đại tra nam hoàn thànhCái thứ ba thế giới: Tám một tám cái kia tra ảnh đế hoàn thànhĐệ tứ thế giới: Đứa con bất hiếu / phượng hoàng nam hoàn thànhThứ năm cái thế giới: Hảo lão sư hoàn thànhThứ sáu cái thế giới: Trang bức bản phú nhị đại hoàn thànhThứ bảy cái thế giới: Thần côn hoàn thànhThứ tám cái thế giới: Học tra or chó con hoàn thànhThứ chín cái thế giới: Thổ phỉ hoàng đế hoàn thànhĐệ thập cái thế giới: Ta yêu thích là trang người ( quỷ chuyện xưa, sợ quỷ thận nhập ) hoàn thànhĐệ thập nhất cái thế giới: Tay súng tra nam hoàn thànhThứ mười hai cái thế giới: Mạt thế tìm thân lộ hoàn thànhThứ mười ba cái thế giới: Trọng nam khinh nữ gia đình ra tới tra nam hoàn thànhĐệ thập tứ cái thế giới: Ta là hảo hoàng đế hoàn thànhThứ 15 cái thế giới: Hư học sinh hoàn thànhĐệ thập lục cái thế giới: Tu đạo lão thái gia hoàn thànhThứ mười bảy cái thế giới: Tu Chân giới vai ác trưởng lão hoàn thành
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