Tus fell onto the ground, something that he just realized happens a lot, and rolled. He came to a stop and shifted his eyes toward that shadow that rose from the ground like drop of water going in the wrong direction.

Eventually, it halted its advancement out of the earth and supported itself seven feet above the surface. It almost had no identifiable features except for three blue balls of fire that floated inside the center of it. They released a dim glow that made the air chillier to breathe in, similar to fall just before winter. Faintly, sounds of people wailing came from it pleading for some sort of liberty.

The blob trembled for a moment before spraying a black ink into the air. The small drops of liquid floated in the sky after they hit a height of twenty feet, just below the height that Gargoyle flew up to. They then trembled mid-air and interconnected into an elaborate web that went from the sky to piercing into the ground. The entire thing turned into a cage that blocked any form of escape.

Tus stood up and kept an eye on the blob that stopped moving. Then, a voice so deep and faint that it seemed to be a whisper.

“Rolon, this minor avatar of mine will challenge you to a fight that you can’t afford to lose. Prepare yourself!” The blob thusly extended a tendril, aimed at Tus’s stomach.

Sensing the danger before seeing it, Tus turned his body to the side, allowing the tendril to bypass.

‘This thing wants to fight me? Okay fine. I haven’t had the actual opportunity to fight something square since I got here…’ Moving through his thoughts quickly, Tus came up with a analysis. ‘It seems to be attributed with darkness with its color and the general theme, so fire might be a counter.’ Tus immediately thought and willed his second heart, moving it as if it was one of his hands. It responded with a stronger pulse than usual that caused heat to flow through his shoulders into his throat.

He opened his mouth, breathing out an incredibly small orange column of fire. It enveloped a section of the blob’s extended tendril and it bubbled like acid before separating into two. One part of the fire went to the blobs body after following the limb while the other part quickly disappeared.

Tus didn’t have long to celebrate the small victory when one of the blue fires in the blob moved from the center and absorbed the fire Tus breathed out.

“Not bad comprehension and good senses on the first move! However, you lack power and direction, but both can be corrected through time. How much time, that is the next question.” The blob said leisurely before sending out another tendril.

‘How can I get rid of that blue fire? I won’t be able to damage the body too much like this.’ Tus dodged, but didn’t use the second heart as, as he only had a small supply of internal energy. ‘Maybe the talisman can tell me?’

Tus brought out the talisman from his shirt pocket as he circled around the stationary blob that kept sending out tendrils.

When the blob saw Tus bringing out the talisman, the blue fires flickered, “Isn’t that one of that blonde Family’s special trinkets. How did he get one?”

The old mans’ voice penetrated Tus’s mind, ‘Shadow Avatar: A high method utilizing the shadow in the World of Em, the Land of Darkness and Imagination. It bases itself on the foundation of the user, therefore, to damage the core, the need to know the users’ primary composite is a must and I can’t tell you what it is.’

“What kind of bull-crap explanation is that?!” Tus yelled at the talisman that basically said ‘no free rides’, before shoving it back into his pocket.

“Fine! I’ll try whatever is closest to me!” Tus angrily yelled before picking up a nearby rock and threw it accurately at one of the blue fires. However, before the rock hit the blue fire, the layer of shadow dissolved it.

After seeing this, Tus stood still for a moment.

………

“Why did you agree to milady’s request so easily?” Worill couldn’t help but ask the ground beneath him. “And why are you still testing him?”

A voice came from underneath, “Our Lord’s understanding of his daughter and vice versa really astounds me. Yarla Erkshem wouldn’t make such a request without knowing his intentions. I also know that our Lord would agree to it as well.

“As for this… this is a minor test, it is just so that I have something to report, and whether or not I should change my mind.”

“How is he doing?” Worill asked, somewhat hesitant with the voices’ response.

“He just obliterated my avatar.” The voice spoke solemnly.