‘We’ve received distress messages coming from the boat to our immediate west?’ Brim raised a brow.

‘Yes, sir,’ Rafael confirmed. ‘They have “reported suspicious activity and request for assistance as soon as possible. Permission to connect?” as their latest message. As for the others, enemy forces have dropped but the majority except SS-Tanya, A-Saleem, A-Indigo, B-Octavia and ours are in combat.’

The fire elemental rubbed his eyes. He could hear the waves crash against the ship and water drumming above while his men stood idle down below. His pulse hastened for a moment and a drop of sweat formed on the side of his head. He didn’t like it one bit. He could understand SS-Tanya not getting engaged on but Saleem, Indigo and Octavia? All ships somehow to their direct West? He could smell a trap as obvious as this one. Anyone with half a brain could see that. And yet if his allies actually needed help…

‘Permission granted. We’ll follow protocol PI, with an initial party of five. Notify High-Command of our actions and request status of the ships further West and East.’

The messenger stood confused.

‘Now!’ Brim commanded. ‘Hesitancy will not be tolerated!’

‘Understood,’ the messenger began cooing for his tinoo.

Brim let out a deep breath. While his mind told him to run, his gut told him to go. At the battle of Lisbon, he trusted his logic and lost a lot. Meanwhile, he saved just as much by trusting his gut at the battle of The Path. So, who would wrong him if he decided to choose to trust his experience-based judgment?

‘Sir? We’re ready.’

‘Hm?’ Brim woke up to find himself staring at the wall. ‘Are all preparations done?’

‘Thirty seconds until contact, sir,’ Daniel, one of the five fire elementals joining Brim, spoke up.

‘Understood,’ Brim wrapped his arms behind his back. He counted each, individual second until he heard the loud crash of ships connecting. ‘Open the doors.’

The wall crumbled in front of everyone. They all stood on guard, waiting for anything that would spring right at them. However, nothing happened. Instead, they were met by the darkness of the corridor, beckoning them to move forward.

Brim ignited his palms and led the way forward. He didn’t speak a word as he did so, using simple head gestures along the way. He and his five-strong army edged across the wooden tunnel. They observed their surroundings and listened to anything of significance.

Nothing except for the dripping of water.

Lower your lights, Brim indicated as he did the same. They reached the end of the corridor. They couldn’t hear any chatter, any orders or any animals. Not even the shuffling of feet.

His men contained a cough.

Could it be? Brim picked up on their actions as he increased the sweat on his palms before telling his men to back off. He then chucked a ball of fire into the room. No reaction. Just an empty room as the fire sizzled out. At that, Brim turned around, signalling, No gas leak. I’ve seen enough though. Retreat. We’ll sever the connection A.S.A –

All of a sudden, Brim went into a coughing fit. His lungs gave way to an uncontrollable violation of the organ. He couldn’t breathe. His eyes watered as his flames died out.

What in Eurasia is happening?!

He turned back and shook his head in terror. His men stood frozen. Out of the darkness appeared a figure. One with a singular, glowing, red eye and serpents wriggling from the scalps of its dry, cracked skull. Its fangs dripped with a venomous liquid that evaporated on sight while scales shimmered in place of its skin.

The monstrosity took slow steps towards them, relishing their fear. In a single strike, the snakes struck at the necks of Brim’s men. In an instant, their skin hardened. Their frozen bodies became statues. Their, rough, black skin became jagged, grey stone.

‘Cut off the tunnel!’ Brim yelled back at the darkness, his words sputtering with every cough. ‘Enemy att-’

Without warning, a sharp object punctured Brim’s neck. His body began to clam up. His joints creaked with every moment. His heart suffered palpitations. He dared to look down at his state only for his eyes to widen at the asp straddled to his shoulder and the petrification of his body. He wanted to speak out but his mouth stiffened.

‘Let’s hurry,’ the monster instructed.

However, Brim saw no one else except for that lone enemy. What did it mean? Unless… Brim used all his might to excrete as much sweat as possible from all the pores in his body.

Just a bit more, he gritted his teeth under the excruciating pain of moving his fingers. I have to stop them! Come on!

Snap!

Flames engulfed Brim’s entire body. His joints loosened up. His bones cracked at every movement. The stone started to melt under the heat. With the darkness illuminated by the fire, he could see multiple shadows on the floor. I knew it! he screamed on the inside. However, his body still refused to cooperate.

Burn brighter!

The intensity of Brim’s flames shot up and the remaining stones crumbled. He endured the agonising splinters in every fibre of his body. At last, movement!

The snake-man turned round yet noticed too late as Brim lunged towards the enemy with a fiery fist. But his punch didn’t connect. No, it did connect. Just not his target.

Another monster formed right in front of his eyes. One with hair sprouting from every inch of its body. It grew and grew to monstrous lengths and engulfed the fire elemental until he could not keep hold of his flames. Snakes bit him once more. The petrification returned. He could feel his oil gland shrivel up empty.

Brim’s vision blurred and his hearing muffled. He could hear whispers. Three men and one, vocal woman. What was said? He couldn’t tell.

Footsteps followed. More than four sets. They oscillated between getting louder and getting quieter. Soon, all sounds disappeared. Speech became impossible. Vision crystalised. Regret started to sink in. Not from the decisions Brim took or his past but what he couldn’t prevent. He couldn’t stop the enemy from advancing on his men. He couldn’t make Jake see the error of his ways. He couldn’t cure Syndra of her trauma.

Well, if Gin’s around, I’m sure he’ll do that in my stead. At that, Brim’s thoughts dwindled.

He felt a light prick and soothing whisperings in his ear. “You did well,” they told him. The agonising pain turned into delirious joy at those words. He could feel no further sensations nor did he want to.

Is this bliss?