Kapitel 12: Shattered Certainties
The air had changed.
Eliar froze mid-step, his body trembling as a sudden chill gripped him. The void around him wasn't just silent—it was holding its breath. The crimson veins beneath his feet pulsed faster, erratically, like a panicked heartbeat. The construct in his mind flared, its threads twisting in jagged, desperate patterns.
This wasn't just a test. It was a trap.
"Not now," he muttered under his breath, his voice shaking. His gaze darted around the jagged terrain, every shadow seeming to shift and ripple with unseen movement. "Not like this."
A deep, resonant growl cut through the silence, vibrating in his chest. Eliar's breath hitched as the ground beneath him trembled. The growl came again, louder this time, closer. It wasn't just one sound—it was many, overlapping, layered in ways that made his skin crawl.
He raised his remaining hand, the energy flaring to life as the construct surged in his mind. Crimson light danced around his fingers, the threads weaving into a jagged barrier as the first shadow emerged from the darkness.
Eliar's heart sank.
It was massive, larger than any creature he'd faced before. Its body was sleek and sinuous, its obsidian-like scales glinting faintly in the crimson light. Its limbs ended in jagged claws that scraped against the stone, and its eyes burned with an otherworldly crimson glow. But it wasn't just one creature—it was two. No, three.
They moved in perfect sync, their movements fluid and predatory. Eliar clenched his teeth, his heart pounding as he tightened his grip on the energy. The construct in his mind flared, its patterns shifting frantically as it tried to keep up.
"You're kidding me," Eliar muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "You really don't want me to make it out of here, do you?"
The first creature lunged without warning, its claws raking through the air with terrifying speed. Eliar barely had time to react, the construct twisting sharply as he threw up a barrier. The impact shook the ground, cracks spreading through the barrier's surface as the creature pushed harder.
Eliar twisted the construct, reshaping the energy into a sharp pulse that exploded outward. The blast forced the creature back, but the other two were already moving. One struck from the left, its claws slashing across Eliar's ribs. Pain shot through him, sharp and immediate, but he didn't have time to react before the second creature lunged.
The claws raked against his remaining arm, slicing through flesh and muscle. Eliar cried out, staggering as blood streamed down his side. His vision blurred, the edges darkening as his strength began to falter.
Keep moving.
The thought cut through the haze of pain, sharp and insistent. Eliar gritted his teeth, the construct flaring in his mind as he forced himself to stand. The energy surged around him, wild and unstable, responding to his desperation.
The creatures circled him, their movements deliberate and unrelenting. They weren't just attacking—they were toying with him, testing his limits.
Eliar raised his hand, shaping the energy into jagged projectiles. The construct twisted sharply, guiding him as he hurled the spears toward the nearest creature. The first struck its target, piercing through the creature's chest. It dissolved into ash with a shriek, but the others didn't stop.
The second creature lunged, its claws striking the ground as Eliar rolled out of the way. His movements were sluggish, each one sending fresh waves of pain through his battered body. The construct in his mind flared frantically, its patterns jagged and unstable.
The third creature struck from behind, its claws tearing into Eliar's shoulder. He cried out, collapsing to the ground as blood pooled beneath him. His vision swam, and for a moment, he thought it was over.
But the construct didn't let him stop.
The energy surged around him, brighter and more volatile than before. The threads of the construct twisted sharply, weaving into a new, unfamiliar pattern. Eliar gritted his teeth, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he shaped the energy into a concentrated blast.
The explosion engulfed the third creature, its piercing shriek cutting through the void as it dissolved into ash. The second creature faltered, its movements hesitant as the energy flared brighter.
Eliar didn't hesitate. He shaped the energy into a blade, its edges jagged and glowing with raw power. With a cry that was equal parts rage and desperation, he drove the blade into the creature's chest. The light erupted, consuming the creature as it crumbled into nothingness.
The silence returned, heavy and suffocating. Eliar collapsed to his knees, his chest heaving as the energy faded. Blood dripped from his wounds, pooling around him as his vision blurred. The construct in his mind pulsed faintly, its presence steady but cold.
"You don't care, do you?" Eliar whispered, his voice trembling. "You don't care how much I lose… as long as I survive."
The construct didn't respond, but its patterns shifted slightly, almost as if in agreement.
Eliar clenched his remaining fist, his jaw tightening as he forced himself to stand. The pain was overwhelming, but he refused to give in. He pressed his hand against the jagged rock wall, using it for support as he took a shaky step forward.
But before he could move further, the ground beneath him cracked.
Eliar's eyes widened as the stone gave way, and he plunged into the darkness below. The air rushed past him, cold and suffocating, as he fell into the void. His mind raced, the construct flaring frantically as he tried to summon the energy to stop his descent.
And then, he hit the ground.
The impact knocked the wind out of him, his body crumpling against the cold stone. Eliar gasped for air, his vision swimming as pain erupted through his battered form. He tried to move, but his body refused to obey.
The crimson veins on the ground pulsed faintly, their light steady and unyielding. The void around him seemed to press closer, its silence heavy and oppressive.
Eliar's breath came in shallow gasps as he stared at the veins, his mind drifting. The construct pulsed faintly in his thoughts, its patterns steady and calm.
"You're not done with me yet," he muttered, his voice weak but defiant. "Are you?"
The void didn't answer. But deep down, Eliar already knew the truth.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein