Kapitel 8: To Fall Asleep
Stomp.
Kael's foot dug into the ground, spraying dirt behind him. To be quite frank, this situation...
Kael glanced over his shoulder, where a lady in linen robes trailed behind him, her posture hunched and devoid of elegance. It was disgusting, really.
This situation was not ideal.
Shit.
Kael hurriedly transformed into his enhanced body. His muscles expanded and wriggled beneath the surface of his skin, tightening and solidifying until his strength and speed improved.
What was the reason for his frantic sprint? Well, that's something Kael himself would like to know.
'I am so quitting after this is done.'
Kael shook his head, trying to increase his speed. To say he was confused would be an understatement. All around him, the world was shifting from a tranquil forest into an eldritch terrain.
The grass turned to ash. The massive tree that served as the umbrella of the whole place cast an eerie glow on the world. This wasn't just manifestation; it was a being's will so powerful that the world around it began to warp.
Step.
Kael desperately tried to outpace the 'fleshification,' but his running was failing. No matter how hard he struggled, the witch and the world were catching up to him. Perhaps if he dropped the extra weight he was carrying...
Kael glanced at the young man in his arms. His body lay limp, eyes brimming with tears, though his smiling mouth made Kael question his sanity.
In any case, if Kael dropped him, he might be able to escape. The incarnations had told him their plan, but what did it matter?
'I just want to live.'
The trees turned vile, their surfaces becoming fleshy, each one bearing a face plastered with horror. In unison, they turned to face Kael, their expressions filled with anguish. The craziest part was that he was told to run straight into this forest of flesh.
Kael clicked his tongue; he had never wanted to be a murderer. He preferred life above all else, and yet...
A tree closer than the rest shifted and lunged toward Kael's head.
Drop.
Kael dropped the man in his arms and dodged the attacking tree. With brutish strength, he closed the distance to its trunk and struck it hard with his fist. Its skin-like surface wriggled, and at first, nothing happened.
Then, like a balloon, it splattered, spraying Kael with its insides.
There was no time to waste. Kael had already tarnished his honor by running like a coward; if he didn't survive, it would be for naught.
But life was too cruel.
The witch behind him had already killed the person he tried to save. For a moment, she seemed puzzled, as if something was wrong with the body she had just discarded. In a mad frenzy, the witch made her way to Kael with blistering speed.
Kael panicked. He knew he stood no chance, so he took a gamble.
"I give up!" Kael screamed.
Perhaps this lady was more hospitable than she seemed?
The witch showed no sign of slowing down, and Kael's heart raced. He had to survive; he had to!
He clenched his fist and prepared to fight.
Grab.
A lithe hand gripped Kael's face with deadly strength, and a soft voice reached his ears. "Where is he?"
The moment his face was entrapped, he knew he stood no chance. Desperately, he searched for an answer.
Kael's head throbbed. He? Who is he? The young man? Didn't she already kill him? He raced for an answer; he could hear the stampede of trees behind him, and before him was a threat no less severe than the trees.
"I know nothing—"
Kael's world changed. Suddenly, the air felt light, and the grass returned. The trees stiffened, and no longer was there an army of fleshy death trailing behind him.
Kael looked before him at a beautiful tree that expanded high above the clouds, pulsing as if breathing.
It was strange, and for a moment, Kael was confused by the sudden atmospheric change. Perhaps this was some mind—
"I'm over here."
His thoughts shattered, and a mesmerizing lady sat just before him.
His heart fluttered, and his cheeks pinkened. Kael felt like he was supposed to remember something.
His hand touched his face. It hurt, but he couldn't figure out why.
"Kael, come,"
Mindlessly, Kael paced toward the girl who rested against the tree. She yawned, and as if infected, Kael began to yawn as well.
Eventually, he arrived just before the girl at the base of the living tree. Her hair swayed in the wind.
"I'm here,"
The lady didn't answer but instead patted the ground beside her.
Kael knew he shouldn't, but it all just felt… so right.
Smiling, Kael sat beside the girl.
"Sleep," she said, looking Kael in the eye.
Nervous, Kael did as told and closed his eyes. He felt a hand resting on his forehead, and before he realized it, he was lying on the girl's lap.
"Darling, just rest,"
Her voice was a lullaby. How could he disobey an angel?
Kael's eyelids sank even deeper. Sleep clouded his mind completely.
Something felt wrong, but what?
"Goodnight, Kael," a gentle hand played with his hair as he began to doze off. "Kadath will be pleased."
Kael's vision darkened.
He had fallen asleep.
---
Second stood there, panting, heart racing in his chest. He wasn't as strong as his brothers, but his illusions wielded a different kind of power. Before him lay the main body of Kenneth, unconscious and vulnerable.
If he had been just a second later, Kenneth would have died.
Just before Lily's blade descended, Second had cast an invisibility spell and conjured a perfect replica of Kenneth—a fake body that had taken the brunt of her attack. The real Kenneth lay here, just beside him.
Inhale.
A quick, short breath. In all likelihood, it served no real purpose. It was brief and failed to consume enough air for true respiration, yet it was vital in slowing down Second's pounding heart.
Second looked up, crouched in the middle of an ashen terrain that Kael had just passed. About thirty yards ahead, Kael readied his fist and struck a fleshy abomination. A moment later, it popped, blood flying in all directions.
Without stopping, Kael braced himself for the oncoming Lily, who moved like a crazed animal. After realizing she had killed a fake body, her veins bulged with rage.
Kael had now become the center of that rage.
In an instant, the witch gripped Kael's face, and no matter how much he squirmed, her hand wouldn't budge.
Second remained silent, watching with tentative anticipation.
The witch muttered something to Kael, and for a moment, nothing happened.
But it was only for a moment.
Kael's body went limp, his feet still dangling in the witch's grasp.
Meanwhile, the witch smiled.
Soon after, roots emerged from the ground. Their bark resembled scabbed flesh. The roots bled and then regrew, growing until they fully covered Kael's body. After just a few seconds, Second could no longer even see Kael's form; he was fully enveloped in the demonic tendrils that could only belong to Him. The only part that remained unchanged was his face, which stuck out slightly, protruding from the bark.
Kael's expression was horrified.
Perhaps he had finally realized his fate—the fate of becoming a pawn for the colossal tree.
Second had no time to waste. He was currently veiling himself and Kenneth in an illusion of a fleshy tree, which blended well with the environment. However, it wouldn't be long before either He or the witch realized something was amiss, especially given how close Second was to her.
Frantically grabbing Kenneth's shoulders, Second carefully dragged them both away from the ensuing transformation. Kael was strong, far stronger than the average victim. If he turned into a minion, the likelihood of success in the mission would lessen.
Finding his stride, Second hurled the main body over his shoulder. Originally, it had been Kael's job to bring Kenneth toward Eldest. But…
Second clicked his tongue at Kael's betrayal.
Step.
Second hurried his pace—well, as much as he could with an extra body on top of himself. In the distance, he could see it: the forest that served as a blockade. Normally, it would be impossible to escape. Thousands of trees guarded the edges of His domain, but this time, they had Eldest.
This mission was nearly over.
Second smiled.
Amidst the forest of death just ahead of him, a clean, almost invisible shadow glided between the trees. Wherever it traveled, the trees split cleanly in half. The shadow twirled and weaved through endless waves of abominations.
Nothing impeded its travel.
This was Eldest—a far cry from Kid's tyrannical fighting style. Eldest relied purely on skill. After all, he was the oldest and the most evolved form of the three incarnations.
As Second ventured closer to the forest, he could finally see the faint outline of Eldest effortlessly swinging his massive sword. Water danced around the dull blade, suffocating anything that came into contact.
As for Eldest himself, his speed was blistering. His movements were not sharp; they were not untimely. No, they were perfect. Eldest was like a wave of power. His strength was simply unapproachable.
This was it;
this was Eldest's flow.
AUTORENGEDANKEN 
LucianNoir
LucianNoir Hello! My surgery is tomorrow. I also want to mention that my updates have slowed down because I’ve been focusing on planning and refining my chapters. I know my word count has decreased, so I appreciate your understanding.
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