Bab 5: The First Lesson
Eliar's boots dragged against the ground as he stumbled forward, his legs barely cooperating. His head throbbed, the weight of everything that had happened pressing down like an iron vise. His breaths came shallow and uneven, the air too thick, too wrong. The faint crimson glow of the veins on the walls pulsed around him, casting ominous shadows that twisted and danced.
"Where are you taking me?!" he shouted at no one, his voice echoing down the narrow corridor. His laughter followed, sharp and brittle. "What am I even asking? The walls? The sky? The creepy red veins?! Sure, one of you must have an answer, right?"
The silence mocked him. He laughed again, louder this time, his voice cracking. "Oh, great! Nothing wants to talk! That's fine. I'll just die quietly then. No big deal!"
He swayed, his hand slapping against the wall for support. The faint hum of the energy vibrated under his palm, almost calming—if he weren't completely losing his mind. He leaned in closer, his forehead pressing against the cold stone. "You feel that?" he whispered, his tone conspiratorial. "It's alive, isn't it? Watching me? Laughing? Are you laughing at me?!"
He stepped back suddenly, shoving the wall with a trembling hand. "Well, guess what?! You don't scare me! Okay, maybe you do a little. But only a little!"
The veins pulsed faintly, as if answering him. Eliar froze, his eyes narrowing. "Oh no. Oh no, no, no. Don't you start! I don't need creepy walls talking back now. That's a hard no. We're done here."
He spun around, pacing the corridor with wild energy. "Let's recap, shall we? One: I'm dead—probably. Two: I'm in some hellscape where everything, including the walls, hates me. Three: I'm talking to myself. That's fun. That's healthy. Good job, Eliar."
He stopped abruptly, his chest heaving. For a moment, the silence pressed in again, suffocating and heavy. His knees wobbled, and he sank to the ground, his back against the wall. His hands trembled as he ran them through his hair.
"This isn't happening," he muttered, his voice softer now. "This isn't real. It can't be."
The corridor widened into a chamber, but Eliar barely noticed at first. His eyes were unfocused, his thoughts spiraling in every direction at once. When he finally looked up, the sight before him froze him in place.
"What…?" His voice was barely a whisper.
The chamber was smaller than the one he'd seen before, but no less strange. At its center stood a jagged black pillar, its surface covered in glowing red symbols. The air around it felt alive, heavy with the hum of energy.
Eliar staggered toward it, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. His eyes locked on the symbols. They weren't just markings—they were equations. Sharp, angular, and precise, they seemed to shift subtly as he approached, almost as if they were aware of him.
"Great. More glowing math," he muttered, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "This is normal. Totally normal. Just another day in the afterlife."
Despite his words, he couldn't stop himself from stepping closer. The pillar pulsed faintly, the energy radiating from it brushing against his skin like a cold wind. He hesitated, his instincts screaming at him to turn back.
"What's the worst that could happen?" he muttered, laughing quietly. "Oh, right. Death. Again."
With a resigned sigh, he reached out and pressed his hand against the pillar.
The energy hit him like a tidal wave.
Eliar screamed as the force surged through him, cold and overwhelming. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, clutching his head as visions flooded his mind. Symbols and patterns swirled chaotically, too fast to follow, each one sharper and more vivid than the last.
"Stop! Stop!" he shouted, his voice breaking. "What do you want from me?!"
The chaos didn't stop. It pushed harder, louder, until he thought he might split apart. His breaths came in short gasps, his chest tightening as the energy overwhelmed him.
And then, suddenly, it stopped.
Eliar blinked, his vision clearing. The swirling chaos had settled into a single image: a lattice of energy, woven together with perfect precision. It was intricate and elegant, its logic undeniable.
It wasn't just an image. It was a lesson. A gift.
Or maybe a curse.
Eliar's body trembled as the energy receded. He collapsed onto his back, staring blankly at the ceiling. His heart pounded as he tried to process what had just happened.
"Okay," he said finally, his voice hoarse. "What… the hell… was that?" He laughed, a quiet, shaky sound that didn't feel real. "I get it now. I'm the joke. That's fine. Keep laughing."
He pushed himself upright, his hands still trembling. The lattice burned in his mind, vivid and alive. He could feel it now—the potential, the control. It was like the energy had left him a blueprint, showing him how to shape it properly.
For a moment, he just sat there, staring at the pillar. His laughter faded, his expression hardening.
"All right," he muttered, his voice steady. "If you're testing me, fine. I'll play. But don't expect me to lose."
The sound of claws against stone broke the silence. Eliar's head snapped up, his pulse quickening. The crimson glow of eyes appeared at the edge of the chamber, followed by the slow, deliberate steps of a creature unlike any he had seen before.
"Of course," he muttered, dragging himself to his feet. "Because why not? This day hasn't been bad enough already."
The creature stepped into the light, its massive frame glistening faintly. Its claws gleamed, sharp and deadly, and its glowing eyes locked onto Eliar with a predatory focus.
Eliar raised his hands instinctively, the lattice flashing in his mind. The creature lunged, and he moved.
Crimson light erupted from his palms, snapping into a precise barrier just as the creature's claws struck. The impact sent a shockwave through the chamber, the creature snarling as it slammed against the wall of energy.
Eliar gritted his teeth, pouring more focus into the lattice as the creature attacked again. "Come on! Is that all you've got?!" The barrier flickered, cracks spreading through its surface. Eliar's breath hitched. "Oh no. No, no, no—hold together, damn it!"
With a roar, the creature struck one final time. The barrier shattered, but the backlash sent the creature flying across the chamber. It hit the far wall with a sickening crunch and slumped to the ground, unmoving.
Eliar dropped to his knees, his chest heaving. The room fell silent, the only sound his ragged breathing.
For a long moment, he just sat there, staring at his trembling hands.
"Okay," he said finally, his voice shaking. "That was… something."
His laughter came again, softer this time. It didn't last. He pushed himself to his feet, the faint glow of the veins guiding his way forward. His voice was steady as he spoke, his tone colder now.
"This place doesn't want me to survive," he muttered. "But I'm not giving it a choice."
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone