A ruin settled in the distance filled with an eerie landscape of decaying stone, broken pillars, and half-fallen walls. The wind whispered through the cracks, an almost mournful song that echoed the city's lost history. Dunes of sand crept through the debris, shifting in the gentle breeze. The air was dry, the heat of the sun oppressive as it beat down on the remnants of an ancient civilization.
His footsteps were silent on the dust-covered ground. Every movement was calculated, deliberate. The Disciple of Wind was not one for haste. He surveyed his surroundings, his eyes scanning the ruins methodically as his system worked in tandem with the natural flow of the wind.
[System Analysis: Area: Ruins of an ancient city
Status: Stable – Minimal ambient energy fluctuation detected
Warning: Potential residual magic present
Warning: No immediate threats detected within 20-meter radius]
The system's voice, an artificial intelligence embedded in his DNA, was calm and concise. The wind responded to him, flowing around him in subtle patterns, its whispers informing him of the environment in ways the system's analysis couldn't fully grasp. A faint pressure in the air communicated with him on a much more deeper level.
"Residual magic… but where?" he muttered under his breath, his boots kicking up dust as he wandered deeper into the heart of the ruin.
The system pinged again.
[System Analysis: New Data: Magical aura detected – Location: 18 meters ahead
Warning: Possible spatial anomaly detected
Recommendations: Proceed with caution]
His gaze hardened, and he adjusted his path, moving cautiously toward the faint source of energy. His body was tense, but his movements were smooth and controlled, almost like the wind itself. He walked past broken walls, occasionally pausing to touch a fragment of stone or run his fingers along faded glyphs. The wind swirled around him, a constant presence that both calmed and reminded him of his mission.
[System Analysis: Multiple structural weaknesses detected in the vicinity
Warning: Traps may be present
Recommendations: Proceed with increased vigilance]
The Disciple of Wind frowned, his eyes narrowing as he glanced upward at the ruined archway ahead. His system was alert, but the wind ,his true companion ,warned him of something more.
With a flick of his wrist, a gust of wind wrapped around his hand, lifting a few strands of debris from the floor. The particles hovered for a moment before being gently set back down. Nothing had triggered any immediate threats. Yet the wind felt different here, as if it was drawing him closer to something.
He moved forward, his senses sharp. The wind was growing colder, though the sun still blazed overhead. The breeze seemed to coil around him, tightening and releasing, as though it was guiding him.
[System Analysis: Magical signature growing stronger
Area: Unstable – Anomaly detected
Warning: Spatial tear imminent]
The Disciple of Wind's brows furrowed. "A spatial tear? What do you mean a spatial tear?"
His hand shook slight as he whispered instinctively ...." Inventory: sword" . The hilt of a sword slowly formed in his palm and he gripped it tightly, though he knew better than to rely on physical combat in this place. His system wouldn't be enough here if the anomaly was as powerful as it seemed. His eyes scanned the area, following the pull of the wind. And then, he saw it: a slab of stone half-buried under debris.
The faintest glow pulsed from the slab. It was barely noticeable, but it felt... familiar. The Disciple of Wind approached it carefully, crouching beside the stone. His fingers brushed over its surface, feeling the strange, subtle hum of celestial energy embedded within. He stood up, taking a step back to study it from a distance.
A pulse of wind swept through the air, stronger this time, and he heard a distant whisper in the air, a voice he couldn't quite understand but felt nonetheless.
[System Analysis: Celestial energy signature confirmed
Spatial tear in proximity – Immediate action required
Warning: Entry into spatial realm imminent]
Without hesitation, he knelt once more, placing his hands on the stone. The slab shifted, a low grinding sound filling the air, and with it came a rush of wind. The air around him shimmered as a doorway into a small spatial realm opened before him, the swirling vortex beckoning him forward. He had no time to lose.
[System Analysis: Entering spatial realm
Warning: Spatial anomalies detected within – Unknown entity presence
Recommendations: Caution advised]
The Disciple of Wind entered the spatial tear without hesitation. He had dealt with these anomalies before, though none quite like this one. The wind was more erratic, turbulent, and the temperature had dropped significantly. The space around him felt distorted, as though the very laws of nature had been twisted here. Yet he felt strangely... calm. The wind was with him, and he trusted it.
The realm before him was dimly lit, with strange, floating platforms suspended in midair. A series of glyphs adorned the walls, their meanings unclear but resonating with a powerful energy. In the distance, a faint, ethereal glow emanated from a pedestal. The second fragment of Kael's memory. His objective was clear.
[System Analysis: Objective: Retrieve memory fragment
Warning: Unstable energy fluctuations detected
Recommendations: Proceed with caution – Traps may be in place]
A sudden gust of wind whipped past him, and the Disciple of Wind's eyes narrowed. He didn't need his system to tell him that something was wrong. He moved forward, his every step measured, as he felt the vibrations of the air shift around him.
He had no time for traps. The wind, his ally, was his guide. It swept through the air, subtly pointing out the paths to take, warning him of invisible pitfalls and redirecting his movements with precision. The energy here was potent, but he moved like a shadow through the shifting chaos, bypassing each trap with ease.
And finally, there it was, a pedestal with a faint, glowing fragment resting on top. He reached for it, but the moment his hand brushed against it, the entire realm trembled.
[System Analysis: Warning: Spatial collapse imminent
Recommendations: Immediate exit required]
But the Disciple of Wind was already moving, the wind at his back urging him forward. He clutched the fragment tightly in his hand and turned to leave, but the space around him fractured. The realm was collapsing.
Suddenly, a tear in space opened before him, and he tumbled out of the spatial realm, the air shifting violently as he landed on solid ground. His body hit the ground with a heavy thud, and he gasped for air. But as he slowly rose to his feet, his eyes widened.
Before him stood Kael.
The man had changed. His once-familiar features were now twisted, darkened. Kael stood tall, his form radiating an aura of raw power. Two wings ,one of abyssal darkness, the other of blinding light, flickered at his back. The air around him felt charged, as though time itself was trembling in his presence.
The Disciple of Wind's eyes darted around, calculating the situation. Kael was powerful , too powerful. He couldn't take him on recklessly, not yet.
Kael spoke first, his voice low but firm. "I don't want conflict," he said, his golden eyes meeting the Disciple of Wind's. "so please hand it over." although he sounded like he was pleading, the disciple of wind knew it was just an illusion.
He didn't respond immediately. His mind raced as he studied Kael, analyzing his every move. "Why should I listen you?" he finally asked, his voice cool but cautious.
Kael's gaze softened, but the power in his eyes never waned. "I'm after the truth. And you are too young to be involved in all this. So just hand it over and go home"
The Disciple of Wind's gaze never wavered. "I know those two powers you wield now, they must be quite unstable"
Kael remained still, his expression unreadable. "You seem to not understand the situation you're in right now, I'm giving you a choice to leave, but it doesn't change a thing, I can kill you right now and gain double the benefit but I'm willing to take a loss because I don't want conflict, don't mistake my generousity for stupidity!". His eyes had become deathly cold and even the surroundings seem to register his displeasure as the skies darkened and the air grew heavier.
The Disciple of Wind took another step forward,his hand resting on his sword hilt. He wasn't willing to back down.
" I know who you're, Kaanan blade, the man who left his signature in the deepest part of our realm's grand Hall, but you're now just ....just embers ....just a tiny little bit compared to that you, I do know the threat you pose but right now, you are too weak"
The wind howled between them, and the air crackled with tension.
Kael's eyes flickered with something unreadable before he nodded slowly." I see, I understand now, I'll give you a last chance to hand it over and go back."
He had became calmer, the surroundings had become more stable as though he wasn't standing there anymore.
The Disciple of Wind said nothing, but his grip on his sword tightened ready to make a move but then....
[ WARNING! WARNING!!!! THREAT TO HOST DETECTED.... RECOMMENDATION: ESCAPE....THRE...:#!;!@#:??!!]
" What the...!??" His eyes widened in shock and terror , his body trembled with undisguised terror, he stumbled backwards and threw the small golden slate towards Kael.
"Wise choice" he said calmly as he caught the slate and vanished into nothingness.
The disciple of wind fell to his knees , fear clouded his eyes and he only calm down when he heard the system notification in his head.
[System analysis: no threat detected within 20 m radius from the host.]
" I need to warn the others!".
He hurriedly stood up and disappeared into the wind.
The storm was far from over and the demigods were on aware of the type of demon they were in a game with.