Chapter 101: Encroaching Storms
In the dim void of the abyss, where light feared to tread, the darkness stirred with an ominous intent. Shadows coalesced and twisted, birthing forth two formidable entities.
Autumn's heart quickened its beat as he watched the emergence of these eerie figures, their forms shrouded in the nebulous gloom, yet their presence palpable with ancient might and inscrutable allure.
Foremost among them was a being of ethereal beauty, tinged with an unsettling aura. As she ascended from the depths, her movements were a haunting dance of grace and menace.
Limbs akin to the delicate yet deadly embrace of a spider extended, each step a sinuous glide across the barren expanse.
Her form was a fusion of human and arachnid, emitting an eerie radiance that played tricks upon the eye, casting twisted shadows upon the desolate landscape. This was Persephonea. [pic here]
Autumn struggled to find the right words to articulate the sight before him, his gaze ensnared by the mesmerizing intensity of Persephonea's spider-like eyes, each facet a reflection of the abyss's infinite depths.
Her chitinous carapace shimmered with an iridescent sheen, an embodiment of unearthly allure. From her fingertips and the small of her back, shadowy silk wove intricate patterns that billowed around her like a shroud, weaving tales of darkness and mystery.
Beside her, emerged from the swirling vortex of darkness, a being whose form contorted and twisted with the chaotic energies of the abyss. This creature embodied primordial darkness, its serpentine body coiled with the weight of aeons past, a testament to the eternal dance between light and shadow.
Autumn's breath hitched in his throat as he beheld Ouroborus's abyssal eyes, twin voids that seemed to consume the very essence of light.
Clad in armour akin to something that seems to be forged from the remnants of shattered worlds, the being exuded an aura of cosmic corruption.
A crown of shadowed tendrils adorned its brow, a macabre tribute to its dominion over the abyss. This was Ouroborous. [pic here]
As Persephonea and Ouroborus drew nearer, Autumn felt a primal instinct urging him to flee, to seek refuge from the overwhelming presence of these otherworldly beings. Yet, he remained rooted to the spot, his curiosity outweighing his fear as he braced himself for their approach.
"You did not flee," Ouroborus remarked, his tongue flicking out to reveal razor-like teeth as he spoke. The air around him seemed to crackle with malevolence, his presence commanding obedience and fear alike. "Are you that eager to meet your end?"
Autumn's heart pounded against his ribs like a frantic drumbeat, his pulse thundering in his ears as he faced the abyssal entity.
Despite the overwhelming dread that threatened to consume him, he forced himself to stand tall, his resolve a flickering flame amidst the encroaching darkness.
"I do not believe I can escape even if I try," Autumn replied, his voice betraying none of the turmoil raging within him.
A smirk twisted across Ouroborus's shadowed visage, casting eerie shadows upon the desolate landscape. "You are not as foolish as I initially thought, mortal," Ouroboros commented, his voice echoing with the weight of centuries.
"Hmm, I believe you should make an effort to open your mouth for an introduction, mortal," Ouroborus said with authority, his words slicing through the oppressive silence like a blade.
Autumn's throat tightened with apprehension, the air thick with tension as he gathered his courage. With a trembling breath, he spoke, "I am Autumn Korosten."
The abyssal abyss seemed to hold its breath as the two beings locked eyes, their gazes clashing like thunder in the night.
Persephonea, her arachnid-like features lending her an otherworldly elegance, quirked a slender eyebrow as she spoke, her voice a melodic echo in the void. "So? Is your name Autumn or Korosten?"
Autumn's resolve faltered for a moment, uncertainty gnawing at the edges of his mind. But he steadied himself, refusing to back down in the face of their scrutiny. "Well, my name specifically is Autumn, as for Korosten, it's my family name."
"Family Name?" Ouroborus and Persephonea said in unison, their voices intertwining in a symphony of discord.
A flicker of amusement danced in Autumn's eyes, a brief respite from the suffocating dread that threatened to consume him. But as Persephonea's sharp gaze bore into him, he felt the weight of their judgment pressing down upon him like a leaden cloak.
"You thought of something rude now, didn't you?" Persephonea's voice cut through the silence like a knife, her words laced with an icy edge.
Autumn's breath caught in his throat, his mind racing for a response to quell the rising tension. "I am not sure what you are talking about, Miss," he replied, his voice trembling despite his best efforts to appear composed.
*ROAR!* A deafening roar pierced the air, interrupting their conversation. Autumn spun around to face the source, his heart pounding with dread. Before him loomed a monstrous creature, its ghastly visage sending shivers down his spine.
"A Gomphothere," Autumn muttered, his eyes widening in fear. It was a savage beast of the abyss, a terror born of darkness. The Gomphothere's presence was a harbinger of doom, a manifestation of the abyss's malevolent power. [pic here]
Autumn's breath caught in his throat as he beheld the creature's towering form and menacing aura. He watched in horror as it charged toward them with an insatiable hunger burning in its eyes.
But before he could react, the scene erupted into chaos. The Gomphothere exploded into a shower of gore and viscera, leaving behind only a cloud of dust and ash.
As Autumn turned back to Persephonea and Ouroboros, his mind raced with confusion and awe. He couldn't comprehend how easily one of them had dispatched the fearsome creature, leaving him dumbfounded in its wake.
"So, Autumn, whoever you claim to be, I have a question for you," Ouroboros's voice cut through the silence, dripping with authority.
Autumn swallowed hard, his nerves taut as he awaited Ouroboros's inquiry.
"Why were we unable to detect your aura?"
****
[And the winner of the relay is Kevin]
The speaker's voice reverberated across the Thousand Feather College Stadium, electrifying the air as she declared the winner of the relay, setting off an eruption of cheers that rippled through the stands like a wave crashing against the shore.
"Holy smokes, did you see that freshman?" exclaimed a senior student, his voice tinged with awe.
"Absolutely incredible. He covered so much ground in just a blink of an eye," chimed in another, admiration evident in his tone.
Amidst the crowd, a hushed whisper fluttered among the spectators as they watched Kevin, the victor, basking in the glow of his triumph. "Ara~, I wonder if he perhaps has a girlfriend?" speculated a curious onlooker, her gaze lingering on Kevin's figure.
"Shut up, witch. Don't try to ensnare a junior with your tricks," retorted a voice from the throng, igniting a brief but heated exchange.
Amidst this flurry of excitement, Autumn stood quietly, his gaze shifting from the scene before him to a piece of paper clutched in his hand.
Upon the paper lay a complex diagram, its intricacies weaving a tapestry of possibilities. Four axes intersected, and enigmatic symbols adorned its surface, reminiscent of ancient hieroglyphs etched into stone. Below, a caption proclaimed: 'Ideal Time-Event Graph.'
As Autumn studied the diagram, his mind raced with calculations and conjectures. "If the previous eruptions are indeed linked to future events, and if the possibility of me venturing into the abyss hinges on these probabilities..." he muttered to himself, lost in thought.
His eyes traced the lines and curves of the graph, seeking answers amidst its enigmatic depths. "The likelihood of that scenario unfolding would approximate..." Autumn paused, his brow furrowing in concentration. "Approximately 37.8%," he concluded, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Now for the difficult part, when will this opportunity show its—"
"There you are?" Mei's voice cut through the loud crowd.
Autumn's words were abruptly cut off and noticing Mei and Su were approaching, he hastily, concealed the paper in his pocket, turning to greet Mei and Su, who had just arrived.
"Good afternoon, Mei, and Su. Have you just arrived?" Autumn inquired, to which they shook their heads in negation, explaining that they had come specifically to fetch him so they could all meet Kevin together.
"Ah, I see. Very well then, let's not keep him waiting," Autumn replied, rising to his feet as the trio set off, leaving behind the raucous atmosphere of the stadium.
Meanwhile, atop a skyscraper far removed from the clamour of the crowd, a girl stood with unfocused eyes. Pinkish veins adorned her arms like tattoos as she surveyed the sprawling cityscape of Qīyùchéng below.
Suddenly, her expression shifted, dark clouds gathering in the sky above. A sinister chuckle escaped her lips as she muttered, "Hehehe~, my time has come."
To be continued...
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A/N: Hope you enjoy the chapter and feel free to comment. Your thoughts and criticism are valuable in helping me improve and stay motivated to write more.
I hope the images and the characters in the images fit the description and appearance of beings of abyssal origin.
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