Shouldn't fate make us feel at ease? Why wouldn't it? Nothing is in our control at any point in time. We live by the Gods' rules, I guess. Seems to help some people.
Before attempting to move, Milo ran forward and grabbed something from the ground. The strange blob was too large to dodge with such delay.
Shit, I'm too late.
CRACK
In an instant, Milo's vision became obscure and inexplicable. Buildings, street lanterns, and anything Milo could see became warped and stretched as his mind strained to keep up with the speed of his movement.
It was over as fast as it started.
What—
Elias set Milo down.
"Are you hurt?"
Without bothering to hear the answer, Elias impatiently scanned Milo for any signs of damage. His hands felt for broken bones as his eyes analyzed Milo's condition.
Elias sighed.
A wave of relief seemed to wash over him after realizing Milo was okay. Deep in Elias's eyes, Milo felt something that went beyond saving the boy in front of him. Their gaze locked for a moment before being interrupted.
A strange animal peered out from Milo's arms. It quickly jumped to the ground and scurried away.
Elias turned and regained his cold demeanor. Before walking away, he spoke quietly.
"Stay put."
The beast roared out as it aimlessly cast its claws across buildings, throwing debris in all directions. Civilians ran from their homes, and some, far enough away, watched from within their homes.
CRACK
One step forward and Elias had disappeared. A small crater remained where he once stood.
That sound. It's like the air around him is tearing.
The loud sound drew the creature's attention.
As it turned to face Milo, humanoid features revealed themselves. Distorted lab experiments, all mushed into one. The doctor who once made them was mangled in the middle. Impractical limbs dangled from its face with nothing to do.
Elias unsheathed his sword as he dashed forward. Milo's eyes tried to keep up, but it was far beyond his ability to do so.
Shing
It was quiet.
If it weren't for the cries of pain, no one would've known Elias had cut anything.
More roars bellowed as the reckless attacks continued.
Pools of blue liquid on the street suddenly splashed as quick steps landed in them. Air bent around Elias as he soared through it. Slash after slash, the beast began to fall.
The monster reared its leg back and swung it around its body. As the leg kicked toward Milo, it detached from the body and flew past him. Strong gusts followed as Milo's hair blew back.
He didn't blink.
Overwhelming strength.
CRASH
The leg hit a building behind the boy.
The beast placed one hand on the ground while swinging the other in an attempt to hit his attacker. Blue blood poured from every gash on the leathery skin.
It didn't take long for Elias to wipe his eyes of the blue blood and sheath his sword. He walked away from the cadaver calmly as he barked a command.
"Gather!"
Crash
Dust flew up from the impact of the creature's body.
He shot a cold glare at the audience.
"We are leaving!"
Windows and doors slammed closed. Stragglers on the street rushed back to their homes. With a single glance, all eyes vanished.
Wow...
Eerie sounds of steel straining to hold the buildings upright echoed behind them.
Milo ran over and joined the others as they made their way to the capital.
On their way back, guards occasionally rushed past them to the scene of the monster attack. The group ignored it all and continued on their way.
Because Rowland's home wasn't too far away from the rendezvous, the group was supposed to take advantage of night and leave without much commotion.
According to Elias, Rowland's body wasn't supposed to be found for another couple of days. Is this bad?
Such thoughts only plagued Milo's mind for so long. After witnessing the fight, he understood that Krovlizt had the capacity to handle such inconveniences.
Absolute strength trumps all.
Milo smirked as he looked up at the strange building in front of him.
It was different than the fifth layer. There was no sky-scraping tower that pierced the clouds. Only a large, round building sat in the center of Tsunser. The blood-red moon reflected off the iris dome, adding an eerie liveliness to its shape.
No tall walls were defending it—only guards stationed all around with spears.
Similar to Krovlizt's capital, the rooms within were a labyrinth of doors leading to the center. Each room housed luxuries and mementos to the layer's history. Anyone venturing to the layer's exit would have to know the path by heart to escape its maze-like sequence.
Milo looked at Elias as he walked next to him.
Is he matching my pace?
"Staring isn't nice."
Milo's face turned red, and he turned away.
"S— Sorry."
"..."
From what he'd seen, Milo thought Elias must be in his late thirties, maybe early forties. His light armor lost its usual luster under the thin layer of blood. He traveled light, only carrying a long and shortsword—both sheathed at the left hip—and a small pouch attached to his belt.
He had black hair, just like Milo. The greatest difference between the two lay in their eyes and skin. Milo had honey-yellow irises that contrasted with Elias's deep blue, and olive skin a few tones lighter than the man's.
The group walked in silence as a small man led them to the center of the building.
As they turned a corner, the large doorway came into view. Four guards opened it as they neared.
A familiar creaking sound resonated throughout the corridors.
Thud
The doors stopped against the wall.
Two holes sat in the middle of the room, just like before.
Are we supposed to... jump up?
The boy looked at his legs and frowned. He lacked half as much muscle as the rest of the men.
Maybe I'll be left behind.
Before approaching the center, Elias handed Milo something and began speaking to one of the guards.
"Eleven from Krovlizt. Three missing in action."
"Two," Piers chimed in.
"I saw Thomas die."
I guess that was the other guy who stayed back.
Elias turned back to the guard.
"Two missing, one dead. Eight returning in total."
The guard nodded.
Milo fidgeted with a vial of blue liquid Elias handed him. Without much thought, he tucked it away in his satchel.
An iris door on the floor twisted shut as the one on the ceiling opened. A strange aura warped the air. Reflections of strange light became visible as Milo approached the center.
All gathered together, the group of eight waited patiently for something to happen.
It's been a couple of seconds... Is something supposed to—
The room started to shift. Guards stationed around the room began to flip upside down. It was like the world was turning on its head.
Wait, are we moving?
Milo looked to the rest of the men and noticed they were all floating and turning upside down. He looked up, only to see that the Kingdom of Krovlizt had suddenly become their landing point.
Smells of steel and nature rushed into their noses.
Home.
Gravity twisted and turned until they fell down the hole.
How is this possible? How are we falling upwards to land on the other side of the— that we're—
Just thinking the words made Milo's head hurt. Fingers twisted his hair as he ruffled it around in confusion.
Most of the men could tell what Milo was thinking.
"Magic," Flio shrugged.
Milo raised his eyebrow. The rushing wind hindered his ability to hear, but Flio's lips mouthed enough.
Did he say magic? Like, "magic" magic?
Their fall lasted around the same length as the first time.
Thousands of years and no one's figured out how to land properly?
Milo winced to protect himself from the impact.
Doom
They crashed into the ground.
In the distance, Milo could see the central tower in Krovlizt. Everyone dusted themselves off as they waited for orders.
"Good," Elias said, "It should be about a day's walk before we get back."
It seems like we're somewhere between Whisperwood and Krovlizt.
Milo could only memorize the layout of the fifth layer from the map he was given to study, due to the short time he had to do so.
The group landed in a remote plain not too far from home. Behind them, a chilling forest cut across the open field. Milo shot it a look before joining the expedition to return to Krovlizt.
The morning sun rose slowly as Krovlizt neared.
Elias insisted the group walk all night to get back as quickly as possible, considering they were already a day late.
CRASH
A large collision made them stop in their tracks. Boulders flew through the air and over the city walls.
Towers knocked to the ground—century-old buildings, gone in an instant.
"An attack," Jackson whispered.
Milo's stomach dropped. His thumbs began picking at the calluses on his hand as he stumbled back.
"Not again..." he whispered.
Milo fell to his knees. In an instant, the weight of home came crashing down upon him. A sharp pain twisted through his chest, and he curled into the dirt.
Jackson turned to the boy as the rest ran ahead. Hands clutched Milo's arms as Jackson shook him.
"Milo, I know this is scary, but we have to go."
"...Mikey, Lee, Julia, Leo..." his mumbling persisted.
Milo's head began to spin as images of rubble and debris flashed through his mind.
CRASH
Towers continued to fall.
"Milo!"
The shouting forced him to look Jackson in the eyes. More tears welled.
But they weren't Milo's.
"...Amy," Jackson whispered.
The man's breath was shaky.
The boy's eyes darted between Jackson's. He didn't know what to say.
"I know, Milo." Jackson's voice trailed off.
"H— How—"
The dungeon.
"We'll talk later, but right now... we fight."