ㄴCongradulations! You have one Restriction released!ㄱ
ㄴEther usage is now availableㄱ
ㄴNamed discoverable landmarks are now availableㄱ
Belial felt an influx of energy course through his body, a sensation so foreign yet invigorating that it nearly stole his breath. A deep inhale followed, and to his astonishment, the air no longer choked him. The thick presence of methane and carbon—once suffocating—now felt as inconsequential as a passing breeze. He exhaled slowly, testing the newfound clarity in his lungs. It was real. He could breathe.
Ether.
They had access to ether now.
He clenched his fist, feeling the subtle hum of power resonate within his veins. It wasn't much, but it was something—a crutch to keep them standing, to give them even the smallest chance of surviving. For now, that was enough.
In the end, it was just the three of them again. The others had perished or vanished, lost in the depths of the catacombs. Time had blurred; they had no way of knowing how long they had been trapped beneath the earth. Days, weeks—perhaps longer. The concept of time had eroded alongside their strength and hope, but now, at long last, they had reached the threshold of freedom.
Still, they did not rush. Instead, they waited until the sun dipped below the horizon, until the world above turned to shadow.
Belial stood at the mouth of the exit, peering out. Even in the darkness, the terrain was illuminated by a harsh, piercing glow. The ground shimmered with an eerie radiance, reflecting the remains of an unforgiving sun. It was too bright to see anything clearly, but he knew what lay beyond—what kind of world awaited them.
A world of diamonds.
This planet was not like their home. Here, diamonds formed the very foundation of the land, glistening beneath the light like a sea of fractured glass. Weapons could be forged from these stones—stronger than steel, deadlier than any blade. But they were not the only danger.
During the day, the heat was unbearable. The sun's relentless rays refracted off the diamond-covered surface, magnifying the temperature to lethal levels. Anything caught in its path would be reduced to ash, disintegrated in an instant. And then there were the creatures—monstrosities that had adapted to this brutal environment, thriving in conditions where no sane being could hope to survive.
Belial knew all of this. He had heard the stories. But now, standing at the edge of the catacombs, reality felt far grimmer than any tale.
Behind him, Raven stirred. His armor, once formidable, was now reduced to little more than scraps of twisted metal and shattered plating. It was barely holding together, a tattered shell that spoke of countless battles and near-deaths. He needed rest—badly. Belial made sure he got it, forcing him to sit down and recover.
Meanwhile, he kept watch.
The night stretched on, silent and oppressive. The only sound was the faint whisper of wind against the cavern walls. Belial did not move. He remained at his post, gaze fixed on the horizon, as if daring the world to throw another obstacle in their path. But for now, it was still.
When Raven finally woke, Belial wordlessly traded places with him, retreating to the depths of the cavern for some much-needed sleep. Xin was still unconscious, his body sprawled against the cold rock. He looked peaceful—too peaceful. But Belial knew better.
There was no peace in a place like this.
Sometime later, a sharp gasp shattered the silence.
Belial's eyes snapped open just in time to see Xin jolt upright, his chest heaving, his breath ragged. His body trembled, slick with sweat. His wide eyes darted around, lost in the remnants of whatever horror had plagued his mind.
A nightmare.
It must have been a bad one, because even as he awoke, his body was locked in panic. His hands twitched, gripping at the fabric of his tattered clothing. He shook, as if the terror had sunk too deep to be shaken off so easily.
The disturbance was enough to wake Raven as well. The three of them sat in silence for a moment, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on them like a crushing tide.
No words were spoken. None were needed.
Instead, they gathered themselves and prepared for the next step. Midnight—or what they assumed to be midnight—had arrived. It was time to leave.
The catacombs had been their prison for too long. Now, they would be their grave if they stayed any longer.
Slowly, they ascended from the depths, stepping out into the open world for the first time in what felt like eternity. The cool night air greeted them, sharp and unfamiliar. Above them, the sky stretched vast and endless, filled with unfamiliar constellations that gleamed like distant beacons.
They had escaped.
One month—perhaps more—lost in that hellish abyss, and now they were finally free.
But the world before them was no less deadly than the one they had left behind. The land of diamonds stretched as far as the eye could see, a deceptive beauty masking its lethal nature. They had ether now, but would it be enough?
Belial wasn't sure.
The group trudged through the eerie, reflective land, their breaths shallow, their bodies tense. The air was brittle with cold, an unnatural kind of chill that seemed to claw into their bones. Above them, three moons loomed like silent sentinels, their pale light casting long, distorted shadows over the jagged terrain.
The landscape was a paradox—breathtaking yet treacherous. The trees, crystalline and sharp as daggers, stretched toward the heavens like frozen spears. The grass, razor-thin and diamond-hard, sliced through their clothes with ease, leaving behind thin trails of blood on exposed skin. Yet, under the moons' glow, the land shimmered like a dream, the mountains of glass-like rock refracting light in dazzling hues.
Despite the beauty, survival was a constant battle. The air was thin, oppressive, suffocating. Every breath felt like drowning in ice. They relied on their ether, an internal force they could harness, to keep themselves breathing. It was an exhausting process, requiring intense focus. Each inhalation was a conscious effort, a fight against the unseen force that sought to crush their lungs.
Then, without warning, movement.
A creature lunged from the shadows—small, fast, predatory. Its body was hunched and sinewy, its eyes glowed with a malignant hunger. But before it could strike, Belial moved. His blade sang through the cold air, cutting deep into the beast's flesh. It crumpled with a final, wet gasp, its body twitching before stilling completely.
The group pressed on, their movements swift, wary. The moons began their slow descent, the horizon growing darker. Soon, the sun would rise, and with it, the true danger of this place. They needed shelter.
At last, they found a cave—deep, shrouded in darkness, a temporary refuge from the horrors outside. One by one, they entered, their steps echoing against the damp walls. The air inside was thick, cold, but better than the frigid death awaiting them beyond. They settled in, weapons close, breaths steadying as exhaustion took hold.
Belial leaned against the rough stone wall, his fingers unconsciously flexing, testing his newfound strength. He could still feel the lingering remnants of the ether he had absorbed, a warm pulse deep within his core. If killing these creatures meant increasing his power, then this journey might be more than just survival—it could be an evolution.
Outside the cave, the wind howled, carrying an eerie, almost sentient whisper through the trees. Something was out there, something more than just the cold and the darkness. They were not alone in this land.
Far away, in a place untouched by moonlight, something stirred.
Deep within the catacombs, the air reeked of death. A damp, suffocating rot clung to the walls, thick enough to taste. Shadows slithered in every corner, shifting unnaturally, their depths unfathomable.
A figure moved within them.
Its form was indistinct, more darkness than flesh, its eyes gleaming with something primal. It lifted its head, inhaling deeply. The air carried whispers of something new, something potent. A low growl rumbled from its throat, guttural and hungry.
It had caught the scent.