Chapter 39: The Monster Waring Mira’s Face

Chapter 39: Chapter 39: The Monster Waring Mira’s Face

BOOM!

Arin flew backward, his back pressing against the stone wall. Cracks formed where he impacted the stone. He lowered himself onto one knee, gasping for air. Zarl stood across from him, smiling. There wasn’t a single mark on him. Arin slowly looked up at him.

"You..."

Zarl tilted his head curiously. "Still standing?" With a grunt, Arin pushed himself to his feet. "I will take you down." Arin charged. Zarl raised a hand. The dungeon responded. A wall of stone shot between them.

BOOM!

Arin rammed into it, sending a shockwave through the chamber. Zarl calmly turned toward Arin. Arin lunged at him and slashed.

CLANG!

He blocked him. Again, Arin lashed out. Zarl caught his arm. Arin reeled back and then ran forward once more. He and Zarl exchanged blows, each sending shockwaves through the chamber. The more Arin fought, the more reckless he became. "You’re fighting to escape." Zarl murmured. "I have to get back!" Arin snarled. "To them?" Arin’s eyes narrowed. "Move!" Zarl chuckled. "You still haven’t learned." Once more, Arin attacked.

Zarl blocked his blade and stepped forward.

"The dungeon is mine to command." Zarl twisted his hand, sending Arin tumbling backward.

BOOM!

Arin rolled across the floor and came to a knees. "You can modify the dungeon." "Yes."

"And you can control the monsters." "Yes." Zarl smiled. "But you can’t stop me." Zarl chuckled darkly. The walls of the chamber began to shift.

The walls shifted, the corridor behind Arin dissapeared. A sense of panic washed over him. "Where did it go?" "You are battling inside my creation." Zarl smiled as he slowly walked towards Arin. "You thought of this place as simple dungeon." Arin’s grip on his sword tightened. "I don’t care what kind of place this is." Arin’s voice was full of resolve.

"I just need to get back to Mira, Ayan and Saira."

Zarl paused a few feet from Arin and smiled.

"Perhaps you should see them." Arin’s heart pounded. A magical projection formed in front of him. His heart nearly stopped when he saw the three figures standing there.

Ayan.

Saira.

And...

Mira.

Arin’s breath caught in his throat.

"Mira..."

Although her general appearance was human-like with the flowing black hair and round face, there were subtle differences.

Horns grew from her head and dark markings trailed down her cheeks. Her eyes had changed. Her fingers had lengthened into claws, and a long tail stretched from her backside. The Chimera blood had taken hold of her. Arin looked away, then back, unable to believe what he was seeing.

"No..."

Mira’s suddenly attacked. Ayan blocked her attack.

CLANG!

The dark energy sent him flying backward.

Saira joined the fight. "Mira! Saira’s words had no effect on the Chimera. Mira lashed out again Ayan barely dodged her attack.

Saira blocked Mira’s claws with her own. Neither of them attacked her; they were only defending themselves. Arin’s hands shook furiously. He shoved forward, only to stop abruptly when Zarl blocked his path.

Arin snarled and lunged again. Zarl caught his arm and pushed him back.

"Move!"

Zarl laughed. Arin attacked him again. Zarl twisted his wrist and captured Arin’s arm.

"Look closely.

Arin turned to watch the fight. Saira barely escaped Mira’s claws, and Ayan pulled her back without trying to harm her. "Mira!" Ayan shouted. Instead of answering him, Mira turned her attention back to Ayan.

Again, Saira had to pull the raging monster off of her. "She doesn’t recognize us." Ayan’s face was one of deepest horror. "She’s in there somewhere." Suddenly,Mira turned her sights on Saira and lunged.

BOOM!

Ayan blocked her and shoved her away from Saira. "How long are we going to last?"

Saira asked. "Forever if we have to." "You realize she’s going to completely overwhelm us eventually." Ayan shot her a dirty look.

"Yes, I do." Arin turned toward Ayan. His breath came in short gasps. "Stop fighting her." Zarl shot him a sidelong glance. "They aren’t fighting her. They’re protecting themselves." Arin clenched his fists. "I have to get back there." Arin turned back to Zarl and lashed out.

CLANG!

Zarl caught his arm, sending a jolt of pain through him. He tossed Arin backward and the warrior scrambled to his feet. Arin charged again. Zarl’s expression was calm. "You’re becoming reckless." "I don’t care."

Arin slashed his sword at Zarl’s side. Zarl moved out of the way and Arin turned to face him again. "I won’t let this happen." "You couldn’t stop it already." Arin glared daggers at Zarl. "You let yourself be consumed by your own rage," Zarl pointed at the projection in the air. "And now this,"

Arin turned back to the fight. Mira was attacking Ayan again. He caught her claws and a look of something like pain crossed her face. Her body shook and her eyes glassed over. Ayan’s grip tightened. Ayan held her gaze and for a brief second, familiarity returned to her eyes. That familiarity evaporated almost at once and the Chimera side of her personality took over. Mira screamed and lunged at Seria, who blocked her with her dagger

CLANG!

Saira stumbled backward, tears streaming down her cheeks. "She’s still in there." Ayan nodded. "I know."

Arin turned away, he felt something shifting inside of him. Something unexpected. With a rush of blood to his head, Arin saw a vision. He was staring into the eyes of the previous Dungeon Master. A man stood at the center of a chamber surrounded by rubble, his hands shaking violently. Before him stood a woman whose human traits were nearly swallowed up by dark markings, twisted limbs, and horns. Nearby, a child cried as the Dungeon Master slowly raised a weapon, his whole body trembling.

The woman turned to look at him. She didn’t stab him. She didn’t scream or cry.

She simply looked upon him with a mixture of confusion and grief. The man covered his face with his hands. "I’m sorry... The vision faded away and he was back with Zarl, gasping for air as the last remnants of the illusion dissipated into the darkness. Zarl studied him carefully. "You saw the vision."

Arin turned to face him. "The last dungeon master?" Zarl didn’t smile "Yes His breathing was uneven. "His family... His family died because of the Chimera blood." Arin’s knuckles whitened. "Stop." "He watched the woman he loved turn into a Chimera." Arin turned away. "Stop." "He tried to protect his children but in the end he watch them die."

"STOP!"

Arin’s mana was released in a huge surge.

BOOM!

Zarl felt the floor crack underneath him. Arin turned to him, eyes raging. "The choice is the same for you," "That’s not true! I know I can save her! "Can you? Arin looked over at the battle between Ayan and Mira.

It reminded him of the final moments of the dying man and child. No matter how much he wanted to, Arin couldn’t look away from the eyes Mira. "I won’t make the same mistake." Zarl smiled. "What will you do then," Arin raised his sword. "I’m going to reach her." Arin and Zarl stood face to face again. Zarl was unfazed by the raw power radiating from Arin.

"I SAID MOVE!"

BOOM!

Arin summoned all his strength and sent yet another shockwave Zarl’s way. Zarl reared back and Arin turned to flee. Zarl’s look changed to one of surprise. "I have to hand it to you; this isn’t an easy place to escape from.".Arin’s thoughts drifted to Mira’s fading humanity and the final cry of the boy from his vision. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him. Zarl watched him for a long moment before chuckling.

"Be my guest,

Back in the chamber, the projection of Mira continued to fight Ayan and Saira, who were putting everything they had into keeping her from harming anyone. Mira still struggled to break through the Chimera instincts, but it wasn’t enough. Arin was right around the corner.

"Mira!’’

His voice rang out through the artificial chamber.

"I’m coming!"