The Music Speaks

For some reason, I expected the last attack to be another charge or of the physical sort, but I am sorely disappointed when the atmosphere around the Sandworm shifts. It completely abandons the natural comfort and mobility provided to it by the sand and fully releases its body from it. Then, it opens its maw wide, once again allowing the strong desert sun illuminate its innumerable teeth, and from within the reaches of this mouth which seem to lack the grace of light, darkness grows.

With my soul vision, I notice its soul fluctuating wildly, fluctuations typical of [melody] usage, and the uneasiness almost becomes palpable. I observe the [echoed] intently, and as the seconds pass, I witness the growing darkness. First, it comes from the back of what should be its throat, but then moves forward to encapsulate its terrifying teeth and gums, it does not stop until the eerie darkness begins to drip outside of its mouth.

When I follow the drops of darkness with my eyes until they reach the sand floor, its effects only increase my wariness. As if it was not meant to be touched, the sand moves around it to avoid any contact.

‘It’s not corrosion or destruction…. It’s as if the sand is making way for it to pass…’

Apprehensive, I communicate my worries to my temporary collaborators. “...I don’t have a good feeling about this. We absolutely cannot be hit by that….”

“I… must agree with you on that I’m afraid…” Feyrin agrees.

I manifest my aegis. The attack seems to be of the projectile type seeing that the Sandworm is keeping its distance. If I can block it, even for a few seconds, we’ll have reached the Tundra before it can charge another one of the sort. Sylvia and Feyrin both ready their stance. Sylvia is ready to swing, I am ready to block any incoming threat, and Feyrin is ready to release his arrow at a moment’s notice. Finally, the Sandworm seems to have finished its preparations. The darkness, now taking the form of a sphere, floats above its head. It squirms and fluctuates, and from it, a beam of the substance is shot.

Immediately, the beam meets my aegis which I have fixed in place right in its path, and I stop it, almost too easily. The beam is much weaker than when it charged at us earlier.

‘Strange… there doesn’t seem to be much power behind that…I guess we’ll be fine in the end…?’

My guess is quickly proven wrong, however. In the next instant, I feel a weakening of my dominion over my ability and my shield is… pushed back. More so than physical might overcoming my own, it feels as though the very concept of ‘motion’ itself is being affected. Somehow, the darkness is forcing motion onto my shield. The movement is slow, and almost unnoticeable, but because of the connection between us, I feel it immediately. Ever so slightly, and gradually, the attack made of darkness pushes it toward us, threatening to reach us regardless of my defense.

‘What?! I’m sure I’ve made it to be fixed in space?! What’s happening?’

Perhaps the shock shows on my face, but Sylvia’s attention shifts to me instead of the opponent. “What’s the matter?” She asks.

The repelling force is growing stronger, forcing a grunt out of my mouth. “I’m…huff…not sure. I can’t completely stop its attack…!!”

“You mean your shield is going to break?” She asks.

I take a knee, the attack on my shield directly exercises a pressure on me. “No, that’s not it. I’m literally being pushed back. I… I can’t explain it ... .I just don’t know if I’ll hold it until we reach the Tundra!”

She frowns, but before she can answer, crimson liquid begins to surge around Feyrin. “So you won't be able to fend off its attack on your own…. Well let me give you a hand then.”

From every pore of his body, blood is extracted, turning his complexion paler with every moment. The gathered blood then all converges to his arrow, deepening its reddish hue and making it appear more fearsome than it was a moment before.

The color now drained from his face, Feyrin warns us with a grin. “I… haven’t really tried this one on a real opponent yet…. Not including the test subjects of course... Hence, I’m not sure how it will go… but this is the best thing in my arsenal right now.”

Blood concentrates into his arrow even further, completely masking its former appearance. Though it appears to simply be painted red, I can hardly imagine the sheer lethality contained within it. As his attack takes shape, Feyrin’s complexion grows even paler, discoloring his eyes, lips, and skin. If before his ability alluded to that of vampires, now he truly looks like one, or at least their depictions in literature.

Ultimately, when he feels he is ready, as I still struggle to hold the Sandworm’s beam at bay, he finally releases his arrow with a powerful note and lets it fly toward the enemy. A few words escape his mouth as he does so.

“Reign of blood.”

Surprised, my eyes expand slightly before immediately returning to their usual position.

‘That’s… not a bad name actually….’

The arrow flies fast, so much so, that it audibly pierces the air in its path. I was afraid it would not be able to pierce the [echoed]’s skin but it does so without much trouble. With little to no resistance, it lodges itself deep within where an eye would be if worms had them. Feyrin then closes his eyes and attempts something.

“Ah… I expected this, but to think I would resist this much…. Oh well, guess I won’t be able to make it mine.” He says with a disappointed tone.

His grin then reappears and he clenches his fist. “Sanguine Ruin!”

And with that motion, a large cry emanates from the worm. It doesn’t quite fall down, but it definitely falters. The pressure it had been exerting on me is weakened and I regain the ground it had robbed from me moments prior. Feyrin’s fist remains clenched and the [echoed] seems to experience spasms of sorts as a result of that. Its initial cry has ended, but its movements have become strange.

“Whatever you did, it's working!! Don’t stop!” I shout.

“Twenty more seconds before we reach the Tundra, keep at it everyone!!” Talyndra shouts in turn for all to hear.

Feyrin’s grin slowly turns into a grimace and his fist begins to shake. “S-sorry to disappoint you all… But this won’t last long…This thing is just way too big… the damage I’m causing is significant but it’s already washing away my blood…! If our ride has a turbo mode, you better activate it now Miss Talyndra, I don’t believe I’ll be able to slow it down for even two more seconds.”

Indeed, the pressure returns, twice as strong as before. It seems as though Feyrin’s stunt has only made it angrier. The beam of darkness emanating from the sphere grows larger, causing the sphere itself to shrink further and it pushes me back tremendously. So much so that to call it a contest at this point would be an overstatement. If nothing is done, in the next second, that darkness will have reached us, and who knows what it’ll do then.

‘D-damn it…!!’

Sylvia places her hand on my shoulder. “I’ll apologize properly for this later.”

A melodious whisper enters my ear. I am not sure if they are words, and if they are, I do not understand, but what is certain, is that newfound strength wells up within me. And with my arms raised in the air, and a shout from within the depth of my lungs, I push back against the worm’s attack.

“AAAAHHHH!!”

“Five more seconds!!!” Talyndra yells.

Blood begins to drip from my nose and mouth. “AAAAHH!!!””

“Three!!! Two! One!!! Brace for impact!!”

Talyndra nose dives into the frozen floor of the tundra and before we touch the ground, the mount dissipates, sending us tumbling in different directions. Finally, now that we are no longer grouped, I dismiss my shield and simply let the Sandworm’s attack miss its target.

Noticing the unfamiliar environment, and the failure of its attack, the Sandworm hesitates for a half a moment. If I were it, I’d probably think something along the lines of ‘Are these humans really worth the trouble?’.

Unfortunately though, it seems that we are. Its previous hesitation vanishes and it completely leaves the desert zone to enter the Tundra. Now in uncharted territory and having lost the home field advantage, it coils its body on itself to adopt the closest thing to a standing position a worm-like creature could hope to imitate.

Looking at it, I can’t help but scoff. “Now you just look like a big ugly snake.” I say with a smirk.