The Poleman

"Honestly I thought it would be something cliche like, "fire god emperor", or something like that." Sine turned to Ariet for his opinion.

"Nah I think I wouldn't tell anyone if that was what it was called." Ariet chuckled.

"So how do you even figure out what your Aether Engine is called?" Sine questioned, trying to understand the concept.

"You'll figure it out soon enough... probably. It's like you, instinctively know it, y'know?" 

"Uh, okay gotcha."

The two treaded through the forest at a medium-pace, keeping the sound to a minimum. Even though the world was painted in red and black, it was a beautiful day. And speaking of beautiful day...

"Where did the jellyfish and the mountain thingy go?" Ariet asked, staring past the leaves, trying to see the indescribable battle.

"I noticed that earlier, after we were done fighting the wolf, they both disappeared." Sine twirled The Pole in his hands.

"Do you even know where we're going?" 

"Nope."

Ariet sighed, yet tried to take in the beautiful surroundings they found themselves in. It was a bloody autumn, the leaves burned and the black leaves were left charred, the colors mixed in surprisingly well. The peacefulness of the rustling leaves calmed them down. 

'Tip, tap'

A dripping sound echoed throughout the forest.

'Tip, tap, tip tap, tip tap tip tap tip tap'

Something was coming.

"Hide!" Ariet furiously whispered. The two boys leaped into a tree and held their already struggling breaths. The wind rustling the leaves, the gentle sound that had once whispered gently into their ears, had vanished abruptly. Unnaturally even.

It was like they were in a cave, devoid of all sound and light. The only thing that had reached their senses, was the dripping. The constant, unwavering sound of the 'tip, tap'.

Shudders and shivers shot through Sine's spine. He didn't dare move, for the thing making the sounds was right below him. He didn't breathe, he didn't blink, even his heart slowed unconsciously just so he could live. 

His body was literally unmovable, even if he wanted to move, he couldn't.

A noise escaped the thing, something almost indescribable, an insidious smacking sound, like a squelch, followed by a squeal of plasma. It's breathing... it's breathing was oh so horrid. Like a patient, unable to scream, unable to call for help, and has to suffer through the worst without anyone by his side. 

Sine's eyes started to water, and he almost started to cry. He was scared.

'Why me? Please go away... please...'

As if hearing his plea, the monster that had terrorized them for what felt like an eternity, had turned its head as it heard a rustle in the distance, took a step, crunching a leaf under itself, and disappeared in a flash.

Instantly, all senses returned, the wave of the autumn smell and gentle breeze crashed into Sine, and he started to cry and vomit.

Ariet himself almost passed out, hanging onto one of the branches. 

"F-Fuck..." Ariet said, his knees shaking from that experience. Ariet wobblily climbed down the tree, Sine grabbed a nearby leaf and wiped his mouth off before jumping down with a thud.

For the next few hours, they walked silently. The gentle breeze now seemed like the whisper and promise of death, the crunching of leaves felt like previous people in their same position, their bones littering the forest floor. 

The sound of rushing water resounded from up ahead. The two boys crouched down and started to slowly approach the direction the noise was coming from.

They stumbled upon a red river, about 10 meters wide it lay, gushing through the river bed. Instinctually, the two boys both knew they would die if they touched the water. They did not know what would kill them; what lay under the water, or the water itself. They would die nevertheless. 

And that's why it was so surprising when Sine had fell into the water. Ariet's eyes opened wide, his mouth agape. 

"Huh?"

"SIIIIIIIIIIIIINE!" Ariet exploded in flames and movement, and in a flash, caught up to Sine who was half way in the water already. But to his horror, the reason why Sine fell into the river wasn't because he was clumsy or careless. 

No, the thing that had made the dripping noise was back. If Sine had seen the monster, he would've known what it was due to what it looked like. A Cryo, something with multiple layers of translucent skin, its skin pulsing and contracting as the horrid, raggedy breath escaped its oval mouth. Some parts of its skin sometimes crystallize, or sometimes turn into an almost liquid-like state. It's body shape almost humanoid, its arm-like tendrils hanging down to the ground, its "head" littered with a collection of undulating bumps and crevices, suggesting sensory organs.

And a crystal cross where its forehead was supposed to be. And this thing, was so unbelievably more strong than both of them combined. 

"Ah... where did you get that Aether Engine boy?" A raspy voice escaped its cracked and crystalized mouth. "That... was his legacy he left behind. And a brat like you obtained it?"

Ariet had his sword raised, tears streaming down his face and his brows furrowed. His eyes, if they could cut, the Cryo would be in a million pieces already. He had little time, Sine was going to die. He had to get him out NOW!

He bit his sword and released thousands of sparks, a web of flames spread out from his sword, the halo above his head blazed and screamed in anger and terror as he charged towards the creature that would kill him.

Like glass connecting together, a strange, translucent smile formed on the Cryo's face, and his tendril whipped forward, putting a gaping hole in Ariet's side.

"AHHHHHHH!" Ariet fell down, his side burning and pulsing and draining him of his blood. His teeth were clenched from the pain, but mainly from how weak he was. The searing pain he was experiencing mixed with the anger he was feeling at his weak self almost destroyed his mind.

**

"Huh?" Sine plummeted into the icy depths of the blood river, and a wave of terror flooded his body, heat swelled in his head and turned cool as he fell inside the river.

"SIIIIIII-" Ariet's scream was cut off by the rushing waters, immediately, he felt as if his soul was wavering and being torn apart. As if his very consciousness was trying to be taken from his body. He tried to swim to the shore, but he literally could not control his body.

Bubbles escaped his mouth as he lost control of his lungs, and all the oxygen in them was sucked out. 

'Is this how I die...?'

Sine clenched his teeth, focusing on the one thing he was good at.

'ADAPT! ADAPT ADAPT ADAPT! PLEASE!'

He tried feeling every neuron that washed over him, the flow of the river, the sight, taste, sound, smell even. His body started to twist and turn, as his soul did the opposite. Sine's soul got tugged away, almost leaving his grasp, but he ripped himself back.

Sine had started to see the icy hands grasp at his ankles and arms, trying to pull him away from his body. This is where most people would mess up and try and use their physical body to pull their soul back in place, but Sine is different.

All of his muscles relaxed as he floated down the river, he felt his soul pulse, and his control over his soul grew stronger, he was able to break free from the hands that gripped his soul. His soul pulsed once more, and his soul became unbreakable. It pulsed, and pulsed again, until he could control it like his regular body.

Just then, a wave of heat washed over Sine, and the river became empty as the water evaporated. Blue flame was everywhere, and brilliant blue sparks filled the air, making crackling and popping sounds.

"Ah..." The Cryo said. "Now I understand why you inherited his legacy." A strange tongue licked his lips as he grinned, a manic laugh escaping its twisted mouth. "You inherited the title Burning Man haven't you?"

Ariet, in his desperation, transformed into a monster. Behind the wall of blue fames, hid a humanoid figure that was singed and burned. His eyes lit aflame, and the charcoal that his skin turned into rolled as he lifted his hand. 

The Burning Man had returned.