STRINGS

Cliff and Hanger p3

god's POV.

I don't know why the god of thunder and lightning threw his power into this land, and he definitely hurt little Marietta. I was surprised she was still alive after that god's inhumane surprise. But I shouldn't be surprised; after all, this girl is the chosen one, as the master said.

Third Person's POV.

Everything went black after she was struck by lightning. The whole place convulsed, and black-horned creatures suddenly emerged from a black hole that appeared out of nowhere.

All the ghouls Naloui had slaughtered were revived. The place was in chaos, and the ghouls ran crazily towards their position. A tsunami of undead also appeared, engulfing the land like a glutton devouring everything.

However, before the undead could reach them, Naloui, the gigantic warrior, used his power to teleport them out of the place, saving Marietta from the encroaching horde.

In the instant before they vanished, Naloui’s sword moved with blinding speed, cutting through the strings that controlled the undead. The strings, now severed, writhed in the air, their ends glowing with a malevolent black light before fading away.

Marietta's POV.

The world exploded in white light, and then, nothing. Just a heavy, suffocating darkness. My body felt like it was burning, and every nerve screamed in agony. I could hear a distant roar, a cacophony of monstrous sounds, and feel the ground tremble. Through the haze of pain, I saw the grotesque figures of the undead surging towards us.

They were pulled by strings, thin and dark, connected to their hearts. But something was different. The strings were black, a deep, oily black that pulsed with a sinister energy.

Then, Naloui's sword flashed. It was like a streak of pure, white fire, cutting through the air. The black strings, one by one, snapped. I watched, my vision blurring, as the severed ends of the strings glowed with a sickening, dark light. It was like watching shadows twist and writhe before they vanished.

The world around me spun, and I felt a strange, dizzying sensation, like being pulled through a narrow tunnel. Just before my eyes closed, I saw Naloui’s massive form, his face grim and determined, and then, darkness.

Third Person's POV.

The abrupt teleportation left them in a desolate, rocky ravine, far from the chaotic battlefield. Naloui, his massive frame still tense, sheathed his sword. The unnamed god, who had been observing the events with a mixture of awe and concern, floated beside him.

"That was... unexpected," the god murmured, his voice echoing slightly in the ravine.

"The strings, their sudden blackening, and the sheer power of that lightning strike... I've never seen anything quite like it."

Naloui grunted, his gaze fixed on the unconscious Marietta, who lay cradled in his large hand.

"The strings were corrupted. A dark influence, far beyond what those creatures should possess."

"Indeed," the god agreed. "And her reaction... the way those strings seemed to be drawn into her, and the sudden burst of energy that followed... it's as if she absorbed the corruption."

A heavy silence fell between them. Naloui's brow furrowed. "She is the chosen one, as your master said. But she is vulnerable. She does not know her own strength, nor the dangers that seek to exploit it."

"We cannot leave her like this," the god stated, his eyes glowing with a newfound resolve. "She needs to learn, to understand her power. If she is to face what is coming, she must be prepared."

Naloui nodded, his gaze softening as he looked at Marietta. "Then we shall teach her. We will train her, guide her. Show her how to wield the power that flows within her. For her own good, and for the sake of those she will encounter."

"It will be a difficult path," the god warned. "But it is the only path."
Naloui’s hand tightened slightly around Marietta. "Then we begin. We will forge her into a weapon against the darkness."