Aethernea : Soulbound [Book 1]

Episode 148 - Fall

Previously:

Kiel and Elaru are waiting for the results of their Muni entrance exams. Meanwhile, Nelaira's squad finally sees the end of the Valley of Eternal Snow. Unfortunately, a Tainted takes them by surprise and beheads one of their comrades before anyone could react. Due to the extreme speed and power of the Tainted, two more comrades are killed off in succession, after which, the Tainted sets his eyes on Nelaira.

* * *

The Tainted screeched so loudly that it made everyone's mind buzz, dazing them where they stood. And then, like a shadow, the creature slid on the snow, appearing next to Nelaira.

Episode 148 – Fall

The blasted woman kept tripping and poking it everywhere. If it weren't for her constantly slowing down its charge, half of the pests would have already been in its stomach. Not to mention it wouldn't have gotten hit so many times, even losing a leg!

Nelaira's face paled and her eyes widened in shock. The contrast between her pale skin and dark eyes made her eyes look so black they were darker than the Ink seeping out of the charging monstrosity reflected in them.

[Estimated time of impact: t – 1.5 seconds]

Nelaira's heart stilled, but her mind raced faster than ever. What should she do? What could she do?

She activated her acceleration boots with all the speed she could muster, intending to flee to the left, yet she knew it was futile. The disparity in their velocities was too huge, and the time she had before her untimely demise too short. What kind of profound tactic could she possibly come up with in the last second of her life?

She had been fighting Tainted for many years, she had countless ways, countless methods to attack and control its movement. But all of her methods and tricks were useless in the face of absolute power.

Or rather, absolute speed.

Magic and everything else needed time, the time that she didn't have.

The time that none of them had.

She could feel the intangible fingers of death reaching for her. They could almost touch her, almost pull her into the abyss. Her life hung in a balance, suspended by a thin thread.

Yet, Nelaira didn't panic in the face of death.

All of them were prepared to die. They wouldn't even be allowed onto the expedition unless they handed in their last wills.

They knew what they were getting into.

Instead of falling into despair, what she should concentrate her last moments on was ensuring that her sacrifice was worth it.

She had to use her flesh and blood to give others time.

To help them survive.

That was her duty as their team leader.

[t – 1.25 seconds to impact]

No!

The Beacon... !

Their team's last Beacon was in her possession!

The backup Beacon had been on the body of their logistics officer, which was now dissolving in the stomach of the monstrosity. If she too ended up in the stomach of this thing alongside her Beacon, none of her team members would be able to return back home alive! Even if they successfully killed this Tainted, without supplies they were doomed to perish in the forbidden zone!