Sky Attributer 2: Path of Devastation

Chapter 15 - A Skeptical Acquaintance

There were no obstacles across the open wasteland of dead and corrupted terrain that made up the Shadow Realms ground. It was mostly all the same, all of it dark, dead-like, lifeless earth be it in loose dirt or rough stone. As Spike walked he found himself kneeling down and digging his fingers through the dirt, feeling it fall apart between finger tips. It wasn't wet, it wasn't muddy, it wasn't even fresh. Whatever it was, it was no longer regular earth.

The stone was the same. It was as rough and hard as regular stone, it felt hard but it wasn't stable. Alot of the stone was largely connected making it impossible to pick up bare handed but Spike found chunks that barely fit between his fingers. Taking these from the ground he hit them onto other regions of stone as hard as he could only to watch as both the chunk in his hand and the target he hit crumbled into pieces. It surprised, and confused him, why the ground was stable enough to walk on still.

With his curiosity barely met, but unsure what else he could do to settle it, Spike attempted to dismiss the ground and instead continued walking. In his left hand was a circular disk. From it emitted a holographic light, a projected map of the region he and his friends were currently positioned in, in the Shadow Realm. On the holographic map were two markers; one was a light red dot, it was moving an inch for every ten or so steps Spike took meaning it displayed his position.

A decent amount of distance ahead of him, a measurement Spike assumed would be another hour of walking on top of the thirty minutes he had already spent, was a light blue dot. This was the location Escar's friend mentioned, and perhaps the only way for Spike to find a way back for his friends and himself.

With no obstacles around him, Spike had an open view of his surrounding. He saw the vast clearing that spread out in almost all directions, and then beyond that clearing he saw several mountains and forests, even areas where it seemed like there were no ground at all so perhaps a cliff or a canyon. However, from behind Spike, he saw Terazone. The giant wall surrounding it was standing and Spike noticed it giving a shining aura of light barely visible to the eye. 85%, that was the calculation Escar's program had said to be the current percentage of integrity the defense of this city had 30 minutes ago.

Was it even lower now? Would it even stay long enough?

Spike still had to meet with Escar's friends, and who knew if he would need convincing. Although, this city had nothing to do with him or his friends; it was the only city he had come past in a long time since being trapped in this realm, but who said they could fix his portal device? But still, while that was true, Spike felt sympathy for the city.

With sympathy in mind he snapped his fingers, attempting to commune with and manipulate the light amount of wind around him. It was barely there, the oxygen was breathable but the breeze was faint. Perhaps using the shadows as a way to move faster would be more beneficial, and it was no surprise Spike had been relying on them alot, but this walk alone had given him time to think.

What he thought was how he felt, specifically his feelings and actions upon using his new shadowy power. He used it out of desperation for it is truly powerful, and lately the need for something powerful has been needed. Michael was more than dangerous, and now Hunch has shown to be even more so. Spike didn't regret using his new power, but it was also true the first time he obtained this power he became trapped, warped into being a puppet.

Being alone caused him to worry now, worry about that happening again.

It was a sudden decision, and perhaps he had made it sooner if he had had time to think but so much had happened recently. But now the decision was final.

The shadows he could manipulate were too dangerous.

If they must be used, it should be if utmost necessary, for Spike was worried about relying on them. What if relying on them brought out the Beast that slumbered and gives him this power? What if he was turned into a puppet again because the feeling of using such a power becomes an addiction?