Erend, Billy, and Adrien emerged from the swirling portal back into the Eternal Earth, the world where the Elves resided. The change in atmosphere was immediate and overwhelming. The sky, once a serene azure, was now a sinister shade of red, as if the heavens themselves had been painted with blood. The air was thick and oppressive, carrying with it a palpable sense of dread.
A black mist blanketed the area, not thick enough to obscure vision but enough to give a foreboding, almost suffocating, presence. "This... this is bad," Billy muttered as he scanned their surroundings. Adrien nodded, his hand instinctively reaching for his weapon. "Somehow I feel like the world itself is dying." Erend's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the landscape.
The once vibrant fields and forests were now shrouded in the eerie mist, and the oppressive atmosphere weighed heavily on his shoulders. Every breath felt like inhaling sorrow and despair. Its just few hours when since they leave this place, but now everything already become this bad. "We need to find King Gulben," Erend said, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him.
As they moved through the palace, the changes in the environment became even more apparent. They can see thorugh the windows that the trees, usually full of life and energy, now looked withered and sickly. The ground beneath their feet seemed to tremble with a dark energy, making each step feel uncertain. It didn't take long for them to encounter a group of Elven soldiers, their faces grim.
The soldiers recognized Erend, Billy, and Adrien immediately, and one of them stepped forward. "You're back," the soldier said, relief evident in his voice. "King Gulben are waiting for you in the council chamber. Things have worsened since you left." "Lead the way," Erend replied, his tone leaving no room for hesitation.
The soldier led them through the once-majestic Palace now overshadowed by the impending calamity. When they arrived at the council chamber, they found King Gulben and Aurdis already deep in discussion with Saeldir and other key figures. The atmosphere inside was tense but focused, a stark contrast to the chaos outside. "Erend, Billy, Adrien," Aurdis greeted them with a mix of relief and urgency.
"We're glad you made it back this. The situation has deteriorated rapidly." King Gulben stepped forward, his expression grim. "The Great Calamity has begun." "We saw it as soon as we arrived," Erend said. "I'm sorry, I thought we still have a lot more times." "Its not your fault. We've been gathering all our forces," Saeldir added.
Then, a familiar voice resonated within his mind, filled with a mixture of amusement and anticipation. "Erend, my old friend," Eccar's voice echoed. "I knew you would call. I have felt the problem too, and I have been waiting for you to call." Erend opened his eyes, the corners of his mouth lifting in a faint smile. "I need to come to the Chaos Realm to meet you.
The Great Calamity has begun, and we need every help we can get." Eccar's voice held a note of seriousness now. "I understand. The Chaos Realm is stirring as well and I can sense the disruptions in the balance. I will open the portal for you, but be prepared. The realm is more unstable than ever." "I appreciate it," Erend replied. "Good," Eccar said.
A red, swirling vortex began to materialize before him, its edges crackling with chaos Magic. Erend stepped into the portal. As soon as his foot crossed the threshold, he was enveloped in a suffocating pressure. It felt as though the air itself had turned to lead, pressing down on his chest and making it hard to breathe.
His vision blurred, and the world around him twisted and contorted in impossible ways. Pain seared through his body, sharp and unrelenting. Every nerve seemed to scream in protest, and his mind was bombarded with a cacophony of disjointed thoughts and sensations. He had traveled through this portal before, but it had never been this intense.
"It must be the Great Calamity," he thought, fighting to maintain consciousness. His surroundings continued to shift and swirl, flashes of red and black tearing at his senses. Time seemed to lose all meaning, each second stretching into an eternity of agony and disorientation. The pressure suddenly lessened. The swirling chaos around him began to slow, and the suffocating grip on his chest eased.
With a lurch, Erend was thrust out of the portal and onto solid ground. He landed hard, gasping for breath and trying to steady his spinning mind. The world around him came into focus, revealing the dark, twisted landscape of the Chaos Realm. From the shadows, a familiar figure emerged. "Erend," Eccar said. "Welcome back to the Chaos Realm.
We've much to discuss, and little time to waste." Erend nodded, still catching his breath but grateful for Eccar's presence. ---