Eccar gestured to the rough, red land beside him, a small, almost comforting smile playing on his lips despite the situation.
Erend took a deep breath and joined him, sitting down on the unforgiving ground. The chaotic landscape of the Chaos Realm stretched out before them.
"Tell me, Erend," Eccar began, his voice steady and calm, "what has happened in that side?"
Erend took a moment to collect his thoughts, the weight of his responsibilities heavy on his shoulders.
"The Great Calamity has begun, Eccar. The sky is blood-red, the air is thick with dread, and a black mist covers everything. We thought we had more time, but it's here now."
Eccar listened intently, his eyes never leaving Erend's face. "I know that there will be anomalies, right? Have they grown worse?"
Erend nodded, his expression grim. "Yes. The land itself feels like it's dying. Everything is withering away. We are gathering all our forces, but... I'm worried it's not enough."
Eccar's gaze softened, understanding the burden Erend carried.
"You fear that you are not strong enough to face this calamity," Eccar said.
Erend looked down at his hands, feeling the weight of his own doubts.
"Yes. I've fought many battles, faced countless enemies, but this... this feels different. I'm afraid that no matter how hard I fight, it won't be enough to save everyone," replied Erend with gloom voice.
For a moment, there was silence between them. Then, Eccar placed a reassuring hand on Erend's shoulder as if comforting a brother in need.
"Strength isn't just about power or skill, Erend. It's about determination and the will to protect those you care about. You've shown that time and time again. The Chaos Realm has taught me that even in the darkest times, we can find strength in our bonds with others," Eccar said.
Erend looked up, meeting Eccar's eyes. There was a spark of hope there, a reminder that he was not alone in this fight. "Thank you. Your words mean a lot to me. Maybe because you're the only Dragonborn I met until this time. Beside that Time Dragon off course, but he is unreachable."
Eccar nodded, a faint smile on his lips. "We will face this together. You have allies here. I promise I will do everything I can to support you."
"I appreciate that. I need your help now more than ever."
Eccar nodded, then said. "Now, tell me everything you know about the Great Calamity. I also need to formulate a plan."
Erend took a deep breath and began to recount all the details, from the visions and the anomalies to the preparations being made in the Eternal Earth.
As he spoke, he felt the burden of his fears lighten, knowing that he had a friend who understood and was willing to fight alongside him.
Erend nodded, his brow furrowed in contemplation. "You're right. Charging in without knowing our enemy is too risky. We could end up making things worse."
The feeling of familiarity grew stronger, guiding them deeper into their collective consciousness. They saw something... like a lump of flesh twitching and wriggling. It looked disgusting, but Erend could see a slight resemblance of the structure of that lump of flesh to a brain. A twisted kind of brain.
Erend instinctively understood that these held the key to defeat the Great Calamity. But for now they haven't yet understand what it is.
After what felt like an eternity, but was only minutes in reality, they slowly opened their eyes. The connection began to fade but the image is still clear in their mind, a pulsating lump of flesh, grotesque and twisted, resembling a massive brain.
"Did you see it?" Erend asked.
Eccar nodded, his expression grim. "Yes. That... thing. It felt wrong, like a source of unimaginable power and malice."
Erend's brow furrowed in thought. "It might be the key to defeating the Great Calamity. If we can find it and destroy it, perhaps we can put an end to all of this."
"But we still don't know what it is," Eccar pointed out, "or where it's located. It could be anywhere, and there's no telling what kind of defenses it might have."
Erend let out a frustrated sigh. "You're right. We need more information before we can act. This vision is a clue, but it's not enough."
He stood up, dusting off the dirt from his clothes. "We need to find out more about this... thing. Most importantly, its location."
"Agreed. We'll need to consult with your other friends," Eccar replied.
Erend nodded, feeling the weight of their task. "Let's return to the palace and regroup. We can start our search there. Maybe someone among the Elves knows something."
Eccar then opened the portal to go back to the real world for them. Stood before the swirling vortex, Eccar's eyes reflecting the chaotic red light emanating from the portal.
Erend watched as his friend took a deep breath, steadying himself.
"This will be the first time in a very long time that I leave the Chaos Realm," Eccar said.
Erend gave a sad, understanding smile. "Even though this is your first time, you'll be spending it fighting against a dangerous thing."
Eccar returned his smile. "If it means protecting both our worlds from the Great Calamity, then it's a fight worth having."
Eccar stepped into the portal, Erend following close behind. The transition was less jarring this time, but still, the sensation of traveling through the chaotic energies of the portal left them both feeling slightly disoriented.
They emerged on the other side, the familiar surroundings of the Elf Palace greeted them. The stark contrast between the ethereal beauty of the palace and the oppressive atmosphere of the Chaos Realm was striking.
"Lets meet with your friends," Eccar said.
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