Eternal Freedom's Ascension-Chapter 100: Crossing the Vine

Slice! Thud!

The body of the creature dropped to the ground, unmoving. Kaiser remained on one knee, his sword held horizontally. On that dark purple blade, blood slowly dripped to the ground.

[You have slain an Awakened Monster, Fog Predator]

’Good thing I didn’t miscalculate.’

Knowing he couldn’t dodge that dive, he had placed his sword in a way that it would slice the creature’s neck the moment it reached him.

Suddenly, he winced. Blood spurted from his arm, where one of the creature’s beaks had cut him. The injury stung, but he quickly tied it up with a piece of clothing he tore from his undershirt.

He stared at the corpse of the Fog Predator, then chose to dig out its soul crystal rather than turning it into a Shadow.

"I need to cross the bridge before nightfall. Who knows what crazy horror might befall me?"

Entertaining such thoughts, he walked around the edge of the island until he found another Vine. He peered into the abyss below, wary of any sudden attack from other Bottom Arachnids.

Seeing none of them, he prepared to start crossing. He sheathed the Virtuous Sorrow by his side, then summoned the Nameless Fang into his hand. Covering his lower face with a mask, he crouched.

His bottomless blue eyes stared into the foggy distance, then he sprang forward.

Rather than stepping onto the vine from the edge of the island, he covered as much distance as he could in one big leap. He landed on all fours, legs wrapped around the vine while he stabbed into it with the dagger in his hand.

He remained still for a few seconds, trying to sense if his movements had caught any creature’s attention.

’None so far.’

Tightening his grip around the dagger, he inched his way along the vine, gripping it tightly as the abyss yawned beneath him. The journey was mockingly slow, but he didn’t mind.

’Slow and steady, wins the race. Right?’

He slowly climbed forward, his black armor a stark contrast to the green vine. Unsurprisingly, curious creatures came around to check it out.

Whenever this happened, Kaiser froze, becoming as rigid as stone. Some creatures perched on his back, turning their heads curiously. After some time, they’d flap their wings and fly away. Only then would Kaiser resume his journey, drawing as little attention as he could to himself.

After crossing for over an hour, he could only see the distant silhouette of the First Isle, while the silhouette of the Second Isle appeared closer.

’Of course this is the perfect time for a jinx.’

As if to confirm his thoughts, he heard a screech high in the fog above him. A pair of wings flapped, the sound oddly familiar.

’A Fog Predator?’

Kaiser’s expression darkened, realizing the grimness of the situation. If it were the Sky Wraiths, he wouldn’t be too bothered. But against a creature that could actually pull him off the vine?

’This is bad.’

He thought, increasing his speed as much as he could. Of course he could choose to make himself look inanimate, but he was sure the creature had already spotted him.

Flap! Flap! Screeee-!

The sounds of the Fog Predator’s wingbeats drew closer, until it was right above him. It spread its toes, then reached out to grab him.

Kaiser shifted to the side, dodging one of the legs. The other latched onto his right arm, talons piercing into his skin.

He withstood the pain, then unsheathed the Virtuous Sorrow using his left hand. He moved swiftly, using the blade to slice at the monster behind him.

Receiving a cut on its thighs, the Fog Predator released him and flew up. It circled in the air, its two pairs of eyes locked onto him.

Kaiser ignored the bleeding, knowing it’d eventually heal. He didn’t stop and pushed forward, his gaze set onto the island before him.

The creature swooped in again, aiming to carry him. Kaiser pressed himself to the vine. The Fog Predator’s talons scratched the metal part of his armor, creating white lines.

Unsuccessful, it flew away again. It circled in the air once more, then dove down at him.

The cycle repeated itself several times, and in half an hour, Kaiser’s back was riddled with injuries. His armor had been shredded from consistent harassment from the Fog Predator who refused to give up on him.

Kaiser’s eyes—blue and empty, held no recognition for the pain or his environment. The only thing his gaze was focused on was the island ahead of him.

Slowly but surely, he got close to the island, blood dripping from his body. He left a long trail of red on the vine.

Seeing as he had almost reached his destination, the Fog predator screeched and made one last dive.

This time, something interrupted its dive. From the lightless void below, a thick fleshy tentacle rose and smacked it away.

Kaiser blinked, stunned. He watched as the tentacle retreated into the void, his heart still in shock.

’Is it... the rumored Void Dweller?’

He thought, then was suddenly filled with a sense of urgency. Whatever could easily swat the Fog Predator away like a mosquito could definitely snap the vine and plunge him into the abyss.

Ignoring his mangled back, he moved faster, pushing himself across the vine. Fortunately, the dreadful tentacle didn’t rise any longer until he reached the Second Isle.

He fell face-first to the ground, his body screaming of exhaustion. He forced himself to his feet, struggling to assess his surroundings.

Before him stretched a vast plateau of cracked stone, littered with toppled pillars and broken statues. Ancient ruins lay half-swallowed by creeping vines, as though the island itself had long ago devoured whatever civilization once stood there.

His gaze settled on a broken figure laid in the distance. It was the Fog Predator that had stubbornly sought to kill him during his journey. Now, it looked ghastly miserable.

Its wings were broken, blood flowing from several parts of its body.

Kaiser forced himself to rise, then walked towards it determinedly. He stood above it, straddling the creature beneath him. Then, he stabbed it with the Nameless Fang.

His arm rose and fell again and again, the dagger sinking into flesh with mechanical precision.

’Every wound must be returned. Not a single one more or less.’

He thought emotionlessly, his eyes carrying only bottomless darkness.

At the sixtieth stab, he paused. "You’re not going to beg, are you? Please don’t. I didn’t either."

His voice trembled slightly, almost like a plea. Then he resumed stabbing.

After a while, he stabbed one last time, finally killing it.

[You have slain an Awakened Monster, Fog Predator]

[You have received a Relic]

’Seventy-nine times. Complete.’

His thoughts went blank, and he collapsed onto the creature, unconscious.