The Life After Death

  Chapter 15: Through the Abyss Part 2

  The night air was thick, humid, and laced with the distant hum of animals and insects. Every breath felt heavier, and the rainforest felt alive in ways that made my skin crawl. The twin moons cast pale silver and crimson hues over the dense foliage, giving the jungle an eerie glow.

  Shadows stretched unnaturally, distorting the already alien landscape. I adjusted the dried deer skin over my shoulders, the rough texture pressing against my sore muscles, offering a crude but much-needed warmth.

  Pushing forward, my body still ached from the wounds and exhaustion, but I forced myself to move. My mind reeled from the dream—the voice that had called my name still echoed in my skull.

  As I weaved through the thick underbrush, the rainforest revealed itself in ways both mesmerizing and unsettling.

  The trees, massive, stretched so high that their canopies obscured the sky. Their thick, gnarled roots twisted over one another, forming natural walls and tunnels, as if something far older had shaped this land. Vines coiled around the trunks, pulsating faintly under the glow of bioluminescent fungi clinging to the bark. The air smelled of damp earth, decaying leaves, and something sweet, almost intoxicatingly rich.

  I moved cautiously, my dagger gripped tightly in my hand, scanning my surroundings for any sign of danger. Every rustle in the underbrush, every distant cry, set my nerves on edge. The rainforest felt alive—as if it was watching my every move.

  As I took another step forward, a sharp crack echoed behind me—twigs snapping under something’s weight. My breath caught in my throat, and my body tensed. Instinctively, I turned, dagger raised, ready to strike at whatever was stalking me.

  Before I could react, a flurry of small creatures burst from the underbrush. Frogs, dozens of them, leaped frantically past me, their croaks shrill, their tiny bodies scrambling over roots and leaves. It was as if something had spooked them.

  My heart pounded.

  Then, a sharp sting flared on my right leg. I hissed and looked down just in time to see something writhing against my calf. A slimy, mud-colored mass clung to me, its gelatinous body pulsating as if drinking something from my skin. My stomach turned.

  "What the hell is that?" I growled, shaking my leg violently. The thing squirmed and released me with a sickening plop, retreating into the undergrowth with an unsettling squelch.

  I stared at the spot where it had latched onto me, expecting blood, a wound—something. But there was nothing. No cut, no bite mark.

  Just an odd, lingering emptiness in my manaheart, like something had been drained. My brows furrowed. "Did that thing just... steal some of my mana?" flexing my leg cautiously.

  My mind raced. Was it some strange new animal native to this world? Or could it be a monster? No, that wasn’t possible. Dad’s stories said monsters didn’t roam this far.

  And yet, my mana had been sapped.

  I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. I had no time to sit and question it now. Whatever that thing was, it was gone. But the fact that it existed at all meant I needed to be even more cautious moving forward.

  I pressed on, my senses sharpening with every step. The deeper I moved into the rainforest, the stranger it became. Leaves shimmered with iridescent colors, shifting between shades of deep blues and vibrant reds under the dim light of the moons.

  Some plants had thick, waxy textures, while others looked almost translucent, their veins glowing faintly. The roots underfoot coiled tightly around one another, as if forming an intricate web rather than mere pathways of growth. Something about this place felt... off.

  Then, my instincts kicked in. A presence. A heavy, looming awareness that sent a prickle down my spine. I wasn’t alone. A sharp realization hit me—I had completely forgotten about the deer. The creature that tore through it had to be massive to rip off its leg so violently. Could it be the same thing stalking me now? My stomach twisted at the thought.

  I slowed my steps, my fingers tightening around my dagger. Every part of me screamed to stay alert. The trees creaked, the rustling of leaves barely audible over my own breath. Something was moving, shadowing me, but I couldn’t see it.

  Was it the wind? An animal?

  A twig snapped.

  I turned sharply, my heart hammering against my broken ribs. The jungle around me remained still, yet an unshakable feeling of being watched settled deep in my bones. I furrowed my brow and squinted into the darkness, straining to see anything that could justify my unease.

  Nothing. Just trees, vines, and shadows that seemed to stretch longer than they should.

  I exhaled and let my shoulders relax.

  "Really? I’m getting paranoid over nothing?" Shaking my head. My expression twisted into a half-scowl, half-grimace. "I swear, if I keep this up, I’m going to start jumping at my own shadow."

  Just as I was about to turn away, movement flickered in the corner of my vision, and my breath hitched. My face went from annoyed scepticism to sheer, dumbfounded disbelief in an instant.

  A shape shifted between the trees. A shadow, low and sleek, moving with predatory grace. My breath hitched again as I locked eyes onto it—two dimly glowing yellow slits cutting through the darkness. The figure didn’t move, didn’t lunge. It only watched.

  Shit…

  I gritted my teeth, my grip tightening on the dagger. My body screamed at me to move, to run, but my instincts told me otherwise. This thing was hunting, and if I bolted now, I’d be easy prey.

  With slow, measured breaths, I shifted ever so slightly, positioning myself for a counter if it lunged. My manaheart flickered, drained from the previous exertions, but I knew I needed to muster something—anything—to defend myself.

  The jungle fell silent.

  Then, the figure moved.

  A blur of darkness shot toward me, and I barely had time to react. Instinct kicked in before my mind could process it—I forced a pulse of air magic beneath me, propelling myself backward just in time to avoid the strike.

  Pain shot through my entire body, a fiery reminder that I was still far from recovered. My left leg throbbed, a fresh trickle of blood escaping from the wound just from that single movement.

  I hit the ground in a rough slide, gasping as I forced myself to turn and face the thing that had attacked me.

  My eyes locked onto it—”a… wolf?”, larger than any I had ever seen, its frame lean but powerful, muscles coiled beneath its jet-black fur.

  Its eyes, glowing yellow like twin torches in the night, fixed onto me with a predatory hunger. Its maw hung slightly open, revealing elongated fangs dripping with saliva, its breath coming out in slow, measured puffs, as if savoring the hunt.

  What am I even looking at?

  My fingers tightening around the hilt of my dagger. My heart pounded as the creature stalked forward, its movements impossibly silent for something its size. My breathing came in sharp gasps, my body screaming in protest, but there was no time to hesitate.

  It lunged again.

  I rolled to the side, barely dodging the swipe of its massive claws, dirt and leaves scattering in the wake of its attack. My ribs flared with pain, and I hissed, forcing my body to move despite the protests. I slashed my dagger toward its side, but the creature twisted unnaturally, dodging with an agility that sent a fresh wave of dread through me.

  "Damn it," I growled, stumbling back. "You’re fast."

  The beast let out a deep, guttural growl, its ears flicking forward as if it understood me. It paced in a slow circle, eyes never leaving mine, assessing, waiting.

  I couldn’t afford to let it dictate the fight.

  Summoning what little mana I had left, I forced a burst of air beneath me, launching forward in a desperate attempt to get in close. My dagger flashed, slicing toward its throat. The beast reacted instantly, twisting away, but my blade still nicked its shoulder, drawing a thin line of dark blood.

  It snarled, its ears flattening as it recoiled slightly before retaliating with blinding speed. Claws slashed toward me—I barely managed to throw up an arm in defense, bracing myself for impact.

  This is bad…

  The beast lunged again, and this time, I wasn’t fast enough. Its claws raked across my right arm as I twisted to dodge, a sharp sting slicing through my skin. I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to keep moving. The wound wasn’t deep, but the pain sent a jolt of adrenaline through my system, pushing me into a sharper focus.

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  I shifted my stance, my breathing ragged, but something clicked in my mind—I was starting to read its movements. The way it tensed before pouncing, the subtle shift in its weight before a strike. It was fast, but it was also repetitive. I could anticipate it.

  Just as I felt like I had control, the beast propelled itself forward with jolting speed. My eyes widened in shock.

  "Shit!" I barely had time to react.

  Instinctively, I reached deep and thought only one thing—Get out of the way!

  A burst of air shot from my palm, disrupting its lunge and sending dirt and leaves flying between us.

  The distraction was enough to throw its aim off, but not enough to fully evade the attack. Its claws nicked my left shoulder—right over the wound where the spear had impaled me before. White-hot pain seared through my body as fresh blood spilled down my arm. My vision blurred for a moment, my legs trembling beneath me.

  I staggered back, panting, pressing a hand against my shoulder. I’m not going to make it out of here if I keep holding back. My body was already battered, my mana nearly drained. If I didn’t go all out, I wouldn’t last another minute.

  Drawing on every ounce of willpower, I forced my mana into my limbs, ignoring the sharp sting that pulsed through my wounds.

  Move and spin! I commanded myself, propelling forward with a burst of air magic. My body twisted mid-air, my dagger poised as I became a whirlwind of motion.

  It was instinctual, primal. If air alone wasn’t enough, then I needed something stronger. Something destructive. Something final. Burn this thing.

  Fire erupted around me, engulfing my form in a blazing spiral. The sudden explosion of heat and force sent waves of embers dancing in the night, turning me into a living firestorm hurtling toward the beast.

  The beast recoiled, its eyes widening for the first time. It staggered, momentarily caught off guard by the sheer unpredictability of my movements and magic. But before it could react, my dagger found its mark.

  The blade sank deep into its right eye, the impact sending a sickening shudder through my arm. The beast shrieked, a horrid, echoing cry that reverberated through the jungle. My flames licked at its face, charring its flesh, and melting its fur—the scent of burning sinew filled the air. The beast twisted and thrashed violently, its pain turning into an erratic frenzy of movements.

  I hit the ground hard, my legs barely supporting me as my vision swam before giving out entirely, sending me to my knees. My body screamed in agony, exhaustion threatening to pull me under. I clutched my ribs, forcing ragged breaths into my lungs, my gaze locked on the beast as it writhed in agony.

  Blood pooled at my feet, my wounds reopened from the reckless attack. My hands trembled.

  “Was that enough?”

  The beast was still squirming in anguish, its body twisting violently from the pain. Then, out of nowhere, it lunged forward—straight into the bark of a nearby tree. The sickening thud echoed through the jungle as its skull crashed against the trunk, as if it was trying to knock itself back into consciousness, trying to rid itself of the agonizing burns consuming its face.

  I stared, my eyes wide in shock. My breath caught in my throat as the creature reeled, stumbling before planting its claws into the ground. Its massive chest rose and fell in ragged breaths before, with a sudden jerk, it let out a thunderous howl. The sound cut through the night, shaking the very air around me, a display of dominance, of raw fury.

  As the echo of its cry faded, the beast flexed its muscles, its legs tensing like coiled springs. Then, its burning, ruined face turned toward me, and despite the scorched flesh, despite the dagger still lodged in its eye, it locked onto me with an even angrier, more terrifying glare.

  I let out a breathless, almost delirious chuckle, my lips curling into a half-smirk. "Well, this is just fantastic. Guess I'll go out being dinner after all," wiping the sweat and grime from my face.

  My body trembled, every limb weighed down with exhaustion. I had nothing left. No more strength to fight, no more mana to call upon. I had thrown everything at this thing, and it was still standing. The reality sank in like a stone dropped into an endless abyss—I was done.

  This was it.

  My thoughts drifted to Helena, Elara, and Raiden. I’m sorry, I thought bitterly.

  I promised I’d make it back to you. But promises didn’t mean much when you were about to be ripped apart.

  The exhaustion, the pain, the sheer inevitability of it all made my body feel even heavier.

  What could I even do now? I let out a shaky breath, my heart hammering against my ribs as I forced myself to meet the beast's burning, hate-filled gaze.

  With a snarl, the beast launched forward, jaws wide, its fangs gleaming under the twin moons' glow. It was going for the kill.

  My body refused to move, exhaustion anchoring me to the ground. My breaths came in ragged gasps as I pressed my hands into the damp earth.

  My fingers dug into the soil, the cool, damp texture grounding me as if trying to anchor my fading consciousness. Closing my eyes, my heartbeat slowed, thudding heavily in my chest, each beat growing fainter as exhaustion pressed down like an unmovable weight.

  Please... just die! The desperate thought surged through me, raw and unfiltered.

  Then, the ground trembled.

  A deep vibration spread beneath my fingers, pulsing through the soil like a heartbeat. With my eyes clenched shut, my mind bracing for the beast’s teeth to sink into me—but then came the cry.

  A horrific, guttural wail filled the jungle.

  I snapped my eyes open, and what I saw left me paralyzed with shock.

  The beast hung in the air, its massive frame lifted just inches off the ground. Thick spikes of earth had erupted from the jungle floor, jagged and violent—reminiscent of the very attack Kaelor had used against Raiden—impaling straight through its body.

  The beast twitched violently, its blood spurting in thick rivulets, splattering against the spikes like dark ink staining the earth. The scent of iron and burnt flesh filled the air, thick and suffocating, mixing with the dampness of the jungle. The sight was grotesque, almost unreal—a monstrous display of brutality that I couldn’t look away from.

  Blood dripped slowly, pooling into the crevices of the jungle floor, disappearing into the thirsty earth beneath it.

  I stared, my breath caught in my throat. My mind struggled to grasp what had just happened. The creature let out a strangled, gurgling noise, its limbs twitching before slowly falling still.

  Did... did I just do that?

  My entire body felt like it had been drained of every last ounce of strength. A heavy fog settled over my mind, my limbs sluggish and unresponsive.

  The next thing I knew, the world around me started to blur, my vision narrowing as an overwhelming wave of exhaustion swept over me.

  I fell from my knees to the forest floor, barely registering the impact. My head lolled to the side, my breath slow and uneven. My eyes fluttered open just enough to catch one last glimpse of the impaled beast, its massive body still suspended above the ground.

  Then, as darkness crept in from the edges of my vision, the spikes began to sink back into the earth, retreating into the jungle floor as though they had never existed.

  The beast fell, landing with a sickening thud, its lifeless form settling into the blood-soaked dirt. My consciousness slipping beyond my grasp.

  My last thought before everything faded was simple—I have earth magic?

  Darkness came again, but it was not the emptiness of sleep—it was thick, suffocating, and dripping with something far worse.

  Blood. Everywhere.

  The scent of iron clogged my lungs as I staggered forward, my feet splashing into a crimson pool that spread endlessly before me. The corpses—so many of them—twisted and broken, their faces contorted in eternal screams of agony. Limbs severed, entrails spilling, the unmistakable carnage of slaughter stretched as far as my eyes could see.

  A dull ringing filled my ears, drowning out my own ragged breathing. Then, a sound slithered through the suffocating silence—a whisper, low and guttural, carrying an unnatural weight that made my skin crawl.

  "Well done."

  My mind reeling as that voice, that same voice from every nightmare, filled my head once more.

  I jolted awake with a gasp, my body convulsing as bile surged up my throat. I barely turned to the side before vomiting onto the damp earth, my stomach twisting violently. The taste of acid and fear burned my tongue as I coughed, my entire frame trembling from both the nightmare and the overwhelming nausea it left behind, along with the sheer exhaustion from the battle.

  My body had been pushed past its limit, my muscles screaming in protest, my mana drained to nothing. The combination of the nightmare and the toll of my fight made everything spin, my limbs barely able to hold me upright.

  I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, my breaths coming in short, panicked gasps. My heart pounded against my ribs, the horror of what I had just witnessed still fresh in my mind.

  Why? My hands clenched into fists, my nails digging into my palms as I struggled to make sense of it. Why am I seeing this? Why is this voice haunting me?

  I forced myself to steady my breath, my fingers digging into the damp earth beneath me. My vision still swam from exhaustion, but as I shifted my gaze back to the beast’s lifeless body, something else caught my attention—the faint glow of dawn creeping through the thick jungle canopy.

  Morning had come again.

  I exhaled shakily, my mind reeling from everything that had transpired. My body screamed in pain, my limbs barely responding, but one thought overshadowed everything else—I had earth magic.

  I clenched my fists, staring down at my trembling hands. When had I awakened it?

  I had no recollection of ever unlocking an earth affinity, no memory of the power ever surging through me before. Was that moment, when the spikes erupted, my awakening?

  Then, like a shock to my system, the memory came spiralling down. I gasped as I recalled the feeling—the sensation of falling, the wind whipping past me, the jagged rocks below rushing to meet me. That impossible softness that had caught me, like a hand cradling me midair.

  My breath hitched as I pieced it together. Was that... me? Did I subconsciously awaken my earth magic as I was falling?

  The realization hit like a hammer to my chest. I had saved myself. The earth had molded itself beneath me, absorbing the impact before I could shatter against the rocks. It wasn’t luck. It wasn’t divine intervention. It was my own magic responding to my will, even when I didn’t realize it.

  I needed to be sure. With what little strength I had left, I reached down and grabbed a small clump of earth in my trembling fingers. Gritting my teeth, I focused, my breath shallow.

  Move. The dirt started to tremble in my grip. Shoot.

  A burst of force sent the small clump hurtling toward a nearby tree, striking its bark with a dull thud. I exhaled sharply, my chest rising and falling with disbelief. It didn’t feel new… it felt like something that had been waiting, something buried deep within me, now clawing its way to the surface. The sensation of shifting the earth, bending it to my will—it was eerily familiar, as if my body had always known how to do this, even if my mind hadn’t.

  Maybe it was because I was already so familiar with controlling air magic. The way the mana flowed, the way my will shaped it—it wasn’t that different. It was as if my understanding of air magic made it easier to grasp the fundamentals of another element without even realizing it.

  My fingers curled as I let out a breathless laugh, the weight of reality settling over me.

  A smirk tugged at my lips. "Hel is gonna be so jealous when she finds out," shaking my head in awe.

  Tri affinity mages were nearly unheard of—and yet, here I was.

  I turned my attention back to the massive wolf-like beast sprawled before me, its lifeless body lying still in the dirt. My breathing remained uneven as my mind tried to make sense of what I was looking at. What kind of creature was this? It was far too large for any normal animal I had encountered, its sheer size dwarfing even the largest wolves I had ever seen.

  This had to be a monster… right? But monsters weren’t supposed to be this close. That’s what Raiden’s stories had always said, that they lurked deeper, far from places like this. The Hollows by Umbacrest—that was where the monsters were supposed to be, not here. This far into the rainforest, they shouldn't exist.

  So why was one lying dead in front of me? And more importantly… What is this place?

  Before I could try to stand, another jolt of pain shot through me. I grimaced, forcing myself to tend to my wounds before doing anything else. Reaching for my already tattered left sleeve, I tore off another strip of fabric and wrapped it tightly around my left leg, securing the makeshift bandage with a firm knot. The dull ache in my shoulder reminded me of the fresh wound there as well, and with another sharp breath, I repeated the process, tying another strip around my left shoulder to stem the bleeding.

  Only then did I let myself exhale, exhaustion still weighing heavily on me. My body ached, my mind still spinning from everything I had endured. The battle, the visions, the voice—it was too much. But even as my legs threatened to give out beneath me, I knew one thing for certain.

  I needed to survive. I needed answers. And I wasn’t going to find them by staying here.