Inktobertale 2022 : Compilation of novels

5th of October : Void

The first blow came immediately. Before Ink could even turn around and get a better look at the skeleton standing behind him, he was kicked in the spine and sent to the ground. Immediately, he grabbed Broomie, got up and ready to hit back, but the very moment he turned his skull to see his assailant, a rapidly-moving projectile appeared in his field of vision, which Ink could only identify as some long white ribbon before he felt it wrap around his skull and completely cover his eyes, blinding him. His headache had also gotten to a point where it hurt so much the pain almost felt like a part of him, ignorable but still very much effective. While he was distracted by this sudden handicap, the opponent followed by two more kicks, one in the chin to make the skeleton lose his balance, the other in the chest to send him back on the ground. Still confused, Ink tried to rip the ribbon from his eyes, only to discover it stuck to his eyes with strength. This wasn't just a band of tissue, this was... tape ?

Lost in his thoughts, his salute came from the sound of an object quickly travelling through the air above him, signaling an imminent impact. He rolled on the side, barely dodging whatever object his enemy had tried to strike him with, but couldn't avoid the quick punch the same guy sent to his face. Aware of just how little chances he had to win this encounter, Ink clenched his hand around Broomie, and let himself dissolve into paint as he teleported away. He reappeared a few feet above the ground, and harshly fell against it with a swear. Good news, he could still temporarily get away, bad news, he had no idea where he was, the goddamn tape hadn't come off during the teleportation, he was pursued by some guy who seemed really dedicated to killing him, who would also probably arrive in a matter of minutes, and the headache had barely soothed, even after putting distance between himself and "the source" (which was most probably that psychopath themselves, however that worked).

Okay, focus, you've been through worse...

But truth is, he probably hadn't. He had fought with missing limbs before, even with his eyes closed once or twice, but always in a playful manner, where he knew his environment and could open his eyes at any time.

Just... focus on what you know.

First, he was still in the same Negatale timeline, he could fill it. He moved his leg around, and felt some tall grass tickle his leg. He quickly felt around, and couldn't come across any tree, and noticed the ground was kind of muddy. Muddy ground, tall grass with no trees...

Waterfall.

He flipped Broomie around, and used the wooden tip of the brush as a cane to better know his environment. He was in a quite large room with far-spaced walls, tall grass with patches of naked earth here and there. He wasn't in a restrained place, for the better or the worst. 

Now, I need to concentrate.

As he closed his eyes under the tape, he thought in depth of the mesures he had just taken, to mentally visualize the room. When he opened his eyes it was as if he was truly in some sort of square, holographic area. Call it artistic visualization I guess. As he made sure he got everything perfect, his train of thoughts was interrupted by the sound of someone stepping over the grass. He immediately froze. He was tempted to ask who was here, but he knew exactly who it was. He touched the ground with Broomie, gathering multiple blobs of paint which started floating around him in little spheres. The moment he heard the sound of the grass standing back up, indicating the enemy had just jumped, he sent those blobs, and waited to hear which one would explode first, which would betray the location of the adversary. He dodged their flying kick, and retaliated with a smack with Broomie, which hit and sent the opponent flying. He smiled and prepared his next plan, when he suddenly felt someone hit him in the back.

...What ? How did they ?!

Teleportation, idiot. answered a familiar voice in his head.

Without wondering what he had just heard, Ink jumped into the air to some other location, and the very moment he landed, he started spinning around at high speed with Broomie, rendering any tentative of approaching him extremely dangerous...

Unless they attack by the top, right ?

"Exactly." whispered Ink with a smile as he suddenly stopped spinning the brush and sent it into the air above him, violently kicking his adversary right in the chest, cutting their breath short. Somehow, from the very moment this voice had appeared in his head, he could have felt his migraine disappear, and was now thinking much more clearly.

Nice job.

Only natural. He internally replied.

Well then I hope you're ready for what comes next.

Wha-

He suddenly felt something wrap around his leg and pull extremely hard, sending him flying into one of the walls of the room, then the force inverted, and he was smashed into another wall, then into the ground, and so on, more violently each time.

Now that you proved them you were still dangerous like this, they're using their true power.

Shit.

Ink retaliated by cutting through the tape with Broomie, freeing his leg. He was ready to fight again, when something hard (a hammer of some kind ?) hit him harshly in the back of the skull, followed by multiple unpredictable and murderous techniques. This was very bad. Every second he stayed in this AU, his chances of never getting out of it were increasing. Only one solution.

Time to cut our losses.

He teleported once more, to the very first place he could think of.

With a loud sound, he dropped on the sand of the beach where he resided in Undersail. Panting, hurt, bleeding black substance from half of his bones, but alive. He touched the side of his skull, and flashed a desperate smile when he felt the tape around it, start to degrade and fall into pieces. As he ripped the final pieces off his face, he clenched his teeth as he felt the light of the bright sun burn his eyes.