The beast's ribs glistened with a solid layer of spreading ice, capturing Goeh's attention. A sense of dread clawed its way up from deep within him as he observed the creature's motionless form. Though it appeared alive, it possessed an uncanny resemblance to an inanimate object.
Without hesitation, Goeh's movements quickened, surpassing his previous speed, until he stood directly in front of the beast, launching a relentless assault. Three strikes found their mark on the beast's left leg before he swiftly retreated, narrowly evading a devastating kick.
"My frost is working, albeit slowly. I don't believe it has realized the truth yet. I just need to wait for my frost to connect," Goeh' thought quietly, displaying patience as he maintained a safe distance from the fifteen-foot creature.
Four formidable Great Iron Tonovians appeared, ready to support Goeh'. Astonishingly, the beast paid no attention to the newcomers, focusing solely on lunging at Goeh' once more.
However, just before it reached him, the convergence of two layers of frost created a cataclysmic blast of ice, halting the wild beast a few feet away. Its left side became imprisoned in a deep blue ice, slowly expanding.
Goeh' cautiously approached the frozen side, placing his hand upon it, and made a sweeping gesture toward his high post, causing both himself and the captive creature to vanish.
As Goeh' disappeared, the other four Great Irons began conversing among themselves.
"Our Great Father said it would be an army one-tenth our size, yet with the power to annihilate us," one of the four Great Iron Tonovians spoke up.His hair stood out as the whitest, indicating his youth. "Something is amiss. I witnessed one of those creatures effortlessly slaughter six Great Bronze Tonovians. It's as if he desired to be captured," another Tonovian, his hair streaked with gray, voiced his concerns.
While they discussed their suspicions, a sudden burst of bright blue light illuminated the dim cave, momentarily blinding the quartet. Tragically, their sight would never return, as their heads thudded against the ground, expressions of confusion etched on their faces.
Meanwhile, the seventh high post where Goeh had taken the beast prisoner was strewn with the charred bodies of fallen Tonovians. The survivors, their injuries and burns so grave and debilitating, they wished for death.
The magnificent crystal-shaped stone, towering over ten feet in height, was now absent, its remnants visible amidst the scattered rubble. Adjacent to the wreckage stood a dome-like structure made of ice, its surface marred with cracks. As the dome collapsed, a Tonovian emerged, wearing a bewildered expression.
His amber eyes, once resembling those of his brethren, had transformed into an icy blue. Clutching an empty pouch, he whispered, "Please, Father, grant your son Goeh'Tahleow the strength to atone for his sins."
After dropping the empty pouch, his gaze fixed upon the now liberated beast, which regarded him with a scornful mockery in its eyes. Emitting an eerie sound from the rows of etched on teeth where its mouth should have been, akin to someone hyperventilating, the creature conveyed a mocking amusement. Although limited in its capacity to display emotions, Goeh could discern the laughter directed at him. "So, you can laugh? Excellent. That means you can experience pain as well!" The Great Iron of the seventh high post bellowed defiantly as he charged forward.
(A FEW MOMENTS BEFORE)
In a swift motion, one of Goeh's subordinates teleported him and the beast back to the high post. A group of six bald Tonovians armed with stone spears swiftly apprehended the creature.
As it surveyed its surroundings, the beast's attention fixated on the ten-foot stone with a gem adorning its forehead—a detail that Goeh' had previously overlooked. Suddenly, the gem emitted a low, escalating pitch, followed by sparks emanating from its surface. Gradually, electric arcs enveloped the beast, causing the ice encasing it to crack and shatter.
YOU ARE READING
An Illusion of Will
FantasyLeft or Right? Two choices are given, one decision is made. Up or down, we find ourselves in a box. We call the outcome our fate or destiny. Change is the burden born from the choices made along the way. What is down comes up, what goes up comes dow...
