Artemis Unveiled:The Descent

Untitled Part 56: Echoes of the Past

In the cold stone coffin, Aria was trapped, the lid pressing down on her like a cloud, her body touching the decayed corpse below. Nausea churned within her as she struggled, trying to breathe through the narrow cracks. Blood flowed swiftly in the murky water, and she knew she couldn't hold on much longer. The silver starlight shimmered in the water, filling her with fear and despair.

"Is there anyone who can save me..." Aria cried out in her heart, unable to make a sound.

Suddenly, she felt something twitch beneath her. Aria tried to turn her head, but her heavy head barely moved. Then, a more violent tremor shook her, and she realized it wasn't an illusion. Fear surged through her again—Stormblade's corpse was moving!

A hand reached up from beneath her body. Aria gasped, inhaling cold, foul water that made her choke instantly. She struggled to lift her head, breaking the surface of the water, coughing violently. Water splashed, wetting her cheeks and hair.

"Ah!" she screamed as Stormblade's corpse forcefully shoved her head into the water. She felt cold, stiff fingers gripping her hair, pushing her head down. Muffled sounds echoed from below, the waves of noise distorting underwater. She opened her eyes, seeing only murkiness, with a decayed face barely visible.

Stormblade's head suddenly floated up, his eyes vacant and hollow. Aria tried to push him away in terror, but Stormblade's strength was immense. He opened his decayed mouth and bit down on Aria's shoulder.

Pain slashed through her like a knife, her muscles and skin tearing. More foul water flooded into her lungs, burning her chest. Blood quickly turned the water red, strands of it spreading and swirling in the water.

"Help... someone save me..." Aria screamed in her heart, her voice lost underwater. Her consciousness began to blur, and her vision grew dim.

Pain cut deep into her bones like a blade. More foul water filled her lungs, the stench nauseating. She saw her blood quickly dyeing the water red, a grotesque whirlpool of warm blood and cold water. Her vision blurred, everything losing focus.

Just as she was about to lose consciousness, a blurred light appeared before her. She seemed to see a figure reaching out to her through the halo of light, like a divine savior. She tried with all her might to grasp that hand, but her senses had drifted far from her body, her fingers barely twitching. Cold water enveloped her, her body becoming heavy and stiff.

In that moment, her consciousness fell into endless darkness. All around was silent, the cold darkness wrapping around her, her heartbeat slowing and eventually stopping. She felt herself drifting away from this world, away from pain and despair, entering an unknown realm.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment.

Aria heard a voice echoing from a great distance.

Gradually, the voice became clearer.

"Aria... can you hear me... wake up... open your eyes... Aria..."

A violent cough brought Aria back to some awareness. She opened her blurry eyes, seeing a bright golden light and the chaotic sounds around her. Her clothes and hair clung to her wet body, the pain in her shoulder reminding her of what had just happened.

At that moment, Neven was holding her, his eyes filled with worry and regret.

"I was too late," Neven said softly.

"I was so scared..." Aria managed to whisper.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here," Neven held her tightly, as if she would disappear from his arms in the next second. Aria felt weak, on the brink of death.