Blessings of Anathema

Chapter XLI: Dalton IX

This is getting frustrating. I can't seem to get out of this cave. There's only one way out and it's up. However, my Yurie doesn't have enough power to pull me all the way up.
I sat down against the cave wall while and started breathing heavy. There's ice particles all around me from failed attempts.
Maybe this is my punishment for what I did back at that that camp.... or maybe...
My thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of squeaky. I heard Tiny taps on the ground following them.
Oh, I see. Me getting stuck in here wasn't an accident. I was purposely led here. He wants me to figure out how to use my Yurie to escape. And the rodents, I have to catch them with it in order to stay alive.
I closed my eyes and relaxed along the wall. I have to figure out how to use my Yurie to reach the top. It's about 150 feet up. That seems to be much too high for me to stretch all the way up. Maybe I'm supposed to figure out how to stretch my Ice as far as possible by using the smallest amount I can. It'll create a weaker substance but it'll stretch farther. That'll require quite a bit of concentration.
I'm already feeling weak. I'm exhausted from my efforts. I'll just take a nap tonight. I'll continue tomorrow.
————————————————-

A few days has passed and I still haven't been able to figure out how to get out. I've concentrated as hard as I can, yet I just don't have enough in me to reach the top.
Catching the rodents was a bit hard the first few tries. They're really agile and I would constantly miss. After using the air molecules in the ice, I would turn the ends of the Ice needles I shot from my fingers into complete water and boost the speed with the air. I had to do it quickly of the whole needle would melt. I got the hang of it fairly quickly and now catching food is easy. I would use the rocks and leaves and grass that fell down overtime to make a fire to cook on.
I'll try this again. I'll focus as hard as I can and create one long shot of ice, propelling me upwards. I stood up and walked underneath the opening. I took a deep breath and activated my Yurie, sending me straight toward the exit.
I'm concentrating hard, I can feel my face turning red. The veins in the neck are throbbing. I'm also there. Just 30 more feet.
Then I felt the ice shift. I put too much strain on it and it buckled. The entire thing shattered and I began to plummet toward earth. In sheer panic I stuck my arm out. Ice wrapped around my hand and connected to the wall, catching me.
I dangled on the wall and took a breath of relief. This whole struggle was moments away from ending; but more importantly than that... I think I figured this out.
If I can use just a tiny bit of ice on my feet, I can stick to the wall. If I release the ice and jump quick enough, I should be able to slowly make my way to the top.
I rested against the wall, dangling for a few minutes to catch my breath and then I attempted my plan.
And it worked. I slowly leaped from side to side of the cave wall leading to the exit and I reached it and pulled myself out.
I reached outside and flopped on the ground, completely out of energy. I took a few minutes and then sat up. Splitting apart the murky, swampy ground, about 300 yards away was a giant, rapid river... and I don't see any way around it but through it.
I stood up and staggered my way to the river. When I reached it, I immediately realized just how strong the rivers current is. I know exactly what this is for. I'm supposed to use my ice to quickly run across it. If I don't move quickly enough, the ice underneath my feet will get swept away by the current.
The river is too long to build an ice bridge over. I guess I'll just have to get through this.
I walked to the edge of the river and tightened my backpack to me. If I fail, I don't want this thing getting swept away. I pulled out my map and checked it.
Yep, the location I discovered at the previous camp is just beyond this river. Let's go across it then.
I bent down into a runners stance and focused into my feet. I let out a last breath before launching forward, releasing and decimating ice at my feet. I got 4 steps in and was harshly swept away by the current.
The water pulled at me and fought to fill my lungs but I managed to reach the edge and pull myself out.
I began to breath heavy to catch my breath. I looked at the river and saw fish jump in it. I get it... I'm supposed to use my Yurie to blast through the current and catch a fish. That would require a lot of power.
He's testing everything. My stamina, durability, Yurie speed and strength. My ability to use my Yurie wisely and conservatively. He wants to know if my potential is really what he's looking for.
Well one thing is for certain. I'm not crossing this River today.
————————————————-
I gasped for air as I plugged out of the water along the shoreline. I pulled myself onto land and began to suck in air as calmly as I could. I was so close this time. Just 20 more feet.
It's exhausting. The closer I get, the longer I have to fight the currents to swim back. The currents have been a problem from the start. It took me a while to learn how to puncture through them to catch fish but I eventually got it down.
All this excessive Yurie usage isn't doing me any good either. My mark has spread. It now covers from my wrist to almost my shoulder. If I keep this up, I'll be swallowed soon.
I've used my mark quite a bit. So why is it growing slower than Pablo's? I have to focus on two elements to use mine when he only has to use one. So why does...
Wait. That's it. I know what I need to do to get across the river.
I stood up and walked over to my clothing I've taken off so they wouldn't get wet. I put them on and the strapped my backpack to me and put my knives on my waist.
I walked to the edge of the river and crouch into position. After each step, the ice underneath my feet immediately gets swept away by the currents. If I use the wind in that ice to boost my forward, I can cover triple the distance.
Okay.... I took a few extra breaths to calm myself down. This is it, I'm putting it all into this. I thrusted forward at full speed, kicking ice across the river. The wind blasted me forward much further than I anticipated and I cleared the river with ease.
I dropped to my knees and began to breath. Finally, I'm across that thing. However, I'm still not finishing. The next camp... it's so close.
I forced myself to stand up and began to slowly walk toward the camp, completely exhausted. Each breath feels like my lungs ran out of air, refusing to refill. Just a mile. It's only a mile away.
After a while of slowly walking through the moist grounds of the swamp, I reached the camp. It's a lot smaller than the others. However, it's more heavily guarded. Multiple people inside and two at the entrance gate. Both armed with Katanas.
I'm too exhausted to sneak around, my heavy breathing will give me away. I'll just go straight through them.
I walked right up to the gate and they both got in a defensive position. One of them put his hand on a string stretching up into the air.
"Who are you!?" One of them screamed out. I just kept walking toward them, not answering. He then drew his blade out "I said who are-" I grabbed his wrist and snatched his arm into the air, I then thrusted my hand into his elbow, snapping his arm. He let go of his Katana and I snatched it out of the air, spun around and sliced the guys throat open.
He screamed out for half a second before his airway became filled with blood. He partner looked at me terrified before pulling the string. A loud bell sounded, alerting all those inside.
I pulled out one of my knives and through it at him, stabbing him into the skull. He collapsed to the ground immediately.
I pulled the string, snatching the knife out of his head and ran to the gates entrance and kicked it open. A group of men were charging directly at me, all with katanas.
The first guy reached me and swung at me. I blocked it with my Katana and kicked his leg in. I saw another guy coming at me so I threw this guy into him, causing the others Katana to Piece straight through him.
Two people came behind me and sliced at me and I jumped up, coming back down and landing on their katanas. This caused them to drop their katanas, leaving them completely vulnerable. I pulled back to swing at them put my arms were suddenly pinned down. My entire body was pinned, actually. Like the earths gravity was all focused on me. I looked around and noticed I had a black figure wrapped around my body. What is this?
"That's enough." I heard. I looked over and saw a figure walking toward me. That's... that's the guy from the hotels roofs. I suddenly felt the pressure on my body release. I shifted my shoulders around while staring at him.
He kept walking until he was about 10 feet from me. "So you made it?" He said. I only nodded in response. "About a week ago we lost contact with an ally base nearby. The same base I had marked for you. What happened?" He asked. "I killed them." I said. He opened his eyes. "All of them?" He asked back. I only starred at him.
He started rubbing his chin. "I see. I didn't take you as the murderous type. Tell me, why did you do it?" He asked.
I looked away. I remember back to those two civilians that were killed. I gritted my teeth. I calmed myself and turned back to him. "Because they were evil people who don't have a place in this world." I said. He put his hands in his pockets. "I see. So what do you plan to do?" He asked.
"I'm going to get this information you promised. Then I'll return to my friends with it and put an end to the fiends that created this mark." I said with a bit of anger in my voice. "Fiend?" He asked. "And what if you're wrong?" He asked. I looked at the ground. "If I'm wrong then I'm a threat and will accept the punishment fate deems worthy for me." I said. "You think you're a threat?" He asked.
I looked back up and started into his eyes. "The most dangerous people are those that are wrong but think they're right. So what if there's a group of wrong people who are willing to fight for what they think is right. Does that make them the most dangerous thing in existence?" I responded with.
He took his arms out of his pocket and began to walk away. He stopped after a few feet and turned back to me.  "Then come. I'll tell you you and your friends everything I know about the Yurie...." he paused and then turned back around.
"And we'll see how dangerous you become."