Chapter 101: The Prophet’s Sermon
The journey to the base of the Schism Monolith was a slow, grueling march. It was less of a fight and more of a constant, oppressive struggle against the environment itself.
The very air seemed to fight them, thick with a chaotic energy that made their skin crawl and their heads ache. The ground beneath their feet would sometimes shift and ripple like liquid, forcing them to find solid footing. Strange, whispering sounds, like a thousand mad voices, resound from the twisted rocks around them.
The two Sanctuary Wardens were the key to their survival. They walked at the front of the small group, their hands held out, projecting a constant, moving bubble of pure, white light.
Inside this bubble, the air was clean, the ground was stable, and the mad whispers were silenced. It was a tiny, mobile island of sanity. But the effort was immense. The Wardens’ faces were pale with strain, and sweat dripped from their brows. They were pushing back against the power of the entire valley.
Ryan and Scarlett walked on either side of the bubble, acting as guards. They would quickly dispatch any corrupted creature that got too close, their movements a blur of deadly efficiency.
Zara walked in the protected center with the Wardens, her drones zipping in and out of the bubble, constantly taking readings.
"The chaotic energy is getting stronger as we get closer to the Monolith," she reported, her voice tight with concentration. "It’s starting to interfere with my drones’ flight systems. It’s like trying to fly a kite in a hurricane."
After what felt like an eternity, they finally reached the base of the giant, black tower.
The Schism Monolith was even more terrifying up close. It was a jagged, ugly spire of pulsing, obsidian-like rock that seemed to absorb the very light from the sky. The air around it vibrated with a low, sickening hum that they could feel deep in their bones.