The Exalt [Cultivation Fantasy]

As Oscar sat, hearing Metures's voice sound more urgent and demanding, he wheeled for the living, tossing away the book, which landed on the floor with a loud thunk, pages sprawling out from the cover. He nearly lost control, having put too much force onto the wheels, spinning them wildly, almost breaking off. Avril arrived just in time and caught him, rebalancing his shaky wheelchair. He met her gaze, seeing the worry haunting her face full of sorrow and unwillingness. The voice returned, pain piercing his forehead like a searing dagger, insistent on ensuring he heard its call. Avril also groaned in pain, clutching her head.

"Avril–" Oscar reached out, then halted, slowly rotating his arm as globs of light wisped from his skin, washing over him like waves reminiscent of the tidal foams under the moonlight. Horrified, he scratched his skin, desperately trying to peel off the light, but it persisted and encroached further, spreading up his throat. Perhaps something could block out the light. His clothes did nothing, leaving one option. He sharpened his Ein on his nails, ready to drench himself in his own blood, but Avril had grabbed him, her grip firm and warm. The light had already spread a good length down her hair.

"Oscar. She believes that fate willing, they'll be together from the start, but if not, if we have to part, I'll find you." Avril put on a strong smile, but her trembling betrayed her true thoughts, and Oscar echoed those notions. He tightened his hold and pulled her in for a deep embrace, burying himself in her shoulder. The smell of her, the softness of her hair, the warmth of her body; he couldn't get enough of it, true happiness and joy resting in his arms. So why? Why did they have to endure it? He cursed to the Ancients, Talos, fate, and destiny. Avril hummed and whispered, "Promise me that you'll find me."

"I will. I'll never stop looking for you." Oscar replied solemnly. He peeked at the light as it spread like wildfire now, reaching the ends of her hair and flaring in a dense, bright burst. One moment, she was there; the next, she vanished, and he held nothing but air. 'Bastard…you fucking bastard.' Oscar spouted curses in his thoughts as the light swelled into a blaze, not hot at all. He closed his eyes and clenched his armrest, stopping before it could break.

The voice returned, still stern and emotionless but carrying a certain weight along its words and directed at him. "I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU, OSCAR."

Like a grasping tide that pushed then pulled, the unknown force surged and sped up, dragging him into strange depths. There was a brief respite, a calming peace as he drifted along the ceaseless current of time and space. A constant ringing blared in his ears, a clear pitch that grew higher and higher, plunging deeper into his brain. Then, silence, the noise gone out of his reach as the waves turned chaotic, flinging him across great distances, every inch of his body squeezed and contorted beyond any he had ever felt as if being squeezed through a pinhole.

Oscar opened his eyes and breathed in the dry, arid air, faint motes of dust and sand brushing on his lips. The place greatly resembled the prison world Sirsi and Orden utilized. A great, flat land, with neither a bump nor hill seen close by or far along the horizon, expanded in his view. It was perfect for wheeling across without a hindrance, not even an inconvenient stone cast in the path. The hot winds picked up, shuffling the dust and sand off a few spots, revealing cracks spread like spiderwebs along the ground.

The dust settled, and the horizon cracked like broken glass, shattering into millions or billions of pieces. Oscar saw a great, black tower, its spire disappearing in the dark storm brewing above, yet from the width, he could tell not even half of the tower was under that storm. Just how large was it? It looked so close, but he knew from records the tower rested in the center at a distance of five continents while everyone started from the edge. No sunlight reached the tower; in fact, there were no suns at all. Ten glowing orbs of light surrounded the tower, though to say they surrounded it was not entirely accurate. They, too, were incredibly vast, gargantuan structures hovering over the ten lands. The distance between them and the tower was great; their gigantic appearances created the illusion that they were close.

Oscar blinked once, catching a glimpse of a figure, a half-rusted suit of armor, two glowing red orbs slowly brightening in the dark visor, staring into him. Despite its horrid injuries, half of its body broken and rusted, Metures sat on the throne as if it were meant to be, for he was the leader of the Ancients, the majesty and pride on display. Oscar blinked again and lost sight of Metures, watching the dark tower. He glanced around, looking for others who might have been summoned near him. But he was alone.

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Closing his eyes, he wandered into his inner world and sat, waiting by his blue core. Light footsteps resounded toward him. Demon joined him. Ignyres's burning steps crackled embers and soft flames that trailed behind him. The Ancient of Fire rolled his shoulders, somehow cracking his volcano shoulders like a human, and sat beside him. Finally, the last one arrived. Erden trotted toward them in his beast form and rested near Oscar, and he patted his friend's head, ever grateful to have him by his side.

"That rusted bucket knows I'm here, but he decided not to contact him. If I had my full power, I would melt him down into ores for your use." Ignyres flared and spat out magma, frustrated and vengeful.

"At least he had the courtesy to place you on these flat lands. No point in making it needlessly harder unless he wants us to fail." Demon regarded Metures like he would anyone, having no respect toward the Ancients. "How are our supplies?"

Outside, Oscar opened his dimensional cube and chuckled weakly. There were only three things: Demon's white sword, his new shield crafted from the large insect Velfen, his master's hammer, and the helmet resembling Draven, forged by caring hands. The rumors and remaining records indicated that Fallen Heaven only allowed what they needed, forbidding elixirs, food, and other supplies. But he had not cared for the written records and filled a castle's worth of food and supplies. What a useless effort.

"You are a vast distance away, and flight is restricted. We have to meet on the eleventh land under the tower. That is the fastest way to reunite. I will search for Avril in my area. Hopefully, I can return with good news." Erden snapped his head toward something. "Someone is coming. Hurry on!" With that, Erden vanished, his astral form scattering into nothingness.

"We can only walk the distance of five continents. Shall I take over?" Demon rose and stared down at Oscar. "You don't have any restraints. Your mind will attack itself. No vials and no Avril. What use will you have without them?"

"You wanted me out and awake. Why the change of heart? If there even is a heart." Oscar struck back.

"It's your heart. I'm simply following what it wants, what it has always wanted since the beginning. You can have your life with Avril. But let me fight for our survival. You're unfit." Demon argued coldly.

"No. No. I will finish it and retire. You will walk behind me as you always have. Watch my back." Oscar returned to reality and surged his Ein, sweeping along his figure and gathering beside him. From the Duality, Demon manifested and immediately stretched, getting acquainted with his new body. Oscar tossed the white sword, and Demon caught it, fastening it on his waist. The dry breeze brushed along his clothes, the white robes of home, and Oscar put on his master's helmet. Demon cut apart the ground into stone and sliced it into the shape of a crude mask, using Ein as threads around his head.

"Ignyres, alert us of anyone close by." Oscar pointed to the dark tower. "Let's finish it, once and for all."

…….

"Eve!" Marcus shouted, his roar caving in the surrounding desert, sands flowing down the newly formed slopes. Countless mountains of sand blocked his view, the heat distorting the air in vicious waves that strained his eyes. He shouted for his beloved again, afraid of the worst. One moment, she was in his arms, and the next, she disappeared. "Eve!"

As his voice echoed between the dunes, someone shouted fiercely, "Restel!"

The voraciousness of that voice and the urgency for the name echoing over were clear indications of who it was, and Marcus rushed through the desert, diving into the impossibly large dunes, tunneling across to the other side. The other person had the same idea, and they met between avalanches of sand caused by their brutish rush. Marcus laughed and extended out his dragon claw. "It's been a long time, Kragg."

Kragg, already in his lion form, growled, snarling while licking his fangs. He chuckled back and shook with a large lion's claw. "It's been a long time, Marcus." But soon, worry lowered his smile, and he asked in a rush, "Have you seen Restel?"

"No. Have you seen Eve?" Marcus sighed at Kragg, who shook his head. "Great. Out of all the countless Marshal Exalts, I end up next to you."

"Hahaha! Lordy isn't here to stop us. We've trained for decades. Let's fight for number one. You and me. Settle this now." Kragg growled, baring his fangs once more. The grip on Marcus's claw tightened, a provocation by the lion, and his dragon stirred, but he quelled it, no longer driven mad by its call. It turned out Kragg had become far more beastly in his training, and Marcus wondered why the old King Exalt had done so.

"Well, well, well. Interesting. Hybrids between humans and beasts. Has the New Dawn advanced that much?" A sharp voice rose, and they snapped their heads toward the source, seeing a tall man in a white shirt and black pants, suspenders hung over his shoulders. His attire was gentle, but the wide smirk and curled gray eyes showed madness and hostility, unsettling Marcus, who couldn't believe the strength emanating from that man. Moreover, he somehow escaped their enhanced detection from beastly senses. The white-haired man sighed, "I recall one man who was a perfect bond of beast and man. I wonder if he's in here. Ah, but first, you New Dawn bastards, who is this Lordy of yours? Answer now, or I'll have to torture you."

"Who are you?" Marcus entered a defensive stance.

"I am Adam, the disciple of the last true Volten." Adam lost his smile and suddenly appeared between them, lightning crackling and trailing along the sand. "Answer me. Where is that bastard, Kais?"

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