An hour and seventeen minutes was all it took for the three of them to kill all the Sunderer Rank Krepsunas.
The battlefield was scarred with craters, fissures and remnants of shattered Krepsuna askew. The three of them stood amidst the chaos, panting heavily, their figures outlined by the faint glow of the three full moons above.
Vastarael wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand, his sapphire gauntlets dissolving back into essence.
"An hour and seventeen minutes," he muttered, glancing at Phaenora, who leaned on her weapon for support, and the girl, her small frame trembling but victorious, sapphire sword still clutched in her hand. "Not bad, considering we were outnumbered by an army."
"Not bad?" Phaenora wheezed, glaring at him. "We just fought three thousand Sunderers, Veneri! That's not 'not bad,' that's insane!"
He chuckled weakly, "And yet, here we are."
The girl, still catching her breath, looked up at Vastarael with a proud yet exhausted smile.
"We... we did it, right? No more of them?"
Vastarael nodded, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"We did it. You were incredible out there."
Phaenora sank to the ground, groaning as she stretched her aching limbs.
"If we're done fighting for our lives, can someone explain why the hell this 'punishment' felt like EPOCH wanted us dead?"
Before anyone could answer, the air shimmered around them, the oppressive weight of the battlefield lifting as a soft, feminine voice echoed in the silence.
[You have done well, Vastarael, Phaenora, and... the child. Surviving this trial proves your resilience and strength. However, it was never my intention to kill you, only to test your resolve.]
Vastarael glared into the empty sky.
"Test our resolve? By sending three thousand Sunderer Rank Krepsunas? What kind of test is that? Believe me, if it wasn't for my Omniphage, all of us would have died!"
[One befitting those who defy agreements with the world itself.]
The ground beneath them hummed faintly, glowing with an ethereal blue light as the voice continued.
[You are aware, Vastarael, that as the Vessel of Time, you are bound to certain responsibilities. Removing her from this era goes against the balance. Yet, you chose to proceed, knowing full well the consequences.]
"..."
[The girl is vital to the future of Erna Isles,] EPOCH continued, ignoring the silence. [Her presence ensures the stability of the Isles. Without her, the Isles risk collapse and yet you seek to remove her from her destiny.]
Vastarael's golden eyes hardened, "And I'd do it again. She's just a child. I'm not going to let her grow up under the shadow of the Frozen God, knowing what's waiting for her. I'm sure the the Frozen God will use her for his purpose and I'm not letting that happen."
[Even as the Vessel of Time, your actions have consequences. While you can manipulate the fabric of time itself and remain unaffected, bringing people from the past or future to different points, you cannot escape the ripple effects.]
"I don't care about ripple effects. If it means sparing her from that monster, I'll deal with whatever happens."
The voice fell silent for a moment, as if considering his words. Then, with a sigh that seemed to resonate through the air, Spheraphase spoke again.
[Your conviction is commendable, but your defiance has earned you this trial. Now that you have passed, you may proceed. However, heed my warning. Your choice will alter more than you realize. The consequences will unfold soon.]
The glowing blue light on the ground intensified, spreading outward until it formed a vast circular sigil beneath their feet. The energy crackled, lifting the trio slightly off the ground as the sigil grew brighter.
Phaenora squinted against the light, shielding her eyes.
"Is this it? Are we going back to the Epoch Cycle now?"
[Yes. The Fallen Bridge is now open. Step forward, and it will return you to your rightful place in time.]
Vastarael glanced at the girl, who clutched his sleeve tightly.
"You okay?"
She nodded, though her eyes betrayed her nervousness.
"Are we really leaving? What about... what about... the Isles?"
"Don't listen to her," Vastarael promised, crouching down to meet her gaze. "But for now, we need to get you somewhere safe. Trust me, alright?"
The girl hesitated before nodding. "Okay. I trust you."
Phaenora rolled her eyes, though a small smile tugged at her lips.
"Alright hero, stop with the heartfelt speeches. Let's get out of here before she changes her mind."
The trio stepped forward into the sigil, the light swallowing them whole. For a moment, there was nothing but silence and a strange weightlessness, as if they were floating through time itself. Then, the world around them shifted, colors bleeding together before snapping back into focus.
Phaenora let out a long breath, looking around.
"We're back... I think."
Vastarael scanned the horizon, his golden eyes sharp. "Yeah. But something feels... different. What is this red mist? Oh crap."
The atmosphere shifted the moment they took a breath of the eerie red mist. The air was heavier as the sprawling landscape of the Island of Peony stretched before them, drenched in crimson hues. Vastarael stiffened, his golden eyes narrowing at the vibrant, monstrous peonies scattered across the land. Their petals glistened as if wet with blood. The vines creeping out from their stems looked almost alive.
Phaenora glanced around, her weapon already in her hand.
"The Island of Peony? Are you kidding me? Of all places, this is where we land?"
Vastarael didn't respond. His gaze locked onto the red mist swirling low along the ground. A sudden realization dawned on his face, his features tightening with alarm.
Before either could question further, Vastarael dropped to his knees.
"Vastarael!" Phaenora rushed to his side, gripping his shoulder.
"Something's... wrong..."
Beneath the fabric on his upper garments, an intricate tattoo on his chest was shifting. Its ink was alive but glowing in a red color, writhing like living vines.
The design had become a moving entity. A deep crimson flower bloomed on his skin, its thorny vines stretching out like claws. Phaenora's eyes widened in recognition.
"Is that... a Crimson Curtain Peony?"
The girl's voice trembled, "Why is it moving? What's happening to him?"
The vines extended from the tattoo, wriggling like snakes, their sharp ink thorns digging into Vastarael's skin. He gritted his teeth but the pain was evident. His body shook as the ink vines spread on his arms, creeping outward toward the ground as if trying to root themselves.
"It makes sense now..." Vastarael groaned, his voice strained. "The... tattoo I got during the eclipse... it's connected... to the peonies..."
Phaenora cursed under her breath. "Connected? How?!"
"I—I don't know!" Vastarael hissed, clawing at the ground as the pain intensified. His essence flared instinctively, sapphire energy flickering around him, but it did nothing to halt the vines. Instead, the connection seemed to grow stronger, the vines glowing faintly as they fed on his energy.
Suddenly, monstrous red peonies around them began to react. Their vines surged forward with terrifying speed, aiming directly for Vastarael.
Phaenora didn't hesitate. She leapt in front of him, summoning a sapphire glaive as she deflected the first set of incoming vines.
"Not a chance, you freaks!"
She snarled, slashing through the writhing vegetation. She was tired but right now, she forgot about her fatigue.
The girl stepped forward, sapphire sword gleaming as she held it steady. Her movements were precise, cutting through the vines that reached for Vastarael, the blade slicing cleanly despite its rough craftsmanship.
More vines erupted from the ground, their numbers multiplying by the second. The crimson mist thickened, reducing visibility, but neither of them faltered.
"You focus on the ones coming from the left!" Phaenora shouted, parrying another attack and spinning on her heel to sever two more vines.
The girl nodded, her small frame a blur of motion as she darted around Vastarael, cutting down anything that got too close. Her swordsmanship was fluid and efficient, her strikes clean despite her young age. Each swing was calculated, as though she'd been fighting for years instead of mere days.
Vastarael's agony deepened as the tattoo seemed to pulse, each wave of pain matching the rhythm of the vines' attacks. He could barely keep his thoughts straight.
"Phae... I can't..." His voice was hoarse, barely audible over the chaos.
"You don't get to give up!" Phaenora barked, slashing through another set of vines. "You're the damn Vessel of Time or whatever, so figure this out before we're all wrapped up like presents!"
The girl chimed in, her voice steady despite the exertion.
"We'll protect you! Just—just hold on a little longer!"
Vastarael's head swam, his vision blurring. The connection to the island was suffocating, the Crimson Curtain Peony's influence making him feel immense pain. He clenched his fists, forcing his essence to stabilize, but the vines seemed to anticipate every move, countering his attempts to break free.
The vines grew more aggressive, their movements coordinated as if they shared a single consciousness. Phaenora gritted her teeth, her arms aching from the constant deflection.
"These things just don't quit!"
The girl's sapphire sword glowed brighter as she unleashed a sweeping arc, severing several vines at once. She glanced back at Vastarael.
"Then I'll clear it," the girl said firmly, raising her free hand. Red energy crackled around her fingers before she slammed her palm into the ground, unleashing a shockwave that momentarily pushed the mist away.
In the distance, a massive crimson bloom towered above the others, its petals shimmering ominously. The vines originating from it pulsed with energy, feeding directly into Vastarael's tattoo.
"There!" Phaenora shouted. "That's our target!"
The two fighters surged forward, carving a path through the writhing vines toward the massive bloom. Phaenora led the charge while the girl followed close behind.
The bloom seemed to sense their intent, unleashing a barrage of thorned vines to protect itself. The air was filled with the sound of clashing weapons and snapping vegetation as the duo fought their way closer.
"We're almost there!" Phaenora yelled, slashing through another wave of vines.
The girl didn't respond, her focus solely on the bloom. With one final leap, she brought her sapphire sword down on the base of the massive flower, the blade slicing through it in a burst of blue light.
The bloom let out a deafening screech as it withered, the vines around it collapsing into lifeless husks. The connection to Vastarael broke instantly, the glowing vines on his tattoo retreating as he gasped for air.
Vastarael slumped to the ground, his breathing ragged but steady. The pain in his chest subsided, the tattoo returning to its dormant state.
Phaenora stood over him, panting heavily.
"You're welcome, by the way."
The girl knelt beside him, her face filled with concern, "Are you okay?"
He gave a weak nod, managing a faint smile.
"Thanks to you two. That was... too close. That was too painful..."
Phaenora shook her head, a wry grin on her face.
"If this is what happens every time you're 'tested,' I'm retiring early."
Vastarael chuckled, though it quickly turned into a wince. He slowly got up, the remnants of the pain still making him bite his lip.
"Let's... just get off this island."
The three of them shared a moment of silence, the crimson mist finally lifting as the island seemed to settle. But the unspoken question lingered.
What would the tattoo's connection mean for Vastarael moving forward?
And why did he have it?