Echoes of the Abyssal Blade: Path to Free Will-Chapter 50: Lyneex

On the way back to the city, Jonan and his cohort members were faster, it took them a day or two to leave the bestial tribe area and reach the area, which was close to the border, after some time with speed, they crossed the jungle and nearly reached the border.

Instead of letting Jonan gain experience by fighting the beasts, they encounter on the way, they simply slip past any beast or enemy human they come across, to save time, because after such an abominable experience with the abomination itself was enough for them.

Right as they reached the main gates of the border, from where they would be entering the city, they had to get on the line, while all of them were getting impatient, to keep their real identities hidden, they would have to act like common warriors or hunters.

As they were waiting in the line, at the same time, in the ruined area, where the abomination’s headless body was lying, a petite girl who looked to be around thirteen years old was standing upon the abomination’s corpse.

With a serene, delicate face, she sighed, "My sweet Ningjin, I just sent you here for some snacks, and look what happened. I should have secretly followed you. It is my fault that I spoiled you, and that has led to your ruin. Among all my kids, you were the only one who was able to turn into an abomination. With your lead in the future, our race would have become the fourteenth royal family in the capital of the beast kingdom."

She sighed again with a droopy face, "Unfortunately, life never goes the way you plan."

It was right then that the sweetness drained from her face, replaced by bulging veins and a terrifying twist of unspeakable rage, and she screamed, "ALL MY PLAN JUST WENT RIGHT INTO THE DRAIN!!!!."

"Do you know how rare it is for one to become an abomination, not even in a hundred years or a thousand years would be an indicator for a family to have an abomination born in their family."

She sighed, "No one knows why can some beasts become abominations, while others cannot."

"Don’t worry Ningjin, I can smell the disgusting stench of humans behind it, and also those beasts living nearby, I will bury everyone responsible with you, so that at least your spirit can rest in peace."

Right when she was turning around, she stopped as if she was recalling something, "Oh, I forgot that it has been quite a long time, since your father has been in seclusion, learning about you after coming out, he will be sure to go on a rampage."

That was when the small petite girl disappeared, but in its place came utter and complete darkness, which just kept expanding and not stopping, it was getting larger and larger, and there was no stopping that patch of darkness, which just appeared.

The beasts, which were nearby, upon noticing the darkness that enveloped nearly all of the front line of the bestial tribe, shuddered as if they understood the reason behind such a phenomenon.

One of the beasts trapped in the darkness said, "Oh no, it’s Lyneex, she was supposed to sleep."

Right at that moment the darkness disappeared, not affecting even a stone, but every living beast in the area disappeared instantly, not even a trace of anyone could be seen for miles.

At the same time, a majestic growl could be heard, "LYNEEX, HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND!!!"

A voice trailed in the air, "Armufa, I have lost my son to this world, please let me grieve"

After a minute of silence, "Hmphh, you can do as you wish in the human settlement, but I don’t want to see what you just did again with the bestial tribes."

Another voice trailed in the air, "Thanks Armufa, I will owe you one."

Armufa simply snorted, while his figure couldn’t be seen, but his senses were locked onto Lyneex, which is nearly all of the bestial front line itself.

From the ruined patch of jungle where Ningjin’s abominable body once rested, the darkness that replaced Lyneex’s form surged like a tide that had no end, it wasn’t simply the absence of light, it was the presence of a dark twisted evil shadow, consuming, and unforgiving, it billowed outward in immense waves, swallowing the twisted trees, smothering the very essence of life in its path.

Lyneex was no longer a petite girl, her form was now stretched beyond the boundaries of comprehension, a colossal silhouette emerged within the growing umbra, jagged horns curled like smoke above her shifting head, a mane of shadow cascading like a broken waterfall down her back, nothing could be seen, but darkness before her, everything looked pulsed, as massive pillars of swirling dark essence, each movement causing the ground to crack, the sky to bend with weightless dread.

And she was still growing in size.

Each inch she crossed consumed more than just landscape, it drained the essence of living beings that were on her way, withered roots, and stole the breath from animals hiding underground, insects were turned to ash before they could even flee, birds in the skies above spiraled down, lifeless, as if the heavens themselves had been cursed.

Beasts behind the bestial border, warriors, scouts, and even chieftains of lesser tribes, who were ready to march on the front lines fighting the human race with bravery were now kneeling in paralyzed fear.

Not from any order, not from discipline, but because their very blood betrayed them, thick with instinct, and screamed a single name:

Lyneex.

She wasn’t a creature, she was a calamity herself, with another title among the humans, who called her The Wailing Shadow.

Where her shadow crept, silence followed, villages vanished, trees fell without a sound, and everything that her shadow touched now, cracked and turned to dust, she did not strike or rage, she merely passed, and her sorrow twisted the world into oblivion in her wake.

Overhead, the sky dimmed unnaturally as her presence blanketed the land, clouds were warped into circular patterns around her like she was the eye of a storm with no wind, only despair.

And still, she moved forward.

Toward the human border.

Toward the city where those responsible were hiding.

Meanwhile, within the city...

Jonan sighed with fatigue as the heavy city gates finally closed behind them. The line to get in had been long and regrettably slow, still, they managed to enter the human city, where they could relax now, cloaked in hunter’s gear and dust, he and his cohort had kept their heads low, playing their roles as common mercenaries returning from an expedition.

None dared ask why they looked so haunted.

The streets bustled as usual, merchants called out wares, street performers juggled sparks and steel, and guards stood lazily at checkpoints, the towering spires of the inner city shone gold under the setting sun, proud and oblivious to what festered beyond their walls.

Garret was waiting by the entrance to their discreet lodging, he was very efficient in his work as always, helping them carry their weapons, and send for repair.

Elias only groaned and pushed past him.

"Hot bath first," muttered Edric, dragging his gear behind him like a corpse.

"I will sleep for a week," added Marla, eyes sunken, voice hollow.

Garret understood that their mission must be exhausting, without asking anything he simply nodded and opened the door, "Your rooms are ready, if you want to eat, food’s in the hall, warm water’s been drawn."

They all murmured thanks, barely audible, more instinct than courtesy, and trudged in.

Jonan was the last to enter, his eyes lingered a moment on the city skyline beyond the rooftops, there was a strange haze far to the west, and the jungle looked darker than usual. A little darker.

He blinked, and the feeling passed, and he also didn’t care much, he was safe now, and that was all that mattered.

That night, as the group bathed and finally let the tension leave their bodies, the skies beyond the jungle turned pitch black.

Not from clouds.

But from her.

Lyneex had fully entered her colossal form. Her shadow had now adopted a serpentine shape, towering like a goddess of grief and wrath, her long, scaly serpentine physique seemed to melt into the air and reform every moment, endless and volatile, her head, crowned with a twisted halo of horns and glowing, venomous eyes, surveyed the human defenses. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

She did not scream.

She did not roar.

She whispered.

And entire patrols, stationed at the outer edges of the jungle, simply ceased to exist.

With every step forward, the world bent, mountains in the distance cracked and leaned slightly toward her presence, rivers slowed, unsure whether to keep flowing, and even the wind grew still.

Every beast in the region shuddered, a few simply died, their hearts giving out from the pressure.

From the edge of the human border, watchmen at the western outposts squinted at the black haze in the distance. A few took out their spyglasses, they couldn’t see anything but feel something ominous.

"What is that?" asked one.

Another one turned curious. "Is that... fog?"