The 11th God

Anomaly of Abilities Arc: Night of Luminous Fireflies

"The Island of Experiences will be open later at 21:00 pm until tomorrow 21:00 pm. All players interested in entering the island are obliged to step into warpgates or create their own warp portals for preparation 2 minutes prior the said time. Failure to do so will not be considered in warping towards the island. Goodluck people and may Ylgaea bless you all!"

Elio ate really really fast after our the announcement. He almost got choke because of excitement though. His resolve is the same as ever and so is his strength.

I remember very well how weak and soft he looked after calling moonlight ape for so long, perhaps that's what drained his energy faster. I presume calling out entities as abilities will continuously drain out your energy inside. It's like a car that needs to be fueled, whereas the entity is the car and the energy inside the caster is the fuel. It needs endless supply of energy for to last as long as there's a constant supply of energy.

"I guess we have to prepare." he said.

He stood up and went to the bathroom real quick.

We have an hour left before the island opens and Elio is really preparing well. I am just sitting here without any idea how will I be of help during the event. We may have trained indeed, but there will and will always be doubt inside me.

While Elio is on the bathroom, something appeared in my screen again, this time I am pretty sure it just appeared on me and not on every people out there in Ylgaea, but just me alone.

"You still have no tasks finished. Here are the reminders of your tasks:

One. Find out about the dispute between the people sent to you.

Two. Survive the whole event inside the island of experiences. Death of a party member will immediately cause a punishment."

My hands were shaking along with my body. I felt the fear inside of me crawling up. The words I am currently seeing in front of me are not what I expected it to be. it's so serious and heavy that I felt so immobile just by seeing the text in front of me.

The announcement vanished immediately when Elio when outside the bathroom. I looked at him and saw him all dressed and armored up. He doesn't look that much ready, if I'd speak sarcastically but he's really into this event.

"Tell me Elio, what is it that makes you all fired up about the island of experiences?" I asked him.

He looked at me and smiled as he comb his hair, "Simple but confusing. I have always wanted to be strong and powerful for one reason. That reason has always been what is inspiring me to be powerful and all fired up. However, everytime I try to remember what reason that is, I couldn't seem to remember. It's a person if I am not mistaken, but I couldn't tell really well who and why but I got this resolve inside of me that just wouldn't dissipate everytime I remember the reason for me to get all fired up about the event."

His explanations sure were confusing just as he said. Something's bothering me ever since I came inside his house. It has always been that photograph that he couldn't really remember. What could be the sole reason that he forgot something that seemed to be important? Who is that guy in the photo and what is his relationship with Elio? How is it possible that the person in the photo doesn't really seem to be finding him.

But Elio has only been in this world not that longer than you've been in here.

But you couldn't even remember how did you came in this world.

"So are you ready?" he asked.

I glanced at him and saw him readied up from head to toe. I stood upand fixed my self as I feel the shame of being not formal in something that he is really looking forward too.

"Please tell me you are not going to fight with that look." he muttered.

"I do hope not." I told him.

He gave out a little laugh and he went to the door.

"Come on let's go, we have to buy a lot of stuff to prepare!" he said.

He rushed down the treehouse and I was left inside. I took the peronomicon book with me and went along with him.

I saw him waiting for me downstairs while he's preparing his gloves. His scepter is on his left side hanging on one of the holes in his belt. As I caught up with him downstairs, I walked towards him as he look back at the treehouse.

"Art of Moonlight, Lunar Illusion." he muttered.

I saw the treehouse fading not in a way that it is breaking down or dissipating. It's just becoming invisible slowly, some parts of it.

"You used magic already?" I asked him.

He laughed as he continue making the treehouse invisible.

"Since my affinity refers to moonlight, if the moon is visible as I use my powers, the source of my energy is more than twice than it is in day time." he explained.

"I bet you didn't realize the treehouse last night was invisible when you were sleeping." he added.

He does have a point. I never thought that environmental situations would actually affect the performance of our energy based on our affinity. Plus I never did knew that the treehouse was invisible the whole time we were asleep. The night may probably be the reason why Elio is back on his feet again and his resolve is the same — or maybe even higher but I just couldn't differ.

After the treehouse faded complelete, Elio took his steps and started walking towards the kingdom. Walking freely as if there's nothing on our back. Using our eyes yes, there may be nothing on our back. It is just pure trees and branches and stems and flies, blending along with the aura of a night forest. There's nothing creepy about it though, because it is just a forest in a night, and would definitely be a treehouse in the morning — or maybe not who knows?

Elio and I were both leisureluy freelance walking around the town. I guess the sentimental night aura of the kingdom is alive opposite than it is in the daytime. It is active and noisy too at morning, however people seems to be more active and noisy at night. We both started taking a walk around the town. Elio might have an idea or plan to where we might be going while I don't. I am just here walking around with him.

We went inside an alley after some minutes. It was narrow and dark which seemed to be like some kind of black market place. The street is filled with shops thay doesn't seem to be active anymore. Looks like a forgottened ruins if you'd ask me.

I felt something strange after we entered the street. My heart were skipping beats like something is not good in here. Something must be going on in here but I could not identify what. The street seemed to be really unpopulated and that I couldn't even see anyone.

However, I sense some energy flow. There are others in here but just cannot be seen.

"Where are we exactly?" I asked Elio.

We took a stop at one of the closed shops. In front of the shop lies a sign with some foreign language. Judging the style of writings, it should not be different from the letter carved on my edgelight.

"We are at one of the most important places to go to before fighting a huge amount of monsters." he explained.

He opened the door and took a step in front of the shop. As soon as he opened it I felt my heartbeat beating faster and bigger. I glanced inside which seemed to be normal at all but I feel nervous. I feel something unexplainable, like butterflies in a stomach while feeling nervous, afraid and weak.

"Are you okay?" Elio asked me before he completely entered the shop.

I nodded without relief and followed him inside the shop. There were people inside it and they can be countered witg mere fingers in two hands. My count would be around five, and I was correct when I actually counted them.

I didn't mind the people at all, all that's left inside me is the courage to enter the place while ignoring this unexplainable feeling I'm currently having. The place looks old, and theres a counter in front with half of the people I counted. There is also a guy before the counter, seemed to be serving a lot of liquid things inside those small glass bottles.

"They're vials." I thought.

Elio continued walking towards the guy in the counter. I followed him and stayed in his back. The people inside seemed to be decent. There's this one guy with half red half orange hair. Beside him is a gil with silver hair and she seemed to be holding a book, and if I read that correctly, it's a book about monsters, like a peronomicon that Elio handed me except it's a different one.

"Here to participate with the event I see." the guy in the counter said.

Elio talked to the guy in the counter for some minutes. While at that, the other people — which I concluded is a group of peers that formed a party — left at the same time. It took Elio some time before finishing his talk with the guy on the counter and after tgat, he showed me some vials of liquid with various colors.

"These are potions." he mentioned.

I glanced at the glass bottles he's holding and realized that they might really be potions. Then I also realized that the anxious feeling I was exprriencing earlier was gone. Seemed to be something I haven't felt in a long time.

Elio and I left the shop and went back into the crowded side of the city. This time we're not just walking in circles or randomly without having any purpose of where to go, this time I am sure we're going somewhere but I just don't know where.

Until we stopped in front of another shop.

This time it's a shop for clothes, armories and other defensive utensils. Elio and I both walked inside.

"Now we're going to buy yourself some decent clothes to prepare. Most likely enchanted ones to make sure you're protected." he said.

We both walked towards the guyon the c ounter and Elio still did the talking. He called me and I walked near towards the guy on the counter. The guy scanned me for him to know what is the perfect clothes for me just like when we went to the blacksmith yesterday and he must have known that I am a god.

He smiled at me and then walked towards which seemed to be the back place of his shop. the guy didn't took long though, he immediately showed me the set of clothes I was about — or obliged I guess — to wear.

The clothes is white in color whole the pants is black. Just like my earlier clothes there were belts and holes unexplainably placed anywhere around. I also received half a piece of a white glove.

"That is an enchanted set, I'll be giving it for free." the guy on the counter — which actually seemed to be a tailor — said.

I started doubting why am I having free stuffs until Elio explained me.

"All shops are required to give the gods whatever item they need for free. I really have no idea why, but that's just Ylgaea." he mentioned.

I nodded with epiphany and relief.

There is this last place we're visiting before we officially walk towards a warp gate. It's a tavern. Looks like Elio got tired from all that walking and ended up talking some break and eat after all.

We both went inside the tavern and he is the one who took the line for orders. I checked for an open two-seater place and immediately rushed towards it after I found one.

Then suddenly I felt that anxious feeling inside me again. There's just this inside me that I could not explain why is it happening. It is not that I am nervous for the event but I feel that there's something, which is the reason why I am feeling this I just couldn't identify what, which, where or neither who is it. Elio is just talking to the guy on the counter but here I am dazed and confused over what is this anxious feeling I have.

Elio arrived later on along with the tray of food. The tavern were slowly running out of people as tome goes by. We both finished our food some minutes later because there's really not much time left.

I disregarded my anxiety. Instead, I focused on whatever Elio's telling me to focus right now. I realized something while we were waiting in the restaurant. I saw similar faces, recognizable and familiar faces. The same faces I saw when we visited the potions shop.

While all of them goes out of the tavern, one of them glanced at me, it's the girl with the silver hair. She must have realized I was looking at them that she glanced at me. She smiled at me and then went back to focusing as they all take a walk.

Then suddenly the anxiety inside me were gone

"Hey Al, are you okay?" Elio called.

I looked back at him and saw that he is ready now.

"Hey Elio I have a question." I told him.

"Have you notice the people we've been with when we were at the potion shop? I can't help but ask about them." I continued.

"I didn't actually saw the faces of the peiple we're with last time. Sorry I can't help you about that." he answered.

"But I think we should go now, there's around 3 minutes before the portals are open." he said.

"How many minutes until we reach the nearest warp gate?" I asked him.

"It's a minute walk from here. Let's go." he said as he stand up and carry his bag.

We went outside the tavern and started walking towards the nearest warp gate. Elio is leading the way because I have no idea where is the warp gate, how does it look like and what the hell is a warp gate.

Just like as he said, it took us about a minute before we got to the nearest warp gate. This is the first time I saw one. We both went on the warp gate.

If I were to describe it, it's most likely a circle platform with pillars on its back. The floor is quite huge which is why there's not only us inside the warpgate we are in but a bunch of other players too. The floor of the warp gate lightened up within the gaps that it has. The gaps were not as big nd as broad as a human body though, it's most likely very narrow gaps but can be obviously seen by the eyes.

"The warp gates will teleport in a minute, please step onto the warp gates for preparation. Countdown will now begin by 60."

We all heard the announcement. It was said by a female voice that no one knows who is it. A lot of people rushed towards different warp gates. Some warp gated are visible by the current place we are in which is why I can say that some are rushing towards different warp gates.

When it's already at five, a small person — which I could not identify if it is a girl or a boy stepped inside the portal and stopped when he reaches us. He faced in front of the warp gate and held his staff tight. I glanced back at Elio then suddenly everything became white.

"Warping in progress please do not do unnecessary movements while warping to avoid errors and unpleasing circumstances."

Everything was white in just a second, then it became a forest in a blink. Everything is quiet and solemn.

However. I did not see everyone. There's only one person I see and it's Elio.

"Why are we alone?" I asked him.

"Warp gates teleports people to random places unless you're in a party you and your party members will teleport in the same place." he explained.

I felt some jnderstanding inside me however there's one thing that really makes me question. Why are we not walking or moving? Why are we just in one place waiting for I don't even know what? I did the first move, I took the first step but he blocked me.

"Shush." he said as he block my body with his arms.

"What is it?" I asked with confusion.

He swiftly grabbed his scepter on his left leg and then pointed it forward chanting, "Art of Moonlight: Night of Luminous Fireflies!"

A sudden change of temperature and air pressure occured in the whole field on wherever we are. Suddenly — or wait, instantly, a bunch of small purple spheres appeared in front of us. It's not the same as his insect spell, this one is a lot, and when I mean a lot, I mean thousands and millions of lot.

The fireflies were blooming and gives the feeling of freedom and happiness. It strengthens the calm mood of an open field in the middle of a night. You may say it's like an open field in the middle of daytime but the aura is the same, it's all calm and solemn.

The fireflies are scattered along the whole field.Some flew away and some were staying. I glanced at Elio and saw him focusing his energy in his sceoter. His scepter is glowing though, purple light glowing around it and a magic circle on top of it.

Then after a few seconds, Elio opened his eyes and all the fireflies rushed back into the scepter instantly.

"Shades, they're coming are you ready Al?" he said as he take a stance.

He said it as if I knew what was coming all along. I did not know what was coming until he said it. Then I prepared, I took a stance and prepared my feet, any second now releasing my thousand edgelights inti the air.

"Art of Illusion: Dance of a thousand Blades!" I chanted.

A lot of white msgic circles appeared in the thin air, anytime ready for the swords to pop up. After some seconds, Elio chanted too.

"Moonlight Flies!"

There goes his common move.

It only took a minute before we heard a bunch of sounds that doesn't seem like humane at all. Then I saw it. I saw the shades quickly flying towards us. There's a bunch of them, like thousands which makes me doubt if our abilities were enough.

In a blink the clash had started. The probability of a shade to pass through us is at 1% and we don't know yet if that 1% will occur. Not that low percents doesn't happen at all. It's just low probability but there is still the chance.

Each of my swords are moving towards where each shade is and so dies Elio's moonlight fireflies. Both were really doing well on their own without our commands.

But suddenly there was just no more abilities left.

Yet there are still numerous shades.

"This is bad." I said.

The few number of shades had rushed towards us, we don't know what to do and I am frozen in my place.

Then I just felt it. I felt the shades passing through me, my life bar going down every second they pass through me and so does Elio's.

After all it looks like I won't be able to finish my task well.

I am slowly getting weaker and weaker the more the shades passes through me. I can feel my body getting heavier and heavier along with my eyelids. Elio is also getting weaker, I see him. I see his body slowly falling down but trying to carry himself up. His resolve is strong enough to still stand uo but his body s already weak.

Just when my eyes were about to shut down, I saw a silver light in front of me.

"Art of Silver Moonlight: Dance of the Night Swan." I heard somebody muttered.

Is it okay now? I asked to my self.