Operation Desert Storm <Void Quest — Gate in the Dunes>

[Enel]

Days.

Weeks.

Months.

I do not know how long it has been.

For every moment I find a sign of life, a sign of something out here, there are endless moments for which there is merely. Sand. I find my mind endlessly replaying the odd moments of stimuli which have cropped up over the course of my journey. A broken egg shell. Animal bones. Dunes which seemed almost like giants’ footsteps. I wonder if this is what Omni enjoys watching. I’ll admit to revelling in watching heathens get their comeuppance, but surely this is not entertaining.

Time and time again I have battled my urge to turn back. To resummon Crispy. But that is exactly what Omni wants. And besides, I cannot turn back now. I have come too far.

So I dull my senses. Let time drift over me like the endless setting suns. Somewhere in the back of my mind I try to remember each step, each heavy breath, each time I have to stop to eat, and drink, and piss, and shit. I keep it all somewhere, so that when I reach Omni I can remember why I’m there. I can make him pay for the wasted weeks of my life.

For that time must come. No space is boundless. The end …

… Eventually …

… Comes.

The wind has changed. I feel it. I’m more aware than ever. I don’t need my mantra to sense some things.

The sun sets to my left, illuminating a great flat expanse that seems to lead down. I am on course. I step forward. Down. Down into Its arena.

Even in the scorching middays it took to get here, I don’t remember sweating this much. I’m … suddenly acutely aware of how soft the sand is beneath my feet. I imagine how far down it must go. As I take my steps I watch the soft grains rise up between my toes and tread carefully.

All the time it’s taken for me to reach this point no longer matters. I’m entirely fixated in the moment. My eyes are focused entirely on that point ahead of me.

That far-off, black ridge.

As I step toward it it grows larger. At first I think this is because I am getting closer to it. But as the ridge grows taller, I realise it is also getting closer to me.

I stop dead in my tracks.

It continues to grow closer.

I whip my staff out from its place upon my back. It’s been waiting, months, just for this exact moment. Moving helps release the pent-up energy. I channel it upwards into the staff and lightning streaks out.

It’s like the ridges of a mountain are moving towards me. The closer it gets the larger I realise it is. And the more of it there is. It continues to rise up, up, wider, wider. My staff spins furiously. The ridge emerges. What at first looks like an outcrop of land, a small platform attached to the mountains is … is …

A head. Eyes. Tusks. Teeth. Each one bigger than me.

I scream and unleash the torrent of lightning. The beast’s howl is louder than any thunderstorm. I can feel the sand beneath my feet vibrating.

“No!”

I fire bolt after bolt forward, carefully aiming for its face. It’s so far off I can’t aim for the eyes or anything more definite.

It lives … so it can DIE!

It rises up, further still, out of the sand. Its mouth is open. It’s diving for me!

Even with my speed, it takes everything I have to get out of the way. I can barely feel the sand beneath my feet as I kick off it. Every hair on my body stands on end as I feel the largest force I have ever felt pass beside me. I scrabble and kick against the tumulting sands as yet more of its body passes me by. Then it’s done.

My heart hammers. I’ve pissed myself – a natural reaction of the brain which happens to everyone, and a matter of little consequence. I keep my focus as best as I can, turning to see the creature’s wake and still hopping to avoid being sucked down into the sandy pit it has left behind it.

It gets further away before turning in a wide arc and fixing its trajectory on me. I channel more electricity into my arms and fire. Fire. Fire. Ohshitit’scomingtowardsmeagainrunrunrun.

But this time it turns! Damn stupid beast! I feel its earthquake footstep closing in on me. So I do what I must.

I stop, plant my feet, and backflip as high as I can. As I do so, I twist – allowing me to see the creature as its head closes in – and place my hands out in front of me. I touch its iron-wrought skin just long enough to flip forward off my hands. Its forward momentum would flatten a less skilful acrobat, but I cartwheel upwards into the sky above its body.

And fall upon its back.

My pants are ripped from the fall and my leg hurts but it’s not my greatest concern. Before the creature has a chance to dive, I must slay it. I grab onto the ridge at my side and pour my electricity through it. I channel my hate, my fury, my sheer unbridled power into its body with everything I have.

It gives out a roar. I know I’ve hurt it. Clarity fills me. I pour yet more of my electricity into its form.

Then my stomach jumps into my teeth. The ‘land’ drops beneath me. I’m falling. As I do so, I catch a glimpse of its gigantic tail submerging into the sand. It sucks me down behind it and even as I scrabble, the ocean of gold closes around me. My legs are buried. I choke on the cloud of blinding, scorching sand and scream in defiance, punching one hand out. Upwards towards freedom.

The tremors begin to fade. For a moment I feel nothing. Is it over? Was that the trial? I can live, I can escape, I can finally reach Omni …

The sand rumbles again. I can feel it coming from below. My breath stops in my chest.

It erupts from the sand, its jaws close around me and the sunset gives way to darkness.

Something pierces me. Crushes me. I’m too weak to scream.

In the depths of its belly, I die.