《Lunaria Crimson [Rising Demon Queen]》 B1 — 0. Into the Abyss A young slender girl had just left her city¡¯s community college and walked quite a distance only to wait under the pavement on a hot summers day; She brought her arm up to cover her face from the light and blistering heat, sweat running down the side of her face, legs aching which only proceeded to annoy and exhaust her further, only to make the sigh that left her sound like a growl. I only just got to the damn bus stop, she cursed internally. The day hasn¡¯t even really started and I already regret leaving the dorms, and if Daniel doesn¡¯t show up to work today either, then I have to fill in for his fucking shift! She decided to try and lean against the stop sign on the pavement near the bus stop, not wanting to get anywhere near the homeless guy still sleeping on the bench underneath it; which did no favors for her anxiety or the blistering summer heat that was made worse by her dark clothes. Just as she was debating whether or not to just call in sick, her bus turned the corner and came to a stop in front of her. Great timing¡­ she mumbled to herself as she stepped onto the bus after the hissing doors opened, after running her bus card through the scanner she sat in a seat that was facing the aisle of the bus, and as she did so the bus started moving again. Selene settled into the bus seat and turned on her phone and let the minutes pass by only later to be met with a message which she read bitterly, it was Alex, her manager. ¡°Hey Selene it¡¯s Alex, Could you do the night shift tonight? Daniel called in sick today too.¡± Oh fuck no! Are you kidding me? She leaned back in her seat, threatening to just melt into it in defiance of the message she just received; she brought up her phone and pouted as she started typing in frustration albeit resignation since she had already assumed this would happen. ¡°Yeah, sure..¡± As the bus came to a stop to pick up it¡¯s next passenger she finished texting the message; she let her arm go limp on her lap still holding her phone, bringing her other arm to cup one side of her cheek. ¡°Guess I¡¯m not playing tonight either..¡± she mumbled to herself, she was hoping to play some video games tonight with her friends online, but those plans seemed to have already been dashed and set aside for the sake of work. As the bus started moving again, an older woman in the seat across from her looked over to her and gave her a soft look. ¡°Tough day today darlin¡¯?¡± Selene shifted in her chair and glanced her way; ¡°Yeah..just work.¡± forcing a smile; the sound of the road going past them filling up the sound of the bus. ¡°Well don¡¯t we all, these days that¡¯s everyone¡¯s problem¡± the old woman spoke with a gentle voice, in an effort to make some small talk and to hopefully make the girl¡¯s day just a little better Selene breathed in deeply and let out a sharp sigh almost to signify her bewilderment and agreement towards the older woman. ¡°Yeah, just someone from work called in sick¡± With added air quotes and hefty sarcasm to emphasize her annoyance, she looked at the woman with a smile. ¡°Oh darlin¡¯.. can¡¯t imagine that¡¯s going to be making you day any better, but if you¡¯d like I can at least hear you complain about it, I like me some tea¡± With a smile that could show the mischievousness in the woman¡¯s tone, her offer was made all the more enticing to Selene. ¡°The names Audrey by the way sweetie¡± With kind eyes she spoke, and settled a bit more into her seat and ready to talk away with the girl she just met. ¡°Mine is Selene, and sure yeah that would be really nice thanks¡± Selene said with a smile, she figured if anything else this would probably make her say just a little better, if at least to just air out her frustration just a bit with someone who just so kindly offered up a distraction, and she doesn¡¯t even want to look at her phone right now. And so the two talked for a while, gossiping for what felt like seconds to about minutes pass by, Selene was never much of a talker or particularly extroverted, but for some reason this woman in front of her could get her to open up like a book. As the two woman kept talking happily as the moments went by slowly in their conversation, the bus however, started moving faster and faster, and then felt as if though it hit a road bump at high speed. What is that bus driver doing!? As Selene dared to look over at the bus driver she saw the driver passed out at the wheel. She was about to scream..but someone had done it for her; a younger guy closer to the front of the bus screamed. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°The fucking drivers out!¡± Those few words felt like it erupted the entire bus into a panic; Oh shit! oh shit!... She kept cursing in her mind as she tried to grab a hold of something and brace herself for the inevitable..And then she caught a glimpse of the windshield of the bus and what was in front of her; It looked like the images in her college textbooks on Astrophysics¡­a black hole. The whole bus felt like it was lifted from the ground as she began holding on as tightly as she could to her seat. The whole world felt like chaos and she was just being thrashed around in a blender, her voice going sore from her screaming, before everything just went dark, and so did her consciousness.. Then Selene felt something shaking her, as all at once she breathed in heavily and the smell of salt and brine hit her nose first, then her eyes opened to see a young girl around her age shaking Selene¡¯s shoulders alongside the older woman from earlier nearby, both in rough shape. ¡°Hey! Hey! You alright!?¡± As the girl shook Selene awake, the older woman next to her Audrey was the next she would hear as Selene ran her hand through her aching head. ¡°Careful girl, she must¡¯ve hit her head real hard, be a little more easy.¡± An audible groan escapes Selene¡¯s lips ¡°W-What, are¡­?¡± is all she could mumble as she held her aching head only to have the older lady speak up again ¡°Now don¡¯t fret about, you probably hit your head real hard; Hey sweetie help her lay on the seats. and be real careful¡± ¡°Yeah, I get it I¡¯m trying lady but we all got banged up here¡± the girl ran her arm Selene¡¯s, before helping her up onto the seat as gently as she could, which wasn¡¯t to say much but she couldn¡¯t blame her, if not because of her current state then because she knew she had gone through the same she had. Shit what happened? We got pulled into what looked like a black hole¡­THE FUCK IS THAT AN OCEAN!? As Selene looked out the window behind the lady and young girl she must have had a crazy look on her face, because they were pretty confused for a second before they realized. ¡°H-How are we near the ocean..?¡± ¡°Hell if I know, it¡¯s insane, last I checked Wisconsin wasn¡¯t in the middle of a damn ocean¡± The girl exhaustively said with just as much fear as there was an attempt at trying to bring some humor to calm herself. ¡°Who knows darlin¡¯, I just hope this shit blows over¡± The older women quipped, with furrowed brows. The young girl seemed to just breath and try to keep herself from breaking down. I need to see what¡¯s going on, I gotta try and get up; Selene tried sitting up using the wall of the bus to slide herself up. Only to be met with the sound of the groaning bodies of people trying to get themselves up and any who were still injured or unconscious. As Selene looked around and swept her eyes around the bus, she saw out of the bus window and saw that the bus was on a stone platform, where the only thing off into the distance that she could see was ocean and the sky; There looked to be a group of people who outside of the bus yelling at each other, some more sane and together then others. Oh shit..are you fucking kidding me? We are in the middle of the fucking ocean!? Of the places to end up! Selene¡¯s mind started racing and cursing at the situation, barely wanting to stop. I have to..no..I need to figure out what¡¯s going on here! Selene started lifting her aching body from the bus seat grabbing the attention of the two that had helped her earlier. ¡°Darlin¡¯ yah need to take it slow.¡± Her eyes looking at Selene sympathetically. ¡°No, I need to see what¡¯s going on.¡± Selene said with a disbelieving look on her face. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go with you. I don''t want to be in here when they all wake up too¡­seeing the same reaction get¡¯s tiring after a while..¡± The red haired girl said with an exhausted voice. ¡°My name is Annie by the way, let¡¯s go.¡± Selene nod¡¯s and she tries her best to walk towards the doors of the bus, in protest of her aching bod. ¡°Mine is Selene.¡± Trying her best to move through the center aisle of the bus, she responded to the girl, having just barely gotten rid of the grogginess she was feeling after going unconscious. And when Annie pushed the bus doors aside, Selene was hit with a stronger scent of briny and salty air. When she stepped out, it was with all of the confidence that she was still on her world, on Earth¡­but that illusion was destroyed when she saw¡­ arches..there were arches well half of one, with pedestals just like the one the bus she came here on had, it almost looked like something out of a video game! She looked around awe struck, and then looked next to her at Annie, who wore a similar expression. ¡°Just where the fuck are we?¡± Speechless as she was, those were the only words that seem to come to mind for Annie, as she craned her neck to look at the spires and platforms around her. Not too long afterwards other¡¯s left the bus¡­then all hell broke loose, as the situation was starting to dawn on everyone who was on that bus¡­they were in a place that couldn¡¯t be on earth. B1 — 1. A Maddening Start It didn¡¯t take long before everyone started arguing on what to do, it was the only thing that would keep them sane, but progress seemed very small and was more so arguing about hypotheticals than any real progress. ¡°Then what the fuck do you expect us to do!? Stand around till we die of hunger or thirst?!¡± Words echoing around us as the man in the neat suit yelled and cursed at the stocky bearded man with an angry look, that made no effort to hide his frustration and anger, if not just to fool himself that he wasn¡¯t in fear of the situation. ¡°No, I want to make damn sure we don¡¯t just run into our damn deaths, you know what is in that ocean right there?! Cause I sure as hell don¡¯t!¡± The shouting going back and forth between the two men was audible across the platform we stood on, the world seemed so incredibly small in that moment, as me and Annie stood there watching the situation boil over. The man that seems to be against making any rash moves on the platform the stocky bearded man seems to be getting to a head with the businessman. Hushed whispers running through the crowd, uncertainties, fears, and despair can be heard through all of them. ¡°What do we do?¡± ¡°Are we even anywhere on earth?¡± ¡°If this isn¡¯t our world¡­then what¡¯s in the ocean?¡± ¡°I was supposed to graduate soon!¡± One after the other, it could be seen like the spreading of a disease, everyone on the platform began slowly realizing the reality that had befallen them, some started crying, others were in such shock they seemed almost like eerie statues standing there with their eyes agape. What the fuck? Just what the fuck?! The hell are we even supposed to do here?! We are in the middle of the fucking ocean! How the hell are we even...here!? Selene was starting to go into panic mode she was in a situation she no longer understood, she didn¡¯t know why all of it was only just now hitting her like a ton of bricks, maybe it was because of the otherworldly stone arches outside? Maybe it was because her mind had tried to block all thoughts of that out of her head for the sake of her sanity, regardless none could deny the life altering changes around them. ¡°Now hold on and think about it for a second!¡± He had raised his voice so everyone could hear, the deep voice that came from the stocky bearded man that was talking to the businessman earlier had reached everyone¡¯s ears, and they gave their attention to him. ¡°Take a look around! This place had to have been built by something! And we might just need to wait for them is all, and other than those arches, these platforms look like they are in good condition!¡± Pointing down and around the area to further his points, the now survivors and victims had followed the points he had made, and while there was still that disease of fear and uncertainty it was certainly a better hope to cling on to than before. ¡°We just need to hold out until then, let¡¯s round everyone up and see if we can get any food around!¡± The businessman however doesn''t seem to be backing down anytime soon, as they both continued arguing between each other on what to do. Selene had grimaced remembering issues of cannibalism and lack of clean water plaguing survivors on deserted islands or those stuck in a cave in winter, she had tried turning her attention to Annie the girl she had recently met and seemed to maybe at least be a friend, only to see a face that could scream that she was in her own head at the moment, running through all the different ¡°We are fucked¡± scenarios, until that is Selene placed a hand on her shoulder and she had jumped a little bit that. ¡°Are you alright Annie?¡± The head of the terrified girl in-front of her had turned around with a slow start, if eyes could scream in pain, one could see them in Annie, one could see them in everyone on this platform, and if Selene had a mirror she could see that her eyes were no different. ¡°Y-Yeah..I¡¯m fine, just a little shaken up.¡± A weak smile running through her face, threatening to crumble apart at the slightest touch. ¡°Why don¡¯t we go sit down for a bit? I¡¯ll go with you.¡± While she had said that for Annie¡¯s sake, it was just as much for herself as it was Annie, her legs felt weak and her stomach nauseous at the unfolding situation, her mind made no illusion that Annie was any different. ¡°Yeah, that..that would be good I think, I need to sit down¡± Annie''s voice seemed strained as she swallowed, trying to keep herself together. The two walked back inside the bus and sat down at one of the open seats, many still being taken up by those who were moderately to harshly wounded from the initial transportation into this strange world, Audrey seemingly helping them the best she could almost expertly. As they walked inside Audrey noticed them and walked over to them, a worried and tired expression on her face as she finishes walking up to the two girls. ¡°Are the two of yah alright?¡± Words leaving her mouth as quickly as she had approached ¡°Yeah we are fine just need to sit down¡­this is just all a lot.¡± Eyes connecting between the three of them, a wordless conversation had past between them in an instant with just that small exchange. ¡°Of course come over ¡®ere there is an open seat.¡± Both Selene and Annie sat down and just let themselves sink back into the seat as they both tried to calm themselves down. Time passed as they sat there with voices in the background of people talking, some yelling other¡¯s coming in and out of the bus, some groaning in the bus still feeling their injuries. Until the stocky bearded man from earlier stepped aboard the bus, he looked around before moving to Audrey with a question clearly in his mind. ¡°How are the injured getting along?¡± The older woman turns her face over to meet his, with an exhausted face that could tell she¡¯s just gone through hell patching all these people up by herself for the most part. ¡°They¡¯ll be alright, should live anyway.¡± The stocky bearded man raises an eyebrow questioningly. ¡°You uh¡­a doctor?¡± You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°Nurse, today was supposed to be my day off though, so this wasn¡¯t what I was expecting to be doin''.¡± A tired chuckle escaping her, if not at the absurdity, then certainly for her own sake or experience when being a part of stressful situations. ¡°Well that¡¯s all good to hear, thank you really for your kind work ma¡¯am¡± ¡°Name is Audrey, none of that ma¡¯am stuff.¡± Doing her best to lighten up the situation with some light hearted humor. ¡°Name''s Josh, it¡¯s a damn pleasure Audrey.¡± Giving a smile of appreciation for her trying to lighten the mood, and because it did do much to help quell what he felt in his heart over the stress he¡¯s been undergoing ever since he had finished arguing with that stuck up businessman from earlier. ¡°It¡¯s nothin that needs all that flaterin now.¡± She chuckles as she goes back to looking over her patients. Are they supposed to be flirting or something? It reminds me of mom and dad going back and forth with each other. Josh turns over to meet Selene¡¯s eyes, having been looking over at him it seems he couldn¡¯t help but look over. ¡°Hi there, are you two girls doing alright?¡± ¡°Um, not particularly most just trying to get used to all of this at the moment.¡± He looked apologetically at the two when Selene had voiced their feelings at the current moment. ¡°I understand it¡¯s not the best place to be in right now, and it¡¯s damn well shit but everyone here will do what¡¯s possible I promise you that.¡± ¡°Thanks, I¡¯m Selene by the way.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Josh, and who¡¯s the other lady over there?¡± Eyes moving over at Annie. ¡°I¡¯m Annie¡­¡± ¡°Well a pleasure to meet both of you, and before I go I wanted to make sure and ask did any of you bring anything to eat with the both of you before all of this happened? We need to ration food up until we can figure out what to do.¡± ¡°Not really I was on my way from College before this all happened.¡± Shrugging her shoulders when Selene had finished her sentence, she had wished she brought something now at least but that nothing could be done about now. ¡°Well I brought the few things I bought from the corner store, mostly some chips and soda.¡± Annie said with a hint of confidence in her mind that she could at least help with adding to the stockpile of food for everyone to eat. ¡°That works great, we are getting a decent pile of food together luckily, it isn¡¯t much but it¡¯s something.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± The liveliness in her voice seemed to flare to life, more than anything she wanted to take her mind off of all of this. Hopefully it¡¯ll be enough, who knows what¡¯s going to happen at this rate. ¡°Well I¡¯m going to be heading out I need to keep talking to everyone I¡¯ll have to talk to the two of you later.¡± Annie and Selene said their goodbyes to Josh, the rest of they had gone by really quietly in some aspects and loud in other¡¯s until it was night, and most people tried their best to sleep in the bus, since the cold ocean air outside was rather unforgiving, Selene and Annie slept nearby together, so far the two of them could only be self described as friends, but having it been brought on by difficult circumstances it was also one that was created by the circumstances, all of this and everything that had happened it would be impossible for her to sleep normally. How the hell am I supposed to sleep on these shitty seats!? Or maybe it was just how uncomfortable it is to sleep in a bus.. I just can¡¯t take my mind off of all of this, how the hell can anyone!? No matter how you look at it were are in the middle of bum fuck no where in the sea, like aren¡¯t we just fucked? How long until food runs and we all start looking at each other like drum sticks?! Selene got up from the seat she was using and decided to walk up to the front of the bus avoiding waking anyone and stepping over anyone that chose to sleep on the floor, to look out at the arches and platforms. Just where the hell are we? How the hell did twelve different people aboard a bus get thrown into the middle of an ocean that¡¯s probably not even on our world? The sound of water starting to stir in the wind caught on Selene¡¯s ears as it slowly grew louder. The fuck is that? Better not be a fucking storm! Then one at a time and then many altogether white translucent crystals, began rising from the water one for each platform floating above it even above the platform right above us, the sound of water being pushed aside and falling onto the platforms could be heard coming from every platform¡­and for Selene it would be right on top of the bus, needless to say there wasn¡¯t a single person that could sleep through that. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± Everyone started stirring and panicking, wondering what was going on, Josh had sprung up wondering what was happening, however it was Selene that was the first to head outside, and it was there could she see, in awe at how the translucent blue crystals were beginning to shine a straight linear light at each other as more people filed out to watch the spectacle. ¡°The hell is all of this!¡± Maybe that could have been someone else that said that, but the way it was said, almost with awe and excitement, and curiosity at it all. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful¡­¡± Selene had turned her head to see who had said that, it was Annie standing right next to her eyes fixated at the sight of the aweing spectacle. ¡°Yeah¡­Yeah it is!¡± With utter excitement in her voice Selene had yelled that out, with all the voices in the background speaking in wonder, until the crystals had all finished connecting each other with beams of light only to then have paths of light form going from what platform to the next. ¡°Is this supposed to be some kind of pentagon?¡± Selene¡¯s eyes traced her eyes across from path to path in amazement, as she began walking over to the path of light leading out of the platform everyone from the bus was on, she crouched down to touch it. ¡°Careful it might be dangerous!¡± Annie had quickly said, garnering everyone¡¯s eyes on Selene, as she pressed her hand against the path of light only to be met with a solid surface. ¡°It¡¯s¡­solid, it¡¯s fucking solid!!¡± B1 — 2. Grim New World There were 5 platforms at each corner of the pentagon each with a massive crystal that hung above it, the arches circling the pentagon, in total 11 massive half arches surrounded the pentagon in the center. A smile runs through Selene¡¯s face, as she turns back to everyone excited, unable to remove her hand off of the path because of her excitement, as she lifts one forward and places her foot on the path, slowly putting more of her weight on top of it until she has her full weight on it. ¡°It¡¯s sturdy! I think we can walk across this!¡± Josh, alongside another man who he seemed to know and a few others, had walked on over next to Selene and Annie, eyes agape still trying to process everything. ¡°Well, I mean this is better than nothing I think?¡± Josh¡¯s eyes moving from Annie and Selene, over to the path, and then the other platforms along the way. Selene started walking along the path to the center most platform, the arches still above her, everyone watching her in anticipation, the freezing cold ocean only what seemed to be 30 feet beneath her swirling and splashing against the platforms almost in anger. ¡°Selene! Are you sure this is a good idea?!¡± Turning her head over to Annie behind her with all of the previous survivors behind her still watching her. ¡°It¡¯s fine so far! And better to go check it out while we still can. If this is the only way of this place, it could be our only shot!¡± Selene turns around and keeps walking until she gets to the center and as soon as her foot steps onto the center platform the crystal towering above glows a deep crimson red as all other paths leading to the center suddenly vanish. ¡°What the hell!?¡± Selene¡¯s looking around fear coursing through her, and heart pumping waiting for something to happen, and yet nothing does. ¡°Selene!¡± Annie had yelled over to Selene, as the survivors all watched in anticipation wondering what would happen. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± Selene looked around quickly trying to figure out what to do, or what¡¯s even happening, her eyes moving across the different platforms, she had stepped onto one of the platforms and caused it to change in some way. ¡°Wait! I think we all need to spread out to different pla-!¡± Screaming..a blood curdling scream was all that followed, then an audible clicking and chattering coming from below first a few, then many, and then a cacophony coming from their mandibles a sight that couldn¡¯t be met with anything less than primal fear. They were..trying to skitter and jump up the sides of the platforms but were still yet failing, it felt no different than sharks swimming around their prey. ¡°Everyone stay away from the edges!¡± Josh¡¯s yell had gotten everyone¡¯s attention and got into a leadership role, he needed to do what he could to get in control of the situation, everyone was in a full panic unsure what to do. ¡°Why why why wh-ah-y me!¡± A woman had collapsed. It was the same woman who had screamed, earlier, the same blood curdling scream came from her again, that same disease spreading through everyone¡­fear. Then a wave crashed at the very bottom of the platforms, it was obvious what was happening but no one wanted to believe it. The sea levels were rising¡­ ¡°Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck!¡± More people began to panic the most recent one was the busdriver that had past out at the wheel, he had been unconscious throughout most of everyone¡¯s experiences, yet somehow either luckily or unluckily for him he had awoken to a nightmare that would haunt everyone¡¯s dreams, something they would never forget. ¡°I said get back from the ledges!¡± Josh had tried desperately to get them all to listen to him yet, all were stricken with the disease that befell all of them, many were unable to move their eyes wide in terror. ¡°Everyone we all need to spread out two all of the other platforms! We need to stand on them to activate the crystals!¡± In the midst of the spreading fear and horror, a single voice had reached them It was Selene, straining her voice to the extreme¡¯s trying to get their attention away from the chittering of death below. ¡°You all heard her hurry and get to the other platforms!¡± Annie¡¯s voice strained to get everyone moving from their fear struck legs. And turned to run to the other platform, quickly getting onto the path. Before Josh even knew it, hearing that girl start moving before he ever did just standing there made him want to push himself harder. And so he ran for one of the other platforms too, and some people followed their lead and some stayed behind, one after the other, Josh, Annie, The businessman from earlier, and all but 2 of the survivors had left their original platform, some still limping from their earlier injuries. Audrey and the bus driver who had been unconscious up until now for better or for worse was now a part of this hellish nightmare. ¡°Come on move! Or else we are all dead!¡± Josh tried desperately to snap everyone out of their fear stricken bodies, and it had worked many people began running as though their lives depended on it. ¡°That¡¯s it, keep running!¡± When the last survivor to leave the platform left, the crystal that hung above the platform above the survivors that stayed behind had turned from a light blue into a bright green color, the moment it did however, the water below began rising faster that the mandible nightmares below that had crab like bodies covered in barnacles were becoming more visible, they were getting even closer. ¡°What the-?!¡± This did not escape Selene¡¯s notice, having a clear view of all the crystals from her position in the center of the pentagon. As more of the survivors reached different platforms, more crystals hovering over the platforms began changing colors, which in turn made the sea level rise faster, however not all of them had quite yet changed. Even though there were those standing atop of the platforms. ¡°Why aren¡¯t they fucking changing?!¡± The businessman, had yelled panicking from the increasing sea level and the creatures below him chittering in hunger over their new found prey. Standing on the same platform as Josh and one other survivor was a man wearing a black jacket who seemed to have knew Josh when they first arrived. ¡°I think we need two people on each platform! The only crystals that are lit up have only two people on them!¡± Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.Her voice screaming to everyone, Selene, was thinking fast on her feat, it seemed likely she would be right, patterns were something easy to notice enough, but would it be right? ¡°Wait a minute..we have one extra then!¡± It was Josh who had said that, which caused everyone to freeze, the only platform which hadn¡¯t turned a different color came from Josh¡¯s platform, they all turned to look at them. ¡°What?!¡± She looked around trying to find any indication that as to how that could be..then she froze and looked down, hers was the 6th platform, someone else should have come with her¡­ Did I just kill someone? Her whole world was spinning, Selene couldn¡¯t believe what she had just realized, she had doomed someone to die, if not everyone..her Crystal was the only one that was red after all. ¡°Put me the fuck down, you piece of shit!¡± It was the businessman who was screaming and struggling against Josh, who was holding him up by his shirt trying to push him over the edge. ¡°Josh, what are you doing?!¡± Audrey had screamed from her platform over to Josh, looking wide-eyed in horror at what she was seeing, unable to believe what she was seeing. ¡°Doing what I need too to save us!¡± Gritting his teeth trying to push the man over the edge. ¡°Drake come over here and help me!¡± ¡°Fuck you, you crazy basta-!¡± The business man hard started punching Josh in a fury, as Drake started running over to go help Josh, the loud sound of water rising and then falling could be heard, followed up by a crunch then a scream. ¡°Help! Fucking help me Jo-¡± Drake screamed with no uncertainty in the pain he was in being held in the claws of the horrific monstrosity before him. The water level had finally gotten to high, one of the creatures from below could now be seen in its entirety, it had an armored tail with 6 legs, 1 pair looked a lot like a cricket, the rest were the sharp armored appendages, it had 2 sets of arms, two crab like pincers, and a smaller pair closer to it¡¯s chest that were incredibly sharp, the body itself appeared to be a mixture of a shrimp and a human body, the head resembling a human one but with deep black eyes on the sides of the head and a pair of mandibles where the mouth should be, and a pair of cold unmoving human eyes in the eye socket moving unblinking as it rips Drake¡¯s arm off using it¡¯s pincer claws and then using the second pair of arms to grab a hold of it and bring it to its mandibles where audible crunching could be heard, Drake still being held in one of the pincers while the other had torn off his arm. ¡°Drake!¡± ¡°It¡¯s eating him!¡± The businessman pushed Josh to the side while Josh was still in shock over Drake dying and managed to get back on the platform, before Drake¡¯s screams were cut off by his head being ripped off by one of the large pincers, sings of veins and bone could be seen still trying to hold on uselessly to the now decapitated head from his body before snapping off and the head being devoured by the horrific creature. The moment it had done so, the crystal above their platform finally changed to a green color, when it had done so the crystal above Selene who was still standing there in shock, shined brightly, then like a pulse with the red crystal being it¡¯s center of released a red energy, almost like the sonic aftermath of a nuke hitting the ground, just as shocking and deadly, it disintegrated the monsters yet leaving the survivors unharmed leaving behind these red motes of energy where the destroyed bodies of the horrific creatures lay. Before a single otherworldly voice in a commanding tone boomed over all of the survivors. ¡°??? ???? ??????-to unleash the power that lays here, and sacrifice one of your own to obtain it, you shall receive it in kind¡± Everyone was standing there motionless waiting to see what would happen, when the crystals atop all of the platforms except the one above Selene, began unmaking itself and then reforming into motes of light, all flowing into those who still stood alive atop the platforms, first it began with Annie, her body glowed until her hair turned into a snowy white and gold eyes, in her hands formed into a sword of pure white energy, the businessman¡¯s skin itched as tattoo¡¯s of snakes formed and slithered around his arm and up around his body, his pupils becoming elliptical, and his nails grew into sharp claws with a clear liquid coating them. ¡°W-What the hell?!¡± Josh had looked watching the businessman turned near monstrous taking a step back before his arms lit aflame forming into gauntlets, and a crown of flame forming over his head, his skin forming scales along his arms and around his chest. Audrey¡¯s hands became a glassy blue, her eyes becoming a bright oceanic blue, her arms which could now be seen through had this bright energy flowing through it almost as if energy were blood. Across from her the bus driver seemed to stir as his body lined in blue markings all over his body and up to his head, each joint forming a circle, and then circling around his head. Him and many more seemed to be changing, and right as the last person received whatever twisted gift this otherworldly being had in mind, his voice boomed over all. ¡°Listen well, you must all be prepared to destroy the holder of the desecrated power that lays here, for it shall now be released onto one of you, you ten heroes hear me now! Destroy the evil that shall now manifest into this world by your own greed! Finish what the heroes of eld had failed to accomplish!¡± Manifested evil? What is this thing talking abou..oh no Selene had been the only person that hadn¡¯t received anything, her crystal was the only odd thing different¡­everyone was looking at her. NO NO NO NO please for the love of fuck no, I thought the sacrifice was supposed to be for the platforms! ¡°No, please no wait!¡± Selene had tried to scream to make it stop, but no one would save her, no one could save her, she was at the mercy of whatever otherworldly voice was orchestrating all of this. ¡°You have chosen your sacrifice!¡± The crystal above Selene drew in all of the motes of red light that were left behind by all of the monstrosities when they were destroyed, they were all being absorbed greedily by the crystal, then when it had finished absorbing into the crystal, in a singular beam it shot down onto Selene, an immeasurable amount of pain flew through Selene as she felt her body change, the bones on her back broken and realigned and moved, skin tearing to let these small leather wings release, horns broke through Selene¡¯s skull blood dripping down her head, caking her black hair and flowing down her back, the color of her eyes turning into a crimson red, ears forming into sharp ends. Her screams filled the air, while everyone looked on in horror. Dark tendrils released their way from Selene, heading forward aggressively to attack all of those present, before being blocked by an invisible force of energy. ¡°Selene!¡± Her voice trying her best to reach Selene, Annie¡¯s voice did little to get through the pain that Selene was feeling. I..I can¡¯t make the pain stop! Make the pain stop!! ¡°Listen well new heroes, you have released this evil, now you will destroy it in time, good luck to you saviors of Lunaria¡±There was a bright flash filling her sight Selene could no longer see anything through the white light, and she was already losing consciousness. The last thing she could see from her surroundings before she passed out was a damp cold room lined with stone bricks.