A massive dome of darkness formed inside the enormous, bright hall, trapping dozens of children.
The children panicked as large pillars and darkness surrounded them; stripping them of their vision, and as a few moments passed -
AARGH!!
A scream echoed throughout the dome, increasing the sense of dread and panic among the children.
The children scrambled and ran, trying to get away from the source of the scream, but among the children, strange grey childlike creatures lurked in the darkness.
In an instant, hundreds of the grey monsters leaped from the darkness as they began their onslaught upon the children.
The monsters ran on their short legs as they swung their long, bony, needlelike arms towards the children; stabbing and ravaging multiple children.
Monsters swarmed the bodies of fallen children and other fallen monsters; stabbing and draining any remaining blood through their long, needlelike arms. But amidst the chaos, a few children realised a change within them; their bodies felt lighter, their senses heightened as their eyes adjusted to the dark, and an unfamiliar energy burned inside of them; empowering them.
***
Among the few awakened children, one stood out among them. Her long black hair swayed as hordes of monsters ran past her; as though she was invisible to them.
She didn't move or flinch despite the horrors unfolding around her. Her dark blue eyes fixed on the figure of a small boy; his long, matte black hair veiling most of his face as he remained seated amidst the chaos.
The grey monsters avoided the boy, seemingly afraid of him, piquing her interest even more.
ARGH!!
PLEASE!! HELP ME!!
Screams echoed throughout the dome, yet neither the boy nor the girl seemed to care; their minds were preoccupied with their own interests.
After a few seconds, the monsters around the boy came to a halt as he stood up from his seat; their legs trembling with every step the boy took as they tried to get further away from him.
The girl followed after the boy as he walked through the horde of monsters; examining him and his surroundings, and that's when she noticed it.
A tall, bony creature lurked behind the boy, its black scales camouflaging its body as it set its stance; readying to pounce at him.
Without a second thought, the girl dashed toward the boy at unbelievable speed.
"Hey! Watch out!!", the girl called out to the boy as the monster shot its long, clawed arm toward him; aiming to finish him in one blow.
WHOOSH
The monster's claws were inches away from the boy's head before the girl pushed him out of the way; barely saving his life.
THUD!
A resounding crash echoed throughout the energy dome as the monster's arm stabbed into it.
The girl immediately pulled the boy away as she noticed that the monster's long arm was stuck in the wall of the energy dome.
The two children came to a halt as they hid behind a large pillar. The boy's breath came in ragged gasps as the girl put a barrier of energy; making them unnoticeable to the small grey monsters around them.
"Tsk. First shadow leeches and now a night crawler.", the girl murmured to herself before turning her attention to the boy as he rested against the stone pillar.
"Hey. Are you alright?", asked the girl.
"What's going on?", asked the boy.
"I don't know, but I think the way out of here has something to do with that nightcrawler.", answered the girl as she recalled what had happened till this point.
The boy paused for a moment as he weighed the girl's words before asking, "Why do you think that?"
"It only attacked you when you tried to go through that part of the dome."
"So the only way out is by somehow passing that monster?", asked the boy.
"Most probably."
'He hasn't turned to look at me a single time.', thought the girl as the boy's veiled face didn't turn from the direction of the remaining monsters.
"Do you have a plan?", asked the boy.
"Yes, but first, what's your blessing?"
"Blessing?", asked the boy.
'He hasn't unlocked his blessing yet?', the girl thought.
"Yes. Haven't you felt the faint energy inside of you?", said the girl.
"Yes, I can feel it.", said the boy after realising the blazing energy inside him.
"Great. Now try spreading it throughout your body."
The boy remained silent; lost in thought as he focused on spreading the energy inside him.
In an instant, the already terrifying aura around the boy turned deadly; making the girl squirm in place.
But in the next moment, the boy's hair fluttered as an icy breeze ran past them; revealing the boy's ruby eyes.
'Beautiful.', the girl thought as she set her eyes upon the boy's face.
The girl opened her mouth in shock as the boy pushed his hair back, revealing the lines of black markings on his face.
"Now then, let's have some fun~", said the boy as he stretched his body; a wide grin creeping onto his face as he dashed toward the monsters.