Seed Of Speed

With Rainshower accepting Firesand's death, the young couple slowed their speed of travel which gave them plenty of time to enjoy their ever-deepening relationship. They enjoyed another night under the stars before approaching the Jobin Oasis midday, but Katalina's System was something to protect Diego from creatures like Daemora.

::Diego, land now!::

Since Katalina never yelled in his ear like that, he immediately turned his griffin down and landed not too far from where he had first awoken in this new world.

::I can sense something dangerous ahead, something that you aren't ready face::

"What is it, Ishu? Why did we land?" Rainshower asked.

"I sensed something. Please give me a moment," Diego said aloud then mentally, (What do you mean not ready to face? What is it?)

::The Avatar of a Daemora. He or she will be able to sense the 'God Seed' in you::

(If it's at the oasis then it's because of me!)

::Even if that's the case, there is nothing you can do. There is no way you can match the Avatar with your current strength, and I have no magic that can close the distance between you two. You will die!::

Diego looked into the distance where the oasis located, and a heavy feeling filled his heart. The real him knew these people for less than a few months before he left for the sect, did he really need to go and risk his life for nothing? But as he looked at Rainshower's back and thought of Firesand who had been killed because of him, he knew he could not just leave.

(Can the Avatar get anything from the 'Seed of Speed' if he kills me?) Diego asked.

::Nothing restricted to a lesser world has the power of contain the Seed before the System destroys it::

(Then I'm sorry, Katalina. It would have been nice to meet you in person.)

::Don't be sorry, Diego. Standing for your beliefs is what gives Emily's choice value. Don't forget the talismans Shadowbolt gave you before your first expedition. They might be able to save you during this fool's errand::

Diego smiled to himself as he completely agreed with her, but it did not change the feeling in his heart; he had to go. There might be someone he could save, something he could, but maybe he just needed to see what he was really up against. He could not stay in the sect forever, and this was what would be hunting him when he finally stepped out. He had to go.

Diego slid off the back of the golem and summon up a {Sand Clone} to take his place. "Dystina, I need you to return to the sect. Find my master and tell him that a Daemora attacked our clan."

"Ishu, I don't understand. What's a Daemora? If something attacked the oasis, why do you have to go alone?" Rainshower asked.

"Because I have to. I have to... see what happened to our people," Diego said quietly, yet confidently.

"I'm not letting you go alone! My mother is still in there!" Rainshower yelled, disrupting the clone behind her, so that it returned to sand.

Diego sighed, "Dystina, I am likely going to my death. Stay safe and get help."

"You call me by my name, but have you forgotten what that means? I pledged my life to you, too face all dangers by your side... How can you just turn your back on that promise?!?" Rainshower exclaimed with tears in her eyes.

Diego could only sigh again and ask silently, (Can the teleportation talisman carry another person?)

::Just one person, and you must be holding her::

He raised a hand to her, as he did every time to help her dismount, and she understood the meaning behind it. She slid off the griffin and into his arms, giving him a hug.

"You must stay by my side, no matter what we find," Diego said seriously.

"Of course, that is where I belong," she replied.

"Jalu, you need to stay back. I might be able to protect us, but I can't promise you too," Diego to the little fox in Rainshower's arms.

The fox gave a small yowl, but complied and hopped onto the ground. Diego placed a hand on his golem and it shrank to its deactivated form before he stored it away. He retrieved another golem, but this one in the shape of a hummingbird. Moonfall had crafted his for him and was a simple messenger bird, able to take back a message to Shadowbolt.

"Forgive me, master..." Diego whispered to the golem before he sent it on its way with a full charge of mana, but it would still take over a week for the little golem to fly that far.

"We will go the rest of the way on foot. Conserve your energy and be ready to move at a moment's notice," Diego said, taking Rainshower's hand, then pulled her along with his {White Lightning Array}.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Echo, do you sense it?" Nyra'teni asked within the mind of his Avatar.

Echo opened his eyes and looked to the west, replying silently, "Yes, although the strength is weak... there is something about its power that stirs something deep within me."

"That is the power of my fallen, ancient enemy, transplanted into the body of a mortal, much like yourself. I haven't heard of any being born here before, but we are far from the bounty of this world, so maybe there was a problem with the reincarnation. No matter the reason, you must capture this power."

"This is much too coincidental. We were expecting one of the heirs soon, and now this. The Heavens must have gifted this power to you by putting it in the boy, master!"

"Entertain the boy properly. I want to drink his despair before consuming his soul!" Nyra'teni chuckled darkly as he rewarded his Avatar with a feeling of intoxicating power.

"I shall give the boy the welcome he deserves, master."

Echo sat in a pool of blood as he had been meditating before his master awoken him. Upon receiving his master's favor, the red runes on his body turned golden, but dimmed back to crimson moments later. Behind him, the bodies of fourteen young men hung upside down from the ceiling, bound in crimson chains. The younger ones had lost the light in their eyes after watching the massacre, but a few of the older ones wriggled every now and then in an attempt to free themselves.

Echo walked up to the oldest of the boys, who he had gagged due the boy's constant swearing for revenge, but Echo just took it as mad dog barking. He was definitely the most alive of the bunch as he chomped on the crimson chains in his mouth. Grabbing the chains around the boy's neck, Echo forcefully pulled him up to look into his eyes.

"Your brother is racing to his own death, but it would be too easy if I am the one to kill him. You may not have the strength to fight him as you are now, but I can change that. I just need you to show your brother everything that his actions have caused," Echo said.

A crimson and black liquid seeped out of Echo's hand and began covering the boy's body. He thrashed around like he was experience the torture of a thousand lifetimes while the foreign evil energy tunneled its way into his body through his pores and other openings of his body.