"*Ding*

"Sky's Status Loading..."

Sky's status:

Ether Capacity: 1%

Health: 82%

Stamina: 39%

--

Strength: Lvl.3

Agility: Lvl.5

Endurance: Lvl.7

Ether: Lvl.9

--

Skills:

Ether's Eye: Lvl3

  See the world from the perspective of ether.

Ether Manipulation: Lvl.1

  Manipulate ether around you.

  Strengthened by 'Ether's Acknowledgement'.

--

Titles:

  A Touch of Darkness

  Ether's Acknowledgement

"What the hell? How are you only at 1% ether?! And how is your ether's level so high?!" Avis said in shock.

"I don't know. Maybe because I used ether to kill that thing?" Sky said with a hint of sarcasm, shrugging his shoulders.

"No, that doesn't make any sense. The amount of ether you used should've only been 5% or 10%; only a fraction of your total ether should've been used. So do your damn breathing thing, and expand your titles. I want to see what they do.

"*Ding*

"Sky's Titles Loading

A Touch of Darkness: Darkness hosts itself within everyone, but not many are marked by it.

Effects: Within a dimension afflicted by darkness, luck increases by 10%. Outside of a domain plagued by darkness, luck decreases by 10%.

Warning: This title will affect other aspects of user Sky's constitution. These effects are unknown.

--

Ether's Acknowledgement: The user has been recognised by ether.

Effects: User can now synergise, if only a little, with ambient ether.

--

"Interesting... very interesting," Avis said, bobbing up and down. "So, it seems that you're more attuned to darkness than light. In that case, the Devils Domain would be the perfect place for you."

"What do you mean?" Sky asked.

"Well, from what I know, the Devils Domain is where only those with a dark title can enter and leave alive. I can't even tell you how you got 'Ether's Acknowledgement'. Although ether has no attribute by default, it's widely known that it naturally detests darkness. Darkness detests ether, and thus, they are two completely different entities. There isn't a single being in this Forest that can use ether and darkness at the same time. But you… You're something else entirely. That 'Touch of Darkness' is doing more than the system is letting you know."

"So, you're saying I should go to the Devil's Domain because the darkness is most present there?" Sky asked.

"Yes, exactly. So much for building a plan before we leave."

"What about you, Avis? Won't you get affected by the darkness as well?"

"I don't have any dark titles, but I'm much more experienced than you. I can handle myself."

"Okay then, let's go."

Sky couldn't help but feel like he was being watched as they walked towards the Devils Domain. He had a bad feeling about this, but he pushed on nonetheless. It didn't take very long until they arrived at the edge of the domain. Sky could feel an eerie presence lurking within. It was as if something was waiting for him, taunting him to come closer.

"Be very careful in there, Sky. I'll be right by you." Avis said sternly.

"Let's push forwards. There's no use in standing around here."

As they took their first step into the domain, Sky felt his body grow heavier. It was as if the darkness was trying to drain him of his energy. He could see Avis struggling as well, but he pushed on. It only took a few moments within the Devil's Domain for Sky to feel his body lighten up. He thought his body could be getting used to the pressure, but then he remembered his title. The most likely explanation was that 'A Touch of Darkness' slowly adapted him to the darkness.

As they continued further in, they started to come across more creatures. Some were floating in the air, some were crawling on the ground, and others were perched atop trees. But they all had one thing in common; they were all pitch black in colour. A mirky aura emitted from their body, and Sky could feel an intense pressure emanating from them.

"What the hell are these things?!" He exclaimed in a whisper.

"Beats me. I've never seen anything like them before." Avis said, shaking his head.

Just as they were about to move on, one of the creatures detached itself from the tree it was perched on. It was a panther-like creature with large raven wings on its back and fangs as long as Sky's forearm. Its eyes were a deep red, and they seemed to be staring right through him.

It let out a blood-curdling screech before it walked away.

"I'm going to assume you don't know what that thing was either?" Sky asked, looking at Avis.

"No… But I'm more concerned about why they didn't attack us."

"Yeah, me too."

As they continued further into the domain, the creatures became more aggressive. They would hiss and screech as Sky and Avis walked by, but they never attacked. It was as if they were waiting for something. The more they walked to the centre of the domain, the more creatures they started to see. There were all sorts of different shapes and sizes, but they were all black as night. The trees also showed obvious signs of being afflicted by the darkness. Thick black veins bulged from the trunk, and the leaves were all wilted and dying.

"What the hell is going on here?" Avis muttered under his breath. "It's as if they're waiting for permission or something?!"

Just as he said that a voice boomed from the clouds above.

"What are you doing in my domain?" The voice thundered.

The mirky clouds thickened, and the ground started to shake.

Avis and Sky looked around frantically before Avis realised who this was. He paled and asked, "I-is that you, goddess Goregora?"

"Yes, it is I. Now answer my question. What are you doing here?" The voice boomed again.

"W-we're just passing through. We don't want any trouble." Avis said, trying to appease the great being.

"Lies!" The voice thundered. "I can sense the darkness within you, boy. You have come here with malicious purposes!"

"N-no! That's not true! We just want to go through!" Avis pleaded.

"Why do you speak for the boy, parasite? I'll give you one last chance. Leave now and never come back, or face my wrath!" The voice boomed again.

Sky stepped away from Avis and raised his voice. "I'm here to rid this place of darkness!"

"Don't make me laugh, boy. You're nothing but a weak little human." The voice laughed.

"What are you doing?!" Avis whispered, "You're talking to the goddess of the forest! Just bow your head and run, you fool!"

Sky ignored Avis and continued to speak. "Can I ask what happened here? Do these creatures not attack because of your influence?"

"You dare question me, boy?!" The voice thundered. "They do not attack because they know their place! They know that if they go against my law, they'll be the first to perish."

"If you're the goddess of this forest, then why are you protecting this place? Isn't it evil?"

Lightning struck the ground in front of Sky, narrowly missing him.

"How dare you question me, boy! I am the goddess of this forest, and I will do as I please!" The voice thundered.

"I see… So you're not really a goddess then." Sky said, looking at the clouds.

"What?!" The voice thundered.

"A goddess would do what it takes to rid their domain of evil, but you? You not only protect it, but you also drive away outsiders! If I didn't know any better, it looks like you're colluding with the darkness itself!"

Thunder clapped, and lightning darted down towards Sky, but he side-stepped it. He could see the ether-lines thicken where the direction of the lightning was aiming. Although dangerous, something told him this goddess didn't want to harm him but scare him away.

"You insolent little brat! I'll show you the true power of a goddess!" The voice thundered.

The ground started to shake, and the trees began to bend. The forest's creatures started to screech and hiss as they became agitated.

Avis's jaw dropped, and he began preparing his grave. He knew there was no way he could defeat this being, let alone survive its wrath.

"W-what are you doing?" Avis whispered

Sky closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Although the darkness attribute infected the ether around him, he felt like he could influence it to his will. He didn't circulate the ether within him but reached out and influenced it around him. He focused on the ground and pulled the infected ether out of the black grass. A moment later and the grass was now a dehydrated brown colour. It was only a tiny patch of grass immediately engulfed by the darkness. He hoped it was enough to show evidence of his sincerity, even though he collapsed to his knees and struggled to breathe.

Avis's watched as he saw what Sky had done. He knew that he couldn't do such a thing, and doing such a thing will have a side-effect of some kind. Avis didn't take a moment to see Sky's fingertips blackened.

"What have you done?" Avis whispered.

"I-I don't know. I just tried to show her we're here for good, not what she thinks." Sky's voice trembled, and his whole body convulsed, but he continued to try and reach out for the darkness.

"It's no use, boy. I can't do it myself, let alone a mere human like you." The voice thundered. Every word that this great goddess spoke thundered, but what she had just said, although loud, was full of sorrow and distraught.

Panting between breaths, Sky said, "Please! I've seen the source of the darkness. Let me try and rid it for you...."

"No!" The voice thundered. "You've shown me the little influence you have over the darkness. What makes you think you can rid it?"

"Sky," Avis said, "even I think it's impossible to rid this place of such thick darkness. What did you see which is making you push so hard? Let's go back. You may have the title 'A Touch of Darkness', but that is only a touch. Right now, you're being infected by it, and I don't have the confidence to remove it."

Sky's lips tightened, 'Even you, Avis?' he thought. Slowly, Sky stood up, his breathing still ragged. Without another word, he turned away from the voice and started to walk toward the centre. It was within eyesight. The pillars are etched with runes, and a river leads out of it, exuding a black substance.

"Sky! Don't be a fool!" Avis yelled, but it was too late. Sky had already started to run, ignoring Avis and the goddess.

Avis chased after Sky, and it didn't take long for him to catch up. 'What did Sky see when the creature he fought exposed its memories to him? Why did it show those memories to him?' Avis thought.

"What are you planning to do?" Avis asked.

"I'm going to at least try and destroy the source." Sky's voice was persistent, but his eyes showed the fear he had.

"And how do you plan on destroying it?"

"I'll think of something on the way."

With that, the two ran towards the darkness's centre.