Triple X System

”Help me!” The scream echoed louder, across the narrow path leading back down. Listening to it, there was no recognition linking it to one of the generals or people he knew.

”Could it be?” His hopes went up in belief of a particular individual.

[I know you’re eager to see her. But I need to remind you you’re on a planet with large amounts of dark energy and unknown creatures that could likely assume identities.] Snow warned, her tone stern yet laced with sweet affection.

”You’re right..” Kyle submitted, adhering to his system helper.

”It might be a trap, best not to go wandering for trouble with most of my skills still locked.” He uttered the last bit of words with a slight annoyance, checking his profile tab still labeled as locked.

Glancing downwards at the edge of the cliff, the height wasn’t that significant compared to feats he’d fallen from before. But still, the agonizing pain accompanied from the earlier strain he put his body through stalled his decision.

”There has to be another way down.” He frowned looking round, sighting only barren red soul with limited space on the cliff. No signs of a different descent route.

”Noo!! Elminus disparia!” The feminine voice changed, and for about 5 seconds a bright white light shine towards the direction of the road leading down.

”D-did you feel that?” Kyle asked not about to jump to conclusions.

[Yeah, it was very vivid. That wasn’t dark energy but mana, and a vivid amount of it.] Snow replied also surprised.

”Which must mean that thing earlier was a spell, specifically a light magic used to repel dark energy. Right?” Kyle spoke, this time a bit eager as images from his blackout state flooded his mind.

[Sighs.. I know what’s going through your mind, and honestly.. I feel the same way. I won’t try to stop you, but I’ll try to filtrate the abundant dark energy within this vicinity and map out a clear structure with aura signatures.] Snow relayed with a defeated tone, her interest clearly piqued like Kyle.

Softly nodding he carefully made his way down the path.

He couldn’t feel the texture of the red soil underneath his feet, still in the Aegis-V suit. But it lacked enough mass to be solid and wasn’t soft either, somewhere in the middle with a rough outline. Taking in slow breaths, he noticed the suit conserved more power this way. But that was the least of his problems right now.

According to his visions, the first part had already played out differently than expected. But since he’d switched places with that humanoid insect creature, there was no doubt it was an accident.

”Are those, goats?” Kyle commented with a raised brow.

It didn’t take long before he reached towards the end of the short path, but he’d already sighted a creature flung back some steps.

Taking cover behind a big wall of red rock, he observed the scene between 6 figures. 5 were quickly identified as animalistic predators, distinct from the average beasts and creatures he’d seen so far.

Taking on the appearance of a goat with ash white skin, but in humanoid form with 2 extended black curved horns. Reaching about 15inch long while they stood at about a domineering height of 8 feet tall.

’B-ble-hehh!’

Letting out a distorted scream that sounded more like a cracked disc. Two out of the five humanoid goat creatures, charged forward on two feet. Their black hollow eyes showed no fear or emotion, only acting on feral instinct.

’They did say the devil was pictured as the embodiment of greed and lust. Which is apparently.. a goat.’ He tried his best not to burst out in laughter, watching how real earth fascination about the supernatural was real.

”Speaking of. I wonder what’s the current situation back there?” The thought never crossed his mind before but now, he couldn’t help but wonder.

[Kyle, I’ve managed to disperse some amounts of dark energy within a 15 mile radius from you. There’s no other signs of beasts nearby, but..] She paused, and he could sense the weight of the words about to come next.

’What?’ He inwardly asked.

[I hate to say this, but you were right. I picked up an energy signature here a while ago. Though it was faint, I crosshatched it to the data on the system and it came up as Yua aura.] Snow mentioned in the best way she knew how.

Not responding immediately, Kyle subconsciously clenched his fist. A thousand and one words crossed his mind, but none came out. A mixture of anger, joy, regret, guilt, all crossed his mind at once.

’Can you trace her energy signature?’ He asked, keeping his emotions in check.

[Unfortunately, no. Her energy signature must’ve been here for about 30 minutes back, but the surrounding dark energy has corroded it.]

Gripping his fist more tightly, a mixture of rage and bitterness swirled within him. Just when it seemed his path to redemption was finally set, karma had it’s way of making him pay.

[But..] Snow continued, apparently not finished. [There might be someone who definitely know where she is.]

’Who?’

[Her. The woman with blonde hair, that’s the witch from your vision. That’s Elara!] Snow shouted with a hundred percent confidence.

”Viscante ramblast!” The hooded figure yelled holding a wooden staff. And for a moment the air seemed to stand still, like a sudden change in the entire space of this platform.

Rumble..

Just like the flip of a switch the ground began rumbling, a thin line shooting out from the position her staff stood. Further dividing into seven paths, splitting the floor open like hot knife through butter.

Caught up in the mayhem, the two humanoid goats tried to leap to safety but black tendrils sprung underneath. Pulling them underneath into their death pits, while the floor closed like it had never opened up.

”Pho-ugh! Phough..” The figure allegedly assumed to be Elara crouthced down, coughing up a mouthful of fresh blood.

[Her mana pool is being polluted, she’s already infected from the surrounding dark energy. Vitals are running low and her health is deteriorating fast, estimated time till death is 3 days max.] Snow pointed out, to which Kyle took note already stepping out.

”I think it’s time me and the witch had a little talk.” A sick smile smeered on his face, like a long awaited victory was in his grasp.

”She’s weakened from her last attack, move in now.” The goat at the center with black coal skin and deep red eyes commanded.

Gesturing with it’s hand forward to which the others obeyed, moving out with watering mouth.

”I used up too much mana, it won’t be long till I hit reserve and I’m screwed.” The young woman lamented through gritted teeth, her hands firmly griped around the wooden staff with a white orb at the tip.

Attempting to stand up, she stumbled under her blurry vision and shortage of breath. Earning gruttal intimidating laughs from the two approaching beasts.

”Allura encanto!” She shouted with the little strength left in her.

Just like magic four balls of flames appeared in her front, burning with an intimidating viscosity. Making the two creatures stop in their tracks, clearly frightened by those balls of flames.

”Go.” She commanded and just like she instructed, the balls shot forward about 6 steps. Halfway from the two creatures, until they abruptly stopped dissipating into sparks of flames.

”Damnit!” Elara cursed, her shoulders slumped back a bit as she supported her weight with the staff.

”That’s it, I’m all out of mana. It won’t be long until I die, that is if I’m not eaten first.” Taking a deep breath in, she regretted her death was going to be by the hands of these abominable entities.

Just in her moments of lamentation, a voice so vague yet so familiar drew her attention.

”Hands off, she’s mine.” Kyle authoritatively commanded, with an indifferent expression.

Startled slightly by the appearance of a new figure, the humanoid goat creatures observed this new human. Judging his aura was really low, they deemed him less of a threat and more flesh to satisfy their primal cravings.

”I won’t repeat myself, back off.” Kyle muttered in a distant voice, his tone as cold as ice.

Paying no attention, the two savages decided to sprint towards the duo location. Their speeds reaching new levels below the previous general Kyle fought.

”Very well then, death it is.” Maintaining a calm look, a bow made entirely out of pure shadows materialized in his front.

Grabbing the string he pulled back, an arrow also made of shadows formed with an otherworldly purple glow.

Just like a primal instinct or gut feeling, their brains screamed to retreat back. Specifically when this strange human constructed that bow, they immediately felt a disconnection with their shadows which was no longer there.

Swoish swoosh!

The two arrows cut through the air, moving with direct precision piercing both creatures heart. Dropping them dead on the spot, but they didn’t stop there, heading directly for the humanoid goat suspected was their leader.

’He’s certainly calm for someone about to die.’ Kyle inwardly joked.

[I wouldn’t be so sure. That beast, something about it’s entire gene formation is wrong.] Snow voiced her concern, and it didn’t take a second more before an explosion occured in front.

Looking, Kyle could see the towering beast sitting at a height of about 9 feat calmly approaching. Each step it took spelled power, without a single scratch to it.

”Looks like we finally have another victim to play with.” Kyle excitedly muttered heading out to match the beast.

The two locked eye contact with deadly stares, both auras spiralling out of the two powerful figures in a clash.

”You.” The humanoid goat spoke in a deep beastial voice.

”You? Tsk.. are you speechless impaired or just stupid.” Kyle teased with a confident smirk.

”Cocky, just like I expected. Your aura betrays your true strength, which means you somehow concealed it. Not bad for a demon slave.” The beast grinned with a wide evil smile.

”Demon slave? What the hell are you on about.” Kyle frowned in no mood for games.