The World Sinking into Darkness
He had been too careless. Jude wasnât sure how it happened or when, but at some point one of his earlier actions had come back to bite him, and it bit him fairly hard. Exodus was always a problem and one he never took lightly. Every journey he made out to the lab, every train he took in Elympios, even walking through Trigleph itself? Jude remained on his guard. He had to be. After all, he was the hope of the Spyrix Project. The driving force that helped it near to completion. Without him? It wouldnât have gotten as far as it has today.
So when he was ambushed outside of Sharilton on the road back to the seahaven, he knew he had been far too lax. Usually he could slip away with a well placed arte or a good dodge combined with his speed, but it wasnât that easy and he could only inwardly curse at his own mistakes. While Exodus had their usual motives for going after him, this time it was far too desperate and with more purpose than their usual attempts. They would never consider an attack in Rieze Maxia, not with how well protected it was, there was too much risk involved⊠Which meant this was worth the risk. It went beyond just an attempt on the life of someone who was uniting the worlds against their own wishes.
âMathis, you made a fool of us before, but it won't happen again.â
Jude had heard the words before, after all, he took no pleasure in hurting people and avoided death at all possible. He is a doctor after all⊠It was what was said next that brought a sense of panic in the younger.
âNo white knight to save you this time around.â
That was when he realised just exactly who he was dealing with. There were times Exodus had bothered him with his friends present, but the wording and with how bold they were being? It added up. If these were the same members he had dealt with in Efinea and had somehow escaped? That knowledge alone was enough for him to be targeted. Jude had access to that world-- and they went straight to him to get it back. At that revelation, the younger immediately made a break for the Sapstrath Deepwood, the only other direction he could take being surrounded as he was.
While Jude was quick, Exodus did learn from their mistakes and with how much information they had on the younger, they knew just how to deal with him. There was a signal from the leader and without much other warning to go off, a charged shot was fired in his direction. A shot that clearly used spirits in its creation and held enough power to go straight through anything it touched. The younger had no time to dodge the blast and he could only watch the devastation to created in his wake, only for it to quickly catch up with him that the blast did not miss him entirely.
Immediately he dived behind a rock for cover (not that it would do much considering the damage that thing had just done), but he did it instinctively. Looking down, he could only see that the left lower side of his lab coat, and the following wear was stained in red as his vision faded for a moment. This was serious. This wasnât like any of those other times where he came off with some minor injuries or a few scrapes. When he exchanged silly words and moved on with his day. If he didnât do something about this⊠He was going to die. The fear-- the feeling of dread that washed over him wasnât something he could ignore, but he couldnât give in to it. That pain that persisted? He was going to have to focus on it if he wanted to stay in this game of theirs.
âWhatâs it gonna be Mathis? We know you canât kill any of us. Why not just give in and weâll make this quick.â
Keeping his right hand on his side and forcing his mouth shut so he wouldnât make any noise from how much that stupid blast had actually done-- if he could only assess the damage, if only he had more time! He couldnât even think of a good plan in this situation, though he was practically fighting with himself to not just collapse entirely. Jude was cornered, if he didnât receive treatment soon he would surely die from the blood loss alone. There were too many enemies⊠and he was in no condition to escape now. Even if he did they might just blast him again, and he if remained here? Theyâd blast through the rock and heâd be finished in seconds.
To even have a chance⊠Heâd have to use exactly what they were after. Exodus didnât know what it was that allowed him to traverse worlds, but it was a risk he was going to have to take. Jude couldnât give up here, he had so much left to accomplish-- he had to survive! He had to keep his promise, he had too much of a responsibility to the world and the people in it, both humans and spirits!
Throwing caution into the wind, he used his free hand to take the dagger out of the sheath that was attached to his belt and opened a rift behind the rock he was still leaning against and walked straight through it. Though only after a couple of steps⊠oddly cold steps, he fell face first into a pile of snow, snow that very quickly was turning a shade of red. The dagger slipped through his hand in the process and sunk blade first into the snow next to him. No matter how hard he tried to force himself further, his body just wasnât responding anymore.
The sparkling amber eyes quickly lost their shine, but he couldnât lose consciousness. If he fell asleep he might not wake up. Jude knew this, but his options were fading by the second. Snow..? Where had the rift taken him to? Who would find him out here? Had Exodus really won? Was this truly the end? The rift⊠it wasnât fully closedâŠ
