FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 27

"What the fuck is that thing?!" Diazen exclaimed at the top of his lungs, his scream sounding like a wail of a tortured prisoner who is just having his arm amputated

"We should be asking you that" Sparx replied emotionlessly, his eyes remaining locked at the burning, empty eyeballs in the wall ahead

"Not that!" purple paw shot up, pointing at the ground "THAT!"

His shriek was so strong that it managed to pry off every eye off the weird wall ahead. All three friends looked at Diazen just to shift their eyes in the direction he was pointing at.

He was pointing at Creep.

If the circumstances would be any different they would perhaps consider the fact just how indifferently they approached the presence of an unnatural, magical creature which's dark and ominous reflection shifted and wiggled on the ground.

If circumstances were different then perhaps they would think about the essence of their lives and how much those lives changed, lives where a sentient tshadow of a supernatural creature has no impact on them.

"Oh that" Sparx murmured indifferently, his voice as blank as the expressions on the golem's sculpted faces "That's Creep, he's like a flea riding on Cynder's back, he's a joy to have around"

"Come closer" a deafening rumble of cracking rocks filled the hall, none of them would ever take this sound for actual words if not for the echo that resounded in the hall for a while

All heads snapped in one obvious direction. On the wall ahead another piece of stones collapsed, forming a horizontal cut filled with fire, a cut that was nothing else but a mouth.

"Wanderer Sugar" hollow voice of Creep whispered "Projection only, cannot hurt us. Beware nevertheless. Still an enigma, avoid Sugar, you are not prepared"

"Come closer" one of the golem's at the end of the right row spoke, its voice sounding like a clang of a pickaxe against rock

Spyro impulsively shivered at the sound of that voice. With Creep's interference he was getting a pretty clear understanding what exactly is the Wanderer.

"Diazen" he swallowed uneasily "Are we looking at the Constructor right now?"

"Come closer" another golem spoke up, this time the closest to them on their left side

Its voice was so powerful and loud from up close that all of them jumped, clenching their hearts that simply wanted to burst from their chests.

"Y-Y-Yes" he stammered

Spyro turned towards Cynder, one glance was enough to tell that she came to the same realization as him.

Constructor is the Wanderer.

A creature that is probably capable of unlocking his Time powers is also the one Cynder's supernatural companion demanded to avoid.

"Come closer" middle golem on the right groaned, this sound was far more unnerving and impatient than the previous ones

This only meant that the Constructor is an intelligent being.

"Creep" Cynder raised her voice,, eyeing the shadow of her magical flea as Sparx put it "We can't avoid the Wanderer. This is how we can get Spyro's Time powers back and go back home"

"Dangerous Sugar" the shadow split apart, letting out a whine that sounded like tearing paper

Surprisingly Creep didn't protest as hard as she expected, he didn't protest at all really. This was something of an insight for her actually, whether she liked it or not he was a part of her, it was understandable that he sensed her thoughts and motivation to some degree.

It was rather nice to see his weak protests, at least his constant assurances of his admiration for her weren't just empty words.

"I know, but we are so close now. I'll be careful, this is not the first danger we face" she explained sweetly, as if she would be reassuring her own child

He slinked back, shadow touching her paws, coiling around them like a cat asking to be pet.

"Don't trust Sugar. We are one, Spyro feeds and leave. Hastily"

Spyro shivered at the sound of feeds, when spoken by Creep's hollow voice the word sounded strangely disgusting to him.

The golems began to shift threateningly, their impatience voiced by the many groans in the form of rock grinding on rock.

"And you don't understand my world" Diazen muttered in disbelief, his eyes wide as he stared at the sentient shadow "While right here, we have a girl talking with a damn, living shadow. Who the hell are you guys?"

With a grin Sparx poked the dumbfounded purple with his elbow.

"Everybody heard of SSC in our place man. There is no house in our world that didn't hear about Sparx' Scaly Company, a charismatic, magnificent boss like me doesn't go unnoticed. I'm telling you, all this popularity is a pain, but..." he shrugged tiredly "Someone has to sacrifice himself"

Spyro rolled his eyes, twirl of the orbs followed by a deep sigh.

"COME CLOSER!" all of the golems roared, followed by the magical form of a face ahead, their combined bares were loud as an earthquake that they even managed to chip some stones from the ceiling

All of them immediately forgot about everything and entirely focused on the projection in the front.

Spyro made the first step, reluctantly and very carefully. His body was crunched and stretched, he moved as if he would be stalking his prey. His eyes never stopped moving, shifting from golem to golem, ready to catch even the slightest notion of aggression.

Rest of the group followed him, all also focused on the constructs, maybe except Creep, it was hard to tell at what he was looking. That didn't mean however he didn't have a point of focus, he did, his shadowy form twirled around Cynder's moving paws like a constantly wrapping and unwrapping itself scarf.

The fire that was blazing from the face ahead eased on its strength, the sentient mind hid behind that magical appearance noticed them and bestowed the group with all of its attention.

The golems around them froze momentarily, just like puppets that no longer had their strings pulled.

After another step the creature's eyes and mouth spat tongues of fiery flames, as if it would gasp in surprise. It's eyes shifted and narrowed themselves on one spot, spot that seemed to pierce the soul of every single one of them.

"I see you" the Constructor intoned, voice sounding like cracking flames

"You don't say" Sparx mumbled under his breath "If this guy is so bright I think we stand a chance" he hissed through clenched teeth

"What do you want from us?" Spyro asked, looking straight into the creature's eyes, with great difficulties withstanding its invading glare

It didn't answer.

He too remained quiet, not wanting to push his luck and also rather surprised by the creature's intense stare. The bewildered curiosity grew even stronger when the glance battle became unbearable, it was like the creature was looking right through him.

The longer he looked into those eyes the more he realized that this wasn't just his imagination. The creature was really looking at something behind him, he was simply in the way.

With a thoughtful frown he gently stepped to the side, only confirming his suspicions when the wall's eyes didn't even move an inch.

He followed their indivisible trail until his amethyst orbs landed on Cynder.

Not on her snout directly, the gaze of the Wanderer aimed lower.

At her legs.

No.

Not at her legs.

It aimed at the shadow dancing around her paws.

The Constructor was staring at Creep.

"Aether? Dark sibling?" the voice intoned curiously, its voice was rocking with tension, shaking like stones on the ground under massive steps

"Fledged, but starved. Not crippled. You don't belong here" its eyes seemed to shift at Cynder "You don't belong" and then they dropped down again

"We are one!" Creep blared out, his voice sending shivers down everyone's spine, it sounded like a cold cry of thousand of crows

Cynder shivered more than anyone all due to the fact that Creep's shadow slithered all across her body, embracing her like a massive snake.

It wouldn't be so terrifying and unpleasant if not for the fact that she could actually feel Creep's touch on her scales. It was slick as if he would be drooling all over her.

And so unbelievably cold.

"No, no, no" all of the golems shook their heads, giving silent emotion to the callous voice

"I am cosmos" the golems started nodding their heads, the older specimens crushed the rock on their necks, spitting fiery sparks with each crunch

"Need information. Coexistence not anticipated"

With a blare of grinding stones the face on the far wall disappeared, every block of colorful stone returned to its natural place, forming the typical, chaotic, meaningless mosaic once again.

The silence that has befallen on the room after that was loudest than the biggest of explosions.

"That's it?" Sparx broke the wordless curtain first, eyes locked on the now normal, boring wall, for the first impulsive time in this place his words lacked any humor or sarcastic touch

Radiating nothing, but complete shock.

Diazen stared wordlessly at the wall, mouth gaping open. He couldn't decide if what he was feeling was safety or slowly crawling terror.

"C-C-C-Cre-e-e-e-ep?" Cynder's teeth rattled, the unexpected chill making her feel as if her lungs would collapse

With this one word she voiced out every doubt plaguing her heart. Doubt referring to the Constructor and doubt regarding his influence on her very being.

He sensed both questions, recoiling back, her uncertainty making him clearly insecure. His shadow slinked from her body and pressed itself to the floor, shrinking as much as it could. The black globes lowering their intensity, as if wanting to fade.

"I like you Sugar! I like you Sugar! I like you Sugar!" Creep intoned, with each word his hollow way of speaking sounding more and more like fading echo

"What is going on here?" Diazen believed he mused to himself, in fact however saying his startled thoughts aloud for everyone to hear

Spyro acknowledged the inquiry as if he himself would ask this question, his mind was also boggled by the recent events. He didn't like the fact that Cynder's supposed element seemed to know, like literally know, the creature from past time.

He could understand its origins, beginning of the world and all that, magi, and if Creep is magic, existed probably from day one of the world's creation.

He was certain however that magic in its pure form, which Creep is supposedly, doesn't make friends or enemies. How naïve someone must be to believe otherwise.

Then again, there was Danox and his words, a dragon from the future, if Creep existed for countless time, then who can know more about it than the dragon wearing Cynder's scales coming from another era or two.

It was too much to process in this circumstances. First they have Diazen and this weird world and now Creep and the Constructor also joined the picture, a creature he knows so little about. All of this was making him insecure and wary, making him feel as if he is about to grow another pair of eyes on the back of his head.

Ironically it wasn't the most welcoming of sensations as he believed it would be.

Ignorance is bliss they say.

He was willing to agree with that.

Somehow he simply knew he didn't really want to know why Cynder's supposed element is willing to talk to a creature from the past and ignore them. There were no more excuses in this matter, yet he just couldn't let it slide.

Even if he really, really wanted to.

"Creep" Spyro hissed, licking his lips slowly, anxious concentration empowered by his flicking from side to side tail

"What all of this means? Don't pretend you don't hear me and don't try ignoring me. You spoke to a damn, weird entity and didn't bother to even try communicating with me. You molest my ma...friend and I demand that you speak with me, because I won't be tolerating this any longer, you should be more worried about me than some talking wall. You are abusing my friend and I'm right next to her on a daily basis, and I'll be next to her for years to come, in contrary to that damn stone"

He turned around, thrusting his narrowed gaze into the shadow on the floor.

"Talk to me now, or I swear I'm going to find a way to feed on something else than the Constructor"

Diazen made an instinctive step back, he was born in a world where internal conflict was common sight, he was aware that when something like this happens the side initiating the skirmish is on the winning side, the stronger side.

Without a doubt Spyro was the stronger side, he had seen powerful dragons before that didn't shy from displaying their prowess, those were scary dominators.

Spyro's power was modest and seemed shy, but when it ignited it was brighter and powerful as the sun. It wasn't scary if you weren't the target.

It demanded respect.

Sparx folded his arms, supporting his brother in the staring war, whenever his purple brother put on the big boy's pants he felt obliged to follow him. It was a pain to admit, but Spyro had something in him that just made you follow his shadow.

"Sugar" Creep whined, his empty voice reminding them of blowing wind

His shadow changed shape, part of it stretched, like a snake with a fanged mouth, it was bobbing up and down, as if wanting to lunge, but then deciding it was too dangerous. Repeating the same notion over and over again.

"Sugar" Creep whined again, the windy tone that was his vocal making it impossible to tell if he was begging or demanding

She defended Creep every chance she got, after all she knew how it is to be regarded as evil, be misunderstood and most importantly a reason to blame for everything. Even for the audacity of breathing.

Acting differently would make her only look like a hypocrite.

This time however there was no denying that Spyro's concerns are warranted and not just a reckless nudge of jealously and possessiveness. Those were there too of course, but they stood in the background of actual wit and worry.

Something was not right, there was clearly some tension between Creep and the Constructor. She could sense things like that, after all she too had troubles venting her frustration regarding her romantic feelings towards her best friend.

It opened her eyes to some things, she was perhaps too concentrated on the hypocrisy issue to notice it before, but the truth is that she is a host for a supernatural being that is her element or whatever else.

It was Dark.

The word alone is enough to raise alarm that only became louder due Creep's weird acting.

And the damn, cold, cold touch. If Death had a physical grip this was exactly how she imagined it would feel like.

"Answer him" Cynder commanded sternly

Spyro gasped faintly, his eyes widening, she met his stare confidently, her emerald orbs glimmering with meaningful assurance. In the shimmer of his amethyst eyes she noticed his relief, his happiness and care for her, she spotted him falling in love with her all over again.

His tail started to wag happily. Her own didn't remain in the back for long.

This support meant so much to him, no wonder since he considered his battle with Creep as his own personal war for her attention. For him it was like she would officially chosen him, she read it all from his eyes.

The wit and suspicion regarding Creep's motives disappeared.

Only for a while though.

She was really sad about it, if mere jealously would be calling the shots things would be so much easier.

The dark snake like extension retracted back into the twirling mass of shadow with a sharp jerk. The wiggling splotch itself sunk under her paws, stretching to its normal size.

It was her own shadow again.

"Mistake Sugar" Creep sniveled, or tried to at least, it was difficult to tell due to his emotionless echo of a voice

If Cynder would have to guess she would compare it to a howl of a slaughtered victim wafting from the bowels of a cave of some monster.

The shadow rearranged itself, no longer copying her form to the exact size, it shifted adding features that would in reality make her figure more prominent.

Enlarging the horns, sharpening claws, rounding her butt, spreading wings and then all of this would shift in the opposite direction, just to bounce again into enlargement. It looked like Creep wanted to make her shadow more attractive, but couldn't decide which side was the way to go.

In the end he stopped somewhere in between.

"Unravel the knot, don't bend, unravel the knot"

"Spare me this knot talk Creep" Cynder remained untouched by Creep's pleas, her eyes remained locked on Spyro's, otherwise she wasn't sure if she would pull through this questioning without succumbing to guilt

"We deserve answers, not only me, but all of us. We are going against a thing you definitely know and are wary of. You, an ageless creature. The Constructor must be powerful if you told us to avoid him. And you know him Creep! All this time and you haven't said a word about it!"

"We are one" the dark orbs flickered pitifully

"Are we really?" she asked, her gaze unmoving, finding all the confidence and certainty in her mate's eyes

Creep could probably sense many things going on inside her head, he admitted that himself actually, currently however it looked like she was inaccessible, foreign territory for him since he visibly recoiled at the question.

"This is a mistake Sugar. Grievous mistake. Only you understand"

With those words spoken the black flames on her horns and tail puffed with a silent whizz like silenced by fingers candle.

Everyone's eyes widened.

"I think you've hurt his feelings" Sparx commented

"What happened?" Spyro cocked his head, it was not like he missed the thing, it didn't answer any questions but he could live with that if that meant he would never have to hear its growling again

"I don't kn-AAAH!" Cynder yelped and cringed in pain, she felt as if her very soul would break like a bone

Between worry and concern Spyro's blood also got intoxicated by sheer fury, he didn't have to understand what is happening to know what exactly is causing the agony. Creep wasn't as friendly as it pretended to be and if he gets his paws on it he will tear this freak to pieces.

"Cy-" words got stuck in his throat when suddenly a black form pushed from Cynder, splitting from her like you split a fruit in half

Cynder stood there, panting and whining in pain while right next to her a ball of thick, dark mist appeared. It momentarily started to take shape, forming a draconic silhouette that didn't look feminine, or like Cynder at all.

It was definitely male.

And Spyro had no troubles recognizing the figure of his own body.

The black mass however only from silhouette resembled a dragon, in truth it was a black undulating mass of darkest shadow he had ever seen in his life. The body of this creature waved in sinuous motions as if every part of it would be a sentient tentacle, rat, or snake, slithering all around and across every other being like it, constantly chasing their own tails.

It was Creep.

Even if it had a clearly shaped snout there were no eyes present on it, it was just a blank, disgusting in sight form of a snout.

He could feel however Creep burying its invisible eyes into him, probably hoping he would melt into a pulp.

Groaning, Cynder turned her head to the side, feeling a familiar presence next to her. Her green eyes landed on a purple paw with black claws, tendrils of shadows were twirling around the leg and pushing from underneath the draconic sole like water and mist from a recent hot bath.

She trailed the leg up, spotting wounds on the scales until her gaze landed on the cut profile of a purple snout with brown eyes.

The longer she looked at him the more she realized that she was missing treed, she felt as if a part of her would be torn away. She felt light, but empty at the same time, lonely, but relieved.

She immediately channeled her elemental energy.

Surprisingly it was there, she couldn't put her claw on it, but it felt somewhat different, free and unshackled.

Independent.

And so, so confused.

Whatever Creep was exactly she didn't know, not after today, but with whole certainty she could say that he was connected with her element.

Hell, he might be Dark as Danox said, this particular element isn't nurtured and explored like the rest, maybe the magic has enough energy to manifest itself as a separate being.

She wasn't sure anymore.

She was kinda glad however that he didn't abandon her, despite all her love for Spyro.

"HI Creep" she smiled weakly "I understand you wanted to teach me a lesson, but you didn't have to break my bones to prove your point"

Spyro didn't react to Cynder's words, knowing exactly that she was joking in some regard. His entire focus was drawn towards the dark creature.

He was absolutely terrified.

Not by Creep's look, a world destroying, massive dragon like Malefor raised the bar of physical intimidation pretty high.

He was terrified because for some strange reason he recognized this creature, he was terrified because this creature sits inside his mate. He was terrified because it looked like him.

His paw momentarily slapped against his chest, clenching the golden scales there. He felt as if he was burning from the inside, especially the heart. It was stinging so badly that it felt like someone would be busy opening it up, running a sharp tip of a dagger across its surface.

"I would never hurt you Sugar. I like you" Creep responded, looking at her with his lifeless gaze

Cynder noticed all of the boys shivering.

"We are one. This was a mistake. I warned"

"This is too much for me" Diazen whined, shaking his head pitifully

"This thing sits inside you Cyn?" Sparx gagged "I suggest a daily bath with lots of scrubbing. Lots and lots of scrubbing"

Cynder rolled her eyes.

"I get it you perv. It's not that bad though, I mean Creep's a little wounded here and there, but he's essentially Spyro if you think about it so I don't mind"

"Spyro?" he cackled mockingly "He's ugly, true, but not THAT ugly"

"Come on guys, don't weird it up more. Creep has purple scales, all the rest might be slightly different, but in the end he's not that bad to look at"

"S-Scales?" Spyro stammered in surprise

Sparx looked at the black dragoness with a cocked head and raised eyebrow.

"Girl, I don't know what you were drinking when I wasn't looking, but that thing doesn't look like Spyro at all. He's like a twirling...black... goo...or something. Like all the crap you find in the sewers put together. Imagine that all that shit is alive and you get Creep!"

"What?" Cynder blurt out, eyeing Creep from top to bottom, all she saw was Creep, a battle scarred dragon

"Sparx isn't fooling you Cynder" Spyro confirmed with a bitter gulp "I see the same thing. Creep doesn't look like anything you described, it's a mass of slithering, dark tentacles that adopted a figure of a dragon

She felt betrayed and she made sure Creep sees that angered pain in her gaze. She was used once before, she won't allow to be someone else's toy ever again.

He felt the stare, she saw his scales cracking, black smoke pushing from the recently opened holes, the shadowy veil surrounding him recoiled back as if her gaze would blow a powerful gust at it.

Her mind traveled back to the bath she took in a lake once and Creep fooling her there in believing that Spyro joined her.

Now this.

Never again.

"For your eyes only!" Creep howled "You understand! Only you! Tolerance! Mistake! I warned Sugar! I warned!"

"Why are you toying with me?" she hissed, a cloud of poison wafted from her nostrils

"Knot! Knot! We are one!"

Spyro stared at the scene with a mixture of triumph and terror. It looked like Cynder could actually kill that thing if she wanted to, the black tendrils were breaking apart, bleeding black goo with every protest and challenge Cynder was throwing at the creature.

Creep was disintegrating.

The terror came from the fact that he wasn't doing it silently.

He.

There was perhaps some sort of a personality in him after all, the conclusion was born from his howls of agony. Creep was in serious pain, defenseless against Cynder.

It was an execution.

Whatever that thing was, is, watching something die in agonizing spasms was disgusting, especially when his mate was the sadist.

Without even realizing it.

He wanted Creep to disappear, Cynder maybe wanted it too. He was certain however that neither of them wanted to get rid off Creep this way.

"Leave him Cynder" Spyro stated bluntly

Her black head snapped to the side, her huge green eyes spoke volumes.

"I think Creep is trying his best to explain things without making you angry, he just doesn't know how to do it exactly"

"B-But-"

"I know, I didn't change my opinion, I still don't trust him and probably never will. He never purposely hurt you however, he at least deserves the same in return"

She let Creep go immediately, feeling stupid and guilty.

"I like you Sugar! I like you Sugar!" her magical companion blurted out in what seemed like a grateful relief, cold and hollow voice was making things hard when it came to discerning emotions

A wounded beast however always displays anger in a form of a growl or roar.

Creep did no such thing.

Now she felt like a complete shit.

Spyro observed Creep's dark body mending back together, the undulating mass swiveling with more energy, he should feel satisfied probably, he managed to end suffering after all.

Looking at the black creature stirred nothing, but confusion in him. Being good is sometimes such a chore.

"Alright Creep" Spyro shivered, he felt strangely dirty speaking to this creature "Let's get this over with, how do you know the Constructor and what exactly he, or it, is?"

"Conduit" Creep stated "Celestial origin, we are one, undesirable fate"

There was silence, Spyro and Sparx stared intently at the creature, ready and expecting it to elaborate further on the matter any time now

Nothing happened.

Despite the seriousness of the situation Cynder had to cover her mouth to quench down a snicker. They looked so silly when expecting straightforward answers from Creep.

Juniors.

"Wait" Sparx threw his arms to the side, following the motion with a shrug "That's it?"

"I didn't understand any of this" Spyro commented disgruntledly "What...what is that celestial origin?"

"Spiritual matter" Creep explained in his own special way "Origin. Beginning. Past. Incapable of understanding, you are too young. Ancient history"

"This is no explanation, at least tell us what exactly is the Constructor, help us understand, we're going to face that creature"

Creep remained silent, even Cynder who saw his more emotional reflection couldn't tell if he was ignoring Spyro or simply didn't hear him.

The silence prolonged itself unbearably.

She was afraid that he didn't want to give them an answer, that thought alone made her extremely nervous and even more cautious towards Creep in general. Still not the level of mistrust Spyro shows him, but slowly getting there.

"Destroyer" he suddenly blurt out, twisting his head in her direction so unnaturally quickly that she gasped in fear "In your time you refer to the Wanderer as the Destroyer"

"Hold on there black slugger!" Sparx exclaimed, dashing above the creature and pointing at the wall that recently morphed into a face

"You are saying that the thing somewhere out there is the same gigantic monstrosity that eats worlds for dinner?!"

Creep stared at him blankly, well at least that's what he thought he was doing, since there were no eyes on that disgusting, freaky snout.

"I do not understand"

"Sparx is looking for confirmation, a natural habit when someone gets surprised by big news" Cynder explained, quite proud of herself actually, not many get the chance to talk with their alter ego, let alone try to pull some sense out of it

"He wants to know if the Destroyer in our world is the same creature as the Wanderer in this one"

"No" Creep replied without hesitation

Her jaw dropped open, a whizz of breath wafting from her throat. Of all the possible ideas and remarks her brain was processing she didn't have anything for such an answer. She expected Creep to say many weird things she never anticipated a blunt denial like that, not when the answer to the question presented by Sparx was supposedly so obvious.

It was a no.

She didn't really know what to think about it. It sounded like good news, damn it had to be good news, but somehow it didn't feel like one.

"No?" Spyro licked his dry lips, hearing about a huge golem that in couple of strides can walk the Realms around wasn't his most favorite topic

"What do you mean no? Is he the Destroyer or not?"

"No" the black mass replied, a tongue of black tendril lashed our from Creep's mouth as he spoke

Spyro frowned in deep thought, this wasn't making any sense.

"Whoa there bugger!" Sparx tapped his temple "Looks like one of your dark noodles drilled right through your brain cause you're not making any sense slug!" he pointed at the wall again, throwing his fist with an extended thumb behind his shoulder

"How can that guy be the Destroyer and not at the same time? What kind of a stupid, freaky riddle is this?"

Spyro blinked when suddenly a very reasonable thought shot through his skull, his tail raised in the air, standing at attention like feline's ears at an unexpected snap.

"They are not the same creature because the Destroyer of this world is more primal, or more evolved than the one that's sleeping in our home" he mused out loudly, nodding his head, this made complete sense, especially in a place like this where mutated dragons are probably common sight

Sparx froze, processing the spoken words, it didn't take him long to figure it out, his brother was correct. He shook his head with a tired sigh.

"Why everything's that's black has to be so dimwitted" he raised his hand defensively, aiming his palm at the black dragoness "No offense Cyn"

"Sure"

"Is this Destroyer more dangerous than the one in our world?" Spyro inquired further

Creep seemed to ponder the question, his dark body undulating more chaotically, his dark tendrils pulsed and swiveled. If Spyro could get a glimpse inside a brain this is how he imagined working nerve cords would look like.

"I do not know the answer" Creep finally responded "Sugar is not prepared to face the Wanderer. Celestial origin is dangerous"

"What has Cynder to do with anything? What can the Destroyer want from her?"

"We are one"

"You're not getting anywhere with those questions Spyro" Cynder explained "Leave me out of the equation, I don't think it's about me personally, it's about my element and Creep is representation of that magic through me. Pretty confusing if you think of it, but yeah, it is like it is"

The thought about confusion gave her an idea, maybe they have bigger chances of getting some clear answers from someone actually made from flesh and bone.

"Diazen? Can you tell us anything about the Constructor?"

Their companion was pale like a wall, he seemed to be completely disconnected from reality.

"Diazen?" Cynder cocked her head

He licked his lips, his eyes never leaving Creep. His lips were so dry that even from here she could hear his tongue scraping over his mouth.

"Don't ask me" he rasped "I feel like I don't know anything anymore"

Spyro scratched his head, things are becoming more complicated by the minute. It was better to bring things back to the main issue, he had to satisfy himself for the time being with Creep's willingness to cooperate.

"What do we need to do to get back home?"

The black figure cocked its head, Creep didn't have eyes, but Spyro no longer felt that he was drilling his gaze into him, he was looking past him.

"Survive"

He frowned at hearing this unexpected answer, his instinct started poking at his guts, nudging him to turn around.

He complied.

The colorful wall shifted its rocks, he instinctively stepped back and observed the moving stones. Creep's sentence and his own instinct told him that nothing good will come out of this.

The stones pushed forward, changing their typical layout of a mosaic into a carving, forming a rocky statue of a dragon's head attached to a long, rocky neck that stretched to the very ground.

The creature opened its eyes, its orbs were fiery red, yet instead of round shaped pupils, those had the shape of a key.

All of them immediately realized that this was the legendary Keymaster.

"The Creator has decided" Keymaster's mouth remained shut, yet a voice echoed all around them, it was like every piece of rock spoke the same words in the very same time.

Forming an overlapping sound of rolling boulders from a cliff.

"Only the worthy can change the course. Prove your strength or perish. Your Fate is sealed"

In a moment's notice the rows of golems around them sprung to life, their blazing bodies cracking with freshly ignited fire. All aimed their sights at the group.

Releasing deafening blare after deafening blare.