Unbound

Felix stepped through the Shadowgate and the liquid darkness resolved into a calm summer's day and a forest that was very familiar. The trees around him were made of solid emerald, chased with golden veins, and the leaves above were a translucent jade that filtered the morning sun into dappled shades. A path wound through the forest and unlike previous journeys, it wasn't a dirt trail, but a real road paved with hexagonal blocks. It was more than wide enough to accommodate twice their number, and the way was level and even.

Felix stepped forward, looking in every direction he could as his Perception flared. “It’s quiet.”

"This is crazy,” Beef said. “Nothing like the Dark Passages."

"Oh, that's right. You've never been in the Shadowgate before,” Felix said.

"Nope. Closest I came was that nightmare road we took with Yintarion from Khasma to Haarwatch. Seems different than before,” Evie observed. “Trees look weird."

"Shadowgates latch onto the operator's Mind Skills to populate the path between locations,” Felix explained. “For me, that means Void Sanctuary, which is a Divine rarity Skill now. It's changed a bit since the last time we used a gate."

"It looks like nature through the lens of a jeweler,” Harn said.

"It is beautiful and chaotic despite this orderly pathway,” Vess added. She knelt by the edge of the hexagonal trail and touched a daffodil rendered in gold and silver. It swayed in a slight breeze. “It still feels…natural."

"Do we have to walk this whole thing?” Evie asked.

Felix closed his eyes in annoyance. "I’m not sure a giant boat is going to be useful here." He opened them again and reached out a hand. "But I've got a better idea.”

Sonata of Dominance.

Felix raised his hand and claimed the Mana around them. It was easier than ever—no doubt due to it being his Skill that surrounded them. Trees, hillocks, and stones dissolved in a thirty foot radius, eliciting startled noises from his friends as solid matter was replaced by clouds of swirling Mana.

“Yyero’s ass, warn a lady!” Evie hissed.

Felix smirked as around sixty feet of forest was replaced by a flat plain of smooth opalescent crystal. On the road, however, the Mana bunched together, coelescing according to Felix's intent—and he intended to make this trip a bit easier.

Harn removed his helmet and stared. "Blighted Night, what is that?"

"Ah,” Felix said, lowering his hand. “Whoops."

Before them was an enormous mechanized wagon, just as he had intended. Instead of wheels, however, it had legs—enormous, segmented crab legs that stuck out from the body of an oblong monstrosity large enough for even Pit's Tyrant shape to fit aboard. A canopy of translucent leaves covered the top of the bulky body, which was mostly hollowed out, save for the periodic posts that supported the canopy of jade leaves. Aside from the crustacean appendages, the rest of its crystalline form looked a lot like—

"You really like whales, huh?' Beef asked.

"I don't,” Felix said, but his protests were weak. It must have been on his Mind after Pit mentioned his other creation.

"Creepy legs aside, this is really roomy,” Beef continued as if Felix hadn’t said a thing. He had already climbed up a set of stairs built into the gem-like body of the crawler. “Even for me."

"I like it, Colossus,” Eagin said with a firm nod. “It's defensible and sturdy. A fine conveyance for a king."

"Huh,” Harn grunted. “Ain't bad. Reminds me of this monster that used to crawl out of the sea back home. It scuttled on legs like this.” Harn smacked his lips before replacing his helmet. “They're good eatin'."

"Everyone on board,” Felix muttered, shaking his head. “Stay in the center of the... crawler. We'll be safest there. The path should be uneventful, but I'd rather not risk it."

The canopy was high enough that even Pit could stand easily, and while the crab-leg sank a bit under his girth, there did not seem to be any creaking or damage to the structure. The Hatchling swarmed through the air, following Yin like a flock of gem-colored birds as he landed amidship.

"Hold on tight,” Felix warned. “We're all in a hurry to get home, so I'm going to push this thing as fast as I can."

With a modest lurch, they set off, the entire vehicle lifting upward on its dozens of crab-legs and scuttling at speed down the hexagonal roadway.

"You weren't kidding!” Evie shouted over the wind roaring in their ears. “This thing can move!'

The forest whipped by them fast until the ethereal beauty blurred into green, gold, and distant blue. The crawler moved almost as fast as Felix could, as if it were drawing on his own Agility. Felix contemplated that as he stood at the front of it, extending his Perception out into the gate around them. He could easily sense his Void Sanctuary located just beyond the forest. They traveled parallel to it, down through the valley that ran alongside his sprawling mental city. This time, they moved away from the acid sea and toward the distant mountains, a place Felix had never before ventured within the Skill.

Of particular note, and the reason why he stood so vigilantly, was that there was no sign of voidbeasts. When last he used a Shadowgate, creatures from the Void clawed their way through the boundaries, invading and attacking soon after starting their journey. This time, however, his Chthonic Traveler Title and his connection to the Pool of Halcyon Oaths seemed to hold everything sturdier than ever. His entire Heart of Shadows felt far more stable, or perhaps each additional Shadowgates worked in tandem with the Heart, making it more stable with every restored gate.

I’ll find out soon.

On top of all that, his crown was humming. It was still hidden, but Felix could feel it working all around him. The golden sunlight was suffused with its protection. This time around, they didn't have an array to shield his presence, but it seemed it wasn't necessary—a detail that made Felix immensely grateful.

Time passed strangely in the Shadowgate compared to the real world, but the forest moved past them at a steady clip. By Felix's estimation, they would soon reach the mountains. There, he sensed, would be the end of their journey and the gate back into Elderthrone.

To the side, Pit and the others were laughing, curled up near the rear of the crawler.

"Oh, oh,” he said. “What about Dungeon Crawler Crab?”

"I like it!” Beef said.

"This isn't a dungeon, though,” Archie pointed out. “It's a... magic forest portal.”

Pit chirruped as a Hatchling flopped across his beak. "Close enough!”

"Wait, what's a dungeon?” Evie asked. “Like a prison?”

"Oh, in SwordLore, they were places where you fought monsters, earned treasure, and discovered secrets and special abilities.”

“Sounds like a Domain.”

"Pretty much the same thing, yeah.” Pit cleared his throat. “Domain Crawler Crab!”

“No, that's dumb.”

Archie chuckled. “Yeah, this isn't a Domain either. What about car... something? I feel like it's right there.”

Felix did his best to ignore them, though he noticed that everyone else was fully enjoying the game. Even Vess cracked a smile.

"Good to see you smiling,” he said as his friends continued laughing in the back. “You've seemed tense. Are you missing home already?”

"No, it's not that. Though I will miss my father. It was nice to see him again.”

"He seems... he's a good man,” Felix agreed.

"He is that. I'm just preoccupied with all the Hatchlings."

Felix had noticed that. She'd been constantly fussing about making sure that the little Dragon babies weren't chewing on pieces of his vehicle or getting underfoot as people moved around. In fact, several of the Hatchlings were draped around her, hanging from her shoulders and hands, and there was even one, a small crimson one, sitting on her head. They weren't much bigger than his palms, but Felix swore they were already a touch larger than when he first saw them.

"You've certainly got your hands full,” he said.

"They're very energetic.” Vess grinned, despite the Dragon drapery. “I'm trying to impress on them how dangerous flying off this wagon would be, but several keep trying.”

“I had a cousin like that. When he was three, any time his mom put him in the yard, he'd make a beeline for the road. Almost got run over twice, I think.”

"That is terrifying. How did his mother handle it?”

"They put him on a leash till he was eight,” Felix laughed. “I don't think that'll work for you.”

"Surely not. Thankfully, we have Pit."

Felix looked over at his Companion. The tenku was still happily talking to the others, musing about possible names for their newest vehicle. But if Vess was draped with Hatchlings, then the tenku was practically painted with them. Dozens of Dragon babies clung to him, curled up in his fur and feathers like tiny jeweled snakes.

“Why are they all over him?”

I don't know, but it's annoying, Pit growled in his Mind.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"I believe they respect his power,' Vess said. 'Yin tells me Dragons are like that.'

Hmm, yes. Pleasure rumbled from his large friend. The little snakes are wise.

Felix snorted and Vess raised an eyebrow.

“Nothing. Pit's just enjoying the attention.”

She smiled, that dimple creasing her cheek. “I am overjoyed to hear it.”

The crawler thundered down the path, crustacean legs clacking rhythmically against the hexagonal stones in a way that was almost soothing. Vess pressed against him, shoulder to shoulder and rested her head against him. Warmth fluttered in his chest, rebounding off of Vess’ Spirit until it doubled, filling his limbs with a gentle, steady comfort. Felix let it wash over him and relaxed against the bow of their strange little vehicle as the wind rushed in warm gusts through his hair.

"You mentioned I helped with the Hatchlings,” he said after a while. “That I made it work. What does that mean?”

Vess straightened, lifting her head from his shoulder. A piece of him quailed at the fading warmth of her Spirit. "The Hatchery Wheel failed and I was forced to—” Vess swallowed. “—to put myself at risk to keep it going. It was excruciating, but when it became too much to bear, I could…feel you."

Felix frowned. "Feel me how?”

"The stars. The dual light from your cores, they expanded and filled my own core space with power. Even now it lingers there, the stars as large as moons above my Dragon temple." She shook her head. "I cannot explain it better than that. It was the same thing that happened to me during my fight to free my father when my Spear of Tribulations evolved."

Felix rested his chin in his hand. "It's our Link. It's grown stronger."

"Yes! The System notified me that our Link had grown to Tier 5."

Felix nodded. He brought up his new Title and shared it with her. "I think this helped, too. Boon of Bonds."

She looked up at him excitedly. "So I was right. I did feel you in that moment.”

“Apparently. Weird that I didn't get a notification or anything.” Not to mention dangerous. What if I didn't have a lot of power to give?

It was possible that someone could abuse their Link to him at a crucial moment, but he wasn't Linked to people he didn't trust. "How did you increase the Tier of your Link?”

"I am uncertain,” she admitted.

Something to think about, I suppose.

Vess squeezed his hand and leaned in to brush his lips with her own. "Thank you for being there when I needed you.”

Felix leaned into the kiss, and when it ended, his head was spinning so much he was surprised he didn't receive a Status Condition. "I love helping."

The crimson Dragon on her head perked up, its eyes wide and turning in many directions. It let out a high-pitched squeak before taking to the air.

"What is it?' Vess asked as the others perched atop her took to the air. Even the one’s on Pit took flight. They scurried around, flapping around the poles and underneath the canopy in a frenzy of squeaks and terrified flapping.

"What's happening? What is this?” Vess asked more forcefully, trying to get the Hatchlings’ attention.

“QUIET!” Felix bellowed.

All at once the Hatchlings went silent and fluttered to the ground, most settling atop Pit. Felix turned toward the front and slowed his crawler. His sense of the Shadowgate flared, and a deep pressure assaulted his Mind, forcing him back from Vess's embrace.

Ahead something flexed—and the trees exploded into jagged shrapnell.

"Voidbeasts!" Vess cried.

Huge creatures with mottled gray skin crawled out of the brush, their many legs and stocky torsos scratched open from the jagged remains of the forest. Three emerged, each one with a bank of white eyes that fixed on their approaching ship and glowed with a dire malevolence. Their mouths opened wide and spewed forth a terrible screech that buffeted against his Mind.

It had no effect on Felix, but Archie winced, falling to a knee as he was overcome by the sound, and the Dragon Hatchlings yowled in pain until Yintarion curled his Body around them as a bulwark against the onslaught.

Emperor's Vigilance!

Name: Chiroterror

Type: Voidbeast (Manawarped)

Lore: Once its own creature, the Mana it has encountered has warped its flesh beyond recognition. It hungers for a specific Mana, echoing the Need of its Mother.

“They're strong, at least Adept Tier." Felix put his hands on the bow of his ship. "Faster." The unnamed crawler obeyed, its legs blurring as they shot towards the beasts. "Beef!”

“On it! Entropic Paradigm!"

The front of his crawler blossomed with Mana as chitin built across the blunt whale-like face. Spikes erupted out work into a bulwark of pikes, each one formed with cross braces and jagged-edged supports.

"Galebound Glory."

Vess lifted her hand, and twenty copies of her glaive manifested from air and metal Mana, hovering just above the spikes. The crawler hurtled forward, and the Chiroterror hunched, barring the path forward as Void shadow poured in around them.

"Evie," Felix pointed at the beasts. "Keep him still!”

“Bindings of the White Waste!"

Icy chains ripped from the earth and shot into the legs and bellies of the beasts. Two howled in pain, caught by the Skill while the third leaped up and snapped its three pairs of legs open wide. Bat-like wings spread from its sides, flapping furiously to ascend into the sapphire sky.

"I will handle that one." Vess leaped up after the beast, spectral wings manifesting on her back as her Galebound Glory followed her ascent.

The crawler made impact. They smashed into the Chiroterrors, snapping Evie's bindings and skewering them on chitin spikes. The beasts howled and clung onto the crawler as it shot forward, undaunted by their bulk—their limbs struggled forward, pulling themselves up the spikes even as they ripped their flesh across it. Their limbs struggled forward, pulling themselves into the spikes even as they ripped their flesh across it. Their clawed hands reached out, grasping only feet from Felix's face.

He bared his teeth and lifted a hand, but his friends were faster.

Archie phased across the deck, shooting up across the first's head as it snapped at him, only to catch a molten dagger in one of its burning white eyes. Chains followed him, slashing through Void flesh with remarkable ease as Archie hopped from its head back onto the crawler's deck. It fell limp before slipping completely beneath the sprinting crab legs. The other met an equally grizzly end at the same time—it was already aflame when Felix became aware of it, burning with silver as great chunks of it were carved free by Harn’s axes, while a massive hammer of ice and stone smashed it off the ship. It too was trampled.

You Have Killed A Chiroterror (x2)!

XP Earned!

An explosion shook the air, and bright white flames rained down upon them.

You Have Killed A Chiroterror!

XP Earned!

The flames dissipated before they hurt anything, revealing Vess as she descended from above. Felix slowed the crawler so she could catch up, and she landed with her usual casual grace. “Dead, though it was remarkably agile in the air. I only caught it because it kept doubling back on everyone here.”

That's odd, Felix thought. A sense of worry for its own kind, maybe.

"Good job, everyone." Felix turned back to the path ahead and increased their speed once more. “That isn't the end, though.”

Ahead, dozens of shadowy beasts poured from the forest. Each was different, some with tentacles and others with wings and claws, more still with insectoid stingers and compound eyes. He'd never seen anything like them before.

Evie rolled her shoulders. “Good. All this peace and quiet is making my stabbin’ hand itch.”

They shot forward, trampling the smaller beasts without much effort. Many tried to leap aboard the vehicle, but it was too fast, and they were simply smeared against the crystalline sides. Felix flared his Vigilance at one such smear and frowned.

"Manawarped again. They’re all called Umbronics, yet their lore entry is the exact same as the Chiroterrors." Felix glanced backward, where other Umbronics were pouring from the forest to pursue them. "I've never seen Manawarped voidbeasts before. They eat Mana.”

“What's it mean," Archie asked over the rush of the wind. "Manawarping?"

"Nothing good," Evie said, slinging her chain between trees. Another Umbronic’s head pulped.

"I'll keep us moving. Keep them off our sides and out of our hair," Felix ordered. "I'll handle the path ahead.”

More and more Manawarped voidbeasts broke into the Shadowgate path, flooding the terrain with a sea of pale flesh and blackened claws. Whatever opening had been torn by the first Chiroterrors spread, splitting until rents of textureless black filled the areas between emerald trees and disgorged monstrosities upon them.

Yet, what confused Felix most of all was that all voidbeasts were Mana eaters, similar to himself, so they should be going wild for anything around them. Felix would have expected them to attempt to devour the trees and ground itself, but every single one was trying to leap onto the crawler. Felix flared the vehicle's speed until the thing began to rattle and groan under the flurry of its own legs.

Screeches tore through the blue sky, and the shadow of bat-like wings drew close. Another Chiroterror landed amidship, arms slashing down onto Felix directly, but met only high-tier stone as Orun blocked the attack.

"You are not worth the Colossus's time," he rumbled.

Telys smashed it to the deck, her own fists pulping its pale skull. "You're barely worth ours."

The creature spasmed, fully dead but still reaching for Felix with its black talons. He stared at it, and the line he'd read from its lore entry made sudden, terrible sense.

It hungers for a specific Mana, echoing the Need of its Mother.

“They’re trying to get me.” Felix's eyes widened. "We need to go faster."

Vess swung close, her Galebound Glory spinning around the edges of the crawler with a studied vigilance. "What is happening?"

"Manawarped. That's the key," Felix said, Willing his craft to move as fast as it could. The orange crab legs started moving so rapidly that even he could barely see them, and the entire vehicle hummed as if it were seconds away from falling apart. People were jostled, fetching up against the sides as the crawler bucked beneath them.

"What could Manawarp something in the Void?" Felix asked no one in particular.

Something in the distance set his Void Sanctuary to quivering. The crown on his head manifested, shrouding him with gold as a deep resonant call burned within him. His Hunger rumbled.

Danger Comes, she said. Food.

Felix knew what it was, but he couldn't say how. A piece of him, not his Hunger, but a deep, almost primal part of himself wanted to stay. To fight. To eat.

Felix shoved it away.

Ahead, the forest opened up, rising through foothills into a rocky defile. The crawler slammed into it, smearing more pale voidbeasts into paste against the stones and losing several legs in the process. They jerked, thrown forward for a moment before the vehicle soared through. It landed, skipping across the hard ground before foundering against an upthrust stone flecked with blue and green translucent crystals.

"Out!" Felix shouted, lifting the Eidolons with Adamant Discord and shaped wind. They shot forward and onto the barren earth, barely keeping their feet. "Everyone go now! The portal is there!"

It shimmered, a darkness beyond black just over the ridge. His friends clambered off the wreckage, but Pit stopped and looked up.

"Felix, something's... it's coming."

The sky above them deformed, bending in a way that no sky ever should, until the very weave of reality seemed to warp. Twisting rents tore through the blue, splitting into a vast, textureless black that put the Shadowgate to shame. Through it came a creature Felix would have been happy to never see again.

It was so huge as to be impossible. It writhed, flesh covered in crimson tendrils like the exposed meat of a fresh wound, and eyes the size of cruise ships glared to his soul from miles away.

The Whalemaw.

"Everyone run!" His friends bolted through the gate, not needing to be told again, Yin and the Hatchlings in the lead. Felix lingered, that voice inside him so hard to ignore.

So Hungry.

It was a…Need, and he wasn't sure if it was his own or not.

He shoved it away, his Will acting as a bulwark to protect his Mind.

"Oh, I have it," Pit said, with a slightly hysterical laugh, as the enormous beast ripped through the blue sky of his Skill. "The crawler. We can call it the Whaleclaw."

The Whalemaw screamed and sent a writhing tendril hurtling toward them. Felix jumped, Converging with Pit at the same time, and they both vanished into the gate.

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