Unbound

The earth rumbled.

It spoke to them, buzzing shapes across their Minds that took the chaos and shaped it. One after another lifted their heads, their mouths drooling and bodies lethargic after their great meal. The gnawed on bones of it were beneath them, edible bedding for them to laze upon.

One grunted, pulling it's lips back and baring its prodigious fangs. Blackened gums and yellowed teeth stuck out from its smooth, scaled head, and opened wide. It breathed. Those around it breathed as well.

They could not speak, not any longer. There was a time that once it had been possible, when they were more. Memories of people, of things beyond their immediate needs, all of it flashed through their limited Minds. But it was momentary lightning, there and gone as their Minds were stunted by eroding voice in their blood, the one with teeth and howling heat.

Prey! Meat! Rend the flesh and crush the bone!

Take it!

Take it all!

It was not a voice they could resist.

They did not want to.

The rumbling increased, and now the telltale sounds of screams joined the vibrations. Below the earth, the Revenants stood. They could not see, but they could sense. Aura they could hear and taste, the delicious waft of Mana and lifeblood. That tang of potency.

They could taste him.

"Quickly! Quickly!"

Lilian led the Tin Ranks and Iron Ranks up the marble steps, taking charge of them while they were still confused and scared. Scared of the creature that had just dispatched two Bronze Rank combatants with a single spell. Each of them moved quickly and fluidly, all of them having at least one Physical Enhancement Skill. Coupled with her Augmentation magic, most of them made it away from...whatever the hell Felix had become.

His skin had boiled over with scales and spikes, his hands claws. He'd become more monster than man, and Lilian was terrified. She tried and failed to smother the pang of guilt she felt at leaving Dabney to fight him. Strong as the boy was, he wasn't a match for that.

The doors loomed ahead, broken and hanging askew, but close.

"Faster! Inside!" Lilian bade the Guilders inside, lingering at the door to look back at the battlefield. Felix was suddenly felled by a boulder shot by Dabney, which sent a thrill through her, but in the distance she saw an absolutely immense shield wall of warriors begin to charge in their direction. There had to be at least six hundred coming for them. "Blighted Night," she gasped. "It's an army." They were doomed. The Bronze Ranks were caught up against the massive beast with the mace, while Commander Onai fought against that unknown Silver Rank that—

That is the Hand of Duke Dayne!

More than the oncoming shield wall, that made her flee. If the Commander wanted to fight the blasted Hand, then she was more than welcome to die. House Knecht would not be caught up attacking a Duke's sworn man. She escaped through the broken doors.

"You, fix this door," Lilian ordered a younger girl with dark brown hair coiled into braids. After a moment where the noble thought she would refuse, the Tin Rank reluctantly saluted and started putting her pathetic Skill to use. Who ever thought Wood Shaping would ever be useful? She felt a laugh, somewhat hysterical, bubble up from her belly. We're going to die.

She slapped herself, once. The Tin Ranks did not look at her, though two of the six Iron Ranks did. She was beyond caring what they thought.

No! You'll pull through this! They don't get to take everything away from you! Lilian practically growled at herself, and she pointed at three Tin Ranks that were huddling near one of the strange pipe things coming from the ground. "You three, scout the room. I want to know what we're facing in here."

"A—aye, ma'am."

The room was well lit, with large rectangular windows set high in the walls to either side. Sunlight streamed from above, more than enough to cut through most shadows. Her team was clustered near the center, aside from the three moving in slow loops around the circumference. The wide open area was filled with a series of complicated pipes, each a pitted brass and etched with more than a few sigils. Lilian drifted closer. The sigils added their own glow to the mix of illumination, and there were a few that seemed damaged. Scratched straight through, she thought, running her fingers over a ruined inscription. The glow was fitful, but others were completely dun.

The air smelled of dust and must. But there was an undercurrent of something thicker, muskier perhaps, along with the distinct coppery tang of blood. At one point, Revenants must have passed through, but it seemed utterly empty now.

"Ma'am? I—I found an issue."

Lilian's frayed nerves threatened to unravel from the carefully worded comment, but she bolstered herself. Night, but I wish my magic worked on myself. To the Tin Rank she gestured imperiously. "Show me."

Lilian followed the Tin Rank's pointing finger toward the far corner, where the shadows pooled. Disturbed rock and dark, fetid earth had been spilled across the floor, a feature she had somehow overlooked. Pebbles clattered louder, more purposeful this time, accompanied by eager, panting breaths.

"Pathless protect us," Lilian hissed.

Teeth came from the darkness. Hungry, hungry teeth.

"Avalanche!"

The building, already fissured by Dabney's spell, practically detonated. Chunks of masonry and dusty debris careened down at him as the entire side of the building detached in a wave.

Reign of Vellus!

Unfettered Volition!

A concussive blast of lightning tore from Felix's channels, burning him as much as the chest wound drove needles into his lungs. The slabs of brick and stone were obliterated, but it wasn't enough to stop the sheet mass of it all. Columns and shattered bas reliefs collapsed on him, and Felix had to dance his way through the onrush of stone, punching away what he couldn't dodge as he experienced demolition up close and personal. Then he nearly slapped his forehead in exasperation.

Stone Shaping!

From above, Dabney laughed. "Fall! Fall before me! I might not be a monster, but not even you can—ULK!"

A red blossom of flame snatched the earth mage from the roof, losing concentration just as the cascade of masonry turned to liquid muck mid-air and split to either side. Felix spun, following the Sparkbolt back to its source. The shield wall had gotten far closer, and behind them Atar waved.

"Always wanted to do that!"

Felix bared his fangs and sent the Mana infused stone down, onto the ground with a wet splortch. Still burning Unfettered Volition, he sent his body rushing across the uneven terrain toward the fallen mage. Dabney had landed relatively safely, his Apprentice Tier Body proving more than resilient enough to survive the fall.

"Stoneshot!" A string of boulders shot toward Felix again, but he dodged out of the way. Dabney scrambled backward, crab walking through the debris as his Mana poured from his channels in poorly shaped cloud. "Wall—!"

"Enough!" Felix hissed, crossed the distance faster than the man could cast. He batted his hands away and grabbed at the earth Mana vapor.

Ravenous Tithe!

The dusty brown vapor as well as a stream of multicolored ambient Mana was sucked into Felix's core. Dabney looked poleaxed, and his arms fell weakly to either side as he stared. "Kill me then, Fiend. Just like you killed my friend."

"What? Alister's alive, you idiot," Felix snapped, and got to see the look of flummoxed surprise on Dabney's face before he cold-cocked him. The earth mage fell limp, alive but unconscious and probably badly concussed. "Not gonna kill you either, jerk."

It was a lot easier to live through head trauma on the Continent. He'd be fine.

Within, Pit crowed with satisfaction regardless.

Felix gathered himself and looked around. The Hand fought the Guilder Commander across the square. They matched one another, blow for blow, and each strike was enough to send tremors through the earth. Their blades were a blur of flashing steel, accompanied by occasional discharges of Mana Skills that Felix couldn't parse or even track. Felix had to admit, the jerk was strong. And fast. He seemed to utilize a series of footsteps that was similar to Vess' own. As much as he didn't want to admit it, Felix knew he'd be in the way if he interfered.

The shield wall was another story. His camp's forces had entered the fray, though they were mostly Tin and Iron Ranks behind those shields. Arrows, physical as well as projectiles of ice and fire were launched from that relative safety, but their Skills did little to affect the Bronze Ranks and less than nothing to the Silver Rank.

They're still super intimidating. But aren't there more than usual? Ah. Thangle, Felix surmised. Now that he was looking for it, Felix's Manasight picked out the dense swirl of purple vapor around several rows of suspiciously nondescript warriors. Illusions. So cool.

Though they were mosquito bites on a rhino, the massed attacks of the shield wall was having an effect on the Bronze Ranks. Held at bay by the prowess of Bodie and his enormous mace, they were hard pressed to both defend and take advantage of the single man opposing them.

"You gonna stand there, kid? Or you gonna fight?" Bodie laughed, whirling his mace in a devastating arc and catching a Bronze Guilder across the thigh. Bone snapped with the force of a gunshot.

Whirling daggers of stone and ice rained down on the man, drawing lines of blood along his arms and face. The Guilders weren't pulling their punches either. For his part, Bodie's mace burst alight with a strange Mana vapor. Felix hadn't seen many of the man's Skills, as he usually simple used his Strength and Bludgeoning Weapon Mastery to dominate his fights. The warrior swung his mace and from the ground emerged a cloud. The sediment in the cobbles moved to his command, forming and hardening around his mace until it was five times larger.

Bodie grinned. "Now this is a real weapon, Felix!"

Felix couldn't argue as Bodie blasted aside a Guilder's sword and kicked the woman straight through a nearby wall. He moved to join the fight. The Hand had the Silver Rank matched, so Felix might as well help clean up the rest.

"HAUAURRRRRRRRRRR!"

A single piercing, guttural howl split the air, and soon it was a dozen. Then more. From his right, the pump station's doors ripped entirely off their hinges, carried away on a tide of rust red scales and slavering maws. A veritable horde ran down the steps of the station and charged heedlessly against the nearby Guilders.

"Revenants! Shift! Third formation!" Cal shouted. "Move!"

The shield wall reoriented and focused fire on the new threat. A few arrows sunk into scaled flesh, but the rest clattered harmlessly off their armored backs. There was only so much even Apprentice Tier weaponry could manage.

"Pit! Go!" Felix shouted, and in a flash of light the tenku manifested, soaring rapidly toward the horde. "Atar! Vess! Evie! I'm going in!"

The sound of crimson explosions and silver whirlwinds were answer enough to his words. Felix started running, "Right behind you, Bodie!"

The man had smoothly pivoted from Bronze Rank fighters to monsters, but the Bronze were trying to take advantage. Felix dashed forward, releasing a pulse of Reign of Vellus and hurling some of the Bronze Guilders away. Others, far faster on the uptake, anchored themselves by drawing ice or earth up and around them into thick armor.

Earth and ice Mana users all seem to be tanks of some sort, Felix thought as he ducked beneath a Guilder blade. He came back to his feet on the other end, pulsing Stone Shaping to tear the armor from the earth mages with a surge of effort. Affecting them so closely to their skin was difficult, a contest of Wills, but Felix didn't have a peer in that regard. Not in this battle.

Bereft of armor, Felix's blows knocked Guilder after Guider aside, each one thrown from their feet by his strikes. Then he was through, sprinting now headlong for the Revenant horde.

"GRUK GRUK GRUAAAAAAAAHHH!"

Ripping through the wall as much as the door, the biggest Ghoul he'd ever seen rampaged down the pump station's steps. Marble crushed beneath it's tread, and so did Revenants, their pathetic cries unheeded as they were pancaked. It's head was absolutely massive, at least three feet, and all jaw and tooth and lolling tongue. The thick scales of it's back, chest, and shoulders hunched it's posture even further than other specimens as it ran, gorilla-like, into the battle.

Voracious Eye!

Name: Manawarped Ghoul.

Type: Primordial Spawn

Level: 55

HP: 3874/3874

SP: 2421/2430

MP: 67487/0

Lore: An evolved version of a Manawarped Revenant, a Ghoul has supped upon the Primordial Essence and used it to advance itself.

Strength: Strength and Endurance are exceptionally high

Weakness: Low Perception

Holy...that's a big boy.

The Revenants had reached the shield wall at that point, and the crackling sound of ice and fire shredded the air, along with the screeching squeal of claws on steel. Leaving Bodie behind, Felix threw himself into the horde, yanking stone shaped spikes up among them for good measure. Howls of pain met his landing, and they oriented on him immediately.

"Hello again!"

Mantle of the Long Night!

The temperature dropped precipitously around him as arctic winds spun into a miniature hurricane. Hoarfrost formed along the ground and monsters limbs, some of the weaker ones stumbling as their joints slowed and stiffened. Essence streamed from him into his weapon, and Felix smashed through them with a wide swing.

You Have Killed Manawarped Revenants (x8)!

XP Earned!

Territorial Quest Alert!

You Have Gained Contribution!

Pit shrieked from above, using Cry, and swathes of the abominations froze in fear, ripe targets for the Frost Spears that followed. Explosions of red flame and silver wind littered the battlefield, and behind him a surge of beige-brown vapor heralded Bodie's own Skills activating. Even the Guilders were forced into the fight, distracted from their murderous intent at last. Yet the Revenants didn't stop. They poured from the pump station, even around the Ghoul. If they didn't stop, then they would fill the entire square and flank their shield wall.

Felix laid about himself with his Shadow Whip, buying him some space, and considered their options. They had to reach the pump station, but their forward momentum had been all but halted. The Ghoul, arms swinging, had reached the line and was trading blows with Harn. The Onslaught was keeping it occupied, but both its reach and fury surpassed the warrior's, and he wouldn't last much longer.

Influence of the Wisp!

A swath of Primordial spawn froze before him, all of them Enthralled by the Skill and afflicted with burning wisplight. Felix ran through them. He couldn't let himself get distracted by the small fries. They needed to move, now.

"Vess!"

Even after his stupid open-mouth-insert-foot comment, she had forgiven him and agreed to carry his new blade with her. A sharp, buzzing noise sliced through the air as his Blade of the Fang hurtled toward him at insane speeds. Felix leaped up, just grabbing the end of the handle, but was yanked bodily toward the Ghoul as the Blade did not stop. It streaked toward the ground on its arcing flight, and Felix was only just able to tuck his body into a roll and smash through a cluster of drooling Revenants.

Well, he thought, a little dazed by the landing. Maybe she didn't entirely forgive me.

"GRUAAAAAAAAHHH!"

Unfettered Volition!

Wild Threnody!

Lightning crackled along his Blade as Felix hefted it and ran at the Ghoul, packing it to the brim with his Mana and Essence. Distracted by Harn and the peppering of a handful of inconsequential Skills, the Ghoul nevertheless immediately noticed as Felix drew closer. It's blind head swiveled and it's massive mouth stretched wide in anticipation.

"Don't forget me, ya big bastard!" Harn shouted, and silver fire manifested along his twin axes. With a mighty roar, he cleaved the Ghoul's leg off at the knee.

The Ghoul twisted and fell, but it almost didn't care; instead it reached it's massive claws for Felix, who was rushing to meet it.

"Eat me!" Felix shouted, mid-leap and brought his massive Fang down on the abomination's bulbous skull. Blue-white Mana detonated, releasing a lightning strike as thick as Felix. The Ghoul's mouth slammed shut as it's skull was forced into the earth, so hard it's teeth splintered and the cobbles deformed beneath them.

The Blade sunk deep into it's skull, and the monster's Health dropped to zero.

You Have Killed A Manawarped Ghoul!

XP Earned!

Territorial Quest Alert!

You Have Gained Extra Contribution!

"Hah, hah," Felix panted, before twisting his blade, once.

Ravenous Tithe.

All of the Ghoul vanished into smoke, though instead of predominantly black it was filled with a crimson luminescence. It had contained even more Primordial Essence than the last one.

"Harn! We need to move!" Felix shouted, as soon as the smoke had disappeared into him.

"Yeah, we know, kid!" Harn turned and shouted to the rest. "We move! Double time! Don't stop till we hit the pump station!" Harn turned back to Felix. "Lead on, Fiend."

Felix grinned. "I've got a better idea."

This fop is too strong, Onai thought with incredulity. How'd the other side get someone so strong?

Onai was against the wall. The fop was even talented with his greatsword, almost as good as her. Her people had scattered, and when the Revenants had emerged and that illusory army had marched they'd been splintered even more. Many were nearby but feared close proximity to their errant blows. Even while fighting the fop she'd killed her share of the scaly monsters, though it hadn't even put a dent in their numbers.

"You give up yet, Guild trash?" the fop said, smiling. He wasn't even sweating!

"Heh, you'd like that, huh? Just roll over for ya? That's how by-blows like you happen, afterall," Onai spat out a mouthful of blood. When had she started bleeding. The fop tilted his head away, but at least he'd stopped smiling. "That hit a sore spot, bastard?"

"I'd make you eat your words, Silver, had I the time," he said, and quicker than she could track his sword was replaced on his back. "Lucky for you, I have better places to be."

He has the stones to run! Onai raged despite her relief, yet both were brought up short at the sight of a black-scaled abomination bolting in her direction, followed by a wave of the normal, rust-red Revenants. Her senses could tell the creature wasn't even Journeyman Tier, which she appreciated. It would be perfect to vent her frustrations on. "Guilders! To me! We push against these monsters and claim what's ours!"

A rousing cheer met her words as nearby Bronze Ranks found their way to her side. Onai sneered, her confidence restoring rapidly until their gazes, and she turned again toward the blackened abomination...

...which had vanished.

Instead, rising behind him like land-borne storm, the full might of the Revenant horde fell upon them, one and all.

"Night-cursed nobles," Onai managed, before they were engulfed in a flurry of tooth and claw.

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