by Jackson Bale
Welp,---I---paused---long---enough.---Better---continue---or---I---will---ruin---the---‘I’m---fucking---awesome’---skit---that---I---am---trying---to---pull---off.
“Doreson…---Tell---me.---Are---you---an---ally…---Or---an---enemy?”
Now,---wait---for---a---second,---let---my---words---settle…---and---Light.
With---a---mental---command,---Berosus’s---undead---head---lights---up.---The---crystal---dome---increasing---the---intensity---of---the---purple---light---source---inside---several---times---over.---As---a---result,---the---whole---cave---system---is---basked---in---a---bright---purple---light,---revealing---my---massive---undead---minion---in---all---its---overly---huge---obnoxious---glory.
Gasps,---screams,---yells.---and---other---various---emotions---can---be---heard---from---the---crowd---below.---So---much---happens---at---that---moment.---The---people---stare---up---in---horror,---unable---to---fathom---the---massive---monstrosity---standing---practically---a---step---away---from---them---inside---the---cave---while---its---tentacles---waving---slowly---through---the---air,---seemingly---in---anticipation.
I---smile,---circulating---my---mana---to---make---my---eyes---glow---with---a---darker,---brighter---purple.
Welp,---I---better---do---this---right.---I’ve---been---practicing.---Focus---your---emotions,---strengthen---them.---Imagine---your---emotions---streaming---from---you.---Get---confident,---slightly---angry.---Breath---in---and…
“DECIDE!”
My---aura---finally---comes---through,---reacting---to---my---words,---traveling---with---them.---It---creates---a---mental---pressure---on---those---who---hear---me---speak..---Because---that---is---what---aura---is:---your---emotions---manifested---into---a---mental---force---that---affects---others.---This---is---the---most---basic---usage---of---aura.---Transmitting---your---feelings---to---others.---To---make---them---feel---what---you---want---them---to.
Now---then,---how---will---they---reac----shit,---I'm---starting---to---feel---dizzy.---Too---much---blood---going---to---my---brain.---Not---good.---Not---good.---Ughhh,---why---do---I---do---stupid---shit---like---this?---Godammit.
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“DECIDE!”
The---wave---of---aura---hit---Doreson---like---a---herd---of---wild---Guardhogs.---His---own---aura---was---smashed,---annihilated---by---the---sheer---strength---of---this---attack.---This---was---no---attempt---to---weasel---through---his---aura---defense---or---an---attempt---to---slowly---overcome---it.---His---defense---was---utterly---obliterated---by---sheer---force.---The---backlash---forced---him---to---take---a---step---back---and---caused---a---shiver---of---fear---to---travel---down---his---spine.
Whoever---or---whatever---this---person---is,---Doreson---can---only---equate---them---to---an---existence---similar---to---the---kitsune.
“That…---that---thing---is---the---boss---of---the---second---floor.---It---is---under---his---full---control!”---his---wife---Greta---voices---beside---him,---her---eyes---on---the---glowing---purple---monstrosity.---Sweat---and---fear---is---radiating---off---her.---She---had---been---more---affected---by---the---aura---than---him.
Doreson---can---only---gulp---in---response.---He---had---already---guessed---that---the---monster---was---being---controlled---considering---its---glowing---green---eyes---which---do---not---look---normal.---How---this---is---being---achieved---though,---he---cannot---say.---All---he---wholeheartedly---knows---right---know---is---that---fighting---someone---who---could---control---this---monstrosity---with---his---current---strength---is---too---risky.
Thus---Doreson---takes---a---breath,---steps---forward,---and---starts---to---open---his---mouth,---but---to---his---surprise---Oregan---speaks---first.
“Are---you---the---patriarch---of---the---Kitsune?”
It---takes---a---moment---before---Doreson---realizes---how---stupid---he---had---been.---He---had---completely---forgotten---about---Dragken’s---letter---about---the---Patriarch.---So---if---this---is---him…---then…
The---individual---hanging---from---the---ceiling---smiles,---now---gazing---at---Oregan.
“That---is---what---Dragken---calls---me.”
An---answer---but---at---the---same---time---not---an---answer.---He---did---neither---refute---nor---affirm---him---being---the---patriarch.
“I---see,”---Oregan---says---before---taking---several---steps---forward---towards---the---individual.---And---then,---to---Doreson’s---surprise,---he---bends---his---front---forelegs,---lowering---his---head.
“Then,---if---you---are---indeed---the---Patriarch,---I---Oregan,---swear---eternal---fealty---to---you.”
Gasps---are---heard---from---all---around---the---half---circle.---Confusion,---surprise,---anger,---many---people---have---strong---emotions---about---what---just---happened.---To---swear---fealty---to---someone---is---extremely---rare.---It---is---the---equivalent---of---giving---up---your---herd,---and---it---is---therefore---rarely---ever---done.
A---moment---passes---before---suddenly---the---spider---jumps---off---the---ceiling,---flipping---through---the---air---and---landing---upright,---right---in---front---of---Oregan---who---raises---his---head---in---response.
“I---accept---your---loyalty,”---the---man---says,---looking---down---at---Oregan---while---smiling.
“You---may---rise,”---he---adds---quickly.
Oregan---stands---back---up,---his---eyes---focused,---ready---to---react.---He---turns,---gazing---at---us.
It---is---here---that---Doreson---realizes---that---Oregan---is---prepared---to---protect---the---man---now---in---case---it---becomes---necessary.---He---has---fully---changed---sides.---The---strongest---person---under---his---command---has---been---lost.
“Now,”---The---figure---speaks,---his---eyes---move---back---to---Doreson,---now---focusing---on---him.---All---Doreson---manages---to---do---in---response---is---stare---back---wide---eyed---and---gulp---in---fear---from---the---look---in---the---man’s---eyes.
“Thoric,---stop---scaring---my---friend---and---the---[Soldiers],---at---this---rate---they’re---going---to---shit---themselves.”
From---under---the---monstrosity,---appearing---from---behind---its---massive---legs---as---though---it's---the---most---natural---thing---ever,---comes---Dragken.---His---pitch-black---fur---can---barely---be---seen---beneath---his---impressively---detailed---set---of---bone---armor.---He---is---smiling,---a---look---which---Doreson---hasn't---seen---on---him---in---a---very---long---time.
“Damn---it---Dragken,---you're---ruining---my---fun,”---the---man---named---Thoric---frowns,---hands---crossed---on---his---chest.
But---Dragken---ignores---him.---Instead,---he---looks---to---Doreson---and---waves.
“Hey---Doreson,---don't---mind---him.---He---likes---to---make---an---entrance.”---The---old---centaur---exclaims---relaxed,---walking---past---the---giant---spider---and---the---glaring---Thoric---to---stop---in---front---of---him,---smiling.
At---this---point,---Doreson---can't---comprehend---what's---happening---anymore.---The---whole---situation---keeps---changing---drastically---every---moment.
He---opens---his---mouth---reply,---to---ask---what---is---going---on,---but---stops---as---his---eyes---land---on---the---cave---and---the---large---number---of---people---streaming---through.
The---people---newly---arriving---are---smiling---and---waving.---Many---of---the---[Captains]---sheath---their---weapons,---the---confused---[Soldiers]---copying---them---a---moment---later.---And---slowly---he---realizes---that---these---people---are---not---his---enemies.
Doreson---shakes---his---head,---“This---is---too---much---Dragken.---Way---too---much.”
Dragken---laughs,---“Indeed.---I---probably---shouldn't---have---let---Thoric---make---the---initial---greeting.---He---said---it---was---going---to---be---amazing.---I---wasn't---expecting---he---would---scare---you---all---like---that.”
Doreson---can---only---shake---his---head---before---looking---towards---Thoric,---finding
---the---man---struggling---with---something.
“Fucking---stupid---shit.---Petyr,---what---the---fuck---is---this---web---made---out---of.---My---boots---are---goddamn---stuck.---Holy---crap---it's---like---super---glue---mixed---with---cement.---How---long---does---it---last?---Dammit,---why---didn’t---I---just---use---rope?---Gahhhh,---I'm---such---an---idiot,”---Thoric---yells---as---he---attempts---to---remove---his---feet---from---the---spiders---back.
Only---a---moment---passes---before---Doreson---joins---in---on---the---laughter.---The---person---that---had---caused---them---so---much---fear---is---now---struggling---to---get---off---the---spider.
“So---this---is---him,”---he---voices---mid---laughter.---Dragken---nods---and---laughs---along.
“Indeed.---He---is---quite---the---individual.---Smart,---powerful,---a---genius,---but---also---obscenely---cocky.”---Dragken---states---before---frowning---momentarily---as---his---eyes---look---at---something---behind---Doreson.
Doreson---looks---back,---finding---a---centaur---[Soldier]---running---towards---him---quickly,---fear---evident---on---his---face.---When---he---reaches---them---the---centaur---pauses.---He---looks---around---confused---at---what---is---happening---before---he---shakes---his---head---and---looks---towards---Doreson.
“The---enemy---is---grouping---up.---[Captain]---Silas---believes---they---are---planning---to---attack,”---the---[Soldier]---blurts---out---quickly.
“Attack?”---Dragken---asks,---confused.
Doreson---grunts,---his---eyes---narrowing,---“Yes,---there---is---an---army---led---by---several---[Herdmasters]---right---outside---this---city.---They---are---after---your---head.”
“I---see.---What---are---our---forces?---What---is---the---size---of---their---army?---How---good---is---their---leadership?---And---why---are---they---attacking---during---the---night?”
Several---questions,---all---valid---ones.---But---Doreson---doesn't---get---time---to---answer---them.
“Doesn't---goddam---matter.---They---have---an---army,---I---have---a---giant---boss---monster.---Let's---go---fuck---shit---up.”
Thoric---strolls---past---them,---eyes---glowing,---his---bare---feet---striking---the---ground---with---purpose.
A---moment---passes,---and---then---the---ground---starts---to---rumble---once---again.
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Chapter---Fourty---five:---Madness
“Dragken,---I---don't---like---this.---Are---you---sure---that---thing---will---be---able---to---win?”---Doreson---voices---from---atop---the---battlements,---pointing---towards---Berosus---which---is---standing---tall---and---firm---behind---the---closed---gates.---Gates---which---are---barely---taller---than---the---undead,---allowing---it---to---be---fully---hidden---behind---them.
Dragken---just---shrugs,---”It---will---work.---I---was---barely---able---to---cut---its---skin.---I---doubt---an---army---of---mostly---tier---one---classes---will---fare---much---better,---especially---now---that---he---is---controlling---it.”
Doreson---moves---his---gaze---from---Dragken---and---looks---towards---the---man---sitting---atop---the---monstrosities---head.---His---eyes---focus---on---the---one---named---Thoric---who---is---sitting---with---his---legs---crossed---and---feet---bare,---his---butt---firmly---planted---upon---Berosus’s---domed---head.
At---this---point,---Doreson---is---still---unsure---whether---this---individual---is---actually---the---patriarch---of---the---kitsune---or---not.---What---he---can---be---sure---of---however---is---that---the---man,---whatever---he---is,---must---be---exceptionally---powerful---to---be---able---to---control---a---beast---of---this---size.
“He---is---the---problem---Dragken.---I---don't---know---him---nor---do---I---trust---him.---He---showed---up---ten---minutes---ago---and---is---now---demanding---we---follow---his---crazy---convoluted---plan.”
A---cheeky---smile---flashes---across---Dragken’s---face,---“Come---now---Doreson,---you---simply---need---to---have---faith.”
Doreson---frowns,---his---ears---wiggling---in---annoyance.---He---is---a---tactician.---The---idea---of---‘having---faith’---is---a---foreign---concept---considering---his---class---focuses---solely---on---facts.
“You---and---Oregan---are---idiots.---How---is---it---both---of---you---just---swear---loyalty---to---a---man---within---minutes---of---meeting---him---for---the---first---time.”
Doreson---voices,---his---fur---standing---on---end---from---how---angry---and---frustrated---this---matter---makes---him.---His---eyes---are---still---locked---on---Thoric’s---form---atop---the---monster,---gazing---with---purpose---before---suddenly---frowning.
“Ughhh,---can---you---at---least---tell---me---how---strong---he---is?---My---[Watch---Captain]---can't---make---tail---or---hoof---of---him.”
“Oh!---How---is---Greta?---You---still---haven't---impregnated---her?”
Dragken---asks---with---a---cheery---smile.
“Don't---change---the---subject.---How---strong---is---he,---Dragken?---What---is---his---class.---What---level---is---it?---I---need---more---than---just---your---word---to---be---able---to---trust---him.
Dragken---frowns---as---he---notices---the---expression---of---panic,---fear---and---confusion---on---his---friend’s---face.---He---takes---a---moment---to---contemplate---on---why---this---could---be---happening.---Doreson---is,---if---Dragken---is---being---honest---with---himself,---easily---one---of---the---best---tactical---minds---that---has---ever---wandered---the---battlefield..---He---prides---himself---in---always---being---prepared,---being---able---to---read---complex---situations---with---ease---thanks---to---his...---[Tactical---Precognition]---skill.
“Doreson!---Stop---using---[Tactical---Precognition]---on---him.---You’re---going---to---go---mad,”---Dragken---yells,---his---hands---reaching---out---and---grabbing---Doresons---head---to---turn---it---away---from---Thoric.
“I…”
“Deactivate---it---Doreson.---Stop---using---the---skill.”
Doreson---finally---complies---and---Dragken---watches---with---trepidation---as---his---friend’s---expression---changes.---And---then---Doreson---pukes,---heaving---hard---while---Dragken---holds---on---to---him---to---keep---him---from---falling---over.---It---takes---about---a---minute---before---Doreson---steadies---himself---and---becomes---able---to---raise---his---head.
“I---can't---read---him---Dragken.---His---mind---is---everywhere.”
Dragken---curses---himself---for---not---warning---him---beforehand.---But---how---was---he---to---know---that---the---man---would---be---so---obsessed---he’d---activate---one---of---the---most---powerful---skills---at---his---disposal.
“Damnit---Doreson,---your---aura---isn't---nearly---strong---enough---to---be---able---to---read---Thoric’s.---His---aura---is---much---stronger---than---Volpe’s.---I’m---not---an---idiot---who---would---swear---loyalty---to---someone---without---a---good---reason.---He’s---the---real---thing.”
Doreson---takes---a---couple---of---slow---breaths.---He---then---wipes---the---fur---on---his---face,---removing---what---puke---remained---on---it.---“That---felt---horrible.”
Dragken---can---only---nod.
“That's---what---happens---when---another's---aura---is---so---much---stronger---than---yours.---I---know---how---it---feels,---Volpe---made---me---experience---the---same---to---me---when---she---was---training---me.---It---is---not---a---good---feeling.”
Doreson---shakes---his---head,---still---feeling---a---bit---dizzy,---but---finding---himself---quickly---regaining---his---senses.
“So---did---he---attack---my---aura?---Did---he---defend---against---it?---Was---that---a---skill?”---Doreson---asks,---trying---to---understand---what---just---happened.---Granted,---he---is---by---no---means---an---expert---on---aura,---but---he---had---never---experienced---a---reaction---like---this---to---the---use---of---his---skill---before..---Previously,---the---worst---feedback---from---it---he’d---ever---received---had---been---exhausted,---and---that---was---usually---only---when---
he---was---focussing---on---a---literal---army---of---people.
“Mmmm,---it---was---more---along---the---lines---of---you---charging---headfirst---into---a---stone---wall---without---slowing---down---at---all.”
Doreson---contemplates---that---information.---He---spits---on---the---floor,---removing---what---stomach---acid---was---still---left---in---his---mouth.
“I---don't---like---this---one---bit.---I---only---came---here---because---you---said---you---needed---help.”