by J. Carrarn
"I'll scatter it in the caverns below later," he grumbled before turning to the exit and walking out of the room.
—
A loud howl echoed across the Kaot-filled mountains as Domain struck the stone ground he sat on. The blue mana-field still surrounded him, and two of the sections were filled with intricate symbols and lines. The third was incomplete, its unfinished lines flickering oddly.
"I will end you for that, you bothersome thing," Domain growled before picking himself up and rushing out of the small crevice.
—
Far away, on the side of the mountain, beside the decapitated body of the Kaot Lord, something moved. A skeletal arm stuck up from some stone rubble and dust that had covered it, and a blue glow appeared through the cracks in the debris.
Refugees
Solus walked through Skulltown, his eyes on the mana-core in his hand. Although it was larger than a mana-orb, it didn't look all that special. What if he was mistaken? Maybe this wasn't a mana-core after all. Perhaps this was something else? He suppressed the desire to absorb it to see what would happen. He had to discuss his findings with Drys and Tirella first.
Solus created a larger container on his leg armor and placed the mana-core inside, after which he increased the container's density as much as he could, stopping just before it would start to drain his mana.
A series of thunderous explosions came from above. He started and dropped to a battle stance, quickly searching for the attacker. Another pair of Ygdra was flying overhead, letting loose bolt after bolt of energy as they were going. Their attack was futile, the barrier still holding firm.
"I'm going to have fun ending those things," Solus muttered as he glared after the Ygdra that flew off. He was about to turn his attention away when the two Ygdra screeched and stopped firing blasts. They banked sharply and headed south toward the main gate. Almost right after they had changed course he heard a loud horn blast from the main gate, signaling something approaching from the hills.
Now what? he thought, wondering if it was another Kaot attack. With a sigh, he turned to the gate.
Halfway there, another horn blast came, and he started running. One was a warning. Two meant trouble.
He sprinted through the city and reached the open area bordering the main gate. There were dozens of Blackguards standing behind the closed gate in a defensive formation.
A third horn blast sounded.
It's an attack! Solus continued for the gate, jumping up and over the Blackguards. He landed on the top of the wall beside a group of zombies that looked out at the wasteland with consternation. They turned to face him as he landed.
He ignored them and stepped toward the other side of the broad wall, wondering what was attacking that had warranted the third horn blast.
"Solus! There is a large group of undead incoming from the hills, and those flying things are attacking them!" one of the zombies shouted.
Solus didn't bother to reply. He could already see what was happening. A group of a few hundred undead was sprinting toward Skulltown. His eyes widened when he spotted a burly yellow zombie in the lead.
Borl!
He suddenly remembered seeing the AI-turned-zombie in the vision that Viridi had shown him. A massive host of Kaots was chasing them, the faster ones picking off the undead at the back of the group. Four Ygdra came in low behind the group. He saw one of them snatch up two undead before landing on a nearby hill to tear them apart.
I have to help them! About to jump forward, he remembered what had happened last time.
"Can I jump outside, or will I hit the barrier?" he roared at the loudly chattering zombies that stood beside him.
They jumped back in fright, one shaking its head violently.
"No, no! No barrier from this side. That only happens if you try and-" A sonic boom shoved the zombies into a pile that tumbled upon each other as Solus jumped through the barrier toward the group.
Mid-air, Solus saw that the Kaot host was about to swarm over Borl's party. Solus focused his power on the remaining open ground between the two groups. A tall smooth wall shot up out of the ground between the two groups, spreading far out to the east and west. The fastest and most nimble Kaots made it past and over the wall before it grew too high, but those that were slower slammed into it with such force that Solus felt the wall shudder as it almost immediately started to fall apart. Drawing up more stone, he thickened and hardened the wall as fast as he could, as blow after blow from the enraged horde struck at it.
Having reached the apex of his leap, he was angling down right when a few Kaots emerged on top of the wall, having climbed up using their talons.
Remembering what Tirella had done, Solus grinned wickedly. The wall's top split into two, and lines of sharp stone teeth grew from the edges until it resembled a giant, rectangular mouth. It snapped at the Kaots that were climbing across the top, biting their arms off. The Kaots had no time to react and disappeared inside the wall with a loud screech, swallowed.
Solus slammed into the ground halfway between Skulltown's walls and the incoming refugees and saw that the Ygdra were diving in for another attack run. His concentration was stretched thin from strengthening the wall and animating the vicious mouth on top of it. He couldn't risk doing anything too elaborate, or the wall would crumble. While sprinting toward the refugees, he thought of something. A headache began to stir as he forced his will to operate on a fourth thing. A small boulder formed in front of him, and he snatched it mid-sprint. Focusing on one of the incoming Ygdra, he came to a sliding halt and hurled the boulder at it.
The Ygdra was hovering above the refugees; its attention focused fully on its prey. It heard the whistle of the incoming boulder and turned to face it just as it slammed into its hideous face. It plummeted toward the wasteland with a loud screech, crashing into the midst of the fleeing refugees.
Solus groaned at seeing a dozen undead flattened by the downed Ygdra. Still, he couldn't think of another way to help them right now. A second boulder rose from the wasteland, and he grabbed it as he ran past, throwing it at another of the Ygdra. The massive beast easily dodged the projectile and turned its attention to Solus.
Tossing boulder after boulder and missing repeatedly, Solus roared in anger. "Hit already!"
A loud, fast thudding came from behind him, and he swirled around with another boulder still in his arms, ready for anything. He saw something massive and white flash past him, and then there was a loud explosion as Skull jumped up and soared through the air. The massive skeleton flew higher and further than Solus had ever seen him do.
Like one of Solus's boulders, he shot toward the Ygdra, and Solus immediately realized that Skull wouldn't hit his target.
Solus took a quick glimpse at the wall and saw that the refugees were a good distance from it now. He loosened his concentration on the wall, and the mouth on top disappeared together with his headache. He immediately switched his attention, and below Skull, a stone hand shot up from the ground. It began reaching up, the stone arm growing longer and longer until the hand grabbed Skull mid-flight. The skeleton roared in surprise as the hand hurled him to the nearest Ygdra with such speed it didn't have a chance to dodge.
Solus laughed in triumph as Skull slammed into the Ygdra and wrapped his thick arms around its neck. A moment later, the beast's neck snapped and almost doubled back on its own body. The wings stopped flapping, and the horrific thing plummeted to the ground.
Turning his attention back to the wall, Solus saw that it had already broken in two spots. Kaots were spilling through, while even more were climbing over it. They began rushing after Borl and his refugees again.
Gauging the distance between the two groups, Solus nodded. Borl and his group should be safe for the moment.
He felt the ground shake as something slammed into the ground. Looking around, he saw Skull crawl up from where the Ygdra had crashed. Solus grinned and created another hand, which plucked Skull from the back of the downed Ygdra. He heard Skull's
angry shout but ignored it. The other Ygdra were diving toward the fleeing undead, who had almost reached him. He aimed then hurled Skull toward the nearest Ygdra before turning to the fleeing undead.
Borl had seen him already and was heading straight for him.
"Run to the city. I'll take care of this!" Solus shouted.
Borl nodded vigorously as he ran past Solus, a ragtag group of undead close behind him.
A screech came from above, and Solus looked up. The nearest Ygdra had reached them and was diving down, heading toward two large fleshy undead at the back of the group.
Solus jumped forward, ignoring the shockwave it produced, and intercepted the Ygdra. He slammed into its skeletal body, grabbing at the thick bones. Offhandedly, he noted flesh below the bones, green and grey, and oozing some pungent, nameless fluid. He ripped one of the ribs apart with a tug and then slammed his entire arm into the flesh beneath. A soft tingling came from his arm, and suddenly red arcs of energy traveled up his arm and across his body. The Ygdra was hovering mid-air, its massive wings flapping as it shrieked hideously and bit at him, trying to dislodge him.
Solus yanked his aching arm back and punched the thing in the head. Cracks appeared on its exposed skull, and the Ygdra stopped flapping for a second, which caused it to spiral to the ground.
Solus climbed up along the ribcage and got on the thing's back, holding on with his legs. In a single fluid motion, he snatched his hammer from his waist and slammed it down on the back of the beast's skull. It cracked and split, revealing a grey mass that pulsated inside with a red light. A second strike splattered it in all directions, most of it covering Solus's chest, and with a final bellow, the Ygdra stopped moving entirely.
The ground was coming up toward them fast, and Solus created another stone hand, catching himself a split second before the Ygdra crashed heavily into the ground with a final thud.
Should have thought of this sooner, Solus thought as he wiped dust and debris from his face and looked around from his vantage point. Nearby, a massive army of Kaots surrounded Skull. The skeleton was grabbing them and ripping them apart in a fury, roaring in rage all the while. Far behind him, the fleeing undead had almost reached the gate, where a group of defenders had amassed. A few Ygdra were still pursuing the refugees, firing their red crackling orbs but appearing reluctant to get closer.
Solus focused and had the arm throw him forward toward Skull. As he angled toward a dense pocket of Kaots that were shooting fiery blue balls at Skull, he mainly felt calm and collected. There was none of the battle frenzy he had felt so many times, nor any of the anger he felt around Grav. Why? He could barely control himself around Grav, but with these Kaots, there was no problem. Seeing the Kaots and ground come closer, he shoved his questions away and focused on the matter at hand.
"Skull, stop playing around and get out of here!" he roared as he crushed two skeletal Kaots below his feet. He summoned another stone wall, separating Skull from all but a few of the Kaots. The skeletal behemoth effortlessly shrugged off bolts, tendrils, and barbs, making short work of the dozen remaining Kaots.
Solus was amazed at Skull's progress and the ease at which he moved and fought. Then he felt the wall shake under a barrage of strikes and saw more Kaots peek over the wall, and he turned and ran for the city.
"Move!" he roared at Skull when he didn't hear him following him. Taking a look behind, he saw that Skull was still staring at the wall while taking small steps toward it.
"Skull, come!" Solus roared, his voice blasting dust and debris away from him. Skull took one last look at the wall before turning and sprinting after him.
"I come!" he bellowed.
They reached the city's main gate before the Kaots had a chance to ram through the stone wall behind them. As soon as they ran inside, the gates swung shut.
Coming to a halt, Solus looked at the group of undead standing before him. Borl stood slightly in front of the others. As soon as the chunky zombie saw him, it walked forward.
"You're a sight for sore eyes! I never thought we'd make it, you know? The amount of Kaots in those hills is staggering! What did you do, tell them there are free mana-orbs here?" Borl said as he stopped in front of Solus, a wide smile on his face.
"This is a nice little city you have, by the way! It reminds me a lot of the cities of the ancients. It has a lot more character and charm than that pale imitation Tendraal." He paused for a moment before continuing with a sad shake of his head. "Scathia never was that creative." The undead pointed at the stone wall and a few of the stone buildings around them.
Trying to get in a word to silence the other, Solus finally couldn't hold back and growled. It was loud enough for a shockwave to push everyone, including Borl, a few steps back.
"Errr… is something the matter?" Borl asked, the fat on his face jittering and flowing oddly.
"We have a problem. Come with me. I might need your knowledge," Solus said before turning to one of the Blackguards that had been staring at him.
"Take these undead to some abandoned buildings, so they have a place to stay, and explain to them how things work around here."
The Blackguard nodded and turned to the refugees.
"But, but... I need to take care of my friends!" Borl insisted as he pointed at the dozens of similar yellow undead.
"No harm will come to them. You have my word," Solus said, turning to Skull.
"Guard the gate. If those Kaots come anywhere near them, destroy them. Try to make sure you don't lose any of ours!"
Skull stared at him for a moment before nodding. "I guard gate and end smelly undead!" His voice sounded a bit confused, but then he turned and leaped atop the wall.
Smelly? Solus wondered what the other meant and how he could even smell anything without a nose. Then he sighed, adding this latest inquiry to his continually expanding list of unanswered questions.
"Follow me," he said, grabbing Borl's arm and dragging him along.
"Sure, sure, whatever you say," Borl muttered.
—
Standing in front of the Hall of Patterns, Solus hesitated. If they were still speaking with Grav, he didn't want to go inside. What if he went into a frenzy and ended Grav before he could tell Drys what they needed to know? He shook his head at the thought.
He looked up, projecting his voice as far as he could beside the top of the tower. "Are you done?"
It took a moment, but then Tirella's head appeared in one of the windows.
"You can come in!"
Solus nodded and moved inside, Borl right behind.
"Holy crap! Those are a lot of patterns! I haven't seen this many since... well, since I lost most of my database," Borl said, making a whistling sound.
As they moved further up the building, he sounded more and more impressed.
"You're going about it in a much smarter way than Scathia was," he finally said as they climbed the winding staircase to Drys's room.
"What do you mean?" Solus asked.
"If you just keep the patterns to yourself, lording it over the common undead, you will end up being nothing more than a petty thug," Borl said.
A host of new impressions and knowledge bubbled up in Solus's mind, and he felt a small headache coming on. Talking with these AI was always such a chore. Why couldn't they just speak plainly?
Pushing open the door, the first thing he saw was Tirella, blocking his view.
"Listen. Grav is still here, and you will probably still want to end him. But Drys thinks-"
"I know!" Drys interjected behind her.
".. thinks that he knows how to solve that." Tirella continued almost without a hitch. "When you evolved me, you cleared some dark stuff from my mana-field, remember?"
Solus nodded. He wouldn't soon forget how disgusting it had been. He realized what she meant.
"So if I can clear that stuff off, I won't feel like smashing his stupid face in all the time?"
Tirella smiled, her white teeth flickering like opals in the light while her
black eyes stared into his. "Hopefully!"
"But I didn't feel like ending you when we met..." Solus said, staring at her intently.
Tirella's smile widened. "Probably because I didn't have as much of that dark stuff staining my mana-field."
Blinking a few times, Solus nodded lamely and moved forward. She stepped out of his path at the final moment, and he saw Drys standing beside Grav. A torrent of fury rushed through his mind, and his jaws clenched shut with a loud snap. Growling deep in his chest, he slowly walked forward.
"Mana-field, now!" he snapped, barely getting the words out.
Grav, a fearful look on his face, didn't hesitate, and a red-stained grey mana-field enveloped the room, dark red patterns of symbols everywhere. Thick black sludge seemed to ooze across big sections of it, and the red symbols around it were pulsating sickly. Seeing it almost made Solus lose control and attack.
Closing his eyes for a moment, he willed himself to keep calm. Only when he had regained a small amount of self-control did he summon his own mana-field. It made a soft whooshing sound as it expanded, quickly filling the room before disappearing through the walls. It was much bigger than he remembered. Part of him realized he hadn't noticed it outside, but now it was apparent. As soon as his mana-field overlapped Grav's mana-field, both began burning bright.
Like a stone, Grav dropped to the ground while Solus focused on the black areas.
It felt like closing one of the rifts, but it cost even more mana. His hearing dulled, then faded entirely, and the only thing he could see was Grav's mana-field. His anger was fading slowly, in unison with the black taint. Whatever was upsetting him so seemed content with eviscerating the black taint from the mana-field.
When the last blotch finally disappeared, Grav's mana-field brightened for a moment, all of the patterns turning to a deep orange before the mana-field disappeared entirely. Looking at Grav lying on the ground, Solus knew Drys had been right. The anger and desire to end Grav was gone. Solus's mana-field pulled back slowly as if it wanted to remain in the open.