062 - The Sleeping Forest

Magnus planted his feet firmly on the ground. An odd energy coursed through him, a yellow coloured force that gathered around his core. The small white core beneath his navel spun, pressed down by the force spinning faster and faster, the pressure growing . .

"Min!"

"What? Oh alright." Min sighed.

The pressure Magnus felt instantly dispersed. Sif growled, not taking his eyes of the black haired girl.

"Nevermind. Excuse my sister, ah, Lars? Lars wasn't it. Min can be a somewhat impulsive." Soo shrugged apologetically.

"Humph!" Min snorted, her attention turning to Sif.

Magnus panted. The effects of the yellow force coursing through his body . . it was as the girls single word had sunk down into his bones. Around the girl's throat there was a hazy yellow aura . . yellow . . Mens! One of the Logos! What was the lesson? Mens . . yellow energy, linked to divination and the occult . . what were its effects?

"Not one much for words, Lars? Well, nevermind. My name is Sung Soo, this is my sister Sung Min. We've been following you see, out of curiosity. You weren't entirely truthful with those fellow before now, were you?" Soo approached the patch of dirt where Magnus had laid the formation stones, staring at it intently. "This formation . . its not from this world, is it? It isn't an Alchemist's formation either . ."

"The formation? You want to know about that?" Magnus replied.

"Yes!" Soo clapped his hands. "I've never seen anything quite like it! What is it? An invisibility formation? How does it hide your aura? What affect does it have on the space around it? Is it similar to the Navigators Hideaways? Where did you learn it?"

". . ."

"How many tokens does it use? How is it powered? You don't seem to have and Animus . ."

"What a cute wolf! Can I keep it brother?" Min approached Sif with her hand outstretched.

"Grr!" Sif snarled, baring his fangs, crouching behind Magnus.

"Min, please!"

"Oh please, look at him brother! He's nothing but boring brute! One of the dumb ants from this backwards world the Alchemists have. Why even bother trying to communicate with him?"

"Min . . just let me handle this . ." Soo sighed.

"Look at him! Use your eyes Soo, look! He's just a normal barbarian! What is he going to know about formations?"

A yellow energy gathered around Soo eyes, an intense glare fell upon Magnus. He felt as if every inch of him was laid bare, examined in the greatest of detail.

"Huuu . . when you're right, you're right sis. A barely formed warrior core . . and nothing more. You really are from this world, aren't you Lars?"

Soo drew his curved short sword, a sharp aura filled the air. Magnus grew tense, raising his fists.

Soo swung at the ground where the formation lay cutting through the earth and turning it over. The single swipe of his sword threw up a mound of dirt, the eight green formation stones flew up into the air. Soo waved his hand and the stones fell at his feet.

"Green stones? Malachite? This is . . hmm . ."

"Stop! Give those back!" Magnus rushed at Soo.

"STOP!" Min commanded.

Magnus froze in his tracks. A clear strand of yellow energy shot from Mins mouth and enveloped him entirely.

"This . . I don't recognize the tokens . . and the sigil, the energy used to infuse it . . how curious. What is it, Lars?"

". . ."

"Answer my brother, barbarian. SPEAK!"

Again, the spiritual force flowed into Magnus. Before he could help himself he found his mouth opening, the words forming on his tongue.

"It is Vigour . . uh . . ah!"

"Vigour? Life force? But that . ." A look of confusion rose in Soo's face. He crouched by the stones and sent a thread of blue energy into them. The thread bounced off the stone, shooting off red sparks. "It really is Vigour!"

I need to move! Run! Do anything Magnus, come on! The small white core spun furiously under the pressure, a tremendous burning sensation boiled within Magnus belly, forcing its way out and fighting back against the yellow force.

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Magnus felt every muscle and bone strain with effort, the words of Min along with the energy were like iron shackles keeping him in place . . but they were weakening . .

"Awooo!" Sif howled, pouncing.

"Min! Watch out!"

The giant white wolf launched itself up into air over Magnus' head, its open maw coming down on Min.

"BAD WOLF! DOWN!" Min roared.

Sif's hind legs plummeted to the ground, the force of its leap sending the giant white wolf rolling in the dirt next to Min. The force keeping Magnus in place evaporated, Magnus immediately circulated the his core energy through his body.

Get the stones! Magnus rushed forwards and catching Soo by surprise. Soo had his sword at the ready, responding to Magnus sudden mad dash with a simple slash. Magnus raised his arm to fend of the blow.

Clang!

The blade sliced through the flesh of his left arm, stopping only at the bone. Soo seemed just as shocked as Magnus, both frozen in place.

"Ah ha! Nice one brother!" Min drew her short sword. "Now, just finish the brute off. I can keep the big wolf, right?"

Magnus clenched his teeth, filling his fist with power and punching Soo in the chest with all his might. Soo stepped back with the punch, leaving his sword wedged in Magnus arm.

Even though a great deal of the force of Magnus’ punch was negated by him stepping back, Soo clutched his chest coughing up a mouthful of blood.

"Brother!"

"This power . . it isn't something a warrior core should have!" An intense yellow aura condensed around Soo's eyes, shooting out at Magnus.

Magnus rolled, picking up a handful of dirt and throwing it at Soo's eyes, blinding him.

"STOP!" Min yelled at Magnus, freezing him in place.

"Grrr!" Sif leapt up once more, snapping at Min.

"STAY!" Min turned, yelling at Sif.

Magnus felt the energy holding him in place weaken again, taking advantage of Min being distracted by Sif to rip the sword from his arm and rush at her from behind.

"STOP!" Min yelled desperately. "NO MOVING!"

Both Magnus and Sif stuck in place.

Magnus felt a sharp killing intent rise from Soo. The curved sword in his hand vibrated fiercely, flying out of his grip and into Soo's hand. Soo advanced a step, falling to his knees, his white clothes stained with blood.

Min rushed to her brother side. Soo coughed up another mouthful of blood, trying to wipe the dirt from his face. "Sis! The Vigour! I know what it is! Kill them!"

"Both? . . alright brother, if you say so."

Sif's giant body trembled as Min walked up beside his head. She placed the tip of her sword on his eye and pushed it through, right up to the wolf's brain.

Magnus trembled, held in place and unable to even move his mouth to speak. Min approached Magnus, placing her sword at his throat.

Move! Dammit! Move!

The blade cut through his skin, plunging into Magnus' throat and cutting his jugular and all the way to his spine. Magus remained upright, blood pouring out from his neck.

Move!

Magnus shook . . even at death's door he was helpless to resist the full force of Min's commands. The white energy within his core poured out, flowing through his arms and legs . . but it wasn't enough.

A deep bubbling rage boiled up, an immense heat from within Magnus' bones . . his skin cracking and splitting apart.

Before Min could pull her sword out Magnus hand shot out, his fingers covered in black lines, grabbing Min around the throat and hoisting her up into the air. Min clawed at his hand, her eyes bulging.

"Sis!" A yellow energy formed into a arrow and shot into Magnus' eyes. All the colours of the world reversed, all sorts of painful flashing lights sparked in his vision, but he did not lessen his grip on the girl in any way.

“Let go of her!” Soo struggled up, stumbling at them and slashing down on Magnus’ arm. The blade smashed into the black lines, bouncing off.

Magnus vision swam in and out of focus, he felt another blow as Soo raised his sword and brought it down on his arm to no effect.