[Alansu Menbray | Mind Mage 99 | Human]
Elder Jaliete's expression darkened, “Where is Jak, Alansu?”
Dalen turned to see the woman he dreaded seeing. A blonde woman flanked by two fighters stepped into the chamber from a side passage. If Dalen wasn’t so furious he might have found her attractive with her blonde hair and surprisingly tight robes…”No Dalen… she is a psycho”
Dalen appreciated Jaliete’s stance against Alansu but it was clear the woman didn’t care about Jaliete omitting ‘elder’ from her name. Instead, her eyes were fixated on Dalen.
“So! You're the friend of The Bearer. A little weak for your age, but handsome…” Her voice trailed off before she caught herself, “We must get to know each other!”
Alansu smiled and if Dalen hadn’t known what she was capable of he might have found it cute. Instead, he found it creepy.
“Alansu. Enough,” Jaliete insisted, “We are here to discuss the summoning ritual.”
Alansu pouted at Dalen before turning her head towards Jaliete, “Of course dear sister. Let me lead you to the council chambers.”
Jaliete frowned but nodded and their group followed Alansu down yet another passage. The bloody woman swayed as she walked and apparently, Elendria noticed him noticing since she giggled and jabbed him in the back with her stick. Dalen didn’t comment despite the pain in his back and moved his gaze somewhere else just for it to land on one of the fighters.
[James Kelitra | Fighter 62 | Human] [Thrall of Alanasu]
“For fuck sake!” Dalen started grinding his teeth as they reached a large black door covered with runes.
Alansu spun as she opened the door, flicking her blonde hair over her shoulder and smirking at Dalen as their group walked through the door. As Dalen stepped past her she leaned over, “Oh Dalen. Why so tense?” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Suddenly several notifications flashed past Dalen’s eyes.
Warning: Alansu has attempted to use Thrall Keeper’s Whisper.
Warning: Alansu has attempted to use Thrall Keeper’s [ERROR]
Warning: Alansu has atte[ERROR] Kee~~~~.
Warning: Resonance increased. Core type incompatible.
But Dalen comprehended none of it as in the next instant his chest burned as anger suddenly roared up inside him, “Shut up!” Dalen growled, his gaze locked on the mind mage’s eyes, “I barely know you lady but I already hate you. You can sway your hips all you like but all it will do is make you look more pathetic than you already are.”
Dalen’s voice echoed through the passage and the room beyond. Others turned to watch as he glared at Alansu but he wasn’t done. He wasn’t even close.
“Why you are allowed in The Order I have no idea. The thought that you people are supposed to be allied with Kal sickens me!”
Alansu paled at his onslaught, all the feigned pleasantry and seduction replaced by shock and fear. Dalen didn’t care, even when she backed away into the wall. Dalen simply stepped forward looming over her as he continued.
“To control people with your skills. To entrap them more than they already are is a fucking disgrace!” Dalen seethed, “Kal will not stand for it. When he returns, and he will return even if we somehow fail this summoning. You better either make yourself fucking scarce-”
“Enough!” A deep voice boomed from the chamber, making Dalen turn his glare into the room. Standing at the end of a large stone table was a huge man in black leather armor that showed off most of his chest. The man was red in the face and he glared back at Dalen with just as much vitriol, “You dare speak to an elder of The Order like that!”
“Dalen, stop!” Jaliete’s voice echoed in his mind.
“Fuck that! Fuck off! I’ll talk to that trash any way I please. She shouldn’t be here and neither should you if you think her methods belong in the order!” Dalen growled, stepping into the room, his chest burning.
[Jak Tinlan | Knight Breaker 98 | Human]
Dalen sneered at the notification and did stop walking toward the fool even as he drew a huge hammer from his back.
Warning: Core structure under threat due to incompatible resource transference.
“Who is this runt?!” Jak yelled as he raised his hammer.
Leo moved to intercept the strike but Jak was too fast. The hammer came down and time seemed to slow. Dalen glared up at the hammer as it came.
----------------------------------------
Kal opened his eyes to the flat side of a huge hammer. Its gleaming metal reflected candlelight directly into his eyes as it slowly moved toward his face.
Notifications bombarded him.
Warning: A Core-Bound Follower [Dalen Kreet] has increased their resonance to dangerous levels.
High Resonance Communication Initiating…
Aborting Communication due to low Unity and Tier-
[ERROR]
[ERROR]
[ERROR]
[ERROR]
Unbound WIll Detected: Restarting High Resonance Communication.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Warning: Unity and Tier levels are dangerously low and may cause severe core damage to Core-Bound [Dalen Kreet] if contact is maintained.
Kal’s eyes widened, ”Well that doesn’t sound good. Wait? Am I seeing through Dalen’s eyes?”
The next notification confirmed it.
High Resonance Communication Established
Time until death of Core-Bound Follower [Dalen Kreet] 60 seconds
End Communication Yes/No
Kal panicked for a moment and almost selected yes immediately but the glint of the hammer stopped him. It was obvious Dalen was in trouble and the timer didn’t seem to be going down as time seemed to be flowing slowly.
“Dalen? What the fuck do you think you're doing?” The voice sounded distant but even in his strange rage Dalen recognized it.
“Kal! These people are sick! They have people mind-controlled! Slaves!” Dalen spat, ”It’s wrong Kal. It has to stop!”
Kal could both feel in here the rage in Dalen’s voice which was a strange experience but as the hammer crawled toward him another notification appeared.
Core-Bound [Dalen Kreet] has several unresolved notifications. Do you wish to view them? Yes/No
Kal stared blankly at the notification for a moment, “What the fuck?!”
How was that possible? How was any of this possible? Dalen was practically raving as he spat vitriol toward no one in particular. What did it mean by resonance? “Don’t tell me getting pissed counts as being resonant to me…”
Feeling equally confused and concerned for Dalen Kal accepted the notification. Pain lanced through his chest as several notifications blurred past his eyes and as he read each one his own emotions darkened.
[Iandira Jalna | Conjurer 67 | Human] [Thrall of Alanasu]
[Alansu Menbray | Mind Mage 99 | Human]
[James Kelitra | Fighter 62 | Human] [Thrall of Alanasu]
Warning: Alansu has attempted to use Thrall Keeper’s Whisper against you.
Warning: Alansu has attempted to use Thrall Keeper’s [ERROR] against you
Warning: Alansu has atte[ERROR] Kee~~~~.
Warning: Alansu has attempted to use Soothing Breath against you.
Warning: Alansu has a[ERROR]st you.
…
..
.
[Jak Tinlan | Knight Breaker 98 | Human]
Kal’s confusion was gone, burned away by his own anger. His soul rose up with his malice, influence only adding to the rage he felt. Not only was Dalen right about the mind-controlled people. They had tried to control him as well. He had resisted somehow but that meant nothing, the intent was there and they would pay.
Spirit Resonance at Resonance Capacity (35%-Reduced by Unity)
As the notification vanished Kal sensed the anger burning with Dalen’s core and the crimson light that resonated with him. It raged, uncontrolled by Dalen’s will, and continued to grow more furious trying to match Kal’s own.
It never would. But it didn’t matter. It was wrath akin to his own. A spark to be kindled.
As the thoughts passed through Kal’s mind he received another notification. Its display flashing with both gold and crimson light.
Empower Core-Bound Follower [Dalen Kreet]? Yes/No
Warning: Due to Core-Bound Follower [Dalen Kreet]’s low tier direct control is required to maintain shell integrity.
Warning: Time until death of Core-Bound Follower [Dalen Kreet] 60 seconds => 15 seconds.
Kal grinned viciously as his soul surged in response to the opportunity he was given. The time limit was irrelevant. He wouldn’t need fifteen seconds.
----------------------------------------
“Dalen stop!” Melisia tried to grab hold of Dalen’s sleeve as he stormed past her into the room but his gaze fell over her and she froze. Her mind rebelled in terror for an instant before he continued staring down Elder Jak.
Jak snarled and raised his hammer high but Melisia could barely speak from the shock of what she felt.
“What are you doing?! Stop!” Leo yelled and stepped in an attempt to block the blow but he wouldn’t make it.
Jaliete’s face was almost as pale as Alansu’s and she grimaced as she raised her hand toward Jak but Melisia knew she would be too late as well.
The hammer fell narrowly missing Leo’s outstretched blade but just as it reached Dalen’s head everything changed. The room seemed to darken as a presence fell over the room in an instant. Then Dalen’s arm snapped upward into the path of the hammer-
*Boom!*
Melisia flinched as the impact reverberated through the chamber but as the dread she was starting to know very well stamped down on her mind she couldn’t help but smile.
The rest of the room groaned as they felt the very same undeniable dread. Alansu whimpered and started scrambling backward into the passage they had just walked through and her two thrall guards stepped into the doorway to guard her retreat.
Where there should have been a bloody mess of pulped flesh and broken bone Dalen stood with his arm upraised and the hammer bouncing awkwardly backward. Jak growled despite the way he suddenly paled and swung again.
This time Melisia saw it all but the strike never landed. Dalen pivoted evading the blow and his arm snapped into Jak’s wrist. Crimson flames oozed out of Dalen’s shoulders as Jak grunted and his hammer flew across the room to smash into the wall. Crimson flames surged over Dalen’s body in a rush and solidified. Suddenly Dalen seemed much larger, as a large muscular form was superimposed over top of Dalen’s average frame.
Melisia groaned and backed away as her fear threatened to overwhelm her. Jaliete gasped and whatever she was trying to do failed, her arm dropping limply to her side. Elendria vanished and appeared on the farthest side of the room, her old wrinkled face appeared more shocked than terrified.
Leo paled and staggered backward but his eyes widened in amazement more than terror.
[Spectre of Wrath | [ERROR] 72]
Despite the name, Identify told them. They all knew who was standing before them. It was Kal…
Before the hammer had struck the ground the crimson spectre was already moving again. His right fist rose up to slam into Jak’s jaw with a crack that shook the room. The elder still off balance from his ineffectual attacks took it hard and his head snapped backward.
Jak recovered almost instantly and his body flashed green as he swung his arm toward the spectre but it was much faster than the Knight Breaker.
The spectre pivoted its body, easily evading the strike before slamming its knee into Jak’s solar plexus forcing the air from his lungs with a spray of blood and saliva. Jak roared and his eyes flashed several green, red, and blue his body seeming to expand with each flash as he activated skills.
Jak swung his fist again, this time much faster and the force behind each of them made Melisia shiver but while he was strong the spectre was stronger.
The spectre’s flames changed hue, darkening slightly as Jak's fist met its forearm. The air cracked and shuddered from the collision but the spectre shoved the arm aside. Jak’s eyes widened but he didn’t get a chance to do anything else.
The spectre’s hand slammed into the first elder’s throat, tearing him from the ground and slamming him through the table into the floor of the chamber. The chamber shook and outside a shout of alarm echoed into the passage as muted by the Alansu’s desperate scramble.
The spectre’s crimson fist fell down onto Jak’s face.
*Crunch!*
Jak tried to resist, raising his arms but then the fist fell again.
*Crunch!*
*Crunch!*
*Crunch!*