Warning: The use of this anchor is not compatible with your shell type. Valid shell types [Abyssal Spawn Tier =< 2]
“Well there goes that idea,” Kal groaned as the Shadow Lord’s grip tightened. He didn’t know how this tear was different but it apparently wouldn’t let him through even if he wanted to.
Demons began to rush through the remains of the now crumbled fort just as the tiny cracks of the forming tear burst open. A pulse of potent space mana twisted Kal’s perception making his eyes glaze over for a moment and even making the Shadow Lord stagger slightly.
“Ah yes! Finally. Your world will burn, mortal,” The Shadow Lord rasped as the waiting demons began to surge through the now-open tear without the need for an order.
Kal ignored the prick and focused his will back on the tear, his Eyes of the Slayer mixed with his mana sight clearly showing him the still pulsing black crystal within the warped space of the tear. Kal was immediately glad he had spent the time on their journey here working on his will tendrils as he reached toward the anchor.
Hundreds of will tendrils merged together to extend his reach outward until he could just barely graze the anchor. The instant he made contact his vision warped and images began to flash into his mind.
Demons fell through the infinite gray of the tears passage, flowing along a tangled path between dimensions. Wooden huts and stalls covered in dark blood stood silently as the area around it burned. Human limbs, messily severed, were stacked in neat, orderly piles, and between were the severed heads of dozens of people. Men, women, and chi-
Kal’s mind reeled as he gagged at what he saw and his soul roared up in his chest. The images never stopped, they continued to surge across his will tendril and into his mind.
Grotesque, mutilated faces stared at him with dead but knowing eyes. As the tear opened their mouths twisted into a mockery of joy, their cheeks splitting open and their teeth and gums fully visibly, stained with their own blood.
Behind the horrible display movement caught Kal’s eye. A tall elf darted from between the burning houses of the village, his delicate sword sliding free of its sheath. Behind him, dozens more sprinted after him but none could match his speed.
Time moved slowly in the village. Each of the charging men’s steps was almost painfully slow while the coming demons moved multiple times faster but as the elf drew closer to the anchor the time began to slowly balance out.
Kal saw what the man was trying to accomplish but he knew he wouldn’t make it. It was too late.
An instant before the elf’s blade struck the anchor the tear ripped itself into existence and the elf was thrown off his feet as the first of the demons arrived. Before the elf had recovered another dozen shadow fiends exited the tear and began to charge as shadow weapons formed in their fists.
Kal wrenched his mind free of the visions as he choked up a mouthful of blood as the Shadow Lord's fingers bore into his throat, Flesh of Iron doing nothing to protect him from the Shadow Lord's insane strength.
Health:
2732/5100
Stamina:
4350/8290
Wrath:
8203
Kal was still healing but he didn’t have time to worry about that. He had to close the tear now. Kal tried boring his will into the thread of the anchor but with every attempt, his will barely managed to reach the anchor let alone sunder it.
Demons continued to surge through the tear a half dozen at a time as many as could fit through the crumbling entrance.
“Damn it, I need to get closer,” Kal reached up to grasp the Shadow Lord’s wrist with his good arm but even as he pried at the demon’s fingers they barely budged. The demon chuckled and slammed Kal into the ground, shattering the stonework. Kal gasped from the shock around his neck but his body took the stone well enough beside the fragments of his armor being driven deeper into his chest.
He felt one of his lungs collapse as the Shadow Lord lifted him back up to watch the streaming horde.
“Struggle if you like mortal…”
Health:
2357/5100
Stamina:
4350/8290
Wrath:
9203
Kal growled as his anger rose with the influence of his soul and it urged him to kill the demon. Kal ignored the urge. Fighting head-on wasn’t the answer here. He needed to break free. Kal’s eyes fell on Exterminator’s Regards sticking out of the remaining stone wall, parts of the roof falling all around it.
He almost discarded it out of hand since it was so far out of reach even further away than the anchor and with countless demons between them but as his gaze began to move away from it he felt something resonate from the dark blade. Kal reached out with his will toward the sword and the tendril snapped to the hilt almost as if there was no distance between them.
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The building pressure in Kal’s mind returned as the image of the silver light in the crimson hand manifested once more but this time he heard something else, a voice that muted the world both the real and the memory, “Come on Kal… This guy is nothing…”
Kal choked up more blood as the demon squeezed hard but grinned as his soul flared again. His will hardened around the hilt of Exterminator’s Regards and it moved. The dark blade exploded from the wall as if propelled by all of Kal’s strength and more, carving its way through the dozens of demons between it and Kal.
You have slain [Shadow Fiend | Abyssal Spawn 80] bonus experience awarded due to slaying a higher leveled entity.
Mutilation bonus added to total!
Mutilation bonus added to total!
You have slain [Shadow Fiend | Abyssal Spawn 74] bonus experience awarded due to slaying a higher leveled entity.
Mutilation bonus added to total!
Mutilation bonus added to total!
Mutilation bonus added to total!
You have slain [Shadow Fiend | Abyssal Spawn 73] bonus experience awarded due to slaying a higher leveled entity.
Mutilation bonus added to total!
You have slain [Shadow Fiend | Abyssal Spawn 69]
Mutilation bonus added to total!
Mutilation bonus added to total!
You have slain [Shadow Fiend | Abyssal Spawn 76] bonus experience awarded due to slaying a higher leveled entity.
You have slain [Felflame Scion | Abyssal Spawn 73] bonus experience awarded due to slaying a higher leveled entity.
You have slain [Felflame Scion | Abyssal Spawn 81] bonus experience awarded due to slaying a higher leveled entity.
…
..
.
Level up!
Mutilation bonus added to total! X 12
None of them saw it coming, the black blade carved through their ranks like they weren’t even there. Black blood suddenly filled the collapsing chamber and the Shadow Lord stepped backward in surprise as nearly every demon in the room was either bisected or maimed beyond recognition before the blade came arcing toward him.
Before it recovered from the shock the blade came down hard on the demon’s wrist, hard enough that Kal heard the demon grunt as he fell from its grip. Kal’s lungs screamed for air but he didn’t waste any time and immediately fell into a roll toward the tear. Exterminator’s Regard bounced off the demon’s wrist and spun through the air into Kal’s ready hand.
Warning: The use of this anchor is not compatible with your shell type. Valid shell types [Abyssal Spawn Tier =< 2]
Warning: Shell death imminent.
The system hounded him as got closer but he ignored it as he focused his will along his blade’s edge.
“What?! How?!-” Kal felt the Shadow Lord follow after him but he was already bringing Exterminator’s Regards down on his target.
Agony exploded in Kal’s back as he felt the Shadow Lord's hammer shatter his spine but even as his feet left the ground his dark blade continued downward, pearlescent light flashing along its surface.
The tear parted like silk and Exterminator's Regards met anchor-
----------------------------------------
The demons weren’t stupid, the moment Nyx fired her first volley several of the nearby patrols started running toward them. She grabbed Ander and ran along the outskirts of the cliff edge in an attempt to keep as much visibility as possible but she needn’t have bothered.
When the legions of demons began charging up the hill she should have been relieved but her heart sank as the notification appeared.
Warning: Quest Updated!
Behind Enemy Lines
An abyssal anchor has been destroyed and additional points for participation have been awarded.
Abyssal anchors established: 2 = > 3
Warning: Tears Opening
“No!” Nyx groaned. They were too late and Kalum was up there with a monster and hundreds more about to fall down on top of him. How he had managed to survive even a single hit from that thing amazed her but what was coming up the hill would be his end.
Nyx dashed up the nearest incline and up another plate of jagged metal trying to get a glimpse of Kalum amongst the mess. As she reached the top her eyes widened as a blinding white flash tore her from the ground and sent her tumbling with Ander down the incline she had just climbed.
“Aaaaagh Ooomf” Ander yelled as they came to a stop Nyx stood and paled as she saw their cloaks had failed.
Her eyes snapped to the abyssal anchor just as a deafening screech tore through the air and the two of them ducked covering their ears. The demons didn’t stop their charge toward the anchor but a ripple of motion ran through them all as the anchor pulsed with white light.
The screeching became a wail and the ground began to shake. Nyx felt herself suddenly become lighter and her long black hair began to move unnaturally toward the anchor. For the first time since her volley, she saw the Shadow Lord raising Kalum by his head.
His body was battered and broken but his eyes still flickered between red and gold though they were dim. The Shadow Lord slammed Kal into the ground hard.
Nyx gritted her teeth in a mix of despair and anger as she drew her bow once more, “You bastard!”
“Run…” Nyx gasped as she heard Kal’s voice through the stone still in the fingers of her left hand.
Dust and debris all around her began to rise up from the ground and the demons closer to the anchor staggered. The Shadow Lord barely seemed to notice as it lifted Kalum from the ground by a black and twisted arm.
Nyx wanted to ignore his command but Ander backed away, “What’s happening?! Is he ok ?!”
The front rank of demons stumbled and fell uphill toward the anchor while nearby metal plates ripped themselves from the ground in a sudden storm of deadly shrapnel as the anchor’s light brightened.
Nyx felt herself begin to slide along the ground and Ander shouted as he fell and started sliding along the ground.
“Ander!” Nyx shouted and discarded her arrow to grab the boy’s wrist before fighting to get away from the strange pull of the anchor. She glanced back to where she last saw Kalum but the air was filled with scrambling demons and soon the air began to fill even further with the remnants of the terrain.
“Survive… Please survive…” Nyx pleaded as she turned away and ran. Every step tore at her heart. She was useless.
“Where are we going?! We need to help him?!” Ander yelled, fighting against her grip.
Nyx grimaced but she couldn’t bear to answer him. The pull of the anchor dragged at her swift retreat, only Shadow’s Grace allowed her to keep her feet as even the earth beneath her began to give way.
“You’re a coward Nyx… A fucking coward!” She screamed to herself as she ducked and weaved beneath wagon-sized pieces of metal. Even the area’s shadow mana began to twist into the anchor just barely giving her the ability to see in the maze of metal.
She leaped over another mound as it came away from the earth but before her feet hit the ground she screamed in sudden fright and pain as the world behind her tore itself apart. She felt her eardrums burst, blood spurting from them and her mouth.
Ander screamed as Nyx lost her grip of him, the world turned black and her head hit the crumbling earth.