EPISODE 71: A TOUCH OF RAGE
— Edryan Queendom, Year: 7291, Season, Color Fading.
“( Domain Expansion: Rage ).”
The voice hit Madria as a fact . It was a statement that simply… was . It broke her concentration on her scrying spell, and Madria’s vision was completely thrust back into her mind. The words emerged and traveled through the valley as if Laura Lance simply said… the sky was blue . Or perhaps she said the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Regardless, Rage became the law that settled over a small portion of the battlefield, at its center was Laura Lance.
Madria watched it all from her cliff’s edge. She was no longer the only one. Karmila Lance, the captain in charge of the healing division of the West Gate Army, stood silently next to her. Others stood not far behind, and they watched in silence as the events before them unfolded.
Starglow Valley was in a constant state of darkness, but the lights from the stars lit the valley in a comfortable light. It always appeared as if there was a dim light that gave just enough radiance for those traversing the valley to see by. No matter if it was day or night, these floating balls of starlight kept the same glow in the valley. That changed the moment Laura spoke.
“A Touch of Rage,” Madria whispered. A Touch was what you’d need to walk the path of Godhood.
“Yes child, a Touch of the Law of Rage. It’s a beautiful thing just as it is a sad one,” Karmila spoke.
The older woman wore the garbs of a priestess. A red and gold robe with the symbol of the Goddess on the front and back. She was covered in jewelry and a small ruby was centered on her forehead. Her red eyes shined brightly, and her long braids nearly drooped to the floor. She was near the opposite of her sister, who wore her hair short, yet both women were nearly the same height.
The valley now held a portion completely devoted to the color red, for that was how Laura Lance saw the emotion. The once inky blackness now held stars in a red sky for the portion of the battlefield surrounding Laura.
“Will they be alright,” Madria asked concerned. This was not her first time seeing a Touch in use, and Madria pondered on the effects a Touch of Rage would have on those under its influence.
“My sister and her men will be fine, it’s the Convocation and His Highness Lawruthian we should be concerned for. That idiot has completely forgotten her purpose in coming here. She’s been blinded by the opportunity to level.”
Madria’s eyes tracked the launched calvary of Laura’s army as they traveled under the effects of the mythical spell. Her eyes turned toward Lawruthian’s group, and they widened in shock. Although they were a few miles away, Madria was able to make out a large attack descending over the position Lawruthian was at. From a distance, she could clearly see the light around the powerful spatial attack bend as it descended.
Her fist clenched and Madria muttered a prayer to Goddess Madris. She prayed for Lawruthian’s protection and his victory. She prayed for the souls that would rise to the Promised Land. She prayed for a better Edryan.
This time her connection to her Goddess remained silent, stagnate , but Madria could feel the presence of her Goddess… waiting, watching the events unfold. For if there was an Edryan in war… Goddess Madris was surely never far away.
The ground erupted in front of Lawruthian, and Madria felt herself relax. She knew the power of the golem protecting him. A Calamity, even one that only just entered the levels to be considered one, was not a thing anyone could just… deal with.
Madria focused on the battle and overviewed her new skills. She prepared herself, just as Karmila began to bark out orders.
“Gather your things, and prepare to approach the battlefield.”
Karmila turned to Madria and asked, “Will you stay or will you come?”
Madria turned to the woman and smiled, confidence radiating from her and a strong desire to follow the teachings of her class and Goddess.
“We are Magi, and I am a [Priestess of Madris] of course, where blood flows we follow.”
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DUUM-DUUM.
“( Domain Expansion: Rage) ).”
(Domain Expansion)
Function:
Rage
The Law of Rage supersedes a localized area centered around you.
Function:
Red Rage
Channel your Rage into existence. Summon a manifestation that embodies your rage. Until dismissed or destroyed, this manifestation can exist without further cost to you.
…
…
Cost:
???
Laura felt GREAT . She hadn’t felt this way in a long time. A [Touch of Rage] constantly held the general on what some would call a knife’s edge. The emotion constantly wanted to be released and until Laura mastered it, she'd regularly have to deal with the anger, the wrath, the Rage . Her loss of control was what landed her in this position in the first place. She’d been younger then, and the reward from Queen Titiana was something she took for granted. Now, it remained the barrier between her and her Queen.
“Form ranks.”
Without hesitation, her men followed orders. Immediately, they found themselves in ranks facing the Convocation. As the Law of Rage superseded all laws within the range around Laura, her men were once again able to use their movement skills to align themselves properly. Many stepped on what seemed to be hardened magma that appeared from thin air. These were the Lance clan members. Others hovered with different affinities depending on who they were and what family they belonged to.
It was a beautiful sight to Laura, one that she would relish as she released the fourth function of her skill. The cost of using a Touch was simply… astronomical . Laura held the crystal in front of her as she used the very mana of the world to cast. The very mana to support the Law of Rage and do its bidding.
Her eyes traveled through the ranks of the Spatial Convocation. They flickered over Thane, but to the man's battle-hungry look, Laura simply dismissed. Red eyes finally found where the members of the Council of Elders floated. She smiled as she met the greedy eyes of Jahman from hundreds of feet away. He stared at the crystal floating above her palm with unfiltered greed.
“Ahh, the desire, the wants, the need…
A Touch is a beautiful thing, isn’t it?”
Laura voiced her thoughts, her eyes never straying from Jahman’s hungry gaze.
“A choice of three… to Prestige… to pursue Godhood, or another … it's clear what path I choose. Surrender, and be spared, resist… and Die ,” her voice held a husky, sultry tone to it. It snaked its way into the hearts of those who recognized the object floating above her palm. Others, those who were far too low leveled or perhaps not belonging to the right circles, stared confused. Regardless, Laura captured the attention of all as she floated in place.
“What say you, Thane?”
Laura finally removed her eyes from Jahman and on to Thane. Thane gazed back fearlessly, and Laura didn’t need the man to speak to already judge his answer.
“Then… DIE . (Domain Expansion: Red Dawn),” the word die seemed to ignite something in Laura’s men, or perhaps it was the skill, but as the word left her mouth, the West Gate Army was already taking off. Fiercely charging toward the Convocation's army in a barely controlled formation of malice.
At the same instant, Laura spoke, Kei and his troops slammed into the uppermost portion of the Convocations army. Laura laughed and pointed her men forward to join the chaos that was erupting in the front ranks of the Convocation’s forces.
“See,” Laura said to her protectors, who once again rejoined her. “Still wet behind the ears.”
None of the men responded as their eyes glowed an ominous red. They only stomped forward as they encircled the general. Hands and arms twitching under the effects of pure and unfiltered rage.
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DUUM-DUUM.
For the first time, Thane Volkensha could truly say he was blindsided by Laura. His mind whirled as (Cosmic Tactician), his passive reinstated itself. He’d pushed it to the background the moment the Touch came into play. The crystal and the chance to begin comprehending a domain even held sway over him. Yet, it was more of his lust for battle that held the man back. Now, as he received what he wished for, Thane began to act.
He glanced at the notification that kept him updated on (Cosmic Disorientation) remaining time and mana points.
(Cosmic Disorientation)
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Time: 00:32:54
MP Remaining: 704,345
Assured of the spell's high remaining mana, he began casting its other versatile functions. His vision focused on the beginning of his ranks as his lieutenants and men fought against various, the less versatile portion of the West Gate Army.
“(Cosmic Disorientation: Stasis ).”
A blue barrier surrounded the area, in which time paused as the magi-humans within came to a complete stop. Within this area was the crashed cavalry division of the West Gate Army and a large portion of Thane's front-line troops. Thane made the most logical decision as he acted.
‘ Drawback and prepare to… ’
Thane began ordering his men as fifty thousand mana was expanded instantly. The Convocation drew back by two thousand feet as the West Gate Army simply marched closer and closer. Thane barely held enough time to remove his men from the confusion that was the front lines when the sky above his army began to turn red.
Thane prepared to cast the spell again and sacrifice another large portion of the remaining mana. He grimaced as (Cosmic Tactician) alerted him of its uselessness. Ever since Laura released the Touch of Rage, the gravity wells that were supposed to separate her men no longer affected the inside of Laura’s domain.
Inside the red world surrounding Laura, Rage is law… We’d lose a head-on clash. This is a Royal Army with high-level troops within it. The weakest of them have nearly thirty levels on my men.
Where is Uncle, and why hasn’t he captured the prince yet… this is where he needs to step in!
Thane gripped his sword tightly, his thoughts stated one thing, but his body acted differently as he prepared to meet the Vanguard of Her Majesty's armies. Thane flew through his men; his eyes hardened as the red glow consumed the Stasis field. For a single second, the blue glowing stasis field held against the domain of Laura… then, a sound like glass shattering rang over the field as the Law of Rage superimposed itself. Time resumed for the men within, except this time those who belonged to the West Gate Army movements became erratic. No, savage, as they howled like animals.
“Fire,” Thane said softly as he forced his men to fire upon the approaching mass.
“Again… do not stop.”
Thane lightly closed his eyes as his men fired upon their previous frontlines. [Solaris Edge] quietly slipped from its sheathe. A blade made of orange starlight and flame. The flames silently flickered in the darkness of the valley, a sharp edge to them as they clung to the metal underneath.
The warm orange light of his blade cast Thane’s front in a bright, welcoming color. Around him, the eyes of the Convocation’s troops brighten.
“[Solaris Edge]…”
“Edge of the Sun…”
And more were whispered as Thane passed. Thane was not one to command from the rear. No, Thane was a front-line fighter, he’d always been one, but this operation was bigger than his wants. Thane’s eyes widened in surprise as he felt a soft hand touch his shoulder. Laia smiled at him as their eyes met.
“Don’t die.”
“Stick to the plan,” Thane returned with a wink. His hand briefly touched hers before his eyes returned to the approaching army.
By the time Thane returned his attention to the Vanguard’s Laia was gone. She held her responsibility and Thane held his. They’d barely managed to make a dent into the West Gate Army, and the several lieutenants of the Convocation’s army couldn’t face against those underneath the [Mad Dogg]. Men who trained all their lives for one purpose and one purpose only.
Thraag grasped at the space before him and a magical scroll appeared in his hands. He briefly glanced over the name, (Chaos Veil), and then up and the most powerful scrying spell he felt. There were several dozen as Edryan watched and waited for the events to finish unfolding. He smirked and waved his hand at the most powerful ability, before he completely unfurled (Chaos Veil), activating it.
Thraag sighed. His eyes briefly flickered to the red domain that began to overtake the Convocations forces. Behind them was a mage tower, a city, an academy, a way of life.
Two magi from a previous age, both who felt the effects of a demigoddess power across Edryan, and both who grew up in the aftereffects of her death, stood silently and gazed at it all. Beneath them, men, and women… magi died over benefits. Most did not understand the reason for the conflict, but they were duty-bound to their organizations, and they would fight… for a magical oath spoken into the language of magic was a binding thing.
“A way of life you left long ago. You should not have returned here, Garo. You should not have come,” Thraag’s voice was deep, old , but it still held the passion of life within it.
His eyes turned to meet those of his old friend, his old flame, a remnant of the past. Garo’s eyes were on [Nova] and the city he grew up in. They held a distant, far-seeing look that only faded as Thraag talked. His dark black eyes unclouded as they met Thraag’s own. Garo sighed, the complex emotions within his heart truly settling for the first time.
“When I left here, when I left you , I’d never imagine I’d end up married into the Drumian House. Nothing would have made me believe our lives would turn out this way,” Garo voiced firmed with every word. He was no longer under the effects of {Stress} and the powerful magi began to return to himself.
One mage, in black, stood with his hands behind his back. His face is stern and scars deep. Starlight danced around him, and space seemed to hold no sway on his physical body. The other wore white with hints of green. His arms were stationed at his side, but a simple wand was held within one of them. Just a moment ago, there was nothing, but in the next, an ebony wand made of polished wood appeared.
“You answered the call of Princess Carina when her ideals were still around as her son, the foolish [Bad King], took over… and I… I choose differently .”
“Do not speak of King Ahdri in such a manner, he was my friend .”
Both mages fully turned to face one another, thoughts of the past faded with each moment. Each took a duel mage stance, one so familiar to the other yet now aged by time.
“Then you failed him ,” Thraag stated, eyes hardened. “…just as you failed me .
(Spatial Strike).”
Thraag Volkensha
HP: 2229/2229 (+1290)
SP: 1740/1740 (+930)
MP: 3639/3639 (+630)
Thraag lashed out with a skill and space bent as the powerful attack drove itself toward Garo. A groan came from the reality around them as the life-ending attack pierced its way toward him.
The attack struck and Thraag reacted instantly. He dodged left and then right, the slight shimmer of his passive defense barrier appeared in case any attack hit.
“(Blink).”
(Blink)
Function:
Instantly translocation yourself or a connected group to a location within sight.
Cost:
100 MP, 50 SP per individual. All involved parties may pay the individual cost.
DUUM-DUUM.
“Who’d have thought space and illusions worked so well,” Thraag called. His mind gaged the reality around him as he felt the folds that constituted the Mortal Realm in his immediate area. The stars rippled and Thraag struck above him at the same moment.
“(Blink).” Thraag teleported in the midst of casting his attack skill.
“(Warp Blade).”
Garo grunted, his face pale as his shield absorbed most of the attack. He appeared from the folds of space, flustered but unharmed.
“Hmph, so you haven’t been lacking as a royal dog? Good, let me show you how I’ve improved as well. (Dimension Echo).”
(Dimension Echo)
Function:
Create illusory duplicates that can perfectly mimic your actions and cast illusory attacks of their own. Provide mana to enable this attack to become real.
Function:
Instantly translocate in place of an illusion
Cost:
50 MP per illusion. 100 MP, 50 SP per teleportation.
A dozen copies of Thraag appear simultaneously. Each surrounded Garo and every avenue of the space they occupied. No matter if he cool left, right, up, or down, Thraag – Dimension Shaper would be there.
Thraag Volkensha
HP: 2229/2229 (+1290)
SP: 1740/1740 (830)
MP: 3380/3639 (+0)
In the distance, under the red glow of Rage, bodies fell, then, as they exited the domain, they floated, piling and scattering as blood and other fluids escaped them. Light of the sun seemed to shine in bright rays that pierced into the familiar darkness of the valley. The sun seemed to shine as it fought against the red domain of Laura and those within.
Thraag’s eyes flickered briefly to that scene, and then he gazed downward. Underneath them, two armies clashed as the Crown Prince and his troops fought against the collation. The collation was losing . A crystal blacker than ink that seemed to appear as one with the night sky emerged from Thraag’s chest.
Thraag sighed heavily, a deep bone tired sigh that escaped from the soul, his eyes traced the prince, but he extended his senses further. The presence of the calamity was low, but it still existed.
(Blink).
(Area of Control).
Just as Garo activated a skill, Thraag was gone.
“( Domain Expansion: Space ),” a second powerful voice echoed over the valley.
DUUM-DUUM.