Chapter 21: Savior
Vina completed her twelfth sword, watching as Carda picked up the first one to examine it. A pang of remorse gripped her as she witnessed his vitality slowly ebbing away under the sword's draining influence. After a few agonizing minutes, she broke the silence. “It won’t stop draining you until you have died. I haven’t figured out how to allow the wielder to stop that from happening yet,” she confessed, her gaze fixated on the intricately carved runes. "I'll find a solution eventually," she muttered under her breath.
"How long does it take for a full charge, and how much health does it require? Can multiple soldiers contribute?" Carda fired off his questions in rapid succession.
Vina shrugged, her brow furrowing in concentration., “I have done zero experimentation with this. Let’s see, you’ve lost one hundred health and it appears to be about a quarter full. I would guess around four hundred health per sword. You held that for like five minutes, so maybe twenty minutes per sword. I’ve added a rune to keep the draw rate lower, so no one bleeds out too quickly. There’s even more runewords to keep the sword from overflowing,” she explained, her voice tinged with a hint of solemnity as memories of past mistakes resurfaced. "I've been cautious not to repeat them," she added softly, taking a moment to collect herself. “I think any paliternian can fill it, but don’t let a stigandorian use it. I’m not sure if their vibrance will work the same way ours does. I’m not even sure what would happen if you tried to pack their blood into the sword. If I keep working on my skill level, I’ll be able to store more blood into each sword,” she concluded, looking briefly at the two two skill levels gained from this work.
Skill Level Up: Blood Runes has reached level 22. Blood runes can be drawn 90% faster and take 90% less blood to activate or maintain. Blood runes can store 44% more blood. You have gained 600 experience points from leveling skills.
"How many blood-infused swords are needed per assembler?" Carda's focus shifted to practical logistics.
Vina pondered thoughtfully. “It's hard to say for certain. A sword fully forged from my blood nearly neutralized one. Perhaps two or three regular swords, filled to the brim with blood, might suffice. I’ve also crafted a larger two-handed sword with deeper, more intricate runes, designed to take down an assembler single-handedly. Would you like some of those?”
Carda's nod was resolute. "We require as many as you can produce. Gij, ensure Vina has all she needs. Seassa and I must return to the front; battle is imminent."
Raising her hand, Vina interjected, "I understand the urgency, but I can create these weapons anywhere. I would like to observe the war efforts."
Seassa scoffed, “Don't let her roam free. Her capacity to learn and adapt is unparalleled. She could glean advanced techniques merely by observing.”
Carda, however, dismissed Seassa's concerns. “Let her. If her swords can destroy an assembler, her learning curve is irrelevant. Vina, you may observe from a safe distance.”
Vina passed Seassa a triumphant smile which Seassa returned with a glare.
“Fine, Carda. I’ll hold section twenty-seven. Ensure she stays out of my line’s sight!” Seassa snapped.
Carda agreed, “Understood. I’ll be in section sixteen; we’re bracing for a significant assault there. And Sylena, if you don’t bring at least two more of you by tomorrow, I'll have no choice but to invoke your name.”
As Seassa hastened towards her designated section, Vina sensed her dismissive gesture, her presence gradually fading from Vina's Blood Sense. Gij motioned for Vina to follow, and she complied, stealing a brief glance back at Langternem with a twinge of concern. Leading her away from the front lines, Gij guided Vina to another tent nestled between two hills. "This is my tent," Gij announced. "We can sit here on the edge and observe."
Acknowledging Gij's instructions with a nod, Vina accepted the next sword handed to her. As she ran her fingers along the blade's surface, she gazed out at the unfolding battlefield below. “Gij, why can’t you just copy the swords I’ve already made? It seems like this would go a lot faster if you could just duplicate my work with your aspect.”
Gij's vibrance dipped momentarily, betraying a hint of sadness. "My aspect allows me to create objects based on existing patterns. Generating a new pattern from scratch is a lengthy process, often taking months," she explained.
“Oh. I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t offend you,” Vina said quickly. She looked out over the area where the soldiers were assembled. As the nighttime darkness solidified, the moon began to rise overhead. In the distance, Vina could see the mists of darkness and the creatures that moved around in it began to stir.
Gij reassured her with a gentle smile. "No offense taken." Turning her gaze towards the battlefield, she continued, "It's about to commence. Observe how the soldiers are positioned." Gesturing towards the left, she pointed out sections twelve through sixteen. "We have a clear view from here. Notice Carda on the far right," she indicated. "He anticipates a significant assault this evening. Ever since Trina regained her aspect, Stine's forces have been relentless in their attempts to conquer multiple cities including Randar."
Completing the final touches on the sword, Vina held it aloft for inspection before withdrawing the blood once more. As movement stirred across the field, she observed the first creatures emerging. Passing the finished sword back to Gij, Vina received a larger two-handed blade to work on, falling into a rhythm as she began the process anew. "Where are the other members of The Twelve?" she queried cautiously.
Gij looked disapprovingly at her as if she couldn’t believe Vina had the bravery to ask such a question. "Most are engaged in efforts similar to Carda and me, albeit in different regions. The Shaper's recent insubordination has been addressed, thanks to you. Haco tirelessly guards our smaller towns from attack, and there are talks of relocating the people we can’t protect to Lampasa or other fortified cities for safety," she explained, offering Vina a rare insight into the endeavors of the twelve.
"It's that bad?" Vina's voice wavered as she watched the advancing creatures, now halfway to the trenches, prompting every soldier to unleash a relentless barrage of attacks. Arrows soared skyward, fireballs streaked across the battlefield, and unfamiliar powers battered the oncoming horde. The initial volley felled countless creatures, yet more surged forth. From the darkness, large translucent orbs ascended, initially resembling glass before crashing down as icy projectiles near the trenches.
Gij's voice rose above the din as she responded, "It's worsening by the day. The portal ring system grows increasingly perilous as well. What was once considered safe travel now comes with warnings. Imagine stepping into a portal ring under The Darkness's control."
Vina involuntarily shivered as a chilling memory surfaced. She observed the soldiers wielding powers that burned, melted, and obliterated the advancing creatures, yet the onslaught showed no signs of abating. Not all sections of the line fared equally well against the invasion. Regardless of the manner in which the creatures perished, a dark mist soon coalesced near their fallen forms. Soldiers grasped metal torches, igniting them with a blue flame upon contact. Vina recognized them as shadow scattering torches akin to those her mother had hidden away long ago. "Are those shadow dispersion torches?" she inquired, pointing towards them.
"They're a less potent variant," Gij clarified. "Around sixteen percent efficiency. They require considerable divinity to function."
“Did you create those?” Vina asked as she watched the soldiers use the torches to clear away the patches of shadows.
"I created patterns for the basic models, but the intricate runes were crafted by Faer and other skilled runemasters," Gij explained.
Handing over another completed sword, Vina pondered aloud, “How long can the line hold like this? I know aspect users exhaust their divinity pretty fast.”
Accepting the next sword, Gij responded somberly, "Not for long. The assault will soon transition to skill-based combat. Once their divinity replenishes, the onslaught will resume." Pausing to meet Vina's gaze, she added, "After defeating Ebba, Faer, and The Shaper, you must have discerned a reliable weakness among aspect users."
Vina sighed deeply, her expression pained. “Honestly Gij, I never wanted to kill anyone, and I really mean that. It all started when Ebba cornered me, threatening to expose my family's truth to The Twelve. At the time, I believed if she told The Twelve about us, all of you would kill us. Now, I’m not so sure what she would have done. I have regrets every day.”
“What did you do with Ebba’s body?” Gij's voice was soft, barely audible above the ambient noise.
Vina halted her work, taken aback by the unexpected question. “What?” Her surprise was evident, but Gij remained silent, her expression inscrutable. “I... I didn’t do anything with her body,” Vina clarified, sensing the weight of the moment. “Haco and I left her in a cave outside of Termily after... after I...” She struggled to find the right words, her guilt resurfacing with each syllable. “I figured someone would retrieve her once I was... once I was gone.”
For a moment, silence hung heavily between them, punctuated only by the distant sounds of battle. Vina observed Gij's face intently, trying to glean any hint of her emotions, yet in Gij’s vibrance she found only a tumultuous mix of confusion, anger, and sorrow. Tears welled in Gij's eyes, threatening to spill over. “Oh my god... she meant something to you,” Vina whispered, realization dawning on her like a thunderbolt. Her own eyes brimmed with tears as the weight of her actions crashed down on her. “Gij... I’m sorry,” she cried. “I never wanted to... I thought she was a threat to my family.”
Gij shook her head, wiping away the tears before they fell. “Ebba sought truth above all else. She would have uncovered the reality of your family's situation before making any decisions.” Her words only deepened Vina's remorse, but before she could dwell further, Gij continued. “I should have been honest with her, as she was with me. Perhaps I could have prevented her death.”
Confusion etched Vina's features as she processed Gij's words. “What?” she interjected, perplexed, as Gij retrieved something from within her palm. Before Vina could discern what it was, Gij closed her hand into a fist. “My predecessor left me a few items for specific individuals. You're one of them,” she explained, depositing the object into Vina’s lap.
Looking down, Vina recognized the miniature replica of Valanire, like a haunting reminder of her past traumas. “It’s Valanire,” she whispered, overcome with a mixture of fear and dread. “Who was your predecessor? And why would they want you to give this to me?”
Gij's response was sharp and tinged with confusion. “Her name was Gij,” she replied, her eyebrows furrowed. Vina realized then that she was speaking to a recently appointed Gij.
“When I inherited The Aspect of Creation, I received a few special responsibilities as well. One of them was this figurine with a promise to give it to Vina. I planned to give it to you when you arrived in Termily, but Ebba was assigned to you instead. They were already suspicious of your heritage from the runes on your lantern and backpack. I felt I couldn’t get this to you without someone being suspicious of me too. So I waited. After I heard about what you did to Ebba…” Her voice trailed off, heavy with unspoken implications.
She was quiet for a moment as she seemed to regain her composure. “Well, I heard about what was going on in Valanire and decided to use my influence to get you and Norimor assigned to figure it out. I couldn’t bring you the model, but I could bring you to the city. What did you find there?”
Vina stared at Gij, grappling with a maelstrom of emotions. She couldn’t ignore the fact that Gij had played more of a role in her ordeal in Valanire than even Norimor. “I found... a lifetime of painful memories,” she admitted wearily, tucking the figurine into her backpack. Retrieving the half-finished sword, she resumed her work, the weight of her experiences bearing down on her.
“I won’t apologize, Vina,” Gij stated solemnly. “But I do mean what I said. I don't wish harm upon you or your family. I only seek justice for Ebba.”
Vina looked out over the battlefield and saw the exchange of flames and effects was dying out. Creatures still ran from the shadows in the distance. “One day you’ll see my masterpiece. Look at it in detail, and then find me. Let me know if you feel like you’ve gotten your justice.”
As Gij went silent at her words, Vina reluctantly continued to work on the swords she produced. Soon creatures and people began to clash in the distance. She had just finished her fifth large sword when something changed. Even further out, Vina glimpsed people emerge from the shadows and begin to walk toward the line. Behind them something incredibly large was also slowly exposed in the moonlight. Vina's heart raced as she beheld the looming monstrosity in the distance. “How is it here?” she gasped, incredulous. “I’m on the other side of the world... It can’t be here!”
Without a moment's hesitation, Vina sprang into action, heedless of Gij's calls for her to return. Ignoring the pleas, she activated Free Running, Blood Cloak, and illuminated her lantern as she raced toward the unfolding chaos on the battlefield. The creature's ominous silhouette took shape as it emerged from the dense shadows, its full form sending shivers down Vina's spine. Though she had never seen its entirety, she recognized the inky tentacles that had haunted her past. The memory of them coiling around the portal ring, sealing the fate of her guards, was etched into her mind with a chilling permanence.
The creature's body, long and cylindrical like a colossal worm, bristled with the same ominous tentacles she remembered. Some thrashed angrily through the air, while others strained against the earth, propelling the creature forward with an eerie determination. Its roar echoed across the battlefield, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth lining its throat. A serpentine tongue lashed out, knocking aside its own minions that failed to evade its path. With swift brutality, the creature seized its hapless victims with its tentacles, devouring them whole as its multitude of eyes scanned the terrain for fresh prey
As Vina sprinted across the open field, the ground trembled beneath her feet as something crashed nearby. She spared a quick glance and witnessed a ball of ice obliterating a portion of the trench, entombing unfortunate people in its icy embrace.
Pressing on, she neared the trench ahead, but found it sparsely populated; most had already surged onto the battlefield, engaged in a desperate struggle for survival now that their divinity was spent. A voice called out to her, but she ignored it, fearing it might be Carda, and hastened toward her comrades. The world around her pulsed with vibrant energies, blood, and the profound emptiness of the void.
With practiced precision, Vina conjured a thrusting blade in one hand and a ruby claw in the other, seamlessly integrating into the fray. Memories that were not her own guided her every move, positioning her strategically amidst her allies as she delivered devastating blows to the invading creatures. Despite her prowess, the sense of so much blood, both dark and crimson, threatened to overwhelm her.
"I remember," she murmured to the persistent voice within. Stepping back, she dissolved the ruby claw into a sphere of blood, raising her hand above her and triggering a blood burst without crystallizing it into shards. Liquid crimson sprayed across the battlefield, coating friend and foe alike. Then, with a surge of power, she invoked ichoric conversion, watching with satisfaction as every drop of blood, even that of the shadow-possessed creatures, bowed to her will, becoming hers to command.
With focused determination, Vina conjured multiple simple globes of blood behind her line of soldiers, maneuvering them to the front line. Once she deemed them at a safe distance, she triggered their detonation, transforming the liquid into deadly shards. Though some creatures fell under the assault, those of higher levels proved more resilient, their health bars indicating that mere shrapnel wouldn't suffice to bring them down. Undeterred, Vina continued to summon more globes, maintaining a relentless barrage upon the enemy line.
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Her gaze remained fixed upon the distant worm-like creature, trusting in Blood Sense to keep her informed of developments around her. As the line surged forward and the creatures faltered, Vina seized the opportunity to breach their ranks, flanking a creature as the rest of the soldiers pressed on. Amidst the chaos, someone shouted orders to hold the line, but Vina paid it no heed.
Stepping through the breach, she drew upon the blood within a ninety-foot radius, enveloping herself in an empowering pool. When a soldier attempted to restrain her, she shrugged him off, her infusions now channeled into strength. With a fierce determination burning within her, she focused on the approaching creatures, manipulating the gathered blood into six small globes.
As the blood pooled around her, memories flooded her mind, reminding her of a past Vina trapped in Trina’s sphere of influence. "If I had ichoric conversion back then…" she murmured to herself, the realization dawning upon her with a mix of regret and resolve. “... I could have killed them all.” It was as though a hidden aspect of herself had surfaced, urging her towards a path she had yet to fully embrace.
Vina seized a globe of blood as a four-legged creature charged towards her, its health bar displaying five hundred points. Adding more blood to the globe, she crystallized it, readying her aim as she waited for the creature to enter her throwing range. As it closed the distance, she hurled the blood crystal with calculated accuracy, immediately preparing another.
Her attention shifted to the next nearest creature as she sensed the impact of her thrown crystal. Activating a paint burst, she felt the first creature's body explode, its parts and blood scattering in all directions. Swiftly moving to claim what oozed from its remains, she acknowledged the excessiveness of her attack, adjusting her approach for the next target. The following crystal brought down the creature without dismembering it, allowing its blood to flow freely.
Vina honed her technique, carefully balancing the amount of blood compressed into the crystals based on the health of her targets. Despite the abundance of blood around her, she maintained her conservation habits, recognizing the importance of efficiency. "The faster I can release one with the proper charge and be guaranteed a kill, the better," she mused, prioritizing swift execution.
As she neared the worm-like creature, she quickened her pace, determined to confront it head-on. With each creature she dispatched and each step she took towards her formidable foe, the space between them dwindled. However, Vina's solitary presence in the open drew the attention of creatures from other sections, causing the open area she had created to shrink as they converged upon her from all sides. Gritting her teeth, she braced herself for the onslaught.
Vina Blood Weaver Level Up:
Unyielding determination and focus pulsed through Vina as she refused to let the incessant barrage of notifications divert her focus. With a fierce resolve, she hurled her blood crystals with swift precision, aiming to carve a path through the encroaching horde. Each motion was a calculated dance of compression, throwing, and creation, maximizing her efficiency while siphoning the surrounding blood for additional resources. Despite her relentless efforts, the relentless onslaught of creatures threatened to thwart her progress toward her elusive target, as two squads of grotesque beings closed in from opposing sides. In the distance, the tentacle-covered worm continued its ominous advance, a looming threat in the chaos of battle.
“Vina,” a guttural voice pierced through the cacophony of explosions and dying creatures, calling out from the chaos.
Vina's gaze snapped toward the source of the voice, her eyes narrowing with determination as she identified the creature responsible. Without hesitation, she unleashed her next attack, obliterating the intruding presence with ruthless efficiency.
Yet, even as one threat fell, another voice emerged from the opposite direction, its cadence deliberate, as if urging her to heed its words. “Before I came to this world, I was already here,” the creature intoned, its words echoing across the battlefield. “I revealed the depths of ignorance that blinded your kind.”
With a swift motion, Vina dispatched the creature, her focus unyielding as she refused to be swayed by its attempts at manipulation.
“In my first world,” the voice persisted, its tone haunted by memories long past, “there was endless night. No bright stars. No hateful sun to blot me out. My home was a realm of cold, unyielding rock, beneath which lay a vast ocean of untamed depths. It was a world of harsh beauty, of unforgiving truths.”
As more creatures closed in, Vina continued to dispatch them with ruthless efficiency, her movements fluid and precise even amidst the chaos of battle.
“I walked among my people,” the voice continued, undeterred by Vina's defiance. “I offered them enlightenment, revealed to them the stark realities of existence. Those who resisted were guided by my comforting care, their defiance ultimately yielding to my wisdom. For those who embraced the truth, there was solace in my embrace, a promise of eternal unity in death.”
“Shut up, Stine!” Vina's voice cut through the air like a blade, her frustration boiling over as she finally silenced the persistent voice with a decisive strike.
“The ignorant ones fled from our world, and I pursued them here,” the voice declared, its words laced with a sense of superiority. “I know the truth hurts them, but it is my pleasure to teach them. And while I wait for their emergence, I shall impart my wisdom upon all of you. Vina, are you prepared to learn once more?”
Vina's jaw clenched with a mixture of anger and determination as she faced the creature that had spoken, her senses tingling with anticipation of its death. Then she felt the presence of the worm-like creature as it slithered into her blood sense, its immense size a daunting sight. The darkness-enshrouded beings around her recoiled, clearing a path between them, but Vina's heart only burned with a desire for revenge. With swift precision, she hurled one of her blood crystals at the creature, only to have it deflected by a whipping tentacle.
Her frustration mounted at the creature's nonchalant response, but she refused to stop. Activating a paint burst, she destroyed the offending appendage, but to her dismay, the creature remained unfazed.
"Fine," she muttered, her determination steeling her resolve.
As the creature launched more tentacles in her direction, Vina focused on avoiding each one with a dancer's grace. With each miss, her confidence surged, until she remembered her proficiency in a different sword style. "Thank you, Thaba," she thought, summoning a curved sword into one hand and a ruby claw into the other.
With a swift motion, she sliced through the nearest tentacle, the black blood gushing forth in a satisfying torrent. Ignoring the onslaught of tentacles, she darted toward the creature's side, dragging a trail of blood behind her as she carved her path.
Racing toward the creature's flank, Vina unleashed a flurry of strikes, cutting through any tentacles that dared to impede her progress. As multiple appendages surged forth to block her path, she was forced to parry with her claw, the tendrils wrapping around her wrist and wrenching her toward the gaping maw of the creature.
The creature wasn’t phased, however. The crystal exploded near its eyes and two of them soon gushed their contents, but the tongue still lashed out for her. Just as it was about to grab her, she did the only thing she could think of. She activated charge while still in the air, slammed into the side of the creature, and fell the rest of the way to the ground.
In a panic, Vina brought her sword forward, severing the constricting tentacles with desperate precision. As she sailed through the air, a surge of adrenaline drowned out the fear that threatened to engulf her. Gripping one of the orbs floating nearby, she hurled it with all her might toward the creature's looming maw, hoping to stall its attempt to draw her in.
But the creature remained undeterred. The crystal exploded near its eyes, eliciting a gush of viscous fluid, yet the tongue still lashed out with malevolent intent. With no other recourse, Vina activated charge while still in midair, slamming into the side of the creature before plummeting to the ground. The impact jarred her senses, leaving her disoriented and vulnerable.
You are afflicted with Concussive Disorientation. For the next 5 seconds you will experience blurred vision, ringing ears, and loss of balance.
Struggling to rise, Vina felt her limbs betray her, causing her to collapse onto her knees. Surveying her surroundings through a haze of confusion, she sensed the probing tentacles of the creature skirting its massive form, searching for her presence. With a surge of urgency, she dragged herself away from its looming bulk, her thoughts racing as she commanded her blood to mend her injuries.
A tingling sensation coursed through her limbs, a promising sign of impending healing, just as the disorientation timer reached its conclusion. With renewed determination, she pushed herself back onto her feet, relieved to find that the colossal creature remained oblivious to her whereabouts, its relentless advance unyielding as it pressed toward the frontline.
Vina seized two more crystals from the blood leaking from the creature's wounded side and launched them with precision. The first detonated on impact, causing the worm to recoil with a horrendous screech of pain. Though the damage seemed minimal, a weak point lit up in Vina's vision as the creature thrashed blindly, its injured eyes unable to locate her. With swift determination, she hurled the second crystal at the weak point, activating a blood burst upon contact with the creature's skin.
Before she could assess the aftermath of her attack, a sudden, weighty force collided with her, sending her crashing to the ground with a bone-jarring impact. Agony rippled through her body as she skidded to a halt, gasping for breath amidst the searing pain. Struggling to rise, Vina found her left arm refused to support her weight, causing her to stumble. Blinking through a haze of pain, she realized her vision was obscured, prompting her to hastily scan her notifications while assessing the source of the assault.
You have been struck with 192 crushing damage. Armor reduced damage by 0. You have been struck with 74 cold damage. Damage negated by Blood Cloak.
You have a broken left collarbone. Your left arm’s strength is reduced by 90%.
You have two broken ribs. Your stamina regeneration is decreased by 16%. Your stamina is limited to 54% of your maximum.
You have an orbital blowout fracture of the left eye. You cannot see out of your left eye.
Despite the pain, Vina immediately commanded the blood around her to begin healing her injuries as she spotted three shadow-controlled individuals running toward her. Using her Blood Sense to gauge their position, she blindly launched multiple blood crystals with her right hand in retaliation, detonating them with deadly accuracy. She immediately felt the first person succumb to her assault, but the other two swiftly dodged her attack, prompting Vina to grit her teeth against the pain and struggle to her feet.
Summoning a thrusting sword in her right hand, Vina fueled her recovery with more blood, feeling some strength returning despite her stubbornly unhealed injuries. As two figures approached, Vina focused on their distinctive features. The first, a woman bearing a striking resemblance to Seassa, wielded a silver thrusting sword with practiced skill. The other, a man of similar age to Vina, struggled to conjure a ball of ice, his sluggish progress raising questions about his attunement.
While she was still trying to compose herself, the woman launched an attack, prompting Vina to swiftly deflect the blow.
"Did Seassa divulge her truth to you?" the woman asked, her tone dripping with eerie calmness amidst the chaos of battle.
“Do you ever shut up, Stine?” Vina retorted through gritted teeth, wincing as pain flared across her face with each word. Positioning herself strategically, she maneuvered to place the woman between herself and the man, determined to avoid another barrage of ice. Slowly, she began to edge backwards towards the safety of the soldier's line.
"When you finally comprehend, I will have nothing left to say," Stine intoned cryptically through the woman.
“Yes! She told me!” Vina admitted with a growl.
"She now confronts me. Carda too. All three Ashara unite against me. Why did I deem it necessary for you to know her truth?" Stine's enigmatic words hung in the air, laden with portentous meaning.
In a desperate bid to gain the upper hand, Vina lunged forward with lethal intent, only to find herself met with the woman's swift counter. As the woman unleashed an unfamiliar ability, Vina relied solely on instinct to parry each strike with her offhand, marveling at her own resilience amidst the onslaught. Yet, her triumph was short-lived as she realized a misjudgment in her stance. The woman exploited her lapse to deliver a punishing blow to her jaw with the pommel of her sword, sending Vina reeling backwards.
Grimacing through the pain, Vina wheeled around to face her assailant, but her gaze caught the subtle shift in the woman's posture as she retreated. With mounting dread, Vina realized the man now had a clear line of sight to her vulnerable form. Before she could react, the ball of ice hurtled towards her once more, leaving her scrambling for a plan of escape. Yet, her efforts were in vain as the icy projectile collided with her.
You have been struck with 208 crushing damage. Armor reduced damage by 99.999%. You have been struck with 67 cold damage. Damage negated by Blood Cloak.
The ball of ice shattered upon impact with Vina's body, sending icy shards scattering in all directions, yet miraculously, none found purchase on her skin. Overcoming her initial shock with a swiftness that belied her opponents' reactions, she swiftly activated charge, propelling herself across the intervening space towards the man. As he attempted to evade her, she deftly altered her trajectory with Agile Charge, intercepting him before he could escape. With ferocious determination, she unleashed a relentless barrage of sword thrusts upon him, her lone arm wielding the blade with deadly precision as he sought futilely to evade her assault. Moments later, shadows erupted from his body, signifying his defeat, and Vina swiftly redirected her attention towards the swordswoman. “You wanted me to know the truth because you want me and Seassa to hate each other,” Vina declared, breathing hard from her exertion.
“Is there no deeper meaning to the things that happen to you? Are you still incapable of seeing beyond the obvious?” Stine's voice echoed with a hint of disappointment. "Consider the Halos Family. Why would I instigate Seassa to divulge the secrets of Hakim and Haldo to you?"
The woman walked forward once more, but Vina wasn’t having any of it. She had a lot of time on the island to consider how to kill a swordmaster, and now she would see how well it would work. Vina converted the blood flowing from the corpse of the man she just killed and brought any remaining blood that existed in the area around herself once more, even as she made blood crystals in the air.
A sense of frustration crept over Stine's features as it observed Vina's preparations. “Why did I bring this woman to you, Vina? It can’t just be to kill her. I could bring countless creatures for you to kill,” Stine inquired.
“I don’t know!” Vina shouted back. “There is no truth to you, Stine! You’re just a monster of pain and suffering!” She activated the nearest blood crystal and waited for the woman to use her avoidance ability. Then she launched a relentless barrage on the woman’s location. Vina brought more blood to bear and began to access her reserves for the first time in the fight to wear the swordmaster down. Finally, the woman sank to her knees in exhaustion. Vina ran forward and kicked the sword out of her hand. She reached out with her one good hand and activated Blood Stained Hands. The woman immediately began to leak black blood.
“You enjoy chaos! You’re the opposite of peace! You just want to destroy everything that is good!” Vina shouted into the woman’s face.
“No…” the woman’s voice came out ragged as she coughed blood. “Still… wrong!” Stine shrieked. She grabbed at Vina’s hand with her remaining strength and began to push back.
Memories flashed through Vina’s mind in an instant and she knew exactly what to do. She activated Infuse on the woman and dug her fingernails further into her body. The woman flinched, and Vina felt her own blood flow into the woman’s body through her touch. The woman's strength subsided ever so much, but Vina felt it wasn’t enough. Vina began placing points into strength until she could hold her in place with one arm pressed down. Then Vina placed two class ability points into Blood Stained Hands.
“Ti…” The woman sputtered between blackened lips and teeth in what appeared to be a crooked smile.
Vina glared down at her as she felt her fingers burn with the changes they experienced from the class ability improvement. She brought the lantern closer to the woman’s face and looked into her eyes. All six of them flinched at the red glare. “One day, Stine, I’m going to bleed you to death like this.”
“Time…” The woman gurgled, struggling to speak through the black blood that flowed from her eyes and nose.
“When that happens, you’ll understand my truth,” Vina growled.
“...to learn,” the woman groaned.
“You’re not welcome here!” Vina shouted.
Suddenly the four red eyes on the woman winked out of existence. The black blood that ran from the woman’s body turned red. Her paliternian vibrance burst into existence once more. Vina was suddenly looking down into two brown eyes filled with fear and pain. Taking her hand off of the woman, Vina stepped back in shock. “What? How?” She looked down at her own blood covered hand in confusion.
The woman fell forward onto her own hands and knees. She looked back into the distance and began to crawl toward the man Vina had stabbed earlier. “No… no no no!” she screamed. “My babies! My babies are dead!”
Vina felt the woman’s vibrance move from fear to anguish as she reached the closest man’s body. She held him in a tight embrace as she gave off a scream of incomprehensible pain that only a parent could make.
Vina could only stand there paralyzed in realization at what Stine had set her up to do. But she knew it wasn’t done yet. In the distance a new wave of creatures raced across the battlefield. In a matter of seconds they would be upon them, and Vina knew she was at her limit. Holding her arm close to her body, Vina turned and ran.