Head severed, jagged fangs baring a silent snarl. Viscous, blackening fluid oozing from the ragged stump of its neck, glistening against the creature's gleaming carapace. A shiver rolling down Asher's spine at the sight.
The air rang of crunching bone, ripping flesh, and cracking metal. Spiney, chitinous prints littered the ground, half eaten limbs refuse, like common garbage filling a heaping landfill. Heavy with the stench of wet musky iron.
A firm grip on his arm yanked Asher back to the present, and Asher faced the tattered figure standing beside him. "We need to move." Voice low and urgent, yanking Asher into the chaos.
Survivors fleeing in terror, blood seeping from jagged wounds screaming, Collapsing, strength failing, last flicker's of life draining away. Gaping maws snapping forward, dripping mucus sliding slimly against screaming terrified faces. Bone crunching, grinding against jagged fangs before silence.
Tattered figure dancing, shade-shifted blade, obscuring edges, streaking, striking with blinding speed. A shifting blade hissing, carving through the oncoming horde. Hazily, shadow-weaving under Luna's glinting light.
Following. Asher blurring, weaving through insectoid forms.
Gaping maws, lunging, surging forward. Jagged fangs closing Asher watching horror. Tattered figures cry screeching out, staggering, the creature's viscous secretions burning at the edges of the wound.
"Fuck it!" Asher rasped, his mind uncoiling. A familiar presence brushed against his consciousness, crying out - a staggering sear of pain that blinded him. "Shit, that hurts!
The world shifted around Asher, his sight expanding to grant a grand battlefield perception. Once-chaotic insectoid forms, a living chitinous clacking storm, revealing vulnerable flickering of pale flesh between their armored plates. "Ren, Please Stop Fighting It - use the link, it might help you!"
""I'll trust you for now," they replied, their voice echoing in Asher's mind, tinged with strain.
Shade-shifted blade hissing, slicing through chitinous forms, fencing with perfect precision. Halving forms in two, a shadowy dance. Blade bringing gaping snapping maws to heal, with an effortlessly dispatching ruthless efficiency.
"Guess that helped." His thoughts flowing directly into Ren's mind, sensing, feeling the change.
"What an amazing skill." Blade slicing through the chitinous forms with fluid precision, each strike finding its mark with devastating efficiency. "Incredible," Ren breathed, awe filling their mind.
The ground trembled beneath their feet as more of the swarm surged through seemingly endless burrowed tunnels. Asher's gaze shifted down, his brow furrowing. "WHY are we going deeper into this?"
"We need to reach Leerin." Ren's thoughts echoed in Asher's mind, tinged with urgency. "He sent me to find you, don't worry it's fine. Well, mostly." Ren winced, wiping a hand against the wound. "He needs your help."
Asher's jaw tightened, his mind racing. "Why didn't I go to those beginner Awakened classes the Security Forces offered every year? At least I would have learned to fight a little bit." He gritted his teeth, willing his body to blur as he weaved between the insectoid heads popping from the earth. "Some good it does me now..."
Insectoid forms surged up, their chitinous mandibles clacking menacingly. Asher's eyes widened, heart pounding in his chest. "Shit, I'm not cut out for this."
Ren's blade hissed, slicing through the carapaces with fluid precision. "Asher, we need to reach Leerin! Or we'll be in trouble."
Asher nodded, forcing himself to focus with a roll of his eyes. He pushed down his doubts, surging forward.
Ren's tattered cloak billowed, their blade a blur of shadow-shifted steel as they carved a path through the swarm of dwarf-sized insectoid creatures. Asher's muscles coiled, body blurring into motion as he weaved between the squatting thumping forms.
Ground trembling beneath their feet, the insectoid forms surging up from the seemingly endless tunnels that honeycombed the earth. Asher's gaze flickered constantly between the path ahead and the gaping, tooth-filled maws snapping at his thighs. His heart hammering against his ribs, adrenaline rushing through his veins pushing energy skill to its limits.
Ren's blade sang through the air, each strike finding its mark with devastating precision on the chitinous bodies. Asher watched, entranced, as Ren's blade danced through the air, their movements a blur of steel and shadow, "High chance of death today it seems. Lovely. And how is he so calm?"
Asher's gaze finally landed on Leerin's stall in the distance, the vibrant glistening exotics encased in a crystal clear mass of energy hanging in the air, growing more vibrant by the moment.
A calm in the storm.
Patterned lines of light danced across the shimmering barrier surrounding Leerin's position, the intricate array shifting and flowing with a mesmerizing rhythm. Leerin stood at the center, his brow furrowed in concentration as he focused on the glowing hologram hovering above his palm.
Gritting his teeth, Asher willed every ounce of his remaining energy into one final burst of speed. "We're almost there, Ren!"
Asher's head snapped to the side, a prickling sensation at the edge of his senses, eyes widening catching a flicker of movement at the corner of his mind. Spectral figures, their forms jerkily phasing in and out of existence with an unnatural grace. Heart leaping into his throat, crying out through his mind, "SHADOW WEAVE!"
Ren faded into shadow, weaving through stall and bug. The air shimmered, and a volley of razor-sharp shards erupted, piercing the spectral forms. The apparitions shrieking, grinning visages contorting into inhuman smiles.
Asher didn't hesitate, blurring and scooping up Ren's shadowed form. With all his might, he lunged towards the shimmering barrier. Hurtling through the air, the patterned lines of light seemed to part.
Tumbling, crashing, landing with a resounding BANG! On their backs amid scattered broken, shattered containers, exposing exotics, volatile energies crackling and pulsing. Asher winced as the impact jostled his already exhausted body.
The shimmering barrier ripping, sealing as claws slamming against it, clawed hands scrabbling at the unyielding surface. Asher let out a shaky breath, his heart pounding in his chest. "That was..." Eyes widening, his gaze landing on the scattered exotic materials. "Leerin, your stall—"
Leerin's gaze flickered to Asher, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Ah, Asher, my boy. I'm glad you made it." He gestured to the shimmering barrier surrounding him. "This should keep us safe for now, help me get these exotics contained before they cause any more trouble."
Asher opened his mouth to respond, Ren shakily pushing himself to his feet, cutting him off, rasping. "No time! we need to go."
Asher's head yanking towards the entrance, spectral figures gone, chitinous creatures drawing near, their mandibles clacking menacingly. The ground trembled beneath their feet, vibrating the soles of his boots.
Leerin gaze drifted, the pale blue shifting hologram, mirroring intricate patterns hanging in the air, against his shaking palm fingers gliding across glowing lines. Energy pulsed, rippling out like ocean weaves. surging, striking out against the oncoming tide.
"We have to get these exotics contained," Leerin said, his fingers dancing across the shimmering holographic interface. "If we don't, these tiny beasts will be the last thing Dust Creek will be worrying about. Help me."
His gaze flitting between the tattered figure and the chaos unfolding around them. "I've used all my awakened energy. Without A-energy I can't do anything to help."
Leerin's lips turned up into a grin. "Then take this." He reached into a pouch at his side, withdrawing a small, ornate vial filled with a shimmering, prismatic liquid. "This Alchemical Elixir should restore your A-energy reserves."
Asher's eyes widened as he stared at the glimmering vial. "An Elixir? But I thought those were incredibly rare..."
Leerin nodded, pressing the vial into Asher's hand. "They are, but I keep a few on hand for emergencies." His brow furrowed with concern. "Drink it quickly, we don't have much time."
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Asher nodded, uncorking the vial and downing the shimmering Elixir in one swift motion. He felt a surge of renewed energy coursing through his veins, and a determined glint entered his eyes. "Do you have spare containment vessels?"
Leerin reached into a pouch at his side, withdrawing a small, ornate container. "Of course, no exotics dealer goes with a very large extra supply of them, but um, keep the pouch quiet, will you?" He pressed the container into Asher's hand, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Asher's eyes widened as he studied the container, recognition dawning on his face. "This is an A-rank Spatial Storage Container! Leerin, where did you—"
Ren's voice cut him off, "No time for questions, Asher. Hur-" Their tattered cloak slapping their face as bellowed in the wind.
Leerin smirking. "See I told you that cloak was no good."
"Shut up!" Ren snapped.
Asher tucking the precious container into his belt. "Right. How long can the barrier hold?"
Leerin's brow furrowing, fingers dancing across the shimmering holographic interface. "Asher, the faster you contain the exotics, the less strain on the array, the longer it will last. I'll try to stabilize it and keep it up, but you need to work fast."
Ren's shadowed form flickering. "Leerin, open it up just enough to get my blade through the barrier, that should help take some pressure off you while I deal with the creatures outside."
Leerin nodded, his expression tense as he made adjustments to the array. Small fissures opened in the shimmering barrier, just wide enough for Ren's blade to pierce through and strike at the encroaching horde. "There, that should do it. Now hurry, Asher!"
Asher nodded. "I will try but I'm unfamiliar with some of these exotics." Taking a deep breath, trying to center himself amidst the chaos. Revealing a familiar notification flickered in the corner of his mind. "Oh yeah, I did unlock that skill didn't I?"
As if on command, the words appeared in his mind - Universal Analysis (Lvl 1) - be only bound by what you don't know.
Asher's gaze swept across the scattered exotic materials, his mind whirring as he activated the skill. A cascade of information flooded his senses, photonic bits and bytes of digitized data streaming through his mind as if seeking a home.
Luminescent Moss: Exhibits light produce through a biological process, likely involving a symbiotic relationship with specialized microorganisms. chlorophyll coloration leaves selectively absorbs and reflects certain wavelengths of visible light.
Volatile Fungal Spores: Spores imbued an unpredictable, mix high-energy, both natural and A-Energy. Pulsating fungal growth seems to act as a catalyst, infusing spores with volatile energy through an unknown biological process.
Incomplete Analysis: Unique structure appears to be responsible for its ability to disperse light into a mesmerizing display of shifting colors and patterns.
"Interesting," Asher mused, finger against his chin. "So these exotic materials all seem to use energy in different ways. The moss harnesses it for bioluminescence and the spores are unstable due to an imbalance. I knew some of this but not all of it." He glanced up at Leerin, who was steadily maintaining the shimmering barrier. "But it couldn't analyze the crystal beyond what I could see. Hmm wonder what happens if…"
Reaching out with his mind, Asher felt himself submerge into the world, passing through the thin layers separating reality's above, to the intricate workings below, obscured and distorted, as if he had crossed some invisible threshold beyond reality's surface.
Suspended, hanging between the layers of the world, familiar sensations of the physical world fell away. Awareness drifting, becoming attuned to the intricate interplay of energies structures that lay beneath the veil. Senses reaching, stretching across his domain, scanning reality's interwove fabric.
"Ah, there they are," Asher murmured, honing in on the anomalous signatures.
Tendrils of energy coiled and pulsed through the plant's verdant fronds, flickering in and out of sight like restless spirits. Vibrant hues intensified with each throbbing beat, the chlorophyll molecules drinking greedily from the spectral wellspring.
Volatile spores crackled and hissed, bobbing and dipping between realities layers. Energy a pulsating catalyst, infusing an unpredictable erratic, pulsating dance.
Fractured orb shimmering a pearlescent sheen, intricate marring cracks against a pulsing inner light. Swirling tendrils of energy dancing, colors shifting through hues no human eye had ever witnessed in fissured depths. Air vibrating an unseen song, resonating with reality around it.
Luminescent Moss: Exhibits a symbiotic relationship with bioluminescent microorganisms that efficiently convert and store energy, including A-energy. Released through chemiluminescent reactions exciting chlorophyll. Exhibits traits aligning with Arcane skills with elements of wood and light. Could potentially be used as a modulator in photonic based technologies depending upon refinement.
Prismatic Quartz Crystal: Multi-layered molecular structure acts as a natural prism, selectively refracting energy flows producing observed colors spectrum. Exhibits some traits aligning systematics skills with energy properties. Could potentially be used in technologies for energy generation depending upon refinement.
Volatile Fungal Spores: Infused with unstable, mix of erratic high-energy and A-Energy causing rapid oscillation between high and low energy states, resulting in vibrations and electrical discharges. Exhibits some traits aligning with systematics skills with electromagnetic and sonic properties. Could potentially be used in technologies for communications, sonic technologies like weapons, tools, or even specialized armors for unique environments.
"Right, Skill synergies." Asher murmured to himself, "With this, I should be able to contain the exotics far more easily. Ugh. No wonder it took ten years to complete this skill."
Asher's fingers danced through the air, directing, waving intricate patterns of light, coalescing shimmering barriers against scattered exotics. Prismatic containment fields pulsing with a soothing rhythm, severing from the world. "So that's it," he thought, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Be only bound by what you don't know."
Ren paused, their blade hovering mid-strike as they observed Asher's actions. "That's... a Psiomatic skill, isn't it? I didn't think even Arcane abilities could achieve this."
Leerin grunted, his fingers flying across the holographic interface. "Even Systematics skills wouldn't be able to match this. Only psiomatic skills break the rules rather than manipulate them can do something like this. Be thankful psiomatic awakeners are limited to achieving this within their domain, otherwise psiomatic skills would be the only skills that mattered."
Ren's blade hissed and sang, their movements a blur of shadow and steel as they fended off the encroaching horde. "Asher, Leerin, hurry! I can't hold them off much longer!"
Leerin's expression tightened, sweat beading on his brow. "I'm doing my best, but the strain on the—" Eyes goggling.
A thunderous crack ripped through the air, deafening Asher in frightening jump.
The ground trembled, debris and rubble flew in all directions as a monster burst into view, and a massive, hulking mammoth burst through the gate. Thick, armored hide covered in bony plates, scaly, leathery skin shifting and rippling with each thunderous step.
Massive, curved tusks jutted from either side of its blunt, wedge-shaped head. A cavernous maw, filled with serrated fangs dripping with viscous, oozing saliva. Its beady, cold sunken eyes filled with predatory hunger, radiating primal menace chasing a small figure, daggers gleaming in her hands, arms flailing in the wind, racing towards them, shrieking.
"Get out of my way!" Voice shrilling and frantic. "I refuse to get eaten by birds for brains today!"
Asher watched as the mammoth-like beast charged forward, its beady eyes fixed on the small, flailing figure in the distance rapidly gained ground.
A burst of gleaming light erupted in the middle of the battlefield, and a figure materialized amidst the chaos. Clad in sun-kissed armor, the warrior barreled through the insectoid swarm. The creatures simply bouncing off the armored warrior's form, like pinball against springs as they charged forward, chitinous forms flung aside.
Reaching the mammoth beast in a blowing streak, slammed into its flank with earth-shaking force releasing a guttural roar echoing over battlefield. The armored figure striking again, with a simple back slap, sending the towering form crashing onto its back with a thunderous impact. Leaving Asher wide eyed as the armored figure effortlessly dealt with the hulking reptilian beast.
"Bastard!" the small figure shrieked, her daggers gleaming as she whirled to face the warrior. "You waited until I blurted something embarrassing out of my mouth to save me, didn't you?"
The woman regarded the smaller figure coolly, the light fading from her ornate armor. "I simply saw an opportunity to deal with a threat to the town. Your personal circumstances are of no concern to me."
Asher felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Leerin and Ren standing beside him. Leerin chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, that's one way to deal with a monster. Remind me never to get on her bad side."
Ren's lips quirked in a rare smile. "Impressive, if a bit...dramatic."
Asher grinned, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "Only councilwoman Vasiliev would use this method. Abusing radiant armor like that."
"Hey you laughing idiots, you think I can't hear all of—"
Boom!
A deafening explosion that rocked the battlefield, an orange and yellow plasma erupting in the distance. Debris and shrapnel rained down, drawing everyone's attention.
Asher flinched, shielding his eyes as the blast seared the air. Scorching plasma bolts streaked across his vision, the acrid scent of ozone stinging his nostrils.
When the smoke cleared, the Dust Creek Security Forces surged forward, their plasma rifles and blasters spitting streams of searing energy. Blades flashed as they engaged the insectoid swarm, the clash of metal on carapace echoing through the chaos.
Hovering above on a grav-bike, a cloaked figure surveyed the battle, their features obscured by a dark cowl. Surrounded by holo-screens, they studied a detailed map, red and blue dots flickering across the display. The blues rushing forward, reds were falling, one by one, as the fighting in the streets moved towards the gate.
"Flank them from the east!" the figure commanded, their voice cold and authoritative. "Plasma turrets, target the largest concentrations!"
A light flashed, the yellow-orange hue of plasma raining down from the gatehouse as the turrets opened fire. The defenders executed the orders with precision, their movements fluid and coordinated.
Ren let out an exhausted sigh. "It's finally over."
Leerin gaze shifted to Asher, "Thanks for helping. Saved my stock, my life and the town's life, even if they don't know it."
Asher nodded, turning to the last exotic surrounded by a shimmering barrier. With a flick of his wrist sealing it away inside of its container.