Kabr felt a devious smile grow on his face, a chuckle escaped his lips as he towered over "Void"

"This is amusing...."

Void seemed puzzled as he stared at the orb in his hands.

Instantly, Kabr's aura erupted as he punched out.

"Wai-"

Before Void could even say a word, the blow rocked him in the gut. Fist's the weight of mountains blasted him backwards as the ground cracked, gusts of wind whipped and howled.

His crimson red eye shined, a deathly pressure weighed on everyone around, "To think you would walk to your own death, lizard."

"Void" who was completely caught off guard, lay sprawled on the ground. All life seemed to have been taken out, however, a second later, umbral energy seeped into its husk.

The body began to rot as bones and crooked teeth protruded from its hunched figure.. What was once Void had malformed into a ghastly horror, it's pitch black eyes gazing at Kabr, the dragon licked its lips.

~I see it, your wish, Oh Prideful One.~

Kabr cracked his fists as he walked forward, "As I thought, I will just have to break that mouth of yours."

~Wish for it. The Vault will be yours.~

An enchanting voice echoed, leaving Kabr frozen where he stood.

It's smile deepened, stygian eyes focusing on the titan.

~Lordly peasant mine, wish for it. I can grant you everything.~

It's thin arms outstretched and nails grew towards him. Entrancing the titan in its bewitching gaze. The creature spoke, incoherently, it whispered to the inner most desires of Kabr's soul.

Kabr inched closer to its slithering arms, and the ahamkara grinned.

~Come to me, O lofty desires~

Its voice seeped into the world, beckoning. However, just before he could embrace the titan. a silver streak flashed forwards.

The ahamkara felt danger, like never before. it panicked jumping backwards, but a lightning swift slash sliced through the air as it cut up the lizard into pieces, leaving only its head intact.

Pahanin flickered besides Kabr, tapping him on the shoulder, "You okay?"

Kabr felt drowsy, as he rubbed his forehead, "Ergh....I am fine, thanks." A streak black frown etched on his face.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"It had a strange power." Kabr glanced towards the Ahamkara's head, his heart quivered for unknown reasons.

Pahanin nodded as he walked towards the dismembered corpse, a thin short sword in his hand.

~W-what is your wish, O killer mine~

Pahanin slowly embedded his blade in its head, his eyes boring into the Ahamkara's.

"I do not need you to grant it." He whispered back.

Sensing its end nearing, the creature embraced it, as it peered into his killers soul.

~Ahh, how peculiar. O Killer mine, your desires. ~ The Dragon spoke its last, as the blade reaped its life.

Pahanin swiped his sword as the blood dripped down.

"The Vanguard said that the Ahamkara's feed on our desires. That power, it was the devils whispers."

Kabr clenched his jaw, "To think I almost fell for it."

Void's figure flickered nearby as he hurried to ground zero. "What the, I could swear I heard a bomb go off."

His gaze trailed off to the severed Ahamkara corpse, his face stiffened. Void walked over to the body as he picked up the orb, dusting it off.

The shard spun around, but it didn't glow. Pahanin and Kabr heaved a sigh of relief.

"It took your form, but it misspoke."

Kabr, Pahanin and Void shared tense glances.

"I couldn't detect anything, and I didn't sense this one either. It can only mean.." Void felt the anxiety flush his face.

"They somehow altered our perception. Was it the moment we touched land? Or perhaps, later."

Kabr looked puzzled, Pahanin inspected the comms relay again.

"Communication is fine. However, that one coming here." His eyes lingered at the corpse.

Void understood at a glance, "Trying to alter our Comms relay, they're trying to cut down our options for backup."

Kabr nodded, "Most likely, it's an iron trap. The longer we stay here, the more we're affected. If we lose the comms relay....We'll be headless chickens."

"But it doesn't make sense. If we've really stepped behind enemy lines, their retaliation should be more than that. Unless.." Void contemplated.

"Unless their numbers aren't high. They can't risk direct fights." Kabr chimed in.

Void shook his head.

"The Ahamkara's strength doesn't lie in numbers, it lies in the wishes they've gathered. The ones here could be far weaker than the ones on Venus."

Silence took over the trio, as their minds raced.

"Retreat isn't an option. The other teams are too busy for assistance. If we can't complete our mission, who knows where the Ahamkara will go." Kabr's face grew solemn.

"If we push hard now, we might have a chance at eliminating them for good. But the risks are high."

Kabr clenched his fists, and Pahanin whipped out his sword to his side.

Void flashed a resolute look, "If that's how it is, I'm not backing down." His hands traced to his rifle, -click- He reloaded.

Pahanin smirked, "Good. Then I have an idea.", glancing towards the orb.

Void chucked it back to him as he got to work, carefully dismantling the orb, Pahanin skillfully pulled out the shard inside.

"The shard is attracted to the Ahamkara. But its too small. If we use the comms relay to transmit its frequency, and test the response. It is possible to track them down."

Kabr thought it through as he moved towards the comms relay, "But, the relay won't work anymore. Isn't that so."

Pahanin sighed, "It is true. The relay cannot handle two sources at once. At most, it will survive for a few days."

Kabr grinned, "To chase a slippery enemy and cut off our comms, or to retreat and let it go. This is the final decision, choose carefully, you're risking everything." His eyes wandered to Void.

Void held his silence, 'Kabr and Pahanin won't die. Or so it was, but with Praedyth missing there's a risk....of failure.'

He frowned internally, 'To chase or to run away.' Void chuckled.

"You know, I haven't been a guardian for long, and I am nowhere near as strong as I want to be. But if I was scared of dying, then I would've never come this far."

"I won't run away." He stepped towards the titan.

Kabr tapped him on the shoulder, "Brave words kid. Pahanin, do it. Let the hunt begin."

Hearing those words, the hunter tweaked the relay, as a pulse resonated throughout Mars. A silent echo, replied back, deep within ravines and caves, the Ahamkara heard, springing to life.