Hallek

The thing walked calmly down the halls, tendrils sucking in anyone who got to close. There was something horrific about the monster's unhurried pace, as if it it had all the time in the world to stroll through the palace and kill whoever it wanted.

“It's Dalluth,” Shylldra said. “He looks different but...he feels the same. Sweet gods what has he done to himself?”

“Well whatever it was I don't know how to fight it,” Hallek said. “We need to get out.”

Everyone else in the palace seemed to have come to the same conclusion. The hallway leading to the palace entrance was jam packed with sweating, panicking people, crushing in on each other from every side.

“Enough!” Shylldra screamed. Hallek felt a flash of vaguely familiar power as she shouted over the crowd. “Enough! We're not animals! We're citizens of Angelar, so start acting like it! Warriors stay behind to hold that thing off so the noncombatants can escape!”

It wasn't just the voice of authority, it was the voice of guilt. With no less fear but a lot less panic the evacuation of the palace began.

“You should be the first person out,” Hallek said.

“Sorry but you don't know how to fight that thing,” Shylldra said, “and I have an idea.”

“Well if you're gonna try it hurry up and try it,” Hallek said. “He's here.”

Dalluth had reached the far end of the palace's long exit hallway. Shylldra fell to one knee, gripping her staff, and muttered a prayer to Maia. Hallek couldn't make out the words but it seemed to be working. Dalluth stumbled back as if struck by a strong wind only he could feel.

“The gods oppose me again,” Dalluth snarled. “But it's not strong enough! Do you hear me Maia? Your vessel isn't strong enough!” The monstrosity pushed forward. Slowly, opposed by Maia's phantom wind every step, but he began making steady progress up the hall.

Wait, Hallek thought. If I felt what I thought I felt when she was shouting before...

Hallek gently peeled one of Shylldra's hands off her staff. She was so engrossed in her chanting she didn't even notice. He placed her hand on the hilt of Milkaamek's Axe hanging at her waist. There was a crackling sound and a wave of green energy flowed down the hall, sending Dalluth flying backwards. Dalluth tried to stand, but another wave of green light sent him flying.

“Shylldra,” he said. “Everyone's clear. We need to go.”

“Dakkareg...” Shylldra said absently.

“Yeah I know, that Fang power's a rush right? Come on we need to leave. Now.”

Dalluth

Everyone was against him. Everyone. The gods, the empire, probably even people he'd never heard of in the distant reaches of the western continent or Bai-Sen. Alone now in the palace he raced for the doorway and burst into the light. More. He needed more. And he had a whole city to devour. He found his path blocked by a row of archer legionnaires. And behind them, from the parade, the allosaurus and the western mammoth.

“Surrender!” one of the legionnaires bellowed. Dalluth just grinned.

“Sure,” Dalluth grinned. “Look, I'm raising my hands.”

He raised his arms, twisting and boiling his own flesh until tendrils shot out of his palms, grabbing the soldiers and absorbing them. Arrows pierced his body but they didn't matter, he just moved his heart out of the way inside himself. It was easy enough, while he was still changing. He didn't even noticed the mammoth charging until it was nearly on him, but he caught it with a wave of tentacles that exploded from his sides and stomach. And he felt it, as the mammoth was absorbed into his skin. He finally had it.

Enough.

The mammoth's flesh merged with Dalluth and he felt his form collapse, reshape, wrap itself into a pulsating fetal sack as his body prepared itself for glorious completion. Arrows lodged themselves in the outer membrane but it was pointless, inconsequential. His body twisted and molded within the sack, finding his true form, and when it was done at last he finally burst free into the light.

He was over seventy feet tall now, towering over even a Fang. He was built along the same lines, the lean two legged design of a predator, long tail and arrow tip head. But he had no eyes, only pulsing sacks where eyes should be, and his arms were almost human shaped, although covered in scales and ending in long, thin fingers tipped with claws. The flesh on top of his head rippled, like a poind after a stone is thrown into it, and Dalluth's human like torso rose out of it to the waist. He raised his arms to the heavens and laughed as his dinosaur head roared into the night sky.

“Rejoice!” Dalluth bellowed. It was difficult to tell where his voice was coming from. It seemed to echo out from deep inside his chest, as if someone else were bellowing out through his massive jaws. But it was accompanied by a deep throated roar, and somehow it pierced the ears of anyone who heard it. Below him people scattered everywhere, screaming.

Small minded idiots. They refused to understand. He was there to make the world better.

He was going to create wonders.

Maybe they just needed a demonstration. With a wave of his hand,he called out to flesh. His power was new, unpracticed, so he could only find flesh that was already twisted and mutated. He'd hoped to touch something human, but as he flexed his powers he realized he wasn't ready for that yet. No matter. There were plenty of compies. And centuries of scraping out a living in the alleyways of the city had left them with plenty of odd little mutations...

Muscle and skin flowed like water, oozing out of the alleyways and slithering from cracks in the walls, bones floating in the soup as it fused into a pile of flesh at Dalluth's feet. Then it split into dozens of pieces, shattered like a puzzle, and those shards formed into his new creations.

Man sized, with the shape of compies, but each with his special improvements. Extra eyes. Extra arms. One had a mouth on its tongue, another a mouth on its back. Why shouldn't a mouth be on the back? Why not? Who said it had to be on the face? On the face was boring.

And Dalluth was tired of boring. He was creating wonders.

He sent the first of his wonders out into the city to test their new and glorious shapes. His power was growing. Soon, he'd be able to touch human flesh.

And then he'd really show them what he could do.

Shylldra

Maia protect us.

She stared up at the thing towering over the city, ranting about rejoicing. It was like the awful, gut turning feeling she'd had when she touched Dalluth had been given a shape.

Behind her Krazzek was lying unconscious in the back of a cart next to High General Ferrik There were also two healers in their blue and yellow robes. Dyryl's eyes were misty as she looked down at the thief.

“He thought he was dying to save me,” Dyryl said. “He thought he was going to die.”

“I know,” Shylldra said, patting her on the shoulder. “You can go with him if you want.”

“No,” Dyryl said. “No, you might need me here.”

The evacuation was going on all around them. The center of the city had been cleared, but they had no idea where would be safe in Dalluth's rampage. The cart with Krazzek and Ferrik in the back rode off, Dyryl giving it a whistful look as it rode away.

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“I am sorry I failed to kill him,” Illeth said, staring up at the monster Dalluth had become.

“I'm sorry I didn't put him higher on our list of problems,” Shylldra said. “But right now I need to find whoever's highest ranking and still alive. Right now we need...where's Verris and Ballum?”

“I think they ran while you were repelling Dalluth in the palace,” Illeth said.

“Well it doesn't matter,” Shylldra said. “We need to...”

Dalluth formed his warriors and she had to force herself not to throw up. Something about seeing bones bobbing up in down like carrots in a soup out of flesh that was still breathing and alive was...it felt...

Better not to think about it.

“Shylldra,” Hallek said. “You have to get out of here.”

“Just me?” Shylldra said.

“I'm...” Hallek looked down at his sword. Orange light gleamed around the blade. “I don't know if I've got a chance against that thing, but I've got to try. Maybe that's why the gods made me a Fang warrior. I don't know why they picked me. And maybe it's arrogant to think they did. But I'm here, and I've got the sword, and if I don't try to use it when something like that shows up then what's the point? Besides,” he gave her a wry smile. “He's wrecking your brand new city.”

“I got it used,” Shylldra said, managing a smile of her own. “Alright. Go. I won't stop you.”

“I'll make it back,” he promised her, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her into a deep, warm kiss. It was also painfully brief. They didn't have much time for romance with Dalluth stomping through the streets. “Stay safe!”

“I will!” Shylldra said, as Hallek ran off towards the monster. Shylldra pulled the Axe off her belt and held it up next to her Axe staff.

The gods gave you the power, huh?

“Empress,” a legionnaire said. “You need to not be here. Not with a dinosaur rampaging in the city, and that army of those...things...coming this way. You need to be...well. Much further away.”

“Not that much further,” Shylldra said slowly.

I did something like it before. Could it work now? Maybe. Doesn't matter. It’s like Hallek said. If I don't use the power now, what's the point...

“Dyryl, Illeth,” Shylldra said, “Come with me. I don't want one of those things Dalluth just created to get me on my way to try this.”

“Try what?” Dyryl asked. “Where are we going?”

“The temple of Maia,” Shylldra said. “I've got an idea.”

And I'm sorry, Hallek. I made you a promise to stay safe. I'm not going to be able to keep it.

Norak

He was meeting with Maukra just outside the city when Dalluth's huge, hideous form rose above the skyline.

He'd gone to tell the tribes the empire was under new management, that the new empress was a friend of Birdfang and to the Scarred Men in general, and that their interference could only make things worse for everyone involved. That there was still a chance to stop this war before it could happen. He had met with...mixed responses. Two civilizations could not live crammed together so long, especially beginning as enemies, without plenty of resentment boiling beneath the surface. Well, beneath the surface if said civilizations were lucky.

But the empire and the Scarred Men were lucky. So lucky the warchief elected by the elders of the three great tribes had been none other than Maukra. It had been an inspired choice. A shaman tied to the gods themselves and a veteran warrior she'd be impossible for the tribes to object to, while at the same time the loudest voice for cooperation with Angelar. Who could pull everyone back before things went too far.

As the monstrosity bellowed to the skies about its newfound godhood Norak realized things had gone too far without the tribes having to do anything.

“Some weapon of the emperors,” he said. “Or...or something. I don't...”

“No,” Maukra said. “No whatever that thing is, Shylldra would not do this. Norak...go.”

“My place is with the tribes,” Norak said uncomfortably.

“We will follow after,” Maukra said. “This is a very different matter. Now the new empress is a friend of Birdfang, and she is in deadly danger. We go to war against a brand new enemy. I must take the time to rally them. You need to go and find out what has happened to your friends.”

“Thank you, Warchief,” Norak nodded, disappearing into the forest in the direction of the city.

Hallek

Hallek rode up the street on his allosaurus. He'd found it hiding in an alleyway, but it seemed to remember him. And there was something about whatever Dalluth was now that united all life against it. It had let Hallek mount up and ride it into battle, snarling at Dalluth every step of the way.

“Hallek,” Dalluth said, in his echoing voice accompanied by a rumbling growl. “We meet at last, and I've heard so much about you. Do I count you as my last creation? Or my first? The sword was the beginning of it all. I think I'd even like to have it back now.”

Dalluth lunged but Hallek's mount was quicker, sidestepping so Hallek could cut a deep gash in the monster's lips with the blade.

“Not good enough Hallek,” Dalluth laughed. “I'm a god now. Your sword is barely a pinprick to me. Look, even the scratch you managed to put on me is healing.”

Hallek didn't stay still to listen. He pulled the allosaurus's reigns and it slammed into Dalluth's side. Hallek put a few more slashes in the monster's hide, but the first he'd made started healing by the time he'd finished the second.

“I told you!” Dalluth roared. “I'm immortal!”

Dalluth came back around and clamped his jaws on the allosaurus's neck, yanking the dinosaur off its feet and sending Hallek tumbling to the ground. The allosaurus hit the street and lay still. Hallek hoped it wasn't dead, but he had Dalluth to worry about now. He charged for the monster's ankles, trying to hamstring it just like he'd tried with the giganotosaur a few weeks ago.

Has it really only been a few weeks? It feels like eons. And dammit, that never works! Dalluth's ankles didn't even buckle a little before they began healing themselves.

“See?” Dalluth laughed, kicking at Hallek and forcing him to roll away from the enormous clawed food. “It's pointless!”

Just when Hallek was beginning to think he was right the ground began to shake, like an enormous drum beating an oddly familiar tattoo from somewhere behind the palace. And then around the building, led by the one person Hallek would never have expected, came the cavalry.

On brachiosaurs.

Verris

Verris did not give a damn about the empire, about Hallek or Shylldra, or about pretty much anyone at this point but himself, Ballum, and Fylati. And since even if the oh-so-perfect imperial couple found some way to kill Dalluth they were likely to get arrested once the chaos died down he didn't see much point in waiting around. Maybe the two of them could sanctimonious it to death, maybe that would work. It would certainly be using their strongest asset.

This had not gone unplanned for. He'd expected to have to sneak out of the palace, and he'd told Fylati to be ready. She was waiting for him when he came through with Ballum. It had been an inspired choice. Dalluth and all his commotion was in front now, and in the back all they had to deal with getting through the brachiosaurus stables. The five imperial brachiosaurs stamped and honked in fear from all the noise and confusion.

“Verris!' Fylati said. He grabbed her and kissed her.

“Hey honey,” he said. “Let’s get the hells out of this city and go to the islands. Just a quick trip through the stables here. And you can shut up.”

“What?” Fylati blinked.

“Sorry I'm talking to my whip.” He patted the weapon at his side. “It's getting all twitchy.”

“Its soul is still a part of this herd,” Ballum said. “And since you are bound to it, your emotions are mixing. Careful, we don't want a stampede.”

“Serve this crappy city right,” Verris shrugged. “But I agree we don't want one with us in it...”

And then Dalluth roared. Verris doubled over, clutching his stomach, as something that felt like the thought of vomit echoed through his bones.

“Oh no,” Fylati said. “That's...that's wrong.”

“Yes,” Ballum said. He'd taken the wave of awful energy better than the other two, but he still looked grim. “Yes, that is...that is unholy. It is something that should not be.”

Verris knew he was right. The thing Dalluth had become had no place in the world. It was the antithesis of everything that should live. Verris was disgusted by it, repulsed. He hated it.

And hate makes us strong.

“Then let's go kill it,” Verris snarled, turning back to the brachiosaur pens. “Know what I think we need now? A stampede!”

A few minutes later he towered over the Hallek as he rode the lead brachiosaur into battle. He was pretty sure he was riding the emperor's personal brachiosaur. It looked bigger than all the others anyway. He felt the hate of the infant brachiosaur in his whip coursing through him, down into his mount and out into the rest of the herd. It was hate born in the Kuraga ritual, hate first and foremost for Verris, but it flowed where Verris wanted it. And the thing Dalluth had become was so, so easy to hate.

Right now, Verris was the master of hate.

On his command all five brachiosaurs charged. Verris was at just the right height to catch the eye of the human torso sticking perversely out of the monstrosities head. He waved at it, a savage smile on his face.

“I don't care if you are a god!” Verris shouted. “You're fighting out of your weight class!”

Verris laughed madly as the brachiosaurs slammed into Dalluth. Brachiosaurs had two basic attacks. They either bodyslammed with their broad sides or struck with their tails like whips. The entire herd had opted for bodyslams, piling onto Dalluth like an avalanche. There was a series of sickening cracks from inside the monster's body and Dalluth was thrown against the side of a building, sending cracked stone and crumbling masonry plummeting down to the street.

I think I see Hallek down there, he'll be crushed! Verris thought as the monstrous battle shattered buildings and wrecked the street. Sucks to be him I guess.

“Now!” Verris shouted, and Ballum appeared on another rooftop, drawing his rampage blade and sending a wave of bellowing, screaming, shrieking, jabbering energy into Dalluth's side. The wave scored out a deep trough in his flesh and Dalluth shrieked as eerily off-color blood flowed down his scales and splattering on the street.

“You can't kill me!” Dalluth screamed. “I'm a god now! I'm more powerful than all of you!”

His dinosaur jaws gripped the brachiosaur next to Verris by the neck. There was a popping sound and the dinosaur went lip, head lolling at a strange angle as its body collapsed. Not content to kill a brachiosaur with his bare jaws Dalluth lifted the creature's whole bulk up by its neck and swung it like a whip.

“I'll show you all!” Dalluth screamed, slamming the brachiosaur corpse into the side of the one Verris was riding on with a sickening crunch of cracking bones.