It had been a long time since Nathan had run from monsters. No longer was he the scared man stumbling along, relying on the kindness of others. His powers had grown and he no longer needed a cane to get around. The world was a web of nerves and impulses he could see and influence.

Today was cleaning day for Nathan. It was where he traveled around and eliminated anything dangerous between the three cities of Shelter, Haven, and Refuge. The three towns had sprung up in the area after the government broke down. Each city had focused on a different strength, gathering those with similar powers. Nathan had visited each of them, doing his best to let them know about Pellere, god of impulse.

Even recognition that the god existed grew Nathan's powers. He wished the internet was still around, then he could really power up. Sure, some intelligent people had used the old fiber and landlines to create a telecommunications network between the three cities, but it was a longshot from the speed and efficiency before the world ended.

Today's patrol brought him out to the outskirts. Someone from shelter had reported monsters in the old rec center. The building was a modern marvel of architecture and Nathan had remembered the time the town had spent funds for its construction. The city had hoped it would bring in more of the surrounding suburbs. Now the sleek walls were scratched and gouged from constant fighting and the inside was filled with wreckage.

Someone had tried to use the center as a bunker, but for some reason monsters were drawn to the place. Pellere had told Nathan there was some sort of ley line under it, which attracted the more magical creatures. Someone had suggested destroying the center, but everyone agreed there were more important things to worry about, like food production. Better to have someone periodically scout the area and send in a kill squad when something settled in.

Nathan made another click, creating a pulse of sound that spread around him. With his blessing, Nathan had been able to use quick pulses of sound as a rudimentary radar-slash-echolocation. It let him navigate the wasteland terrain with ease, no more cane needed. The pulse traveled to the edge of his vision and he saw the walls of the rec center appear.

Once inside, Nathan scanned the area. His blessing would pick up on any creature, be it mundane or magical, as soon as it entered his sphere. He started on the right and followed the wall, clicking occasionally to navigate. Soon, he came upon his target.

Except there were two of them. One was humanoid, though Nathan could tell it wasn't alive. At least not in the traditional sense. IT had the distinct pulse of electricity that only machinery could have. The other creature was definitely a Hydra of some sort, which was common to find. Hydras were magical creatures and the three cities had found themselves in a dense magic area.

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Nathan crept closer, eerily silent in his full plate armor. The protection had been a gift from the city of Refuge after he helped subdue a drakeling invasion last month. It was apparently enchanted and made of some magically infused metal. Adamantium or Mithril, or maybe Orichalcum. He didn't care as long as it protected him.

"Class A threat identified, initiating nanomachine warfare." A feminine voice said. Nathan realized it was the machine woman. He watched as her entire body separated into millions of tiny impulses, all converging on the Hydra.

The hydra bit and snapped at the cloud, but all in vain as the nanomachines surrounded and attacked. Nathan watched as the hydra's skin was picked apart, the nanomachines ever efficient. But the little machines hadn't realized how powerful a hydra's regeneration was. For every cell eaten, another took its place. Nathan watched, content to let one kill the other. He could finish off the other one when it was weakened. Of course, he didn't expect what happened next.

The hydra, maybe sensing it was losing, desperately grasped at anything it could use to fight off this threat. Limbs snapped at the clouds, and its magic went into overdrive. The regeneration happened in a moment, enveloping the nanomachine cloud and creating another head. Somehow, the hydra had tapped into the ley line that sat underneath.

But the fight wasn't over. The nanomachines were inside the hydra now, eating away at the organs. Nathan watched as pulses of magic and electricity clashed. Sometimes electricity would win, sometimes magic. The two energies fought, tussled, and battled for dominance. But neither was able to gain the upper hand.

Nathan wasn't sure how long this could continue, but he wasn't about to let it keep happening. If the hydra could use the ley line's magic again, who knows what would happen. He would strike while it was distracted, killing two birds with one stone. He pulled his sword from the sheath and sent his blessing into it. Countless pulses of power moved through the blade, vibrating it at insane speeds. Nathan brought the sword up to the wall and sliced a door. The sword easily carved a path into the room and Nathan stepped through.

Nathan walked towards the monster, sword held high. He was prepared for any of the heads to attack, but it seemed they were all still invested in fighting the nanomachines. He walked all the way up to the hydra's torso, then stabbed his sword into the creature's heart. At the same time he used his blessing to encourage more impulsive behavior in the electricity and magic. Nanomachine's short circuited and hydra flesh sizzled from premature magic. Nathan moved his sword in a circle, carving out the heart of the beast.

The combined attack proved too much, and the two foes blinked out of Nathan's sight. It seemed he had done it. Satisfied, Nathan swung his sword to clean off any gore and prepared to stow it.

A flicker caught his attention. Before he could react, the ley line pulsed. A current of magic ran through the dead hydra, jump-starting the creature. Nathan saw two energies fuse, electricity and magic become something new.

"Shit." he cursed. And then cursed again as a head struck out and knocked his sword away.

Another head struck out, but Nathan impulsively moved out of the way before the head could reach. He needed a bigger area, this small tennis court wouldn't help. Nathan tapped into his blessing again, this time inciting the hydra to charge. The monster did and Nathan dove out of the way. He heard a loud crash as the hydra blasted through the wall and into a large open area. A quick ping confirmed Nathan was in the gymnasium.

"Alright," He said. "Let's do this."