Moyo led the entirety of the legion from the frontlines, moving steadily through the large landscape that shifted and twisted with each step they took. The aether resonator’s area of effect had been left behind, thus, the legion was thrown deep into the true mutators realm that shifted and distorted the individual view of each ascender. Shaping them to their greatest fears, Moyo was less inclined to believe this was actually some sort of ship as opposed to being a true realm itself.
He blazed like a torch in the night, his authority and aspect being the focal point that the entire legion looked to, that and the fact that he released copious amount of aura in the air, beating back the worst of the effects of the mutator itself. This abyssal fortress might had one time been a true ship with all the corrupted machinations of metal and power, but it had been truly baptized in the unholy powers of the mutator in truth, turning it simply into a planet of the mutator with heavy guns.
Even now, as they traversed the hellish landscape, he could still feel the heavy vibrations of the cannons this abomination of a construct they were in held as it fired at their forces, he could only hope the defiance and the rest of his legion’s ships were safe. He was drawn out of his thoughts when he felt them coming from the distance, running as their footsteps made them ground tremble. Idris blitzed to his side,
“My lord” he said urgently,
“Yes, the first attack comes, begin” he said,
Idris turned,
“LEGION, PREPARE!” he roared,
Immediately, aether resonators were stabbed into the ground, its powers bolstered by the aura and aspect of the titan as it blazed around,
Ija tanks moved to the front, rumbling ahead of the titan as Moyo clapped his hands, a seismic force of aura blasting towards the distance where the powers of the mutator shielded the forces that were coming for them. Like acid, his aura melted down the veil that kept the forces hidden, revealing just what army had been trying to sneak up on them. The landscape itself turned to night, the skies overhead darkening, leaving only the light of the aether resonator lighting the entire area like a watchtower.
Creatures in their hundreds, monsters Moyo knew from the old days when he played adventure games and some that defied even words, too horrific to name. orcs, marching in hundreds of numbers, led by the green and putrid forms of bony, large giants with all forms of oversized weapons. Screams rent the air, flying forms of different creatures ranging from what Moyo was sure was a dragon, only undead or decaying, he couldn’t tell, wraiths with leathery wings, their hollow eyes glaring at them. Large horse-like creatures that drooled acids and the snarling and baying of hound-like creatures that strained at the chains held by the orcs.
These were just a few in the armies of the mutator, numbering in the thousands and roaring, chanting the name of the mutator, Molrik, and leading them from behind was a sea of the true worshippers of the mutator. Nethertaurs in the hundreds, holding the lines with heavy maces scribbled with the unholy and decaying runes of the mutator, they stoon in lines, behind them were a row of Muttites, swinging containers that pulsed with the pure aspect of mutation and decay, chanting in grotesque voices as they sang praises to the mutator.
And finally, behind those stood a giant form, riddled with sores and a leaking pus-filled body, wrapped in green armor made out of the hide of some scaly creature, a large white skull adorning its face and in one hand, a staff that pulsed and released the power of the mutator. Their eyes met in that instance, the titan and the priest of the mutator, it smiled, its sharp canines riddled with decay and with one hand raised the army of the mutator roared, rumbling like an avalanche as they came for him.
Ashas screamed overhead, unleashing hell upon the flying creatures as the battle first began overhead. The Ijas began unleashing their weapons, lances of aether, intent, mana and aura shooting into the distance, tearing foes asunder in the sea of enemies that came for them. Despite the hail of firepower the legions unleashed, it did little to dent the enemy that was coming for them, like drops of water on a parched piece of ground.
“Prometheans!” Idris shouted,
The battle-suits shot forwards, all Prometheans from all the legions, their own unstoppable walls in the face of the orcs and giants. Bringing up the guns attached to their armor, they waited stoically even as they stood next to the Ijas that fired away, unloading everything they had in continuous shelling. Moyo stalked forwards, dominion in hand as he began strolling forwards despite the incoming avalanche, the orcs and hounds braying for his blood.
He raised dominion up, gripping the blade tight as waves of authority poured out from the blade,
“Black hole” he said and swung the blade,
This time, he let the power do as it wished, let the black hole grow as large as it wanted as it landed between the forces of the mutator in the distance, the black hole expanded in an instant. Dragging both orcs, hounds, giants and all forms of unholy creations, screaming as their bodies were torn asunder, every piece of it dragged into the black hole before the black dome of power exploded outwards, blasting a crater into the forces of the mutator.
This was a small respite, but it gave the legion all the time they needed to lay into the disorganized army as they clashed, the battle-suits tearing into them. The ascenders of the legion clashing as bodies were thrown and screams of agony reigned. It was pure mayhem, and right in the middle of this were the titan blade and his guard, all leaders of their own cohorts, leaving nothing but death and destruction in their wake. Making a beeline for the Devigian and Muttite priests that kept chanting in their grotesque and otherworldly voices, no doubt trying to invoke something.
“To the Devigian!” Moyo roared as he hacked apart another ogre,
The guard went full berserker mode, using weapons, hands and whatever power was at their disposal to leave a trail of blood towards the Muttites who released the chains holding the Nethertaurs in place. The large beasts began ripping through their own forces in the distance, making a line for the titan blade,
“Leave those to us, go for the priests” Idris rumbled,
Moyo nodded, activating one step of Ogun as he appeared right in the midst of the Muttites, the Devigian snarled,
“Anathema, you come” it rumbled,
Moyo spared it a glance before removing the head of one Muttite, the body burning in purple aspect fire before dodging the blade of another Muttite that snarled. Driving dominion into the skull of that one, he punched another into gore, the body exploding into flesh and gore. Slamming one hand towards the Devigian, a greenish bubble shield sprang up around him, deflecting the attack. The Devigian that served as the head priests smiled, laughing like a dead body infested by flies that buzzed around,
“I come protected by the power of lord Molrik himself!” it boasted,
Moyo hissed, dodging another blade as dominion tore the creature from head to groin, snapping his fingers and watching the remaining Muttite priests get blown backwards. He turned to face the shield protecting the Devigian, the priest chanting even faster now as a runic circle formed overhead. Moyo whipped his head back to the priests whose eyes gleamed, realizing it was close to bringing whatever it was summoning in through to face them. Putting one hand on the shield of bubble and fighting back the feeling of revulsion, he channeled his aspect and authority into his command,
“Break!” he commanded,
The entire area rumbled at the command of the titan blade, his aspect pounding hard against the aspect of the mutator, the Devigian priests no longer looking amused, chanting as fast as it could. A clawed hand shot out of the rune circle, all mottled and grey, black taloned fingers gripping the runic circle as it strained to pull itself out with its own strength. Moyo turned back to the bubble and focused his entire willpower on it, the Devigian stumbling backwards in shock as the bubble shattered.
It clapped its hands with a roar, completing the spell with the face of the creature passing through the circle that glowed above. Eyes of burning green fire, a crown of black bones, each aflame on its head and in one hand a large sword,
“Behold!, one of the seven personal servants of the lord mutator!” the Devigian` cried,
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
“you will die a most wretch- “was all the Devigian said as Moyo stretched one hand in its direction,
His aura gripped the Devigian and he squeezed his hand into a fist, his aura squeezing the priest in turn, the Devigian exploding into gore and bones. Turning to the creature that came out completely, a tall and skinny figure with a blade that burned green, runes of mutation and unholy transformation lining its eldritch blade. The weapon was created to transform all things it touched into whatever form the servant of Molrik, its body was wreathed in the miasma that was the life force of the abyss itself. It glanced at the titan blade,
“Anathema of my master, prepare to meet your end” it rumbled,
Moyo could hear Idris rallying the guard, shouting at them to make it to his side. Moyo grinned as dominion flew back into his hand,
“I intend to send you back in pieces to your master” he replied,
The creature chuckled,
“Not even your betters could attempt that” it rumbled as in a blink the blade was coming for the neck of the titan,
Despite its larger-than-life size, Moyo calmly met its unholy blade with the edge of dominion, a force wave blasting away around them,
“that’s the thing, I’m not them, I’m something else entirely” he replied,
Titan and servant of an abyssal lord began an intricate dance of attacks, sage’s eyes cataloguing each move and attack of the servant that would had been even too much for a diamond to catch up to. Pitting his entire focus on the creature who had its willpower infused into the blade as well, dominion resounding with the fiery aspect of the titan blade, his Ashe flashing out of him in waves as he gritted his teeth his rage, a palpable aura of power around him.
He beat back the killing stroke of the servant once, then twice, dominion now a flash against the large blade that also moved with the speed of light, leaving nothing but flashes for those who would so dare as glance in the direction of where the two beings fought. The servant snarled,
“Wrath of Molrik!” it thundered,
Reality sought to twist the titan blade, first by starting within his body but being repelled by his aspect and Ashe that had baptized his body in their powers, then on the outside by attempting to twist his body into some unholy, coming to grapple with the aspect of the titan itself. Moyo growled, breaking the working of power as well as protecting his forces from the aftereffects, still he could hear screams of agony, a sign that his forces were being cut down just as much as they tore into the forces of the abyss.
The servant of Molrik shot towards him with a roar, its crown glowing brighter as it stretched its hand towards the distance, gripping something Moyo couldn’t see but he prepared for. Summoning his spiritual form, the giant form quickly taking shape as the servant swung what looked like a forge hammer, the blunt weapon actively communing with the aspect of mutation as it made a beeline for Moyo. He stamped his feet and with it, unleashed a wave of his aspect and Ashe, willing reality to hold back the movements of the servant wordlessly.
The servant paused for just a fraction of a second, but it was all the time Moyo needed for the blade of his spiritual form to cleanly cut off the hand holding the forge hammer. Limb and hammer fell the ground as the servant roared in pain, swinging its other hand that held the eldritch blade towards Moyo who parried it with dominion the same moment his spiritual form went for the kill. The servant opened its mouth, blasting out a wave of mutative energy that totally destabilized the spiritual form of Moyo, driving a pike of pure agony straight through his brain.
Reeling back from the attack, he summoned his core realm, taking control of the area forcefully despite the migraine. Dominion going up in an arc to forestall the blade that came down for his head again, gritting his teeth against the force of the attack, he deflected the blow, shifting backwards. The servant stared at him with hate filled eyes,
“You forces will die here, just like others of your kind have done so” it spat at him,
Moyo froze for a fraction also, the shock of what it had just uttered filtering though his brain, and the servant took advantage of it, except this time, sage’s eyes burned bright. It was one swing alone, dominion moving in an arc as servant of Molrik and titan passed themselves. The servant’s mouth opened and closed, its eyes wide in shock as its head slid cleanly off its neck, falling to the ground with a great thud. Moyo shivered for a second as the oppressive feeling in the air lifted and the power of the mutator that was oppressively strong around them disappeared.
The power of the titan taking pure precedence over the area, the remaining pockets of forces of the mutator began to flee in terror, entire swaths of them being cut down by any means necessary as a large roar of victory filled the air. Moyo flicking dominion, Idris and his guard appearing next to him, covered in black and green liquid that was no doubt the blood of either the Nethertaurs or the Muttite priests they had fought. He turned to Idris,
“Get me a resonator, I need to know what’s happening with the other planetary forces” he ordered,
Idris nodded and turned to the legion, barking out orders, soon enough an aether resonator was planted, the device pumping out aether just as quickly, their HUD’s coming online with series of pings,
Notice: you have slain:
* Muttites X4
* Devigian
* Servant of Molrik (soul seeker),
For this you gain:
* Level 600! (400 points)
* Abyssal mutation servant core
* Eldritch blade of mutation
* Staff of a Devigian priest
* Rune of decay 5%
Moyo turned to his guard, seeing their looks of determination,
“How many did we lose?” he asked,
“More than we should have” Romulus answered, the two axe weapons in his hands still dripping the black liquid that was quickly fizzling away,
“The legion are getting their names and sending them back to their respective cohorts per your orders lord titan blade” Amiya said,
Moyo nodded wordlessly,
“Secure the area, I have calls to make” he ordered,
Turning, he manifested the abyssal core in his hand,
Abyssal mutation servant core, rank: mythic:
This contains the power of an abyssal servant of a lord of the abyss, with this, ascenders can purify the core by consecrating it to the archailect, enabling entire zones or the equivalent of it in the abyss to be held indefinitely within the domain of the abyssal lord it was gotten from, it can also be taken from a place and replanted somewhere else. Consecrate it? Y/N
Moyo paused, calling up master Killian who picked up almost immediately, his holographic form coming up,
“Moyo, thank the supreme beings, I was just about to call you, it’s chaos” the stellar blade said,
“The other masters, Skatha, Duval, are they safe?” Moyo asked urgently,
“Yes, thank the supreme beings, the extra aspects acquired help them get to the Devigian priests at their spots before they could summon whatever unholy being the priests were about to summon” Killian replied,
“Makes you wonder where Ajax is and how he was able to bypass this fortress” Moyo said,
“You and me both Moyo, you and me” Killian said darkly,
“The other planetary forces didn’t have it just as good as did, we’ve been hearing reports of more than half of planetary forces wiped out, some caught unawares” Killian continued,
“Even in some cases, entire forces wiped out, we as of current have lost more than four masters and their planetary forces” Killian said darkly,
Moyo took deep breathes, the scale of what he just heard settling in on him. Rubbing a hand across his face,
“Supreme beings protect us” he murmured,
“And armada command?” Moyo asked,
“Still waiting for us to push harder, we can’t afford to unleash our strongest weapons so soon, we don’t even know where Mortas currently is” Killian said,
Moyo nodded, shutting his eyes tight,
“listen” he started, displaying the core,
“What is that?” Killian asked,
“It was what I got when I killed the servant of Molrik the Devigian had been summoning, read the description” Moyo replied, sending it to Killian,
The stellar blade read it for a brief second, eyes widening,
“Moyo, this changes everything, we could launch entire campaigns deep into the abyss with this, we could, take the fight farther than even the jades!” the stellar blade exclaimed,
“I know, inform the armada command and the other masters, let them prepare for the servants of Molrik, no matter how many they may be” Moyo said,
“You want us to let the Devigians summon them?” Killian asked, eyes wide,
“Yes, although I’d advice two masters and planetary forces move together, those things are crazy powerful” Moyo warned,
“But you took it down by yourself” Killian said,
Moyo simply nodded silently Killian understanding. The other masters didn’t have the advantage he had; they would fall if they went alone. Killian sighed,
“Stay safe Moyo, you just gave us a ray of hope in this hell” the stellar blade said,
“you too old man, I won’t be the one telling Sophia something bad happened to her father” he replied warmly,
Killian nodded, cutting the call, Moyo turned to his troops, watching the legion create tents to heal the sick. He consecrated the core to the archailect, the action sucking all the aether coming from the resonator and shooting a beam of light skywards, an otherworldly scream coming from the core itself as Moyo purged whatever existence was left within the core. The core grew heavier by the second, Moyo letting it fall to the ground where what looked like an alter was suddenly created.
Waves of aether as if coming from an aether spire shot all around, washing off the owners of the mutator around, the air growing lighter, the smell cleaner and actual grass and a sky with bright light appearing. Most of all, the aspect of the titan filled the air, his HUD pinging,
Notice: you have created a sanctuary!, this place will stay indefinitely till the core is either moved to another location or destroyed. Those inside this sanctuary will:
* Recover aether faster
* Heal faster
* Accumulate experience faster
* +200 to active skills against abyssal creatures of mutation
* -100 to all creatures of the abyss
Warning: this sanctuary would draw the attention of all the forces of the abyss around the area, bringing their ire down against you, prepare!
Moyo watched as the ascenders too injured to fight were rapidly being healed, he heard the roar in the distance, Idris appearing next to him,
“My lord” he said breathlessly,
“Gather all those that can still fight, take these” Moyo said, opening his vault and throwing him rare dungeon cores in their numbers,
“Create entire strongholds around, let the cohorts hunker down and prepare for battle, make a town within where I stand with this” he said, throwing him a legendary dungeon core,
“Prepare for battle, the enemy comes” he ordered,
Idris saluted and shot into the distance, Moyo watching as he stood next to the core, dominion planted, eyes glowing as he awaited the enemy.