Moyo felt his body go through the phase of preparations the moment they attacked, a wide array of attacks twisting through the space between him and his attackers. Of course, with his mantle and titan body, he could weather the attacks, but to start absorbing so many deadly attacks at the beginning of a fight shifted the battle unto the wrong footing. So he moved with Ogun’s step, tearing through the collecting willpower of the group that sought to hold him in place, dominion swinging in an arc towards the high brother of the undying hands.
Ash coalesced between his attack and the brother in that instant, laden with aspect and authority, it formed an earthen wall between him and the high brother, Moyo slamming into it with all the speed and force of a freight train. It exploded with a bang, Moyo burning aspect at a frightening rate simply to keep them off him, the high brother burning to a blur of black power as both he and Moyo clashed, staff to dominion.
Few things could surprise Moyo at this point, but he had to admit that the staff weathering the blow of dominion caught him off guard, almost for the summoned blood spikes of the abyssal female mage with the doll like creature at her side to smash into him. He pulsed, actively attempting to summon his realm when a rune flashed to life above him, a black and white work of terrible visage, clamping down on his realm with so much force that he got smashed to the side by another of the brothers, his skin burning with the touch of the cult brother.
Climbing to his feet and vaulting from a lance of exploding power, he heard the high brother speak.
“There will be no realms for you, no over the top display of power you’ve been borrowing before attaining the rank of primordial, you are simply a master, a skilled one I admit, but a dead one all the same” he said.
Floating in the air, he felt the burn subside, it had simply been a skin burn, his mantle sealing it up back and his titan body pulsing with his aura.
“Mortas wasn’t remotely as strong as you” Moyo said.
The high brother shook his head.
“Mortas was some things, but a weakling, he was not, he simply fought a master with the unfair power of a primordial” the high brother replied.
“And yet, here you are, attempting to use the power of a lord of the abyss against me, although I must admit, the strongest one” he said.
The female abyssal mage hissed.
“you’d dare, lord Vusal is-“
“silence” the high brother said, cutting her off as she choked on her words, Moyo realizing the two other powerful abyssal warriors maintained their silence, one wrapped in so much veils that it’s figure flickered on and off, the other, a female figure with wide round eyes and pulses and vibrations coming from around her form. They stared at him, eyes unblinking, even as Moyo felt the former’s ability shield him from normal vision. Sage’s sight revealed the truth to him though, it’s ability seemingly related to shadows and confusion, the figure in front of him not even real as its true form seemingly attempted sneaking up on him.
Moyos’ hand flashed out in a blur, snatching the creature that felt like a ruler, its wails filling the air even as it slashed at his body with long claws. The female opened her mouth as the rest of his attackers flew backwards, whatever attack she was preparing to use deadly enough. Moyo put the shadowy creature between himself and the lady even as it screamed out.
“Elysia, don’t” it shouted,
With a grim look, Moyo watched as the abyssal essence of the shadowy creature was leeched out of its body before she could stop, weakening it as Moyo stabbed dominion through its form, the blade burning it to ashes as it wailed in agony. Elysia stopped, rage in her eyes.
“You made me kill one of Lesuth’s Voidborn Shriekers, you flesh will be flayed off your bones!” she raged,
Moyo dived straight downwards, dodging attacks as he sought to put distance between himself and the opponents when the high brother was there again, staff smashing down on him. With a snarl, he shot out his fist.
“BREAK!” he commanded, clashing with the staff.
Explosion blew around him, blasting the other forces backwards, Moyo shaking the pinpricks around his fist away as he dodged another attempt by the high brother to touch him, smashing a lance of blood that carried a semi sentient will to devour his flesh out of the air, his aspect wrapped around his hands. Eyes flickering through the battlefield with the help of sage’s eyes, calculations going on in his mind, he spoke.
“So your plan is to wear me down enough for those two kamikaze looking idiots to actually infect me with whatever vile powers Araman cooked up, am I right?” he asked.
The high brother paused, his body shielding the other two masters who floated at his side, Moyo realizing the last nameless one had somehow crept away, realizing this battle was not something he could participate in. ash formed an armor around the high brother.
“You seem perceptive” he replied.
“What brother are you?” Moyo asked.
“I mean, I know Mortas, and the Azartes that rebelled, but who are you?” Moyo completed.
“Not that your inconsequential self could know who I was, but very well, my name is Zeph ash rain, wielder of the exulted path of the ash wrath, and blessed executor to you” the high brother introduced himself.
Moyo nodded, flicking dominion in his hand, Gegun returning back to his vault.
“there’s no way we can settle this amicably, is there?” he asked.
“Surrendering?” Zeph asked, one eyebrow raised.
“It’s not for my sake, I simply don’t want to wipe you all out now that I know just what your plans are” he replied.
Zeph paused, chuckling before pointing his staff at him.
“Avatar of destruction, kill” he commanded.
From the staffs shot out shadow, bleaching and eating everywhere it touched, coalescing into the form of a large canine creature, its imperceptible gaze locking on Moyo. Pumping aspect and Ashe through his entire mantle, Moyo gripped dominion with two hands, tsking.
“Goodbye, titan blade” Zeph said as the two masters moved.
Moyo raised dominion up in that fraction of a second, feeling the mage attempting to seize the fluids in his body, potentially causing him to explode from the inside, and then he saw Elysia who for no other words could be termed a banshee open her mouth. The canine form imbued with the aspect of destruction bounded closer to him and the two master in tow, he couldn’t retreat, not with them surround him, Zeph coordinating from above.
And so he let himself loose, feeling the prime aspect burn through his body even as he gritted his teeth, seeing his blade light up with the burning power of his aspect now restricted to master rank and the prime aspect as well. Dominion hummed with unrestrained fury and Moyo delivered its judgement in a strike that tore the abyssal aspect around him to shreds, burning through the air as the two masters exploded as the flames of two aspects ran through them.
Elysia managing to retreat, but not before she caught a full blast of the flames, shrieking as she fell to the ground below, the shadowy form burning itself out of existence and the blood mage of Vusal wrapping herself in a bubble of blood like that would do her any good, the flames burnt through it, lighting her as well on fire as she shrieked to the ground below.
The only one left unharmed was Zeph ash wrath, the ashes solidifying into a crystal-like armor, burning with the aspect of destruction and staring down at him as Moyo panted softly, the staff in his hands glowing with power.
Power that was siphoned from the ashes of the two dead masters that floated to his side.
It dawned on Moyo in that instant, even as Zeph nodded.
“They weren’t the trap, all of them, they were merely distractions to were me down” he said.
“I am the trap” Zeph completed as he attacked with all the strength of a master and more
Moyo gritted his teeth, weathering the attack and praying Idris and Ashira were having a better time.
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∞
The moment Idris and Ashira landed on the pyramid, they staggered from the raw abyssal aspects running through the structure, conduits of raw abyssal essence flowing to and fro from the structure as most of their powers clamped down forcefully, unable to manifest with such exposure to the abyss. Idris gritted his teeth though, aegis of the titan blade equipped, he felt a bit of the pressure rescind from his body, moving in a blast as Obalọkẹ shot out, the spear carving a path through the abyssal creatures ahead of him.
The alarm was raised as Ashira produced her sword, turning into a blur as she carved her way through them, tiers didn’t matter, not the drones that were known as scourges that hung around the structures like flies, the category three Dreadguards, the category 4 tyrant lords or even the category five void wardens that came down on her, empowered by the abyss as their powers swelled. They were all cut down like wheat before the scything blade of the Chimera herself.
Her body glowed with her passive Chimera abilities as her eyes sought out the category fives first, cutting down the strongests of their forces as she hopped around with blistering speed. She might not have the insane speed of the titan, but her Chimera path was a legendary one, bordering on mythic already, it wasn’t to be messed with, not by mere void wardens. Idris though, made his way towards the cylindrical structure that stood within the pyramid, its metal body covered with abyssal runes that empowered it.
Shutting his senses to the overwhelming power he felt from within it, he felt his limbs being restricted for a second as he got closer, some sort of sentience trying to warm its way into his mind. Agbala Agbaye blocked an attack from a category three, the creature that belonged to one of the four abyssal lords exploding from the rebound of its attack as Idris gritted his teeth. Was this some aspect power of an abyssal lord?, there was no other explanation.
The aspect of the titan within him pulsed, repelling the intrusion as he gripped Obalọkẹ glowed, its innate ability, titan rage burning to life as he prepared to strike the structure. His battle sense and Agbala Agbaye warned him of something dropping from above as the shield flew upwards, blocking a strike so heavy, he staggered, the blessings of the titan within him enforcing his body as he crouched to one knee.
The being’s armor cracked though, the creature snarling in Defiance.
“a servant of the anathema?” it asked.
“What difference does it make?’ Idris replied drily.
It nodded before a round kick clashed with Agbaye, Idris stabbing Obalọkẹ forwards as the creature danced nimbly away from it.
“It reeks of the anathema, you cannot be allowed to exist” it said,
Then it stretched its hands out as the abyss and the structure pulsed, the nameless one’s body growing larger even as green crystalline rock formed an armor around him, his presence pulsing with the power of a ruler,
“you will di-“was all it said as an arrow exploded against its form,
The crystalline armor cracked in the middle as it stared wide eyed at the crack in shock before one punch powered down on Idris, the titan fist gripping his shield tighter as the blow smashed into him. Idris weathered it, Obalọkẹ burning with titan aspect before blasting forwards, the spear’s power punching through the body of the nameless one as it fell to its knees, mouth opened. Before it could talk, Ashira was there, blade cleanly removing its gigantic head as Idris shot through her side, pushing as much titan aspect as he could manage into the spear before sending it tearing through the structure.
At first it resisted, the structure pulsing silently with power as it called thousands of abyssal creatures of all factions and categories to its aid, Ashira cutting them down just as fast as they manifested, her restricted realm melting them flesh and bones alike. Still, Idris pitted his willpower and authority against the structure even as the black rock room hummed with power, seeking to suppress him. The titan aspect flared within him, his body literally burning with purple and flashes of golden flames as the structure groaned before exploding the fore tearing through the entire pyramid.
Everywhere burned, even as Idris felt himself forcibly blasted out, the abyssal creatures burning up from the raw power that tore through the structure. He was sure he heard it crumble, but something or someone grabbed him, using the explosion to propel them outwards. When his vision cleared, the pyramid was a mass of melted rock, the area for miles scoured clean of life, save for the titan blade battling some man in black robes who roared in fury.
∞
As the structure exploded, Moyo grinned weakly, feeling his brutalized body that had been restrained loosen, catching the staff of the ash wrath even as the destructive aspect battled with his now blossoming aspect. Zeph glanced behind in shock.
“impossible” he muttered,
Moyo slammed him straight to the ground with a punch, cracking the dark crystalline armor made of ash as he fed his aspect into a punch.
“BREAK” he commanded again.
Zeph ash wrath exploded into ash, his body breaking down into dust as it coalesced miles away, as far enough as the be another continent. Moyo crossing his now rejuvenated arms.
“Running?” he asked with a smile.
The ash wrath stared at him with untold fury, ash forged eyes glowing with rage.
“soon” he said before the ash blew away.
Ashira and Idris appearing next to him, Idris panting.
“don’t you look worse for wear” Moyo said chuckling as Idris rolled his eyes.
Ashira grabbing his face and staring into his eyes.
“You do know its creepy when you do that right?” he asked.
“That sexy Chimera look” he finished as she huffed in exasperation.
“Please, children, room” Idris muttered as Ashira had the decency to blush, smacking Moyo on the shoulder.
“Zeph was a front” Moyo muttered.
“What?” Ashira replied as Idris glanced sharply at him.
“All these, the runic shield to protect the planet from the primordials, the structures, the traps laid out for me, even Zeph himself, its all a distraction” Moyo replied.
“What do you mean a distraction?” Idris asked cautiously, as if fearing the reply.
“It was never going to work, trapping me on this planet, the aspect of destruction bestowed upon Zeph felt like something made to leech my essence, slow me down, definitely not kill me, it was something I realized when I fought the ash wrath” Moyo explained.
“If they have the intention to pour an absurd amount of resources into slowing us down, then by the supreme beings, just what is the main goal?” Ashira whispered.
“Something else entirely, the presences of the elites are not on the planet, pretty sure they weren’t insane enough to attack the primordials right within their seat of power, wherever they went is the real goal, question is, where?” Moyo said softly as he raised dominion skywards.
A lance of his aspect burned through the air, clearing the abyssal taint for miles, giving him a clear sight into the void above the planets where the carnage striders were retreating back into the void, the battered archailect crafts finally moving closer to the planet. With a startled ping, Moyo heard his Hud power up,
Notice!: egg of the arcane wyrm has absorbed the slain essences of abyssal lieutenants of Remhu, Lesuth and Vusal!, 10% to hatching.
“By the supreme beings, the Hud’s are working!” Ashira said.
“Only notifications, no rank ups” Idris said darkly.
“I’m beginning to suspect something entirely different is restricting ascensions” Ashira replied.
Moyo wondered if his suspicions were through, if it all were connected, Ajax, Apophis, the abyss, Araman, Rohan, heck, even the supreme beings. He gritted his teeth though, watching as lances of light descended from the ships above, the forces of the archailect, led by the forces of the primordials as their very presence, while small but concentrated began to beat back the power of the abyss miles in front. he spotted Malia chainer, a tall weird creature and then Eogan himself in the distance, shouting to their troops that descended by the minute.
Then came the forces of the Thousandblades, masters Killian and Duval in the distance as well, burning with aspect as they immediately sought to fortifying their positions, entire cities rising all around the continent in straight Defiance of the abyssal powers, legendary cores being produced to create those structures as the forces of the ancients and primordials immediately set to fortifying it. In the distance, thunder and lightning flashed from the incoming abyssal storm, the planet was still that of the abyss anyways, and this was going to be a long fight.
A crackle of power came from his torn robes as Moyo dipped his hand in, bringing out a crushed communication construct, frowning as he glanced above, eyes making out the Defiance, was Urne trying to contact him?. Idris produced one, speaking into it.
“This is Idris titan fist, can you hear me Defiance?” he spoke.
A holographic image of Marcel popped up, sitting on the bodies of abyssal creatures that burnt in his devil touch path.
“Lord Idris, I take it the boss is still kicking?” he asked.
Idris chuckled, turning the construct to Moyo who stared at him.
“Marcel” he said softly.
The devil touch’s countenance changed, becoming sombre.
“Thank the archailect you made it boss and just in time, we were slowly being overwhelmed” he said.
“The Defiance?” Moyo asked.
“The legion?” he pushed further.
The holographic image broke into two paths, one with Marcel and the other with a battered looking Josh, Annika and Urne.
“Lord primordial” Josh said in greeting.
Urne bowed and Annika nodded at Moyo.
“The Defiance is in once piece, I’ll give you that” Annika said as Urne turned sharply to her in disapproval, the Stormseeker shrugging.
Moyo felt a pressure reduce from his chest, while he hadn’t really felt it, it had weighed like a burden on his chest.
“All legion flagships while battered are still functioning, Shieldbornes were teleported immediately abyssal interference reduced, all is well” Josh reported.
Moyo heaved a great sigh, dipping his hand into his vault that manifested as he produced a legendary core.
“Get down here, were about to face a wave of abyssal creatures unlike before, we need everyone” he said.
“About that” Annika said, drawing his attention.
“We need to have a meeting about something important” she said.
“What?” he asked.
“privately” she replied glancing at ship mistress Urne who nodded softly at her.
Moyo raised one eyebrow, glancing at Idris who shrugged as he put away his aegis gear, evidently whatever happened must had been when they were down below on the planet. Urne saluted.
“All legion forces and auxiliaries have been ordered to make planet fall at your location, see you soon lord” she said.
Moyo nodded to her, glancing away as the construct fizzled out, turning to Ashira.
“I have to check in” she said even as a diamond ranker in the grey colors of the wardens flew towards her.
Moyo nodded, sharing a kiss with her as the diamond bowed to him.
“Lord titan blade, patriarch of house titan blade, this humble diamond begs your benevolence, but lord Kairos and his allies humbly request your presence at the city of monsters” he said.
Moyo noticed the three scaly tails of the diamond swishing nervously, chuckling to himself, knowing Kairos hadn’t ‘humbly’ requested his presence, that was simply the diamond ranker looking out for himself. He turned to Idris.
“Handle things when I’m gone” he said,
“When have I never?” Idris replied drily as Moyo chuckled.
Together, he and Ashira made their way to the city of monsters.