The manaforges of Krysperium are one of the places to visit while you are in this city. They are located at the east side of the third up to the fifth levels of the city. The ones on the fifth level are under the control of the Manaforger Houses and are off limits to the public. However, the ones in the third and fourth levels give a wide array of choices to fit your every need.

Feeling scared doing your first mission as an adventurer? Buy the novice’s set at an affordable price! It has set bonus and is a staple for young adventurers.

Looking for that perfect gift for the woman who has captured your heart? Buy her a blue butterfly sapphire ring! It actually flutters its wings on your finger.

A strong warrior looking for something to add to their rare and powerful collection of weapons? How about twin blades made from the fins of a Giant Tiamat Fish? You could chop and dice even an ogrishwyrm in seconds.

Your marriage having a problem? Buy a pair of illusion necklaces and wear them when you’re together with your partner to fulfil every fantasy you have. It comes at a hefty price, depending on how many illusions you want; but who cares, since love trumps money.

Come one; come all to the manaforges of Krysperium!

-Flyer for the Manaforges Exposition

3rd Centennial Celebration of the Sacrifice of the First Emperor

The quaint town of Liftersville. It was once Liftersville city, a long time ago, more than five hundred years.

Trance was his name, a young manaforger, stripling and tall, hair tied back in a ponytail. Munching an apple, he happily hummed a tune as he was riding his horse, his brown hair whipping away in the wind. It was not exactly his horse; the army lent it to him.

An Imperianus breed. Six powerful legs, two hearts, extra muscles added in, hooves harder than steel. He did not know what other things the biomagi did in breeding these horses. He really did not care. The horse was powerful, majestic, and he was riding to his first assignment outside of his master’s shop.

His master was not a big name manaforger in Krysperium, but he did have a shop employing about a couple of dozen forgers. Trance was one of them. He has been an apprentice for a few years and his master felt it was time that he had some real world experience. He would be stationed in the West System, the formidable network of walls and fortresses built on the edge of Krysperia.

Passing the West System, one will reach a vast desert of grey sand and continuous rolling dust storms. A wide expanse of wilderness where not even a shred of grass grows. If one still has the heart to go on and actually survived the journey, they would reach the Blighted Lands. There, the remnants of the Blighted Multitude still lingered; corruption and taint has covered every inch of those land. Without their leader, they were reduced to raving beasts that prey on each other.

Krysperia has recovered and cleansed a number of territories that has been under the Blight before, one of which is Liftersville. In the days of Empress Lusiya, the Imperial Legion marched and pushed back creatures of the Blight as far as the West System. However, the Legion faltered when it reached the grey desert. Unknown magic was at work, severely interfering with magical transmission and all sorts of engynare constructs. Strange rifts regularly opened and closed throughout the desert. The advisers of the Empress concluded that the perpetual sandstorm was the cause of the breakdown in their massive war machine. Its effects were akin to the dark clouds the void mages were using to guard their fortresses. A sizeable military campaign cannot be launched traversing the desert. The Empress agreed with them and halted the crusade.

Thus, the West System was constructed to keep everything unclean out of Krysperia. And that was where he was headed now.

He bragged about it to the ladies back home. His physique and features were already more than enough to make any woman swoon. Add in tales of bravery, facing the worst of the worst in the continent of Forkspear. He could basically get any woman he wanted! No woman could resist a brave man putting his life on the line for his country.

Of course he was not really putting his life on the line. Actually, putting any part of his body on the line is a big Nope. He failed to mention to the ladies at the bar that he was really assigned quite far back from the first system of walls and towers. He also failed to mention that he wasn’t really going to be fighting for the Empire. Others would be fighting for the Empire while he would repair their equipment. They will probably forgive him for omitting that fact. Well, he will still be fighting for the Empire; indirectly though.

Still, he was in high spirits. Who knows, some noble warrior might notice his skills and hire him to be his personal armorer. He will also have the chance to see the Blighted creatures. Heroes and other famous warriors are assigned in the West System; there’s a probability that he could meet them while he was there. Lots of opportunities waiting.

He couldn’t help but grin as he was dreaming about his life among soldiers. Unglamorous and gritty no doubt, but he was a real man, there was nothing that he couldn’t handle.

For now, their group was headed to Liftersville to rest for the night before continuing their journey. A couple of hundred soldiers accompanied fifteen manaforgers, two beast tamers, three scryers, two fire mages, and one earth mage. It feels like they were going on a quest to slay a monstrous beast. They were really just some replacements for soldiers and support personnel who were finishing their duty period.

The walled town sat on top of a small hill. Bright red walls ringed it with ornamental lamps every few meters or so. It wasn’t built for defense but as a memorial to the former Liftersville that was a heavily fortified city before being levelled by the Blight Multitude.

No Blight creature has gotten past the West System for nearly two hundred years, so the town does not really worry about their safety even though they live a few days journey away from the innermost wall of the System.

He spurred his horse forward, eager to get ahead of the column in entering the town. The soldiers paid him no mind, but it earned him a sneer from a female forger, quite rare to find one, with the name Celine, if he remembered correctly. He gave her a wink, this time it earned him a pair of rolled eyes.

The town was a jolly place. It seemed that they were quite used to being a stopover of soldiers on their way to and back from the West System.

They were accommodated in the town hall, which was not really a bad place compared to sleeping on the ground, which they have been doing for the past few days.

He dropped of his knapsack and sleeping bag on one side of the hall. The place was not bad at all. The chairs and tables were stacked at the end to make space for the army to sleep. Those who can’t fit in anymore were setting up  tents on the town square. A very accommodating town, he supposed, even the people outside greeted him cheerily.

Never forget the primary hammer! He had his attached to his belt. His master would kill him if he loses it. One last thing- his precious shield. It’s really cumbersome to slag a round shield around, but it was his lucky charm. He was able to enchant four passive  effects on to it,  rare and versatile ones, and it has three empty slots in addition! Yes, if he had the money to buy gems, he would have seven effects on the shield. He was able to make such shield even when he was only an apprentice. He’s not planning to sell it, although it would fetch a high price, because it’s proof that he will be a great forger someday!

Hammer swinging by his side and his shield on his back, he went out of the town hall to explore the town. They have a couple of days rest here before going to the West System.

First things first! A drink after a tiring journey.

----------------------------------------

“So, what brings a lady like you in this town?”

“We were travelling together, you dimwad,” Celine replied. “And what’s up with slugging a shield?”

“Hey, I was just trying to make some conversation!” Trance then patted the shield on his back. “This here is my baby, three slots with four passives, pretty good eh?”

Celine took a sip of her beer before nodding. “While it pains me to say this, I agree that that is very impressive.”

“Finally! Some recognition. Lady luck was sitting on my lap that day. I was very surprised that the shield did not break while I was making it.”

“Uh-huh” Celine went back to looking at the display of premium spirits at the back of the bartender.

Trance leaned closer to her even though she obviously wanted the conversation to stop. If he wasn’t so stubborn, he couldn’t have created the shield on his back. Anyway, he had his lucky charm, what could go wrong?

“So what do you think we will do in West System?”

“I dunno, probably cook food. Of course we’re going to repair their stuff! What do the hell did you think they hired us for? Dimwad.”

Unfazed, Trance still continued his attempts at a conversation. “Do you think we’re going to see Blight creatures? I’ll be there for you if we encounter one. Me and my trusty shield.”

This time, Celine just rolled her eyes. Too much rolling already, they might probably fall off like loose screws. She finished her beer and signaled the barkeep for another.

The barkeep obliged and then turned to Trance. “So what can I get you, young smith?”

“I’ll have a pitcher of beer,” Trance said. He winked at Celine. “Watch me down this in five seconds.”

“Dad! Dad! I’ll bring! I’ll bring!” Somewhere below the counter, a child’s voice squeaked.

“It’s alright son. It’s easier if a just give this to the man over the counter. You can barely reach the counter yourself,” his dad, the barkeep, replied.

The boy was adamant that he should be the one to serve the pitcher. Tiny hands appeared from behind the counter. He grabbed the pitcher and pulled it. He couldn’t push it towards Trance, his head barely came up to the counter, and so he hugged it tightly and ran around the counter, the beer sloshing around the pitcher, the foam spilling all over the floor.

“Timothy, get back here,” the barkeep said, starting to get angry. “I’m sorry-,” he began saying to Trance.

“Hey there little guy!” Celine said, swiveling her chair to see the boy struggling to bring the pitcher.

Trance reached out for his beer as little Timothy went running up to him.

“Here you go mist-”

“Woah!” Trance exclaimed as Timothy tripped. The pitcher slipped out of his chubby little fingers and tipped over Trance’s pants and boots.

“Timothy!” The barkeep then jumped over the counter. Trance has already picked up the boy.

“I’m sorry, mister,” Timothy said, head hung low while looking at his feet.

“Nah, it's fine.”   

“Are you okay, son?”

“I’m okay.” Timothy then ran away to the back of the counter.

The barkeep shook his head and sighed. “Sorry about that mister manaforger. I’ll get you one. It’s on the house.”

“It’s really alright. I’m sure the boy only wants to help.” He looked at his pants, drenched in beer. “I guess my pants got the drink first.”

“I’m really sorry about my young boy,” the barkeep said while reaching for another pitcher.

“No need for that,” Trance said. “Best if I go back and get out of this wet pants.”

“I still owe you one mister manaforger. You can come back here and ask for your drink free.”

Celine looked at Trance in admiration. “Wow, I thought you were going to flip off.”

“Why? Where does is say on my handsome face that I’m not a nice guy? The boy was just trying to help.” He saw Timothy peering over the counter. Trance waved at him.

“You’re actually a decent dimwad. It seems I have a wrong impression of you. Most guys will rage if somebody spilled beer on them.”

Trance leaned on the counter, close to Celine, and said, “Looks like you meet the wrong kind of guys.”

Celine chuckled at his response. “You’re not really going to stop aren’t you?”

“I have a little brother. Timothy reminds me a bit of him.”

“Where is he now? In the capital?” Celine was surprised that Trance was showing a serious side.

He nodded. “He’s staying with my grandma. Hopefully, I can save enough to bring them over here. I guess I’ll be working for the West System for a few years. So it’s better if they stay close to me. It looks like Liftersville is a nice place.”

“Sure is, mister manaforger. Many families of the soldiers on duty at the System live here,” the barkeep said.

“Yeah. I want to get hired permanently by the army. Build up experience and all that. Someday, when I become a master manaforger, I’ll open my own shop in Krysperium!”

“Big dreams, big dreams,” Celine said. She raised her mug to him.

“You know what else is big?”

“I somehow had the feeling you were going to say that,” she said while smirking at him. “You’re pants are still wet.”

He stood and started walking out. He then stopped and looked back at the barkeep. “Barkeeper, my good man, give the beer that you owe me to this pretty lady forger.”

“Thanks a lot, very decent dimwad.” She blew him a kiss.

----------------------------------------

After a change of clothes, Trance decided to explore the town and find a good place to eat. He thought that the mayor of the town would have a feast for them or something, but there was none. Well, it’s not like they were heroes or anybody worth mentioning. The military passed by here once or twice a month. They were gracious enough to offer their town hall to be used as living quarters for a couple of days, which was more than enough. And there were more than two hundred people in their group! The town would go bankrupt if they kept feeding everyone that passes through.

They have ample supplies in their convoy but Trance did not want to eat more of the military food that seemed like they were prepared to be boring. With all the magic in the world, they still couldn’t provide rank and file personnel with decent meals. Guess they weren’t important enough.

With a purse holding some of his savings inside his pocket, he went down the street where the pub he visited earlier was located. He had seen a good diner a couple of blocks from it. He planned to eat good food while they stayed in Liftersville; once he is in West System, who knows if he’ll be able to eat anything that’s not bland. The higher ranking officers there would be eating well though; they probably have their personal chiefs.

“I’m just a hardworking guy, doing my part for the empire,” he said.

He was walking past the pub owned by Timothy’s dad when he saw the father and the son outside. The barkeep was locking the bar.

“Isn’t it too early to close the pub?” He waved and walked towards them. “Hey, Timmy!”

“I’m Timothy,” the boy replied, “not Timmy.”

Trance ruffled his hair. “Sure you are.” He then looked at the barkeep. “Do you normally close at this time?”

“No, no. My missus has been sickly as sick these past few days and I asked her sister to stay by her side while I work. But today her sister had some errands to do so I’m going home early to take of her.”

“I want momma to get well,” Timothy said while tagging at his dad’s shirt.

The barkeep patted his son. “I hope so too. Too bad there isn’t any healer around here.”

“There are no healers in this town?”

“No sir. They all went away, you see. When the army passes by here going to that Westy place they sometimes brings healers and people flock to them. Bad business for the local healers. So they went to the big city over the hill; no healers here now. I was hoping you were bringing healers with you.”

Trance scratched his head apologetically although he was not really at fault. “Um… sorry.    

“Nothing we can do ‘bout that. I will bring the missus to the city tomorrow if her condition gets worse.”

Trance waved the father and son off.

He then proceeded to the diner.

It was called Grub Hub. Nice name, he thought. It was a homely place with wooden handcrafted furniture. The smell of roasted meat was wafting through the air. And there was a table empty too! Too bad he was eating alone. Celine went off with a couple of her friends from the same forge. Trance, on the other hand, was the only one from his forge.

“Table for one sir?” the pretty waitress asked, giving him a wink.

“Unfortunately, yes,” Trance said. He took off the shield he had on his back. “An order of your prime roast, please, beautiful miss.”

“Excellent choice, sir. A couple of local adventurers brought a Nemir hog earlier.”

Trance clapped his hands in expectation. “Very good then. I can get a taste of the pigs that the royalty burn for ceremonies before I begin my duty in West System.”

The waitress’ eyes sparkled. “Oooh, you’re a military man.”

“Sure am, honey.” Trance nodded at her.  She saluted him and gave him another wink before leaving. The girls are quite nice here in the countryside. His brother and grandma would sure like it here as well. Hopefully, he could be permanently assigned to the West System. He could easily save and move his family here. His grandma would appreciate the fresh air. The capital city was too crowded already. His brother could grow up here as well. It appears that there were adventurers here. He remembered that his brother dreamed of becoming one.

After waiting for several minutes, Trance saw the waitress coming out of the kitchen with his food. She smiled at him while tilting her head. Nice girl. Maybe he should ask her name? And quickly bring his food, he pleaded in his mind, just the smell alone was getting him hungrier. His purse would surely be lighter after this night.

“Roasted Nemir belly! The sauce is the chef’s own special secret. Even though we’re a small town restaurant, I assure you that you would be hard pressed to find a roast as good as this in the city!” The waitress was very proud of their establishment. Trance thought that it was very cute. He always liked bubbly girls that were full of energy.

He looked at the plate as it was set on the table. But he then frowned and looked out the window. What was that sound? Bells tolling? But it wasn’t the day for church service isn’t it?

“Miss, are those bells?”

“I’m just going to drizzle this with our special sauce,” the waitress said. She didn’t hear any bells. Was it only his imagination? He looked at the roasted meat, anticipating the flavourful sauce dribbled all over it.

Something red spluttered all over his food. Trance was puzzled. That was the sauce? It did not seem all too appealing. More red liquid dripped on his food.

He looked up at the waitress. “Miss, I think that’s more than eno-”

Huh? Did the waitress put sauce over her head? His forehead creased as he tried to understand what he was seeing.

Something was sticking out of her head! His puzzled face slowly twisted into horror as he realized that something pierced through the head of the lady in front of him. Blood continuously slid down a black skewer and dripped onto his ordered food. Within seconds, the delectable meat was covered in red thick blood.

“Eeaargh!” Trance screamed and pushed back at the table. He toppled over his chair and hit the ground hard. The waitress also fell and slumped over the turned table. A black spike had pierce through her crown and out her chin.

He looked away. Bile was rising to his throat. Think clearly; think clearly, he urged himself.

The bells were tolling. He was sure it was bells. The bells of the cathedral.

Something whizzed past his face, missing it by a couple of inches, embedding itself deep into the floor. It was something like the black thing that skewered the poor waitress.

An attack? His mind raced. He did what the most sensible thing to do was at that time. He picked up his shield and raised it over his head. A metallic ring sounded through the restaurant as he held his hammer and started buffing his shield. Something pinged off his cover.

More whizzing sounds. Then people started screaming. The roof was being penetrated by more of the black spikes. Other customers were hit. Blood was starting to cover the floor.

What the groofshit! What the groofshit! What the groofshit!

A couple sitting on the farthest table looked bewildered at what was happening around them. The man stood up, willing to use his body to shield his wife. Trance saw a spray of blood as the man’s head was hit. The impact of the black spike was so strong that it carried the head downward and nailed it on the table.

“Come here! Get under this shield!” Trance shouted at the woman, whose eyes was just staring blankly into space from shock. Her face was covered by the blood of her husband.

Trance started to run towards the woman as several spikes rained through the ceiling above her.

There was no helping her anymore.

Dammit. He decided to run outside. All the people in the restaurant were dead. He did not plan on joining them. The black spikes were already beginning to dent his shield.

He did not know what he expected to see, but he did not expect to see utter chaos. Several people were lying on the street, having met the same fate as the people in the restaurant. The bell was continuously ringing. Shouting and screams added to the din. The living did not know where to run for help. People were just running to and fro, others covering themselves with anything that the can find. Black spikes continued to claim more and more lives. Several more bounced off his shield. He quickly repaired his equipment.

The army! Where were they? This is an attack on Krysperian soil! Trance looked frantically around. Some armed men filtered to the streets. Some of them were had black spikes sticking out of their limbs. They were running out to the streets, shouting at the people. The town’s guards? Probably. They were organizing the people and herding them away from something.

Something? The people were running away from him. Something behind him? Trance slowly turned.

There was something behind him. It was far from him, but it was behind him.

Never in his life has he felt the urge to scream. Even now he did not scream, for his scream was caught up in his throat. He staggered a few steps back as he was processing what he was seeing.

What the groofshit is happening?

A colossal black creature stood somewhere near the place where the town hall would be. Due to its height, Trance could see it even if it was far away. It stood higher than the bell tower of the cathedral besides the town hall.

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“The soldiers must be fighting that thing.”

Should he run? There were many people running. That direction must be towards the other gate of the town. He’s not a soldier after all. If he died, then what would happen to his brother and grandmother?

A low growl that sounded like the bowels of the earth were heaving turned his attention back to the monster. It stooped low and convulsed a bit as its back bubbled with boils. The boils suddenly exploded and thousands of black spikes filled the air.

He crouched behind his shield once more. His heart trembled as his shield took more hits. After every hit, he used his hammer to repair the shield, a rhythmic response of survival. Luckily, he had spare mana crystals tucked in his belt pockets to power his hammer.  

Something moved to his side. A town guard whose thigh was pierced by a spike was struggling to take cover.

Help him! A single thought appeared in his troubled mind. He’s not going to fail this time, he resolved. Running low, he rushed to the aid of the wounded man. Spikes were falling all around them. Fortunately, the guard wasn’t hit.

When he came near, he saw something that made him hesitate. The black spike was pulsing by the thigh of the man he was planning to save. Several black tendrils branched out from it and were creeping up the body of the guard.

“What do I do?” he asked the heavens. He held his hammer, ready to strike out the spike. Maybe he could get it out of the man’s thigh? He shuffled his feet forward, afraid that the black coils might do something to him.

Someone shouted at him. “Don’ come near him! E’s o’ready gon!

He followed the sound of the voice and saw a bunch of men hiding under overlapping shields across the street, behind the thick concrete columns of a large official looking building. A bearded burly man with a chainmail shirt was waving his axe at him, gesturing that he should come over.

He took one last look at the guard lying on the streets, and wished he hadn’t. The entire body was dried and withered as thousands of tendrils from the spike continuously sucked the life out of him. Trance ran towards the town guards.

“Yo’ one of th’ fo’gers?” The bearded man was apparently the head of the town guard. “Most of yer fellers is up thar fightin' thet thin'.”

All of them looked back at the monster, just in time to see it reach out to the bell tower and crush it, along with the man who had been bravely ringing it nonstop.

Thick flaming pythons tried to wrap the monster’s leg but dissipated as they came in contact with its skin. Gigantic rocks unceasingly pelted the monster, but it did not stop its advance.

“Lissen ‘er you fo’ger,” the bearded man said. “We hafta go back an’ get th’ people!”

“What? I’m not a soldier! I… I just repair things…I dunno how to-”

A man with a scar across his face grabbed his shoulder. “You have to. People are dying out there. I don’t know what that thing is but we need your help. We will fight for this town.”

The men all around him voiced their sentiments. They might be just guards of some small town, but it was their town and they would fight for it. Trance reasoned that the army was also there fighting; the other forgers are probably there as well. He gritted his teeth as he decided to put his life on the line. Just once. Please don’t let this be a wrong choice.

“You don’t have to fight. Just enchant our weapons. We know what you manaforgers can do. Help us.”

As their group ran up the streets, Trance buffed their equipment and placed the basic enchantments that he could manage. His hammer felt warm in his hand due to constant usage. They found several people who were still alive and were running towards the other end of the town. They were also joined by a few soldiers who were away from the town hall when the attack began.

No more spikes landed near them while they were approaching the town hall. But the monster was still continuously releasing spikes; they were increasing in volume with each set being launched into the air. Trance realized that it was extending the range of the spikes to catch the people who were leaving the town.

It was probably a blessing in disguise that he joined the town guards. If he ran out of the town he would have been skewered to death already. The spikes seem to be heading further and further out of town, he observed as he watched them soar through the skies above him.

He shook his head and reminded himself that they were going towards the monster. He probably just postponed his death.

The faces of his brother and grandmother appeared before his eyes. No. He won’t die. He has to live for them. If something happens later, he will leave this group of brave men and run away like a coward. This is not the place for him to die. He’s just a repairman. He’s not going to die. Better to be a coward than to be dead.

Sounds of explosions grew louder as they were getting near. The monster already left the plaza and was running after a flying fiery bird with blazing runes circling it. Several stone golems were climbing over it, trying to slow it down, and stabbing the behemoth with spiked arms. They might as well try piercing a rock with a toothpick.

Trance spotted a large creature lying by the side of the road near the rubble of a collapsed building. Their group went over to investigate. It was one of the creatures of the beast master. Its large body was covered in spiked yellowish metallic scales, yet several black spikes pierced through.

A small pile of rubble was dislodged from the other end of the dead beast. Something was clambering up.

“Mister! Mister!”

“Timmy?” Trance gasped as he recognized the voice. From the other side of the large carcass, a small hands were waving. Trance immediately runs towards him.

 Timothy was covered in bruises and dust. His hands were covered with blood and there was a torn shirt by his feet. Leaning by wall, the barkeep was barely breathing, his bare chest hardly moved at all. His arm was cut off, up to his elbow; a mess of torn clothes were wrapped around the bloody stump.

“Mister, I dunno how to do it.” Timothy was crying while pointing to his father’s injured limb. It seems that he had taken off his father’s shirt and tried to bandage the injury. The blood on his hands wasn’t his but his father’s.

The bearded man ripped off his sleeves and knelt beside the barkeep, gently removing the clumsily placed makeshift bandages. “Don’ wo'ry li'l one. I'll getcher Daddy ‘er patched up.”

“His arm was pierced!” The man with the scar on his face pointed at a severed arm lying near the wall. It was covered with pulsating and squirming black tendrils. A spike from the monster attacking the town had taken root on it and had already sucked it dry. “Good thing it was cut off.”

“If it wasn’t cut off, it could have consumed your daddy,” one of the guards told the boy.

“Who cut it off Timmy?”

The boy pointed to the wall. Trance realized he was referring to the other side. He nodded at the other town guards and slowly circled the wall, half of which has already fallen down.

Two majestic creatures, as large as the first beast that they had seen, were on the other side.

Dead.

A lion with spiked silver mane and three tails, and a huge bull with barbed horns and covered with thick overlapping metal plates over its back. Between them was a woman, the beast master, Trance presumed. All of them were covered with black spikes, but there were only minimal black tendrils over their body. Their corpses seem to be in a better condition compared to the others.

“It seems the spikes stop sucking your life, if you’re already dead,” scar-faced said. He chuckled a bit before realizing the meaning of what he said. “I’m sorry, just tryin’ to make a joke.”

But what he said seemed to be true. The spikes don’t bother taking root on a corpse.

Trance clenched his jaw so that he won’t throw up. His nose was filled with the stench of blood and death as they were racing down the streets. It’s good that he did not have a meal yet. The image of blood on his food and the impaled head of the waitress once again stirred his innards. 

He made his way back, over the rubble, to where Timothy was.

The barkeep was already patched up by the head of the town guards. His eyelids were feebly moving.

“Yo' git him outta here. Many thanks fo' yer he'p.” The bearded man nodded towards the barkeep as he talked to Trance. He then held both of shoulders of the young manaforger and bowed to him. He signaled the other warriors to regroup around him.

What? He could leave? Trance’s mind did not quite comprehend what happened.

Inside his head, he was already dancing with joy at the prospect of escape. He was previously planning to run away when he saw the corpses of the beast master and her pets. If a group of magical beasts died without even getting near the monster, what chance did they have? However, he did not let his reaction show. He tried to insist on staying, but the others told him to carry the father, protect the boy, and leave town.

A sliver of guilt was gnawing in his mind, so he offered to buff their weapons with the best protection that he could give. The mana crystals on his hammer started blinking, indicating that they were running low on juice.

It was time to leave.

He was also saving Timothy and his dad, he told himself. He’s not really running away. He couldn’t leave Timothy alone with his unconscious dad. Yes. He was not a coward. They needed his help.

The ground shook as if a hundred giants decided to play hopscotch at the same time. All of them fell to their feet. He struggled to get up and cover Timothy as more rubble dropped among them.

Trance heard the sound of several buildings being demolished.

The tremendous crash was only a couple of blocks away. All the houses there were gone. Flattened beneath a gigantic foot.

“Wha-?”

“Why is that thing here?”

“It…it jumped!” the scar-faced man exclaimed. “It was near the mayor’s mansion on the other side then it jumped here!”

“Fry mah hide, wha’ th’ blazin’ hell izzat,” the bearded man exclaimed. “Quick ,hide! Hide behind hyar” He motioned for them to hide behind the rubble and the half collapsed wall. Others chose to hide behind the dead beasts. Trance grabbed Timothy and hugged him close. He also reached beneath the arm of the barkeep and started to heave him.

He wanted to leave. To flee. It would be easier to just leave the two behind. He kept reminding himself of his younger brother and grandmother. But the more he thought about them the greater the urge to try to save Timothy and his dad. He pulled both of them out on to the streets.

Trance finally saw the monster up close.

It was darker than the darkest thing that he has ever seen; it was like every shard of light that came near it was being absorbed. A bloated humanoid, with stumpy mismatched limbs, that was what it looked to him. On its head, where its face should be, were bodies, human bodies covered with black tendrils. They were struggling and were trying to break free. Most of them were wearing armor. The soldiers.

Boils with yellowish liquid covered its back. Hundreds of black things were swimming inside the yellow fluid. Trance realized that these slithering things were actually the black spikes that were raining on them. The monster was actually breeding these things on his back.

The golems that were hanging on to the monster earlier were nowhere to be seen. The earth mage that came with them probably died. There was only one fire mage left fighting, he was also nearing exhaustion.

The fire mage saw the survivors on the ground, and realized his mistake of luring the monster in this direction. He did not know that there were survivors left; he assumed that the living ones already left the town and he was just buying them time.

“Run! Run! Go far away!” he shouted at them. “I’ll keep it here!”

Trance did not need any more urging. He used the last mana inside his primary hammer to boost his strength. The guards and the surviving soldiers looked at each other, unsure of whether to run or fight. It was an easy decision for Trance, but the soldiers gave the impression that they wanted to avenge their comrades. He could not see how they would be able to manage that, so he just ran and ran. He carried the barkeep over his shoulder and little Timothy by his side.

A blinding light flooded the town as the fiery bird grew into a blazing inferno. The mage riding it was consumed by the tremendous fire. He sacrificed his life to pay for the final attack of his fire spirit.

The skies were on fire, billowing flames covered the fiery bird. It was glowing white, due to the heat it was gathering.

With a final shriek, it hurled itself towards the monster.

Trance did not look back even once. Several shouting voices were catching up to him. The town guards finally decided to run. They were dragging away the soldiers who wanted to attack the monster.

The bird descended on the monster, the heavens of flames following behind it.

All of the survivors stopped running, even Trance, to witness the glorious sight.

A deafening roar washed over the entire town. The monster raised its arms up into the air. Its chest opened, revealing several rows of whirling teeth, leading to a black never-ending abyss. The monster grabbed the fire spirit and stuffed it into the cavity on its chest.

Trance and the others dropped to the ground and grabbed whatever sturdy hold they can find as an intense vacuum of air threatened to pull them towards the direction of the monster.

Trance kept his eyes shut. He kept Timothy close to his chest with one arm, his hand holding the barkeep to this shoulder. His other hand strained to hold a fissure on the ground. The jagged edges of the fissure was biting his flesh, drawing blood. Still, he held, until the vacuum subsided.

The black night skies returned. The fiery bird and its assuring glow of warmth was no more.

“Manasmith! Get up!” The scar faced man was yelling at him. “Get up and get those two out of the town! Head towards the forest and hide there!”

The bearded man was picking himself from the rubble. He waved his axe at the monster. “Fo'ger, get outta hyar. Th' monster will come fo' us. Run, an’ don’t look back, ya’ hear?” he said to Trance.

Trance merely nodded and proceeded to run away again. The barkeep was still unconscious. Timothy was sobbing, his balled hands rubbing his eyes. He kept calling for his mom.

Dammit, dammit. He was not going to die. No way, sir. He was getting out and bringing these two. That was the plan. He was surprised that he can still think clearly. He could see the backs of the town guards. They were running towards the monster. Again.

“That’s not the way for me,” he said through gritted teeth. The strength buff was already losing its effect. There was still a long way to go. What should he do? He couldn’t carry both of them and reach the forest.

As he was pondering what to do while running, the earth jumped once again. The ground turned over from the impact.

The three of them went flying through the air. He lost his grip on the barkeep. Timothy was still with him. He hugged him near his chest to protect him from all the debris falling around them. They tumbled through a window, into someone’s home. Someone who was already dead. Rocks and pieces of wood thundered on the partially destroyed rooftop.

Trance quickly got to his feet and dusted Timothy. He then sneaked towards the window to get a glimpse of the monster. He held his breath as he inched his head slowly up the windowsill. It was there. So near. He could make out the individual black snakes living in its bulbous back.

It slowly turned.

The town guards!  Trance quickly pulled his head down and clamped his hand over his mouth. He saw them. They were there. On the monster’s face! They were there!

The town guards had joined the scores of bodies stuck on the face of the titan of death.

“Where’s dad?” Timothy was snivelling. He was trying to control his crying.

Brave kid, Trance thought. Probably braver than him. He reached to him and hugged him. “Don’t cry, okay? We’re gonna get through this.” He felt as if he was talking to his own little brother.

“Is dad out there?” Timothy asked. He tried to climb over the shoulder of Trance to look out the window.

“Stay still,” Trance whispered. “It thinks that it already killed everyone.”

“Dad! Dad!” the boy started shouting at the top of his lungs.

Trance pulled him back down. “What are you doing? We’re going to live. But you should keep still!” He reached for his shield and activated its enchantments. What was peculiar about his creation was that only two of the passive effects actually added to the sturdiness of the shield.  The other two had something to do with stealth. They erased someone’s presence as long as they were under its cover. He hoped to have a line of armor for thief class adventurers someday.

He needs to survive this first.

His hammer was spent. If the monster still continued to rain down the black spikes on them, his shield would no longer hold. However, the monster thought that all the survivors have already fled the town. Lady luck was with him again. He kissed his shield as it started to vibrate. He could survive! He has to!

Timothy was struggling against his grip. “Dad’s out there,” he said as he pried Trance’s fingers from his mouth.

“What? You saw him?”

Timothy frantically nodded his head. “He’s near the monster.”

Trance weighed his options. Best thing is to hide here. If they go out, the monster would just find them. “Timothy, listen to me. You’re dad’s going to be fine. The monster is leaving; it thinks we’re all dead. Let’s just wait here.”

“But my dad!”

“He’s going to be fine,” Trance said in a calming voice. “We just need to stay here.”

Timothy made a stubborn face. Trance smiled. He looked just like his brother.

“Ow-,” Trance cut his scream short as he remembered the monster was outside. The little boy bit his hand and ran out the door of the house.

“Groofshit,” Trance cursed. He stood up to chase after Timothy and drag him back to their hiding place, but he heard a voice that made him freeze.

“Hey there, little boy,” the voice said. It was sweet and silky, one would probably fall asleep from hearing it. “Are you looking for something?”

“My dad! Where’s my dad?”

Trance could see Timothy through the opening of the doorway. The boy was standing defiantly in the middle of the street staring up at the monster.

Could monsters talk? 

His curiosity got the better of him. He sneaked a peak outside the window.

Someone was standing on top of the monster.

“Your dad? Oh! You mean this guy?” The monster stooped low and opened its palm. There, the barkeep lay, on a black palm that was larger than his bar.

“You stepped on our house! Mom was there! Now you have dad!” Tears streaming down his face, Timothy started throwing picking up stones and throwing them at the monster. The stone fell a couple of meters away from him; nowhere near the monster.

“I’m really sorry,” the man on top of the monster said. “Don’t worry, I’ll return him to you.”

The monster flicked its wrist, tossing the barkeep towards the boy. His body landed hard on the concrete street and bounced several times. His bandages has already loosened and his wound was spraying blood all over as he bounced. His body finally came to rest near Timothy.

Without even examining the barkeep, Trance knew that he was dead. He wanted to call out Timothy to hide. But if he did that, the monster will find them!

The doorsill was framing the scene of Timothy crying beside his dead father. He looked like his brother, Trance thought.

NO!

My brother is not here. He needs me. And so does my grandmother. If I go out there I die.

He closed his eyes shut and covered his ears with his hands. He cowered in one corner of the house, his shield covering him.

There was no one crying, he kept repeating to himself. No one. His teeth hurt from gritting them too hard. But he couldn’t stop it. He was afraid that the monster might hear the sound of his grinding teeth. No, no. The monster will not hear it. Timothy was still crying out there. His hands couldn’t block out the noise of the child crying.

His heart thumped in his chest. His heartbeat was so strong that he could hear it in his ear. He welcomed the distraction from the crying. He was not his real brother, he kept on reminding himself. Just wait until the monster leaves.

“Little boy? Aren’t you tired of crying?” There was barely concealed mirth underneath the silky voice.

Trance opened his eyes a little. Timothy was still sobbing over his dad.

“I don’t really like being ignored," the voice said with a sigh.

Timothy grabbed his knees with his tiny pudgy hands and willed himself to stand up, his head held high. His clothes were covered by his father’s blood. His face was full of bruises and dirt. He defiantly looked at the monster towering above him a few ruined houses away.

“I will kill you!” he started screaming in his high pitched voice. “Give me back my mom and dad!”

Trance prayed that he would just shut up. Please just shut up. Everyone just leave him alone. He only wanted to provide a good future for his family. He didn’t sign up for this. No one told him this would happen. Timothy was continuously bawling at the top of his lungs.

Just shut up, Trance thought.

Thwoop.

Silence. Then a thump.

Trance dared himself to look once again. Tears started streaming down his face. He held his breath for fear that the monster might hear him. He couldn’t stop crying. His breathing was becoming erratic. Stop it. Stop it.

Timothy’s delicate body was strewn over his father. A black spike protruded from his back. His head twisted at an angle.

His empty dead eyes were staring straight into Trance’s soul.

I want to live. I want to live. I want to live. I want to live. I’m sorry. I’m sorry...

However, the dead cannot understand any explanations. 

“My work here is done. Let’s go chase the people who ran out of the town.” A hearty chuckle echoed through the empty town.

The earth quaked for the last time as the monster jumped and made his exit.

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