Kyle felt them coming before he heard them, his [Spirit Detection] went haywire the moment they entered his range. Overcome with dread he immediately turned away towards the battle zone and ran as fast as he could, almost exhausting himself with the use of [Surge]. Leaving behind Soren, Zaahr and the Shades he chased the sensation as if it was his very nature to do so.
He had never felt something like this, not the Devils or the Heroes had given him such deeply etched fear. Whatever creature he was chasing it wasn’t a normal being to say the least, (“It feels…ancient…”) is all he could come up with to explain what he felt.
Kyle quickly grew his claws and leapt up a tree, he climbed with ease reaching the top in a few moments. Glancing around he saw an opening in the trees ahead, descending a few branches he leapt from tree to tree until he arrived at it’s edge.
Trees lay uprooted or broken in a large area where the alliance and Dezol armies had clashed, a single massive creature ridden by an Elven warrior stood in the very middle of the uprooting. Four legged with spiky green reptilian scales covering it’s entire body like thick armour, a single pair of long thick yellow wings also covered in the scales grew out of it’s back and spanned almost twice it’s own body.
The creature had a common reptilian tail that thrashed about behind it crushing anything in it’s path. It’s legs ended in a set of six claws each glowing with an almost molten glow, a red fiery hue coming out of an almost runic pattern of red on it’s black claws.
It’s head was terrifying to say the least, shaped similarly to a wolf’s but covered in scales and earless. A crown of long green scales grew out of it’s head and curved slightly forward as a pair of horns five times as thick and long grew out of the sides of it’s head and curved forwards. It’s mouth was lined with long curved fangs made for tearing while it’s powerful jaw looked made for crushing.
A blaze of golden fire escaped it’s maw as the beast stood tall above the many thousand soldiers that stood stalk still staring at it in shocked awe. Kyle made the mistake of meeting the creature’s eyes, golden with pitch black slits, sending a chill deep into his being telling him to turn tail and run for his life.
But many things kept him from doing so, he willed through the fear and inspected the creature although already knowing what he was looking at.
{Dragon} Forest Drake [Rekshar] (Elven Forest Court) Level 258
As if sensing the inspection, the named Dragon Rekshar turned towards Kyle’s direction. Kyle immediately froze under it’s gaze, his instincts told him to not do anything to incur the creature’s wrath.
A male voice filled the field imbued with mana “So it is true.” It was the Elf riding on top of the Drake’s head. “A Grand Quest was started, without our knowledge or consent. The courts will not be pleased Barik, this will demand explanation and by law punishment.”
The Elf turned towards the Demons as did the Dragon “As for you filth, your corruption of this land ends here. Remember my name that it follows you to the afterlife, I am Colonel Fier Jayce of the Elven Empire’s Forest Court and leader of the Dragon riders.”
He raised his right arm up with a flat hand, as if about to chop down. “And you’ve all, Dezol and Esfeltian alike, have brought upon yourselves the Empire’s wrath.” His arm arched down in a gesture at someone as he whistled.
Kyle flinched as three more Drakes flew in out of nowhere with maws wide open, golden flames rained down onto the battlefield on both sides. He watched as the flames devoured everything in their path, wood, flesh and metal the same under it’s magic.
Soldiers either died or ran on both sides, the Drakes’ destructive breath bringing down two small armies to their knees in a single swoop. Kyle watched frozen, as if watching a movie go by he was nothing more than an observer. He might as well have been, he had no clue as to what to do now.
Briefly Rekshar glanced at his direction before taking flight, batting it’s powerful wings causing a massive blast of wind that sent Kyle flying off his position. He crashed through branches and leaves before slamming into a tree’s trunk, air being forced out of his lungs as he slid down.
Quickly he gripped the bark with his claws, stopping himself from hitting the ground. Turning around he began to climb back up, his expression pale and sweaty from the encounter.
A sudden chill frozen his entire body as the crashing of trees sounded off behind him, along with the tree he was climbing many others were knocked down. Kyle held onto the bark for dear life as it crashed down to the ground, uprooted or broken either way he dreaded to turn around.
But he still did.
Kyle turned over to find himself staring straight into Rekshar’s face as it sniffed him, it’s golden eyes locked onto his person.
Jayce gazed down at him, an amused expression on his face “So this, is the Dark Hero. That aura you have about you…as well as the scent that Rekshar sensed. It is you, isn’t it?”
Kyle simply stared up at the Dragon under absolute terror, his every fibre of being screamed for him to run.
Jayce smirked “So young, so foolish and still so weak. Nothing more than a fledgling among monsters. Yet you have a peculiar sense about you, what is this piercing scent?”
(“I can help you.”) spoke the voice in Kyle’s head.
“I smell a Yako.” Rekshar spoke, his voice deep but also sharp.
“Ahh, a trickster spirit fox?” Jayce spoke in wonder ”Intriguing, to find a specimen of a long extinct race. Not only that but also a Chosen, a fateless Chosen at that.”
(“You stand no chance, I do.”) it insulted him.
“Can I eat him?” asked Rekshar while licking his lips and smacking his mouth.
(“Is this where you wish to end?”) It seeded doubt into him.
“No…the Court’s researchers would love me for collecting this specimen.” Said Jayce as he gazed down at Kyle deep in thought “We’ll destroy the Dezol presence here, burn a few towns then take him with us back to report. He’ll also serve as proof of the Grand Quest.”
(“Everything you’ve worked for? All you’ve fought for?”) it tempted him.
Rekshar nodded as a whistle reached his ears “The barrier is almost down, shall we retrieve him later?”
(“Your guild? Your friends? All but gone into the emptiness of death?”) it made him dread.
“We shall, don’t run too far Hero. You cannot hide.” Threatened Jayce with a cold smile “Let’s go, there is at least three Devils. We’ll kill them first.”
Rekshar spread his wings sending more trees to the ground, using his powerful legs he leapt up into the air then flapped them to ascend higher.
Kyle was left on top of a fallen tree’s trunk, breathing unevenly and trembling in terror with eyes still open wide and mouth dry.
(“Will you abandon it all? Just cause of what I’ve done to you? Will you abandon your future? Let them do with you as they wish?”) the voice continued to speak, growing louder with each word. (“You will just sit there and do nothing? Because that is all you can do, you are powerless.”)
The following words shook his entire being as tendrils of Frostfire began to escape Kyle’s body.
(“You are weak.”)
Kyle rose with fists clenched as more flames formed.
(“Nothing more than an observer as your dreams fall apart.”)
His eyes closed, his face losing it’s previous terror and turning to pure rage.
(“A monster in form, yet useless-”)
“SHUT UP!” Kyle shouted with everything he had, his voice imbued with Spirit causing it to echo throughout the entire forest “I AM NOT WEAK!”
(“Prove it.”)
Kyle opened his eyes revealing empty black pits of flowing darkness “I will.”
Frostfire engulfed his entire body before changing entirely in colour, both it’s inner white and outer blue darkened several times until all that remained was a pure black flame. His body disappeared inside the black as it continuously grew in size, the flames grew taller than the very trees and began to expand and devour those that had fallen before engulfing the ones still standing.
The black wildfire engulfed several dozen meters of forest before it stopped growing, instead it began to change and take form. It compressed forming the torso as four clawed legs grew out of each corner, it reared back and stood on two as a head grew out of the top.
It’s hand’s claws grew longer and thicker becoming fingers and a thumb as it’s head took shape, a long canine snout and two long and wide pointy ears out of the top facing the front. The darkness that made up it’s body then changed into something identical to fur.
The fur on it’s back grew longer and longer until two pairs of six long and furry tails lined it’s back while a thirteenth grew out of the bottom slightly longer and thicker than the others, almost looking like a cape.
The creature’s head tore open a mouth as the darkness seemed to remain sticking to both jaws like slime, it roared out with arms open wide. A low pitched roar, almost a screech, reached far and wide along the entire continent.
Done with announcing it’s arrival, the creature hunched over letting both it’s arms hand down in front of itself. It stared down at them as a wicked chuckle left it’s slightly parted mouth, eye sockets formed on it’s head as it chuckled. The darkness parted forming the sockets as a crimson red light formed inside creating two beady red eyes. The creature looked up and ahead, towards the dozen Drakes that had stopped their assault and turned to look towards it.
It chuckled once more and spoke “I should thank you, Drakons and riders.” It’s voice making reality shudder as it left it’s lipless mouth. “Let me introduce myself first.” It announced before charging forward at insane speed for it’s size “I” it began to say before leaping up and towards the closest Drake.
“Am” it continued as it appeared in front of the Dragon as it opened it’s jaws and breathed fire, the golden flames washing over it’s black body leaving it unaffected. Within a split second it moved rapidly mid air, too fast to see what exactly had occurred before a splatter of flesh, scales and blood rained down to the ground.
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It’s torn up mouth curved into a wickedly wide grin “Void”, it spoke it’s name sending ripples through reality causing the other Dragons to lose flight and fall to the ground. It fell with them affected by gravity and hit the ground running, charging towards another Dragon as it lay grounded.
Void opened it’s arms to it’s sides as long pole blades formed in each hand, the blade thick and curved like a butcher’s knife. It dashed straight at the Dragon as it rose back to it’s feat only to be torn apart by the Nogitsune’s rapid movements that seemed to deny any sort of physical laws.
One by one Void dashed at each Dragon turning them to mincemeat within seconds, each tried to struggle and fight back but their attacks did no visible damage and their resistance was null and void against the monster’s attacks.
All but one Dragon and their rider fell, Jayce stared as the creature stood up from it’s latest kill covered in blood and gore while grinning a wicked curved smile. He felt Rekshar move beneath him, the Drake rose into the sky fully intent on escaping. Opening it’s wings in full it readied to ascend higher and away from the nightmarish beast.
“Run along little Drakon, go back to your people little Alf. Tell them of my arrival, let them fear my name until I arrive to show them why.” Void chuckled as it watched the Drake fly away in a burst of speed, the wind flowing around it’s majestic wings as it ran away.
It watched and watched until it’s grin began to fade, coming to a sudden realisation it glanced around at the still running away soldiers and falling debris. Nothing moved and it was limited on how much it could, reality itself seemed to have stopped.
Void struggled against the invisible power than kept it still, reality cracked and shattered around it’s body as it did only for it to instantly reconstruct itself.
“This won’t do.” Suddenly a deep voice echoed out from everywhere at once. “No, no this won’t do at all.” It sounded annoyed and doubting.
Void snarled “Who!? Who da-”
“Stop talking.” Said the voice causing the Nogitsune to lose it’s voice entirely, it then proceeded to hum thoughtfully “How can this be fixed…Hmmm…Ah!” it suddenly exclaimed as Void’s chest began to expand and tear open.
Kyle’s unconscious body tore through the creature’s chest and hovered still like everything else.
“Yes, this will prove a worthy test and a fair fix.” Said the voice.
Suddenly Void’s entire body began to shrink, rapidly it dropped in size until it was no larger than a common twenty feet tall Golem. It glanced around in utter confusion, biting away randomly for anything it could tear apart.
The voice chuckled “Yes, this will be quiet amusing. Creator versus created. Show me little fox, how strong is your will? Why ever have you caught my attention so much so?”
Suddenly time resumed and Void was released of it’s restraints, it immediately trashed around reducing anything and anybody around to parts. It continued to run about, angrily massacring any in its line of sight.
Kyle opened his eyes, returned to normal and gasped for breath. He fell back on his ass as his mind raced to process everything that had just happened. He had been devoured by the Nogitsune, he had given in to his anger and frustrations letting it take over. He had watched as it rampaged and tore apart his enemies and allies alike.
He had hoped it and the empire would have taken each other out, his guild cleaning up the remaining pieces…but after watching the creature take that Dragon’s breath head on and ripped it apart in mere moments. His hopes had all been crushed.
He looked down at his body now, no sign of the creature’s take over. (“What…what happened?...”) he asked as if expecting an answer, he looked up and glanced around the field as soldiers continued to run.
No longer running to fight or running from flying fire breathing beasts, they now ran from a single pitch black nightmare. The Nogitsune ran rampant across the field chasing whoever caught it’s attention, massacring dozens within minutes.
Kyle mind went blank as he stared at the bloodshed, all but one question remaing, what would he do now? (“Run?...”) he thought at first, it made sense. Run today to fight another day, live to clear his head and think things through.
But then his emotions weighed in, the anger that had long been stacking up came back in full force as he watched Void shred and tear. He clenched his fists and grinded his teeth, would he follow his mind or his heart? Run and live or fight and die?
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Author: The fight you’ve all been waiting for ^ ^
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_Caz8apgYE
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Suddenly a high pitched whistling sounded off from his left catching his attention, raising his head he watched.
A massive battle axe flew through the battlefield, molten red and mechanical. It crashed blade first into the Nogitsune’s back as a brief moment later Soren appeared kicking the same spot, holding onto his battleaxe now he continued to spin with it sending Void barrelling forward.
Thundering footsteps echoed through the battlefield as a massive giant of stone almost as large as the Nogitsune charged out of the forest, obvious bear features told Kyle it was Cherry. He stopped on the spot as Void flew straight at him, raising his right fist up he punched with all his might as it collided with the creature’s head.
Stone cracked and shattered as Cherry sent the Nogitsune flying at another direction, it crashed through fallen trees and snow for a few meters before coming to a sudden stop on a log. No damage was visible, not a bruise or a crack as it rose back to it’s feet and roared.
Suddenly a blinding flash of red light brightened up the night sky as a deafening chant followed “SCORCHING METEORA!” Death shouted at the top of his lungs, in his elemental form he flew high up in the air as a massive ball of crimson fire flowed over his head. He launched it down at unrivalled speed sending it crashing down on top of Void.
A blast of steam flowed through the entire battlefield as the blazing attack instantly melted the snow followed by a wave of heat that continued to melt further away. Steam continued to rise as flashes of light flowed through it, a sudden roar cleared the steam revealing Sparta and Birse fighting the Nogitsune at close range while Woody, Steph and Seren blasted him with spells from afar.
Sparta blocked and parried with her shield as Birse summoned arms of shadow to grab and contain the creature, Woody fired rays of light that exploded on contact as Seren channelled area of effect healing while sending wisps of flame flying at Void. Steph pulled out crystal after crystal interchanging those on her gloves while using them up with each attack, sending forth blasts of electricity or breaths of chilling ice.
Void struggled and rampaged ripping off arm after arm as each attack hit its target with no visible damage, more and more arms of shadow grew out of the ground as their hands gripped and held it down. A sudden barrage of electrified arrows rained over it as vines broke through the earth and entangled themselves around the shadow and darkness.
Skill soared through the battlefield firing arrow after enchanted arrow as wind seemed to flow with his feet and every step sending him leaping forward. Ch stood still as vines grew out of his body and dug down into the ground, he held his bow high and fired arrows of entangled vines that opened up and encased the creature in even more greenery.
Cherry charged at Void still encased in his layer of stone, he grabbed it from behind and held it’s arms back but the creature’s struggle was stronger than his own brute strength giving him a difficult time to even hold on.
Death flew to stand above the fight as he channelled fire in his palms and aimed down, a stream of flames shot out of his palms like tentacles. The flame flowed down and entangled itself around Void’s head, closing it’s mouth and choking on it’s neck. Void continued to struggle, neither of the adventurers capable of entirely holding it down.
Kyle watched in complete bafflement, even though no damage was being done they continued to try. With every failed attack Birse ordered for others, with every broken restraint they’d conjure more.
“That’s right…” he spoke aloud to nobody but himself “If not now…” he glanced down at his own trembling hands and clenched his right into a fist. Suddenly raising it at himself the fist landed straight on his right cheek leaving a light mark, he clenched both fists and looked up again “Then when!?”.
Kyle began to approach the fight, determination afire in his eyes. He broke into a run as Frostfire burst to life in both his hands “Everything…”, he ran with everything he had ”You’ve ever done to me…To anyone…”. The fire in his hands grew and engulfed his arms “I’ll send it all back…I’ll take in everyone’s hatred…everyone’s fear…I’ll take it all in and mix it with my own!”
His fangs grew out along with the claws, his tail parted and became two. His eyes gleamed blue as the entirety of the white turned into a blue inferno, the silver then began to glow a bright white. The Frostfire covering his body exploded outwards as Kyle took in all the Spirit in his surroundings, every bit of fear, hatred, anger, frustration, sorrow and despair.
He took it all in, showing on his person as his skin cracked like stone turning to sand. Putting his hands together he willed the inferno of white-blue around him to move, the raging fire complied and flowed from his surroundings and into his palms.
“Empower my body! Clear the cold and fill me with fire! Rage!” He chanted in quick succession gaining a thin red hue over his body.
“Coarse out of my being and encase my surroundings! Demonic Presence!” The demonic aura flowed out of his body empowering himself once again.
“Overcome my limits! Breakthrough and give me strength! Core Overload!” [Elder Frost] slime poured out of his entire body and formed in his hands taking the shape of a massively long blue blade, it glowed white as Spirit surged through it.
Kyle continued to run unaffected by the weapon’s weight, charging straight ahead “Engulf my weapon! My flame! My soul! Frostfire Blade!” The Frostfire collecting around his body flowed down his arms and over the blade, it engulfed the weapon taking it’s shape and giving it a layer of blazing cold flame.
With his blade aimed straight forward, four meters long and a couple arms thick. Kyle ran right by his friends, their own group buffs empowering him further.
Void roared out in defiance as Kyle’s Frostfire penetrated through his own black fire body, Kyle pushed the blade further in allowing the blade to pierce right through and enter half way.
“You cannot kill me!” Void shouted out in panic “You need me! You are nothing without me but a fledgling!”
“I don’t need you!” replied Kyle as he pushed the blade further in.
“And the empire!? After seeing what I can do!? They will be back! With worse and more! You need me! No! YOU ARE ME!” it continued to struggle as it spoke “WE ARE ONE! WITHOUT ME YOUR POWER IS NOTHING! WHO WILL SHOW YOU OUR WAYS!? WHO WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO CONTROL IT!? HOW TO GROW?!”
Kyle ignored the creature’s screams and chanted “Cold flame that resides within, surge out, awaken and devour my foes! Devouring Frostfire!” his blade’s flame exploded out and engulfed Void entirely, carefully he focused as to not destroy his restraints. Frost began to encase the Nogitsune’s body, making it flail and struggle further as Kyle dug his sword in more.
Void roared and snarled in agony as suddenly some of it’s restraints tore and broke, before more could replace them it leaned down and opened it’s maw.
Kyle could have evaded, moved out of the way but instead he stood his ground as the beast’s jaws closed in around his left shoulder crushing his bones and tearing flesh.
“THEN I’LL DO TO YOU WHAT I HAVE DONE WITH THE REST! YOUR ANSESTORS, YOUR GRANDPARENTS, YOUR AUNTS AND UNCLES, LIKE THEM YOU SHALL BE DEVOURED!” Void screamed out after gulping down the flesh and bone it bit off, more restraints moved to hold his head down but he bit at them and tore them apart as well.
Kyle clenched the blade under his right shoulder, holding it tight while resting over it as the pain flowed through. His left shoulder was a mess of little flesh and missing bone as his left arm lay hanging by just as little.
But the pain was incomparable, not to his inner pain, not at this moment. New waves of anger surged through him, a blinding rage as he glared up at the grinning monster. He never knew his grandparents, was told they died in an accident. Neither did he know of any aunts or uncles, his parents vague and spoke little of family beyond them three.
To find out that he had family he never knew, because this creature had taken them from him. It seared his insides, burned far colder than his own flame. His anger turned to hatred as he held it in, as he tried to contain it so he wouldn’t lose himself to rage again.
Void lunged down again for another bite, it’s jaws opening wide as it’s beady red eyes curved in enjoyment.
Suddenly Kyle felt a chill engulf his entire body as a surge of cold blasted out of it, it engulfed his surroundings briefly before disappearing leaving behind a slowed down reality. He watched as very slowly the Nogitsune lunged down at him, it’s mouth opened wide for a final bite.
Quickly he willed his blade to lose shape as he leaped at Void’s chest, he pressed his palms at the black fur like flames as his slime and Frostfire engulfed it’s entire body. Kyle chanted as time resumed “Take their essence! Devour their being! Absorb!”.
Void bit down on empty space and blinked in confusion before feeling the slime and blue fire encasing it’s body. The creature looked down at Kyle and moved to lunge at him again with it’s fangs.
But it couldn’t move and it watched as it’s body lost it’s form and flowed outward, into the slime that covered it’s body. Like a sponge absorbing water the slime absorbed the black flames aided by the blue flames that weakened them, separating the fire from the being as the Frostfire devoured the Nogitsune’s soul and slime absorbed it’s fire.
Void roared out one last time as the entirety of it’s body was absorbed and it’s being devoured, like a candle flame going out it disappeared leaving behind a falling layer of slime and Frostfire that fell over itself.
The slime dissipated but the Frostfire remained, blazing alive on the ground ahead of Kyle and the guild as it burned every restraint that once held a nightmare. Kyle stared into the fire that was no longer under his control, a flame that something else willed to remain existing.
For a moment his heart sank fearing the creature had overpowered the flame and taken it over, until his [Spirit Detection] was barraged, his memories flowing in like a broken dam. Names and faces to accompany them, emotions following right after. They all flowed in covering most of his childhood memories with new ones, with the real ones.
Kyle’s eyes rolled back as his mind overloaded with information, falling forwards he fell into the blue flame. He waited for death, waited for the flames to devour him whole but no such thing occurred as the flame’s blue changed to pure white.
He felt a strange warmth, a familiar feeling he couldn’t put into words as his consciousness faded out.