[ Would you like to form a new squad? ]

[ Specialist Roles can be assigned to each squad member… ]

So what the hell is this?

Well, since you’ve managed to wrap your head around the fact that some things counter others; now you should move those two brain cells designated solely for the process of information straight to this. I’ll say it as simply as possible: a squad is a cohesive unit that takes up a range of attributes. You can--

Alright, no, actually — I think I get it. Counters are important, but people can only have a single attribute. Makes sense that people would band together to solve that issue.

…

Huh.

I think that’s the smartest thing you’ll ever say. I could really feel the cogs in your brain whirring.

Yeah, fuck you too.

[ New Squad formed… ]

[ Specialist Roles and Abilities will be unlocked as cohesion increases ]

Though before you start gallivanting towards your inevitable demise once more; there’s something you should note. Neophytes have one attribute, it’s true, and bound creatures of any kind also will only ever have one… but once you get past that and get access to Paths, it’s a different story. It’s not something that will matter for your Guardians — but for your Champions it’s a whole other ball game.

Die.

Die?

I felt the need to insult you but I couldn’t be bothered to actually try.

So die.

If Caau had a head to shake; he’d shake it. A strange world that works on game-logic and an absolute bitch of an administrator in his ear.

The newly formed Guardian Squad takes a offensive stance, holding pickaxes height and ready — except Granite, who holds his hands above the rest. Then they charge. The ogre and troll both roar in unison only for a pickaxe to land in the ogre’s chest and make the roar turn to a scream. The troll jumps, aiming to plant Quartz into the ground with its mass only for Quartz to dance to the side and shove the pickaxe up, digging deep into fat-flesh and causing the troll to scream out once more, hitting a different note entirely.

It's like one of those cat organs.

Onyx is already on the wraith, pursuing her with a relentlessness that she can’t help to match. Each time he swings a blow, she loses shields — and then he is atop her. He brings the pickaxe down with a savage fury, the sharp point digging through her ethereal chest to destroy — presumably — her heart.

Not sure how that works.

Then he moves besides Quartz and together they face the screaming troll.

Granite has already smashed down the goblin, and now unleashes a flurry of stone-fists into its body, crushing it against the stone of the ground. The battle undoubtedly swings in the guardian’s direction as Onyx and Quartz both grab one of the trolls arms and run apart from each other, both activating [ Lunge I ] and [ Scramble I ] at the same time.

The troll is pulled like a stretch toy, its inherent regeneration pulling together it’s muscle fibres even as the guardians rip its arms from their sockets. Finally, with one massive scream from the troll, both arms come loose. It staggers back, now essentially defenceless — but still regrowing its arms.

How much damage can the damn thing take?

Trolls are exceptionally resilient. Infernal-bloods just love them for that... they can pack as many mutations in as they want.

Mutations?

Like, Chernobyl shit?

No, not radioactive mutations. Your blessings have a benefit, and only a benefit. Mutations are an Infernal-bloods version of a blessing. There's a limit on how many Mutations an Infernal can give out, but once they've started Mutating something they don't have a limit. It's more to do with how much the body can endure. Thus trolls being very, very valuable to them. It's quite surprising that this one is under a Lunar-blood.

Onyx and Quartz look at each other, then almost seem to nod. At least, that’s what Caau picks up from their vision. Then they… take the arms and hold the bone, smashing the troll’s chest and legs with its own limbs. They pummel it continuously, their strength and the joint of the trolls arms combining to make almost a whip of heavy muscle. The troll falls to one knee; then the ground. Onyx steps over and grabs the troll by the collar-bone, pulling it up and flipping it over.

Then, he hovers his fist above it and rips it back. His fist comes down—

[ WARNING: A Lunar-blooded’s champion is nearby ]

A flash of blue light stabs through the air and shoves him back; failing to lift his mass and thus scraping his stone across the floor. The ogre falls backwards, crushing Sapphire under its weight as she repeatedly stabs down at its jugular with her pickaxe. Blood spills over her stone as she kicks her way out from the dying ogre.

A figure stands, muscles tightly bound under rough, almost tattered flesh. Thick ruffled furs drape over their shoulder — and one of their arms is that of a furred and clawed beast instead of the rest of their body’s almost human look. He throws down an axe which lands — perfectly — blade-down in the stone between Sapphire and the Ogre. Then a second later, if that, the figure is next to the ogre.

Almost as if the thing did not weigh two tonnes, he picks it up and carries it… past the frozen guardians and to the small patch of grass where the moonflowers grow. He lowers the ogre to the ground and grabs a single flower from the lush garden… and places it upon the ogre’s hand.

Something else shimmers. A black-cloaked figure appears next to Onyx.

[ WARNING: A Lunar-blooded’s champion is nearby ]

It stands taller, but lanky. Porcelain flesh and blood-red eyes stare down at the de facto leader of the guardians. Two long fangs hang like a stalactite from its face. It places a hand on Onyx’s shoulder, almost delicately, and Onyx falls to one knee in an instant. It grabs his head like it is nothing; like it is made of grass rather than thick, chunky stone.

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

It looks into his eyes.

It looks into Caau’s eyes.

Then it speaks; a calm, almost diplomatic tone… and sounding… disappointed.

“Celestial-blood. Why have you sent your minions here?”

The other chimes in, a gruff and harsh voice that sounds almost like a dog barking. “We have no part in the Realm War. We don’t care for that shit.”

The long-creature looks over at the gruff… man?

“Apparently they do not care. They do not even send their champions… just these pieces of rock.” It says, then casts Onyx aside. The guardian is flung across the room and impacts onto the dirt, ripping up grass and earth as he slides to a stop. “Which one of you is the avatar. Which one of you can actually speak for your master?”

None of the guardians move.

Hey, administrator, what the hell is this?

Well, just because the place has a difficulty rating doesn’t mean its a permanent and fixed affair. These two have come from the higher level. They are living, breathing... disgusting entities, unfortunately.

Alright, fine, how do I beat them? It said they're a Lunar-blooded's champion? If I have blessings, these 'infernals' have mutations, what do these have?

Instillation. Lunar-bloods are so very simple, just a natural enhancement of the creature's natural abilities through drip-feeding them power at a level just above replacement. Immortals can find peace in Lunar-bloods.

So... so what can I do? How the hell do I talk to them?

Well, you kinda can’t…?

I mean you could… and in fact, you very much should — but you haven’t unlocked that skill yet, so. Kinda boned. Unless the Lunar-blood actually comes down to you, but that’s not very likely.

So I can talk? If they come?

Yeah. Good luck, though. You see that moon, way up there, being help by the Lunar Priestess?

Hard to miss.

Have you ever seen a moon move before? Not all 'blooded' are stationary, but you two are kin.

Come on! Give me something here!

Hmm... I suppose I could...

I'd know that tone anywhere. What is it? What do you want?

But I don't think I will.

Really, fuck off. Actually just go away now. So my guardians are just… dead?

Yes, but also not really. Since you’ve actually given your guardians names and such — they’ll actually not just be destroyed but erased entirely. Good times!

What? What do you mean? What's the difference?

God it's fun to watch you flounder, knowing that your actions have brought you here.

Fucking answer me!

Alright. If you really want to know, Resurrection is actually a skill that Celestial-blooded can use. Which means you could, theoretically, resurrect the guardians. Issue being you can't resurrect anything that is already a Neophyte. Which means goodbye for good.

But I don’t want them to die!?

I mean, you could have thought about that before sending them into a completely unknown locale with literally no equipment nor any particular abilities — hmm, not even really any consumables. I mean, you only just figured out what teams are. Silly, really, very silly.

No, come on, there’s got to be something I can do. You owe me.

And how, exactly do you reckon that?

Aren’t you the one whose meant to tell me this stuff?

Oh, haha! Oh god no. You were meant to figure this out all on your own, you’re just stupid.

What? Didn’t you say before that you were meant to help me with this?

Well, yeah, I say a lot of things. I’m not even meant to still be here — you aren’t even meant to know I exist, and you aren’t supposed to remember even a fraction of your old life. I just stuck around to watch you flounder. You want to know the truth? I'll tell you... but... let's say you need a thousand followers. Sound fair?

The large wolf-ish man kicks Granite as the guardian tries to throw a fist, sending him into a pile on the ground. In his other hand, he holds the stone of Quartz, who he throws atop Granite. Sapphire zips through the air and appears in a pile of shadows that quickly dissipate, leaving her on top of the rest. The long, gangling black-cloaked creature drags an unmoving Onyx across the ground before also depositing him in the pile.

“Well, they’re gathered.” Says the man, then he holds his hand out and his axe sings through the air and lands squarely in the palm of his hand. “Should I do the honours?”

They both snap their heads towards the entrance to the Lunar Courtyard. Towards a newcomer.

—

“Amidst the trials, we’ll hold the line,

With courage fierce, our spirits shine.

Bound together we won’t retreat,

For in our unity we’ll face defeat!”

Arden pulls along a cart of corpses. Some are soon-to-be, some are already ascending to the Celestial Realm. But Arden is sure they won’t make it.

His voice cracks as he starts the chorus. Once more, emotion is his foil.

“March on, march on, with purpose true,

Our victory near, salvation in view.

With hope in our hearts, we’ll never resign,

March on, march on, our salvation we’ll find!”

He looks back. She is still at the head of the cart, still looking forward. Her lips whisper as he sings, following his words. Staying alive. Eliza.

“Through darkness deep, we’ll forge ahead,

Guided by the light, hope is spread

No obstacle too— too great, no challenge too vast,

In our unwaving march, we find solace… at… last.”

Ahead of him is a large, shimmering blue doorway. The golden spirit — a resemblance of his mother plastered on its features — points at the doorway.

A certain… trepidation takes hold of him. This is not where he thought he would go… not where he thought he would take the survivors.

Still, he puts his head down, pulls the rope taught again, and marches forward through the shimmering blue energy.

’Onward, soldiers, heed the call,

United we stand, we shall not fall—

—

“In this battle, our spirits rise,

With every step, we claim the skies.”

What the hell is that?

[https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1022054419510075402/1173748972091871242/zlo3097_a_young_large_man_with_no_facial_hair_but_a_ragged_mane_9d0e1b64-d40b-40e1-be2b-b35206ebe7d3.png?ex=656515ea&is=6552a0ea&hm=8f38e110226840a4ec96d4a505a4c019055408cef92947208cad1bdc305f418d&=&width=558&height=741]

A man stands, easily taller than either of the two creatures that ready themselves to dispatch the guardians. He is tied with rough leathers, seemingly having outgrown normal clothing. Shimmers of golden light drip from his body, threads of golden weave seem to grow around his body.

“I guess they did send a champion after all. But only one?” The man snarls. “This won’t take long.”

The lanky one cocks its head. “This is… strange. My information tells me he is only… thirteen?”

Thirteen? Wait... is that the fucking kid? Why didn't I feel him coming.

I locked that information away. I thought it'd be more exciting!

The man looks back at his comrade. “You’re shitting me?”

A shake of the head. “I am not.”

The golden man continues walking, pulling a cart behind him. It seems impossibly heavy; his body straining against the weight. Then, he releases it and takes a few steps forward, staring down the two men, still singing his song as he does.

“With resolute hearts, we march as one,

Towards the horizon, where our dreams begun.

Salvation awaits, in our triumphant stride.

March on, march on — with hope as our guide.”

Arden continues to walk forward, walking over to the tangled guardians as the two creatures look on, shuffling back to avoid the glow around him. As soon as the guardians see him, they start to glow with a similar golden energy. He picks them up, one by one, even Granite who is a little bigger than him.

Then he spins to look at the two creatures collectively.

“I am Arden Lockwood. I will not stand by whilst you slaughter my master’s creations.” Arden announces, his hands melding into a ball of taught flesh and bone, his body beginning to diffuse with golden runes that trickle down his body. “With my authority as the Embodiment of Safety, I declare this: touch them again and you die.”

[ Arden Lockwood ]

Path: VIT + CHA (Resistance + Persuasive)

[ Path of the Paladin ]

Then he begins to sing. The voice is loud, proud - and magical.

"In the midst of battles, fierce and grim, I stand resolute, with shadows within. Carrying their legacy, burdened and worn, In their fading footsteps, my path is sworn."

It washes over the Guardians, and they rise taller. The golden energy sparks and crackles, their bodies seem to harder - their eyes lock onto the two lunar champions.

"Oh, Father and Mother, guide my way, Grant me strength through darkest day, in this battle I shall not sway, in my duty I shall not stray. Together we’ll face the trials that befall, for I am sworn — an anchor through it all."