Thorsten's calloused hands tensed around the haft of his axe as he watched the flickering campfire. The flames danced erratically, as if swaying in the wind. But the night was still and the air was calm. He glanced at the darkening forest, a knot of unease forming in his gut. Something wasn't right.
"Lorne, Urien, Ingrid, with me," he growled, gripping his weapon as he strode towards the edge of the clearing. "Something's out there."
Ingrid, sitting across from him, sharpening her sword with a whetstone, paused and looked up. Her icy blue eyes narrowed, scanning the encroaching darkness. "Aye, something's out there alright."
Urien grunted as he picked himself off the ground, cracking his neck with a roll of his shoulders. "Why can't monsters ever wait 'til the morning, eh?"
Lorne wordlessly unsheathed his twin blades, his expression grim as he followed Thorsten.
The four of them approached the edge of the camp, weapons drawn and ready, as the shadows deepened.
Viviane peeked from inside her tent, wide-eyed, and Serelle woke with a start, blearily blinking in the dim light.
"What's going on?" Viviane asked, scrambling from her bedroll, pulling on her boots.
Thorsten opened his mouth to answer, but the words died on his tongue as he stared into the darkened forest.
Suddenly, the fire sputtered, as if a cold breath had snuffed at its heart. The shadows deepened, swallowing the light, and plunging the campsite into total darkness.
Urien swore as his eyes strained to adjust.
"Remain where you are," Lorne commanded. "Find a weapon."
He heard the rustle of sheets and bedrolls, the scrape of metal against scabbards, and the click of gears as the two women armed themselves.
Viviane threw four small round objects into the air, landing in each of the cardinal directions. The devices ignited, bathing the campsite in a wash of white-blue light that dispelled the surrounding gloom.
Everyone flinched at the sudden brightness, their eyes adjusting to the glare.
Thorsten squinted, searching for any signs of movement, but the camp was as silent as death.
Then, a low growl rumbled from somewhere deep in the forest, a guttural, primal sound that set his nerves on edge.
The horses and mules brayed in alarm, tossing their heads and stamping their hooves. Their eyes rolled wildly, and the beasts tugged frantically at their tethers as they attempted to break free. Lorne tried to soothe the animals, whispering in their ears as he held their reins.
As the horses calmed slightly, a chorus of eerie howls erupted from the forest, reverberating through the clearing.
Thorsten's grip on his axe tightened, and he held it before him in a defensive stance, muscles coiled and ready to strike.
Ingrid slid into a fighting stance, mirroring his posture, and Urien readied his hammer, his eyes fixed on the forest. Lorne moved away from the agitated steeds, his swords glinting in the blue glow as he brandished them.
The hair on the nape of Thorsten's neck stood on end, his battle instincts tingling. Ordinary wolves would not create such unnatural darkness. No, these beasts had to be far more dangerous.
The group waited in silence, anticipating the first attack.
Seconds ticked by.
From the depths of unnatural darkness beyond the rings of light, a pair of luminous eyes appeared in the gloom, followed by another, and another.
image [https://i.imgur.com/P4MGKGp.png]
Large, wolf-like creatures, their bodies made of swirling shadows, materialized around the camp. Their thin legs carried them soundlessly over the ground, and a pair of tentacles sprouted from their shoulders. The tendrils flicked and coiled like snakes, with barbed hooks growing from the tips.
They moved with a grace that belied their size, their forms shifting and wavering in the darkness like smoke.
Urien gasped. "Are those...?"
"Morkhai!" Serelle shouted, raising her staff.
"Well, damn." Urien scowled.
Ingrid lunged forward, her shield raised, her sword a streak of silver in the darkness. But the Morkhai before her vanished, reappearing a moment later behind her, striking at her exposed flank with a tentacle.
Ingrid spun, deflecting the blow with her shield.
A second beast leapt from the shadows, pouncing at Thorsten.
He sidestepped, avoiding the creature's snapping jaws, and swung his axe in a wide arc, only for the weapon to pass through empty air. Its form wavered and shifted, reforming a few steps to the right.
Thorsten stumbled, surprised by his missed swing, and the Morkhai sprang at him again, its claws raking his armor. He staggered, grunting in pain as the creature knocked him to the ground.
Lorne dashed to his side, only to be intercepted by a third Morkhai. He blocked a swipe of its claws with one of his swords, parrying the blow and following through with a stab. His blade passed harmlessly through its shadowy flesh, and the beast whirled, smacking him away with a tentacle.
Thorsten slammed the haft of his weapon into the jaw of the Morkhai on top of him. The creature snarled and reared back, and he rolled aside, narrowly avoiding its thrashing claws. He rose to his feet, only for another Morkhai to grab his arm with its tentacles. Its needle-sharp hooks bit deep into his skin, and a paralyzing numbness spread through his limb.
"Form a circle!" Lorne commanded as he rushed to grab Thorsten, dragging him back.
Ingrid, Urien, Viviane, and Serelle scrambled to obey, taking up positions in the middle of the camp, their backs facing one another.
"Serelle! Cast a protective barrier!" Lorne ordered.
The arcanist nodded, holding her staff aloft. A swirl of runes surrounded the group, encasing them within a shimmering dome of energy.
The Morkhais snapped and clawed at the magical barrier, their fangs and claws sparking as they collided with the magical wall. They circled the group, prowling outside the perimeter, their glowing eyes gleaming hungrily as they sought an opening.
Thorsten braced himself, trying to ignore the burning in his wounded arm. A foul, acrid smell filled his nostrils, and he recoiled as he noticed that the place where the Morkhai had latched onto him had turned black, the flesh necrotizing.
"Their touch can rot, it seems," Thorsten muttered through gritted teeth.
Lorne eyed the sizzling wounds on Thorsten's arm, frowning. "Can you still fight?"
"I've had worse," Thorsten replied, flexing his fingers. "Don't worry 'bout me."
Beside them, Viviane crouched, fiddling with the various arcane devices she had attached to her belt. She selected one, a small rod with a metallic cylinder at its tip, and pointed the device at the closest Morkhai. The object flashed, emitting a blast of energy that struck the creature on its side.
The monster yelped, staggering from the impact, its form rippling and distorting as its shadowy flesh singed. It shook itself, recovering quickly, and charged at them, only to slam against the magical barrier and rebound.
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Viviane swore, rummaging through her pouch for a different tool. "Not very effective..."
"Where is Ebonheim?" Serelle asked, glancing around. "She's not with us."
"She went out for a swim earlier," Thorsten grunted as he tested the range of motion in his injured arm. "She should be back soon."
"Do you think these beasts waited until she left before attacking us?" Urien asked, glaring at the circling creatures. "What a cowardly lot."
"Most likely," Lorne agreed, keeping his gaze locked on the beasts. "Even so, we'll deal with this situation ourselves. Form pairs. Thorsten, you and Viviane will take the left; Urien and Ingrid, the right; Serelle and I will hold the center. Watch one another's back; protect one another from attacks. If one of you falls, the other will cover."
Everyone nodded, spreading out to their respective posts.
Thorsten's axe hummed with energy as he activated its enchantment, and the blade flared to life, causing it to glow with a shimmering aura. Beside him, Viviane's crossbow clicked as she armed it.
As the beasts continued to prowl and probe the magical barrier, Serelle lowered her staff, releasing the energy that fueled the protective shell. The barrier collapsed, dissipating into sparks, and the Morkhais turned, their gaze fixing on the group.
"Now!" Lorne roared as the creatures converged on them.
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Ebonheim gasped, her lungs straining as she struggled to reach the surface. The lake water churned around her, as the long serpentine shape wrapped around her body, drawing her down. Bubbles frothed and boiled in the turbulence, as her hair whipped about her face. She saw the creature that held her: a massive eel-like abomination with tentacles for a tail, an armored carapace, and rows of serrated fins lining across its undulating length.
image [https://i.imgur.com/pvZMQWl.png]
It stared back at her with luminous eyes, as if appraising her.
She strained against its grip, her muscles flexing, but to no avail. The creature's coils tightened further, restricting her movement as she dangled within its grasp.
Through her Divine Sight, the Akashic System revealed information about her captor.
[Name] Abyssal Dweller
[Type] Spirit Beast
[Elemental affinity] Water
[Description] A serpentine creature that lives at the bottom of lakes and seas, hunting prey with its tentacles. Its hide is resistant to magic and its bite is poisonous, paralyzing its victims. It preys upon unwary travelers who venture too close to the shore. It is able to camouflage itself within the water by shifting the color of its carapace.
[Health] 525/525
[Mana] 160/160
Ebonheim frowned, irritated by the predicament.
Her divine powers were still weakened due to the distance she had traveled from her divine domain. Now, she found herself trapped in the water, unable to breathe, struggling within the coils of an oversized sea serpent.
This was not how she imagined her evening bath would end.
The Abyssal Dweller writhed in the water, its body twisting and coiling as its tentacles flailed about. Ebonheim's head broke the surface momentarily, allowing her to take a few desperate gulps of air, before she was submerged once more.
It surged through the depths, dragging her along as it slithered through the dark waters. She grabbed its slippery scales, digging her nails into its tough hide.
As it raced along the lake bottom, its tentacles pulled her down further, tightening their grip as she scratched and tore at its flesh.
With a swift turn, the Dweller headed straight for a large outcropping of boulders, ramming her into the rocks with enough force to send a shockwave through the water.
Pain exploded across Ebonheim's back as she struck the stones. She let out an involuntary gasp as a torrent of bubbles escaped from her mouth, causing her to take in a lungful of water.
As she struggled to regain her bearings, the Dweller's tentacles wrapped around her limbs, pinning her to the rocky outcrop. One of its tendrils curled around her neck, squeezing tight.
Ebonheim clenched her fists and her eyes burned with divine light as a glowing halo formed around her head. The water around her began to bubble and boil as waves of energy radiated from her body, causing the Dweller's coils to loosen.
Her Divine Aura flared to life in a burst of incandescent light, illuminating the depths of the lake. The Dweller recoiled, its coils slipping from her arms as she pushed herself off the rocks and swam upward. She breached the surface, gasping for air as she floated, bobbing in the water.
Alright, if you wanted to pick a fight with me, so be it. I've no qualms about taking care of you.
She glared down at the lake's surface, seeking out her adversary, but the Dweller had sunk back beneath the waves, hiding itself among the rocks.
Ebonheim closed her eyes and sifted through the myriad abilities the Akashic System offered.
A simple water-breathing ability was all she was looking for. She found the spell easily.
[Aquatic Respiration (Rank I)]
[Effect] Grants the ability to breathe underwater.
[Range] Self
[Duration] 10 minutes
[Cost] 6 Essence
[Would you like to purchase this Divine Ability for 50 Quintessence?]
Perfect. Just what I need.
Ebonheim focused on the acquisition, investing her quintessence into the ability. The world slowed to a crawl as the Akashic System responded, processing her request.
Information flooded her mind, and the details of the divine ability were imprinted into her consciousness. A sense of calm washed over her, and time resumed its normal flow.
Taking in one last breath of air, Ebonheim sank below the waves and activated the ability. Immediately, she could breathe normally, as if she were above the lake and not beneath it.
She sensed the presence of the Abyssal Dweller as it slipped through the water, moving sinuously beneath her. Ebonheim grinned as she extended her senses, her Divine Sight piercing through the murky depths. The Dweller's aura burned with the dull green-gold sheen of a powerful spirit beast.
Ah, there you are.
Ebonheim gathered her thoughts and summoned her Ebon Bow. It shimmered into existence in a flash of silver-white light, responding to her command. She gripped its familiar, well-worn shaft, relishing the sensation of its smooth wood against her palms.
Now then, let's put you in your proper place, shall we?
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Lorne sidestepped to the left, dodging the sweeping strike of a Morkhai's barbed tendril. He parried the second lashing whip with his second blade, countering with a deft slice of his own that caused the creature to leap back.
As the beast retreated, Serelle shot a volley of violet energy bolts in a wide arc, forcing it back farther.
Lorne used the brief respite to survey the ongoing battle.
Ingrid and Urien fought back-to-back, fending off a pair of the beasts with a coordinated combination of shield and hammer blows. The Morkhai were relentless, leaping and swiping with their deadly claws and tentacles, but Ingrid's shield proved an effective defense, deflecting their attacks. Meanwhile, Urien's crushing strikes kept the monsters at bay, driving them back when they drew too near.
To the right, Viviane and Thorsten fought side-by-side, taking advantage of Thorsten's towering stature to shield her while she fired bolts from her crossbow. Despite their teamwork, the Morkhai matched them blow-for-blow, even with Viviane's array of arcane gadgets and tools.
No matter what they tried, they couldn't land a killing blow.
The beasts' forms flickered like wisps of shadow, seeming to slip from existence when hit, only to reform elsewhere. They ducked under Urien's swings and darted around Ingrid's thrusts. Whenever Thorsten landed a direct hit, they simply disappeared for a moment before returning and attempting to flank their opponents.
Even Serelle's spells were having a hard time getting a bead on them. Every time she tried to trap one of the beasts in an entanglement spell, they simply melted into the shadows cast by the bright globes of magelight that surrounded them.
The Morkhai prowled and harried them, striking from the shadows, launching short, savage attacks, before darting out of range. There didn't seem to be any pattern to their movements, nor any obvious weak spots.
"They're too fast. We need to slow them down." Lorne glanced at Serelle, who nodded in response, already casting another spell.
A glowing sphere of magic appeared over the battle, hovering above the campground. As she flung her hands apart, the ball of energy split into a dozen smaller projectiles, which fell from the sky like miniature meteorites, landing on the ground at the feet of the Morkhai. Each missile exploded in a shower of sparks, forming a ring of magical runes.
A moment later, a dome of translucent, shimmering purple energy formed over the campsite, trapping the Morkhai inside along with the adventurers.
"Is that supposed to help us?" Thorsten yelled as he blocked a slash from a Morkhai's claws. "Now we can't run!"
"It'll stop them from disappearing, at least!" Serelle replied, weaving her hands in arcane gestures as she prepared her next spell.
Sure enough, the Morkhai became solid, losing their ephemeral appearance, though they remained just as difficult to hit.
Lorne's swords cut through the air with a blur, weaving patterns of razor-sharp steel as he deflected a barrage of claws and tentacles. His blades hummed with power, their enchanted edges trailing bluish-silver trails in their wake. He slashed once, twice, three times, in quick succession, scoring a clean hit on a Morkhai.
It hissed as a deep gash opened across its shadowy body, black ichor oozing from the wound.
Lorne pressed forward, capitalizing on the opportunity, stabbing through the beast's ribcage with a double thrust of his weapons. It howled and snapped its jaws, biting at his neck, but he ducked under its fangs, spinning away from the follow-up blow of its tentacles.
Serelle's hand blazed with magical fire as she finished casting her spell. A swirling column of flames erupted from the palm of her hand, engulfing the injured Morkhai in a roaring inferno.
The creature screeched in agony as the flames devoured its flesh, consuming its essence. Its form grew dimmer and less distinct as the fire raged, its shadowy form withering away in the blazing inferno. A heartbeat later, it vanished in a cloud of ash and smoke.
"That's one," Lorne grunted, bringing his blades up to guard position.
Only seven more to go.