Cederick’s consciousness was still fading back into focus. The fight with his past demons combined with the revelations of Ozzy’s reckless experimentation had overwhelmed him. He wasn’t sure exactly how long he had been out of it, but the darkness of his past had wreaked havoc on his mind. His body hadn’t fared much better either. Every one of his muscles was on fire and he couldn’t move at all. He hadn’t identified exactly why he was locked in place yet but it didn’t matter much as he was focused on reasserting control in his mind.
With sweat beading on his forehead he slowly pulled the invader back bit by bit to the dark corner he’d relegated it to all those years ago. As he began making progress on restoring order he felt another strange intrusion into his awareness. “NOOO!” He screamed in response to the horrors of the past and the dread for the future washing through his mind again. Though he didn’t let them take control as he had before. Instead he let the fear fuel his drive and pushed the darkness ever harder toward the prison in his mind.
A signal of incoherent babble came from his ears, the darkness in his head still warping his sight and hearing. Whatever was said didn’t change much as the second invader continued forward. Seeming to join forces with the one already present. “nooo” Cederick cried, worried that together they would overwhelm his efforts. He didn’t allow his discouragement to stop his efforts though. In fact he redoubled the pressure on the first invader, having nearly entirely encapsulated it again. The process having become significantly easier without explanation. Though the moment the two invaders touched he knew all his efforts had been in vain, as no matter the force he put behind his efforts the invaders were now a solid and immovable pillar.
Before he could despair over the loss of control he felt another signal from his ears. This one likewise processed and presented to him clear of the distortion from the invader. It was a proclamation from Ozzy “It’s ok Cederick, I’ll get it out”. He wasn’t entirely sure how to take the statement. At first impression it sounded very much like he was trying to help, but every bit of his experience suggested otherwise. Thankfully he didn’t need to decide whether to trust him or not. As he quickly received a second message from his ears. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING!” he heard Benjamin shout at Ozzy. Hope and reassurance surged in Cederick.
—
Ozzy ignored the voices behind him and began to pull. The voidling in his grasp began to writhe and vibrate, but its miniscule size prohibited it from shaking reality itself like the larger version had. There was still a screech that pierced the air though. This one coming from Cedericks mouth. Even as the noise escaped his lips Ozzy felt a wrenching sensation and found himself facing a small group of men. Only one of which he recognized.
“We said, What… Are… You… Doing….” The man beside Vonder said, punctuating the words with steps forward. His hand outstretched and glowing with energy. Ozzy was momentarily distracted by yet another unique demonstration of power, and he didn’t miss the fact that this man had two glowing stars in his body. One in the same place within Cederick where a void had been imprisoned, and another in his head as a matching twin to Vonder’s. Though he was broken from the thoughts by a painful pressure crushing him to the ground. “Well…?” Said who Ozzy could only assume was Benjamin.
Ozzy tried to look back at Cederick but couldn’t move within the solid grip on his body. Instead he examined him with his domain and was disheartened by what he saw. The distraction of his friends arriving had pulled Cedericks focus from the fight within and the voidling was taking advantage. Already the tendrils had restored themselves in a general layer throughout his mind and were digging back into the nooks and folds they had previously enveloped. “He’s being taken over” Ozzy said at a loss how to better describe what he saw.
Even as he said it Ozzy realized that was the wrong thing to say and the voidling taking control knew it. “Help!” It cried using Cedericks mouth “Free me!”. The strangely cliche damsel in distress verbiage didn’t alert them at all and they glared back at Ozzy.
A new wave of pressure again crushed him to the ground as he also felt another begin to pry at the morphed suit surrounding Cederick. “Remove your bonds from him” Benjamin demanded. The pressure on his body continued, and the prying on the suit surrounding Cederick intensified but he could tell if he really wanted to he could keep Cederick Locked tight. The prying was only nudging the suit. The issue would be the pressure on his own body. That and he didn’t want a direct confrontation here.
“Okay” Ozzy stated flatly and slowly began converting the suit membrane surrounding Cederick back into domain leaving the other portions of his domain, including the ephemeral void portions as they were. There was no reason to move them away, or convert the membrane as fast as he could and show his hand. The tactic also bought him some time to evaluate the situation. He could feel the pressure on him and the prying around Cederick slacken and drop off so he turned his attention to the men before him. Vonder seemed exactly the same as he had on Ozzy’s last visit. Not just the clothes he was wearing but his strength was exactly the same as it had been from even their first introduction. The air of someone that sat back on his laurels once achieving a certain level of strength also wafted about him as strong as ever.
In contrast Benjamin, despite his hermit status, was significantly stronger than his counterpart. Not just in the matching star in his forehead, but the glowing point in his abdomen was just as strong. Behind and on either side of Benjamin stood two other men who also had points in their heads and abdomens. Though their strength was significantly lower. From their position behind Benjamin it was likely they were some of those who resided in his haven. The way they glanced back to Benjamin from time to time also suggested they looked to him for guidance.
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Ozzy decided he had let the silence run too long. “I didn’t say I was taking him over, just that someone was” He tried not entirely sure if it would simply make things worse. Though he didn’t stop converting his membrane back to domain, not wanting to give them any reason to return to the manhandling he’d already experienced. Benjamin eyed him grimly but didn’t say anything in return. Instead he looked to Cederick for a moment, likely confirming that Ozzy was still pulling back from him, before looking back.
The man remained silent, taking a moment to look around the haven. Maybe both of which were something Ozzy should have done. He examined Cederick again from his domain and could see that the entity in his mind was still working its way in. There were portions where he could see it shudder and pull back intermittently. Likely Cedierck still fighting from the inside. The sight reminded Ozzy that this wasn’t simply a possible conflict with those standing before him but a present and ongoing one within Cederick. Casting his gaze about he took stock of the scenario and his possible courses of action.
He’d had invaders in his haven before and while he was not sure any of those experiences could be described as having turned out smoothly, let alone as a decisive win, he had learned a few tricks. He didn’t even need to ‘win’ here per se, just buy himself enough time and distraction to pull the intruder from Cederick’s mind. For that he had an idea, but didn’t want to simply repeat his previous tactics. They would not be enough for this number and strength of opponents, even as a simple distraction.
Around Cederick he handed off the slow process of converting his membrane into domain to a part of the membrane itself and took the domain he’d already converted. With it he touched the thirteenth imp’s haven and connected to the fourteenth beyond it. The resident looked up as all the others had, having been warned by its haven of an intruder, but Ozzy ignored it. Connecting that haven to his own in line with the others, he reached further. The fifteenth, sixteenth, and beyond. As he went he couldn’t help but notice the changes with the denizens. Their domains grew denser and expanded until they filled their haven’s. Around the twenty first they repeated the process of shrinking but continuing to grow in strength he had previously recognized at the eleventh. Filing the information away he connected the twenty fifth to his haven which was the strongest he felt comfortable with at the moment. Repeating the same process with the rats he then lined both types up behind the group currently staring him down.
As he’d worked Benjamin had continued to take peeks around the haven but mainly kept an eye on Ozzy and Cederick. The two standing behind him also remained silent though their eyes wandered more than his. For a moment Vonder had appeared ready to begin a conversation but Benjamin had glared at him sharply and put an end to it before it began. Ozzy wasn’t entirely sure but the vibe he got from Benjamin suggested he didn’t desire any explanation or excuses from Ozzy, he simply wanted Cederick free, and to return to his haven with him. Unfortunately if that happened whatever was currently nearly done regaining full control of Cederick would be free to puppet him about indefinitely.
Reminding himself that this was the best chance he had Ozzy unveiled the lines of imp and rat havens internally. Giving them all a clear view into his haven, but not revealing them from his own. As in the battle with the boar the denizens when subjected to the harsh change in light they initially cringed and turned away. Then as they acclimated to the light level they crept to the edge of their haven and peeked out. The strongest members were the quickest to move and the first to leave the safety of their haven. The rats crept along the ground silently and were unnoticed at first. The Imps on the other hand flapped rather loudly announcing their arrival to the group before him. Benjamin’s followers were the first to turn, though not the first to react. Benjamin’s expression darkened the moment the noise came, but he continued to stare Ozzy down without turning. Vonder quirked his head to the side but remained focused forward. “Benjamin…” One of his lackeys said unsure of himself.
Benjamin’s expression darkened even further, his lip curling in disgust before he responded. “Deal with them, Vonder help them” He stated coldly without turning. Whatever capabilities Benjamin had they apparently included telling that there were multiple assailants without turning to look. Vonder turned with the lackeys and began eviscerating the invaders. It was interesting to see the difference in their tactics and movements. Vonder remained where he was and also stood motionless other than slight movements of his head and eyes as his focus moved around. The only indication of his involvement in the obliteration of the mini horde was the energy which sprouted anywhere he looked.
In contrast Benjamin's lackeys were far more physically involved in their countermeasures. Like Vonder they utilized similar ranged interactions using their upper cores. Their hands and feet shone with energy as well which they slashed at nearby opponents and adjusted their footing at superhuman speeds. The longer he watched the more he saw. It wasn’t simply their hands and feet that shone. Throughout their whole body Ozzy could see a fainter glow, it was just outshone by the one surrounding their extremities. Ozzy was also impressed as their movements were surprisingly smooth and almost effortless for someone still subordinate to a master. He wondered briefly if he could stand up against them. Though the moment passed as the stronger imps and rats began to join the frey.
Despite having entered the haven first they were careful and cunning compared to their weaker brethren and took their time to evaluate the enemy before engaging. When they did Benjamin’s followers were thrown off and backed up cautiously while still exchanging blows. Though the increase in attackers didn’t simply consist of the thirteenth which Ozzy still had a more than minor fear of. It was joined by the other teens gradually as they saw opportune moments to attack. For a moment it appeared as if the two men would be overwhelmed as the eighteenth slid in silently from the side and extended a tendril of domain toward their necks, but Vonder glanced over at the last moment and removed that one's head from its shoulders, before returning his attention to his own attackers.
The save was clutch, but it wasn’t enough. Ever stronger enemies were continuing to make attacks of opportunity that were even closer calls than before, and eventually Benjamin also turned to Assist his men. There was no indication that he had been watching, but he had already demonstrated he had eyes in the back of his head as Ozzy did. Like Vonder he had turned, dispatched with an enemy, and turned back to his own battlefront. Briefly Ozzy wondered if Benjamin's face might morph into a living embodiment of shadow with his expression continuing to grow darker with each passing moment. It wasn’t until the smaller of his followers cried out, and Vonder called his name that the man gave Ozzy a final look of rage before turning to help his allies.
Ozzy knew that simply turning his back didn’t mean he was out of the man's view, yet he had to try. Gripping the two squares below himself and Cederick he reoriented, and repositioned them. When he looked up he was standing before the edge of his haven directly adjacent to the rat haven offspring just outside. The move having broken whatever hold Benjaminh ad on him he grabbed Cederick and pulled