Tension filled the clearing, as all present prepared to reach for their blades. The knights listened in silence, ears straining eagerly for the Barons' order in the wake of their duel.
Alex and the Baron held their positions in the stillness that followed the clash, both breathing hard, their hands firm on their swords. The Baron’s eyes drilled into Alex, his fingers flexing over his weapon’s hilt, as if weighing his next move. Alex tightened his own grip, lifting his blade higher, his muscles tense as he prepared to face down the Baron’s men. From the corner of his eye, he caught Lyra and her crew mirroring his stance, their weapons steady and faces grim.
The Baron drew a slow breath, his mouth just parting to speak when a voice tore through the tense air. A knight staggered back, his arm thrusting forward as he pointed to the ground, his voice rising in a shout, “Oh gods, look!” His face went pale, eyes wide, his finger trembling as he fixed it on a dark patch near in the distance. Another knight, his eyes darting toward the same spot, took an unsteady step back, his hand clenching his bow and his jaw set tight.
A third’s voice cracked as he muttered, “Impossible… it can’t…” His fingers clenched tightly around his sword, knuckles paling. Another drew a sharp breath, shoulders rising stiffly as his hand shifted on the hilt of his weapon. A third knight’s gaze darted over the corpses, his brow damp with sweat as his grip tightened, stance unsteady yet prepared for an unseen threat. Alex’s own hand flexed on his sword as he watched them, feeling the weight of their fear settling in his own mind, the tension thickening around them with each small movement.
Ayla's jaw set hard as she stared at the ground, a rigid, unreadable expression taking over her face. She seemed locked in place, her crew silent around her, each bearing a matching look that Alex recognized—a look of forced acceptance. Lyra’s eyes traced the sight with a hardened, unblinking focus. Her jaw set, the edges of her expression a grim acceptance as she took in the scene. Her face held no fear, only a kind of bitter understanding, the muscles in her neck tense and pronounced as she stood rigid. Alex felt the same tension knotting within his own gut, a feeling of something vast and foreboding lurking just beyond his reach.
Alex glanced to where the other knight was pointing, taking in what had shaken them: The sprawl of various giant insect corpses he had spotted earlier, blackened shells cracked and unmoving on the earth, thick and still.
The Baron moved slowly, each step heavy and hesitant as he approached the corpses. His gaze stayed fixed on the insects scattered at his feet, his previously assured stance now faltering. His gaze flicked back to the Baron, watching as the man’s expression shifted from disdain to something colder, his mouth closed in a line that betrayed nothing, but Alex could see it in the way his posture faltered, his weight pressing a little heavier into each step as he reluctantly moved toward the scattered corpses. The once-commanding presence dimmed as his gaze fixed downward, his body moving with an almost reluctant gravity. Alex watched, a sense of realization settling in his mind that this was no longer the same figure who had so confidently wielded his authority moments before.
The Baron was afraid.
The Baron’s boots pressed into the churned earth as he crouched near the insect corpses, his gloved hand reaching out, fingers hovering over one jagged, blackened limb. The appendage extended from a body torn and broken, its edges splintered into viciously sharp points, their surfaces as polished and deadly as obsidian. Alex’s gaze traced the limb’s spear-like length, so finely honed that even the slight touch of the Baron’s fingers sent the tip slicing through the ground, tearing through soil with the ease of a knife through softened butter. Another limb lay sprawled beside it, a thick, scythe-like curve, dark and cruelly sharp, vaguely resembling an axe with its shearing edge.
The Baron inspected the array of limbs and mangled bodies scattered in varying sizes, some limbs and pieces were broken, small and brittle, others monstrous and nearly as large as his own horse. His eyes moved slowly over the shattered shells, black carapaces torn open to reveal hollow insides, limbs twisted into unnatural shapes that seemed to reflect some ancient, malevolent design. “After a century... hundreds of years…for nothing,” he murmured, his voice low, roughened by something deeper, older. His gaze shifted over the insect remains, fingers brushing absently over his sword’s hilt. “The Black Mass… it’s reached our shores.”
He took a step back from the corpse, the heel of his boot pressing into the softened earth as he continued his inspection, his fingers lifting yet another severed limb—one that narrowed to a barbed, almost needlelike point, the surface darkened with an oily residue. He straightened, brushing the dirt from his gloves before glancing back at Alex and the others. “I’m going to be honest,” he said, his voice steady, resonant as the faintest line appeared on his brow, a crack in his well honed mask.
“I was going to kill all of you.”
“But it’s likely none of us will live to see the year’s end.” A faint, bitter smile played over his lips as he spoke, his eyes shifting to linger on the ruined shells scattered across the ground. He dropped the limb back to the earth, the impact sending a soft tremor through the ground, his face fixed and distant as if searching for a solution beyond the dead remains at his feet.
“Now that the Black Mass is here, we will need warriors. Heroes. Or we will all die.” He paused, eyes shifting back to Alex, and a calculating gleam settled over his features. “I have better uses for you all.” With a final glance at the twisted remains, the Baron moved, his shoulders stiff as he walked back to his horse, leaving the shattered corpses strewn in his wake, a broken omen that lingered in the torn earth. He adjusted the reins with a gloved hand.
“Come find me when you're in town, Alex,” he said, as he turned, sheathed his rapier, and leapt into his horse's straddle in one swift motion.
“I have a job for you. It's something only you can do, and the pay is nothing less than life-changing.” he continued, his voice smooth and calm, as if they hadn't just had a protracted battle and declared the inevitability of their impending deaths. “We’ll discuss the terms of your retainer once you arrive.”
"I'll pass."
Alex stated the words bluntly and stabbed his sword into the ground with finality, though his fingers never left the hilt.
The Baron simply laughed as he turned his horse, a forlon sound that rang through the clearing."I doubt you'll have the luxury of choice."
"None of us do, now." The Baron then raced off into the trees without another word, his men following his horse on foot, disappearing into the thick forest. The group watched in silence until they could no longer hear the clatter of hooves and armour.
Like hell, Alex thought. There was no way he would ever work for that morally corrupt excuse of a man. And neither did he suspect that the Baron would cease trying to kill him, regardless of whatever their great enemy the Black mass, seemed to be.
The tension that had gripped the clearing began to dissipate, and the group of onlookers turned their attention back to Alex, who stood there, breathing lightly with a thin sheen of sweat, his Mana Blade still humming with energy.
"That was... intense," Finn said, breaking the silence as he eyed the departing figures.
Ayla agreed. "That was insane! I've never seen anyone go toe-to-toe with the Baron like that."
Finn nodded in agreement, his eyes shrewd with understanding. "I have, a few times. But you did better than most, that blade of yours is something else."
Ayla chimed in again, her voice tinged with admiration. "And that last move, when you finally got through his defences! That was great!."
Keir, who had been silently observing, finally spoke, "Yes, but… that bear... it wasn't natural. The way it moved, the metallic sheen on its fur. A simple bear, as strong as an Orc Horde leader." he shook his head.
Finn nodded, his expression grim. "System-evolved creatures are becoming more common- more widespread. Imagine a Revenant gaining even more power. Or a Wraith, or even a Gazer.” He shuddered at the thought. “It's worrying."
It's like their all trying their best to not talk about the black corpses, Alex noted, How bad could it really be? He pondered. Feeling the weight of their words and an insight into their lives, said thoughtfully, "Seems like you all have been dealing with these kinds of threats for quite a while."
Lyra glanced at him non-commitally. "Yeah, it's part of the job. Keeps things interesting, at least."
The wounded gryphon, a massive creature that had been observing the duel, now limped into view.
Ayla approached the gryphon, her hand extended carefully to avoid startling it.
She gently petted its feathers, feeling the gratitude in its eyes as it limped closer, its injured leg clearly bothering it. Despite this, Its movements displayed a mixture of pain and gratitude. "It's hurt," Ayla whispered, her hands gently exploring the griffin's wings.
She reached higher, her hands gentle as she further inspected the griffin's injuries. "Easy there, big fella," she cooed, ruffling its feathers in a soothing manner.
The gryphon was large, much larger than Alex had expected, but somehow less imposing than its first impression had led him to believe. Although clearly dangerous, it seemed almost peaceful, like an elephant, capable of trampling you to paste but choosing not to.
Tentatively, he joined Ayla in ruffling its feathers.
The gryphon let out a low, rumbling sound, almost like a purr, as they continued to care for it.
Ayla, while tending to the griffon, added, "This griffon was just defending its territory. It's lucky we were here. And thanks for the Bear, Alex. We should give him some of its pelt.” Her eyes turned to the rest of her party.
“We wouldn’t have this bounty without your help.” Keir agreed, gesturing towards the bear's metal corpse. Alex imagined it would make some formidable and flexible armour. Keir continued “Your maneuvers against the Baron were quite unique. Unorthodox, but effective.”
The conversation paused as they all looked at the griffon, now standing more confidently. It stood as tall as several men, and the sun's Sheen reflected off its gold and silver feathers. It eyed each of them with a soft cooing rumble that shook the grass around them before it sauntered off towards the treeline, its gait slightly improved.
“You’re welcome, Kier," Alex said as he watched the gryphon, its wings parting the treeline with a soft brush as it slowly retreated into the forest. "And the way you guys handled the bear… That was some impressive teamwork," he said, his respect for their skill evident.
Lyra, wiping her brow, replied, “Well it’s far from our first battle, and thanks, you weren't that bad yourself.” She gestured towards his scorched clothes and singed hair. “Took you way too long to beat him, though.“
Lyra, Finn, Keir, and Ayla burst into fits at her comment as Alex flushed red and attempted to muster a response.
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***
"What's the Black Mass? The great enemy?" Alex decided to go for the direct approach.
Ayla looked up, her eyes hardened, and Kier’s mouth set into a grim line before he answered. “An army,” he said, his voice weighted with something deeper than mere anger, “of creatures. They come in all shapes and sizes. Things that crawl, things that walk, things that fly. They don’t stop. They’ve been fighting against every race, across nearly every land, for hundreds of years.”
Kier's eyes softened, his voice taking on an edge as he continued. “The Black Mass came upon us centuries ago, out of the north, if the stories are true. Their first attack on known lands—before anyone understood what they were facing.” He paused, his hand resting on the his, as if touching it could bring those tales of war into focus. “It was the Kingdom of Sellenhold that first fell."
“It's said that none saw it coming,” Kier continued, his voice low and taut. “Sellenhold fell in a week. Entire cities swallowed in silence. They call it the Siege of Forgotten Night—the first time anyone saw the creatures of the Endless.” His hand remained on his staff, a faint tension in his fingers as if holding back his desire to witness such events himself.
“They don’t fight as an army would, not as we do,” Lyra added, her gaze unfocused, as if seeing distant battles beyond the trees. “They don’t retreat, don’t tire. There’s no logic to it, no hunger for victory or wealth. They’re not flesh and blood in the way we know—they’re endless, as if some curse breathes life into them, a force we can’t touch. We win a battle, and they surge forward again, spilling over what was lost, as if none of it ever mattered, stronger than they had ever been before the battle began.”
"That's just a myth," Finn interjected as he ran a metal finger along his blade, practicing his skill. "They bleed and die just like we do, we just saw it." Kier nodded in agreement as Finn leasurely strolled ahead, "If they were truly immortal, we would never have killed thier queen."
Ayla kept her gaze forward, her voice quiet, almost hollow. “Their forms are… varied. It’s as if they’re drawn from nightmares,” she said. “Some say they’re the remnants of forgotten gods, or the very heart of the Endless Enemy given shape. In the oldest legends, they mention the War of Twelve Suns. The Giant King of Alderhall was killed at the Red Spire defending against them, and they say the Spear Saint never returned from the Eastern Watch. Great cities fell—Sellhaven, Alderhall, Kairhold… all taken by the Endless tide and its spears.”
A pause filled the forest, heavy with something unspoken, as though even the trees knew this history, felt its weight lingering in their roots.
Finn spoke uponce more, his tone sharp. “The Black Mass adapts. Those limbs you saw—they were made for killing, for nothing else. Some bodies bristle with spears sharper than steel, some built with claws that could shatter stone. They cut through earth, metal, flesh as if tearing through grass. They say the real strong ones could rival a kingdoms best. A single creature can take on dozens, maybe hundreds, if it’s a large one. And for every one that falls, another takes its place.”
Alex’s eyes stared into the distance as he listened, his mind struggling to picture what they described. He remembered the dead insects, their limbs cruelly sharpened, shaped by some nightmarish purpose. One of the corpses’ legs stretched long and needle-thin, as if crafted to pierce through bone and armor alike. Another, broad and jagged, hinted at the shape of an axe, a slashing limb that could sever through flesh and armor. He tried to imagine creatures bearing such limbs, monstrous forms born from some hellish dream, endlessly spilling forth to erase everything before them.
It seemed this world was far more troubled than he'd initially anticipated.
Alex walked deeper into the foliage, his eyes set on the distant landscape.
***
And then, days later, they arrived at the settlement. The group stopped at the edge of the town, looking over the small congregation of life. A scattering of buildings and stone structures nestled in the lap of a valley.
Ahead, stone and timber houses stood neatly lined, their roofs of slate and thatch worn but otherwise well-maintained. The main street was bustling with townsfolk, some heading to the market where stalls brimmed with fresh produce and fabrics.
The smell of freshly baked bread wafted from a bakery, mingling with the scent of roasting meat from a nearby tavern. Children played near a fountain in the town square, where water cascaded over carved stone. The town, nestled comfortably in the valley, thrived under the watchful eye of the Baron’s castle, perched on a nearby hill.
The sight of other people brought Alex a sense of relief, a small comfort in his journey. There were others like them, others who had also been swept away by the system's tide.
"We should get going," Ayla finally said, breaking the silence." With that, they set in motion, the perimeter of the settlement a visible silhouette against the dying light of the day.
Finn followed, an air of casual nonchalance about him. His eyes scanned the scenery, but he managed to keep the conversation light. "I can't wait to see what 'levels' these townsfolk are," he chuckled, a hint of mischief flashing across his eyes. "I wonder if there's a 'Master Baker' or a 'Supreme Whoreson' among them. Maybe a 'Grand Maestro of Ale',"
A ripple of laughter spread through the group, momentarily replacing the undercurrent of uncertainty that had followed their journey. Keir, usually stoic and reserved, allowed the ghost of a smile to cross his features. Lyra, on the other hand, rolled her eyes, albeit with a fond shake of her head.
Amidst the bustling main street past the town's entrance, the sound of hammers and saws mixed with the chatter of townsfolk.
As Alex peered around him, the surroundings revealed small signs of recent turmoil. Signs so small they were easy to miss. Among the stone and timber houses on the outskirts, some bore deep scorch marks, their walls etched with claw marks and gouges. A small scattering of buildings here and there were reduced to rubble, leaving gaps like missing teeth in the neat rows of existence. But a few buildings among hundreds were easy to miss, and would soon be forgotten, as people, their faces marked with fatigue, worked to repair and rebuild.
“Did something happen here?” Alex asked, his gaze tracing the scarred walls and the splintered floor, noting the scratches that ran jagged and deep. It looked like the aftermath of an attack. “This… looks like something was dragged away against its will.” His tone held a mixture of curiosity and unease as he took in the gouges and splintered stone.
Lyra glanced around, her gaze sharp and assessing. "A colony, and most likely a Queen are nearby.” She said, the word carrying a weight that was impossible to miss.
“The Endless.” She whispered in awe, her face solemn. Alex studied her as she spoke, and notice how her eyes lit up with excitement beneath the facade of melancholy. She practically vibrated on the spot in contained glee.
Alex recalled thier previus conversation and everything he had seen. He braced himself, prepared to face the worst this world had to offer.
Kier drew a finger along a damaged wall, tracing the scar of a deep gouge, his expression dark. “An Arachnae colony, Alex. And a Queen.” His finger traced the length of the scar as though it held a hidden truth, his brow furrowing. “They’re lethal beyond reason. It's unheard of for them to appear this close or even in this region; their are entire nations between us and the frontlines, their borders. We're deep within the lines of safety. It should be impossible.” He pulled his hand away from the wall, a look of bitter acceptance in his eyes. “Evil things. They exist like a plague, waging war wherever they exist- sweeping through towns and kingdoms, tearing away bodies, land, people—anything they can use to grow their numbers.”
"They have stolen so much. Nations, lives, people, bodies." He paused, his jaw tight as he seemed to remember something distant and unpleasant. “At birth, they’re nothing but mindless hunger and cannot survive without being driven to feed on the strong to grow. They evolve through feeding, you see. Assimilate what they consume, building on what they steal.”” He continued with evident disgust. “At birth, they cannot survive without feeding on strong species, assimilating them.” He paused as if visited by a distant memory. “There were rumours of a colony nearby… but we'd assumed it was the fear of children.”
Ayla stood silently, her face grim and drained of warmth, her gaze locked on the scratches. “They’re unstoppable... People taken, turned into... it's bad, Alex.”
Finn, leaning against a fractured column, glanced up, a smirk tugging at his lips, though his eyes held a darker glint. “Oh, they’re trouble alright,” he said, his voice low, steady. “They steal people right from their beds. You’ll be taken, torn to shreds, fed to their spawn, eaten alive.” He paused, taking a long pull on a pipe, smoke drifting lazily from his mouth. “And if you’re truly unlucky,” he continued, his tone dry, “the young might inherit your qualities, and those creatures will return to hunt down what’s left of your family or the ones you love.” He took a long draw of what Alex assumed to be tobacco. “Last time they were here, it sparked the Blackfire War. Bled us all dry. Looks like history’s decided to come back around.” Finn gestured to the rubble, his fingers tracing the air above the ground. “So yeah, they’ve been here.”
He tipped his head toward a dark smear on the wall, a look of detached interest in his eyes. “And I told you,” he murmured, voice low, almost too calm, “I’ve seen one." He pointed toward the rubble. “Others in town have too.”
“One can only hope it's true.” Lyra chimed, the corners of her lips seemed to fight back a smile at the thought. “If so, war will come sooner than one could hope.”
At this, the others sighed and tutted in disagreement.
Keir turned to face Finn with a thoughtful nod, "It had seemed unbelievable at the time.” He then turned to Alex “The last sighting in this region was over a century ago. A horde. A queen. If it's true then this is new. For this century, at least."
Ayla, her demeanour calm yet sombre and resigned, added, "They've been at war with the other lands- with the entire world. But not out here." She tilted her head and whispered, "I thought we were safe."
Keir, his face etched with concern, interjected thoughtfully. "Yes. A frightening possibility.”
Alex absorbed their words as they informed him, the gravity of the situation dawning on him with each spoken word. It was Lyra who concluded with a decisive tone, "See a Arachnae, any at all — it's them or us. Kill it on sight.”
Finn began to argue that was superstition, and that the common house spider was no more related to the Arachne than they were, but all but Keir seemed to shut him down.
They need death to survive, grow, and evolve, Alex thought as the argument continued, a grim realisation setting in. Bodies to make themselves stronger, it was a gruesome cycle. According to them, around the globe these ‘Arachnae’ colonies and all their pupae were hunted, their existence a perpetual war against all other life forms. Alex pictured nations united against this common enemy for days, months, years, and decades. No, he thought, for centuries. They fought tirelessly fighting to take back land from these nightmarish creatures.
Yet the Queens- a handful across the world- remained shrouded in mystery and myth, and as far as he was aware were never uncovered. At least not by any who survived their encounter. But someone had to have survived and perhaps even faced one in order for the rest of the world to be aware of the Queens existence at all. Finn had mention one had been killed far before their lifetimes. A breadth of history existed there. something ancient and from a time where gods walked among them. he was certain of it. Perhaps the Arachnae were some punishment of some kind. An attempt to wipe out life on the planet.
Whole wars just to find them...These queens, hiding out there, somewhere. Turning death into life for their own kind. The idea was wild, almost too much to take in. People fighting, and dying, all to stop these creatures from spreading
Alex pictured it – the queens, hidden in their territories, turning the dead and even the living into feeding grounds. It's horrifying. Being trapped, helpless, as their eggs hatch in a corner a room and unleash spiderlings that promptly eat you alive from outside in.
Alex shuddered despite himself.
A race of monsters fighting for survival while being hunted to extinction. People's fear had even led to killing harmless common spiders, a misguided superstitious attempt to stop the Arachne's proliferation.
The queens were key to their reproduction, and the pupae were their babies, all targeted to prevent their evolution into more formidable beings. Each hunted down in a desperate bid to stifle their growth into future forms, or worse;
New Queens.
And with the system causing everything to change, how much worse could these creatures become?
Alex glanced at Finn with new understanding, realizing why the sight of the evolved bear grown far beyond its limits had caused him such concern.
So, these… Arachne colonies... Queens… they're like a plague, he mused. Crawling over the land for hundreds of years, battling to take territory. A never-ending war. He then glanced at Lyra’s peaceful expression, her soft smile maintained throughout the discussion. And she had the nerve to call this world peaceful?
Alex, with Lyra and Finn, heaved the heavy carcass of the bear towards a Tanner, or perhaps to a high-level leatherworker, one capable of skinning the metallic creature. After the metallic pelt was removed and prepared, they would take it to a blacksmith. Alex was looking forward to discovering what his share of the highly durable material would be turned into.
As they walked, a scream sliced through the evening sky, followed swiftly by another. Clashes of steel rang out in the distance. From the direction of the town's border, the distant roars and yells of men and women could be heard. Some of them screamed like babes.
“Spiders?” Alex turned to Lyra inquisitively.
Lyra scoffed, poorly attempting to hide her excitement. “Surely not.” She said. “It's likely some beast, amped up or high on the system's twisting. Orcs, perhaps."
They get high here?! Purely out of curiosity, Alex wondered what kind of drugs a magical world’s society produced. He imagined any magical drug would be insanely addictive- probably inescapable once consumed.
He made a mental note to avoid dodgy health potions.
Lyra broke into his thoughts. "Finn, guard this," She pointed at the gargantuan bear carcass and then nodded at the rest of the group. "We’re investigating the border. You're free to join us if you wish, Alex. We would not mind the help.” She looked at him inquisitively and with gratitude, but there was no expectation or demand held behind her gaze.
He had no intentions on joining a group, that could slow him down. But one battle wouldn't hurt, he decided. It could be fun.
“See you there," Alex smirked and raced ahead.