I raced through the hallway nimbly dodging all the traps in front of me. As what I guessed was the spirits lit them up and allowed for me to focus on the path ahead without having to stop and check for traps every few feet.
I gripped my sword tightly in anger. I was going to make these people pay! If they weren’t here I wouldn’t have run across those men and they wouldn’t have had to die. If only these people ceased to exist their goal would be accomplished and they could finally rest in peace knowing their mission was complete. We could go back as heroes and forget all of this behind us. But these imbeciles shouldn’t have dared defiled these burial grounds.
I could feel the spirits urging me to purge there defiling presence from the area. They were messing with their turf and needed to be punished for failing to respect the plains and the dead people who called it their home. They kept urging my bloodlust with energy and I felt boundless power swell within my body beating a rhythmic roar.
In no longer than ten minutes I broke from the hallway into their encampment. I quickly hid behind a rock and tried to calm my emotions. They were out of whack and if I let them take over again or I’d do something I’d regret. I had plenty of stealth abilities I can use to take control of the situation without turning it into a bloodbath.
I needed a way into the camp first. If I approached as I am right now I had no idea how they’d respond. I first needed to learn their rules of engagement.
Time to finally try and use my illusion ability. I hadn’t needed it so far but this would be a good time as ever to try it.
I imagined myself standing in front of me and tried channeling my mana into this image. I felt a small amount leave me and when I opened my eyes I saw myself standing in front of me. I tried making it move as I wanted and it did just that, but it was only an image so I couldn’t attack them with this.
Time to see what will happen. Go my illusion self! My illusion walked towards the guards slowly. Within seconds it was spotted by the guards and BANG!
Well, I had hoped they weren’t so trigger happy that they’d try to kill me but I guess I was mistaken.
The guards look confused as all hell though that my illusion was still standing. BANG! BANG! BANG! They shot three more rounds to no effect as I made it walk closer to them.
“Charles! Activate your thermal scanner I think it’s some kind of illusion.”
“You're right it’s not appearing on thermals and I’m not detecting much of a signal from it so it shouldn’t be a threat. Must be one of those spirits the scientist mentioned.”
“All I know is that it’s creeping me the heck out and it’s blocking my view.”
He tried swatting at it as it jumped in front of him distracting him. Luckily this Charles didn’t see me with the thermals so I now had to sneak past them while they were still distracted.
“Are you sure we can’t do anything about this? There should be some way of dispersing it.”
“I don’t know I focus on tech not the paranormal.”
I snuck past them sticking to the shadows managing to make it inside of one of the tents undetected. I then dispersed the illusion as I no longer needed it.
“See it’s gone now. Stay alert, we don’t know if those guys are going to be back.”
Looks like I’m good. Time for step two. This is going to hurt. ‘Transform’
I tried to make the process as slow as possible to give my body time to adjust more, but it was still painful as hell. I stifle my scream as I slowly turned into a fox.
When I finished I realized I was bigger than last time and had two tails. I poked my head out of the tent and looked around. Looks like the coast is clear. I need to find this scientist guy. He had to be near the back of the camp. There the security should be a lot tighter since they have their backs to the wall.
I stayed in shadows making my way to the back of the cave. Slipping past the occasional patrolling guard. The camp security was tight with pairs of guards around the camp.
At last, I finally made it to the back of the cave which had a tent lying against it. Making my way inside I saw a massive generator of sorts. THere a man was tinkering with while another was tapping away at a laptop.
“Are you sure this is going to work doc?”
“I’m positive though I’ve been encountering some slight disturbances they are within parameters. I should be able to open the portal within the day. It’ll take me an hour or so to finish calibrations, but after that, all we’ll have to do is wait for the battery to charge.”
“Well, that’s good if we’re lucky we’ll get out of here before those natives come back. We made sure to double our security, but we’re still lacking when it comes to countering their magic.”
“Yes, we’ll have to focus our research on this magic after we finish this portal. Once we tear a hole we’ll be able to come back here from the other side more easily. Though I would have liked to set this up near a more populated area the energy here should make this a breeze.”
What the hell were they talking about? I made my way closer inside to see if I could get a better look at the device when the entrance behind me opened. I was then picked up by the man who walked in.”
“Look who we found here. It looks so cute!”
“Jerry, what are you doing in here with a, fox? Why does it have two tails?”
“An interesting specimen to be sure. I’m saddened that we can’t take it back with us, but what did you come in here for Jerry?”
“One of the guards reported seeing some kind of little girl after engaging the found it to be a ghost of sorts. We wanted to check to see if maybe our sensor are malfunctioning. We didn’t pick up anything on those scanners you gave us.”
“That means it wasn’t a ghost. There must be some kind of spellcaster in the area. Stay vigilant there must be some magic caster in the cave toying with us. Also, take that beast out of here.”
“Yes sir. Let’s go get you something to eat little fella.”
“Don’t feed the wildlife Jerry.”
“Stop worrying so much Johnson. I’ll make sure to throw it out of camp.”
He then took me to another tent where there was a box of rations and some collapsible tables. Keeping me in one arm as he tried to feed me a ration. I tried biting his finger, but he kept nibbling avoiding me. Toying with me while he had a smile on his face.
Maybe I could try to check his soul while I’m like this can’t do anything else. I explored his soul to find a mess of black and white energy circling around. From what I could gather from this surrounding energy was how he was a very contradicting man. Showing kindness and care for people while also able to ruthlessly kill and butcher people with scary efficiency.
I was taken aback after realizing his dual nature. Due to it I had a hard time discerning his true motives or goals. Which left me at square one.
“Hey, Jerry your breaks over go and relief Kerry.”
“Yes sir.”
“What the hell is that thing?”
“I found it near the scientist’s tent. I think it’s some kind of fox.”
“Get rid of it. We’re a military crew, not the pound. Now get back to work.”
After walking to Kerry’s post and relieving him he let me go.
“Bye foxy! Try to stay out of trouble.”
I hurried behind a rock after this to get out of his line of sight. It appears like they were planning to open some kind of rift. I didn’t understand all of it, but it sounded like they were about to leave. The one worry I had was this tear the scientist mentioned. I didn’t understand what it would mean. But it didn’t sound good. The problem was I couldn’t negotiate with them due to their trigger happy nature.
I didn’t wish to butcher them but I felt that I needed to stop them. This tear sounded bad but I didn't know why. Something subconscious maybe it had to do with the spirits.
‘Kill them!’ ‘Stop them!’ ‘Eradicate them!’
I leaned against the rock I hid behind in pain. The voices grew louder trying to convince me that slaughter was the right choice.
I made my way back to my sword transforming back to my original form. I held it in my hand while trying to think rationally on how to act. I couldn’t think of another solution though. All that came to mind was to either let it happen or leave these men stranded to die here.
I didn’t know how they got here but that device seemed to be their only ticket out. To destroy it meant they would forever be residents of this world.
There had to be a way to allow a portal out of here and prevent this tear. I sat there in thought for a while. Drawing the sword from the scabbard I stared at the blade that shined dimly. Seeking answers that were not there.
‘So don’t know what to do. Do we?’
I forgot about the green haired lady that resided in the blade.
“I don’t suppose you have any brilliant ideas.”
‘I do actually. I’ve felt your power within you. If you can control it properly. You can help create this portal without having to create this tear you speak of. With your power and knowledge of their world, you could focus a portal.’
“So I just have to create this portal instead of the machine? How do I do that?”
‘I’m sorry but I do not know. I only gave you an idea. I don’t know how you should implement them.’
“Guess that means I need to sneak back in then.”
‘You can use the power of flash step that is imbued in this sword to get inside. You used the power instinctually in your first fight. I will help you control it.’
This sounded weird but I’d take it over turning back into a fox. It got uncomfortable after a while and I couldn’t use my powers very well.
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“Alright then, let’s get started then.”
Hiding in the shadows I approached the camp again. I saw a shadow just beyond the guards I channeled my energy into the blade and could feel my body speed up and reach the spot I imagined. I fell shakily to the ground afterward.
“You see anything, Jerry?”
“No. It’s just a draft you're imagining things.”
I sheathed the sword and sat in the shadow calming my breathing. That took more energy than I thought it would.
‘You did it! Good job! That was a bit further than I would have liked but you got it down.’
“We still have a ways to go.”
I slowly flash stepped to the generator. Sticking to the shadows it didn’t take long. I went inside the tent again (After making sure the area was clear.). Staying hidden I set my back against the generator. The two people inside were quietly finishing their work.
So I set my hand against the generator and sent some of my energy into it. I felt it flow through the circuits and concentrate around a big pool of energy. I could feel it filling with energy. Condensing into some kind of crystal inside.
“Hey Zephiel, I’m picking up some kind of energy spike.”
“It’s within parameters ignore it for now. What is the charge at.”
“72% sir. Estimates indicate it should be charged in thirty minutes.”
“Good.”
I ignored them and continued my probes. I could feel the energy being channeled to a specific location. I could feel the energy connection between the two sides. I could feel how the energy was being condensed as much as possible to create this tear he mentioned.
I had to be careful though they could already tell I was in their systems. If I tried to change anything too much they’d notice. I’d just have to complete the change right as it was about to activate.
I hid behind the generator and waited while keeping my energy connection with the machine. After a few minutes I heard, what I wanted.
“Alright, here we go it’s fully charged. Initiating the tear in 3, 2, 1.”
I then forced the focused energy out in a steady stream canceling the tear and creating the portal.
“That’s strange the portal is forming, but it seemed the portal failed to create the tear we wished.”
“Call for the retreat order. We got the data we need. I’ll deal with the boss later. Right now we need to leave before the natives get to rowdy. The portal will stay open for an hour get the camp torn down in ten.”
“Yes sir.”
The man then left the tent and I trailed behind him as my job was done. After exiting the tent I flash stepped out of the camp and leaned my back against the rock.
I watched the camp pack up and the gear being sent through the portal. The men slowly went through the portal and after thirty minutes everyone but Zephiel and Johnson were left.
“Come out spell caster. I know you're there.”
There was only two of them. If they tried anything I was sure i could take them. So I left my hiding place with my blade drawn.
“A two tailed fox girl? You were that fox from earlier!”
“The one and only.”
“I’ll let you have this victory, for now, girl, but know this!”
“Shut it with the foreshadowing. I already have enough on my plate. I won’t stop you and you’ll come back with more people. Now leave already or I’ll gut you where you stand.”
“Alright then girl. I’ll leave you for now, but I shall return for some samples later. Maybe you may be one of them.”
“Not likely now get lost.”
They walked throughout the portal with their generator and Zeliph turned towards me with a wicked smile. They had plans, but to what extent I didn’t care. I had enough issues on my mind already.
“Time to leave I guess.”
I sent a shockwave of energy at the portal and it collapsed on itself. The hole closed and the spirits filled the room again.
‘Well done young kitsune. You have done well. We would have liked you to have disposed of them quicker, but you have fulfilled our request. May the wind be ever at you back young one.’
“Next time ask for my help instead of forcing me to you old geezers.”
‘Well, that went well! Now let’s leave this place. No need to linger any longer right?’
“Yeah let’s get out of here.”
I made my way back into the trap filled hallway. I simply went through them until I saw John, Elizabeth, and Teage halfway through stuck in some kind of net trap.
“How’s it hanging?”
“Cut us down already lass. We came to help your sorry ass.”
“Some help you were.”
I cut the rope suspending them up and they fell to the floor.
“They’ve been dealt with let’s leave.”
“How’d you do it?”
John looked up after standing back up.
“I’ll tell you later first I want to get outside.”
We made our way back and after everyone vacated the burial grounds. I layed down on the grass and stared at the rising sun.
“The spirits have told me what you have done. I thank you for your help Briana. I’m sorry I was not of more use.”
“It’s fine Lucius just make sure to stay vigilant. They may return so just be careful.”
“What did you do to them Briana?”
“I merely sent them home. They were attempting to tear a hole between our realities. I made it into a one way portal instead.”
“This is a frightening revelation. It appears someone is trying to open a portal between worlds. Though I’m not sure why.”
“Stop thinking about it too much Matt. I just want to get some sleep.”
“First you need some food you didn’t eat much and you’ve been pushing yourself you can sleep AFTER you eat.”
“Fine MOM.”
“I’m not your mother Briana! Now hurry up Rachel made some breakfast so thank her for making it.
“Alright Elizabeth I’ll make sure to thank her.”
I made my way to Rachel who was serving some scrambled eggs with some fried salted meat.
I accepted a plate and started eating straight away.
“Not even going to thank me?”
“Thanks Rachel.”
I immediately went back to my plate wolfing it all down. Matt, Teage, Lennie, Raven, and Remus were eating as well. Everyone looked tired from their adventures.
Rachel was frying up some more food for everyone. She looked better, but she was pretty beat up. She had bandages wrapped around parts of her body. She looked good though all things considered.
“I came to see how you were doing Briana. I’ve got to get to bed soon so I just wanted to fix us some breakfast before I logged out.”
“Thanks Rachel it’s some good food.”
“That sure was crazy though. I heard you took out those guys by yourself from what I heard.”
“Yeah though it didn’t feel very good.”
“The realism does take some getting used to. I didn’t like combat myself for a while, but when I saw the smiling faces of the people I saved I knew it was worth it. So you have my smile at least. Thanks for saving me.”
She smiled at me as she served her fresh batch to the guys.
“You give me too much credit Rachel.”
“No, you saved my life and a lot of my progress. It’s been awhile since I fought a group that strong. The experience was really good and we also got those guns! I didn’t think they had them in this game!”
“Yeah me neither.”
This was getting awkward. I knew that she had killed real people but I couldn’t tell her the truth. I felt that it would wrong. Like popping a kid’s balloon or telling them santa wasn’t real.
“You don’t look so good. Is my cooking bad?”
“NO!!!” Was said in unison by everyone gathered as they continued to eat.
“Sorry Rachel, I just haven’t been feeling well.”
She looked worried but didn’t ask further on the subject.
“Well goodnight Brenn sorry Briana. Hope you get to feeling better”
“Call me Brenner Rachel. I prefer it to Briana.”
“Alright Brenner, goodnight!”
She then disappeared in a burst of light. I could feel her soul disappear in the wind as she logged out.
“She left? I was just about to ask for another plate.”
“Stop being so greedy Raven. You’ve already eaten three plates.”
“So? I want another.”
“I’m going to get some sleep.”
“You get some sleep lass. We’ll be here.”
I made my way to my bedroll and took it down to the burial ground. I saw John look worriedly at me, but he didn’t follow and went back to his food. I laid my bedroll on the floor before curling myself up with my two tails.
It didn’t take long for me to go to sleep from exhaustion but it wasn’t long before I fell into the world of dreams.
I was riding a horse on the plains with a bow in hand shooting at dragons. I was charging towards them on my horse shooting arrow after arrow at them. They fired back upon us with fire that scorched the plains. It tore through my men and I barely avoided it myself.
As I drew closer I drew my sword from its scabbard. It shone like the sun and as a dragon dove in the eat me whole I cut upwards splitting the beast in two. I rode in the hellscape that was the battlefield. With burning corpse and the screams of my fellow plains men all around me.
I got distracted as a dragon created a wall in front of me that I missed a diving dragon that killed my horse out from under me spilling me across the burning grass. As he turned for another pass I cleaved him in two with my sword.
I then grabbed my bow that had landed a few feet away before launching arrow after arrow at what seemed to be an endless horde of dragons. I stood my ground amidst the madness as I saw man after man fall to the large beasts.
After a while, my mind cleared and I stood exhausted in the middle of appeared to be hell itself. My quiver having run out of arrows made my bow useless so I cast it aside in favor of my sword. I stood looking around for ally to help or foe to slay, but all I could see was the burning plains surround me.
Then a great shout filled the sky and I saw the biggest dragon I’d ever seen in my life. I soared high overhead circling around me before landing next to me.
“It appears we are the last two left human. Are you ready to die?”
“Never!”
I charged him aiming for his heart. He nimbly dodged my sword and chomped down on my arm as I tried to dodge. The heat from his mouth seared the wound and I tumbled to the side before taking my sword in my last good arm.
“Tenacious aren’t we?”
“Die!”
I charged again and used my most famous move flash step. I then appeared in multiple directions slashing down in fury in every direction. I could feel my muscles bursting from the exertion. Tearing with every slash I made on the creature. Until I collapsed as my legs could no longer move.
“How? How could I have been defeated by a mere human. A weak female no less?”
It then collapsed as the shock of it’s injuring kicked in. Falling to his last breath after realizing he had been cut to pieces by my sword.
“Haha! Beat you ...”
It was all I could muster as I felt my blood seep out of me into the planes and into the scabbards of my swords. I didn't regret this fight, but I had wished to see them again. Guess I wasn’t coming home for supper tonight.
I took my last breath on those plains lying in the burning madness of the battlefield. We’d succeeded in pushing the dragon's back, but at the cost of every man involved in the battle. I then fell into the void that surrounded me in death.
I bolted awake to Elizabeth shaking me awake.
“Are you okay Briana? Are you having a nightmare?”
“No. It felt like a vision or memory.”
I looked at the sword at my side lying in its scabbard on the floor. If I had to guess that must have been the memories of that woman in the sword. Why was she fighting dragons though?
“You okay Briana and I mean are you really okay. You haven’t seemed okay since we took out those people from earlier.”
I remembered that scene of piled dismembered bodies. It paled in comparison to the madness I had just witnessed, but unlike that memory, I had slain those men.
“No. I wanted to fight monsters, not people. Helping others not hurting them.”
“You did help us. If you hadn’t shown up we’d have all died. You saved us! I know this is a lot to take in and that you have been dealing with a lot. But I just wanted to make sure you know how thankful I am you saved us.”
She hugged me from behind as she tried her best to cheer me up.
“It’s midday and the others want to get a little traveling done today. Rachel is also back I don’t know how she is up though. She must have gotten only three hours of sleep!”
“Thanks Elizabeth, it means a lot. I just need some time to self actualize on everything that’s happened.”
“Of course now let’s get going we’re heading to the capital!”
“Wait we aren’t going back to the camp?”
“Nope, Lucius left already to report back to them and Rachel really wants to sell those guns you brought back. Though the guys are thinking we should keep it for ourselves.”
“We’ll sell them they’re of no use to us when they run out of ammo and we need some basic equipment. They’ll sell well so it’ll definitely help us.”
I stood up and made my way up the stairs with Elizabeth right behind me. She seemed happy but sad at the same time for some reason. I didn’t understand why though. All I knew was that we needed to prepare before any other foreshadowing took us off guard again.