It took Ezekiel a couple of minutes to set up the explosives. They were composed of a number of shield Artifacts, weapon Artifacts, and a couple of actual explosive Artifacts. But when they were fully set up the devices barely covered a tenth of the base of the Spine.
“I don’t know if this will be enough...” Shine whispered in disappointment and concern. “What do we do if it fails?”
“Then we hack away until it falls. If we can cut it, of course.” Ezekiel said before backing away and moving to the other side of the Spine. He then further retreated nearly a hundred feet and ducked behind one of the boulders Garrad had tossed. “Here we go.”
As he said this, the detonators for the explosives went off. Then, something that Ezekiel wasn’t expecting to happen occurred at the foot of the Spine. It seemed that, with the volatile nature of the Ichor, mixing with the mana that the Spine was absorbing, a chain reaction occurred.
One with a cataclysmic effect. Resulting in an explosion nearly ten times greater, if not even more, than what Ezekiel had calculated. Worse yet, as the explosion rocked the emptied encampment a flood of mana rich Ichor flew everywhere, splashing across Ezekiel and Shine both as they were thrown backwards from the blast.
Of course, they were completely unaware of this, as they were knocked out almost immediately from the force of the explosion hitting them in the face. If not for a reflexive reinforcement and barrier. Ezekiel may very well have been turned into paste.
But as the aftereffects of the explosion faded away, a loud creaking groan echoed out as the Spine slowly leaned to the side. Loud cracks rang through the empty encampment as it fell faster and faster. The mist quickly faded from the atmosphere, and with a massive ‘boom’, alongside another shockwave, the Spine fell to the ground. Broken and cracked in countless places.
Far in the distance the effects were felt as the land immediately seemed to fill up with mana. The draining effect had dissipated nearly immediately. Something that the Hunters in the distance were incredibly grateful of.
Even below the ground, where the so-called roots of the Spine had spread, cracks and small explosions ran throughout them all, as a chain reaction spread through the biological structure. The earth rumbled and trembled as this occurred, knocking down trees in the distance and toppling over the walls of the Cruor’s encampment.
But through it all, Ezekiel was unaware of the events that were occurring. Instead, he and Shine both seemed to be shifting in their sleep as the Ichor that had doused them began to glow. Ezekiel’s muscles strained, and he seemed to be in great pain as the Ichor began to release steam into the air. Similarly, Shine was trembling, their blade clattered on the ground as their mana seemed to move out of their control, pushing and pulling them in every direction at once.
Throughout it all, however, not once did their mana fade. Not once did their mana truly run rampant, damaging their Souls. Nor did Ezekiel undergo any noticeable mutations, regardless of the altered Ichor covering him. Instead, the Ichor began to fade, the mana that had been absorbed moved from it into Ezekiel and Shine.
But even as the Ichor fully faded away, the oily liquid dried up into an ashy dust that settled. As it did around the camp, with the Spine slowly crumbling into dust, which slowly drifted away in the wind.
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Much further away, to the south where Ezekiel’s teammates were fighting, the Cruor came to a stop as they looked to the north in shock. Given this opening, many of them were killed as the Hunters recovered much more quickly from the explosion.
Besides the trembling of the earth, there was little to distract them. Though Garrad and Nonette did feel a bit concerned. They were made fully aware of how big an explosion Ezekiel’s makeshift devices should’ve made. In no way should the shockwave have been able to reach them.
But as the ground shifted and sank in several areas, the two Guild Leaders made the assumption that the destruction of the Spine must’ve spread through the roots as well. Thus, leading to a much larger explosion as it spread throughout the full structure.
“We need to finish this!” Garrad called out as he destroyed a group of Adept Cruor. The rest of his party increased their pace, taking further advantage of the Cruor’s shock.
Originally, the Cruor were far more troublesome than the Umbral Beasts that had been attracted to the conflict. But the dazed state of the Cruor made the Umbral Beasts a bigger problem. Something that was making things much easier than before.
Eventually, even though the Cruor were able to retreat before being fully wiped out, it ended up being a total victory for both groups.
“C’mon. We’re headed to the encampment!” Garrad ordered. His team moved to follow him, at the same time Nonette and her team moved to follow. Regardless of the fact that this was not the plan.
Originally, Ezekiel would’ve pulled back as soon as the device he’d rigged had detonated. But, given the size of the explosion, it was obvious to them that something unexpected had happened, so there was no guarantee that Ezekiel would be able to retreat.
Hopefully they would be able to help him if things had gone poorly. Given the fact that the mist had dissipated almost immediately, they knew that something had gone right. But that didn’t stop the anxiousness they all felt as they moved towards the Cruor’s encampment.
Even though the Cruor that had run away were ahead of them, it was obvious that the retreating fighters had no desire to continue with the conflict, as they either avoided, or ran straight through, the camp without stopping. Though it did seem that some of them had stopped in shock at what they were witnessing. It was only after cleaning up the few Cruor that still remained nearby that the two Hunter teams managed to meet up outside the fallen walls of the encampment.
As they stood there, each and every one of them felt a sense of awe and fear as they saw the devastation that had occurred. They knew for a fact that this level of destruction was something that would take a mid-Step Legendary all of their mana to achieve. Yet it had been brought about by the actions of a low-Step Adept.
“What the hell...?” Philip muttered as he looked across the camp towards where a large amount of ash and dust seemed to be accumulating. “What did the kid manage to do?”
“I don’t think it was the kid. Nonette and I check the enchantments. While we aren’t as skilled as he or other Scholars, we both knew that there was no way that the artifacts he rigged together could make this big of a mess.” Garrad said. “I think that the Spine thing must’ve been more volatile than we expected.”
“What do we do now, sir?” Filia asked as she turned to her Guild Leader.
“We look for the kid. If he was in range of the camp when he set off the explosives, then it’s likely he either got knocked out, or...” Garrad trailed off, not wanting to think about the possibility of Ezekiel having died. “Spread out! Filia, you’ll be able to find him best if things are... bad. Nonette!”
The other Guild Leader turned to Garrad, having been silent the entire time. She and her team still disbelieving what they were seeing.
“Can we borrow Jill and Mac? They should be able to help us search more quickly. We’ll get out of here as soon as we find... anything, really.” Garrad said. “I’ll give you Philip and Herend. Can you go check out the site of the Spine? Maybe get some samples that we can bring back to the city for the Scholars to test?”
“Sure. We’ll get on it right away. But we can’t stay for long, Garrad. Don’t forget that they had reinforcements coming. They could be here at any moment.” Nonette said before waving Herend and Philip over. She and the Adepts that were following her moved towards the center of the camp.
“She’s right, unfortunately, so we’re going to have to look everywhere we can. If I’m right, he’ll be near one of the walls, probably thrown by the explosion.” Garad said. “We’re going to move in a circular pattern, moving inwards. Keep your senses sharp, and alert me if you feel anything out of place. Now, move!”
The group moved swiftly, using a minor amount of mana to increase their pace, but enough to not hold back their pace. Given the fighting they had been through until this point, it was best that they conserve as much mana as possible. They were in an enemy base, after all.
They made it halfway through their first circle of the camp before Garrad called out. Jill and Mac had moved ahead, and Filia and her Spirit were spreading their senses as far as possible. But it seemed like there was nothing that they could see with their senses at the moment. For Filia, this was a relief, as it meant that Ezekiel probably hadn’t died yet.
“Over here! I’ve found him!” Garrad’s words brought his team towards him as they moved to where Ezekiel was lying on the ground.
Their relief was short lived, however, as it was clear that Ezekiel was in pain. From what they could tell, he was covered in the strange ash that had practically consumed the encampment. Not only that, but his mana was fluctuating enough for even the Adepts to sense it without trying. Even Shine was rattling on the ground as their own fluctuating mana was causing them to shift and jump.
“Filia!” Garrad called over the shocked Death Hunter, who immediately rushed over and began examining Ezekiel’s condition.
“By the Ancients...” Filia trailed off as what she was seeing in her examination fully hit her. “Mac, I... I need you to double check this.”
Mac, concerned for the young man who had more than proven his worth on this mission, moved to assist. But as his glowing golden hands ran over Ezekiel’s chest, his eyes widened in shock as he saw the same thing as Filia.
“That’s... that’s not possible... How is he not dead?” Mac exclaimed.
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“What’s wrong?” Garrad asked.
His body is filled with mana from every Element. In utterly equal doses, if what I’m sensing is right.” Mac said. “Is that what you sensed?”
Filia nodded her head, still looking over Ezekiel’s soul and body to ensure that his condition didn’t deteriorate. “Every Element but Lightning, but they’re fading away, see, they’re mixing, slowly, but it’s happening. His soul is also absorbing the resulting mixture. I think it’s Void mana.”
“How did this happen?” Jill asked as Garrad tried to think. Given Ezekiel’s current state, it was obvious that things had gone poorly, but he needed to know if it was safe to move him.
“We can’t know for right now. Only he was here, so only he would know.” Garrad finally said. “Filia, can he be moved? If so, we need to get out of here. Now.”
Filia did one more check before she replied.
“I think so, but I can’t stop his convulsions. They’re minor, and his body’s innate constitution means he won’t hurt himself, but he’ll be hard to move all the same.” Filia said. “You might need to carry him yourself, as I don’t think anyone else is strong enough to do so.”
“What about Shine?” Garrad asked. Jill and Mac looked confused for a second, but Filia moved over to the rattling sword that was off to the side. She ran her hands up and down the blade, examining the soul inside it.
“Much the same, but it seems like Shine’s having a much more intense reaction. I don’t think their soul is strong enough to handle it.” Filia said. She tried to reach out and grab their handle, but her hand was pushed back with enough force that her fingers were bent the wrong way. “Aaahh!”
“What happened?” Garrad asked.
“Erg! I think Shine’s subconsciously defending themself. I don’t think they can be moved like Ezekiel can.” Filia said. “I’m not sure any of us can actually touch them right now.”
Mac moved over and began fixing her fingers right away. Garrad and Jill also moved over in concern. But Garrad was still thinking about what he could do. He knew that Ezekiel was likely to attack them if he woke up and knew that they had left Shine behind. So, he needed to figure out how to deal with this new predicament.
Suddenly, he heard Brucey in his head, telling him what he might be able to do. Knowing that the nature of Spirits granted them a certain amount of innate knowledge, he decided to trust his partner’s suggestion. So, reaching out with a reinforced hand, he lifted Shine up and moved to place them on Ezekiel’s chest. The moment he let go, Ezekiel’s hand stopped shaking, and instantly went to Shine’s handle. Immediately, Shine’s rattling ceased, and Ezekiel’s convulsions also died down.
“What the hell?” Mac couldn’t help but ask as he saw what had happened after fixing Filia’s fingers.
“Soul resonance.” Garrad said. “It’s not something that becomes relevant to a Hunter until they reach Tier four, but it’s basically a state where in a Mage and their Spirit’s mana pools become almost perfectly interchangeable. It’s a skill you need to learn if you want to form your Spirit Armor. Not too difficult when you break through. Most get the hang of it right away, but this is the first time I’ve seen it happening with an Adept before. Let alone a low-Step Adept.”
Hearing Garrad’s explanation the rest of the Hunters were shocked. This was something they hadn’t even heard of and was apparently something that they wouldn’t be able to do until they broke through to Tier four. Yet here was a man, over a decade their junior, that had apparently achieved such a feat. They couldn’t help but feel incredibly impressed.
“I’ll carry him. Let’s meet up with Nonette right away and get out of here.” Garrad said as he picked up Ezekiel. Outside of making sure he was in a safe position, Garrad didn’t worry about how Ezekiel was holding Shine. Given their current state, it was likely that only cutting off his hand would make him let go of the Void Spirit.
The team then quickly moved out, reaching the center of the camp within a minute. From what they could tell, the remains of the Spine were still crumbling. The previously pure white structure with oily veins running up and down its side slowly turned into dust and ash that was spreading through the area.
Yet, regardless of its origins, the ash did nothing that resembled the effects of Ichor. In fact, it seemed almost like the area was beginning to be revitalized. Something that all the Hunters had to confirm wasn’t just a trick their senses were playing on them.
“Did you discover anything?” Garrad asked.
Nonette turned, glancing at Ezekiel for a moment and slumping slightly in relief.
“Nothing for certain. I think that the Ichor reacted with the explosives, magnifying the blast. But I’m not certain as to why. I have a theory, but nothing I can confirm.” Nonette said. Garrad gestured for her to continue.
“I think that the Spine was absorbing Ichor faster than it could corrupt it, so it was the mana within the Spire that caused the chain reaction. It’s also why the mist dissipated almost instantly, and why the area feels healthier than it did when the Spire was still standing.” Nonette explained. “From what I can tell of the little flora still around, this ash seems to be acting like a fertilizer.”
Garrad nodded his head in understanding. He had been feeling the earth seemingly growing stronger. It wasn’t as obvious as it was with plant life, but it was clear to his senses that the earth in this area was easier for him to sense. Something that wasn’t the case in the Desolate Lands.
Have you gotten samples?” Nonette nodded at the question. “Then let’s go. I want to get out of here before the Cruor Legendaries arrive.”
The group turned to head back towards Harkem. Intending to move at their top speed for as long as they could. To the point where they could set up a camp or reconstruct their wagon. But a sudden whistling cut through the air causing them to scatter as a barrage of hardened and sharpened feathers dug into the ground.
“You bastard heathens who dare defy the might of the Broods will not be going anywhere!” An angry voice called out from above. High above, two massive sets of wings extended from two humanoid figures with feathered features looked down. So focused on the events occurring in the camp, the Hunters hadn’t realized that there were several dozen figures now floating in the sky.
Seeing the numbers that now faced them, and knowing that they couldn’t last in a fight, not as tired as they were, Garrad screamed his orders, not caring about the results.
“FALL BACK!!!” He screamed.
The Hunters ran from the battle, Garrad and Nonette included, but moved slightly slower to act as a rearguard. Garrad even through Ezekiel and Shine towards Filia, who was mounting her Spirit that had grown to an immense size. Currently, the Adept Hunters were all climbing on the remaining flight capable Spirits as they moved to retreat.
From above, the Cruor all screamed in rage and hatred as they dove towards the now fleeing Hunters. But they failed to get much closer, as a massive half dome of wood and stone rose up to block off the Cruor before they reached the ground.
It would barely grant them any time to escape. But at this point even a few seconds could determine whether or not they died. Now, the Hunters had a minor head start. For how long they could keep, however, was utterly unknown.
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A cacophony of destruction rang out as the Hunters ran from the Cruor that were chasing them. Trees were toppled, and the earth was ripped up as feathers sharper and harder than enchanted steel tore through the air. At the same time, stone constructs were launched into the sky, briefly breaking up the Cruor’s flight formation. But it was clear that the two Legendary Cruor were enough to make it almost impossible for the two Legendary Hunters to defend themselves. Let alone properly defend their teams.
“Peerage member Azrak. I don’t believe that our efforts are working right now. I believe we need to focus on their leaders. Why are we trying to focus on their lessers?” The female Cruor that was flying beside Azrak asked. “There is no way that the lessers could’ve caused such damage to the Spine. Wouldn’t taking down their leaders and sacrificing them to the construction of a new Spire be in our best interests?”
“Usually you would be correct, Nara, but the problem is that one of the humans on those birds is our true target. One of them is a Void Mage. A Void Hunter, to be exact.” Azrak replied to his partner. “As such, as much as I believe that it would be for the best for us to take out their leaders, taking out them all is what we must do. If we take the time to focus only on their leaders, the rest will most likely survive and escape.”
Nara’s eyes widened as Azrak explained his purpose in targeting the ones that the human leaders were protecting. While it wasn’t well known amongst the Cruor, there had been rumors for years that a Void Mage had managed to find a way to properly cultivate.
To hear, for herself, confirmation that the rumors were true was something that shocked her. The fact that all the Hunters seemed to be at least Adept level, that meant that the Void Mage must be the most powerful Void Mage in history. Powerful enough to potentially become a direct host for a Brood.
If such a thing were to occur, even if the vessel was destroyed within a couple of months, that would be enough for the Broods and their Cruor to shift the balance of power back into their favor. She now realized why Azrak was so focused on the lesser humans.
“We need to step in directly. We cannot afford to let them get away.” Nara said. They hadn’t been expending the maximum amount of power that they could, but it was apparent that they needed to stop holding back. But it seemed like Azrak was somewhat apprehensive.
“If you think that our forces have been holding back, then you are sorely mistaken.” Azrak said. “Besides, we don’t know if they have any more of whatever it was that they used to destroy the Ichorous Spine, or if they have backup.”
“That doesn’t matter right now! We need to move. Where is the enthusiasm you had when we first set out?” Nara asked. When they had first left, she had been apprehensive of following Azrak’s orders. He had been incredibly zealous, and she was worried that his decisions would be self-destructive. But now it seemed like he was afraid of something, but she couldn't imagine what.
“That was before I found out they could destroy and Ichorous Spine. You know just as well as I do that neither one of us would be able to make so much as a scratch on it. Yet they managed to destroy it entirely!” Azrak exclaimed. “If you wish to move ahead first, feel free, but I will live to ensure the Broodlord is informed of this predicament. At least until we know for certain where the Void Mage is.”
“Fine! You do that.” Nara said before she flapped her wings and dashed forward. She was intent on bringing the fight directly to one of the human leaders. This would ensure that the rest had an easier time of attacking. Hopefully stopping the other leader from successfully defending against them.
But just as her talons made contact with Nonette’s roots, a sudden pressure seemed to settle down on her. She looked in the direction of one of the Spirits carrying the lesser humans away. As she did, she felt like an endless star filled sky was looking down on her. The next moment, she was holding her neck as a cut suddenly appeared across it. Blood pooled in her throat as she began choking.
As she flailed in the air, trying to regain her focus, she failed to regain her balance as a massive tree branch whipped towards her. She ended up being launched backwards, and was barely caught by Azrak, whose face had been twisted into a snarl of furious rage.
“Attack the Death Spirit! It holds the one who destroyed the Spine!” Azrak called out. The Cruor, now in somewhat of a frenzy, were still able to follow orders. Hearing a specific target being named, they turned their full attention to Filia and her Spirit. Alongside her, Herend, Philip, and the now awakening Ezekiel moved to defend themselves and their ride.
However, as the Cruor focused on the one bird Spirit, the other, Carrying Jill, Mac, and Yara, quickly flew away, unrestrained by any of the Cruor. At the same time, Garrad and Nonette moved to focus on protecting the one group, instead of the two.
But even as Azrak began to focus his efforts, and his partner’s regeneration finally kicked in, he couldn’t help but feel wary. Things seemed to be going well for them now. But he couldn’t stop feeling like something strange was going on. Something that could change the tide of battle at any moment.
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Meanwhile, on the back of Filia’s Spirit, Ezekiel appeared to be awake, but his lack of response to his companion’s inquiries said differently. His eyes were filled with starlight and an endless expanse. In his hand, the opalescent coloring of Shine’s blade began to darken. It slowly turned black, with flicks of white light scattered about.
“Ezekiel?” Herend couldn’t help but ask as Filia focused on flying away, and Philip focused on defending them. “Are you alright?”
Ezekiel did not respond. Instead, he swung Shine in an arc around them, and Ichor flew through the air as the Cruor around them found cuts digging into them. All in line with the swing of Ezekiel’s sword. Yet Herend didn’t focus on that. Instead, he focused on the veins of Ezekiel’s neck, and the eerie glow that seemed to emanate from them.
Yet there was nothing he could do besides hold on and try to fight. That, and pray to the Ancients that things were not as bad as they seemed. Something that he had little expectations of being true.