Daniel's eyes widened in sheer awe as he beheld the warrior before him. Avria was not just an average warrior; she was an unstoppable tempest on the battlefield. Her prowess and ferocity, a spectacle so formidable it instilled a primal fear in any who dared to watch.

“We have to get out of here, fast! Our only hope is to use the chaos of the battle to escape.” She said wiping the blood from her incisor.

“Is that what’s going on out there?” Daniel asked.

“Yes,” Nasha said, “The Rexunii are attacking, and there is no time to dally here.”

“The Rexunii?” Katrina asked, her face twisted in confusion. “They must have mobilized as soon as we left, Dan.”

“Fucking, Alektor.” Daniel cursed.

“Well, whether by chance, or some master-stroke of Alektor.” Avria sheathed her blade. “This attack is the only reason you aren’t in the clutches of the Espi-Dae now.”

“Wait,” Daniel paused. “I have to find Rin, and Matea!”

“Who?” Avria asked, her face turning to her signature scowl.

“My attendant, and my squire.” Daniel responded. “Don’t ask, it’s a long story. I’ll tell you all about it once we get the fuck out of here. Where are the interrogation rooms?”

“That’s right.” Avria scanned the bloodied hallway. “Delmos should be in here as well. Usually, the interrogation rooms are in the same building as the dungeon. We can check the other side.”

“Delmos?” Daniel and Katrina asked at the same time.

“A lot has happened,” Avria sighed. “I will fill you both in on the entirety of it later, but simply put. Delmos and my father were arrested by Yomin.”

“Holy shit.” Daniel swore. “He’s lost his fucking mind.”

“My father is back in Vul De Mar, but Delmos is here.”

“Then let’s go find him,” Daniel said as he dashed down the hall, dodging the remains, and started going through hallways, opening doors and peeking inside. “It’s crazy how they can just grow buildings like this just for a camp. This place is huge!”

“All it takes is a strong Dae-Voh!” Katrina said.

They soon came across a far more comfortable part of the building. With larger cells and more extravagant furniture. There, within the first cell, was none other than Delmos Regios, frantically looking for a way to escape.

“Dan!” He exclaimed as their eyes met. “Sister! Katrina!” Delmos ran to the bars and let out a victorious yell. “Thank the spirits you’ve come!”

“You done laying around?” Daniel grinned. “There’s a war on outside, and you’re sitting here like a damn king.”

Delmos laughed, but his face turned serious as he focused on Avria. “Sister, they’ve taken father! Yomin—”

“I know,” Avria seethed. “We will explain it to them later. For now, we need to find a few more people who are supposed to be here.”

“Well get me out of here, then!” Delmos shook the bars. “Give me a blade, and let’s make our escape.”

With little effort, Katrina manipulated the bars of the prison, making an opening for Delmos to easily walk out.

“Thank you, my dear.” He bowed as he stepped out, and was promptly handed a blade from Nasha.

Delmos stopped for a moment, looking at Espi-Drake. “What are you doing here?”

“I am Sterion Avria’s Espi-Dae representative.” He spoke through tight lips. “I am here to oversee the transportation of the… humans, back to Belous city.”

Daniel glanced at Katrina, then narrowed his eyes at Espi-Drake. “Fat fuckin chance of that happening, after all this.”

“Our mission is clear, human. Do not resist.” Drake’s voice was low and dangerous.

“Enough.” Avria spat, standing between the two. “We will figure this out after we make our escape.”

After several minutes of searching for his two charges, to no avail, Daniel started to lose hope; until he came to the end of the last hallway and pushed a heavy door open. His eyes bulged, and his heart sank at the sight before him.

He saw Rin, suspended in mid-air with stone hooks through her wrists, fastening her to the roof. Her fingers and toes had all been cut from her body, her nose, and ears as well. The horrific sight brought Daniel to his knees as he gazed at her mutilated body. Looking down, he could see the pile of her intestines on the floor where they had fallen after disemboweling her. Tears flowed from his eyes as the realization set in. “No…” He said, his voice trembling. “Rin!” Frantically looking around to see if he could find Matea, Daniel yelled. “Matea!? Matea!?” Finally in the corner, he saw the slumped form of the Dae girl with her back to him. Beside her, a tattered and blue-stained Sabree cloak. Daniel rushed to her, she was chained to the wall, but Daniel grabbed her shoulders, then felt her neck for a pulse. “Matea?” he asked, tilting her head to him. He peered into empty sockets, where her once beautiful yellow eyes had been.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Daniel’s mind turned upside-down at that moment. She had been butchered as well. Probably before Rin, but they left her here, in the corner, alive, blinded, cradling her own intestines while she slowly bled to death. A rage that had never before been felt by him bubbled to the surface in a guttural yell. His voice echoed in the dark and bloodied room. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning, he saw hardened and furious eyes; Avria’s eyes. Staring back at him. Past the anger he saw in them, was compassion and sympathy. But his mind turned to blood and fire. Compassion was for the dead. Daniel stood and looked at her.

“Alektor warned us. He said they might do something like this.” Daniels voice cracked and scraped like he had gravel in his throat. “These fuckers are all going to die.” Daniel unclasped his Lokkadonian cloak, and tossed it to the blood soaked floor. “Yomin and the Espi-Dae did this. All those mother fuckers out there did this.” Daniel extended his hand and in a flash of white-gold flame, his metal blade appeared.

Avria took several steps back as confusion set in her face.

“I’m going out there. And I am going to kill every single Dae I see wearing a red cloak.” He looked at Avria, Delmos, and Nasha. “Take em off. Today I’m fighting with Rexun.”

Daniel lifted his hand toward Matea’s lifeless body and closed his eyes. He said a silent prayer for her, the anger giving way to grief momentarily. When he finished, a white-gold flame engulfed her. Repeating the action, Rin’s body was also engulfed, and turned to ash in an instant.

Daniel looked at Avria again and began walking past her. “Take your cloak off.” He said, “This clan doesn’t deserve you.”

Avria hesitated, reaching up to the clasp at her neck. “Daniel… this wasn’t…”

“Off.” He insisted.

He could see the internal conflict being waged within her. She let out a deep sigh, but ultimately unpinned her cloak, and let it fall to the floor below. Nasha did the same, followed by Delmos, who shook his head.

“No one has to follow me out there.” Daniel said, “Kat, you should probably make it out of here. Avoid everyone out there. Lokkon, Rexun… they’re both the same.”

“No, Dan.” she said, shaking her head. “I’m in this with you. There’s no way I’m leaving you here.”

“You didn’t hesitate to leap into the fray with me.” Avria said, sincerity on her face. “The Lokkadonians have abandoned house Regios. I have already committed treason against Lokkon... Delmos and I are with you.”

“Dan... I’m sorry about all this, but after everything. These are our people.” Delmos said.

“The Lokkadonia of Agron and Oros is dead.” Daniel spat. “Those fuckers out there aren’t my friends or allies. And the only allegiance I had toward them is in here with me.” He pointed to Delmos and Avria. “And they’ve cut you off. Fuck Yomin.” He looked at Espi-Drake, pointing his metal blade at him. “And fuck the Espi-Dae.”

“A blade of light…” Espi-Drake murmured. “I had nothing to do with the death of your friends. I am a servant of the High Espi-Dae, and of Sterion Avria. I am here to ensure your safe arrival to Belous city.”

“Well, I’m not going anywhere near there.” Katrina crossed her arms.

“Then stay out of my way.” Daniel growled as he strode toward Nasha. “What about you?

“I...” She nearly crumpled under his gaze, “I will not stand in your way, Spirit-Sent— do what you must.”

“Alright.” Daniel said, walking out the door of the interrogation room and through the winding halls toward the entrance. The closer he got, the fiercer the battle became. Now in the hallway, they could hear the chaos outside. The screams of men and women, and the booming of Dunamis attacks.

Daniel forced the door open and beheld a massive battle. Warriors from Lokkon, Rexun, Visgo, Baa’Yega, Sabree and Visoth all struggled in a violent melee of Dunamis and bone. Daniel’s mind took measure of the situation. They were roughly in the center of the camp. If the Rexunii forces made their way here, their initial push seemed to have been effective. Though it looked as though their forces were being decidedly pushed back and were heavily outnumbered.

Daniel yelled, holding his hand forward, and unleashed a blast of white-gold flame directly into the backs of a group of Lokkadonian warriors. They didn’t even scream as they were consumed by the fire. Burning to ash in an instant. This was also the first time he had used his Dunamis against a foe since his metamorphosis. The effect of his power seemed more merciful than before. The crimson flames burned and melted everything in it's path. Causing incredible pain and suffering. The white-gold flame vaporized, burning with a heat so intense his victims didn’t have a chance to scream.

Two large bolts of lightning flashed by him from either side. Delmos and Avria had entered the battle. Then A wall of pillars surged past slamming into the Lokkadonian forces from behind. There was a cheer from the Rexunii forces, and they seemed to redouble their efforts.

Daniel charged in, his metal blade held high, glowing a golden light. The Lokkadonians turned to face the charge bringing their weapons up and using their Dunamis to stop Daniel. Avria charged beside him, flicking her blade and deflecting several large blasts of wind and fire. Daniel brought his blade down with all his strength. The warrior before him lifted his incisor up to block the strike, but to his horror, watched Daniel’s sword pass through his bone incisor like it was made of paper. The glowing sword went through the block, and sliced clean through the bone mask protecting the warrior’s face. No blood sprayed or seeped from the cut. Instead, the wound glowed the same color as the blade, and within seconds the body was engulfed in a golden flame.

The act caused the surrounding warriors to stumble back in fear of this new and unfamiliar power. Daniel dashed forward swinging his sword horizontally, cutting two across the abdomen, who screamed in brief agony as they too burst into flames. Seeing this, Avria slammed her fist into the ground, causing bolts of lightning to shoot from beneath the feet of the enemy. Dae warriors scrambled as they lost their footing, only to get cut down by Rexunii blades and Dunamis.

“The Spirit-Sent are with us!” A Rexunii warrior shouted using a Dunamis enhanced voice.

The words somehow emboldened Daniel, letting the rage and sorrow he felt pour out of him. He bellowed out a yell of triumph and unleashed another blast of white-gold fire. Half a dozen more warriors evaporated like water under a blazing sun. The powerful flank caused many of the warriors to turn and start running. The warriors of Visoth were the first to turn. Daniel recognized them by their painted bone plate mail. They wore no clan colors, but had a great deal of armor on, covering their arms, and legs. Daniel thought they looked like knights from his own world.

There was a small lull in the fighting as the warriors fell back to another fortified position.

“Spirit-Sent!” A Rexunii warrior called, running to Daniel. His armor was soaked in blue blood, his mask had been lost, and one of his ears was missing. “We are honored to have you with us.” he said, bowing his head.

Daniel looked at the warriors, all of them tired, bloodied and battered. There was a brief moment where Daniel considered unleashing his furry upon the Rexunii as well. But the tactical side of his mind took hold, and the path to victory, now, seemed clear. He would use them, for now, at least. The Rexunii weren’t his enemies. “Follow me!” He yelled, holding his blade high into the air.

Cheers rattled from all the Rexunii, Sabree, and Visgo warriors in the area. And Daniel turned back to charge toward the Lokkadonian line which had reformed maybe one hundred yards away.