Robert felt the familiar feeling of fear that attempted to weaken him. The same force that he battled with every time he was involved in a conflict of some kind. He swallowed hard as he looked at the ranks of warriors who charged forward.

“Again, your ability has given us the advantage we needed to attack.” Turak said, bringing his Cro’kan to a halt beside him. “Let the warriors do their work.”

The Rexunii army had mobilized the moment Daniel and Katrina had left the city. Alektor knew, somehow, that the army would not march once they arrived. Robert only prayed that they would be safe. Considering how unnerved Dio’Mar had been with Daniel’s powers, he couldn’t see him laying down and dying without a fight. They’re fine, He thought. They’re probably with Yomin or Boros in the center of the camp. We’ve just got to get there.

“Lord Turak!” A Rexunii captain yelled, riding his Cro’kan to a halt before them. Our center column has been halted by Hego Boros and the Lokkadonian Elite! We’re being pushed back!”

“Thank you, captain.” Turak said, turning to Robert. “It’s time we ended the line of Ignos once and for all. Reku, we need your power.”

Robert sighed, “One of these days, you’re going to have to fight your own battles, Turak.”

“I can do it with or without you, Reku.” He said, drawing his two curved incisors. “But you can save many lives.”

Robert took a moment to consider it. The guilt of his abuse of the ability seemingly bubbling up at the most inconvenient times.

They had attacked from four different directions. Two from the sides, one from behind, to keep them from forming battle lines as they withdrew. And the element that he was currently attached to, the center, main attacking force. Robert had again cloaked the entire army. Allowing them to approach the camp unnoticed, and unopposed. The down-side, was it drained him, immensely. He needed time to recover his strength.

Turak kicked the sides of his Cro’kan, dashing toward the front line, and Robert followed. The roar of battle intensified as they got closer to the thick of the fight, and Robert did his best to steel himself. The cacophony of screams and elemental explosions engulfed his senses, but he scanned the battlefield as best he could from his vantage. He saw where the problem lay. Boros was heading a charge that broke the center line of their main attack force. Robert lifted his hands and black smoke billowed from him, spilling over the battlefield. Boros’ advance stopped as the smoke flowed past the Rexunii warriors, and his rage-filled eyes met that of Robert’s. There was a split second of recognition, before the light of reason diminished within him. Boros unleashed a feral yell and charged headlong into the black smoke. A pang of guilt throbbed within Robert as he saw the once boisterous and eager Kryo rush so readily to his doom.

“The fool is dead.” Turak said, dismounting from his Cro’kan to join the battle.

The Rexunii started to push forward, cleaving through the blinded and discombobulated Lokkadonian forces.

Suddenly an intense heat rushed in from Robert’s left side. A shockwave hit him so hard that he fell from atop his Cro’kan, landing painfully on the bloodied grass below.

Robert took in a deep breath, and immediately started coughing as the sharp smell of ozone invaded his lungs.

“Son of a bitch!” He coughed violently, “What was that?” Robert scrambled to get to his feet and find his mount before it fled, only to realize that the smoke he unleashed into the Lokkadonian forces had been nullified. With renewed vigor, the Lokkadonians surged forward, killing Rexunii warriors as they started to fall back. Oh fuck, Robert thought frantically as a Pillar of stone shot toward his face.

“Robert!” A guttural voice yelled.

Robert stumbled back from the attack, looking toward his attacker. He wasn’t surprised to see Boros rushing toward him at full speed. His brick-red skin, caked with blue blood and grime. With a startled shout, Robert raised his hands toward Boros and unleashed as powerful of a blast as he could manage in the split second he had. Boros erected a stone shield that cracked and exploded against the intense power of Robert’s wind Dunamis. As the pieces fell away, Robert’s eyes widened as he realized the man wasn’t there. Where’d he go? Robert thought, scanning the battlefield.

“Reku!” Turak yelled, locked in battle with several red-clad Lokkadonian warriors. “We need to fall back! Back to Alektor’s line!”

Robert turned to run, but the ground beneath him began to vibrate, and his feet sank into what was essentially quicksand. A blade shot from the ground below, and lodged itself directly into Robert’s stomach. The shock of the attack, and the crippling pain that instantly exploded from his midsection almost caused him to pass out. He grunted as his vision blurred, and the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.

“Got you, you bastard.” A voice with barely restrained hatred growled, as Boros’ face emerged from the ground. Within a moment, his whole body was out, and he cruelly twisted the blade in his guts.

Robert gasped in pain, and felt his knees weaken. “D-Dio!” He croaked, as his eyes glanced around, looking for the little spirit. “Help me!”

“Shut up.” Boros said, pulling the blade out, slicing his abdomen open.

Robert fell to his knees. Doing his best to hold his innards in place. Time seemed to slow for him, then. And he took a moment to observe the losing battle that was taking place around him. Is this as far as I go? He thought, reliving the moments of his life. Before the arrival, and after. I’ve done so many things wrong…

“We took you in!” Boros shouted, raising his blade. “We fed you! Protected you! Fought for you!” Robert raised his left hand instinctively, shaking his head.

“Please—” He gurgled, before Boros brought the blade down, and a sharp pain shot up his arm. Robert looked on in a daze at the stump of his left arm, cut off at the elbow. As he studied it, the realization set in, and he began to scream in agony.

“Scream all you like, you gurrank.” Boros spat. “You killed my family. And today you meet the spirits, or demons or whatever brought you here.” Boros reached out and grabbed Robert’s hair, wrenching his head back and exposing his neck.

Robert knew what would come next. His life was over, and part of him even welcomed it. He relaxed his neck, and resigned himself to death. Alektor would care for his children. Daniel would care for Katrina, and he could finally get out of this god-forsaken place.

“You would give up… so easily…” The tiny voice of Dio’Mar whispered in his ear.

Let it be done with, he thought to her. He deserves his revenge.

“You are not allowed to die yet… King Reku…” Her voice rasped, and as Boros’ blade came down to cleave off his head, Dio’Mar appeared before him, her incorporeal hand solidifying and catching the deadly strike.

Boros’ eyes widened in surprise, and he released Robert, dashing back to take up a defensive stance.

“My Hego!” A Lokkadonian officer shouted, falling in around him with dozens of warriors, facing the steadily growing form of Dio’Mar.

“You are unworthy to slay him…” She said, her small mouth splitting open at the cheeks, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth within a terrifying maw. “You are marked, son of Ignos… your family, now cursed for this transgression…”

Robert blinked, doing his best to stay conscious. “Dio…” He said weakly. “Please… let… me… die…”

With a low growl, her body engulfed him, and he felt himself sink into a black void of nothingness. It wasn’t the warmth he was expecting, upon death. It was cold, uncaring, and vile. He attempted to resist it, but he was just so tired now. He struggled to stay awake, but he couldn’t. Is this what happens to us when we die? He thought. Just before finally succumbing to the cold, dark, unending void.

~

Daniel closed the distance between the Lokkadonian line, quickly. Using his Dunamis to create an impenetrable wall of white flame. Every element that was unleashed against him, dissipated as soon as it came in contact with it. Daniel swung his sword down, causing the wall of white flame to spill into the Lokkadonian line. Dae screamed as they were caught aflame, and the line was vaporized before him. Daniel rushed over the burnt remains of several warriors and directly at an officer who was trying to organize and form up his warriors after the attack. He brought his incisor up just in time to block Daniel’s diagonal swing. Again, Daniel’s glowing sword cut right through it, slicing into the Lokkadonian’s shoulder. The golden flames billowed out of his body as he fell, turning to ash as he hit the ground.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Daniel then heard the Rexunii forces slam into the line. The sound was overwhelming. Warriors screamed and shouted, Dunamis exploded and screeched from all sides. It was utter chaos. Daniel bathed in the feeling. The smell of war filling his nostrils, the sounds that clattered all around him. He had held back for so long here. So long he had been afraid of offending or mis stepping, so long had he been at the mercy of others, not been in control of his own life. Here though, in the carnage of battle. He was free. He held his own life in his hands.

The Rexunii warriors pressed forward, finally breaking through the already shattered line and coming to stop beside Daniel. “Spirit-Sent!” They started to cheer, holding their blades in the air.

Daniel scanned the camp, it was so large, there were a dozen similar battles being fought on every side of this place. He saw billows of black smoke spiraling into the air, to the east. It was difficult to see, through the high-grown structures, smoke and dust in the air, but there was no mistaking it. That was Robert’s black wind ability. “Robert.” Daniel growled.

Daniel charged again, dashing toward the black smoke. He broke into the clearing and saw nearly a thousand warriors engaged in a massive battle. The Rexunii forces were being overwhelmed. This must be the main host of Lokkadonian elite. The Dunamis exploded much more powerfully here, and warriors of Rexun were dying at an alarming rate. Daniel again raised his hand, digging deep into his soul to unleash a powerful blast of power. A massive ball of white-gold flame shot from his hand, so bright that it temporarily blinded him. As it slammed into the side of the Lokkadonian warriors it exploded, killing dozens of Dae in the process. Suddenly there was silence, and almost every warrior not caught in the blast turned to see Daniel and the small Rexunii contingent with him.

Daniel, with a fierce cry, lifted his sword high, the metal glinting under the sun as he charged into the fray once more. The battle erupted around him, a symphony of chaos where every note was a scream or the crack of bone. He fought with a relentless fury, his blade finding its mark again and again, felling the Lokkadonian warriors like trees in a storm.

However, in his zeal, he pushed too far, the momentum of his attack and bline rage, isolating him from his allies. He now stood encircled by the Lokkadonian elite, their sharp gaze fixed on him. The realization struck as a bone spear suddenly pierced his hip. Sending a crippling jolt of pain through his body. Another spear grazed his forehead, splitting his skin to the bone. Pain and anger surged within him, and in a burst of golden flame, he unleashed his Dunamis all around him. The warriors closest to him ignited, their screams mingling with the battle's cacophony as they were consumed by the golden blaze.

Then, above the din, there came distant shouting. Through the red wave of enemies, three massive figures emerged, breaking through the line with the force of a rockslide. Daniel, his vision momentarily clearing from the haze of battle, saw them for what they were—stone golems, their eyes glowing with an eerie green light. They moved with a purpose, tossing warriors aside as if they were leaves in the wind.

Daniel's confusion peaked as he saw Katrina, standing atop one of these golems, her presence a beacon of hope amidst the turmoil.

“Dan!” she yelled, pointing her finger at a group of Lokkadonian warriors. A swarm of golems shambled toward them, “Let’s go!” She yelled.

Daniel ran toward her, ignoring the blazing pain in his hip and his forehead. He nimbly climbed the golem and held on next to Katrina.

“I didn’t know you could do this!” He shouted over the clash of battle.

“Yeah, I could say the same about you.” She said, before pointing to their right, her eyes widening in surprise. “Look out!” she screamed as a bolt of lightning slammed into the side of the golem, sending chunks of stone, and both of them tumbling to the ground.

Daniel landed awkwardly on his side, narrowly deflecting a spear thrust aimed at his chest with his metal blade. With a forceful kick, he connected with the Dae warrior's bone chest plate, using his enhanced human strength to send the warrior reeling back into the throng of battling fighters.

Springing to his feet, Daniel raised his blade defensively, channeling his power into it until it again glowed with a fierce, golden light. Katrina's voice cut through the din, shouting something urgent. Spotting her engaged with two Lokkadonian warriors, Daniel sprinted towards them, his speed supernatural despite the throbbing pain in his hip. He thrust his radiant blade into the back of one adversary, causing the warrior to erupt into flames and fall to the soil with a fleeting ghostly wail.

The remaining Lokkadonian, stunned by the sudden death of his comrade, stumbled backward over the battlefield's carpet of corpses. Katrina seized this moment, her blade slicing cleanly through the warrior's neck. Without pause, she plunged back into the melee. The warrior clutched futilely at his wound, the bone mask impeding his grasp, and soon collapsed, adding more blood to the already foully saturated ground.

As Daniel turned from the fallen Dae, he took a moment to assess the battle's progress. The Rexunii and Lokkadonian forces were deadlocked, neither gaining ground. With a swift motion of his glowing sword, Daniel followed Katrina’s path through the chaos, his blade easily dispatching several warriors who attempted to stop him. Until he found Katrina, who was easily distinguishable by her black cloak and brown hair. He felled several more red-clad Lokkadonian warriors, their bodies turning to ash as they fell.

“There’s no end to this!” She shouted over her shoulder at him. She did her best to wipe her bloodied hands on her pants to keep them from slipping off her already soaked handle. “Dan, we need to do something.”

“Any ideas?” Daniel answered, slicing an incisor in half and cutting off the hand of the one warrior who had attacked him. To his surprise, he didn’t burst into flames as the others did. His blade merely cauterized the wound, and the Dae screamed, holding the stump and falling backward. Promptly being slain by a Rexunii warrior’s spear.

“Hold on!” She shouted, then pointed her hand at him. “I need to give you a better vantage! I’ll raise you up, and you use your power.”

“I am using my powers!” Daniel shot back.

“You know what I mean! Do something that a Spirit-Sent is capable of! They’re scared of your new abilities! Use them.”

“Fine.” Daniel said, before the ground beneath him started to rumble, and a large pillar of stone shot into the air, with him at the top of it. Queasiness lurched within his stomach as he was raised nearly thirty feet into the air.

Fighting the vertigo, he took a deep breath. Raising his sword high, Daniel let out a yell, amplified by the Dunamis, which paused the combat around him. His blade shone with the intensity of a miniature sun, halting all action as both Rexunii and Lokkadonian warriors fell to their knees in a mix of fear and reverence. A beam of light pierced the cloud cover above.

As his breath gave out, an eerie silence enveloped the battlefield. Daniel surveyed the faces around him, warriors who had moments ago been in full combat now staring at him in awe and terror.

Then, horn blasts echoed across the field, signaling something significant. The Rexunii warriors erupted in cheers, and Daniel guessed this was the call for the Lokkadonians to retreat. From his vantage atop the pillar, he watched as the enemy began their withdrawal, still fighting as they fled. After some time, a heavy calm settled over the battlefield, and the surviving warriors began to celebrate their costly victory.

The pillar began to descend, and Daniel leaped off when it was a more manageable distance from the ground. His feet squelched in the blood soaked soil , and looked around him to behold the now silent battlefield. Thousands of bodies littered the landscape, also torn and broken by the use of the Dunamis. A heaviness came over Daniel as he took it all in. A firm hand grasped his shoulder and turned him around. He stared into the furious yellow eyes of Avria, as she scowled at him angrily.

“Once again, you charge off into the thick of battle on your own!” She yelled. “You were nearly killed, Daniel.”

“I’m fine.” He said, looking at Delmos who approached behind Avria, his chest heaving.

“Thank the spirit’s you’re alive,” Delmos panted. “Dan, I’ve never seen anything like that before in my entire life. What is this new power you have?”

“We all have questions.” Avria snapped. “But we will ask them after we’re out of here.”

“And where would you be going?” A distinct voice asked from behind.

Daniel turned to see Turak, walking toward them, dragging the unmoving body of a Lokkadonian warrior by the boot.

Avria tensed as he came to a halt before them, then her eyes widened as she recognized the Dae he was dragging.

Turak unceremoniously tossed the unconscious form of Boros into the mud between them. Daniel winced at the wound on his head, a massive gash across his forehead, still leaking blue blood across his face. It was then that Daniel’s inspection revealed a large amount of red blood on the Hego’s chest plate. He was about to speak, but Katrina beat him to it, seeming to have noticed the same thing.

“Who’s blood is that?” She pointed.

“You know who’s it is.” Turak spat, kicking Boro’s unconscious body. “This bastard gutted King Reku.”

“What?” Katrina asked, horror and sadness painted on her face.

Damn, Daniel thought. Boros got his revenge.

“He sliced him up, right before Dio’Mar materialized and consumed him

“Dio’Mar consumed him?” Daniel asked, narrowing his eyes to Turak.

“Not sure if he’s dead or not.” Turak shook his head. “But it didn’t look very good from where I was standing. His guts were all in the mud, and he was missing half an arm.”

“Robert…” Katrina whispered, her face now looking ghostly.

“What about Boros?” Daniel asked Turak.

“If I wasn’t explicitly told not to kill him, I would have taken his head. Alas, our King has some use for him. He’ll probably want to do something special.”

Daniel looked at Boros again, and found he couldn’t feel sympathy for the Dae Hego. Every time he tried, the images of Rin and Matea’s mutilated bodies entered his mind. And any semblance of sympathy turned into a furious rage.

“I’m glad you decided to join us though.” Turak interrupted his thoughts. “It was a difficult fight to be sure. And I feel we might not have been victorious if it weren’t for your abilities.”

“I didn’t do this for you.” Daniel gave him a dangerous look. “I fought to survive and to keep more of my friends from dying.”

Turak took a moment to look at Daniel, his calculating eyes narrowing slightly, before glancing at Avria, Boros, and Nasha.

“They’re not to be touched.” Daniel growled.

“Very well, Spirit-Sent,” Turak conceded. “I would ask that you join me back to our camp. High King Alektor, I’m sure, will be most eager to speak with you.”

Daniel thought about it. After such a battle, they needed rest and recouperation. As long as they kept their hands off of Avria and Delmos, it should be fine.

“We can’t trust then, Daniel.” Avria whispered insistently from behind him. “We would have a better chance on the road.”

“Road to where?” Daniel asked her. “We have nowhere to go, Avria. Alektor will at least hear us out.”

“I would rather die than break bread with that monster.” She hissed.

“Would you rather your father dies as well? Or Delmos?”

She hesitated at his words, then cursed under her breath. “We are just as likely to die by his hands as we are Yomin’s.”

Daniel again considered, then glanced back toward Katrina, who was still dazed, but nodded toward him. Daniel nodded in return, then faced Turak again. “We’ll join you.”