Raxyas and Bazren arrive back at the fortress. Strangely, there was nobody guarding the gate... Something seemed off.
Raxyas: This doesn't seem right. It's not like them to leave the fortress unguarded...
Bazren: Perhaps there's something wrong.
Raxyas: Only one way to find out! Let's go in.
They enter the fortress, making their way to the throne room. Inside, some of the members were shuffling around frantically. They were organized in small groups and seemed to be on their way out of the fortress. As soon as they notice Raxyas' presence, they all stop to look at him, surprised by his new size.
Ilka: Ah, Raxyas and Bazren! I see you must have had a fun time in Slynvha. Also, curiously, one of your soul shards went missing... I wonder if you know where it may have ended up...? I'm really eager to hear all about it. But first, there's something we must deal with. I will speak to you soon. As for the rest of you, carry on with your assignments.
At Ilka's behest, the other undead returned to what they were doing. One of the members, who was on their way out of the fortress, brushed shoulders with Raxyas on the way out.
One of the members, who was on their way out of the fortress, brushed shoulders with Raxyas on the way out [https://img.wattpad.com/a50a7579380d372030c8163b990e527f2824d039/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f306e356e35617a57796a775853773d3d2d313234323530353231332e313732383665363136646139616431623537323534393936383834332e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Grey Slits: Just in time, we're going to need all the muscle we can muster for this. Don't take long, you two.
He didn't stop walking. It was clear there was some place they had to be. Sitting in one of the tallest thrones was Ilka, giving out commands to another group of members. Tentoria was standing next to him. After he was done, he signaled for Raxyas and Bazren to approach.
Ilka: You're back just in time. Congratulations on acquiring new power Raxyas, you will be able to put it to the test. You see, the fortress is... Under attack.
Raxyas and Bazren were caught off guard.
Raxyas: Under attack? By whom?
Ilka: ... Beasts. Not just your ordinary ones, however. It seems these ones have a sentient leader. We sent Tentoria to scout them at first, and it would seem that even she has never seen them around No Man's Shore before. However, they currently outmatch us in numbers. Our only hope is that they do not do so in strength.
Tentoria: It was difficult to ascertain their power... But their leader seemed strange, somehow... I have a really bad feeling about this. We need to stop them.
Ilka: I have dispatched whatever members I could, given that a good number of them are currently in missions outside the fortress. You three are the last ones to go. Tentoria already knows where the beasts are located, so you are to follow her and join up with the remaining warriors. Do your best to eradicate them, but don't extinguish yourselves in the process... We're running short of spare vessels. Now, go at once. You may report any details from Slynvha after we're done with this... Predicament.
Tentoria: Yes, sir. Come with me, you two.
They leave the throne room. Once far away enough that Ilka could not hear them, Tentoria speaks as they make their way outside the fortress.
Tentoria: First Slynvha, and now these beasts... Both times I felt the same thing. This shouldn't be happening! These beasts should not be here.
Bazren: What's so special about them? Is it really that bad?
Tentoria: Usually, the beasts roaming around Mortmundus are irrational... They are violent and destructive for the sake of being violent and destructive. When a soul arrives in Mortmundus in such a terrible state that all rationality has been lost... They eventually inhabit a vessel and turn into such beasts. Most souls arrive in a hollow state, however. Those souls are but husks of who they once were in life. Undead with these souls are known for their usually non-violent, simplistic behaviour. Some may be able to hold conversations, but mostly only regarding a couple of events that were important to them in life. There exist some violent hollow souls, but those are an exception... And then there's undead like us, the rarest type. Our souls have maintained their rationality, and are perfect reflections of who we were in life. Some of us are even powerful enough to get soul weapons.
Raxyas: From what Ilka said, their leader is a rational type, then?
Tentoria: That's what's strange about it... It seemed rational from what I could gather when I was scouting them, but it's intent was... Absolutely violent. It wants the complete obliteration of not just this fortress, but Incola itself... But, not just for the sake of destruction-
Tentoria abruptly finishes her last sentence.
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Tentoria: That's all I could gather.
Bazren: Well, maybe it knows something we don't. Who knows if it won't be us trying to destroying Incola in the future...
Tentoria: Perhaps. But I cannot allow that to happen, not yet.
Raxyas: Tentoria, about the soul shard you gave me... That was dangerous. A very dangerous move.
Tentoria: So was sending you to Slynvha to meet with that madman Xi...! I only regret not having been able to help more. But, yes. Security was tightened around here after they realized that the soul shard was missing. This brings us to the next topic... I have some good news.
They had made their way outside by now. The battlefield was not far.
Tentoria: While you were away on your mission in Slynvha, I managed to draw up a blueprint of the inside of the fortress [https://img.wattpad.com/cef610b3aca3c88bb6fdfae180c51c63d4b37e9f/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f5037567a4f6f70713443696667413d3d2d313234323530353231332e313732393462336362383033363637313935373338353930393237352e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Tentoria: While you were away on your mission in Slynvha, I managed to draw up a blueprint of the inside of the fortress. I think I've located the room where the boxes are kept... But the bad news is, with the amped-up security, it can only be accessed by two members of Incola: Okir, and Ilka. No exceptions. If you're not either one of them, there is no way to go through the door.
Bazren: That... Doesn't seem too encouraging...
Tentoria: Right... Which is why I looked for an alternate entrance. The fortress is in good condition, but it seems to be rather old. I'm guessing Incola found it and turned it into their base of operations, without bothering too much to check the structural integrity of every nook and cranny. As it turns out, Okir's room is directly adjacent to where the boxes are, even sharing one wall in between them. One not very sturdy wall... See where I'm going with this?
Bazren: Did you manage to somehow tear some of the wall apart...?
Tentoria: Something like that... I have some tricks up my sleeve.
Tentoria winks.
Tentoria: I was able to loosen up some of the bricks, just enough that one or two pushes should dislodge them from the wall. Now, I couldn't do this without leaving some marks on the wall... But, with Okir being admittedly one of the less cunning members of Incola, I'm pretty sure he won't notice anything.
Raxyas: Sounds like we have our point of entry, then. All we need now is an opportunity to strike.
Tentoria: Yes! I have left the blueprints hidden inside your room... I figured it was the safest option. That way, should they discover them, they will at least think you two are to blame.
Raxyas: That's... Clever. Even if we get in trouble...
Tentoria: At least you'll still have me on the inside.
Raxyas: Alright. Where have you concealed them?
Tentoria: They are inside the rightmost wall, you'll need to dislodge one of the bricks. It's one of the ones closest to the floor, although you'll have to feel around for it... I was careful enough to not leave any trace of tampering, but that also means that it's not exactly easy for you to know which brick hides them. It shouldn't be too difficult to locate, though.
Bazren: Great work, Tentoria. After we're done here, I'll let master Qu know the good news. I'm sure he'll be very pleased!
The trio were in good spirits. It felt like things were shaping up.
Raxyas: Tentoria, there is something else we must discuss... I know now is perhaps not a very good time, but your friend, the bartender... He told us about what happened to you. When the watcher died near Slynvha...
Tentoria did not reply.
Raxyas: ... We cannot imagine what your life must be like. I understand that you may not want to share more with us, when perhaps even you yourself don't really know what is happening. But just like you're helping us, we'll help you get the answers you're looking for. You can count on us.
Tentoria looked at Raxyas. Her gaze betrayed a certain happiness.
Tentoria: Well... I suppose there is one more thing that I should tell you, since you know so much already. That watcher wasn't the only one to have died. Not long before these beasts assaulted the fortress, another one did... And it died in No Man's Shore. In fact, I'm pretty sure it is the reason why the beasts are attacking...
Bazren: But... How can you be so sure the two events are connected?
Tentoria: The blood of the watchers corrupts almost anything it touches... But certain undead aren't just corrupted. They are also granted some flashbacks of my memories. From what I can understand, the watchers contain pieces of who I once was... Every time one dies, their memories slowly return to me. But, when certain undead come into contact with the blood of a dead watcher, it too can happen that they get shown some glimpses of those memories... And... Let's just say that what I saw this time is reason enough to warrant the complete destruction of Incola, and all they stand for... I will share more with you later. We're already here.
They had arrived. Squads of Incola members could be seen battling it out with the beasts. Unlike the vessels of the members which were humanoid in appearance, the beasts' vessels resembled animals such as dogs and wolves. Their eyes were all the same: completely red.
Raxyas: Is that... Their leader?
At the far back of the battleground stood the leader of the pack. Its vessel resembled an oversized lion. The eyes were covered by a mane of sorts. Aided by the other beasts, it seemed to be giving the members of Incola a real challenge. Okir was single-handedly fighting a group of beasts, when he locked eyes with the trio.
Okir: HEY! THE THREE OF YOU! WHAT'RE YOU WAITING FOR?!
He wielded a massive cleaver. As a beast lunged at him, he struck it in its torso, splitting it in half. As another bit his arm, he crushed the first one's head with his foot, before slamming the other one into the ground and crushing its body with the cleaver.
Tentoria: That's our chief of patrols for you...
In another group, they spotted Linvaes. His weapon resembled a dagger. He expertly dodged the attacking beasts, waiting for openings around their necks and joints. After narrowly escaping a bite, he jumps to the back of an unsuspecting beast that is busy fighting another member, and drives his dagger into its neck, tearing it apart and immobilizing it. He turns back to Okir and replies.
Linvaes: What's the matter, Okir?! Are a couple of wild beasts too much for you?
Before Okir had time to say anything, a pair of loud bangs were heard. Two beasts were sent flying into the skies, their bodies broken in half. From where these beasts came from, the four smoking barrels of two sawn-off shotguns weapon could be perceived. It belonged to the undead that had brushed shoulders with Raxyas in the fortress.
Grey Slits: Less talk, more pest control. We don't have time for this.
Tentoria rushes into the battlefield.
Tentoria: Let's go!
The trio join the battle.