The battlefield was utter chaos, with the beasts slowly but surely gaining the upper hand in combat.
At the far back, their leader seemed to be tactically directing his minions to attack [https://img.wattpad.com/a53b9bfc45aaed9cbf8c9eddeada185e8a709d97/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f59514d687259676f5075325857413d3d2d313234323530353334372e313732393462373338313565666437613737363535393830323834372e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
At the far back, their leader seemed to be tactically directing his minions to attack. On Incola's side, three squads defended the fortress: Linvaes' squad, the squad of the undead with grey slits and, lastly, the trio. The two first squads had only two members. As for Okir, he was the only one fighting alone. In total, Ilka had 6 soldiers defending the fortress, plus Bazren and Raxyas. 8 undead against what seemed to be an unending horde of beasts. He himself hadn't joined the battle, with the plan of being the last line of defence, in case the enemy managed to get past the squads.
Linvaes: This is no good! We can't handle them like this, we need a tactician here. Otherwise, we're fighting a losing battle...
Linvaes' squad was in trouble. He relied on his teammate to aggro the beasts, so that he could focus on taking them down quickly. However, as more and more beasts approached, they were in clear trouble.
Grey Slits: Shut up and fight, Lin! We didn't come all this way to get defeated by some mutts, so stay sharp and keep taking them down. Their numbers can't be infinite.
Tentoria, Bazren, and Raxyas had placed themselves in the middle of the two squads. Luckily, the sides of the battlefield were blocked by cliffs. All who wished to invade the fortress using this entrance were greeted with a long corridor of stone and dust that had to be crossed before making it inside, which made it easy to defend against outside threats... Or, at least, against most of them.
Crimson Bullseye: NAIZK! Think it's time to pull your cocky asshole act now?! We're getting our asses handed to us! If we don't do something and FAST these things are going to massacre us all!
Linvaes' partner was the one shouting back at Naizk, the undead with grey slits. His partner's vessel was large enough that it could take quite a beating, but unlike Okir, it was not capable of much offensive play. He carried a massive tower shield which he used to keep the beasts at bay, as Linvaes took them down one by one.
Naizk (Grey Slits): What's the matter, Gunjia?! So much for carrying that big-ass shield around, you can't even protect yourself, let alone your team mate! [https://img.wattpad.com/1da1e5dc5479c008f0e75373ab37130c9f978217/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4c334b6e77316a674767687862673d3d2d313234323530353334372e3137323934633337623931303231393139333131323738353432392e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Naizk (Grey Slits): What's the matter Gunjia?! So much for carrying that big-ass shield around, you can't even protect yourself, let alone your team mate!
Gunjia (Crimson Bullseye): What the fuck is your problem?! I've had it with you and your trash talk... We're settling the score after we're done here! You're getting what's coming to you, you-
Naizk's partner didn't seem pleased with this interaction, and interrupted both of them. Bazren recognized her, she was the same undead that was speaking with Okir the night she raided the room with the scrapped watcher boxes.
Purple Spiral: ENOUGH! You two are not doing this again now. We have bigger problems to deal with. You, the new girl! Of all of us, you are the most accustomed to No Man's Shore. What's more, you have a ranged weapon. You're calling the shots from now on, organize us as you see fit. Just do it fast!
Tentoria was caught off guard by the female undead's order. Still, she understood the reasoning behind it. Immediately, she shouted out directions.
Tentoria: You heard Eanai! Here's what we'll do: Okir, you need to be at the front. Gunjia, you'll be joining Okir. The two of you must aggro as many beasts as possible, that is your main task!
Okir was in the process of destroying two more beasts. He finishes up, and then goes to Gunjia's location to help him re-position to the front lines.
Tentoria: Next, melee fighters! Whatever beasts get through Okir and Gunjia, it's your mission to keep them at bay. So, form a line behind them so that we have soldiers going from cliff wall to cliff wall!
Raxyas and Bazren quickly hug one of the cliff's walls. Linvaes pairs up with Eanai, who has a whip-type soul weapon. They hug the other wall.
Tentoria: Lastly, ranged fighters! We will be supporting the remaining fighters. We will place ourselves behind them and take down as many beasts as we can.
Naizk runs to a position behind his partner, Eanai, and Linvaes. Tentoria places herself behind Raxyas and Bazren.
Tentoria: Stand your ground and don't let any of them get through!
Tentoria shouted her orders with remarkable speed. They seemed to come naturally to her, as if it wasn't the first time she had been faced with a situation like this. With the new positioning, the 8 undead seemed to stand a chance against the onslaught. But still, more and more beasts came their way.
Bazren: This doesn't seem right... They won't stop coming!
Raxyas: Like Naizk said, they can't be infinite, right? We just have to keep destroying them!
Two beasts lunged at Raxyas and Bazren. They quickly take them down, but three more follow behind. Tentoria throws her weapon, a spear, impaling one of them, leaving the other two for them to take care of. On the other side of the battlefield, things seemed much less under control. Linvaes was having a hard time getting any attacks in, while Eanai struggled with the sheer number of foes coming their way. Naizk's shotguns were powerful, but needed time to reload between shots. Shortly after, more beasts started to come the trio's way, too. Tentoria's spear was not fast enough to handle multiple beasts simultaneously, and even though Bazren's flail could strike down many at once, with every swing she was left wide open. Raxyas' whip-gladius could be spun quickly to tear them to shreds efficiently, but even so the radius of the blade was not wide enough to keep them all of the enemies at bay. At the front, Okir and Gunjia we're getting completely swallowed up... They were clearly going to lose this battle.
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
Okir: WE... MUST... RETREAT!
As he says this, Gunjia screams in pain, as the beasts tear his vessel apart. Okir quickly takes out a soul sphere to capture his soul, and then runs back to the fortress. On the right side, Eanai and Linvaes are also taken down. Naizk captures their souls, and retreats as well. Only the trio remained against the beasts.
Bazren: We have to go, we cannot possibly win!
Raxyas: Tentoria, what are you waiting for?!
Tentoria: I can't... I won't go!
Raxyas: Fuck... Then we're not going either!
Bazren and Raxyas stayed. They wouldn't leave Tentoria to fight the beasts alone. Suddenly, loud footsteps echoed through the battlefield. All beasts ceased their attacks, making way for their leader to pass through.
[https://img.wattpad.com/9c1c7584b57be081efc8295f0a8a04aee45e3d1d/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f727955444d332d4e4d75675347673d3d2d313234323530353334372e313732616431363161346164363439363731353630363336323539302e706e67]
Black Beast: Move. You are no match for us.
The beast towered above the fighters, it's vessel and eyes coated in tar... Much like Xi's vessel was.
Black Beast: You defend the root of sacrifice and ruin that taints the very lands where our souls have anchored. If left untended, it will bring about the absolute destruction of this world. Is that what you wish...?
The leader spoke in a prophetic tone, as if he knew exactly what would happen if Incola wasn't eliminated.
Tentoria: I know what you've seen... Those memories were my own. All the pain, all the suffering that was caused, with the sole purpose of returning to the world of the living... It cannot happen again. I won't allow it to happen again. But, I cannot let you destroy them. Not yet! There is still so much I don't know... They are the only ones who can help me find what I seek.
The beast trembles briefly. Her words carried a weight that made it change its demeanor.
Black Beast: I see now... That the threads of fate have locked into place. This battle... I cannot win. Your battle... You cannot win it, either. Alas, that will not stop you from doing what you feel you must do. And much like yourself, I am also no slave to fate.
The beast adopts a battle stance.
Black Beast: I will go down fighting, even if that means I will die choked by the very threads of fate that I so desperately wish to escape from.
Bazren: Here they come. Do your best, everyone!
Bazren and Raxyas keep the smaller beasts at bay, while Tentoria focuses on taking down the leader. Unfortunately, Raxyas and Bazren quickly get overpowered, and without a way of capturing their souls, Tentoria has only one option...
Tentoria: I wish I didn't have to do this... But you were right. This was always a battle you could have never won...
Tentoria shrieks, as the blackness from her eyes pours like a waterfall from the sockets, seeping into the soil.
The tar mangles them, slowly turning them to dust [https://img.wattpad.com/afb204153c453dc0620bb4046eb4ad69fe6007e6/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f644264616f446e4772352d4171773d3d2d313234323530353334372e313732393464326539353162616236363831353738383236393332372e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Like black veins homing in on their target, they make their way through the ground and up the beasts' limbs, corrupting their vessels. The tar mangles them, slowly turning them to dust. Once the vessels have deteriorated enough, Tentoria sucks back the blackness into her eyes, leaving behind what was left of the broken vessels. The souls of the beasts eventually start unlinking from the remains of the bodies, but their cores are missing. Only the power that fuelled their violence remained. Exhausted, Tentoria collapses.
Bazren: Tentoria!
They quickly run to her. It seemed she had just fallen unconscious, and would recover soon. Raxyas carries her in his arms, as they make their way back to Incola.
Raxyas: This girl... I have never seen anything like her. Bazren, what are we getting ourselves into...?
Bazren: I don't know... I really, really don't know... I'll see if I can get in contact with the master. He needs to know about what we've seen.
Raxyas: Do that. I'll store these souls in my sphere... They might come in handy for us.
Bazren uses her communicator to get a hold of master Qu. Then, she tells him about what had happened since they arrived at the fortress to report their mission, up until the point where Tentoria destroyed the enemy single-handedly. In the meantime, while Bazren spoke with Qu, Raxyas was interrupted as he was finishing up sucking all the fallen foes' souls...
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : defeat... such a shame...
Raxyas: You... What do you want?
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : destroy her communicator! the one with black eyes'. okay?
Raxyas: What...? I can't do that. We need her to have it!
Raxyas tried willing the curse away, but failed. Instantly, he felt something choking his soul.
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : obey.
It was the oath. Raxyas was struggling to resist.
Raxyas: N-No... I... Can't...
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : the more you resist, the more powerful i become...
Suddenly, Raxyas' arms start moving against his will. He felt he was losing agency over his own body.
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : keep resisting, and soon i will have absolute control of your soul. then, i will be completely unimpeded to act. okay?
Raxyas: Stop...! What do you gain with this?!
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : i cannot tell you. now...
Raxyas barely had control over his own body anymore, it was moving by itself... He felt as if his soul was getting snuffed out.
Raxyas: STOP! I'll... Do it. Myself.
The moment he chooses to comply, his strength returns to him. He could move his body freely again.
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : tsk... no fun...
Raxyas channels energy into Tentoria's communicator, overloading it and causing it to break.
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : good...
Raxyas: Now... Get lost...!
Raxyas manages to will the curse away. He then takes a moment to catch his breath. Afterward, he is able to focus on the conversation between Bazren and master Qu.
Qu (comm): ... This is not good... Incola recruited this girl into their ranks. They must know what they are doing... I fear a dark future is rapidly approaching us. Bazren, Raxyas. You must make it your top priority to recover whatever knowledge they have. We cannot be left in the dark any longer, if we let them keep doing as they have... It may be too late to stop ruin from befalling our world.
Bazren: We will do our best, master Qu. With so many injuries, Incola will surely be left in disarray.
Raxyas: ... And with the blueprints Tentoria has drawn up... I'm sure we can come up with some sort of plan to get inside the vault. We will transcribe their boxes soon. It will be now or never.
Qu (comm): I wish you two the best. I hope to hear from you soon!
They say their goodbyes to master Qu. Shortly after, they were finally back at the fortress' gates.