The world went silent, as the Aggro Arrow spend up. Ethan shouted, letting Rebecca know to cover her ears. Through his Domain he felt Rebecca launch herself backwards into the air, covering her ears. Launching the arrow directly at the Drake’s throat he hoped it would be enough to take it down, but not kill it. He needed his family to take the kill.
The arrow hit, tearing through its throat, Ethan was less than a hundred meters from the Drake, he was running low on Mana. Even with his short break it hadn’t recovered enough to matter. Blinking again, above the Drake, Ethan fell. The Drake thrashed and fought for its life. Ethan summoned his Alabaster armour once more, filling his entire body with as much of it as he could. Rebecca’s chained held, but were breaking, and fading away. Injecting his Domain with Gravity Control, Ethan shot down, pinning the Drake. Landing hard on the Drake’s back, Ethan could feel its spine snap through his entire body.
Before he knew what was happening, the Drake spun both front legs short towards Ethan at blinding speed. A binding white light shot out, and wrapped around Ethan’s waist. The next thing he knew he was being pulled through the air, backwards. Rebecca had pulled him away at the last second. The blinded Drake furious with rage tore at air and earth alike. Its roars and howls ragged, and gurgled.
“Bind it one more time. And tell the kids to let loose.” Ethan said as he landed next to Rebecca.
[Mark, if you’re ready, now's your chance. Haley, get ready, as soon as its hit, go.]
Rebecca sent out six chains of light, more than he’d seen her use so far. They short forth, wrapping the Drake as it fought hard to kill its invisible killer. Luckily its hind legs were useless, unlucky, it started using its head to thrash about.
“Joe, can you get that skill to work?”
“You will need time to familiarize yourself with it.”
“Can you use it?”
[Are you talking to your imaginary friend again?] Rebecca asked.
Nodding Ethan waiting for Joe to respond.
“I can. But are you sure it is wise? It is a bit busy.”
“Read my thoughts.”
Joe, tell Rebecca to get to the kids as soon as they hit the Drake. Tell her to grab the kids and get to me. IF there is loot, they have to grab it, then we run. Tell her that. Please.
[Rebecca-]
[Holy shit he’s real?!]
[Mom, who was that? Did the Guides figure out |Soul Connection|]
[Haley, Rebecca. We do not have time. Rebecca, run to the kids. Get them to the Drake as soon as they Attack the Drake. Ethan wants you to get them there, and then you will escape as fast possible. Do you understand?]
Ethan grabbed Rebecca’s hand, driving home he feelings. His need for her to listen. He had no idea what would happen after it was dead, but he felt the System wasn’t just going to let them go.
[Firing in 3. 2. 1.] Mark said.
A resounding boom shook the world. Followed by screams that filled the Training Field with nightmarish screams. Ethan froze, unable to move.
[REBECCA, RUN!] Joe screamed over Soul Connection. Waking her from her paralysis.
Ethan jolted from his stupor, ran towards the Drake. Blink was faster, but he wanted to give Haley time to fire her shot. Rebecca was gone. Running and jumping back to the central building. Before either had gotten more than ten meters away, Ethan was blasted by the Screamer reaching super sonic, he ended up having to blink past the wall of air rushing towards him. The Drake was hit on the stomach, it exploded in a torrent of blood and dirt. A massive hole poured organs and bone out on to the odd bluish grass. Moments later, Haley launched a hell fire beam of pure white light, frying the insides of the Drake, slamming it back to ground for a third time in seconds.
Blood erupted from its throat as it tried to scream. Either in pain, or rage, Ethan didn’t know. Blinking again, Ethan appeared on above of the Drake. Still it fought, still it rampaged. Ethan could tell it was dying. Its movements were no longer directed. It fought against anything and everything in reach. It fought against the word itself, it fought for one more second of life. And it was winning.
Landing on the Drake, Ethan sent out his Hammer chains. They wrapped around the Drake’s neck one more time, he grabbed the chains as they came around. Encircling his arms in chains, he pumped gravity through his Domain, increasing his weight, tenfold, a hundred fold. He felt his bones crack. The Drake fought, but lost control, slamming down one last time.
[We’re on the way back. Hold on, we’re coming.]
Ethan held on, pumping everything he had into pinning the Drake down. His Mana was bottoming out, his body was straining to maintain the high gravity he was using.
“We’re here. What do you need us to do?” Rebecca asked, worry deep in her voice.
“Kill. You. Have. To. Kill. It.” Ethan forced out.
[On it.] Was all Mark said as he got to work.
Ambient Mana gathered around him, Mana began to solidify in front of him, and before everyone’s eyes a smaller rail gun appeared.
[I need more bullets, if you don’t have any more I can use Mana.]
Ethan spared a thread of Gravity Control, and sent his bag flying to Mark.
Haley lined up with the open wound in its stomach, and gathered her Mana. A pin hole sized light appeared in each of her open palms. They steadily grew until they were the size of trash can lids. She threw them forward, and they leveled out before slicing into the Drake. She sent them flying around inside the Drake.
It thrashed unable to move or get away.
Rebecca summoned her six chains, the chains binding the Drake had long since faded. He chains coiled each other, forming one large mass of light more than ten meters long. Rebecca ran to the front of the Drake.
[Can you give me a bit of that Gravity?]
“Just swing.” Ethan said, strained.
Ethan pushed his Gravity Control to its limits. Any further and he’d lose control of the Drake. Rebecca raised her chains up, and brought it down on the Drake’s head. Breaking its jaw. Over and over she swung. Ethan holding on as long as he could.
“MARK NOW!” Ethan yelled, on the brink of losing control.
[On it. Firing.]
Mark let loose. Firing his mini rail gun, it had six barrels. Six metal spikes launched faster than sound, slamming into the Drake’s face, fully piercing its eyes, and face. Blood and bone exploded out the back side of the Drake’s head. Its body went limp.
The shared notification sounded. Letting them all know they had killed the Drake.
Visibly tired, Ethan slipped from the Drake’s back.
“It’s not done yet. Ignore the notifications for now. Find the loot portal. I’ll handle the body.” Ethan said, barely able to stand. His Stamina was gone, his Mana was running dry.
Joe, let them know what it looks like. Please.
Bracing himself on the Drake, Ethan walked to the nose of the Drake. Pushing his Missing Link through his Domain he felt it take hold, and the Drake’s body began to disappear into Ethan. Slowly walking forward, the Drake was made slow work of as Ethan’s Internal Well quickly filled up with Drake. He had managed to consume most of it, only the rear legs and tail remained.
“I can’t get the rest. Did you find the portal?” Ethan asked sitting down in blood soaked dirt. Not caring. He had to rest up for what came next.
[I can get the rest, I have a storage construct, I can store it, if you want.] Mark said.
Ethan weakly nodded.
“I found it, what do I do?” Haley said. It was closer to the head, Ethan hadn’t even noticed it.
[Reach in. There will be loot for anyone considered a participant in the battle. Rebecca, I would like to request aid for Ethan. He needs assistance standing.] Joe said, getting more comfortable with using Soul Connect. [Whatever you get, stick it in Ethan’s bag, don’t bother for now. We have to get moving.]
“Haley, can you move your light platforms?” Ethan asked, as Rebecca lifted him up.
“Yeah, why?”
“Firefly.” Ethan said, tapping his head.
[Haley, we need to get moving. Summon a platform. Make it look like we are getting your Dad a place to lay down.] Rebecca didn’t know the full plan, but she knew something was up.
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Haley summoned a platform, so Ethan could sit down. She lifted it so Ethan could retrieve his loot. Rebecca was next, followed by Mark. As soon as Mark pulled his loot from the Portal, he stuffed it into the sack, and the portal closed.
[Haley-]
“Mrs. Rebecca.” Miri spoke, appearing out of now where. “we should get your mate to the central building, he needs medical assistance. Our healers can get him patched up.”
[Haley, grab your brother, and get us moving on this platform now!] Rebecca said as she calmly sat next to Ethan.
“Who’s your friend dear?” Ethan asked grabbing her hand, pushing worry through his connection. Reassurance was all Rebecca returned.
[It is my turn. Relax.]
“This is Miri, she has been our Guide during our time here at the Training Fields. She didn’t believe you’d come. But now it is time for us to take our leave Miri. Thank you for your… Guidance.” Rebecca said, as the platform started to move towards the central building with the entire family resting on it.
[Take your time, we might need to run, and your father isn’t ready for that.] Rebecca sent over [Soul Connection].
[I do not like this. They are actively scanning you Ethan, I can feel the System attempting to reconnect to you, we have to go. Now.]
Miri appeared in front of them.
“I see you have a Fallen among you. Please wait here, we will bring a healer to you.” Miri said, not moving from in front of the platform.
[Do not stop.] Rebecca said, keeping her face straight, hiding her true emotions.
Joe, I might need to push myself again. Can you communicate with my family if I black out?
[I should be able to after a short time.]
[Ethan, what are you planning?]
Let them know to not leave the Safe Zone. Make sure they make it through the portal, together. It doesn’t matter if I do, as long as they get out of here.
[Don’t be silly, they won’t leave you behind, if you stay they’ll stay.] Joe said.
[Ethan. You better tell me what you are planning, or so help me. We are not losing you again.]
[Dad, you can’t stay here, you have to come with us. I am with Mom, if you stay, we stay. Haley said.
[I am with Dad.] Mark said.
Joe, tell them, we are all going. I just need Rebecca to make sure no one is separated. Haley needs to keep this thing moving towards the portal. No. Matter. What.
[He says we are all going. Haley, he needs to you to take us to the portal as fast as possible. Don’t stop for anything. Rebecca, he needs you to make sure we do not get separated.]
[One problem, this is as fast as I can go. I am already straining to keep everyone moving.] Haley said, worrying she’d be the reason they didn’t get away.
[I can help with that. You just need to keep us in the air, you don’t even have to move us.] Mark said, offering his own option. [I can propel us forward, it isn’t hard. And I have plenty of Mana left since I use Ambient Mana.]
Way to go big man, lets do this. Rebecca, can you hold me up, make it look like I am weaker than I am.
Joe conveyed Ethan’s words, and Rebecca moved to prop Ethan up in here lap. This caused Haley to have to move between Ethan’s legs. Sitting in his lap like she used to when she was a little kid. Haley pulled Mark in, and held him tight, looking like the caring older sister.
Miri had still yet to move. Haley brought the platform to halt in front of her. They waiting in silence.
[Ethan, you can not let them heal you. That is a guide, I know what they can do. If you let them touch you, you will be part of the System’s network again. There will be no going back. And… I will be killed.]
Don’t worry buddy, I got this. When have my plans ever failed? I am batting like a 100 right? A 100 is a good thing in Baseball, right?
[No, no it is not.]
Damn, okay. So I suspect, she is waiting for her friends to show up. Once they get here, we make our move.
Joe relayed Ethan’s message, and they waited.
“If you are waiting for my fellow Guides to arrive, I am sorry to say they are not coming.” Miri said, stunning everyone.
“Mark, go time.” Ethan calmly spoke, never taking his eyes off Miri.
Well this went to shit.
Mark’s construct sprung into existence almost immediately. Just as Rebecca summoned her chains, wrapping them around her family. As soon as eight long spider like legs touched down, they shot forward, and Ethan activated Missing Link. Miri was instantly consumed. A wailing of untold voices filled the Training Fields. Countless Guides appeared in front of, and around the platform.
A FALLEN HAS KILLED ONE OF US
The voice was many, and one. The Guides spoke as one, but each in their own way, some even spoke in languages other than English, or any other recognizable Earth language. Ethan pushed his Domain further, pushing Missing Link to its limits. The swarm of smoke like beings threw themselves at the platform. Chanting over an over again, in every language imaginable. The way forward was soon covered in guides throwing themselves at Ethan. No one could see anything.
“Mark don’t stop! Even if you can’t see, just keep going forward.” Ethan shouted, as he activated Mana Sight. “I can see through them, in ten meters veer to the right. Then correct course and return to going straight.”
The swarm got thicker and thicker, soon even Mana Sight was failing to pierce the wave of Guides. But Ethan saw they had passed the Central Building.
“A hundred meters to go, step on it.” Ethan said, hoping his Missing Link didn’t fill up for they reached the portal. “Haley, can you kill them or something with a beam or whatever?”
“I can try.” Haley said, but everyone heard how tired she was.
Joe, can you path me in to Rebecca, privately?
[Done. Go ahead.]
Rebecca perked up, it was her first time sensing a singular connection. She had always just broadcast it to her kids.
With Joe relaying Ethan’s words, he laid out his plan.
Pretty sure Haley is reaching her limits. I am close to filling up on smoke guides, and we are still less than a hundred meters away. I have chains, I can keep us together. But I need you to get us to that portal. I am pretty sure Mark can shield us. But Haley is gonna be down.
[Got give me a sec to fill the kids in.]
Ethan could feel his limits being pushed again. Reaching over the edge of the platform he tried to summon the souls he was consuming, in an attempt to expel them and gain a few moments longer as they moved closer. As hard as he tried, nothing came and worry set in, he wasn’t sure if he could get rid of them.
[Thank Dad, I am getting close to running out.] Haley said, Ethan knew she was pushing herself, and he knew what was coming if she kept at it.
Summoning his own chains, he wrapped them around his Wife and kids.
“Ready.” Ethan said.
Mark collapsed his construct, forming a new one. This one was a simple shield around the platform of light. Haley let go of the her Mana and blacked out. Rebecca summoned her six chains and pushed with everything she had as the ball of ambient Mana shot through the air. Falling just ten meters shy of the Portal, Ethan was forced to do what he was afraid to try.
Joe, I need to get rid of some souls, can you absorb some?
[No, I don’t have that ability. I am sorry.]
It’s OK buddy, here goes nothing.
Instinct told him he could expel the Guides. But it wasn’t working. There was something he was doing wrong. If he couldn’t manifest the Souls externally, he had to try the next option, internally.
Rebecca had recalled her chains, Mark had sealed up his construct. They were sitting ducks. Haley’s attack didn’t work, even if she wasn’t passed out, which meant Rebecca’s chains were useless. Ethan was filling up quick, and they were sitting ducks, close to the finish line.
Ethan reached inside, and searched, souls couldn’t leave his body, so he had figure out where to put them. Still they rained down on his Domain. Still they threw themselves at him, filling him up. He couldn’t add them to his Soul Layers, that would just add more passengers in his Soul Realm. Ethan recalled the Missing Link Skill, reading it over and over. Until a single line stuck out to him.
EVERY RESOURCE CONSUMED, ADDS TO THE GREATER WHOLE.
Could it really work?
With no other option, he resolved himself. His original idea was to inject the souls into his Skills if Joe couldn’t help. But now he was having a different idea. Could he use resources gathered to increases his stats?
Plunging deep within himself, Ethan felt more than saw, his soul. Laying bare within his Soul Realm. He could clearly see the five layers, looking bare, except for the skills and Joe like he’d seen before. Going deeper he saw the outer layer of his soul. Still he dove deeper. Reaching his core. Reaching out, Ethan felt his Missing Link skill, followed its connection to his Internal Well, and drew the resource back along the path. Pulling deeper and deeper. The mass of Mana and ,as best as he could describe it, whips of corded smokey fibers, slowly flowed backwards. Away from where he usually sent them, out. Instead they crept ever so slowly towards his core.
Ethan, this is a really very, super bad idea.
Yeah. I know. But if I don’t get rid of them, I am pretty sure the System is going to kill me. Or suck me back in. I like not having to deal with it following me, plus, I made a promise to free you. I’ll make sure it happens. One way or the other.
Ethan resumed his march, dragging the guides souls into his own. Ever closer, looking back at his reserves they were dangerously close to being full. Returning to his core he dragged the souls harder than before, hoping to quicken the process.
--
Rebecca held Ethan as he was deep in meditation. Haley laid limp across Ethan’s chest, his arms still wrapped around her. Mark sat cross legged, eyes closed, hands pressed to the walls of the sphere he had created, keeping the Guides from entering. She could still feel Ethan doing something, it was like a weird ball of pressure surround her husband. But it was shrinking.
[Mom, I need you to wrap a chain around us, I am pretty sure you’re going to be the only one left awake after I try this.]
“No you don’t. Don’t you dare do anything stupid, I already have to take care of your Dad and your sister. Not you too.” Rebecca said, her limits finally breaking, and tears rolling down her cheeks.
[Mom, I can do this. Just get your binding light ready. I… I love you Mom. Tell Dad, I said I love him too.]
“Mark Jacobs Soxe, don’t you dare do something stupid!” Rebecca screamed, tears flowing freely now.
She just wanted it all to go away, she wanted to be free from her prison. Free from Miri. Free from the Stupid System that kept breaking their family apart. It had taken Ethan, then when they got him back, it wanted him back. Haley had pushed herself too far. Ethan had done the same, and she knew he was still pushing himself. Likely on the verge of killing himself, if only to give his family a few more minutes.
Mark was not allowed to do the same.
“Mark, Mark! Are you listening to me young man?”
[I’m ready, Chain in 3. 2. 1.] Mark counted down. Rebecca screamed at him to stopped but he heard nothing. He was too busy doing something equally as stupid as his Dad. He had summoned all of the ambient Mana he could, and fused it with his own, causing his Internal Well to go into over drive. He was at his limit, if he hadn’t already been so low on Mana he would have died trying his idea.
Instead, he managed to expel every last drop of Mana and blacking out. As his head was falling, Rebecca summoned a chain and pulled her baby boy into her arms. Rebecca screamed in agony as she held her family, flying through the air. Mark had managed to use his own, as well as the ambient Mana to create a short burst of pressure on the underside of the sphere. Like a bottle rocket Mark’s shield shot through the air. The shield disintegrating as Mark blacked out. Rebecca wrapped her family in her chains, and wept. She finally had her family back, and now she was alone. More alone than she had ever felt before. Ethan’s domain collapsed, and the Guides rushed in, just as Rebecca fell through the Portal her family held tightly in her arms, and her chains.