Our guild hall is a bloody mess. Demons litter the floor, and walking without stepping on the dead is impossible. I try not to look down to ignore the blood and the slaughter. Despite my efforts, the putrid iron smell mixed with burnt hair is a reminder of the price we pay to live. As if that's not enough, the air is humid and thick with energy. My heart races for a moment when my core pulses with the lust for power. Cold sweat beads at my brow. My stomach aches with anticipation. I don't want to do this. Not now.

Dull gray mana pools inside the academy. The atmosphere is thick with hungry mana, and an aroma of steel covers all else. I choke and struggle to breathe for a moment. No one else seems to find the mana here strange as they make their way to the exit. I try to control my appearance to blend in while inside, I prepare for another battle of wills. I hate death so much. Such a prick.

I'm not dealing with this. The rest of the squad has already vacated the building. I move to follow. I'm not running away. I'm just not staying here. I take my next step and face resistance. The next step, I'm barely moving. Now I'm stuck in place. The greedy mana coils and rolls through the air. I grit my teeth, preparing for the worst. Pure mana pumps through my body. If death is coming, I'll use it how I decide. Perhaps I can upgrade my shadow core to gold or expand my mind to another core. A beatdown is inevitable, yet I'm more at ease with my maroon mana supporting me.

Death advances in a whirling storm. Corpses are ravaged in the wake to dissolve and become a part of the storm. The ground rips. Our glass house receives glancing scratches. Outside the door, Bosun struggles to make it back into the building. The mana is too thick and keeps him from moving. Silva cuts into the dull grayness, forcing it back only for the receding mana to redouble its resistance, and sends the bladesmith back.

"Jim," Gene yells from the abyss. I can no longer see past the gray. Needles of mana begin pricking at my defenses. My maroon mana expands, creating a barrier. Resist. I can barely hear the shouts coming from outside. I'm alone with my own personal nemesis, fighting a battle of stubborn wills. Death demands its power be used. I demand that I decide what power I use and how. I will not abide by the rules of death's game. At least, I don't want to. I'm stronger than I was in my last encounter and have more experience.

My barrier hardens with each attacking probe of the death mana. Unable to break my defenses with light attacks, the dull silver mana takes a more aggressive approach. Instead of needles, I'm battered by clubs. When that doesn't work, boulders are thrown at me. My body and will are rocked.

Resist.

A crushing pain spreads from my head and seeps into my soul. My will almost breaks, but I keep my focus solid.

Resist.

I am here. A cold, dispassionate thought enters my mind. It desperately wants to be accepted.

I can help you. The thought aches with hunger to be used. My mind expands to see the flood of demons invading our home. Anvileers are falling. Lycan children are slaughtered. We are struggling to survive.

Let me in. I can help you. Fury is trapped in a net. A templar with death mana is turning the dragon into a dead minion. Nette is lifeless in a pool of blood. Colby is buried beneath the earth. Gene is broken and hunched against an uprooted tree. In her lap is the lifeless body of Remny. Gene's tears fall to the scorched earth. Her wails are silent. Her despair is palpable. Not far from the queen, Bones holds onto a shattered core.

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We can stop this.

No. This isn't real. I push against the thoughts.

I am strength. I am power. Cloaked in the power of death, I push back the tide of demons. My power is immense, and my will is indomitable. I tame the sea of war. There's no defeat. Despair is never given grounds. I'm a hero, full of confidence. Loved and respected by all.

I don't want this.

I can ease your burdens. Thoughts of peace now flash before me. Gene watching Remny growing up. People prospering. I have no guilt, fear, or doubts. I'm whole. Life is easy.

No. I resist the power and push out with all my energy.

I am you. The silver energy recoils and strikes again.

You are me. I'm struck by the mana. My thoughts become a blur. I can no longer distinguish between my thoughts and the mana's.

We are one. Death tries to get through my barrier. Part of my soul reaches out to it. I cut the death mana in my channel and force all my mind to cycle through me. I'm struck again. And again. I want to collapse and crumple into a ball. My arms ache to shield my body and mind from the blows.

I’ll be free. Maroon mana explodes from my channels. I'm no longer at the mercy of death's attacks. I can move. I can act.

I’m life. Death strikes again and again.

I'm anticipating the attacks now. Some hits I dodge, others I receive with grace and minimize the impact. As my steps lighten, death seizes control. No longer content with random attacks, my world begins to crush. My barrier is squeezed by incredible force. The pressure on my mind is insurmountable. Death knocks at my entire being. Despair threatens to crack my will. I refuse to give in and fight for every second.

Fight. I push past my limits. It's no longer enough to resist. My secondary focus maintains my barrier. My primary focus fights against my strains. An animalistic fury pushes my concentration harder. Though I can no longer move, I push the image of myself cutting into the depths of death. Dark red mana devotes itself to my cause. Hungry mana clashes with my will. Images of me wielding swords of shadow and red cut into the abyss. The storm increases in intensity. Still, I fight, and as I do, the pressure around me eases. I can move again. If only a little. I conjure red mana blades and aid my mental allies in a fight against the oppressive force.

Cap.

Captain.

Jim. I'm here. It's faint at first, but the more I fight, the louder the connection with Bones becomes.

T'am, Stop hogging the fight. It's time to call me in. Chills run through my body. My will is strengthened, and I push the hungry abyss back. I'm not alone this time. My primary focus keeps fighting. My secondary focus drops my barrier, and I channel death. The energy is eager to be used and rushes from my core. With all my control, I force the power to obey and summon Bones.