Chapter 17: Taste One

The tension in the cavern reached its peak, the space between them shrinking with each passing second. Cal’s smile widened, his growl lingering in the air, a promise of the chaos to come. His eyes flickered with excitement as he sized up his opponents, each one a threat in their own right.

Beron’s rapier gleamed in the low light, the tip quivering as if eager to taste blood. He stepped forward, his posture confident, the faint glow of his magical shield shimmering around him like a protective aura. Jora stood beside him, her massive greatsword resting on her shoulder, the blade crackling with raw energy. Her eyes were locked on Cal, a snarl on her lips as she prepared to strike. Tain hung back, his daggers twirling in his hands as he scanned the battlefield, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Fael, her hands already glowing with magic, began murmuring incantations, the tattoos on her skin lighting up as she manipulated the battlefield, casting spells to control the environment and bolster her allies.

Cal’s senses flared, the familiar tingle of Essence filling the air as his opponents activated their abilities. He could feel the pulse of power from Beron’s shield, the crackling energy of Jora’s sword, the subtle shifts in the air as Tain disappeared from sight, and the hum of magic from Fael.

“Ready to die?” Beron taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance.

Cal didn’t respond with words. Instead, he lunged forward, his speed blinding as he aimed a crushing blow at Beron. But Beron was ready. His rapier flashed, deflecting Cal’s strike with a burst of energy that sent shockwaves through the cavern.

Jora was on him in an instant, her greatsword arcing through the air with a trail of lightning. Cal twisted, narrowly avoiding the deadly swing as he countered with a swipe of his broken chain. The chain wrapped around Jora’s sword, but she yanked it free with a snarl, the force of her pull nearly throwing Cal off balance.

“You’re fast, I’ll give you that,” Jora grunted, her muscles straining as she prepared another swing.

Cal barely had time to react as Tain reappeared behind him, one of his daggers aimed for a precise strike at Cal’s neck. Cal’s Essence Sense flared, warning him just in time. He spun around, catching Tain’s wrist mid-strike and slamming him into the ground. But Tain was slippery, vanishing again in a puff of smoke before Cal could finish him off.

“He’s quick, but we’ve got him,” Fael called out, her voice calm as she unleashed a spell. Chains of light erupted from the ground, lashing out at Cal to bind him in place.

Beron took advantage of the distraction, his rapier darting forward with lightning speed. The blade pierced Cal’s side, a searing pain ripping through him. Cal roared, his regeneration kicking in almost instantly as he tore the blade from his flesh. He lashed out, catching Beron with a backhand that sent him sprawling.

But before Cal could press the advantage, Jora was on him again. Her greatsword came down like a hammer, the force behind it enough to shatter stone. Cal barely managed to sidestep, the blade grazing his arm as he retaliated with a powerful kick to Jora’s midsection. She grunted, but stood her ground, her eyes blazing with fury.

“This one’s tough!” Tain shouted, appearing once more to slice at Cal’s leg. Cal’s Essence Sense flared again, and he leaped back, narrowly avoiding the attack. But the move left him open, and Beron was there, his rapier flashing as it found its mark in Cal’s shoulder.

Cal gritted his teeth, feeling the pain but pushing through it as his body began to heal. He knew he couldn’t keep taking hits like this, even with his regeneration. He needed to change his approach, or they would eventually wear him down.

Beron and Jora were relentless, their coordinated attacks leaving him little room to breathe. Jora’s strength was monstrous, her greatsword carving through the air with deadly precision. Every time Cal dodged or blocked, she was there, her strikes growing more ferocious with each passing second. Beron, on the other hand, was like a viper, darting in and out, his rapier searching for any weakness in Cal’s defenses.

Tain was the most frustrating. The man was nearly impossible to pin down, his movements like a ghost in the darkness. Every time Cal thought he had him, Tain would slip away, only to reappear a moment later with another sneaky attack. It was like trying to fight smoke, and it was wearing on Cal’s patience.

Fael’s magic was the glue holding them all together. Every time one of them took a hit, she was there, her healing spells mending their wounds before Cal could capitalize on them. She was also controlling the battlefield, her chains of light constantly trying to entangle him, forcing him to stay on the move.

This isn’t working, They’re too coordinated, too strong together. I need to break them apart.

Another chain of light snapped at him, and Cal growled as he dodged it, feeling the burn of Beron’s rapier grazing his arm again. He was faster, stronger, but they were overwhelming him with their teamwork. Every time he tried to focus on one, the others would close in, forcing him back on the defensive.

He ducked under another swing from Jora, the ground shaking as her greatsword slammed into the stone. The impact sent shards of rock flying, and Cal grunted as one of them sliced across his cheek. His regeneration kicked in, healing the wound almost instantly, but he could feel his essence draining with every injury.

Another flash of light from Fael, and Cal felt his movements slow as her magic tried to bind him. He roared, shaking off the spell, but it gave Tain enough time to reappear behind him, his daggers flashing towards Cal’s back. Cal twisted, his Essence Sense guiding his movements, and narrowly avoided the strike, but he could feel the exhaustion creeping in. His regeneration was keeping him in the fight, but it wasn’t enough to counter their relentless assault.

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Think, damn it, How do I turn this around?

His eyes darted to Fael, watching as she sent another wave of healing energy towards Beron. The man’s wounds closed almost as quickly as Cal’s own, his confidence growing with every second. Jora was the same, her earlier bruises and cuts already fading under Fael’s care.

The healer, She’s the key. Take her out, and the rest will fall apart.

The realization brought a cruel smile to his lips. They had been so focused on overwhelming him with their numbers, they hadn’t considered what would happen if he turned his attention to their most vulnerable member.

Time to change the game

Cal ducked under another swing from Jora, his senses hyper-focused as he began to put his plan into action. He needed to create an opening, something to distract them long enough for him to get to Fael. If he could just get close enough, he could finish her off before the others had a chance to react.

Cal's mind raced as he formulated his plan. I’ll have to open myself up, make them think they’ve got me. They’ll strike all at once, and that’s when I’ll unleash everything.

He knew it was a gamble, but one he was willing to take. With a sharp inhale, he slowed his movements just enough to let his guard down. He could feel the eyes of the adventurers on him, their gazes filled with a mix of determination and bloodlust.

Beron’s eyes narrowed as he noticed the subtle shift in Cal’s stance. “He’s getting tired! Now, all together!” he shouted, rallying the others.

Jora charged forward, her greatsword crackling with raw energy as she swung it with all her might. Tain appeared from the shadows, his daggers aimed at Cal’s exposed flank, while Beron thrust his rapier, the blade glowing with a surge of essence. Fael’s magic pulsed in the air, the ground beneath Cal’s feet trembling as she prepared to strike.

Just a little closer,

Cal thought, his senses flaring as the attacks converged on him.

And then, just as the blows were about to land, Cal unleashed his new ability. A surge of Essence erupted from him, a burst of raw power that radiated outward in an invisible wave. The force of it was immense, pushing everything back and sending shockwaves through the cavern.

Beron, Jora, and Tain were caught off guard, their attacks suddenly halted as they were thrown back by the sheer force of the Essence Burst. Fael’s spell fizzled out as she stumbled, struggling to keep her balance.

It worked!

Cal’s mind roared with satisfaction. The burst had done its job, giving him the opening he needed.

Wasting no time, he locked his gaze on Fael. Her eyes widened in fear as she realized she was now his target. Cal’s speed was blinding as he charged at her, his body a blur as he tore through the space between them.

Fael’s tattoos flared with power as she desperately cast her magic. The ground beneath Cal’s feet erupted into jagged spikes of earth, while icy shards formed in the air, hurtling towards him with lethal precision. Cal didn’t slow down. He ran through the earth and ice as if they were mere annoyances, his superhuman strength and speed allowing him to plow through the obstacles with ease.

She’s scared,

Cal noted with grim satisfaction, watching Fael’s panic grow as she threw everything she had at him.

She raised her hands, her voice trembling as she began to cast another spell. The air around her shimmered with magic, a desperate attempt to slow Cal down. But as the spell’s energy flowed towards him, something strange happened. Cal felt a tug inside him, like a vacuum pulling at the magic. The spell’s power was absorbed into him, his core hungrily consuming it.

What the hell was that?

Cal wondered, his thoughts momentarily distracted by the sensation. But there was no time to dwell on it. His core wasn’t even half full, yet it felt like it held an infinite well of power. The spell Fael had cast was a mere drop in that vast ocean, barely making a dent.

Fael’s face twisted in terror as she realized her magic was useless. She stopped trying to slow him down, instead pouring all her energy into a single, massive attack. The ground beneath her erupted, and from the earth rose a colossal spike, formed of ice, earth, and light, its tip aimed directly at Cal’s heart.

Desperate, are we?

Cal thought, a wicked grin spreading across his face as he saw the others rushing to save her.

Jora charged in from behind, her greatsword arcing down in a vicious swing. Tain appeared out of nowhere, his dagger flying through the air, aimed at Cal’s neck. Beron, his face twisted in determination, unleashed a powerful swing with his rapier, the blade glowing with an aura of sword essence.

Cal could feel the desperation in their attacks, a last-ditch effort to save Fael and stop him. But it was too late. As the spike of earth and ice hurtled toward him, and as the others closed in, Cal unleashed another Essence Burst.

The wave of power exploded outward, more intense than the first. It collided with the spike, shattering it into countless fragments that scattered harmlessly through the air. Jora’s greatsword was stopped mid-swing, the force of the Burst sending her flying backward. Tain’s dagger was deflected, spinning off into the darkness as the Burst pushed him back as well. Even Beron, with all his speed and precision, was knocked off balance, his sword essence dissipating into the air.

The cavern was filled with the sound of cracking stone and rushing wind, the force of the Essence Burst reverberating through the walls. Dust and debris filled the air, creating a haze that obscured the battlefield for a moment. But through it all, Cal’s figure was still, standing tall amidst the chaos.

He didn’t wait for the dust to settle. The moment the Burst cleared a path, he rushed forward, his eyes locked on Fael. She was still reeling from the shock, her defenses shattered, her body trembling with exhaustion. Cal closed the distance in an instant, his hand reaching out for her.

Fael’s eyes met his, wide with fear and disbelief. She tried to raise a hand, to cast one last spell, but it was too late. Cal’s hand smashed into her face with unstoppable force.

It felt like his hand was sinking into butter, but that was only because of the sheer speed and power behind the strike. Fael’s head buckled under the impact, the bones cracking and collapsing under the pressure. Her face crumpled inward, her skull giving way as Cal’s hand continued its path. There was a sickening crunch as her head split open, the force of the blow driving his hand through her skull, crushing it into a bloody mess.

Fael’s body went limp, her magic dying with her as her life force was snuffed out in an instant. The light in her eyes faded, her last breath escaping her lips as Cal withdrew his hand, now stained with her blood.

The cavern fell silent, the only sound the soft drip of blood hitting the stone floor. Cal stood over Fael’s lifeless body, his chest rising and falling with deep, steady breaths. The others were still recovering from the Essence Burst, their eyes wide with shock and horror as they saw what he had done.

One down,

Cal’s gaze narrowed as he noticed a faint glimmer of essence within Fael’s lifeless body. It was unlike any essence he had encountered before. The ball of essence was flickering, pulsating with a terrified rhythm, its very presence exuding a primal sense of dread.

What is that?

Cal thought, his senses acutely focused on the strange energy. It seemed to be struggling against its own fading existence, a desperate, almost sentient force that resonated with pure fear.

Without hesitation, Cal’s hands moved to Fael’s chest. He ripped through the flesh and bone, tearing out her ribs with a guttural snarl. The sound of cracking and splintering bones was almost drowned out by an anguished scream of rage that pierced the air behind him. Tain, having recovered from the Essence Burst, was charging forward, his eyes blazing with fury.

Cal’s hand plunged into the cavity of Fael’s chest, feeling around for the elusive essence. His fingers closed around the ball, its surface pulsating erratically with a final surge of desperate fear. With a swift motion, he lifted it to his mouth and swallowed it whole.

As he consumed the essence, the world around him began to shift. The intense surge of power from the essence was pulling him towards a vortex of memory and emotion. Just as he started to lose himself to the flood of memories, a sharp, searing pain exploded in his back.

The pain was immediate and excruciating. Cal gasped, his body jerking violently as a blade pierced his flesh. The sensation of the dagger digging into his back was the last thing he felt in reality before his consciousness began to dissolve into the memories he had just consumed.

The world around him blurred, the pain from the dagger fading into the background as he was drawn into the chaotic swirl of Fael’s memories. The flood of images and emotions beckoned, And so did her power.