The two groups were locked in a vicious battle, the air heavy with the clash of weapons and the shrill, unearthly cries of the Byakhee echoing through the cavernous chamber. The Rotting Legionnaires fought with a relentless, soulless determination. Their movements were slow but unyielding, a testament to their undead nature. Each strike of their rusted swords sent sparks flying as they collided with the dense, leathery hides of the Byakhee. Despite their resilience, the creatures from the Outer Realm were equally tenacious.
The Byakhee swooped low, their elongated claws raking across the Legionnaires' armor with terrifying ease, peeling away rusted metal and decayed flesh. One of the monstrous creatures snapped its beak around the helmet of a nearby Legionnaire, lifting the undead soldier effortlessly into the air. The sound of cracking bone echoed through the chamber as the Legionnaire's head was ripped clean off, sending the body crashing to the ground in a lifeless heap. Yet, even as the headless form fell, another Legionnaire stepped forward to take its place, undeterred by the gruesome sight.
From a safe distance behind one of the jagged stone pillars, Jack and his companions crouched low, watching the chaotic battle unfold. "What are those things?" Jack hissed, glancing at Lyra, who stood beside him, her expression grim.
"Byakhee," she replied, her eyes locked on the horrifying scene before them. "They are lesser monsters of the Outer Realm. Drawn to places like this—where the boundaries between worlds are weak. They serve entities beyond our understanding, and their sole purpose is to tear through the walls between realities."
Cael, standing nearby with his hand on his sword hilt, gritted his teeth. "And it looks like they’re winning."
It was true. Despite the Legionnaires’ relentless advance, the Byakhee were proving to be far more agile and brutal in their tactics. One of the creatures swooped down, its claws slicing through the armor of two Legionnaires simultaneously, sending them sprawling across the rocky floor. Another Byakhee flapped its immense wings, sending a gust of foul-smelling wind that knocked a third Legionnaire off its feet, sending it crashing to the ground.
Determined to turn the tide of battle, Jack made a decision. He had been thinking of a way to utilize one of his new spells, and after a quick conference with his friends, a plan was formed. He felt a surge of adrenaline course through him as he prepared to take the lead, the weight of the moment pressing heavily on his shoulders.
With a deep breath, Jack ran forward, closing the distance until he was directly beneath the nearest Byakhee. He leaped into the air with all his might, feeling the power of his new form propel him higher than he ever thought possible. In his old life, a jump of more than a few inches had been an impossibility, but now, empowered by his current strength, he soared over a dozen feet upward. Yet, he was still several feet below the Byakhee he was aiming for—this was all part of the plan.
One of the great things about Levitation was that, as a Psychic spell, it could be cast at the speed of thought. At the apex of his jump, he focused his mind and cast the spell, feeding a constant stream of mana into it, propelling himself straight upwards. The surprised Byakhee barely had time to react as Jack’s spear plunged through its wing, tearing a gaping hole.
A shriek of agony split the air—sharp, alien, and filled with fury—as the creature spiraled down uncontrollably. Black ichor spattered from the wound, sizzling against the rocky ground below. Jack could feel the strain of the Levitation spell draining his mana reserves, but he pressed on, soaring higher for a moment to gain a tactical advantage. The Byakhee flapped erratically, struggling to remain airborne. Its immense, malformed wings—now uneven—flapped weakly, the torn one twitching with every gust of wind.
Jack didn’t waste a second. Letting go of his Levitation spell, he angled downward, spear clutched tightly in both hands as he descended toward his prey like a hawk diving for a rabbit. His heart raced, blood roaring through his veins as a tidal wave of adrenaline surged within him. The Byakhee's head jerked up as it sensed his approach. Panic flashed in its glossy, dark eyes, and it screeched again, attempting to roll out of the way, but Jack was too fast.
He collided with the creature, his spear plunging deep into its chest. The impact reverberated through his bones, and the Byakhee's body convulsed violently, sending shockwaves through the air around them. Jack felt a rush of exhilaration mixed with terror; he had struck true.
As they tumbled through the air, plummeting toward the rocky ground below, Jack wrenched his spear free just in time. But as the earth rushed up to meet him, he cast Levitation once more. The force of his fall slowed abruptly, and he landed with a light tap, unharmed and ready for the next move.
The Byakhee wasn’t so fortunate.
With its shredded wing throwing it off balance, the creature plummeted, slamming into the ground with a heavy crash. The impact sent up a cloud of dust, and a loud crack echoed through the battlefield as one of its legs snapped beneath it. It let out a pained screech, struggling to get back up, but its movements were sluggish and uncoordinated, its strength clearly waning.
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Jack watched as the undead Legionnaires began to close in on the injured beast. They moved with eerie precision, working together as a cohesive unit. The first two undead soldiers approached from the front, shields raised high, blocking the Byakhee's desperate strikes as they advanced. Two more Legionnaires flanked from the sides, their eyes fixed on the creature, waiting for the perfect opening to attack.
The Byakhee lashed out with its remaining good leg, trying to claw at the undead soldiers, but the shield wall held firm. One of the Legionnaires managed to hook a spear into the creature’s injured wing, pulling it taut and pinning it down to the dirt. Another drove its sword into the base of its other wing, further immobilizing it and ensuring that it could no longer escape.
Jack watched, impressed by their coordination. The Legionnaires moved like a well-oiled machine, each one aware of its role in the assault. As the Byakhee screeched in pain, two more undead soldiers moved in, thrusting their spears deep into its exposed underbelly. Each thrust pierced its hide, drawing more of the black ichor from within, and the creature's screeches grew weaker with each passing second.
Finally, one of the Legionnaires stepped forward, axe in hand, and brought it down with a final, decisive blow to the creature's skull. The Byakhee’s body convulsed once before it lay still, lifeless, the threat extinguished.
Meanwhile, Lyla had been casting bursts of Witchfire at the other Byakhee. The creatures were agile enough to dodge her attacks, but that wasn’t her goal. Lila's job had been to distract them, providing Jack and the undead time to finish off their comrade. It had worked once, but the Byakhee had quickly realized that these newcomers posed a greater threat.
All three of the remaining monsters swooped down, aiming straight for Jack and his comrades. With a swift, sweeping motion, they descended, claws outstretched and beaks ready to tear into the living.
As they descended, Lyla took a deep breath and focused her mana. "Get ready!" she shouted, her voice steady and commanding.
Jack braced himself for the oncoming assault.
With a swift motion, Lyla conjured her Aqua Surge spell. A powerful wave of water surged forth from her hands, crashing through the air with immense force. The wave surged toward the descending Byakhee, colliding with them just as they reached the ground.
The impact was thunderous. Water splashed everywhere, knocking the creatures back with significant force. The first Byakhee was sent sprawling, its momentum disrupted as it collided with the ground. The second struggled to maintain its balance, but the wave swept beneath its claws, sending it tumbling sideways. The third Byakhee, caught in the full brunt of the spell, was propelled high into the air before crashing down, disoriented and stunned.
Jack watched in awe as the Aqua Surge spell worked its magic. The three Byakhee shrieked in confusion and pain, their formations completely disrupted. The sheer power of the wave not only dealt substantial water damage but also knocked them back enough to give Jack and his comrades the opening they needed.
"Now’s our chance!" Cael shouted, dashing forward with his blades drawn, ready to capitalize on the chaos.
Jack followed suit, adrenaline surging through him once more. "Let’s finish this!"
As the Byakhee struggled to recover from the impact of the water, Jack and Cael launched their assault. Jack thrust his spear at the nearest creature, the tip finding its mark in the Byakhee’s side. It screeched again, a desperate sound that echoed through the chamber, but it was too disoriented to fight back effectively.
At that moment, the second Byakhee, still dazed, attempted to retaliate. It lunged at Cael with its razor-sharp claws, aiming to tear through his armor. But the strength of Cael's new gear held firm, the claws skimming harmlessly off its surface. The Byakhee's frustration grew, and it swiped again, only to be met with the same unyielding resistance.
Seizing the opportunity, Monsoon used Riptide Charge to slam into the second Byakhee, knocking it off balance and sending it crashing to the ground. Cael, unfazed by the creature’s previous attack, leaped forward, delivering a powerful slash with his dagger that cleaved through the Byakhee’s leathery hide.
In a flash, Goldeyes lunged forward, tearing the monster’s throat out with a single bite of his powerful jaws. The creature let out a guttural screech, its body convulsing as it succumbed to the combined assault.
As the second Byakhee fell, Jack turned his attention to the third, which was struggling to rise. The creature flapped its remaining wing weakly, trying to regain its balance, but Jack could see the panic in its glossy eyes. He moved swiftly, spear poised for another strike.
The nearby Legionnaires had already begun to surround the last Byakhee.
The undead soldiers moved in unison, their rusted weapons raised, pushing the creature back against the stone wall of the chamber. Jack charged forward, feeling the pulse of adrenaline quicken his movements as he lunged at the Byakhee. His spear found its target, plunging into the creature's side with a satisfying thud. The Byakhee shrieked in pain, its claws raking against the ground in a desperate attempt to escape but didn't have the room to spread its wings nor the strength to push its attackers back.
Lyla stepped up beside Jack, ready to cast another spell. “Let’s finish it off!”
With a swift motion, she unleashed another Aqua Surge, the wave crashing down upon the wounded creature. The Byakhee was caught off guard, water enveloping it and making it slick against the stone floor. It struggled, but the sheer force of the spell sent it sliding backward, further immobilizing it.
The Legionnaires took their cue and moved in for the kill. One undead soldier thrust his spear deep into the creature's exposed underbelly, while another swung an axe with slow but deadly precision, landing a fatal blow to its head. The Byakhee convulsed once, then fell still, the threat finally extinguished.