I concentrate my gaze on the sheet of steel blocking Ihin from my sight, and I harden my focus, tightening the Ether in my body. A Daydream blooms within my right shoulder as I reach forward and rip back, the magnet spinning at a hundred times the speed and altering the movement of the metal enough for my left hand to go around it.

Then, my fist impacts with Ihin's right side while the man dodges to cover. Pain spikes in my left arm, but the Bloody Palm is already on it, suffusing me with rejuvenating warmth. The detonation of Ether blasts us apart as I tumble away, grasping outward with my right arm as the metallic bronze digs into the stone and slows my momentum.

Glancing up once I stop sliding, I see the Pygmy missing the majority of their right side, blood and organs falling like a waterfall. Yet, steel still moves, and an extensive sheet wraps itself around Ihin's wound, keeping more blood and innards from leaking out.

I try to push myself up, but my muscles give out. Air leaves my lungs as I fall onto the stone. Fuck.

Attempting to move Ether into my body, I pause when the nigh-omnipresent headache spikes to a lethal level. Okay... no more Ether. Makes sense, I suppose. A Ballista, then an attack like that? Yeah. Any more, and I might just keel over and die from my flesh and organs melting.

Grunting and tightening both my fists, the feeling odd after so long, I force myself to my feet, stumbling the way up. I'm not hurt, only exhausted. That life that Lily took from me leaves me feeble without Ether. I really hope this doesn't last.

Wobbling, I witness Tomas and Millie follow up on my attack. Both of the soldiers dodge swipes of dangerous blades and stabs of enormous spikes of metal. I step forward, only to feel dizzy and slide backward, falling right on my ass.

Again, I try to move, only for my breakfast, lunch, dinner, and the previous two days of meals to leave my stomach and join the wreckage around me.

Yeah... okay... I'mma sit this one out. I think I did enough here. Aid in killing three whole Angels? That's a new record.

Righting myself on a pillar of stone while ensuring no extensive metal fragments are near me, I watch the battle and pull out the canteen in my back pocket. I don't have any alcohol, but I am thirsty as hell. Hungry too.

They'll be fine without me. Surely. No point in shooting a standard gun at Ihin. He'll probably just catch it and send it back to me.

****************

Tomas The Wolf

Unwilling to let Wyatt's crazed assault go without result, I press the vulnerability. Ihin is slower than before, and his reactions are more lagging and unresponsive. Yet, at the same time, the liquid from Wyatt's artifact has run dry, leaving me with only Bestial's healing effect.

Each strike or piercing from the Pygmy controlling metal lingers long after its inception now. Thankfully even though Wyatt is tuckered out, the young man better at short-term battles like Lennon Hull, Millie is here to help me. Though, she is restricted, too, as she can't use any metallic weapons against this Pygmy. That means no guns, blades, or anything.

Instead, she exists only to boost me with her Lawman skills and act as a target for Ihin. Risky, but it's her call.

"Put your claw through the fuckers head!"

Her words leave me energized to the point that my Ether is more efficient, dumping less excess waste. This is the most significant factor of her Sigil, allowing others to use more of their skills and slowing Ether saturation. It's not from an Absolution, but it's powerful nonetheless.

As I face the injured steel controller, a fierce battle unfolds between our contrasting powers. He manipulates steel precisely, transforming it into a formidable defense, obstructing my every move, yet also wielding it as a formidable weapon. But I am no ordinary adversary; my comprehensive combination of skills from Marshall's tutelage like Painsforge and my very own Power, Bestial, grants me the reactions, agility, and strength to break through it all.

I dart and weave through the metallic storm, evading the deadly spears and deflecting the razor-sharp blades with swift movements. My Claws slash away several would-be lethal strikes as I use the nearby buildings and debris as obstacles to move on. The clash of steel echoes through the air as I navigate the intricate web of obstacles Ihin creates.

With each step, I close the distance, relentlessly pushing forward. At the same time, the Pygmy retreats toward Marshall's battlefield, likely wanting to ask for help. Blood drips from his wound as he moves, the small humanoid missing an arm and a leg now replaced by steel. Yet, I remove the gap between us with a leap onto a nearby wall, and then I unleash a flurry of powerful strikes as I lunge for him, my legs kicking holes into the steel behind me with Pounce and a dozen other skills. My claws tear through the metallic barriers, leaving sparks in their wake as I finally get a close-up of Ihin after the injury.

His face is pale and sweating, yet he refuses to simply die. The Pygmy counters with swift maneuvers, deflecting my attacks and retaliating with shards of steel that soar from behind him into me, the momentum shattering mine. Thankfully, the fragments don't enter my flesh and only knock me back, but Ihin uses this opportunity to grab onto a piece of moving steel with his hand. The man hurtles backward, away from me, and with a grunt, I kick myself forward, endeavoring to kill him before he regroups with any other Pygmies or demons.

As I do so, another shout resounds from Millie, this one bolstering my velocity and acceleration.

"Faster, wolf-boy!"

A short snort leaves my nose, and an impact thunders through the air as stone, steel, and bricks shatter underfoot. Finally, I shoot through the air like a bullet and clasp my Claw around Ihin's ankle. I see the Pygmy turn back, a face of fear cloaking himself, and I Pounce on it.

Hauling myself forward, Crunch tightens my jaw as Sharpen makes my teeth deadly spikes, and Elongate lengthens the weapons in my mouth and the height of my bite. Then, I open my jaw and sink my most lethal assets toward Ihin's neck. He attempts to blockade me with his metal, but unlike my Claws would, my teeth eviscerate his frantic shield, biting it in half.

Then, I reach forward with my other arm not holding onto him, and even as blades slice my body and shards enter my skin to burrow toward my heart, I flick my wrist and lacerate his throat. And finally, I rip backward, hauling the spine of the Angel out at once before hitting the ground as his Power dies out, the momentum slamming us into the ground.

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Rolling several feet before I kick myself to my feet, I notice that we've moved a great distance. And now, before me, is a trembling Marshall Travis, the greatest General in the world, dripping blood from every section of his body.

His graying hair is dyed crimson, his knees shake with exertion, and his left arm is scorched so severely that he no longer has any fingers. My heart catches in my chest as the old man glances back at me. His opponents pause for a moment, the four of them staring at the gutted Ihin and then at me.

The Unyielding Wall steps back a few feet, wrapping an arm around me without taking his eyes off his foes. He speaks roughly, the words brutal and complex to leave his lungs. Water fills my eyes, and I force the tears away. Not now. Not ever. He can't die.

"You've done well. My Cub is all grown up. You can handle what comes next, right?"

His question commands my attention, my eyes rising from his wounds to his pupils. Despite how much he trembles and shivers, his eyes are unmoving, sure, and tranquil. He knows. He's known. He's known this whole time and not told me.

I'm...

I'm so stupid for not seeing it.

He was dying all along.

Clenching my eyes, I attempt to answer him just as a body comes tumbling into sight, Johnny Caldwell covered in blood as the demon and Pygmy, who was fighting him, join the square. The third human Angel within these walls stumbles his way through.

"I---"

The gunslinger, now known around the Territories, grunts and pushes himself to his feet as he missteps backward, joining Marshall and me, each measure almost knocking him to his ass. My old man slaps me on the back and taps Johnny on the head.

"You two can handle it. Go. I'll keep 'em here. Just make sure all the people in Vallens are safe. Get them to Blackreach or somewhere deeper in the Territories."

Johnny opens his mouth to refuse while the Pygmies and demons argue across from us, something about not pushing Marshall too far, but I'm not listening. My whole vision goes red, fury, denial, and rage dyeing my mind. But as always, Marshall wakes me from my instincts. A snap of his fingers in front of my face, the sound resounding and profound through some method of Ether, breaks me out.

"Focus, Tomas. You can do this. Your whole life, I've trained you to replace me. You're a better tactician, a better soldier, and a better man than I. Reach that heaven. Prove my selection correct and that you are more worthy than Vincent."

His eyes tighten on me as some decision comes from across from us, the demons and Pygmies choosing something. Meanwhile, Johnny prepares to retreat or fight, as I'm not sure which. The man only loads his Colt without words. His brows are furrowed and focused on our enemies.

I...

I gaze up at the man taller than me. His broad shoulders and these stone walls have been the only constant in my life. And soon... both Walls will soon fall. My vision turns blurry as I ask permission to call him the one thing I've always wanted to. We are more than General and soldier, after all. He found me many years ago, and in his kindness, he took me in. Raised me. Taught me. Trained me. Loved me.

"Can I--"

The old man cuts me off before I even finish the words. How does he? It doesn't matter.

"Yes."

My voice quivers as the Pygmies and demons move, Ether shaking the very air from their collective power.

"Thank you, Father. I--"

He doesn't let me finish, squeezing my shoulder before limping forward. And as he does, Painsforge roars with a life I've never heard before. The air itself beats along with his heart, and every half-second, the sound of a cannon howls from his chest.

"Go, my son."

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

The organ in my father's heart rises to such a volume it contests and matches the six Angels across from him.

No candle may be snuffed without a sound. Even as the dark takes us, we burn with rage as unending as the dark.

Johnny pulls on my arm as I am twisted away, hauled to safety as Marshall Travis lunges forward, the air exploding with the strength of his movement.

"Let's go, Tomas. I know... I know he means a lot to you. But... everyone cares for the old man. We won't let this go quietly. There is no human alive who does not hold some sincerity for the Unyielding Wall."

With tears dripping from my cheeks, staining my vision and face with blurriness, I nod. And I force myself to move, even as the earth beneath me shakes in defiance of the beings behind us.

"Yeah."

Then, we move, running with the most extraordinary swiftness we can in retreat, Ether fueling our every action. Father...

Thank you.

***************

Abraham Ulren

Nightmares flow from my mind as I can now hold two easily and three with some strain. But the battle is paused while Cirn and Mislo ready their actions, waiting for my command.

The Angelic Pymgy stumbles with seeming leprosy, yet her Power is enough to buy her minutes of life. Kaien, the Stringed Horror, manipulates near-imperceptible metallic threads that can sever limbs with even the slightest force. And so, we must all move carefully to reach her.

Virgil can't Flicker through the threads as they are so suffused with Ether, so instead, he's Flickered into the ground, waiting for his opportunity to strike. Yet... I think he's lost it.

A frantically formed Nightmare of Urbin holds Bonfire back as a shadowy woman appears before us, strings above her as well. None of us can rush her without getting hurt, yet we all know who it is.

Darkstep.

Flames bustle from Bonfire's form, licking at Urbin's net as it starts to burn, but the man holds still. In the corner of my eye, I see a cloud of greenish gas turn into Primrose and Earl, the young man holding his invention aloft. I heard it only has a few more shots left. He might just have to use them all right here.

Realizing the danger, I dig deep, preparing to conjure Wyatt with a Daymare, but the words of Darkstep make me pause.

"Kaien, would you like some help? I see that Death nears you. Something has pulled you toward the Cardinal. Perhaps... a change of heart is in order?"

The strings tighten in my vision with a sunny gleam, blocking Darkstep from reaching Kaien, either, as the dying Pymgy replies. She looks so old that she could probably keel over at any time.

"Why would I join the Nahullo? What could that possibly do for me?"

My eyes shift back and forth as I keep Bonfire in check. He cannot go wild here. The strings will kill him if he runs rampant. There is no saving him if that happens. To my left stalks Skyswain, the lightning gradually building in her wings. She's the best chance we have for this. If the Bado can generate enough lightning to put the Pygmy down for good through the strings, we can probably overwhelm Dakster with force.

I doubt she can take a shot from Earl's Coil.

Yet, as I plan and enunciate my ideas to the rest with Allude, Dakster speaks once more, the words making Bonfire motionless.

"Oh, hoho... I'm not a Nahullo anymore, deary. I've another master now, and this one is far greater."

Dakster opens her mouth as shimmering darkness flows from the shadowed hood lining her clothes. My heart stops for a moment as I struggle to fathom the happenings—a Motherbound. The woman who lost her head is now a Motherbound. And not just any.

To look like that... she is either a Groundswalker, Two-Face, or Manipulator. And... well, unfortunately, there is no way she is either of the first two. Gasps ring out around me, yet no noise comes from Bonfire, even as Kaien replies.

"Can She save me from... this?"

A nodding Darkstep agrees as she points at the wires.

"Of course. You need only raise your wir--"

A blood-stirring shout comes from beside me, and I feel the backlash of Urbin fading, the Nightmare destroyed. Turning to my side, I see Bonfire, the man cooking in his own white flames. I shout at him as he moves forward, blaze shooting him forward.

"Stop it! You'll kill yourself!"

A simple reply comes my way as Bonfire's flames turn blue and black, Combustion and his highest heat melting the wires as he forces his way through.

"She killed Woody."

What? How did he come up with that? Oh... oh... we knew it was a Motherbound of some kind. We figured that it was a Motherbound capable of controlling darkness through our investigations. And... they orchestrated the rebellion for some reason. Only Manipulators think that far ahead.

Dammit Emmet! When did you get clever!

Cursing the man, I push myself forward, and Clumsy and Frozen follow me as we pursue Bonfire. The living pyre burns his way through the many wires, but some are too dense and remain, cutting through his skin like a knife through butter. Yet, he doesn't make a noise other than the flicker of the raging flames.

Darkstep shouts as she moves through the wires like a phantom, making her way to Kaien, but Virgil materializes from the ground before she can get close. He Flickers toward Kaien with tendrils of shadows that bat away the many wires both in his way and slashing toward him.

I consider helping him but quickly change my target as Bonfire nears Darkstep and goes for a tackle. Luckily for Bonfire, and me for that matter, she backsteps as a shadow appears beneath her feet, shuttling her above and onto a room. From there, she peers down at the four of us chasing her.

"Don't you like to ruin everything? I'm here for the Pygmy. Walk away, and you still live. I'd rather not partake in many casualties."

I smirk at her. She'd only bargain if she had a chance to lose. In front of me, Bonfire's inferno rages as heat gathers at his feet, preparing to launch him upward at Darkstep. She's either underestimating us or... she has backup. Fuck. She's a Manipulator now!

Spinning around, I see a dozen figures bolt from the shadows of nearby alleys, each with minds that of familiar soldiers I've once seen. That's why! She was getting recruits!

Cirn and Mislo twist, covering the streets as Bonfire leaps to the roof above. While he joins Dakster above, Frozen and Clumsy twist to help me, my orders telepathic through Allude. If only Woody was here, Bonfire's flames would be so much more potent.

Wait... oh my.

She got three birds with one stone.

Killed Woody, which weakened Bonfire, provoked a rebellion, killed a Colonel and drained the whole defense, and persuaded many soldiers to flee, allowing her to snag some on their way out.

A Manipulator, indeed.

Glancing over at Virgil, I witness him, Skyswain, and Primrose up close harassing the Kaien, trying to finish her off while Earl lines up a shot. Good. They should be able to handle that, even if Kaien is an Angel. Wyatt drained her of enough life with his Blooming Spider Lily.

Then, my focus returns to the dozen, no, two, no three dozen soldiers stinking of Darklight that are rushing us.

Yeah. We could use some help.

Override slows the world as I stretch Allude to its maximum, screaming for aid from Silas, Blake, Lennox, Wyatt, indeed anyone that can, and of the threat.

Darkstep and a horde of Motherbound.