Mark had never had a problem taking the subways. For some, it was a terrifyingly claustrophobic experience. Where all one could think about was the tons upon tons of rock above their heads, held there by clever architecture and hope. Just waiting for a tiny city-wide disaster to bring it all down.
But when they reach the bottom of the stairs Mark was not ashamed to say his eyes traveled to the huge cracks in the surrounding stonework.
The once bustling terminal now lay in ruins, its twisted metal and crumbling concrete showed the damage the meteor shower had caused in this area.
The deathly silence was shattered by a voice.
“Light! It looks like this section took a beating powers down” Jonathan called out.
Mark produced a flashlight courtesy of the US Army and clicked it on.
A beam of light banished some of the darkness, highlighting the dust motes in the air. Though Mark noted it seemed dull and weak compared to what he was used to.
Mark wrapped himself in a full-body shield with [Shape Mana].
Several more lights went up, barely lighting up the large room. Sam cupped her hands and a small ball of fire lit up some more.
“Incoming!” Chris shouted lifting his rifle to the far tunnel
Distant moans from the darkness let them know they were not alone here.
“Alright tight perimeter, we don’t lose a single person you hear me!” Jonathan shouted with authority.
From the shadows came Corrupted.
The soldiers opened fire on the quickly amassing pack spilling into the room, though the darkness did cause a good few rounds to smack against the surrounding tile.
Then the first wave hit.
They hadn’t even been down here a minute. The stairs were still at their back and already the Corrupted crashed into them like they were setting foot in a sacred temple.
Their only saving grace was the small amount of natural light that shone into the terminal allowing for close-range combat.
The one that didn't seem affected was Chris. For the others, fighting was limited to what the beams of their flashlights could see until they got in close range.
The frontline took the weight readily and less and shots were fired off. As time went on the guns were exchanged for melee weapons.
Mark saw Matt take out a quarterstaff. While Brian whipped out two pistols and started duel-wielding them. Placing precise shots at incredibly close range, almost like he was using them as melee weapons.
Daphne simply pounded anything that even got close to her side, easily covering for two people
Jaya sent cords of water flowing forward like roaming constrictors. Crushing anything she could get her hands on.
Mark released [Force bolts]’s and a steady pace. These Corrupted were stronger and yes his bolt didn't do as much damage anymore, however, Mark realized he could make up for that with the spell's incredible accuracy. A baseball-ball-sized hole didn't matter where it was on the head as long as he got it there.
As time continued the Corrupted's numbers began to wane.
Mark only had to touch up a couple of grizzly wounds, but other than that they held out nicely.
A scream like that of many voices bounced throughout the room.
The beams of light searched the darkness, finding two lumbering Titans moving toward the squad.
“Jaya with me!” Sam shouted.
Mark watch as Jaya sent a large band of water in front of their party and wrapped it around one of the Titans. Then Sam made a motion and the water froze in seconds. Freezing one of the Titans solid. They both had their arms extended and seemed deep in concentration. Mark watched as cracks spread throughout the Titan and it began to fall apart into frozen chunks
The second Titan kept moving towards the party. The frontline took a couple of steps forward and engaged.
The creature was strong, but when hit from multiple sides it struggled to contend with them. The only thing saving it was its ridiculously tough hide.
Jonathan and Sam seemed to be the only two that could do lasting damage to it, but the others never let up.
Mark wasn't sure how many minds were in that thing so he opted to try out [Earth control].
Sending the Mana into the ground he slowly pulled up a chunk of concrete from the ground. Then shaping it into a spear, he gave a warning shout.
As it finished he launched the mass of stone. It made a heavy whoosh sound through the air as it clipped the creature's shoulder.
The weight of the impact didn't stop it but definitely slowed it. Giving the frontline time to break one of its legs bringing it down to their level and cleaving its head from its shoulders.
Mark was happy but annoyed at the spell. Its speed in combat left something to be desired and he had been spoiled by [Force bolt].
The control over the spear when in flight was difficult to adjust. So once he fired it, he had very little control. If it missed it missed, and that had taken around 5 Mana.
Chris shouted out.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“All clear!”
Everyone began to gather up. Mark deactivated his barrier.
“What are we looking at here Chirs,” Jonathan asked.
Chris nodded and closed his eye, sending out a pulse. Mark could feel it expanding around them.
“Four tunnels. Two blocked. One holds a decent number of Corrupted ahead the other seems empty.”
Mark could already see the value of having a scout.
“Our job is to clear this place so the infest tunnel should be our goal, Any thoughts?” Jonathan asked.
When no one objected Chris pointed out the tunnel.
They dropped down onto the train tracks.
Mark had pulled a tiny pebble off the ground with [Earth control] and was having to revolve around his hand, frowning at it all the while.
After a moment of walking Jaya broke the silence.
“You look like you are having the manipulation vs manifestation problem,” she said breaking Mark out of his musings.
“The what?” he asked.
He couldn't see her but he heard the smile on her voice.
“It's a problem casters run into sooner or later. The choice between using what is already there and creating something from scratch” she said.
It sort of made sense but Mark still wasn't getting why the distinction mattered.
“I saw you using earth magic just now, was that your first time using it?”
“Sort of, yeah, how did you know?” he asked.
“Because your manipulation was slow. But it’s not your fault that is just how these things work. See when you activate spells like that you have a choice to move the earth around you or create earth itself”
Mark thought back to the spell's description. It had mentioned something about creating materials.
“The first method takes less Mana as you are simply Manipulating what is already around you. The second one takes a bit more Mana but once you manifest that element you have far more control over it.”
That actually made a lot of sense. He had wondered where she was getting all the water.
So if he created some earth would he have control over it like his [Force bolt]?
For that matter was he manifesting or manipulating Force when he used [Force bolt]?
Jaya continued explaining.
“Only a couple of tests have been done so far, but as a rule the higher the energy requirement the more mana it needs. Which translates to the denser the matter you try to create the more expensive it is. For example, earth is one of the most expensive elements you can manifest while something like air or light is cheap. It takes quite a bit of practice to get earth to move rapidly if you are only manipulating it.”
Mark looked up at the darkness around them.
“And how would you manifest?” he asked.
“Simple, direct your Mana to take on the aspect of the element you want create. It works better if you have a connection to the element.”
Mark hummed.
He sent his focus inward and tried to picture what he needed. At first, he thought of a flame glowing softly, but he realized that was too narrow. It was more than just a simple glow. It was energy. It could take on so many forms. It flowed in waves all around them. It was both substantial yet held no real substance.
It was light.
Tying that down he formed intents around it. Bringing Mana to the threshold of his skin. The Mana fought him tooth and nail. It really didn't like these intents at all.
Intensity, variability, and focus.
Mark stopped walking as he maneuvered the Mana into place. A headache began forming as he kept the Mana in check. Finally, he allowed his concept of light to filter through the intents.
Releasing it all at once.
Light bloomed around them, collecting in a ball above Mark's palm. Pushing back the surrounding darkness and bathing them in a gentle white light.
A ping sounded out
Mark panted.
“The hell, games make light spells like the first thing you get, why was that so hard? I thought light was supposed to be cheap” He said panting.
Mark could once more see all their faces. Jaya was squinting at the light in shock.
Turning back looked at him with a wry smile.
“I said it was cheap, not easy. But really you must be another monster to get that so quickly”
Mark’s facial expression didn't change but he caught sight of Sam behind her, inspecting the ball of light with interest. She had also snuffed out her flame. Probably to save on Mana.
Mark continued walking once more.
“Damn you should have done that sooner,” Matt said.
“Just figuring it out,” he said. Directing it upward.
The little orb flew up and around and Mark directed it. Zipping it in circles around the party. He stopped it and kept it moving with the pace of the party.
Controlling its brightness and even the color with a thought. Cycling it through all colors until the tunnel began to look like a rave. Finally stopping it back at white.
The orb took a minor amount of concentration. Not even one-tenth of what the ward had taken him.
As for Mana, it was subsisting entirely off his Mana regen. If he had to guess, at its current strength it was using 1 Mana every five minutes. He could up the intensity at any time, but it didn't seem necessary.
“You done?” Jonathan looked at him with one raised brow, but Mark could tell he found it amusing.
“Yup,” he said proudly.
Bringing the light to hover securely over the squad.
Up ahead screeches went up. It looked like his little light show had not gone unnoticed.
“Small flying creatures incoming, my bet is ghasts!” Chris shouted.
Mark got serious then. Ghasts were actually very easy to counter for him.
They had been following the train tracks and arrived in an expanded tunnel. Probably some sort of maintenance area with dark high ceilings.
Mark expanded a shell of [Shape Mana] over the party.
Ghasts came smashing right into the dome with a sickening crack.
Sending his light forward he flared the radius to cover the entire passageway.
When the light hit the roof they saw a swaying carpet of Ghasts.
Hundreds screeched at the intrusive light that dare to enter their home, and like a torrential downpour, they dropped from the ceiling with vengeance.
Shots were fired into the cloud.
There were so many of them, one would have a hard time not hitting one.
Strangely enough, a good number of them went for Mark's light, trying to destroy it.
Sadly for them, it was just that, light. They charged at it, passing right through, doing no damage.
The rest fell on the squad. Mark pumped resources into his construct in preparation.
The fear effect hit the construct and so did their barbs.
Blue Fire bloomed in the air as Sam blanketed the room in flame. Temporarily outshining Mark's light.
Dozens fell from the sky as charred husks.
Then amongst the chaotic skys, something huge moved against the roof.
A normal Ghast was about the size of a medium dog.
So when the Daddy of all Ghasts rocked up Mark swore under his breath.
The thing was the size of a van. Mark struggled to see how it could fly in here because when it unraveled its leathery wingspan the thing almost touched both walls of the room.
Then it dove at the party.
An: Subway layout
[https://www.dropbox.com/s/k5r0isdhwmvdbuv/Chapter%2053%20-%20subway%20system.png?dl=1]