Chapter 40 - Abyss of Corruption

788 I.C, March 17, Dracwyn: Hangar, Night

The aetheric artifact I had sensed within the blimp was indeed a massive crystal. No doubt meant to generate a shield of massive proportions. Now it was used for something else.

My hands rested on the massive crystal, it pulsed with energy as it reached deep into the city and mimicked what the Master had done to Everwinter. It sapped energy from the environment, just a little, but spread over a large area it resulted in massive amounts.

I could imagine Talwin's protest: 'This is wrong, Avery. Using the Master's tactics like this...'

The entity within my chest was pleased. It reveled in the energy it funneled through the crystal, and it mused in delight that I no longer feared it. It was a subtle sensation, not straight thoughts, but instinct and hints of something I couldn't define.

Relief? Perhaps? To finally be of use, to focus, rather than being trapped in blackness...

I shook my head to shake the eerie sensation, and focused.Aetheric tendrils of black and red had sprouted from the crystal and infested the blimp. It was changing it, molding it, to better suit a mage rather than an engineer.

The metal structures of the blimp groaned in protest, and the wooden planks twisted into new shapes. It was to be a craft fueled by magic, but well shielded from the crippling amounts of flux that would soon fill the skies.

I'm lucky Talwin is back at the guild... He'd be impressed, but quite angry...

My focus shifted as I picked up on something near the hangar. It was a subtle presence in the aether and its movements were slow and strategic. Clearly an attempt to stay hidden.

I shut my eyes, focused on it, and listened to its presence as my own magic encroached on it from every direction. The entity must have noticed as it suddenly dropped any pretense and leaped into action. It sprinted up stairs, bolted onto scaffolding, and raced upward to reach the blimp.

Enough...

I looked toward the floor of the blimp, stared at the presence I could feel through the aether, and raised one hand. Carefully, but slowly, I closed my hand and the hangar groaned as it bowed to my will.

Scaffolding cracked into pieces, reformed in an instant, and a cage formed around the gnat that invaded my web. It fought back with magic, but little more than a thought was needed to shock the creature into submission.

I let go of the crystal, stepped up to the door, opened it, and stepped out. My hands grabbed the blimp's railing as I leaned over and glanced down. A few floors below me was a hovering cage of warped metal, and within was a feline that looked up with gritted teeth.

"Let me go!" The feline shrieked.

I raised my brow and moved my hand as if beckoning him to come closer. The cage floated higher, and came to rest in front of me.

"You'll regret this!" The incessant feline snapped and jabbed a finger toward me.

I tipped my head in wonder, and suddenly realized where I had seen this one before. Especially the annoying demeanor. It was August 's little guardian, the one called Milo.

But why would he be here? We're supposed to be on the same side...

"Does August know that you're here?" I asked.

Milo blinked once, and suddenly launched into action once more, "Yes! Of course he does! I know your secret now! You're a NECROMANCER!"

It made me roll my eyes as I rubbed my temple, "It's obvious that he doesn't."

What am I supposed to do now? Lock him up? Wipe his memory and bring him back to Talwin?

Kill him?

I focused on the feline in annoyance and the aether responded in kind. Milo's body grew tense, fear invaded his eyes, and he looked around as if expecting to be crushed.

If I could just-

Another presence tickled the aether and looked toward the hangar entrance. Someone stepped into the hangar, and within moments a beacon of shining light formed. The presence in the aether was a lot stronger than the feline, but unfamiliar. It made me grit my teeth as I walked over to the front of the blimp and prepared for battle.

Yet, as I stood by the edge and looked down, the figure seemed quite familiar. It was the same person I had hoped would take care of the incessant feline, the human mage who called himself August. Old and withered, with a beard white as snow.

But the presence in the aether isn't the same... Is this a trick?

I took on an aggressive stance, held out my hand, and called out to one of the spears I had brought with me. Within seconds it moved into my hand, and I focused on transporting myself. With a blink the metal surface of the blimp disappeared beneath me, and in the next I stood on the ground, ready to face the old mage.

"Explain yourself," I ordered and aimed the spear at the old man.

The old man blinked in surprise, stumbled back, and lowered his gaze to focus on me now that I was on the ground, "... Impressive, wulfkin."

I bared my teeth, "Spare me the bullshit, I'm not in the mood."

The old man raised his hands, "I am not your enemy, Avery. I'm simply here to fetch to my servant and offer you something useful."

I didn't relent, "Your presence in the aether is wildly different from the one I sensed in the castle. Who are you, and answer quickly or I'll end both of you."

August stared for a moment, and then his lips began to curl. In moments it grew into a sly smirk and a glitter in his eyes as if he had been discovered, "You wulfkins, I never understood why Aeternus liked you so much."

I eased back a little, "You're not who you appear to be, are you?"

August exhaled as if tired, and focused on me, "You're not the only one bound by Aeternus will."

"Who, or what, are you?" I asked.

August stroked his beard and tipped his head, "A remnant of the old world, I believe you've encountered a few of my kind already."

I eased back and felt a pinch of worry, "You're a necromancer."

August's toothless smile flashed once more, "Does it matter?"

"It matters whether I can trust you or not," I answered.

August stepped up to the feline, and peered down, "Your trust is irrelevant. This is what Aeternus has planned, and so it shall be. You will do your task, and I'll do mine."

"Leyland only followed his own ambition, why would you serve Aeternus?" I asked.

August drew a deep breath, "I have my reasons, but you have means of discovering whether they're true or not, so they'd be useless to bring up."

"Milo has no idea what you are, you tricked him into serving you," I said.

August sighed, "I do what I have to in order to survive, just like you wulfkin. Besides, I take great care of the little feline, far better than the slums once treated him."

"And when you have no more use for him? Are you going to throw him away just like Leyland treated his allies?"

August's expression twisted into disgust, "You speak of things and an age you have no clue about, I'd call you insolent, but it's more likely that you're just painfully ignorant."

"Yet, you didn't answer the question, did you?" I asked.

August frowned and twirled the edge of his beard, "The nature of mind control is... unfortunate. But the runt has been useful to me and he will be rewarded for it, that ought to set your petty conscience at ease."

"You said something about offering something useful?" I said.

August made a slight nod, but then gazed up toward the blimp, "Yes, though I am curious. You've mastered the art of transporting, I saw you do it in front of my eyes. What possible use would you have of an old blimp?"

"If you had heard August's plan, then surely you know of what must be done?" I asked.

August drew a deep breath, and his frown deepened, "It's called compartmentalization, Aeternus only shares parts of his plan."

"Uh huh," I said.

August sighed and reached into his robe, "It doesn't matter if you believe me or not."

The old man pulled up a strange, but familiar object. One moment it looked like a golden egg, in the next it shimmered and shifted to become more abstract. It visibly pulsed with energy as the old man approached and held it out, "Aeternus says it has a role to play, and that you should have it."

A stone of fate...

"A role to play?" I asked as August motioned for me to take it.

"Yes, but I don't know any more than that,"August said, and held it in front of my chest, "now take it."

I eased it into my palm as I stared at it, "This is quite cryptic."

"I'm sure the answer will become obvious, now bring my apprentice and I'll make sure to keep him out of your way," August said.

I reached out to the aether, and began to pull the cage closer, "You never needed me to fix the weapon, did you?"

August eyed me as if questioning my intelligence, "Of course not, but it did provide you with an excuse to rummage about the castle, and it cleared me of any suspicion."

"So, what happens next?" I asked.

August shrugged, "My orders are simple: Fire the weapon once there's a gap in the Obelisk's defenses."

And the rest is up to me...

788 I.C, March 17, The Pierced Veil, Evening

Raymond's presence was starting to bug me out. Move to one room, and in less than a minute you'd find him skulking around the corner. Even when I had fled by transporting myself to the guild roof and garden, it only helped for a few minutes.

Clyde wanted nothing to do with him, Talwin was unsure how to act, and I felt like an asshole for trying to avoid him. At the moment I stood by one of the balconies, watching as people wandered, seeking solutions to a problem they had no power to influence.

A problem brought to them by me...

The thought faded as I heard the floorboards creak from around the corner. I turned my head to stare, and waited. Raymond appeared a few seconds later, and visibly shuddered in surprise as our eyes met.

His remaining ear flattened in an instant and he was about to flee when I raised my voice, "Raymond."

Raymond had turned halfway, stared into the depths of the corridor, and whispered, "Sorry."

What to do? What would make things easier?

I forced a gentle smile and stepped closer, "Want to help me with something?"

Raymond's ear perked as he glanced back and repeatedly nodded, "Yes... Yes, I do."

"Relax," I said, reached out, and caught his shoulder.

Raymond grew tense but didn't move as I held tight, and reached out to the aether.

It's becoming easier... Easier to wield the aether... To bend it with thought alone...

A bubble formed around us, like warped glass, and with a gentle pop we were somewhere else.

Raymond blinked in confusion and looked around as I let go, "We're... in the kitchen? How did you do that, Avery?"

I smiled, but it felt hollow as I opened a cupboard and reached in, "We're going to bake something."

"... OK?" Raymond asked and gently tapped the floor with his paw as if to make sure it was real.

I pulled out a bowl, poured flour, stuffed a big spoon into it, and pointed to a pack of butter, "Take the butter, put it into the bowl, and mix it up."

Raymond kept an eye locked on me as he stepped over, cautiously picked up the butter, and proceeded to stare into the bowl, "All of it?"

I nodded, "Sure, go ahead."

Raymond tipped the pack, stared as the sticky butter began to ease off, and then hit the flour with a big puff. He recoiled as some flour drifted in the air, and then made a sheepish smile as he glanced back at me.

See... You're still in there, hiding behind the tension...

I turned my attention to another cupboard, and took my time as I gathered more ingredients. Every so often I glanced back, and one could see Raymond struggle. His movements were jerky, sometimes too hard, sometimes too soft. The tension could be seen on his muzzle, almost to the point where he gritted his teeth. It made me wonder how long it had been since any part of him had managed to relax in any shape or form.

A small pack of baking powder... and a pouch with ground cocoa beans... can't forget the sugar...

I stepped over to Raymond, leaned in as he kept working, and started adding the ingredients.

Raymond kept stirring and kept his eyes on the bowl, "Don't tell me I'm doing good, I'm not a retard."

I couldn't help but smirk, "What do you mean?"

Raymond gritted his teeth for a moment, "I'm stirring a bowl... I don't need praise for it, it's nothing special. I feel like an idiot."

I added some baking powder and smiled, "Reminds me of old times, you always did like to eat the cake rather than help make it."

Raymond churned harder and looked to me with a stutter in his voice, "It- it was wimpy! Clyde wouldn't stop teasing me for a week! But you didn't care, you weren't like that."

A chuckle escaped as I nudged his shoulder, "I remember."

Raymond idly stirred a few more times, and then held up the bowl, "I think it's done."

I grabbed the spoon, pulled it out of the dough, and looked at it. Thick, moving like tar, but no visible lumps. I caught a dab on a claw, brought it to my muzzle, and lapped it up.

Raymond remained frozen in place, still holding the bowl, staring as if the world was at stake. I could feel his gaze burrow into me as I raised a brow and sampled the taste of chocolate on my tongue.

"W- well?" Raymond asked with a stutter.

I angled the tall wooden spoon, but Raymond didn't seem to notice as he kept staring. Then, I let it fall forward, aiming for his nose.

Splat!

A shudder rippled through Raymond as the sticky end of the spoon now rested against his nose. His muzzle dropped open as he went cross eyed and stared at the dough that now clung to the edge of his nose.

I pulled the spoon back up, and tried to stifle a snicker, "It's acceptable, Raymond."

Raymond blinked as if unsure how to react, and wiped the dough off his nose, "That... That's mean."

I held out the spoon, "Want to lick it clean?"

Raymond threw me a quick glare and then averted his gaze, "I'm not some pup, Avery."

A moment later he held out his hand and whispered, "Yes."

788 I.C, March 18, The Pierced Veil: Patio, Midday

"Avery, can we talk?"

I looked back and found Cyrus staring at me. In his hands was some kind of box.

"Haven't seen you in a while, Cyrus."

Cyrus glanced around and then looked up in annoyance, "Yeah... I've been busy."

I motioned to the door, "The tower is busy, how about a walk in the garden?"

Cyrus glanced down at the box, "... Fine, but walk carefully."

I stepped up to the door, eased it open, and felt a cool rushing past, "We made brownies, you just missed them."

Cyrus followed as I stepped outside, "Actually, your 'friend' Talwin was quite insistent I had a bite... While trying to figure out what I had in the box, of course."

"He's just being careful, Cyrus," I said and let the wind blow in my face, it felt cooler than usual, but crispy fresh.

"You still haven't told him? Seriously?" Cyrus hissed behind me.

I stopped and turned around, "Morale is bad as it is, Cyrus."

Cyrus eyed me careful frown, "No offense, but you're a cold hearted bastard, Avery."

I averted my gaze and stepped up to one of the apple trees, "I guess I am."

"... Aren't you scared?" Cyrus said and followed.

"Enough, Cyrus," I said and fixated on him with a cold stare.

Cyrus sighed, and then looked down at his box, "I think I have good news."

I stepped closer, "Go on?"

"Do you remember what we talked about, that I'd find a way?" Cyrus asked.

"Yes?"

"You said you couldn't find anything in the books that Raymond brought, but I did."

"Oh?" I asked.

Cyrus averted his gaze, "The necromancers knew how to extract life energy, and how to store it... I know that you do as well, Avery. I've seen your experiments."

"It's not without side effects, Cyrus. Do it wrong and you end up something nasty," I said and thought back to the undead rabbits.

Cyrus nodded, "But did you know that they were researching ways to extract the spirit... or rather, the bio-aetheric engine that converts aetheric energy into usable life energy?"

"Yes, I did, and I dismissed it," I said.

Cyrus stepped closer, opened the box in silence, and angled it so that I could look inside. Within the box there was some kind of aetheric construct made of obsidian, runes, and a round orb with punched holes that glowed with an intense red hue.

"What have you done, Cyrus?" I asked.

Cyrus seemed to shrink, his tail couldn't be seen, and his ears clamped to his head, "What I did is my own sin, but this might save your life..."

"Is that a-"

Cyrus looked up and stared at me, "The origin is irrelevant... This is a spark, an engine, it can replace the-"

"You murdered someone, in the city, and stole their life," I said.

Cyrus frowned, "Agron is in ruins, hundreds of thousands are dead, and you care about a single individual?"

"That's not the same thing, Cyrus, and you know it," I said.

Cyrus averted his gaze, and held out the box, "I know... Take it, please? What's done, is done, and nothing will be gained from wasting this, even if you disagree with my methods."

"Who died to make this?" I asked.

"It doesn't matter," Cyrus answered and looked back with an unmoving stare.

"If it doesn't matter, then you may as well tell me," I countered.

A loud sigh followed as Cyrus glared, "Someone who deserved it, and don't worry... The necromancers concluded that a person's spark has no influence on the mind itself, you won't be affected by this spark's 'nature'."

I reached out and took the box, "This is unlikely to work, Cyrus. Even if this device survives the energies it'll be exposed to, then I could be dead within seconds once the vortex collapses, and-"

Cyrus pointed at the box, "I'm good with runes, Avery. It'll automatically activate the moment that the vortex gives out."

"Uh huh, and I take it that you've tested that it's actually possible to transplant a spark?" I asked.

Cyrus scratched his neck, "Well... No."

"Did it work for the necromancers?"

"I... I think so," Cyrus whispered.

I sighed, "If it works, then you and I will have a talk about this, understand?"

"Well, if it works, then you owe me your life and you can't punish me for that. If it doesn't, then I'm still kinda off the hook."

"Either way, thank you for trying."

788 I.C, March 18, The Pierced Veil: Hallways, Evening

Talwin stopped in the hallway, glanced down, and found his focus drawn to a bundle of flowers in a vase. They were drooping, and as he reached out to touch them with a claw, the petals fell. As he watched them fall there was a strange sensation along his neck. A presence, hiding by the very edge of his vision. Without warning he snapped back for a glance, yet saw nothing.

The sensation lingered as he stared into the empty hallway. It felt creeping and cold as if it had suddenly suffused the hallway. He blinked but couldn't shake the sensation that something was amiss. The lights that were powered by magic seemed dimmer than usual, it was almost as if darkness itself seemed to leak through the walls.

Fear grew as he squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, opened them, and took another look. The dimness was gone, or perhaps he'd gotten used to it. But the sensation remained, looming over his shoulder, moving where he couldn't see.

Something was going on, and it made his heart thump as he looked toward the stairs. He gulped, clenched his hands, and started marching.

The looming sensation grew with every step, it pulled on his shoulders, clinging like a bloated slug, that tried to keep him in place. He clenched his teeth, brushed his neck with a hand, and leaped forward in an attempt to shake it.

For the briefest moment, it worked, and he sighed in relief. To his surprise the warm breath of his muzzle grew to become fog in the air, suddenly chilled by whatever presence that invaded the hallway.

Talwin tail bristled and he felt tension up his spine as he rushed past in panic. Upon reaching the stairs he grabbed the railing as if chasing a lifeline, and ascended as if digging himself out of a mud pit.

Within moments he ascended the winding staircase, and found himself inside the tower. To his surprise the room was dark as night, and he could feel a chill of cold air biting into his fur.

"Avery?" Talwin asked as he looked into the tower, and noticed a figure standing by an open window.

Clyde's voice cut through the silence, "No, just me."

"Something odd is going on. Why is it so cold all of a sudden, and why aren't there any lights up here?" Talwin said as he approached.

A quick chuckle turned into a sigh as Clyde's shadowed form motioned toward the open window, "Take a look."

Talwin drew a deep breath as he neared the window. The cold dampened the scents, but Clyde's presence was evident to both nose and the aether.

"Have you seen Avery?" Talwin asked and leaned onto the window sill.

"Not since the cake," Clyde answered.

Talwin blinked in surprise as he caught sight of something drifting through the air, even stranger was the sensation as it landed on his nose and promptly melted with the sensation of a cold sting.

It made him raise his hand, and as he watched, a few flakes of snow landed on his palm, "It's snowing, but how? This is Agron, it never snows here."

As if on queue, the city began to wake from its slumber. Distant bells began to ring, and the towers that dotted the wall lit up with magic. The drifting blimps of the city grew from barely visible dots to bright beacons of light. As they watched, the horizon began to light up. But instead of the bright yellow hues of the sun, it was a sickening hue of green that crawled over mountains and forests alike.

"He's here... The Master, I can feel it, taste it in the air," Clyde murmured.

"Something strange is going on downstairs, it felt-"

Clyde glanced back and his shoulders tightened as if he was cowering, "That's what the Master does to the aether. Warps it, twists it, this is nothing compared to what his blessing does. It chokes you from the inside out, strangling you with a cape clinging to your back."

"But he doesn't have the Star, I thought-"

A creak from the stairs made both of them glance back. Standing by the stairs was Avery, surrounded by small motes of red that danced like fireflies. It shifted the hue of his otherwise black fur to make him look like a glowing visage.

Avery approached and spoke as his were looked on the view outside the window, "The Star is merely a means to effectively wield the aether, a shortcut. But as long as you have a large reserve of magic, like the Master does, then you can practically do anything," Avery said.

"Are you all right?" Talwin asked as Avery approached.

"Yes," Avery then lifted his arm and pointed to the outside, "Look."

Talwin looked out, and as he did, the blimps flared with light. In the moments that followed a crackle of lightning extended from the towers and connected with the blimps. The individual bolts of light snapped together in the shape of a large grid, and began to fill in to form a solid dome.

As the shield grew, so did the green hue behind the horizon. Within a few moments a gargantuan obelisk rose over the distant forest. The obelisk seemed to float on a pillow of green smoke, but as they watched it seemed accurate to describe it like a massive torch that violently burned the forest it passed over.

As Talwin watched he found his gaze drawn to the very center of the obelisk. Its surface was coated in arcane symbols that glowed, and at the center was a circular gap. It reminded him of the vortex in Karashak, vivid green, twisting, and with a black hole that pulled on your senses.

"We need to leave," Avery said.

Clyde looked back in surprise, "Leave? Where?"

Avery walked up to the transporter in the middle of the room before answering, "The castle."

Talwin was about to speak when the transporter made a sudden crackle and the crystals lit to life. Without warning Avery jumped back, and the crystals seemed to take on a life of their own. They brightened, glowed like miniature suns, and began to fume with smoke.

"Damn it, he's flooding the deeper layers of the aether with so much energy that there's no way to transport anywhere," Avery hissed.

"Messenger stones aren't working either," Clyde said and stared at a stone in his hand.

Avery's nose wrinkled as he bared his teeth, "Yeah, I guess this is it."

"What do we do?" Talwin asked.

Avery turned to the stairs and started marching, "We walk."

788 I.C, March 18, Dracwyn: Castle Walls, Night

Talwin looked ahead and focused on the hilly road that weaved its way through the commerce district. Cramped buildings lined both sides, and their construction made it look as if they were leaning over the road itself. The outer castle wall could be seen far in the distance, and if one looked back you could see the rest of the city and the distant walls.

While marching he looked up for a glance of the night sky, instead he was met with the shimmering white surface of the shield that now covered the city. It basked the streets with light just like the sun would, but it was little comfort for the panic that now gripped the city.

Distant screams echoed, only to be drowned out by cracks of lightning and loud thumps that made the ground shake a little. Tending to one of the nearby buildings was an aggravated man desperately trying to board up the windows of a cramped shop. Next to the building was a fur slumped against the alley, a drunken smirk warped his muzzle as he suckled a bottle, desperately trying to drown out the looming disaster.

Without warning the ground and buildings lit up as a flash tore up the sky. A split second later he felt a thump of air on his back, and the thunderous roar of a distant explosion.

Talwin twisted around, and focused on the city gates, or at least, where the city gates had been just a moment ago. The gates it would seem, and the supporting towers were no more. A giant cloud of magical energy and debris still rose from what was now a gaping hole in the city defenses. As the cloud began to disperse one could see what looked like wave of black and blue tar pouring into the city. A few moments later the shapes became distinct enough to reveal a screaming horde of the undead and other monstrosities the Master had cooked up. The city shield visibly struggled, it bent downward, desperately trying to stem the disease that now flooded into the city.

A ripple of activity spread outwards from the city gates, and as the echo of the explosion died down, it was replaced by a growing chorus of screams. Within moments the nearby streets came to life, and those that had taken shelter in the shops of the district now poured out, aiming at the castle, seeking new refuge.

"Move!" Avery ordered with a snap.

Talwin was snapped awake, turned his attention around, and found the others of the group to be as stunned as he was.

"Move!" Talwin repeated and motioned to the castle.

The group started moving once more. Raymond clung to Avery's shadow, while Clyde lingered by the back, herding the others of the guild.

To his surprise Leonard wasn't moving, but instead stared at the horizon, crestfallen or too stunned to move.

Talwin reached out, and grabbed hold of his arm, "Leonard, we need to move."

Leonard blinked in surprise, stumbled into action, and began to pick up pace, "Sorry, it's just..."

"What's wrong? Apart from the obvious, I mean," Talwin asked.

Leonard gritted his teeth for a moment and looked ahead to focus on Avery who strode in front, "It just struck me, how powerless we are."

Talwin opened his muzzle and expected words to come, yet he found his voice retreating in silence. It made Leonard glance back, and their eyes met for a moment.

Brushed aside, always playing catch-up... Told that everything is fine when it clearly isn't...

I know all too well what it feels like to be powerless...

Talwin looked in front, picked up pace, and sprinted ahead to join Avery's side. Raymond's eyes were upon him in an instant, staring like a guard-dog ready to strike at anything that dared to even come close to Avery. He ignored it, and forced himself into Avery's field of vision.

Avery's reaction was a quick glance, followed by a stare that begged the question: 'What?'

It evoked a strange feeling within Talwin. As if something had cracked, and from it welled anger that he couldn't understand. In the instant that passed he imagined himself snatching hold of Avery, screaming, and demanding answers. He could barely hold it back as he clenched one hand, squeezed so tight it hurt, and focused on the pain.

"We need to talk," Talwin said.

"Not now."

The answer was quick, dismissive, and in an instant Avery had turned his attention elsewhere.

Not now? There might not be another chance soon...

Talwin reached out, caught Avery's wrist, and held tight, "What are you hiding, Avery?"

To his surprise, Avery slowed down, and so did everyone else. It made Avery back in confusion, as if he didn't realize that the entire group now followed his every beck and call.

Avery pointed to the castle walls and screamed, "Get behind the walls and help out with whatever defenses they have, now!"

The group started moving once more, while Talwin stayed in place, still holding onto Avery. Raymond stayed as well, but received a quick glare as Avery focused on him.

"Raymond, listen to me. Get to safety behind the walls, don't bother anyone, follow Clyde and do as he asks," Avery ordered.

Raymond's ear folded back, and his eyes pleaded as he opened his muzzle to speak. Avery interrupted in an instant, "Now, no protests. Do as I ask."

Raymond shut his muzzle, nodded once, and rushed off.

"What is it Talwin? We don't have much time."

Talwin squeezed Avery's wrist, "You've been acting different ever since Karashak, and nothing I do seems to dispel it. What did I do? What did we do wrong? Why did everything suddenly change?"

Avery's gaze drifted away once more, and came to focus on the distant walls and the obelisk that now loomed outside the city shield, "You did nothing wrong Talwin. I'm just.... trying to deal with the cards I've been given."

"You're lying to me Avery, I can tell. Did you figure something out? Does it have anything to do with Cyrus? Or the box he gave you? Are you going to do something stupid?" Talwin pleaded.

Avery smiled without warning and looked back, in the split second that followed it was suddenly replaced by the tight grimace and drooping ears of someone about to cry.

Before Talwin had a chance to react the expression was gone once more, and the stoic almost heartless expression was back, "I need you to get behind the walls, Talwin. You can't help me this time."

"Tell me what you're going to do, and I might be able to!" Talwin snapped.

An encroaching rumble, similar to that of stampeding horses, made them look toward the twisting road that led to the commerce district. Within moments a cluster of buildings began to light up in blue and moving shadows.

A split second later the source emerged. A creature of blackened flesh and glimmering blue, hurling itself forward like a bloated cow. Heavy tendrils slammed into the ground and buildings alike, helping it to stay on course as it lumbered forward.

It caught the still fleeing populace by surprise, but to Talwin's surprise the creature didn't seem to bother. Instead it kept scrambling up the hill, aiming for castle or the Star worn by Avery.

Without warning Avery reached to his back and removed the backpack. He then held it out and shoved it into Talwin's arms, "Hold onto this, and keep it safe."

Talwin took it in his arms, and he could energy humming within, "I recognize this, it's what Cyrus gave you. What is-"

"Talwin, you wanted to help, and this is helping. Now do as I ask, or I will force you, do you understand?"

Talwin gritted his teeth, and swallowed the anger, "Fine, but we're not done, Avery. You and I are going to talk."

"Go," Avery ordered.

788 I.C, March 18, Dracwyn: Castle Walls, Night

Does he have to make it harder than it already is?

I turned my attention to the road while Talwin rushed toward the others by the castle wall.

Whatever resistance the city had put up by the gates had been crushed, and what remained were growing stacks of smoke and fire. The monstrosity was still approaching, and judging by the encroaching noise in the distance there would soon be more.

The civilians had scattered left and right which left the street strangely empty. I stared at the beast as it approached, and tried to gauge how much time I had.

Twenty, maybe thirty seconds?

I drew a deep breath, and focused on the power of the entity within me and the Star it controlled. It had few similarities to the structured magic I was used to, this was instinctive, and emotional. Rastlin would have been disgusted by the chaotic nature of it.

I reached back, and traced the outline of my backpack which held Cyrus device, as well as a bundle of spears. With a thought the spears became like appendages that I could animate at will.

The backpack opened, the spears emerged and gathered in a circle as they started to spin. With a snap of energy they settled behind me like archers standing at the ready.

This isn't enough...

I exhaled and urged the Star for more power. The effects could be seen in the air as it shimmered and the temperate dropped well below the freezing point. Frost spread along the ground, and I could even feel the cold bite into the tips of my claws.

Tendrils of red began to spread out. It infested the nearby buildings like weeds that sapped energy from the city and Master alike. Without warning the field stopped growing, and the Star could reach no further. It was a hard limit to its influence, and no doubt the reason Everwinter's central tower had been nothing more than a giant pillar of obsidian.

I focused on the aether as the beast lumbered closer, and forced the rest of the world to fade from focus. Instead I saw the energies of the civilians huddling in their homes, the massive pipes underneath the city that channeled energy, and the intense glow from the shield above.

The monstrosity was also visible within the aether. Its chest held the parasitic crystal, and from there I could see threads spanning into the distance. The threads led toward the city gates, and from there it flowed into the massive obelisk that loomed outside the city.

One blow... Sever the crystal from the Master, and it's dead...

It was difficult to resist the urge of using ordinary tactics such as long range bombardment, and shields to protect the self. But it seemed unlikely to work on the Master's beasts, especially when the Star had such little range and limited energy to draw from.

Come at me!

The beast was within reaching distance. Its twisted maw glittered with blue blood and twisted teeth. Its tendrils were held high above its back, ready to strike. Like a creature gone mad, it leaped into the air, aiming straight at me and opened its maw wide as if to swallow me whole.

Strike!

I held his breath, and let my mind work. The spears launched, one for each tendril, and a few for the beast itself. They all struck from one side, forcing the tendrils off course, and pierced deep into body itself. The force impacted by the spears acted shifted its momentum, made it spin, and bared its bloated chest to the world. The monstrosity screamed within the aether with a rippling shriek of pain and anger fused together.

As its massive body flew past, merely inches away, I reached out with my hand.

I could feel the crystal parasite locked within its chest, a focal point of energy, and a connection to the Master itself. The link was far stronger than what I had seen in Clyde, but too weak to play a role in Aeternus plan.

Time moved slowly as I focused on the parasite and shut my hands as if squeezing it. The threads linking the monstrosity to the Master began to fizzle, and with a pop they snapped.

Reality came pouring back and I found myself in a loud and frantic environment once more. Screams, fire, and noise filled the background. A foul smell filled the air, and the wind tore at me as the beast passed within a hair's breadth.

A thunderous crash followed as the beast hit the ground and tumbled over itself with tendrils flailing in the air. Moments later it came to a rest, and didn't move. It's flesh sagged as if melting and drool trickled from its warped muzzle.

A sudden need to breathe made me gasp and I clutched my chest in surprise. My heart thumped, and I gave myself a quick look over to make sure I was in one piece.

A loud thump from behind made me look back, and as I watched the gates to the castle walls opened. It only took moments for the civilians to start pouring into the streets as they swarmed to get behind the walls.

In the midst of the chaos someone pushed through the crowds and approached, "Avery!"

I recognized him as Robert, the fox that accompanied Raymond, and who also served as advisor to the king of Agron.

"It's not safe here," I said as the old fox joined his side.

Robert gasped for breath as he spoke and looked into the distance, "I've noticed... The guard towers are reporting that there's a giant horde of those things spreading throughout the city. They're carving a path straight to the castle and there's something... massive at the front."

"Something massive, is that how they broke through the outer gates?" I asked.

Robert reached into a pocket and fished out a messenger stone, "Most of them have burned out, but this one still works and I heard the initial reports. It was a creature like the one you fought, but a lot bigger, with shards of crystal growing out of its back. It blew a hole through the gates and tore down the walls with it."

A lot bigger... It goes to reason that the Master's link is also stronger...

"How's August's weapon doing?" Avery asked.

Robert glanced up toward the towers of the castle, "They haven't fired yet, and I don't know why. The Executor is-"

• Robert -

The voice was invasive and carried on the aether, but it wasn't threatening. Instead it was soft and calm, almost to the point of pleading. It sounded like a young human male, and the voice had Robert freeze in place as he stared stunned into the nearby dark alleys.

"Robert," I said.

Robert twitched in surprise, and looked up at me, "Did you hear that?"

"Whatever you heard is the Master's trickery, ignore it, head back to the-"

• Help me! - Please! -

Robert seemed to drop everything as he stepped forward, and frantically searched the alleys with his eyes.

I reached out, and caught Robert's shoulder. He reacted in an instant, slammed his hand into my arm, and tried to wrest himself from my grip.

"ROBERT!" I screamed.

Robert froze for a moment and his whiskers perked as fixated to stare at me with slitted eyes, "Let go."

"It's not real," I said and leaned closer.

Robert lashed out with one arm and pointed at the buildings, "That's Conrad's voice, the King of Agron! I bloody know that the Master has him, but I am-"

"He's dead!" I snapped.

Robert stopped struggling for a moment, but the voice was quick to return.

• I need you - It's dark - I'm cold - Where are you? - Robert? -

Robert moved slowly, but forced his shoulder out of my grip, "I am bound to the king, Avery, and until his voice is no more, I have to follow. Respect that."

"You're a fool, Robert," I said.

Robert held out the messenger stone, and forced it into my hand, "Take it."

Another rumble shook the city, and the sound of crumbling buildings filled the air. A glimpse revealed that the trail of destruction had almost reached us. A curved path of fire and destruction had paved its way through the merchant, and residential areas of the city. While twisting and branching off at points, the goal was evident as it all drew together to point at the castle itself.

Robert started running toward the dark alleys and I was left with an impossible choice. The gates were too far away, the abominations were coming closer by the second, and there was no way I could deal with all of them at the same time.

The messenger stone crackled to life and Fletcher voice, the Spy-master's apprentice, could be heard "Where the hell is Robert going? What did you do Avery!?"

I lifted the stone to my muzzle, "I think he heard Conrad's voice, I couldn't stop him."

"Are you serious!? Fucking hell! They blew the gates open, didn't even bother with the shield, and everything's going to shit all over the city! I can't find Amari, the Executor is doing god knows what, and- Look to the right! It's here!" Fletcher screamed through the messenger stone.

Thump!

Thump!

I didn't need the aether to sense that that something big was approaching, and as I looked toward the streets I could the blue light of the undead steadily growing brighter.

Within moments the head of a massive creature reared itself. It was as tall as the buildings it passed, and like the other beasts it had grown into a twisted mockery of whatever it had once been. The muzzle had forcefully split into fleshy petals that hanged low, each dripping with some kind of thick saliva that gathered as globules in the dirt. It's shape was lumpy, and there various sets of eyes spread all over its body. In fact... the way the eyes bulged out, it almost made it seem as if the creature was actually a large gathering of people that had melted together. Each set of eyes moved on its own, glaring, staring, and bulging as it scanned the environment.

More of the creature came into view and like the report said, there were several layers of crystalline growths that lined its back. The shards shone with blue light, and hummed with crackles of magic as the monster moved.

A pair of eyes locked on me, and the beast shuddered to a halt for a moment. Within the span of seconds, every set of eyes across the monster shifted to stare at me.

Its mouth moved, it spat slime and gurgled with a distorted growl of anger. It stomped the ground, power radiated through its body and made the skin glow with the presence of aetheric runes. Gravity itself seemed to shift in its presence as debris and dirt started to float.

Well... I now know what destroyed the gates...

788 I.C, March 18, Dracwyn: Residential District, Night

Robert grabbed the hilt of his sword, eased it out, and gritted his teeth. The light from the shield above the city could barely pierce the overlapping roofs of the alleys. It turned the alleys into a darkened maze and he could hear creatures skulking about.

Frantic steps came from around the corner, and Robert hugged the wall as he readied himself to strike. A split second later the source emerged, and he had to restrain himself from striking the target. Rather than a monster, it was a simple human male clutching an arm that was missing whole chunks of flesh.

Even as Robert stepped back, the man screamed out in surprise, nearly fell as he stumbled to the side, and then took off down one of the alleys.

• You came back to me - I'm pleased -

Robert kept the sword close as he leaned around the corner, and gazed down the path where the man had come from. In the distance he could see the dim outline of a humanoid.

"My king? Conrad? Is that you?" Robert said out loud, as he stepped into the alley.

The creature moved a little, and something along its head glinted in the dim light.

• It's all a misunderstanding - Robert -

Robert walked closer with the sword held tight in both hands, "What are you?"

• I told you the last time -

The creature moved closer, and stepped into a cross where the alleys met. It provided enough light that Robert could get his first good look. Robert claws tightened on the sword as his gut clenched harder, it wasn't what he expected, or hoped for.

Its hands were warped with the elongated claws, and once luxurious clothes were in tatters. The creature's face was definitely that of a young human male, but the skin itself was dry and wrinkled.

The creature smiled and the teeth that glinted in the light were perfectly aligned, though by shriveled black gums. On top of the creature's head was some sort of crown. Its once glinting metal had warped to make way for strange flesh and bony growths. They twisted like weeds, but curved like horns meant to act as some sort of status symbol. Tufts of golden hair still dotted the warped skull.

"A misunderstanding?" Robert asked.

Its head turned like that of a mechanical doll, and came to focus on Robert. The eye sockets had shrunk in, grown black, and the eyes themselves glinted like marbles of ice.

• The Master is salvation - For everyone - I know the truth now -

"You're sick, Conrad. Stop this," Robert whispered.

The creature turned, and sound of crackling bones echoed through the alley. Within moments it was walking, shoulders sloping forward, shambling with one step at a time.

Robert focused on the ground, and realized that the creature was missing a foot, "Conrad, your-"

• It fell off -

Robert wanted to scream as he raised his sword and hissed, "It- It fell off!?"

• This is nothing more than a husk -

Robert started marching, if nothing else then he could at least end this creature's suffering, and then return to the castle walls.

• You'll understand soon enough -

Fangs bared, hands clenched, and a deep breath, hold. Robert gathered the strength in his old bones, and rushed forward with a growl in his throat, and the determination to cleave it in two. The creature didn't react as Robert raised the sword high within the cramped alley, and then forced it downward with a scream in his throat.

What came next caught him by surprise. One moment he had seen the sword mere inches away from the rotten crown of the creature. In the next it felt as if the sword had struck rock. A painful shudder ripped through both his arms and upper body as he stumbled forward in shock.

Without warning the creature lunged out with one hand, and Robert felt his throat seized by bony claws. A choking wheeze escaped as the iron grip tightened he struggled to jerk the sword free from whatever force that held it.

Magic shimmered along the creature's body, and with a sudden surge he felt the sword ripped from his hands. A distant clang could be heard as the sword landed some distance away.

• Don't worry - Old Fox - I forgive you -

788 I.C, March 18, Dracwyn: Castle Gates, Night

Sagging flesh, tendrils dragging through the dirt, and distorted limbs, yet the four-legged monstrosity seemed to move with ease. It was wide enough to knock out street lights on both sides of the road, and each step caused the earth to rumble. The creature was like a miniature sun within the aether, leaking energy and spreading flux alike.

It made me feel small as I stared at it coming closer, while the other monstrosities moved aside to watch like the crowd in an arena.

I lifted the messenger stone and spoke, "Fletcher, I need you to take your half of the magic bullets, find Talwin and the ones I gave him. Then load every rifle you've got, and be ready to shoot at my mark."

"Do you think it'll work?" Fletcher asked.

"No idea, but it's better than nothing," I said.

"Will do," Fletcher answered.

I looked back toward the abomination I had already killed, and called for the spears. With loud pops they dislodged from the liquifying flesh, and rushed to my side once more.

It wouldn't be possible to use the same tactic as last time. The monstrosity that approached was far too massive, and getting that close would no doubt kill me. Thus it needed to be incapacitated, at least for a moment, so that I could rush in and tear it open.

I held out my hands aimed for the street lights, and heard the metal groan as the aether pulled on them. One by one the cobblestone and earth that held them in place began to move. One by one they came to float closer and joined in my makeshift army along with the spears.

Offense is one thing, but I also need an escape path...

A glimpse to the right revealed a large two story building built from solid rock. I sent threads crawling along the building, beckoned them to the second floor, and created something akin to a pulley system, ready to pull me out-of-the-way if needed.

Time to test this...

I funneled energy to one of the floating street lights, watched it spin, and felt the energy charge behind it like a coil being compressed. Energy leaked into the filaments and made it glow like a lit arrow.

With a thump of air it reached the threshold and launched. A split second later it reached the abomination and didn't react the way I had hoped. One of the tendrils looming around the beast snatched hold of it like a vicious snake. The metal groaned and bent from the stress, but the tendril swung once, aimed at me, and hurled it back as if it was nothing.

Instinct was stronger was thought, and I lunged to the side just in time. Dirt from the ground pelted my side as the now twisted hunk of metal bounced, and hurtled onward toward the castle gates.

• Mage -

It felt as if the voice crept up be my ear, tickled the fur, and whispered. It sneered with disgust and a hint of amusement. The voice was oddly familiar, like an unpleasant memory that made my fur itch with tension.

The abomination was only a few blocks away now, and it started to feel rather unreal as I had to look upward to even see the thing in full. The air of the street both smelled and moved as if controlled by it.

I raised my hand toward the monster with a new idea in my mind. If I couldn't bludgeon it to death, then something more liquid in form might help, and now that it was close enough to be affected by the Star, then there might be other solutions.

The command was simple, and I felt the Star heat up against my chest. It siphoned energy from the creature, and the air started to grow foggy as the temperature dipped. For a moment the creature slowed down, and its warped flesh twitched as if cramping up.

• Impressive - The Master wasn't sure if you had mastered the Star yet -

That voice again... I hate it... Where is it from?

Within moments the creature was moving once more. Even as the Star stole energy from it, the Master just poured more into it. More than the Star could hope to steal without better equipment. The tendrils of the creature rose high in the air, and readied themselves to crush me to death once it got just a bit closer.

Fortunately it didn't seem to have realized where all the stolen energy was being funneled. Unfortunately I couldn't hide it much longer.

Within the span of seconds, the light of the still hovering streetlights shifted. The metal itself glowed a fiery red, which then grew white as the metal melted and coalesced into a balls of molten slag.

• YOU! -

With a snarl I swiped the air and watched the balls hurl into action. Runes lit to life across the creature's body, but with every shield it threw up, the Star ripped it asunder. Within a second it was too late, and the molten slag hit their targets.

Each ball splattered, the molten metal arced through the air, and everything it touched became sizzling pits of steam and burned flesh. The creature could apparently still feel pain as it jerked into action, slammed into the one side of the road and promptly crumbled several houses.

Glass, stone, and planks were crushed alike. The debris flew tall and wide and the creature thrashed. A split second it was on the other side of the road, reveling inside the crumbling buildings in a desperate attempt to rub off the molten metal that dug its way through the body.

A sudden scream tore through the aether, and the beast seemed to regain its focus. Without warning it leaped forward, tendrils thrashing, metal and flesh being flung off in chunks. It wasn't just aiming with the tendrils, but seemed intent to crush me with its body.

I beckoned the spears to do their thing, and with a loud flurry of blasts they shot off, aiming at the eyes spread along the creature's body. As the spears flew, I reached to the side, and tugged the aetheric threads linked with the stone building to the right.

The aetheric mechanism burst into action, and I felt myself lift from the ground with a violent shove.

The world became a blur as I felt myself fly, and a thunderous boom followed as the creature hit the ground where I had stood just a split second ago.

My senses told me I was near the building, and I huddled to shield myself.

The shields that enveloped me hit a window on the second floor. It latched in an instant, adjusted my path, and I was hurled inside. For a moment I saw the inside of the building passing by. Paintings lined the wall that passed by, and beautiful tapestries fluttered in the roaring wind. All of it were torn to shreds as threads of aetheric energy sunk into the walls and grabbed hold.

The stop was violent, it shook my body, strained my neck, and the insides of my stomach felt as if they desperately wanted to escape. A split second later everything calmed, the world stood still once more, and my paws touched the floor as I stood up.

A phew followed as I turned to look at the now broken window, and-

Holy shit...

One moment I saw the creature moving closer, in the next it struck the building. The stone walls around the window were crushed in an instant. The building shook and something in its foundations were torn loose. The floor itself warped under my feet, and the corridor twisted sideways.

Cracks ripped through the ceiling and walls, and I found myself airborne for a moment as the creature tore itself forward. Tendrils squirmed past the now crushed window, and slithered toward me as I fell.

My ass hit the ground hard, and the corridor started to collapse from above. I raised my arms, and without warning the floor underneath gave way with a loud crack.

788 I.C, March 18, Dracwyn: August's Lab, Night

Cicero fiddled with his hands as he looked at the view offered by the castle tower. The city burned, parasites preyed on the people, and the massive shield was starting to buckle. For each blimp that sank the shield grew weaker, and the giant obelisk seemed to loom ever closer. Its power already manifested through the city, but without the shield it would be that much worse.

His gaze followed a flake of drifting snow and came on the castle gates. A particularly large monstrosity was tearing apart a large stone building, yet August insisted that they do nothing.

He looked to the right and saw the August standing in front of the crystal weapon. The old mage glanced at him for a moment, and then returned his attention to the city below.

Cicero's gaze drifted as he searched his mind. There was something wrong... something very wrong.

He couldn't remember how he had ended up here. There were gaps in his memory, and hazy imagery that he couldn't place. But the disturbing reached deeper than recent events, far deeper.

Cicero looked at his own hands and found himself wondering who he was, what his past was like. For a moment his name seemed foreign... Cicero? Who was that?

He could remember things though, important things laying at the very forefront of his mind, like a repeating mantra. Protect August. Protect the weapon. Speak to no one. Hunt for any sign of necromancers.

Cicero reached up with his hand and felt his head. He couldn't understand it, but his mind kept screaming that something was awfully wrong.

"Cicero," August said.

Cicero felt his body react before his mind had time to adjust. He stood tall, the doubt inside his mind washed away, and a glance toward the door ensured that they were still safe.

"Yes, master?" Cicero asked.

August's hand rested on his white beard. The old man seemed tense, and stared as if considering something. Cicero wanted to say something, but there lingering memories in his mind that told him not to, August didn't like being interrupted.

After a few seconds the old man drew a deep breath, and frowned for a moment, "You've served me well."

Cicero bowed and he felt his mind tingle, he felt happy, "Thank you, master."

"Things will change soon, and with time you will realize what has been done with you," August said.

Cicero blinked, his heart tightened, and he wanted to look up and spew out the questions that brewed within, but he couldn't. Something kept his thoughts from reaching out.

"... Master?" Cicero managed to utter.

August was about to speak, when there was a sudden and loud banging at the door.

"August, open the door this instant!"

August glanced back for a moment, idly rolled his eyes, and returned his gaze to the outside.

"August! Are you in there!? The undead are almost at the castle gates! Why is it taking so long!?"

Cicero whispered, "Master... That's Executor Alraya, we should-"

August gave Cicero a simple glance, and it filled him with the sensation of a searing hot knife resting against his skull. Cicero bowed his head, kept his mouth shut, and then turned around to face the door.

"This is your last warning! Open up or we'll break down this door!" Alraya screamed.

August sighed, turned around, and motioned for a quiet corner of the room, "Cicero, wait in the corner."

"Yes, master," Cicero answered and stepped over to the corner.

A few moments later, there was a spike of aetheric energy just outside the door. The door began to groan, its hinges creaked, and with a loud pop the door was blasted open. A loud crash followed as the door hit the ground and skidded to a stop some distance from the crystal weapon.

A mage clad in academy robes entered the room, and in his wake followed the tiger known as executor Alraya.

"Explain yourself, August!?" Alraya snarled as he marched toward August.

"It's not time yet, executor. Firing the weapon at this point will merely-" August was interrupted as Alraya stepped closer, while the mage stepped up next to the weapon.

"Enough! The shield is about to collapse, and the castle walls are about to be breached. Strike the creatures dead or-"

August stood tall and focused on the mage who had stepped up to the weapon, "Don't touch anything, for your own sake."

Alraya's fur bristled and the tiger's chest puffed up with fury, "ARE YOU LIS-"

August raised his hand, and idly swiped his hand to the side. A surge of air rushed through the room, and Cicero could barely register what happened before it was over. The executor's legs lifted, and a cushion of air seemed to make him float. A second later the tiger was now outside the room, idly flailing his arms in the air.

A scream followed as Alraya fell from the tall tower, and disappeared from sight. Cicero stared in confusion, and the academy mage did the same, as if wondering whether he'd just witnessed a morbid joke of sorts.

August sighed and closed his eyes, "That one always did annoy me."

"You- What- What did you jus-" The academy mage stuttered, raised his voice, and suddenly grew silent as his head rotated 180 degrees and caused a loud crunch.

The mage crumbled the floor, and Cicero made a discrete gulp as his heart thumped.

"Cicero," August said, and turned to face the outside once more.

"Yes... Master?" Cicero whispered.

"Leave the castle, and find the ones belonging to the guild known as the Pierced Veil. They'll take care of you henceforth," August ordered.

Cicero wanted to protest, but given what he'd just witnessed, it didn't seem right. In silence he bowed one final time, tiptoed past the door on the floor, and took to the stairs.

788 I.C, March 18, Dracwyn: Castle Gates, Night

My mind stirred and I found myself in darkness. My arms were pinned and something heavy rested against my chest. Breathing was difficult, not only due to the weight, but also the choking presence of dust in the air.

"Avery?" The voice was muffled, though it seemed to be coming from my waist and it sounded like Fletcher.

The messenger stone...

"Avery? Please answer? Are you out there?" Fletcher pleaded.

I tried to shift my arm in order to reach the messenger stone, but there was another noise that caught my attention. It was loud, and made the debris shake as I felt more dust settling on my face.

The creature is about to find and rip me apart...

I wedged my hand along the debris, trailed along my side, and found the messenger stone.

"Are you ready?" I asked.

"Avery!?" Fletcher snapped in surprise.

"Are you ready?" I repeated.

"... Ready, waiting for you mark," Fletcher answered.

I wedged my other hand along the debris, reached for the Star around my neck, and held it tight.

You want to be used? Then give me all you have!

The Star surged once more, and I could feel a rush of energy seeping through the debris. Aetheric threads leaped out as I tried to map the area, and I felt my spears ringing in the distance, close to a massive cluster of energy.

That's the creature... Somewhere to the right of me...

• Ah! - You're still alive -

I gritted my teeth at the sound of the voice, and poured my anger into the Star. The debris lifted from me with a loud rumble, and light from the city pierced the darkness. I barely had time to look up as a shadow moved to loom over me.

• Got you! -

" Now!" I screamed into the messenger stone.

A series of bangs ripped through the air, but it was the sensation within the aether which felt the most. Whatever the bullets passed through, and whatever it touched started buzzing within the aether like shrieking static. Each bullet that tore into the creature with the sound of a wet thump sent even stronger bursts of static that ripped through the aether.

Whatever form of tightly bound spells that animated the creature were being shredded, and aetheric energy leaked out with a tremendous force. The Star absorbed it like a sponge, and the entity within my chest reveled with delight as the energy tingled in my blood.

As I looked up I could see what was going on with the creature. It had frozen in place, and its flesh rippled with spasms that sent spurts of blue blood spraying across the area. The tendril that had threatened to crush me also loomed above, twitching like the rest.

• It - Is - Not - Over - Yet! -

I looked along the creature's body, searching for a vulnerable spot, and I noticed parts that were starting to bloat and bubble with some kind of reaction. One spot in particular seemed to have been hit by a large piece of molten metal. It looked like a crater that reached deep into the body, and it was surrounded by burnt flesh.

The bubbling spots along the creature expanded to a point where they looked like giant pustules. A split second later one of them popped and sent a burst of liquifying flesh across the ground. At first it seemed strange, but the sensation within the aether made it seem as if the creature was restoring itself.

It's getting rid of the bullets by violently expelling parts of itself...

The tendrils started moving again, although slow and jerky.

Time to act...

Touching the creature with magic would be difficult, but there was plenty of rubble in the area. I reached out to it, wrapped threads around pieces, and guided them to create a set of stairs leading up to the creature.

• Don't even try! -

Several tendrils lashed out from below, and knocked the stones out-of-the-way. A sudden presence from behind made me flip around. Several creatures from earlier had sneaked up, and were ready to pounce.

I could feel the proverbial edge coming closer, there was too much going on, and too little time to deal with it all. I had screwed up, couldn't transport away even if I tried, and it was difficult to keep a thought straight within the chaos.

One of the smaller creatures lunged forward, and I lashed out with magic. A piece of debris slammed into the creature, and forced it to tumble to the side. The others moved in, and the tendrils looming above were coming down for another strike.

Suddenly I felt like a spectator watching my own death unfurl. To my surprise there were strange things starting to happen. The beasts that leaped toward me were suddenly rocked to the side by the blast of a bullet, and an aetheric presence emerged to my left.

It moved right through my shields on an instinctive level, slammed into my side, and I found myself flying through the air as someone screamed, "GET DOWN!"

The tendrils smacked into the ground where I had stood, and caused debris to once more launch into the air. A moment later I was tumbling through the debris with whomever that had grabbed hold of me. As we came to a stop I found myself laying on my back, staring up at Clyde's icy blue eyes.

Clyde's reaction was faster than mine. In an instant he had grabbed hold, and was pulling me through toward higher ground. A moment's glance toward my back gave me a better view of what was going on.

Soldiers from the gates were rushing the smaller undead creatures. Amari leaped onto the massive creature with a glowing sword in her hands, and struck deep with a blast that burned like the jet of a furnace. Talwin stood upon a ledge and hurled something through the air.

The device looked remotely similar to a gas canister, but as it neared the creature it exploded in a prismatic burst of powder that glittered in the air.

The creature turned and roared within the aether as its eyes shifted to track me once more. Its priorities suddenly changed as the powder began to land upon its body. Its voice within the aether screamed with pain, and its flesh visibly frothed where the powder landed.

In the midst of it all, a tendril appeared from nowhere and slammed into the ground in front of Clyde. He screamed and the debris underneath our paws gave way. His grip on me loosened, and I tumbled down as a new layer of gray dust filled the surrounding air.

I must have knocked my head as my ears suddenly started ringing. It made my thoughts unravel once more, but instinct pushed me to get up on all four. There was plenty of energy in the air, but no will to guide it, and no concentration to shape my spells. I couldn't even see anyone within the dust cloud, and the aether was too much of a mess to sense of.

I tried to move when I suddenly felt myself slipping. Something wet covered the ground and I looked down in fear. To my surprise there was nothing red to mark the ground, instead there was a steady torrent of brackish blue blood streaming through the debris.

I raised my gaze and realized that I was right next to the creature, staring into a gaping hole that had been ripped through its midsection. Mutated organs visibly throbbed within the creature, but there was something else hidden in the depths. Pulsing like a heart, funneling tremendous amounts of energy from a hole in the aether that could only be linked to the master.

Something moved near the tear, like a face bulging out of the flesh. A spear jutted out of the face and had warped most of its features. One eye was still intact and it visibly throbbed as it turned to look at me.

• THERE YOU ARE! -

I lunged into action, my body blossomed with pain, but I didn't care. A scream erupted from my throat as I grabbed hold of the spear with both hands, and violently tore it out. The creature began to move, and the torn flesh along its side tensed up as it trying to clamp it shut.

This was it! Right here! Right now!

My claws dug into one of the organs, I heaved myself up as far as I could reach, and swung my body as I aimed the spear into the depths. A wet crunch followed as my claws pulled on the organs, while I pushed with the other and forced the spear deeper, deeper, and deeper.

The Star burned against my chest, and my every thought was focused on the goal at hand. Aetheric energy was forcefully turned into a flux, and then I felt a connection through the spear. It touched the crystal parasite within the creature, and I could feel the icy cold of Everwinter through it.

With a thought I funneled the built up energy into my arm, to the spear, and then blasted it straight into the core of it all. A massive burst of flux hit the crystal, moved toward the heart of the obelisk, and erupted in the very center of Everwinter, straight into the Master's face.