Hunting (Help Wanted) [End]

Image
The Maaluukian Woods teem with many life forms. The name was given to the woods by the native Elvs, Vescrutian moths. Maaluuki have heightened senses and extrasensory abilities, they prevent travelers from finding their homes with Psionic abilities.
User avatar
Qarinah
Drifter
Posts: 49
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:47 pm

Re: Hunting (Help Wanted)

Post by Qarinah »

Opa emerged from the shadows behind Zol folllwing the young Michio's extraordinary display of abilities. Cradled in his massive hand was the mangled skull of one of the Maalukian drones damned enough to have targetted him for food. The old man was covered in scars and wounds that colored his flesh in coagulating crimson. However, with a few deep subtle breaths Opa's still bleeding injuries began to emmit founts of steam that mystically mended his torn skin in seconds.

"You fought well."

Was all he said as he knelt down to the wounded Zol and calmly shattered the skull of insectoid in his Palm. His clapsed fingers witheld a emerald glow as he forged from the creatures powdery remain a healing solution that he cupped in his palm like a bowl. He gestured for Zol to drink it. He would not heal instantaneously, but it would catalyze his own regenerative capabilities.

"I meean, we helped but- yeah, not too many people receive praise from Opa. But don't let it get to your head, now! Mission's still on, kid.. and I'm pretty sure those were just the guppies. Big fish is still out there. No time for napping."

Dawli said, holding out his hand and catching the blade he tossed into the sky (that exploded and killed the wounded insect swarm) just as it was about to hit the ground.

"We gotta keep our eyes peel-- wait."

He said suddenly, almost biting off his own tongue as he took several glances over his shoulder. He looked beyond Zol, behind Opa, and finally at Aisha before he heaved a highly irritated grunt.

"Shit.. Where'd the fuck did the woman paying us go?"

Aisha waved her torch/paw through the stalking blackness as her nose sifted through the trillions of different scents and aromas thrown about during their battle.

*sniff*

Just one or two was all it took for her to get a fairly clear image of what transpired. Her sense of smell was powerful enough to trace back before the blood shed to get a keen idea off Qarinah's scent. Finding her at that point was child's play..

until..

The shrill screams of a woman's final moments resonanted throughout the entirety of this wooden maze, but somehow every one who heard it could tell where they had to go. Dawli's confident grin waned into worried scowl for the first time this night. If Qarinah died, then there was no payday..

"FUCK!! WE'RE MOVING, NOW!!"

He didnt hesitate. Dawli moved like a bolt of light toward Qarinah's scream of distress, much to A'isha's viable dismay once again. But she didnt have time to groan. She was the back bone of the fangs afterall, and letting Dawli go and get himself would not be good for team morale.

"Hurry."

She whispered over her shoulder to Opa and Zol before jumping into the shadows after Dawli, taking with her the only light source within the woods. Opa would soon follow her, whether or not Zol accepted his gift.

User avatar
Zolgarious Gilden
Drifter
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2019 11:40 pm

Re: Hunting (Help Wanted)

Post by Zolgarious Gilden »

Zol’s eyes were fixated on Aisha until Opas voice snatched his train of thought neigh entirely. It was the first time He’d ever spoken to Zol let alone recognize d him. So to present him with even this small amount of praise…for a brief moment his caused his mind to fade backwards. Like a tapestry unwoven, threads and lines of his consciousness shifted. Suddenly he was back there… the place where it all started. Structures who’s architecture shifted matter as fluidly as they drew breath. Conversations, laughs, squabbles of all kinds. Children playing some studying and others training. The almost cleansing warmth that washed over his homeland so passively. A man stood before him not to much taller than himself. For whatever reason he could not make out this persons face nor the faces of any other here. However, what he could ascertain was a deep voice that sent a spiel like chill through him before it settled in as a invigoration…

“It’s ok to be scared Zol… but today be proud… you chose to fight instead…my so—“

Zol snapped back to you find Opa kneeled over with a glowing substance in his hand. His eyes watered slightly, befuddled as to why exactly. Everything was always flickering glimpses, chopped images scattered emotions. Ties…what were these tethers? He could not be sure, but deep inside him… he felt a churning. Meru hoped on Opa massive hands next to the concoction Opa created and took a few sniffs. He stared at Zol and barked as if confirming to was safe. He pawed at it hurrying Zol with urgency. Meru…was incredibly perceptive to be so young. A trait they shared in common. It also made it easier for them to trust the instincts of the other.

“Hm”

He knodded before taking in the mixture. After several seconds had gone by he could feel the restorative enhancements fortifying his catalyst further assisting his purging of the toxins. He took in a deep breath, holding it in as he lifted himself from his kneeled position. His hands clenched his chest as heist right glew bright orange. His eyes gleamed as he hit it against his chest. Maintaining his breathe his settle if his feet against the earth.

*Thump*

He struck it again. A wave of energy washed over him as he released a sligirly strained breathe before inhaling a bit deeper this time. The naten in the ground beneath him ebbing and flowing with pushing and pulling like a wave of benediction

*Thump* *Thump*

Steadily it became more rhythmic each thud sending a vibration through him strong enough to shake the soil breath him. The drum like pounding grew as his essence flooded his being. It echoed within, the cadence resonating reverberating and ultimately accelerating his healing process. He could feel the rousing of emotions within him. He wanted so desperately to understand it. So foggy, so nebulous so close yet it felt like it was league’s away from him. Moments into the self orchestrated percussion his eyes ceased stinging. The measures cleared and his balance was returning. He did not let the longing remove him from his purpose instead. He allowed the warmth of that moment to further his ambition.
"I meean, we helped but- yeah, not too many people receive praise from Opa. But don't let it get to your head, now! Mission's still on, kid.. and I'm pretty sure those were just the guppies. Big fish is still out there. No time for napping."
With a deep exhales he released a vapor black green and orange in color. It solidified rapidly once’s it touched the air carbonized in seconds hitting the ground in chunks. He let out a burp before Meru hope on his shoulders. The little wolf pup was so over joyed that his friend was gonna be ok. He licked Zol face almost uncontrollably, something he rarely did.

"Shit.. Where'd the fuck did the woman paying us go?"
“Oh Crap!”

He said as his energies faded into silence. The tremors ceased and his spirits and flesh were in good health. He cuffed Meru in his Hood. His legs felt strong and firm. Meru shot yo when the blood curdling scream pricier the darkness around them. Dawkins sudden bolt and Aisha taking off after him prompted him to tighten his hood. They need to move. More than just Q being their benefactor, he need to let her know…she was right about one thing.

I’ll tell her in person.

He though as he knodded to Opa letting him know he was good to go. He’s start after the group of them making sure not to fall behind…

We’re coming giant lady. Don’t die on us…

User avatar
Qarinah
Drifter
Posts: 49
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:47 pm

Re: Hunting (Help Wanted)

Post by Qarinah »

He though as he knodded to Opa letting him know he was good to go. He’s start after the group of them making sure not to fall behind…

We’re coming giant lady. Don’t die on us…
"..wait."

She groaned weakly, grabbing hold of the garments coverings Zol's shoulder before he took off with blood smeared boney fingers. When he turned around, he would see that not only was Qarinah not the one screaming in the distance, but she was clearly severely wounded. Every layer of flesh on her face, left leg, and both of her arms had been literally torn off. Qarinah's immortal body was already repairing itself, but what she looked like was nothing short of a horror show. Her pinkish skeleton had been exposed along with the intricate layers of tendons, muscle, and tissue returning to her veiny bones at remarkable speeds.

".. Novik."

She whispered before sliding unto the darkened ground in a weakened state. It would take her a moment to properly restore her body, but she moved her barely repaired arm to direct Zol on where to escape.

".. Go.. there.."

Her skeletal head, now slowly being laced up by microscopic threads of muscle tissue spoke words without opening her cage of terrifying fangs. The path Qarinah gestured toward was ignited by a torch of crimson runes leading out of the Maalukian Woods. There was little time for her to save the child's life at this point, let alone fully explain herself. The creature could reappear from the darkeness at any point and she was in no condition to protect them both. She figured Aisha, Dawli, and Opa were already devoured. Which didnt bother her much, but Zol's death would weigh on her conscious. At least for a day. The child was never supposed to be here.

User avatar
Zolgarious Gilden
Drifter
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2019 11:40 pm

Re: Hunting (Help Wanted)

Post by Zolgarious Gilden »

Just as he was about to take off Zol felt something land suddenly on his shoulder. The others had sprinted off in the distance and it was his hope to be able to catch up to them quick enough to help in anyway he could. They needed to save her. He turned his to face the hands owner, upon doing so his face was befallen with grimace. Chills went up the earth-clads spine as he grabbed his face in horror.

“OH SHI- CRAP! A MONSTER!”

He hopped back a few feet tightening his fist ready to strike at the drop of a dime waiting for the creature to make a move. But it spoke, the Novik. What would a zombie know about it? He thought. Meru jumped on his fist and began to bark. As if trying to tell him he need to listen. Zol did find it odd that Meru wasn’t barking at this creature which could only mean this walking corpse was someone they knew?! Zol watched with a strange mixture of angst, disgust, and curiosity as the being body rapidly began to heal. Now that he was paying close attention this things mana felt similar to…

“Giant…lady?”

He said as he caught a glimpse at who was before him. The Novik had done this? Zol wasn’t sure of Q’S abilities but he figured she had the sense of a battle hardened warrior…assumed fighting ability of one to. The Novik was true to its name…Skin snatcher. How she was even able to withstand such grevious wound went beyond his understanding. Perhaps she was a monster after all. The fear bubbling inside Zol was heavy.

“The Novik… Did this?”

He rushed back to her side, with little concern for his clothes he lifted her jangled corpse. Her hand painted to what seemed like and exit littered with crimson runes. He smiled, a way out, he thought! They could live! His mind exclaimed.

But

His friend….

His guild mates.

He could not leave them to face such a monstrous beast on their own. Whatever crazy genetics Q had going on that allowed her to survive wounds like that didnt come around often. That said how could he stomach the thought of abandoning fellow fangs. He wouldn’t be able to live without himself ,let alone show his face in Gilden Fang.

“Let’s get you to safety”

He said as he clench his calf’s something fierce and in a single leap he was on the crimson path. He sat Q down propping her up on a giant tree.

“You were right ya know…”

Zol said with his voice cracking as he went into his pouch and grabbed a pair of gloves made from the same material of his clothes. Knowing already what choice he had made. His hands were shaking, his eyes carried a worried glint.
"However, you should know.. in this realm of strange and scary things, the brave always die first. Despite their strength they usually learn the hard way that a goal without a plan, is a child's wish."
“Almost got my but handed to me by a flock of moth monsters…you should’ve seen them…”

He said strapping on his gloves and fastening his shoes.

“Being brave…almost cost me my sight…”

He rose he turned to face whatever of her had healed at this point.

“But this…this has nothing to do with bravery “

He hit his chest, the force of which shook the groun trembled the trees.

“Fangs don’t abandon fangs! I will not run while my guild mates face death after coming to support me. I could never face Erigor again…as a man…I have to try!”

He said as the only look that burned in his eyes now was one of fierce determination. He was not walking into this gray a kid who wanted to display his power. No, he was a member of Gilden Fang; Duty bound to his Pack…his only family. He would make sure she was ok. Whatever power laid in these runes it was possible it was created for some kind of warding maybe protection on this path out. Whatever the case he was sure from her she would be able to make it out in one..well more pieces than she was now.

“Meru knew it was you by the way… guess he’s sorta taken a liking to you…maybe your not such a scary monster after all”

He said with his signature Cheshire Cat grin before turning from her and with the same amount of force he took off back into the darkness of the woods trailing the destination of the deadly scream he heard. His body was cracking with a thick orange aura as he set off like lightning to find his friend, hopefully before the creature did.

User avatar
Qarinah
Drifter
Posts: 49
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:47 pm

Re: Hunting (Help Wanted)

Post by Qarinah »

Qarinah desperately tried to bring herself to stall Zol and his mind numbing sense of loyalty, but to no avail. Her body wouldn't respond to her impulses. She didnt even possess enough muscle tendons to pull her limbs to stop his impulsive decision, all she could do was heal on the floor and watch Zol stray into the shadows.

..dammit..

And the shadows themselves seemed to be closinig in on him. The burning light Aisha carried to illuminate the chittering woods had all but vanished, as did any vestiage of Ops and Dawli. Moonlight was a forlorn dream. And suddenly, darkness moved in to strike while the Michio was blind. The same tendrils of slithering black that slaughtered Q, pierced the air from unseen directions toward Zol. His arms, legs, back and head were the their prey.

User avatar
Zolgarious Gilden
Drifter
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2019 11:40 pm

Re: Hunting (Help Wanted)

Post by Zolgarious Gilden »

His actions were brash, hastily made, sure. However, the thought of discarding the only family's he had was something he could not abide himself to do. It was a fools errand, however Zol did not believe in absolutes. If there was even a sliver of a chance they could be alive, he had to be there, to help however he could. Even if it was stalling for time until they escaped. If they all fell here, what could be said of the four fangs? What legacy would they leave behind here?

"I can't think like that...I have to find them. Meru, I need you to find our friends. Your nose is going to have to be my eyes buddy. Left paw means left. Right paw mean right...Bark means jump ok?"

He rubbed his pals head and looked him straight in the eye.

"I love you Meru, I will do whatever it takes to protect you...whatever...Because you, more so than any other person on this rock...have been my most treasured friend."

The wolf pup worriedly looked Zol in the eyes, as if he knew something Zol did not. Something Zol wondered if Meru was even an animal to begin with. He saw right through Zol's bravado he was scared...because he knew it was very likely he would not make it out this place alive. He needed to find his friend first...he would not fall no matter what until he knew what became of them. Meru was his ace in the hole per say. Despite the haunting darkness seeking to enfold upon Zol, Meru's nose had at this point gotten the scents of the fangs and Q. Seconds after Zol had dashed off Meru had taken a giant whiff of the darkness stained air. Upon doing so his nose picked up on one scent in particular. The smell of blood was becoming thicker with each step. In particular Q's blood. Meru was shaking, something dangerous was afoot. Meru's ears twitched as the sharp wind and blood pierced the air.

He barked incredibly high pitched which Zol knew to mean emanate danger, the moment it occurred his Kah hardened. Meru could detect the danger but could not pint point it's exact location. Unfortunately, he wasn't a cat who could see in the darkness. With the incredibly blackness around him preventing from seeing Zol would have been at the mercy of the assaults' but the bark prompted him with a great amount of strength to spring into the air leaving a small crater in the ground, hoping to either avoid or expose whatever was chasing him. With a flick of his right finger a baseball sized piece of the earth would follow him during his ascent. Traveling on foot(Ground) would prove a swifter end for him so he took to the tree tops where he continued, his adrenaline pumping. Somethin was after him. At least traveling this way, he had a better chance of reacting, possibly defending and giving Meru enough time to pinpoint the are his friend were in. The ball of earth was reformed by his anthem and hardened into a make shift crystal.

Though Zol did not possess the ability's to just freely create light he could infuse the crystal with his naten to create a make shift light source that he would have hovering a few feet ahead of him so that he could at least see the tree tops he was aiming for. The last time someone brought light to this place he was almost eaten by bugs. He knew he was making himself and even bigger topic, but haste has to forgone safety. Now he was aware of the potential dangers he would not be caught off guard so easily. Most notable the thing perusing him. He wished he and Meru could communicate directly, so he could tell him what was more than likely after them. He wished he'd had the time to ask Q what the creature was like, any defining traits or warnings she had. She was so heavily wounded she could barely speak let alone divulge information. He regretted not having the time to help her heal. She was alive, once he confirmed that his friend took presence. He knew that together they at least stood a chance.

"Crap...something's definitely after us..."

He thought, his heart beating so hard it felt like it would fall out of his chest. He was so close to being touched he could almost feel it. He had to stay calm though, as calm as he possibly could be fighting against the darkness that just might've eaten his entire party. It was crazy they covered so much ground this fast. he kept upon the tree's at high alert.

"Aisha, Dawling, Opa!"

He yelled down into the forest.

"If you can hear me, I am the light!"
Last edited by Zolgarious Gilden on Sat Nov 06, 2021 5:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
Qarinah
Drifter
Posts: 49
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:47 pm

Re: Hunting (Help Wanted)

Post by Qarinah »

"We are here little Michio."

Bellowed a twisted amalgamation of Dawli and Opa's voice. The light from Zol's shimmering crystal revealed an army of slithering shadows, crawling along every single tree in sight, and running wild through the bushels below.

They all connected to the beast lingering just beyond the stalking darkness. The Novik; a gargantuan beast of nightmarish proportions. A humanoid demon formed from sub-where and harvested on the souls of men. Its black, sludge like skin dripped and drooled over itself, but it's most terrifying feature were half melted faces and torn flesh of its victims that hung from its sloppy hide. Opa and Dawli's mangled bodies were among the many dammed souls conjoined with the beast's hide and their mouths moved in accordance to the Novik's will.

By the time Zol could lay on its heart stopping appearance, the contorted shadows surrounding him merged upon him. Spears. Arrows. Vectors of death that sought to not only pierce his flesh with its acidic black consistency, but to merge his body with its own.

These same devilish appendages, taller than the trees, nearly swallowed Qarinah whole, but Novik spit her up after tasting her undead skin. The monster was only tempted by the scent of the living. The warm blooded. Which was why the beast tossed her back to the darkness.

Aisha, although wounded, lied hidden in the shadows of fallen trees. She and the Fangs didn't stand a chance; Dawli's impulsive behavior led them blindly into the Novik's clutches. It could imitate the voices of its victims, and Dawli couldn't help but spring the rescue of what he thought was Q. He was swallowed first, Opa fell after trying to engage the beast head on. The young warg only barley escaped, but not without losing one of her arms in the process. Despite her experience, her talents, and her poise. Aisha was quivering in fear. She could hear Zol's voice closing in, but dare not rise from her make shift fox hole. She had lost her scrolls and her comrades, and had every mind to escape while the Michio distracted the Novik. He had already proven himself a capable hunter. What she knew of the Michio, they were just as hard to kill as any species in the world. But the Novik did not seem born from this plane. She assured herself he would be fine, but that was probably just to clear her conscious.

User avatar
Zolgarious Gilden
Drifter
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2019 11:40 pm

Re: Hunting (Help Wanted)

Post by Zolgarious Gilden »

Zols face was stricken with an unequivocal revulsion as he heard the blended screams of what he now would assume were his comrades. Just as the light shined even the smallest glimmer to reveal the monster's view the Novik’s shadow arms and innumerable manners of the attack were simply too much for him to keep up with. In a last-ditch effort to shelter the body of his friend Zol huddled himself over Meru using every ounce of his Naten to turn his body as hard as he could.

His last bastion; his clothing was being devoured by the second. As the muck took flesh from him, he poured his naten into healing his wounds as much as he could to keep himself from killing instantly. The torture of his skin being decayed, regrowing, then devoured again was a semi-perpetual hell he was forcing himself to endure Meru was held at the center of his being as the spears flung themselves into him. The pain shot through him almost causing him to blink out instantly...but Meru…

The tiny wolf pup whined in terror beneath his partner's bronze-colored hands. The luster of which was fading fast. The volumes of the putrid onslaught wreaked havoc on what was once his proud colage to be. Flung into the body of the savage beast he was moments away from a horrendous demise. He had failed….

He hadn’t been able to protect a single person here. All his brave words, all his staggering proclamations. They meant nothing when faced with something thing so terribly out of his league. She tried to warn him… Q, even before this journey began…she told him how this would end…she tried to help him escape

As Zol fought his efforts to shield Meru from the corrosive enzyme he himself was there mortally wounded, his consciousness hanging on by a thread he was almost frozen in disbelief. Something like this was wandering about in the world. It was as fearsome as an elder dragon of legend. Something that could pierce the flesh of a Michio? He tried to move his arms and legs. For the first time in his life, they didn’t obey him. He couldn’t even tighten his fist to express his frustration. He just held onto Meru with everything he had. After all this… after everything, he had been through. This was it?

N-no…

He could barely think straight. Opa and the others. How much worse had their suffering been? His eyes watered, wide eyes he glared at the moons above might have been. How bad he wanted to scream how bad he wanted to cry. No matter how hard he tried, how hard he fought…he still failed the ones he loved…he was so tired of it… of everyone dying around him.

He was still just a kid…

???: Do you truly feel that way? After surviving the rise and fall of countless ages. After defending this world from one astral terror after another. Do you mean to infer you’ve reached your limit? Even now you fighting so hard to…

A voice quietly chimed in his mind. He was exhausted...what more did he have to give? Save for a few seconds to prolong his comrade, his confidants,... his best friend's life., the burden of his flesh being stripped from his being. The excruciating pain he was enduring just to give Meru the smallest chance to live. It was all he could focus on.

“I…failed them all. My guild… my clan…the world…Meru…they all died and I’m next…"

His back had been eaten partway through. His arms threatened to cave in on him. The despair that sat in his heart was heavy indeed. He wants even sure if he was talking to himself or anything at all anymore.

"I just wanted everyone to smile again…I just wanted to laugh with my friends again! I just wanted….I just wanted…"

The weight of the guilt, the weight of the Novik pressure forcing him to assimilate into it….the weight of everything was far too much for a single soul to bear…

” You just wanted to be loved the way you do…from the heart. Even now you face the odds completely outweighed by the task before you. Yet, you still try to defy fate even now... with everything you have to protect the little family you have. As you have always done...as you swore to do. My, yes, surely your memories. I suppose you wouldn’t, would you? Time moves so much faster here in the physical realm…”

From the black coagulant of flesh, shadows, and muck that was the Noviks body a small but pungent gleam of light found itself battling against the darkness that sought its end. Defiant of the black ilk around it, its essence like a softly humming harbinger of dawn. As it ate away some of the force that had encapsulated him within its small basketball-sized perimeter. The origins of this light? The pouch where Zol was protecting Meru.

"Me…ru?"

He weakly called out.

The orb of abolition palpitated. Zols withered, melting and falling flesh all called out in agony.

” Not exactly, though I must thank you for protecting me so heroically all this time. It eas so strange being in a physical body...let alone a puppy. Guess I should’ve expected anything less…from a Guardian of the Stream.”


*Entering Zol's inner plane"

The light was starting to cling itself onto his haunted flesh. In the depths of his mind, a scene would unfold. Everything was so black around him. Dark, scary, brimming with the uncertainty of when he would finally draw his last breath. In this void of despair, he could scarcely make out a faint light. It mirrors the colors of the one that absorbed him. He weakly limped over. Shadows fading out where his right leg and left arm and back used to be. Almost crawling, the light got larger as he neared it soon to reveal a golden bud that sat atop a silly green stalk.

Haggardly, he drugs his tiny frame towards the plant stopping just a few inches short of it. The one somewhat solid hand he had he clenched. His face was stricken with conflict.

"What am I even doing here...what will this even change? To this beast I am nothing...To Michio, I am nothing..."

Dread began to embrace him once more... he fell towards the ground.

"But....but to Meru..."

His foot almost instantly caught him and kept him from hitting the ground flat. He kneeled now before the plant

His fist clench was left of his raw exposed face daggered in the plant.

He slowly rose as he looked upon the shimmering bud. It was pulsating brighter and brighter. Something drawing him near. In the middle of his chest...he could feel a longing, a sensation that grew as the light burned fiercer.

"But to Meru...I'm the only person in the world who can save him right now...I am...I am his family!"

"Yes Zol, for it is in your nature never to abandon someone you care for. To always stand and face the challenge no matter how impossible the task might be! Many might deem it a path of naivety, a fool's dream. But for one who has once crafted from the crust the Mother herself. For one who was chosen as the right hand of our progenitor...for you; The Mold Breaker, nothing is impossible!"

The voice rang through this blackened space, the vibration seeming to almost place him in a trance. He wabbled falling just short of the glistening viridian stalk. His eyes watering being near it. The longing his chest was so large, so wide he could barely stand it anymore. What was this? Thus almost burning sensation bubbling inside him. Whatever it was spoke loud his feelings to the bud of the plant. His hand gently reached out to the plant just barely grazing it. Even just that small contact was enough to cause the illuminating petal to bloom reveal a beautiful golden flower. From the center of the flora would coalesce a gilden orb that resembled a golden bulb. Zol witnessing this was gifted with a slight boon of motivation to attempt to stand. He fumbled a few times before witnessing the unfurling of the celestial cocoon. What emerged was something he'd never witnessed before. The flower had birthed a small female-like creature. Her wings were iridescent as were her big doe eyes. She blinked heavily a few times before smiling at Zol's practically hollowed face as she fluttered over towards him.

" Oh Zol…you haven’t even noticed it have you? You have not been a Michio…by blood… since you arrived from the crash pod some odd months ago. Gideon and the other stripped you of that, discarded you, and left you to fend in the wilds of this foreign world alone..."

His eyes reflected nothing but horror and ache. That made no sense. He used his anthem he accessed his blood right to defeat the bugs.

"I should let you know, my name is Vesel. I am one of 7 Kalor Scions...Pillars of the High Realm; Sisters of the Stream...Daughters of the High Fae; Alawei. We however are unlike them. Sheer callousness is often misconstrued as power. The Great Fae of our realm proclaims otherwise. We could never turn our gaze from a friend in need."

She paused doing a cute little spin then curtsy. Trails of light and little dust particles followed her every move.

"You are very unique Zol. You had the potential once to be a gifted Mancer when its blood once flowed through your veins, your ties to the spiritual realm the world of dreams are deep…as is to be expected of one who has slept and resided there for over 10,000 years. Time and all that you know?

Though I suppose it's ok it if you don't know. Yes, It’s ok if you don’t remember Zol. We all do… because we promised you..."

Her face for a small moment became sullen...

"Though your body was at rest in the chamber pods waiting to be awakened, your spirit burned with such vibrant angst and longing at the travesty that had befallen the Micho by the palms of the Great Destroyer, your soul radiated such a powerful cry that my sister, Lilika; Kalor Scion of the Titian plane; Pillar of the Amber mana; Emotion, reached out into the ether without even thinking and pulled you to the other side. Imagine our surprise when we laid sites on you.

A boy...a dustling with a yearning so strong, a heart filled with guilt so potent it reached out into the universe for help. Your soul traveled to places you wouldn't even believe me if I told you. Within that time, you lived with us… and the other denizens of our world. For eons, we laughed, fought, trained, and celebrated together. We answered your call Zol."


Zol couldn’t even begin to wrap his head around all of this. Why then did he have no memory of this? He had been having strange dreams of a world that seemed to be adjacent to vescrutia. He thought them nothing more than hopes to see a new world. The illusion of what it might have looked like to be able to gaze out onto the space surrounding his home.

"When your body was suddenly revitalized and snatched from the High Realm it caused you to suffer a sort of temporary spiritual lapse. The shock "short-circuited" your soul and you lost the power and knowledge you accumulated in that time….but…if you truly wish to walk tall once more…I can make it so. I can return you to whom you once were. But at a price."

His eyes drifted to the side…what price could possibly refuse at the cost of his kindred life? With stalwart resolve, he looked towards her again.

“Name….name it”


Ves would lower her gaze…

"Your memories Zol…if you go through with this everyone you ever loved will fade from your heart. Once you return to that state…your ties to the physical realm will be severed…"


“Wait…are you saying…”


"Well, in order to go forward…in order to save them. You must pay with your life, your physical one that is. Once you regain your spiritual powers the influx will consume everything else. In other words...you won't have a physical body to go home to...you will never be able to share these moments again...you'll lose them all"

His body. His sanctuary. The physical biography in which held his entire life from birth. Flesh that once carried the legacy of a timeless race. In order to save them, he had to let them all go? To let go of himself? What about Meru? How would he learn to make new friends if Zol wasn’t there for him to practice trust?

But if he did nothing…he would die and this beast will continue to cause the same pain here again one day. Every fiber of his knew already the choice that had to be made.

“Can I see it all again…please. I want to remember it all just…just one more time.”

Vessel’s face was filled with so much sadness. She could barely imagine the weight of something like this being sat on the shoulder of just a boy. Whatever he was before he was still just a big child at heart. One who only ever wanted to bring joy to those around him. Her face would sober up to one of resolve. If he was willing to do this, she would give her all to make sure he stepped into his fullness…

"The giant lady was right…you are so brave. It makes you one of the greatest men we've ever known. Very well…I shall show you….everything…"

Vesel would gently kiss Zol's forehead bestowing upon him a radiance that went through his body igniting the small flickers of his lingering mana. His eyes erupted in a bright gold blaze as the last two decades of millennia course through his consciousness, producing a ridiculously blinding light that once settled down revealed an indescribably awe-inspiring visage of The Khralaessara. His place of origin; his homeland. The nostalgia of music, the smell of the food...

" Now, do you see Zol? Your power is so much more than the manipulation of the physical realm…. You did not use Carbon infusion."

His eyes were puzzled

"You were chosen as one of the astral lynchpins for the stream that governs the Center of All things. A Guardian of its Mana Flow. You have felt it haven’t you? Your deep connection with the world and its inhabitants have you ever asked yourself where this desire came from? Sure your time among the Michio even before the was several centuries long, but why would that amount to all of this? How did you make your way to the lonely stone despite having not seen this world in so long?

You adjusted almost instinctively when you awoke here, able to effortlessly understand a world you had not set foot in consciously for 15 millennia...You stood to watch over them that entire time. Over the Seven planes that make the High Realm, Seat of our world. With all of us here in the spirit realm of Carna.

The dream of the Sapphire comet. The omen to come. This is the planet itself reinforcing your purpose. The Convenant you entered over 5,000 years ago. Speak now…let the very planes of Kalor itself feel your conviction let the hells below witness your fabled wrath!"

The memories washed through him. Watching the entirety of his life flash before his eyes. The reason he was able to face any of these things. The reason his still alive to this day was because of the love that he had been shown. To give it up now...to let it burn out. As much as he tried he couldn’t possibly follow through with it. Not after seeing it now firsthand start to finish.

“I had Grandparents”

A grandmother who was always cooking and studying astrology. A Grandfather who was always creating and training. Both of whom showed him so much love coming up. The memory shot vigor through him. He began to try to stand again.

“I…I had a Mother

The pulsing of his soul was nostalgia-soaked as the memories of his mother emerged. Her strong stubborn nature. Yet she always tended to his wounds and ailments with a warm smile and touch always admonishing him to push himself harder because he’s so much more than he thinks. Hearing the whip-like cracks of her towels snapping after she caught him in the sweet jars.

“I had a father”

He said as the once smokey face of his father appeared to him clear as day. His soul sweltering even harder now. The man who loved him no matter which way he drifted. He always encouraged him to be brave and care for others as he wanted them to care for him.

Whether that blood flowed through him or not…whether they were dead or not…that energy could not be erased. Not when it lived so deep inside him. His eyes narrowed, there was purpose now were once lost

“I had friends...family...loved ones.”

The memories of his time in the High Realm cascaded all around him. Centuries of laughter, Playing tag, training, discovering new places. He was much taller in these memories, about 6’4, his body incredibly defined. He was clad in an armor that radiated a powerful iridescent hue.

"And even though...I want to hold onto all of them...I know now that...I.."

His eyes closed as he resolved within himself, the next choice of words...the next course of action.

“I had a mission....”

His eyes roared with ambition as he remembered once more the promise he made to Vescrutia, that he would serve as a guardian of its borders. That he would prevent the Azure Advent from bringing untold danger to the world. The Promise he made to the Sovereign Fae. That he would one day return to their world and take his place at their side.

“One that cannot be ignored. One that I cannot fail!"

Ves: Now Zol...reinvoke the convent. The promise that has been thousands of years in the making. Here now in the dawn of the Third Astral year let now your bonds be honored! Scream out into the universe as you did when you were but a helpless child. Show them all Zol...SHOW THEM ALL WHO YOU TRULY ARE!"

He hit his chest with enough belief to shatter a mountain. From the top of his lung, he declared forth!

“I am Micho Zolgarious; Mold Breaker; Mana Guardian of the Kalor Patheon. Preserver of peace. The Ethereal Beserker. I am sworn to keep over the mana flow of this world!”

The once pervasive darkness began to give way to the busting light of his declaration

"My Anthem...is Mana Infusion!"

In that very moment of acknowledgment. In remembering the might he was held...the power that flowed through him and every living thing in creation. Mana, another form of naten, the lifeblood of Carna. The heavy darkness was soon devoured by a brilliant blaze of light that overtook the plane by storm., revealing the beautiful place that was his inner plane.

Image

The shades that hid his missing body parts were cast out. Now he stood in front of Ves brimming with light.

Kindler of the 7 planes, cultivator of the astral realm...we the sprirtual realm of Carn have heard your vow. We accept this convinant.

A voice that seemed to carry the undertone of several different beings spoke out into the cosmic-Esque domain of his. It reverberated, shifting the gentle pond causing the waters to erupt like a geyser. In the face of the torrent, a mystical arrayment of lights came to be.

You may have fallen a child, but you will rise a titian! Become now...the Etheral Berserker!

At this moment Zolgarious turned to find that Ves had returned to her spirit form and joined the other 6 balls of light. One by one each manifested for a brief second showing their faces to Zol. The 7 Kalor sisters were here to back him up. The light coalesced all around him, embedding within his body the collective might of each pillar of the high realm. The power of the Fae Sovereign themselves now coursing through him.

*Outside the plane*

Having reached into the palace within and reclaiming his domain Zolgarious was overflowing with the cumulative power of the 7 Planes of the High Realm itself. Such a forced expression would not last for long. But in this very moment, Zol was about to unleash everything he had been storing up inside his soul for the last 10,000 years. WIthin the necro prison of the Noviks flesh, the light from earlier would have expanded in both power and brightness shooting up into the sky-piercing the darkness of the Maalukian woods. For what might be the first time the entire Woods were alit revealing practically every crevices possible. Meru and Zol's physical forms had been devoured by the flesh of the monster but what rose in their place was something that no one, not even his former clansmen knew resided in Zol.

As the light began to die down enough to where it was not painfully blinding what was revealed would be a lone figure, bathing in a golden light that had spurts of iridescent flares that seemed to almost have a cadence in the way they flickered. Eyes radiating a gilden light that rested solely on the Novik.

"....."

A silence washed over the expanse as nothing was said. The being would inhale upon doing so it would split in two exhaling only after the separation as done. The "copy" with a movement so smooth and fluid it could be thought of as teleportation appeared before Aisha. Just being in its illuminance had already started to cause her wounds to heal. With a warm smile, Zol's original form would temporarily take face to bring some form of calm to her troubled soul.

It's ok to be scared Aisha. The world is filled with some big scary things...

He said as he lifted his right hand. He kneeled down before his wounded comrade and sat his hand over the place her arm was.
"The worlds filled with all kinds of strange and scary things. Nature is fierce and harsh..."

He said as he stood back up and stretched his legs out. Dusting off the dirt.

"But I have seen death, felt it, survived it. That's why I have to get strong."

He said staring at her in those piercing mirrors of hers. Seeing his own crimson gaze reflecting in her retinas.
He thought of Q, he prayed she had made it out safely. Continuing on Zolgarious's hand emitted a powerful green hue. The Verdant Mana; Life was flowing into the nub where Aisha lost her arm. The light wrapped around her nub becoming solid almost like a gel that would ease her pain, stop the bleeding and begin to cause her limb to rapidly regenerate. Within moments it was almost fully healed.

But when a dragon appears...so does the need for a dragon slayer.

He said as he rose. He turned his back to his comrade, how it pained him to have to do so. How he wished that he could've gotten here sooner. He might've been able to save Dawli and Opa as well. Now was not that time for regrets. the best thing he could do for them, for anyone at this point. Was to that this bastard down!

Hey... Aisha? I want you to know Aisha, that even though it wasn't long. The memories I shared with you, were some of my most treasured possessions.

His aura began to burn a bit darker reflecting the slight sadness in his tone

Tell Erigor..that I'm sorry, the promise I made...was the one vow, I won't be able to keep. Fangs...don't abandon Fangs.

With a thought her scrolls, anything that held her mana onto it returned to her. Zol looked over his shoulder. With his signature Chesire grin, he flickered appearing next to the original while Aisha flickered back to where Q was last seen. The Crimson rune embeds a path that led out of the woods. Smiling the two joined forces again and their aura conjoined bursting like a nova that flared with such vibrancy it caused him to resemble a small sun.

You. I thought I would move out of vengeance...to take revenge for my fallen friends and the lives of those you have stolen.

The power continued to coalesce and condense around him as he began hand signing,a form of channeling energy from an age long lost, and muttering a series of phrases.Doing so causes the mana to grow as he wove it into a spell meant to rid this world of this devil once and for all. At the feet of the creature would manifest a series of runes that bore the same vibrancy as their creator.

b]Sovreign Fae Magic... [/b]

The orb would condense further becoming the size of a baseball that floated towards the creature.

Mystic Art of Banishment; Realm of the Eternus Blaze!

With that, the orb would self-destruct releasing a catalytic pillar of light and mana that would aim to completely engulf the creature. A large rune circle would manifest under as hundreds of golden flaming ethereal chains aimed to wrap around its massive body. Where its darkness resides, wherever its essence was tethered to this spell aimed to completely remove this stain from besmirched this plane entirely. If successful that beast would find itself enchained in a realm of perpetual flame light mana. A fitting means for a creature known as the skin snatcher. Now it could spend eternity adding its own screams to the ones it liked to manipulate its prey with. With this grand magic art, he aimed to banish this darkness from their world...from all worlds.

User avatar
Qarinah
Drifter
Posts: 49
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:47 pm

Re: Hunting (Help Wanted)

Post by Qarinah »

After devouring the boy, The Novik set it sights for Aisha. It's hundreds of zombified faces frozen in perpetual dread hanging from its murky hide seemed to roar in harmony with the hellish creature. Aisha had already cultured her mind for the end. But then.. a miracle occurred.

The explosive Pillar of light that tore through thr Novik's body scaled the dark clouds and for a brief moment, brought daylight to these darkened woods. The beast was neither afraid, or confused, only hungry. But battling for so long was withering its strength. It only came out to feed after all..

It's ravenous roars were so loud at this point they were frightening astral citizens In their homes. But what became of the Michio was an unprecedented change of events. Aisha's slack jaw could neither thank or speak to Zol. She was warped to safety, but Q was nowhere to be found.. regardless, the young warg considered herself lucky and immediately high tail it back to the guild.

Then the fiery entity sought to confront the Novik despite its methods of intimidation. Zol kneaded his energies into a cataclysmic prison beneath the wispy demon that seemed to trap it within a column of holy fire within seconds. It was time the Novik stretched its abominable muscles.

Effortlessly, the Novik shattered the veil that attempted to constrict it by simply stretching its millions of tentacle, wispy arms. The fiery chains that sought to ensnare it would pass directly through the beast as if it were never there. Those shadowy arms would then collapse around the gargantuan shadow monster until it shrunk into nothingness. The sudden void devoured anything caught in its path for a thousand miles in a matter of seconds, but afterwards the creature had vanished just as mysteriously as it appeared.

User avatar
Zolgarious Gilden
Drifter
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2019 11:40 pm

Re: Hunting (Help Wanted)

Post by Zolgarious Gilden »

In a display of gilden grandeur, Zol's spiritual powers exploded releasing a fearsome amalgamation of might and the likes that have been festering for over several millennia. The fact that the Noviik was able to so readily evade his assault spoke volumes of its own ability. However, Zol was ready to unleash the full might of his soul's release in order to fend back this beast. In a brazen last-ditch effort, the creature unleashed a horrid wale followed by an unprecedented void that would no doubt consume life for miles to come if he did not do something.

"How much of a coward do you have to be? To steal the lives of my comrades and then try to flee? Here this Novik!"

The blazing light of his mana propagated to levels that if the heat was at all palpable it would most certainly reduce the same land he was aiming to protect to ash. Though as he stood now, nothing harmful came of this, it was the preparation, a swift one. Within a fraction of a second, he had already made several hand signs weaving together the thread of naten that lined the myriad of fonts of power each of the pillars gifted him.

"No matter where you go, No matter how long you stay in hiding. I will find you! And I will collect blood for the lives you have stolen! DO YOU HEAR ME YOU MONSTER!! I WILL BE THE FORCE THAT ENDS YOU!

Just as he finished saying those words the mana he had called forth reached its Apex. Several hundred runes appeared along the ground. If he could not contain this voice would redirect it. Another Cylinder of energy akin to a mirror-like consistency arose. The sides were heavily reinforced with enough power(Like a Rashemon cylinder) to force the expulsion of nothingness to exhaust itself upward clearing the skies and devouring anything that was unfortunate to make contact with it. Several other layers of sade field created a bastion to handle the forceful impact, many of which were almost shattered instantly upon contact with such a forceful display of might. In the end, nothing of the expulsion should have remained but an immeasurably deep abyss born of the void epicenter.

The power that flowed through him began to die down drastically. His gilden hair returned to its normal ashen white color. His skin was back to its honey-brown complexion. The light would fade and he would be seen slowly drifting back to the ground below. His physical form no more he was but a lonely body of mana now shaped in his former image.

"I...I did it, you guys... I *sniffle* I did not falter....I...Mom...Dad...I was..."

Everything was becoming darker by the second. It was as if the darkness around him still was enclosing despite the Noviik being no more.

"I... I followed my own way...right down to the end...Does... does that not make me...Michio?"

His eyes would close, and a solemn breath would leave him. Again it seemed he was to sleep...however this time...he knew not if he would ever awake. The voices of Calor, he could hear the sisters no longer...the link had been used up. In his final moments, it seemed that Zol would fade into black alone. Yet...he was still smiling. Taking pride that in the end, he was able to save someone he cared about...and potentially the lives of thousands he did not. The terror of the Sapphire comet, he prayed someone on Vescrutia could solve its mysteries in his place. It was time for the young warrior to truly know peace... as his soul drifted towards the stream once more...as did all life in the center of it all, Vescrutia.

Post Reply

Return to “Maaluukian Woods”