“The hallway is a problem.” Said Zuss. “Can’t fight it all together.”
Anath, Hunter, and Zuss were standing in the passage that, eventually, would lead to the underground lab. They could hear it coming. The demon. It was bulldozing its way through the walls.
“So what do we do?” Asked Hunter.
“I’ll meet it. I can recover the fastest.” Anath offered determination in her voice. Zuss mulled that over. It was smart to have her in the front. But they couldn’t afford to make any mistakes, not against this thing. They had the inkbeast scroll, but they didn't know how it worked. For all they knew, whatever they summon might team up with the demon.
She sighed mentally as she considered… what would Daggat do? He would utilize their strengths and turn their weakness into an asset.
Right now, the confines of the hall were an issue. How could that be turned against the demon? Slowly, she got an idea.
“Hunter, stay close to Anath, but don’t get in her way. We need your aura. I am going above. It will pass under me, then I will drop.” Zuss locked eyes on Anath. “You and I are going to attack it together. Go berserk and don’t worry about me.”
“I want to help,” Hunter said.
“Alright, Anath, if you get tired, fall back. Hunter, that’s when you come in.” Zuss said.
“And the plan is to… kill it?” Anath asked.
“Slow it down and hope the worm figures out how to cut down a tree.”
Another wall shattered. Zuss shivered. It was getting closer. She nodded at the other two, who nodded in return. Then she climbed.
The walls here were not too difficult to climb normally. There were support beams every few yards. With Mighty Grip, it was easy. She climbed up into the dark with ease. Then she activated deep shadows. The secret passages were quite tall and allowed fake walls to be moved above. This meant there was plenty of space for her to hide above.
Now she waited. Below here, Anath stood nervously next to Hunter. The ogre had a strong look in his eyes. Not determination, it was something more resigned. She didn’t doubt he would stand his ground. No, it was Anath that worried her. She was strong. A nightmare when she got mad. But, she was also scared. Zuss could see it plainly.
Zuss didn’t have time to finish the thought. Another wall fell, this one close enough to see the dust plume.
Then the demon came.
It flooded down the hall like a storm of wood. It glistened in the torchlight. Zuss found she could follow the fast movements of the roots. Then she noticed the missing arm. Who had done that?
Zuss gripped the Blade of a Thousand Screams tightly. She felt her heartbeat quicken as it drew closer. The nervousness before a fight. She breathed in, feeling the suffocating resistance of the scarf. It calmed her. A shield between her and the rest of the world. A wall she always hid behind. She felt the vibrations through the wood. It was under her.
Zuss dropped.
As she fell, she spun. This kind of control was difficult before her improved body control. Now, her movements seemed to dance under her control. Her enchanted blade bit into the shoulder of the demon for just the briefest of moments. Then, she ripped it down. It sounded like a saw shredding into a log.
As Zuss rolled away, walking on both her hands and feet equally, she noted the demon. It didn’t scream or grunt, but it did tense its back and arms. Its face contorted into silent agony.
Under her scarf, Zuss grinned like a wolf. So, it could feel pain.
Its body spun towards her while its tangle of roots struck out. She somersaulted away, leaping over swiping roots, or dodging a spear thrust. She dodged every attack but was forced away from it.
“I will use your corpses for mulch. Stand down-” The demon began some speech or monologue, but Anath cried out and sliced it with her blades. The demons hissed and turned towards her.
But, it didn’t forget about Zuss. The walls and floor, every bit of ancient wood, wriggled as roots and branches grew from them. They formed a quickly closing wall.
She didn’t hesitate. Lurching forward, Zuss activated her path finding skill. From her to the demon’s neck. A path was laid out in front of her, one that she had to perform quickly.
She dashed forward, climbing and dodging all at once. It was like climbing up a fallen tree. The whole time, Hunter’s light is shown on the demon. It slowed it just enough for this to be possible.
Anath was now cutting wildly and her spider legs protected her from the strongest blows. But, she was only attacking with the swords. Why? And why hadn’t she gone berserk?
Seconds later, Zuss was upon it. She grabbed the demon from behind and stabbed wildly. Over and over, she dug into a hardwood demon body.
It shivered like a tree in heavy wind.
“ANATH! Berserk!” She hissed, then was forced to leap over an attack. She landed on the thick root that would have speared her and ran down it, dodging under another barrage of smaller roots. The autonomous reflex was already paying for itself, she would have been speared three times over without it.
“I can’t!” Screamed Anath. “It won’t let me?” A root slashed at her arm. Fresh blood started to pool on the bandages.
“What do you mean?” Zuss slashed a root as she twisted around it. This was frustrating. If this were a regular enemy, she would have killed it by now. Why did they have to fight a TREE?
“Like… it’s resisting me. It’s heavy, somehow.” Anath replied. Maybe she needed to get angry? Or have practice. None of Zuss’s abilities acted that way. However, Deep Shadows did seem to come easier when she was in shadows as she used it.
Something burst from the floor behind Anath. A mass of roots reared up from the ground, splintering it. The mass stormed forward, pushing against Hunter's mass.
She lost sight of him for a moment before a Brilliant Bash shattered dozens of them. He emerged pissed off and covered in splinters.
They needed to take the heat off of Hunter. To do that, Anath would need to go berserk. She wasn’t even using her spider legs. Zuss needed to decide how badly she wanted to kick this thing's ass.
At any time, they could flee. Let it go on. Towards a vulnerable Elyndris and a clueless Klaw. He could be at death's door for all she knew.
She had an idea. But it would hurt. And Klaw had dropped her. Daggat left her to die. That still stung, a bit. However she had come to realize that was a result of childish fear and circumstance. They had grown past that. She had, at least. Right? It felt like so long ago. But, the thought of hunting alone frightened her. Gremlins were pack scavengers. She never really lost the gremlin in her, and she doubted she ever would.
Zuss sighed, then made a decision. Klaw owed her for this.
She screamed, launching herself at the demon. She slashed at it with her dagger, ripping off a chunk of bark. That caught its attention. A thick, frighteningly thick, root stabbed at her heart. She could feel her body wanting to dodge. She fought that urge.
Heart, lungs, brain, organs. Major arteries and joints. These were all places to be avoided. She would need to be precise. She lifted an arm and contorted her body.
Then she let the attack land. It speared her at the edge of her chest. She could feel every bump scrape across her ribs. Zuss didn’t need to act when she screamed in pain. The force of it pushed through. Weakened as the demon was at the moment, it was still able to crack a rib and brutalize her flesh. It would heal, but damn did it hurt.
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The force carried her back, throwing her down the hall. She hit the ground and slid to a stop.
“ZUSS!” Anath screamed. It was a cry of anguish. Zuss winced and suddenly felt guilty. Well, a little guilty. Mostly, she felt pain.
Tears ran down Anath’s face and she ground her teeth. The mandibles next to her mouth vibrated in rage. She stomped like a frustrated child and let out a scream.
With it came a wave of power. Force seemed to radiate from her. A palpable rage that even had Hunter take a step back.
Her screams became a roar somewhere down the line and she threw herself at the demon.
Six blades, backed with 19 strength, slashed at the enemy. With the first hit, her strength increased further from Blood Rhythm. It was as though she entered a new realm of strength at that moment. Each hit sounded like a splitting wound. Roots and branches snapped under her rage. The gap between 19 and 20 seemed wider than 15 to 19. Something to ask Daggat about.
Then her savage legs skill kicked in. Her speed increased further. The blades flashed almost too fast for Zuss to keep track of. Zuss had no words for it, but it was like she had become a machine. One designed to break wood into little chips.
The demon was forced back. Every root sent at the berserker girl was shredded. Anath pushed to the chest, and deep cuts began to appear in its center mass.
A hiss of frustration escaped the normally stoic demon. Then, the wind flooded down the hall.
Zuss felt it. It wasn’t true wind. Sawdust and splinters. Bits of broken wood. They swirled as if blown by a hurricane.
The storm grew in power as Anath cut. Blinded by rage, she couldn’t see what was happening.
Zuss tried to cry out, but her ribs screamed their protest and she gasped in pain. Maybe she did more harm to herself than she thought.
Like a tornado of splinters, the blended wood spun around the demon. Then it descended upon Anath. Like a stream of fire, it overwhelmed her. Wood chips and splinters pierced skin and tore at her clothes.
Yet, Anath still walked forward. Ignoring the pain, she pushed through the storm. Zuss was equally horrified and touched. Anath got this angry because she was hurt. It was kind of sweet, in a berserker kind of way.
Zuss stood, intent on distracting the demon. But then a large hand moved over the wavering Anath. Hunter pushed through, protecting her. She slumped to her knees, looking like a dog who had attacked a porcupine.
Torch first, he waded into the flood. It split before the purity of his torch. The edges of his arms, face and legs were cut and sliced from the crude storm.
Then, he slammed the torch into its face. Light exploded once again, blinding Zuss.
Every floating splinter fell.
The demon's head was split like a log. Embers burned at various points. Hunter heaved breath in and out with the power of a horse.
For a long moment, Hunter held the torch up to the still demon. It was like a statue, unmoving. Smoke started to trickle through its roots.
“Did you kill it?” Zuss struggled out.
“I don’t-” Hunter began. Then, the demon lurched.
Roots descended from above and grabbed it. Like a puppet, it lifted into the air. Hunter took a step back, then raised his torch, his eyebrows were furrowed to a deadly point.
“Let it go,” Zuss said. “We’re at our limit.” Hunter stared at it for a moment, then nodded. He stepped back.
In awkward, lurching movements, the demon lifted into the air, supported by the roots. It scrapped along the walls as it was dragged over them. Now it was up to Elyndris and Klaw.
Zuss limped to Anath, leaving a trail of blood behind her. She was still breathing. Hunter was over her, tutting.
Anath was breathing heavily. Splinters covered her body. Most of her shirt had been torn to shreds. Luckily, her eyes seemed to be safe.
“Anath, can you hear me?” Hunter asked. His voice was soft. Anath grunted in pain. She could.
“What are we going to do? That’s a lot of damage.” Zuss said.
“Hush. Don’t listen to her, Anath. It’s going to be okay. We are fine and so are you.” His voice seemed more calming than usual. It had a sturdiness and confidence that even put Zuss at ease. “Anath, here is what we need to do. We have to remove the splinters.”
He got up and started collecting pieces of wood left from the battle. Then he pulled them into a small fire.
Zuss winced as she lifted her shirt. It was an ugly wound. Would leave a scar for sure. But, it looked like it could heal. She might need to keep it closed somehow. For now, she undid her scarf and used it as a bandage.
She felt naked without it, but it was the only cloth she had on hand long enough.
Hunter lit the fire and a calming warmth flooded the area. Already, she could feel the wound tickling.
“Anath,” Hunter said. Blood dripped from the hand he used to shield her. It was also covered in splinters. “This wood is… dirty. And it is deep. We can get it out and the healing aura and your Great Vital will heal it in no time. But… it will leave behind dirt. That will fester and infect. Leave scars.” Anath groaned. “Shh… don’t talk. Keep your eyes closed.” A few splinters were lodged dangerously near her eyes.
“Let me help. My fingers are smaller.” Zuss offered. Hunter gave her a thankful smile.
“You need to spend a biotrait point,” Hunter said, a tinge of sadness in his voice.
“No…” Anath forced out.
“It’s okay! Upgrade disease resistance to Rot resistance. I did it. Zuss has it, and so does Daggat and Klaw. It won’t turn you into a monster. Just, make you like us. Okay?”
Anath groaned softly. Then after a long moment, she nodded. Zuss relaxed. Now all they had to do was de-splinter her.
They got to work.
As Zuss removed splinter after splinter, she worried about Elyndris and Klaw. The worm would be ripped apart in this kind of attack. Klaw might be fine, with his fur. But Klaw was also one person. It took all three of them pushed to their limits to wound it this far.
How much more damage could the demon resist before falling? Hopefully, Klaw would find out.
Zuss
True Name: Zuss
Soul: Monster
Genseed: gremlin [ 3 Str, 4 Dex, 3 Con, 2 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Regenerating Teeth, Rot Resistance; Tiny Size]
Genbloom: hobgoblin [ +1 Str, +3 Dex, +2 Con, +1 Int, +1 Wil; Nimble Fingers; Small Size]
Monster Level: 8
Attributes (0/6):
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 16
Constitution: 8
Intelligence: 8
Will: 10
Charm: 9
Feats:
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Act: Devotion [Layered feats]
Ability: Mighty Alacrity
Skills(0/2):
System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge]
Deep Shadows: 1
Path Finding [Type: Climbing]
Notable Natural Skills:
Stealth: Apprentice
Climb: Apprentice
Biotraits (0/8):
Base size: Small [Source: Hobgoblin]
Regenerating Teeth [Source: Gremlin]
Enhanced Night Vision [Mutations: Dark Vision; Source: Gremlin]
Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Gremlin]
Improved Body Control [Synergy: Improved Balance + Improved Nerve Conduction + Improved flexibility; Mutations: Autonomous Reflex]
Nimble Hands and Feet [Synergy: Nimble hands + Prehensile Feet; Mutations: Mighty Grip]
Cold Resistant Skin
Enhanced Visual Acuity
Transformations:
Drakeheart Form:
+2 strength
+2 dexterity
Smoke Aura
Lesser Wings
Night Stalker form:
+2 strength
+2 dexterity
Enhanced Scent
Deepen Shadow+, Widen Shadows
Notable Gear:
Blade of a Thousand Screams
Pet:
Name: Birdy
Genseed: Cat
Attributes:
Strength: 2
Dexterity: 4
Constitution: 2
Intelligence: 2
Will: 2
Charm: 3
Biotraits:
Lesser Wings
Hunter
True Name: Hunter
Soul: Mortal/Monster
Genseed: Ogre [ 8 Str, 2 Dex, 6 Con, 2 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Ogre's curse; Large Size]
Hearth Tender Level: 8 [+1 Str, +1 Con, +4 Wil; Invoke Torch, Hearth Fire]
Monster Level: 1 [Source: Ichor of the Beast]
Attributes (0/6):
Strength: 14
Dexterity: 7
Constitution: 13
Intelligence: 9
Will: 15
Charm: 8
Feats:
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Act: Vile Concoction
Act: Devotion [layered feats]
Act: Slayer
Ability: Unshakable Will
Skills (0/9):
System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge]
Invoke Torch: 2 [Perks: Mighty Torch]
Hearth Fire: 2 [Perks: Healing Warmth]
Sacred Flame: 2 [Perks: Debilitating Warmth]
Encompassing Warmth: 1
Brilliant Bash: 2 [Perks: Hearth Flame]
Bounty Hunter: 1 [Source: Slayer]
Seek: 1
Fearless: 1
Peaceful Presence: 1
Condense Aura: 1
Biotraits (0/1):
Base Size: Large
Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Vile Concoction]
Other:
Curse: Ogre Curse
Anath
True Name: Anathema
Soul: Monster/Mortal
Genseed: Human [ 3 Str, 3 Dex, 3 Con, 3 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Standard Size]
Monster Level: 5
Berserker Level: 5 [+3 Str, Dex Con, -1 Int, Wil, Cha; Berserker's rage, Great Vitality]
Attributes [0/7]:
Strength: 12
Dexterity: 11
Constitution: 13
Intelligence: 10
Will: 8
Charm: 7
Feats:
Encounter: True Angel
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Act: Vile Concoction
Act: Devotion [layered feats]
Skills(0/8):
System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge]
System Assistant: 1
Skill Boosts: Survival (1)
Savage Legs: 1
Berserker's Spirit: 1 [Synergy: Warrior's Spirit (Burst of Strength + Burst of Alacrity + Burst of Vitality) + Berserker's Rage]
Purge Poison: 1
Great Vitality: 1
Blood Rhythm: 1
Notable Natural Skills:
Survival: Apprentice
Savagery: Apprentice
Biotraits [1/5]:
Disease Resistance [Mutations: Rot Resistance; Source: Vile Concoction]
Extra Limb (Arachnid), x4 [Source: Variant]
Venomous Mandibles [Source: Variant]
Multi-eye [Mutations: Magnified, Night Vision; Source: Variant]
Hardened Chitin
Transformations:
Night Stalker form:
+2 strength
+2 dexterity
Claws
Dark Vision
Other:
Variant: Arachnid Traits
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