Seven Minutes Earlier

Kor'Ak's hand clasped the metal capsule in his free hand as a Wretched's skull crunched and cracked beneath his boot, he was met with a gentle, gross squelch.

Another vile creature's skull was caved in as the Djaal brought the canister down on the sickly goblinoid's skull, a second smack made the creature fall to the stone, and gave Kor'Ak enough time to drop his chunk of dry ice into the canister, quickly screwing it's lid shut again. Already the metal cylinder gave off a sharp hiss as the pressure in the container built rapidly.

Kor'Ak's eyes drifted to the tower of horrid flesh that rose above everything else in the cavernous room, it had been worryingly inactive since it spat out those odd, spider-like creatures. The experienced soldier and adventurer knew it must be some form of caster, but it was offering it's minions essentially no support or assistance.

There must be a reason behind that.

His eyes darted off again as he heard a pained howl, Kelvin was knelt down, trying to pull a short, twisted spear out of his foot, as the wizard's right hand sprouted it's own spear, made of crystalline needles that erupted forth from his palm, piercing through the goblinoid's belly and lodging it's gleaming, purple blade into the stomach of one it's pus-plastered companions.

The wizard shot a desperate glance over to Kor'Ak, eyes wild and worried. Kelvin didn't need to say a word for Kor'Ak to guess at why he was worried, in his pain, he'd went overboard on his attack and blasted through his mana. This point was further made to Kor'Ak when, instead of firing another Arcane Dart at one of the bloated goblins, the wizard instead roared and howled as both of his hands finally found a proper grip on the primitive spear lodged in his foot, the weapon tore itself out with a savage SLICK, the wizard lifted the spear just over his head, quickly levelling the weapon, ready to throw it at another of the charging creatures, two of it's companions were just behind it, brandishing their brutish tools and knives as they cackled and howled within the toxic fog.

The spear flew from the injured wizard's grip, unfortunately, his arm wavered as he felt himself losing his strength and focus, the pain still wracking his body. Nevertheless, the spear struck it's target, though rather than piercing it's hole in the goblin's chest, it knocked the monster down, striking it's shoulder and sending it toppling to the ground from the sudden shift in it's body's weight.

Kor'Ak was quickly made aware that he'd been paying too much attention to his companions when he felt something jagged sink into a gap in his armour, cutting a shallow, but nevertheless painful slice through the flesh at the back of his knee. Something snapped. jagged mandibles cut their way through strings of muscle in his leg and the warrior fell to a knee, crushing something squishy and fleshy between his armored thigh and plated calf.

You Have Suffered 17 Damage

Trait Applied

He saw something collapse to the ground out of the corner of his eye, Steal's body hit the stone floor as the goblin's body shook and writhed. His gaze snapped back to Kelvin, the two gross goblins that were charging him earlier had closed the distance, the first was reeling back, a thin dagger lodged in it's palm, but the other had just brought it;s own blade down, sinking deep as it tore it's way through Kelvin's ragged clothing, then his flesh. The wizard screamed.

Then everything stopped.

No more footsteps, Kelvin's mouth was parted in a scream, but it wasn't making any sound, the blood that should have been seeping from the wizard's wound's merely stayed still, unmoving. The same went for the attacking goblin's, frozen in place. The rolls of flesh that made up their 'Mother' no longer slapped together, and no wretched gurgling erupted from the creature's unseen maw.

Kor'Ak felt himself frozen as well, everything but his head was immovable, he shifted his neck side-to-side, surveying the room, the pain that should be running through his body from his sliced muscles was non-existent, and he could feel his mind focus and sharpen.

Perhaps it was merely because there was no other sound besides it, but the sudden sound of bare soles hitting the stone seemed alarmingly loud, echoing and bouncing through the underground chamber.

A slender, white-robed figure emerged from behind the immovable tower of green fat and puss.

His body was heavily wrapped, not a single speck of skin could be seen beneath his clothes. As the slender figure turned to face Kor'Ak, gently stepping over the frozen body of one of the felled goblin's, Kor'Ak could see his mask, it would've been similar to a human face, if it wasn't borderline featureless, it was alike to a sheet of gold, with a simple, straight mouth embossed into the metal.

It's was male, but smooth, it continued to slowly approach Kor'Ak as it began to speak.

"It's been a year my dear Kor'Ak, and doesn't it look like I've came at just the right time?"

The figure span around three-hundred and sixty degrees, palms outstretched towards the dozens of goblin's that were stood like statues, all clutching their brutish weapons and each of them showing some degree of malice in the vicious snarls and smiles that plastered their faces. The figure paused, before pointing towards Kor'Ak's wounded, struggling companions, but didn't comment on their conditions.

Kor'Ak's response came in the form of an angry snarl, then a roar. "MAAL! How dare you show yourself to m-" Kor'Ak's vocal chords seemed to snap shut, he couldn't breathe, his throat felt hot and dry, scorching and tight.

"Oh Kor'Ak sweetie, don't be like that, you knew I was going to return, that was the deal after all"

Maal was closer now, likely close enough to hear Kor'Ak's rasping, failing attempts at breathing, and certainly close enough to see the Djaal's face begin to dye red, the man would be clutching desperately at his throat if he was capable of moving his arms.

The white-robed figure merely stood there, watching Kor'Ak as he struggled for air.

A minute had almost passed, with Maal merely watching, observing. Kor'Ak couldn't carry on, his muscles felt numb and his mind felt number.

Maal nodded, then waved his arm idly. The Djaal's throat loosened and he managed a few ragged, sharp breaths whilst the man carried on with his words.

"Well, technically it's not been a year. It's been... three-hundred and forty-one days, though I figured I could always do you a little favour and show up a little early, I do owe you one after all."

The Djaal merely looked on at Maal in silence.

"Y'know, honestly, I think we're actually even, you'd be dead a long time ago if not for me~" Maal finished his words on a cheerful note, as if preparing to break into song.

"You killed my husband you demonic, manipulative piece of sh-" the Djaal's throat snapped shut again.

"So, I'll just pretend you're begging for the great and mighty Maal to lend you his aid... Anyways, I don't know what you're ranting about, we both know that I didn't kill him." The figure's cloth-wrapped hand gently caressed Kor'Ak's sweat-glistening cheek, then his form seemed to shift and fade, leaving only a faint whisper as Kor'Ak felt his blood boil and watched his hands burst aflame. Time unfroze, and Kelvin's screams continued.

Kor'Ak didn't care.

Only one word came to mind, fueling the flames that still burned around Kor'Ak's fists. The same word that Maal still whispered into his ear from somewhere unknown.

"Kill"