Dailin finished his song, the masses of people gazing up at him once wide-eyed now laid on the floor, knocked unconscious by the strength of his spell. He’d thought he was being careful, but after being with those less affected by his chants, his discernment of such was notably off. Now, most of those on the fourth layer were motionless, and given how things usually went would be for some time.

‘I hope they improve as my family did.’ Dailin thought as he gazed out upon the new additions to his expanding family. It was meaningless worry on his part, for those from Gooth had integrated so smoothly into the working of the Oasis. That if he hadn’t been aware of their arrival he would never have noticed a difference. His Councilors laid that achievement at his feet, ignoring the fact it was their idea to get him to sing and transfer it through channels of their own.

From the tale his Councilors spun him most of the Sanctum fell to their knees due to his warmth. After that, well, they gained most of Gooth. There had been holdouts, which had been left behind. A rather cold thing to do, given their home was ruined, by it was their choice.

Dailin didn’t want people in the Oasis who didn’t wish to be there. Ones who would have resentment in their hearts, and conspired to cause strife within his home. They had enough to deal with from outside threats alone and was relieved he’d made the fifth layer. They were going to need it.

The Elders weren’t going to be gentle, not at this point, considering those sleeping around him were from the third Sanctum they’d liberated, as his Counselors frequently described. Opposition to their actions had been light, given they were striking quickly before those Above were ready. But word had spread, and in turn defenses had changed, though they’ve done next to nothing to alter the outcome.

They tried the Maidens trick of covering themselves in a sphere which muted sound. In theory it should have worked, but with him feeding from a River, and his body ability to cast. It wasn’t near enough, his spell pushed through the barriers like nothing was there and the inhabitants inside fell to the floor like everyone else. Physical resistance was sparse, for his spell removed most defenders. But even with a fully ready Sanctum, his Thivuins made any fight very one-sided.

So far the fight with the Elders had been uneventful. But that was due to him never trying to hold territory. The Sanctums were conquered then evacuated as swiftly as possible, thus the Elders forces had no means to attack. There was also the fact of the distance between them, and the time it took for the Elders to respond. Sadly that advantage was shortening. The Oasis was moving up, carried him closer to his enemies, and their waiting armies.

“Blessings shower you Father,” Vollow said raising himself to eye level while studying the sleeping masses. “These are the last, we will begin retreating once the Sanctum has been stripped of its most useful materials.”

Dailin nodded, his own eyes watching the work being done. Hundreds of his family were slowly maneuvering through the sleeping crowd, reposition them, and making sure the comatose masses were in sleeping positions which avoid later strains. Bedding and pillows were being placed about, and at the outer perimeter of the plaza food was being readied.

“Have you already picked our next destination?” Dailin asked looking at his ant-sized son. A constant reminder that the realm was shrinking around him with every improvement he did.

“We have Father, it’s called Luvoren, and like Gooth it’s a hub where many Roads converge. We would have waited but we decided it’s best to strike at it now while the Elders still marshal their forces. Then after we’ve removed its worth, we’ll work our way back down to Sanctums we passed.”

“If you all think it wise, then I’ll take us there.” Dailin commented, happy to diligent such matters to those who appeared to have some sense to what they were doing. He’d never lead an army before, or a campaign of war, so he was out of his depths. Dailin just hoped those in his company weren’t the same.

“Blessings upon you father, for allowing us to save our own.” His son said sweeping his eyes back to the sleeping masses. “For finding us Worthy enough to be saved.”

“All are worthy son, its why I’m here, the Giver demands it.” Dailin said playing into his role, acting the lie they believed so deeply in, hoping his action would keep the truth away. That his family wouldn’t turn on him the moment revelation was shown.

Though when it came to worth, Dailin hadn’t lied. Everyone was worthy, because apparently all it took was a spell from him, and they murderous tendencies fell away. People became civil and kind to one another. And that was something he very much would fight for, a realm of kind people, a realm free of the hell he’d awaken into.

“None the less, thank you father, we ask so much from you. We just offer you understand how much we appreciate it.” He son spoke while half bowing to him.

“It’s the least I can do son when you all display so clearly how much you wish to save your brethren. The Giver and I approve, and so I aid the best I can.” Dailin added in turn, and in different times would have pulled his son into a half hug of affection. Instead he sent a spell of warmth at his boy to show he meant his words.

“I’ll have the Oasis head off once the signal is given, best we leave this place before the Elders surprise us,” Dailin said.

“No need for Worry filled words Father, we’ve taken precautions. Scouts line the halls, we’ll know of any enemy presence long before they have a chance to strike.” Vollow said calmly.

Dailin took a deep breath following in his son example of peace. ‘They have everything under control, there’s no need to stress myself out. I’m not the one in charge of this, not going to cause foolish mistakes.’ Ultimately his worry still remained, though lessened. It was a habit of his, one that would take a long time to work out. He’d experience too many lives which turned for the worse, so it very hard not to worry about what was coming around the corner.

But he tried, and for that effort, for taking a moment to relax in full, the realm smacked him. Special Wards flashed red with warning, their color the deepest red they could form. In the span of a heartbeat he was in the air racing to the inner layer. His worry magnified, as did his dread, suffocating him the whole way to the control room that he threw himself upon in his haste to connect.

The realm outside filled his mind eyes and showed him the sight of Nightmares everywhere. Literally, every surface was swarming with them. Dailin saw many members of his family outside were fighting tense battles to keep them from flooding over the street he made leading to the Road entrance.

Nightmares of all sizes were sundered apart as the Thivuins work together and performed spells. Cutting winds kept the streets clear as it removed the living and dead Nightmares. For now, it was the only weapon his family was using to fight the beasts. Blocks of stone would be useless considering how many tunneling beasts there were, and water not much better. That and perhaps his family was being cautious with their use of mana. They knew it was the means for their suits to function, and without it they’d be made vulnerable.

Dailin wouldn’t let it come to that, and with a flick of will Hearts encompassing the Oasis came alive. Beams of light fired out, vaporizing all life it touched and melted stone where it lingered. Hundreds of hands came into existence, the collective given basic commands to begin crushing the nightmares around them. The Nightmares tried attacking the constructs, but with them made of Wards, and condensed mana their attacks did nothing as the hands went about smashing or pulling beasts apart.

Flashes of lightning erupted from those on the bridge, suits worked together and began firing off costly spells at Ancients that began to appear. Many were the size of the Thivuins, but soon larger ones began to arrive, then swatted down as quickly as possible.

It wasn’t enough however, there was too many arriving at once, the whole realm appeared to be a living creature. And more just kept coming, even as thousands were killed, and areas of the realm were turned to magma. More would just come stumbling through the wet stone.

“To the Oasis!” he called out through the Wards, his voice reverberating loudly cross the expanse of the cavern. Dailin heart was thundering loudly in his chest, dread growing. With the numbers he was seeing and the kind of beast showing up. It was only a matter of time before Mountains arrivers, and those he couldn’t hold back against. The fight with them would ruin the realm, even Thivuins weren’t strong enough to withstand the turmoil that was to come. They needed to be inside else their lives were forfeit. So rather than waiting for his family members to come to him, he took action.

With Mana flowing into his veins, Dailin began shifting the realm, stone gave way or bloomed up like mouths crushing hordes of nightmares. But more importantly, he began expanding the chamber. Had the Oasis shift so it was to the side of the street. For now the walkway he’d made held, but the Nightmares and Ancients were crashing into it, biting and clawing, trying with all their might to rip the structure apart. Aiming to have the defenders at the top fall to their doom when the structure collapsed.

Instead, as the Oasis got in place, The River changed direction and began funneling into the Wards that held it together. Wards which glowed livingly again as he recharged them to their full capacity.

“Hurry,” Dailin spoke, aligning the gate with the street and slide the opening closer to the defenders. They didn’t need any more encouragement, and soon those near began to rush in. He continued this across the length of the bridge, working his way to the Road. Nightmares tried to do the same, tried to rush into his home, but the guarding Thivuins kept them back as more of their brethren stampeded inside.

It felt like an age before the last of his family on the paths were safe. The bridge left undefended was swiftly swarmed with the abominations.

Closing the gate for a moment, Dailin pointed many of the Hearts at the bridge and fired. The Nightmares on much of its length vanished or turned into plumes of smoke. The bridge itself held for a few seconds before the Wards were spent and the construct melted and collapse on the wailing Nightmares below. With it gone Dailin opened and aligned the gate with the Road entrance, pressing the two tightly together.

The Oasis gate towered over the Road and when he switched to look through interior Wards he saw his family fast at work forming barriers in front of the plain stone. After Thivuins raced into the tunnels, hurrying off to tell the many in the Sanctum what was occurring, and that they needed to retreat.

Dailin returned his attention back to the surging swarm. Though the beasts were amassing those distant weren’t heading for the Oasis, instead, they continued burrowing upwards. A trail of endless moving limbs scouring all in their path. For those near, they began heading his way and were introduced to hundreds of Hearts firing off spells.

Beams of light flashed and whirled around the chamber. Glassing all it touched, even the Ancients could only withstand a scant second or two under the heat of the blasts. A good thing, for their numbers kept rising, as did their size. Ancients that made Thivuins look small began to emerge, and slowly began to be a common sight mixed with the rest for the enlarged Nightmares.

Still no matter their size, he had the River filling his home. An endless supply of power, and with his family safely hidden behind the Oasis Dailin primed the runes for what could be only called a purge. The largest heart pointed at the horde glowing hot, the brightness likely blinding for those looking directly at it. Then with the span of a breath, its stored power was unleashed and the realm become one of fire as the air and everything else ignited.

That alone killed most of the beasts not guarded by Wards of their own. For those that did, even being near the beam of light shooting out was enough to turn them to ash. Stone dissolved where the beam impacted leaving deep gouges where he angled it. Given the cost of the spell, Dailin had the beam spiral along the cavern, removing the horde nearest his home as quickly as he could.

He cut the Chant off as it reached the five second mark, and looked at the gauges that measured the Oasis reserves. The one indicating the third layer was almost one-third spend, but quickly refilling as the River flowed in. Dailin breathed out slowly as he turned his attention back to the destruction he’d caused. Or ruin, for that seemed more appropriate a description. Flames still lingered due to sections of the forest not yet crumbling dust. The air was thick with ash, and the landscape itself was a carved up blackened mess, with stone still red and steaming.

The Nightmares, once coating the walls so thick the realm seemed made of them, were all gone. Those closest anyways, the swarms further off, near the beginning of the chamber were relative fine. There was still movement but it was mostly hidden underneath a thick layer of roasted Nightmares.

His portion of the chamber remained lifeless for a handful of minutes. Then the bottom parts of the chamber, covered in molten rock, bubbled up or broke apart as Nightmares rushed out filling up the space he’d just cleaned.

All of them larger than the last, Ancients of varying sizes made up a good buck of the resurgent horde. They all turned towards his Oasis. Bugs drawn to a light, at least at first. Nightmares from the other end of cavern screeched loudly, and the advancing horde slowed then halted. Their antennas pointed in the direction of the screeching brethren. Another dozen seconds and the Horde continued its march, but not towards him, but instead the walls which they climbed and began tunneling up.

Dailin felt a bit of pride his creation was deemed too much of a threat to fight. But that was swallowed by the feeling of dread he felt that came with the thought. That the once simple beasts had determined such a concept was worrying. Even the smallest Nightmares weren’t heading for his home. Beasts that should be charging at him with no considerations of their bodily harm.

Instead, they were trying to give his home a wide birth. But what was most alarming of all was none of them were going after the River flooding down into his home from large canals. No, the beasts didn’t even give it a glancing look as they continued up. His consideration of this was halted however as a worrying scene played out before him.

A good portion of the floor in the center of the Chamber peeled away, and a Flesh Mountain showed itself, its many small and elongated limbs worked together to move its colossal bulk. Many of its Vail looking eyes turned to regard him. They appeared to bulge some as it caught sight of the Oasis. The thing screeched loudly, shaking the realm and it moved so its largest mouth was pointed in his direction.

The pushing of runes and the pulse of will had the Oasis act as chains formed and flew off towards the beast. They wrapped it tight, forcing the Mountains many limbs to be pressed against its body. The thing moved to open it main mouth, but hands formed and pressed themselves against it.

Though he wasn’t fast enough to stop the many others which dotted its surface. Loud wailing screeches reverberated the air trying to cut through the chains that surrounded it. But no matter how much it screamed or tried to move, the chains remained unharmed. As long as Mana kept channeling into them, the Chains would remain. Which wasn’t going to be for long, while it struggled Dailin watched his gauges. Even with the spells he was using, it was filling up quickly. The third layer working its way back to full capacity.

Once it reached a mark he was comfortable with he aimed the Heart, and pressed down upon the activation rune. Flames roared to life again, stone heated, reddened, and the Mountain howled for three seconds before it's top and middle portion went up in smoke. Dailin stopped the spell after, eyes on the reserves of the third layer and saw it near the halfway mark. On the bright side, the Mountain was very much dead, the bottom of it making up its leg connections and under hid was smoldering. Much of it charred black, and breaking apart as juices on the inside burst outward.

The chamber fell silent as most of the beasts near the Oasis suffered the same fate and began falling to the floor. Those far off, mostly spared, didn’t move either as they stared at him. Then almost as one the chamber filled with the loud shrieks of screeches, enough the stone began to vibrate. Dailin breathed in to calm himself, for he knew what was coming next.

Knew the Nightmares around him were calling for help, calling for nearby Mountains to come join the fray. Dailin let them send their signals, nor impede their returned marching as the beasts were leaving the Oasis alone. Plus the River above them, the beasts completely ignoring it, acting opposite of what they should be doing. Yet another sight stirring the worry in him.

‘What are they after, if not the Rivers?’ he wondered as he waited for the signs of Mountains. ‘The source as I perhaps? The Giver?’ He didn’t know, for there was no need for them to roaming at all. The Rivers provided them everything they required to survive.

Flashing Wards pulled him from his thoughts. The Oasis had been struck on its right side. A Mountain had arrived, the spherical kind that rolled everywhere. It had come charging in, smoothly passing through stone and struck the Oasis. And for that surprise and swift attack, it was rewarded with the embarrassing act of bounced off his home and crashing into the nearby wall. The Wards that kept the Oasis afloat were stringent things. The Oasis wouldn’t budge, not even a hair, as long as Mana coursed through the Wards.

Not that it deterred the onyx-colored circle, its Wards flashed, and in a second it came spiraling back at the Oasis striking it again and bouncing off. But that didn’t mean the impact wasn’t disastrous. Where it hit Wards turned red, and the Oasis drained the reservoirs to keep everything charged. Though he wasn’t sure how much it was costing him, the River was filling the layers faster than they were being drained, so he wasn’t all that consider about it. Not yet, but when numerous Mountains began smashing against his home that would change.

The Sphere Mountain struck his home a third time, but when it bounced off it didn’t stop but instead rolled further away. It crushed its own kind as the thing put distance between them before its Wards flashed bright and surged forward. Its hit caused a deafening sound that rumbled the realm and caused nearby Nightmares to flinch. But the Oasis remained undeterred, the Wards holding strong while his home refilled.

The beast readied to try again but he didn’t give the sphere a chance. A wall of chains went flying out and encompassed the beast. He pulled the Mountain closer and the chains had to work together, forming a sack, to keep hold of it. The beast outer shell was impossibly smooth. Even inside the grip of chains it spun, sparkles of light formed as the beast seemed to be trying to cut itself free.

When the thing finally realized it wasn’t working, it began to screech like the rest of the Nightmares. Its call was answered instantly, as maggot Mountains speared upwards from below the Oasis and fire off chants of lightning. They sparked around his creation, rendered harmless like all other attacks. But the sight of it had Dailin flinched, as in the not so distant past that was the go-to spell to kill the greatest foes.

Dailin had the Oasis form more chains, all of which went wrapping around the frames of the maggots. The beasts continued firing their spells, ones aimed at the chains more than the Oasis, but it was still getting hit. It was after all colossal even to the Mountains, it would be hard not to hit.

Chains and hands pressed against their beaks, forcing shut the maws and cutting off the flow of lightning. A small reprieve that lasted only seconds before more of the chamber peeled away. Mountains showed themselves, four in total, and were the Flesh bulks of screaming mouths. Their unsettling eyes looked at the fight going on, at the damaged, and for a moment looked hesitant. Then the troublesome maggots began to screech.

That got them to act, and before he could stop them the four lined up and open their largest maws. The realm shivered as their chants echoed out. Thunderous, and cutting winds flew ripping the chamber in front of them with thick gorges. Most of the warning signals flared red as the Oasis was struck.

But for all the display of destruction, his instruments still showed all was well and the reserves filling with Mana. The only thing he had to do during the attack was to fix the canals that were hit. After Dailin waited out the attack, watching his instruments as the Mana fill back up to a point he was happy with.

After chains and hands surged out fighting against the whirlwind. They wrapped around the assaulting Mountains. But Dailin didn’t have them try to close shut the beast mouths, only bind around them enough to have a good hold. When they did he instructed the chains to return, to pull his foes closer.

The beasts screeched in alarm as their large frames, unaccustomed to being moved against their will, were dragged. Dailin also had the chains arrange them into a loose straight line. Which took longer than he liked but considering what was to come next he was fine with it.

After aiming the central Heart Dailin pressed down on the rune, and out of reflex, squinted his eyes as the realm outside shined painfully. He watched, his hand pressing against the rune, as the beasts wailed then turned to dust one by one. His hand quickly rose cutting off the spell. His eyes glanced over to his panels showing the third layer was well below the halfway mark.

The realm had gone quiet and till again as the Nightmares, those interested, stared at the remnants of the fours Mountains. Even the Sphere and Maggots remained motionless. Then as one, they screeched anew, joined by the massing Nightmares coating the cavern. Who returned to surging in ever frightening numbers upward, and if it wasn’t for the Mountains he would be spending the Oasis to clear them all out. But given the circumstances, Dailin instead let them pass by unhindered.

A blessed thing, his children would say. For not long after more of the abominations showed themselves. Peeling the rock as they moved forward, or used the paths already made for them. Another sphere came rolling out, but didn’t stop to fight him, but rather smash into the opposite wall and keep digging up. Others did as well, even as those he held captive screamed at them. Then three Flesh Mountains, two Behemoth shaped beasts, their arms rippling with coiled muscle and armor, arrived. Plus another Maggot collection with its three heads, which appeared to the side of his home and began blasting at it.

Dailin forced himself to take deep breaths, and he, out of reflex, wiped his brow with a shaking hand. ‘Gods I knew they were growing in number, but this is getting out of hand.’ Dailin cursed himself, he should have made more layers, would after this debacle. Each one to hold mana, he’d flood his home in it. Make it so that next time no matter how many came at him, he could smack them all down.

The Behemoths charged and smashed their fists into his home. Fists that glowed and collided hard enough for the sound of thunder echoed out. The Maggots continued blasting his home with rays of lightning. All of which strolled across its surface trying desperately to penetrate the Wards. The Flesh Mountains were the last to act. Force to reposition themselves by getting nearer and skirting to the side so they could fire without hitting their own.

While this took place and Dailin ready his counterattack, the realm outside continued to fill with Nightmares. Ancients of all sizes were propping up, some large enough they bordered the line of being Mountains themselves. Then more actual Mountains appeared, Spheres that quickly rolled onward. Behemoths, and things that were a mix of many of the other species combined. They looked at the fight taking place, saw their brethren hammering his home and decided they wanted to strike at it too.

Dailin forced himself to breathe, to calm his shaking hands, He looked at his measurements, everything was still fine, the Mountains, regardless of their attack did little to slow his returning reserves. But with the growing forces outside, he found it time for him to spend things along.

Closing his eyes, shielding himself from the scene before him, Dailin focused and called out. Demanded the Mana to flow into his home. All of it.

He called to it over and over, pressing mana into the spell of want, of Mana rushing towards him. He felt it come alive, felt the pull and the change of pressure. When he opened his eyes, the River above spilled over the canals and flew towards his home. The air itself shimmered as Mana in it coalesced and hurried in his direction him. The sight of it caused the Mountains to pause in their attack, and stare at the phenomenon happening around them. Watched as Mana spread over his home and tried entering through the hole at the top as quickly as possible.

Even though he was expending Mana itself to make the spell work, the benefit far outstretch the cost. He watched the third layer flood with the wondrous substance and flicked his eyes back to the attackers. Dailin began pressing on runes, began sending chains and hands out everywhere. The once confused or stupefied Mountains woke the moment his constructs began wrapping around them. They returned to hitting and blasting him into ruin. An act he slowly quelled as Mountains were tangled and hands wrapped around their mouths. The Maggots tried to flee back underneath rock where much of their bulk laid hidden, but the chains around them remained strong. And the Oasis wasn’t something that could be moved by force.

With a great deal of effort by his chains, Dailin began to lineup his captives. The Flesh Mountains, Behemoths, Sphere, and things a combination of all screeched in protest. The Sphere and original Maggots most of all, they knew what was coming. Spurred on by the acts of the two, the others raised their own voices forming a tormenting chorus as he moved his hand over the rune, and pressed down. The realm ignited, and Dailin watched with unblinking eyes as his problems were reduced to ash. Watched and counted the seconds then hasty removing his hand from the rune once the deed was down.

The realm was a charred mess, and where the Mountains had been was a blazing hellish hole that led down deep into the depths. The area around the Oasis once filled with stamping Nightmares was laid bare again, nothing remained save for the two Maggots that were pulling at their chains with utmost urgency. Their own Wards were flashing bright, but at the same time, Dailin could see they weren’t near the same luminosity as before. Shielding the Mountains from the overwhelming heat had taken its toll.

Dailin glanced at the gauges, his last performance and nearly spent the third layer. But it was filling back at a reasonable rate since he was still calling to the Mana. He waited, even with the fifth layer full he didn’t want to tip into that last reserve without need. So he remained motionless as his breathing calmed down and watched with pain as the realm started filling up again with Nightmares.

‘Gods, help me, what am I to do against this?’ He prayed, there was so many, and what was taking place before him was but one of many similar scenes that could be going on at once. There was some small hope in him that he’d been unlucky, that the Oasis was in the path of the Nightmare surging up and this was a lone event. Yet most of him, the worrying side that kept him alive, even his instinct, spoke differently. The Nightmare was surging up as one, their true number being shown, and it left Dailin lost at what he could truly do to survive.

‘Improve and build,’ Were the two thoughts that came to his mind, the only reasons why he was still in this wretched realm. A realm committed to killing him, and all else as Nightmares, all far larger than the previous ones, streamed out of the molten rock. Ancients were becoming the common number, their collective hides forming a dazzling display of color as they matched in a frenzied stride upward. They kept their distance from the Oasis, even as the two Maggots screeched with all their might. The Horde ignored it, or was perhaps was spurred on to move faster to get away from the threat.

Dailin was fine with that as he kept glancing at his instruments, waiting for the chance to finish off the opponents aimed at cracking his home. Sadly, the Nightmares weren’t too happy with that plan of his. Though the common beasts and Ancients ignored the pleas of their betters, something else did not.

Through the wards, he watched the realm shudder, and half the chamber warped as room was made for a beast nearing the size of the Oasis itself. A bloated creature, with the back half of its body aglow with liquid Mana. Its hide was made up of crystals that gleamed, they too were filled with the substance. Wards covered it, like all its brethren, though they shined far brighter. It made Dailin painfully aware of how much it was going to cost to end the beast before him.

The thing turned its pointed head at the Oasis, one that was lined with eyes at the top and a mouth which split into four sections. The realm quaked as it screeched, the once move horde frozen in place before all turned towards the Oasis.

Dailin began taking deep breaths as his palms tingled and his instinct began pressing against him. That was incentive enough to act before the Titin of a beast did. A wall of chains shoot out, and Dailin at the same time worked his own spell. Sent his influence out into the stone and had it loosen and cave in under the Titan fat clawed feet.

It hissed as the stone gave away and it slid down as its many legs jittered about trying to find new purchase to right itself. Its Wards pulsed and Dailin found himself being fought against in a new manner. His spell became in competition with another as he and the beast fought for control over the stone. Dailin was forced to expel more Mana into his working, one that continued to increase in expenditure as the Beast did the same to counteract him.

He held it off at first, till the beast grew irritated enough that it sent a wall of Mana against him. One where he was forced to make a choice to commit more of the substance or cut his losses.

Dailin cut his spell off, the beast had been distracted long enough for chains to begin wrapping it, in the end that was all he wanted. The stone shifted anew, solidified and pressed against the beast feet.

Dailin had the chains focus on the beast head, had them wrap tight around the maw of the Titian. It shook its whole frame wildly, making the chains go taut as it tried pulling free. The Oasis remained fixed, an odd sight Dailin was sure, given it was floating in the air supported by nothing. Something the beast likely shared in thinking as it kept jerking its whole body backward, pulling with all its might to free itself.

Thankfully its effort proved futile, but Dailin still sent more chains wrapping around it. Ones aimed at hampering its legs. The Titan gave a muffled hiss as the chains did so, and its Wards began to pulse again. The chains began to rattle, and to Dailin shock began to be pushed away from the beast hide. And most worrying its mouth, enough that it began to open.

Dailin reorganized the chains, sent them all to focus on the maw, but there seemed to be an unseen obstacle in the way. Dailin watched in horror as its mouth open in full, aimed directly at the Oasis, and he was forced to squint his eyes then disconnect from the panel when a torrent of lightning hammered and skittered across his home. The Wards around him flashed their warnings and showed the reservoirs being drained.

He closed his eyes, reconnected with the Wards and returned his thoughts back to the Mana, to the River and called to it. Demanded it to flow into his home, into the Wards themselves, to keep the Oasis safe.

That was all he focused on for a solid minute as he listened to the pulses of his instruments as they kept him informed of the Titans continued assault. Then as quickly as the attack began it stop, and Dailin opened his eyes. His call to the River didn’t cease, no it doubled when he looked at the reserves, even with the River the third layer was spent. Forcing the Oasis to dip into the fifth layer, one that filling back up at an astonishing speed.

Dailin turned his attention back to the Wards that let him see the realm. The River surrounded his home, was seeping into the Wards as he commanded, but there was so much of it.

It parted some, and he saw why, saw the chamber had been shattered and half of it was filled overhead by Mana carving its way through stone to reach him. His eyes turned to the Titan, the chains trying to hold it were gone, it was free fully, yet remained frozen stiff. Its mouth was closed, and its many eyes were watching both the River overhead and the Oasis. It appeared to be in shock that he still remained, for when Dailin looked around he saw the Maggots he’d held captive were gone. As was much of the stone around his home. What remained was full of sharp jagged streaks of melted rock.

He remembered the Road behind him, and Dailin hurriedly looked through the Wards to see how his family faired. He sighed when he saw the sight. The Road had been shielded, his family rushing in unaware of the swift death so very close to claiming them.

With a well-marked scowl on his face Dailin retuned his gaze back to the Beast, it wasn’t so luminous anymore, the shining light of its backside was lacking in Mana. Plus where before it looked so over bloated it was about to burst, It now looked sickly.

Dailin found his hand hovering over the rune that would unleash the Oasis wrath. A quick glance at the instruments showed him the third was refilling. The sight had his hand pressing down taking the realm back to the flaming hell where this beast belonged. He heard it wail even over the noise of air sizzling. Watched with relish as the beast was launched by the force of the spell and hammered into a wall. Pinned at first but it began to sink further in as the stone around it melted or turned to smoke. Dailin kept looking back at the panels, grinding his teeth as the thing refused to die, and infuriatingly he was forced to raise is hand and end the spell.

The Titan didn’t top wailing even after the spell ceased and it squirmed about. Hastily freeing itself from the heated stone and looked back at him. It looked shriveled now and perhaps after a few more second the beast would have been done. And he was tempted to active the rune, but he’d gone into the filth layer resources and not lightly. So instead Dailin continued calling to the River, trying as quickly as possible to refill what was spent.

Regardless of this choice the beast didn’t give him a chance to attack, it dived down into the stone, it's screeching still echoing and rumbling the rock around them. The Nightmares joined in the painful chorus, all fleeing as quickly as they could in every direction, save one that neared him.

Dailin let out a shaking breath, his hands shivering as he rubbed his eyes. ‘Gods preserve us.’ Dailin prayed and returned to watching the realm, only for that to be disrupted.

“Divine,” one of his daughters said. “There is a matter needing your council.” There was urgency in her voice, and though Dailin was hesitant to pull his sight from what was going on outside. He reluctantly did so and focused his weary gaze on the child floating near his face.

“I’m listening my daughter,” he said because the sad truth was he didn’t know her name.

“We’ve stumbled on Flocks, led by your Hosts you sent to spread your name.” His daughter said gaining his full attention.

“Flocks? How many are we talking about?” Dailin asked leaning his head close to her.

“Sanctums worth, Divine. Many were moved by the words of your Hosts spread and the wonders of the Thivuin they traveled in. Thousands rebelled against the Voices, have traveled upward in hopes of finding a means to regroup with us.” The words sent a cold sense of dread through him, of so many more believing the lies, people thinking he was more than what he actually was.

‘Sanctums! Gods, how long will that take to get them all inside the Oasis?’ He wondered glancing back at his instruments and the movements that could be going on outside.

“Also,” his daughter started. “Our scouts have spotted Flocks of a different nature, it seems the Elders have answered the calls sent to them.”

Dailin gaze snapped back to his daughter, the quickness of it had her looking down towards the floor.

‘Of all the times for this.’ Dailin cursed in his mind, “What is it the Council wishes of me?” Dailin asked, feeling tired.

“Whether you desire for us to attack or flee.” His daughter answered.

“How many of my family is still out there?” Dailin asked.

“Hundreds Divine, we were in the middle of acquiring goods from the Sanctum.” She answered.

“Defensive measure then,” Dailin said. “Get everyone into the Oasis, even those that have come to join. If the Elders get in the way of this, do what you see fit to remove the problem. We are to leave as soon as possible.”

“May we use more Thivuins," she asked.

“As many as you want, just get everyone inside, the Nightmare has come in full, and I’m having difficulty keeping them back.” Dailin answered, telling his daughter the truth, even if it may scare her. They needed to know the situation they were in.

“Thank you most blessed Divine, defender of all, we won’t fail,” she added before flying off.

‘I hope not,’ Dailin thought, as he returned his attention to the realm, watched as it flooded with Nightmares and Ancients. ‘I rather not have to leave people behind’.