CHAPTER 21: FIRST ENCOUNTER

“As I Lead, you Follow, where I step, you step, my Insight is for all to see.”

Her ability billowed out connecting to all her troops within its range. Amaya watched as the formation surrounding her grew tighter. The spells she had kept in reserve already cast the moment Aegis reacted to danger.

Amaya was upset. She was upset at how the meeting had proceeded. She was upset at how her station was disregarded multiple times. Amaya was to be the next Protectorate. This meant she would be just as powerful as Aegis would be in the future. The Protectorate was the second in command of the wall and even if they weren’t titled as the next Young Lord they had just as much power. Ahana had worked hard to ensure her daughter would have a future position. In truth the position should belong to one of the twins as her uncle was the head of the family and thus rightful head of all of the Kan bloodline. This made him the decision maker when it came to a position as powerful as the one her mother held.

So, when Moriah spoke once again disregarding her and her station something in Amaya saw blood red. She could feel the power engrained into her by Aegis respond to that emotion even the bloodline coursing through her veins responded. She was a dragon and dragons are to be respected. As her body and remind reacted so did the magic in the air causing a chain reaction. Amaya suspected it had to do with the system given to her by Aegis. Powerful enough to have a permanent effect on the magic surrounding her.

Title:

Prime: Dragon

There can only be one prime. Powerful blood courses through your veins belonging to an ancient family that your ancestors have become acknowledged by. This bloodline has also acknowledged you for your confidence and unwillingness to allow disrespect to pass. User has gained the aura Prime: Dragon. This has marked you and thus they shall come for you. Prove your worthiness and excel beyond your limits.

“Move towards the rest of our troops. Bullhead formation. Murnia, Sofia I know the both of you can fight assist by providing help to any spot you see weakening.”

As she gave commands Amaya never once stopped building the spell in her mindscape. Constructing the spell construct piece by piece before she would be able to unleash it into the world. Silently chanting while keeping an eye in the area her wayward cousin had been blasted off in. First meet up with the rest of the troops, with a small formation like this she was certain they’d be able to escape without a problem. Thunder cracked and a sweet smell similar to honey drifted to into Amaya’s nose.

“|Firnado|.”

A huge drain of mana left her as six spell constructs appeared in the air. This was the strongest spell she knew allowing her to remain connected to it while dealing massive amounts of damage to the unending creatures that kept emerging from the ground. One construct to keep the spell stable, another to keep it attached to her allowing her to feed it and grow it more powerful. The third was the body of the spell itself forming it and shaping it, while the fourth ignited the spell allowing the fire to come into existence. The fifth construct allowed movement and the sixth was a special surprise Amaya had added in to force the spell into a higher tier. When she set it off it would wipe out a mile in every direction.

Those not strong enough were instantly whipped from their feet as the massive fire tornado roared to life and the sick sweetly scent only grew stronger as the magic in the air became active.

“Alex, Rouge today you two are my horns. Do not fail me.”

“Yes, Crimson General.”

Amaya took the head of the bull while Murnia and Sofia stood close in position as the eyes. The rest of the ten troops of the Kan surrounded them in a half circle formation.

“Follow behind the tornado but let the rock cool first.”

Amaya strained herself and began to move the spinning vortex in the direction of the rest of their guards. All around them Nox and wayward servants were pulled into the tornado those not strong enough to resist the spinning vortex burning away into ashes further fueling the spell as the magic in their bodies were added to it. Amaya had no time to show pity to the Primans as she could not determine if they were truly themselves or a Nox in disguise. Their screams of terror turned into a guttural cry and Amaya felt fear as three powerful auras washed over the battlefield.

“Peak tier nine. MOVE.”

Not so much worried for herself as she had more than enough confidence in her armor and the spells attached but worried for her troops which would be slaughtered en masse

The formation began to jog in the direction of the rest of their party suffering minimal attacks as the Nox focused their efforts on decimating the rest of the citizens of the Last Kingdom.

*

My ax fended off the claw like attacks of one of the golden vein Nox in front of me while the other two circled looking for the perfect opening to strike. I could not build a spell construct as my attention was completely focus on keeping up with the creatures on my level. Small booms resounded as the other two creatures took off one from behind the other to my left. The problem was I had several spells in my arsenal that could bind one of the Nox while I delt with two, yet I did not want to will the spell into existence with indirect casting. The drain was excessive any time I did so and if I had been taught anything by my Aunt Ahana it is to never sacrifice all of your cards to pull out a win.

My body moved almost in auto pilot while my mind looked for a solution. Ashes descended around us, and I could tell it influenced the creatures, but the drain would not be fast enough for me to not suffer a defeat. I could use my latest aspect, but it was an active and not a passive meaning it would drain me at a tremendous rate. I moved right dodging the creature from behind while my small shield parried the attack from the left. The one that had been occupying me used that opportunity to dive for my legs crawling around like a cockroach as it clawed towards me. A small fireball appeared in its trajectory as I expended a bit of mana. We were moving further and further away from the battlefield.

Red lightning cracked in the air and dark storm clouds began to appear while the smell of honey intensified. I spared a quick glance in the direction of the main battle as the firnado Amaya conjured tore its way towards the rest of our guards who were making their way towards us. The fireball blasting into the humanoid face of the creature doing little damaged and sending it tumbling back. My ax was slowly charging up once again.

“My eyes can see through it all, you have crossed the boundary, and such shall be Judged, A Field of Law in threes shall be established.”

Amaya’s powerful voice echoed over the battlefield and the essence and magic in the air responded.

“Law One: No opponent shall purposely target one beneath their tier.”

The magic seemed to pause trying to decide whether it like the sound of this decision or not before something seemed to click into place and the entire battlefield shifted as the law came into effect. We had tested this ability a few times as the drain in put on Amaya would have her out of the battle her mana pool empty.

I waited for her to establish the rest of the Laws, but nothing happened, and the battle continued as the three Nox came after me. My eyes flicked in the firnado’s direction. As controlling it and must have been too much to allow Amaya to place the rest of the Laws.

An explosion rang out coming from the battlefield and I barely had enough time to jump back almost 30ft off as a figure impacted the spot I was standing. The three Nox chasing me all implicated at the sudden attack. A figure I didn’t recognize rose and the dust cloud blew away revealing at powerful built man that stared into the air defiantly.

Peak tier nine.

Someone beyond my abilities now and my eyes shifted for just a moment. Gloria floated slowly down but my senses screamed in warning as my eyes flicked to her and back.

The man who I had taken my eyes from for less than a second was right in front of me hand extended for my neck but something in the air seemed to be stopping him. the Field of Law. This was the second time I had seen something like this. The first was from Ryna who could also set some rules down for people of her faith. This however was slightly different.

“Interesting. This magic… the High Queen will want to know about it.”

The man took a long deep breath before his strain against the magic in the air became even harder. His fingers centimeters from my armored neck.

“I can smell the seed on you. you’ve been close. Closer than any of our Nox. The High Queen will be pleased if I bring you back.”

Just like that he was gone as Gloria appeared and the two took off exchanging blow after blow on the battlefield. My mind remained calm even through this event even while death was only centimeters away. A glow that I could not see coming from my wrist.

My eyes shifted back to the three now two and a half as one figure lost his arm. They warily looked around before their eyes shifted back to me. I could do this flames licking the outside of my armor as I prepared to activate my bloodline. I had resources; it was time I used them properly.

I dashed towards one of the healthy ones, who prepare itself as it reorientates from the ordeal, yet just feet before it my body twisted to its left were the injured one still yet to fully righten itself. While the last was a bit further behind both would be too late. Another explosion erupted bringing a field of lava into existence as my bloodline activated. My ax head glowed red. The creature screamed its leaking injured side was affected by the heat and I put it out of its misery cauterizing its wound as my ax split its head from the rest of its body.

Once again, my senses screamed in danger, and I turned bringing up my shield just in time as a pair of clawed hands scratched over the surface. The blow that came from my left however struck hard claws scraping against my armor sending sparks into the air. The ashes continued to conjure around me.

The blow sent me face first into the lava covering the ground around us. I moved quickly rolling over as my senses warned me once again. Rolling and avoid a foot that stamped down hard. Splashing the lava around us but also revealing a soft blue glow that covered the creatures protecting them from the environment that I created. A hand grabbed my leg and effortlessly swung me into the ground before lifting me and repeating the action disorienting me as my head splashed through the lava and into the ground underneath. Each time the magic in my armor faded and bit by bit until it was no more, and I truly began to take damage. As I was lifted for the umpteenth time the pool of lava around us slightly hardens and my ax head grew brighter. The arm that was swinging me around cauterized halfway through the forearm. The creature let out a scream and I flew a few feet into the distance landing face first once again. My body taking damage and I began to tire as my pool was constantly draining from the effects I had activated. The perks Ashes Fall [Beyond], Starlit Eyes, Adventurer’s Grit and my bloodline were all draining me at once even with my mana pool being fortified. After this battle I would need to review how I used my abilities better. I quickly deactivated Starlit eyes. By acknowledging the perk and letting it go.

Pushing myself to my feet I didn’t see the clawed foot as it connected to my skull knocking me over and sending my weapon which I had never let go of even through all of this tumbling away. My ears rang and I coughed warm liquid spilling from my mouth. This entire time I could feel my core whirling struggling to pull essence and mana from the air. Much slower than it would have been back home on Nia. It was like trying to pull in thick viscus liquid through a straw meant for a child.

This time instead of picking myself up I was grabbed and hoisted up. The claw like fingers attempted to remove my helmet to no success. The creatures gave up and one stood behind me holding my head in place while the other stood in front glowing red orbs directly in front of the eyes of my helmet.

“Rejoice for Noxiin will have the honor of bringing you into the horde and allowing you to become one of a greater whole. Requiem in Paradise: ONE NOX.”

I felt something searching hitting my mind like a train then going deeper. Past my memories from two different lives. Deeper. DEEPER. DEEPER.

Into the very fabric of my soul pulling me along for the ride. Here what I saw amazed me. Here what would happen would change my perspective on everything.

The soul is… something beyond mortal understanding. Something that is the domain of the gods and those like them. That was something I intrinsically understood as what I guess was my consciousness was brought to my very soul.

It was beautiful. I was not being a narcissist. I believe no matter whose soul I saw I would think the same. It was beautiful. Like a clear summer sky with the wind gently blowing onto you as you gazed over the endless ocean beautiful. Or like a cold winter night were its silence surprises you as you gaze outside of your window and snowfall is coming down. That type of beautiful.

All over my soul was runic symbols I couldn’t possibly understand and at once I knew it to be the System. It was here I saw her in golden armor spear piercing through the body of a black carapace creature as it tried to get its grips onto my soul.

She gazed directly at me even though I had no physical presence to see.

“You should not be here. Not yet.”

“Leave.”

And I was gone. My consciousness returning outside. The creature in front of me slumped over and the one behind still unaware as I swiftly turned my mind still calm and decisively grabbed it. Channeling the rest of my bloodline into the gloves. I calmingly watch it scream as its head burned off and I crushed it between my gloved fingers. A new ability unlocked. So many things were revealed to me with that one brief glimpse into my soul and I knew what Karla wanted from me.

The System was the domain of the gods. That I already guess but now it was confirmed, and it reached soul deep. Perhaps deeper. I glanced at my wrist where I knew a soft green glow would have been revealed if not for the armor covering it. Somethings would need to be removed. My mind should no longer be shackled. Xaivon would have to answer to me.

Once again, my senses screamed, and I reacted accordingly moving out the way as a petite figure compared to me landed on the obsidian stone leftover from my bloodline.

Her red eyes gazed at me curiously.

“How did you escape from joining together with us?”

She asked as her tier nine aura washed over me.