Chapter 15- Burn Down!

I sprinted between the disorganized Nightstalkers, and after jumping over a few and ducking under others I reached a dumbfounded Garrison. He was standing there looking at the scene of the frantically running Nightstalkers that had once been attacking so fervently. Although some of the braver ones attacked, most of them were scrambling all around away from the 10 foot tall monster.

"P,Prince G,Glen, what, what did you do?" I was startled because this was the first time I ever heard Garrison stutter. He was gawking at the disorderly horde around him, but instead of stopping to acknowledge him I kept running past them.

"Run!" I gave them a quick order without turning around. I didn't have time to lecture them on what I did. I had felt something was wrong when the 10 foot tall monster didn't even move even when I got so close. However after I had embedded the marked stake into it's right eye, I felt an immense surge of mana flowing from the surrounding Nightstalkers into it. I didn't even need to turn around to guess the dangers that it presented.

Another scream rang out from the 10 foot tall monster. This one however sounded full of rage and madness. The disorderly Nightstalkers then all changed their routes and stampeded towards the 10 foot tall monster. They all started to pile on top of it and surround it's body with theirs. The massive amount of mana that was coagulating made me turn around and watch as all the writhing bodies melted and fused together. The mana that was being emitted by the monster was being consumed as more bodies melted together and the form of a giant Nightstalker was taken.

Sixteen beady black eyes furiously gazed at me from atop it's massive head. Patches of black fur covered it's pitch black skin and every so often a Nightstalker would disgustingly bubble out from it's skin and run away. It tore open it's sinew covered maw and a disgusting roar spewed forth and rolled across the surroundings and into our ears.

"I think you made it worse." Chad had unknowingly come to my side and was nervously glancing at the monstrosity. Garrison was standing a few feet from us directing the remnants of whoever remained. I couldn't find an ordinary citizen around probably escorted by Garrison's forces. And most of the guards that joined us were littered with injuries, so our battle potential had dwindled drastically. Many of them wore expressions of despair as they gazed at the unmoving mass of monsters.

"Honestly I didn't expect this." I spoke towards Garrison who was coming towards me. I had expected the Nightstalkers to become disoriented due to the momentary loss of their command, but for them to run away so frantically. It seems that they are probably not following that monster on free will. I gaze towards the hulking mass and think that free will no longer remains.

"It's alright, I didn't think such a situation would occur either. This is my first time seeing such a spectacle... I guess this is it for us..." Garrison seemed to have given up hope at the sight of a 30 foot long Nightstalker that was angrily staring in my direction.

"Hey, don't include me on this! Chad, did you see the signal yet?" I ignored Garrison and turned to Chad.

"No, maybe something happened to the boy?" Chad pondered over my decision to make the boy do the work. He seemed to have submitted to my antics and decided it would be easier if he just followed with my orders. His adaptability is quite commendable.

"Don't worry, the boy's still alive. I have a way to figure it out. However we are going to have to hurry into our positions or else that thing will get us. Hey Garrison, can you send around 12 people to follow Chad?" I turn towards Garrison and find him already directing his men. Most of them had run away at the sight of the enormous monster, but enough had stayed behind for my plans to work.

"Alright, I'll trust you. Mainly because I can only reduce the amount of casualties that that monstrosity can cause at this point. If you have an idea to stall it long enough for the citizens can leave then please tell me." Garrison had his back against the wall on this monster.

"No, no, I wouldn't risk my life just to stall. I have a plan to incinerate it's existence!" I spoke arrogant words to spur the wounded spirits of the remaining guards as I walked away from the monster. It had not moved ever since it roared which gave us ample time to run and plan. Chad had moved out with 10 of Garrison's men awhile ago to where I had instructed him earlier. Garrison still had 7 subordinates that stayed by his side as we made our way to my destination.

"Isn't this the best time to attack? That thing hasn't moved in so long?" Garrison spoke after we had walked for quite awhile. Some of his subordinates were muttering behind me as well.

"No, that thing's skin is too tough for our weapons to even scratch. If you haven't noticed, it used finely controlled mana to direct the horde and even gave part of it's mana to strengthen some. That was why it couldn't move from it's position every time it stopped. When I had wounded it, the monster lost control over the horde for a second and then for some reason it started to try to absorb the entire horde. However I don't know if you noticed that it needs to input it's massive amount of mana into it's own flesh and bone to fuse it's new body together. That means that its own mana will act as an impenetrable barrier until it finishes. Add that to its already tough natural defenses, and you'd even be hard pressed to pluck a hair." I explain to them and the muttering behind me stops. Garrison is looking at me with wide eyes and a light grin appears on his face.

"You're mother was right. You're are definitely not like other children of your age. Also don't tell anyone else you can sense mana, I won't tell you why now because you'll probably figure it out later. More importantly, won't that thing be stronger when it finishes it's fusion?" Garrison enlightens me on some well needed knowledge. And I smile to the end of his statement.

"Don't worry, what that thing is doing is just ensuring it's death. I didn't plan for this, but I'm pretty sure that it'll all go according to my plan." I assure Garrison of my victory to soothe their worries further. I keep myself alert for any changes that could occur. I feel the connection between the marked stake that I had inserted into it's eye still there. Although it had now fused into the body of the beast, it still could serve its purpose easily.

"You say you can kill something we cannot, but what exactly is this plan of yours?" One of Garrison's subordinates who had been grumbling about listening to a kid spoke out.

"Hmm, so are you trusting in my plan now?" I don't answer the guard since he was putting on a threatening approach. If I remember correctly he had chosen to stay here instead of following the group that Chad had just left even when he was ordered to by Garrison.

"Prince Glen, I think he meant to have no dispute. I too want to know what exactly this plan is." Garrison hurriedly put himself between us two, but nearly fell down due to the sudden movement. It appears that the recoil from using the technique that increased his strength hadn't worn off yet. Seeing this I reach into a small fist sized pouch attached to my belt and pull out a leaf with a stem that branches out into five.

"Here take this, its a Thistleburrow leaf to numb the pain. And about my plan I'm sorry to say that I might have to burn down the village..." I handed the Thistleburrow plant to Garrison and monitor the changes on his face as I say that I'll have to burn the village down. Contrary to my assumptions he seems quite calm about it and fall into deep thought as he takes the plant.

"So, on top of battle potential unbefitting of a child, you have knowledge in alchemy?" Garrison started to chew the Thistleburrow as I instructed and I could see some of the pain leave his face. The seven subordinates behind him were all listening intently to what I had to say next and their eyes were urging me to continue.

However another roar broke apart our little moment of peace and a fierce wind kicked up. We all turned and looked at the monstrosity and watched it slowly lift up one of its front legs and press down on the ground beneath it.

"I guess right now is not the time to explain. I just need you guys to stall it long enough, and I can't leave this spot until the end." I spoke quickly and closed my eyes as I sat down and crossed my legs. I didn't completely seal off my senses not because I didn't trust Garrison and his subordinates. It's just that I didn't feel comfortable leaving my trust in people who barely trusted me.

I needed to forcefully fully temper my Heart's Yang Meridian that I had started earlier. This process would put the upmost strain on my already wounded body, but if I did it correctly I could minimize the damage I take to myself and kill that monster! I would only need to find some herbs that would help to stabilize my body.

I began to feel the Qi around me. I brought it in slowly as to warm up my body and cycled the Qi around my cells. My cells would greedily try to absorb the Qi even when I had not even broken through yet. I had to repress the hungry tissues and continue to rotate the volatile Qi through my body. It wasn't until a few minutes later till I had readied my body and sent the Qi into my Heart's Yang Meridian.

A crippling pain assaulted my body as I felt my Heart's Yang Meridian nearly burst from the sudden treatment of Qi. It wasn't like last time where I gradually introduced the Qi into my Meridian. It felt like a knife was gouging out my heart from the inside. However I didn't yell out in pain; I had already experienced the same pain in my past life as well.

Then a soothing feeling engulfed my body, and the pain slowly subsided. I was about to stand up and immediately start to help Garrison, but a heat started to pulse out with every beat of my heart. I quickly sat down again and checked my body to find a multicolored flame burning brightly in my Just tempered Meridian. The Qi that should've been there had all been consumed by the flame. However I was not excited by seeing this heaven defy. My Qi had dried up at the appearance of this flame and I grew worried since I needed the Qi that came with my breakthrough in the Meridians Molding realm.

"Prince Glen! How're you holding up?! We could use some of whatever you have planned anytime now!!" Garrison yelled out and I heard a huge collision of a heavy object smashing into the stoney pathways. My eyelids shot open and I took in the sight of a 30 foot long thrashing about as seven men in armor darted between its large movements and tried to pierce through its tough skin to no avail.

Without wasting my breath I ran to join them. I still hadn't received the signal, so I needed to keep the monster in our location until then. I already had unsheathed my iron sword in my right. And in my left I summoned a ball of multicolored flame. Mana and Qi were crazily flowing through the tempered Meridian. The small ball of fire seemed excited by the large amount of mana and Qi as it flickered brightly.

I didn't have time to study the changes that had occurred as I pressed the multicolored flame onto the nearest flammable house. It quickly caught fire and the multicolored flame turned into a crude bonfire as it engulfed the house slowly. I slowed my steps to retrieve the flames and it only took a thought to condense the flames around my sword.

"Move." I ordered the guard in my way as I stepped forward. He have made an annoyed expression, but I didn't have time to be polite because I felt my sword begin to tremble violently and grew a little worried thinking I was holding a bomb instead of a sword.

I confronted the 30 foot long Nightstalker and studied it's movements as I move closer in. A large black claw entered my vision from my right and tried to block off my exit. However it was slow, too slow to be even considered an attack. I had originally thought it was a trap, but when I had advanced closer I noticed that all of it's movements were slow. It seemed to have traded speed for immense strength.

I easily duck and dash underneath to it's underbelly as an impact akin to an earthquake resonated from behind me. I make a note in my mind to not get hit by that attack at any cost. And then I swing the fiercely vibrating sword into the giant Nightstalker's underbelly.

A loud explosion occurs followed by a wave of heat and flames as my sword incinerates upon impact and releases my condensed crude flames. I don't have to worry about the flames due to my body and the explosion was directed more towards the Nightstalker, so I only suffered from a few minor cuts due to the surrounding rocks being thrown around.

I quickly backed off and escaped from the cloud of smoke I had kicked up. I scanned for any movements as I spotted Garrison staring at the cloud of smoke as well.

"Damn, I keep underestimating this kid..." Garrison's mumbling didn't go unnoticed by just me as I saw a couple other guards nodding at his statement. After watching me deliver my attack the somber mood cleared up. A renewed vigor swept through our small group.

"Alright, everyone fall back! Prince Glen, I have no idea what you plan to do, but we'll only get in your way." Garrison had a greater grasp on the situation. He knew that his subordinates were reaching their limits and put all his faith onto me.

"However please don't push yourself. Good luck and may dragons be with you!" Garrison gave me a salute and a rather questionable saying as he turned around. I wanted to say something, but a familiar disorganized symphony of clicking sounds rang out as the smoke dispersed.

A roar blew away the smoke for me to clearly see the 30 foot long Nightstalker had lost its previous form and the swarm of Nightstalkers were struggling to free themselves of the illusory prison that contained them. It took awhile for the mass of bodies to once again regain it's form, but now I had its undivided attention.

Suddenly a ringing bell interrupted our little stare down. And a grin spread across my face. I liked the feeling of being the boss and giving orders. I enjoyed when my plan came together.

I quickly formed a seal with my hands and began to breathe in mana using the [Heavenly Bodies Transformation] method. I guess that if I didn't have enough Qi to use I might as well substitute it with mana for hopefully an equal effect. The result was much greater than my expectation.

11 pillars of red light shot up into the sky from different points in the village. Red light began to emit from the the body of the 30 foot long Nightstalker. It was curious about the sudden bell and the light, but it seemed to lock onto my position again and began to advance towards me.

"You're too late." I simply state as I feel the waves of mana pulsing through my one tempered Meridian. Although I had not yet formed a complete mana ring it gave off an impressive amount of mana that complimented the mana that was traveling through my Heart's Yang Meridian. I moved the flowing mana into the formation I had set up and sent it towards the twelve marked stakes.

My sight was then filled with flames. A sea of flickering heat spread through the village and consumed everything in it's wake. I could only give a wry smile to the result as I realized that using mana, the immortal's form of Qi, was a bit overkill. I barely could order the fire to ignore Garrison, Chad, and everyone still inside to village.

This technique was originally a refining method for pills and medicines, but despite the fact that I was a pill master in my previous life I was never good at fully controlling my flames. I had realized this when I made a mistake with a simple furnace formation and accidentally made it into an uncontrollable bonfire. However now flames can no longer harm me and I can control flames much better in this life than my last. As such this was the best time to test my theory as to whether this modified furnace formation could be used as an offensive technique.

My answer was clear as I watched the 30 foot long Nightstalker writhe in pain as the flame licked and destroyed it's body. It had seemed to have lost control of the horde of Nightstalkers as many of their bodies kept tearing themselves from its body and trying to escape only to burn to ashes in the sea of flames. Madness had finally taken hold of the giant Nightstalker as it began to slowly crawl towards me. The flames continuously burned its body to cinders, but its determination never wavered as it kept crawling towards me.

I grew ever intrigued as to why this creature would forsake the its natural advantage of night to come into the village and attack me. I could understand it's motive if it was just to feed the horde, but it seemed to have no intention to since most bodies were not taken back by the swarm. It seemed to be drawn to my presence with such a passion that it would forsake even its own body to try to get to me.

"Burn well." I turn around and walk a few steps backwards while continually tell the sea of fire to not harm anyone still within it. I keep moving back every time the Nightstalker comes close just to make sure nothing unexpected happens. I watch it slowly burn to ashes in it's futile attempt to reach me.