Chapter 15- Mutation of the Soul

In a burned down village strewn with corpses stood Roen and his servants. In front of the five were three men who had looks of complete terror painted onto their faces.

The men were the people who had invaded the village last night. They were captured by the monsters that decimated their friends and brought to face a young boy.

"So why did we have to gather these guys?" Engil's question broke the silence.

"You speak too much, just shut up and watch." Feeling wronged by Roen's rebut Engil started pouting, but still paid close attention to his actions.

Roen took out the black orb that he stole from the invaders commander. He then walked toward the terrified trio and lightly tapped the orb on the middle one's forehead. A black marking began to carve itself into the man's body. The markings ignored the man's screams and continued to engrave themselves deeply into his flesh.

Then the man stopped screaming and started to bloat as if he was balloon. He kept expanding until he was about 7 feet in diameter. Instead of an explosion of meat chunks the human ballon began to deflate, and blood red horns began to pierce themselves through his skin as it deflated to its initial state. The once human knight was now a grotesque monstrosity. It stood 5 feet tall now with the same black markings strewn across it's skin. There were tens of red horns of various shapes and sizes poking out of it's body. It's eyes were a deep red devoid of any emotion except for one, an endless rage that threatened to consume all who stare too deeply.

AaaaaRrRRrrrrggggghhhh!

A roar deafened the surroundings and a shockwave followed. The creature, now out of the restraints, grabbed the two knights next to it by the necks and with a loud snap ended their lives. Changing it's line of sight towards towards Roen, Tyor, and Engil it gave them a glance, turned around and started running.

"You, kill him." Roen pointed toward his human shaped phantom knight and gave an order. The purple man said nothing and pulled out it's giant sword. The forth rune on the blade lit up and the purple man disappeared. He reappeared next to the mutated knight slashing his huge sword at it in a horizontal manner. The monster bent it's upper body in an incredulous manner and a loud snap was heard from it's spine. Without a hint of pain it's arm shot out with a force comparable to a cannon and smashed into the purple man. The purple man was sent flying and crashed through several buildings.

The monster corrected itself broken spine and looked cautiously at the holes created by the purple man's body flying through. Suddenly the purple man reappeared next to the monster and instead of rashly slashing out he stood there warily watching the monstrosity. The two watched each other's movements for a little while, and the first one to move was the purple man. He raised his sword up high and the fifth and seventh rune both lit up. The monster jumped back to get out of the sword's reach, but as it believed it escaped, the tip of the sword extended and cleaved it's right arm off.

AaaaAaARrRrRrrrrggggGgHHh!

A pained yell echoed as the monster looked at it's severed arm then at the purple man a deep anger evident in it's gaze. The purple man returned it's gaze without a fluctuation of emotion. Oddly the area where the arm was cut off wasn't bleeding! Quickly advancing to the monster's right side, the fifth and seventh rune on the sword shining brightly, and slashed at the open wound. With a reaction close to lightning the monster turned it's body and a large red horn caught the blade mid swing.

BOOOOM

Following the collision cracks spread throughout the ground. The two separated and repeated their endless struggle without rest for around an hour. The purple man would surround the monster with a flurry of attacks. The monster would respond by intercepting each with it's horns, and every so often dodging the extending sword.

This exchange ended when the monster suddenly stopped moving, and it's body started to break down. That fact didn't matter to the purple man and it kept hacking at it's motionless body until it resembled pulp.

"That's enough." Roen's face had a permanent scowl glued onto it. He went over to what was once the body of the monster and held out his hand. A purple gas started to emit from the mass of blood and bone, and went toward the purple man. Then the purple man's eyes started to glow with an inkling of intelligence.

"Can you now tell me what that was?" Engil enquired Roen and nervously glanced at the black orb.

"That was a mutation of the soul, as for what it does," Roen paused and pointed at the monster's remains, "About who it affects it's any who get near this orb, but don't worry it won't affect you guys."

Roen calmly explained the basic idea of the mutation of the soul. Realizing this Engil and Tyor were enlightened to Roen's actions.

"The oh esteemed master of mine what will we do with that?" Engil sarcastically replied to break up the serious atmosphere.

"First off don't talk when I am talking and secondly I'm going to eat this." Engil was about to retort that no one was talking, but when he heard the rest of Roen's statement he grew quiet.

"Master if you say that this black orb can mutate others how was that man unaffected?"

"I believe it's because of his aura or this egg is still young."

"Wait! Just wait a second! You said you're gonna eat that! There are many ways to commit suicide, but why use something that'll kill us as well!"

"I've already gone through it once before." Roen's comment shut Engil up for good this time and seeing this Roen continued, "Now go find survivors from their previous attacks. I know there'll be some, but don't worry I want each of you to split up and travel with one of my phantom Knights they'll guide you to the survivors who have been marked by the egg."

"You keep saying that thing is an egg, what is it really?"

"Go before I turn you into my next snack."

"Stingy."

Watching the departing figures of Tyor and Engil followed by the two phantom knights Roen sighed, and then started to devour the black orb.