Holy piss!!

Between me, Grave and Mya, we had managed to pinpoint the rough location of the 'New Castle' or rather, the 'Nuovo Castel', and then as I had gotten closer all I needed to do was move towards the sounds of shouting and fighting to find it.

And the scene at the castle was insane.

The walls were glowing a slight gold hue, the battlements were full of people holding a variety of staves, wands, Majik guns or other ranged weapons, and the drawbridge had several dozen people forming a shield wall that shone with a similar glow as the walls, pushing back wave after wave of monsters.

The sheer volume of monsters swarming the entire thing was absurd.

There were thousands of different sized nightmares of different shapes and sizes, ranging from a cat to a car, all writhing and flailing over each other trying their luck at scaling the huge walls, or desperately trying to push to the front of the drawbridge where they would get cut down from a barrage of projectiles, slashing spears, spiked whips, plasma arcs and even someone controlling thick tree-like roots that would sprout from the concrete, whipping and slashing.

I watched in awe as a bow legged monster suddenly sprung up and made it up to the height of the battlements, but it bounced off an invisible wall and tumbled back down into the chaos below and got peppered with arrows and balls of plasma as a consolation prize.

This is fucking nuts!

#G#Grave# Godu, what's your status sir? Did you find the castle?

#G#Godu# It's bloody mental! There are hundreds of people at the castle and they are holding off an endless horde!

It was encouraging to see that they were holding them off, but I honestly couldn't tell if this was just another Wednesday for these guys, or if they were about to get overwhelmed.

#G#Mya# People! Does it look safe? I mean, when you say a horde..is it like 'there’s a sale at the shops' or do you mean 'holy cow, it's like a bee hive'

#G#Godu# More like 'holy shit you could swim in there' type of horde. Grave, they have-

"SCRREEEEEEEE"

Oh NO.

Corrupted.

A pack of eight of them came flying recklessly down from a rooftop and smashed down onto the swarming bodies with a traumatic mixture of screams, rock fracturing and tissue being pulverised into paste.

Where they landed, they created craters of blood and gore that sprayed up in a gruesome fountain display, which turned into trailing crimson paths being spray formed, as if they were snow ploughs churning relentlessly through the monsters, with their flesh being the snow.

#G#Grave# Godu?!

#G#Godu# Shit sorry. The corrupted are heading their way. They are ploughing through everything like a lawn mower..Dammit..

#G#Grave# Crud..Godu, make sure you keep low and keep an eye on your six. Stay up high and don't do anything crazy. Who knows, they might get distracted by something and run off.

Not a whole fucking lot I can do anyways man..Those things are calamities with two legs.

#G#Godu# Don't worry, I know. I'll observe for a bit and maybe if I can help a few people safely I will.

Deflated, I rested my head on my arm and watched as the corrupted drove up to the drawbridge, heading straight for the shield line bowling over anything that dared to stay in their path.

Looks like they’ve spotted the incoming nightmares.

Wincing,I watched as the people on the drawbridge immediately reacted as they became aware of the corrupted and, in a seemingly practised manoeuvre, they rapidly shifted back several metres, passing through a faint watery wall that rippled in the air with each body passing.

The last line only just made it as the first of the corrupted reached them and showed no restraint as they barrelled into the shieldwall, knocking a few in the line down off their feet-

This is horri..wait a second-

Surprisingly, the corrupted also violently bounced back off the shields and slammed onto the floor.

What-

A flawless rock monolith sprouted up and then slammed down onto the fallen corrupted, squashing it like a tomato and obliterating it completely, before dissolving back into the ground. Cheers could be heard and someone shouted something which everyone repeated back in a war chant.

-the f-

I just stared in absolute shock as the rest of the corrupted met a similar fate of passing through the watery wall before getting absolutely wrecked from stone walls, tendrils, fireballs and ice shards; Everything made short work of them.

#G#Grave# Damn it all to hell..how bad is it Godu?

#G#Godu# They..killed them all..

#G#Grave# GODS-DAMMIT! I swear..one day-

#G#Godu# Shit sorry, bad choice of words. I mean, the people, the castle people. They just wiped the corrupted onto the floor…like they were nothing, I..don't know how.. But I think it's something to do with this passable barrier they have. I'll keep watching and see how this plays out. But they are bloody-well holding!

#G#Mya# Oh by the graces! Yes!

#G#Grave# HA! Hoo-rah!

#G#Siya# Great! But what are they holding?

I was too distracted to respond, watching with bated breath as the closest monsters surged forward to fill the gap left by the corrupted groups push, but where the corrupted had perished however, they had left sickly tar-black puddles behind, the corrupted EXP, and the first few monsters to touch them went berserk fighting each other as they all competed to claim it.

Eventually, the horde became too dense and chaotic, frenzied in their desperation to get to the EXP. So the few still trying to defend their shit puddles ended up getting forced down and trampled to mush, whilst the main screeching mass surged forward, barging into the unprepared shield line.

As a stream of monsters passed the watery barrier, it flickered each time, shifting from a pale gold to a dark red. This change on the battlefield prompted an immediate reaction as hundreds of alarmed shouts and orders rose above the din, leading up to a tremendous volley of projectiles and even a few huge boulder-like orbs lurching up and over from the inner bailey, crashing down and exploding like bubbles of hot plasma, bubbling monster skin and melting scales and bone.

But it didn’t push them back enough, the shield wall was too broken up becoming more disrupted and overwhelmed as the sheer volume of monsters overwhelmed the splintered groups.

People started to fall..

People started to die.

No no no come on get up! GET UP!

A woman was on her back as her comrades around her got pushed back away further. She was surrounded, fighting tooth and claw against the dozens as a dim glow appeared from her shield.

You were doing so well! Come on! Get back up!

A man was ripped from under his feet and launched back into the writhing masses where he was shredded apart within seconds. A few people were banging on the gates screaming in fear, seemingly begging to be let back in.

They’re not going to make it...what changed! They were doing so damned well! FUCKING WHAT CHANGED!!!

Was it the loss of confidence? Was it the broken formation? I felt angry and sad for the people banging on the door, they just want to survive, but you’re leaving the people behind you to die!

Suddenly, the woman on the floor exploded with light, throwing dozens of creatures away in a circle around her.

She rose up and bellowed an amplified war-cry, as a ring of golden light radiated out, passing through the horde, knocking them down or pushing them back briefly, bathing them in a golden shimmer. There was a moment of eerie silence as everyone looked up, but it only lasted a few seconds and what followed was a haunting, deafening cacophony of screeches.

Every single monster turned to her and she simply looked back at the gate and threw up a peace sign, and shouted a few words that hung in the air like the first rumble of thunder in a storm. A man cried out in response as she charged forward with the entire swarm racing towards her in an elevation of rage I did not think was possible.

Her entire body and shield shone a bright gold as she ploughed through layer after layer of the horde, swinging left and right, clearing a path forward, away from the drawbridge.

She’s insane!

She threw her sword and it pierced several monsters before bursting into a shower of gold sparks and then entirely reversing, like an implosion underwater settling back down. She punched out at another but unfortunately, a huge stray claw slashed down and cut her hand completely off.

She is sacrificing herself.

The gate and drawbridge had been emptied of monsters completely, leaving behind only the remaining defenders who were limping towards other wounded, dragging them back, with a few still frantically banging on the gates, begging to be let in.

For her people. But who will help her? Are any of them even trying? GODDAMMIT!

She had wedged her heavily bleeding hand-less arm under her other arm, still holding the shield, and had continued to push further out, miraculously weaving through gaps in the crowd and managing to keep on her feet. A random tail clotheslined her and knocked her flying back, but she skillfully rolled with the force and used the momentum to backwards headbutt something that looked like an orc with four eyes, smashing its face in, then powering onwards.

This is not right.

She just kept pushing forward, giving those alive more time whilst whatever skill she had used still had an effect, drawing the ire of every single creature around her.

Not once did she make a move to go back or even look back, or even fucking shout out for help.

This is just not-

(!)SEV X TASK TX(!)

PROTECT THE ARCHON AT ALL COSTS.

SUCCESS: SANCTUARY TECH.

SUCCESS: CORRUPTED EXP CRYSTAL CACHE.

FAILURE: MAGMELL CATEGORY EVENT.

DETAILS: DO NOT LET THE ARCHON FALL. SAVE HER.

Well, fuck it then.

Analyze complete.

Label: [Archon] Vyolyn

MAGN: 89.801

HP: 500/2180

Notes: Se non riesco a muovere il paradiso, solleverò l'inferno.

Her head twitched, and she glanced around briefly before ducking into a roll to dodge two jumping lizard-like monsters with six limbs trying to both go for her head.

Config:Exo Deployed.

Archon, it looks like help is coming.

Anchor placed successfully. Anchor placed successfully. Anchor placed successfully. Anchor placed successfully. Anchor placed successfully. Anchor placed successfully. Anchor placed successfully. Anchor placed successfully. Anchor placed successfully. Anchor placed successfully. Anchor placed successfully. Anchor placed successfully. Anchor placed successfully. Anchor placed successfully. Anchor placed successfully. Anchor placed successfully. Anchor placed successfully. Anchor placed successfully. Anchor placed successfully. Anchor placed successfully. Anchor placed successfully. Anchor placed successfully. Anchor placed successfully. Anchor placed successfully.

Anywhere I could, I placed a Slipfold point.

Null Claw Armament: Claws engaged.

Null Claw Armament: Grieves engaged.

Surge integration primed:Slipfold.

No time to be afraid. No time to think. Just act.

####I'm###nearly###there!###

My eyes widened at the message but there was no time to properly digest, there was an archon to help.

There was hell to unleash.

With reckless abandon, I Slipfolded into the crowded road, several metres away from the dwindling light of the archon, and found out what happens if there is something at my anchor point. At first it was like I was trying to push against a strong tide, until the surge explosion triggered, blasting several monsters to bits, leaving enough space for me to freely emerge into a fountain of blood and guts.

Amazingly, most of the monsters completely ignored me and their dead allies, simply continuing to claw their way to the struggling archon.

I surge-jumped up and time slowed down as I drifted through the air, a cool sea breeze washed over me as the chaotic din went distant and muffled.

A peculiar sense of calm and clarity washed over me and, as I sailed over the archon, she was looking up at me with a slightly confused, yet knowing smile. As I gazed down, I saw she had dropped her shield, which was no longer glowing, and instead was reaching up towards me with a small trail of gold shimmer snaking through the air and orbiting me.

This is some kind of enhancement, I feel stronger and..Laser focused.

Around her were several monsters closing in, so I deployed my shields into config:mirror before slamming back down, crushing one and pushing several more backwards, then stabbing a clawed hand into the face of something that looked like a shark with long arms and shorter legs, killing it; My black sharp claws slid in like a hot knife through butter.

Using null surge, I dragged the monster impaled on my claws and barged my way through the crowd, making it to the last line of monsters surrounding her and hurling the corpse into another creature that was trying to bite her face, clipping it in the back legs and sending it careening off of her, she managed to get back on her feet and cried out as she conjured a small translucent golden shield, using it to continue deflecting and pushing back her attackers.

Grabbing the back of a smaller monster’s head as it tried to push past me, I integrated surge into my shields and unleashed a barrage of shards that stunned half a dozen more but it was not looking good, there were so many and they kept pushing and pushing, filling any gaps I very briefly made.

Anchor placements kept failing because my line of sight was interrupted and it was starting to reaaaaally piss me off.

So I switched it up and started chopping limbs and Slipfolding into any space I could find, all the while grabbing any limb or head or body part within reach. She was still managing to keep them at bay as I blinked around and in a few dozen moments, the area had turned into an absolute monster bloodbath as I increasingly jumped around the battlefield, unleashing small plasmatic explosions wherever I blinked into existence.

Part of my mind was screaming at me at my insanity, but I stayed laser focused without a moment's hesitation or even flinching when a few monsters actually started to gun for me, simply Slipfolding as they came within a few centimetres and took half their torsos with me, before turning others into mincemeat.

There was a veritable whirlwind of EXP streaming around, trying to catch up to me as I loosely made a circle around the archon and every now and then it would reach me, sometimes even providing me with a free regeneration or a boost to my Majik resources. A mechanic that appeared to be completely random.

My shields were having a whale of a time, barely having to move around much before finding a creatures limb, head or organ, which was a good thing too as whatever effect the archon had on the monsters was fading fast, meaning I was starting to rack up wounds that thankfully would heal back up. But my clothes were getting absolutely shredded, my backpack was long gone somewhere, most likely stuck in the teeth of some lizard or shark hybrid, and I was starting to sweat heavily from the heat being generated from my movements and ability usage.

Finally, after an unknown amount of time and the fifth embarrassing moment where I slipped on something's intestine or brain matter, there was enough breathing room around the archon and we had even managed to make it to a buildings brick wall, which meant that she was now behind me and in front was a snarling semi circle of extremely pissed off monsters.

But I was at my absolute limits now.

We need to get the hell out of here.

"Don't know if you can understand me, but you need to stay close, for me to be able to get us out of here!" I shouted behind my shoulder as I bitch slapped a humanoid that had mouths for eye sockets and my shields deflected three barbed tentacles before slicing the tips off.

"I understand..you..loud and..clea..-" I glanced back in surprise, just in time to see her collapse in a heap of clattering metal on the ground.

"FUCK!" I cursed and decided to go for it.

So I spun around and phase dashed towards her, null surge punched two leech headed monsters that had immediately started eating her legs and decapitated a crawler that was going for her face with a swing of my shields.

Throwing myself on top of her, my shields went berserk darting around, deflecting hits and trying to push back gnashing teeth and grabbing claws, but a few strikes made it through and I screamed as they pierced my back and hit my spine, my whole body went as limp as a stick of pizza dough.

ALERT. STATUS CONDITION PARALYSE AFFLICTED.

FUCK FUCK FUCK!

I CAN'T MOVE. I CAN'T FUCKING MOVE!

My shields continued to dart and judder around, saving my dwindling life countless times in succession, but they were unable to keep up and I started struggling for breath as the monsters dogpiled on, pushing the shields down. They growled and screeched, like a printer enraged at a paper jam, but there was not even enough room to swing a cat, let alone a set of Majik back mounted shields..

Ugh.I..can't..breathe...fuck.

I didn't have a grip on the archon so I didn't know if it would bring her with me or just chop her up into bits, she's definitely..within..the range limit but-

My mind was fading fast, I had to get out of there even if it meant she died. We would both be dead either way.

Error-

N-NO!

Caution-

PLEASE!

Extreme interference detected.

I-I don't care! I can..come back.

Unable to establish connection.

This was it.

Monsters and creatures snarled into my ear and I felt my body jerking around and slight pinching in my limbs as jaws and claws ripped and tugged at my flesh; Nervous system utterly shot.

My shields were wedged over my head and torso, managing to provide just enough protection to drag on my life just a little bit more, but my lungs were on fire, I had rapidly ran out of oxygen moments ago, unable to raise my ribcage and my organs were being slowly crushed.

Phase dash - I flickered briefly but stayed in the same spot.

Null Surge - I flashed with a burst of azure and black, but only a few monsters around me got stunned and I..think..I stunned the archon..as well.

I tried combining surge with everything, but nothing moved me an inch, and nothing fixed the heavily damaged spine or the extreme amount of monsters piled on top of me.

There was nothing I could do. Nothing I had left up my sleeve. This was well and truly it.

My vision briefly flashed pink and gold, then everything went black.

…

..

.

I was immediately sent to my soulspace and I lay there, staring at the swirls and obscure coloured nebulae before being bodily thrown up and doubled over, retching and throwing up black crap and blood.

Which was strange because this was supposed to all be in my head so the real question was why the fuck would I imagine this shit when I'm literally dying.

I wiped my mouth and dragged myself over to the maelstrom as my legs were refusing to work properly, even here.

It wasn't a pretty sight, I was weeping, screaming and cursing. Dragging myself through my own virtual vomit, even the stench and feeling is simulated..Fuck my fucking life…

But I managed to reach it.

My virtual breathing stopped working as I stared into the maelstrom, signalling that things really were fucking bad, and that I wasn’t going to get a nice calm passing.

Can't even have a bloody peaceful death in my own mind universe?..

GODUYNE (Paralyzed, Fractured ribs, Multiple organ failures, Poisoned, Venom intoxication severe, Acid Burns, Diseased, etc..)

STRY.KYR - MAGN.69.413

HP 300 / 1263

MP 555 / 1373

EP 12%

DS 10%

SWRD 84

SHLD 83

FTHR 98

GLYP 99

15 Attribute Points Available.

15 Skill Points Available.

Fucking etc! What? Can't even be bothered to give the full list?? Lazy ass-...oh that would be my own mind wouldn’t it. Fucking lazy ass…

I tried to assign all the points into shield, thinking perhaps it might help me somehow, but the arm that was holding me up lost all feeling and I slipped, with my point allocating hand slamming all the points into GLYP instead.

Ha..haha…HAHAHA..I AM GOING TO DIE A WIZARD..

Lying on my back, I choked up blood and reached up with my remaining functional arm and tried to change it but couldn’t reach.

Fuck it..Wouldn't of saved me anyways..I poked accept since it was the only thing within reach.

My skill list appeared and I just flap-slapped the first thing that materialised and-

-> V SMDS - Majiglyp [10]

Shields detach to create a Daemon construct controlled by Seren.

AHAHAHA! Ohhhh Seren..here. This one's for you, maybe you can take my shields off my mutilated lifeless corpse and go live a peaceful life in the mountains or something..have a cold one for me yeah...

I was going to randomly hit another but my arm lost all feeling as well-

Probably been ripped off..along with my legs..

-and it flopped down onto my face, covering half of it.

…

Fuck you universe. Seriously.

I stared up at the void with my uncovered eye and thought about Marri and Lone, desperately trying to cling onto happy memories and the thought of them having good, safe long lives.

Hope you stay safe..I..I'm sorry for being such a shitty husband and father. A good one would not have teleported himself across the planet and then taken every chance he had to get himself killed.. I'm so damned sorry..

But fear was tearing at my heart and mind. I was terrified and I didn’t want to be alone. It was getting dark and the emptiness was horrifying.

..Please..Somebody..Anybody..I’m scared..

…..

….

…

..

A good one sure..

But a great one?

Well..

I widened my eyes as golden lights flashed like fireworks, briefly illuminating the endless void.

A sound like metallic glass rain echoed from every corner.

..He would fight for his dear sweet boy's future, and for the future of others.

He would use his strength to shield those who needed it.

A soft hand gently lifted the one stuck on my face and used it to tap accept on the maelstrom. A head leaned over and a pair of sparkling, golden pink eyes gazed lovingly down into mine.

And now it is time for your shields to be your strength.

The pink hair with cyan and matrix green streaks that shimmered and flowed. The pastel pink lips that smiled with such a sincere heartfelt smile that made you feel so loved, you couldn't help but smile back..

"H-hey you..welcome b-b-back."

She gently stroked my face then lifted me up, as if I was as light as a feather. The surroundings blurred as she warped us to the galaxy bed and gently placed me down.

Hey you too.

She put her head against mine and closed her eyes.

Sorry I've been gone for so long…especially when you needed me most…I’ve been looking for you all this time and…

She opened her eyes and searched mine.

Oh Godu.

You've been through so much..

A few silvery sparkles misted her eyes and trickled down. I managed a smile, my own eyes misting up. She came to be with me at the end..I’m not alone.

Gosh, I'm so proud of you.

She pecked me on the forehead and all the pain, fear and heartache was gone in an instant, leaving me feeling peaceful. I really wanted to sleep.

So..tired..

She wiped her eyes and stood up, nodding.

"W-wait..wh-where a-are y-you g-g-going.." I weakly rasped out. Something was shifting inside of me.

Don't worry, my love, everything is going to be ok.

She held out her hand above me and smiled.

It's time for me to introduce myself.

A deafening sound blared out, like a printer jamming up headbutting synth notes on a keyboard.

A thousand threads squirmed around my insides.

Hello, Goduyne.

I was forcefully jolted up as my shields deployed, lifting my lifeless frame up, my arms and legs dangling down, but this was completely different to anything I'd felt before.

My name is-

They splintered off into dozens of midnight black with wisps of azure ribbons, that flowed off towards her hand and wrapped around her arm, flowing around her body and spreading out, covering her from neck to toe in the constantly shifting black material of my shields.

Seren.

She rose up several feet on tall armoured legs and the plated arms increased in size to cover hers, extending further out, with another pair of appendages sprouting out of the shoulder blades that were elongated arms holding razor sharp looking shards, with a final pair of long heavy duty shields forming and hanging down her back.

One long thin ribbon trailed round from her lower back and two smaller shorter ribbons sprouted from the top of a helmet that grew over her face, which overall added the icing onto the meanest looking suit of Majik-shield-exosuit-armour I'd ever seen.

I gently dropped back down onto the bed and my head was tilted to side, marvelling at the sight.

And I'm so happy I finally found you..but, now, I need to quickly nip outside and truly raise hell.

H-huh..

I shall see you shortly, my dearest.

W-ha-..

She blew me a kiss, which was kind of scary, given the black armoured visage, then abruptly winked out of existence.

A literal second later, I gasped as sweet, glorious feeling returned and energy coursed through me, with more pouring in with every second that passed.

OohhhhHOOOOOLLLLLY.

It felt incredible.

Oh my god, OH MY GOD.

I’m alive!!

“I’m bloody alive!” I shouted out and lifted my arms up and tested them. “Y-YES!!”

WOW.

She came back for me! and SHE is Seren!? Tut, haha! Of course she bloody is!! But I’m OK. This is amazing!

It wasn't the only thing that was amazing. Spotting movement and lights on the monolith, I hopped up effortlessly, full of vitality and moved over to check it out.

Seren used Shard Strike and killed..

Seren used Aygis Lance and killed..

Seren used Needle Ribbon and killed..

Seren used Stiletto and killed..

Seren used Raise Hell and..

And the list went on and on and on.

How is she doing this?

In awe, I glanced over to my stats and things looked spiffing.

The only time I'll ever use that word unironically.

GODUYNE

STRY.KYR - MAGN.69.413

HP 1263 / 1263

MP 900 / 1477

EP 99%

DS 0%

SWRD 84

SHLD 83

FTHR 98

GLYP 114

Huh. DS is 0%..does that mean..

A wave of refreshing mist washed over me and everything clicked into place as my mind FINALLY became crystal clear and I could connect the dots.

The shield construct, of course! Agh my brain hurts!!

I stumbled slightly.

So SHE sent me the message after the task was issued…Did I leave her behind back home? Does she know Marri, Lone and the others are okay? Did I kill the big demon? Damn I have so many questions…

But right now she must be controlling my shields in that me-..Construct.

Not calling it the M word, but ha, that's definitely what Steve will call it..but she’s actually real huh? Can I introduce Seren to Marri? She'll be fine with that won't she…'Hi Hunni, I'm home. Meet my blood thirsty but dazzling, previously thought to be imaginary, shield’s persona that's been living in my dreams rent free, and here's a young moth girl that I accidentally Soulbound to myself.

Also she possibly rap-

Everything lurched as streams of light flew past in a blur.

Sounds came crashing back, and my dried-blood encrusted eyes peeled open as various sounds of wet squelching, cereal crunching and heavy dull thuds came into focus.

Monsters were screeching, but it was less of a 'deafening rock festival' din, and more of a 'Tuesday night garage band gig at the local pub' crowd level of noise.

Something creaked as I tried to get up, and I realised I was still laying on top of the archon, her eyes were still closed.

Shit. Analyze..

Label: [Archon] Vyolyn (Unconscious)

MAGN: 89.801

HP: 19/2180

Fucking Christ. Better not sneeze on her else she might kick the bucket.

With all that metal, your statement would be considered in the literal sense.

Gaaaaaah!

Serens voice made me nearly shit myself.

Fret not, my love. The creatures have nearly been deleted. And yes, I can hear your thoughts. But it's not like I couldn't before..by the way sorry, but the EXP is being used as my energy. You won’t see any of it.

Not a problem at all! I’m bloody happy to be alive..But hang onl! Before you never spoke to me outside..and I really didn't think that-

That I was real? Hmph!

I told you what would happen if you called me imaginary again… Oh-hoh, what's this memory?

"..She said she’d be mad if I called her imaginary again. Whoops.."

Ooo you are in big trouble mister!

I looked over at the large construct of death, ripping out the jaw of one monster and sweeping a long pointed shield low, taking out a dozen monsters legs, then mechanically dismembering them with surgical precision, not even hesitating or stopping for a single millisecond.

And I gulped.

Methodical, ruthless and brutally efficient.

Uhh heh-heh it was just a joke! You know I’d take your beautiful faced trouble any day!

I pushed myself to my feet and raised my eyebrows as I spotted my backpack.

Thank you, Seren. I'm so glad to have you back. I really did miss you.

Pah! Flattery will get you…ohh you know it gets you everywhere with me.

She giggled as the construct ripped the tail off a lizard thing and used it to impale a huge headless turtle-like creature that was standing on its back legs, with a huge gaping maw as its torso.

Uhh heh-..okay need to focus. Need to get the archon healed asap. If I Slipfold I don't imagine you'll automatically come with me right Seren?

Nope, I won’t..

And don't you dare leave me behind! I can't maintain this form for very long! We have roughly 60 seconds more.

The sounds of monsters screaming just casually continued in the background.

Make that 120 seconds.

Okay. Then come back and we'll get the hell out of here.

Ooo, boss me around more you big tough bossy man you..

I rolled my eyes but failed to contain a laugh. Right now I was high on cloud nine.

A hand gripped my arm, and I jerked my head to see the bloodshot, confused blue eyes of the archon staring up at me.

"P-p-please. Leave me. S-save y-yourself." She stammered, struggling to speak.

"Don't worry friend. It's not me you need to worry about. I'm going to get you help, just hold on." I reassured her.

On cue, some very loud thuds and some almost theatrically exaggerated squelches, sounded out behind me.

The archon just groaned and then passed back out in response.

Returning to base, do you copy base.

“Base?!…I mean…”

I couldn’t pinpoint why it was insulting, but I accepted that technically I was ‘base’.

“Uuuugh…yeah I copy… Just don't crush me please.” I conceded, deflated.

I stared with great anxiety at the hulking construct bounding huge strides over towards me with little sign of slowing down.

Hehe, ohhh this was so much fun! We should do it again sometime.

Fun?!

She sighed contentedly as she came hurtling towards me.

“Seren! Careful! Slow down!” I cried out in alarm.

It is sooo great to be back home.

She wasn’t slowing down and there was no way in hell I would survive getting run over by that!

I tried to Slipfold thinking she didn’t realise how fast she was going…the response was not great.

Merge in progress..please wait.

Fuck.

“SEREN!!!” I put my hands up and braced myself for the ‘merge’.

See you later alligator! Weee!

At the last moment, the construct burst into a shower of black mist and swirled into a stream that started to converge into my back. Amongst the swirling maelstrom of black, was a small pink and gold shimmering orb, that parted with the swirl and floated over to my face, then gently pushed itself into my head, making me grunt slightly from the pressure.

Her giggling echoed faintly, before fading to silence.

“Ugh. Christ..that is the second time I thought I was going to die today..” I muttered.

Pulling the archon carefully up, I looked around at several hundred monsters emerging from various hiding spots, they must have noticed that the midnight-metal angel of death had finally left the area.

They charged towards us as I grasped a firm grip onto a connection and, breathing a sigh of relief, I Slipfolded us out of there..

…

..

.