The artefact rippled, layers peeling back like piles of silk fabric sheets sliding of off each other, revealing a cosmic red shift colour that hurt to look at and was getting more vivid, painful!

“YES! I WAS RIGHT! IS THAT..REDSHIFT?! HA! AMAZING! YOU DID IT! JUST BY ASKING! OH MY WHOLE LIFE WAS MEANT FOR THIS MOMENT! A-HUURK!!” Richards jubilant celebration was cut off abruptly, as a sharp spike burst out from the thing and stabbed into his forehead; his HP dropped to 0 and he went limp immediately.

“Oh-Fuck this SHIT!” I went to slipfold but to my absolute horror, tendrils burst out and grabbed my wrists and legs pulling me back through the fold. No no NO! Holding me in place, it somehow prevented me from pulling on any more slipfold tether points. My shields tried to sever the tendrils but they didn’t make a scratch and I strained to move even a single millimeter but it was like being held in cement made of steel; There was zero give or movement.

And it was absolutely mortifying.

“LET-ME-GO!” I yelled out in anger and fear. Nothing I tried made a difference.

“Aggggaargggglle…Humm. Huuuuh. Haaaah. Heeeee. Hoooo. Goo-gaaaa.” Richards started making disturbing high pitch baby noises as the black spike squelched inside his skull.

“Gooooo-Rrrrrrrr-aaaa. Hiiiiiiiii-Ooooh…Yyyyyyyoooouuuuu.” The pitch changed, like it was tuning itself, and all I could do was stare in horror as I watched his body mutate horrendously; antlers coming out of his nose and ears; screaming mouths popping up on the toroso that withered and fell off; eyes appearing all over his arms before the skin started bubbling and turning charred, faking off. His lips sprouted out like fungus and his eyes boiled in their sockets, oozing out like mini pits of magma, leaving behind glowing pits...The black spike finally retracted, leaving him looking like he had been baked in an oven and had hot coals shoved into his eye sockets with a healthy injection of blue magma into his veins.

The corpse remained standing.

Oh bloody hell no.

Label: Corrupted

MAGN: ???

Notes: Did we open pandoras box? Or was it merely the gates of hell..My head..hurts….like….HELLLLL!

“GRAAAAAGH!” Richards was completely gone. The newly minted corrupted wailed, announcing its rebirth.

“Oh fuck! Oh bloody hell-fuck!”

Switching my shields to config:ribbon, I charged up a full javelin projectile and unleashed it at the freshly born corrupted. I cheered as it impacted and impaled his skull.

“Yes!! I’m sorry Richards but please go explode and die!” One less fucking thing to worry ab-

But Richards just pulled the shard out as it exploded doing minimal damage and glared at me with hate filled glowing coals.

“Oh COME ON!!” Not like this!

Frantically looking around for a solution to get out, I did a double take as I realised there was something hanging off the ceiling like a spider, but it was humanoid, albeit petite and in a black jumpsuit with speckless white plates of plastic looking armour that looked unnaturally smooth and perfect, like computer graphics without textures had come into existence.

“What!-”

I told you to come alone.

A message blared into my mind that gave me goosebumps. I analysed out of reflex.

Label: Null.

MAGN: Null.

Notes: Infe.

“Y-YOU?-SORRY?! PLEASE HELP!”

The humanoid blinked out of existence and reappared right in front of me, floating in mid air. It had translucent letters and streams of something floating in front and around its face like holograms, but I could clearly see pale pink lips, very long blonde hair with braided strips of hair that had green lights travelling up and down, ending in....pink neon..tips.

The hologlyphics disappeared.

“S-Seren???” My mind went blank as I stared into eyes that had brightly glowing, colour changing flecks in the iris like kalidescopes; this person was almost a spitting image of Seren if she was 10 years older, and had a body in the corporeal realm!

The older Seren responded without moving her pinklips; the words blared around my mind as if I was standing in a planet sized amphitheatre.

Sigura.

With an unmovable gaze, she raised a hand up to her side prophetically, shortly before a thunderous crack shook the room, caused by the corrupted Richards bursting forth like a bullet from his standing position, and harpooning directly towards Sigura with a snarl. I had a split second to see her entire arms surface transmogrify, rippling and changing momentarily with complex machinery and metallic looking surfaces, before she effortlessly intercepted him by the neck; holding him in place without any sign of impact on herself. An avalanche blast of air burst outwards, causing me to squeeze my eyes shut as the force rippled the skin on my face. With a simple wrist flick of motion, she snapped his head clean off the torso and dropped the lifeless head onto the floor.

Oh heck-

She grabbed the tendrils that held me whilst a low, existential metallic groan whispered in the air, and where she touched, illuminated streams of black and white Majik started to flow from the corpse and surrounding air, absorbing into the tendrils where they turned from a crawling black to a dull muddy red and started to crumble and disintegrate.

I was freed.

“Wha-”

We were supposed to have more time here, a shame..But you must hurry. We won’t meet again for some time. Although that may change..

The preterghast started to fold back the previously peeled layers and it proceeded to shift shape from its ‘V’ into more of an alarming ‘Y’ shape. Spin tips around it started to display the red lights..but they were rapidly darkening until they stared turning a frightening black.

For now, you need to listen carefully. The shield dome is about to collapse.

Returning my gaze back to Sirgura, I nodded. Petrified, but very much willing to listen to this entity that was seemingly knowing but demonstrably powerful.

You must always remember, when faced with difficult paths, there’s always a better choice than what’s presented to you. There’s always a third state. Another way.

You felt it, back then.

My eyes widened. What do you-

Listen carefully: You must never come back to this room and you must NEVER tell a single person or even hint at what you have seen. Not even if someone asks you directly, or indirectly.If you don’t heed my words, Lone will perish, that much is absolute.

Everything relies on me being an unknown, and you, disconnected.

I narrowed me eyes. Is that a threa-

The preterghast shot out tendrils that Sigura deflected with complex machina that erupted from her back; too fast for me to see properly but the pressure waves and noises were absurd. There were several dozen times loud sonic booms sounded out.

Please. Use rationale, if I meant you or Lone harm then I wouldn’t be here. I wish I could help you understand more and explain, but I need to stop this from getting worse. Come back to the facility when you are ready and you might find a useful gift and hopefully more answers.

There was so much I wanted to ask but the fighting behind Sigura started to intensify and a blade of air from the impacts sliced into my cheek, cutting a nasty wound that fortunately started to heal thanks to shedwound.

My ears! The FUCK is going on! I’m WAY out of my depth here! I just want to-

Go, quickly.

Continue to see beauty amongst the decay.Your family and friends need you.

The earth shook.

And, like a wave washing over me and cleansing out pins and needles, my connections to all my tether points returned, including the ones outside the dome.

Yes! The shields are down!

Realisation set in as crystal-like structures started to spread from Siguras feet, crawling across the floor towards the screaming Preterghast.

SHIT! The shields are DOWN!

#Godu# Siya! Are you all okay?? Where-

#Siya# HELP!......... I…..CAN’T-

I slipfolded immediately to Steves, praying and hoping she was there still, and came out onto a pile of rubble. Looking around in panic, I saw a titanstiched hammering absurdly fast blows with its many arms onto a black tent-like bundle. A shield tried to form but was immediately smashed like sugar glass.

“GET THE FUCK OFF THEM!” My throat cracked as I bellowed out.

I activated bloodwrath and surge lept, shoulder charging then cancelling mid air to propel myself like a spear with both my shields pointed forward like an arrow head. I slammed into its torso with a deafening thud and managed to knock it back a single step, but immediately got countered with a dazing sucker punch I couldn’t quite see coming that sent me up into the air and ruptured my eardrums. Everything went muffled and quiet as warm liquid pooled out both ears.

And then I got another message.

#Steve# We need help! Please! The titans are here and they’ve trapped us! I’ve taken everyone a few layers down but I can’t do anymore! And we’re running out of air!...OH GODS! Those bastards are digging after us! They know we’re down here! Oh gods they are coming! Can you hear me?!

I…can’t save both...I can’t…Marri, Lone..Need to..

As I fell, I clawed back my senses thanks to my [Shed wound] putting in some serious work by using my resources to fix some of the surface wounds which seemed to include my eardrums. I reorientated myself and slipfolded to its legs, attempting to slipfold sever them off but the titan simply lifted its legs like it was stepping out of a puddle whilst continuing to pummel Siya who was covering my wife and little boy.

#Steve# Please help me save them! There are kids down here man!

WHAT CAN I FUCKING DO HERE STEVE!?

I wanted to cry. I didn’t want to forsake them but I would burn the world down to save my family. I switched my shields into config:ribbon and roared as I unleashed a surge infused javelin that darkened the sky as it ejected, slamming into one of the titans hands that blurred up to block it. It didn’t pierce the hand but the impact was immense enough that it threw its own fist into its body that puncturered into its own flesh.

Damage!?

A strange spark of inspiration struck, hinting that its own flesh was, in some strange way, its own weakness, so I slipfolded underneath it then placed a slipfold point near the nearest leg and jumped in front of its hammering fists, activating slipfold just as it connected with me and then phase dashing quickly to the side as its fist followed me through the fold and continued with immense speed. It smashed its own leg to bits although it wasn’t enough to stop it completely.

But I’d bloody take it.

FUCKING OBLITERATE YOURSELF-

#Steve# GODU THEY’VE BLOODY FOUND US!! WE’RE ABOUT TO DIE!

Summoning Seren, I acted quickly.

Don’t worry darling! I know what to do!

Rapidly placing slipfold points around the fallen titan, I slipfolded near the gateway point I had placed inside the building Steve and the others were. Immediately I started falling down a pit that had been clawed up, and, underneath there were three titans going apeshit on a gold shielded cavity off to the side that was giving off sparks from their blows, so I activated another blood wrath, and gasped as it took me down to 24% HP. It hurt like hell.

Ah shit!...Come on, COME ON-IGNORE IT. Move faster. Hurry. HURRY!

The titans stopped and looked up at me as I yelled out obscenities and placed more slipfolds around them. With a deep breath I steadied myself and shoulder charged towards titan A, slipfolding at the last second as it tried to swat me, coming out next to the leg of the B which got obliterated, phase dashing quickly to harass C, I then slipfolded behind A who ended up punching its own leg as C tried to grab me but instead ended up grabbing A and trying to pull it back through the fold-

Third point now! Legs coming down!

OK!-I slipfolded back to where Seren and the others were and grabbed onto the leg that was coming down, roaring in pain as I took some damage but maintaining a hold and pulling it through a slipfold back to where Steve and the others were, releasing it and watching as it snapped the knee of Titan C who reacted in a ferocious rage, blindly grabbing and trying to drag the safe zone titan through the fold, whilst A tried to drag IT through another. My attempts to contact Siya were met with silence, but Seren had just about managed to intercept any further meatstitched attacks; the monster had been brutalising her so heavily that her cloak wings were partly embedded into the asphalt.

You fuckers WILL PAY!

After several minutes of carefully timed slipfolds and primarily focusing desperately on fucking up the safe zone meatstitched, all the Titans were completely crippled, having lost the use of their legs and arms, aside from Titan C who was still trying to pull the safe zone titan through a fold-thank fuck for their stupidity-but I was utterly exhausted; the prolonged opening of the slipfolds and received blows cost me far to much and I collapsed onto the floor, paralyzed with fractures and fatigue. Titan C finally succeeded in its quest and de-gloved the screaming safe zone titan which died as its fucked up skeleton was yanked out of its body and through the slipfold.

It’s dead! Siya’s hurt but will survive! Marri, Lone Triya AND Tanner are safe! You did it darling!..Darling? WAIT! NO!-

Titan C roared in anger as it realised it was one of its allies and not something connected to me.

“Hahaha dumb shit!” I laughed as the time to pay the price had arrived. I tried one last slipfold but instead I spasmed as my tank ran completely empty and the Titan started to drag itself abnormally quickly with its remaining hand, but I wasn’t afraid, mainly because I had heard her stomping in that obnoxious armour from a mile away.

Don’t worry Seren..Backups arrived-

“Bloody nobhead! Where did you go!” Catara slammed down onto the titan with a thunderous boom and drove her sword into its back, but it didn’t penetrate. She turned into smoke and mist, darting away as it tried to grab her and a rain of railshots slugged into the final arm, unable to puncture the flesh but providing enough force to drive it into itself. “And what fucking happened to Richards??”

“Dead.” I croaked.

She may not have done any damage, but it was more than enough of a distraction. Streams of gold and green slammed into me as Steve and the others flooded out of their cave and I grunted as my bones cracked back into place but the titans weren’t dead, just completely crippled; I swiftly got up and yelled to everyone what needed to be done.

“AGH, HIT THEM WITH THEIR OWN FLESH! BONES! MEAT! ANYTHING! IT’S THE ONLY WAY TO HURT THEM!” I slipfolded over to the de-gloved titan and hefted up one of the arms that had been mangled and snapped off, leaving behind a sword like shard of bone that I yanked out and turned to face down the abominations. Shard in hand, I surge jumped up and with every ounce of strength, I drove the bone shard down into titan C’s spine and bellowed with savage victory as it slid in and cut the bone like butter, finally killing the meatstitched titan. After witnessning proof, everyone joined in, and, within minutes we finished executing the remaining two titans.

I discarded the disgusting bone sword in disgust and called out for Steve, hurriedly showing him where I’d placed a new gateway point.

“I need to get to Marri! Send a healer through after me quickly! Please!”

Finally, I slipfolded back to Marri, Lone and the others.

I ran over to where Seren was guarding over Marri, who herself was kneeling next to a very still Siya laying on the ground. Triya was chasing off a handful of some random darker looking Notpidgys and some straggling Grinners that thought they could get away with a free meal, meanwhile Tanner was holding Lone, looking terrified.

“I’m sorry mate, we’re okay but shitting hell mate, she didn’t even hesitate to jump in front of that motherfucker!..Is she..fuck, what the hell were those things!..Marri..is she?...” Tanner sounded shook.

“Marri!” I skidded down and hugged her. “Are you all okay?! Anyone hurt??”

She was shaking like a leaf but she nodded with tears in her eyes. “She held on for so long! I don’t know how this is possible, but she’s got several heart organs, one’s ruptured, the other two are intact, but they are not beating-”

People started to stream out of the gateway point and Marri went wide eyed.

“SYL? HEY! Over here Syl! Res! Hurry!” Marri cried out as Sylvie sped over, hands glowing with green and gold swirls.

“Step back! Clear away!” Her hands spewed out two Majik spheres that flew into a binary orbit above Siya, shooting out tiny delicate tendrils, like a plasma balls energy feeling out its glass casing, before showering down streams of Majik and fading out.

Nothing happened.

“Shit..Again!” Sylvie placed her hands together and then strained as she seemingly pulled the orbs out of thin air.

No..this can’t be..

I stared at Siya’s still face as more people rushed over; medics and healers frantically looking for someone to help. Sylvie grunted as her hands glowed and the spheres formed and starting doing their orbit up and down before halting and releasing a shower of Majik.

“Grryll!”

Siya gasped with a trill and looked up and around; her HP started to skyrocket back up and her chest made awful cracking noises as bones restructured and her wounds mended.

OH thank fucking Majik…

#Siya# UGH! Oh my head-GODU! Is little hatchling safe?!?! Where-Oh he is okay. Oh my wings…Oh sweet relief..he is okay..

Rubbing my face, I laughed as Sylvie and Marri tried to ask her a bunch of checkup questions, to which she started to mime that she couldn’t talk vocally but could do so with mindspeak.

“She said she’s okay..she’s okay..” I fell onto my back and looked up as Tanner stood over me, half grinning but half looking worried sick.

“Damn glad you’re okay little birdie! So uhh Godu, I’m kinda scared to ask mate but, I don’t suppose you saw-”

“Daddy? IT’S DADDY!!!!!!”

“YOU CAME BACK!!”

“What are you boys talking a-...T-TANNER!!!? TANNER???!”

Sitting up, I looked back and saw Kelly staring like a fish on land, shell-shocked, whilst her boys were running full sprint towards Tanner. I hopped up.

“Oh man..Here G, this ones yours mate, mine are..Oh shit..mate, they’ve..grown. It’s really true..All this time..shit..” Tanner was smiling with misty pained eyes as he handed me Lone.

“Come here you little scamps!” I watched as he embraced his boys and he gripped them tight as they all laughed with joy, they kept asking him if he was real. Then all three of them started to sob. Kelly grabbed his face and looked him over in disbelief and the daft bugger between sobs simply said “Christ you look younger love.” before she showered him in kisses, hugs and tears.

A broad smile crept on my face as I enjoyed this moment, a moment that really shouldn’t be possible, that I thought could exist, I looked down and cherished the sight of my little boy, but my mind couldn’t help but stray to worry.

Where do we go now? Do we try and rescue more people from the base? Do we fight back? Do we run? Where should we-

My body shivered as a pair of hands sliding around my waist told me the world and worry could wait.

“Hi.” She softly spoke.

“Hey.” I said, hoping she would never let go.

“The fairy finally found you hm?…” She muttered something under her breath.

“Hmm? The wha?-” I started to turn but Marri slid around and wrapped her arms tighter around me as she gazed up, scanning my face intensely. She reached up with a glowing hand as a small stream of purple Majik swirled out and washed over me and Lone, healing a few scratches and cleaning up dried blood and dirt.

“Huh. Wow that’s quite handy.” I said, my voice shaking.

“Yeah it saves money on plasters and wipes. Sadly can’t do anything about that scruffy haircut though.” She said with a smirk.

Gently putting and arm around her, I chuckled and savoured being close to her again. I looked down. Lone had changed so much. His hair was longer and a mousey brown and his face was starting to get defining features like a well shaped nose and a chin like his mom, strong eyebrow line from his dad though. He stirred, yawned, and opened his blue eyes, widening them as he realised someone different was holding him and thoroughly scanning my face. The eyes don’t change from blue until usually after 9 months do they?..I held my breath as he stared at me. Then, slowly, he reached up with a tiny hand and he touched my cheek and made the most adorable curious noise.

“Oooo.”

My eyes started to mist as I smiled. “Hey buddy...How long as it been? I….missed you both so much..Look at him..Wow, he’s grown up loads, I’m....I’m so sorry I haven’t been here Marri..I’m so damned sorry, I can’t imagine how hard it has been for you-”

“Oh don’t be silly you titface.” She planted a huge kiss on my lips. “We’re all together again, and that’s all that matters...It’s been hard for us but..I can also tell you haven’t had it easy yourself.” She looked up at me with sparkling green eyes that had glowing flecks of purple. “We’ve got so much to tell you and I’m sure you have too-” She stroked my face with a smile, rubbing away my silent tears, then glancing behind me. ”But we should find somewhere safe.”

She gripped me tighter and returned her gaze into my eyes.

“Together…”

Things moved quickly after we got everyone through the gate and moved to what remained of the green area. I had thought about going back down to the science labs but Sigura’s stark warning was not something I wanted to ignore. Fortunately, Catara had already set the scientists and any other remaining soldiers she had found off down the transport tunnel, that was connected to another facility in burghfield and she was in contact with them using mindspeak. The issue of meeting up with them hadn’t been agreed but to her subtle relief, I let her know that me and Siya would be best suited to get that job done given our capabilities when the time was appropriate. The immediate concern was where we could take refuge or take shelter, as the base would no doubt be overrun, crawling with husks, and it was a fools guess how long it would take for them to start coming back and looking for us..

Triya was showered with apologies, especially from a very emotional Kelly that swore death upon anyone that would ever cross her going forward, but I could tell that the damage was already done and Triya had become detached from the group, only really caring about her little brother who was happy to see her as much as she was to see him.

Tanners revival was a big shock to a lot of people, especially Steve, but overall it was funny to hear a few people ribbing Tanner about his low MAGN level but his presence had a profound effect on the general mood, improving it quite considerably considering the circumstances. People treated me with a weirdly fearful respect and politeness, but I understood why. I can’t deny my own capabilities are quite extreme. People were mindblown at the slipfold gate so I can’t imagine what it would have looked like from their POV, me teleporting around those atrocities and actually managing to help put an end to them, and, Seren’s construct walking about certainly doesn’t put the average person at ease.

Siya was warmly welcomed after word quickly spread about how she protected Tanner and the others; her deceptively cute appearance won her a few friends and fans.

Seren..scared the shit out of everyone, except for Marri. They were kind of introduced by me, but since they couldn’t directly communicate, that amounted to a shy wave from Seren whilst Marri wowed over how cool and intricate her construct was. Marri was always passionate about technology; it was one of the things that we had in common. In the old world, she’d been an R&D project manager for a computer sciences company, and I had many fond memories of enjoying chinese food or pizza whilst she passionately went into details she wasn’t really supposed to share. Damn I really miss those times..

As more people connected and got quickly familiar with mindspeak, the efficiency of communications and planning increased exponentially. There had been some structure and training passed on from the military and it showed as people formed their usual groups and a guarding perimeter was setup with little effort; children and non combatants in the middle, surrounded by groups roaming around the outskirts in patrols. The leaders quickly collected ideas, thoughts about logistics, locations, and were currently deciding between themselves what to do next, but I didn’t take part of the plans, instead resting on a patch of overgrown grass holding Lone with Marri, Siya, Triya and her little brother Syrin, answering her questions.

“So hold on, you’re saying the corrupted in europe were as strong as these meatstitched? The fuh-how come we haven’t seen any like that here?..” Triya was laying back, resting on her elbows; Xno chimed and made a series of noises. “Hmm? Oh, that’s interesting. Yeah, hmm..”

Everyone stared at Triya expectantly.

“Oh, um little guy said the corrupted should be weak to decay Majik and decay based crafted weapons, and guess what type all that husk necro crap is? I’m not really sure what he means…but it’s something like one virus kiling another? So in a weird freaky way, that dickhead creep and the husks were probably protecting the area from corrupted running rampant…Hmm. Good thing we got you back Godu, you can one tap the other barons or any corrupted if they dare come, shouldn’t be a problem for you again, right big man?”

I just shrugged. “Not sure about the corrupted, they are horrifying..but I’d be interested to see if this decay stuff actually works..”

Oh that’s right..this Arkly. Decay Majik huh. I didn’t really know there were different types..Wait, crafting...I wonder if that’s how Vivatti and Vyolyn gained an advantage over the Corrupted..

“It’s Arkly, Triya. Did you know?” Marri chimed in.

“Oh really?”

That must be it. This decay type must be some evolutionary counter to the corrupted..But it’s being used in a very wrong way here..

“Yup. He’s fixated on Sylvie and me. He was trying to negotiate with the base to hand us over and apparently he would just walk away. Vile, sick creature.” Marri snarled in disgust then looked at me with an odd mixture of pride and amazement. “However all hell broke loose and then this stranger appeared. So you actually took a Baron down honey? Goodness me, how did you do it?......

How could I test it to see-

“Hon? You in there?” She patted my arm.

“Oh, sorry! Lost in thought there..Sorry, what was the question?”

“Still a daydreamer..It was just a silly question about how you took out a Baron?” She rubbed my arm affectionately.

“Oh. Um, yeah I, I kinda just, wooshed in and beat him up-”

“DUDE! You friggin slammed your fist into his chest with a single attack and I’m sure I heard you giving him some badass line like ‘Nothing personal kid. Die and become ash.” She put on a deep voice and started laughing.

Marri sniggered and I sighed, covering my face with my hands trying to hide my embarrassment.

....Fuck. I did say something cringe didn’t I..She’ll never let that one go.

“Ah well, Arkly was that guy that disappeared after we found the pumphouse right? Pretty sure Sylvie mentioned he was a peedo so I’m not surprised.”

Feels weird to causally talk about brutally killing something with her-Oh shit it was THAT guy! I remember now!

Suddenly a few things fell into place, hypothetically.

He must have been exposed to corruption when we went into that room..I’ve noticed the trend where my abilities are influenced by my own experiences and sometimes depending on the source of EXP I absorb. Arkly himself had not levelled yet if memory serves me correct..So, if he had come into contacted with a corrupted but ran away and THEN levelled up..His first abilities might have been to create the husks as a counter-

There was a monster screech as a Slenderman came scrambling out from between some of the abandoned houses and made a beeline for one of the groups. I didn’t bother getting up as this was the fifth monster that had come out whilst we were gathered and I snorted as a torrent of projectiles rained down, leaving behind a pile of ash.

Hmm..Might be farfetched but that night I levelled up for the first time, I was poised or infected after being bitten..and I got a regen skill. Marri bandaged me up and protected me and got the healing dome shield..Could be coincidence but-

#Steve# Hello. I’m repeating this message to everyone I can. We’ve got a plan of action and will be leaving in 15 minutes. We will be travelling to Salisbury plains. Please get ready and pass this message on.

I looked at Marri who frowned muttered thoughtfully. “That’s like a days walk and it’s nothing but fields for miles..Wonder what their plan is..”

“Welp. I don’t mind. I’m sick and tired of the dirty city and suburbs. I just want to go back to the days of roaming about, kicking nightmare ass and finding snickers bars. Tavern was a wicked place too..” Triya sighed and ruffled Syrins hair. “Come on little chip, let’s go find Terin and your other mates. I know you're dying to tell them about how you fought alongside the ‘dark winged demon’..”

Marri burst out laughing and I couldn’t help but snort.

Of course, the universe took a great offence at my short lived happiness.

There was a scream, shortly followed by panicked shouts.

Fucking what bullshit is it now.

Marri motioned for me to pass Lone and she put him in a front harness, securing him in and stroking somekind of Majik onto his head; she saw me looking and whispered.

“The healing seems to relax him, keeps him quiet and content.”

Blessed be the Majik.

She glanced around. “People are pointing at the treeline. Let’s move to the middle!” Marri led the way as people rushed to the center. I could see movement in the trees and it wasn’t long until I spotted them.

Label: Meatstitched Titan (Tier I)

MAGN: 101

HP:

Notes: A class I entity. Unstitch their flesh with their own. It’s the only way.

Oh fuck.

Somehow a half dozen titans had sneaked their way up the slopes and were casually brushing the trees down as they slowly stalked forwards. Behind them, rustling through the overgrown brush was an eerily silent horde of husks, but at the very front was a figure shrouded in a hazy smog.

“Well, well! This looks like a nice party, care to tell me what the occasion is?” The figures voice rasped loudly.

Label: A?r?k?l?y [Carrion Baron]

MAGN: 5?.?1

Notes: Meat and bone. Blood and fat. Morsels to be owned. Slaves to be had. This new world is full of ambrosia!

The meastitched moved with fightening speed and syncronization, blurring forward, covering the distance with thunderous steps, grabbing men, women and children with their many arms before jumping back away; people screamed for others to stop attacking for fear of friendly fire. The titans held them tightly and amongst the fearful faces of the people caught, I instantly recognised Tanner, Terin-the young lad we rescued way back, Catara, Ven-the guy from the supermarket all that time ago, and Triya.

Nobody had been killed…yet but I cursed my lackadaisical attitude, hated myself for getting relaxed and not staying focused..And this is the price..

We have fucked up so bad.