01-24-2018, 04:04 AM
Ebony’s cry for help pierced through the library, over the clattering of bones and the shrieking of the undead. Summer’s heart nearly stopped, and time seemed to slow to a crawl. Skeletons surged around him and Morene in seemingly slow motion, clawing at them, doing everything in their power to hold them back. And just beyond them, barely visible through the cracks in their ribs, he could see the young mage, thrashing and screaming, trying desperately to escape their bony grasp.
In an instant, and absolute, cold fury enveloped the spirit of storms. A raging roar slipped from his lips, and he stormed forward. Only for all too many sets of bony digits to grab onto him. Their skeletal physique was no match for his overwhelming strength, but nevertheless it bought them the time they so desperately needed. Summer grabbed at everything within his grasp, crushing bone and tearing them limb from limb in a brutal display of power and rage. Their barren claws scratched and slashed at him, carving shallow grooves into his flesh, tearing apart his clothing. And neither side relented.
He didn’t get more than a meter away. Morene stuck close behind him, bashing more than her fair share of skulls as well, but even with both of them combined, they weren’t able to catch up to Eb. She was swiftly carted away by a massive horde of skeletons, and there was nothing either of them could do about it.
Fuck That.
Summer was filled with a furious determination. He was not going to let Ebony die on his watch. Even if he had to expend all his mana. Even if he had to tear apart his body for power. Even if he had to strike until his fists fell off. He was not going to let her die.
Electrical adrenaline coursed through the storm spirit’s veins. Bony claws carved at his exposed skin, tearing shallow scores through him, misty blood welling up in his wounds. But he did not let any of them distract him.
KRA-KOW
In an instant his hand shot up, and brilliant, blinding pain seared its way through his arm. His flesh bubbled and boiled, and a massive swath of skeletons simply blew to pieces. Tingling numbness surged through his limb, his ears rang, and white filled his vision, but even in spite of all that, he didn’t falter. More current, more electricity, before his senses had even recovered. His foes continued to claw at him, threatening to tear him apart, rip him so open that he would have no choice but to fall over and die. But he did not falter.
KRA-KOW
Another huge furrow carved through the horde of undead. Lightning scars burned into his right arm, his skin turning a deep, burned red color. Tremendous agony coursed through the spirit’s body, and a sticky wetness began to trickle from his nearly-deaf ears. He simply gritted his teeth, overcome with a pure, desperate focus. He could already feel it, the taxation on his body. His chest heaved with deep breaths, his entire being ached with the strain of his spells. But he was relentless.
KRA-KOW
Another ten seconds, another path of absolute devastation. All feeling disappeared from Summer’s right arm as the lightning rendered it black and lifeless. It hung down uselessly at his side. Both he and Morene continued to press on through the rapidly thinning horde, but not fast enough. Though the spirit of lightning took them out by the tens, as soon as his vision cleared he could see that the horde had already hauled the young girl out of sight.
A curtain of red fell over Summer’s vision, his chest heaving with heavy, tired breaths. Deep crimson coated his face and his clothing. His own blood. Deep, stinging wounds were scoured through every part of his body. Somehow he was still fighting, but still it wasn’t enough. He needed even more power. More devastation. And he knew just the thing.
The chill of winter stirred within the spirit’s body, frigid magics whirling to life. The temperature plummeted, frost and condensation starting to form on his skin. All the blood that coated him froze. A ruinous frost was coming, a sudden snowsquall. In the last moment before the storm hit, the spirit remembered his ally. Morene. Ebony would never forgive him if he did something to her.
“Sorry!” The monster’s voice was gruff, angry, as he leapt on her. The soldier let loose a startled shout that went unheard, her skeleton smashing spree halted in its tracks. But only for a moment.
Wintry winds blasted out from Summer, flowing around Morene thanks to their proximity. The temperature absolutely plummeted, a thin layer of frost managing to form on every single surface despite the usual scorching heat of the Steppes. Creaking and groaning filled the air as the skeletons’ bones fell prey to the rapidly-falling temperature. And suddenly every single undead in the room shattered.
The winter spirit’s grip loosened, and he slid right off of Morene, hitting the ground unsteadily. He swayed in the chilled winter breeze, his legs threatening to give out beneath him. But without even attempting to keep himself upright, he charged forward, down the hallway that the skeletons had carried Ebony down. Every fiber of his body screamed in exhaustion, but such a trivial thing wouldn’t deter him.
He shoved past any straggling skeletons in his way, their numbers too small to stop him. Too much time had been wasted already, he couldn’t waste even a moment. As he bodychecked his way down the hall, their numbers grow larger, denser, all converging around a staircase he hadn’t seen on his initial walk down this hall and to the library. They had something nefarious planned. Something positively necromantic, if the spooky basement dwelling was anything to go by.
Electrical current surged through his one functioning arm as he thundered down the hallway, Morene close behind.
CRACK
His fist surged forward, slamming into the first skeleton. It absolutely blasted to pieces, his fist shattering beneath the impact, electric lightning burning new scars into his arm. His ears were ringing at this point, and ‘permanent’ white spots dotted his vision. Pure agony seeped through his very being, but he readied up another one.
CRACK
Another skeleton disintegrated beneath his fist, beneath his rage. Every single bone in his left hand was crushed to dust. Blood seeped out, through the splintered wounds dotting his fist. He was on the verge of blacking out from the sheer torment coursing through him right down to his bones. It was only his fury that was keeping him going at this point. Beside him, his soldier companion continued to cleave her way through the horde with her poleaxe, just as determined as he was....
CRACK
His fist disappeared in a spray of gore as another foe disappeared. For the first time in a long while, Summer screamed in agony, his seething shout echoing through the very foundation of the castle. Blackness ate away at the corners of his vision, he chest heaved with every breath he took. Every single square inch of his body cried out in pain, threatening to consume him and leave him lifeless on the ground. But he wouldn’t submit to it.
The spirit clenched his teeth, fighting back the encroaching unconsciousness through the sheer force of his rage. He was so close. Just a few more and he could save her. Lightning built up within his body. The last hurrah to blast apart everything in his path. The still scrabbled at him, clawing and biting, tearing him asunder bit by bit, but like hell he was letting them have the last laugh.
And then he heard Ebony scream.
His blood ran cold, and before he even knew what he was doing, he found himself pushing forward, slamming every undead warrior out of the way and shoulder-checking the door right off its hinges. The wood fell away in a moment, the electricity in his body rose to the surface. He had a split-second to analyze the situation. Ebony on the floor with a bolt of energy from a book piercing her chest.
KRA-KOW
A brilliant bolt of electricity flashed out, slamming into the tome, and instantly Summer’s senses were torn asunder. His eardrums burst, his eyes seared, all from his strike. But though he couldn’t see it, he strike had interrupted their ritual. Whatever they had in mind for Ebony had been cut short. He stormed forward blindly, hoping for the best, and fell upon the girl. His only good arm wrapped around her, and her hugged her close to him, tears welling up in his eyes, his blood soaking into her clothes. Every single one of his wounds screamed as he did so, but he didn’t let up. Even though he really should have. All that pain, agony, and exhaustion finally came to a head as he felt her breathe, and cry, safely in his arm.
Thank the gods.
His adrenaline trickled away as relief flooded through his body. He had been successful. He made it to her in time. She was alive, she was breathing, and she was good enough to cry. His body was wracked by a single sob before the blackness he had been so ardently fighting consumed his vision, and he passed out hugging her.
In an instant, and absolute, cold fury enveloped the spirit of storms. A raging roar slipped from his lips, and he stormed forward. Only for all too many sets of bony digits to grab onto him. Their skeletal physique was no match for his overwhelming strength, but nevertheless it bought them the time they so desperately needed. Summer grabbed at everything within his grasp, crushing bone and tearing them limb from limb in a brutal display of power and rage. Their barren claws scratched and slashed at him, carving shallow grooves into his flesh, tearing apart his clothing. And neither side relented.
He didn’t get more than a meter away. Morene stuck close behind him, bashing more than her fair share of skulls as well, but even with both of them combined, they weren’t able to catch up to Eb. She was swiftly carted away by a massive horde of skeletons, and there was nothing either of them could do about it.
Fuck That.
Summer was filled with a furious determination. He was not going to let Ebony die on his watch. Even if he had to expend all his mana. Even if he had to tear apart his body for power. Even if he had to strike until his fists fell off. He was not going to let her die.
Electrical adrenaline coursed through the storm spirit’s veins. Bony claws carved at his exposed skin, tearing shallow scores through him, misty blood welling up in his wounds. But he did not let any of them distract him.
KRA-KOW
In an instant his hand shot up, and brilliant, blinding pain seared its way through his arm. His flesh bubbled and boiled, and a massive swath of skeletons simply blew to pieces. Tingling numbness surged through his limb, his ears rang, and white filled his vision, but even in spite of all that, he didn’t falter. More current, more electricity, before his senses had even recovered. His foes continued to claw at him, threatening to tear him apart, rip him so open that he would have no choice but to fall over and die. But he did not falter.
KRA-KOW
Another huge furrow carved through the horde of undead. Lightning scars burned into his right arm, his skin turning a deep, burned red color. Tremendous agony coursed through the spirit’s body, and a sticky wetness began to trickle from his nearly-deaf ears. He simply gritted his teeth, overcome with a pure, desperate focus. He could already feel it, the taxation on his body. His chest heaved with deep breaths, his entire being ached with the strain of his spells. But he was relentless.
KRA-KOW
Another ten seconds, another path of absolute devastation. All feeling disappeared from Summer’s right arm as the lightning rendered it black and lifeless. It hung down uselessly at his side. Both he and Morene continued to press on through the rapidly thinning horde, but not fast enough. Though the spirit of lightning took them out by the tens, as soon as his vision cleared he could see that the horde had already hauled the young girl out of sight.
A curtain of red fell over Summer’s vision, his chest heaving with heavy, tired breaths. Deep crimson coated his face and his clothing. His own blood. Deep, stinging wounds were scoured through every part of his body. Somehow he was still fighting, but still it wasn’t enough. He needed even more power. More devastation. And he knew just the thing.
The chill of winter stirred within the spirit’s body, frigid magics whirling to life. The temperature plummeted, frost and condensation starting to form on his skin. All the blood that coated him froze. A ruinous frost was coming, a sudden snowsquall. In the last moment before the storm hit, the spirit remembered his ally. Morene. Ebony would never forgive him if he did something to her.
“Sorry!” The monster’s voice was gruff, angry, as he leapt on her. The soldier let loose a startled shout that went unheard, her skeleton smashing spree halted in its tracks. But only for a moment.
Wintry winds blasted out from Summer, flowing around Morene thanks to their proximity. The temperature absolutely plummeted, a thin layer of frost managing to form on every single surface despite the usual scorching heat of the Steppes. Creaking and groaning filled the air as the skeletons’ bones fell prey to the rapidly-falling temperature. And suddenly every single undead in the room shattered.
The winter spirit’s grip loosened, and he slid right off of Morene, hitting the ground unsteadily. He swayed in the chilled winter breeze, his legs threatening to give out beneath him. But without even attempting to keep himself upright, he charged forward, down the hallway that the skeletons had carried Ebony down. Every fiber of his body screamed in exhaustion, but such a trivial thing wouldn’t deter him.
He shoved past any straggling skeletons in his way, their numbers too small to stop him. Too much time had been wasted already, he couldn’t waste even a moment. As he bodychecked his way down the hall, their numbers grow larger, denser, all converging around a staircase he hadn’t seen on his initial walk down this hall and to the library. They had something nefarious planned. Something positively necromantic, if the spooky basement dwelling was anything to go by.
Electrical current surged through his one functioning arm as he thundered down the hallway, Morene close behind.
CRACK
His fist surged forward, slamming into the first skeleton. It absolutely blasted to pieces, his fist shattering beneath the impact, electric lightning burning new scars into his arm. His ears were ringing at this point, and ‘permanent’ white spots dotted his vision. Pure agony seeped through his very being, but he readied up another one.
CRACK
Another skeleton disintegrated beneath his fist, beneath his rage. Every single bone in his left hand was crushed to dust. Blood seeped out, through the splintered wounds dotting his fist. He was on the verge of blacking out from the sheer torment coursing through him right down to his bones. It was only his fury that was keeping him going at this point. Beside him, his soldier companion continued to cleave her way through the horde with her poleaxe, just as determined as he was....
CRACK
His fist disappeared in a spray of gore as another foe disappeared. For the first time in a long while, Summer screamed in agony, his seething shout echoing through the very foundation of the castle. Blackness ate away at the corners of his vision, he chest heaved with every breath he took. Every single square inch of his body cried out in pain, threatening to consume him and leave him lifeless on the ground. But he wouldn’t submit to it.
The spirit clenched his teeth, fighting back the encroaching unconsciousness through the sheer force of his rage. He was so close. Just a few more and he could save her. Lightning built up within his body. The last hurrah to blast apart everything in his path. The still scrabbled at him, clawing and biting, tearing him asunder bit by bit, but like hell he was letting them have the last laugh.
And then he heard Ebony scream.
His blood ran cold, and before he even knew what he was doing, he found himself pushing forward, slamming every undead warrior out of the way and shoulder-checking the door right off its hinges. The wood fell away in a moment, the electricity in his body rose to the surface. He had a split-second to analyze the situation. Ebony on the floor with a bolt of energy from a book piercing her chest.
KRA-KOW
A brilliant bolt of electricity flashed out, slamming into the tome, and instantly Summer’s senses were torn asunder. His eardrums burst, his eyes seared, all from his strike. But though he couldn’t see it, he strike had interrupted their ritual. Whatever they had in mind for Ebony had been cut short. He stormed forward blindly, hoping for the best, and fell upon the girl. His only good arm wrapped around her, and her hugged her close to him, tears welling up in his eyes, his blood soaking into her clothes. Every single one of his wounds screamed as he did so, but he didn’t let up. Even though he really should have. All that pain, agony, and exhaustion finally came to a head as he felt her breathe, and cry, safely in his arm.
Thank the gods.
His adrenaline trickled away as relief flooded through his body. He had been successful. He made it to her in time. She was alive, she was breathing, and she was good enough to cry. His body was wracked by a single sob before the blackness he had been so ardently fighting consumed his vision, and he passed out hugging her.
![[Image: ZpWQiiu.gif]](https://i.imgur.com/ZpWQiiu.gif)