Chaosbound: Elarith Chronicles

The Fifth Gathering: A World Adrift in Whispers

The world had always whispered of chaos, of unseen horrors lurking in the periphery, waiting. But for the people of Vallheim Village, those whispers had twisted into warnings.

The first sightings were distant—mere shadows in the treeline, fleeting movements in the valley beyond their farmlands. Initially, they were easy to dismiss. Malifuge weren't uncommon on these wild outskirts, where nature reclaimed ruins and the land lay vulnerable. But this was different. They weren't wandering aimlessly; they were converging.

It began with one, then ten, then a multitude. And then, the creature came.

It wasn't just another monstrous entity. The villagers had seen Sovereign Malifuge before, beings swollen with power after consuming lesser creatures. But this one was wrong. It moved erratically, twisting upon itself, its very structure unstable and grotesque. It tore through the village outskirts in uncontrolled bursts, not with malicious intent or reasoned aggression, but with instability.

And when the chaos reached its peak, it vanished. It disintegrated into nothing, leaving behind only raw fear and the lingering scent of death.

The Vanguard's Urgent Response

Clyde slammed the map onto the table. The briefing room was thick with unspoken tension, Aurel and Kirin standing beside him, arms folded, analyzing the trajectory of the attacks.

"Five incidents now," Clyde muttered, tracing his fingers along the marked locations. "All sightings began here, then moved east. Vallheim was the latest victim, but if the pattern holds..." He tapped the next area—a smaller village, dangerously close to becoming the next target. "This place is next."

Kirin exhaled slowly. "We need to get ahead of it. Before another village is caught in the destruction."

Aurel's eyes darkened, studying the reports: fragmented witness statements, hurried descriptions of the creature that wasn't quite right. He had seen Sovereign Malifuge before, but these transformations? They weren't normal. "It's not just random evolution," he said, his voice steady. "Something is orchestrating this."

Clyde nodded. "Which means our goal is twofold—investigate why this is happening, and if someone is controlling it..." His voice lowered, tightening with quiet determination. "We stop them."

The Journey to Vallheim

The Vanguard rode swiftly, cutting through winding paths and empty stretches of land. The remnants of previous gatherings had already faded, but the survivors they would meet would remember.

When they reached Vallheim, the scent of charred debris lingered in the air. Buildings were torn apart, farmland reduced to wasteland in scattered bursts of destruction. The damage wasn't uniform; it was erratic, as if the creature hadn't chosen targets but simply lashed out at random.

Villagers emerged hesitantly from their shelters as the Vanguard arrived. "You've come..." an elder murmured, stepping forward. His face was etched with exhaustion, fear layered beneath his skin. "Do you know what's happening? Why they're gathering?"

Aurel stepped forward, his voice steady. "That's what we intend to find out."

The survivors began recounting their ordeal—the progression of events that led to the devastation. Malifuge had come together, pooling their energy toward something greater, and then it had begun—the transformation of one into a creature more vicious, more unstable.

"It wasn't just strong," one villager whispered. "It was wrong. As if it wasn't meant to exist."

Kirin frowned, looking toward Aurel. It was exactly like the previous cases.

"Did anyone see anything unusual before the transformation?" Clyde asked.

The elder hesitated, then nodded. "There was a man."

Aurel's expression sharpened. "What did he do?"

"Nothing." The elder shivered slightly, his voice barely above a whisper. "He watched."

Clyde's mind raced. It must be them again.

The Next Move

"If another incident occurs, it'll be in the eastern village," Clyde confirmed, pointing toward the next target on the map. "We need to get there before it happens."

Aurel adjusted his grip on his weapon. "We move now. If we wait, we risk walking into destruction instead of preventing it."

Kirin glanced back toward Vallheim, his eyes lingering on the ruins before he turned toward Aurel. "And if we do find who's behind this?"

Aurel's expression didn't change. "Then we end it."

The Vanguard's Deployment

The modified transport truck stood ready, its reinforced frame humming with the steady pulse of compressed energy. Kirin inspected its mechanics proudly, adjusting a few stabilizers before turning toward Aurel. "Not bad, right?"

Aurel sighed, arms crossed, clearly unimpressed. His gaze lingered on the vehicle like it was some unnatural beast, something manufactured instead of instinctual. "I still don't trust these things," he muttered. "Horses don't make you feel like the ground is breaking apart beneath you."

Kirin grinned. "Yeah, well, horses don't have reinforced plating and stabilizers that auto-adjust mid-drive."

Clyde knocked on the side of the truck, amused. "And horses aren't exactly useful when we need to cover long distances fast."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Aurel exhaled slowly, already regretting what was about to happen. He wasn't afraid of combat, wasn't shaken by Abyssals or even chaos itself—but this? This was different. Still, he got on, settling into the seat with mild irritation. As soon as the truck rumbled to life, he stiffened, his body reacting to the unnatural sway.

"You look like you're about to die," Kirin quipped.

"Feels like it," Aurel muttered, gripping the edge of his seat as the stabilizers kicked in, adjusting to the terrain. Each shift in motion sent a subtle wave of nausea through him, the sensation of movement without rhythm unsettling him more than any battlefield ever had.

Clyde grinned, shaking his head. "This is going to be a long ride for you."

Aurel closed his eyes briefly, exhaling through the discomfort. Horses never did this to him.

The Vanguard's Arrival—Waiting for the Unknown

The modified transport truck rolled steadily across the uneven terrain, carrying Aurel, Kirin, and Clyde toward Harkenston, the village marked as the next likely target. The hum of the engine was steady, reliable—but to Aurel, it was wrong. He sat stiffly, gripping the edge of his seat with barely concealed discomfort.

"You still look like you're going to vomit," Kirin noted with clear amusement, leaning back against the side panel.

Aurel exhaled slowly. "This is unnatural."

Clyde, barely holding in laughter, adjusted his grip on the map. "You'll live. Probably."

Aurel ignored them, staring out toward the horizon. They were close now. The landscape had shifted—the hills thinning out into wide plains, trees dotting the edges of the village settlement ahead. The air carried an eerie quiet, like the land itself was holding its breath.

The truck slowed as they approached the outskirts, rolling to a stop near an abandoned storage facility at the edge of town. The structure was intact, its walls solid enough to serve as a temporary fallback position.

"This will do," Clyde stated, stepping down and scanning their surroundings.

"I still say a stable would've been better," Aurel muttered, stretching slightly as he steadied himself after the ride.

Kirin chuckled, hauling the communication devices from the storage compartment. "Alright, let's go over the plan."

Setting the Strategy

The team stood gathered, the map spread out before them, marked with the path of previous sightings.

"We separate," Clyde began, marking different zones. "We ask around, look for any rumors, missing people, or signs of Malifuge gathering."

Kirin unveiled Silas' experimental relay devices, holding up a crystal-like communication tool. "If anyone spots something, this will work. Short bursts of data, no distortion, direct transmission." He activated one, watching as its faint pulse synced with the others. "Silas wants feedback, so don't break them."

Clyde took his, intrigued. "Good. We stay connected. If one hour passes without a report, the other two search for the missing member. No delay, no hesitation." His tone was firm, absolute. "If one of us stops responding, we assume something went wrong. Regardless of findings, we regroup at the truck in three hours."

Aurel nodded. "Understood."

The town was quiet for now. But somewhere nearby, chaos was preparing to emerge. They had to get ahead of it before it consumed Harkenston.

The Vanguard's Frustration—Aurel's Chaos Field

Three hours had passed. Nothing.

The Vanguard had exhausted every lead—spoken to villagers, searched the outskirts, followed the rumors. Yet, there were no sightings, no signs of Malifuge presence. The eerie silence felt wrong, as if something was lurking just beyond their reach. Waiting.

Back at their base near the modified transport truck, Clyde crossed his arms. "I don't like this. We should've seen something by now."

Aurel was deep in thought, calculating their next move. Then, he made a decision. "I guess I have to use it this time."

Kirin immediately tensed. He knew exactly what Aurel meant before the words left his mouth. "You're going to use your scanning ability, aren't you?"

Aurel didn't respond right away.

Clyde raised an eyebrow. "Scanning ability?"

Kirin exhaled, rubbing his forehead. He wasn't complaining—but he hated it. "It's... not something you want to experience," Kirin muttered, his expression tightening. "Aurel's Chaos Field—it lets him sense things beyond normal vision, but it's overwhelming. It doesn't just detect movement—it feels everything." He hesitated before adding, "The first time I was in its radius, I nearly puked."

Clyde frowned, intrigued. "And you're saying this can help us?"

Aurel met Clyde's gaze. "If they're near, we'll know. Even if they're hiding, even if they're waiting—it will reveal them."

Kirin was about to complain, I need to find some puking bag ready.

Aurel smirked. "Don't worry, I have better control of it now, but yes, you should have that bag ready."

Aurel's Chaos Field—Finding the Right Spot

Aurel scanned the area. Activating the Chaos Field here—surrounded by buildings, shifting terrain, and moving figures—was far from ideal. Too much interference. "I need elevation," he muttered. "Somewhere with less external noise."

Kirin glanced around before pointing at the highest structure nearby—a partially collapsed watchtower, barely standing but stable enough to climb. "Oh, perfect. Let's get you up there like some almighty prophet about to deliver a vision."

Clyde snorted. "I take it that's his usual process?"

"Absolutely," Kirin grinned. "Master's chaos powers must be unleashed in dramatic fashion, preferably from an ominous perch above us mere mortals."

Aurel shot him a glance, unimpressed. "Less talking. More climbing."

Kirin smirked but obeyed, following Aurel toward the tower. Despite his jokes, he respected the process. This wasn't about theatrics—it was about precision.

As Aurel reached the top, he settled his stance, taking in the clear, open landscape below. Now, there was nothing to distort the signals—no unnecessary movement, no shifting chaos from the village itself. He exhaled, letting the weight of the moment settle before activating the field.

Kirin crossed his arms below, watching. "If this makes me puke again, I'm filing an official complaint."

"You won't feel anything," Aurel replied, calm but focused. "I've refined it. The interference won't bleed outward anymore—it stays with me."

"Yeah, well, I still don't trust it." Kirin sighed, but his posture stayed strong.

Clyde, now truly intrigued, glanced up at Aurel. "Then let's see if this works."

Aurel closed his eyes. And then—Ripple Scan activate.

First Contact—Ripples in the Darkness

The air was heavy with tension as Aurel activated Ripple Scan, sending controlled waves outward, carefully filtering through every movement signature in the area. (Ripple Scan is derived from anomalous instinct and chaos field. Aurel has improved it to increase its range, allowing him to detect beings using his own chaos energy, chaos energy in the environment, and the beings within it.)

Shapes emerged in his mind—small creatures scurrying, human activity pulsing gently within safe zones, the rhythm of nature undisturbed. No anomalies at first. But then—something strange.

Aurel's gaze sharpened. Darkcuties. The peculiar abyssal creatures were always unpredictable, but instead of reacting aggressively to the scan, they twitched and wiggled as if tickled.

"Hmph." Aurel focused deeper, ignoring their bizarre response.

And then—he found it.

First Malifuge Sighted

Among the scattered signatures, a Malifuge stood alone, distanced from humans. Its movement was slow, deliberate, but its aura wasn't sharp with aggression. No immediate signs of malice, just raw existence, swirling in its own chaotic stillness.

Aurel scanned further, extending his reach beyond the outskirts. Nothing else. No signs of another gathering—just this single entity.

Satisfied, he halted the scan, grounding himself once more before reporting to Clyde. "One Malifuge detected," Aurel stated, glancing toward the Vanguard leader. Then, in a mockingly casual gesture, he dragged his thumb across his throat. "Should I get rid of it?"

Clyde narrowed his eyes slightly, considering the implications before responding. "Are there people around it? How close?"

Aurel focused, recalling the signature patterns. "No humans nearby. It's isolated, and it doesn't seem intent on attacking—not yet, at least. No strong malice detected."

Clyde exhaled, thinking deeply. "If it's not actively hostile, then let's observe it longer. We're not here just to kill—we need to understand what's happening."

"So, what's your next move?" Kirin asked, tapping the side of the transport truck.

Clyde's voice remained steady. "We get closer to it. Aurel, next time you scan, try again over different locations—see if movement patterns change when we're near. The goal isn't just to track one Malifuge—we need to find out whether they're gathering."

Aurel nodded, readying for the next phase. If something deeper was happening, the Vanguard would uncover it—before it was too late.