Tread Lightly

Flipping the spike of bone consolidated by my soul and Ether, I take point, leaping from where I crouch to crash before the Urayuli. We stand at a distance for a draw, at most thirty feet. The Motherbound's grand height, smaller than other Urayuli but still massive, at thrice mine, stands proud. The Nahullo nearby stutter backward in fear, terrified by a creature that matches their strongest in stature. I smile at it while even Hine falls back, his hammer lowered to the ground.

For a short instant, we stare at each other, weighing the other's strength. Then, we begin.

I charge toward the Urayuli, the ground shaking under its massive, stomping feet as it comes to meet me. The creature's height only grows more formidable as it extends its arms outward, claws glimmering under the steam and its shaggy fur swaying with each thundering step. Its eyes glow with an eerie luminescence, like two lighthouses piercing through the icy air. As I close the distance, the Urayuli lets out a low-pitched scream, a sound so deep it vibrates through my bones and makes my teeth rattle.

The force of the scream sends many of the warriors around me crashing to the floor, their hands clamping over their ears, but I grit my teeth and press on. The intensity of the sound blurs my vision, but I know I can't afford to falter. The monster's attention shifts to me, its glare like molten fire against the backdrop of the frozen city.

I dart in, my movements swift and precise, underneath a blistering sweep of the Urayuli's arm. The spike of bone in my hand slices through the air, the aura around it leaving a faint trail as it cuts toward the Urayuli. Accretion augments the strike, contorting space with Ether.

If Twisting Edge doesn't break through the fur... I'll have to get in close. Too close for all that fur.

The monster raises its arm, wrapping its thick hair tightly like a protective shield. My strike slashes into the barrier, but the hair absorbs the blow, the swirling Ether barely leaving a scratch besides clearing away some ambient Darklight wafting off.

The Urayuli swings its massive arm at me again, the force enough to pulverize stone, but I dodge to the side, feeling the rush of wind as it misses by inches, instead obliterating a section of earth. A landslide forms, permafrost sliding into the depths of the Breach.

Keeping to the left, I stay low, weaving around its legs to avoid another brutal strike. It's a game of cat and mouse now, and I know I can't let the Urayuli pin me down. One solid hit from it wouldn't end me, but it would be disastrous.

The monster stomps and swings, its movements slower than mine but carrying devastating power. I move with agility, slipping between its legs, ducking under its wide swings, and rolling away from its stomping feet. The Ether around my spike glows with each close encounter, but I can't seem to find an opening to strike.

It's hair is more than just a defense. It elongates anytime I get close, seeking to wrap around me and constrict my movements. How awful. Furthermore... With the age of this being... It must be a Taintwrought or something.

I'm just waiting to see what. The Darklight had to have augmented it somehow. So, I keep my cards close to my chest, not yet using any of my Gasps. Blodwyn also plays things by the ear, not pushing Blood Nexus to its limit.

The screams echo through the streets as they chase me around our short battlefield. Every strike he tosses ends with more and more devastation, running Nahullo and smushed bodies.

I know I have to be patient and wait for the right moment. So, I continue to play this game, taking my time. The deaths, however, eat at my conscience to hurry. I do not. I take my time, fighting with patience.

Like all other times, it lunges its massive hand coming down like a sledgehammer, and I roll aside, feeling the ground tremble as it crashes into the permafrost.

The only difference is, this time, the ground beneath it sunk inward, a nearby Councilmember lending their aid as they quickly retreat afterward. I use the distraction to get behind it with an Arbalest to spring me forward, aiming for the back of its knee, where the hair is thinner and the flesh more vulnerable.

This is perfect! It can't strike back with its arms as it's too busy climbing out! I don't know which Nahullo did it, but I'll have to thank them.

I leap, spike in hand, my strike aimed to sever the tendon. If I can bring it down, even if only until it regenerates, I might have a chance to end this fight. The Urayuli senses my attack and turns, its eyes flashing with anger, but I'm already in motion, my strike hitting home with all the force I can muster.

The Soulbone is a foot deep into the hind of its knee. The injury is minor for one such as him if it weren't for two things: Blodwyn's Dominion, turning it into a fountain of blood, and the impact of my soul against his from the Soulbone. The attack leads to a colossal roar entering the sky as I try to backstep, nearly blinding me by the raw shockwave. Thankfully, it doesn't, as I spot a tendril of something speeding right for my eyes.

Is that... a tongue...? Yes. Shit!

The Tonguer's extended muscle, along with the impact of its shout, soars for my skull. I twist as far as I can, moving fast enough to shatter the ground beneath me and send earth into the sky, but it's not quick enough.

An impact connects into my hardly raised forearms with brutal force, catching me mid-retreat and sending me hurtling through the frozen city. The force breaks both my forearms, twisting the bones out of the skin, and I feel my body twist and spin as I glide across the battlefield, my senses reeling from the sudden violence of the hit.

The city blurs as I careen through it, bouncing off the ground, skidding across ice-slick streets, and smashing through debris. Each impact sends shockwaves of pain through my body, bones rattling with each bone-crunching collision. My breath is knocked out of me, and I can barely register the cries and battle sounds fading in and out as I tumble uncontrollably.

I crash into the side of an abyssal hole, the edge of the mile-deep chasm breaking my fall with a sickening crunch. My body slams against the frozen rock, and I feel a sharp pain radiate through my back. For a moment, everything goes dark, my senses overloaded by the impact, my mind struggling to catch up with the chaos.

Blodwyn, however, pushes me back to focus. A beat of Painsforge and the Blood Nexus an inch away tightens my vision, returning the color. Still, when I come to, my thoughts are scattered like broken glass. I shift bit by bit, climbing over the top of the hole ever so gradually.

Meanwhile, the world is a hazy mess of ice, blood, and shadow. Through the fog of pain, I realize I'm surrounded—twisted forms slink from the shadows, corrupted monsters with glowing eyes and predatory grins. Their presence is a suffocating weight, the air growing colder as they close in. Additionally, a distant roar promises something to me, another strike such as that.

I can hear their low growls, their raspy breaths, and the scrape of claws against stone. Fuck.

"How's it looking?"

Blodwyn groans in reply to my need for an update on our regeneration. Motherbound are only a few feet away, eyeing down—the first darts in, slashing at me with a longsword. I contort my body as much as I can to block it with my Soulbone before forcing Accretion Ether out from our contact point.

"Another few seconds. Spine is broken. That Tonguer isn't too far off from Maxemista's big form in strength. What a sneaky mutation. But we can take 'em. Isn't nearly as tough as the God."

A Twisted Edge sinks into the Motherbound's skull and the dozens behind it, laying waste to their numbers and bestowing me a few seconds of peace. Agreeing with Blodwyn, I crawl away from the edge as far as I can before getting onto my feet, still slouching from my back.

With a creak and a crack, the bones distorting, I end up at my full height once more. Just as my opponent rushes toward me, he's quite fast for his size.

The Motherbound around me still lunge for my flesh, hoping to slow me in any way with their weapons. Some even possess Powers, doing similar things with a variety of effects. Yet, none even come close as I'm already gone, a dozen Arbalests put together from while I was crawling a moment ago.

Long chains made from my soul and Ether stab toward the Tonguer. He beats over half away with vigorous movements, but some still land. I use those to weaken him, to slow him, regardless of the drain on my Ether.

The big bastard is still just as strong as before, but now, a long, spindly tongue hangs from its pointed jaw. It's quite uncomfortable to look at, in fact.

Scowling, I run to its side, dodging yet another attack. It seems the thing has healed already, yet I'm sure the damage to its soul still lingers. With a tongue like that... This will probably take a while.

Unless... Bone Orchard comes out alongside my other Dzils. If I can hold him down with it, I'll only have to worry about the tongue.

Sliding under a swipe and the hair that extends from it, glancing off my clothes, I roll again to lunge away from the coming wave of impacting rocks. Getting my feet under me again, I run around the Urayuli while contemplating a plan to kill him.

I could try five Gasps to stab him, but if that doesn't kill him... then I'm kind of stuck without any other options. I could use Burdenless, but I'd just be in the same place I am now. Is it worth a try?

Sprinting around the thing and measuring it with my eyes, I deem it not to be.

That tongue... it's dangerous. And... I think it works reflexively. That strike... it was almost like it reflected all the damage it was dealt by my stab, minor the soul damage. Wait... ah fuck. That's its Dominion, isn't it?

Son of a bitch. I can't risk that. I was just considering using Lily, too, but if I don't know the nature of the reflection... That's not an option.

Bone Orchard it is. I now see why so many Demigods have wide-reaching effects. They are just... so valuable and practical.

Leaping backward from another slam, I put my hand to the permafrost. Then, I inhale rapidly, filling my lungs with air while shedding some of my soul. Alabaster mist leaves my skin, entering the sky of steam above as I take hold of that whiteness.

The Tonguer charges at me, but before it gets close, skeletons of creatures ten times its size latch onto it, slowing it down on top of my Living Manacles. Blodwyn lets go of Blood Nexus to empower the chains while I focus on Bone Orchard.

Still, the beastly humanoid is horrifically strong. Step by step, it pushes toward me, breaking bone as the pressure I force upon it is rebounded. Gritting my teeth, I funnel more of my soul to create those miniature souls.

Black dots line my vision as Blodwyn takes control on his own.

"Keep it up, Wyatt! I'll take it from here!"

Blodwyn sprints forward while I funnel Ether with everything I have through our now-obliterated boots. Lily skips beside Blodwyn as he jumps and darts over the spanning bones of white. The Colt goes right while he stays left, and the lithe girl stretches out with her hands, forming a ball of ominous water.

"I can do more than just shoot! If he rebounds this, I should be fine! It's big sis' Cardinal, after all!"

I don't refute Lily, finding it to be reasonably likely. Being the one to fire the attack is definitely a no-go for me, though.

The Urayuli is tied down to the permafrost like a caged beast, bones wrapping each and every inch of its matted fur alongside soulful chains. Lily lands first, sliding along the creature's skull to shove the ball of water down its throat.

She knows about the tongue, so I don't say anything, trusting her not just to kill herself. I almost burst out into laughter as the tongue juts out, piercing right through her harmlessly and splashing the water of the Cardinal all over.

The corrosive waves of life and death of the world's origin eat into the Demigod's flesh while Blodwyn sinks the Soulbone into the back of its neck. But he only uses the exact amount of force to puncture. Then, he emboldens the wound just to do it again and again.

With every stab, the pressure on my weave of bones ascends. I can feel blood leak out our eyes and ears, yet I don't let go. This is a contest of endurance, and I have never lost one of these. A tongue lashes for me all the way behind its head, but the bone around me prevents it from reaching. So, I grip on as tightly, pushing all the Ether I can until the damned thing falls limp.

Fucking hell.

Taking control back from Blodwyn, I fall onto my knees with long gasps of air. Lily stands beside me as I see her hold the soul in her petite hands. The blood-red nails sink into the soul before she tosses it to me.

Instantly, I feel a wave of energy flow into my body and my soul. It feels...

"Good, huh?! I figured out a way to convert souls into vitality. At least partially. The rest of it still went into yours. Aren't I the best!?"

With the shot of invigoration, I stand tall and hug her shortly. The battle is far from over. Patting Lily on the back, I drop down from my raised platform of bone. Eventually, that bone will fade. Eventually, they will. I think.

"Yes, you are. How long do you have?"

My family member shrugs as she points ahead toward the pit where more Motherbound keep crawling from. The Council has nearly gathered fully around the edge, and I even spot Primrose fighting a Fallen herself. My bare feet hit the freezing earth as I head toward them, taking a short hiatus.

"Dunno. A few hours. Maybe more if you keep killing. Less if you need a bunch of help like that again."

Flaying out my arms, I get the blood moving again before arriving beside Primrose's opponent in a display of speed they would never expect.

A long pike of bone enters one side of its head and exits the other, relieving Earl's crafting partner of her obligation to her opponent. A long sigh of relief comes from the foul-mouthed woman as she falls onto her ass.

"About damn time someone comes and helps. Wait is it just you? Nevermind. Thanks. What's the plan? Are we leaving or helping? Damn. Look at all of 'em. They're shitting their pants looking at you."

Positioning my arm down to her, I have her take it to stand once more. Ignoring her words about the surrounding Nahullo, for the most part still fighting for their lives, I look toward the hole. Then, I jut my thumb toward the Breach.

"I am going to push the Motherbound back into the Gate of Death for now. Only if things get real nasty will we leave. For now, just do what you can to help."

I turn around after saying my due, hoping I won't have to hear her complain anymore, but I'm too slow. At least... she's a bit better now.

"Fuck. Shit! I wanted out here. Eh... I'll watch your back. Not sure if you need it, though, with what I just saw."

Shaking my head with a laugh, I approach the edge of the hole with two 5th Sigiled Motherbound crawling out, just as a projectile crashes into the right one's skull, then a crackling bolt of lightning hits the other.

With a look back, I find Hine and another Nahullo, one with feathers tattoed over his face. Hmm... I know Nahullo have children with other races. Is that one half-Bado? Possibly. Few others possess lightning like the Bado. Only who, Lazarus and... I can't recall any others. A rare ability indeed.

With a forward stride, I think back to Blightraven and Skychaser, missing both profoundly despite our short time together. I wonder, how grand would his lightning be now?

Staring into the depths of darkness that lead to the Gate of Death below, I imagine his crackling electricity illuminating it all. I sigh with sadness, taking a short moment to refocus.

A tight fist wraps around my ankle, but Lily deals with the thing before any danger emerges.

I let her protect me as I delve into my own soul. I need to learn Bone Orchard without using Burdenless first. And this is the perfect time. It's gonna hurt. I know that that for sure. It's frankly impossible for me to be as delicate with Solid Strand as my mother.

It's just not who I am.

Again and again, I take bits of my soul, ripping off pieces that I toss into the Ether while creating miniature Soulbones. I fail nearly a dozen times before something takes hold. Latching onto the sensation, I let Blodwyn control the body as I devote everything to this.

Bones emerge from the icy rocks, entrapping and killing hundreds of Motherbound at once. But it's not enough. I need more. Pushing further, I rip more pieces of my soul off, feeling a rough soreness that I know will take some time to heal from.

I remove my attachment to the souls, using them as separate minds, and then, finally, the bones reach a quantitative change, the one needed for Bone Orchard.

Cheers fill the air as thousands of Motherbound are stripped of their ability to defend themselves. Even Powers are reduced to struggling within their prisons of bone before being subsequently killed by nearby Nahullo warriors.

In just a few moments, all the Motherbound are forced into the pit. Opening my eyes, I stare downward at the Breach. Now that clarity fills my sight, I send the emerging wave of paleness downward, cutting into swathes of foes.

Soon, I can see more than pitch-black darkness at the bottom. I see an opened gate plunged horizontally into the hole. Streams of bodies crawl upward out of it, using the walls of the Breach as a way up.

As I stare downward, however, forcing the waves back toward it, I see two delicate hands made of transparent ice grip the edges of the gate. No other beings come through as the hordes pause momentarily. The signs cause my heart to skip a beat. A chill enters my soul and causes a shiver to nearly make me drop my weapon.

Winter comes for a third and final time.