World Filter

As a whole, they were struggling to adapt to the sudden change in the Corrupted numbers. It felt like they were hammering the wall. Not giving the defenders a moment's rest.

Mark had maintained [Shape Mana] for almost an hour now and he was flagging.

The battle on the wall was becoming chaotic, and worse still he found himself having to block more Corrupted as time went on.

Luckily the Ghouls had been singled out and killed early, they had not seen more since.

Prana streamed into the construct, which Mark then directed toward the critically injured.

The frontline fell back to the shield in waves. Only the strongest few were able to remain.

Jonathan and Martina led from the front.

It was not a surprise to see Jonathan up there, but Martina seemed to be holding her position just fine. She had clearly earned the position and respect.

When she wasn't firing her shotgun at point-blank range she would use it as a club

It glowed a dull reddish hue, crushing skulls and bodies alike.

Mark assumed she was using Aura to make the gun tougher or something because it never showed any signs of damage.

Like this, they just barely held on.

Finally, a call went up from the turrets, and spells were launched from the roofs.

The casters had returned.

Mark felt the pressure on the construct let up right away.

Slowly, under the onslaught of magic, the Corrupted were pushed back once more.

They had arrived just in time because Mark had been close to his limit.

This was not the first rotation they had done tonight.

Giving a warning shout Mark began to pull his construct in.

Mark had lost track of the number of times they had done this. The frontline would hold for a while after which the casters would release waves of spells with their newly regenerated mana. Giving the frontline a chance to rest. It wasn't the best system but it was all they could manage right now.

Mark had taken to helping the frontline and using [Meditation] when the casters were at work.

Mark moved to the left turret and dropped to the ground exhausted. As soon as he had enough Prana he moved back to the wall.

Mark had even resorted to firing his rifle to drop the numbers.

Every one of them fought tooth and nail and eventually, reinforcements came.

Fresh soldiers came in to relieve the battle-tired.

Even Jonathan was looking worse for wear. The only way Mark had made it through was with a constant dose of [Invigorate].

Mark noticed Sam had rejoined the wall at some point.

As it turned out the call they had heard earlier had been Sam leading the casters back. She had seen what was going on but could not return until her wall was secure, the Corrupted from the underground had spanned across three sections.

The moment they had an opening she had rotated soldiers into their section, leaving Sergeant Davis in command.

Luckily she had been there to help reinforce the left wall. Of the three sections they had managed to hold two. Apparently, their right adjacent section had gone down for two minutes, before replacements could be brought in.

A handful of Ghasts and Corrupted had gotten through and caused havoc in the camp before they could be put down. They didn't yet know the extent of the damage but people had been hurt.

Overall the change in the Corrupted numbers disturbed the higher-ups,

They were going to have a meeting tomorrow morning to discuss solutions and Mark was invited.

Mark agreed but made a note to stop by the medical tent just before.

Near the end of the shift, Martina came over to thank him and say they would talk more later.

Mark simply nodded and moved toward his tent. Whatever problems that came could be dealt with in the morning.

Heading back to his tent, Mark took a moment to himself and opened his prompts.

Congratulations [Corruption Recovery] has improved!

25 x Corrupted humanoid cleansed [25]

78 x Corrupted humanoid cleansed [156]

181 System Points awarded

Partial exp awarded to (106 users - expand list) [388]

Partial exp awarded to (Mark Young) [388]

335.5 System Points awarded

676/676

Level up!

+2 Prana, +2 Resistance

Name: Mark Young (22 - M)

Level: 26

Next level: 286/729

Stats:

Resistance

Aura

Mana

Prana

899 (+2) [815]

0 [+25]

118 [+20]

333 (+2)[+90]

Unspent stat points - 10

Corruption value: 26.23%

System Points: 2537

Skills: Meditation, Limit release(Physical), Limit release(Mental)

Spells: Passive Regeneration(Self)[5], Force bolt[11], Prana Pulse[4], Regenerate[4], Draw Corruption[5], Corruption recovery[5], Shape Mana(Force)[9], Invigorate[4], Cleansing surge[5], Read Memory[1], Mind Spike[2], Earth Control[2], Light Control[2].

World inventory. Marketplace. Trade

Mark assigned 5 points to Prana and 5 to Mana, at which point he promptly fell asleep as his head touched down on the pillow.

***

All too soon Mark’s alarm went off. Silencing his phone he got up. Slowly heading for the medical tent. The morning light was choked by clouds. Rain drizzled down, covering everything in a damp layer. Tents sagged and dirt on the walkways became mud.

“Yo Doc, I gotta be quick today, got a meeting to get to,” Mark said with bags under his eyes while he sipped at the paper cup in his hands.

“Well, jump in then” Friedrich grumbled.

Mark worked fast, moving through the rows of cots.

The strange thing was that even though last night had been a disaster, there were not as many casualties as he had expected. Though there were a few civilians here now as well

The lights in the tent flickered for a second and then came back on. Mark looked up at the nearest bulb.

“It's been doing that all night,” Friedrich said.

Mark wanted to ask the Doc when he actually slept but was afraid of the answer.

Shrugging his shoulders he kept going. Doing what he could until he ran out of time.

Eventually, he shouted goodbye to the Doc and headed out.

As Mark made his way through the camp, something was bothering him but he couldn't put his finger on it.

People still moved around busily, but the hum of conversation was gone.

Looking around he noticed there were fewer people in general.

Frowning, he moved quickly towards his destination.

Soon enough the secondary wall came into view. In front of them, he spotted a building crowd.

They were collecting near one of the main entrances to the Soldier's quarters.

The place was awash with nervous energy. People were shouting and asking to be let in.

The only thing stopping them was a row of soldiers attempting to calm the growing panic. Mark saw Ava directing them into formation. There were even soldiers on the wall now, looking down at the growing crowd.

Mark realized they had a riot growing on their hands and they were preparing for it.

Pushing his way through the crowd he got nearer to the front.

There was a small clearing in the people, that no one seemed to want to get close to.

Mark could make out a man kneeling in the mud, holding someone on his lap.

One always thought that pictures and movies could prepare oneself for the tragedies of the apocalypse.

But as Mark got closer he realized the end still had much to show him.

He saw an older man cradling what Mark assumed was his wife.

The older woman was pale and unmoving with a bloodied hole near her heart.

It was the calling card of a Ghast.

Even from here, Mark could tell she had been dead for hours.

Both of them were wearing casual clothes, which meant she had been attacked during the night.

Probably a casualty of the break in the wall.

A young man slightly older than Mark stood behind them with a look of pain and anger in his eyes.

Lacerations ran down his arms still fresh with blood, and his eyes never moved far from the soldiers, itching for a fight.

Together they were a catalyzing event.

All these people's fear and panic ignited like dry kindling. It wasn’t the soldier's fault that the breach happened, nevertheless, they were an easy target for people's ire.

Something was going to happen soon.

Mark shouldered his way through the ring of people breaking into the small clearing.

Stepping forward he moved consciously toward the old man.

The son took a step in Mark's direction and blocked his path.

“Back off,” he said with so much venom in two little words.

“I’m Mark. I’m a healer. You have injuries and so does he. Let me look at him” Mark said in a level voice.

Mark had seen blood on the man but that could very well be from his wife. The truth was he didn’t actually know if the man was hurt he just needed a way to get closer.

The young man seemed to wrestle with himself for a moment and just nodded allowing Mark to pass.

Mark kneeled down next to the man.

“Sir, I’m going to heal you”

The man didn't respond.

Mark found that the man was hurt, but it was mostly bruises and cuts. Letting what little Prana he had let flow into the man.

The young man’s eyes had not moved from Mark, deciding that he had better try, he spoke up.

“If you attack these men you will get the fight you are looking for”

“The fuck, is that a threat?” he asked, suddenly weary of Mark.

“No, it's a warning. I know you are hurting right now but attacking these men will only make them retaliate and then more people will get hurt” Mark said.

“They let this happen! They are supposed to protect us!” he shouted.

Their conversation was gathering spectators now. Mark stood up and faced him.

“You mean the men that are dying on the wall every night? Some of which I’ve seen in the field hospital more than once?” Mark asked.

Then raising his voice he called out.

“Your anger is real, but you are facing it in the wrong direction. The threat is outside these walls. Fighting one another means there's less of us to fight the beasts out there” Mark called out pointing towards the wall.

The man looked at Mark with a furrowed brow.

Sighing Mark said.

“Look if you want a way to make a real difference then I can help with that but if all you want to do is cause chaos then you are on your own.”

When the man didn’t respond Mark thought he had failed, but soon enough his shoulders sagged.

"I won't forget what they did. But I need to get my dad somewhere safe right now" the man said.

Mark didn't know if the man meant the soldiers or the Corrupted. but he had every right to be angry, as long as he directed that anger in the right direction.

“Come, let’s get you guys somewhere more private,” Mark said.

Mark did not believe for a second that his words had suddenly fixed the situation and that now they would all live in perfect harmony. No. All he had done was take the match away from the fuse, for now.

When the crowd saw them beginning to leave the wind was taken from their sails and some people began to disperse.

Mark found out that the old guy was Fred and the younger guy was Marco.

The old man on the ground was still in shock, but with his son coaxing him Mark got both of them up.

Fred refused any help in carrying her body. Slowly following behind them.

As they left the area, a path in the crowd cleared in front of them.

Soon enough they were on the main road.

Mark was just wondering where to take them when he saw a familiar face or in this case snout.

Boe sat patiently on the corner of the pathway wagging his tail.

Smiling Mark changed their course to Ethel, greeting her as he got there. Patting Boe affectionately.

Mark spotted Sandy standing behind Ethel like a bodyguard.

“Good morning Mark”

“Morning, can’t chat, I need to get these two somewhere safe and get back here asap” he responded.

She laughed.

“Ah youth, so busy all the time”

Mark found it hard to believe Ethel had it easy with her job. That or she was fucking with him… Scratch that she was definitely fucking with him.

When she caught sight of Fred and Marco her demeanor changed to one of compassion.

“Hmm. How about The Knights look after them until you are finished,” Ethel said calmly.

"That's actually a great idea," he thought.

"Marco, I trust these two. If you follow them I will come to see you right after I deal with this” Mark said.

Marco looked hesitant but eventually agreed.

“Right, well Sandy if you would,” Ethel said.

Sandy began to lead the father and son pair away without hesitation.

Leaving Ethel behind with Mark.

He was a little confused at first, but when Ethel grinned at him he realized why she was there. He had thought it was convenient, but she was probably here for the same reason as him.

“Well we had better get going to that meeting shouldn't we” she whistled for Boe to follow.