Chapter 35: CHAPTER XXIII – Inhibitions of the Blindly Berserk

In the twilight of a dying sunset, all that could be made out was a very tall, slim figure. The figure exuded a subtle calm that belied it’s frozen intent. It was still as a stone and looked down upon them through Beady black eyes that only reflected the faintest of glimmers, something between contempt and hunger glared back at them. Everyone’s heads were still spinning from the advent of this figure, to Cekell exploding out of the water, to the cold stares between the two.

Cekell had thrust himself forward with such force that he parted the water he levitated over, hanging in the air and aiming a hollow glower at the figure before him. As soon as he breached the threshold of where the water met the pebbled shore, the barrier they had been using as a piece of furniture was empowered and expanded to encompass them; even before Cekell’s momentum vanished where he had come to an instant stop. He had never spoken the word, ‘no,’ but it was blaring on repeat in his mind.

“Stonescale…” was spoken simultaneously by their demi human companions, one with an urgent groan, the other in a panicked whisper.

Again, a rattling sound ripped through the silence, as something behind the figure started to glow red, emitting the noise of a maraca made up of a cement truck partially filled with wrecking balls being violently thrashed about by a tornado. The faint light cast off by the red glow faded quickly as the rattling ceased, but not before revealing the figure to be glossy, and standing on a coiled up… pipe? No, it was a slender body wrapped around itself, long and serpentine.

“Oh God, is that a giant &#$%ing snake?!” Rhystea fret out loud, and as the word ‘snake’ passed her lips, her heart skipped a beat that spurred Cekell into action.

With all the mercy of a cornered rat, Cekell rushed forth, and was snatched out of the air by the stonescale as it lurched forward, latching on to the warborn and slamming him hard to the ground, then lifting him up and attempting to crush him with a set of jaws that had driven a pair of dagger like fangs clean through his body.

Cekell wrapped himself in a spherical barrier that expanded to wrench open the stonescale’s mouth, but just as the giant fangs were starting to recede, the beast rattled it’s tail to a furious glow, along with it’s fangs, that bore right through the barrier, and once again pierced though Cekell before driving him hard straight into the ground.

It was only Cekell that shrieked out in pain as his dark orb crashed into the side of the stonescale’s head. In truth, he had already attempted to strike the beast once, but just before the orb had made contact, the beast had lashed forward to slam Cekell and narrowly evaded his reprisal.

Not releasing Cekell, the stonescale thrashed about, repeatedly crashing into the ground and nearby boulders, all while Cekell was locked in it’s jaws and battered bloody. Silver poured out of his many wounds and splattered the surrounding area.

The stonescale wasn’t just wiry, it was slippery, and even while Cekell was clinched within it’s jaws, he could not get ahold of it – leastwise not with his dark orb. The stonescale was swift, reflexive and decisive, actively putting into practice the aphorism ‘the best defense is a good offense,’ it relentlessly thrashed Cekell, all the while it’s slender body was constantly in motion and difficult to accurately strike.

Even if Cekell did not have a pair of oversized fanged driven through his body, even if he was not being driven into rocks and solid ground; he would have had a tough time catching the agile and lanky stonescale with his dark orb. Trying to accomplish such while being on the receiving end of a brutal onslaught was beyond his current ability.

He had rushed the creature in a blind rage, but being flogged across the ground had finally knocked some sense into him. There was no reason to try and escape when he had his opponent right where he wanted it, and if he couldn’t connect with his orb, then he would need to pursue an alternate avenue of attack, and pushing through the pain, he clapped his hands down on the beast’s snout. One hand was in it’s mouth, the other on it’s face, and Cekell let out a piercing screech as he drank deeply of the creature’s body heat.

Immediately sensing the shift in it’s body temperature, the stonescale rattled it’s tail, producing heat therein, along with it’s fangs, which quickly replenished it’s diminished warmth, and whipped it’s body as it spat Cekell out, throwing him savagely into the ground. Cekell bounced to his feet, but the beast’s assault hadn’t ended as it’s tail hammered into him, planting him firmly into the ground.

Cekell had never been on the receiving end of such raw aggression. The stonescale was every bit as belligerent as the arachnophages he had encountered; but it was much larger, specifically with it’s length, and capable of attacking him with both it’s fangs and it’s tail in a concerted effort, almost as if it was two on one.

His head was spinning from receiving such a flurry of attacks in such a short timespan, and untamed anger had only landed him in the conductor’s seat to a trainwreck. He was quickly learning that a reckless rush was not an effective tactic, and he would need to do better than charge mindlessly at the stonescale, who had coiled back up to peer down at him motionlessly, offering him the next move which it planned on countering with either end in a bid to make a meal out of the warborn.

Gritting his teeth, Cekell tried to calm his rage. He reached up and felt the throbbing hole in his chest with one hand, and the other went to another in his abdomen, both had been seared by the intense heat from the stonescales fangs, and while not seeping mana like rest of the lacerations across his body, they were far more agonizing. The heat given off by the fangs had made the flames he himself had climbed into seem more like the warm water of the hot springs.

He didn’t much want to reexperience the stonescale’s vicious bite, but at least he knew what to do if the beast latched back onto him. For a change of pace, he put some thought into his next actions, and pressed the beast with his dark orb, while simultaneously forming a barrier underneath his feet to expand forth and propel himself at the creature.

As though the stonescale had foresight, it evaded the orb by lashing forward, directly at Cekell. Preparing to receive the blow, Cekell readied himself to draw in heat; but it was in vain. The creature snapped down on him, driving it’s giant fangs all the way through his tiny body, but unexpectedly whipped him quickly through the air and released him, sending him crashing into a large boulder in a single motion while not giving Cekell enough time to retaliate.

Cekell shrieked furiously and launched himself back at the stonescale, along with his dark orb, but was batted away by the beast’s tail and sent sailing through the air a rather large distance, losing sight of his sparks and causing something within his chest, that was even deeper than the wounds that pierced clean through him, to throb, wracking his body with a familiar pain - an urgent sense of impending loss - the same feeling he had when the light arachnophage had shortened a few strands of Rhystea’s hair.

He did not wait to hit the ground, instead, he caught himself with a barrier that exploded forth with the intention of throwing himself back into the fray. The sight he found waiting for him back at the hot springs caused him to tremble with unbridled fury.

 

“Stonescale?” Sphaere inquired.

“The top of the food chain.” Shelly surmised grimly.

“The most frightening creature we’ve ever found.” F120 added as she quickly darted to Rhystea’s side, still clutching her panicked pup.

“We only rarely come across them, but every encounter ends the same, either we retreat or we die. No one has ever been able to so much as penetrate the hide of a stonescale, which is where it gets it’s name. To top it off, they’re incredibly quick and lithe. They’re also generous enough to warn of an impeding attack with that sound their tails make, and they never chase after those that flee… but those that don’t are mercilessly mauled and devoured.” Shelly explained.

“Lovely. The apex predator in Hell’s Garden. Even the arachnophages pale in comparison, it’s so fast!” Rhystea noted.

“It’s reflexes are uncanny, and it can contort it’s body to elude most attacks. It can rise up and strike from great height, adding it’s full weight into a blow. As if that wasn’t enough, it’s teeth can pierce through our solid steel shields, and it will follow up it’s bite with a tail bash.” Shelly added.

“Sizeable, speedy an’ smart, a real deal triple threat. I wouldn’ count Cekell out jus…” Sphaere paused as Cekell was swatted away like a fly and sent soaring into the darkness, “…yet.”

The stonescale turned it’s icy gaze upon the group inside Cekell’s empowered barrier, who waited with bated breath for something to happen.

“There’s a tale about a large hunting party that had attacked and wounded an exceptionally large iron hoof, which turned and fled in the face of overwhelming numbers. Our hunters gave chase, and witnessed the iron hoof charge through a large brush pile, which apparently a stonescale had been sleeping under. When the iron hoof stepped on it, it cast off it’s blanket and bit into the neck of the interloper, bashed it with it’s tail, and tore it’s head clean off, all in a single fluid motion. Those that had blinked missed it entirely.” Shelly described.

“Sounds like something that isn’t to be trifled with.” Rhystea responded.

Sphaere looked down at Devose, who was curled up comfortably in her arms with an ear pressed up against her heartbeat, and asked, “Don’ suppose yer in the mood fer some triflin’?”

“Ha.” Devose answered, “I compared Cekell’s orb to the weight of an iron hoof. The scythe I used when I fought him earlier would have been tantamount to that of a mountain, and I couldn’t so much as scratch his barrier.” Devose rose up from Cekell’s comfortable place and stretched before finishing, “Sure, I’d love to take my measure against such a foe; but he’s out there, and I’m in here. How would you propose we change that?”

“Pfft!” Sphaere sputtered in surprise, “Much as ya don’ like ‘im, ya sure don’ doubt ‘e’s ability.”

“Hardly. I did take my measure in that match. Even as he looked down on me, he never took me seriously. Even with aid from Verakry, I couldn’t get him to use more than this very barrier. Why get worked up over a lesser foe?” Devose insisted.

“That lesser foe sure gave your brother a bashing, then tossed him to a different time zone.” Rhystea countered.

“Yea, well, tell that to his barrier. His defenses are clearly focused here on you, and I doubt he can simultaneously make more of something of this level. So long as it’s here, I’ll neither get my chance, nor need to worry about a worthier adversary.” Devose parried.

“I hope your faith in this bubble isn’t misplaced… it comes.” Shelly anxiously referred to the stonescale, which had drawn closer and eyed them hungrily through the glow of the translucent barrier.

Sphaere turned her attention back to the stonescale just in time to bear witness to a familiar bare blade in the shape of the crescent moon slamming down between the beast and the barrier, barring it’s path and causing it to hiss angrily.

Cekell came literally screeching through the air, landing hard next to his blade and spraying pebbles like shrapnel to glance off his barrier. Grabbing onto his blade, he hoisted it into the air and pointed it at the stonescale. It was ineffectual as an orb, but Cekell decided that if he fought similar to how his brother had, he wouldn’t get caught unarmed and helpless.

The warborn shrieked up at the stonescale, as if taunting it to try and take a bite out of his outstretched blade. Sensing Cekell’s shift in tactics, the stonescale instead opted to strike him with it’s tail, which merely hammered the blade into the ground and simultaneously flattened Cekell, who in return, leapt back to his feet and howled out in fury.

Willing his blade out of the ground, which floated horizontally in front of him before leaping upon it, he rushed the stonescale, which reared back to strike and prompted Cekell to send his blade forward without him as he stepped back and hung in the air. The stonescale lashed out and caught the blade with it’s teeth. The blade then twisted hard in the creature’s jaws and slashed the roof of it’s mouth, causing it to whip around and spit out the blade along with a mouthful of blood.

The stonescale hissed ferociously as it rattled it’s tail to full glow, along with it’s fangs. Cekell replied with a piercing hawk scream as he recalled his weapon. Before he would receive it, the beast would once again bludgeon him with it’s tail, this time as it was still red hot.

 

“Well, it can bleed!” Shelly bellowed excitedly before clenching her jaw, eyes hungry for more.

“The inside of it’s mouth isn’t armored. Cekell’s bleeding too, he’ll have to be careful with using his mana now.” Devose argued.

“Whatcha mean?” Sphaere pressed him.

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“Well, mana is very volatile. If he isn’t in contact with it, he doesn’t have complete control over it, so he’s liable to ignite it with a simple spark.” Devose detailed.

“So if ‘e were ta use a lightnin’ bolt, ‘e’d set it on fire?” Sphaere inquired.

“Not exactly. Maybe comparing it to a combustible was a poor analogy. If he used his mana to project something, it could be fueled by the mana in the area that isn’t under anyone’s control. Besides, without the Astral point, he couldn’t call down lightning anyway. His barriers don’t seem to interact with mana in that fashion, but if he tried to, say, hammer down on something nearby with his gravity, he would find it enkindled by the surrounding mana that isn’t already attuned to something. With nothing to limit the unattuned and uncontrolled mana, especially with that much of it sprayed across the area, it could have a rather explosive effect. If he’s not prepared, he’ll likely find himself swept up in his own attack.” Devose depicted.

“So if mana is not in someone’s direct possession, it’s uncontrolled, and acts as a… battery? That enhances nearby aetheric projections? Well, certain projections with an ‘ignition’ effect?” Rhystea scrutinized.

“Ah, yes, a battery would be a better comparison.” Devose clarified.

“Then, is it releasing some form of charge? Is it spent afterwards? Would it need to be recharged?” Rhystea assailed him with a barrage of questions.

“I… Can’t really say with any certainty. I was given a few lectures on the application of mana in my training, but my focus was primarily on manipulating my field of gravity, with a minor focus on combat training. I could form weapons with dark matter, which I then learned to utilize effectively. They did make a point to have me recover any mana I lost, as well as wanted me to be careful around mana I lost control of due to wounds, as inadvertent reactions would be dangerous to those around me.” Devose disclosed.

Stepping out of the void, Verakry took the liberty of answering Rhystea’s questions, “Mana does carry something akin to a ‘charge,’ as you worded it. Think of it more like a field, magnetic poles to be more precise, although still not perfectly accurate. Performing a correctly aligned aetheric projection within that field will invoke a reaction from free mana. Your kind would be hard pressed to deplete mana in such a way, a phenomenon known as ‘mana burn.’ Mana utilized in this manor will have different stages of exhaustion, and the more exhausted it is, the more it takes to ‘recharge.’ Mana that is exhausted to it’s limit, a process referred to as mana ‘scorching,’ leaves it drained, almost ashen, in a state known as ‘black’ mana. Black mana can still be renewed, but it is no simple process, but the power granted from scorching mana is astounding.”

“I were wonderin’ when ya’d show up.” Sphaere spat out bitterly.

“I’ve been surveying this entire encounter, I only presented myself here to answer inquiries, especially since such knowledge will inevitably be pertinent to the warborn.” Verakry replied.

“Well now that yer finished, feel free ta-“ Sphaere started.

Verakry cut her off by lifting a finger to his lips and shushing her, “Shhh! It’s getting interesting, let us watch for now, and talk later.”

Sphaere glared at Verakry menacingly, who watched Cekell curiously, who was exchanging cold stares with the stonescale as each sized up the other. All of the warborn’s efforts had been in vain. He had finally managed to wound the beast, but it was a far cry from a decisive blow, and now the thing would be even more cautious as a result.

The stonescale was large, very long and quite powerful. It could strike at lightning speed from either end, and his regular barriers didn’t even slow it down. Cekell had not experimented much with his empowered barriers, and out of fear of being unable to maintain the one protecting what was most precious to him, he refused to try erecting another.

Cekell decided to adopt an alternative approach. He was having trouble dealing with the creature’s length, and decided it was time to go big or go home. If he couldn’t get to the beast, then he would drag the beast to him. If he centered his gravity upon himself, even if the stonescale could resist, it would likely find such a tactic surprising; and even if it did manage to hold it’s ground, it wouldn’t be expecting a follow up attack to be waiting for such an opening.

First he would send his crescent blade at the creature to distract the stonescale for a moment in order to focus his gravity on himself, not unlike how he had prepared to lock down the acid amoeba. Even if his blade was brushed off, the beast was on guard and extra cautious now that it had been wounded. Thanks to carrying around the dark orb Verakry had gifted him, Cekell had gotten a solid grasp on his gravity field and was confident he could quickly center his gravity field upon himself and intensify it, as well as recall his blade if it gets swatted away.

The stonescale had coiled back up and raised it’s head high into the air with it’s tail lifted nearby and a little lower, occasionally rattling to full glow, only to fall silent again. It’s tail was the only motion it showed as it looked down upon Cekell with a frigid stare, as if waiting for something. It was in no hurry, it was as patient as it was confident. Not unlike the mouth of hell, souls of the damned were catered unto it, and it never went in search of a meal.

 Cekell put his plan into practice, without a sound he sent his blade suddenly forward without warning, and clenched up as he focused on centering his gravity field… but it was his turn to be surprised. Aiming high, he sent his blade for the stonescale’s neck, just below it’s jaw; but not hungry for another mouthful of pain, the beast merely ducked – and lashed out with it’s tail.

Whipping it’s weaponized tail forward, the stonescale sent Cekell flying back into his own barrier, which rather than crashing into, dissipated his inertia, but was still splattered by liquid mana that had been knocked out of Cekell’s veins. As if he were holding it in the palm of his hand, he felt Rhystea’s heart skip a beat, and turned to lock eyes with her. He was stunned as he saw her face twisted in fear, as though she had just been covered in the blood of a dearly departed friend.

Cekell’s chest clenched up like fist, his intrinsic reflex to rouse the dormant point that lie where his heart would be, were he a normal human being. It was not the Astral point he was clasping within the grip of his raw rage, but the Umbral. This time, however, he had a grasp on his gravity field. This time, the Umbral point answered.

Cekell’s body trembled as something within him awoke, and his frustration was given form. Devose looked up at him peculiarly, as something deep within his own core felt the shift in his brother. Verakry gasped and reached out towards him, almost longingly.

Something subtle began to slowly seep from his body. A dark smoke that was not easily made out at night, even in the pale light of his barrier. This smoke did not rise far, but filled in, and choked off any light that tried reaching him. He was gradually enshrouded by something of a black bubble, that slowly expanded out and conformed around his body.

The blob of darkness that contained him slowly slid down the side of the barrier, and… rolled? Towards the Stonescale, pulling a portion of the hot springs water after him as it gouged out the ground where he tread to be absorbed within it.

The mana he had lost which had been sprayed across his surroundings quietly hummed to life as it fed this… transformation? Growth? The Umbral point did not simply pour out matter, the flood gates were thrown open as Cekell wrung it out.  

Molded and shaped by Cekell’s gravity field, he wore this new addition as a second skin. This wasn’t intentional, but he had centered his gravity on himself, and when he snapped, the matter expelled from the point clung to his figure, which gradually grew as more matter continued to be extracted from the Umbral point, as much as he could hold – and thanks to all the mana he had bled everywhere now fueling the gravity well he was producing, it was quite a lot indeed.

The blob of darkness formed legs, which grew with every step he took as he walked towards his… opponent? Prey? Victim? When Devose wore his dark matter as a suit of armor, he still wasn’t much larger than a toddler. Cekell burgeoned into a writhing shadow that was even larger than Verakry, possessing large stumps for legs that seemed to get longer and longer, until Cekell peeled his feet from the ground and rose up into the air. Even his crescent blade was recalled, but he did not so much as flinch as it slammed and melted into the dark matter surrounding his body.

Coming to a stop, Cekell held an arm out towards the stonescale, which had coiled back up and was rattling it’s glowing red tail full tilt. A breeze began to gust towards Cekell from all directions, and in silence, he began to shrink, compressing his dark matter. The large mass he had become began to deflate as it was reduced back towards his original size, and as it approached such, it began to shift towards his back.

Peeling the dark matter back from his flesh, it started to extend behind him, forming a pair of loops that extending from his back not unlike a pair of wings, which Cekell spread wide and aimed at the stonescale. The warborn opened his mouth and an eerie noise escaped his body, like groaning steel as it gave way to massive weight and brute force. In truth, he was roaring, but his tremendous gravity minced the sound beyond recognition.

Cekell had tensed his gravity field up, like a strained coiled spring about to break. The howl of the breeze that he had kicked up and then expanded fell mute. The noise he was emitting, along with the gusting winds suddenly ceased. There was a strange ticking sound as something collided into his body, followed by another and another, almost as if it was raining. In truth, the mana he had bled was being compelled back to him, even the smear that had been sprayed across his barrier was stripped away and returned.

 

Rhystea watched in horror as Cekell slid down the side of his barrier, but was not content to sit idly by, and rushed forward and reach for him, but was denied by the barrier. He had already turned to face his foe and press forward before she pressed her hands against the confines of the barrier and called out his name in vain.

“Cekell!” Rhystea cried out to him before turning to Verakry and asking, “What’s happening?”

“He is finally in tune with his gravity field, with enough control over it to bridge the gap! The Umbral point, it stirs! Answering the warborn’s call, it will grant him all the mass he can carry!” Explained an awestruck Verakry.

“That much, already?” Devose scrutinized doubtfully.

“It beggars belief! I gave him but a drop of dark matter to help him focus his gravity field, but this is simply inconceivable! That he could draw forth so much, so fast…” Verakry trailed off.

They watched in silence as Cekell began to ascend into air, when Devose noted, “It’s just quantity, it’s density can’t be that pure.”

“He’s just drawing it out, he’s not compressing…” Verakry began, but fell silent as Cekell did just that, and focused the dark matter into a pair of loops he wore on his back as wings. “Oh my…”

The rising winds desisted and gave way to silence before Cekell’s lost mana was recalled a drop at a time. “This will not do!” Verakry exclaimed and vanished, only to reappear a short distance above Cekell.

Cekell had not noticed Verakry suddenly appearing above him, as his focus was trained solely upon the stonescale he was about to annihilate. In his zeal, he had failed to realize that his attack would not end with the stonescale.

Verakry saw the disproportionate lengths Cekell was going through in order to snuff out what amounted to a minor nuisance, and quickly discerned that the overkill would have far reaching consequences, and moved to stop him; but not even Verakry was prepared to fully restrain Cekell’s wrath.

Gathering as much mass as quickly as possibly, Verakry blanketed Cekell in a cocoon, but only managed to partially subdue the warborn. Cekell’s eyes went wide as darkness unfolded around him, unaware that Verakry was attempting to rein in his excessive fury, he unleashed an attack that would penetrate that darkness, but only for the briefest of moments.

Reaching out with his magnified gravity field, Cekell latched onto the coiled up body of the stonescale, and smeared it into the ground, shoving it through the dirt and rocks and even the underside of the greater barrier housing Hell’s Garden.

Fortunately, the attack was aimed at a shallow angle, and even pressing it’s target a few measly miles through the earth’s crust, the blow would not penetrate through and into the mantle, or the devastation would have been much more catastrophic. As Cekell had focused center mass of the coiled up serpentine body, only the beasts head and tail remained; the rest was driven deep into the ground.

The earth rumbled as a minor seismic wave spread out, knocking the girls and their demi human companions from their feet. A ripple dispersed across the surface of the great barrier as Cekell’s gravity wave punched straight through it, causing only a minor downpour as not much moisture had been collected.

No one heard it, but Cekell screeched out in panic as he was wrapped in darkness. His eyes widened in fear as he turned and searched, but could not find any trace of either of his sparks. He shuddered in dread which he quickly fed to his rage, fodder for his fury.

Something came between him and his sparks. He had already torn through it once, he would do so again. Nothing would stand between him and his comfortable place, he would not tolerate such. Clenching up like forged steel, Cekell prepared to break out of his confines. Not even Verakry would be able to contain him for long.

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