Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Retaliation

The screeching whines of the blinded umbra crab echoed. In the distance, fire and poison arrows rained like a metal storm on the immense umbra beast. Sobbing surrounded the area as some survivors tried to run or crawl to safety.

Symon tried to get up again, pain arcing along his entire body. The foul stench of the umbra crab stung his nose and the high-pitched whines hurt his ears. It took everything he had to keep his fox form, but at this pace, he knew he wouldn’t be able to keep it much longer.

Chaos stormed on, the living world a nightmare of monsters and screams. The shadows seemed to lengthen, as if calling for the young man in fox form to enter their embrace and leave the mortal coil, once and for all.

The fox turned its head as he tried a third time to get up. Symon watched the umbra crab stumbling and crashing into rubble. Its whines played on like a nightmarish symphony.

If I don’t do something, my life, and the lives of so many others will be for nothing.

The thought echoed across his pain-addled mind. A memory whispered, two people looking down on him with bright eyes and brighter smiles. A woman touched his hair, her lips moving and speaking of love. The man saying how proud he was of him. Symon looked at them, caught in the vision.

The memory twisted and curled into a dark night. The bright eyes and smiles were now filled with shadows. The day had become night. Symon stood taller, nearly as tall as the man and woman. They had tears in their eyes as they turned away. A hand came from behind and touched his shoulder. Symon turned to see an older woman with blonde hair. She smiled and patted his shoulder. Symon blinked and the woman’s blonde hair had turned into living flames. She opened her mouth, ashes falling out before she screamed.

Weakness and pain consumed him. Symon shuddered, the torturous memories slicing away at him like tiny daggers. A flame in his heart grew. The pain turned into a flame. It grew bigger, brighter. A thin chain around the many chains of his heart and mind, snapped. Blood pumped harder as Symon’s whimpers turned into growls. The growls grew louder, anger and fear blending into a storm. The inner flame rose up, energy bleeding into every piece of his form. Eyes took on a sharp gleam, but the fox’s skin, muscles, and bones, began to ripple.

From behind a half-destroyed wall, Cedric stepped out. He looked down the street. In the short distance, a giant umbra crab thrashed and a fox laid on a pile of rubble. The author held his book, blood running down his arm.

“I’m coming,” Cedric said weakly as he took a step forward.

Symon didn’t see or hear the thin man with the book. The young man in fox form growled like a beast from the underworld. His body grew bigger. Muscles and bones shifted. Two paws lengthen into long fingers with claws. Back paws stretched into legs. Claws stabbed out of toes. The fur remained, as muscles and bones took on a humanoid shape. Shoulders grew a little broader. Cuts and bruises began to heal. The humanoid fox slowly stood up. Pointed ears were folded back as a snarl filled his pointed snout. Muscles surged with new energy and strength.

A madness took root as the fox stood on two legs. It turned its head and stared at the umbra crab as it slowly stopped thrashing.

The scents in the air changed. The umbra crab turned in Symon’s direction. It didn’t need its eyes to see waves of mana, it felt them, tasted them on the very air. Pincers snapped as it charged blindly at the fox creature.

There was no thought, only an urge to destroy. The fox creature darted toward the blind umbra crab. Symon’s new form was a blur as he met the giant monster and leapt into the air. Claws flashed in the moonlight as pincers rose up to grab at him. The serrated points of the claws missed. Symon let out an animalistic growl, before claws slashed against the lightly armored face of the monster. Thin armor plates were blasted off the creature, exposing soft flesh underneath. The fox humanoid landed on the top edge of the crab’s shell, turned and stabbed claws into the exposed flesh. A gurgling cry rose up as clawed fingers took hold and pulled.

The demonic fox growled as flesh was pulled out and a wriggling thing with it. The umbra crab let out strange, wet sound, before it’s segmented trembled. A breath later, it fell to the ground, unmoving.

The fox creature stood up, a foot-long black worm wriggling in his hand. It was slimy to the touch and pulsed with dark power. One end opened into a toothy round mouth. Its head lashed toward Symon, trying to bite his forearm. Symon’s other hand blurred over and caught it before it could bite him. Muscles bulged as he pulled in two directions. The worm let out a tiny shriek, before it was pulled in half.

The humanoid fox looked down on the now not moving halves of the black worm. Foul black blood dripped from his hands. The fox creature let his hands drop to his sides and let go of the destroyed worm.

“Hey! Look out!” Cedric shouted.

Symon turned to see another giant umbra crab barreling toward him. He turned and faced the creature. Muscles tensed as time slowed down.

Cedric watched as his eyes were barely able to keep up. The fox creature leapt up as the crab monster nearly slammed into him. The furry body contorted and landed on the hardback shell, claws sparking against it as Symon slowed his slid. Eyes stalks whipped around and pincers moved with quick dexterity. The fox creature ducked and dodged. Pincers came dangerously close, before Symon lowered his body and pushed off into a leap. The fox humanoid was airborne, eyeing the umbra crab as it whirled around. Symon landed and growled as the umbra crab charged. Pincer claws stabbed down, missing the quick fox creature and striking hard stone. Chunks of rubble and rock shattered and blasted up into the air.

Symon moved like a furry demon. Pointed ears twisted, not only listening, but the hairs picking up vibrations from the moving air. He didn’t have to see, but merely feel the currents as thick, armored arms whipped into stabbing attacks. He moved like an acrobat, spinning, dodging, and sliding out of the storm of sharp attacks.

Symon’s new form moved like liquid muscle. Gravity was merely a suggestion as he bounced and slid, pincer claws missing him by inches. Heat blazed across his body as he swung his arms. Claws sliced small grooves against the crab’s thick arms, but were not deep enough to do enough damage. He bent his legs as he glanced at the eye stalks. Tail low, he leapt at the monster’s face, ready to tear the eyestalks away with each hand.

A pincer claw flashed and bashed into his side. Symon was knocked away, his eyes wide. The umbra crab shifted and a pincer claw stabbed through the air toward him. Symon brought his arms up as the claw opened. Time slowed down further, the claws clamping closed, and stopped by each of Symon’s hands. Clawed feet struck the ground and foot claws stabbed into edges of stone to gain purchase. Arm muscles bulged as Symon snarled defiantly at the monster.

The umbra crab stared at Symon with its dead eyes, the claws closing slowly. The fox creature let out a painful growl. Despite his new strength, it wasn’t enough to stop the monster from closing its claw, only slow it down. Arms folded in as Symon growled in pain. The pincer claw continued to close shut, inch by inch. Symon looked down, seeing that if the monster closed it’s claw completely, it would sever him across the chest. He pushed back, trying to open the claw, but it was reaching the point of no return.

Dead white eyes stared down, hungering for the mana within the creature’s blood. The monster was so focused, it didn’t notice a shadow leaping onto a pile rubble.

Wrists twisted and rune-covered daggers slid into open, waiting hands. Purple light glowed along the edges of the arcane daggers. Black hair with a white lock billowed in the breeze as arms pulled back. Stern eyes centered on the giant umbra crab as it had a red and black fox humanoid in it’s grasp. Skill and power glowed, before the arms whipped forward, releasing both daggers at once.

The glowing daggers streaked through the air. Eye stalks shifted and widened before the dagger struck the thin plating across it’s face between each stalk. Armored plates shattered as the daggers vanished and re-appeared in the hands that threw them.

The pincer claw opened from shock and pain. Symon fell back and the moment he was clear, he leapt back another fifteen feet. The fox humanoid turned his snout to the woman on the pile of rubble, with a dimly glowing dagger in each hand.

“You might want to change back,” Serafina said as she never took her eyes off the large monster. “I’ll handle this thing.”

Black blood dripped from between eye stalks. Pincer claws clicked before it barreled toward the woman in black.

Serafina didn’t hesitate as her arms moved like blurry black whips. Daggers flew in quick succession. Dagger points stabbed in between armor plates before vanishing and appearing back in her hands.

Even in his were form, Symon watched with incredulous eyes. Serafina moved her arms like a symphony conductor. Dim flashes of light glowed as daggers re-appeared in her hands. The monster continued to barrel toward her as she stood her ground. Daggers stabbed, vanished, and stabbed again. Black blood burst from the many perfect strikes along weak points of the armored body and legs. A segmented leg stepped forward and a dagger sliced through between armored plates. The umbra crab stumbled as it tried to get closer.

When the black monster was nearly to her, Serafina bent her legs and leapt up like an acrobat in a hurricane. Pincer claws stabbed out as she flipped over them. Boots landed on the back. Serafina fell to her knees and drove the daggers into the hard-shelled back. The mystical daggers penetrated to soft flesh underneath. Serafina twisted the daggers before pulling back and rolling back onto her feet, remaining on the monster’s back.

The umbra crab whipped it’s claws around, trying to reach for the woman in black.

Symon glanced to the monster’s legs and saw his chance. He darted forward, grabbing a leg with each hand. Muscles bulged as he pulled.

The umbra beast shifted one eye stalk to Symon, and the other at Serafina. It tried to turn, to knock them away. Dagger points penetrated its hard shell and pain stabbed deeper.

The monster couldn’t focus as pain bloomed into a storm. Symon let out a furious growl before both legs broke free. Black blood spurted as the creature tilted to the side.

Serafina launched off the monster and landed on the ground. She spun around, releasing her daggers in quick throws. The daggers penetrated the side of a thick arm, by the shoulder. The monster struggled to get back up as daggers practically sawed at the joint. After another two throws, the dagger vanished and a thick arm broke free.

Symon leapt onto the creature. Remembering the first one, his clawed hand stabbed into the creature’s alien face. The fox creature felt around until he touched the familiar wriggling. He took hold and pulled it out with a sickening wet sound. The large black worm thrashed in his hand before he took hold and ripped it in half.

Covered in Black blood, Symon fell to his knees before the now still giant monster.

Serafina walked around the monster to see the fox creature on his knees. She slid the daggers up her sleeves and rushed to his side. She stopped short as steam rose up from his furry body.

Symon bent his head forward, exhaustion filling his dark green eyes. His form began to ripple and shrink. Bones and muscle returned to normal. Reddish and black fur sank back into his skin. The pointed snout and ears melted back into his face and repositioned to their respectable places.

Symon was on his knees, naked and covered in a dripping sweat.

“Are you truly back?” Serafina asked as she approached slowly.

Symon looked up at her with weak eyes and gave a small, simply nod.

The woman in black fell to her knees beside him. Her arms circled him and she pulled him to her. The young man fell into her embrace.

“I know, it was a lot,” Serafina said with a soothing tone.

Symon was silent as he struggled to stay awake.

A sound of a rock shifting caused Serafina to whip her head and hand out. A dagger was already in her hand as she looked at a tall, thin man. He was bleeding from the shoulder, but he had a small smile on his face. He held a thick book in one hand, and Symon’s clothes in the other.

“I thought he might need these, to hide his shame,” Cedric grinned.

Serafina slid the dagger back into her sleeve and snatched the clothes from Cedric’s hand. She turned back to Symon, but he was looking up and into the distance. Serafina followed his gaze, as did Cedric. All three looked to the inner wall and towers of Old Town, the giant umbra beast stepping to it as it raised its claws.

Guards shouted as archers let loose volleys of flaming arrows. Giant black claws rose up to their zenith, ready to tear through the inner wall and feast on the glowing mana it detected within. The moment of terror bleed into everyone seeing the monster, a sense of impending doom approaching.

Clouds appeared overhead before a thick lightning bolt blasted down from the dark heavens. The bolt struck the raised claws and a boom shook the entire city. Cracks appeared along the thick pincer claw arms as they came down, but they didn’t strike anything as the monster stumbled back.

An orc in a regal robe flew up into the sky. A thin, black beard ran along his jawline as an open spellbook floated beside him. His hands rose up and moved in arcane patterns.

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On top of a large mage’s tower, a man with golden blonde hair stood. A large book hovered beside him as he lifted his hands and clamped them together. Three points of light appeared around the giant umbra beast before they burst into giant, glowing wraiths half the beast’s size. The black shadows with purple auras launched at the umbra beast, clawing and slashing at it. The beast swung its claws. One black claw struck a wraith and it burst into shards of energy.

“It’s about time,” Serafina said, unimpressed.

“The Grand Magus!” Cedric shouted with mad glee toward the regal orc in the sky.

Symon stared as he heard of the grandmasters of the mage academies, but never saw them.

“The one with blonde hair is Kadus Swift, Magus of the Illusion Academy,” Serafina explained as if she could read Symon’s mind. “He’s a fae.”

The wind picked up as an elf with white hair floated up with glowing eyes. A book hovered close to him as his hand went up and he clenched it into a fist. Another bolt of lightning blasted down from the sky and slammed into the umbra beast’s armored shoulder, cracking it open. Red energy bled from the cracked armor, like molten metal just under the crust.

“The snow elf is Udor Frostlake, Magus of the Elemental Academy. He is the most powerful elemental mage across Norr,” Serafina said in a low tone.

On the battlements, guards and archers pulled away as a short, thick dwarf pushed through. He was wearing a gold and silver robe, a spellbook hovering by his shoulder. He lifted his thick hands toward the dazed beast and made arcane gestures.

Two large piles of stone rubble melted together. They bubbled and churned before massive stone spikes stabbed upwards like lances. The umbra beast turned just as a spike stabbed upwards into the monster’s chest and exited out of its back. The second one stabbed into it’s back and the point exited out of its chest, close to its neck. The umbra beast let out a horrific roar.

“Grumer Redstone! Magus of the Transmutation Academy!” Cedric howled in delight.

The remaining illusion wraiths slashed at the trapped umber beast. Armor plates were blasted off as the monster tried to break free.

A Norden man in a white and gold robe flew up next to the orc in the sky. They both nodded to each other before the mage looked at his floating spellbook. Pages flipped to past until it settled on a spell. The man lifted up his hands and shouted arcane words at the sky.

The black clouds pulled away and a shaft of white light stabbed down, enveloping the black umbra beast. Angels dove down with lances in their hands. They all had determined expressions as dozens flew down with golden auras. The umbra beats looked up for a breath, before the angels spun into a storm of white wings and glowing auras. Lances stabbed at the beast, and when the tips penetrated the hard armored plates, energy blazed and exploded.

The umbra beast rippled with explosions as angels stabbed and flew around it like a holy whirlwind.

Serafina’s eyes narrowed. “Koras Voidkeep, Magus of the Conjuration Academy.”

The trio on the ground watched with unblinking eyes. Everyone on the battlements and within the inner wall stared and cheered as five out of the seven grandmaster mages ripped the umbra beast to shreds.

An arm broke off and fell from the giant monster. Soon, the second arm fell. Each one landed with a crash, destroying any homes that managed to stay standing. The trapped umbra beast let out a wail as explosions tore it apart. The dead white eyes went black. Angels and giant wraiths pulled back. The stone spikes pulled out of the creature and returned to rubble on the ground. What was left of the monster weaved before it crumbled to the ground, a heap of armor plating and black guts spilling out.

Cheers filled the sky and echoed off towers. Angels flew back into the shaft of light and disappeared into the heavens. The black wraiths simply faded away.

Symon couldn’t believe what he just saw. Each grandmaster only used a spell apiece and destroyed the umbra beast with little effort.

“Those bastards are playing some king of game to take so long to destroy it,” Serafina muttered under her breath.

Symon looked up to her with weak eyes.

The woman in black looked down at him, her gaze softening. “We have to get you back home, to rest.”

Symon shook his head and weakly lifted himself up from her embrace. “No, we have to save them.”

Serafina lifted a thin, black eyebrow. “Who? The kobolds?”

Symon nodded as he took the clothes from Serafina and tried to put on his shirt. She helped him to get it over his head and get his arms through the sleeves. After that, Symon took hold of his leggings and pulled them back on. His whole body weakened with each passing moment, but he fought off the exhaustion, a singular purpose driving him.

“Cedric Voxx,” Cedric smiled at Serafina.

“I didn’t ask for your name,” she said with an annoyed edge as she helped Symon to his feet.

“True, but how could I resist not giving it to such a skilled, powerful, and beautiful woman?” the writer grinned.

“How about you stuff your words back into your throat and help me with him,” Serafina said as she put one of Symon’s arms over her shoulder.

Cedric nodded as he put his book into the satchel at his hip. The bleeding from his shoulder slowed. The author used his good arm to lift Symon’s other arm and put it over his shoulder. He grimaced when Symon’s hand touched his bad shoulder, but glancing over at Serafina, he kept it to himself.

The three of them crossed past the two fallen umbra crabs and made their way through a swath of destruction, cheers of victory in the distance.

***

Qin dug through the debris with tears in his eyes. Smoke from burning buildings drifted over him as his scaled hands worked with unyielding focus. The kobold threw chunks of wood and stone away, frantically trying to deepen the whole. His senses caught the scent of his cousin and his arms moved in short blurs.

“Nyana! I’m almost to you!” Qin shouted as he pulled away a head-sized rock and tossed it to the side.

The kobold didn’t notice the three people who approached. Symon’s eyes widened, seeing the small kobold trying his best to dig through the wreckage of his aunt’s home.

“We’ll help dig them out, you stay here…” Serafina began, but stopped short as Symon broke away from her and Cedric.

The young raven climbed over the rubble despite feeling drained to the point of almost passing out. Silently, he fell into the small pit and remained on his knees. He worked, grabbing a large shard of wood, picking it up and tossing it to the side.

“Get in there and help,” Serafina commanded Cedric.

The author simply nodded as he climbed into the pit with Serafina. The group dug with purpose, until a piece of lumber was pulled away and Nyana’s head was exposed. Her eyes were closed and unmoving.

Qin was to her, putting his ear to her snout. When he caught the gentle whisper of her breathing, he cried out in relief.

Symon and the group helped push away more debris. Qin reached down and picked up his cousin. He lifted her up and step out of the pit. He slid down to the street and sat, holding her to him.

Symon looked over with relief, until he caught another scent. He glanced down and smelled an elf. It was clean, and nearly electric against the senses, like bits of energy was touching his nose. He continued to dig as the world around him grew darker.

“You are exhausted,” Serafina said.

“There’s another down there, the elf,” Symon said as he weaved on his knees.

Cedric reached down with Serafina and Symon. The trio took hold of a jagged piece of lumber and pulled. The debris was pulled up and the elf was visible. He was covered in bleeding cuts, dirt, and pieces of shattered wood, but he was awake. His eye blinked as turned it up to see Symon, Cedric, and Serafina. He breathed a sigh of relief as all three of them took hold of the elf and pulled.

In the distance, cheers continued to cloud the night sky. Torches were raised in victory as several grandmaster mages spoke to the people. The distance was too far to be heard, but Symon caught a hint of depraved indifference as it didn’t seem anyone was looking for survivors.

The elf was pulled to the street and laid down. He grimaced as the trio sat by him, Serafina checking his pulse and examining his wounds.

Symon slowly blinked as reality began to swim. He glanced at Qin and Nyana, the two kobolds were close as their world was shattered in just an hour.

“You’ll live,” Serafina said with a firm nod to the confused elf.

Cedric looked over to Symon. The young man weaved as his eyes opened and closed slowly.

Symon looked at the thin man, a small memory of him aiding him filled his ailing thoughts.

“Thank y…” was all Symon could say before he tilted and fell toward the stone street as darkness consumed him.

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