“Oh! I call to all friends and foes, and to you, the strangers in this hall,


    Come listen in for I have a song for you all!


    A tale as old as time itself,


    One that brought a land to a new horizon


    Of a heroine who fought the odds,


    Against chaos and evil to save the lion.


    Far from home and lost alone,


    With nothing more than sticks and stones.


    In the land where monsters roamed,


    Where a king had been just dethroned.


    O’ there was a fine young lass, nothing more than a skittish maid,


    Never one to even be crass, a little waif who hasn’t ever been paid”


    - Elaria Kastiane, Performance At All Hogs Arms, “A Song of Maids and LIons”


    <hr><hr>


    “Defensive formation!”


    A voice boomed from down the street somewhere.


    Sophie raced towards it, using the crowds of now desperately fleeing people as a guide for which way she needed to go. A few other redcloaks and trinites also pushed their way towards the danger zone, though hadn’t noticed her doing the same as of yet. Beyond the people fleeing, she could feel the pull of the void grow ever stronger, a different sensation than that of the mana bomb’s epicenter.


    Whatever had been summoned by the purported ritual was something that definitely shouldn’t be here. Where the mana bomb had felt overwhelming, and through that, suffocating. The closer she got, the more wrong it felt. It was corrupting, disrupting, it needed to go.


    With her teeth clenched and legs already aching, she turned a corner as she drew closer to the sounds of fighting.


    “Corporal, hit it!” A gruff voice called out.


    At the end of the street nearing the northern end of the district just beyond the arena, a mana charged bolt flew from one side of the street to the other. Well shit. A few more brightly colored spells zipped from one side to the other. There was the briefest moment of silence before a ferocious roar could be heard.


    “Get out of here, go! Go!” A few likely less well trained guards shooed whatever was left of the crowd in the street away, trying their best to maintain a cordon around the area.


    Alongside Sophie, a squad of a half dozen trinite and redcloaks approached the cordon as well as a pair of Clover legionary troopers. Though the guards made way for the fresh reinforcements, they quickly reformed ranks upon her arrival.


    “This is a danger zone, please back away.” The lead redcloak halted her.


    Sophie was about to answer when she saw it. A twisted monstrosity of exposed flesh and rippling with muscles that stood about one story tall. Each part of the creature pulsated separately, creating a disturbing amalgamation of bulbous movements that was unsettling to the mind. From flesh blasted apart by spells and limp limbs from vicious melees, the same tar like blood that she had seen before oozed forth from its wounds. But unlike the blood of the undead, this one seemed to physically warp the world around it.


    Pavements became cracked as walls seemed to crumble, only to halt in suspended animation at the moment of thier demise. The air grew thick with a bloody miasma that seemed to emanate from the create, its fumes dying the world a dark crimson red every few seconds as reality itself began shuddering. The ground buckled beneath its weight only to reform moments afterwards. Gnarled branches with hints of purple twisted themselves around people, catching civilians and guards alike in their final moments of agony.


    Corpses decorated the streets, but unlike them, the still screaming balls of flesh half melted into the creature hinted at the ill fate that had befallen the fools that summoned this thing. With a sweep of its undulating limbs, a terrific crash was heard that caught the guard’s attention.


    Taking advantage of the moment, she ducked past him and broke into a full sprint, much to the dismay of the now frightened but angered cries from behind.


    “Lass, you’re not supposed to be here.” A legion soldier stopped her with his pike.


    She froze, too mesmerized by the strange creature until she practically walked into the weapon.


    She looked up, only a helmeted face with two eyes stared back at her.


    “Adventurer, silver rank, ritualist. You can write me up later.” She babbled, trying to find a way out. “And that… that thing needs to be stopped.” She pointed.


    The guard didn’t budge, but he lowered his pike. He had understood her in some way and knew her goal. The monster needs to go. Was what Sophie thought he was thinking. But as she trembled merely glancing in the creature’s direction she was thankful that the guard didn’t turn to follow her finger, only keeping his gaze on her, the immediate threat. She was thankful because if he had, he would’ve seen her resolve falter, her finger lowering as if being pushed down. The moment that the creature had seen her, and stared back with an abyssal longing.


    “Don’t get in our way.” The legionnaire growled and turned to face the monster.


    Sophie cautiously followed along, now a fair bit more reticent given the momentary lull. The creature had gone past sight range, forcing the guards and now her to have to reach the intersection. There, they found a trail of destruction. Buildings with their doors and walls ripped open, their occupants torn to shreds or forcefully amalgamated into the being. The purple branches now had sickly gray vines dangling off of them, turning the environment into whatever it was, a corrupted sick farce of what it once was. Dozens of wails, moans, and cries of the trapped citizens echoed hauntingly down the street. Those unfortunate enough to have survived their initial encounter with this creature.


    One of whom was close enough for her to see. Grey withered vines held the poor soul in place, not that they could run. Their legs were twisted in inhumane directions, half fused with the remnants of a broken table, and half fused into a glowing purple branch that seemed to continue to grow. A chunk of wall was embedded in their torso as most of their internal organs lay dangling from an open wound. Yet instead of dying, the vines seemed to connect the body in a way. A low pleasing moan coming from them. Stars save his soul.


    A redcloak vomited at the sight, the others also pausing to stare.


    “Sergeant, get your men to assist the cordon, it isn’t tight enough.” The legionary that confronted Sophie yelled at another redcloak.


    The presumed sergeant nodded hastily before tapping his weapons on his armour to draw the attention of the other redcloaks. He looked equally mortified by the macabre sight but had retained most of his composure, a rarity given how most of the guards still seemed frozen by fear.


    “Adventurer. If you’re helping, keep moving.” The man growled.


    Snapped out of her own stupor, Sophie saluted and kept moving, joining the few trinites and two legion troopers in their advance. The molty assortment of soldiers crossed one last threshold as they passed by a collapsed house. More grey vines snaked their way across the walls as purple branches pierced the cobble floorings to stretch towards the sky. Sophie could feel even more of the wrongness, the discomfort growing worse. She almost missed the hunger and desire from the epicenter, almost.


    The Krennonian Arena itself was a massive structure given equally grandiose weight in the streets around it. A small platz held vigil at the end of one of the streets, the area in which a desperate battle was currently being fought. Forming one last barricade, trinity troopers blasted countless more projectiles and spells at the advancing monstrosity. Those who had not been absorbed or gone mad from the sight continued to fulfil their duties unwaveringly.


    “By the stars.” One of the trinite’s near Sophie muttered.


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.“Goddess save us.” Another spoke.


    “Form two squads. Captain, pelt it at range, draw its attention from the others.” The Clover legionnaire grunted at the bluecloaks, he then turned to Sophie, his eyes searching for hope that she didn’t think she could provide, “Adventurer, you said you’re a ritualist? What the hells do we do?”


    Sophie felt a chill run down her spine. She had absolutely no idea. She tried to narrow her eyes at the monster, the disquiet within her growing more turbulent the longer she stared. It pricked at her mind, probing her. Sophie barely had time to retreat before she was nearly overwhelmed, staggering backwards from the psychic attack.


    “Adventurer?” The legionnaire asked.


    “I… ugh,” Sophie groaned, cradling her head, “Are you all being affected mentally?” She asked.


    The man grunted, “Can barely keep my focus on it. Miracle those poor sods are still standing. What about it?”


    Sophie gritted her teeth under the mental exertion, but her eyes twinkled eever so slightly. Unlikely, but possible. A risk, but worth it. Extending her senses, she tried to probe the monster back, to sift through the corruptive aura around it in search for a weakness.  There, within the blackened miasma, she could feel it, a crystalline pulse. Faint, weak, but there.


    “Would… would you classify it as a creature of mana?” She croaked out a question, her voice still strained by the tiredness.


    “Creature of… I don’t know. I’m not a fecking wizard,.” The man growled before braving a look for himself and wincing from the effort, “I’d hazard it is given this psychic strain. Why?”


    “Then… then I have a plan.”


    “Aye?” The grizzled legionnaire looked almost hopeful for a moment.


    “Get me close.” Sophie said. Her breathing slowly steadied as she regained her footing, “Touching distance close.”


    “Huh. I doubt we’d even need to try, but sure.”


    He motioned towards the monster as it kept trying to flay bluecloaks alive.


    But Sophie wasn’t so sure, for in that instant, she could feel hundreds of gazes trained upon her. Hundreds of eyes all seeing everything that she was. It knows, Goddess above, it knows. She paled.


    Letting out an inhumane screech, it launched a piece of rubble towards her, ignoring the soldiers attacking it. Given the distance, both she and the guards had plenty of time and scattered, letting the building frame shatter into pieces. A challenge or a warning, she couldn’t tell. Only that it was now actively aware of her presence. Well, only one way forward now.


    “Be careful sir.” Sophie said.


    “Huh?” The legionnaire grunted as he helped his comrade up off the guard.


    “It’s sentient. It could feel me trying to look at it. That’s why it threw the rubble at us. A warning, I think.” Sophie confessed.


    “Sentient.” He hissed in distaste, “As if today could get any worse.”


    Sophie remained silent. The trooper didn’t seem to mind. He merely readied himself for the fight ahead as he adjusted his shield. Then, he turned to her. And though Sophie couldn’t see it past the helmet, she could tell the man was grinning.


    “If it’s warning you, then it must see a threat. And if it sees a threat, then we have a chance, eh?”


    “One helluva fight, for sure.” The other legionnaire agreed.


    Sophie just nodded, continuing to remain silent.


    The second squad of blue cloaks launched their attack, spells and javelins being flung towards the creature as they deftly avoided its blows. The legionnaire sniggered at the sight before placing his hand over his chest in a fist.


    “Well then, adventurer. After you.”


    <hr><hr>


    A sickness spread from the creature, the stomach churning visage spewing its foul liquids out from every orifice. Corruption hung in the air as Sophie felt her insides twisting, responding to the miasma more acutely than those already filled with mana. She almost fell at the initial wave of disgust that washed over her, but without any better plan, she pushed forward.


    Using the bluecloak’s assault as cover, the three of them got dangerously close to the creature, separated by only half a street and some rubble. The trinite soldiers gave it their all, keeping a distance while firing more and more projectiles and less spells as their own reserves ran dry. The creature was wounded but still upright, maddening appendages swinging out, occasionally entrapping an unlucky guardsmen as it devoured the soldier whole, armour and all.


    The psychic field around the creature got more intense, strange shapes and swirls of colour occasionally interfering with her vision. The throbbing headache got worse as ghostly noises tried to break her concentration. But she saw it more clearly than before. The beating, pulsing, core of the creature. A mana core, tainted and warp, but a weakness nonetheless.


    It let out another roar, the choir of a dozen tortured souls echoing out across the square. A heavy stomp soon followed with a heavy crash not far behind. Sophie shrank away from watching it as another round of psychic pain brought her low.


    “Cold feet?” The grizzled legionnaire asked.


    Sophie shook her head and answered, “No, it’s looking for me. It can feel me but can’t see us right now. It’s getting overwhelming.”


    “Heh.” The legionnaire chuckled, “Then let’s stay low profile just a little longer. See that pile over there?” He asked her as he gestured with his shield at a small part of a collapsed building, “Let’s go.”


    “Got it.”


    “Barnes?”


    “With you, sir.” The younger legionnaire answered.


    “Three-” The older legionnaire started a countdown.


    A terrific explosion echoed from the square as a blast-wave rushed by just above them, shaking loose dirt, stones, and debris as they huddled behind their rubble pile for cover. Peaking over it, Sophie saw that a massive spell had hit the creature, blowing off a globulous chunk of it that now undulated aimlessly near the first bluecloak barricade.


    “Go!” The older legionary wasted no time in barking his orders.


    Sophie’s momentary assessment meant she was practically dragged forward by the legionnaire, the trio scurried like rats towards the next bit of cover.


    “Everyone alright?”


    The two nodded back at the veteran.


    “What exactly do you need to do again, adventurer?” He asked.


    “There’s a mana core somewhere inside. I need to touch it.” She replied earnestly.


    “Morea’s tits.” He cursed under his breath.


    The legionnaire peaked over their new cover and winced at what he saw.


    “Easier said than done.” He grumbled, “But are you certain?”


    “Yes.” Sophie answered.


    In this at least, she was fully confident in. If it was a mana source, she could drain it. What the after effects of touching such a tainted source however, she dared not try to imagine. All I need is to touch it. Cut through, grab it.


    “That’s all. If I can touch it. I can disable it at the very least if not destroy it.” Sophie spoke more confidently.


    The man whistled through his helmet, the metallic echo partially masking his anxious breathing.


    “Don’t know what sort of ritualist you are. But if you can really stop that thing then… hells, let’s get it done.”


    Sophie unsheathed her sword, not that it would do much to the monstrosity. But there was a quiet comfort to holding a weapon. A little sense that she could at least do something.


    “Barnes, do you still have your crossbow?” The veteran asked.


    “Aye, sir.” The other legionnaire replied, pulling out the scuffed crossbow, a piece that had seen its fair share of conflict.


    “Get a firebolt ready. Then keep sending them as you can.”


    “Aye, sir. Firebolts.”


    The two legionaries evidently reached a silent accord on their own. They both began chanting some arcane spells, a faint blue arcane glow cutting through the corrupted miasma that covered the area. It was a familiar and expected glow, if not exactly comforting given recent events.


    She wasn’t the only one who noticed, however. A distorted wail came from the square as the creature sensed the appearance of new mana signatures as well. It undulated uncomfortably, sucking itself inwards as Sophie watched its massive appendages seem to curl up and twist themselves around it. Then it tore itself apart.


    Like a flower blooming, each limb jammed themselves into the main body before tearing it apart. Where most things would’ve died, Sophie could only watch with morbid curiosity as the creature scattered hundreds of half-digested human body parts everywhere, dozens more still alive souls crying out in their moments of final agony. Bloodied goopy piles of flesh splattered across the square as a fountain of black tar like liquids spilled forth from the main creature. From those piles, two amorphous wretched blobs clawed their way into existence, pulling in the dead to rebuild itself as the creature had now split  into three.


    Though smaller than before, each segment was still far larger than any normal humanoid, the vicious amalgamation of bodies and flesh renewing their efforts. The bluecloaks were now fully occupied, and with one of the segments nearby, the trio were on their own. Thankfully, Sophie felt her headache lessen ever so slightly. A small mercy.


    “Well, well. That was unexpected.” The veteran spoke with what sounded like a snarl, “Anything change?” He asked Sophie.


    She furrowed her brows as she stared directly at the creatures, cutting off her senses from everything else beyond their mana. The call of corruption had lessened. Indeed, it had truly split into three, much like the beast itself. She tore herself away from the examination and stole a deep breath to recover. She shook her head.


    “Three cores, smaller, but there.” She informed the legionnaires.


    “Plan stays the same then. Barnes, hit it hard. Adventurer, let’s get started, shall we?”


    “Yes, sir.” Barnes replied, his crossbow at the ready, a red-tipped bolt now loaded.


    Sophie just nodded.


    “For Arteria!” The veteran cried and leapt out of cover.


    Sophie dashed out from the rubble as Barnes fired his crossbow. The arcane bolt slammed into the closest segment, exploding in a flash of flame. The creature reeled back, swinging out two long tendrils with bodies at the end in an attempt to flail. As she and the veteran approached, another bolt hit the segment, eliciting an ear piercing wail as the creature grew enraged. Letting out a frightening roar that chilled her spine, it set itself to meet their charge. With their weapons draw and more bolts on the way, a battle for Arteria had begun.