Stepping through the portal that was made for him and Esmii, both people came from the latter's new castle of Desta'Lovox. The temperature soared after a few minutes of being there, and with the portal closed there was no going back for now. A foul stench was in the air, making the Eskandish man cover his nose with his hand. "Gud, det er en moden lukt!" He complained.

Adjusting to the smell of colour for a few moments, he took his hand magic from his nose. Hearing Esmii say goodbye to him and walking off, he gave a smile and a nod. Once he parted ways with Esmii, he knew she'd be fine here. She's a smart one, plus she'd know her way around this area. After a few steps, he ended up stepping on a branch, causing it to snap. The noise of the snapped branch echoed throughout the area he was in, instead of birds flying away spooked by the noise that was created. Instead, there was nothing. That was rather unnatural. Once the sound of snapping foliage faded nothing else, no insects or birds, could thus be the work of that beast.

While walking through this eerie swamp. He thought of that old saying about if a tree falls, does it make a sound? Hor's mind still went back to what happened at Desta'Lovox, with how Johann acted. But that thought quickly left as he heard noises; following the noises, it led to the old ruins. He scanned the area as he walked to ruins where a man was digging through some rubble. Curious by this, Niallus walked up to the person carefully, so as not to startle him. "Excuse me?" He said as he approached. "Are you from around the area?"

||Gods, That's a ripe smell||

The ruins were mostly destroyed houses, stacked on each other with most of the wood decayed into muck. The stone was made for usable, small isles if one could get over the excessive lack of friction from the moss-like surface.

A man was moving the rubble, partially helping with the gift, but he was meticulous with his work. He was looking for something and was careful about it.

The man was a Yasoi, and once Niallus addressed him he looked the Eskandish youth's way. “Yes.” he answered plainly, turquoise eyes surrounded by massive black circles. The man hadn't slept for a long time. Then, he continued digging through the rubble. But unlike the wandering crone, his movements had a purpose that kept him moving despite clear exhaustion. “No panuu. No panuu.” he grunted from under a half-decomposed roof to Niallus. “No panuu here.”

Niallus walked closer to the man as he dug, using his gift to move rubble away. As he looked in Niallus' direction speaking about there being no treasure here. Niallus could see he had clear signs of insomnia; how many days had this guy been digging without rest? In this state, Niallus might need to be careful; in this exhausted state, he could lash out at him. He inspected some of the rubble of ruins that was on the path to the man digging.

"What are you looking for? Perhaps I can help you." He asked as he walked to him.

Niallus' request was met with grunts of both exertion and what were supposed to be mumbles. The man barely understood Avincian, and yet here was this human speaking in tongues. The man tunnel-visioned his work.

Then, a sudden ripple ran through the water, and the land shook ever so slightly. Barely noticeable. And yet, it was enough for the stone foundation he was digging under to falter very fast, just about ready to fall over the man. In his exhausted state, he didn't seem to even notice this phenomenon.

Niallus paused for a moment, *Perhaps he doesn't understand Avincian. Or were they more focused on digging?* Niallus wondered as he got closer to the Yasoi, still ever focused on digging in this one spot.

"A’lash, Juup joi wasel-" His sentence was cut short by a ripple that rumbled the area around him, "What was that?" I Looked around to find the origin of that rumble, but with it being so faint, it was likely from a distance. His gaze shifted towards the frail structure that the man was digging and began to fall, possibly because of the low rumble. Niallus dashed towards him, attempting to save the man from being crushed by the falling debris. Using his Kinetic magic in an attempt to move him out of the way and then destroy the fallen debris.

||Excuse me, do you need||

Niallus' assumption of being away from anything relevant was, unfortunately, quite wrong. The epicentre of this brief rumbling was none other than the middle of the fetid pond. A statue had been uprooted and left to drop, although the seismic activity had likely something to do with what it had been rooted to. And thus came down the fragile foundation of a ruin, with the tired man nearly biting it. Luckily, Niallus was around.

That said, he had little time to react and the weight was still considerable. The young man struggled to keep the pile he had to improvise support for. Fortunately, he did save the digger from a very likely death. But now he had to extract the dazed man from under the rubble barely fully supported. He could shove all the rubble in one, rough shove to the side. A noisy approach, one that'd be as conspicuous as Ingrid's statue moving. Or, he could try to tug the man out at the risk of having the foundation crumble and fall from lack of proper support, likely killing the man and hurting himself in the process.

Sven was at a full run and full draw, unbinding the water in front of him as he went and solidified the ground. Despite his massive capacity, it was, to put matters simply, exhausting.

He was too late to save Esmii from her misadventure, but then Ingrid did what he'd wanted to do and popped the statue up. Bad idea.

The ruins around Niallus and the old man he'd been trying to speak to collapsed suddenly and violently, the Eskandishman barely saving the latter (and himself) from being crushed.

Sven rushed over, throwing caution to the wind and unbinding - instead of the water around himself - the ruins themselves. "Hang on Shaberhagen!" he shouted. "I've got you!

He didn't have time to properly move the man from being crushed, so he acted as best he could. Even holding the rubble was no easy task, even with his Kinetic the sheer weight of all that stone was taking its toll on the young Eskandishman. He thought about pushing it up with a kinetic blast. For him to grab the old man and jump before it comes back. That would require split-second timing. "Tiin. senii." Niallus shouted to the old man, but he didn't respond to his words. Niallus could not help but curse under his breath. He was running out of time and options.

He heard a familiar voice, followed by a familiar figure running towards him. "Sven?" A mixture of confusion, surprise and relief was in his tone when mentioning his friend's name. "How did you get here?" He said to his kinsmen. His focus faulted, the weight getting more intense. "I can hold this for a bit longer. Can you grab him, get him out of the way?" He asked his friend.

---

With the help of Sven, Niallus was able to get the sluggish Yasoi man out of danger, but not without fumbling. The bigger Eskandishman was also not exactly the fastest either, leading to the whole group being caught in a massive splash of swamp goop. Harmless, if they didn’t swallow, although it left a blinding cloud of green smoke around them. They could hardly see each other.

What they did see, however, were long, tentacle-like shapes emerging all around them. Much taller than these young men, at least double their height, and about half the width of the burly Sven. They undulated and writhed, before bending closer to their prey.

Then, the shriek happened, prompting the appendages to lash out!

After the two Eskandishmen helped the Yasoi and themselves. The trio found this in swamp fog "Fra gryten, inn i ilden." Niallus said. On instinct, Niallus tried not to breathe so much of the gas in case it proved fatal. He could barely see Sven and the old Yasoi. It was then he saw the extremely hostile danger; two vines attempted to attack him. He focused with a deep breath, and with some help from one of his divine fruits, the vines charged at Niallus; he kept focus as he avoided the vine's attempt at grabbing him. *I have to keep focused.* He thought.

With the two vines' attacks avoided with ease, he was free to help the other two if they needed him. He had both Sven and the old Yasoi not too far from him and his sensing range. He didn't know what the vines were going to do. Regardless he was ready to help them from being attacked.

||From the pot, into the fire.||

There was no magic quick-acting enough here except for the very blunt, of which Sven had only Atomic, which he could not use for the presence of Niallus and this old man. Easily, he might've swept the entire tangle of vines away, but he'd likely have killed or maimed them in the process. He might've used internal chemical magic on a known foe, but he still lacked even the slightest understanding of how this foe worked, much less what might effectively slow, wither, or kill it.

Cursing inwardly, the Eskandishman scrambled back, using the energy from the water - And some very alarming chemical compounds - he'd unbound to power his magic.

Massive and unskilled, a rush of air blasted through the unnatural haze and a series of small, pinpoint explosions - much more skilled - blasted at the thick vines. It was the best that Sven could do robbed of his major offensive weapons. "Get down and out of the way!" he shouted as he did it, hoping that the others would listen.

Sven didn't even see it. Vaguely, in the mists, which he had failed to clear, the man was stabbed repeatedly and Sven could feel his chemical composition changing. The entire scene was changing, fast becoming desperate.

This was an unholy place and the poor fellow was, simply put, as good as dead or... something worse. He'd noticed how an old woman had chopped off her hand and how others had bound theirs so anxiously. Sven knew the rational thing to do. He should let these poor souls die. Nay, he should speed them on their way. lest they become a liability or be turned against him and his allies. Yet, to do so would be to let cruelty and evil win. It would be to betray his oaths as a jarl of Eskand, even if these were not his lands. It would be a betrayal of the responsibility that the Gods had set upon his shoulders. "If you can clear the vines, I can shave him," Sven promised in a voicece that was not quite determined, not quite resigned. Esmii's 'loyal subjects' had sent her here!? He shook his head. "We musht hurry before the bog claimsh him."

Niallus didn't expect his kinsman to use an AOE attack. Then again his beloved could be in danger, so it's likely he's not wanting to waste time. Looking at the body in the water. He was alive, but barely. What was he digging here for.?Pehaps the person lived in these ruins. Perhaps he had family that lived there; perhaps they lived in the ruins where he was digging. Relying on his own drive to keep digging. A man who lost everything and had nothing to love for maybe?

The body slowly drifted out further and further then began to sink. It was then Sven jumped into action hearing "You're right, but we'll need to act fast if we want to pull him out.". With that, Niallus drew kinetic energy, allowing him to walk on the surface of the water, and with Arcane to make an Arcane sword, he proceeded to cut and clear the other vines away to make a straight path. [color=3d5a88]"I'm glad that you came when you did. He said to Sven as he cleared the vines away.

The Eskandishman fought through the resisting plant life to rescue what looked to be a deadman. Hadric, the blacksmith, accepted that he would see his family in the next world upon failing to find them in this mortal life. And yet a house of all people fought tooth and nail for his safety. If he could, he would have spared the boy the trouble, and yet he wasn’t even capable of talking.

With one swing of his Arcane sword, a vine was cleaved away, the vine burnt and crisp from where Niallus' magic sliced through it. After the vines were cleared. Niallus broke the enchantment of his sword, and it faded into nothing. "That looks like the last of them." He returned to the shore, briefly scanning the landscape. "We need to find a flat area so we can lie him down." Niallus said. "He's not going to last long with those injuries." as he glanced back at the old man.

A blood-curdling screech erupted from the abomination. Its massive and blood maw was fully agape and its mere scream caused the waters to undulate as if the bog was an ocean. With one meal finished, it set eyes on its next fix. One was standing upon a shattered church, one of the few structures made of stone, two others stood near its frozen appendage. And further beyond, it saw two Yasoi barely making it out of its territory.

Seeing a huge tidal wave coming towards them, they didn't have time to move Hadric as Sven was getting ready to heal him enough to stand. Niallus acted. Standing between his friend and the Yasoi and the Tidal wave that was rapidly approaching. He drew in manas enforcing the area around them. "Not enough." He said, with that, he embraced the power of the void. Void energy rippled along the thin, but durable layer of Kinetic energy.

The wave crashed against the barrier. The weight of the water and the debris that was inside it was enough for small amounts of water, stones and wood to slip through and injure the Eskandr, but he kept up his defensive spell. "Come on, hold." He shouted.

Sven, meanwhile, was far more interested in healing than he was hitting back. He and Niallus had set out to save a man and had now nearly let him die. Sven staggered ashore and dumped his charge on the muddy ground as gently as he could, chest heaving. The contamination was spreading and he doubted that he could heal it with binding.

"Cover me," he shouted in Niallus' direction, [color=385403]"I'm going to try shomething!"[/colour He settled himself as much as one could be given the circumstances. He breathed. Just don't die on me now, he thought at the gravely wounded yasoi. Gathering his energy, he split matter and drew out the reaction. Targeting the hotspots of the contamination, he bombarded them with radiation, frying the alien substance out of the man's system. Sven wasn't sure how long it took or what was happening until Niallus was shouting at him, and he twisted just in time to see a wall of sickly water rushing at him. It was all that the Eskandishman could do to shield the frail and still-healing Yasoi from it.

The wave took Sven from behind and hammered him facefirst into the muck. He swallowed the foul water and ate dirt, slamming his head and shoulder on a sharp rock. For a moment, the edges of his vision greyed and he very nearly didn't come back up. Then, a series of screams pierced the hazy veil: it was Esmii. She was in trouble. She needed him. That was why he was here. Sven broke the surface, dazed, bleeding and vomiting into the morass even as it retreated. He staggered and nearly collapsed. "Go," he panted desperately at the man he and Niallus had saved. [color=385403]"Crawl, stumble, run if you can."[/colour] He thought of the yasoi word. "Yash!" he entreated. "Yash!"

---

After surviving the tidal wave, they only suffered minor injuries. It was at that moment he was under attack once more. A portal opens up directly above "Oh, come on." rubble and other things came through attempting to bury the Eskandishman.

Niallus drew in manas, opening his mouth slightly a faint orange glow emitting from it. Combining Chemical to his upcoming Arcane. He inhaled before unleashing his built-upon in a magnificent breath attack, hoping to incinerate the debris. The incinerator method seemed to work for a while, however, a sharp piece of debris stabbed him in his shoulder. The sharp pain he felt, made him break his concentration and caused him to stop casting his breath attack. With no offence, a stone struck him in the face, bringing him to one knee, and then he got a barraging assault upon him, burying him under all the rubble.

It wasn't long before Niallus dug himself out, he coughed up some mud that he swallowed, wiping his mouth with his arm. Having sensed what was around him. Someone's manas was faint as if they were in danger. It was Esmii."Sven, your beloved is in trouble." He said to his countryman. Following what Hadric mentioned to Niallus and Sven. Niallus made his way back to the ruins, from where he and Sven rescued Hadric. It didn't take him long to get across the landscape back to the ruins. He looked around the ruins, trying to find the tallest, stable ruin that he could stand on.

Once he stood on top of the tall ruins, he could get somewhat of a view of the swamp, and in the distance, he could see the monster. There was the one question: How was he going to lure it towards him? From looking at it from a distance, it seemed to be a powerful predator. It'll likely come if it smells something that's weakened or injured. That was it. If he could get it to smell the blood of a freshly injured target, it could come over. But there was nothing for him to use, but himself. This was foolish, but it could be effective.
He groaned at this idea. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." He mumbled to himself. He pulled a knife out from the side of his boot and drew manas his plan to cut the palm of his hand, then use Chemical to increase to potency of the smell of his blood and use Kinetic to create a breeze to carry the scent of his wound to the monster in an attempt it to bring it over.

---

The monster carved its way to the Eskandishman. No longer limited by damaged limbs or glue, it took in the energy from the dispelled stasis assault on it and the stockpile its appendages deep underground, causing them to momentarily go inert, had taken during its stay to perform a mighty leap.

The seismic aftershock was felt massively by those close by, and a mighty shadow would be cast upon the group. The large monster then descended onto Niallus like an arrow, fast and accurate. The subsequent impact prompted a ripple - or rather a massive circle-shaped wave, this time with an immense amount of rubble to go with it.

Meanwhile, Hadric had found his shed. What was he planning?

Stood on top of the ruin, it seemed that his plan to bring the monster to him seemed to work, almost a little too well. Seeing it first hand, charge then leap into the air in an attempt crush him. It moved so agile for something of its size. Niallus almost didn't have time to plan. Drawing in his manas, he needed something strong to hit this thing. Summoning an Arcane Lance ready, he knew it wouldn't be enough to stop the creatures divebomb. With some focus he channeled the power into the VOID into his lance. He didn't have time to properly charge, so instead wmhe increased his throwing capability by using Kinetic. The lance shot up after the target it made contact, but it only halted it's momentum. Noticing this Niallus jumped down from where he was stood he didn't have.

---

The fight broke out between the students of Ersand'Enise and the monster, Niallus wanted to jump right into the fight. He was held back by his friend Sven. Insisting that Niallus should be healed from the ailment that was affecting him. Niallus didn't argue with him, accepting his friend's help. Sven's magic flooded Niallus' system, eventually curing him of what was in his system; it probably would be best not to get hit or infected by that thing again.

The battle continued, seeing that Esmii was in danger as she was being targeted. Niallus defended her. Using magics of Kinetic and Arcane to help, but it only left him as a target, as once he defended Esmii. He became a target, and the monster began an onslaught.

The monster grabbed Niallus's leg, wrapping a bone around it, causing the Eskand to lose his balance and be lifted off the murky ground. Once off the ground, the monster slammed Niallus into the ground as if it were hitting a drum. One impact, two impacts. Over and over. Each impact to the ground leaves an echoing sound of Niallus hitting stone or water.

After it was done it threw Niallus to one side. Niallus rolled a bit before coming to a stop. Part of his body was submerged in swamp water. His vision was blurry and disoriented. Heavy wheezes escaped his bloody lips. Some of his ribs were most likely broken or shattered; more likely, a few other bones were broken, and an organ ruptured.

Two sets of footsteps were approaching him. It was Esmii and Sven. He turned his head as they approached . "Sven, Esmii when you start a family. Can you name your firstborn after me?" he mused, his voice was weak and shallow. Esmii trying to help Niallus. "Shh, quiet now, save your strength. "This monster shall die before you, bro." Sven gritted his teeth. "Long before."

Niallus felt his body slowly begin to be reconstructed under the influence of Esmiis's magic. She must have put more power into it as his body began to heal rapidly. It took some time for him to get to his feet. His legs were wobbly, but once he was up, he swayed ever so slightly.

After a few moments of him getting back into the fight. Niallus saw Ingrid hit by a dark bolt, then she was gone. Ingrid! he shouted, his arm extended in the direction he last saw her. His eyes followed the person who did it. It was Xiuyang. A fury burst from Niallus, Manas surging to his command. An arcane lance burst to life. And he threw it at Xiuyang without hesitation. Shortly after he threw it, she faded away, and his lance missed as it sailed off into the distance.

At that moment the monster used this opportunity to attack Niallus while he was distracted. A vine raced towards him striking him in the chest, impaling him. There was a small amount of pain that was overcome by numbness. Niallus coughed blood, his hand loosened the grip on his Arcane sword, eventually letting go. His mana couldn't contain itself, and the magical sword faded away. There was more; he felt something invading his system. Was it the thing that he had before that Sven cured? The vine slowly pulled itself out of his chest, his breathing became weaker and weaker, and eventually, he collapsed backwards.

---

*Thump, Thump*
*Thump, Thump*

The only sound that Niallus could hear was his heartbeat. Not even the noises of what was happening around him. Not even people's voices. Perhaps the fight had moved to a different location, or perhaps he got moved. This void was all that remained.

The last thing that he saw, that he felt was the vines impaling him. Niallus felt sheer agony as the vines spread poison all over his entire body.

There were more muffled noises this time, but this one managed to break through; he could hear this loud and clear. Hearing another sound echo through the air. He knew this. It was a gunshot. Perhaps Desmond was opening fire on the monster.

Goosebumps began to crawl over his skin. Was it his body warning him that he was in danger? It was likely that he didn't have long to act, so he did. His eyes opened, and with a burst of energy, he rose to his feet. Time was short, the adrenaline that he was feeling from this sensation, time seemed to wrap around him.

Using Kinetic he lifted a good amount of water around his person and then held it in place. Adding Chemical to the water, in the mad attempt to make the suspended water around him into a gelatinous substance. It wouldn't be enough, to stop a bullet. He needed it to be stronger. In an attempt to increase the density of the gelatine, a sharp pain erupted from his body. He had been through so much already, and he was pushing it to its limit. This forceful push made him lose focus causing it to waver. However, it was too late.

It was not Edyta's job to heal. That was for the Dordians and, yet, she had been trained as a healer. Healers took an oath. She knew little of Niallus. He was Eskandish. He was brash and bold and she'd heard tell that he dabbled in Dark Magic. Perhaps this was his comeuppance. Perhaps Mother Oraff now called to him, but Edyta did not think so. Cawuio-Zast had been a wicked man, through and through. Niallus was just a young and handsome fool.

Nobody had ever accused Edyta of being sentimental except, jokingly, dear Tommy. Was it an excess of sentimentality that drove her Niallus' way? Was it an excess of sentimentality that caused her to lower her guard and, in the middle of battle, prioritize the life of another - a lesser weapon - over her own?

Was it an excess of sentimentality that caused her to miss the bullet hurtling towards her - it had come from nowhere, hadn't it!?

"Niallus," she breathed, "Be still, stay awake. I will heal you." She was just reaching out to do so when it hit. So much natural instinct had been drilled into a nine-year-old girl that a seventeen-year-old one dodged instinctively and with uncanny speed, but it was not enough. The bullet hit and, before her mind could even process it, her body knew that it had been struck. It was not fatal. It wouldn't be fatal, but... the blood was barely visible as it stained the red robes below her right shoulder. She bit back a cry of pain, not willing to be a liability to the others, and gritted her teeth.

They say that the fond moments of your life meld together one last time before you pass. That was true. Laid in the waters his head just out of the water to breathe, which wasn't doing much for the young Eskandishman. His chest hardly moved, his breathing was weak and wheezy. His mind gave him fond memories of the people who were important to him. Hearing the sound of footsteps approaching him brought him out of his trance. A part of him guessed that the person who was approaching him was Hjem, the Eskandr Warden of Food, Drink and Parental Love. Was she here to collect his wayward soul?

The person came next to him, his vision was so blurred that he could only make out an outline of them. Hearing their voice, It was Edyta Laska. He didn't have much of an opinion of her. Sure they spent time in various encounters. He respected her as a person. Seeing the figure jerk in pain was an indication that she was shot too. He tried to speak, but all that came out was just a weak wheeze. He wanted to get up, he wanted to help, but his body didn't respond.

Niallus had regained consciousness some time. Unfortunately, his body was still unable to move, so he couldn't do anything but watch. Nonetheless, he was glad to be alive, thanks to Laska. He was able to look at the others and what was unfolding among them. Move damn it. He thought as he tried to move, but nothing happened. He spotted the flash of light, then the other that was a person moving to finish Desmond. "Laska... come closer." Once close, Niallus whispered "Attack the one that's closing in on Desmond, but you'll need to catch it off guard." then gave her a little nod.

Edyta could feel the life dripping out of her body: a sacrifice to Mother Eshiran, willingly given, as were all things. What a stupid thing. She could've dropped. She'd have been between words and safe.

Niallus would've died.

She didn't even know him and, from what she'd heard, he was a man of inconstant character, prone to pride and anger, eager to dabble in the dark magics that brought much more pain to the world than good. Jełop! She coughed. Stupid. Trying to be a hero. You're not a hero.

---

Greyspace
He had been about to die - if he was not already dead - and she had saved him. Edyta had grabbed Niallus' hand and disappeared into greyspace. Is it a sin to serve two masters? She could not know and she did not have time to ruminate on it. Ahn-Eshiran and Oraff-Zept were both among the Pentad, so surely they could not exist in opposition to each other. Surely, helping the one wasn't necessarily slighting the other. Edyta did not want to break her oath. Oaths were what kept the world bound in civilization, Father Bartek had once told her with a pained face, as if he were not sure that he believed it.

She did not have time to ruminate on it.

Niallus was... conscious, in a sense. She could feel it in his hand as she held it. She spared a glance his way as they moved through the shadows of spaces. They moved and she navigated as only she knew, as she had been doing for almost ten years.

Then, she stopped. Beneath her feet was mud. There was nearly dried mud, with a hint of red clay soil, and she knew it. There was a scent as well, and her very sense of reality prickled at it: apple and pear blossoms, in Stresia, by the creek in Bynowice. She shook her head to clear it, but how vivid it was. She shook her head. "...Niallus." He was coming to. She could ask him if he felt the dirt or smelled the flowers; she could ask him and be sure.

But she could not.

If they weren't real, he would think that she was crazy. Perhaps it was a trick of the demon she had sensed, but... The last time that she had seen dear Father Bartek, when they had spoken at length of mundane things, he had asked her if she was 'seeing' yet. She hadn't known or understood. He'd merely nodded and looked lonely for a minute. "Well, you'll see sooner or later," he'd told her, "we all do. Speak to me immediately once that happens." She'd been unsettled. She'd thought him mad, but perhaps this was what he'd meant.

Then, there was a voice humming and she knew it too: her sister Marta, and the tune was Oj chmielu, the wedding song. It was Marta and Edyta had not seen her in seven years, not since that one Caldores when she'd been back with her new husband and son and the young Rezaindian had been given leave to see her family. Marta, who'd raised her almost like a second mother. How her heart ached for Marta and she wondered if she might hear Piotr, and Jacek, and Joanna.

Niallus was heavy, even though her magic was moving him. Then, he twitched. "Niallus," she entreated, "Are you okay?"

He'll think you're mad.

No he won't. It's a simple question!

"Did you hear something?"

Soon, they could leave. Soon. They could return to the real world and face whatever awaited them there. Perhaps the others needed their help, it occurred to Edyta. Perhaps they should go back this very moment, but Niallus was still only just beginning to move and, on some level, she did not want to.

Niallus was starting to come too. His muscles tensed and then relaxed as he was starting to move. The hand that was holding Laskas gave her a little squeeze. Upon waking up properly, the first thing he saw was Laska. The last thing that he remembered seeing was a bright flash from the beginning of the storm. "I'm fine. Thank you." He said, smiling at her.

For a moment he tilted his head raising an eyebrow. "I'll have a listen." a few moments pass, he shakes his head. "Sorry Laska I." then he heard it. "I hear humming, faint humming." whatever it was, from Laskas expression she wanted to investigate. So did he. "I want to recover a bit more before heading back to our reality." He took a few steps in front of her then continued."So how about we investigate that sound. You look like you want too."

"Stay still for a moment." Niallus was back and Edyta had the good sense to stop and search his energies for signs of anything dangerous. She pulled back and she blinked almost immediately.

He looked at her and she looked at him and then she ripped her hand free of his. Were there energy to draw within greyspace, she'd have done it. He was twice her size but still woozy. And yet... he seemed agreeable enough.

"Freshman year, at the Trials, who was your Zeno and what did you steal from him and wreck?" Edyta's heart hammered and her mind raced. His mana was... completely different - completely wrong. Inside of him was... the bog monster, but... not exactly. Are those even manas!? she wondered, prying deeper into them with her energy sense. There were millions of them in his bloodstream, propagating endlessly, and they had supplanted - or perhaps fused with - his original manas, but they had also done something greater: he should've died from his wounds but, even now, she could sense the little symbiotes healing him. They were healing him, but would they also try to control him?

The rezaindian waited warily, ready to drop back into realspace at any moment. She swallowed and searched his eyes, his stance, his biochemicals, as alien as they now were. Then, there they were again: the voices, but this time, they were coupled with the distinct feeling that there was a hill beyond Niallus and, over the crest of it, would be home and the source of them.

She blinked again to try to clear her head. "Well?" she demanded impatiently.

When Laska asked him to stay still. Niallus was confused at her request at first. Perhaps there's an injury on his person that she noticed. "Is there something wrong? What is the matter?" He asked her, confused by how she was staring at him.

Her question was rather easy to answer, but given how she was looking at him, mixed with her impatientness he would have to give her an answer. The correct one. "It was Secto. And i didn't steal his stagecoach, I borrowed it." He shot back at her "It wasn't my fault that it ended up being destroyed. We just didn't have a plan to land it safely." Feeling his confusion getting the better of him he asked. "Laska, is something wrong?"

Her eyes narrowed for a moment, but then she nodded tightly. "My name: what is it?" the nun demanded, scanning him again. There was a taint of the VOID, but perhaps it was just because he'd dabbled in the dark arts, like all too many Eskandish. "You're infected with something. It's kept you alive, but it could own you, and completely." Her response was the most basic of courtesies.

His eyebrow arched confused by her. But he responded to her. "Your name is Edyta, Edyta Laska." It was odd for him to say her actual name. He was so used to saying her surname.

Hearing her explain that he's infected with something. He immediately asked her. "And you are asking this question. to me to see if I'm still me. Correct?" He had no reason to not believe what Laska was saying to him, why would she lie to him. If she wanted to she could have just left him here to his fate. But from what she said. He scanned his body. There was something there. Living inside of him. Remembering the injuries that he suffered. Being inpaled by vines. The gunshot that hit him in the chest. No normal person could survive all that.

"What should I do? What can i do?" He asked.

Edyta began walking as she spoke, on toward Niallus, towards the hill that she knew was there. She could feel the mud, and when she deviated slightly from the path, the grass beneath her shoes. She could feel the pull of gravity as she began to make her way uphill. It was all so real.

"Live," she responded simply, "with whatever time you have." She shrugged, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder as she did so. "Live as long as you're you. Be watchful of what lives inside you." Always, that was her credo in life.

The voices weren't any closer. She crested the hill and... there was no hill. There was nothing to see beyond it. Perhaps she should stay, but first... "Aside from your greenish pallor, you appear well enough to return to reality."

Am I?

"Allow me to send you back?"

Niallus listened to Laska's advice that she offered to him. How much time did he have left that was the question. The other question was, what happens when it takes over? For now, he pushed those thoughts out of his mind. Live in the now. "Thank you Edyta." He said with a smile.

As he took a look to try to get some detail of the area around him. He was about to say something about his new tint of green skin. Then he froze, a voice he heard. It didn't come from Laska. The sensation of hearing it made his skin crawl. Was he losing control of himself already?

The moment she pulled her hand away, there was silence. The voices and the humming he once heard was gone. "Did you..." He stopped himself. Trying to regain his composure, but struggling. When she mentioned sending him back, he spoke. "No wait. Can you give me your hand for a moment?" his hand held open for her. There was an idea that came to him. This was needed to test it "Trust me."

Edyta Laska's face was a study in wariness and, had she been able to draw energy in this place, Niallus might've felt the prickling sensation of a complete draw. After a moment, however, she held her hand out. It was small and dainty, with long slender fingers that seemed almost... delicate, but that was belied by the rough skin and callouses. It was a young woman's hand, but also a peasant's and a warrior's. Her eyes flicked up to his for a moment. "What is it?" she asked cautiously.

"Something interesting." Niallus took her hand with his. It was soft and gentle. Immediately, the sensations that she previously mentioned all came back to the Eskand at once. The sounds, the smells, all of it. The sensation felt something similar to breaking the surface of water, after being submerged for so long.

"You asked me if I could hear something." with his grip on her soft hands, the connection became stronger. "It seems that I can only hear and sense other things when I'm in direct contact with you." lifting their joined hands.

I'm the source of it, then. I'm creating it. Edyta furrowed her brow, businesslike, and nodded, pulling her hand away. "Thank you," she said quickly. "I think I'm the source of it, but there's someone I can talk to." She took a breath and released it, ignoring the sounds and sensations of home and family. "We should be getting back now. Who can say what kind of trouble the others might be in." She reached again, expectantly, for his hand.

When Laska let go of his hand. The sound of silence returned to Niallus once more. "You are welcome." He said to her taking a breath. "If you need help on this, you can ask me. It's the least I can do. After all, you did save my life, twice."

There was some hesitation in him for answering her about wanting to return. What if he loses control the moment he steps out of the greyspace. Swallowing that fear that was building up. He could only do what Laska suggested. Live. If it wasn't for him being infected, he would be dead. He gives her a nod taking hold of her hand once more. Ignoring the sounds and sensations Laska was emitting. "Yes."

They came back into the world just as the worst seemed to have ended. Roslyn was nearby, having killed something hideous. others were in various states of battered, bruised, and burnt, but all seemed more or less alive and already healed. So it was. So it seemed to have ended... or had it?

---

The rotten seed within Sven gurgled and cackled at the display of heroism that had hampered its unceremonious slaughter of the Yasoi fool. "A miracle it truly is-" the "Sven" raised his arms up in a Y-posture in jubiliation. His grin nearly matched that of the one that had its way with Ingrid deeper in the marshes. Blood began to pour out of his nostrils like he had just been struck there. Then his eyes, and ears and pores. Like a severely damaged pipe, he oozed off the dark red ichor, soon coming with chunks of flesh-like matter. This continued until he drowned in a contained pool of the stuff.

And from all this blood came the form of a large - twice the height of Sven himself and considerably larger - red creature. Grotesque did not begin to describe it. It looked like a morbidly obese man with flappy breasts, veins protruding out of its sides, a folded naval, and legs that were almost entirely consumed by that gut. And its head, not yet taken by the red folds of the horrible monster, lacked eyes but as it "peered" down at the humans that had come to Esmii's aid, they could just *feel* it staring at that. Clumps of hair were present on its bony scalp, and its mouth, perpetually agape, made with a tongue that rolled down to the tip of its toes. "-that fools such as thou have lived this long!" a distorted voice blurted out, fat arms risen as were Sven's in celebration.

As it lowered its girthy appendages, the right hand found itself wielding a massive butcher's cleaver made entirely of the same stuff that had just formed it. Once again, without mercy, it cast its wicked hatred upon Esmii with a downward slash of its weapon upon her.

The more observant of the bunch could notice the beast's belly was not entirely opaque - a tad bit of light revealed *something* inside the beast. Further sensing would recognize the shape of a person.

Watching his friend turn into a grotesque blob. His stomach churned, and his spine tingled. Was this still the effects of the Grey space that he and Laska were in a little while ago? It mattered not.

When the monster raised its weapon, ready to cut down the beloved of the original person of where that monster stood. Niallus rushed across the water to the Yasoi's aid. He drew in Manas, a lot of Manas. He created a strong barrier of Kinetic energy, to absorb and stop the attack. "Quickly get yourself healed Esmii."

The mighty cleaver descended, smashing into Niallus' barrier of "kinetic energy", vague as it was difficult to keep in its formless state. The barrier shattered but struck Niallus with an aftershock while Esmii could just barely sneak away once her spine had been made operational enough. The foul, crimson axe was yanked out of the fissured ground after the fact and a mocking gurgle was dedicated to the flock of sacrifices.

Then came the nun's frost. This time the demon did not just idly take punishment. In its inactive, fat hand was formed an identifical cleaver from its very flesh and blood. With a singular jab downward, the spreading, red corrupting clashed with the ice, preventing further progress. This did blind it - in spite of its missing eyes - the shot to its belly. The bullet merely ... Bounced off the fat abdomen. A strange result, one that wasn't caused by the thick layers of meat and red ichor but instead by a constant focus the monster had in channelling unseen layers of heat and air around its belly and head. If they were going to pierce through, they'd have to break its focus or stance somehow.

With a giant belch, the demon jubilantly rushed for the group with reckless abandon.

The demon was tough. He was, after all, a legendary tier five. Edyta did not have the time to think about which of the three this was. Screamer? Eater? Sacrifice? She threw a shield of half-formed stone up between her and a mighty blow, phasing into greyspace for but a second and coming out a few yards away from where she'd plunged in.

Screamer? Eater? Sacrifice!? She could smell her mother's pierogies, on the holidays when they could cook them. She could hear the sizzle of the frying pan and the chiming of the church bells.

In and out of reality, in more than one way. Then Niallus was cleaved nearly in half and she began rushing over to heal him, but he did not need her rescuing this time. He... healed in the most uncanny way, and she steered clear. Is it you we shall have to fight next?She prayed it would not be, but then she saw it: an opening as the demon raised an arm. The moment that she released her cryogenic spell, she could tell, just by muscle memory, that it had misfired. Yet, it struck true and blasted an arm clean off.

Edyta was usually not one to question gifts from the Eshiran. She'd been granted many already. Still, she'd felt herself get the formula partially wrong. She knew her spells!

It had hit, and she supposed that was all that matytered. Esmii was recovered as well, and a great boon, and Edyta was glad of it. She was glad of it but for the lingering feeling of unease in her stomach. Screamer... eater...

Oh no.Niallus got back up, with the blood of this thing in his veins. His left arm became distorted, bigger. With the others attacking it, causing it to stagger. Niallus stood in front of it. From hearing his friend's voice echoing from its gut. With his super powered left arm he gripped its stomach. "Time to die. You piece of shit." In a swift movement of his arm. His fingers dug into it, breaking the skin. Then he ripped it. A huge chuck of its flesh came off in his hand. Blood and guts came out of it like a river, covering Niallus from head to toe. The Eskandishman however was unfazed by this brutal act as he dug his friend out

# Blood Pool
Niallus dug his mutated arm into the bulging demon, twisting and burrowing his digits in there. With enough force, the gurgling and laughing monster began to shriek in horrendous pain. Blood burst out with immense pressure, until a massive fissure formed in the center of the belly.

Laska stood idle, unconvinced this was the end. Something was wrong.

"The sac- No, wait. Wait!"

She was just about ready to spring into action when the massive, red zit finally exploded in a wave of blood before the stoic Niallus. The monster fell back, arms raised in jubilation as the cleaves faded into dust. Out came the shape of a person in foetal position, in the centre of the massive splatter of blood where once stood the fat bloodgorger.

**He-Help me pleashe ...**

They heard, initially coming from the middle of that bloody ground zero.

**My friendsh, pleashe saaaave meeee ...**

The voice, it wasn't as clear this time, or rather its origins weren't. It felt like it was higher than it should be, and to the East.

Niallus, on the other hand, could barely register anything. His body was not taking kindly to this new symbiotic invasion. He fell to his knees, body burning up inside and his limbs unresponsive, barely a few meters from the person he had freed.

**Heeeee HEEEEEEEE!**

The voice from higher up cackled. Then, its progenitor looked down at them with a massive, obscene smile. Its form was all black and made of tar, limbs far too long and its eyes pure yellow.

**Youuuuuu did weeeelllllll!!!**

It just stayed there, on a tree, gawking at both the humans and the individual lying in the muddle of bloodgorger's blood.

Niallus fell to his knees, even though the nerves worryingin had been severely dulled in this state of, whatever it was. It seemed it had a toll. He wanted to check the body next to him, check if it was his friend, but his body was unresponsive. He began to breathe heavily, exhausted.

Niallus simply knelt there the pain he was suffering seemed to subside. The only problem was that he couldn't move. When the person that was next to himt up. All of the muscles in his body demanded only one thing to do.

Ru.

He tried his best but his body felt too heavy, unable to move. At best, he was able to raise his head so he could see the face of the person who was originally next to him. From how he was, it was like he was kneeling in respect, but at this moment. He was awaiting judgment.

The Evil Smile relished in the Pandemonium. And once carte blanche was given by hiseminence, the impossibly thin and slimy creature flexed its legs and propelled itself at speeds that rivalled Desmond's exciting escape. The Magusjaeger had made it through the portal, but not the others.

"IN. MY. BELLY!!!!!!!" its massive maw was unhinged and the endless abyss of the Smiler's gullet awaited them. Except, it wasn't going for any individual, but rather the portal itself!

As Niallus knelt there at the mercy of the Demon, he realized that no one was going to help him this time. It felt natural, always having to help others, but now no one was there for him. Or maybe they got tired of helping him. Either way, He felt pitiful and insignificant compared to his predecessors' accomplishments. Despite believing that his life lessons and mistakes would make him a better person. Now it feels like nothing but a lie.

As footsteps approached, Niallus saw that it was Esmii. He didn't understand why she was helping him when she had a chance to escape. Before he could say anything, she spoke and began to heal him. Esmii's healing powers enveloped Niallus, mending his wounds and revitalizing his strength, filling him with a renewed sense of hope and determination.

Looking over Esmii's shoulder, Niallus saw Evil Smile trying to eat the portal. He wanted to help, and his mana colony responded, resonating in his core. Maybe this was Oraff's way of giving him a chance to protect his friends. However, he knew that all actions in this world have consequences.
*I'm sorry my friends*

*I'm sorry Hylaeni, how I'd wish to hold you in my arms one last time*

Thinking of his friends and family, Niallus expelled some of the manas and dashed towards Evil Smile. The manas stored in his body multiplied rapidly, and he conjured not one, but multiple Arcane Swords into reality. Void energy flooded from his system, coating the blades of light with dark energy. As he swung both swords, void energy rippled from the swing as if it was eagerly wanting to strike Evil Smile. The air crackled with power as the Arcane Swords sliced through the darkness, aiming to vanquish the malevolent force threatening the portal and his companions. The moment was intense, filled with a mix of fear and determination, as Niallus unleashed his full power to protect those he cared for.

Evil Smile was a scourge of life on Sipenta. He had appeared seven times within recorded history and, on each occasion, had been responsible for thousands of deaths. In one instance, the tier five demon had swallowed the armada of Stathicles the Redeemed and singlehandedly caused the downfall of his Great Thalak Empire. On three other occasions, he had directly brought about the coming of Belthagor, Grand Demon of Arrogance and one of the Three Kings of Hell.

This time, he was about to die, and his death toll was only in the hundreds.

The demon's beady eyes widened. He tried to reel back out of the way, but it was going to be too little, too late. A being of this power, taken down by one man!? It felt like some scarce-believable myth of old. "Master, I am lost!" he wailed, perhaps not nearly as pathetic as he sounded, but aware that appealing to Belthagor's immense pride was the best course.

The Grand Demon cared not for his minion, however. Evil Smile had served his purpose and there was a deliciously dramatic woman in front of him: Sven's beloved. It was time to make her disappear. There was a second: a moth drawn to his flame, and a potentially useful one. His magic overpowering hers, he reeled her in.

So, Evil Smile did all that was within his power. His jaws spread wider, his eyes glowed and, from the near-endless void of his gut came demon after demon of the second, third, and even fourth tiers. They spilled into the world, released from the monster who had consumed them, and set upon Niallus.

A dozen or more fell immediately to his mighty strike, but there were still more and Evil Smile remained, as yet, alive and barreling towards the others!

With the Demon that he attacked recoiling and wanting to keep his distance from this Eskandishman. Demons erupted from Evil Smile's gut. Those demons were grand and diverse. They all charged at Niallus all willing to give their lives to put him down for their master.

Niallus stood ready, ready to strike. He was done holding back; the way his mana surged with newfound power, it seemed that he couldn't hold back now. One demon recklessly charged ahead of the others. Wanting the honour of killing Niallus. The demon soared off the ground towards him. Niallus was not given an inch, standing his ground. Swiftly stepping to the side of the demon's trajectory. Following it up, Niallus' Void Sword cut straight through the demon's neck, removing it from his shoulders. The body flopped to the floor behind Niallus as he wasted little time as some other demons continued their advance on him. Niallus let go of his concentration on one of his swords, causing it to fade from reality. Grabbing the leg of the one he just decapitated. Swinging its body as a club with kinetic energy. The corpse collided with the closest one. A sickening thud was heard as the demon's bodies crashed into one another. Even loud enough to mask the sound of demon bones breaking. Not wasting time Niallus stamped on the demon's head with the sheer force of his foot, crushing its skull.

This was getting him nowhere, as he could see more and more demons were coming out of Evil Smile's gut. That was his target. Not these distractions. The third one charged, Niallus, responded with an advance of his own, not backing down. The demon swung its heavy, in an attempt to behead the Eskandishman. Niallus slid on his knees, avoiding the demon's attack only just. Bringing his last Void Sword into the gut of the demon. Blood splattered everywhere, but Niallus didn't break focus. Like a great hunter, he was determined to get his prey. Small scratches that he had received, instantly recovered. You are not getting away. he thought as he gave chase to Evil Smile.

"You think you can take me on so easily!?" the demon taunted, his great maw opening to truly disgusting dimensions. "Up until now, I've only been using a mere five percent of my power. Now, let's see how you fare against my... BITING BLAST!"

From his mouth erupted a colossal beam of energy so powerful that it turned the very air around it into unstable plasma, that reality itself seemed to waver, and this was headed straight for the portal and the others!

However, it had left an opening. Niallus would have to choose: block the gargantuan attack or kill Evil Smile and let it hit?

Seeing that he had the opportunity to attack and kill Evil Smile, Niallus wanted to. But the urge to keep his friends protected took a higher priority. Niallus dashed across the boggy marsh his Manas heeded his call once more. He was going to need a lot to stop this attack. Hardening the air in front of him as he stood in waiting for the eye of the storm to connect. Void energy flooded from his system, strengthening his barrier.

The beam clashes with his barrier. The sheer force of the impact pushed Niallus further and further back. His feet kicked up muddy mass while they scraped across the surface. The edges of his void kinetic barrier began to warp, was it failing? Then parts began to splinter away. His arms burned from the sheer heat of the attack even the skin on his forearms and parts of his face began to feel it, his nerves screaming in sheer agony from this chaos. His body did its best to hold back the injuries, healing him to some degree, but even that was slowly faulting as the damage was just outpacing it.

He gritted his teeth, trying to hold his own. Digging deep into his very core, using whatever he could spare and worry about the consequences later. His magical defence was struggling, but it was able to hold some amount of the power that Evil Smile used in his attack. Niallus didn't have long before he'd lose control of the magic that he held. Pouring what Manas was left of his defence spell and some more from his system. He manipulated what he had into an Arcane Lance. He could feel his grip on slipping rapidly from the sheer density of magic. He aimed at Evil Smile, and threw it with all his might. The lance shot off, making a straight shot to Evil Smile.

The demon was winning, his beady little eyes wide with cruel glee as he savoured Niallus' impending annihilation. Then came the Eskandishman's counterattack. He shouldn't have been able to counter like that. No human should've! Evil Smile's eyes widened some more, if that was possible, but in fear this time.

A river of pure burning light and heat burst through the middle of the vendemon's beam of darkness, racing up its length and right into the mouth of Evil Smile. At the last moment, he tried to flinch away.

It was too late.

The arcane lance punched through his mouth with a meaty, sizzling 'pop!' and then out his back, melting him from the inside. The demon let out a sick gurgling wail, wavered for a moment where he stood, and fell forward, smoking. There was a tremor that came up through Niallus' boots, and the few who had not yet passed through the portal twisted for a second, feeling it as well.

Evil Smile was dead.

Belthagor floated there in repose, beautiful and terrifying, his face an expressionless mask of thought. Then, he scowled. "Sorry, old friend. You were weaker than I thought." He alighted upon the ground and, immediately, where his feet met it, it began to burn with unholy fire.

Certainly, Esmii tried with all of her strength. Roslyn did what she might, but their attacks did not so much as reach him, dissipating yards away. Belthagor walked toward Niallus without breaking his stride, the latter of the two dragged by invisible chains in his wake. "You," he admitted, "are stronger than I thought."

The grand demon opened his mouth and a milky grey-white smoke began curling out of it, spreading quickly and reaching for all three of the others.

After the colossal lance of light and heat streaked across the gap between himself and his target. Niallus felt something off in his system as if this counterattack had taken from his very core. He gave a triumphant chuckle as his shot in the dark, his final stand against Evil Smile, came to an end.

When the demon collapsed to the floor dead, the shockwave that was caused made Niallus drop to his knees. His breathing is rapid and shallow. I didn't think I'd be able to pull that off... his mind screamed. His arms were covered in burns and blisters. His newfound healing abilities seemed to be working on repairing the damaged cells in his forearms. It wasn't as rapid as the previous injuries, was he reaching his limit of it?

Hearing a voice only uttering a single word, he immediately lifted his head. As if he knew he was the one the voice was talking to. The Grand Demon was slowly approaching him. His two friends, Roslyn and Esmii, are dragged behind him against their own will. Niallus had already been through so much. Killing strong demons. But a Grand Demon. Impossible. When the Grand Demon spoke to him, Niallus saw unholy smoke leave the demon's mouth. The Eskandishman couldn't move. He was at his mercy, feeling the smoke slowly creep up his body. It crept into his mouth, filling his lungs. Every corner of his being was engulfed by smoke. His mind was being invaded by the Demons will. He tried to keep it at bay. But it wasn't successful.

*Submit to me*

The voice invading his head commanded. Pain consumed his body. His body, his skin bent to his will. This was something that Niallus wasn't going to escape from. All of his personality slowly ripped from him. His likes are gone. The memories of his friends, one by one, each one was ripped away. The last memory that was left to go was his dear Yasoi, Hylaeni. He desperately tried to keep her in his thoughts, but it was also gone.

---