Chapter 434
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Chapter 434
Much as I enjoy cutting down my enemies like chaff, I wholeheartedly regret my decision to leave the triple crossbows and catapults behind.
Clumped together at the river crossing, the Defiled horde make for perfect targets as they scream and dance on the other side, impatiently awaiting their turn to cross while wholly indifferent to the fate which awaits them. Said fate is likely a messy death at the end of my glaive as it carves a figure-eight through the air and slaughters any Defiled caught along the way. Bear Form Standing Fury is one of the last Insights Baledagh left me with, but I completely forgot about it following the whole reveal. After unearthing the memory and working out the specifics, its come in handy for these long, drawn out engagements despite how silly it looks and feels.
Its a little like waving a giant flag on a pole back and forth while trying to stay level on a rocking boat, minus the actual flag or boat. Odd, but effective. Not as odd as Song reciting poetry on the battlefield, but her delivery is surprisingly evocative.
Though what Im doing seems simple enough, its physically and mentally engaging to pull off. Theres a flow to the continuous movement, with arms, shoulders, hips, and knees all working in tandem to minimize effort and maximize effect, with each pass of the glaive building on the last. Still, minimizing effort is not the same as no effort at all, and after twenty minutes of repetitive motion, the strain is building up in my knees and obliques, those rarely used muscles at the side of my abdomen. Add in my lack of sleep and dwindling Chi reserves thanks to constant Reinforcement and repetitive Amplification, I expect to topple over in exhaustion in ten or so minutes, but there are still many, many enemies left to kill. Bloodthirsty though they might be, the Defiled arent stupid, and even though we hold the terrain advantage, they have the numbers and they mean to wear us down.
Having learned from observation, my latest opponent avoids running headlong into my glaive and tries to feint at the edge of my range, but I simply loosen my grip and Unity slides out to catch him between the ribs. Without Chi, the attack would probably glance off my opponents bones, but thanks to the magic of Amplification and Honing, it rends his chest open and slices through lungs and heart. Eyes wide with surprise, my latest victim falls to his knees where hell soon join the other corpses at his feet, to be stepped over or kicked aside by the next idiot dumb enough to approach.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
Or maybe not.
Surprise turns to panic in my fallen foes eyes, which then gives way to hatred and resignation, his accusing glare first directed towards the water and then at me, blaming the slippery terrain for getting in his way and condemning me for killing him, even though he meant to do worse. Murky blood spills from his mouth as he moves his lips, his voice silent due to the lack of connected lungs, yet for some reason, its like hes gaining vitality when it should be draining away. Back straight and shoulders squared, he lifts his head high in a silent cry of triumph, not what youd expect from a man whos already drawn his last breath. A small part of me marvels at his tenacity and wonders how hes still alive, even as Unity swoops back around to take his head and offer the small mercy of death.
Im just glad his face is covered with a headwrap. It dehumanizes him and makes it easier not to empathize.
Just as Unity is about to reach his neck, someone grabs me by the scruff and pulls me away, my feet lifted off the ground while the blade cuts through empty air. Fall back! Argat booms, his Chi-infused voice rising over the din of battle. Fall back to the wagons!
Irritated at being dragged around like a misbehaving kitten, my angry snarl dies on my lips and a chill runs down my spine as the Spectres circle around my dying foe in a vortex of coordinated chaos. For the first time, I witness the Spectres affect the physical world as they surge into the Defiled warriors chest wound, bringing multiple spiralling streams of water along with them. No, not just water, but blood and flesh too, the corpses of his fallen comrades melting as the Spectres pass by, then carried along by the gushing water and fed into his chest cavity. Body swelling like a balloon, his skin bulges and stretches from the excessive fluids before contracting inwards, then expanding even larger than before as his unholy feast shows no signs of slowing. Growing with each throbbing pulse of his body, his headwrap explodes to reveal a water-logged face, and the rest of his skin takes on the same grey-white cast, no longer dried and wrinkled but smooth and engorged as if hed been submerged underwater for several days and stretched out over a too large frame.
The detached, clinical part of my brain which isnt gibbering in terror notes the Spectres are being consumed in the same manner I Devour them, though these ones appear willing to go along for the ride. Then again, the Spectres back in Sanshu were pretty happy to be Devoured and I didnt encounter resistance until coming to the front lines. Another piece of another puzzle I cannot comprehend, but I see that water, flesh and Heavenly Energy are required to fuel this particular horrific metamorphosis.
What good this does... well... who knows.
The Demons Aura collides against my own and snaps me out of my fugue, a stark reminder Im still alive and should probably do something if I want to stay that way. Tearing my eyes away from the burgeoning, water-logged abomination, I ask, So... wouldnt now be a good time to kill it? You know... while its busy... growing?
My question earns me an inquisitive stare from Argat, a single eyebrow raised in minor bewilderment. Giving a slow shake of his head, he drawls, Best to leave the Demon alone and let things run their course; Ichor will ruin a Spiritual Weapon and cripple your Core if you strike before its finished. Besides, he adds, turning his eyes back to the Demon, The Father often casts His gaze upon His birthing children, and Id rather not draw His attention any more than I have to.
...Wow. Glad I couldnt kill Vivek before he finished transforming. Just another time where my failure was actually a success, I suppose.
Now that Argat mentions it, I realize none of the Defiled are moving either, having withdrawn out of the shallows and back to dry land to celebrate the birth of their new Transcendent. A fresh wave of dread leaves me reeling in place as I realize where the epithet came from, my captured Spectres howling the title in an uncontrolled frenzy while demanding I release them to join their comrades to form what surely must be the fattest, ugliest Demon in existence. A thought crosses my mind to Devour the errant Spectres and keep them from the Demon, but I discard it immediately as I track down the source. My captured Spectres want me to try because doing so would offer them the escape they so desire, their subtle manipulations made obvious by crazed desperation.
Okay, mental note: My Succ is less than Demon birthing Succ.
...I wish my life wasnt so weird.
Wooo, Lord of Thunder Lei Gong!
My vision clears and high spirits give way to consternation as Pudge stands unscathed behind a shimmering shield of water, one which covers its entire hefty frame. A second bolt of lightning crashes into the Demon, but again, the shield stops it cold. Reacting to an unseen attack, Lei Gong dodges aside as something smashes into the ground a few meters behind him, raising a furrow of mud and dirt before knocking three Death Corps Soldiers off their feet. A water bullet maybe? Luckily, Pudge is tall and the projectile was angled downwards, else those Death Corps soldiers wouldnt have escaped with just a few scrapes and bruises.
The Defiled stomp and cheer in the background, content to stand and watch their Transcendent clean up, so I signal my soldiers to do the same. It makes sense, because if Lei Gong really wanted to go all out, he could easily wipe out a good portion of the Defiled on his own, and the same could be said of Pudge. Hell, the fat fucker could lie on the grass and roll over my retinue and wed probably be helpless to stop it.
No longer playing around, Lei Gong unleashes a storm of lightning. When the light show dies down and my vision returns, I find the battle in full swing as Pudge chases Lei Gong, throwing wide, predictable punches which most people would be hard pressed to avoid, given its incredible speed and tremendous reach. That said, the Lord of Thunder can hardly be counted as most people, nor can Tenjin and Tursinai who take the field. Each falls into their respective roles with ease, as if this were the umpteenth time they'd fought side by side, rather than their first time ever. Lei Gong holds Pudges attention with dazzling blasts of lightning, while Tursinai impedes its movements by tangling its legs, a dangerous game of push and pull which could end in disaster. Too much slack and the Pudge roams freely, but not enough a single yank could pull her into the Demons crushing embrace. Meanwhile, Tenjin nips at its heels, unleashing a storm of mundane throwing knives which puncture soggy flesh, but doing little damage otherwise.
The three remaining Experts on the field each pick a partner and stick close by, their spears held at the ready to help defend should their partner require it. Wondering why Jochi, Argat, and Daxian dont just rush in and nail a foot down or something, my unspoken question is soon answered by the Demon itself. Weary of chasing Lei Gong, the Demons water shield collapses and the liquid adheres to its fists, forming six rippling tendrils which lash out independently at its foes. The Imperial Experts back away to avoid its reach, though if theyd been any closer, then they undoubtedly wouldve been caught. Freed from Tursinais ensnaring chain, the Demon charges at Lei Gong to end the incessant bolts of lightning, but the Lord of Thunder is not so easily caught. Hurling his cane like a javelin, the Spiritual Weapon smashes into an empty eye-socket and pierces clean through Pudges head. Staggered but not downed, its tendrils go wild but Daxian is in place to defend, his spear fending off multiple attacks while Lei Gong gathers his Chi and unleashes the most powerful strike yet. Night turns to day as an orb of lightning emerges from Lei Gongs cane, covering Pudges face in an explosion of electrical discharge. A rapid-fire series of thunderclaps deafens my ears and shakes me to the bones, but right before the world fades back to dark, I see Tenjin sailing through the air with his blazing twin daggers aimed at Pudges wide, unprotected back.
Wishing I had some way to protect my vision, I set to repairing my ruptured eardrums the old fashioned way while blinking repeatedly, hoping to see or hear something to tell me whats going on. Long seconds pass before my eyesight returns, and once it does I wish it hadnt. Though its face is a blackened mess and its back spurting Ichor, Pudge continues its rampage against the Imperial Elites. Tursinais weapon dangles in its fist while the wielder herself kneels by her fallen hubby, laying in an indent in the dirt where hed been slammed. As I watch in horror, a watery tendril slips past Jochis guard to strike his leg and his bones crumple like tissue upon impact. A follow up strike misses as Argat drags his screaming brother away from battle, paying no heed to pain hes causing in order to save a life.
Only Lei Gong and Daxian remain on the battlefield, and neither one looks in good condition. Planting Unity in the dirt, I draw Peace and launch it without thinking, hoping to get lucky and kill in a single blow, but the Honed blade sinks into Pudges skull with almost no effect. Reminded of my existence, it turns those empty sockets towards me, an almost comical sight with my sword stuck through its skull and Lei Gongs cane in its eye. Raising a meaty arm, Pudge extends a razor-tipped finger and reforms its shield, the water rippling briefly before firing out. My throat tightens as my vision goes dark, and a metallic crash sounds out, but not the chime of a bell or the ring of a sword, more of a crumpled bang youd expect from driving a car into a solid stone wall. Taking a step back out of reflex, a brigandine chest-piece comes into focus, the word Virtuous neatly engraved in the centre.
Holy shit, did Daxian just leap in front of me to take a water bullet?
Peering around my prickly would-be hero, Im relieved to see yet another person standing in front of Daxian, my heros daddy dripping wet from head to toe in his ragged shirt and all the sexier for it. With a throaty growl which echoes over the silent battlefield, GangShu scowls at his ruined clothes and declares, This one is under my protection, Demon. Ive been ordered to keep to the Treaty to not escalate the situation, so best you fuck off now.
Sightless eyes narrowed in rage, Pudge advances a single, step, but GangShu suddenly appears in front of the Demon, standing right up against the shimmering shield of water. Seems you dont understand Common, so lets try a different language.
GangShu is neither particularly tall nor wide, a lithe man who is broad of shoulder and slim of waist, with a shocking amount of body hair beneath his torn shirt. Arms crossed as he stands in Pudges path, he looks like a hairy, petulant child trying to bar the path of a massive adult. As the Demon winds up to punch, I cant help but wince in anticipation. Even if hes an Ancestral Beast, the laws of physics still apply, which means
Jack shit, it seems.
A full-on haymaker hammers home into GangShus shoulder and the Ancestral Beast barely shifts, though the wind from the attack is enough to send clumps of wet dirt flying. Rather than a meaty thunk, Pudges fist emits a crumpled bang and implodes on impact, the same sound I heard earlier while Daxian was blocking my vision.
So GangShu didnt put up any fancy Chi shields and just blocked the water bullet with his bare body. Cool. Cool, cool, cool.
Retracting its broken fist, Pudge raises its other arm and lands another haymaker to the same effect. Metallic crumple, broken flesh, Ancestral Beast standing in place. Still unwilling to give up, the Demon leans forward as if intending to swallow GangShu whole, but with a wave of his hand, he sends Pudge flying back to crash into the clustered ranks of Defiled, water shield and all. Rolling to its feet, its shield melts away and gushes out to dissolve the Defiled whod been pulped by its passing. Before long, the liquefied remains flow back into Pudges gullet, though its injuries show no sign of recovering.
Well, thats one thing to be grateful for. Its strong, fast, durable, has a shield, multiple whips, and speedy bullets, but at least it doesnt Heal too quickly.
Ripping Lei Gongs cane, Tenjins daggers, and my sword out of its flesh, Pudge screeches one last time before marching west, reaching decent speeds with its squelching, ponderous stride. Heart pounding and knees weak even though all I did was stand around, my mind blanks as GangShu flashes his charming smile and says, Well, my parts done here. Ill leave the cleanup to you. Before I can ask him to clarify, the forgotten Defiled horde scream their battle cries and charge across the shrunken pond and trickling river, unfazed by the herculean battle we all just witnessed. Screaming back to calm my nerves, I take up Unity in its axe form and charge into the fray, happy to abandon all thought and kill some Defiled.
If thats what top tier fights are like, then maybe Im better off not getting stronger...
Chapter Meme
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Chapter 434
Much as I enjoy cutting down my enemies like chaff, I wholeheartedly regret my decision to leave the triple crossbows and catapults behind.
Clumped together at the river crossing, the Defiled horde make for perfect targets as they scream and dance on the other side, impatiently awaiting their turn to cross while wholly indifferent to the fate which awaits them. Said fate is likely a messy death at the end of my glaive as it carves a figure-eight through the air and slaughters any Defiled caught along the way. Bear Form Standing Fury is one of the last Insights Baledagh left me with, but I completely forgot about it following the whole reveal. After unearthing the memory and working out the specifics, its come in handy for these long, drawn out engagements despite how silly it looks and feels.
Its a little like waving a giant flag on a pole back and forth while trying to stay level on a rocking boat, minus the actual flag or boat. Odd, but effective. Not as odd as Song reciting poetry on the battlefield, but her delivery is surprisingly evocative.
Though what Im doing seems simple enough, its physically and mentally engaging to pull off. Theres a flow to the continuous movement, with arms, shoulders, hips, and knees all working in tandem to minimize effort and maximize effect, with each pass of the glaive building on the last. Still, minimizing effort is not the same as no effort at all, and after twenty minutes of repetitive motion, the strain is building up in my knees and obliques, those rarely used muscles at the side of my abdomen. Add in my lack of sleep and dwindling Chi reserves thanks to constant Reinforcement and repetitive Amplification, I expect to topple over in exhaustion in ten or so minutes, but there are still many, many enemies left to kill. Bloodthirsty though they might be, the Defiled arent stupid, and even though we hold the terrain advantage, they have the numbers and they mean to wear us down.
Having learned from observation, my latest opponent avoids running headlong into my glaive and tries to feint at the edge of my range, but I simply loosen my grip and Unity slides out to catch him between the ribs. Without Chi, the attack would probably glance off my opponents bones, but thanks to the magic of Amplification and Honing, it rends his chest open and slices through lungs and heart. Eyes wide with surprise, my latest victim falls to his knees where hell soon join the other corpses at his feet, to be stepped over or kicked aside by the next idiot dumb enough to approach.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
Or maybe not.
Surprise turns to panic in my fallen foes eyes, which then gives way to hatred and resignation, his accusing glare first directed towards the water and then at me, blaming the slippery terrain for getting in his way and condemning me for killing him, even though he meant to do worse. Murky blood spills from his mouth as he moves his lips, his voice silent due to the lack of connected lungs, yet for some reason, its like hes gaining vitality when it should be draining away. Back straight and shoulders squared, he lifts his head high in a silent cry of triumph, not what youd expect from a man whos already drawn his last breath. A small part of me marvels at his tenacity and wonders how hes still alive, even as Unity swoops back around to take his head and offer the small mercy of death.
Im just glad his face is covered with a headwrap. It dehumanizes him and makes it easier not to empathize.
Just as Unity is about to reach his neck, someone grabs me by the scruff and pulls me away, my feet lifted off the ground while the blade cuts through empty air. Fall back! Argat booms, his Chi-infused voice rising over the din of battle. Fall back to the wagons!
Irritated at being dragged around like a misbehaving kitten, my angry snarl dies on my lips and a chill runs down my spine as the Spectres circle around my dying foe in a vortex of coordinated chaos. For the first time, I witness the Spectres affect the physical world as they surge into the Defiled warriors chest wound, bringing multiple spiralling streams of water along with them. No, not just water, but blood and flesh too, the corpses of his fallen comrades melting as the Spectres pass by, then carried along by the gushing water and fed into his chest cavity. Body swelling like a balloon, his skin bulges and stretches from the excessive fluids before contracting inwards, then expanding even larger than before as his unholy feast shows no signs of slowing. Growing with each throbbing pulse of his body, his headwrap explodes to reveal a water-logged face, and the rest of his skin takes on the same grey-white cast, no longer dried and wrinkled but smooth and engorged as if hed been submerged underwater for several days and stretched out over a too large frame.
The detached, clinical part of my brain which isnt gibbering in terror notes the Spectres are being consumed in the same manner I Devour them, though these ones appear willing to go along for the ride. Then again, the Spectres back in Sanshu were pretty happy to be Devoured and I didnt encounter resistance until coming to the front lines. Another piece of another puzzle I cannot comprehend, but I see that water, flesh and Heavenly Energy are required to fuel this particular horrific metamorphosis.
What good this does... well... who knows.
The Demons Aura collides against my own and snaps me out of my fugue, a stark reminder Im still alive and should probably do something if I want to stay that way. Tearing my eyes away from the burgeoning, water-logged abomination, I ask, So... wouldnt now be a good time to kill it? You know... while its busy... growing?
My question earns me an inquisitive stare from Argat, a single eyebrow raised in minor bewilderment. Giving a slow shake of his head, he drawls, Best to leave the Demon alone and let things run their course; Ichor will ruin a Spiritual Weapon and cripple your Core if you strike before its finished. Besides, he adds, turning his eyes back to the Demon, The Father often casts His gaze upon His birthing children, and Id rather not draw His attention any more than I have to.
...Wow. Glad I couldnt kill Vivek before he finished transforming. Just another time where my failure was actually a success, I suppose.
Now that Argat mentions it, I realize none of the Defiled are moving either, having withdrawn out of the shallows and back to dry land to celebrate the birth of their new Transcendent. A fresh wave of dread leaves me reeling in place as I realize where the epithet came from, my captured Spectres howling the title in an uncontrolled frenzy while demanding I release them to join their comrades to form what surely must be the fattest, ugliest Demon in existence. A thought crosses my mind to Devour the errant Spectres and keep them from the Demon, but I discard it immediately as I track down the source. My captured Spectres want me to try because doing so would offer them the escape they so desire, their subtle manipulations made obvious by crazed desperation.
Okay, mental note: My Succ is less than Demon birthing Succ.
...I wish my life wasnt so weird.
Wooo, Lord of Thunder Lei Gong!
My vision clears and high spirits give way to consternation as Pudge stands unscathed behind a shimmering shield of water, one which covers its entire hefty frame. A second bolt of lightning crashes into the Demon, but again, the shield stops it cold. Reacting to an unseen attack, Lei Gong dodges aside as something smashes into the ground a few meters behind him, raising a furrow of mud and dirt before knocking three Death Corps Soldiers off their feet. A water bullet maybe? Luckily, Pudge is tall and the projectile was angled downwards, else those Death Corps soldiers wouldnt have escaped with just a few scrapes and bruises.
The Defiled stomp and cheer in the background, content to stand and watch their Transcendent clean up, so I signal my soldiers to do the same. It makes sense, because if Lei Gong really wanted to go all out, he could easily wipe out a good portion of the Defiled on his own, and the same could be said of Pudge. Hell, the fat fucker could lie on the grass and roll over my retinue and wed probably be helpless to stop it.
No longer playing around, Lei Gong unleashes a storm of lightning. When the light show dies down and my vision returns, I find the battle in full swing as Pudge chases Lei Gong, throwing wide, predictable punches which most people would be hard pressed to avoid, given its incredible speed and tremendous reach. That said, the Lord of Thunder can hardly be counted as most people, nor can Tenjin and Tursinai who take the field. Each falls into their respective roles with ease, as if this were the umpteenth time they'd fought side by side, rather than their first time ever. Lei Gong holds Pudges attention with dazzling blasts of lightning, while Tursinai impedes its movements by tangling its legs, a dangerous game of push and pull which could end in disaster. Too much slack and the Pudge roams freely, but not enough a single yank could pull her into the Demons crushing embrace. Meanwhile, Tenjin nips at its heels, unleashing a storm of mundane throwing knives which puncture soggy flesh, but doing little damage otherwise.
The three remaining Experts on the field each pick a partner and stick close by, their spears held at the ready to help defend should their partner require it. Wondering why Jochi, Argat, and Daxian dont just rush in and nail a foot down or something, my unspoken question is soon answered by the Demon itself. Weary of chasing Lei Gong, the Demons water shield collapses and the liquid adheres to its fists, forming six rippling tendrils which lash out independently at its foes. The Imperial Experts back away to avoid its reach, though if theyd been any closer, then they undoubtedly wouldve been caught. Freed from Tursinais ensnaring chain, the Demon charges at Lei Gong to end the incessant bolts of lightning, but the Lord of Thunder is not so easily caught. Hurling his cane like a javelin, the Spiritual Weapon smashes into an empty eye-socket and pierces clean through Pudges head. Staggered but not downed, its tendrils go wild but Daxian is in place to defend, his spear fending off multiple attacks while Lei Gong gathers his Chi and unleashes the most powerful strike yet. Night turns to day as an orb of lightning emerges from Lei Gongs cane, covering Pudges face in an explosion of electrical discharge. A rapid-fire series of thunderclaps deafens my ears and shakes me to the bones, but right before the world fades back to dark, I see Tenjin sailing through the air with his blazing twin daggers aimed at Pudges wide, unprotected back.
Wishing I had some way to protect my vision, I set to repairing my ruptured eardrums the old fashioned way while blinking repeatedly, hoping to see or hear something to tell me whats going on. Long seconds pass before my eyesight returns, and once it does I wish it hadnt. Though its face is a blackened mess and its back spurting Ichor, Pudge continues its rampage against the Imperial Elites. Tursinais weapon dangles in its fist while the wielder herself kneels by her fallen hubby, laying in an indent in the dirt where hed been slammed. As I watch in horror, a watery tendril slips past Jochis guard to strike his leg and his bones crumple like tissue upon impact. A follow up strike misses as Argat drags his screaming brother away from battle, paying no heed to pain hes causing in order to save a life.
Only Lei Gong and Daxian remain on the battlefield, and neither one looks in good condition. Planting Unity in the dirt, I draw Peace and launch it without thinking, hoping to get lucky and kill in a single blow, but the Honed blade sinks into Pudges skull with almost no effect. Reminded of my existence, it turns those empty sockets towards me, an almost comical sight with my sword stuck through its skull and Lei Gongs cane in its eye. Raising a meaty arm, Pudge extends a razor-tipped finger and reforms its shield, the water rippling briefly before firing out. My throat tightens as my vision goes dark, and a metallic crash sounds out, but not the chime of a bell or the ring of a sword, more of a crumpled bang youd expect from driving a car into a solid stone wall. Taking a step back out of reflex, a brigandine chest-piece comes into focus, the word Virtuous neatly engraved in the centre.
Holy shit, did Daxian just leap in front of me to take a water bullet?
Peering around my prickly would-be hero, Im relieved to see yet another person standing in front of Daxian, my heros daddy dripping wet from head to toe in his ragged shirt and all the sexier for it. With a throaty growl which echoes over the silent battlefield, GangShu scowls at his ruined clothes and declares, This one is under my protection, Demon. Ive been ordered to keep to the Treaty to not escalate the situation, so best you fuck off now.
Sightless eyes narrowed in rage, Pudge advances a single, step, but GangShu suddenly appears in front of the Demon, standing right up against the shimmering shield of water. Seems you dont understand Common, so lets try a different language.
GangShu is neither particularly tall nor wide, a lithe man who is broad of shoulder and slim of waist, with a shocking amount of body hair beneath his torn shirt. Arms crossed as he stands in Pudges path, he looks like a hairy, petulant child trying to bar the path of a massive adult. As the Demon winds up to punch, I cant help but wince in anticipation. Even if hes an Ancestral Beast, the laws of physics still apply, which means
Jack shit, it seems.
A full-on haymaker hammers home into GangShus shoulder and the Ancestral Beast barely shifts, though the wind from the attack is enough to send clumps of wet dirt flying. Rather than a meaty thunk, Pudges fist emits a crumpled bang and implodes on impact, the same sound I heard earlier while Daxian was blocking my vision.
So GangShu didnt put up any fancy Chi shields and just blocked the water bullet with his bare body. Cool. Cool, cool, cool.
Retracting its broken fist, Pudge raises its other arm and lands another haymaker to the same effect. Metallic crumple, broken flesh, Ancestral Beast standing in place. Still unwilling to give up, the Demon leans forward as if intending to swallow GangShu whole, but with a wave of his hand, he sends Pudge flying back to crash into the clustered ranks of Defiled, water shield and all. Rolling to its feet, its shield melts away and gushes out to dissolve the Defiled whod been pulped by its passing. Before long, the liquefied remains flow back into Pudges gullet, though its injuries show no sign of recovering.
Well, thats one thing to be grateful for. Its strong, fast, durable, has a shield, multiple whips, and speedy bullets, but at least it doesnt Heal too quickly.
Ripping Lei Gongs cane, Tenjins daggers, and my sword out of its flesh, Pudge screeches one last time before marching west, reaching decent speeds with its squelching, ponderous stride. Heart pounding and knees weak even though all I did was stand around, my mind blanks as GangShu flashes his charming smile and says, Well, my parts done here. Ill leave the cleanup to you. Before I can ask him to clarify, the forgotten Defiled horde scream their battle cries and charge across the shrunken pond and trickling river, unfazed by the herculean battle we all just witnessed. Screaming back to calm my nerves, I take up Unity in its axe form and charge into the fray, happy to abandon all thought and kill some Defiled.
If thats what top tier fights are like, then maybe Im better off not getting stronger...
Chapter Meme
Chapter 434Much as I enjoy cutting down my enemies like chaff, I wholeheartedly regret my decision to leave the triple crossbows and catapults behind.Clumped together at the river crossing, the Defiled horde make for perfect targets as they scream and dance on the other side, impatiently awaiting their turn to cross while wholly indifferent to the fate which awaits them. Said fate is likely a messy death at the end of my glaive as it carves a figure-eight through the air and slaughters any Defiled caught along the way. Bear Form Standing Fury is one of the last Insights Baledagh left me with, but I completely forgot about it following the whole reveal. After unearthing the memory and working out the specifics, its come in handy for these long, drawn out engagements despite how silly it looks and feels.Its a little like waving a giant flag on a pole back and forth while trying to stay level on a rocking boat, minus the actual flag or boat. Odd, but effective. Not as odd as Song reciting poetry on the battlefield, but her delivery is surprisingly evocative.Though what Im doing seems simple enough, its physically and mentally engaging to pull off. Theres a flow to the continuous movement, with arms, shoulders, hips, and knees all working in tandem to minimize effort and maximize effect, with each pass of the glaive building on the last. Still, minimizing effort is not the same as no effort at all, and after twenty minutes of repetitive motion, the strain is building up in my knees and obliques, those rarely used muscles at the side of my abdomen. Add in my lack of sleep and dwindling Chi reserves thanks to constant Reinforcement and repetitive Amplification, I expect to topple over in exhaustion in ten or so minutes, but there are still many, many enemies left to kill. Bloodthirsty though they might be, the Defiled arent stupid, and even though we hold the terrain advantage, they have the numbers and they mean to wear us down.Having learned from observation, my latest opponent avoids running headlong into my glaive and tries to feint at the edge of my range, but I simply loosen my grip and Unity slides out to catch him between the ribs. Without Chi, the attack would probably glance off my opponents bones, but thanks to the magic of Amplification and Honing, it rends his chest open and slices through lungs and heart. Eyes wide with surprise, my latest victim falls to his knees where hell soon join the other corpses at his feet, to be stepped over or kicked aside by the next idiot dumb enough to approach.Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.Or maybe not.Surprise turns to panic in my fallen foes eyes, which then gives way to hatred and resignation, his accusing glare first directed towards the water and then at me, blaming the slippery terrain for getting in his way and condemning me for killing him, even though he meant to do worse. Murky blood spills from his mouth as he moves his lips, his voice silent due to the lack of connected lungs, yet for some reason, its like hes gaining vitality when it should be draining away. Back straight and shoulders squared, he lifts his head high in a silent cry of triumph, not what youd expect from a man whos already drawn his last breath. A small part of me marvels at his tenacity and wonders how hes still alive, even as Unity swoops back around to take his head and offer the small mercy of death.Im just glad his face is covered with a headwrap. It dehumanizes him and makes it easier not to empathize.Just as Unity is about to reach his neck, someone grabs me by the scruff and pulls me away, my feet lifted off the ground while the blade cuts through empty air. Fall back! Argat booms, his Chi-infused voice rising over the din of battle. Fall back to the wagons!Irritated at being dragged around like a misbehaving kitten, my angry snarl dies on my lips and a chill runs down my spine as the Spectres circle around my dying foe in a vortex of coordinated chaos. For the first time, I witness the Spectres affect the physical world as they surge into the Defiled warriors chest wound, bringing multiple spiralling streams of water along with them. No, not just water, but blood and flesh too, the corpses of his fallen comrades melting as the Spectres pass by, then carried along by the gushing water and fed into his chest cavity. Body swelling like a balloon, his skin bulges and stretches from the excessive fluids before contracting inwards, then expanding even larger than before as his unholy feast shows no signs of slowing. Growing with each throbbing pulse of his body, his headwrap explodes to reveal a water-logged face, and the rest of his skin takes on the same grey-white cast, no longer dried and wrinkled but smooth and engorged as if hed been submerged underwater for several days and stretched out over a too large frame.The detached, clinical part of my brain which isnt gibbering in terror notes the Spectres are being consumed in the same manner I Devour them, though these ones appear willing to go along for the ride. Then again, the Spectres back in Sanshu were pretty happy to be Devoured and I didnt encounter resistance until coming to the front lines. Another piece of another puzzle I cannot comprehend, but I see that water, flesh and Heavenly Energy are required to fuel this particular horrific metamorphosis.What good this does... well... who knows.The Demons Aura collides against my own and snaps me out of my fugue, a stark reminder Im still alive and should probably do something if I want to stay that way. Tearing my eyes away from the burgeoning, water-logged abomination, I ask, So... wouldnt now be a good time to kill it? You know... while its busy... growing?My question earns me an inquisitive stare from Argat, a single eyebrow raised in minor bewilderment. Giving a slow shake of his head, he drawls, Best to leave the Demon alone and let things run their course; Ichor will ruin a Spiritual Weapon and cripple your Core if you strike before its finished. Besides, he adds, turning his eyes back to the Demon, The Father often casts His gaze upon His birthing children, and Id rather not draw His attention any more than I have to....Wow. Glad I couldnt kill Vivek before he finished transforming. Just another time where my failure was actually a success, I suppose.Now that Argat mentions it, I realize none of the Defiled are moving either, having withdrawn out of the shallows and back to dry land to celebrate the birth of their new Transcendent. A fresh wave of dread leaves me reeling in place as I realize where the epithet came from, my captured Spectres howling the title in an uncontrolled frenzy while demanding I release them to join their comrades to form what surely must be the fattest, ugliest Demon in existence. A thought crosses my mind to Devour the errant Spectres and keep them from the Demon, but I discard it immediately as I track down the source. My captured Spectres want me to try because doing so would offer them the escape they so desire, their subtle manipulations made obvious by crazed desperation.Okay, mental note: My Succ is less than Demon birthing Succ....I wish my life wasnt so weird.Wooo, Lord of Thunder Lei Gong!My vision clears and high spirits give way to consternation as Pudge stands unscathed behind a shimmering shield of water, one which covers its entire hefty frame. A second bolt of lightning crashes into the Demon, but again, the shield stops it cold. Reacting to an unseen attack, Lei Gong dodges aside as something smashes into the ground a few meters behind him, raising a furrow of mud and dirt before knocking three Death Corps Soldiers off their feet. A water bullet maybe? Luckily, Pudge is tall and the projectile was angled downwards, else those Death Corps soldiers wouldnt have escaped with just a few scrapes and bruises.The Defiled stomp and cheer in the background, content to stand and watch their Transcendent clean up, so I signal my soldiers to do the same. It makes sense, because if Lei Gong really wanted to go all out, he could easily wipe out a good portion of the Defiled on his own, and the same could be said of Pudge. Hell, the fat fucker could lie on the grass and roll over my retinue and wed probably be helpless to stop it.No longer playing around, Lei Gong unleashes a storm of lightning. When the light show dies down and my vision returns, I find the battle in full swing as Pudge chases Lei Gong, throwing wide, predictable punches which most people would be hard pressed to avoid, given its incredible speed and tremendous reach. That said, the Lord of Thunder can hardly be counted as most people, nor can Tenjin and Tursinai who take the field. Each falls into their respective roles with ease, as if this were the umpteenth time they'd fought side by side, rather than their first time ever. Lei Gong holds Pudges attention with dazzling blasts of lightning, while Tursinai impedes its movements by tangling its legs, a dangerous game of push and pull which could end in disaster. Too much slack and the Pudge roams freely, but not enough a single yank could pull her into the Demons crushing embrace. Meanwhile, Tenjin nips at its heels, unleashing a storm of mundane throwing knives which puncture soggy flesh, but doing little damage otherwise.The three remaining Experts on the field each pick a partner and stick close by, their spears held at the ready to help defend should their partner require it. Wondering why Jochi, Argat, and Daxian dont just rush in and nail a foot down or something, my unspoken question is soon answered by the Demon itself. Weary of chasing Lei Gong, the Demons water shield collapses and the liquid adheres to its fists, forming six rippling tendrils which lash out independently at its foes. The Imperial Experts back away to avoid its reach, though if theyd been any closer, then they undoubtedly wouldve been caught. Freed from Tursinais ensnaring chain, the Demon charges at Lei Gong to end the incessant bolts of lightning, but the Lord of Thunder is not so easily caught. Hurling his cane like a javelin, the Spiritual Weapon smashes into an empty eye-socket and pierces clean through Pudges head. Staggered but not downed, its tendrils go wild but Daxian is in place to defend, his spear fending off multiple attacks while Lei Gong gathers his Chi and unleashes the most powerful strike yet. Night turns to day as an orb of lightning emerges from Lei Gongs cane, covering Pudges face in an explosion of electrical discharge. A rapid-fire series of thunderclaps deafens my ears and shakes me to the bones, but right before the world fades back to dark, I see Tenjin sailing through the air with his blazing twin daggers aimed at Pudges wide, unprotected back.Wishing I had some way to protect my vision, I set to repairing my ruptured eardrums the old fashioned way while blinking repeatedly, hoping to see or hear something to tell me whats going on. Long seconds pass before my eyesight returns, and once it does I wish it hadnt. Though its face is a blackened mess and its back spurting Ichor, Pudge continues its rampage against the Imperial Elites. Tursinais weapon dangles in its fist while the wielder herself kneels by her fallen hubby, laying in an indent in the dirt where hed been slammed. As I watch in horror, a watery tendril slips past Jochis guard to strike his leg and his bones crumple like tissue upon impact. A follow up strike misses as Argat drags his screaming brother away from battle, paying no heed to pain hes causing in order to save a life.Only Lei Gong and Daxian remain on the battlefield, and neither one looks in good condition. Planting Unity in the dirt, I draw Peace and launch it without thinking, hoping to get lucky and kill in a single blow, but the Honed blade sinks into Pudges skull with almost no effect. Reminded of my existence, it turns those empty sockets towards me, an almost comical sight with my sword stuck through its skull and Lei Gongs cane in its eye. Raising a meaty arm, Pudge extends a razor-tipped finger and reforms its shield, the water rippling briefly before firing out. My throat tightens as my vision goes dark, and a metallic crash sounds out, but not the chime of a bell or the ring of a sword, more of a crumpled bang youd expect from driving a car into a solid stone wall. Taking a step back out of reflex, a brigandine chest-piece comes into focus, the word Virtuous neatly engraved in the centre.Holy shit, did Daxian just leap in front of me to take a water bullet?Peering around my prickly would-be hero, Im relieved to see yet another person standing in front of Daxian, my heros daddy dripping wet from head to toe in his ragged shirt and all the sexier for it. With a throaty growl which echoes over the silent battlefield, GangShu scowls at his ruined clothes and declares, This one is under my protection, Demon. Ive been ordered to keep to the Treaty to not escalate the situation, so best you fuck off now.Sightless eyes narrowed in rage, Pudge advances a single, step, but GangShu suddenly appears in front of the Demon, standing right up against the shimmering shield of water. Seems you dont understand Common, so lets try a different language.GangShu is neither particularly tall nor wide, a lithe man who is broad of shoulder and slim of waist, with a shocking amount of body hair beneath his torn shirt. Arms crossed as he stands in Pudges path, he looks like a hairy, petulant child trying to bar the path of a massive adult. As the Demon winds up to punch, I cant help but wince in anticipation. Even if hes an Ancestral Beast, the laws of physics still apply, which means Jack shit, it seems.A full-on haymaker hammers home into GangShus shoulder and the Ancestral Beast barely shifts, though the wind from the attack is enough to send clumps of wet dirt flying. Rather than a meaty thunk, Pudges fist emits a crumpled bang and implodes on impact, the same sound I heard earlier while Daxian was blocking my vision.So GangShu didnt put up any fancy Chi shields and just blocked the water bullet with his bare body. Cool. Cool, cool, cool.Retracting its broken fist, Pudge raises its other arm and lands another haymaker to the same effect. Metallic crumple, broken flesh, Ancestral Beast standing in place. Still unwilling to give up, the Demon leans forward as if intending to swallow GangShu whole, but with a wave of his hand, he sends Pudge flying back to crash into the clustered ranks of Defiled, water shield and all. Rolling to its feet, its shield melts away and gushes out to dissolve the Defiled whod been pulped by its passing. Before long, the liquefied remains flow back into Pudges gullet, though its injuries show no sign of recovering.Well, thats one thing to be grateful for. Its strong, fast, durable, has a shield, multiple whips, and speedy bullets, but at least it doesnt Heal too quickly.Ripping Lei Gongs cane, Tenjins daggers, and my sword out of its flesh, Pudge screeches one last time before marching west, reaching decent speeds with its squelching, ponderous stride. Heart pounding and knees weak even though all I did was stand around, my mind blanks as GangShu flashes his charming smile and says, Well, my parts done here. Ill leave the cleanup to you. Before I can ask him to clarify, the forgotten Defiled horde scream their battle cries and charge across the shrunken pond and trickling river, unfazed by the herculean battle we all just witnessed. Screaming back to calm my nerves, I take up Unity in its axe form and charge into the fray, happy to abandon all thought and kill some Defiled.If thats what top tier fights are like, then maybe Im better off not getting stronger...Chapter Meme
