Chapter Ten : The Battle of New Eidolon IV

Chase gasps for air, as he bursts through the back of the Titan. He clambers out of the hole he dug as new flesh bubbles up, filling the empty cavity. He slides down its lumpy back and onto the street, covered in stinking black fluid. He coughs and spits up the disgusting blood, it tastes as bad as it smells and each cough makes the back of his skull pulse in pain.

Luckily his crystals worked fast enough to keep the Titans weight from crushing him. They must have been hungry after expelling all that energy.

He stares in horror, at the destruction before him. He thought he had made it in time, he thought he had saved the day. That was until he saw the creature's outstretched arm and trench of destruction it had created.

"I'm sorry." He says out loud, watching the wreckage of the tower smolder. He tried his comms but got nothing, with no power he was sure they had their hands full. A wave of anxiety washes over him, thinking of his people in danger, overrun by a wave of Sourcers because he couldn't do his part.

Chase heads towards the smoking debris in the center of town. Sparks and flames pop over the power station, lighting up the dark streets. He searches the darkness for any allies, calling out to no response, his words bounce off dark store fronts and empty homes.

"Tilly? Vandresh?? Anyone? Can you hear me?" He says, His comm buzzes, he pulls it out of his ear the small device is clogged with stinking black matter.

"Shit… I gotta get back to them. I gotta..."

The Titan's arm reaches over him, he dives out of the way as it slams into the street, a concussive wave blasts Chase into an abandoned land cruiser, he barely gets his hands up in time as pavement sprays around the area like a shotgun blast. The rocks tear at him, he can feel a rib crack as a stone penetrates his body armor, biting into his flesh.

He gathers a burning breath as waves of pain burst from the base of his skull, trying to settle himself, shutting up that small voice in his head telling him to run, telling him to save himself… that he is way in over his head. Maybe if he was a true Hardwynn he could actually beat this thing.

His heart races as the monster stirs, slowly moving, peeling its massive body from the ground. The scene around him was apocalyptic, his beautiful hodgepodge town was burning, the streets and buildings were now piles of smoldering rubble. His breaths become meaningless, the world spins as the blood rushes from his head. The worse scenarios play on repeat as he clings on to consciousness.

"Nothing… Im Nothing, all of this was for nothing…."

That's when he hears it.

He looks over to a collapsed home and sees her.

It was a small child staring at him,grasping onto a limp body. Small whimpers break through her terrified lips. She was trying her best to not draw the attention of the evil giant.

"Sobrino…" Sebastian's voice pierces the chaos in his mind. The world stops shaking as his breaths slow his heart. He floods his mind with moments of triumph, lessons mastered followed by the proud look on his uncle's face and the cheers of his fellow cadets. Chase pushes the intrusive and negative thought from his mind. He can feel the color return to his face, the beads of sweat drying, cooling down his overheating body.

He shakes his head in jest and lets out a small laugh.

"A panic attack? Get your shit together Chase." He thinks to himself as he rises to his feet shaking trying to shake off the massive adrenaline dump.

The girl lets out another sob as the Titan gets on one knee shaking the ground and causing rubble to fall from shattered buildings.

Chase gives her his best reassuring face, placing a finger to his lips shushing her.

She gives him a scared nod, wiping the stream of tears from her cheeks.

He wondered how many more townsfolk were still here, refusing to leave or left behind in the scramble to evacuate. Did they believe in them? Did they stay because they thought the "Harshland Heroes" would save the day? If only they had more time..

It was tragic but if the child wasn't there to break the grip of panic he would probably be the abominations next meal. She snapped him out of it… saved him. Now it was his turn to do the same.

The Titan lets out an unearthly roar as it finally stands on its feet, swinging its clubbed arms into surrounding buildings showering the streets with large chunks of debris. Its skin stretches as new mass is added to its already hulking figure.

Chase watches as the web of black pulsing veins creep across its skin, reaching for the newly formed muscles. He traces the oily black lines with his eyes, following them to a singular spot. Jontha said if the seed is destroyed then the Chosen will die, maybe these veins all lead to Sern's seed. He thought it would be impossible to find in the giant's body but this could work. He could at least stop it from tearing the town apart.

"Gotta get this giant freak away from the kid." He thinks to himself as he begins sprinting past the massive Chosen. The Titan slowly turns towards him as he shouts obscenities at it taking the bait. Chase celebrates internally as it takes a thunderous step towards him. Get the Titan away from the kid and take out the seed. After that get the kid to safety, find Tilly, Jontha and Vandresh and get the hell out of here.

Chase makes his way through the rubble of the once beautiful center of town. It was a lively place with tons of shops and gardens, Vandresh's tower stood tall at New Eidolon's heart watching over everyone. The explosions from the power station and the meteoric rain of destroyed buildings turned it into a scene from a nightmare. When they finally put Sern and the Sourcers down they would come back, rebuild. New Eidolon City, the light of the Harshlands.

The colossal Chosen raises its massive leg and stomps the ground. The paved street rises like a rogue wave, sending anything in its path flying. Chase tries to evade but is lifted into the air, the force spins him around.

"Oh Shit!" He yells as he tumbles through the air he sees a group of New Eidolon defenders being pushed towards the Titan by a gang of Sourcers. They scream and shout as they fight for their lives. Some yell in terror as they see the Titan in all its monstrous glory.

The commotion causes the Titan's attention to shift towards them, more for it to eat. Chase lands on his feet with the help of a little pulse from his arms skittering to a stop in the newly formed trench. He makes his way back towards the Titan as it turns towards the ruckus. The child screams as the fight finds its way near her hiding spot.

The Titan raises both arms into the air as it lets out another ground shaking roar. The new arrivals scramble to escape its indiscriminate attack.

"No no no no no!" He repeats as he rushes towards the fray, the world moving in slow motion. He leaps and boosts himself through the wreckage and debris of the carved up street, husks of vehicles used to propel himself towards the massive Chosen. It swings its giant fists towards the ground, directing the blow at the child and battling forces.

His body takes over.

He's under the Titan before he knows it, his arms above his head as the humongous spiked hands slam onto him. It didn't register with him that there was a high chance he could be instantly crushed.

All he could hear was the terrified cries of the little girl, he just knew he had to protect her.

His arms took an initial chunk from the Titan's hands but the strength of the blow and mass of its fists must have been too much for them to handle. The impact sends a blast of energy blowing the child and fighters off their feet.

He feels a surge of energy shoot down his body that bursts out around his feet. The base of his skull explodes with pain. Crystals rapidly grow down from his sides, coating his legs and feet with their jagged formations. They spread across the ground towards the Titan devouring the street and parts of the creature's feet, knocking it off balance.

Chase releases a pulse of energy that flows from his legs up his arms. The blast blows the Massive fists up into the air sending the giant stumbling backwards.

"Now it's my turn!"

The spread of crystals retreat back towards him causing his new leg ones to grow larger. He feels them hum with hunger and power as he launches high into the air.

"Hit it in its weak spot.. just like Tio taught me." He thinks as he spots the central point of the web of black veins. It seemed it was buried deep within its chest, the most dense part of the monstrosity.

As he reaches his peak above the Titan he powers his legs up again, he flips forward and delivers a viciously propelled axe kick on top of its head. The crystals gobble up the matter and his leg flows through the bulky Chosens body, easily carving a deep into its body. The rancid black blood sprays wildly as his leg severs the seed from its network of veins.

"Better safe than sorry!" He says as he flips off the teetering Titan. His body rages with power as he unleashes a flurry of punches and kicks across its massive frame. Jumping off the Titan and maneuvering through the air with ease. Each blow removes large portions of matter from the monster, only making the next hit stronger, each time the crystals take more. Purple energy arcs flash around the crystals, he can feel the same energy course through his body, it stung but also felt…. Familiar?

THOOKK!

The ancient hunger reaches unfathomable levels as a tear in the fabric of space opens up. The hungry maw of a black hole materializes around Chase, gobbling up anything in its sphere. The Titans entire left torso was gone in an instant, he tries to take a labored breath but the space is devoid of air.

Whispers?

Coming from inside the singularity? What are they saying?

Floating in the nothing he peers into the devouring void.

A blinding white landscape with a giant crystal in the distance. Purple and orange bolts dance around the sky, the heavens full of massive black holes spewing light and matter out of them.

Nothing…. he falls to earth along with chunks of the Titans body. A rain of black stinking fluid coats the area.

THUD!

It all goes black.

Jontha fights his way to the tree line, following that screaming witch. Most of the Sourcer troops had made their way into the town once the power went out which meant he didn't have to fight too many in his pursuit. Most that stayed behind were either injured or waiting to plant seeds into their fallen comrades. There were a few Chosen feasting on the fresh corpses as well but they were enjoying their meal and paid him no mind.

He sneaks through the green miasma as it grows in intensity. A good sign, it meant he was getting closer to Rahm, it also meant that any blessed or cursed he came across would be much more powerful. He couldn't believe he had to live through this again, Rahm and the Cursed were a major problem for his people. They estimated forty percent of his population had been afflicted with Rahm's vile curse, by the time they had figured out that Rahm was the cause it was too late.

He led the team to take it out….

He lost a lot of friends that day… many met their end by his blade. In the end he destroyed Rahm, his abilities made him impervious to the curse. He took his time tearing it apart, hoping it would bring him some semblance of satisfaction. It didn't.

This time he knew, this time he would hopefully end this accursed wizard once and for all. Unfortunately those cursed would remain so, but at least he could stop the spread.

He creeps through the verdant fog, careful not to draw the attention of the rear guard. He can hear the chatter of a camp in the distance, he watchs patrols pace up and down the road cutting through the forest that borders New Eidolon. He reaches the edge of the Sourcer staging camp, Kara the screaming sourcer berates and hits the medic fixing her damaged face. He watches as they scurry about sending the green mist swirling into the air.

The camp sat in a clearing consisting of several makeshift tents, supply crates and multiple vehicles. In the center was a heavily guarded tent, Rahm's miasma pouring out from underneath. Killing Rahm itself wouldn't be difficult. It's the guards that will make things tough, being this close to Rahm will make the blessing incredibly strong.

He dashes through the mist like a torpedo leaving a wake behind him, bouncing from cover to cover. He could hear the reports coming in from the front lines, Sern's forces had gained control of most of the town and were pushing their way in. He should have stayed with Chase, dragged him to Hardwynn City. That's where humanity would make its final stand. Where the nightmare would finally end. They couldn't afford to lose Chase now, without him there was no hope. When he saw the signs of Rahm's curse he had to act, he couldn't let it spread again.

He was close to the tent now, there was a rather large Chosen standing at the entrance. It had multiple spider-like appendages protruding from its back and sides each dripping with greenish black sludge. Its razor sharp teeth chattered mindlessly as it looked back and forth with dead black eyes. The other sentinels were human from what he could tell but if they were protecting one Sern's Beloved they would be formidable at the very least.

Now or never.

He rushes towards the Chosen, by the time it notices him his blade's edge buries itself in its chest. He checks it with his shoulder, grabbing onto the hilt. He pushes forward as the Chosens stingers plunge into his back, the venom spreads fast but his regeneration pushes it out of his body.

The pair plow into Rahms tent falling onto the floor.

He sighs as he looks up at the wall of Sourcers and Chosen waiting for him. Behind them is Kara and Rahm, she holds a flap open as the creature leaves the tent.

"You think I didn't notice you following me you Neanderthal?!" She says through a shattered nose,following Rahm out into the camp. His foes hiss and laugh.

He flashes a mad smile.

They descended upon him. He wouldn't let Rahm escape, it wasn't an option. He pulls the blade from the Chosens chest and roars, his weapon slicing through an encroaching Sourcer. Blood sprays wildly as he lunges for the next.

The violence that occurred in that tent. The slicing, tearing, biting, puncturing and severing. Blood and black fluid dripped from the ceiling and walls, spilling out into the camp outside creating a mote of cherry red around the tent.

Jontha emerged from the tent, steam rose off of his blood soaked body as wounds and limbs stiched themselves back together. His clothes were mostly gone, lost in the chaotic nightmare inside the tent. Most still attached to the parts of him lying in the pool of blood.

His white teeth stand out from his barbaric smile, a starch contrast from the red and black he was coated in. A survivor tries to attack him from behind, she gargles as his blade slices through her throat flopping to the floor in agony. He sees Kara and Rahm fleeing in a land cruiser booking it towards the road.

His ancient blade spins through the air lodging itself into the rear grav well. The vehicle careens to the side, its rear dragging into the dirt. They lose control, ramming into a nearby tree flipping the cruiser onto its side.

The cruiser smokes and whirs as Jontha approaches. The Green mist begins to dissipate, either Rahm was dead or badly injured from the crash. Jontha smiles, time to end this cursed mage for good.

He rips the blade from the toppled vehicle and moves around the back. The creature was crawling in the dirt, a trail of black liquid seeping out of its badly damaged legs. It lets out a familiar sound to Jontha, a sound he heard eons ago the last time this blade cut Rahm into pieces.

He raises his weapon, Rahm puts up a shielding hand as Jontha swings down.

SKREEEEEEEEEEEE!

His arms are blown back, as Kara's screech hits his blade. She holds onto the hood of the cruiser, her white robe stained with a growing blotch of crimson.

"Good." Jontha smirks

"I'll kill you both now!"

Branches snap and Chosen snarl as a group of Sern's forces gather behind him. He bares his fangs like a cornered animal, he charges for the pitiful Rahm letting out a primal war cry.