Chapter 34: Final Act

As the last traces of crimson dust settled and faded from sight, the members of the party stood amidst a scene of utter desolation. Many could hardly believe the destruction they had just witnessed; Huey's attack had unleashed a force akin to a small red star. With a single, devastating swing of his sword, he had obliterated hundreds of abominations, sending out a shockwave that wiped out all forms of life before him. The district, already ruined with crumbled buildings and broken structures, was now a scorched wasteland, its rubble melted and the air acrid with the sting of destruction.

Nothing remained of the giant; the immense creature had been the primary target of Huey's attack and was the first to be utterly incinerated. To those with a trained eye, like Barak, it was clear that Huey's attack, though delivered by a sword, was formless like energy, spreading chaos and devastation like toxic radiation. The older Elder Gods that happened to be nearby were likely just collateral damage; the focus of the attack was on the giant, everything else was merely caught in the impact and ensuing shockwaves. This ruthless efficiency left the survivors in awe, recognizing the terrifying power Huey wielded.

As the warriors stood staring at Huey's bare, straight back, they came to a sober realization: his threats had been far from idle. The skin on their bodies tingled and itched slightly from the residual effects of the energy he had unleashed.

Isha, dragging her body forward, blinked in disbelief and exhaustion. "Is... Is it over?" Her voice carried a mixture of relief, awe, and dread, while murmurs of incredulity like "Just like that?" rippled among the other members.

However, Tyla, along with figures like the captain and Barak, did not share in the general sense of tentative relief. Her face fell, her voice shaky as she muttered, "It's...not."

Suddenly, a deep pulse echoed from the underground, drawing the attention of all the members. A second pulse, resonant like a heartbeat, followed soon after. With each throb, many among them felt a draining sensation, as if the very strength was being sapped from their knees. This ominous rhythm hinted at a deeper, perhaps even more formidable threat lurking beneath the devastation.

The lone structure, an eerie edifice covered in grotesque purple flesh, still stood defiantly tall, and now it seemed to pulse with a sinister life of its own.

Huey, his expression hardening, silently chastised himself. 

'Fuck. I didn't expect that thing to survive the blast. Was it because I had to restrain the power of the explosion to prevent the whole underground from collapsing against us?' His thoughts were a mix of frustration and recalibration.

"Big guy," he called sternly to Barak, not bothering to turn around as he kept his eyes fixed on the ominous structure.

Feeling another unsettling pulse emanate from the building, Barak quickly grasped Huey's intent. With a deep understanding of the situation, he turned to the rest of the party, his voice carrying the weight of impending action.

"This is the final battle. Whatever it is that coordinated the army still lives, and as you can all feel and hear, still draws breath or whatever damn it takes to breathe," he squared a stern glare to each of their faces.

"I will not command you to sacrifice yourselves. We've all endured much today, and it's understandable if some among you fear for your lives. I urge you to leave if you wish; there's no shame or dishonor in valuing your own safety." Barak's words reflected his readiness to let those uncertain about the upcoming battle step aside. It was evident that whatever lurked within that structure posed a grave threat. Prioritizing one's life over mere honor was not a mark of weakness.

However, deeply rooted in the Ntuli Tribe was the reverence for honor, akin to their own lives, especially concerning matters of their tribe. Thus, many felt offended and disheartened by their Chief Warrior's suggestion to retreat while others risked their lives for their cause.

Despite their physical and mental exhaustion, the warriors' azure eyes blazed with a fierce and unyielding determination that even Huey, known for his own formidable presence, might hesitate to confront. Though he kept his back turned to the group, Huey couldn't help but absorb Barak's message and sense the unwavering resolve emanating from the members.

Slowly, he pivoted to face them, his gaze icy as he raised the tip of his sword in a silent warning. "I have only three things to say to you," his voice cut through the tense air, acknowledging the natives' tenacity in a manner that bordered on disdain.

"Interfere with me, and you're dead. Attempt to hold me back, and you're dead," his tone remained chillingly devoid of empathy or emotion, "Lastly... you're fodder, stand tall and die like so. 

The repetition of his merciless words elicited disgruntled expressions among the group, yet this time, none dared to protest. Instead, Huey's callous declaration seemed to ignite a fiercer determination within them, as if his cruelty served as a begrudging acknowledgment of their strength and resolve.

In addition to witnessing a mere glimpse of his immense power, the Ntuli Tribe recognized the significance of such strength, regardless of their feelings toward Huey as an outsider. Whether they harbored resentment towards him or not, whether Huey desired it or not, those gathered here already held a deep reverence for him already. 

As the ground trembled beneath them, colossal flesh tendrils resembling thick roots burst forth from the earth, towering high into the air. Observing the ominous sight, the members braced themselves for the impending confrontation. Simultaneously, Barak's voice resonated once more.

"Apologies, Captain, but I will assume command from this point forward," Barak declared, his tone firm and resolute. The Captain offered no objection, simply nodding in agreement, his gaze fixed upon the looming threat presented by the distant tendrils.

Barak's voice rang out once more, his eyes ablaze with a piercing blue light. "Don't hold back any longer," he commanded, his words carrying an undeniable urgency.

Without hesitation, Huey propelled himself forward, his movements swift and decisive as he dashed toward the target structure on the opposite side. Almost simultaneously, a gargantuan tendril swept through the air towards him.

Despite its colossal size, the tendril seemed deceptively slow, yet its massive bulk moved with alarming speed, intent on crushing its diminutive target. Huey's countenance remained impassive and cold as he observed the approaching tendrils, their looming presence engulfing his field of vision.

However, before the impact could descend upon him, a booming voice erupted from behind. "Bestial Tremor!" Barak's massive fist cleaved through the air, shattering the space like fragile glass and unleashing high-density shockwaves akin to a focused storm through the resulting fractures.

With a resounding bang, the invisible assault of wind pressure collided with the tendril, creating a gaping hole over a thousand diameters wide with tremendous force.

Without pausing to consider the aftershocks of Barak's formidable strike, Huey charged through the gaping hole in the tendril, undeterred by the chaos unfolding around him. Behind him, he heard Barak's booming laughter, echoing through the tumult of battle.

"Go! We'll cover your back!" Barak bellowed, his voice full of fierce encouragement.

As he shouted, various warriors enveloped in bluish-white "Mana" surged forward at speeds too quick for the human eye to follow. The other party members, cloaked beneath the shimmering curtain of "Mana" surrounding them, underwent transformations similar to those Huey had witnessed Barak demonstrate during their earlier confrontations.

"Bloodline Release!" The air cracked as Tyla catapulted into the sky, her departure marked by a resounding bang. Her figure was adorned with silvery-white scales and a mane of white hair that floated around her in a wild, ethereal dance. Her face, now white and bestial with sharp teeth and blazing azure eyes set in silver reptilian pupils, conveyed a fearsome visage. With her clawed hands, she fiercely grasped one of the encroaching tendrils. With a powerful, primal cry, Tyla ripped through the monstrous appendage, tearing half of the giant fleshy tentacle away, showcasing the formidable might of her ancestral powers.

Huey glimpsed Tyla's transformation out of the corner of his eye. In her transformed state, she was dreadfully stunning—lean and taller, her physique not as robust and heavily armored as Barak's, but marked by an eerie, cold beauty. Her exposed skin shone white as snow, and she moved with the agility of a cat, deftly leaping from one tendril to another across the battlefield.

The other members of the party had undergone similar metamorphoses, each with their own unique variations, yet all were formidable in appearance and capability. Like Tyla, they posed serious threats to the giant tendrils, their newly acquired powers allowing them to tear through the enemy's numbers with terrifying efficiency, leaving Huey's path unimpeded.