Swarm Hole

Lucian took a step back, flames emerging from his body, flickering rapidly as he looked at the Oni. The monster was clutching its open hole, blood pouring down to its neck and shoulders and dripping to the ground. 

"So...." He said to himself, "I am stronger than this thing...." 

He launched himself at it and reared his fist back, silver flames bursting from his fist as they swirled behind him. 

The Oni's putrid green eye shot straight at him, in shock, letting out a deep growl as Lucian swung its fist at it. 

Lucian fired off a massive beam of silver flames that burned through the Oni's head, obliterating the rest of it as the heat caused the surrounding grass to combust into flames. 

Brodin jumped away from some flames that erupted where he stood, his skin cracking due to the heat. 

"Shit..." he said as he looked at the scorching corpse of the Oni slowly fall to the ground

As the corpsed crashed down, Lucian landed on the ground, flames flickering over his body. 

He began to pant slightly, "W-What's this feeling?" He said, "My body is feeling heavy...." 

"It's overheating." Brodin called out, "Focus! Control your breathing and cool those flames." 

Lucian glanced at him, "Power is overflowing through my veins..." He said, "I.....it feels good...." 

"Refuse the temptation!" Brodin said, "Focus! We have to destroy that mass!" 

Lucian looked up as he panted, noticing that the mass was still there, despite killing the Oni. It began to slowly expand, releasing a slight miasma around in the air. 

"Shit!" Brodin said as his weapons disappeared, "We have to get rid of it before the Swarm Hole opens!" 

He crouched down, summoning what looked like a missile launcher, and aimed it up at the mass. Pulling the trigger, Brodin fired off a missile that shot straight at the mass. The missile collided a slightly grey barrier that was barely visible, exploding violently in flames. 

Lucian blinked, "That's..." He said as his body slowly felt like dragging him down, "Ah...." 

"Lucian!" Brodin called, "Whatever happens, we cannot let that thing open!" 

There was a loud howling of wind, the entire air began to tremble as a shockwave emitted from the mass, a thick miasma releasing everywhere. 

"That is too late.....Humans..." A Booming Voice was heard all around them, "To Kill Two Onis is impressive. Now, try doing it at a time....with extra help..." 

The mass exploded outwards and the miasma spread out even more, forming into a black liquid. 

Lucian noticed two massive figures emerging from the liquid as two loud screeches were heard. 

"What the hell..." He said with a frown, "What was that voice?" 

From the black liquid, two Oni masks were revealed as the bodies of the vicious monsters emerged completely, descending from the miasma in the air and barreled down to the ground, crashing hard and creating a shockwave. They wore fur armor, like the one that they had just killed, but they wielded different weapons. 

One of them had what looked like a lance made out bone while the other one had a large axe in its hands. The Lance-wielding one had a green mask with two simple dots as eyes, while the other one had a bright blue Hanya mask. 

"Shit." Brodin said as he readied his missile launcher, "This isn't good." 

Suddenly, there was an even louder shriek in the air as a massive figure emerged from the miasma. 

Lucian looked up to see a massive stone creature breaking through the liquid. It had a bird's beak as its eyes glowed bright yellow, it had a weirdly blocked body as it was decorated with animal skulls. It's thin yet stone arms were holding onto a massive iron halberd. As it slowly fell through the air, it's stone wings were revealed, flapping to try to keep it afloat in the air. 

Brodin widened his eyes, "A-A....Fuck! A Gargoyle!" 

Lucian frowned, "A Gargoyle?" He said

The Gargoyle creature landed on the ground behind the Oni's easily towering over them as it straightened up and let out a deafening shriek, releasing a shockwave that stumbled the two monsters in front of it. 

Lucian covered his ears, "What the fuck?!" He exclaimed, snapped out of his hazy sensation

"A Bloodbath befalls on this puny little human settlement." The Loud Voice said, "Nobody will survive and should you defeat these, I shall personally descend through....and slaughter everything and everyone!! In the Name of Lord Valkren!!!" 

Brodin covered his ear with his hand, "A Demon, huh?" He said, "Just my fucking luck.....two Onis, a Gargoyle, and potentially a Demon....I think I'm going to have to pull my weight. But Lucian here might be a great help...if he can keep his power in control, this won't be a problem." 

The Gargoyle stepped through the Onis, pushing them out of the way as its eye were set upon Lucian. 

Lucian sighed and readied a stance, "Okay then." He said, 

"Bring it on." 

**********

[Lunaris's Camp]

"My Lady!" a man wearing a dark coat ran up to Lunaris who was walking towards the stables, "Report!" 

She had sent word to all nearby towns and villages, letting them know of the situation. If they saw a man wearing a Darklight Sect uniform with black hair and dark eyes, to report it to her and her man. She was about to depart to Rivertown and any nearby village, to search for Lucian. The Arch-Magus had ordered her to regain the Calamity back into their possession as the Demons were already searching for any potential recruits. 

Not just that, Lunaris had received word of Imperium presence somewhere in the Bull Kingdom, also scouting for powerful Traversed. To her, this was a bad thing. She didn't want to hand Lucian over to either the Demons or the Imperium. While the Imperium isn't the main worry in this situation, it would still be bad; since they're apathetic and neutral when it comes to the conflict with Valkren's forces. 

She had to take action. 

Lunaris looked at him, "Yes?" 

"R-Rivertown! Demonic presence in Rivertown!" He said as he panted

Lunaris widened her eyes, "What?" She exclaimed, "So close?!" 

"Y-Yes, an Oni attacked some Bronze Bulls!" He said, "And apparently a Swarm Hole opened!" 

"A what?!" Lunaris exclaimed even louder, "You have to be kidding me! Mobilize the troops, we must go and exterminate the threat!!" 

As she was about to take off into a spring, another man in a dark coat approached her, "My Lady!" He called, "A Transmission!" 

He offered her a small crystal orb that was glowing. 

Lunaris gritted her teeth, "What could this be?" She muttered as she took it, "Yes?" 

"Sister." A Feminine Voice said through the orb, "What is this I hear about Rivertown and a Demonic presence?" 

Lunaris narrowed her eyes, "Astorias." She said, "I've just received the report. I'm taking my men and heading there myself. If a Swarm Hole opened, that means a Demon has honed into a Calamity in order to retrieve it. The Cursed One that escaped me is the cause of this, I will handle it." 

"Oh. Then I must've received the report ahead of you." The Woman said, "I'm already on my way." 

"Astorias, do not overstep!" Lunaris exclaimed, "The Cursed One is my jurisdiction, he's my responsibility!" 

"Then you must hurry up, my beloved comrade." The woman said, "If I get my hands on this Calamity, I will make sure it won't leave our sights ever again. And as for the demons...." 

"I will slaughter every single one of them."