-Aric POV-
The floor kept burning beneath my boots.
Every step feels like I'm walking into hell.
Well… I don't actually know what that feels like. But from the books back in the cabin this is probably as close as I'll ever get.
Kareth's words make no sense. How could the people be bombs?
He has no reason to lie I guess. But that doesn't mean it feels ok to kill people.
I eyes snap over to the crowd of people in the flames as Kareth dashes off into the fire down the hallway.
I ready my sword as the people start to close in.
Moving like puppets. Limbs twitching and grinding. Eyes hollow.
Their skin is burnt and blistered. Bleeding in multiple places.
Every one looks like it's being forced to move.
These aren't monsters. Even if they kinda look like it.
They were people.
I swallowed hard. Forcing air into my lungs.
Their… their not people anymore.
One lunged at me
It's ok to kill them… right?
I step into the swing. Exactly as Thyra taught me
*BOOM*
The explosion sends me flying backward. Slamming into the ground hard.
Dust flung up into the air around me. Heat enveloping my body.
My chest is screaming.
Ears ringing.
Is this what Kareth feels like?
Through the haze I see more fire where that person just was.
Holy Shit.
I force myself up.
It only takes one hit. It doesn't matter how strong or fast. Or even where it hits them.
Another five people were closing in. Maybe six.
It seems like a few of them got caught up in the explosion.
If I swing wide I can maybe hit the beam.
I raise my sword and swing it at the beam above me. Connecting with the beam
The wood cracked. Falling down. Crashing onto the floor between me and the people.
The crash sent ash flying into the air and pushed some debris to the side.
*BOOM*
*BOOM*
The blasts launched the wooden beam. Nearly taking me with it.
I duck behind the wall to my side. Pulling my shirt back up to cover my mouth and nose.
Through the firelight their faces flickered in and out.
A woman. A boy. An old man.
All walking towards me like zombies.
My chest aches.
My grip on my sword is faltering.
Damn it.
I don't want to fight them.
But I have to.
I turn the corner and raise my sword again. The steel glowing in the heat.
Every move was followed by a glow. Every swing leaves a streak in the air. A streak of light.
Another one lunged.
My swing is too low.
It's coming. The explosion.
Time felt like it was slowing down.
I can't get out of the way.
It's going to hit me head on.
I'm going to die.
Something snapped.
Awoke.
The world went white. For merely a second.
*BOOM*
The explosion went off?
My eyes shoot open. Gazing upon the explosion a few meters away.
How?
It's impossible.
The air shimmered faintly. Streaks of light scattered in the air from the explosion to me.
W-what? What was that?
A ghost of light where I was inside the explosion faded into view as the dust settled.
A ghost of me. Made of light.
Though I didn't have time to think about it.
Another one lunged.
There's no time to think.
I swing at its chest. Cutting clean through.
Yet again the world blinked white. And I appeared a meter or so away.
I kept moving. It feels like I'm not even the one moving my body.
Each swing followed by a flash of white. It's like I'm teleporting.
Dashing. Cutting. Shifting away.
Light trailing every move.
Not quite faster. It feels like I'm not even moving at all.
I'm free.
It feels natural. Teleporting becomes something I can activate instead of a reaction.
There was even more than I thought. But I kept going. Cutting them all down.
I turn to footsteps. Two figures walk through the fire
Thyra: "Aric!"
Her eyes wide.
Rhovan: "A thread… You've unlocked it."
Aric: "I have?"
Rhovan chuckles slightly.
Rhovan: "Let's talk about it later. For now. Where's Kareth."
Aric: "He went through the burning hallway. That way. To go fight the guy who did all of this."
Another explosion rippled through the building.
Thyra cursed, turning to the hallway.
Thyra: "... We need to go save him."
Aric: "Wait wait. First of all, who is that psycho? He was talking to you two like you knew him."
Rhovan: "That's also a story for later. However, for now I'll tell you his name and power."
I nod. Thyra spinning her spear in her hands.
Thyra: "I'm… charging up again. Just listen to Rhovan."
Rhovan: "His codename was 'The Rigger'. We never learnt his real name. He attacked the branch me and Thyra were in back during our military days. That's all you need for now."
Back during their military days?
Aric: "And what's his power? I bet Kareth has already figured it out."
Rhovan: "He can turn any living thing into a mind controlled puppet. And can make them explode at any time. However they also explode after being hit at all."
Holy shit. That's insane.
Rhovan: "Like you said Kareth probably figured it out. But we still don't know the conditions for activating it and how strong he really is. Kareth could be in big trouble."
Another explosion came from down the hallway.
Thyra had already turned and began running down the hallway. More explosions shooting down the hallway as she started running
Rhovan signaled for me to run as well. Following Thyra himself.
This is all insane.
I ready my sword again. Grip tighter than before.
Light shimmers around the blade.