Chapter 137: Catalyst For Change

Triple casting. It was something that Oliver had only tried a handful of times. He'd also failed every single time as well. He had no concrete basis for believing that he could pull this off now. As a matter of fact, the idea was ill advised. Both parties were embroiled in fierce battle all around, yet he himself could not move. It required more than half of his mana just to sustain Soundless Sonata and the rest was slowly being chipped away by his attempt to restrain the hulking Grimlock.

Vivian and Ryo both were down, not dead but injured or possibly unconscious. Bracha, whose specialty was empowering her allies, could not use her full range of abilities due to protecting him. To make matters worse, enemies were spawning near endlessly all around them. If Oliver had to guess, it most likely had to do with the Hulking Grimlock's new addition, the core crystal embedded deep within it's chest.

Oliver doubted that he could seriously injure the Hulking Grimlock, furthermore he wasn't within range to assist Vivian or Ryo. Therefore that left him only one option. Oliver sharpened his focus to the utmost and began to cast a third spell. High above his head a magical circle began to take shape, followed by another and another. He grimaced as the Hulking Creature strained against the chains confining it, yet Oliver refused to give in. He was fully determined to push himself to the limit and so he created a dozen magical circles which rotated above the battlefield.

"Lance Of Light! Heed my call. Sever my enemies from this mortal coil. Gungnir!" Oliver shouted. The Soundless Sonata spell consumed his words, yet the magic circles obeyed as sparks of light issued forth and rained down upon the battlefield. The magical light turned into jagged lances as they traveled and impaled into the numerous creatures moving around the battlefield. Oliver's aim was brutal and precise -- head or heart, none escaped his wrath. He took out the creatures by the dozen, firing salvo after salvo of the spells until, one by one, his magical circles began to disappear.

For a moment everyone on the battlefield held their breath, they couldn't hear anything -- only witness what seemed like fury falling from the heavens. Creatures were slaughtered mercilessly just centimeters before their eyes with constructs of light magic. When all was said and done they watched as the Grimlock turned into ash and smoke. Gates in particular was let awestruck upon witnessing the power of Oliver's magic.

*I did it. I ….finally did it...Ha.* The elf's voice transmitted as merely a whisper, causing everyone to glance in his direction. It then became obvious that the cost of such an attack was severely straining. Oliver struggled to keep his hands clasped, his knees buckling slightly as the weight of his own magic now began to bear down on him.

*S-silence. I.. have to release the..* Even as he attempted to speak Oliver found himself faltering. Soon his view dimmed and all sense of balance left him as he passed out, falling face first to the ground.

Only Bracha was within reach to catch the falling Archmage, she extended her hands and lunged into a kneeling position so that she could grab him in time.

*Everyone. Silence. Don't move and don't speak.* Bracha managed to relay this command as the effects of Oliver's spells faded along with his consciousness. With this the massive magic circle of Soundless Sonata shattered around their ankles. At the same time the sound of smashing glass filled the air -- it was due to the magical constructs which contained the Hulking Grimlock being destroyed.

The creature seemed to yawn, this casual movement was enough to break the chains Oliver had so desperately struggled to keep in place. Now all eyes were locked upon the creature as it slowly directed its attention in all directions. A dead silence fell across the battlefield as all of the adventurers looked on. Yet for anyone standing near the creature they realized why the silence seemed so grim.

Now that there was no adventurer standing between them and their foe, they could feel an ominous sense of pressure. They immediately realized that this sensation came from the Hulking Grimlock. Somehow, some way it was emitting a sense of unease so powerful that every fiber in their body screamed for them to run.

Even Dealla, who'd experienced this same sensation up close and personal was now beginning to quiver.

*This is...this doesn't even compare to before. I--* the dragon-kin's transmission trailed off as she struggled to swallow. They watched for what seemed like an eternity as the Hulking Grimlock stood, motionlessly. The creature seemed even more ominous this way, not moving a centimeter or muscle, it's massive forearms hanging in front of its hunched body.

*Vivian. Ryo.* Bracha continually transmitted their names, hoping that either of them would respond to her calls, yet her words fell on deaf ears.

Suddenly the Hulking Grimlock's body seemed to lurch forward as it's elongated head began to writhe and crackle. Shula couldn't help but grimace as a "mouth" was formed , seemingly from ripping apart its own flesh at the seams.

The creature's mouth opened to a splattering of black and purple fluids, the onlookers could only assume this was blood or flesh.

"Urgk! Urgk! URGK!" The strange noise echoed through the silence of the clearing, the creature seemed to be coughing--and roughly at that. This continued several more times until finally the Hulking Grimlock spat forth a black mass the size of a human head. Just the sight was enough to repulse even Agni as she watched in horror.

The black mass splattered against the ground and began to wobble before eventually taking shape. This was the method used by the creature to create other Grimlock. Bracha was also certain that this phenomena was powered by the shard core embedded in the creature's chest. She took special note of the way that the shard core shone as the Hulking Grimlock hocked up Grimlock after Grimlock.

*Dammit.* Bracha thought as her mind worked in overdrive. Considering the situation there was no way around it. She would have to use it and deal with the consequences later. The Lithe Golems quickly began to take shape, forcing the Runemaster to make a choice.

*But...ugh. He's going to be upset. This is definitely an emergency though. I can't let something like this manifest.* Bracha's internal struggles seemed to be resolved as she settled on an answer.

*Everyone. No matter what happens, stay quiet and don't move.* Bracha transmitted as she gently laid Oliver down nearby. She then got to her feet and removed her round spectacles, taking special care to stow them into her inventory as she prepared to face her foe.