Interlude - Re-Attack

Interlude - Re-Attack

Re-Attack

Something was wrong, she could tell. The hairs on her body stood up for no reason she could discern. Zach didnt answer her call, and already on edge, she triggered her True Link-Zacharia Gardner. Her awareness of him blossomed inside her mind, and she realized that he was closer than he should be. He was in the tower. She touched her crystal, and attempted to call him again when the space next to her twisted and he was there. She blinked, surprised. He had just blinked at her, through the walls. He wore his simple tunic and trousers, but she could see a strange outline around himhis Telekinetic Armor.

She opened her mouth to ask him what he was doing, but before she could even ask anything, the floor beneath her feet trembled, and she frowned. One of her crystals flashed a moment later and she answered the incoming call.

The city is under attack, Ikris said. Make your way to the sanctum.

She turned to Zach and he shook his head.

It is a distraction, focus on your sense, someone is about to attack the tower, he said, his voice clearer than she had heard him in months. Something was different about him, there was a almost like a field around him. Not a skill or a perk, and she didnt have the time to ponder before her sense caught someone moving on a floor beneath them.

I have them, Naha told him.

Point me where, he said then pointed down. Ride in my shadow.

She had no reason to doubt him, and they were short on time. She stepped behind him and then melded into his shadow. A moment later he was moving, his will spreading out around him. It was stronger than she had ever felt, from him or anybody else. Stronger than it had been against Hastur. It washed over her, but it didnt hurt or smother her, though she was sure that it wouldve done that to anybody else. It was controlled and she could tell that it was doing something. Then it pressed down, on him and the world, and she felt something snap into place. He had just created a new skill, she recognized the sensation.

Then their speed increased, and she could feel his skill affecting her too inside his shadow.

The world around them was passing by so fast, and everybody else was moving as if they were passing through water. A haste skill? She wondered, but there was no time. In barely a few seconds they arrived on the floor where the intruders were and she pointed him in their direction. They were in a large round room, a crossroad of kind, with half a dozen corridors leading elsewhere.

They arrived quickly enough that she saw the glowing blue ring that had brought them here close, pieces of art that the ring had manifested in were on the floor, cut apart where they had touched it. A spatial portal of some kindshe thought. There were twelve intruders, all obviously high tiered and powerful. They already had sentries and they noticed Zachs arrival. Immediately they attacked, a human male wearing robes and holding a large staff pointed it at them. Almost two dozen spikes of stone formed in the air and flew at them. Zach raised a hand and she felt his will reach out. The spikes stopped in the air in front of them, and then were crushed as if squeezed by some invisible hand. The dust and crumbling earth fell to the ground.

Before another attack could come, Zach spoke.

This will not end the way you think it will, he told them slowly. Return home, there is no honor in the deaths that you seek to cause.

The intruders didnt answer, instead they got ready.

A ravzor woman standing at the back of their group, near where the portal that brought them here closed, spoke an order.

Verney, deal with him, she said then turned and gestured to the others, and groups started splitting, getting ready to head down other corridors.

A demasi man grinned and lightning sparked around his body, then the entire corridor was filled with light. Shadows were banished, and her sense lessened, but she still saw out of Zachs shadow. The man flashed across the room, small blades extended from his forearms stabbing at Zach. Before she could even figure out what happened, Zach sped up, the blades shattered and Zach had the demasi by the throat, squeezing.

Zack used his perks and attacked those closest to him in their confusion. She saw him use Dazzling Strike to blind, then cut off a demasis arms at an elbow. Then Double Aspect Strike, a blade that sent a gust of wind struck and threw a ravzor into a wall. He was disabling them, a strike to the head strong enough to concuss, a cut that severed the lower spine. These were classers, all of them were flesh and blood. Some had perks and powers that let them heal, restore themselves. But Zach was relentless, attacking again and again.

Then, a demasi appeared behind him, fast his spear glowing with ominous dark light. He stabbed at Zachs back, and she felt that he wasnt going to be able to respond in time. Two others had occupied him from the front, another two he was holding with his telekinesis.

|Perfect Unseen Stab: My Stab, From the Shadow|

She rose from his shadow and stabbed the man in the stomach with Illuiy, her left hand grabbed the spear. The mans surprise was evident, but he was stronger than she was. The spear kept going and she used Primal Channel, channeling the power of one of her monster forms that was heavily strength based. She pushed the spear out of the wave as she stepped out of Zachs shadow fully, then with Greater Partial Shift she changed her arms and legs, more strength and dexterity. With Primal Strength and Primal Blow she struck, kicking. She broke the mans knee, shattered it, then stabbed him in the stomach, cutting out to the side and disemboweling him. A difficult wound, but not instant death, a healer or a powerful enough potion could save him.

She turned around as Zach battled half a dozen of the others, if they werent in the relatively small room, it would be more. As it was they were forced to fight him like this, a handful at a time. She used her circlet and suddenly two more Zachs were in the room, fighting, attacking. She guided them, but they were as strong as Zach was, if without his powers. Zach took advantage of the distraction and moved, blinking through the room. His will billowing out and crushing half of them in an instant. His telekinesis forcing them to the floor that cracked beneath them.

Only three were left standing, and she saw the ravzor woman that gave orders before put her hand out and a large metal box appeared beneath her hand. She moved to touch itand her hand flew off, as Zach blinked next to her. The world twisted and he opened a fissure into another realm. Wind blasted out, sending everyone, but him and the box that he braced with his leg, flying away. He closed the fissure and put his hand on the box, then stored it in his storage.

Everyone else was down, she stood with her Zach illusions, staring at those who were on the ground but still able to fight.

No, Zach said, his eyes staring straight at the woman that pulled out the box. Naha didnt know what it was, but seeing the look on Zachs face, she could guess.

The walls that kept the other corridors sealed fizzled out, and sect warriors spilled into the room. Ikris arrived first. He looked at the downed invaders, then at Zach.

Before anyone could say anything, a notification blared inside her head.

They were defeated, Zach had made sure to disable as many of them as possible, and the rest he held down with his will. They couldnt match it, though some tried. One of them was a skill user, fairly strong even. He let his fields of frozen time down, and the sect warriors arrived. The world around him settled. He felt it, when Time finally accepted the change, when the present caught up to the future that never was or would be.

Ikris looked at him and opened his mouth, and then

NEW EVENT

THE GATES OF THE FORGOTTEN

The Gates of the Forgotten have opened around the city of Dragons Peak and allowed the ancient beings of forgotten worlds to pass through. Their goal is to destroy the city and all in it, a punishment for what would never be. Kill all of the Great Forgotten and survive the attack from their forces to gain great rewards.

Attack arriving in: 15 min

Great Forgotten still alive remaining: 3

Ah

Zach looked around and knew that everyone had gotten the same message. It seemed that there were more consequences to turning back time than he had anticipated.