Book 6: Chapter 47: The Ruins (2)

Book 6: Chapter 47: The Ruins (2)

Sens pushed his qinggong technique hard. He wanted to cover the ground between him and the ruins as fast as possible. Ideally, he wanted to be moving fast enough to simply run around any beasts or spirits that might be a little slow to go after Laughing Rivers illusionary army. Even so, he didnt push the technique to the limit. He knew that Misty Peak was fast but not quite as fast as he was at top speed. He kept part of his spiritual sense trained backward. For all his tough talk to the fox woman, he didnt intend to simply throw her to the devilish beasts and angry spirits. Suspicion was one thing, but he wasnt going to actively sabotage her into an early grave. Yet, of all the things he had imagined might go wrong, having the big spider race out after them had never crossed his mind.

The spiders actions were so unexpected that Sen nearly lost control of his qinggong technique. He came within a hair of stumbling. While it might not have proven fatal, it would have proven incredibly painful at the speeds he was traveling. He shot a quick look over his shoulder to confirm that he wasnt imagining things. He saw Misty Peak racing after him, mere steps behind, and lagging behind both of them was the spider. Sen couldnt decide what was more shocking. The spider deciding to chase after them or the fact that it wasnt that far behind. Part of Sen was a little appalled that it could move that fast. Part of its speed stemmed from the fact that it was covering more ground with each step than he could. Part of it was the horrifying speed of its legs, which would probably have looked like little more than a blur to mortal eyes.

However, Sen could see what was going to happen. As fast as the spider was, it was going to fall behind. Stupid spider, thought Sen. If it gets itself killed chasing after me, who knows what the spider queen will do. Sen could just imagine having to fight his way back out through the horde just to face another army composed entirely of spiders. He tried to figure out a solution, but they were closing on the remnants of the horde fast. He wasnt going to have time to really think it through. Desperately wishing that he had some representative of the heavens or fate nearby that he could punch in the face incredibly hard, Sen slowed down. Misty Peak almost crashed into him before she shifted to the side a little and shot past him. She looked back to give him an incredulous look and all but screamed at him.

What in the hells are you doing?!

Sen just shook his head and gestured behind himself. Her gaze shifted past him and he watched her eyes go wide. Sen didnt look back again, just kept the spider fixed in his spiritual sense as it gained ground on them. Sen could practically hear Misty Peak grinding her teeth as she slowed down to match pace with him. She shot him an angry look and started to say something, which was why she missed the flash of misty gray when the spirit appeared in front of them. Sen planted a hand on her shoulder and shoved, sending the fox woman stumbling away. The split-second that it took him to do that wasnt much wasted time, but it was enough time that Sen collided with the spirit instead of running past it.

Sens vision went the same gray color as the spirit had appeared and, for the briefest of moments, he felt as though he were floating in cool water. That sensation was almost immediately shattered when icy fingers seemed to plunge into his brain. Sen lost track of his qinggong technique. He lost track of his legs. Some echo of his consciousness told him that he was limply careening across the ground, but he had no room for that problem around the agony in his skull. He felt an abominable hunger explode to life inside of him like hed missed every meal for a year. He wanted to consume all of the food in his storage rings. He wanted to consume the spirit beasts around him, devilish beasts or not. He wanted to consume the grass, the soil, the spider, and even the fox woman. A thousand visions of sinking his teeth into anything that might help sate that unspeakable, unyielding hunger passed through his mind.

Sen understood what was happening to him, in theory. He knew that certain kinds of restless spirits could inhabit living human bodies by suppressing the souls that lived in them. The process was hard on human bodies, which usually limited the amount of time a spirit could possess someone before the stolen body simply gave out. Of course, Sen didnt have a normal human body. He didnt know how long his body would last under the control of a spirit but it seemed likely that the spirit could use it to do terrible things for years to come. Something like memories spilled into his mind. Except they werent memories the way he understood them. They were devoid of all color, washed out, and the only thing that really stood out in them was the hunger. A terrible, inexhaustible need to consume. Sen also knew that spirits could drive a bodys soul out entirely. The soul was all tied up with the body when it came to humans.

Are you, well, you again? asked a hesitant Misty Peak.

Yeah, said Sen.

Okay, great. Glad youre not possessed. Sorry to add to your list of worries, but you need to get up. Right now!

What? Why? demanded Sen.

He followed the direction of her gaze and wanted to just cry. Devilish beasts were rushing at them. Muttering to himself and ignoring the world of pain that was still coursing through him like lava, Sen pushed himself to his feet. Misty Peak shot him a look that verged on open terror.

What are you babbling about? she demanded.

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