"So, you expect me to believe there's not only two necromancers following us around, but this one here can be of use to us, and won't stab us in the back in our sleep?" Cassi said skeptically just inside the settlement gate, not even looking at Hayden.
"Look I know how it sounds, but I'm telling you he's an asset. If it weren't for his undead gryphon calling the others back to it, we may not have even found them in time. And yet-" I pointed toward the gryphon corpse lying beside Hayden, who'd brought it with him for further evidence that we'd handled the annoying beasts supposedly terrorizing this settlement.
"Is this true?" Cassi asked Derrick, who stood on the other side of me.
"Honestly? Yeah, I don't see how we were going to find them otherwise." Derrick replied. Cassi stared off mulling over her decision.
"Look, all I'm asking is you give him a chance today, then decide if you'd want him around." I persisted, not wanting to turn the necromancer away. Cassi waved her finger, gesturing for me to walk with her away from the group.
"Why do you insist so heavily on having this guy join? What's his deal, you just met him?" She asked in a low voice.
"I saw him at the tournament. And from what I've gathered? He's not much of a threat to those who don't harm him. Frankly, he just seems more lonely than conniving." I answered. As little as I tended to trust someone's word over actions, something about him resonated with me. I couldn't put my finger on it but I strangely saw myself in him. At least, his sentiments regarding death weren't far off from mine, albeit a little obsessive. What else to justify the loss of your loved ones than to view death as an end to all potential suffering?
"…if he fucks around and so much as accidentally hits one of our guys, you're too kill him, immediately. Am I clear?" Cassi said after some thought.
"Crystal clear, you have my word." I replied before we headed back to my squad and the rest of our soldiers who stood ready for the rapidly approaching pylon defense.
"Okay Hayden, Tom's convinced me you may be of use to our cause. I offer you the chance to prove that today in defending this settlement. Yes, or no?" Cassi said, clearly trying to force an affable tone but failing miserably.
"I'd be honored, General uh, Cassi was it?" Hayden asked, stuttering mid bow.
"Still is. Welcome aboard, Hayden. A formal contract will be provided to you if we decide to continue utilizing your talents, but for now understand this." Cassi walked less than a foot from Hayden, towering over him with her tall 6'10 frame.
"If you try to fuck us over, there isn't enough bodies warm or cold on the planet you could throw that'll keep me from finding you. Do we understand each other?" Cassi threatened, extending her hand for a handshake.
"Of course. I respect your protectiveness over your people, General. I hope to prove myself nothing but a boon to the cause, m'lady." Hayden responded, bowing his head again. Not sure why he had to do it twice, nor where the fuck he learned 'm'lady' was a normal thing to say.
"We'll see." Cassi said dismissively, pivoting toward the rest of our soldiers.
"Assume your stations, soldiers! We have 30 minutes until we're swarmed by whatever that forest has to toss our way. I expect you to give them a proper Elysiumites welcome." Cassi announced, apparently coining a new term for our faction.
"Hey, Phoebe! The fuck is an Elysiumite?" I asked, flagging down my favorite fiery archer.
"Korbin decided to call the faction 'Elysium', after the Savants Elysium for the sake of having a name to reference. I don't know, I'm still a Jaian through and through, so it's not my business what you call your little empire." She answered sarcastically with Becky slithering up from behind her.
"I respect that. Though you do know technically your clan contractually serves our faction once we finish winning your war for you, right?" I teased with a toothy smirk. Hayden chuckled heartily, clutching his belly behind me.
"Something funny, Plague Doctor?" Phoebe snapped at Hayden, Becky hissing in support of her Tamer. Hayden shamelessly ontinued laughing, regardless of their attitudes.
"Indeed! A plague doctor, that's a good one as well, is it not?" Hayden pleaded to Phoebe, barely speaking through his cackles. Phoebe couldn't help but crack a smile at his relentless laughing, evoking a chuckle out of me. Derrick let out a puff of air through his lips trying to hold his laughter, causing all of us to irrupt in a cacophony of chuckles.
"Ahh, oh shit Hayden. You're kind of funny, even though you're awkward as fuck." Phoebe said, wiping a tear from her face. Hayden's laughter suddenly stopped.
"…oh um, I'm sorry. I don't mean to be uh…" Hayden's words trailed off.
"No no I didn't mean like, in a bad way. As in a comedic innocent sort of way. I didn't mean anything by it, man." Phoebe said, still maintaining her carefree posture.
"There's a good way to be awkward? I don't understand, I was always told that being so made me a cretin, rather than a comic." Hayden said, sounding genuinely confused rather than upset.
"I think what Phoebe is saying is, don't worry about it. Whatever we might laugh at, it's with the intent to share the experience with you, not give you shit for never having it before." I interjected, hoping to clear things up before the Pylon defense. Didn't really want the death mage I brought here to lash out just before one of those, so I wanted everyone to be at least copacetic.
"Ah, I see. Well, I look forward to learning your trivial norms along your conquest." Hayden said, a smile through his metallic mask detectable on his raspy tone.
"Speaking of, you're to stay at least 15 feet from the settlement wall at all times. If you venture out and get popped by one of our cannons, there's not a whole lot I can do for you. Otherwise, avoid hitting my squad, including our snakes-" I said, gesturing to Steve and Becky, their heads pointed at each other no doubt enjoying a private mental conversation.
"-and other than that, just do your thing out there. I'm sure you've seen these little events before, so just stay alive and stay alert for my commands, in case we need to retreat." I continued, being sure not to leave any room for fucking up and getting anyone killed over this last minute roster addition to the squad.
"Okay, that all sounds simple enough to me. Can I provide new life to our fallen foes?" He asked. It took a second for me to realize he was referring to his reanimation ability.
"Oh! Yeah, I mean don't go crazy but feel free to grab some extra hands. Doesn't hurt to have the help out there." I said, considering the utility in having undead backup.
"What is the metric you referred to as 'going crazy'?" Hayden asked, evoking a chuckle from me.
"It means don't raise every single beast that dies out there. Might spook Cassi a little, she's still unsure about you." I answered, not wanting him to make a bad first impression.
"Seems odd to temper my powers to impress her, but I'll trust your judgement regarding your allies. When will we begin?" Hayden asked.
"Soon…hey, you mentioned that I used infernal magic when we met in the woods. What'd you mean by that? My affinities are water and lightning, nothing devilish in the sort." I asked, curious as to why he was so reverent over an affinity I didn't use.
"Yes, those are indeed your affinities from what I've seen and heard. Water, being one of the four foundational elements introduced by the system trillions of years ago, is not infernal in nature." Hayden began, sharing insane detail as a preface.
"Lightning, on the other hand, is not of the four. At least not entirely, but rather a merger with an ethereal affinity." Hayden explained. Thankfully he paused, allowing me a second to process what he had shared.
"…okay, so then what creates lightning then?" I asked, trying to grasp the 'combined elements' idea.
"Simple, it is predominantly infernal mana, combined with air." He replied matter of factly. My mind spun trying to make sense of the combination.
"I don't understand, how does that make sense?" I asked, not seeing the correlation.
"It is simply the result. My god has been very generous in sharing their knowledge with me during my seclusion thus far. And, they are very knowledgeable of happenings of the infernal realm. And according to them, infernal energy fathered lightning long ago when it arrived on the living realm" Hayden explained.
"So wait, does that mean I can use air or infernal mana as well?" I asked, wondering if combinations could work inversely.
"Depends. Most of the time, the predominantly present affinity in any mixture is one the user can harness, if they can use either. Though, there are plenty of examples of the exact opposite occurring in both talented and mediocre individuals alike." Hayden explained, giving a rather cryptic answer.
"Basically you're saying it's random." I concluded, having mulled over his words.
"A crude way to put it but, yes. In a way it is." Hayden replied. Whether I believed his words, much less whether or not I could harness more affinities, was still in question. However if he was correct, it would I'm internally connective to infernal mana by nature, the energy of the hells. Wouldn't that m-
"20 MINUTES! OPEN THE GATE!" Cassi's voice bounced from the settlement walls. She stood atop a newly developed tower, positioned just behind the settlement walls peering directly over the wall. The gate's mechanisms screeched harmoniously as the massive gate opened. I sprinted out as soon as I could fit, with Derrick, Phoebe, Hayden, Becky, and Steve following behind me. As soon as the last serpent slithered across the threshold, the gate immediately began shutting behind us.
"Alright, since we can assume there'll be more than one boss to deal with, we should split up and assist each other when needed. Phoebe, you take Derrick and Becky to defend our northside. Steve, Hayden and I will deal with the south side. NO ONE goes too far out. Let the cannons do their job." I ordered turning and facing my squad of incredible individuals. For the last few defenses I'd wished we had a 6th member to evenly allocate and avoid a weak side, however Cassi's leadership behind the walls was crucial to our success. Now, hopefully there won't be any need for bouncing back and forth between fights.
With Derrick and Phoebe hopping on the back of Becky and wriggling to their side, I saw no reason to rush with at least 15 minutes remaining. Steve, Hayden and I casually walked further south along the settlement wall.
"Hey uh…how much do you trust this guy?" Steve asked on the way.
"Enough for his help. Why do you ask?" I replied, not seeing why he'd choose to protest now.
"Nothing in particular. It's just…his scent. The stench of death exuding from him is unavoidably strong, bordering overwhelming. Yet, there's the faintest hint of something else." Steve answered.
"No need to be cryptic, what else are you smelling?" I asked, hoping he'd skip the theatrics.
"See that's the thing. I really don't know. It's hard to distinguish between all of the wretched death mana permeating off of him." Steve said, sounding frustrated.
"Well, until you can tell what it is, I really wouldn't worry about it. And as far as smelling like death? That's his affinity, of course he smells like it. That'd be like if I got mad at you for being moist." I said, trying not to look too intently at Steve. The best part about mental conversations is guaranteed discretion, so long as you're not obvious about it.
"Fine. But do keep an eye on him. I don't want any of that sludge shit from his pet getting on me." Steve said, flicking his nose at the undead Gryphon soaring overhead.
"Hey Hayden, why do you have your Gryphon in the air? You know there's cannon fire commencing in like, 10 minutes right?" I asked, concerned for his companion.
"Indeed, and I intend for it to dive forth in glorious sacrifice when our defense begins." Hayden replied.
"Wait, why don't you want to keep it?" I asked, confused at the waste.
"It has suffered long enough. The damage it sustained fighting the other gryphons has left its body more of a burden to keep functioning than an asset. Besides, what harm is there in giving whoever man's your cannons some free experience?" Hayden answered. Looking up and seeing the chunks of rotten skin flopping open from the undead gryphon's ribcage with every flap of its wings, I could see what he meant by 'suffering' long enough. Though, it didn't act like it was in pain. Still, just because I can't it didn't necessarily mean it's there, so I gave Hayden the benefit of the doubt being the expert.
"You said it's a waste? What does it cost to keep what's left of that thing alive?" I asked curiously.
"Mana mostly. Normally it would only cost me to repair my reborn's bodies. This one however, has next to nothing left to repair, forcing me to constantly regenerate its body to keep it stable." Hayden shared, in surprising detail. I wasn't sure if sharing the nature of your abilities was normal, though it felt like terribly personal information to me. Especially considering he wasn't necessarily part of our faction yet, and was basically at tryouts right now. What if we're not always friends.
"Oh, I see. Hey, for future reference when you meet new people, don't tell them all that stuff. They might use it against you." I advised, hoping to spare Hayden some heartache someday. I didn't want him to stop sharing with me per se, however telling the world what your powers do might be dangerous. For him and us included.
"I see, that is a fair point. However, what if they cannot stop me regardless of having that knowledge?" He asked after considering my words. I smiled hearing his abrasive train of thought.
"Well, as much as that's a fun way to live, it doesn't feel very practical. You never know how strong someone truly is until you're duking it out with them. So why give them the leverage?" I argued, though I'd be lying if I said I wasn't trying to convince myself as well.
"Is that not an act of fear?" He shot back, my head jutting back having been caught off guard by the question.
"Why would it be?"
"You said the reason is due to the possibility that the opponent is formidable. That they are stronger, so you refrain from giving them an edge. Is that not because you are afraid to lose?" Hayden asked. My initial reaction was to take offense, though after some consideration I relaxed.
"I see. In a way, yes, it does mean you're afraid to lose."
"Is there not cowardice is that?" He asked, sounding slightly agitated.
"Maybe. My question is, if you aren't worried about losing, why are you fighting in the first place?" I asked Hayden, who stopped in his tracks.
"What?" He asked, as if he hadn't understood the question.
"If you have zero doubt in your mind you're going to win any fight, why are you fighting? What is there to prove, or to gain for that matter?" I expanded my hoping he'd better understand what I'm getting at.
"For power? Land? Control over all facets of your life otherwise out of reach." Hayden answered matter of factly.
"Why do you want those things?" I asked back, confused at the allure.
"Why? Well, I don't necessarily want all of those things. But, the freedom to achieve them's now at anyone's fingertips, begging for the taking." He answered.
"But why would you want that? I know it's possible to rule with an iron fist in this world, I've considered it extensively. But, as much experience I could accrue from only doing what makes me strong, killing all the time doesn't fit me. I'm not just a killer, or a soldier, even though it's okay to be those things. So I ask you, why do you fight?" I asked. Hayden stood there motionless for a few moments, his mask concealing his facial expressions. Though, I gathered the sense he was mulling over my words, given his quiet nature.
"…I…end their painful journeys to start anew..."
"But why?" I persisted, hoping he'd get what I meant. I already gathered he rose things from the dead to begin some new life or whatever. But why did he want to do that?
"What my Patron has provided me is a chance to bring meaning to the discarded. Harness the power locked within the powerless." He continued, painting a wonderful picture. One could argue it a noble cause having such aspirations, the medium albeit regarded as unnatural among most. But it wasn't an actual answer to my question.
"Look, make no mistake, I think that's fantastic. By no means do I wish to dissuade you from that purpose. I'm just asking you why you want to help the dead start this 'journey'? To what end for you?" I clarified, trying my best to contain my boiling frustration. It's like he didn't understand my question, when it wasn't exactly a riddle.
"I…I guess because I like to." Hayden answered, his masked face pointed to the ground.
"See? That's a start. I won't badger you about it anymore right now, but I'd encourage you to expand on that answer. Our paths feel rather permanent, I'd hate for you to choose one that doesn't fit you, Hayden." I said, trying to save the situation. It became clear once I'd heard his final answer that I went full-Korbin on him without thinking. Our constant debating of paths and personal journeys long predated the integration, stemming from him ever having taught me how to begin toseek mine. Of course, I volunteered for such uncomfortable introspection, whereas Hayden here just wanted to make conversation.
"Sure, I'll do t-"
"5 MINUTES!" Cassi's bellowing voice echoed through the air, cutting off Hayden's words.
"Shit, hey don't worry about all that stuff I just said right now man. We got more to focus on." I pleaded, hoping I hadn't doomed my new companion to death by untimely introspection. Hayden cocked his head to the side before laughing hysterically with his head tilted to the sky.
"Ahh Tom, you needn't worry. I am not so easily shaken, though your rationale intrigues me deeply. Let us focus on our fight to come, and compare our senses of purpose later." Hayden said, a hint of anger in his tone. To his credit, I'd find someone questioning my motivations for living a little intrusive too, especially having barely met them officially. Feeling like a nosy prick, I made a note to lay off him for a while.
"Sounds good. Remember, 15 feet from the walls MAX." I reiterated.
"Of course." He replied in a dead pan.
"Ou, I think you pissed him off." Steve snickered from beside me.
"You would too if he could hear you." I shot back.
"Did I say I'd care? Then I lied, because I wouldn't." Steve replied sarcastically.
"TWO MINUTES!"
After Cassi's two minute warning, the three of us fell into a silent focus. I can't speak for the others, however I carried an odd mixture of anticipation and dread for the coming defense. Cassi insisted her defenses were shored up beyond belief, though ever since that Harpyja ravaged our soldiers I haven't been able to avoid a hint of doubt in our victory. With any luck, the nerves only serve to embolden my will to fend off the coming defense. As for the doubt? Well, at the end of the day it's a 'me' problem that doesn't matter. Cassi's the most fit to run the show with Korbin gone, so that's how it's going to be.
"30 SECONDS! CANNONS, READY!" Cassi's barking orders echoed throughout the open planes surrounding the Pylon, leading to the forest. My eyes narrowed, preparing my mind for anything the Tutorial was about to throw at us. There was no telling how much worse this defense was about to be having pressed further into this Perunious-forsaken continent for this Pylon.
"3!"
"2!"
"1!"
A cacophony of high pitched screeches and guttural roars erupted from the forest as the ground subtly rumbled under my feet. I turned toward Phoebe, Derrick, and Becky. All three stood poised for the rushing culmination of strange beasts charging through the tree line. Green outlines along the ground and large winged monsters came into view, just as the many cannons lining the settlement walls fired a barrage of fiery missiles and mortars onto the beasts. The entire forest was obscured behind a mess of flames, soil, and burnt remains flying across the open field.
There weren't any particularly powerful artillery doing exponential damage on its own compared to previous defenses. Instead, the sheer quantity of explosions blasting into the earth creating fiery craters flashing a monochromatic light show of death and destruction had tripled, implying Cassi decided to spare no expense for this Pylon defense. To her credit, the severe lack of progress made by the distant beasts breaching the burning treeline gave merit to her expensive tactic.
Seeing no choice to cull my curiosity, I walked forward hoping to get within Identify range. It was incredibly challenging to sunder their details among the concussive blasts lighting them aflame, though a few slipped past the initial line of fire before being utterly incinerated. The beast's units appeared split between air and ground forces. The few ground beasts were made completely of vines, the first I'd seen since watching the Wyvern murder one on that hellscape of an island. They had humanoid bodies, which made their lion shaped heads all the more disturbing. The few who slipped between blasts enough for me to see were riding atop giant feline creatures that were also made of vines. My eyes narrowed watching one beast riding, backwards sphinx made of vines rush through the initial blasts, reaching within 20 feet of me.
[Mandrake Leosapien (Level 12)]
I'd barely had time to read its race before a blast of magma flashed the Mandrake out of existence, leaving a few shriveled bits of plant matter in a small crater in the earth where it was hit. The heat emitted from the blast nearly singed my eyebrows, hinting I was a tad too close to the bombing zone. I backed away, keeping my eyes trained on the slaughter I was trusted to clean up after. There weren't many mandrakes slipping past the overwhelming barrage of flames, nor did the massive dark haired bees being incinerated by the dozens with every blast.
However, a few of another flying beast began slowly creeping further from the treeline before being blasted away. They had heads resembling the Wyverns, only with a jagged flaming horn protruding from their forehead. On their backs say a pair of wings almost identical to Wyverns as well, albeit smaller in scale. Their bodies were that of a horse's, orange fur flowing between wriggling red flames. Apparently they minded our fiery bombardment less than the plant and bug life trying to get through.
One of the half horse half dragon beasts bursted from a cloud of flames, descending straight for me. I activated Identify stepping out of its burning horn that extended into the earth beside me.
[Chromatic Qilin (Level 12)]
The beast's head pierced through the ground on impact, its legs flexing hard trying desperately to free itself from the earth. My blades flourished across its body as it struggled, shuffling to say at its side to avoid its bucking hind legs. After several regular stabs, two Flow Strikes into its chest and front shoulder downed the beast, its head still stuck in the ground. Hayden's hand touched my shoulder before I delivered the killing blow.
"If I may, this beast interests me deeply." He asked, motioning his hand toward the fiery Qilin that lay bleeding in the grass. Not seeing harm in another flying comrade, I nodded in approval and backed away. Hayden placed his hand on one of its wounds, his glove glowing a dark energy that wriggled into the Qilin's wounds. The Qilin's body jolted in response, its head finally ripping free from the ground. Its eyes bulged from its skull, its head quivering in place. Hayden shushed the beast as he began petting its flaming body.
"Do not fear your loss, beautiful creature of the skies. It is only life." Hayden whispered, lying his head on its body. Immediately, the dark energy spread throughout the entire Qilin, dying its skin the same dark tint from the stomach out. The red flames extinguished across its body, replaced with a dark billowing flame that surged across its skin before settling at its wings, head and stomach. Curious, I gave the beast an Identify.
[Undead Chromatic Qilin (Level 12)]
It felt rather strong for an undead servant to rise at the same level it perished at, especially since its class level was even higher than mine. Seeing no other Qilin slipping through the bombardment on our side, I decided to skip trying to figure out the nature of Hayden's ability by myself.
"Hey, how come it's still level 12? Shouldn't that thing be at least as weak as whatever brought it back?" I asked, hoping I wasn't coming off too strongly.
"Actually, that is the rule. At least for me, it is. I can only renew life that expired at a lower or the same level as my class." Hayden replied, sounding excited that I'd guessed this aspect of his class. Still, that would mean his class level is higher than mine as well. A tinge of anxiety shot through my chest, Identify activating looking at Hayden without intent.
[Human (Level 6)]
"…you don't have a profession?" I asked, though it was more my vocalizing my own comprehension of Hayden's skillset. He's straight-up only been doing this shit for weeks, not once taking a break to 'get a job'. I didn't know whether to envy or admonish his stubbornness. Hayden's masked head cocked to the side in response, before his Undead Qilin let out a guttural roar. Its wings flapped hard, launching it into the air and goring the Qilin descending onto Hayden and I. A wave of dark energy blasted from the attacking Qilin's orange belly, its maw spraying flames wildly through the air.
The live Qilin turned its head into Hayden's Undead beasts neck, burning through its skin almost instantly. The undead Qilin's body fell to the ground, its head still impaled in the live Qilin's gut. Hayden's Gryphon spewed a beam of high pressure dark sludge into the Qilin before Steve or I could react, extinguishing its flames and ripping through its skin like paper. The Qilin's gurgling roars waned as it fell to the ground covered in the Undead Gryphons dark sludge. Its eyes bulged as it lay convulsing on the grass until it finally relaxed, fully fading away.
Hayden casually knelt beside its corpse, his foul smelling Undead Gryphon landing beside him as he inspected the Qilin's corpse.
"A shame, this vessel suffered too much damage to return with meaning…" he said, placing his hand on the near-skinless remains of the Qilin. After an unwittingly solemn moment of silence, he rose to his feet pointing to Phoebe's group behind me. They were in the midst of a battle with another winged adversary, though this one looked…human. Even wearing armor. Hayden chuckled from behind me.
"Ahh, this is fun, is it not?"