There was a moment of shock that radiated around us as we watched Ymer sink his teeth into the neck of his ally. Combined with the look of shock and surprise from his other teammates only led to a moment where the movement and adrenaline of the battle seemed to pause for a moment.
I glanced over at my system, surprised by the sudden announcement the system gave me. From Ymer's feet a circle of reflective red rushed outwards, surrounding our feet, it seemed to surround us and flatten everything unto the horizon. Turning down to look at my feet, I saw my reflection looking back. The surface was like a thick liquid, ripples spreading out as I picked my foot up. The smell of iron rushed to my nose as I found myself and others coughed in surprise, the smell of blood was potent and omnipresent.
"Ymer, this wasn't what we agreed to!
Afimaril yelled out pointing her sword with her good arm.
"Well excuse me if your incompetence has caused me to change plans."
Ymer said tossing the now unconscious body of his once ally into the floor where they laid. From near Ymer's feet two spots of the blood floor bubbled and shook as two figured that seemed to me mirrors of Ymer's silhouette rose up. They even held similar looking weapons, but they were entirely red as if constructed from the blood of the pool. Jax seemed to take the initiative, not waiting for any more conversation he lunged at Ymer. However, the blood copies jumped in the way. Jax lunged, jaws open, grabbing the clone by the throat and ripping the head from the body as Jax landed, spitting the head to the ground. I waited for the body to fall over, however instead, the head simply regrew, and from where the head had landed another one stood up.
"You like my soulskill, its quite a potent one, especially once you get them riled up."
Ymer said tauntingly.
Party leader Jax has landed a strike on Blood Clone
Blood Clone has resisted the damage
Blood Clone has split to form another Blood Clone
Jax seeing this tried to retreat, but the Blood Clones were already moving, their actions in unison as their attacks struck Jax. One slashed at his neck, his Ki rising to block the strike. The second thrust into his side that his Ki also rose to block, but seemingly spread thin, cracks formed. The last one stabbed into Jax's back, as the Ki shattered, the blade biting in and pinning Jax to the floor as he cried out and writhed under the blade. The Blood Clones faces were expressionless as this happened.
Blood Clone has used item Vermillion Rapier(D)
Party leader Jax has used lifeforce Control(E)
Party leader Jax spent 21 Ki to take 0 damage
Blood Clone has used item Vermillion Rapier(D)
Party leader Jax has used lifeforce Control(E)
Party leader Jax spent 30 Ki to take 0 damage
Blood Clone has used item Vermillion Rapier(D)
Party leader Jax has used lifeforce Control(E)
Party leader Jax spent 16 Ki to take 13 damage
Party leader Jax has been affected by item Vermillion Rapier(D)
Party leader Jax has begun to take bleed damage
Less than a second. A fight we had not only been winning, but practically steamrolling was turned around in less than a second. Between Jax and Selene, if Jax has not used any Ki yet, he has roughly a Pool of 91 HP to work with. However, even just glancing at the system window I could see that Jax was on practically less than 10 HP with that set of attacks. Selene could take maybe one of those, but not two. This was no longer a fight, it would be a slaughter. Worse still, we can't even run away, Jax was literally pinned through the rib to the floor, and even if he was free the bloody field extends practically to the horizons. I turned looking at my team mates to see if any of them had any ideas, but they seemed stumped. I even turned to Afimaril, but she seemed just as panicked, the thought that Ymer might not be as on her side as she thought clearly crossed her face.
As I turned back expecting Ymer to be scouring the group I saw his eyes locked on me, a toothy grin crossed his face as he walked over, his 3 sanguine guards following him. I wanted to be brave, to come up with a plan, to be rational in a situation where rationality left days ago, but my mind kept going in circles of I don't want to die, how can I live, I can't, I don't want to die. Over and over again, Ymer's footsteps practically felt like crashing against a gong, each one, each ripple causing fear to spike in me. With each step the system wasn't helping, displaying the message
Your soul stirs
Your soul stirs
The world seemed to slow down as it felt like a weight had been applied to my back, my breathing was heavy and my eyes kept darting around, and yet I could hear, feel, and count every single step Ymer took.
Step
Your soul stirs
Step
Your soul stirs
Step
Your soul stirs
8 steps. It took him 8 steps to be arms reach from me. I peered up at the man. I was a respectable 5'9, but Ymer must have been at least 6'2 so I had to crane my neck slightly, only adding to the terror was the fact that I could see Jax was being dragged along despite holding on for dear life against the bloody floor.
Your soul stirs, a skill has formed from broken fate
Skill acquired: Silver Tongue(E)
Silver Tongue(E)
Passive
Your voice is one that can sooth or lie with ease. You are better at persuading people and can lie more convincingly.
What? A skill, how did, what is? My mind was racing through thoughts not even slowing down to let any form when Ymer grabbed me by my chin and forced me to look at him.
"Let's make this a game shall we, how will your friends react to this?"
Enemy Ymer has used skill Vampiric Allure(E)
Your consciousness sinks into your mind as you no longer control your own body
It was a feeling like being ripped away from a window. Surrounded by a dark void, and the vision from my eyes now hovering just 15 ft away, and yet I couldn't move, I couldn't breath, I couldn't do anything.
"You all, members of his party, if you resist or try to fight back, I kill the mutt. You, Aiden, kill your friends."
What is he? I thought, but to my horror I saw the window of my vision whip around, the last bottle of fire starter already flying as Liora was forced to jump in the way. In a normal fight It would have been over in a second or two. I could maybe get a strike in, but after that I was screwed. However in a situation where they were not allowed to fight back, I could only watch as I slowly but surely delivered wounds.
The sound of Ymer behind me cackling was guttural and infuriating. Why, why did people like him exist, those who use their natural born talents to lie, steal, and take what they want from life. Even worse was the fact that my system screen kept appearing in front of me as well as my body, showing me what I was doing, the damage I was doing and more. But what was worse is the black space I was in kept occasionally pulsing. The messages
Your soul stirs
Appearing over and over again.
"WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN!!!"
I yelled desperately, tears streaming down my face.
"Ow my ears, why is there so much echo in here!?"
Came a voice to my right. Bewildered I turned to see what looked to be another me, floating next to me, their hands over their ears to block out sound. We both stared at each other for a moment unmoving before in unison a question was asked by both.
"What the fu-"
Your soul stirs, a skill has formed from broken fate
Skill acquired: Fragmented Will(E)
Fragmented Will(E)
Passive
Your mind begins to split under pressure to protect itself. While under intense emotional or mental strain, you may subconsciously form a mental fragment — a sliver of your will that acts independently. The fragment may whisper suggestions, make minor decisions in your place, or retain key memories if you are compromised.