"Nin!?" I let out, everyone of us stepping away from the suddenly appearing stone. The living rock continues to coil up, growing thicker and thicker by the split second. My instincts kick in and I ready my blade. The tip comes up, viridian magic building up around me.
The air resonates with me, binding itself to my arcane tyranny. It erupts with a cloudy boom and I upwardly smash through the rock. Shards big and small shoot ahead, breaking up further. By the right of my power, I bring with me the light of a Valkinvar and the Orbital-Halo. I banish the terror of the dark.
"VAPOOLIAR!" Nin cries with impossible joy. My eyes drop and see him right below. The osibindah are drawing close!
"HELP NIN OUT!" I roar back at the soldiers, diving for the closest osibindah no sooner than the last word. I crush many bugs underfoot, my legs springing up. Cutting through several more, I survey the chamber in a spinning slash. There's only one thing in a hive that can do what I've just seen happen. The Earth Shaman is here!
I spot him disrupting the darkness with a sickly pale brown light.
His crude staff and vile form are like a living shadow, even with the outline. Shooting straight for the rust-armoured osibindah, I aim my blade for its torso. It raises a claw, sending a stone construct for me. I shift my blade's position to block the oncoming-
Rock explodes around me, my steel meeting the bug's stone. Adjusting to the force, I push back against the earthen weapon. Rock shifts behind me, the familiar broken winds of a wind alerting me. Another construct is coming for me.
Heaving forward, I break my push and flip out of the way. I slide around with a controlled lack of friction. The constructs smash together without breaking and shift through each other. Sons and daughters of the corrupt rock launch for me. I keep escaping into brief patches of open air and slash.
The foul rock brood falls apart, and I float by a lurching giant construct.
"That which we broke comes before us again," the Earth Shaman tauntingly remarks, making my womb sting and blood boil. It rises on a platform, coiling higher and higher at its end of the chamber. Yet, for all the shame the osibindah have brought me... Another had to come into my life to even allow them the chance.
"You never broke me, you just dragged in the work of the one that did!" I hiss as the man with the Heir Emerald hair flashes in my eyes. That sickly face and how his power contrasts with it. I'll never...
The next charge of the constructs frees me from my thoughts, and I charge back. Looping around the next attack, I go for the Earth Shaman's body again. It waves its arm, blocking my path. My sword smashes aside the first construct and I reach for the follow up one.
My bare hand digs into the body of solid rock. I pull myself up and save my magic by carrying on, on foot. Running along the lengthy construct, the Earth Shaman warps its body. I avoid the traps and pitfalls, breaking the spikes and shattering stalagmite jawlines.
My steps grow in power. Well-intended force breaks the manipulated earth apart. A boulder lacking the influence of the Earth Shaman falls. I throw it aside regardless and carry myself into a swing.
Going into the air, I carry on my swing into its downward arc. I slip through the worm, slicing it open. My sword stabs deep into the ground, fracturing it. I look up, hearing the results of my strength. The construct continues to reel and whips back forward.
The Earth Shaman's low tone laugh breaks through all the commotion. It undoes the damage with a simple wave. Barely having time to widen my eyes, the remade worm smacks me aside. I crash through many bugs and rocks. Reinforced rock stops me and I still crater into it. A growl escapes me and my magic vibrates.
The wall erupts and the sky booms again. My sword tip is up. The worms cross-hatch, hiding the Earth Shaman from physical view. It's not skilled enough to hide from my senses, however.
Those same senses spot the incoming blow to my side. I shift around and block it, riding its face up to the chamber ceiling. Hopping onto my free hand, my sword deflects all further attacks. I throw my sword ahead, pushing it onto the ceiling and leaning into it. My magic spreads through it, denying the Earth Shaman's influence into the rock through sheer power.
My arms bend, bringing me closer to the chamber ceiling. Cracking stone falls and what dribbles over me disappears into the construct. Solid rock is eating it all up as if nothing is falling at all. I sneer at the strange magic and push.
I go up further into the ceiling, breaking it like a falling boulder does the floor. I throw it back, giving myself the space to get to my feet. My neck bends and catches some of the weight, my knees bending to their limit. One bends further, my armour not there to stop me from squatting.
Settling into the motion, I force the worm back with my whole body. Cracks snap into existence across the construct's body. Bolts of Thurnmourer's lightning made by mortal hands. My hands!
"I am difficult prey for you, Osibindah!" I hiss through grit teeth, the worm's head popping apart. I grab my sword and fall through the mess of tendrils. Twisting around, handle in hand, the air erupts. My legs bend in my fresh crater, a flower of spikey slabs. The bloody nectar of crushed and maimed osibindah all around me.
It laughs once again, "Valkinvar-Imdvarce! The Style of the Thrusting Advance... So easily led astray..."
"Nin!?" I question, turning towards the entrance. I can't see him. Where is he!?
"So easily." the Earth Shaman cackles and tuts, a dozen worms suddenly appearing. They mould together, awkwardly trapping me in a closing sphere. The rock clings to my clothes, pushing down onto my skin. I tremble in fury, entombed in an increasingly fat prison. With nowhere else to go, my viridian power blinds me.
I sense the cracks in the rock and force my aura into them, "DO NOT TEST ME, EARTH SHAMAN!"
My roar is the final straw, the tomb scattering like a million drops of rain. The Earth Shaman's weapon goes all over the collapsing chamber. My magic's grand force keeps the downpour of boulders away from me. I focus my power more, creating a pocket for air and myself alone.
"You should've submitted and joined with the Queen...!" the Earth Shaman rumbles in sick reverence for its foul natural order. Something in me snaps.
"NO MORE SHALL EVER BE FORCED TO JOIN WITH YOUR QUEEN!" I scream, a vortex erupting around my sword's length.
Shooting towards the osibindah, I barge through its amassing defence. Breaking through to it. Metal pierces metal, delighting my ears. A signal goes to my arms, and they thrust, driving my blade as far as it will go.
Reaching my limit, my body shifts, swinging my blade upwards. The coat of rusted helms shatters and splits, drawing blood as well. The monster roars and I spin over myself. Its magical grip over the chamber breaks and it all falls.
I dive for the outside, avoiding what rubble I can. Going into the untainted dirt, I slide through it, high walls of brown occupying my vision. Twisting around, I stab my sword down to my side. I stop, finally.
Standing up, I am instantly met with cheers. But, I am unsure as to how to act. I can only let my adrenaline simmer and my breathing vent the heat in my blood. I stare back at the soldiers and my group as they approach.
I spot Nin as he laughs quietly to himself, more of a gasping motion than anything. I walk up to him, leaving my blade be for the moment. My magic dissipates, easing the pressure on my allies. I look down at Nin as he leans into his stretched out hands as my sense dull themselves to the world. Considering my stomach wound, that was a lot of effort to throw out just now.
"I told you to run. Shoved you to encourage you, even." I huff, annoyed at first. A smile comes to my lips and I gently give out a one-hand shove, knocking him to the ground. He flinches on impact and matches my smile. He gets back up, dusting off his buttocks and gladness spreads through me.
Most of us managed to get out, a very big most of us. That is as good as any of us could've hoped for, really. Whatever the hive's plan was, I ruined it. From a mere glance, I can tell we've lost some soldiers, but not enough to leave me weary and defeated.
Who we lost and when it happened, I'll never be able to figure. However, I know I owe them all the greatest favour that I will ever be able to give. I will be constantly diligent in calling for Waionr's favour on their behalf.
Even if I will do so with great shame regarding myself...
The dead may have not fallen on a true battlefield, much less against our hated foe. But the men who did die did so as soldiers. No matter the lowness and despicability of our foe. They deserve a proper burial, equal to anyone else with a better death. I merely hope I can find their bodies in due time. So that we may cremate them.
"I thought I was a goner..." Nin wheezes, the fear in his system taking away his recently returned height. I note his pale face and offer him my still-armoured hand. An unbreakable smile on my lips. My initial worries aside, Nin fought his way out of there and held on. He overcame his fears and did so like the soldiers all around him!
I'm happy to have my doubts about him proven wrong- A set of snaps sound from the mountain!
It comes to life as if it is a beast. A boisterous laugh erupts, coming for us, as does the entire face of the mountain. From behind a jaw of jagged rock teeth, *he* comes for us. I move to react and suddenly stop, my lungs emptying at the sudden pain. I spit up blood. My shaking head looks down, screams all around as a small worm drills its way into my stomach wound.
I am confused; I won...?
No, Nin is scrambling back to his feet, and the others are running. A mountain is moving to swallow me whole. The Earth Shaman is still alive and well, its darkness is all-consuming. A muffled voice calls out to me. Nin's voice.
I feel his hands. They smack against my chest and I go flying. My back hits the ground. I slide along it, the rolling putting my senses back into order.
I grab the barbed worm, snapping it right out with a closed mouth howl. Forcing my way to my blood-stained feet, I find my footing and look up. The Earth Shaman's claws envelop Nin. Our eyes meet and it grabs him. He vanishes deep underground, as does the mountain...
It sinks and sinks, the rest of the mountain avalanching over the sinkhole. Only a pile of rubble remains. Though I watched otherwise, it looks as if the chamber collapsed naturally. I wheeze, my lungs emptying as my reinvigorated, wounded gut painfully spasms.
Stumbling forwards with blooding soaking my gut-clenching hand, I fall into the bite-taken earth. Pulling myself up with my free hand, I stick it up. My sword arrives in my hand and I fall against the rock, blade at the ready. Driving it in, my eyes water as my strength fails me.
I was supposed to have saved him... We were all finally out of the hive. This was all going to be put behind us...! But, no, he had to sacrifice himself to save me. A worthless failure of a former Valkinvar! He saved the failure that is me!
"No... No! NO! NIN!" I cry with desperate fury, digging for him with all I can.