"AAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHH!" A bloodcurdling scream left David's mouth.
It sounded like the soul was being torn completely out of David's body and blood began to leak out from his mouth, as the purple lump burrowed deep into his heart.
[Initial Installation complete, user consent required for full integration.]
The cold voice rang out once again, but David only lay there, his eyes glazed over, the pain of the tendrils burrowing into his heart overcoming him completely.
For a few minutes, David was on his back, his body twitching and muscles seizing, in the aftershocks of pain, his right arm, still bleeding, laying weakly at his side.
"Blargh." David rolled over, vomiting out a a clump of blackish blood and waste, stumbling to his knees, visions of Cherie, Brogan and Callahan flashing before his eyes. Then, a flash of rage, as he recalled the image of Xavier holding a gun to Cherie.
'I need to get back.' David thought to himself, shakily getting to his feet, blood dripping onto the ground around him, the few golden symbols that remained now swirling around him.
[User, to where do you need to return. I am more than happy to assist.]
The cold voice rang out again, and David whirled in shock, the pain and confusion wearing off.
David thought to himself that he had already heard this voice multiple times. Perhaps this voice was linked to Xavier's betrayal, and the strange chill he had felt earlier.
"Huh! Who are you! Show yourself!" David yelled, his face scrunching up in fear. He knew that any being that could communicate telepathically was far more powerful than most would encounter in their entire lifetime.
[User. I am right here. Within you.]
The voice echoed within David's head, and though it was the same tone as earlier, to David, it seemed there was the slightest hint of evil within its tone.
'What do you mean within me? Can you read my thoughts?' David started to panic, tearing away at his blood soaked shirt, looking for the clump of flesh, remembering the sharp pain he had felt in his chest.
But there was nothing to be seen, only unharmed, smooth, pale skin.
[User, at this moment, I can only scan surface level thoughts. However, with full integration, I can have full access to your knowledge, and all your mental dialogue.]
'What, why on earth would I want that? Who in their right mind would let some strange artifact into their mind?' As the pain had worn away, David had calmed down, and his rational thinking returned, he thought that this must be some type of rogue magical artifact.
[That is for you to decide. I cannot force you to do anything. I will inform you, User, that full integration will offer you much stronger abilities, far beyond your imagination. Great power, strength to rival the and even surpass the gods themselves.]
The system's tone was now dripping with honey, and David reflexively stepped away, of course, he couldn't escape the system that now lived within him.
'Hell no! I've no need for any of that, all I need is power to protect my loved ones.' Came David's response, but he wavered. Until now, he had been confident.
In the speed of his training, his skills, and the safety of those dear to him. But after what had happened today, a thread of doubt invaded his mind.
Perhaps the doubt was not the only thing that had invaded, after all, other than David, a new voice spoke within his head.
Finally, the dust began to clear, the remaining golden symbols had disappeared, while David had been preoccupied with the system, they had dissolved into his skin.
'I can't be worrying about you. I need to find the others' David thought to himself, pushing aside the discomfort of the concept of speaking to something within his mind.
Some strange being that was currently hiding somewhere within his body.
[As you wish, User. I will remain here, until you are ready.]
Now that the dust was clear, David could see the mountain off in the distance, he realized that the explosion had knocked him some distance from where he and Callahan had been. With one final glance around for Callahan, David headed back toward the mountain.
Growing closer to the clearing, David, already running as fast as his torn and bruised body could take him, ran up the hill, gritting his teeth. He could hear a chorus of rhythmic grunting and chanting, along with a series of loud thuds and crashes.
Right there, in the down in the clearing, surrounded by the orcs, Brogan was fighting for his life.
His body was covered in injuries from the massive battleaxe that the High Orc swung like a toy, with every drop of blood that fell to the ground, the orcs roared louder and louder.
Swish
The huge battleaxe hissed through the air, right for Brogan's neck. But he made a graceful lean backward, and a slight bend at his waist.
Brogan dodged the swing by a hair.
Immediately, Brogan swung his body forward, dropping into a half crouch.
Brogan's muscles rippled, as he exploded out of his crouch, a heavy uppercut flying towards the High Orc's chin, but just like Brogan, the High Orc was far more nimble than he looked. He cleanly sidestepped Brogan, sending his axe arcing backwards.
Cherie, now slumped on the ground, with Xavier standing over her, gun drawn, gasped, as the axe flew toward the back of Brogan's head, out of his vision, threatening to take of his head.
But Brogan's battle senses worked in his favor, he wasn't the leader of Coppervein's Strike Team for nothing, he dove forward, to the side of the High Orc.
Spinning cleanly to his feet, Brogan took a firm stance, his feet planted firmly in the ground, one fist curled next to his waist, the other high in front of him, all over, his tattoos began to glow with a deep blue light.
It was though the beasts tattooed on his arms had come to life, as they began to run and fly over his skin, faster and faster, the glow growing stronger and stronger.
The High Orc having turned around, narrowed its eyes, levelling its battleaxe, the head pointing right at Brogan's chest. Though it was a brutal and rage filled being, it was not stupid, it knew that rushing in was a risk, whatever technique the human was using, the mana fluctuations were no joke.
"Hah! Let me show you. This.'' A fierce growl came from deep in the High Orc's throat, its own twisting and winding red tattoos began to glow, but unlike Brogan, its tattoos did not move, rather, slowly, the deep green of its skin slowly changed to a blood red.
"Is how it is done!" The growl turned into a roar, and now a pair of red eyes stared at Brogan from over the thick fangs, drool hanging from the High Orc's jaw.
"GRO!"
"HOSH!"
"KAR!"
The orcs chanted louder and louder, their ancestral deity would be well pleased with this duel, it was known that he loved fierce, blood boiling combat most of all.
"RAAAAAAAAAGGHHHHHH" The two fighters both let out out a yell, the two distinct voices molding into one, the High Orc's battle axe swinging down high from the sky, its thick braid swinging behind it.
Brogan's fists travelled directly at the High Orc.
To David, who was looking on with amazement, it seemed as though Brogan's clenched fists were spinning around one another.
In this moment, Brogan seemed invincible.
Brogan's fists flew right towards the High Orc's heart, he was aiming to finish things with this attack. If he could take out the High Orc, then he could manage to hold on long enough against the rest of the orcs for reinforcements to arrive.
But the axe was too fast.
Schink.
It sliced down, cutting down into Brogan's arms.
"Noooooooo!" A piercing wail rang out, echoing all across the clearing. Cherie fell to the ground, tears streaming out from her helmet.
As soon as Cherie screamed, David flashed forward, but he crashed to the ground, his mouth open in an empty scream, seizing up in pain.
[User Safety Measure Activated.]
'STOP. NOW!' David screamed inside of his head, he had never felt more helpless, he had come back to help, but now, he was being stopped once again.
[I must preserve the Candidate's life. The current situation would be fatal]
'NO! I KNOW I CAN HELP!' Fighting through the pain, David started crawling forward, his eyes staring up at Brogan and the High Orc, who were now stood still, the chanting orcs now silent.
"Don't you cry love." Brogan had a large grin on his face, as he looked at Cherie. Ignoring the blood pouring from his severed arms, no-one would be able to tell he was injured, as he stood tall, facing the High Orc.
[Full Integration would allow me to better assess the situation. Would you like to proceed?]
'YES! YES! ANYTHING!
[Understood. Proceeding with integration.]