Chapter 24 Alden's Pov pt. 2
As the stone pillar shot fort, causing the entire vessel to shake. Alden watched as the creature, shaked. One of it's large bloody tendrils shot fort, meeting the stone pillar head on.
"Finally."
Now that Alden was overflowing with unbridled power. He needed to let loose. And from what he could tell the creature before him was capable of letting him do just that. Surly it was able to satisfy his hunger. Expending a bit of verve. He conjured a stone, long sword. It wasn't shaped in any specific way, he had just conjured it to look like what he knew a sword to be. He hadn't used many swords in his day, mainly because he didn't need to get close to his enemies to deal devastating blows. But this case was different. Since he was on a relatively small vessel, he didn't have the luxury of having a long range fight. Not unless he wanted to cause as minimal damage as possible.
So he resorted to using a sword. Well he had seen many strong persons weild swords before. So it shouldn't be to difficult.
Well whatever the case. Things were about to get interesting.
And so as a simple smile formed on his lips he straighten.
However before he could move forward. The creature attacked first. Causing the pool of vile blood, in which he stood to surge and come alive. Forming into a barrage of tentaculum, the began to grasp and tighten around his feet. Effectively anchoring him in place.
Seeing this event unfold, Alden moved. Bending his knees slightly, he swung his stone sword, effectively cutting through the bloody limbs.
And a split second later he tensed his muscles shoot forth from his position and appearing a meter under the towering monstrosity.
Using his momentum and speed, he sent a bit of verve into the stone bracelet that rested on his arm. As one of the bracelets abilities activated, he swung at the creatures neck. Severing it with a single strick.
As the stone sword escaped the creatures flesh. It counterattacked, send a barrage of tendrils and tentacles towards Alden. With a simple back step he avoided a couple attacks, parrying another with gracefull elegance.
"I see."
The attack seemed to have been a success. Alden's quick thinking and wit was rather incredible, landing him a stop in the top ten, despite being the youngest to ever do so.
And now he had just used his incredible mind, to find the creatures weakness. From what he could tell, the monstrosity didn't have a core or heart. Instead it looked to be made entirely out of blood and soot. So using his knowledge of similar creature, he drew a small conclusion. If there wasn't a way to harm it physically he would have to attack it's soul.
And that's exactly what he had done. After activating one of the stone bracelet's abilities he was able to not only cut through the creatures thick neck, but Also inflict a crack on it's soul.
How had he known that his attack worked? One may have asked. Well the answer was directly In front of him. The bloody, creature was spasming, it's grotesque body gyrating in a fit of pain.
As the creature continued it's bombardment of attacks, Alden dodged effortlessly, focusing on finding an open to deal another blow.
Then he moved once more. Using his incredible speed and superb reflexes. Alden appeared before the creature once more. Aiming for the beings upper chest, or what looked like the upper chest. Alden tensed his muscles, cutting a arc through the creatures tendrils, and continued the attack towards it's vile body.
However before the blade could reach it's destination, the creature rippled sending a wave of blood to augment its own body. As the two elements clashed Alden's ferocious blade dug through the creature's hardened body, but didn't manage to hit any vitals.
'So that's how it is.'
Immediately retreating he sent a blast of verve into the stone pillar that had been stopped by the creature. Providing it with speed, strength and an unbelievably sharp tip. Not a second later the pillar had striked at the creature. Completely obliterating it's upper body and severing it's soul. And without giving it a second to recover. Alden moved severing one of it's bloody tendrils that was attached to a large pool of blood.
And as the creature begun to recover or at least what was left of it. Alden sent a bit of verve into the stone pillar lodged directly above the it and conjured a artillery of stone skewers, spreading wildly they dug and eviscerated the lower half of the creature.
Retreating a few meters back Alden heard a simple voice announced.
("You have conquered an, Emanated Horror, Remnant of the trickster.")
("You have received a relic.")
"What? But that doesn't make any sense..."
How was that vile creature only of the first rank? Alden had expected it to at least be of the third rank. But the first? Something didn't add up. How was an Emanated creature so powerful? How had it managed to cut through his uniform and skin? Wasn't that impossible? No much worse, how had a creature of the first rank manage to kill an entire cohort of trained fighters? Some of which were of the second rank, at that. Had it's class really elevated its power to that level?
Sensing Kreed's movement, Alden stopped his contemplating and turned towards him.
"Are you alright k?"
The young man seemed a bit taken aback by the question. But answered a second later.
"I, uh, I believe so. What about you?"
Hearing that Alden smiled. Although he and Kreed had become more aquatinted over the couple of hours they had know each other, they had definitely grown mor comfortable with each other. However there was still a large amount of awkward moments. And there was no doubt that the current one was exactly that. Kreed had not seen Alden in action before so he was probably shocked.
"Well I did get a little scratch but it doesn't hurt to much." Said Alden throwing a glance at the small incision on his left arm.
"Is it dead?" Questioned Kreed
As they both looked at the vile crumbling mountain of blood and soot.
Alden replied.
"Yes k, that vile beast is dead."
After a suspenseful short pause he continued.
"However. Am afraid the fight is far from over. You see our worst fears have come true. The deport, has summoned multiple creatures. "
Alden watched as Kreed expression sunk, his calm mask cracking a little.
"Do you know where they are? How much of them has it released?"
Pausing Kreed Alden spoke.
"Theres no need to worry k. Based on what I could sense there's only one more surprise. Although this one is much larger and seems to be way more powerful than the former."
As he spoke, Kreed's face grew more and more troubled.
"However, I can assure you that I will take care of it. My hunger hasn't been satisfied just yet."
"Where is the creature? Below deck? Or perhaps in the cabin? Asked Kreed, grasping the beggars rake with a strong grip.
"No, it's not, infact it isn't even on the vessel. It's the stone moat on which we currently sit." Replied Alden.
A look of strange confusion formulated on Kreed's face, as he digested the newly gained information.
"The... Moat? Isn't that bad? We're basically sitting in it's claws."
"Don't worry, just the fact that it hasn't moved yet even with the amount of noise we've created can only mean one thing."
After a slight pause Alden turned to face the front of the vessel once more.
" ha. I completely take back what I've just said. It seems it has awakened from it's slumber."
Hearing this Kreed twitched.
"What?"
"Listen, it's not safe on this vessel anymore, if it over turns you'll be as good as dead. So head back to the grape, while I deal with this creature. Ohh, and make sure you threat that leg of yours. It seems to be quite bad." Saying this Alden guested for him to head to the grape.
Ha. With a sigh Kreed moved to the deck of the vessel and began his attempts at climbing unto the stone platform once more.
As a smile formed on Alden's face he began his Ascent towards the front to the vessel. Summoning a new relic, he jumped over the railings the were meant to keep persons inside the vessel. And plunged into the water with a small splash.
Let's see what you've got big guy. As his vision cleared under the water, he scanned the moat, which was about thirty five feet tall. It rested on the ocean floor climbing up out of the water like a spike.
And as he continued to inspect the pillar, he suddenly tensed.
"Shit."
In that split second Alden had noticed a few things. The first was a simple crack that spread through the water close to the oceans floor.
The deport was enough to shake him. He had seen many before, but the sight of one always sent chills down his spine. The second thing he had noticed was a simple inconsistency, it was happening in the vessel it's. Now that he was under it he sensed a creature moving within it's embrace, from what he could tell. It was a similar creature to the bloody monster he had fought before. No, it was the exact same being. And it was moving towards Kreed's direction from the hold, at a tremendous speed. "God damnit." And the final thing he had noticed was on the stone moat itself. Far below the waters surface where the moat became more thick and dense. Was a pair of round bulging eyes. They were as large as a human, and the extreme vile, look of anger it housed was completely unbearable. And those large eyes filled with destructive malice was staring directly at Alden.
"Shit."