"Run!"
Gloria's urgent cry pierced through the cacophony of battle, but Finn knew it was already too late. The massive fireball, a roiling inferno of destruction, hurtled towards them with terrifying speed. Time seemed to slow, each heartbeat stretching into an eternity as Finn's mind raced. The air around them shimmered with heat, the acrid smell of smoke filling his nostrils. He could feel the sweat beading on his forehead, could hear the frantic breathing of those around him.
There's no time, he thought, his eyes widening in panic. We'll never outrun it. It's too fast, too big. We're trapped.
The realization hit him like a physical blow, stealing the breath from his lungs. In that moment, Finn saw it all with crystal clarity - the chaos of the battlefield, the fear in Gloria's eyes, the unstoppable force of nature bearing down on them. It was too much, too overwhelming.
Without conscious thought, Finn dropped to the ground, his body moving on pure instinct. He reached out, grabbing Gloria's arm and pulling her down with him. The creations surrounding them moved as one, their bodies forming a protective circle around their creator. Finn could feel their presence, their unwavering loyalty, even as he knew it wouldn't be enough. Not against that monstrosity of flame and fury bearing down on them.
More, his mind screamed, the thought echoing in his skull like a desperate prayer. We need more. It's not enough. It'll never be enough.
And so, Finn did the only thing he could. He created.
The familiar rush of power surged through him, but this time it was different. Desperate. Frantic. It felt like trying to drink from a fire hose. Creations sprang into existence above him, their bodies materializing in mid-air. They fell, landing on top of each other, forming a living, breathing shield.
Finn could feel every creation, every life sparked into being. It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once. Once created, the creation knew their purpose, their brief moment of awareness before they were buried under the weight of their brethren.
More, Finn thought, gritting his teeth against the strain. His head pounded, each new creation feeling like a nail being driven into his skull. It's not enough. We need more.
He poured every ounce of his will into the act of creation. Bodies appeared faster now, piling up in a grotesque tower of flesh and bone. Finn could feel the weight pressing down on him, the air growing thick and heavy. But he didn't stop. Couldn't stop. The alternative was unthinkable.
Higher, he willed, even as the pressure increased. Sweat poured down his face, mingling with tears he didn't realize he was shedding. We need to go higher. It has to be enough. It has to be.
The mountain of bodies grew, stretching towards the sky like some bizarre, living skyscraper. Each new layer added to the crushing weight, making it harder to breathe, harder to think. Finn's head pounded, a relentless drumbeat of pain that threatened to overwhelm him.
Black spots danced at the edges of his vision, the world narrowing to a pinpoint of concentration. But still, he persisted. He couldn't falter, not now. Not when everything depended on him.
Keep going, he told himself, his inner voice a hoarse whisper. They're counting on you. Gloria's counting on you. You can't let them down. You can't.
He thought of Gloria, her face etched with concern even as she kept her unwavering gaze at him. He remembered the warmth of her smile, the strength of her presence. He couldn't lose her. Not now, not ever.
He thought of Drew, out there somewhere, protecting them. Drew, who had become more than just a creation - a friend, weirdly. What would happen to him if Finn failed?
And so, he created. And created. And created.
Seconds stretched into eternity as Finn's mind strained against its limits. Each new creation was a battle, a war waged against his own fatigue and the laws of reality itself. The pressure on his body was immense, the weight of countless bodies threatening to crush him. He could feel his ribs creaking, his lungs struggling to expand.
Just... a little... more...
Outside their cocoon of flesh, Alyssa watched in stunned disbelief as the mountain of bodies grew before her eyes. It was like watching a time-lapse of a coral reef, if coral were made of naked, identical humans sprouting from the ground at impossible speeds. The sight was mesmerizing and horrifying in equal measure.
"What in the Divine...?" she muttered, her eyes wide with a mixture of awe and horror. She had seen many strange things in her life as a bandit leader, but this... this defied all explanation.
The fireball, a roaring beast of flame and destruction, bore down on the grotesque tower. Alyssa found herself holding her breath, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for the inevitable impact. The heat was intense, even from this distance, searing her skin and making the air shimmer.
This attack... Alyssa thought, her eyes scanning the chaotic battlefield, it shouldn't be possible. Not on this scale. But the sheer number of bodies, the intensity of combat... Her gaze flickered to the pulsing marks on her skin, feeling the raw power coursing through her veins, diminish rapidly.
All this body heat, the fury of battle, it's amplifying the Calamitas energy. Feeding my bane, [Bane of Inferno]. A wry smile tugged at her lips. Too bad I can't use that bane again today.
She looked at the big ball of heat as it was approaching its destination. Surely, she thought, a cold knot of fear forming in her stomach, nothing could withstand that. It's impossible. It has to be.
And then, it hit.
The world exploded into light and heat. The fireball crashed into the mountain of bodies with a sound like a thousand thunderclaps. Flesh seared and burned, the air filled with the sickening stench of charred meat. Alyssa gagged, the smell overwhelming her senses.
The shockwave rippled outward, a visible distortion in the air that knocked fighters off their feet and sent tents tumbling like leaves in a storm. Alyssa stumbled, barely keeping her footing as the ground shook beneath her. Her ears rang, the world muffled as if she were underwater.
For a moment, all was chaos and confusion. The battlefield fell silent, all eyes drawn to the spectacle before them. The tower of bodies swayed, like a tree bending in a strong wind. Alyssa watched, transfixed, as cracks appeared in the structure, spreading like spider webs across its surface.
And then, slowly, agonizingly, it began to collapse.
Burning bodies rained down, some still twitching, others mercifully still. The tower crumbled in on itself, a macabre avalanche of charred flesh and bone. The sound was horrific - a song of snapping bones, sizzling flesh, and the dull thuds of bodies hitting the ground.
Alyssa watched, her breath caught in her throat, as the mountain of bodies was reduced to a smoldering heap. The air was thick with ash and smoke, making it hard to see, hard to breathe. She coughed, her eyes watering from the acrid fumes.
There's no way, she thought, a mixture of triumph and disbelief warring within her. Nothing could have survived that. It's over. It has to be over.
But as the dust settled and the flames began to die down, a figure emerged from the carnage. Stumbling, covered in ash and blood, but undeniably alive. Alyssa blinked, certain she must be seeing things. It couldn't be real. It wasn't possible.
Finn stood, his eyes wild and unfocused, with blood dripping down his left nostril. Gloria was supporting him on one side, very worried about his condition.
They were surrounded by a small group of creations, miraculously spared from the inferno. Their skin was reddened and blistered, what little clothes they had, singed, but they were alive. Impossibly, unbelievably alive.
Alyssa's jaw dropped, her mind struggling to process what she was seeing. "Impossible," she whispered, the word barely audible even to her own ears. "This can't be happening. It can't be real."
But there he was. The boy who created life with a thought. The impossible made flesh. Standing amidst the ruins of his own creations, battered but unbroken.
Finn's head throbbed with an intensity he'd never experienced before. The world swam before his eyes, reality twisting and bending like a funhouse mirror. His ears rang, a high-pitched whine drowning out the chaos of battle around him. Every heartbeat sent a fresh wave of agony coursing through his skull.
Is this what it feels like to die? he wondered, the thought drifting lazily through his pain-addled mind.
"My lord!" Gloria's voice cut through the fog, laced with worry. "Are you alright?"
Finn blinked, trying to focus on her face. She looked blurry, like a watercolor painting left out in the rain. He opened his mouth to respond, but only managed a weak groan.
Gloria's grip on his arm tightened. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice trembling slightly. "For saving me. Even if I'm just a creation."
Those words seemed to cut through Finn's haze. He shook his head, immediately regretting the movement as a fresh wave of pain washed over him. "No," he mumbled, his voice hoarse. "You're not just... even though I created you, and you don't really have feelings... but I do. You all look human enough for me to form connections. You're more than just creations to me."
Gloria's eyes widened, a flicker of something – confusion? Actual, heartfelt emotion? – passing across her face. But before she could respond, they were interrupted by Hamlyn's arrival.
"My lord!" Hamlyn exclaimed, relief evident in his voice. "We feared the worst when we saw that inferno. I'm glad to see you've survived."
Finn managed a weak smile. "Takes more than a giant fireball to keep me down, apparently."
Hamlyn nodded, his eyes already scanning the battlefield. "My lord, if you're able, I believe we have an opportunity here. The enemy is in disarray, shocked by your survival. If we strike now, we might be able to turn the tide."
Finn straightened, ignoring the protest of his aching body. "What did you have in mind?"
Hamlyn quickly outlined his plan. "We'll split our forces into three groups. The first will push straight through the center, taking advantage of the gap left by the explosion. The second and third groups will flank from the sides, cutting off any potential retreat. We'll use the remaining creations to form a protective barrier around you, my lord. Your ability to create more forces as needed will be crucial. If you are able..."
Finn nodded, impressed despite his exhaustion. "Do it, I can still keep up," he ordered.
Hamlyn wasted no time. He barked orders, and the creations moved with machine-like efficiency. The battlefield transformed before Finn's eyes, chaos giving way to organized movement.
The first group surged forward, a wave of fighters crashing against the disorganized enemy lines. On the flanks, the second and third groups moved with surprising stealth, using the smoke and confusion to mask their approach.
Finn watched, a feeling of awe washing over him as his creations engaged the enemy. They fought with a ruthless efficiency that was both impressive and terrifying. It looks like they are adapting. Good. Good.
His musings were interrupted by a commotion to their rear. Through the haze of smoke and dust, Finn could make out three familiar figures: Ed, Edd, and Eddy. They were locked in combat with a massive man wielding a sword that seemed to blur with impossible speed.
Gus, Finn realized, remembering the name from earlier reports. He must have taken advantage of the chaos from the explosion to push forward with his forces.
The realization sent a chill down Finn's spine. While they had been focused on the aftermath of the fireball, Gus and his reinforcements had managed to close the distance, threatening to catch them in a pincer movement.
Eddy moved in first, his sword clashing against Gus's sword. For a moment, it seemed like he might have the upper hand. But then Gus moved, his blade a silver streak in the air. Eddy barely managed to avoid the worst of it, but blood sprayed as the sword opened a gash across his face.
Ed and Edd rushed to their brother's aid – and they were brothers, Finn realized. He had named them similarly, and he probably created them together.
But Gus was a force of nature. His sword moved faster than seemed possible, each strike precise and deadly. [Bane of Slashes]! he whispered briefly in his mind, and his blade began to glow with an eerie light.
The Eds found themselves on the defensive, struggling to keep up with Gus's enhanced speed and power. Cuts appeared on their bodies as if by magic, blood flowing freely.
They can't win, Finn realized with a sinking feeling.
As if hearing his thoughts, something changed in the Eds' demeanor. Their eyes began to glow red, muscles bulging and pulsing beneath their skin. They weren't just fighting anymore – they were embracing the rage, the power that had been simmering beneath the surface since their encounter with Roran.
Gus faltered, his eyes widening in shock. "Impossible," he muttered. "I can sense them now, but... it's wrong. They're not connected to the Astral Tapestry, and yet..."
The Eds didn't give him time to finish that thought. They lunged forward as one, their movements faster, more powerful than before. Gus found himself on the defensive, his [Bane of Slashes] barely keeping him alive against this onslaught.
Across the battlefield, Alyssa watched the tide turning with growing desperation. Her [Bane of Inferno] was supposed to have ended this, to have wiped out the bulk of the enemy forces. Instead, they seemed to have multiplied, pouring out of nowhere to overwhelm her people.
Fuck it, she thought, gritting her teeth. Time to end this.
"[Shadow of Walking]," she whispered, and the world blurred around her. She moved across the battlefield like a ghost, untouchable, unstoppable. Her target was clear: the boy who created life, who had somehow survived her strongest attack.
Finn, still dazed from his ordeal, didn't notice the danger approaching. But Gloria did. Her eyes widened as she saw Alyssa materialize behind Finn, knife raised for a killing blow.
Time seemed to slow. Gloria moved without thinking, her body acting on pure instinct. Her sword flashed out, meeting Alyssa's knife mere inches from Finn's neck.
The clash of metal on metal rang out, drawing Finn's attention. He spun around, eyes widening as he took in the scene.
Alyssa clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Tch," she muttered, leaping back as more creations converged on her position. Her knife flashed, cutting down two, three, four opponents in the blink of an eye. But more kept coming, an endless tide of flesh and determination.
Finn stumbled backward, his mind reeling. She almost... I almost... Again...
Before he could complete the thought, a massive figure appeared between him and Alyssa. The newcomer was covered in blood and gore, his body a testament to the brutal fighting he'd endured. But he stood tall and unbroken.
Finn's eyes widened in recognition, relief and surprise washing over him in equal measure.
Drew...!!