This fellow was so pale it was like he'd never seen the sun. Hairless, with beady red eyes, sunken cheeks.
But what drew Zane's attention was his aura.
It smoldered in the astral plane, casting a billowing shadow whose bleak fingers reached halfway across the cage. Some strange power ran dense through the Prince's veins, tinging them void-black. Some nasty Bloodline Zane had felt in Monster Lords before, or even Monster Knights. But it so dense in this beast it was hard to compareโhere it was a physical, sluggish thing.
His Monstrous Bone showed strongest in his claws.
The Prince was a spindly Monster. Zane couldn't imagine there was much strength in those limbs. He looked built for speed.
If the Sage was right, he could go quite fast indeedโฆ
He would be the strongest thing Zane fought to date. A bird.
Zane frowned at the fellow, wondering.
He would need a plan. Or else this could go rather badly, he felt. He'd fought these birds enough times to know.
๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ค ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ค? The Monster Prince hissed.
The Barbarian Sage just ignored it.
"Right!" he said cheerfully, patting Zane on the shoulder. "It'll be a tricky one. Give 'em hell."
Zane nodded.
๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐'๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐. The fellow twitched. ๐๐๐๐คโ๐ฅ๐๐๐ค ๐จ๐๐๐๐ก ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐? ๐ธ๐ฃ๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ค๐๐๐, ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐?
"She said the same thing!" chuckled the Sage. He ambled away. In seconds, the cage slammed shut.
***
Then it was just Zane face to face with the Monster Prince.
๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค (๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฃ โ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐)
๐ผ๐ค๐ค๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐
The Level difference was only a half-realm of Levels away. But the feeling of threat Zane got from him was unlike anything he'd felt.
The Prince inspected him flatly. ๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐ ๐'๐ฅ ๐๐๐ ๐จ ๐จ๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ'๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐, ๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ, ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐?
"No," said Zane honestly.
This only seemed to tick the fellow off more.
๐๐ช ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ค ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค, he breathed. ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ค ๐๐๐๐. โ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐ค, ๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐พ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐. โ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ โ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐!
As he spoke shadows crept heavy around him, rising from the ground like smoke. His voice doubled, tripled, echoing deeper.
๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐ค๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ ๐ โ๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐ โ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฃ ๐ฃ๐๐๐! he hissed. His eyes swirled for a second void-black. ๐๐๐ โ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐น๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ โ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ฃ๐ ๐ช๐๐ฃ ๐๐ฅ๐ค๐๐๐!
"Oh," said Zane, who was not sure what all that meant. It did sound rather impressive.
โฆ๐ธ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ. Prince Vadros looked incredulous. ๐๐๐๐ช'๐ง๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฃ. ๐ธ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ.
"Ten seconds!" called the Sage.
Vadros looked Zane up and down. The more he saw, the more amused he seemed. ๐ป๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ค๐ค ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ง๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ, ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐ ๐ง๐๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐? โ๐๐?
Shadows played at the edges of his hands, extending the nails. So fine Zane couldn't feel their edges, not even in the astral plane. Those were strange shadows, smoking at their endsโฆ The very fabric of the realm shrieked around them, as though it were being slowly tortured.
He could tell they would be trouble, just at a glance.
Usually Zane liked to feel his way into a fightโbut he looking at those claws, he wasn't sure it was such a great idea.
If Reina were here, he wondered what she'd do. She'd make a plan. Look around at all the options. Get an idea for everything she could use.
So he took it all inโtook in the cage too. It really was a cramped little space now that he paid attention. If he meant to catch a birdโฆ
He did have something of an idea, now he thought of it.
There wasn't much time to think on it.
"Three! Two! One!" came the Barbarian Sage's voice.
"Begin!"
It was like some higher power had turned the lights off.
Instantly there was nothing. Not even essence.
Prince Vadros's domainโa realm of smoldering shadowโblew out like the falling of night. And in fractions of a second, it swallowed the entire roomโฆ
Another Tier 6 domain.
This one felt claustrophobic. More insidious than the Cobra's, a smothering, shifting, smoldering thing. It killed the last of the light.
And then it started exerting its pressure on Zane.
The only bright spot was Zane's domain. Flared up fierce in an instantโa single sparking force field holding back the nightโฆ
He gritted his teeth.
This time, he burned as much essence as he could manage right away. He'd learned from the last time.
Still he had to focus and strain just to keep it off of him. But as those tendrils tried to invade, tried to wipe out the light, they hissed back as though stung.
๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐'๐ค ๐๐ ๐ฅ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ค, said the Prince. He looked as annoyed as he was amused.
Then his expression twisted. Grew harsh. ๐น๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ค ๐จ๐ ๐'๐ฅ ๐ค๐๐ง๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฃ๐. โ๐๐ช ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐. ๐ฝ๐ ๐ฃ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ค ๐๐ค ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐. ๐น๐๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐โฆ
And Zane felt a Bloodline ignite.
Bulging down its pale flesh, lighting up the veinsโa sudden intensity, a void searing down the astral planeโ
It was the greatest density of Monstrous Bloodline Zane had ever felt.
๐ธ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐น๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ป๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ฃ๐ ๐ช๐๐ฃ ๐๐ฅ๐ค๐๐๐! Vadros shrieked.
His narrowed those scarlet eyes on Zane, locking on, and he felt a spike of vicious intent.
Those eyes bulged.
Vadros lunged so fast Zane didn't even see itโjust its after-image, a whiplash of motion. Zane had been tensed for something, ready. The moment he felt that essence surge, that intent surge, he was already bringing his chains to block, jerking out of the wayโ
He was surprised to feel a searing pain rip down his right side.
Fresh blood fountained out of him.
Zane had a moment of whiplash.
He barely had time to feel it comingโeven Great Sage Mind could only give a flicker of a warning. Thenโa blinding mass of raw power, of Bloodline, condensed to a scar so thin, so razor-sharp, moving at obscene speedโฆ
It felt like an axe had hacked deep into him.
He looked down, grunting.
There was a grisly gash streaking down the right side of his chest, cutting so far into muscle it was halfway to the bone.
A corrupt Bloodline smoldered down its length.
It would've hit something vital if he hadn't moved just thenโฆ
He couldn't remember the last time a single strike had wounded him so deep. It'd cut faster than he could feel.
Just that one strike would've been enough to slice a normal Minor God in two, he knew.
It was only the heavy-duty temperingโthe strength built deep in Zane's body, that stopped the blowโฆ
๐๐? Vadros frowned at Zane like Zane was an insect that had somehow gotten out from under his boot. ๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ช ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐ค๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ง๐๐ง๐โ
Zane roared as though in a blind rage. And leaped to counter.
The pain had jerked him all the way awake.
His Chains walloped the air, bursting with raw explosive mightโso much power imbued in each link they rippled the air. A flaming bull-charge of sheer Destruction, ready to crush Vadros to a smearโฆ
Only it never landed.
The Prince simply snorted and flickered out of existence, the way shadows shadows escaped light.
His Chains crashed useless against the walls.
Then Zane staggered, wincing.
Another jagged scar in reality had rammed deep into himโan arc of blinding pain lighting up his back. He whirled, narrowing his eyesโฆ
Vadros tutted. ๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐.
Zane threw himself at it again, roaring. This time he tried even harderโas though to catch it just before it vanished.
But again Vadros flickered out of place long before he hit on anything. The Chains clank'd somewhere in the darkness of Vadros' domain. Gone.
And this time, Zane felt pain lance the backs of his legsโhe staggered.
๐ป๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ ๐๐, ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ช! giggled Vadros. ๐ป๐๐๐๐!
๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐!
โ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐%
He was gushing bloodโbadโin just three exchanges.
He growled, turning again.
He saw his enemy flex his fingers, a picture of smug calm. New holes in reality smoldered down their ends, rendered to ultra-fine pointsโฆ Monstrous Bloodline concentrated at ends. A Bonfire of it. Half the power of its Monstrous Bone, gone to bolster its powersโฆ
Now Zane felt it up-close, even that Bone was a clear step up from anything he'd ever felt.
He knew how tempered his body was.
But when he looked down it looked like someone had taken a butcher's knife to him. That raw firepowerโฆ
Even Zane wasn't sure how much of it he could take.
But he knew there was no changing course now.
***
"Call it off," said Viria.
The Barbarian Sage was quiet. Frowning.
They saw Zane lungeโchuck a length of blazing chain with crushing powerโa chain that vanished into the gloom, without a trace. Saw him stagger again, grunting under a heavy sliceโwhirl around, blast out another great arc of lightโฆ
But he just couldn't seem to land anything
The Sage saw Zane's jaw tighten every time. Even Zaneโwith his pain toleranceโwas feeling every shotโฆ those shots looked damned bad.
Another slash ripped up Zane's thighsโby then he made a staggering, shambling figure.
His heart was not one bit diminishedโyou could see it in the cold intent in his eyes, the focus.
But even Zane's body was being slowly butchered.
"Call it off!" said Viria, alarmed.
The Sage shook his head, resolate. "You don't stop believing in your man, just because he's facing some trouble! The lad'll find a way."
He put his hands to his mouth, and roared, "Come on, lad! Don't let that bastard bully you! You take it to 'em!"
***
Zane had fought many kinds of birds before.
He'd picked up a thing or two in that timeโฆ
Never one that hit quite this hard, though.
He was breathing heavyโhis Asura State was nearing its peak. Every strike he threw roared out with massive firepowerโhe threw it with all his heart, all his furyโฆ
Only to hit some distant steel. Clank. And peter out, vanishing into the gloom.
๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ'๐ง๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ฅ, said the Prince, amused again. ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฅ๐ฅ.
He raised his dainty pale arms, spreading them wide.
โ๐๐'๐ฅ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐ค๐๐? he crowed. ๐๐ฅ'๐ค ๐ฆ๐ค๐๐๐๐ค๐ค! ๐พ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐ก!
He gave Zane another slash, and it was all Zane could do to lurch away, stumbling. Every slash carved a new chunk out of him.
He growled againโlashed again, as though in a blind rageโand yet again his Chain vanished into the gloomโฆ Clank.
๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐, ๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ? Vadros was getting annoyed now, seemed like.
His annoyance quickly turned darker. Spiked to fury when he saw Zane was still standing. Still glaring back, defiantโ
A seething smoke gathered at his fingers.
๐ป๐ธ๐โ๐ผ๐ปโHe roared and made a massive slash.
Zane lurchedโstaggeredโfelt like an axe had hammered straight into his chest. His head swam.
โ๐๐๐๐!
Another scar lit up Zane's entire torso, And it took a huge force of will just to stay uprightโฆ
He groaned.
๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐!
โ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐%
He was burning at his peak then. That was how he could even still move. Locked in a pitched battleโit would be hard for most Minor Gods to resist him then, head-onโฆ only all his power was going to waste.
Burning to nothing.
He lunged again, and again, seeming delirious, wobbling on his feetโlike he'd given up on even lighting up his Chains. Clankโclankโ
Over and over he stumbled, and took the blows. And over and over his Chains rammed into the walls, and stayed thereโforgotten.
๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐ค ๐๐๐ค๐ฆ๐ฃ๐. The prince was working up to a proper fury. ๐ธ ๐๐๐๐๐ค-๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐!
He gave Zane another vicious slash, and Zane was bleeding from so many gaping wounds you could see more muscle and bone than skin.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐โ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐โ๐๐๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐!
He Punctuated each slash with a vicious slice.
๐๐ฅ๐๐ชโ๐๐ ๐จ๐โ๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ!
And every time Zane took it bravely, jaw set. Lunged right back, tried countering, tried throwing anything.
It just wasn't workingโฆ
***
"Stop the fight," said Viria.
The Sage was silent.
She grabbed him by the armโ"Stop itโhe's killing him!"
As though on cue, Zane took a slash so fierce it buckled his knees.
"I'll jump in myself if I've got to!"
"You'll do no such thing," Summersteel snapped. Then hesitated, looking at a heaving, staggered Zane.
"Jogoโฆ" he said to the Sage, hesitant. "Perhapsโ"
"No," said the Sage. He looked a bit strickenโlike it physically hurt him to see Zane wrecked like this. When he spoke, his voice was thick. "I still believe in Zaneโhe'll find a way, godsdamned it!"
***
โ๐ ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ช ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ ๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ค ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ? Even the Prince was huffing, sweating, windedโjust from carving Zane up. ๐๐๐? ๐๐๐ค๐ค?
By now, he seemed genuinely frustrated that Zane had taken all that punishment and still stood.
But it wouldn't be long nowโฆ they could all see it.
The end was coming.
More shadows sharpened along Vadros's fingertips.
๐๐๐๐ฅ'๐ค ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ก๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ, slobbered the Prince. ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐! ๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐๐คโ๐ค๐ ๐ค๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ก๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐ ๐'๐ฅ ๐๐๐ ๐จ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฅ! ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ก๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐ ๐'๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ'๐ฃ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ช๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ช ๐๐๐๐!
Vadros laughed, nearly hysterical. ๐ป๐ ๐'๐ฅ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐ค๐๐ ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐? ๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ, ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฅ๐ฅ! ๐ป๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ช ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ'๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐? ๐ผ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ?
Zane hacked out a lungful of blood, and turn a cold eye on him.
"Yes," said Zane, and lunged again.
The next slice took him to one knee.
๐ธ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐จ ๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ'๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ? said Vadros. Voice hoarse now, but just as mocking. ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ค? ๐๐๐๐ช'๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ ๐๐๐ค๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐ค, ๐๐๐ช๐๐! ๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐'๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐ ๐, ๐'๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ค ๐ค๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ. ๐ธ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฃ! ๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ง๐๐'๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐ ๐ ๐๐โ
Zane lashed out a Chain.
Vadros dipped it easily, annoyed. He was just about to fire off another barb when he heard the Clank.
It soundedโฆ surprisingly closeโฆ
Come to think of itโwhy did the Cage feel so much smaller than before?
It was the walls, Vadros realized. They were gone.
Everywhere the Monster Prince looked, he saw only Chain.
Chain, piled on chain, piled on chain. Wrapping the room all overโ
Vadros's eyes began to widen.
A sudden coldness gripped his chest.
Surely notโฆ
He whirled around, heart going faster and fasterโ
Sure enough. That last Chain plugged the final gap.
โ๐ โฆ croaked Vadros.
He turned to the ruined, bleeding man at the center of the cage. A man whose hands just kept lashing all that timeโwhose chains had kept lengthening, and lengthening, and lengtheningโฆ
๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐'๐ฅโ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐'๐ฅ ๐๐๐ง๐โ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ'๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ค๐ฅ ๐ ๐ค๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐! Vadros spluttered. โ๐ ๐จโ๐๐ ๐จ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ง๐โ
"You talk too much," growled Zane. His body erupted with essenceโa sudden bonfire in the Astral Plane.
The walls exploded with Stormfire.
Vadros shrieked.
At the same time, Zane flexed with all he had left. Let out a roar straight from the depths of his soul.
The walls closed like a tightening noose.