“Well, that could’ve gone a lot better,” Ean said, exhaling loudly while pulling his conjured sword from the bleeding throat of the now-deceased dorphan at the same time Kita pulled out a sharp snapped branch from the creature’s belly.“Yes. This was sloppy amateur work that nearly ended with a grave injury to Rector, as well as losing our kill,” Kita said, tossing the branch aside.“I’ll be fine. We still got our kill, with minimal damage to the important parts of the beast we needed to harvest. It will take some time, but I will be able to slowly heal my arm in stages,” Rector continued, adjusting his torn sleeve sling slightly, wincing quietly.“It would have been nice to know that your trap spell was going to arm and trigger straight away,” Ean said with a sigh while brushing the traces of wet blood from his palm down his trouser leg.“I told you my magic is starting to depreciate. I also mentioned without Mhurl helping to keep my an’uul from closing my magic has become increasing
“Rex,” Skul said, visibly shaking, “I feel myself beginning to falter with the next step that I am required to perform, would you be my second?”“Uh,” Rex stammered, the words pulling him from his momentary brain pause, “I don’t know what is required of me in this situation.” In Rex’s mind with all the books and movies he had read and seen a ‘second’ was required to lop off the person’s head after disembowelling themselves and that did not fit into a marriage situation.“My dear, he is asking you to hold him steady, like Horken is doing for Teema,” Kiri interjected softly, adding a smile while speaking, nodding at Horken.“In that case, yes. I can do that for you,” Rex replied with a nod, visibly relieved.Moving to stand behind Skul, Rex looked over and studied how Horken was holding Teema. Copying how his arms looped under the pits of Skul, gently holding his head steady, Skul sagged a little of his weight into Rex’s grip. Rex could feel Skul’s body relax slightly under his grip, an
“Judging by your expression I’m guessing you aren’t going to tell us how you intend on overcoming the obstacles you described to us?” Rex asked, a little exasperated, using one of his knuckles to massage above one eye.“It’s much more fun to find out when it happens, then having the skill and aptitude to overcome any obstacles that arise while having that sort of fun, THAT is the thrill, no?” Kiri replied with a large smile.“Are you trying to tell me when you go into a battle, and something goes wrong, it’s a thrill for you?” Kealy asked, one eyebrow raised.“The deciding moment when you find out if it will be your last moment or if you have the fortitude and wits needed to overcome the surmountable odds is a thrill, yes,” Kiri replied with a knowing smile and quick nod, “But alas we will not be travelling tonight, watch Skul and Teema must be observed while the spell finalises. We will leave at dawn on the morrow, I suggest you all rest while you can.”“You’re speaking differently t
Rex and Kealy had just finished another unarmed spar, Kealy was having to pick herself up from the ground once more, “I don’t understand how your reactions are so fast. I can jump short distances between shadows, and you catch me before I can strike every blasted time.” “I don’t know what to tell you,” Rex chuckled, reaching out to clasp onto Kealy’s hand to pull her to her feet, “I can half sense, half feel where you are, so I react to that sensation.” “I told you before rogue,” Dilo growled, “It’s called battle sense. He is so focused on the fight with you, his whole body is tuned in to react to whatever you try and do. But that can also be a downside, go again.” Setting themselves up to spar once more, Rex soon gained the upper hand in the fight when Dilo suddenly shot into Rex while standing out of his sight range. She was just about to strike him in the kidney when he rolled his body slightly, causing the blow to be a glancing strike instead, catching her wrist from the overext
Once the goodbyes had been finished, and Skul was walking through to the edge of the clearing holding Teema’s hand, Kiri turned to the group left, “I have let go of the magic involved with the multiple summons I had prowling the forest to prepare for what is next, I need about ten more minutes, and we will be able to begin the journey ourselves. I will require the assistance of all battle-ready individuals during this process though.” “We are all battle ready except for Venya, “Rex said, a hint of confusion creeping into his voice, “What will we need to be ready for?” “Battle obviously,” Dilo growled, shaking her head. After a quick sigh of frustration from Rex at her comment, Dilo smirked and held out her hand to him, “I will need the use of my sword if we need to be ready to fight.” Kealy was the only person to object, “Wait! You took that from her because she attacked us, how do we know once she has her sword and our attention is elsewhere, that she will not resume her earlier a
“He is speaking to someone, I can hear the difference in vocal tones. How in the nine hells would someone else be in a snake’s mouth to be speaking with him?” Dilo asked, her eyes furrowing in confusion. “That should be impossible,” Kealy breathed, still having her ear against the throat of the giant snake. She was about to speak again when the skin pushed outward abruptly, close to her face causing her to recoil away sharply in alarm. “The f**k was that?” “He is attempting to cut his own way out?” Dilo postulated, scowling at the snake’s skin jerking outward in constant pulses. “A heroic exit through the neck of a twenty-foot snake after being swallowed? Of course he would,” Kealy sighed, smiling while shaking her head slightly. “He does this often?” Dilo asked, raising an eyebrow at Kealy. “Irritatingly. There are stories of him being involved with a soul transfer from a Djinn to a beast, fighting a tenaculum, he was instrumental in turning the tide of a large battle by charging
“Who are you?” Venya asked, tilting her head to the side, confused by the short, olive-skinned man that was covered from his bald head to bare feet in blood and flesh chunks now standing just outside of a large, opened gash in the neck of the snake.“I am Grub. Oh don’t be worrying pretty face, Grub will fetch wonky leg, give me few minutes,” the man said, spinning quickly on his heels to face the opening once more and as he moved forward, he pushed the skin aside to step back into the throat of the snake.Venya stared shocked at the gaping wound in the dead snake, she had never seen a man like that before. He was a short olive-skinned stockily built man who had a bald head and very prominent facial features, broad shoulders with a slightly pudgy belly, baggy pants held up by a cord tied around his waist, and bare feet. His skin was half covered in a wide variety of sparkling black tattoos, all except a strange red smear mark that ran from one cheek across his nose, stopping at the ot
Venya came back a few moments later carrying a full water skin and a few cloth strips, “Sorry Rex, this is the best I could manage to procure in the short time I had.”“It’s fine,” Rex said with a smile before his face turned stern and his tone went flat and serious, “I’m going to need you to help me with something more important first.”“Something important?” Venya asked, slight worry creeping into her voice, “Is everything ok?”“It will be,” Rex smiled, keeping his voice calm and airy to help elevate Venya’s concern. “I need you to help me straighten my broken leg, so it heals properly in the correct position.”Venya looked down at the bone still partly protruding through the skin of his shin and winced slightly, “I don’t know if can do that.” She was shaking her head slightly while speaking.“I’ve done as much as I can by myself, but I don’t have the strength required to put it where it needs to be and keep my mind straight through the pain, and as you can see, it still needs the l
“So Rex,” Kiri began once they packed their cooking utensils. “I believe there is a part to this story you have not told us.”“What part is that?” Rex asked, raising one eyebrow at her.“The part where you earned the ‘blessed one’ title,” Kiri replied with a smirk. “I am most curious as to who has blessed you to elicit such a respectful response from a creature powerful enough to kill almost all of us.”Kiri’s question seemed to draw all eyes to Rex, even Cassius and Grub, even though they already knew the story.“Well,” Rex began with a little sigh as he gathered his thoughts, “I was originally tasked with performing a deed, in return for a favour. The queen then brought me through a portal to a place to have the agreement sealed by someone she called an ancient. She cannot deviate too far from some mission she was brought here to do, or something like that. Anyway, there were more ‘ancients’ than first agreed upon, almost like a council-type setup. The agreement was then changed to
“So this ‘dragon’ that is bonded with your soul is what has given you your potent abilities and now has unlocked some of your weaker magic?” Venya asked, for the fifth time. Rex had explained his meeting and bonding with Fafnir in great detail, but it seemed like Venya still did not believe him to be telling the truth. “Dragons are myth and you’re telling me your whole family line has bonded with one?” she had retorted, each time he tried telling her.“I too find his story to also be a touch fanciful, but it would also explain how he has performed such incredible feats that we have ALL witnessed. So I think it to be prudent to believe him. He has never lied to us before now, has he?” Kiri replied, finally being the one able to silence Venya.Rex had just begun to thank Kiri when Queen Ullysarius’s voice wafted across the magical space, silencing everyone.“Blessed one, we must speak.”“Sounds like I’m needed once more,” Rex sighed.“I can’t wait to be back in the real world and away f
Rex had only just erected his archway for Grub and Cassius to pass through when he was stopped, turning to face who had called out his name.“Before you go, blessed one,” Paool said, tilting his head slightly in respect. Her magnificence would like you to focus on binding the conduit. She has informed me of the importance of unlocking your once powerful magical talent for what lies ahead of you.”Rex was about to ask what he meant by that, but before he could utter a word, Paool had spun on his heel and with a faint crack, had disappeared.After the momentary shock wore off, Rex clicked his tongue in amusement at how Paool had chosen to take his leave, then spun and entered his archway.Once the quick lurching sensation from the portal had worn off, Rex’s mouth dropped open almost instantly. His spiritual space had expanded exponentially. As he took in the new surroundings, he was accosted before his brain could register what was happening.“Rex!!” a familiar growl entered his ear. Fo
Not wanting to see how Taalook had ‘Dealt’ with Norian, Rex moved on with his plan.“Anyone else wants to travel the same path as Norian?” Rex asked, watching everyone intently. He noticed the remaining squad members all wore a mixture of shock, and fear except for Barton who had disgust written over his face.“Well Barton,” Rex continued, walking up to the kneeling man. “If I release you, will you still pursue us seeing as your commander has perished?”This question elicited a moan from Brend as he struggled against his bindings.“Something to add Brend?” Cassius asked, coming to stand before the man.“Blessed one, I should warn you,” Taalook growled, stomping up to Brend, clenching two clawed hands on his right side. “He was the most aggressive fleshling. That is why his bindings are so tightly wrapped. The insect was annoying me.”Allowing Taalook to remove Brend’s gag, it did not take long for Brend to also decide to not take Rex’s lifeline.“You do not know how the godking’s army
“Well,” Rex coughed, “How do you know they came with ill intentions?”“They confessed under duress of course,” Queen Ullysarius said, casually waving her two left-sided long-clawed hands dismissively. “Do you wish to unveil the fleshed ones? Or shall I?”Turning toward Cassius for guidance and getting a confused shrug, Rex turned back, “I’ll do it.” Rex noticed the queen seemed to deflate slightly at his answer. ‘Strange response,’ he thought.“Shall I accompany you?” Ullysarius added in, quickly sidling in next to Rex, her eyes shining eagerly.” You know, in case it is decided they will visit the beyond. I would be honoured to send them there myself, blessed one.” Rex noticed she put extra emphasis on the title.Rolling his eyes, Rex moved to the first covered figure, reached under the hood and flipped it back.“Brend?” Rex asked, shocked to see Rosie’s squad leader kneeling before him, a strange black substance stuck over his mouth to prevent speaking, and his hands and elbows were
The moment Rex allowed Kiri to join him, she immediately started to mutter under her breath with her hands outstretched, slowly walking towards the young, downed woman.“What are you doing?” Cassius asked, taking a step forward to attempt to get a better view as to what Kiri was doing.“You need to stay back, the magic woven into this woman is highly unstable,” Kiri snapped, shooting a sharp glance toward Cassius, stopping him in his tracks.Raising his hands defensively, Cassius, along with Grug, retreated a few paces back and away from Kiri and the downed woman.“Grub be thinking how such small girlie make all buggies dead,” Grub asked, squinting suspiciously toward the young woman.“This poor girl has been subjected to a horrific amount of opposing magic. I am surprised she has not exploded already and killed us all, bringing this entire nest down in the process,” Kiri said, pausing her spell-casting to check the young woman’s pulse. “Before she can be moved, I must separate and sec
Rex, Cassius, Hussin and Grub were on full alert as they moved through the archway and entered into the well-lit, large cavern. The first thing Rex noticed was the amount of crazak bodies strewn around. He estimated there were at least thirty here, all looking like they had died while trying to fend off an attacker.“Be alert of your surroundings,” Cassius said after leaning over and pressing his hand onto the shredded chitin of a downed crazak that was closest to the archway. “It’s still warm, I would say the fight happened only 15 minutes ago.”“These quilix died in fighting circles,” Hussin said, surveying the carnage. “It is our most used tactic for our primarily non-combat nest members. Whatever did this used raw power to overcome all present.”“To slay this many buggies, thing must be strong,” Grub said, kneeling down next to another crazak and running his hand over its limbs, tracing the deep gouges in its tough chitin with his finger. “This buggy was ripped in pieces. With stro
Godking Darius had never slept much in his old life, this habit leaked through to his current reincarnation. This worked well to keep his entourage of close advisors on their feet, as well as not allowing anyone to catch him unawares, which was in his top three of most despised things.He was currently perusing through his latest report papers, lounging back on his large high-backed throne chair, just sitting slightly offset to his large black obsidian desk. He always sat facing the doorway allowing him a good view of anyone who entered into his chambers. Feeling a pulse of energy approaching, he smiled evilly. Darius knew this weasel-featured advisor well. Turning slightly back to his table, he stashed the papers he was reading and turned back to face the door, interlocking his fingers across his chest and waited. A few minutes later, a soft knock on the door could be heard.“Enter,” Darius said, allowing a slight sliver of magic into his voice. He had learnt from his earliest time s
During their trip from the throne room, Paool questioned Rex about his incredible ability to heal wounds.After seeming somewhat satisfied with Rex’s vague explanation about being bonded with an ancient creature and sharing some of its traits, Paool then asked about how he was hiding the presence of other beings, explaining he could sense multiple scents emanating from him.“Why does smart buggy not be asking Grub about him?” Grub suddenly blurted out, appearing next to Paool, startling the crazak.“Uh, this one does not know what to ask of you delicious-smelling one,” Paool replied after a few seconds, his name for Grub eliciting a chuckle from Cassius.Before Grub was able to respond, Paool stopped suddenly, his action not being noticed by the others for another two steps.“Everything ok Paool?” Rex asked, instinctively resting his hand on the pommel of his sword while his eyes darted between both ends of the tunnel they currently traversed.“Yes, blessed one. This humble one was ju