“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
One by one everyone in the group went down to the stream, each person bathing in the slow-running cold water. When it came to Rex’s turn, which just so happened to be the last out of everyone, he groaned silently as he rose to his feet, “Relax everyone, this may take me a while,” he added with a wry smile as everyone watched him stand.“I’ll assist you,” Kiri said, standing abruptly, her eyes twinkling slightly. Her tone quickly changed to be flatter and more serious as everyone’s gaze shifted to her, Kealy’s being the only glare, “To ensure the pain on his body is lessened.”“I bet,” Kealy scowled, her reaction jolting to surprise as Venya placed her hand on Kealy’s shoulder.“I’ll keep you company, it might cheer you up a bit,” Venya said with a smile, showing off her white teeth.“I bet,” Kiri replied, looking at Venya with a smirk as she turned to follow Rex as he started toward the water.“What did she mean by that?” Kealy asked, turning to face Venya.“I…have no idea,” Venya stu
Rex had just finished dressing, laughing at Kiri’s sighing at him covering his body when someone spoke, “Grub is safe to come to water?”“Yes,” Rex replied, tilting an eyebrow at Kiri, who smiled and shrugged, “Why wouldn’t it be safe?”“Grub knows scary lady is with you wonky leg, and Grub does not want to anger scary lady and she turn him to mush before bone god reads Grub’s skin marks.”“Grub it’s fine to come and wash yourself, I do in fact encourage it,” Kiri said, scowling slightly as her nose picked up his scent. “I’ll see you back at the group,” Kiri said with a smile, turning to walk away, nodding to Grub as he passed while he was making his way to the stream.After throwing off all his clothing to be nude before wading into the water waist-deep, Grub turned to Rex, “What was wonky leg doing with scary lady alone? You have less fear than Grub to be smiling after that.”“She isn’t so bad,” Rex replied with a shrug, throwing his tunic on over his head.“Did scary lady force you
“So you’re telling me that you and Kealy are not from this realm?” Dilo asked, her eyes narrowing.“No Dilo, we are not,” Rex agreed with a slow nod, “We are from Dracoterrum.”“So you were brought here via portal after a fight with someone who wanted you dead?” Venya asked, her face scrunched in concentration.“Correct,” Rex said, darting his eyes to Kealy quickly.“That still doesn’t make you special enough to heal the way you do,” Dilo growled.“Grub from Dracoterrum and not heal like wonky leg, Grub once bend arm to almost break, couldn’t steal from fat merchant men for long time,” Grub said, peering at his arm and flexing it at the elbow.“So how did you even get here Grub?” Rex asked.“Grub tell you he join army with friend. Grub make another friend who help him join imperial army here after I leave home again, big battle on capitol every month make me not want to die before more skin marks, so Grub starts searching for heroic monster to battle.”“And then proceeded to get swall
As Rex and his companions stopped atop a slight grass-covered rise in the ground, the outer row of houses that surrounded a small-sized town came into view. “I will have to disappear before we get close enough to the town for me to be recognised,” Kiri announced. “Are you an outlaw of some kind?” Venya asked, eyeing Kiri suspiciously. “No. But could you imagine how good your reception would be at the township of many years’ worth of people entering into your domain to do me harm and you killed them for it?” “Even if that was the case of self-defence, I can’t see it being too good a welcoming party,” Rex said, inhaling and then expelling the air loudly. “Do you have some sort of invisibility trick to remain unseen?” “No,” Kiri replied, shaking her head. Turning to Rex with a smile, she reached out and touched one finger to the top of his sternum, dragging it down to stop at the necklace she had gifted him earlier. “So the necklace?” Rex said, swallowing the rising lump in his thro
Once Rex and Kiri had rejoined the group, everyone looked at them expectantly, Kealy with one hand on her hip.“Er, what’s going on? Why are you all staring at us like you’re expecting an announcement?” Rex asked, looking around at his companions with a smirk and one eyebrow raised.“Well, that might be because you two went over there all secretive and shit, said some things in hushed tones, got all smiley and grabby hands, and then came back here and NOT expected us to want to know at least something?” Kealy scoffed, her face full of incredulity.“We didn’t get all grabby hands,” Rex said with a chuckle and a slight head shake.“Since Rex won’t tell you, I will,” Kiri said in a light, airy tone, causing everyone to stare at her eagerly, all except Rex, who saw the quick flash of a devious smile before she coached her expression. He was keen to find out what she was up to.After a few moments of silence, Grub was the first to break, “Well come now scary lady! Tell Grub and others what
Before Rex and his companions entered the town, the second guard held out his hand.“If you follow this main road, it leads from the northern to southern entrances. In the town centre, you will find our tavern and market area, which by the sounds of your reasons for being here, is where you want to be. Our residents live in the houses on the outer edge, and I implore you to not go skulking where you do not belong,” the guard said in a flat tone, eyeing every member of the group warily, especially Grub.“Sounds good, we aren’t after any trouble at all,” Rex replied, putting on a smile.“Righto,” the guard replied, stepping aside and giving Rex a curt nod, before turning back to face the first guard and taking up his earlier discussion on the pros and cons of raising sheep to goats.“Good to know they take their job seriously,” Dilo growled approvingly, “They might have a training yard so we can all train tomorrow morning.”“Let’s just hope they leave us alone, we get some sleep, have a
The interior of the pavilion defied physical logic. What appeared modest from outside expanded within to a vast chamber, its boundaries lost in shadows that moved with unsettling purpose. No support poles held up the ceiling—instead, the black fabric seemed suspended by an invisible force, rippling occasionally like the surface of dark water.At the centre stood a circular table of obsidian, its surface so polished it reflected their faces with perfect clarity. Seven chairs surrounded it—four on one side, three on the other. The godking had already claimed the central seat on the far side, Chancellor Hellden taking position to his right. The third chair remained empty."Please," the godking said, gesturing to the empty seats. "Make yourselves comfortable."Rex approached cautiously, noting that the floor beneath his feet seemed to shift subtly with each step, as if he walked on something alive rather than solid ground. He chose the chair directly opposite the godking, Marcia and Kiri
Dawn broke over the imperial city with an unnatural clarity, as if the very air had been purified in anticipation of what was to come. Rex stood at the window of his chamber, watching as the first rays of sunlight touched the distant encampment of the godking's forces. The golden bracelet on his wrist pulsed with a steady rhythm, almost like a heartbeat.'He will try to tempt you,' Fafnir's voice whispered in his mind. 'Demons of his kind are masters of deception and desire.'"I know," Rex replied softly. "But I've made my choice."After careful deliberation the previous night, he had selected his three companions for the meeting with the godking. Marcia, with her tactical mind and unwavering resolve; Kiri, whose knowledge might prove crucial against a being as old as the godking; and Dilo, her void-corrupted arm possibly giving her insight into the godking's powers that others lacked.The decision had not been easy. Lacey had argued fiercely for inclusion, citing her combat knowledge
The Citadel's council chamber buzzed with tension as Rex's old companions from Dracoterrum faced his new allies from this realm. What should have been a joyful reunion had quickly transformed into an atmosphere thick with unspoken rivalries and territorial instincts."So let me get this straight," Minet said, pacing the stone floor with her arms crossed. "While we've been desperately searching for you across realms, you've been here making new... connections." Her eyes flickered briefly toward Dilo and Kiri."It wasn't exactly by choice," Rex replied, his voice strained. "I was pulled here against my will, had to survive, and found people I could trust."Lacey, who had remained unusually quiet since their arrival, finally spoke. "We understand that, Rex. But do you understand what we went through to find you? The risks we took? Rowina might be trapped between realms right now because of it."From across the room, Dilo growled low in her throat. "He wasn't
The delegation from the godking's encampment advanced at a deliberate pace across the battle-scarred plains, their progress marked by the fluttering of the white parley flag. At its center rode the imposing figure in black armor – now clearly visible as a woman with pale, almost translucent skin and silver hair that flowed like liquid metal despite the still air."I don’t recognise the envoy," the Lady of Blades said grimly, lowering the spyglass.Rex studied the approaching emissary with growing unease. He could see the person had the figure of a woman and she was not riding a horse, but a massive wolf whose shoulders stood taller than a mounted knight. Its fur was midnight black, with wisps of shadowy vapor rising from its coat with each powerful stride. Flanking her were not soldiers but beasts – creatures with vaguely humanoid forms but bestial features, as if someone had attempted to mold animals into the shape of men and stopped halfway through
The Citadel's western courtyard echoed with the clash of steel as Rex and his companions trained in the afternoon sun. Three concentric circles had been marked on the flagstones with chalk—battle formations designed to maximize their individual strengths.Rex moved through the center circle, golden energy crackling along his sword as he parried attacks from multiple directions. Cassius and Dilo flanked him, their movements synchronized after hours of practice. The purple discoloration had receded from Dilo's arm, though the healers warned the void corruption had left permanent damage—a network of dark veins that glowed faintly whenever she channelled her battle rage.In the second circle, Kealy and Venya darted between training dummies, their blades flashing in complicated patterns designed to target vulnerable points in demonic anatomy, according to the ancient texts the Lady of Blades had provided. Grub moved with surprising grace among them, his strength providing the necessary forc
Rex stood on a balcony overlooking the imperial city as dawn broke over the distant walls. The golden bracelet pulsed gently against his wrist, a reminder of Fafnir's presence within. After yesterday's battle, the dragon had retreated into a restful silence, conserving energy and processing all they had experienced.Below, teams of soldiers cleared the courtyard of the dissolved chimera remains, their movements precise and practiced, evidence of how routine such clean-up operations had become. The void corruption had left blackened scorch marks across the flagstones, impossible to remove completely. A permanent scar on the city's heart."Couldn't sleep either?"Rex turned to find Kiri approaching, her steps nearly silent against the stone. She looked exhausted but alert, her eyes scanning the horizon with careful attention."Too much to process," Rex admitted, turning back to the view. "The prophecy, the godking, these... connections that seem to be forming. It feels like we've steppe
"Cassius, take the left flank with Karinna," Rex commanded, slipping easily into the role of leader. "Dilo, Grub, with me in the center. Kealy, Venya, work the perimeter and watch for stragglers. Kiri—""I'll be where I'm needed," Kiri said with a knowing smile, her hands already beginning to weave complex magical patterns in the air.Rex nodded, then turned his attention to the bracelet. "And you," he murmured, "let's see what we can really do together."As if in response, the golden lizard seemed to shift, its form flowing like liquid metal around his wrist. Rex felt Fafnir's consciousness merge more completely with his own than it had since their reunion—a perfect synchronization of will and power.'Together, then,' Fafnir's voice resonated within him, stronger than ever before.Rex vaulted over the balcony railing, golden light trailing from his hands as he descended to the courtyard below. He landed in a perfect crouch, the impact sending a shockwave of golden energy rippling out
The Lady of Blades led Rex and his companions through the Citadel's grand entrance hall, a cavernous space where sunlight streamed through high stained-glass windows, casting prismatic patterns across the polished stone floor. The hall bore the scars of a fortress long at war—elegant tapestries hung alongside battle maps, and ornate columns were reinforced with practical steel bracings. Guards in gleaming armor stood at attention, their faces betraying flickers of curiosity as they watched the unusual group pass. Rex felt their stares lingering on him in particular, which only added to his growing unease. "I imagine this must be disorienting," the Lady of Blades said, glancing back at him. Her armor made barely a sound as she moved, each plate fitting together with masterful precision. "To arrive at a place you've never been, only to discover people have been expecting you." "That's putting it mildly," Rex replied, studying her carefully. "How exactly did you know we were coming?"
Rex's lungs burned as he sprinted through the crumbling tunnel, dust filling the air with each new tremor that rocked the passageway. The golden lizard bracelet pulsed against his wrist, sending waves of warmth up his arm—a warning, perhaps, or Fafnir urging him forward."Keep moving!" he shouted over his shoulder, making sure everyone was still with him. Grub's heavy footfalls thundered behind, followed by the lighter steps of Kealy and Venya. Cassius moved with his usual grace, a faint blue shimmer still surrounding him like a second skin. Kiri and Dilo flanked the group, weapons drawn against whatever might await them at the tunnel's end.Invictus Myst led the way, Rex noticed her glancing at him every few seconds. Whatever had happened in that crystal realm had shaken her, the confident assassin replaced by someone who seemed just as desperate to escape as the rest of them."There!" Myst shouted, pointing ahead to a circular opening where daylight spilled into the darkness. "The i