The Pillar of Enera

[Chapter 28 part 2] Soul – The Field of Graves

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…

Probably not. Soul sighed, “Why don’t you stay with Patrick?” His sister didn’t have the heart to object.

Crossing the cavern was far easier than the Helix. We don’t need to jump.

“Was it alright not to bring her?” Kate asked once out of earshot.

“Soul’s decision was correct.” Rose glanced back. “It’s almost noon. This cavern will be brightest then. If things go wrong, it’ll be possible to retreat. ”

“Makes sense,” Kate said. “But that doesn’t help us complete our quest.”

“It’s too risky to wait.” Soul explained. “If it gets dark enough for them to follow us… We can’t fight on this. They wouldn’t hesitate to jump off dragging us with them.”

“This brings up the next and more important point” Kate continued. “What do you know of the undead? How do you fight them? I’m the only who has no idea what I’m getting into.” Her voice vibrated with anxiety.

“Astra brought undead to Earth’s End. She unfroze them one by one and had us fight until satisfied. It’s likely why she selected this mission. As for dealing with them…” Soul turned to his sister. “Care to step in?”

“Sure.” Rose sighed. “First, you’ll need to prepare for their presence. They’re unliving embodiments of enmity, radiating loathing. This can be overwhelming.”

“Next, they’re cunning. The stronger an undead, the smarter it becomes. Don’t be confused by their wild hostility. Their true nature is on the cold calculating side of hatred. They’ll try to maneuver you into an unfavorable position, so never lose track of your surrounding. There’s nothing like trying to dodge and realizing your back is to the wall.”

I remember Rose’s first fight with one. Intimidated, she’d fought at a distance, underestimating her opponent. It’d been a gruesome death.

“Finally, be wary of their adaptability and unpredictability. Undead are the opposite of newborns, who enter the world knowing nothing. They come into existence potentially knowing everything. They’re formed from the abyss, which contains humanity’s cumulative battle experience. Martial arts, weapon techniques, strategies, tactics… Each undead comes with their own mix. Worse still, some part remains connected even after they arrive. In battle, they’ll ‘remember’ what they need to win. Never get overconfident. Right, Free?”

“Yes,” Free agreed ruefully. “I’ve learned the hard way that if you play around with them, they end up playing around with you.”

“With no pain or fear, nothing holds them back.” Soul added. “They’ll gladly sacrifice themselves if they judge it effective. Focus on ‘disabling’ blows before ‘fatal’ ones.”

“Speaking of killing, what’s the best way?” Kate asked.

“I was getting to that.” Rose said. “They can’t be felled outright, but they can be exhausted if destroyed repeatedly. It’s more effective if magic is used.”

“So similar to the strategy for necromancers?” Kate interpreted.

“I guess so?” Rose said tentatively.

“We’re almost there.” Soul interrupted. They walked onto the upside down island cautiously. “Where are they?”

“Half a mile away, gathered around a tent at the center.”

Everyone relaxed a little. It’s beautiful. The landscape was overrun by Tomb Ivy. Out of every weapon, weightless vines drifted upwards into the void. Under their multicolored glow, visibility wouldn’t be an issue. The wind has dissipated too.

“We should plan.” Soul said. “Rose?” It’s her thing.

“I’ve been working on it, but haven’t had much luck.” Rose apologized. “Any suggestions?”

“Yes.” Wise said. “I can now tell that the Necronomicon will be extremely effective, its presence blinding and disorienting them. Does that help?”

Soul and Rose looked at each other. “Enormously.” Rose laughed. “Honestly, I was having trouble seeing a path to victory without Dawn. I forgot you were holding a legendary artifact.”

Too bad I had to leave Diamonds Edge. An unfamiliar weapon would do more harm then good. I also don’t want to wield Ethan’s sword haphazardly.

“We should keep the death user alive.” Free offered. “Normally, they’d be swarming to ambush us already. However, that isn’t the case. I hypothesize whatever control he has is limiting their actions, making them less dangerous.”

“My turn.” Silver said. “What’s his purpose here? Maybe we can leverage that.”

They were somewhat taken aback. Because of his impulsiveness, we forget he’s pretty sharp.

“Why I didn’t consider this.” Rose mumbled. “Wise?”

“He’s assembling a fighting force to liberate his settlement. It’s located deep in the Twisted Lands and was overrun by outlaws. It’s this obsession that’s fueling him.”

“We can use this…” Rose said, mind racing.

“Well done.” Kate gave Silver a pat on the head. He seemed happy.

“Alright, here’s what I suggest…” Rose laid out her scheme. Soul approved.

They stopped two hundred feet away. An ordinary tent was erected in a clearing next to a burnt out fire and a pile of bones. They must be hunting for him.

“He must sleep during the day.” Light observed softly.

Soul nodded, concentrating on the two dozen skeletal beings. Grayish bones. Their bodies were not the remains of the deceased, but rather grudges from the Abyss given physical form. They never bothered with flesh. Bones and tendons are all they need. Most were crouched, ready to pounce. They know we’re here. Dim blue light in empty eye sockets stared back.

“I see what you meant by ‘radiating loathing’.” Kate shivered. “Is it worse up close?”

“Yes,” Soul answered. No point sugarcoating it.

“Everyone notice those three with weapons?” Free observed. “You know what that means.”

We know. One held a pair of short swords. Another had a giant claymore on his back. The last one leaned on a silver spear. They guarded the tent.

“Stop forgetting me.” Kate conveyed her outrage quietly. “Please explains.”

“Undead possess inhuman strength and prefer to tear their victims apart with their bare hands. The only reason they’d ever use a weapon is because they’ve inherited considerable skill with it. While we’ve never faced one ourselves, Astra taught us to be wary. Those three are dangerous.”

Enough hesitating. “It’s almost midday. Let’s go.” Soul said.

“Good luck,” Wise called out. Rose’s plan called for him to stay behind.

The undead watched them motionlessly as they neared. When fifty feet away, the one with the spear slammed his weapon down three times. A middle-aged man emerged, clothes and hair ragged. He appeared drained, but a crazed determination shone in his eyes.

“Go away.” He yelled.

“Sorry, not possible.” Soul answered back. “We’re here to clear the Field of Graves. The safety of nearby settlements depends on it.”

The man didn’t listen, “I don’t have the patience for this. Leave. This is your final warning.”

They faced off tensely. Then the death user spoke, “Kill them.”

With otherworldly screeches, the undead surged forwards, weaving through cursed blades. Only the three armed ones stayed behind.

So far so good. Rose had anticipating this. If the death user was building a fighting force, he wouldn’t want to risk his strongest pawns. ‘He’ll send the rabble first’.

As they fell back, Rose lobbed fireballs at the their feet, knocking them off-balance. Meanwhile, Light aimed for their legs with over-sized shurikens designed to slice off limbs. They had great effect under the cover of the pyrotechnics.

With his armor and great sword, Soul took point. Two undead lunged at him. Sidestepping, he cleaved one in half. With his free hand, he blasted the other into a icy block. To his left, roots shot out and smash two more together, leaving them tangled. Nearby Kate and Silver were snapping bones and ripping tendons. As long as their stamina holds out, they’ll be fine. The weaponless wouldn’t penetrate their auras.

Soon they’d felled half their opponents. The problem is they don’t stay down. All around limbs were reattaching and bones were mending. With a loud crack, an undead burst forth from its ice prison.

I pray whatever control they’re under prevents them from organizing. They were badly outnumbered, and it’d get hairy if they were flanked. Luckily, they made it to where Wise crouched without issue.

“It’s time.” Rose shouted, and they braced themselves. We must let them overwhelm us. They abandoned crippling blows and knockbacks. Soon Soul was fending off four foes. He knew the others were struggling too.

“Wise, now!” Rose yelled.

Soul didn’t see their brother race forward, but he could tell by their opponents’ reactions. They slinked back, shielding themselves. As predicted, the undead were dazed and confused by the Necronomicon. This is our chance. They aggressively counterattacked. Within seconds, a dozens skeletons were dismembered. The rest hovered just beyond the book’s range.

It’s Free’s turn. Near Wise’s hiding spot were a pile of golden stakes. Free had been making them since this morning. Impressive work for learning yesterday. They’d only last another hour, another reason they couldn’t delay.

Free impaled the writhing bones with telekinesis, targeting skulls and chests. Resentful shrieks echoed. It’s effective. Soul felt the resentment tethering them fade away. That’s half taken care of.

Bang. Bang. Bang. The spear-wielder again slammed the ground, louder this time. The disgruntled death user came out again. I can’t believe he didn’t bother watching.

“Noooooooo, my undead!” He cried discovering what’d happened. “Kill them, kill them, kill them. Don’t let any get awaaaay.”

The weapon-wielders shot forward, and a chill ran down his spine. They might be faster than I am. This was the reason behind the difficulty increase. Those three.

“I’ll take the one with the claymore.” Soul moved to intercept, and his foe veered, accepting the challenge. Right before reaching him, it shortened its strides and began spinning. Within three steps, the rotation had blurred its features. On the fifth, it twisted its body and released an overhead swing.

Damn. Soul held up his sword, one hand on the flat of the blade. The weapons clashed violently. Heavy. His feet sunk under the weight, and he barely managed to brace himself for the kick that followed. A whirlwind of strikes assaulted him as the claymore wielder danced left and right. There’s no discernible pattern. Worse, the skeleton was altering its timings so he couldn’t get a read.

This is bad. If this one was so skilled, what about the others? He wanted to check, but he couldn’t afford to. I have to make a move.

Soul flash froze the ground. To its credit, even while slipping, the skeleton unleash a vicious upwards blow. However, it was slower than it should’ve been and flew through empty air. Using this smallest of openings, Soul channeled a burst of magic, entrapped his opponent in ice. Without missing a beat, he swung his sword, sending its claymore and upper body flying back.

Soul turned to assess the situation. The spear-wielder was assailing Wise. Soul was momentarily confused by the wide, off-target strikes. It’s fighting blind, he realized. But that’s not all. The long sweeps were forcing Wise away from the group. Since its focus isn’t on killing, he should be fine.

The one armed with short swords was fending off the rest of them. Free had taken the lead with her staff while Silver and Kate launched opportunistic attacks. Rose and Light hovered behind lobbing projectiles. They had the advantage, although the undead was doing a remarkable job weathering the onslaught. Concentrating our firepower must’ve been Rose’s idea.

At a distance, the death user was pacing back and forth with the seven remaining skeletons at his side. Thank god for his lack of experience. With the Necronomicon kept at bay, the weaponless would’ve been real threats. The spear-wielder’s efforts are being wasted.

Should I help them or… Soul glanced back to see a thick mist congealing into a skeletal form. Reassembled already? While shapeshifting was a natural talent of the undead, not all were so adept. The speed is terrifying. Soul readied himself while it recovered its claymore. I’ll focus here and trust the others. Once they’d defeated the short sword undead, they’d pull through somehow. I just have to hold out…

…Which is easier said than done. The skeleton had adjusted its stance to avoid slipping. While this had weakened its strikes, some were landing. As his armor was chipped away, Soul had an epiphany. They’re employing the same strategy! The other two were distractions, giving this one the chance to take him out. It’d come down to who fell first.

Soul was estimating how long he’d last when a beam of fire slammed into his opponent. One of Rose’s new spells. Did they…? Soul’s relief was short lived. Although Rose was besides him, the others were still battling. What’s going on?

“Look.” Rose said impassively. One of the weaponless had picked up a battle axe. To the death user’s delight, it was gracefully whirling it around, testing its new prowess. Crap. They’d taken too long.

(continued in part 3)