The Pillar of Enera

[Chapter 33 part 2] Silver - Werewolves

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After some debate, they’d resolved to enlist Emelia in their efforts. They needed Light, and it would’ve been difficult to separate the two. Dangerous too. Emelia had a history of trouble-making on the Isle.

Silver approached the moping twenty year old. “I heard you lost.”

Emelia looked up with a death gaze, which failed utterly. “I’m fearless remember.” He offered. “Intimidation means nothing.”

At this, her expression softened to scorn, “What’d you want?”

“Losing to her isn’t fun. I came to welcome you to the club.” Silver said leaning on the bench.

“Five times.” Emelia said after a pause. “Five times in a row.”

“At least you didn’t grow up with her. I’ve suffered hundreds of defeats without even understanding why.”

“’Understanding why’?” This bit caught her attention.

“Astra Skyfell’s doppelganger raised by her original in the arctic. Of course she’d be monstrously overpowered. It’d be arrogant for anyone her age to think of beating her.”

“But I’m actually twenty three in real terms.” Despite the protest, Emelia was swayed.

“And you were up against the strongest reincarnation of a legendary hero.” Silver concluded, walking away. Any longer and Kate might get jealous.

His efforts soon bore fruit, and Emelia joined them. “By the way, where’s Dawn?” Kate asked.

“At that cafe.” Free answered. “She was oozing with insufferable smugness so we sent her away until needed. She was very understanding about it.”

Per the plan, they would split into two groups. Silver was part of the ‘pursuit team’, along with Light, Emelia, and Kate. The four who easily traverse vertical surfaces. He and Kate had their clinging abilities, and Emelia had learned to travel walls as part of her dungeon runs. They left the others and entered the waterworks.

Behind the skyriver was an enormous hydrodam spanning the height of the Isle. Enormous turbines generated a field which powered any devices within range. The long, windowless structure was anchored though miles of scaffolding filled with walkways, stairs, and pipes. In addition to energy, the facility also provided water and processed sewage. The intricate plumbing system gave the place the feeling of a maze.

Light hid next to a beam, blending into the metal. His camouflage has improved. The others waited deeper in the shadows. Everyone kept their eyes peeled. The waterworks are difficult to navigate and don’t connected to the surface. Otherwise the assassins would frequent them more.

Light gave the signal and jumped. They dashed after him, hopping across beams. Silver and Kate struggled to keep up with the other two.

“Slow down.” Wise’s voice came from their wrystals. All four had kept an open line. They briefly paused their descent, before speeding up again. Ten seconds later, Wise halted their pace again. This cycle continued on repeat.

According to Rose, Light’s prior attempt had failed because he tried to track the assassins visually, which required staying too close. Their new approach relied on Wise’s foresight. Every time they came within seconds of catching up, he would hold them back.

“Go South on the next floor.” Following the instructions, they left the waterworks and sped across the Undercity’s crowded structures. Halfway to the docks, Wise had them stop. Finally. Silver and Kate were breathing hard. A respite is appreciated. The reason their group consisted of four, rather than simply Light, was to increase the reliability of Wise’s predictions. More eyes to catch shadows.

“Did we succeed?” Light demanded quietly.

“The assassin disappeared into the abandoned warehouse in front of you.” Wise stated. “Wait there, we’re coming.”

Once we confirm what is in that building, we’ll report our findings.

“I still say we take them out ourselves.” Emelia said. “Dawn and I can do it alone.”

“No, some might escape, and we’d be back to square one.” Light countered. I personally want to avoid killing if possible. Outside coliseums, death was permanent.

Their surroundings were an architectural disaster. Rather than proper apartment buildings, it appeared houses had been stacked one on another. Homes in adjacent layers were discernible through gaps. There isn’t a clean separation. Stairs, walkways, and elevator shafts were everywhere. That’s the warehouse. The shuttered building surrounded by a junkyard. Isolated and unlit, it stood apart from the cluttered residential district.

When the others arrived, they dropped down to the alley and approached the junkyard. This should be close enough.

“So?” Light asked.

“Give me a second… Shiiiit…” Wise hissed.

Why? This meant trouble, but Silver didn’t understand how. Hope wasn’t with them so the assassins had no motive to attack, especially when outmatched. Unless it’s a trap.

“Hello.” Said a voice above. They glanced up to see a familiar blond-haired figure jump down. The Laughing Man.

Emelia is in danger, Silver realized. We must distract him. “What are you doing here?” He asked.

The man gazed at him pensively. His hand flashed and a golden spear stopped a quarter inch from his right eye. Silver didn’t flinch. Siegfried will kill him if he harms me. He considered walking forwards. One eye would be worth it, but a self-inflicted injury might not count.

“Curious, even if you have the HEAVENLY DAO’s protection.” The Laughing Man withdrew his weapon. “You’re broken, aren’t you?”

“You can’t hurt us.” Rose stated. There was no reason to hide it if he knew.

“True, true.” He acknowledged. “I can’t… BUT…” The warehouse behind him burst into flames. He leered back towards the blaze. “They can.”

Snickering maliciously, the Laughing Man leapt to the ceiling, then again out of view, both movements sending out tremors. They were left alone before an inferno.

“For now, let’s put out the fire” Dawn said. As they rushed to the junkyard, his sister formed a spell. She’s conserving strength for whatever is in that building. The magic circle burst, and a mass of freezing air slammed into the flames, snuffing them out. The chill spread wide, dropping the temperature far. I’m back in the Arctic.

“Werewolves.” Wise said. “They’re staked to the walls but will soon break free.”

What are—— “Wait!” Emelia grabbed Wise and pointing. “Are you saying there are victims of Kain’s curse in there?”

“Yes.” Wise nodded.

Emelia let go and turned to the crowded slum next to them. Many lights were still on. “Not good.” She whispered.

“I’ll call Isle Security.” Kate jumped to a nearby roof. Watching her go, heat assaulted Silver. The warehouse was aflame again.

“Wise, Emelia, explain!” Rose demanded.

Before they could answer, an explosion sent part of the structure flying, and flames poured out. Something is coming. A figure emerged, its red fur blending with the fire. Its face had the snarling fangs of a wolf, and its arms ended in sizzling claws.

“Don’t let them burn you.” Wise warned. “That’s how the curse spreads.”

“So those are regular people?” Free asked.

“Yes, but there’s no saving them.” Emelia said coldly, conjuring a pair of blades. “Once transformed, only death can stop them.”

“There are five.” Wise said as more beasts exited. “If we let a single one slip away, it’ll be a disaster.”

The first werewolf let out a ghastly howl, sounding far too human. The rest rallied to this cry, their fur flaring up and rocketing the temperature. All five galloped forwards, claws leaving molten puddles behind.

Silver hung back. Opponents who weren’t safe to touch were his worst match-up. I really must find an summoning instructor. Fireproof dragon hide would come in handy right about now.

The werewolves were fierce foes. Their fur was as tough as scale armor, and flames accelerated their movements. They released waves of fire which deflected projectiles and were tricky to dodge. Up close, their claws were able to burn deep into Soul’s ice armor. They were cunning too, using flares to blind strategically. The way they’re fighting… It’s hard to believe these were ordinary people minutes ago. They seemed battle veterans.

Fortunately, we have Soul, Emelia, and Dawn. Those three were holding their own. However, the situation remained perilous.

Rose was struggling. As fire was ineffective, she couldn’t strike directly. Instead she was using telekinesis to levitate her opponent until the others could help. That shouldn’t normally be possible. Living beings were resistant to this type of manipulation. They must be too closely connected to fire. The unhappy beast was flinging flames which Rose was somehow deflecting.

Light and Free were faring worse. Light’s shurikens were being knocked away, and he’d already been cornered into using a substitution. As for Free, her roots weren’t resisting well, much to her frustration, barely lasting long enough to hamper the creature. Silver could tell that it was tearing through her stamina. Together they were barely keeping the fifth under control.

Thankfully, by the time Light used his second substitution, Dawn felled her foe. She took over as they collapsed. At least they contributed. Silver felt useless.

Emelia is nearly done too. Her golden outfit had been singed away, revealing hardened leather below. She’s the type who needs durable gear. Her body now had a shine to it, with crystalline calluses covering some areas. Rock skin? Between that and the whirling vortex around her, she seemed impervious. How’d Dawn beat her?

When Emelia finished off her adversary, the werewolf fighting Soul released a mournful howl, its body glowing brighter and brighter. Its flesh melted away, revealing blinding white bones. They all sensed what was coming.

“Brace yourselves!” Wise yelled as the shining figure exploded, blasting everything away and setting the block ablaze.

Recovering, Silver found one of the two remaining werewolves next to him. Nearby, a man and a woman were crawling from the wreckage of a house. Not good. The werewolf charged the terrified couple.

Silver threw himself between the fiend and its victims. He concentrated his aura to the maximum and grabbed its wrists, holding its scorching claws at bay. The beast tried to maul him, but he pushed it back with a leg. Not giving up, it struggled forwards, jaws snapping. The heat on his hands was unbearable. Just as his strength gave out, Diamonds Edge decapitated his foe, and its body turned to ash.

“That was the last one.” Soul panted heavily. “You alright?”

“I’m fine.” Silver fell back with relief. I’ve endured worse.

“No, it seems you’re not.” Soul shook his head. What? Silver saw flames erupting from his burnt palms. Whaaaat? The last thing he heard was, “Sorry, I’m going to freeze you.”