Bloodsworn

Chapter 2.44 The Behemoth of the Mist

44.

The risen continued to throw themselves at the shields of the militia. They continued to die at the militia’s feet. Erak felt a tendril of pride at their work, they were still undisciplined louts who couldn’t stand up to a true tested fighting unit, but they were much improved over their last deployment. Nevia had taken over as his voice with both Sammus and Pomp not being with him, but with his newfound aura, he found little he needed to be shouted.

Every thin tendril of power that connected him to his militiamen allowed him to give guidance, nothing more than a twinge in the right direction, but it was better than relaying orders. Establishing the aura was cheaply done, the lack of Essence required a boon and once established it used the men’s own Essence to keep connected to him, just a thin amount that slowly grew over time, building up until it was a solid tether. It reminded him of the bloodlust aura that grew over time.

The continuance of the fleeing blue flames was a concern, nothing any of the militia had done had prevented the flames from fleeing the struck down corpses. His patience was wearing thin for Pomp’s return on where the flames were gathering. All around him they rose in streams, forming rivers in the sky as they disappeared, blocked by the thick mist that covered the entirety of the inner city.

In the warrens of the tight streets the Risen ran at them from every angle, leaping from lower floors to land heavily near them, bones shattering and leaving them stranded on the ground, easy prey to the march of the militia.

“This is too easy.” The thought was treacherous, a slimy feel rolled down his back as he looked around himself. Cloaked by the mists it was impossible to see more than a block, the burning eyes a gleam in the mist as they kept their march toward him, relentless in their ability.

“Contact right!” one of the militia guards screamed and Erak turned to look what the man was seeing. A shape lumbered, the mist swirling around its massive form. Erak’s heart beat a little harder, adrenaline beginning to sing in his veins as the roar of challenge built his chest.

The creature was ten feet tall, asymmetrical, with four burning torches for eyes on its cylindrical head. As the mist parted, it was revealed slowly, a drawing horror gripping the militia, bursts of fear feeding through the tethers of his ability. The foreign fear just sharpened his excitement.

Risen Behemoth lvl. 32

Not all corpses find their rest in one piece. The dead have been forged together with the fragments of those whose minds have shattered under the weight of the Beyond.

Erak could fully see the creature and its mottled gray flesh, a dozen different pigmentations of decaying skin molded together in a grotesque kaleidoscope. Its long head opened to reveal a thousand human teeth, jagged pieces of ivory protruding from the bleeding gums. Dark red blood bordered on black were smeared across the mouth of the beast and its thick lumpen lips. It bellowed a challenge, pushing the drifting mist away with the vehemence of its call. Erak strode out from behind the shield wall and placed himself between the behemoth and his men.

The tether of power between him and the soldiers changed, thickening and strengthening, relief and belief flowing down the line into him. Erak could feel how their belief strengthened him, vigor flowing into his body as he stared up at the beast and its lumbering stride.

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It had a pair of thick arms with seven fingered hands, the digits all varying in length with black claws coming out of the ends of each finger. Lesser arms emerged from its back and upper arms, emaciated bone with tight leather skin stretched tight, grasping hands closing slowly at the air around it. Its stubby legs were wider than Erak’s shoulders, each of the knobby knees covered in rotting scales.

The stench of its rotting body hit Erak, his nose wrinkling in disgust as the behemoth walked slowly up to him. Its head tilted down to look at him, blood and drool dripping from its open mouth to pool on the ground at Erak’s feet.

They stared at one another for a moment, Erak tilting his head back to look at the creature. It slowly, ponderously, lifted one of its great arms, flabby lumps of fat jiggling as it reared up and above him. Erak burst into motion, cutting across the distance in a second, hammer swinging into the creature’s wide elbow.

Bone exploded, the creature’s arm growing limp and fell to its side. The beast's maw gaped open in shock, a low whine emerged from its mouth as it looked about, confused that something could hurt it. Erak struck again, hitting the beast in the chest, bones shattering like glass as it staggered backwards and howled in rage. Its other arm lashed out, striking across the space in a split second.

Erak dropped to the ground, sparks erupted as its claws scraped the edge of his armor, his body vibrating under the strain of the arm’s passage. Erak popped back to his feet and ran to its weakened side, striking with the hammer in a series of fast blows. Blood, bone, and skin ruptured, blackish blood spraying across the stone of the street. Lesser arms reached out at him, their weak hands breaking as they failed to hold him for more than a second.

Bones started to pop and grate, the behemoths broken arm knitting itself together in a few seconds. With a great crack the primary arm snapped into position and punched him in the chest, moving too fast for Erak to register.

Stone exploded into dust as Erak flew through the side of the building, crashing and sliding across the floor. Wood peeled under him in rivulets as he came to a halt against the far wall. The world spun for a second, tilted shapes sliding around him as Erak slowly got to his feet, hammer still in hand.

He let out a slow breath before cracking his head from side to side, the resulting pops welcome. Erak was smiling as he walked out of the broken wall, eyes locked on the behemoth which had turned away from him. That caused Erak’s smile to falter for a second.

“Does it think me bested so easily?” The thought sparked a flare of anger in him as he started to jog, long legs pumping as he flew at the creature. It started to spin as his footsteps clanged on the stone. It was too slow.

Erak leapt as he drew the hammer behind his shoulder, striking its round head as it turned to look at him. Gore drenched him as the skull broke apart with ease, the creature staggering before falling with an earth shaking crash. Erak felt a frown cross his face as he stared at the downed behemoth, the challenge he was looking for not apparent.

The blue flames didn’t leave the behemoth. They sat there in the ruined skull, dancing about a half inch over the gore covered body. Erak stopped back as a handful of the emaciated arms shrank into its body with a slurping sound. Bone began to emerge from its neck, flowing like water as it formed a new skull, hollows already in place to house the four burning fires.

With a groan the behemoth started back to its feet, minus a few of its extra arms. Erak let it get up, noticing that it was slightly smaller than before. Behind him he could hear the battle still raging, the Risen never stopping their relentless assault against the square of militia who held position, waiting for him to defeat the monster.

Behind the behemoth a second shape was lumbering forward, just as twisted and misshapen as the one that stared him down. Erak could feel a smile tugging on his lips as he waited for the beast to settle itself. These monsters could offer him some stress relief.