Civilization

"KINGSTON! BEHIND YOU!" - Celine

Hearing Celine's call, I swing my spear behind me, clashing with another skeleton lizard man. Its sword shatters on impact and I retaliate with a quick thrust to its skull. Blood was pumping throughout my body and my heart was beating against my chest, and yet I was still having so much fun.

Lightning bolts and white stars fly around me, exploding the numerous skeletons surrounding me while I dance around their swords and spears, striking at their legs or head. From fighting so much in the grassland, I began to formulate my own style of attack. Strike a weak point to kill or strike the limbs to immobilize. Sure, it might seem obvious to others, but it was from the constant fighting that I realize the importance of planning my attacks.

If I can't kill them straight away, then attack their limbs, immobilize them, and eliminate the threats before coming back and killing the immobilized enemies. That at least was my plan, but I didn't take into account the sheer overwhelming numbers. I attack and attack, but there seems to be no end to them.

"I'M MOVING BACK! CELINE COVER ME!" - Kingston

Initially, I wanted to be in front of the gate, being the first to initiate the attack as well as draw aggro from the skeletons, however, it was starting to become too much for me. The space I had to swing my spear was reduced, and I wasn't about to do any real damage, since I was focusing on hitting them away from me. I was basically the tank while the Zivotinjas were using their skills.

Swinging my spear around me and activating Cleave, I clear a path towards the gate. The Zivotinjas cast Discharge, creating a chain lightning attack behind me, slightly charring the bones of the skeletons but unfortunately unable to kill them. Dashing through the gate I swing around and ready my spear.

"Celine, get the Xabarils to form a semicircle with me. We are going to attack anything that passes the gate and try to contain them there. Have the Zivotinjas continue to use their skills but be ready to attack as well as the Crizannas." - Kingston

"Got it." - Celine

Whistling a command, the Xabarils move to establish the semicircle with the two largest Xabarils right next to the gate. I stood opposite the gate with my spear ready to attack as the skeletons charged toward us. Their bones rattle and creak as they charge straight through the gate.

Thrusting my spear forward, I penetrate the skull of the first skeleton that crossed the gate, but it was just the first of many. They rush through, eyes blazing bright, meeting my spear or the tusks of the Xabarils. I do my best attacking as I see the Zivotinjas eyes glow brighter than the sun, alongside them the Crizannas' manes stiffen as their bodies shine as bright as the Zivotinjas.

"KINGSTON GET DOWN!" - Celine

Blocking a downward strike, I kick the skeleton closest to me before jumping onto the ground, laying flat. Seconds later, a storm of white stars flew over my head, as I cover my face with my hands. I could feel the electricity pull my hair upwards before small explosions echoed in my ears. Shards of bones rain down upon me and through the gaps of my fingers, I see skeleton after skeleton fall to the ground shattering as their skulls explode.

Following the stars, were rings of light emitted by the Crizannas. One after the other exploding at the gate. I had noticed that the skeletons weren't coming out of the forest anymore but there was still a large number of them pooling at the gate. Pushing myself off the ground, I quickly get up and survey the battlefield.

"Celine, how long until the Zivotinjas and Crizannas can do that big attack again or something similar?" - Kingston

I stab at an approaching skeleton as I question Celine but I didn't hear a reply. Confused, I glance behind me, only to see her on the ground next to the corpse of 5 Xabarils. Blood was pooling around her stomach as her head is pressed to the ground by a small shadowy figure. Its body was darker than the darkest night, only visible because of the flickering flames from the torches near the Krepost. Its slim, slender frame stood on top of Celine with its thin fingers grasping Celine's hair as it presses her face into the dirt.

"CELINE!" - Kingston

Turning my whole body and activating Charge, I dash towards the monster on top of Celine. The shadowy figure's head turns towards me, 2 pure white ovals stare at me as a creepy gin spread across its face, showcasing the thin sharp needle-like teeth. My heart stops as the monster looks at me, but the skill is still active, drawing me towards the monster. With my spear in hand, I grit my teeth and lunge forth but all I hit is air.

It disappears. One second staring into my soul. The next vanished as if it was never there.

Disregarding the event, I open the small pouch on my waist that Lucina gave me before leaving HavenFall. Taking out the potion and kneeling down, I gently move Celine's body and head so that she was on her back. I couldn't see her stats like Ian so I don't even know if she was dead or not since she wasn't responding.

Pouring the potion into her mouth, I pray that she is fine. Glancing back, I see that the Xabarils, the Zivotinjas and the Crizannas were dealing with the remaining skeletons and while I wasn't there they were able to keep the skeletons from pushing through. I scoop up Celine into my arms and run towards the Krepost, intending to leave her inside the building to heal up.

Before I could take my first step, the spearhead on top of the Krepost narrowly misses my cheek landing behind me. My eyes naturally follow the spearhead, looking behind me to see the shadowy monster's thin foot pinned to the ground because of the Krepost's attack. Its oval eyes wriggled side to side as its previous grin became a frown. A red liquid drips down the side of its mouth as it stares at me.

Turning away, I push off the ground as fast as I could, making a break for the Krepost's door and blasting through. I turn back the moment I enter the Krepost but the monster had already disappeared. Laying Celine on the ground I venture out, closing the door behind me, and immediately turn to my left as Kaede screams.

"KAEDE!" - Ken

Her scream catches the attention of her brother on the other side of the battlefield and I hear him howl loudly, as his skill Ferocity activates. Both Ken and Kaede have used this skill before when they were training against monsters and both turn into blood-thirsty monsters. I see Ken run past me, his eyes blood-red as he charges toward the direction of his sister's scream.

Following right behind me, both of us reach Kaede's position quickly, seeing the shadowy figure's thin hands pierce right through Kaede's stomach.

"KAEDE!!!!!!!!!!!!" - Ken

Losing all reason, Ken activates Charge gripping a golem stone ax and attacking the monster but just like before the monster disappears and Ken's attack strikes the air. Kaede drops to her knees and Ken catches her in his arms.

"KEN! USE THE POTION ON HER RIGHT NOW AND MOVE HER TO THE KREPOST! WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MONSTER IS AND-" - Kingston

Before I could finish my sentence, I sense something behind me and quickly twist my body around, holding my spear vertically and blocking the monster's attack. Its grin returns to its face and with it so close to me I could make out some of its features.  It had a black skeletal frame covered in a sharp black miasma that makes up its body. The sharp thin hands were the miasma wrapping around the black bones and shaping itself into thin claws.

"What are you…?" - Kingston

I bounce the monster away, and quickly stab at its torso but it nimbly dodges to the left, pouncing toward me. Twisting my body awkwardly to block the attack, I manage to deflect the blow drawing its attention toward me as I see Ken moving Kaede. Blood drips down his mouth as he bites down on his lip, staring daggers into the monster. The moment he places Kaede inside the Krepost he dashes at the monster, yelling at the top of his lungs.

Ken's aggressive attacks cause the monster to go on the defensive and with my spear limiting its movement it was unable to attack until it disappears. Ken's Ferocity skills end and his bloodshot eyes return to normal.

"Kingston… What do we do? I couldn't even touch the monster. It just jumped away and now it's gone." - Ken

"It's not gone. It's waiting and watching. I don't know why but I can feel its presence as it watches me. It's targeting me." - Kingston

"Then why did it attack Kaede?" - Ken

"I went into the Krepost momentarily to let Celine heal. She was attacked by the monster, I think it changed its target then." - Kingston

"But now it's back on you?" - Ken

"Because I haven't died from its attacks yet. Neither of us has. I think it wants to kill us because we are still alive." - Kingston

"How do you propose we fight it?" - Ken

"I think you stay out of this one, Ken." - Kingston

"What? I can't. It hurt Kade." - Ken

"But you are too weak. Your Ferocity has ended. You are in a weak state right now, I can see it." - Kingston

"But-" - Ken

"No buts plus I want to put my training to the test." - Kingston

"Are you going to…" - Ken

"Yea. I'm going to go Berserk." - Kingston

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