Beyond The System
Chapter 113: Deep Violet

We landed in all but silence, other than the already distant sound of a stampede of retreat. It was eary how quiet it began to get, the forest was still there, but many trees were gone leaving wide empty spaces to look through. But still there was nothing.

I had of course activated every passive ability I had available, and quaint for a sign of anything. 

‘Peter.’ Luna called my name with a warning.

But I saw it too, a ripple in the trees, like wind moving against the natural flow, parting the air and slicing through energy itself. Yet… nothing was there.

The dogs moved with me instinctively as I dragged Marcus, who hadn’t yet noticed the incoming danger. The great tree behind us groaned under its own weight, still collapsing in slow-motion, roots wrenching free from the shattered earth.

Shhhk.

Another flash that was too fast to see. A second slice carved clean through the already-wounded trunk, doubling its fall speed in an instant. The sound cracked through the air like thunder.

The beast, whatever it was, retreated deeper into the forest with it's failed blow. It somehow slipped into a state beyond perception, where even True Sight was worthless. Could it be standing still? Or was it just not moving its power?

Only the faintest flicker of blue shimmered for a breath, just enough to catch a glimpse of vines lashing around a tall, hunched frame. Something unnatural and completely wrong.

‘Focus on dodging. An ability like that drains massive energy. It will drop the cloak soon to strike freely.’ Wyrem’s voice was calm, but focused.

“What do we do, Peter?” Marcus asked, already watching his dogs for signs.

“Watch your familiars. They can track it better than we can. If you fall behind, I’ll cover you.” I crouched lower, eyes scanning every shadow.

‘What if it runs?’ Luna asked.

‘It won’t. Peter’s too… tasty.’ Wyrem retorted.

...Yuck.

Another shimmer. Luna and I spun simultaneously.

“Behind!”

We dove just in time as a blur shot past us, fast enough to leave a crackling streak in the grass. I caught a flash of red fur, barely distinguishable from the motion blur.

“If it keeps this up, we’re going to run out of stamina,” Marcus said, already panting.

“Not before it does,” I replied.

The distortion around one tree collapsed. Light peeled off its frame in glimmering threads, revealing something that should not exist. Assembled from sinew and vine, bark and bone, the creature stood upright like a canine-born humanoid, nearly eye-level with me. Muscles stretched and tense exposed around bits of flesh fused with fibrous root.

It growled low, mouth splitting open to show too many teeth.

Wsh!

A vine mixed with flesh snapped outward from its back, arcing for my throat.

I didn’t flinch, recalling the faints from Marcus, I moved in instead.

Summoning my gauntlets for the first time in days or longer, I ducked under the strike, the tendril slicing past with a hiss of air that burned against my cheek.

Marcus yelled, “I’ll try to pin it, go!”

He and the dogs flanked it instantly. The creature twisted, vines slashing in chaotic arcs, knocking one of the dogs back with a yelp, but the rest surged in unafraid and focused.

The beast didn't hesitate, but instead pivoted sharply, one of its fleshy vines lashing out, bending mid-air, curving in sync with my dodge.

A moment ago, one of the dogs had taken a blow and not been cut in two. That meant this monstrosity wasn’t using the same strength it had sliced the tree with. It probably couldn’t, not without buildup.

I'll be the first to admit it was a gamble.

I wouldn't exactly call it a mistake, but as I raised my gauntlet, my left, I immediately understood the cost of a spiritual weapon shattering.

The weapon cracked, then broke to disappearing particles, and the feedback roared through my skull. A blinding spike of pain carved across my mind, only rivaled by the literal screech of a distant god.

I bit my tongue to stay conscious.

‘You fool.’ Wyrem's voice buzzed like static in the back of my skull. ‘Luna shape his energy, prepare an attack. Send it to that flame.’

‘Don't talk to me like that!' Luna shot back, but I felt her agreement, moving my harmony of power towards my Nexus.'

'Dye it Peter!' Wyrem commanded and I obeyed as I recovered.

Luna and I then gathered it somewhere else.

My right arm, still wearing its gauntlet, tensed as every ounce of energy left in my body flowed to five distinct points.

My job was just to be the conduit, aim, and fire. But I had taken too long.

"Peter, move!" Marcus cried out behind me, drawing my attention. The beast had surged forward, an arms rising, its jagged maw wide and glowing from within.

It was going to tear me apart.

Teeth met flesh, but not mine.

Two of the dogs clamped down on the arm arms, snarling and refusing to let go even as their limbs were whipped around.

Then Marcus launched, his muscles tensing to the limit, arms wrapping around the creature’s thick snout. His entire body shook as he squeezed with everything he had, trying to force the jaw closed.

I didn't let the distraction go to waste.

I grabbed the leg closest to me, bones groaning under the pressure of my grip, the gauntlet glowing so bright I thought it might melt.

‘Inject it, don't just release!’ Wyrem ordered. 'NOW!'

I planted my feet, grit my teeth, and unleashed just as he said.

My five fingers exploded with energy, a harmony of gold, blue, and violet, each finger rippling with a different flavor of power.

I let the combination of elemental, primal, and natural detonate... but nothing.

A vine smashed into my side and sent me flying, crashing through branches and dust, gasping for air.

I thought I’d failed, that the beast didn’t fall.

CRACK. CRACK.

There was no sonic boom or violent flash at first. Just a subtle crackling sound, like frost creeping through stone.

I barely sat up trying to catch my breath.

The beast staggered forward. Its movements slowed. Frost bloomed across its leg, spreading fast. A golden hue tracing through the veins beneath bark and sinew, and from inside, a light began to grow.

I felt it, something was coming.

“MARCUS, BACK OFF!”

He didn’t argue.

He dove away just as the glow peaked, the dogs running with him.

The hum I was waiting for arrived.

BOOM!

The light erupted outward in a cone of deep violet.

I shielded my eyes, and when it cleared, the spot and a couple meters around where the beast had stood was just gone. Not a smear, not a splatter. Just... void of life.

And just as the danger passed, something slammed into me from the side like a wrecking ball of joy and trauma.

“HAHA! WE DID IT!” A wet kiss drove itself against my cheek with far too much enthusiasm. “PETER, IT’S OVER!!”

“Get off!” I groaned, pushing at him, but my arms were jelly. He stayed on me a moment longer, squeezing hard, before relenting.

Five dogs surrounded us, tails wagging like we hadn’t just barely survived death. The sixth limped toward us, leg obviously injured, but still bearing weight.

Alive thankfully.

Marcus flopped beside me like a deflating balloon. “I wasn’t going to say anything,” he said between breaths, “but I got a new mission when I became Unbound.”

I turned my head toward him without lifting it. “Yeah?”

“Two parts,” he said, pointing at the crater. “One: take out that bad boy. Two: escape.”

That second part made my gut twist. I’d heard that mission before from Thea and the others, and once they finished the mission they vanished.

“Reward?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Unknown.” He shrugged. “Could be a skill, stats, or... well, anything.”

He looked off toward the ruins of his shelter with what seemed like odd satisfaction.

“Well, we could keep training,” he said with a grin. “But…”

“Let’s get the hell out of here, man,” I groaned. “Help me up.”

He reached down.

“No kisses.”

He grinned wider. “No promises.”

Like that, all eight—

‘Ten,’ Luna corrected.

Ten of us headed off toward the empty heart of a forest, now ideally emptied of danger.

Marcus picked up his injured dog like it was weightless, twirling around in a clumsy glide across the dirt, humming a cheerful, tuneless melody as I walked behind him in silence.

‘Wyrem?’

‘What?’ he snapped, as grumpy as ever.

‘I’ve already tried, Peter. This old monster’s a shut box.’ Luna replied, half-exasperated.

‘ I answered you, little girl. I would never lie to my only apprentice. Not my fault you didn’t believe me.’ Wyrem grumbled.

‘Told you what?’ I asked, already suspicious.

‘Well… he told me what dragons were—’

‘Magnificent beasts of power and wonder,’ Wyrem cut in, ‘evolved serpents that wander the higher planes, doing as they please!’ Sounding off with bloated pride.

I waited. “Aaand?”

‘This wilting worm claims he is one of them. Who would believe that?’ Luna finished flatly.

I stared off into the trees, unsure if I wanted to laugh or cry. If this was true, my theory would only be further proven. 

I am surrounded by main characters.

"Dammit."