Edited by: Flubbykin

The creatures jumped at us from every possible side. From the sides, front, rear, and even from the ceiling. Well, by saying that they jumped on US I mean that they jumped mostly on me. Barely few bothered Blanka, more as if wanting to merely keep her occupied while the rest of the hive would be tearing me apart.

The small and flexible monsters attacked first, as they were simply faster and needed less time to react, behind them, the regular-sized and colossal followed twisting their clumsy bodies.

I clasped my hands and sang quickly.

“From the bottom of my heart, I forge my desires,

To fire up my urges on the vengeance full pyres…”

My skin started heating up emitting steam. The beasts were getting closer and closer, I knew I wouldn’t manage to finish this particular spell on time, so released one of my hands preparing another spell - or more like mana discharge.

The mana shock wave I cast managed to push smaller beasts away, making them fall, the bigger creatures stumbled over them creating a bit of chaos. Monsters were badly synchronized, each acted as an individual fueled by basic instinct and the single order “attack”. Even as they tried getting up their limbs were all tangled up. Only those with snake-like-tails managed to somewhat maneuver in the gathering of collapsed bodies.

Yet, these few seconds were more than enough.

“... I shall persevere in my hatred, remain in my rage,

To watch this world burn in the fiery plague.

So embrace me now, Zulvurion’s child,

And guide my blade till the nethers die…”

The spell I never practiced before combining lower-rank defensive fire spell “imp’s robes” with wild summoning. The normal imp’s robe covers the caster in fire granting a little of bonus armor and magic resistance as well as damage on-hit while receiving the blow and damage over time to everyone close to me, the only problem of this spell is that it burns mana at a crazy pace. And here comes the role of wild summoning.

I summoned lower rank fire spirit and attached him to my body, this way the power of the spell is increased and mana cost decreased… so what’s the problem? Wild summoning itself. Elemental is not bound with me by any contract, just like Pyrox’s “Sparkly”. He may not be pleased with the idea of being forcefully dragged from the inner place of fire and forced to serve me. For now, everything should be fine, but if I would lost my focus on something would break out a connection that I quickly established (that can happen in heat of battle) the creature could become crazy and attack everything around - with me being a target too.

Another problem with wild summoning - as it neglects every safety mechanism that limits the power of spirits, it allows summoning a creature that powers greatly exceeds the power of the caster. And the first rule of summoning is…? Do not rise up anything that you won’t be able to put down (well, it’s the first rule of necromancy, but that’s pretty much an alter-branch of summoning, so…).

Flames erupted in raging inferno causing yet another shock and heat wave that pushed monsters back. Few more stubborn didn’t stop their assault and were scorched into ashes in the fire of summoned creature.

I couldn’t see it, yet I sensed its malicious presence.

“Who dares summon me?” its voice was like a hiss and a growl. It appeared in the flames and hovered over my back.

Like an upper-skeleton of a reptile with enormously long frontal limbs that embraced me as if trying to hug (or suffocate).

I felt its power within me. Intoxicating. Addictive. I was burning from within.

“Summoned by blood and bound by words. Serve me.”

I emitted every piece and shard of my willpower trying to overwhelm the creature with my pure determination. That’s another battle I will have to find for now - the clash of minds.

Much to my surprise, the creature wasn’t fighting back much, more as if merely trying how desperate I was.”

“I will do your bidding… For now…My name is Zekrof, the Ashmaker. Use my name well.” “Zekrof, I hope you like causing a little calamity every now and then…”

I sensed the spirit grinning.

“It has been a while since I could wreak some havoc. I am all. Fired. Up.”

His resistance perished allowing me for complete dominance, I empowered our connection, and then gave him access to my mana pool. He trusted me, so I decided to trust him, in case he would start acting funny I could still destroy our mind-bride in a split of a second.

By now, monsters already regrouped and resumed the charge. Yet this time, the behavior of beasts changed. With the corner of my eyes, I noticed that the ancient entered some kind of trance, her eyes rolled back into her skull and her whole body froze.

The action of the swarm became much more coordinated, bah, as if they were commanded by a skillful officer. Hivemind control?

This time, the bigger creatures moved on the front line serving as meat-shields for smaller ones which were taking cover behind them. I simply knew that the main attribute of these beasts was endurance, this way the ancient hid a beast at the rear from frontal attacks.

If not frontal, attack, then maybe attack from the rear or side? But, the only spells that could allow me to do so were will-o-wisps and runes, the first one lacked the pure power and the other one required much more planning and time to be located correctly.

And then, the spirit whispered a spell right into my mind.

“Hellstorm!”

Together with the spirit we yelled a spell-name, drastically shortened one-word chant.

The fire covering me started literally rotating, twirling and turning around me becoming faster and faster growing hotter and wider with time. A thin layer of fire soon became 1 meter wide, then two, three… Soon I was standing in the eye of a cyclone. Cyclon made of flames, rage, and scorched creatures.

But, the spell was too difficult to maintain, especially with my mana-fever. Sensing how it was overheating my mana veins. I decided to quickly release it as an explosion.

The dust was raised covering for a split of a second covering my vision…

And then something stabbed me in my neck.

A small insect, as big as a human fist, just much thinner (I know, it’s not something that small, but in a world where insects could be as big as cities, that little fella was almost non-existing)

“You have a wonderful reaction time, you would be a great tactician, unfortunately, in terms of strategy, you were clearly lacking proper guidance. You did well by rising your protective spell, but, you took a bait. By trying to get rid of current threat you overlooked the one that was coming next.”

Shit. She played me like a child. To cast the hellstorm I had to use the protective flames in an aggressive way, then, she used that few-seconds gap to perform an attack from the blind spot that I created.

“Honestly, it would be better if you wouldn’t fight back. I have no ill intentions, quite the opposite, it would be better if you were cooperating. It’s not like I want to kill you in the process of fueling.” “Then why did you attack me?” I hissed.

I felt as something was injected into me, the venom that I couldn’t identify.

“Securing resources. I will have plenty of time to talk once you would stop resisting. I think your mind would be more receptive in chains. You are the one that starts acting and thinking more efficiently while being cornered, right?”

She pretty much nailed it.

“Unfortunately, all I can muster from myself while being stressed are puns.” “Good, sarcasm and irony are actually proof of creativity.”

She swings her arm giving another command to her troops.

One of the beasts attacked from the front while another moved to the side. I raised my hand to throw a fireball…

But everything that left my hand was a few sparks and hot steam.

Two meters tall monster in heavy chitin armor rammed its body directly into me forcing air out of my lungs and slamming me into a column four meters behind me. It broke under the pressure.

Somehow, I managed to get up just in time to dodge the attack of the beast from the side - it’s frontal bigger limbs were turned into sickles.

I rolled away, moved to the side, monster slashed horizontally and just barely I managed to duck under the colossal limb. Still, I saw some of my hair being cut off.

I rolled back and while getting up I picked a spear laying on the ground, I managed to raise its blade just in time to make the monster impale itself on it - one of its vital organs had to be pierced in process, for greenish blood splattered everywhere, even as I retrieved the weapon, monster still kept hissing moving back unsteadily on its limbs. Soon, it felt dead.

“One killed, one million left.”

I spat the blood that I sensed in my mouth.

The flames covering my body started flicking dangerously, the presence of spirit was becoming more and more distant. For a single moment my vision became black, I had to blink a few times to see clearly again. Effect of the venom?

I sensed something warm on my nose - blood.

Fuck.

“How about having a deal with me - as a sign of my good will…” ancient asked “...I guarantee safety to you and your friend, she will leave this place untouched. The only thing I ask for is if you would stay with me and obediently follow my orders. Of course, we will form a pact to ensure it.”

I was clearly losing and her victory was just a matter of time. It was just as she said - she had absolutely no reason to leave Blanka be. Apparently, my cooperation was really vital for her plan.

I looked in the direction of war-dancress. She killed dozen or two of the creatures, fighting in the circle of beasts with three or four at a time. By now she was all covered in scratches and bruises.

I spat blood on the ground again.

“Sorry, but there is only one woman that can punch me with no repercussion. At this point I simply have to fight you.”

I felt blood gathering in my mouth. Again.

“This… is completely illogical.” She appeared confused. “Indeed. I think I know how to fight with you now.” “I highly doubt it, I have already prepared tactic for every action you would take. I see every possible move you would take, each leads to my victory.”

That’s only if I would fight logical - with a plan. Giselle once said that your enemies will never foresee your moves when you yourself have no idea what you are doing.

And for the first time ever. Just this one time, I am about to fight the same way that Giselle is fighting.

I smirked.

“No strategist can oppose storm. No commander can stop an avalanche. No king can turn a river. But I. Am no. Man.”

I started morphing. My muscles started becoming denser, my body structure - colossal.

“Finally showing your gift? Good, this observation will help my studies.” “You know… I hate this form. I prepared it just in case, yet as it’s based on nothing but brute, force… I found it so intelligent that it’s almost disgusting. You are first to see it...:”

I said as my jaw bones were twisting creating another row of teeth. Because my tongue became split at the end, just like a serpent, my sentence ended as a vicious hiss.

“Army of sheep lead by the lion is stronger than the army of lions led by the sheep. My leading skills are higher than that of a lion, and my children are stronger than mere sheep. What can you do, a lone lion in front of my swarm?” “Told you, I am no lion, I am no man. I am a tempest, avalanche, flood. I am a plague that decimates kingdoms.”

I kept changing, my skin was as thick as a hide or iron tusks, and then it got covered in an exoskeleton.

Blanka managed to escape the circle of foes gathering distance, now, she was watching in terror as I was shifting.

Still, despite my words, I felt the venom was still inside of me. I didn’t know it’s effects well, for now, it disturbed my flow - by now, the salamander was between the doors of the realms, desperately fighting to stay by my side.

“Your chances of succeeding are below 3%, you only risk damaging your body… which is precious to me.” “Don’t be concerned about my body, little ant, be concerned about yours. For damn, I am about to break you into fucking pieces.”

Oh, I see now, the venom must be a neural stimulant. For most mages - control is everything, when you inject a mage with steroids he becomes emotionally unstable and thus loses the ability to emit magic properly… but… for warriors…

I opened my mouth showing three rows of razor-sharp teeth in a vicious smile.

Picked vessel: [Titanium Tyrannis] Body parts change:

- Head: [Lizzard kin/Minotaur/Insectoid]

- Added horns

- Added exoskeleton

- Added venomous fangs

- Core of [Hydra/Minotaur/Insectoids/IronTusk]

- Added additional limbs [Four upper limbs]

- Added IronTusk skin

- Added Exoskeleton

- Internal organ adjusting

- Added/Developed muscle tissue

- Improved blood flow

- Developed bone structure

Passive skills

Exoskeleton [+50 armor]

Ironhide skin

Collosal [Immovable Object/Unstoppable force]

Trample

Attributes changes

- STR +35

- VIT +75

- END +50

- DEX - 40

- RFX - 25

I stretched my body. The beasts that I considered huge before, which were over three meters tall now weren't even half my size. Right now, I was gazing over everything. My horns, curved to the front were partly disturbing my view. My almost impenetrable skin of a mutated boar from the Forest of Dread was additionally covered in white insectoidal armor, which was covering everything from the tips of my foot, through the body up to my head, where it ended with few spikes as if imitating crown. The "second bones" proved perfect defense everywhere, but joints.

It was hard to move, as if Giselle and Sebastian decided to train me with their stupid ballast both at the same time, yet something inside of me was screaming, urging me to run, to charge.

I tilted my head to both sides making my spine to let out a loud crack.

And then, it hit me.

You have been poisoned [Matta's Mosquito Venom]

- Mana regeneration - 500%

- SPI - 99

- Added effect: [Boiling Blood]

- Added effect: [Unstable]

- Added effect: [Anger]

- [Anger effect] ranked up: [Wrath]

- [Wrath effect] ranked up: [Rage]

- INT - 40

- WIS - 40

- RFX + 25

- DEX + 25

Only one last though sparkled in my mind before I jumped onward

The thought was "Wrong toxin, cunt."