Oscar was shaking, unable to calm himself. Serit's confession of his brutal acts was not what he had hoped to hear after a long year of fighting together. Slowing his pace, Oscar lifted his hands and observed the trembling fingers, a slight reddish tinge on his knuckles from when he punched his brother-in-law, and he gripped tightly back into clenched fists. It wasn't Serit's actions or the cal...
2024-05-23 00:06:51 +0000 UTC
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Oscar's black shield caught the fresh light beaming from the ten orbs and poured into his eyes. His shield hit nothing, whiffing in mid-air. It wasn't his mistake, but the accursed lord in front of him had disappeared, vanishing out of existence. The black blood wafted off the bridge, his clothes, his shield, and everything else in thin mists that dissipated quickly. A fresh breeze he had not f...
2024-05-21 02:44:34 +0000 UTC
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The accursed had grown in strength and ability. That was a fact since the first night in the eleventh land and had come to a frightening fruition in the last twelve hours. He only had twelve hours, seemingly a paltry amount compared to the long years spent in Fallen Heaven. But looking at the accursed lords in the distance, their very presence forcing even the mindless brutes around them to qui...
2024-05-20 01:39:08 +0000 UTC
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That night, Oscar dropped the other three Gravitarams a few hours apart and was stunned each time by the exploding Ein that cleansed the plains clean down to the smallest specks of greenery. A smoldering wasteland of blackened ash remained. The sight of the growing hordes of accursed cut away any of the relief that he might have felt. It was worrisome that despite their best efforts, the accurs...
2024-05-18 05:37:07 +0000 UTC
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'Finally, it's my turn.' Demon manifested in a Duality body and unsheathed his sword, the blue flames glinting like sapphires down the edge. Several heads slid off the accursed's pale necks, the fresh cuts charred to a fine black that sealed their foul blood from spurting out. The sword swept across without resistance as Demon culled them down, flowing to the next kill and then the nex...
2024-05-17 00:18:05 +0000 UTC
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Oscar rubbed his head, feeling a strong throbbing pain hammering his skull. Breathing heavily, he was drenched in cold sweat and shivered, his fingertips paling and numbing as if frozen solid. Simply thinking of his good friend who remained behind in Ashen Grove rattled his nerves, his heart thumping against his ribcage as if ticking down the time until another panic attack struck him. It wasn'...
2024-05-16 05:50:24 +0000 UTC
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"Don't let them through!" Hector barked behind in a grating shout and nearly tripped on his return as the Gravitaram fired once more into the endless accursed. Weak flames and embers spluttered in black fumes out of his furnace armor, matching the erratic heartbeat Oscar could hear from several feet away. The hammer anima tore off Hector's body, showing a messy, short old man, the hair drenched...
2024-05-14 22:51:45 +0000 UTC
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Right as Hector was starting to rush away, a collective forceful grunt and roar shook the floor, stopping the old fabricator in his tracks. Oscar redirected his attention to the unified front of humans and beasts, an immense Ein surging ahead in all manners of spells and attacks. Those who could perform the Meld or Integration led the charge and pushed back the accursed, forcing the lost souls ...
2024-05-14 03:49:43 +0000 UTC
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A few minutes remained until the final night began. Based on what he understood, the last week would be the worst, especially for anyone outside the semi-intact fortresses that contained remnants of its defensive functions. Heck, their defenses for the past year had been rough if not for Auren's formations keeping a powerful barrier in place, but even that might not help in these last seven day...
2024-05-12 22:32:06 +0000 UTC
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Before Oscar could speak or quiet down the combined cheers of eight hundred Marshal Exalts, a greater uproar rose from outside, forcing everyone into silence as the ground shuddered. Clouds of dust and gales of blades of grass rumbled in the far distance, accompanied by the scattering of countless heavy steps approaching, drawing closer to the outer walls. Faintly, a few dark silhouettes of gre...
2024-05-11 04:46:11 +0000 UTC
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A flash of light passed through the shroud of night and shone on the accursed, and they halted as if stiffened by poison, even the ones burning in the flames stopping dead in their tracks. Oscar used the chance to carry away two injured Exalts, dashing toward the healers in the back. As he set down the injured, they clasped his wrists and murmured out his name in a trance, a state of semi-consc...
2024-05-10 01:00:06 +0000 UTC
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"Quiet…." Michael whispered to shivering Mong and rubbed the dog's small ears. The presence of the guards nearby with long spears in hand unsettled both of them. One mistake, and he may end up at the end of that sharp blade. Recalling an age-old tactic, Michael sneakily cut in line and stood beside an older gentleman, keeping close enough in hopes they believed he was with him. It worked for ...
2024-05-08 23:00:03 +0000 UTC
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'You're too far away. I've used Duality and traveled a city's length apart, but you're far past that.' Demon said, his voice oddly strained for a quick second before disappearing in the smooth indifference.
'Is it that tiring? I never expected that from you.' Oscar chuckled, enjoying the slight bits of Demon being troubled, a rarity yet somehow slightly more frequent sin...
2024-05-08 18:51:42 +0000 UTC
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"My Lord, it is nearing nightfall," Marcus said, tying his hair back.
Oscar leaned on the cold stone pillar, pressing his hot neck against the refreshingly cool surface as he looked down. An orderly assembly of a hundred Marshal Exalts varying from Greater to Lower marched, some climbing up to stand on the walls and watchtowers. With the improvements in the fortifications and Auren's form...
2024-05-07 01:34:32 +0000 UTC
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Oscar woke up and gasped for air, his heart pounding like a hammer in his ribcage, forcing his lungs to squeeze and tighten. Drenched in sweat, he sat up on the thin bed of fur and grabbed his elixir, gulping down a mouthful. Over a few seconds, his breathing calmed, and his heartbeat lessened, the relaxing effects cooling the blood pumping in his bulging veins that began to settle back under t...
2024-05-05 23:10:43 +0000 UTC
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The second night arrived, and Oscar assumed his post by the entrance he had been assigned. Screeches and howls of the accursed filled the air, but no one showed signs of fear and maintained strong stances, carrying great confidence, unlike last night. The Haven Academy Exalts he fought alongside before stared out over the walls, their weapons no longer trembling in their iron grips. Oscar was s...
2024-05-04 03:47:15 +0000 UTC
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Serit's stomach lurched in pain as he laughed heartily, stumbling into the main building where none would approach if not for the most important of matters. The warm light of the ten orbs beaming through the gaping holes in the roof added to his brightened mood. Just now, his beloved Avila informed him of Oscar's agreement and conditions, an absolutely hilarious series of conditions. Though, he...
2024-05-03 01:44:32 +0000 UTC
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As his vision cleared, Michael sniffled and finally managed to hold down the tears, embarrassed that someone saw him in such a state. What a loser. The girl sat on the seat next to him, closing the distance between them by leaning forward. Now that he got a closer look, he couldn't tear his gaze away from the deep blue eyes that remained unblinkingly on him. The sunlight from the open window re...
2024-05-02 02:34:18 +0000 UTC
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The rebukes and rejections were forced away down into his heart as Oscar stared at the bowing Avila. From the moment they met, she was less than pleasant in her interactions with him, presumably from her overprotective nature for Avril. And he couldn't argue against the logic. If Renn or Gloria wished to be together with someone who'd bring a whole deal of trouble, he'd also be quite irritated....
2024-05-01 03:54:33 +0000 UTC
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Ignoring Avila's complaints, Oscar whisked Avril up and mounted Erden, hugging her behind as his arms wrapped around her stomach. He rested on her soft bed of hair and felt calmer by the second. Avril giggled and leaned back, nestling deeper in his embrace. Erden trotted forward, having the sense not to disturb the peace as he had done earlier, and the three merrily went out together, with Avil...
2024-04-30 03:41:56 +0000 UTC
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A gale of refreshing air swept over, and the accursed halted still like statues, some stopping awkwardly in mid-swing. Bits and pieces flaked off the ghastly bodies, becoming dust to the wind and scattering into nothingness. It was an unbelievable sight, an entire army vanishing out of sight and existence. A few of the accursed, including the tall Stegan, stared at him and gave a small bow, a s...
2024-04-29 05:06:12 +0000 UTC
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Under the false moonlight, his radiance shone brightest, the long sword spearing upward, pulsating waves of light that overwhelmed the darkness. Oscar had circled most of the walls and converted a sizeable number of accursed to his side. He grimaced as the Defiants and Haven Academy Exalts prostrated themselves before him, an unsettling discomfort gripping his heart that pumped cold blood throu...
2024-04-28 04:37:55 +0000 UTC
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The outlook of the battle was not looking good. As sweat beaded down her cheeks, Avila ignored it and nocked her bowstring back, aiming at the accursed. The foul creatures skittered along the barrier, ripples forming underneath their limbs as they climbed like spiders. Her radiant arrows met their marks and felled several accursed, forcing them off. Panting, Avila bit her lip, grimacing at what...
2024-04-26 22:56:23 +0000 UTC
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'Steal it. Steal it.' Michael scampered back into the disgusting alleyway he started from, gulping as the enticing scent of the skewers and spices made his stomach growl. His foot dipped into a nasty mixture of garbage water, brown and slightly sticking to his toes. Wincing, he wished he could clean the entire alleyway but calmed himself on the fact all this was nothing but a dream. Tu...
2024-04-26 03:26:12 +0000 UTC
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"Hello?" Michael called out, sweeping his gaze over the dark alleyway for a person, but found only roaches, rodents, and the golden retriever puppy accompanying him in this dump. Again, he studied his body, seeing he wore a ragged shirt barely held intact by torn seams and a pair of loose pants, certainly not his own belongings since the waist was wide and had to be tied to avoid falling off hi...
2024-04-26 03:23:58 +0000 UTC
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Michael was anxious, his heart racing as his blood ran hot, forcing beads of sweat to seep from his pores. Staying still was not familiar to him. He fidgeted in his chair, tapping his fingers on the rough, leather armrest as the sound of keys clacking and a mouse clicking furthered his unrest. As much as he wanted to leave and wash his face in the bathroom, Michael forced himself to sit still, ...
2024-04-26 03:20:14 +0000 UTC
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With the accursed forced away again as the flames continued to burn from the pits, Oscar drank a mouthful of calming elixir freshly concocted by Avril, the tension and weight of stone lifting from his skull. Still, he felt his legs shivering as if chilled to the bone in the dead of winter. It was not an understatement to say right now was a very trying moment. If he couldn't stay up and fight, ...
2024-04-25 01:03:59 +0000 UTC
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A corner of Oscar's mouth rose into a bitter smile as he watched the others barricade the entrance in the new wall, now reaching ten feet tall. These Exalts from Haven Academy dug deep, and soon, great pits, their bottoms black and unseen, dotted the perimeter. Light boards lined over the gaping holes, and dirt and grass piled on top, covering the existence of the pits. Seeing the ongoing effor...
2024-04-23 04:55:58 +0000 UTC
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"The bastard took master's body and escaped. He scurried away like a rat and hid amongst the rocks." Adam raised a fist, veins popping between the knuckles. Oscar winced, facing the wide, bloodshot eyes and contorted expression carved by deep anger. Sweat beaded along his neck, and he bit his lips, unable to bear the guilt, and tore his gaze away from his older brother's wrath. A deadly Ein ros...
2024-04-21 05:04:33 +0000 UTC
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