Reincarnated as an Apocalyptic Catalyst-Chapter 32: Through the Fire and Flames

[Shadow Dance Activated.]

[Mana: 34/42.]

The world blurred as I vanished into the shadows, reappearing behind one of the soldiers. With the element of surprise on my side, I easily found the perfect bit of real-estate to park the sharp end of my blade across his neck, and he collapsed without a sound.

[Damage Dealt: Fatal]

[Trap Used: Experience Reduced]

[Experience Gained: 1500]

[Bonus Experience Gained: 1500]

[Experience: [38,392/51,200]

The remaining two spun toward me–commander included–their weapons raised. I darted between them, striking quickly, but they had seen it coming this time and were able to take a defensive stance and block my blows before I disappeared into the shadows again.

[Shadow Dance Activated.]

I took advantage of the free cast I was given, and appeared behind the commander's last soldier, striking toward their neck. I thought I had them, but the commander had just as quickly yanked their soldier out of the way.

"No more games, we won't fall for that twice," he sneered, swinging his blade at me and carving a decent groove in my leather armor.

The forest around me felt like it was holding its breath. Only two paladins remained their leader among them, his golden armor obscene in this natural environment, and much less impressive in the moonlight than it was in the sunlight. The traps had done their job, but even without the support of the others, this commander would be a monumental task to overcome.

I was a short distance from Mara at this point and now was as good as any time to make our last stand. I backpedaled toward the staging ground, but whoever this commander was, they weren't going to make it easy on me. I couldn't just turn and run or I would risk a sword through my back. I could risk a glance though, as I quickly turned my head to Mara peeking over a bush and watching; fighting her own battle with herself as to whether she should step in or wait for the plan.

I shook my head no and hoped she saw, before activating Shadow Dance.

[Shadow Dance Activated]

[Mana: 14/42]

"Stop playing around," he shouted, his righteous fury growing with every passing second. "You're just a coward, hiding behind traps and shadows. Face me!"

I stood in the center of the clearing, my daggers drawn. Tensions were high, but lighter for me as the faint hum of Mara's runes surrounded me. "If you can't catch me, that's on you. Maybe the gods should've invested in someone with skill instead of someone who just sparkles in the sun.

Despite his overwhelming rage, he was still hesitant, taking stock of everything around him. I didn't blame the commander for expecting another trap, but the only trap was Mara's magic-enhancing runes. The two of them cautiously broke through the brush and entered the clearing, looking around once more for something that might jump out and attack them, or for the floor to crumble beneath them.

When he was satisfied, he muttered something to his comrade and they each chanted something too low for me to hear. I wanted to interrupt but had no idea what was going on. Once that was complete, he charged forward again, his ally at his side. His sword swung in a deadly arc and the other soldier moved to where they anticipated me to flee. I dodged, rolling to the side and slashing at the gaps in his armor. My blade glanced off, leaving not so much as a scratch. Meanwhile, the second paladin kicked me in the chest, unable to land a strike with their blade without risking friendly fire. The blow sent me reeling and for a moment I lost balance, which was when they decided to end it.

The commander raised his blade high, preparing to bring it down for a killing blow; he basked in what I assumed was unbridled terror in my eyes as I contemplated another Shadow Dance.

"It's over Abomination. Tell Morgana you returned a failure." For the first time since meeting this asshole, I saw him smile, and it sent shivers down my spine.

Before the blow could land, the clearing erupted in brilliant light as a wave of fire roared into the darkness surrounding us, sending the shadows around us scattering with the wind as the inferno surged forward. The flames poured out from behind me, their heat licking at the edges of my vision. I tried to avert my gaze, hoping to maintain some of my accumulated night vision, but they were too intense and all I could do was roll out of the way and try to scramble off and create some distance from my enemies. As they passed over the range of the magically enhanced runes Mara had prepared, the fire shifted. Its crimson hues burned away, replaced by a far more intense, almost otherworldly blue.

At this point, I hadn't even risen to my feet but I felt the heat scorching my back, even from the short distance I managed to flee. The flames roared as they stole the oxygen from around us and billowed into the commander's chest, bathing him in light and sending smaller waves of heat and debris cascading outward. The runes continued to amplify the attack, and unlike the previous fireballs I had seen in our engagement with the wolves, this attack was still coming. It was a river of fire that felt as though there were no end.

I tried to shield my eyes from the blinding brightness as I rose to my feet and darted behind the nearest tree. I was sweating bullets and only hoped this would be the end of our engagement. When the flames finally subsided, the air crackled with fading energy, and the shadows returned to their rightful places.

The commander still stood, his sword raised defiantly. His golden armor, though smudged with soot, remained largely unscathed. For a brief moment, it seemed as though he had shrugged off the attack entirely. That is until I noticed the faint shimmer surrounding him.

The paladin had created some sort of holy shield, a glowing barrier of divine energy. Though Mara's attack had proved that we had what it took to overwhelm the aid of their gods as it sputtered and flickered like a dying flame. Tiny cracks spiderwebbed across its surface, each one glowing faintly as the magic struggled to hold together. With a final, pitiful pop, the shield shattered into nothingness, the remnants of its power dissipating into the air.

Lucian's eyes darted to the commander's remaining ally, who had been caught in the blast's radius. Unlike the commander, this one hadn't been as fortunate. The holy shield protecting him had completely disintegrated, leaving him gasping for breath and clutching his side where the flames had licked at exposed flesh.

"How did you survive that?" I asked, more to myself than to the man standing before me, steam rising from his body as he stood with a sickening smirk.

"You will need more than that to defeat me heretics. That was only a small taste of my gods' divine protection. Now you will feel their wrath," his voice boomed as his sword glowed as golden as his armor, writhing with intense energy. He pointed it at the source of the spell, his eyes never leaving me.

"Mara, no!" I screamed as I reacted on instinct alone.

[Shadow Dance Activated]

[Mana: 15/42]

[Mana Insufficient]

Time felt like it slowed to a crawl as my heart skipped a beat. The beginnings of his ability had activated and I could see what looked like a condensed beam of white-hot energy forming at the tip of his blade. I needed to save her, I needed to do something, but there was no time for a mana potion and I could never make it on foot. For a moment all felt lost when the system continued.

[Parasitic Reserves Activated]

[Mana: 45/42]

Danger, you have exceeded your mana limit

[Shadow Dance Activated]

[Mana: 45/42]

[Mana: 25/42]

The world dissolved into inky blackness as I activated Shadow Dance, the sensation of falling through nothingness brought a feeling of comfort in this moment of desperation. I hurtled through the shadowy realm. It was cold here, but a cold I had grown accustomed to. Perfectly silent except for the echo of my own thoughts. Despite the near-instantaneous method of travel, things moved slower here, and I couldn't afford that. I aimed for where I last saw Mara, she was my anchor to humanity, and the only thing that mattered in this chaotic mess.

I felt confident I could reach her now, or I had felt confident until something pierced the darkness. It was a radiant beam of condensed holy fire that erupted into my realm, tearing through the black void like a blazing arrow. Its brilliance was so overwhelming that it physically hurt to look at, a spear of divinity that had tainted my sanctuary and dared to defile Mara. My breath caught as the light streaked toward the same point I was rushing toward.

My heart pounded, each beat louder seeming to break the silence that surrounded me. Neck and neck with the beam, I could feel its scorching rays as it tore through everything in its path My speed wasn't enough, and for a moment I felt as though I wouldn't make it.

No. I wouldn't let this happen. I summoned every ounce of willpower I had, and I pushed harder, forcing my form to accelerate. The shadows pressed against me, propelling me faster and faster as I broke through the limits of my ability, the beam growing closer even as I willed myself faster.

The darkness tore apart in a final surge of effort. The beam's light was just at my side, illuminating my path and threatening to overtake me. I screamed into the void, my voice mute and yet the fear and rage echoed throughout the realm. Suddenly I surged ahead, pushing past the beam, moving at impossible speeds that sapped my energy and sent tendrils of shadows snaking down my veins.

There she was, Mara, staring wide-eyed at the attack bearing down on her, frozen in horror.

I burst out of the shadows, snatching her into my arms as the light closed the last of the distance. The sudden impact of rejoining the physical world twisted my senses, but I ignored it. My only thought was Mara and her warmth against me.

The light was still coming, fractions of a second away. With a burst of effort, I reactivated Shadow Dance, pulling us both back into the void, but not before a searing pain struck the right side of my face. Adrenaline kicked in and I maintained focus as I chose my next target.

The darkness enveloped us again as I redirected us, aiming for the narrow space between the two remaining paladins. I could feel her trembling against me, her breath sharp and shallow. I had never taken her with me like this before and could only imagine what she was feeling right now.

Reappearing, I shoved Mara forward with all my strength, her body stumbling out of my grasp. Her feet skidded against the forest floor, and she turned toward me, her face frozen in shock and confusion.

"Get back!" I shouted as she fell to the ground several yards away, her eyes wide as saucers. She stared at me, still unable to comprehend what had just happened.

For a moment, everything was still, and then time snapped back into place and the commander was already turning to face me, his eyes wide with a mixture of confused rage.

"You're slow," I spat before another ability welled up within me and released in a powerful blast.

[Pulse of Will Activated]

[Mana 5/42]

A blast of psychic energy erupted from my body, causing their bodies to buckle and their muscles to spasm, sending each paladin to the ground in what looked like tremendous pain as they struggled to regain the function of their limbs. Good.

I took this moment to dive onto the body and jab my dagger into any vulnerable spot with one hand, while using my other dagger to carve away and anything I could reach within his open faceplate.

[Damage Dealt: 20]

[Damage Dealt: 10]

[Damage Dealt: 20]

[Damage Dealt: 10]

[Damage Dealt: 20]

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[Damage Dealt: 10]

[Damage Dealt: 20]

[Damage Dealt: 10]

Only a second, maybe two had passed and I could already feel him fighting back as he thrashed about trying to buck me off. I managed to land another attack before I was thrown loose and sent tumbling toward his ally. I recovered and leapt onto the other paladin, his armor less intricate, more penetrable. Like the wild cat I once was I began slicing and stabbing at him, my body coated in blood and gore as his wounds sprayed me with more and more of his life force.

[Damage Dealt: 50]

[Damage Dealt: 50]

[Damage Dealt: 50]

[Damage Dealt: 50]

[Damage Dealt: 50]

[Damage Dealt: Fatal]

[Damage Dealt: Not applicable]

[Damage Dealt: Not applicable]

I'm not sure when I killed him, but the only thing shaking me out of my rampage was the sound of the commander rising to his feet. Like an animal, I sprang off of the corpse beneath me and away from the sounds of movement before shifting to face my final opponent.

The commander let out a gurgled laugh, spitting blood everywhere as I finally had a moment to assess the damage I had done. His face was a mangled mess, his cheeks splayed open like road kill, his nose severed but still dangling, he was missing more teeth than he had and one of his eyes was gone, but he laughed none the same, like a raging maniac drowning in viscera.

I was stunned. I wanted to vomit, I wanted to lunge at him, I wanted to run away in terror, and my mind was overloaded with emotion as the man began to walk toward me, how he did it I have no idea. He raised his left hand up to his face and it began to glow similarly to the holy beam he launched earlier. It was then that I noticed his body stitching together the wounds, mending the torn flesh, and regenerating his missing features. I couldn't beat him, this was it.

As he regained the ability to speak, he took the time to respond to my initial taunt, barely able to hold back his laughter long enough to get it out.

"And you're weak."