Chương 9: Ravager [End of Arc 1]

Kayzen slumped down on the chair and took a deep breath, his skin prickling as if thousands of ants were crawling all over his body. His own records had managed to subdue the source, yet he himself wasn't sure of the intricacies behind them. He couldn't wait for the crisis to be over so he could focus on studying the records and try out various hexes. Finally, his red eyes landed on the shard that was revolving in a steady rhythm.

Rank: Low Phantom Shift: Shape the flow of Ether around you to make yourself ethereal. While in ethereal form, attacks targeted on the physical realm are ineffective on you. In order to interact with physical objects you must deactivate the phantom shift. Note: It is possible for those with higher ranked records to ignore this ability. Kayzen channeled the flow of Ether and activated Phantom shift.

One moment he was sitting on the chair, and in the next, he saw the wooden legs of the chair passing through his chest.

"Holy Keb! Almost scared me to death." He crawled bit by bit and sat on the empty floor. Only after checking multiple times that he wasn't passing through anything did he deactivate the phantom shift.

'Looks like I have some training to do.'

The light of dusk showered the merchant district in an orange glow. Despite the havoc caused by the monsters, people were still going on about their lives. The crowd was especially bustling at this hour since people were busy buying supplies and getting home before dark. Kayzen walked along the familiar streets as he recalled the time he had spent in this town. It would be a lie to say that he didn't feel nostalgic about leaving Greenford.

The stalls and workers passed by his eyes before he arrived at the Verdant flagon. The sight ahead reminded him that the days of past were over. The dome of the inn was broken and so were its walls. At this moment, the place famous for its air conditioning had been turned into an open restaurant.

"Here, I've already ordered your fries," Mike waved from under the umbrella stand.

"I suppose this setting has its own charm."

"Indeed, never thought I'd fancy a roadside dinner. That aside, what did you get from the heart?" Kayzen didn't answer and instead passed his hands through the table. His activation of Phantom shift was now under control. Mike scuttered closer with glittering eyes.

"Incredible! How does it work exactly? Why didn't you fall through the chair if your body became ethereal?"

"I did at first. Took me a while to figure it out. Now, I can apply it at will," Kayzen once again demonstrated and explained how his shard worked. In essence what he was doing was coating his body in a layer of Ether, and then shape it in a way that made his body ethereal. This was also the reason why his clothes were affected by the phantom shift. The two ate and discussed their respective progress. Just as the sun was about to hide under the mountain ranges, a sudden commotion occurred near the street.

Following the crowd Kayzen and Mike left their plates and ran to the square on the opposite side. The source of the commotion was none other than the broadcast device! Everyone stopped whatever they were doing and waited with tense faces. After a few seconds of static noise, a solemn voice came through the Synapse network. The same thing was happening in the whole empire. [People of Algasia, it is I, Your Emperor. I am sure you have all seen how our world has changed. If you are listening to this broadcast, then I assure you that you are among the lucky ones] [Out of the 243 cities of our empire, 68 have fallen. The towns and other small settlements have faced a much crueller fate. I have established contact with the Ordos Empire and Galdur Principality, and their fate is no different from ours. The apocalypse has begun] A heavy silence descended after that. Kayzen recalled the golden-haired emperor he had seen when he first arrived in the empire.

Based on what he knew about the emperor's personality, it was a wise choice to let him address the empire. [The greatest casualties resulted from the first wave of attacks. We have named the portals that opened in the sky as ' Rifts,' and they are the main reason for this broadcast] [The Seven are protecting us from the sudden invasion. We do not know who our enemies are and why they are attacking us. But does that matter? It does not] The voice of the emperor became lower and lower as if a beast was growling.

From young to old, all were affected by the raw emotions contained in his speech. [Our comrades have fallen. Our homes, destroyed. The once prosperous empire is now devastated by the monster's attack. But let me ask you this, are we going to stand by as our kin is slain? Will we watch and hide as the beasts tear apart our homes? WE WILL NOT. Our blades are not for decoration. We will rise from the defeat, we will reclaim our lands, and WE WILL CONQUER THIS ERA] [My people! A new age is upon us. I urge you to venture out and explore the changed world. For only the brave could forge a path through the apocalypse] The broadcast ended, yet everyone on the square had their hairs stand on end. The emperor was indeed worthy of his throne. Without using any Ether, just his words alone were enough to incite the blood of the empire's citizens.

"Something big is about to happen." Kayzen muttered and tied up his white hair.

"What do you mean?" Mike looked at Kayzen in contemplation.

"Algar De Wilas, The Emperor. I've met him in the past. People like them consider their words more valuable than gold. The fact that his voice has graced the ears of plebeians is no trivial matter." Mike scratched his beard in response,"I mean, didn't he say that a lot of cities and towns have fallen? I believe that's enough of a reason." Kayzen laughed and placed his hand on Mike's shoulder, "Even if every city were to fall, the strength of the Algasia Empire wouldn't decrease even by 1%.

There must be another reason which scared him enough to address everyone."

"Look mama! There's a third mountain!" The duo caught the words of a little boy just as they were about to continue their conversation. They, and everyone else moved their eyes to the horizon. Booming sounds reached their ears before they were able to make sense of what they were seeing. The third mountain was slamming its chest and moving towards the town. *Hoooo*Ho*Ho*"Fuck, your tongue sure is blessed by Umbra." Mike shivered as the huge gorilla got bigger and bigger in their vision.

Even by a conservative estimate it should be a hundred meters tall. A town like Greenford would be nothing more than a stumbling block in its path.

"Let's go to the trebuchets," Kayzen took a deep breath and ran alongside Mike. No matter how he racked his brain he was unable to think of something that could hinder a monstrosity of that level.

"What rank is it?" Mike asked, even though he had guessed the answer already.

"Ravager." Neither of them spoke another word. They weaved through the fleeing crowd and arrived at the closest segment of the town wall. From their vantage point it looked as if a nest of ants was about to be destroyed. As a matter of fact, the ants would've had a higher chance of survival compared to citizens of Greenford.

"Load the weapons. I'll use Hex afterwards." Kayzen left Mike and opened the bag of crocodile scales he had bought. Regardless of the possibility of success, he didn't just plan to do nothing. If worst came to worst he could just use Phantom shift and hide in the rubble. Kayzen took out the white scales and used his Hex on them the same way he had done with the ampoules. His fingers surging with reddish white glow were more fluent compared to before.

Ten scales engraved with hexagonal runes were ready by the time Mike and the rest had aligned the trebuchet. The payload was a spiked sphere, whereas the beam and the base were constructed by enchanted pinewood. These siege weapons were originally designed to attack high walls, yet their biggest application lay in taking down giant monsters.

"All ready. Not sure if it'll work though," Mike wiped the sweat from his forehead and moved back. It had taken him hours to make the spiked spheres using his knowledge as a Magi of Armament. Even so, it was meant for fiends and not a ravager.

"We can only try. You and the rest should leave as well; and don't forget to get the bag from the tanner." Kayzen tied up the scales and looked at the remaining people on the wall. Apart from Mike and a few soldiers, the rest were just those who had butterfly wings. Be it Ms. Dullar or the guard captain, none were in sight. In front of a Ravager their sole option was to evacuate the town's residents. That, was the harsh reality of this world.

"I'll be waiting at the weir." After hesitating for a moment Mike also climbed down and ran away with the rest. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. The titanic gorilla once again roared in annoyance as the river had blocked its path. Now it was less than a kilometre away from the town.

"Fire, this might be the first and last chance!" Kayzen ordered the remaining shapers and used his shard to the greatest extent. His aim was to make the sphere ethereal so it could ignore the Ravager's defence. His influence over Ether didn't reach that far, but as he had said earlier, there was no harm in trying. Every second mattered as it could save the lives of many. The sphere became invisible as soon as it left the sling. The shaper's eyes shone with expectation, but alas, fortune wasn't on their side today.

The spiked sphere materialized midair once it left the range of 10 meters.

"It didn't even reach the target." Kayzen shook his head and didn't even bother to load the next sphere. Even if he managed to hit the gorilla once it was closer, doing so would be akin to suicide. He could hide in the rubble only when the enemy wasn't specifically looking for him.

"May Ruzgar guide us."

"Farewell, sir Kayzen." The shapers nodded at him one after another and flew away in different directions. At this moment, he alone remained on the walls. Numerous stellar bodies glimmered under the dark blue sky. Kayzen closed his eyes and felt the summer wind caress his skin. The flow of Ether changed and covered his whole body. Except for the soles of his feet, the rest of his body had turned Ethereal. A sticky scent assailed his nose as the hundred meter tall monster arrived at the northeast of Greenford.

Its palm that seemed to cover the stars fell down with a gust of wind, and just like that, the walls fell. The impact of the strike caused quakes across the entire region. Kayzen who was standing at the edge of east wall watched the buildings fall like a house of cards. The wattle and daub houses were no better than dirt under the feet of the Ravager. One step after another it destroyed everything that was familiar to him. His home, Mrs. Anna's bakery, the riverside benches… all of that was demolished.

Like a castle of sand washed away by the tides of Nir. The gorilla once again raised its hand to smack the towers that were standing proud at the centre of the town. But this time, its hands didn't fall. The brown eyes of the Ravager were fixed on the tiny figure standing at the top of Kayzen's tower.

"You've got quite the temper, don't you?" An aged voice echoed throughout the ruined town. Those who were slow at running as well as those who deliberately remained close to town like Mike; all of them looked up at the sky. Even the Ravager couldn't help but whimper. No one knew since when the sky was shrouded by the dark clouds. The stars that were shining just seconds ago were nowhere to be seen. Kayzen's red eyes locked on the familiar figure standing above the tower.

The old man who spent the whole day sunbathing was now standing proud against the gigantic monster.

"…did you think there was no-one who could stop you? Heh, Foudre might not pass judgement upon you, But I will." RUMBLE The dark clouds churned above the man who was drinking from the gourd. The onlookers watched in shock and dismay as bolts of lightning fell down on the tall towers.

"Hahahahaha…." Rakh'ar raised his gourd high, and the lightning that should have destroyed everything in its path obediently entered the gourd's mouth. As if that wasn't absurd enough, the man even drank another gulp from the same gourd.

"I vowed to my lord that I wouldn't intervene in the matters of this town unless his child was endangered. And now, that vow no longer holds any meaning." The gorilla took a step back as its fur got charred with the frightening surge of energy. But that was futile. There was nowhere to run under the eyes of a Dominus. Kayzen also felt goosebumps under the static charge. He knew that the old man was one of the followers of his father.

Even though he was injured and long since dropped to the realm of a warden, there existed certain things that would allow him to recover a part of his strength. The gourd filled with 'Bromios ale' was one such example. Rakh'ar raised wrinkled hands and a wooden cane materialized in the air. He tapped the cane on the crumbling tower, yet the sound it created reverberated through the entire region.

The mountains, the river, and even the sky itself trembled as the Ether node was drawn towards the churning thunderclouds. What was the ability of a Dominus? The answer was right there in the sky. No matter how far residents had fled, all of them saw a crystal pillar flying up in the sky. That was the Ether node they had only seen in the images so far. The gorilla's eyes shone with greed as it tried to catch the ascending pillar, yet how could it be that easy?

What entered his hands was nothing but bolts of lightning.

"Stay put, little Ravager." The old man let go of his cane which was also ascending towards the vortex of clouds. This wasn't Kayzen's first time seeing a domain, yet it didn't cease to amaze him no matter how many times he had seen it. If before he only felt admiration, then now he was eager to attain the same heights. How powerful would his Hex become when he could tap into laylines and exert his will over the entire region?

The cane, the Ether node, and the clouds merged into one and created a giant lightning tree. What happened next was a scene the residents of Greenford would never forget in their entire lives. A towering tree stood over the ruins of the town. Its iridescent trunk tore through the gorilla while its crown shrouded over the region of a kilometer. The ravager punched the tree and tried to run away, all to no avail. Its fate was worse than a bug trapped in amber.

Rakh'ar didn't even have to launch a single attack as just the domain itself was enough. Countless bolts of lightning coursed through the gorilla's body and incinerated its insides. Even though a ravager's blood contained traces of Ether after being refined by the core, there was no way it would stand a chance against the will of a Dominus. If anything, the presence of Ether only accelerated its demise. After ten seconds, all that remained of the destroyer of this town was a towering skeleton and an ebony core.

Interlude: Farewell and Reunion In the wee hours of morning Kayzen trekked on the gravel path beyond Greenford. The place that used to see few footprints was now littered with torn clothes, scattered fruits, and discarded luggage.

'I'm sure they'll rebuild this place eventually.' Humans were resilient creatures. No matter the setback they always fought their way back. It might be a few years or millennias, but this place was bound to become a home for many once again. The air became clearer as the image of a ruined town became smaller in Kayzen's eyes. The scent of vegetation bathed under morning dew was soothing to the soul. Soon, he heard the faint sound of water flowing against the stone.

Not far in the distance was an old cottage nestled beside the Sambia river. This was the favourite gathering place for old folks of the town, yet only two people were present today.

"Almost thought you'd forget about meeting here," Mike shouted with a fishing rod in hand. Looking at him and the old man who was sitting on a rattan chair, one wouldn't think that their hometown was destroyed just hours ago.

"I might forget you, but not the bag."

"Heh, you're lucky that the tanner was quite eager to work on this. It was ready by the time I got there." Kayzen sat down besides Mike and fiddled with the greenish brown backpack. He could tell that the tanner had given his all based on the materials alone. Judging from the scaly yet light texture it was apparent that the stomach of Hemogaster was covered with a layer of reptilian skin. The straps and few small pockets were made with high quality hide as well, making the backpack sturdy and compact.

"I'm going East." Mike's words pulled Kayzen back to reality. He looked at the side, but Mike was still facing the river.

"My family is there, at Dreadmond. I have an elder brother who's taking care of my parents. He's not as talented, but he makes it up with hard work. I still remember his proud face when he announced that he had become a coastguard. Oh, and I have a cute niece too." This was the first time they were talking about their families. Despite being close friends for two years they knew few things about the other's private lives. Kayzen listened to Mike and when he was done, he too shared his plans.

"As you know, I'm the heir of Ashbourne. My family is rich, powerful, and has a lot of manpower. I'm not going back there though. For now the plan is to go southwest. I think the forest would be the best place for me to get started. Also, I might just run into a friend of mine if I go in that direction." There was a long yet peaceful silence after that. The clear water of Sambia slipped past the mouldy stones of the weir and flowed towards the east.

The river's surface was undisturbed since all of the aquatic creatures were likely dead. And yet, the scattering leaves carried the seeds of life and began their new journey.

"If you ever visit Dreadmond, go to the Dead men's ale."

"Sounds ominous."

"Well, people say their ale is to die for," Mike chuckled and pulled out the empty fishing rod. Kayzen just nodded in return and wore the backpack. This was enough. There was no need for a farewell since they would meet again. The old man Rakh'ar sat up straight and looked into Kayzen's red eyes.

"Your father contacted me via the talisman. I will act as your protector if you wish to go back, otherwise, you are free to follow your path." Both of them knew the answer without saying a word.

"See you again as well." Kayzen gave him a slight bow of courtesy.

"Hahahaha, that we will. I knew your answer from the moment you refused to take the gorilla's core. Walk on your own path, and remember that no matter where you go, we'll always have your back." Kayzen waved without looking back and strode towards a trail leading to the west. First light of the dawn lit up the hazy mountains that sprawled across the horizon. In front of him was a valley still covered with fog and crooked shadows of pine trees, a place both mysterious and lethal.

What better destination could there be for a Shaper of Hex? … The rays of dawn travelled across the Algasia empire. From the east to west, the scenery changed from emerald forests to an ocean of crushed gold. The winds that carried a tang of salt from the eastern ocean had become acrid when they flew over the western border of the empire. Between the oakwood forest and the western desert lay a vast stretch of wastelands.

The sky above scattered boulders and sparse vegetation was gleaming with colors of pink, orange, and purple. It was as if the three suns were competing for being the most majestic. If one looked from the sky then they would see a lone castle standing in the center of these wastelands, its aged walls engraved with ether formations. If the ether node of Greenford was like a pillar; then castle Qmarz was built on the foundation of a mountain sized ether node.

A sword shaped tower was built at the center of this castle, acting as the core of the golden dome that shrouded this area. This was the regional headquarters of Crusaders and a major supply point for expedition teams. Ever since its founding by the fourth emperor of Algasia, few monsters dared to step foot within the sight of Qmarz. However, much had changed after the apocalypse. The air within the castle was thick with the scent of ozone, meat, and medicine.

Heavily armored crusaders and mercenaries were scurrying around the whole area. Despite being early morning the hall of crusaders was far from quiet. One after another the scouts were reporting news to the receptionist. -Three more rifts detected in the south, one of which is almost ten miles wide! Threat level: Unknown -Anomalies are detected near the capital, the emperor is requesting backup. -A rift is detected near Elgon Pass, Threat level: Low.

"I'll take the Elgon pass." The hubbub of conversations halted as a deep, resonant voice rang out from the gate. A woman with ash grey hair barged into the hall and ran straight to the mission board. The receptionist didn't even get the chance to pin the mission under her sapphire eyes.

"Don't be impulsive, lady Vasser. A rift is dangerous since we don't know much about it." An old woman walked down from the second floor and rescued the poor receptionist. For a non-combat professional like him, it was too much to be stared down by a crusader wearing bloodied armor.

"Tch, c'mon, I'm almost a Xin!" Vasser raised her gauntlets as if to prove the point. The old and the young stared at one another for a whole minute. The shuffling of boots and clinking of armor stopped as all eyes were drawn near the mission board, making the tension in the hall almost palpitating. Those who were familiar with the two couldn't help but snicker at the sight. Just by judging from their honey-colored skin and facial features it was apparent that they were related.

The old woman sighed and shook her head, "Dear Aira, look how stubborn she's become. Fine then. Take someone along."

"There's no need. My friend should be there," Vasser snatched the parchment and left the hall in much lighter steps. After two whole years, it was time for a reunion. End of Arc 1 [Dawn of Apocalypse]