#puddle of udd

[tornbluefoamcouch]

Artista: Puddle of Mudd Álbum: Volume 4: Songs in the Key of Love & Hate Ano: 2009 Faixas/Tempo: 10/35min Estilo: Alternative Rock/Post-Grunge Data de Execução: 26/06/2023 Nota: 7,7 Melhor Música: Better Place

[jrazillashadowworks]

Mod Mission: Insurgency

Hey! My first actual post on my new writing blog! Exciting. Well this was supposed to be a short.....>,,> In the end it ended up growing to 6329 words. So, not a short but who cares. xD Warning, violence and death. Enjoy! This was a lot of fun to write. ^,,^ 

The capital was abuzz with the rumor of a forest town near Udde being overrun by a faction of insurgents. Everyone from street urchins to the nobles discussed the horrible news. It wasn’t until an urgent letter sent to the Queen by Mayor Malin herself that the rumor was validated. Minx glared at the parchment written by an emotional hand much unlike that of Malin, although it could be no other. Immediately, the Queen presented the task to the Mayor of the capital.

Calling Gabbi to the castle in due haste, she explained to her the situation, her expression stern. “Our best decision is to send the entirety of the Mods to handle this…small insurrection.”  

“Of course,” Gabbi agreed immediately, a bead of sweat forming on her brow. “But why not send the royal army?”

The Queen laced her fingers before her shadowed face, brows knitting over glittering brown eyes. “I feel this is the best way to contain the situation without it getting out of hand. With the help of the shadow mage, they can go in and quickly crush them.”

Gabbi nodded dutifully. “Of course my Queen.” Even though she trusted the capabilities of her Mods, the worry of something happening to them always weighed heavy on her heart.

Upon returning to the Mayor HQ, all mods were assembled at the entrance, night having descended. Gabbi was short on words, her voice cracking and nervous. “They must be handled…The Queen has assigned the task to you and only you.”

“Would it not be prudent to let Raz scout the area first?” Asa asked, bumping her shoulder to his.

“There is no time,” Raz replied stalely, understanding how dire the situation was just by the Mayor’s subtle yet erratic movements and mannerisms. “We are to handle this promptly.”

Without any other objections, the Mods ran off to gather their weapons for battle and returned within seconds. As they reappeared, the darkness in a corner of the main hall quivered, expanding, darkened fingers clawing up the walls. Blood curdling screams erupted from the void as the gates of shadows wrenched open, releasing an odious scent of death and petrification. Felice was ducked under the main desk, clenching his ears shut, whimpering.

Gripping their weapons tightly in hand, they gave one last glance at one another then at the Mayor. Gabbi’s eyes welled up with hot tears as if this was the last time she would see them even though she knew the thought utterly ridiculous. Asa was the first to run into the shadows, swallowed up as soon as she passed over. The others followed, only Panda, hands joined with Arc hesitated before being pulled in after.

Raz walked after them, stopping by the Mayor. Outstretching his hand, he clasped her shoulder lightly and gave a quick, affirming nod before following after with not a word uttered between them. Entering the shadows, a simple wave of the hand, closed the darkness behind him, leaving Gabbi desperately watching after him.

There was no such thing as light in this horrid, dark expanse. The voices of the damned cried out for mercy, wailing for release, ripping at the ears of the Mods as they traversed the nightmare scape. Their hearts weighed them down, plummeting, all senses assaulted and abused. In seconds their movements became sluggish, minds addled by the pure misery that surrounded them.

“Raz,” Jo cried out in broken sobs. “End it!”

“Grab hold of one another,” Raz uttered, his voice reaching each and every one of them as if he was speaking to them through their minds, words coming out pristine amidst the mournful howls.

Reaching out, they grasped one another wherever they could for they could see nothing at all. Asa, leading the group put her hand out, feeling something unearthly take hold, sending a wash of goosebumps over her skin. Then she was jerked, violently, along with the others after her. They whipped through the dark, clenching tight as to not lose hold of one another. One of the Mods screamed although it was impossible to discern who.

A glimmer of flickering light seeped into the blackness, and finally the group was tossed out. Landing abruptly, they lay out on a patchwork of dry grass, gasping roughly. Reorienting themselves, they were welcome to a hellish scene unlike anything they were prepared for. Their faces were alight by the luminance of a sea of flame, glazing their eyes, flaying their skin.

Blinking wildly, they stared mortified at the town swathed in a towering inferno. Buildings, trees, carts, everything was burning. Blazing embers rode the desolate wind, sparking out in front of them. Rivers of blood seeped between the cobblestones of the town and countless mangled and scorched bodies lined the streets.

Standing to her feet, Jo hunched over, quivering. “We are too late?”

The others wanted to object, to reassure her, but the evidence was stacked against them. Asa planted herself before them. “We need to do a sweep of the town and look for any survivors,” she stated firmly, her hazel eyes were steeled.

“I suggest we fan out in groups of two,” Mishy added. “From our vantage, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of enemy activity. Two Mods together should be able to handle small skirmishes with the enemy should we run into them.”

“If we should find survivors,” Panda jumped in, unconfident. “Should we just bring them back here?”

“We should have Raz...Where is Raz?”

Each Mod turned this way and that, Asa shaking her head with a scoff. “Shouldn’t be surprised. He’s probably already on the move. Alright as for team compositions.”

“I’ll go with Arc,” Panda piped, hoisting his shield.

Asa rolled her eyes. “Of course.”

Arc who had remained rather silent, staring ahead at the village nodded, distracted. “I mean, someone has to make sure he doesn’t get killed.”

“I’m the one with the shield!” He protested.

The small mod pulled away, mimicked her partner before nudging him in the side with her elbow. He pouted in response. “We will see who protects who.”

“I can go with Jo,” Mishy said, ignoring the little lovers spat.

Jo wiped away her tears, exhaling softly. “I’m all for that…But what about you Asa?”

The wind Mod chuckled lightly. “I’m better going it alone. Plus I’m going to keep an eye out for our elusive friend who just ditched us. Now let’s get to it!”

All in agreement, they broke off, heading in different directions, entering the town from multiple angles, Panda and Arc taking the west entrance, Jo and Mishy the east and Asa from the south. If worse comes to worse they should meet in the center.

The town was rather large, a once beautiful hamlet within the great expanse of emerald trees. However now it was but a blazing ruin, engulfed by fire and veiled in dense, black smoke that blanketed everything below its haze. There were no cries of survivors, only the crackling of wood being gnawed at by the devouring flames.

Each group ran about as fast as they could, checking every nook and cranny of the town not destroyed by the inferno. Frantic, they called out for anyone that could hear them, be they friend or foe. However, their voices fell on the deaf ears of the dead, not a single reply coming back. Desolation was all that was left.

Jo’s gait had slowed to a crawl as her sullen eyes surveyed the many broken corpses of men, women, and even children that lay crumpled on the ground. Sweat slid down her cheeks, mixing with the tears that now flowed freely down her cheeks. She wanted so bad to be strong like her compatriots who seemed to be able to always keep a straight face in times of adversity, but for her, it was impossible. The fact that these victims did nothing to deserve such a horrid fate weighed heavily on her mind. For a moment, she contemplated just giving up.

“Are you okay?” Mishy asked, muffled, keeping a cloth handkerchief tight pressed over her mouth and nose, coming up alongside her.

���What kind of monsters could do this sort of thing?” Jo asked, a slip of rage tinging her voice.

“Not monsters,” Mishy muttered softly, a sheen glossing over her glasses. “Humans.”

“I sure hope we find them.” Jo sniffed, face contorting in anger. Her gauntleted fists bawled up.

“Speaking of, it seems whoever did this has already passed through. There is no sign of them anywhere. It’s very unnerving.”

 On the other side of the town’s western side, Panda and Arc waded through what looked to be a shopping district, or the remnants of one. Windows were smashed open, teeth of jagged glass, gaping mouths of hell, fire devouring all within. Once beautiful, elaborate and decorated shops were now smoldering husks, commercial tombstones licked clean. Their search had proven as futile as the others. Arc’s fear of fire had been creeping up on her and the closer she was the more stark the feeling. Even though it was blisteringly hot, a cold chill ran throughout her small body, hair standing on end. She did her best to keep as far away from the flames as possible.

Though the two usually bantered about on their missions together, the solemn air robbed them of any inclination of doing so. They simply searched in complete silence, hands trained on their weapons, ready for anything that may attack them. Their soft footsteps slapped against puddles of blood, pooled from the countless bodies strewn about. Arc bent down upon glancing at an open wound, assessing the dead. Panda simply watched at her back, uneasy and unable to comprehend how she could do such a thing, but kept his thoughts to himself, letting her focus.

Arc moved the corpses delicately, examining them for anything other than burns. Determined, her fingertips ran over three, deep, distinct gashes that clawed up the throats, and arteries. Whoever did this was skilled and extremely precise. After a few more checks, she realized, it was the exact same for all the others. Following the line of bodies, and their general positions, it was clear that they had all tried to escape only to be cut down. She relayed this to Panda in almost a whisper.

“Wonder if it’s the same for the others…”

 Asa alone rode in from the south on a burst of wind. Dusting above the ground, she quickly blew about the main road, cleaving through the plumes of dense, black smoke, orange bangs dancing wildly before her stern face. Huffing out the clutching fumes, she grimaced as she surveyed the onslaught left in their enemies wake. There was no doubt now, not a single survivor remained.

Brushing past the snaking alleyways and residential areas laid to waste, the street opened up into a massive square. Structures taller and more embellished than any other within the village created a blackened silhouette to a backdrop of flame. No doubt these were the designated governmental buildings, but it wasn’t that, that drew her attention.

From her peripherals, she noticed a human shape upright unlike all the others. Wondering if it was Raz, she released control of the wind, letting her feet skid to an abrupt by expert stop, wind hissing as it billowed everything around her. Spinning on her heel, she realized her suspicion was wrong. Though a dank haze quickly hovered over her vision, she could still make out the person she noticed now knelt alone in between a group of desecrated bodies, morphed into a despicably perfect, gory circle around them.

Glaring, the Mod took a few steps closer, chest tightening. The closer she got, the more she could make out. What looked like a rather thinly athletic young man in his twenties, remained motionless at her careful approach. They were perfectly proportioned, skin russet and smooth, folding around well cut muscles. Strange eloquent markings of brilliant crimson snaked over his exposed shoulders and chest. Their hands remained folded, one on top of the other, polished nails painted in many colors adorned fingers that had looked to have been dipped in a myriad of colored pastel powders. Their head hung slightly, silky, umber colored hair brushed forward obscuring his countenance, and the back tied up much like hers were pinned by two large hawk feathers. Within a few feet, Asa then caught whiff of a sickly sweet scent that practically emanated from the young man. Blending with the horrid stench of blood, it took all of her self-control not to gag, a lump of thick mucus forming in her throat.

“Are you the one who did this?” Asa queried, forcing out the words to the best of her ability.

“Shh, shh, shhh,” they replied softly yet quickly, thrusting up a single finger before flicking it side to side. “One must meditate in the after-glow.”

A pin of irritation struck the Mod immediately, her lips curling defiantly. “So you did do this.”

“Of course I did,” they shouted proudly, in a much higher octave, their voice almost musical. Their head jerked upwards, revealing a strikingly handsome face decorated in painted shapes and an unfathomably manic expression of pure insanity. The sudden movement caused Asa to recoil a step as the strange ones vermillion powdered lips stretched creepily from one ear to the other. Elegantly long eyelashes fluttered over flashing brown eyes, almost as scorching as the flames that danced around them.

“What debonair connoisseur other than I could create such utter carnage of such exquisite beauty? None that’s who!” He snapped, along with his fingers.

Asa simply stared incredulously at this strange person, already reaching back for her unextended staff fitted in her belt. This did not escape the notice of the murderer whose thin brows perked up at her offensive gesture. Then a whimsical, mock pout reminiscent of a clown adorned their features. “Are you saying you aren’t appreciative of my art?”

“Got a fucked up notion of art,” the Mod whipped back. “Ever thought about just using paint and brushes?”

“Pah,” they exclaimed, shaking their head, and making outrageous hand gestures as if they had been insulted. “How trite! Those tools do not interest me. Humans provide all the supplies I need for my masterpieces. Everything I do is the result of combined effort.” Their hands motioned to the dead. “Now that they have helped create such artistry, such magnanimous beauty, these humble souls now rest an untroubled, well deserved rest, leaving behind an eternal image for all.”

Asa had to swallow, for the more they ranted and raved, the more bile felt as if was rushing up her throat. Knuckles bled white as she clenched the grip of her weapon, prepared to wrench it free in a seconds notice and bash his head into a pulverized mess of so called ‘art’.

“Aha! You seem intent on adding your own varnish to my glorious piece. I shall not turn you away for it would indeed be nice to reveal my technique to one such as you. I feel as if we have shared a connection however brief this encounter lasts.”

With a single, fluid movement, the so called artist swiveled upward. Not that it was of any importance, but Asa observed that the only clothing they wore were skin tight multi colored, satin leggings that wrapped under their bare feet, painted toes tapping against the cobblestones. The Mod however was drawn to the pair of razor sharp clawed, golden gauntlets hanging from behind them. Attached to their belt, a metal cylinder was clasped to the leather. A gleam ran across thin wires that attached the gauntlets to the cylinder. Thick, crimson droplets rolled down the steel, splashing below them.

Asa scoffed, jerking her weapon free and with a single motion, the staff extending with the smooth scraping of metal. Spinning the weapon into a blistering whirlwind between her knowing hands, she rested it over her shoulder, the weight light. Although it would be prudent to call the others Mods, the likeliness of one hearing it seemed improbable where the flames deafened.

Swaying their hips, a hiss of chords punctuated the air as the gauntlets released and fell to the ground with a sharp clank. Confused, Asa awaited for them to pick the claws up, however, they gave no incentive of doing so, only cocking their head to the side, smiling grossly. Taking a prancing step toward the Mod, the light steel of the gauntlets dragged behind. Metal scratched against the stone, sparking.

Advancing, Asa spun the staff above her head like a pinwheel, wind kicking up. Controlling her breathing, feeling the rising air abate the relentless heat, she readied to strike. Condensing her power, she visualized the invisible blades swirling around in her element and struck out. Imperceptible chakrams blasted forthwith, snaking to attack from every angle to a symphony of shredding hisses.

Her opponent’s body became that of a serpent, slithering and maneuvering about the assault. They moved in ways no human should be able to, as if not a single bone was housed within their flesh. It was almost a beautiful sight albeit eerie as they flipped about, dancing and avoiding each attack with ease. Their weapons sliced the ground, shooting up billowing sparks. All wind blades crashed into the distance, cleaving through buildings and cracking wood and stone, though not a single cut lashed across the enemy’s skin. With a final, fluid pirouette, they gave a low bow to the Mod.

“What a nice breeze,” they chimed, smirking at Asa before blowing a strand of hair from their eyes. They seemed in utter delight from the Mod’s attempt at killing them. Asa however felt heated rage boil under her skin. Propelling herself forward in a mad dash, she swung her staff at them in great circular arcs that blurred with each passing attack. However, they simply bobbed and weaved, dancing expertly between the tiniest breaks in her assault, chastising her with that same devilish grin. Although she was not sure of it, her own curses mixing in with her swings, she thought she could hear him chuckle.

Breathing through clenched teeth, she tried to cast out waves of wind but the results were the same, she was only tiring herself out faster. With one final curve of the staff, she broke off from the engagement, retracting some teen feet. Trying her best to not show her fatigue, heart throbbing in her chest, she hunched ever so slightly. “Why don’t you fight back?” She exhaled.

“It’s always much more fun to see what your opponent is capable of before showing your own hand,” they giggled. “You are a very energetic little hurricane.”

“Fuck off,” she spat.

“Not one for compliments I see. Fine. How about this?” Wiggling his fingers, small embers sparked to life, melting together into a strange sphere as his hands flowed all around it.

“So you are as I expected.”

Suddenly, from their coddled hands, a burning avian head peered at the Mod, flickering eyes blinking. Tossing the orb up into the air, blazing wings unfurled, a bird taking flight. Guiding it with delicate gestures, the flaming bird swirled and soared about majestically. Asa couldn’t help but watch the spectacle, astonished. She wanted to make a comment about showing off but drew blanks, simply positioning herself in defense, looking between the two.

The avian flew over the flames that surrounded, feeding off of them, growing in size until a monstrous phoenix hovered above the entire square, wispy wings beating boiling heat from above. An ominous, red glow cast over everything below. The fire magi’s arms spread as wide as possible and they smiled maniacally, eyes alight. “Expecting me to say something dramatic aren’t you?!” And with that his arms slashed inward.

Mimicking the enemy’s arm’s, the colossal wings of the flying demon thrashed, sending a barrage of flaming feathers darting speedily towards the ground, all trained to litter the earth in a sea of fire. Kicking up from the ground, Asa controlled the wind under her feet just in time to dodge one on coming feather that upon connecting to the ground became a rising pillar of burning hell, striking up to the blackened sky, blinding her with feverish light and peeling her skin with sweltering heat. Inhaling sharply, accompanied by wind, she scurried through the ground rupturing pillars, evading incineration left and right. Embers splashed out of the thick geysers, trickling onto her arms and legs, instantaneously searing into her flesh. Spinning wildly, she snuffed out the latching flames and backtracked, the burning sting melting into her limbs. All around her, buildings were simply evaporated, deafening explosions sounding on all sides.

Up above, the bird continued to unleash more blasts, letting loose ear piercing shrieks as its fury descended. With each attack, it reduced in size and within thirty seconds of non-stop barrages, it was no more, disintegrating into a massive form of swirling smoke. In the maelstrom of hellfire, Asa had survived, weaving madly through, blowing countless embers from clutching onto her skin. For their little power show, the Mod counted only seven burns, though it was hard to be sure. Luckily for her still, spiking adrenaline kept the pain to little more than a throbbing irritation. She was in store for much more hellish pain later.

Leaning on her staff, she huffed haggardly, heart bounding her chest and ears. Countless self-burning pyres now veiled her sight from the enemy. She had lost track of them in the catastrophe. However, they had to be just as exhausted after such an insane display. Suddenly, she was reminded of the other Mods which she had been much too busy to remember until now. A pick of ice cold horror struck up her spine, locking her joints into place. What if they had been destroyed from those blasts?

“Beautiful wasn’t it?”

At the sudden sound of the luscious voice that was way too close for comfort, Asa nearly jumped out of her skin, turning this way and that, forgetting all thought. Nothing but walls of flame lined her sight, dancing as if cheering on the battle. Though she wanted to expunge the walls with wind, her energy was nearly spent. She would need to rest. No way could she fight through another offense like that. It was in that moment of clarity that she noticed the chalky ashes clinging to her throat, drying out her mouth and wind pipe. Fighting back coughs, she focused her gaze, sweat sliding down her face in thick beads. Pressing her left forearm to her mouth to fend off any more smoke from filling her lungs, she struggled to stay upright.

“I was going to say before,” she sighed, muffled. “You really are a fucking show off.”

“I’ve only just begun!”

From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a shadow within the fire and before she could turn, the enemy burst through as a blur, bicycle kicking towards her. The claws attached to his waist slashed in full moon arcs around them, sundering both earth and air. Time slowed to a crawl in that second as if the world had slowly stopped turning, and the Mod could only watch as the claws sliced right into view. Haphazardly raising her staff, she was only able to guard against the first strike, keeping it inches from her. However, the second claw whizzed past her right shoulder, slashing against her skin. Biting her tongue, Asa sucked her teeth roughly, as a sharp heat cut and melted into her flesh, sundering her skin like it was butter. Swinging her weapon in a sloppy counterattack, she hit nothing as they continued kicking away, lost and engulfed in the other side of the wall. She had only caused more pain for herself. Hot blood lashed against her uniform, and the area around her.  

Before she could collect herself, they appeared again, from yet another completely unanticipated angle. This time, it was her back that received the brunt of the attack, three daggers swiping diagonally. She was nothing but a sitting duck, waiting to be picked off now, agony snapping at her senses.

‘Fuck it.’ With the very last bit of her energy, she slammed her staff against the ground. Though not expecting anything to happen, her last ditch effort sent a powerful torrent of wind outward, waves of air shoving the flames back violently. Revealed suddenly, the fire magi simply gawked at Asa for a second before laughing loudly, nearly jumping up and down. “You still could pull off such a-“

Their voice was cut off as a glint flashed into their sight. Fluidly, they flipped on the spot, returning upright with leg extended high. Asa now kneeling, stared through sweat soaked lashes. Impossibly caught between the maniac’s toes was a wooden arrow. She immediately recognized it. Though she waited for the familiar voice belonging to the owner of the arrow to say something, it was not the one she was expecting. “Asa are you alright?!”

It was Jo. Absolutely horrified from the sight of her comrade’s beaten state, the youngest Mod couldn’t help but run up to her, quickly skidding alongside. “You are hurt bad!”

Asa wanted to feel elation at the arrival of her fellow Mods or make a clever quip, but the crushing fatigue was overpowering. It was enough for her to even nod at Jo. At their back, a good thirty paces, Mishy stood, another arrow already knocked and aimed precisely at the villain’s head with murderous intent, not uttering a word.

Snapping the wooden shaft between his colorful toes, the villain flicked the broken arrow to the ground and rolled their shoulders. “I’m meeting so many new people today!” Completely ignoring the furious tension rising from the three, they thrust their hip out. “Ready for round two? I don’t mind this handicap.”

“How about this for a handicap?!” Another voice roared, joining the fray from the left.

Suddenly from the side, a large, charging, silver shield seeped into view. With a sturdy approach, the new arrival ran at the fire Mage who in turn, elegantly stepped back, thrusting their foot forward as if it was some sort of dance move. Hidden behind the shield, Panda had little time to notice before tripping over them, flopping into the air before crashing down with a heavy thud. Air knocked out of him, Panda simply wheezed, trying his best to recover after the blunder. Hobbling to his feet, he tried to appear menacingly but after making a fool of himself, found it hard to retain eye contact.

“I’d give that entrance a two out of ten,” the fire mage teased, chuckling behind the back of their hand. “Got to work on your agility and general notice of your surroundings.”

Gawking, taken aback by the assessment, Panda felt his face scrunch up. “What the hell is up with this guy?”

“Don’t take him lightly,” Asa seethed. “He’s the one who caused this whole thing.”

“Well we saw the fire bird thing but we couldn’t fathom that it was just one person…”

While they talked amongst themselves, the enemy was simply examining their nails and flicking out any dirt from underneath them. “You might want to have your friend checked out,” they interrupted. “She’s not doing so…hot.”

Each Mod stared at him incredulously, emotions ranging from annoyance to utter confusion. “Go ahead and take your time. I’d prefer to take you all on. It would be more fun for us all! And perhaps, more fair.”

Jo hesitated but seeing the truth of the matter, helped Asa up and lending her shoulder, took her to Mishy who still aimed the enemy down. Panda took up position before them defensively, feet planted firmly. He would not make the same mistake again…he hoped.

Once Asa was brought to Mishy, the lighting Mod quickly put down her bow and focused on her control of green spirits. Though the amount of emerald spirits were sparingly in the desolation of this burning graveyard, she did her best to use all within her power. Asa leaned back and sighed softly as the warm flow of healing washed over her body, tingling like thousands of tiny currents. Scorched skin paled, and cuts seeped shut, fused closed by the spirits. With Mishy’s immense training and skill in healing magic, it took less than five minutes before the few wounds Asa sustained were healed to the best of her ability. It wasn’t perfect, but it was more than enough under the current circumstances.

“Thank you,” Asa said gratefully, the pain no longer plaguing her. With more focus returned to her, she looked to Panda’s back. “Where is Arc?”

Panda tensed at the query, it was easily apparent to all. “She couldn’t handle it,” he replied solemnly, keeping his voice down so their enemy could not hear. “The fire was too much for her. She had to retreat.”

Jo gulped. “Is she alright?”

“She just needed to get out of here.”

“Alright, that’s fine,” Asa said. Feeling her energy slowly returning, she regained her footing and normal relaxed countenance. “We should be able to handle this guy without her.”

Jo though uneasy gave a slight nod along with Mishy who was already reading her bow yet again. Across the way, the enemy indeed kept their word and let them each take a position against them. Blinking, they shifted. “Are you guys done preparing? I’m getting antsy.”

The complete lack of animosity or anger in their voice made it plainly apparent that they had no worries. Were they underestimating them? It was the only reasonable assumption that made any sense. Then again, reading this strange person was nigh impossible. “We are ready,” Mishy said darkly.

“You must pay for what you have done,” Jo added bleakly, trying to bring the same fury she had felt before in her tone, although the blood had long drained from her face, leaving her appearing pale and meek.

“Alright! Let’s do, oh wait, wait!” Reaching back to the cylinder on his back, he fiddled with an unseen switch that made no apparent difference to their weapon. Picking up the claws, he finally donned them over his hands. “Now, let’s have a fun fight!”

Panda, gritting his teeth was the first to jump to attack. Rushing for a shield bash, he closed the distance in a couple of seconds. Thrusting the thick bulwark forward, he was poised to make a clear hit. However, through all his might, the enemy simply flipped over him with acrobatic skills second to none. Panda continued to charge until he turned on his heel, skidding to a halt.

As the enemy coiled through the air, Mishy let an arrow fly, ripping through the air with a piercing whistle, ready to pin their mark. With a flick of the wrist, the arrow was diced just as the fiend landed. It was Jo to strike next. Just as the enemies feet connected to the ground, her fists became a barrage of blurs, powerful blows trained to pound whatever stood in their way. Smiling, the fire mage majestically twisted and wriggled, her fists destroying not but wind. Catching her last attack, her gauntlet clanking off his, he spun, back handing her a foot back.

Hisses sounded the next attack as blades of wind struck out at him. Again they expertly dodged them with unfathomable expertise. Asa continued to send as many as she could form, until they simply redirected them off by curving their claws in a constant moving barrier. Sparks lashed from the collisions, pushing him back but not causing any harm. Panda again tried to ram them, but missed, kicked in the back, and sent sliding on his very weapon, yelling.

The fiend bobbed in weaved each and every attack, dancing between the Mods with strikes and slashes of their own. In the onslaught of clangs and shredding metal, their insane laugh peaked above all. Two Mods, Jo and Panda running at him, the enemy suddenly threw their claws either way, whizzing towards both at an impossible speed. Guarded, they reflected them into the air simultaneously. However as the claws soared upwards, the chord attached to both hissed, pulling the blades instantaneously back to their owner.

Their battle raged on, the enemy using their strange weapons to reduce the handicap into obscurity, whip like claws lashing against them all. With no trouble at all, they contained each and every attack the Mods threw at them, whipping one claw at one while slashing at another. Magic yielded as little to no result as well against them, simply rebuffed by his own bizarre fire magic. Mishy had even tested a few strikes of lightning, nothing coming of it but beautiful blue streaks of light that nearly clapped into her comrades during the chaotic farce of a battle. Panda tried throwing his shield, using the wind to control its movement but just ended up losing it and nearly burned to a crisp multiple time trying to retrieve it. A combined tornado between the two wind mods was evolved into a flaming vortex that they ended up controlling against them. Unfortunately for Jo, she had not stocked up on casks of water, having no way of using her magic. In the end, hitting this person was all but a fools dream.

Before long, each Mod was battered to exhaustion, each of them retaining scrapes and wounds while the enemy remained entirely unscathed. Finally, the Mods made up a defensive line a few feet back, haggardly breathing side by side, nearly leaning on one another. Across from them, the fire mage danced. “You guys are so much fun! And none of you have been killed yet! Despite me going at…” They trailed off looking to the blanketed sky. “Twenty five percent? No, no, more like fifteen!”

Each Mod glared back, plainly unamused at their revelation. More than a couple imagined decapitating the cocky fire mage. “Who the hell even are you?” Asa spat, nose wrinkling in anger.

“Ah! It does make sense that you would want to know your betters name! Forgive my lack of manners! My name is Jakul! Pleasure!”

Asa couldn’t help but snort but nobody understood why.

“It would be a pleasure to bash your fucking skull in,” Panda shot, grasping the bleeding slash at his flank.

“I don’t really care to know your names,” they rebuffed, neglecting Panda’s remark, wagging their head. “Should I just kill you all now?” They were talking more to themselves at this point, pacing from side to side. “You did provide quite the bit of entertainment. Plus, if we were to meet again at a later junction, you may provide more of a challenge. That is if you train more. Would do you all good.” Clanging the claws together they nodded furiously. “It’s decided! I’ll let you live this time! Consider it pity or what have you! Bring you’re A game next time, should we meet again!” The last line sounded much more like a warning, his voice suddenly as sharp as a dagger digging at ones throat. “Do enjoy your evening alive, courteous of me!”

Reeling around, they waved, sauntering towards the towering walls of flame that continued to burn incessantly, form sinking into the blazing sea before completely melting away from sight. Jo, hands on her knees coughed, fighting back stinging tears. “We couldn’t do anything…”

“The damage was already done,” Mishy said. “They would have killed us. Not in one moment did they seem distressed in the slightest at our combined skill. No good would have come of us dying too.”

Though it was a slightly rough way of putting it, she was indeed correct. Each of them was defeated. With no more reason to loiter, the dense air and burning stink clawing to drive them mad, they finally decided to leave. As a group, they exited the remnants of the town back to where they arrived from.

Sitting on the grassy knoll, bawled up, Arc clutched both hands over her head. At the sound of their footsteps, she shuddered. “I’m so sorry! The fire was too much for me!”

“The fire was too much for us all,” Asa sighed, completely hollowed.

Freezing, Arc finally looked up at her battered friends and stared behind her mask. “Was there many?”

“Just one,” Panda replied, toneless. “They beat us back completely without a single scratch.”

“It’s my fault,” Arc rasped.

“No,” Asa butted in. “Even with you I feel the results would have been the same.”

“Raz would have been useful,” Panda grumbled. “Seriously where is he?”

“How the hell should we know?” Asa exclaimed, throwing up her arms and immediately regretting it, body sore.

“What’s more important right now is getting to Mayor Malin to deliver the news,” Mishy said tiredly. “Does anyone know how to get there? We sort of lost our means of fast travel.”

Digging out a compass, they looked as a group. Considering this was a borderland village, heading east should lead them directly to Udde. Exhaustion and defeat plaguing their steps, they left the smoldering city at their backs, the lost souls wafting into the ashen wind, a horrible scene none of these Mods would ever forget along with the fire devil that caused it.

 Twas during the village search and disastrous battle between the Mods and the fiery fiend that the lone shadow appeared a couple miles off. He stood motionless within an all-encompassing woodland. Crickets chirped their nightly songs, filling the fresh, cool air with a constant, peaceful drone. Hardly discernable, other voices joined with the sounds of nature, jovial and celebratory. Between thick oaks, sparks of light filtered through. An ominous glow cast over the visor of the shadow’s helmet, staring through the trees. Gripped tightly in his gloved hand, the black serrated blade that had ended countless lives, glinted a deep purple in the lively flickers.  

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