Chapter Five Hundred And Ninety Nine – 599

Chapter Five Hundred And Ninety Nine – 599

The rift opened up into a massive snowdrift, and his Claw members floundered in the heavy banks for several long seconds before Felix emerged. He used Rime Shaping to clear a path.

Thank you, sir, said one of the scouts between shivers. Just about drowned in all that snow.

Dont mention it

Felix stumbled, his words failing him as a sharp screeching chord cut through his attention. A notification appeared, red-gold and edged with a pulsating black.

Quest Completed!

Delicious Devour IYour Primordial Hunger has requested a reward for all of its hard work. Prey must be Tier V or higher if a monster, Master or greater if a mortal, or the equivalent in magical potency. Rewards dependent upon prey devoured.Reward(s): Doubled Significance, Varies

A conspicuous weight settled on him like a leaden vest, pressing his shoulders and chest down and inward. It expanded, doubling on itself until it was a small mountain. A Kingsrock-sized pressure that seeped into his very bones.

Sir! Are you hurt?

Hes in pain! Spread out! Find the attacker?Ñøv€lRapture marked the initial hosting of this chapter on Ñôv€lß¡n.

Thattooka while. Whats the deal?

Dead Too Long.

The Forge Knight? Felix barely got the thought out when a sizzling bar of flame ripped through his middle. Not System energy, which came from outside in, but from the depths of his dark Hunger. Red-gold flame surged through his core space, painting all of it vermillion for the briefest of instances before seemingly vanishing. That mountain had inundated his core space, but by the heaviness in his gut Felix felt it had gathered nearest the base.

Pillars Partially Reinforced!Devour More To Prepare Yourself, Unbound!

Your Next Challenge Awaits.

He blinked, snow catching on his lashes. What does that mean?

Be Ready. Ten. The Last.

My tenth Pillar? You reinforced it?

Others. Give Me More. I Protect. We Grow.

Felix straightened, catching the concerned looks he was getting from the Claw members all around him. Several had pushed outward, climbing the snow banks in an effort to clear their line of sight. Im fine. Stand down. Theres no attack.

Another notification appeared to him, and it was just as grating as before.

New Quest!

Delicious Devour IIYour Primordial Hunger has requested a reward for all of its hard work. Prey must be Tier VII or higher if a monster, Grandmaster or greater if a mortal, or the equivalent in magical potency.

Rewards dependent upon prey devoured.

Reward(s): Doubled Significance, Varies

Felix licked his lips and considered the new Quest. The completion parameters were more intense than the last, but hed faced Grandmasters before. Maybe not full-strength Grandmasters, but they had been close.

If it can get me further down the path, Im all for it. He hesitated, checking his memory. How many Grandmasters does the Hierocracy have? Felix didnt know, but he shrugged it off. His Hunger adding reinforcement to his already crazy-strong Pillarsand potentially to his tenth Pillarwas well and good, but it still left him with the task of choosing the right Skill.

Felix still hadnt progressed very far in that process.

You sound loud, Pit said, hopping through the rift behind him. Others passed the starry veil, their forms emerging through the liquid film. ...Oh. Did she finish digesting?

Apparently. Felix moved aside, idly Rime Shaping a larger staging ground for his people to occupy. The snow shifted, piled to the sides where it wasnt stamped down until it formed a thick surface of ice. And Ive got a great deal more significance built up, too. Maybe even enough to cleanse your curse.

Pit perked up at that for a moment before his tufted ears laid flat against his head. Maybe? As in, maybe youll hurt yourself if you try? The tenku shook his head, firmly. Best wait, just to be sure.

Their company met with the other scouts just outside of a walled village. Though the height of the stone construction meant they couldnt see into the town from their vantage point, it was clear that at least part of the wall had been broken. The scouts outlined what they had found, and it twisted Felixs stomach. Someone, or something, had attacked it, knocking down a large section of the wall and burning at least half of the homes within. There was no sign of the living, but quite a few bodies lined streets that looked almost melted.

Evie whistled. That wall alone is fifteen strides thick. What kinda beast could break a hole in that?

Normally Id suggest Frost Giant raiders, this close to the border, Tzfell said. But it is clear that whoever attacked used fire or heat magic. That precludes a Troll attack, too. They cannot abide an open flame.

Beef had Hallow lower her Multipedal head to their level. Trolls? Youre saying there are actual, real life trolls here?

Evie snorted. As opposed to what? Fake Trolls?

Beef lifted his snout into the air. Obviously, youve never been on the SwordLore forums.

Beef. In your short life, have you ever tried to make sense?

Dont see how thats relevant.

Yes, well, Tzfell said, clearing her throat. Giants and Trolls can be a problem in these border towns because theyre generally left on their own by the clans.

What about in the event of a raid? Felix asked.

The walls are so sturdy for a reason, but most of these towns are decently defended. Most have at least a handful of Journeyman Tiers in residence. If that wasnt enough, they would send word to the nearest outpost, requesting aid from the Ironclads.

The Henaari scout cleared her throat. My Lord, there is a distinct trail headed southwest, further into the mountains. It is clear that the survivors fled en masse.

Felix nodded. Thats good to hear. Any idea where theyd be headed, Tzfell?

Same place the Ironclads would have been dispatched from, Lord Autarch: the nearest Clan Hold. Tzfell peered at the town from a distance. Look. That flag. Clan Red Shield. It means were closer to our goal than I anticipated.

Felix knew that name. Clan Red Shield was where one of his earliest visions of Imara had taken place, where she had fought some Dwarves outside a mountain. He directed his next question to the scout. Lenat, does your tracking Skill tell you hold long ago they were made?

An approximation. Between four days and a week.

Well before I made them swear a cease-fire, Felix noted. It could have been a giant raid.

Giants do not drive off the Ironclads with the mere mention of an attack, Tzfell insisted. If it has been that long, than the Ironclads arent coming. Something else is going on.

Is it the Corrupted One? Laur asked.

The other Unbound lady? Beef craned his neck, as if he could spot her somewhere in the distance. Pit shuddered against Felixs neck.

Imara. Felix looked around again, taking in the same details in a new light. Those stones I can see are melted. Was it the same for the houses in town, Lenat?

The wall was collapsed inward, like someone just shoved their way through it. However, near the break there is a wide span of empty stone. Only on the borders of that patch were there houses, and those were burnt to a crisp.

That tracks for someone using heat, light, or fire Mana, Felix noted. Any of them could melt stone and consume entire houses if they use enough.

So either a dangerous Unbound or multiple battalions of redcloaks, Vess listed. The Chanters did say this Imara was expecting reinforcements.

Lets hope for the redcloaks, Evie said. I barely got to stretch my chain in the frostlands, and theyre good target practice.

Redcloaks would be a damn sight better than a crazy Unbound, Harn agreed. No offense, kid.

Felix snorted.

These mountains are full of blind spots and narrow trails. I am not eager to meet either by chance, Vess added.

Until we know better, well treat it as if it is the Unbound. Harn, Evie, gather the Talons and keep them tight. Lenat, you and the scouts stick close too. Ill hold the company under stealth and pave the way. Well follow the townsfolk toward this Red Shield Hold.

Aye, sir.