"It spoke"
Sera was now awake, having regained conciousness sometime before they had escaped. Hearing her say it out loud grounded the impossible. Eirik hadn't imagined it, he heard the beast speak plain as day. This was no telepathic communication, it was audible like a man. What sort of creature was this beast?. To have Lykans, powerful creatures submit to it just from its sheer presence. Its size was staggering to say the least, and now it had the ability of speech. As time passed the fog thinned, revealing the carnage left in the fall. Torn bodies littered the earth like rag dolls. Some had been disemboweled, intestines strewn in crimson trails. Vehicles lay on their side, the semi trailer which had housed the Null box had huge claw marks on its side.
"All these lives lost" Alric muttered " The fog rendered us blind. They died all around us and we could do naught."
Lira was now in one of the overturned vehicles frantically trying to contact help.
Tariq stood alone, a few meteres away from everyone else. Eirik approached him.
"Silencio auditous" he said snapping his fingers as Eirik got close.
A subtle shimmer danced in the air his magic now fully working. It was a spell that blocked sound from those excluded from the conversation, eliminating any eaves droppers.
"We can speak freely now" He said.
" What do you reckon that was?" Eirik said " No beast I kmow of could grow to such a size, nor have the ability of speech. Could it perhaps be a witches' familiar?"
"Never in all my years have I seen nor felt tge presence of such a powerful creature. And no" he said shaking his head " Familiars aren't like that. Even given how powerful that Witch was as well, familiars can never become that larger no matter how much power they drew from their masters. The more powerful the Witch and thus the familiar. But I believe it was perhaps even more powerful than the Witch. Familiars communicate telepathically: Though they take animal form none should be able to make a Lykan submit, much less the multitude of those present here, and this one not only did that but spoke audibly"
"Aye, I agree" Eirik replied " No familiar I know is capable of doing that. I too felt the same, it was no servant of tge Witch that's for sure. Ots eyes bore into me as if it was staring into my soul. And what of the Null box's occupant, any idea who that man could be?"
Tariq's jaw tightened. " None, but that would the level of secrecy behind this operation and the amount of magical peotection. The Null box wasn't meant to keep him in, it was to ensure that they were'nt able to break him out"
"But why?" Eirik pondered " To imprison a member of another faction was against the accords." If one had commited a crime against a member of another faction, they were to be brought before the tribunal for judgement. Judging from his state, he had been imprisoned for a long time and starved as well. His magic the only thing sustaining him.
Tariq's eyes narrowed at Alric, who was now talking to one of the survivors.
"I've managed to make contact sir. Help should arrive within the hour" Lira called out.
Tariq stormed in Alric's direction.
"Why" he said.
Alric looked suprised, clearly not understanding the question.
"Why what?"
"Why are you transporting a Witch in a Null box?. Why do you have a Witch in your custody?. You know it is against the Accords to do so."
"That is none of your concern" he replied " You were hired to protect the cargo, ensuring its safety at all costs. A world renouned Witch you claim to be. Tell me spellcaster what use was your magic?. It failed in the presence of your better. Perhaps you ain't as powerful as you believe yourself to be."
"And what of you?" He said mockingly " I do not believe the fog was thick enough to not see you coweringband submitting in the face of your superior. A true wolf, not the mock imitation your kind claims to be."
That insult hit home. Submission was weakness among Lykans. He could understand his subordinates having done so, but he was in charge, their commander. Having submitted to their advesary showed weakness and worse this was not a being of their kind. Submitting to another species was beyond disgusting. In the blink of an eye Alric had closed the distance of about 8 meters, claws flashing towards Tariq's throat. A barrier flared to life, sparks flickering under the impact. Had Tariq not had a defensive barrier active at all times his head would have been rolling on the ground right now.
"You would dare insult me Witch!" Alric growled. His eyes now glowed cold blue. " Do you wish to die?. Have you grown tired of your long life?"
With a flick of his wrist and invisible force hit Alric in the chest sending him flying several meters back. The Lykan flipped mid-air, claws drawn he landed on all fours, his lips peeled back in a snarl.
"You believe yourself capable of such a feat pup?" Tariq said, arms spread wide " Then by all means, come"
He dove foward, shoulders first, slamming onto Tariq with the force of a runaway train. The impact shattering the barrier.
Tariq grunted as he was hurled backward, crashing to the ground.
"Your friend will die" Lira said to Eirik, who was sitting calmly on the hood of one of the vehicles.
" I doubt it will get to that. There's a reason he is in this line of work. A reason to why you hired us for the job"
"I'm not convinced" karl said joining them. " Alric ain't your average Lykan. He's old and experienced, add to the insult he's now blinded with rage"
"His rage is exactly why he will lose" Eirik replied smiling.
Alric lunged, but Tariq lifted into the air levitating. Fireballs erupted from his palms and roared toward Alric, but tge Lykan dodged with unnatural speed, rage gleaming in his eyes.Tariq rose higher into the air preparing another volley. Alric bent low – legs coiled, muscles rippling,he launched into the sky.
Thirty feet up, claws poised.
A gust of wind slammed down on him. He smashed through the forest felling tress, bones breaking.
Moments passed.
He limped back into view, his right arm bent at an unnatural angle, but it was already popping back into place the bone mending, flesh knitting back together. He looked at Tariq in the air with ice cold eyes. He was seething with anger, his animal side taking over with each passing moment as the battle went on. His muscles had rippled and swelled, he had grown bigger. As his arm fully healed, he tore of the body armor he wore around his chest. His muscles bulged as his skin darkened from its caucasian color to a deep black. Fur grew on his skin as he grew in height, his hair and beard darkened to the same color of the fur, blending seamlessly into one as his face took a lupine form mouth elongating to accomodate his row of fangs. He had fully shifted into his 10 foot Lykan form. A towering humanoid wolf, an unnatural blend of man and beast. To stand infront of such a creature would have had anyone on their knees in fear. But Tariq had faced his kind plenty of timrd in the past, and having just experienced the power of the wolf just moments before, the one before looked like a joke. Tariq landed lightly on the ground. But Alruc did'nt chargr, instead he grabbed one of the bodies on the ground and hurled it at Tariq like a missle. It flew with such speed he barely had time to dodge.
And Alric was already there, claws tore through Tariq's side, drawing hot blood. The crimson color clearly pleasing Alric. The witch screamed, barely able to get away before a second swipe nearly took his head.
Though most, if not all Velari (supernatural species) were immortal, they each derived this power from different sources. The Lykans believed to have attained it due to their gift being from a divine entity. The magic in witches blood was what sustained their immortality. This is why the witch in the Null box had been shrivelled. His magic had been nullified, though it would seem it failed to fully disrupt his magic hence why he was still alive. The vampires on tge other end required blood to sustain themselves. Prolonged abstinence made them weaker, vulnerable and easier to kill. Blood is life. Unlike the Lykans and Vampires, Witches did not instantaneously heal but required healing spells. This is why they would have tattoes drawn on them of runes for healing, strength, agility etc. This would allow them to acces such abilities at all times without the need to cast any spells.
Though slower his side had begun to heal, flesh covering the exposed ribs.
Alric lunged again, ans this time even faster.
Tatiq raised both hands ignoring the pain in his side, a ripple of pressure surging outward an invisible force field that buckled the ground beneath them. It caught Alric mid lunge slamming him sideways into a boulder with a thunderous boom. The stone cracked, dust plumming into the air.
Alric stood, bleeding with a wolf's grin. He cracked his neck, flashed his claws and charged again.
Both arms still raised Tariq chanted. "Sanguis ligare."
BLOOD BIND
The magic struck Alric, his legs locked, veins bulged along his arms and face writhing like snakes. The Lykan stumbled, then roared in pain. Blood poured from his eyes, nostrils and ears as Tariq twisted his fingers manipulating the blood inside him.
" Do not kill him Tariq" Eirik said " We require answers yes, but killing him would result in your imprisonment"
" As you can clealry see my friend. Each time he has struck he has aimed to take my head. Killing him would be self defense"
Blood binding allowed one to manipulate the blood of others to their will locking them in place. It caused severe pain as one could stop the blood from moving, causing oxygen debt and veins to burst. But the fight had started taking its toll. Injured and slowly healing while trying to contain a fully transformed Lykan was a difficult task. Seeing their leader on his knees the surviving Lykans moved to interven only for Lyra to stop them. She knew that if they intervened they would destroy his pride completely. Alric howled fury burning on him, eyes glowing with menace he strained at the force that held him down. His own blood pooling around. The whites of his eyes now blood-red due to the burst vessels in his eyes made him look like a rabid animal.
"Call of your witch" Lira said now seeing that their commander was clearly in trouble. " Call him off or I'll kill him myself"
"There's no need" he replied " That spell will hold him in place until he is worn out"
"You will call of your witch" Lira said her voice now turning into a growl " Or else I'll have to kill you too"
Her fangs had started to sharpen, claws curling. Karl had joined her he too was now in a fighting stance.
Eirik hopped down from where he sat, his own claws flashing getting ready to defend himslef. But just then Alric broke the spell. Through sheer flrce of will, of rage he shattered the spell like glass. This drew their forcus towards them Tariq's eyes widening in shock. Ina blur huge arms closed around Tariq in a bear hug, his arms snapping under the pressure with a sickening snap.
He screamed.
Immortal he might be pain was still pain.
With his prize in his grip, Alric shifted back slowly into his human form. He loomed over him, chest heaving claws still bared, still fanged he spoke.
"Know your place spellcaster. No amount of Witchcraft can help you win against me. I heal faster than you, while you require your cheap spells to do so. My fatigue is dispelled, stamina restored as I continue to fight. I am nigh unkillable. Question me again and I'll feed you your tongue"
Tariq laughed blood stainimg his teeth.
"I've never had roasted wolf before" he said.
"What?" Alric said frowning, clearly confused.
"I've never liked the smell of wet dog. Even rigjt now I can smell the stench off od you. Though I find myself suddenly in mood of roasted wolf. But as they say, there's a first time for everything"
He whispered "Adolebitque mihi lupus" (Burn for me wolf)
Flames ignited across Alric's body white hot, scorching heat. The others had to retreat from the sheer intesity of the heat. Lira tried to step foward but Eirik held her back.
Alric howled releasing Tariq from his iron grip. Thrashing in agony, the flames licked every inch of his skin. He rolled and clawed at the dirt but the fire would not dissipate.
Tariq stood amiling, unscathed by the fire. Blood dripped from his mouth, his hands hanging uselessly at his sides. He would need more than just a healing rune to treat his wounds.
"You would think yourself superior, yet here you lay at my feet burnt to a crisp by my own flames. Do not lecture me about knowing my place when yours is at the feet of your masters like the very dog you are"