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Interlude 2
Interlude 2
Interlude 2
Grants breath came out in puffs of white vapor as he staggered through the tight alleys. The axe in his hand grew heavier with every step and his body groaned with every movement. Blood trickled from dozens of cuts that lined his body, soaking into his clothes and turning them stiff in the cold.
He pressed his back to a cracked gray wall. A Soothound skittered, its body slamming into the wall opposite to him. Grants axe flashed as the monster leapt at him. More blood splattered across him as the two halves of the monster thumped to the ground beside him.
Theres no goddamn end to these creatures. Grant spat on the monsters corpse, pushing away from the wall and staggering deeper into the alleys. Hed killed hundreds of the monsters at this point, but there was just no end to them. Never should have taken this damn job.
Three more of the creatures sprinted out of the alley in front of him. Grant thrust his hand forward, spending more of his dwindling energy to send three lances of light through the creatures. They tumbled across each other, and he stepped over their bodies.
He desperately needed to find somewhere to rest, but the alleyways were like an endless maze. Backtracking his steps was impossible, no matter what he did, all that greeted him were alleys. Alleys and Soothounds.
Grant bent over, resting a palm on his knees as he drew ragged breaths. Another Soothound leaped at him as soon as his gaze was averted. He growled, batting the monster out of the air with the back of his hand and bringing his axe down on top of it, silencing the dogs yelp of pain.
Hello? Grant called. Is anyone here?
The alleys didnt respond, but the skittering behind him was getting louder. Hed stopped to try and see what it was a few hours ago and promptly regretted the decision as what must have been hundreds of Soothounds poured into the alley like a black wave.
Hed nearly been buried beneath them, and had to waste several expensive items and the vast majority of his energy to escape. Soothounds werent particularly powerful on their own, but there were just too damn many of the little pests.
It was pathetic. A Knight rank Shikari brought low by Soothounds. Grant gritted his teeth. If I ever get out of this shithole, Im coming back with an army. If the Shikari knew how many of you little nippy shits were here, theyd have a heart attack.
The response was several new monsters leaping from the shadows. Grant cut them down, but one caught his arm with its jaws even as his axe split it in two. Even in death, its teeth scraped against his hardened skin, ripping flesh.
Grant snarled, kicking the creatures corpse. It didnt even make him feel any better. He was slowing down. There was only so many of the monsters he could handle but he couldnt give up. Not yet.
He staggered onward, pressing through the alleys in search of escape. Shadowy smoke twisted above, but he didnt dare try to climb out again the first time hed tried, an invisible force had slammed him back to the ground with enough force to shatter his spine. Hed wasted an incredibly expensive pill on fixing that.
Turning the corner into yet another alley, Grant froze. A man floated upside-down in the air before him, his purple robes draped around him.
Thank the heavens, Grant said, even as unease bloomed in his chest. A cultivator. Do you know how to get out of this infernal maze? Please, help me.
The man uncrossed his legs and walked across the air until his feet were properly situated below him. Grants skin prickled and he drew on what little remained of his Essence, empowering his eyes to peer at the mans aura.
A black wave of Essence slammed down on Grant and he screamed as he was slammed to the ground by the sheer pressure of the mans presence. He forced his Essence away before his retinas were crushed by the overwhelming force.
Y-youre a God, Grant stammered. He pressed his forehead to the ground, not daring to look back up. I was just on a job to find a missing Imp. I swear, I meant no offense. I must have somehow stumbled into your domain.
So many ties, the man murmured, as if Grants words hadnt even reached his ears. So much debt.
Grant swallowed, his cracked and dry throat aching. He didnt dare speak unless the man addressed him. The Soothounds in pursuit of him had stopped, but Grant didnt blame them. He would have taken his chances in the alleys had he possessed the sense to check the mans strength before approaching.
You will suffice, the man said. Grant felt the last vestiges of his strength vanish as what felt like a string attached to his head and dragged him upright. His limbs dangled helplessly at his sides and he stared into the two, pitch black voids of the Gods eyes. The Old City accepts your offering as payment for the karmic debt that you ensured within it. Approach the afterlife with the knowledge that your meaningless life now has worth.
The God ran a long, slender finger across Grants jawline, tracing a line down to his chest. Darkness encroached on the edges of Grants vision. His body creaked as it started to bend and warp.
Grant couldnt even scream. His vision turned to a pinpoint. The last thing he saw was his axe its black, gnarled wood handle and polished metal head glimmering as gold light poured off his body. Then he was no more.