MMORPG : Ancient WORLD

Chapter 567: Display of Strength

There was an ocean of darkness flowing through the broken wall into the sea of slaves who rushed into it with fervent expressions, but just like all those already suffering inside, they were forced to halt a few steps in before being dragged into the dark depths.

The sight of their brethren being engulfed by the darkness forced some clarity into the ruthless creature, making them halt in their steps as orders from the high command rang through their ranks.

The soldiers who stood ready to tackle the enemies rushing at them were left speechless at the sight of their enemy being engulfed by darkness and seemingly erased from existence.

As everyone was still reeling from the shock, the entrance was suddenly ripped apart by a colossal spike of jagged earth that shot forward with terrifying force.

The spike, covered in sharp, gleaming crystals and laced with cracks of molten lava, tore through the air with a rumble that shook the ground. It cleaved through the sea of darkness, splitting it in two as it surged ahead, leaving a scorched and shattered path in its wake.

The earth spike halted for a brief moment, its surface quivering as deep cracks began to form along its length, pulsing with an ominous, glowing darkness.

In the next instant, it exploded in a deafening burst, sending shards of earth and fragments of lava flying in all directions, followed closely by the shockwave that rippled through the darkness, creating a small clearing in the dark expanse.

The surrounding darkness began to dissipate, gradually revealing the now-empty space where thousands of Skaven had once been, but now no trace of them remained.

At the center of the clearing stood Alex, his pupilless dark eyes glowing like two ominous beacons, meeting the crimson gaze of a towering creature standing at the entrance of the decimated wall.

The creature stood out like a statue of gold among its kind that rushed into the city, avoiding Alex like the plague, circling him as they charged toward the defense line.

The creature towered nearly four meters tall, its face concealed beneath a goat skull, with massive horns that curved menacingly, highlighting the two of its own.

Its frame was a mass of refined muscle, with pitch-dark fur covering its broad shoulders, powerful arms, back, and the upper parts of its legs, giving it a fearsome and imposing presence.

He wore a gorget to cover his neck and chest, an armor waist leaving the rest exposed, while he wielded two crimson sicles that oozed with the stench of blood and gore, matching its dirty blood-red eyes.

"You sure know how to make a statement, but I would've appreciated it if you'd left some bodies for me," Veritas said, and, as if displeased, the creature raised its hand, and in an instant, an earth spike shot out toward Veritas with blinding speed.

Veritas, light on his feet, just stepped on the tip of the spike, and as a torrent of lava engulfed him, he still did not bother to move away.

"You want me to take care of him?" Veritas said as lava trailed down the invisible barrier protecting him.

"I am Kalrosh Broodherd, Trophy Hunter of the Boulderspine clan," The creature said as he walked toward Alex.

"Never heard of you, but then again, I am not from here, so it makes sense," Veritas said before chuckling and doing so strongly that it was clear he was trying to make fun of the creature.

"My king is present, watching over me and my kin as we flow streams of blood in your city, and if I do well enough, my king might just reward me out of his grace,"

"I will begin by taking your head before butchering your men and bathing in their blood," Kalrosh said as he spun his sickles, their clash sending sparks flying, his bloody eyes not leaving Alex for even a moment.

In a single step, Kalrosh appeared before Alex, his hulking figure crouching as his long arm turned into two blurs moving at a speed that was hard to keep track of by even Vakkan, the peak Sixth Rank captain who was watching them.

The sickle phased through the mirage, sending forth a cross arch of crimson energy, tearing through the ground and fabric of space like paper, but stopped in its tracks by a wail of swirling chaos.

As the veil vanished, Vakkan saw Alex standing on the creature's chest, staring him in the eyes, holding him by his longhorn, his dark blade sinking through the shoulder into the beast's body with sicking gentleness, inch by slow inch.

Blood spraying like a fountain into the face of his captain, who allowed it to happen, painting him bloody red, and just as he thought of why the creature was not retaliating, he saw the two hulking arms were sent flying as jets of blood gushed out from his shoulder, his arms sliced clean.

The creature stood in shock, staring into the abyss-like eyes of his enemy, the pain of his arms being sliced slowly registering in his muddled mind, followed by the pain of his muscles getting sliced away as a blade slowly reached his beating heart.

As the reality sat in for him, he was jolted awake by the fear of his death, his jaws snapping open unnaturally wide as he moved to bite Alex in two while his long snake-like tail moved at blinding speed from behind aiming to either kill or at least get the enemy away from him before it was too late.

Alex kneed the creature, forcing his jaws shut, while he pulled his sword out before swinging in a downward ark, slicing the thick, sinewy tail in two, before calmly sheeting his sword, all while still standing on the torso of the creature.

Kalrosh responded by manipulating the surroundings, shaping them into massive, spiked jaws dripping with molten lava, threatening to engulf them both in a deadly embrace.

But before the structure could fully take form, it crumbled into debris and dust upon contact with the Chaos Pulse.

Kalrosh stared at Alex, his eyes wide with disbelief and fear. His massive frame trembled uncontrollably, and he unconsciously began to step back, no longer making any attempt to resist.

Alex took hold of his other horn, now holding the giant by both his horns as he stood atop his torso, and while staring into his wide-open eyes, he began to pull with all his physical strength.

It took only seconds before the sound of cracking bones, snapping muscles, and tearing flesh reverberated through the space.

Kalrosh's massive form buckled, forced onto one knee, its jaw clenched tight in a desperate attempt to stifle the screams of agony welling up inside.

Alex pulled, and the sickening sound of flesh tearing apart filled the air. In a grotesque display of power, the creature's head was violently ripped from its torso.

Alex stood atop the lifeless body, gripping the severed head by its horns, covered in blood from head to toe, as he stared into the ocean of Skavens who had momentarily stopped their advances, roars of displeasure and anger coaching through them, yet no one dares to approach him.

On the other hand, the humans were on cloud nine, if only for a few moments, as they roared in triumph, shouting for Alex to kill more of the Skaven to avenge their city and people.

Alex dropped the Kalrosh's head before unsheathing his blade, his elemental and spiritual aura bursting out, taking a form of its own, like a dark, wailing grim reaper representing his state of emotions.

Alex broke into a sprint, first with measured steps, giving the ratlings time to register that he was coming for them, and they reacted as expected, scattering like a swarm of panicked insects, frantically darting in every direction in a desperate attempt to move away.

There were also those who rushed to the forefront, ready to take him head-on or atleast slow him down for long enough until one of their chiefs took the lead.

Alex broke into their ranks, his form a mere blur, leaving behind a trail of falling bodies by the dozen, sliced into pieces, while with every passing moment, the presence of darkness and chaos grew.

Alex was dishing out every instant cast skill in the arsenal, ranging from elemental pillars, anomalies traps, vortexes, and full blows tornados, all while he cut his way through the ranks of Skaven.

In mere moments, Alex's kill count was far past a thousand, and while he could easily triple that number, he knew better than to lose himself to the bloodlust and have eyes on him from the unwanted people.

Although small on the grand scale, Alex was playing his part, and his summons were also doing the job they were given, giving the inhabitants of the city some peace as they fought their last battle.

The clash of two sides was roaring through the city, big and small battles taking place all over, lives being lost by the hundreds with every passing moment.