Advent of Eternity - Chapter 44 (Patreon)

“Well, nobody can say I’m not a man of my word,” Vargus said with a dry cackle. He stepped toward her, grabbing the girl’s corpse by the hair and starting back toward his tent. Whatever the strange man was, the Captain would take care of him. Nobody was stronger than Blud.

Vargus’ neck prickled. Years of experience as a bandit had honed his danger sense, and something had just arrived that set off every single alarm bell in his head. His eyes scanned the battlefield landing on a man emerging from the treeline.

The tricorn perched on his head did nothing to hide the horrific scarring covering half his face. His eyes each shone like sickly yellow beacons, and green magic swirled around the man like a cloak.

But, worst of all, was the blood chilling smile plastered across the man’s face. With every limping step he took, a black staff thudded into the ground and sent shivers running down Vargus’ back.

Even across the camp, the sheer malice radiating off the man was enough to bring him pause. He seemed to walk to a rhythm, his limp somehow only making him even more intimidating.

Captain Blud let out a roar and swung his blade at the bearded man. Vargus called out a warning as the newcomer raised his staff and pointed it at the captain, but it was too late.

A bolt of green magic leapt from the staff and struck Blud, enveloping him in a shimmering glow. His strike slowed to a crawl and the bearded man ripped two of the blades out of his body, thrusting them into the captain with a laugh.

Time resumed its flow and the Captain swept his sword, trying to force the man back. The blade caught him in the side, but the man didn’t even flinch. He just kept laughing as he drew another blade and drove it into Blud’s stomach.

Vargus turned to run. There was no defeating these monsters. Then he froze. Where had the woman’s body gone? It had been in his hands seconds ago, and now there was nothing.

He slowly let his head swivel back to look at the staff-wielding man. The woman stood beside him, not a mark on her body. His blood ran cold.

Vargus spun, the fight in him completely broken. Blood pouring from the wound in his neck, he started to sprint for the forest. Rhythmic thumps rang out behind him and Vargus suddenly found his body refusing to obey him.

Instead of running, it felt like he was trudging through sludge. It was only for a few instants, but that was enough for the thuds to almost be upon him. Vargus snapped back into motion and he risked a glance over his shoulder.

“Hello,” the bearded man said from just behind him, his lips splitting into a huge, terrifying grin. He held the captain’s huge sword in one hand. “Say hello to the gods for us.”

Then the blade flashed and Vargus knew no more.

A Shard of Holen looks upon you with hatred. Your slight against him will not go unpunished.

The gods have granted you experience for besting your foe. You have leveled up.

You have defeated an entity more powerful than you. Experience Gained. Your Level has been adjusted accordingly.

That confirmed the Bandit had been a Scion. It brought Knell mild amusement that he’d managed to annoy Holen again. Hopefully, this one was stronger than Lillicent had been.

The remaining bandits didn’t last long. With Stix returned and Cyll already furious from failing her challenge, they fell like wheat. Knell watched over the camp, wary for any last stragglers or tricks, but nobody else emerged.

“How was it?” Knell asked Stix.

“Not fun,” Stix said with a shudder, hugging herself. “That person I ran to – he was scum. I don’t want to know what he would have done with my body if a minute hadn’t passed sooner.”

“I wouldn’t have let him touch you if it came to it,” Knell said, the yellow glow fading from his eyes and leaving him looking tired. “These men were the greatest scum there is. Preying on innocents for no reason other than their weakness. Perhaps their deaths will aide the forest more than their lives ruined it.”

“Damn godkissing bastards,” Cyll cursed, kicking one of their corpses as he pulled the swords out of his chest. “They stabbed me through the heart when I wasn’t looking. I was so sure I could beat Stix’s stupid challenge. Then she died.”

“I did tell her to,” Knell pointed out as he and Stix walked through the camp. “She had a minute to distract them before Anchor pulled her back in time. If she’d popped away too early or hadn’t been a complete nuisance, you would have had more enemies to deal with and that might have genuinely caused problems. We didn’t know how strong the captain was. Imagine if he had some sort of restraining ability? That would have caused us some serious trouble.”

Cyll grunted. “I still lost. I got distracted and gave my secret away.”

“I think I’m willing to let it go this time,” Stix said, stopping in front of the bandit who had grabbed her. His eyes were lifeless, wide in the terror that he’d felt in death. A huge cut ran from shoulder to hip, cleaving his armor in two. “Thanks for killing this bastard.”

“Believe me,” Cyll said, licking his lips. “It was my pleasure. I think I’m starting to see why Cap likes killing evil-doers so much. It’s got this… righteousness to it. Makes me feel powerful.”

Knell grunted. “Wrong reasons for the right conclusion, but they’ll work for now. I apologize for making you go through that, Stix, but I didn’t want to take any chances with them.”

“It’s fine. It worked,” Stix said. “That’s what matters. He didn’t do anything bad anyway.”

Knell knelt at the dead bandit captain’s side. He pulled the demon skull off the man’s head and tossed it to the side, then gestured for Stix to hand him a dagger. When she did, he set about cutting the man open.

“What are you doing?” Stix asked with a gag.

“Looking for his Boon. It wasn’t very strong, but I know it was here somewhere,” Knell said. His blade clinked against something in the man’s neck and Knell grinned.

He pulled a small yellow orb out, wiping the blood off on the bandit’s chest, and pocketed it before handing Stix’s dagger back. “Thanks.”

“That’s the Boon?” Stix asked.

“It is,” Knell replied, checking the captain’s pockets. He pulled out a slip of paper and scanned over it. “Not a particularly strong one. I think I’ll try to use this to get some gear made. No point just absorbing it.”

Cyll grabbed the demon skull and examined it. It was vaguely humanoid, but the face was enlongated and the teeth too jagged. Two small horns poked out the top. “This is pretty neat. I’m keeping it.”