Trix rose, shaking off her children as she turned north. "No…"

"What's wrong?" Everest asked as she climbed back to her feet.

"They're gone…"

The sound of laughter and playing throughout their nest stopped. It was Shadow Paw that spoke up next.

"What happened, dragon?"

"Luna and Grace are gone."

A collection of gasps filled the air as Shadow Paw started running. He knew where James was and a moment later, a pack of wolves tore after their leader.

"It's finally happening," Everest said softly.

Trix nodded. Before she could say anything, Zenaria walked out of the nearby apartment with a stack of books and a puzzled expression.

"Are the wolves on a hunt today?"

Trix closed her eyes, her entire soul and being aching for what she was about to say. The atmosphere of their nest turned somber as Zenaria dropped her books.

"W-what happened?" Zenaria stumbled forward and grabbed Trix's leg.

"They are dying," Trix said, telling the truth of the matter.

"Who is? Who is dying?" the kitsune screamed.

"Luna and Grace are already gone."

Sinking to her knees, Zenaria started to hyperventilate. Holding her hands to her chest, she started scanning the streets before spreading her soul as far as she could in a desperate attempt to reach them.

"I-I have to go!" Jumping up, Zenaria started to run. She ran as if hell itself was biting at her ankles. For it very well might have been.

"Are you going as well?" Everest asked.

"No. Even if we left right now, we wouldn't be in time."

The dragons all around the nest settled down, their eyes misty as they silently prayed and wept for their fallen.

***

James felt his jaw break as the spear slammed into him. The barbs ripped out his eye and tossed him through the nearby building. Walls and shelves collapsed around him as he felt his body healing and his reserves dwindling.

Rolling to a stop, he Pulsed all of the ruble of the store out of his way and at his enemy. A flash of red light incinerated it all as the tiger snarled at him and stalked forward.

"You are a mere pest! Why are you still alive?"

Laughing, James climbed back to his feet and touched his empty eye socket. It hadn't healed yet, but he could feel the organ regrowing. "I'm going to love breaking you. I'll have to declaw you first, but I promise to make your last minutes of life feel like an eternity."

"You can't even harm me!" she taunted. Throwing out her arms, she gestured to the falling city. "All of this destruction is because of you. Your people destroyed everything. We are all doomed because of you." Lowering her arms, she transformed her spear into a sword. "Your people brought the end of the world to my feet. Spilling their blood and ending them saved us. And once you are gone, the world will repair itself."

Snorting, he summoned his sword. "You really believe that, don't you?"

"I'll prove it as I feed the world your life's blood."

Rolling his shoulders, he took the first few steps forward and promptly crouched. Her blade swung over his head, sending out a wave of red energy that corroded half a dozen buildings behind him.

Coming up with an uppercut, he caught her jaw and launched her into the air. Dashing forward, he kicked, catching her side and breaking ribs as he threw her down the street. He was about to race after her before he noticed a streak of red coming down from the sky.

Throwing his sword, he countered the nearly hidden attack, creating an explosion that popped his ears and sent him sprawling across the ground. With a glance, he could tell that she was in the same condition. Both of them healing as their ears bled.

Climbing back to his feet, he wiped the blood from his face and prepared for another clash.

***

Linda leapt from building to building, firing bolt after bolt into the elf. His blood dripped from dozens of wounds, but he had yet to slow. She was nearly out of ammo and when she spread out her soul, she found her allies on the other side of the city.

Damn. He really got me alone, didn't he?

Another few minutes passed before she tossed her crossbow down and withdrew a club. The same spiked club that her betrothed once wielded. "Come here you little bastard!"

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

The elf landed lightly and held up his hand. A second later, the bolts popped from his body and clattered to the ground, leaving behind unblemished skin. "That's better."

Linda felt what little hope she had diminish. All of her work was gone in an instant. Still, she was determined to bring the elf to the afterlife with her.

"I'll let you strike me three times," he taunted.

Roaring, Linda charged forward and slammed the spiked mace down, striking the elf's head. When a red barrier stopped her without even cracking, she felt the true horror of the situation.

Swinging two more times, she was deflected and knocked back. The club fell from her hands as she smiled up at her tormentor. Luna's Soul Skill was still coursing through her and even if this was her end, she knew the bastard would die.

Keeping her eyes open, she watched the spear punch through her chest, cutting off her skills, but it didn't matter. Her energy was already on its way to James, and she knew he could handle the rest.

***

James nearly reached Venice when the same whiteness washed around him. The tearing in his soul arrived with it and he stopped.

"They got you too?" he asked.

Linda barked out a laugh. "Not that he will live."

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

Linda cupped his cheek and turned him to her. "Why? I'm finally going to be with my betrothed. It's what I've always wanted."

"Both of you should still be alive!" James fell to his knees and slammed his fist into the ground.

Kneeling with him, Linda rubbed his cheek. "You helped me find my real self, James. The adventure, the thrill of the hunt, seeing the world, if only a little. Besides, I'll still be with you. Someday, you will pass and I'll have my workstation all set up for you. We'll craft the armor we need to hunt in the heavens. Bronson will take care of my children, while I run off with another man." Winking, she actually made him laugh. "Not in that way, James."

"What if I reach the immortal soul?" he questioned.

Standing up, she offered him her hand. "If you can reach that high, then you damn well better bring us back. Our souls are with you, James. We are your family and always will be. Our Familial Bonds stretch beyond death and the heavens themselves. If anyone can break through and revive us, its you."

Swallow his tears, he blew out a slow breath. "I'll bring you back, and if I can't, I won't leave you waiting for long. I just need you to know that I have several people to kill before I can join you."

"The Pact," she growled. "I want you to taste their blood, James. When I next see you, I want to know that they suffered and even their souls couldn't reach the heavens."

"I promise, I'll destroy them."

Resting her hand on his chest, she sighed. "I can't wait to see Bronson again. I'll have my eye on you, James."

Laying his hand over hers, he watched her fade to nothing.

Soul Absorbed: Soul Strength: 11.90 (+0.1)

The world returned to normal, and Venice staggered toward him. "How are you still standing?"

Summoning his sword, he turned toward her with the tears still in his eyes. "You shouldn't have come here. Your death will not be enough for what you have done here today. I'll root out your entire operation and kill every last member. I'll feed your corpses to the rents and let them shit you out."

Snarling, saliva dripped from the tiger's fangs. "You won't have the chance!"

Charging forward, James used his palm to push her sword out of the way, taking the cut in order to tear her flesh with his Soul Retribution.

"How are you doing that?" she demanded as she slammed her fist into his chest and launched him back.

"I don't know what you are talking about." Smirking, he noticed the new cuts on her body from the punch.

"Your skills shouldn't work on me, Valiant. How are you injuring me?"

Shrugging, he started walking toward her again. "I'll let you in on a little secret."

"And what's that?" she snapped.

Lowering his voice, he said, "you aren't as strong as you think you are. No matter how hard you fight, you will not kill me."

Growling, she sent a wave of energy from her body, smashing into him. Bones broke as he was thrown down the street.

Fuck me…

His body screamed in pain as it snapped back together and he climbed to his feet. The tiger was already rushing toward him, intent on taking his head with one final swing.

A laugh escaped him as he pretended to be more injured than he was. Slumping over, he waited until the sword was nearly upon him before lunging within her guard. Slamming his forehead against her nose, he shattered it once again, making her scream in pain.

"You really do look prettier with your nose like that." Kicking her in the side, he sent her to the next block over. Her impact collapsed a building and he took the reprieve to heal.

***

Amber raced away on all fours, pushing her speed to the limit. The elf chasing her flowed like water after her, having changed his body insubstantial. She didn't know how he did it, or what would happen if he reached her, but she wasn't going to slow.

In fact, she had a specific place in mind after racing around the city blindly, or at least to him, it would have seemed blind. With each passing second, they grew closer and closer to the city center where all of the recently spawned monsters were waiting.

This should be good. For what they did to Luna…I'll fucking rip out his eyes and feast on his throat.

The nest appeared before her as she rounded the last corner. They were going fast enough that neither of them could stop quickly, so she did the one thing that she could.

She Soul Shifted.

Slipping into the Soul Realm, she hit the invisible force the nest gave off and slipped inside it. Where James was stopped, she wasn't. She was no longer flesh and blood, and when her elf collided with the force, he was pushed back into his body where he collapsed on the ground.

A pulse left the nest from the attack and roars filled the air from the surrounding buildings.

Come feast! Amber snarled.

Buildings collapsed all around the area as hundreds of monsters poured forward to defend the nest. The elf barely had time to get back to his feet before he was forced to fight.

Claws tore at his armor, and blood coated the ground as monsters were skewered, or he was rent. The red barrier around his body shattered at once, letting in even more attacks, but the monsters were already thinning.

Come on, come on! Amber pleaded.

Second by second, the elf grew weaker and the horde grew thinner. Flashy red skills exploded bodies and ripped apart buildings, but none of them came close to hitting Amber. She had been forgotten as the elf fought with everything he had.

Smiling to herself, Amber stepped around the corpses and rubble and approached the back of the elf. Returning to the Mortal Realm, she slashed her claws through the back of his neck, severing his head. The last remaining monsters regarded her for a moment before she struck with her soul. They broke in an instant, flooding her with the merest growth.

Turning her attention to the city, she knew she had to find the others before it was too late. Spreading out her soul, she only found three other souls. One was James. The others Jamie and Mender. Linda and Grace were gone.

Sinking to her knees, she ground her teeth. She knew she needed to fight. She needed to save who she could.

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