Beastforged Bond

B4 Chapter 15

We were in trouble. The dome had been bombarded again. For the first time in years, it shattered. Momentary collapses were rare, but they had happened on several occasions before. The Mistrals’ attack resulted in one such collapse. Alas, this was no momentary failure. For the first time in decades, the Sphere that maintained the dome shattered.It had to be replaced. That, however, was easier said than done.

Multiple Spheres had been manufactured over the decades, but the installation of a new Sphere took time. Hours if everything worked out. Or days if they were unlucky.

The Bastion was in panic. The Warden reserves had been called to arms and split into smaller units to calm the population and prevent invasion. Both tasks turned out to be difficult. For one, people were scared. And scared people did stupid things.

Blessed and unBlessed alike either barricaded themselves in their homes or gathered their valuables and rushed to the main sector. The latter slowed the armed forces’ deployment, but also stirred trouble with the Blessed living in and around the main sector. Everyone was afraid now that the dome was gone. They feared not only an attack by Outsiders, but also attracting the attention of powerful beasts. To nearby beasts, the Bastion became a treasure trove, the very protection that camouflaged the presence of hundreds of thousands of Worlds taken away.

Most beasts in the adjacent Zones were bound to rush over the moment the dome fell. Their instincts would drive them toward growth. And humans’ Worlds were the best source of such growth.

“We have to expect a stampede of Wild and Awakened beasts,” one of the older men in my unit said. He was a retired soldier from before the war with the Outsiders, and I was pretty sure he was called William.

“The Outsiders destroyed the ecosystem. I doubt there will be more than a few thousand Wilds and Awakened,” I commented, adjusting my enchanted armor. It was nothing special, just something I found in Kazriel’s armory, but it was still enchanted with high-ranked circuits.

I’d be able to wear the leather armor until I was a Master–if it survived that long. Sure, the armor had several protective ether circuits that used ambient ether to replenish themselves, but I had met a lot more Emperor beasts and other seemingly omnipotent creatures in the last year. Anything could happen.

Pulling on the metal parts that appeared to be fused with the chest piece, I fixed its position and made sure all vital spots were covered in metal. I considered using Soulfusion with Nox and storing the armor again, but more protection was better. The more, the merrier…as long as it didn’t restrain my movements.

“Did they kill that many? I heard the hunters were having trouble finding prey, but…” William contemplated, when another Blessed from the reserve members spoke up.

“How do you know? You’re just a rich, spoiled–”

“Shut it, Steven,” William snapped at the man who clearly had some problem. “Adam works in the Beast Temple. Are they even getting more supplies these days?”

He turned to me with the last question. I did not particularly like that he called beasts ‘supplies,’ but I knew better than to start a fight. Still… I crossed him off the list of soldiers I was going to offer help via the Rising Foundation.

We can burn him later.

Volix offered.

Or I bury him. Nobody will find him.

Aureus added.

“Hunters rarely come to us with juvenile beasts these days. Some bring poisoned beasts, although they rarely survive the night,” I sighed deeply. Work in the Beast Temple was enjoyable most of the time, but the last few weeks had been tough. Mentally rather than physically. “We think the Outsiders are focusing on the most dangerous beasts of all Ranks. Precisely, beasts with useful traits, beasts that reproduce in large numbers, and beasts that are less affected by their wild instincts. The desire to pounce on Blessed, to devour their Worlds.”

The younger idiot paled a little, but his lips were parted to sputter more nonsense. Fortunately, William didn’t give him the time of day to speak up.

His brows creased. “They know that much about us? Have they been analyzing us?”

That I didn’t know. Neither did Volix. Even the Elemental Phoenix did not know every race that sought asylum from the Devourer on Razarn. As far as the phoenix was concerned, not all races were from the Spirit Realm. The Caldera were, but even they had changed a lot ever since they reached Razarn.

“Maybe they captured some of us and interrogated them,” I shrugged, not quite liking where the conversation was heading.

“They know our language?” the bratty idiot spurted out.

I raised an eyebrow at him. “By now, you should have realized that the Outsiders are not stupid. If they were mindless brutes, they would have attacked the Bastion head-on from the start. They possess intelligence, just like we do. Of course, they can learn other languages.”

I thought but didn’t add.

“The Outsiders outside our Bastion have been focusing on psychological warfare from the beginning. That’s a lot worse than straightforward combat. The ninth Bastion has it much better,” William grunted, and while I could not completely agree with him, he was not exactly wrong.

In a way, psychological warfare was worse. It was troublesome, especially when it lasted for several months. More and more ecosystems had been destroyed by small Outsider units. They had been defeated, but new groups sprouted a few weeks after the previous ones were eliminated. That weighed heavily on the minds of all those who knew that their safe haven no longer existed.

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It was more of a prison. Nobody was forced to stay within, but even rookie hunters as well as those with more experience were more cautious when leaving the Bastion–if they still left, that is.

And now that the dome had been torn down by forces that hadn’t revealed themselves yet, all the tension that had accumulated over the months burst forth. Everyone was tense. Worry was etched into the faces of all those afraid of what was coming for them, yet the Outsiders hadn’t come for them… yet.

“You don’t look worried,” William looked my way.

I could only laugh at that. “Of course, I am worried. I am scared shitless. If the Ethericians don’t fix this mess as quickly as possible, hundreds will die. Maybe more. But a few Striker units are already out there. Then there’s the army, the active Wardens, and thousands of reserve members who’ve been prepared for this very day for months. As long as we use our heads, we will survive.”

“If the Outsiders don’t attack,” Idiot muttered, which resulted in a unanimous groan from the rest of the group.

“Thanks for jinxing it,” William sighed before motioning us to follow him.

Nobody had assigned a leader for our unit. Maybe that would have been useful, but it was clearly something the reserve members’ Captains hadn’t thought about when they split us into groups. William took the leader role as if it had been made for him. He guided us through the main street, a pair of retriever-sized dragonflies manifesting beside him.

The dragonflies shot high into the air, quickly joined by other avian Soulkins.

“The beasts have yet to reach the Bastion,” William announced.

Furrowing my brow, I inquired further. “But beasts are heading our way already, aren’t they? Toward the Bastion, I mean.”

I didn’t receive an answer right away. It took William a while–too long for my liking–to respond.

“Some have been located. Not too many, but they’re coming. Outsiders haven’t been located yet.”

I added in my head.

As confident and charismatic as William could be, the dragonflies were not particularly impressive. He had to have a few more Soulkins, or he would have never made it to the Expert Rank, but I was still unsure what to expect from the retired soldier. Was he strong enough to lead us into battle?

Do you want me to search the sky? I can be your eyes above.

Aureus offered, but I denied his request.

Even if William’s Soulkins couldn’t detect the Outsiders, there had to be some. If not, the dome’s Sphere wouldn’t have shattered. Plus, I’d much rather have Aureus with me. Or close to me, at the very least.

I will fight.

Aureus rebuked, which I could only agree to.

Blood! I want to fight. Has been too long!!

Nox added excitedly.

It was true. It had been a long time since we left the Bastion’s safety. Not too long to get rusty with all the time we spent training, but certainly long enough to lose a bit of our edge.

I promised my Soulkins, walking up to William.

“How strong are you exactly? I know we are not supposed to ask, but I do have to know if we have to retreat if we encounter Unblemished beasts or not,” he said.

“Can you deal with them?” I asked curiously, my question swallowed by the glare the older soldier gave me.

“I can deal with Unblemished beasts. Low-ranked Guardian beasts should be fine as well.”

My response was met with a snort from behind, and I didn’t even have to turn around to know who it was: Idiot.

“As if. How old are you, kid? You cannot be much older than eighteen. Maybe twenty with a young face. Doesn’t matter, really,” Idiot’s snarl rang out from behind. “And you want us to believe you can fight Guardian beasts? You might be strong, but you’re definitely not a Master!”

William glanced back, his eyes studying the man behind me, before turning back to me. “Are you sure you can do it?”

“You don’t have to believe me.” I was starting to feel irritated, although it was unclear whether it was because my Soulkins were angry or I was. “Also, I never said I was a Master. That doesn’t mean I cannot kill a low-ranked Guardian beast.”

William regarded me for a moment, looking like the cogs in his brain were moving like crazy. “You have a Guardian beast as a Soulkin.”

Aureus had yet to advance to the Guardian rank. Then again, it certainly felt like the Earthheart was as powerful as one, though he was still far away from reaching the Elemental Phoenix’s level.

“Just avoid Guardian beasts if possible. The active Wardens will take care of such threats. If they even reach the Bastion.” I waved dismissively. “How about we prioritize bringing the citizens from the lower sectors to safety first?”

“Of course he avoids the question!” Idiot laughed. “Believe nothing he said, William! He’s been–”

“Silence!” William snapped back, slowing his steps until they came to a halt. The rest of the group fell into place behind him.

“I don’t care who you are or what your problem is. We are under attack and have a mission to complete. You need to shut down your inferiority complex, or you will pay a hefty price. If not with your blood when you do something stupid to impress others, then you will face my wrath. Stay in formation, do exactly what we’ve been practicing for the last ten months, and protect your comrades. Because it will be your comrades who have your back.”

William seemed to enlarge as he stomped toward Idiot.

Idiot paled and shrank under the pressure William emitted, which was honestly a pleasant sight.

“Also, I am sorry to say this, but Adam could crush you with a single finger. He might look young, but the way I see it, you would be better off treating him nicely. He might be the only reason you make it out of this if Outsiders assault us.”

William turned around, pointed ahead, and resumed the jog to the lower sectors. We rarely stopped, only long enough to guide fleeing citizens toward the nearest bunkers.

Then the beasts arrived at the Bastion.

They burst through the marker that had once signified the dome’s barrier and charged toward the congregating masses of fresh Worlds.

Among the beasts were creatures I had never seen before. I leaped into the air, bursts of fire from under my feet keeping me aloft, and frowned deeply.

“Incoming,” I mouthed as the first beasts reached the ninth sector, my heart twisting and aching as those who could protect themselves the least were the ones who had to suffer the most.

I screamed inwardly, hoping my efforts with the Rising Foundation had helped at least some Blessed survive a little longer. Long enough to stall the beasts until we arrived.

“We need to move faster!”