V1 Incline 24: Vapooliar

"Nin!?" I let out as we all step away from the coiling stone that just suddenly appeared. Readying my blade, I bring its tip up and my magic builds up around me. Resonating around me, the air erupts into a cloudy boom and I smash through the rock. Bringing with me the light of a Valkinvar and the Orbital-Halo, I light up the dark chamber.

"VAPOOLIAR!" Nin cries joyfully from right below me. The osibindah are drawing close!

"HELP NIN OUT!" I roar at the soldiers before I dive down at the closest osibindah, crushing them. Cutting several more down immediately after, I survey the chamber in one motion. The only thing here that could've done what just happened is here. The Earth Shaman is here!

I spot him in the darkness, his crude staff and vile form surrounded by pale, brown light.

Shooting straight for the rust-armoured osibindah, I aim my blade at its torso. It sends a stone construct at me and I switch my blade's position to block it. Rock explodes around me as my steel meets its stone and I push back against it. I hear the sounds of another construct come for me from behind.

Breaking free of the trap, I escape into the brief patches of open air and float by the lurching construct.

"That which we broke comes before us again." the Earth Shaman remarks as its platform coils higher at the far end of the chamber.

"You never broke me, you just dragged in the work of the one that did!" I hiss as the emerald-haired man's sickly face flashes in my eyes.

Charging again, I go up and around its next attack and go for its body again. Digging my bare fingers through its body of solid rock, I pull myself up and run along the lengthy construct. Each step is forceful and well-intended to break the manipulated earth apart. Smashing aside a falling boulder, I continue the swing into a downward arc and slice the worm apart.

The Earth Shaman laughs with a low tone and the damage is undone with a wave of its hand. Barely having time to widen my eyes, the remade worm smacks me aside. Crashing through the bugs and stopping in a crater, I growl. Blasting out of the rock, I point my sword tip up again.

The worms start to cross-hatch as the Earth Shaman vanishes from view. Turning to block its sudden blow from below, it forces me away with its worms. Pressing up against the chamber's ceiling, I lean against the flat of my blade. The stone cracking around me falls and disappears into the solid rock as if it isn't even there.

Sneering at the strange magic, I push. Forcing myself further into the ceiling, I force the worm back with my whole body. Cracks snap into existence across it like bolts of Thurnmourer's lightning.

"I am not easy prey for you, Osibindah!" I hiss through gritted teeth as the worm's head pops into smaller tendrils. Twisting away to the edge of them, the air erupts and I appear in a fresh crater marked by slabs of stone spikes. The blood of crushed and maimed osibindah all around me.

It laughs once again, "Valkinvar-Imdavarce! The Style of the Thrusting Advance... So easily led astray..."

"Nin!?" I question and I turn towards the entrance. I can't see him, where is he!?

"So easily." the Earth Shaman repeats as a dozen worms suddenly surround me. Moulding together, they trap me awkwardly in a sphere of spreading rock. Entombed, I start to tremble with fury. My emerald power blinds me and I sense the cracks in the rock.

"DO NOT TEST ME, EARTH SHAMAN!" I roar as I scatter its weapon across the collapsing chamber. Blasting away the shower of boulders and shards for a brief moment, I create a pocket of empty air.

"You should've submitted and be joined with the Queen...!" it rumbles in what I can only understand as reverence.

"NO MORE SHALL EVER BE FORCED TO JOIN WITH YOUR QUEEN!" I scream as a vortex erupts around my sword. Shooting towards the osibindah, I barge through its amassing defence and I break through to it. Hearing metal pierce metal, I drive my blade forward as far as it will go. Swinging my blade upwards and over, the coat of rusted helms shatters and splits as it roars and I dive for the outside as more rubble falls.

Sliding into and then along the untainted dirt, I swing my blade down to my side and stand up. Unsure how to react to the cheers, I stare back at the soldiers and my group as they approach me. Spotting Nin as he laughs quietly to himself, I walk up to him. Ignoring the soldiers for the moment, I look down at Nin as he leans forward into his hands.

"I told you to run." I huff, somewhat annoyed at the fact he was the last one out. But, regardless, I am glad most of us managed to get out. From a glance, I can already tell we lost some of the soldiers. Who and when, I cannot figure, but, I know I owe them the greatest favour I can give.

I will be diligent in calling for Waionr on their behalf, even if I would do so with great shame.

It may not have been on a battlefield against our hated foe. But the men we have lost died as soldiers despite the lowness of our foe. They deserve a proper burial. I just hope I can find their bodies in due time so that they may be cremated...

"I thought I was a goner..." Nin remarks as he stumbles onto his backend. Noting his pale face, I offer him my still-armoured hand with a smile. He fought his way out of there and held on. I am happy to have my doubts about him proven wrong.

A set of snaps sound from the mountain!

It comes to life as if it is a beast. Erupting towards us, something laughs boisterously from within as a jaw of jagged, rocky teeth comes for us. Moving to react, I suddenly stop as pain makes my lungs empty. Spitting up blood, I look down as a small stone worm drills its way into my wound.

I am confused, I won...?

But, no, Nin is scrambling to his feet as a mountain moves to swallow me whole. The Earth Shaman is alive and well and darkness is all around. Nin's muffled voice calls out to me and a pair of hands smack against my chest and I go flying. My back hits the ground and I slide along it.

Tearing the stone worm out, I howl against a closed mouth as I force my way to my feet. Just in time to watch as the osibindah's claws envelop Nin. Our eyes meet just before he is grabbed. He vanishes deep underground as does the mountain...

Only a pile of rubble remains, it seems as if the chamber just collapsed as it should have. Stumbling forwards with blood running down my gut-clenching hand, I fall into the bite-taken earth. Pulling myself up, I fall against the rock with my sword at the ready. Driving it in once, my eyes start to water.

I was supposed to have saved him... We were all finally out of the hive. This was all going to be put behind us...! But, no, he had to sacrifice himself to save me, a worthless failure of a former Valkinvar!

"No... No! NO! NIN!" I cry as I desperately, furiously dig for him.