AstralLein
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Pale flesh takes a step forward. Alluring and gentle, it bore little resemblance to the decaying bodies that had given it life.
"They all found a helping hand, clung to it with greedy fangs. Why did you remain alone?" The voice didn't come from the pale flesh's lips but from its very core. A majestic and terrifying whisper echoed everywhere. Even if one plugged their ears, no one could escape the words of the chthonic forest. "Was it out of loyalty to principles? We have spoken many times. Either humanity will bow before a higher power, or the higher power will consume humankind. To reject the lords of universal emptiness is unforgivable arrogance. Why did you refuse them all? Do you hope to defeat me alone? No, the answer isn't stupidity. It's impossible. You are not stupid."
The voice addresses Corvus. Pale flesh surrounds the bodyguards frozen in fear, approaches the deputy closely, takes his hand, and looks directly into his eyes. Corvus doesn't have time to flinch. Is he terrified? Is he desperate? No! On the contrary, the deputy's face shines with determination.
"Lords of universal emptiness... these arrogant beings, self-proclaimed gods," Corvus lets out a hoarse chuckle. "You, cultists, Sortorian witches, even that scaled warrior... you all want the same thing – to conquer the world. You invent beautiful justifications for yourselves, but the truth is simple! It lies on the surface. Even the biggest idiot can see it. I won't lower my head before a parasite, no matter how powerful it may be! If the price of help is servitude, I will choose the path of eternal solitude. I will not sell the soul of my people for a phantom chance at gaining power. Better death. Death free! Death by my own choice!"
Man and abomination stare at each other for a long time. A battle ensues between them. Invisible, intangible. A clash of minds, a confrontation of wills. An insignificant speck against a cosmic demigod. Finally, pale flesh averts its gaze. It clutches Corvus' palm in a mortuary grip. The deputy's body becomes covered in frost; he tries to break free, but cannot. The abomination is too strong.
"Do you feel the void? That is the void of your aspirations. So much pride and so little logic. Will pride save humanity? Will pride make all those who hate humankind flee in tears?" Pale flesh tilts its head to the side. "Meaningless. If my bleeding heart perishes, inevitable forces will bring it to reality. You created them yourself by rejecting those who should not be rejected. Let us list your achievements! Corvus, second-in-command of the Clan of Sufferers, rejected the grace of the Lady of Vice, insulted the Shadow Mistress, executed an envoy from the tribes of the wasteland, dared to defy the Sortorian witch! And all within a month! Not to mention the countless victims of his expeditions. He has helped humanity in no way. Only harmed it. Time and again."
The alchemical saw reaches for the flesh. It craves to dissect, to annihilate the abomination of the chthonic forest, but it turns out to be faster. Pale flesh, enveloped in a breath of frost, retreats backward. It screams into the heavens shrouded in dark clouds, and at its command, long, tenacious roots burst forth from the white snow. Warriors and swordsmen die on the spot, torn apart by the tendrils of the chthonic forest. Few manage to avoid such a fate and take up defensive positions next to the strongest warriors of mankind – the fierce alchemist Utar and deputy Corvus.
"Come to me, last defenders of men!" exclaimed Corvus, drawing a bow from behind his back. "Beings from other worlds believe in their right to own our souls. They have long ceased to take us seriously. For them, we are food! Slaves! Insignificant worms! So let us show today what humanity is truly worth! To the glory of our ancestors! In the name of the ancient empire! For the last of us!"
At the call of the icy flesh, monsters gather on the field infected with the chthonic forest. Snow rats, thorn claws... they are all ready to fight for victory over hated humans. But even more terrifying creatures appear following the roots. Disfigured human bodies consumed by flowers. Victims of the chthonic forest cursed forever. A true nightmare come to life.
"Watching your meaningless struggle is my favorite pastime," admitted the Twisting Mind. "No one can brighten my cycle of evolution as much as you do – people. But nothing lasts forever. It's time to end this dispute."
THE BATTLE BEGINS
Round 1
Mountain beasts and forest spawn arrive on the battlefield. They miss their first initiative.
Turn order:
Corvus [20] (100/100) (5 potions, 50 arrows) <<<
Snow Rat 1 [20] (35/35)
Snow Rat 2 [20] (35/35)
Snow Rat 3 [20] (35/35)
Snow Rat 4 [20] (35/35)
Icy Flesh [15] (90/90)
Frosty Thornclaw 1 [15] (60/60)
Frosty Thornclaw 2 [15] (60/60)
Utar [10] (110/110) (5 "Tenderness", 5 "Madness", 5 "Cowardice")
Mahra [10] (120/120) (3 "Tenderness", 5 bombs)
Ida [10] (80/80) (2 "Tenderness")
Warrior 1 [10] (80/80) (3 potions)
Warrior 2 [10] (80/80) (3 potions)
Warrior 3 [10] (80/80) (3 potions)
Warrior 4 [10] (80/80) (3 potions)
Swordsman 1 [10] (90/90) (3 potions, 25 arrows)
Swordsman 2 [10] (90/90) (3 potions, 25 arrows)
Swordsman 3 [10] (90/90) (3 potions, 25 arrows)
Flower-cursed 1 [10] (110/110) Reflection
Flower-cursed 2 [10] (110/110) Reflection
Flower-cursed 3 [10] (110/110) Reflection
Frost Eye 1 [10] (40/40)
Frost Eye 2 [10] (40/40)
Frost Eye 3 [10] (40/40)
Frost Eye 4 [10] (40/40)
"They all found a helping hand, clung to it with greedy fangs. Why did you remain alone?" The voice didn't come from the pale flesh's lips but from its very core. A majestic and terrifying whisper echoed everywhere. Even if one plugged their ears, no one could escape the words of the chthonic forest. "Was it out of loyalty to principles? We have spoken many times. Either humanity will bow before a higher power, or the higher power will consume humankind. To reject the lords of universal emptiness is unforgivable arrogance. Why did you refuse them all? Do you hope to defeat me alone? No, the answer isn't stupidity. It's impossible. You are not stupid."
The voice addresses Corvus. Pale flesh surrounds the bodyguards frozen in fear, approaches the deputy closely, takes his hand, and looks directly into his eyes. Corvus doesn't have time to flinch. Is he terrified? Is he desperate? No! On the contrary, the deputy's face shines with determination.
"Lords of universal emptiness... these arrogant beings, self-proclaimed gods," Corvus lets out a hoarse chuckle. "You, cultists, Sortorian witches, even that scaled warrior... you all want the same thing – to conquer the world. You invent beautiful justifications for yourselves, but the truth is simple! It lies on the surface. Even the biggest idiot can see it. I won't lower my head before a parasite, no matter how powerful it may be! If the price of help is servitude, I will choose the path of eternal solitude. I will not sell the soul of my people for a phantom chance at gaining power. Better death. Death free! Death by my own choice!"
Man and abomination stare at each other for a long time. A battle ensues between them. Invisible, intangible. A clash of minds, a confrontation of wills. An insignificant speck against a cosmic demigod. Finally, pale flesh averts its gaze. It clutches Corvus' palm in a mortuary grip. The deputy's body becomes covered in frost; he tries to break free, but cannot. The abomination is too strong.
"Do you feel the void? That is the void of your aspirations. So much pride and so little logic. Will pride save humanity? Will pride make all those who hate humankind flee in tears?" Pale flesh tilts its head to the side. "Meaningless. If my bleeding heart perishes, inevitable forces will bring it to reality. You created them yourself by rejecting those who should not be rejected. Let us list your achievements! Corvus, second-in-command of the Clan of Sufferers, rejected the grace of the Lady of Vice, insulted the Shadow Mistress, executed an envoy from the tribes of the wasteland, dared to defy the Sortorian witch! And all within a month! Not to mention the countless victims of his expeditions. He has helped humanity in no way. Only harmed it. Time and again."
The alchemical saw reaches for the flesh. It craves to dissect, to annihilate the abomination of the chthonic forest, but it turns out to be faster. Pale flesh, enveloped in a breath of frost, retreats backward. It screams into the heavens shrouded in dark clouds, and at its command, long, tenacious roots burst forth from the white snow. Warriors and swordsmen die on the spot, torn apart by the tendrils of the chthonic forest. Few manage to avoid such a fate and take up defensive positions next to the strongest warriors of mankind – the fierce alchemist Utar and deputy Corvus.
"Come to me, last defenders of men!" exclaimed Corvus, drawing a bow from behind his back. "Beings from other worlds believe in their right to own our souls. They have long ceased to take us seriously. For them, we are food! Slaves! Insignificant worms! So let us show today what humanity is truly worth! To the glory of our ancestors! In the name of the ancient empire! For the last of us!"
At the call of the icy flesh, monsters gather on the field infected with the chthonic forest. Snow rats, thorn claws... they are all ready to fight for victory over hated humans. But even more terrifying creatures appear following the roots. Disfigured human bodies consumed by flowers. Victims of the chthonic forest cursed forever. A true nightmare come to life.
"Watching your meaningless struggle is my favorite pastime," admitted the Twisting Mind. "No one can brighten my cycle of evolution as much as you do – people. But nothing lasts forever. It's time to end this dispute."
THE BATTLE BEGINS
Round 1
Mountain beasts and forest spawn arrive on the battlefield. They miss their first initiative.
Turn order:
Corvus [20] (100/100) (5 potions, 50 arrows) <<<
Snow Rat 1 [20] (35/35)
Snow Rat 2 [20] (35/35)
Snow Rat 3 [20] (35/35)
Snow Rat 4 [20] (35/35)
Icy Flesh [15] (90/90)
Frosty Thornclaw 1 [15] (60/60)
Frosty Thornclaw 2 [15] (60/60)
Utar [10] (110/110) (5 "Tenderness", 5 "Madness", 5 "Cowardice")
Mahra [10] (120/120) (3 "Tenderness", 5 bombs)
Ida [10] (80/80) (2 "Tenderness")
Warrior 1 [10] (80/80) (3 potions)
Warrior 2 [10] (80/80) (3 potions)
Warrior 3 [10] (80/80) (3 potions)
Warrior 4 [10] (80/80) (3 potions)
Swordsman 1 [10] (90/90) (3 potions, 25 arrows)
Swordsman 2 [10] (90/90) (3 potions, 25 arrows)
Swordsman 3 [10] (90/90) (3 potions, 25 arrows)
Flower-cursed 1 [10] (110/110) Reflection
Flower-cursed 2 [10] (110/110) Reflection
Flower-cursed 3 [10] (110/110) Reflection
Frost Eye 1 [10] (40/40)
Frost Eye 2 [10] (40/40)
Frost Eye 3 [10] (40/40)
Frost Eye 4 [10] (40/40)
