Chapter 55: Chapter 54: Abram
Ulun stood alone, blanketed with the sensation of stillness, and of restlessness. All around him, it was as if the sand was consecrated by the red pools and crimson streaks that pronounced themselves to all that watched. He was in the middle of the Fracois Frontline, magicians, scientists, and even fellow mercenaries buried deep in the thickened sludge that caked under the onslaught of time and heat.
He knew it was time for his plan to come to fruition, the bloodshed he caused had made the four generals of either side draw their attention to him. There was simply no way to ignore the man, his whole body drenched in what could only be the struggles of their allies. In this area alone, it was as if time came to a standstill as Ulun's chest heaved under the mighty weight of his plate armor, his fingers tracing along the handles of his cane-like hook blades.
Titha, Tatho, Voc, and Umim, all of them mobilized quickly towards Ulun's shivering countenance sensing the germination of energy that stemmed deep from his core. It would be a very close call, but the four each had their own convictions, believing wholeheartedly in their ability to stop the man once deemed as a researcher above all others.
It was truly a pity that their confidence was misplaced.
Ulun's eyes spat out so much light, it was almost as if two suns had been generated under his fine brows. His hair floated upwards, the red giving way to the ash blonde strands beneath as thick yellow particles brought it towards the sky. His clenched jaw suddenly sprang from its locked position, mouth agape as it noiselessly clattered against thin air. Neon lights rapidly changed to different shades of yellow, never settling on a hue for more thana millisecond.
From his mouth, the light condensed into a broad, unknowingly sharp beam that shot out from the opening and parted into several similarly thick branches. The branches roamed the battlefield, impaling scientist, mage, and mercenary alike as it pierced their body and kept on moving, searching for its next target.
It effortlessly evaded the members of Hook and Shield as well as Domingo and Aimee, instead leaving the enemies they were dealing with in their capable hands. The branches gave countless greetings as it connected and parted with the comparatively smaller forces, relentlessly pursuing those with enough foresight to attempt to escape from its reach.
Though it was hopeless. This was Ulun's ultimate skill, the core manifestation of his countless years of research. He had sinned for years, coming into contact with what he would soon refer to as Abram. As it fused with his being, he was turned into something not entirely human, yet neither demihuman or some of the abominations the Renthians had cooked up.
He studied this power under the premise of manifestable light, his notions giving birth to Hook Theory, which allowed light to be given properties of the material world. It was a revolution that cemented him as someone who would go down in the annals of history, whether he died a traitor or a savior.
Ulun reminisced on his memories as his body crazily jerked, his bearing the same as a cackling skeleton. Although it wasn't visible, his lifespan was fading away rapidly with every twist and turn of the Roots of Abram, though he would stop at nothing to see his dream achieved. This was the cross he had to bear for his transgressions, and his vow to reduce the enemies that caused his wife to die to nothingness was unshakeable.
Even if part of that group involved himself. The only ones spared aside from his allies were the creatures lucid enough to think for themselves, the superior Swill and accidents. Not even the talismans of the Glimsweld could deflect the beams, instead being shredded through like a wet paper towel.
Seconds seemed like hours as Ulun's allies were mesmerized by the power Ulun displayed, the permeated red sand evaporating as it bore the brunt of some of the offshoots of the beam. Deep crevices and tunnels were created as some of the virile branches lost their vigor, defacing the terrain as they fell.
Bie's eyes were locked on the grim rage that overtook Ulun, his eyes focused on the clamoring display Ulun showed. He engraved the sight in his brain, circulating his Ink as he watched the chaos unfold. Although there were no improvements to his status, it didn't matter. Right now, he was struggling to understand something else entirely...
His eyes glimmered as a faint imprint of a white cross surfaced from the topaz depths of his wide eyes. His mouth was firmly held into a small line, and he dared not even blink.
Aimee fiddled with her visor, admiration welling within her heart. Domingo hopped from foot to foot while clapping his hands, his chestnut hair swaying along as he made moves akin to a monkey. Uris felt a strange feeling as tears slid down her face, similarly caught up in a state of remembrance along with her father.
Strangely, the beams of light seemed to emulate the sound of a violin, the notes crying out for acknowledgement as the slow and steady gate of the bow manipulated its strings. The twin generals spat out jets of evaporating lifeblood as their faces furrowed, contorted into an expression mixed with pain and defiance as they spat out spell after spell. Voc and Umim used their brute force to steadily bat away the Roots of Abram, each exchange burning away more and more of their flesh, their visages now completely hellish as they gradually lost strength.
Minutes passed by with the plucking of the strings, the general scientists now reduced to mere ashes, and Tatho and Titha not ferrying any better. The branches snuck underneath their combined perception, forming a cage of streaks as powerful as lightning, which then converged on their flickering shields. The twins' eyes similarly rippled; minds filled with unwillingness for the fate that beset them.
No one came to their aid, no one wanted to. Alone in their self-imposed bubble, the branches writhed like a snake before snapping down on the two with the sound of a thunderclap. The magical surface quickly gave way, the twins held aloft with the dissipating tendrils of light that emerged from the other side of their conjoined bodies.
Ulun eyes dripped with neon yellow tears that offset the redness that covered is brown skin. He sputtered out a weak breath, his coughs turning into a loud rasp as he gasped for air. The man refused to fall on his knees however, his eyes locked on the horizon as he forced his hooks into the ground, relying on them to keep his posture somewhat upright.
Bie, as well as the others, ran to support him, which caused Ulun's face to scrunch up in irritation as he waved them away. Without giving them the chance to ask any questions, he barked out his next orders as soon as he could.
"There will be reinforcements," Strangely, his voice was calm and steady as he spoke, "We will stay here until they confirm this place as a dead zone."
"Won't they be able to tell?" Bie asked, a trace of confusion only dimly displayed on his face. Ulun laughed, producing a deep and raspy chortle that sounded like the wind was between intermittently howling and stopping.
"B, if they could spy on each other so easily, why would they need mercenaries? Hahahaha-"
--
Ulun's notion proved to be true, as after a month of the five continuously dealing with reinforcements, they simply stopped appearing. They even waited an extra week just in case, though the news had spread far and wide, and not even the most courageous would dare to show their face at the Fracois Frontline.
They had let a person or two go, who vividly recounted the horrors they had witnessed. The Weapon Breaker, a demihuman who wielded a shattering axe and a formidable ability that could destroy your weapons by merely touching them. That alone was leaving out the kid's detachable hand and strange power that resembled a vacuum, throwing people off guard as most simply couldn't cope with the sudden changes.
There was Five Workshops, a woman so cruel that even the bones of her enemies would be used against their compatriots. Thick, red pearls of blood dropped from her toothy bottom half of the face, and her skin shone like alabaster. There was also another crazy bastard, who sported odd movements and sudden transportations, along with a bone katana supposedly created from the only other accident in the team.
Then came the father daughter duo, who were dubbed the Terrors of Abram. With her smoky plumes and her changing shield, she crushed all who dared walk underneath her flying body. And Ulun, as quick and precise as ever, slashed into thousands of bodies as he ran even faster than the wind.
News of these five reached a shadowed room, seven figures huddled in dark robes as they sat around a rounded table.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone