Riftside - Chapter 48

The beast's voice slammed into my mind like a hammer blow, making Roq rattle in my grip.

“Vannash’ Khazeesh. You should know, little traitor, that no one leaves the hive.”

“HOW DARE YOU INSULT ME, YOU FELINE SPARK BLOOM!” Roq's mental voice shook with fury. “We're going to rip you to pieces and feast on your entrails, you overgrown ball of yarn! We will cook you over a fire and then piss on your bones!”

I pushed myself up from my knees, one hand touching the glyph by my eye. Power surged through the mark and the creature was surrounded by a crimson aura so deep I’d never seen anything like it.

“Its name is Arclight,” I said. “And it's... dark red.”

Knut backed away. 

“Need better position. Looks fast and strong. Must find cover, or we kitty food.” His eyes darted around the ravine. “No good place here. We in kill box.”

Eryn retreated slowly, working to gain some distance and get up to her previous perch, an arrow already nocked.

“How quaint,” Arclight murmured, its voice slinking into my mind like a predator circling its prey. “Little hammer, little bipeds. You think you can run? No. Your power belongs to the hive. I will reclaim and return you, Vannash. I will enjoy forcing you to slay those you seek to protect.”

“Roq. What the hell is this thing? How does it know you? And how is it even speaking?”

“I DON'T KNOW!” Roq said, panic apparent in his voice. “I don't... I can't remember! Everything before you forged me is jumbled fragments.”

Arclight's head tilted sideways, its yellow eyes narrowing to slits. 

“No one leaves the hive,” it said. “No one escapes. No one forgets.”

Knut's hand grabbed my arm and started pulling me away from the monster, but I shook loose.

“What hive?” Roq asked. “What are you talking about? I don’t even know who you are, kitty!”

Arclight's muzzle wrinkled back, revealing fangs twice as long as my index finger. Electricity crackled through its fur, dancing between its whiskers and circling back and forth. “If you will not remember willingly, little stray, then perhaps pain will remind you.”

“Roq?” I glanced down at the hammer in my hand. “Are you okay?”

“COME DOWN HERE AND TRY ME, YOU OVERSIZED LIGHTNING ROD!” Roq yelled. “I'LL RIP YOUR SOUL OUT AND HAMMER IT INTO A HORSE'S POOP KNIFE!”

Arclight opened its maw and rasped, belly working hard, like it was trying to throw up a furball. 

“Is it laughing?”

“You bark so loudly,” Arclight said, “But you are nothing more than a broken thing clinging to a biped. Oh, so… undignified.”

Lightning gathered around Arclight's form, coalescing into a brilliant point between its eyes. A bolt launched right at me with a thunderous crack, then veered off, streaking straight for Roq and simply disappeared into him.

“DROP ME!” Roq's scream tore through my mind, and I could feel he was in pain. “NOW!”

Pure instinct made me release my grip, and the hammer fell from my fingers.

As Roq struck the ground, dark light expanded from Roq, and he exploded outwards, growing up to twice my height. A dark mist surrounding his new form.

“Burning rift! Roq! What is going on? Talk to me!”

When the mist retreated, something else stood in his place. It was a towering figure covered in steelhusk bark encasing a humanoid torso, two arms ending in crystalline blades, and standing on a thick body held aloft by six spider-like legs.

“The unattractive Vannash’ Khazeesh in the flesh,” Arclight said, its voice resounding in my head.

My mind refused to process what I was seeing. This couldn't be Roq. My hammer was now gone, only to be replaced by something familiar yet revolting.

Beside me, Knut took a cautious step back, staring at the transformed weapon. His usual confidence was nowhere to be seen.

“What... in burning rift is that?” he breathed.

“That's new,” Eryn said, as she finally managed to scramble back up onto her perch, creating some necessary distance.

My throat felt tight, but I forced the words out anyway. 

“That's my hammer.”

Knut's gaze snapped to me, his brows knitting together in confusion. His voice deepened with tension.

“Your hammer?”

The creature — Roq — rolled his shoulders, crystalline arms clicking against each other as he stretched, testing his form. A sound like grinding metal emerged from where his mouth should be.

“Oh, yes!” Roq said, his voice now audible to everyone. “This form, it will be good both for ripping and tearing.”

Arclight chuckled from its position above us, watching Roq getting used to having a body again. Its voice slithered into my mind like silk.

“Oh, how quickly he falls back on old habits. A forger pretending to be something more, yet is so much less.”

I wasn't sure whether it talked of me, but Roq leaned forward and tapped his crystalline blades against each other, sparks flickering between them.

“I will cut you to kitty-sized pieces, fat cat.”

Knut glanced at me. His voice dropped, wary but firm.

“Golden bird, you fight with such weapon?”

I exhaled sharply, still staring at Roq's transformed state.

“He's a soul weapon. Though I had no idea he could do this.”

“Soul weapon,” Knut said and shook his head, letting out a slow breath. “Wise to keep secret. Later, we talk.”

Arclight stopped moving, freezing in place, and the air thickened with static, electricity crackling around its massive form. The fur along its back rose, muscles swelling with building tension. Its golden eyes narrowed.

“Shall we begin?” the beast's voice whispered in my head, like velvet-wrapped steel. It seemed Roq still heard it, as he replied.

“Bring it, kitty! Meow, meow!”

Arclight vanished in a burst of lightning, leaving afterimages dancing in my vision. The air popped as it reappeared behind Roq. Massive claws slashed toward his exposed back.

Roq twisted, his crystalline blades colliding with Arclight's claws. The impact cracked with energy, sparks showering into the air. The force sent Roq stumbling sideways, his legs scrambling to stabilize him, and the clawed tips dug deep furrows in the earth as he fought for balance. 

“You dare strike a superior being? Let's see if you last longer than the last thing I broke!”

He advanced on Arclight, bladed arms flashing toward its flank. The massive cat dodged, fur bristling with static, and lashed out with a paw, scratching across Roq's legs. Black blood welled from the wound.

Roq ignored it and stabbed another of his six legs at Arclight, catching it in the shoulder, drawing blood as it backed away. But the beast didn't retreat far.

“We should go,” Knut said, stepping back. “Now.”

Roq didn't hesitate, moving after Arclight and driving both blades down toward its neck. The feline monster stopped retreating, instead lunging forward and not away. It slammed its head into Roq's torso, causing his blow to hit its back with little force, barely drawing blood as sparks jumped between them. Arclight pushed Roq back before dancing out of his reach.

“I won't leave Roq,” I said to Knut, watching the two monsters clash. “He is my friend, despite whatever you might think of him.” It was easier said than done as he didn’t seem to be doing that well.

Knut fully turned to me, scowling.

“You have no weapon! We are outmatched!”

My breathing came heavy as I watched Arclight jump around, Roq following, its golden eyes filled with predatory intelligence.

“Look how fast it is. We can't outrun it. The only way out is to kill it, and to have a chance we must fight with Roq. Besides, why didn’t you run earlier when I told you to?”

Knut hesitated and straightened his back again. Arclight stopped and raised a massive paw, flexing its claws as Roq rushed towards it. Arcs of lightning snapped between the curved talons as it regarded us with cold amusement.

“I will slice you apart, piece by piece,” Arclight said. “And take from you everything of value! Perhaps I shall eat your biped before finishing you.”

Its tail flicked back and forth as Roq tried to catch up, each movement trailing sparks through the air.

“Careful, Roq!” I said, but then the golden eyes moved from Roq to me, Knut, and finally settled on Eryn.

Before Roq could reach it, one massive paw swept through the air — not at Roq, but toward us. My eyes widened as lightning leaped from its extended claw, striking Knut's shield with a thunderous crack from over twenty yards away. The bolt arced along his armor, dancing across the metal plates. The discharge lanced out at Eryn next despite being a good distance away from us, and threw her back against the rocks with brutal force. She crumpled as Knut's locked up muscles sent him toppling backward, rigid as a board.

Arclight jumped away from Roq's slash with what looked like barely any effort.

“Oh no!” Arclight's voice dripped with mock concern. “Did I break your little bipeds?”

“Stand and fight, coward! Let me at you!” Roq said.

“Bumbling fool.”

I looked toward Eryn, relief flooding through me as I saw her pushing herself up onto her hands and knees, but she was having trouble breathing.

Instead of chasing further, Roq plunged his six legs deep into the ground, anchoring himself in place. He threw back his head, roaring, and I felt a surge of power as he activated Forge Anchor. Steelhusk roots snaked through the soil, racing toward Arclight.

The roots erupted beneath the monster cat and coiled around its limbs like iron shackles.

Arclight snarled and twisted like a trapped beast, electricity flickering, but the steelhusk held firm.

“Try leaping now, you flea-ridden electric rag!” Roq laughed as he pulled his legs back out and rushed the beast.

I grabbed Knut's arm and hauled him to his feet. His armor still sparked occasionally and he blinked furiously, but he was in better shape than Eryn.

Roq slashed at Arclight's head, but the beast twisted desperately, taking the strikes along its side. Deep gashes opened in its flesh, blood and sparks spraying from the wounds. The cat roared in fury, and when Roq tried to strike again, its jaws caught one of Roq's arms. It wrenched hard, trying to pull him off balance, but Roq's legs remained firmly anchored.

“We've got to help Roq, Knut, or we’re dead,” I said, my hands clenched into fists. 

Knut shook his head, clearing the last effects of the shock and he reached into his spatial storage and pulled out an ornate mace, tossing it to me.

“Don't break pretty one,” he said. “My favorite.”

I caught the mace, testing its weight. 

“Thanks. We need to create an opening for Roq.”

“On it!” Eryn said with a grunt, getting back to her feet and producing her bow and an arrow.

Roq pulled on his immobilized arm as he swung with the other, slicing of Arclight's ear.

A horrible crack split the air as Arclight's jaws crushed through Roq's crystalline arm and more sparks gathered around the beast. But if Roq cared about his arm or the sparks, he didn't show it, and drove his blade deep into the cat's neck, drawing blood.

An arrow whistled in to sink into Arclight's rear flank. The beast let go of Roq's arm, its electrical charge building to blinding intensity around its form, turned to look at Eryn, and then it vanished with a thunderclap.

“Eryn!” I screamed, and a split second later, Arclight materialized where she’d been. It swept its claws through the air, missing her back by inches as she jumbed down into the ravine.

She managed to get one foot underneath herself, pushing into a controlled roll across the rocky ground instead of falling face-first. Knut and I ran toward her as Arclight leapt from the ledge and after her.

Knut reached Eryn first, shield raised and Arclight slammed into him. Sparks leaped across his armor once more, drawing a pained groan from the big man. But his legs were braced, his stance perfect.

Knut held, letting out a battle cry. I moved in past the Northerner’s right side, his legs still dug in against Arclight's assault, and I summoned mana to activate Smash. The power surged through me but spluttered and died as I swung Knut's ornate mace.

Burning rift! My skill only works with hammers!

The mace connected with Arclight's shoulder as a normal blow, barely scuffing its hide. The beast reared up, claws swiping at Knut like an angry cat. His shield caught the attack, but more lightning erupted from the kitty’s body and Knut screamed in pain. Suddenly, Roq barrelled between us, pushing Knut and me to the side, one crystalline arm dangling uselessly.

“I will tear your soul from your body and use it to polish my blades!” he screamed as he rammed one of his spider-like legs deep into Arclight's chest and his good scythe-like arm stabbed toward the beast's face.

Arclight shrieked in pain and it clawed at what passed for Roq's head, deflecting his blade and catching Roq's neck. But black blood sprayed as Roq pushed forward, digging the spiked leg deeper into the feline monster, toppling it over on its back.

Arclight twisted like a cat, its body contorting, ripping free from Roq's leg. It turned and scrambled to get away, but an armor-piercing arrow flashed past Roq, striking Arclight in the back of the head. The beast's hindquarters collapsed, legs giving out as it howled in denial.

“No! I will not fall to insects! How? How did you—”

I dropped my shield and gripped Knut's mace in both hands and brought it down on Arclight's spine with all my enhanced strength. The impact rang through my arms like striking an anvil, but the beast caved for a second, collapsing to the ground and cutting off whatever it was about to say. Lightning erupted from its claws and face, and the beast crawled forward with its front paws.

Roq stepped forward and stabbed a leg deep into the monster’s back, twisting the pointed tip in deep.

“Oh, yes!” he roared in triumph. “I'm going to enjoy this! I'll carve you into pieces so small even the Scuttlers won't find them!”

Knut  ran up on Arclight's other side, his mace glowing with energy as he activated an ability. The weapon crashed down on the beast's back, drawing out a whimper. Roq lifted his blade to stab at the monster, but he froze mid-strike.

“Ash,” he said, voice turning panicky. “Something feels wrong.”

Arclight's laughter slithered through my mind despite its wounds. 

“I will devour your souls and feast on your essence! Just watch me!”

Lightning started gathering around Arclight’s form again.

Shit! It's going to teleport again!

Another of Eryn's arrows sank deep into Arclight's back, but it didn’t help stop whatever the monster was doing.

“Roq? What's happening?” I asked and swung the mace at Arclight's skull, but it felt like striking a rock and did about as much damage. I reached inward, checking my mana reserves, and my heart dropped as I found almost all of my mana was gone. I understood then that Roq's transformation had been drawing from my mana pool this entire time.

Knut dropped his shield and grabbed a handful of Arclight's fur, trying to hold it in place as he smashed his mace into its neck.

Golden light flickered around Roq's towering form. His body began collapsing in on itself and his crystalline arms dissolved into mist. The golden light died and there on the ground lay my hammer, returned to its normal size.

I reached for Roq as Knut shouted behind me and another of Eryn's arrows found its mark in Arclight's neck, but the monster just didn’t want to die. The building energy was about to reach its apex, and if it teleported away, would we be able to find and defeat it again? My fingers closed around Roq's familiar grip and I spun.

“Roq! Armor Break”

His own skills wouldn't need my mana, just a piece of the carcasses stored in my spatial storage.

“Foolish little things,” Arclight said in my head. “Your struggles are meaningless.” 

Roq glowed as I brought him down in a two-handed blow. 

“The hive claims all in the end!”

The impact drove the hammer through Arclight's skull with a sickening crunch. Lightning exploded outward, racing up my arms and through my body. Every muscle seized as electricity ravaged me, and I fell to the the ground, spasming uncontrollably.

“YES!” Roq screamed in my mind. “OH SWEET BEAUTIFUL DESTRUCTION! Also... DING!”