The Firstlings

Aaron stood beside Cornelius and Ciel, looking over the clearing at barricades and makeshift walls the humans had quickly built to take the brunt of the horrible beast now charging their way. What was starting as a trickle would quickly become something entirely different.

He concentrated on the sea of beasts in the distance and swore he felt the ground rumbling from their sheer numbers. A black cloud swam above the horde like an enormous thundercloud, the sound of screeches mixing with the howls.

The sounds of hunger and madness.

Aaron clenched his first, surveying the platoons of humans scattered around the clearing, already picking off beasts that had gained ahead of the horde. They appeared seasoned and skilled, wielding their blades effortlessly.

There were Flame Seekers speckled through the crowds, but most were normal soldiers using various body-enhancing Insights and Sword Arts, as Foster had told him was the norm. They were numerous, but he could see the tension in their eyes as the horde kept swelling.

His siblings were spread throughout, with deftly wielded spears held tightly and cold, hard looks in their eyes. They were to act as support for the humans, who would create a bulwark with shields and sheer numbers, using the barricades as a breaker.

There were a small group of Arcanist from the Academy who would use their Insights and Runic magic to back up the soldiers. The Runic mages didn't have true Insights and Sword Arts, but they were some of the best the Academy had, and he knew they wouldn’t be weak.

Aaron turned to the sides as he looked over the groups his siblings formed.

A group of battle-crazed maniacs led by his brother Damien would act as a shock team for any side being overrun. A large group of archers from the hunter’s group stayed near the rear, ready to fire at a moment’s notice, led by his sister Jessie. She would reinforce the spearmen spread throughout the front lines as she instructed the archers.

His brother Roman would lead his group of deadly swordmen straight into the horde and would attempt to spread chaos by targeting alphas. They insisted, and Aaron accepted, mostly because he wanted to see them in action.

He felt cold grey eyes staring at him from the shadows and knew his brother Garin would wreak havoc as an unseen blade when needed. His shadows were spread far and wide, and Aaron knew the threat they carried; he could feel it shivering down his spine.

His sister, Nara, had a group nestled in a small, wooded area beside the clearing. Aaron didn’t want her here, as she was a cultivator and not a fighter, but she refused. He hadn’t argued but was still a little worried for her.

They were all here, ready to face their future head-on.

He didn’t feel they were fighting for humans or anything for that matter. They were fighting mostly for themselves to prove that they weren't children any longer and would carve a place in the world.

It was time to show who they were.

He broke his musings when Bently left the center platoon, heading his way. Karla, as a healer, was stationed in a set of large tents for recovery, closer to the city, and Foster commanded a group of hunters, creating a last defense further back. General Briant stood near the rear with a small group of elites and curriers as he commanded the forces.

“Are you ready for battle?” Bently hailed, smiling. The man stood large, decked in his metal armor, looking like a valiant knight, practically glowing.

“Well, aren’t you a sight to behold?” Aaron luaghed, looking the big guy over.

Bently chuckled, “It’s as much for appearance as it is for utility. The men need a beacon of hope in such times.”

Aaron snorted but couldn’t lie. The man looked like some battle god, and with his Race upgrade, he was even more striking.

“I’m as ready as ever,” Aaron shrugged. “It’s time to put our training to the test and finally get the chance to stretch our legs.”

“Just be careful; the large one is still in the back, but when it comes...” Bently let his words linger.

Aaron knew what he was implying as the battle would not be easy, regardless of the outcome, with such a horrifying Great Beast controlling the horde. They would have to kill it, or none of this would matter.

“It’s as good as dead,” Aaron replied confidently, as golden sparks shot up his arm.

“My thoughts as well!” Bently laughed as golden sparks danced in his green eyes. “Take care, and don’t let me outshine you too much!” He roared as he went back to the center, taking the lead.

Aaron smiled, looking over the clearing one last time as he sorted his thoughts. He had increased the Bond through the upgrade in Integration and could feel the connection to both his Siblings and his Vassals even more.

They would utilize this as he sent commands and strength where it was needed. He could use their collective mana and let it flow through the Bond, empowering those in need as he waited for his turn to join the battle.

Aaron decided to be one of the last to join the fray, even if he was a little bitter about it. He wanted the horde to be collected so he could let loose, plus he wanted a shot at the leader controlling the horde, as the memory of the hideous creature was carved into his mind.

A howl cut through the clearing, sending everyone reeling.

The Great Beast made its presence known.

Aaron kept clenching his fist as worry began to gnaw at his resolve. He watched as the horde swelled in the distance and began to move faster, their eyes red with madness and hunger. The silhouette of the Great Beast rose from the tail of the horde, and he ground his teeth, watching it pace forward.

He could feel the wretched corruption from where he stood.

It was sickening and unnatural.

The sea of monstrosities moved forward swiftly and crashed into the front lines with snarls and yelps full of killing intent. Thousands upon thousands were trying to trample each other to make it to the front and feast on flesh as saliva foamed from their mouths.

The barricades helped split the horde into more manageable groups, but their numbers were too much to deal with. The humans began using their Sword Arts as Flame Seekers shot fireballs into the crowds. His siblings danced back and forth as their spears stabbed beasts left and right.

The Arcanist stepped forward, tossing lighting and azure sparks into the horde as Runes appeared scattered about, releasing chaotic energies. They slowly began to fall back, letting the soldiers fill in the gaps as they consumed their mana rapidly.

Aaron watched bitterly as one of his siblings was dragged into the horde and ripped to pieces by bloodthirsty fangs. They were not plentiful, and every loss harmed their cause, but he shrugged it off with pain in his heart. Losses were expected, but he could feel the loss through the Bond and it hurt.

The dark cloud above the horde began to descend as horrible flying beasts attempted to pick off stragglers. Aaron could finally see their features, and his eyes went wide, as they weren’t like birds at all, though their feathered wings gave the impression.

They had one large eye on their tiny heads that swiveled in all directions, and what appeared to be a beak was a bone protrusion, more like a talon, that they used to pierce and render flesh. Their open claws had cylindrical mouths with rows of sharp teeth and released foul screeches.

Aaron sent a ripple through the Bond as his sister Jessie raised her hand. A sea of arrows shot forth, piercing several of the beasts with frightening accuracy, as volleys of fireballs and bolts of lightning shot at the dark cloud from the humans side.

The cloud of scavengers began to recede, attempting to wait for a better chance as Aaron chuckled, 'Well, they weren’t too stupid.’ He sent another ripple through the Bond as Roman and Damien shot forward, battle lust in their ravenous smiles.

They reached the horde with howls of their own as they began targeting clusters of larger Alphas and the graceful feline beasts the humans called Striders. Aaron sent power through the Bond to enhance them, but sparingly as the battle would be long.

Dancing through the horde, they spread murder as they wreaked havoc with shouts of encouragement from the human lines. Damien's group bashed and bludgeoned anything within sight as Roman and his group took out Alphas left and right with deadly precision.

Aaron watched Bently bellowing in challenge as he swung his massive sword as droves of fangs and striders were sliced apart. He sent power through the Vassal Bond, enhancing the knight from his own reserves. He would only use his siblings’ power for their own purposes.

Seeing the horde swell even larger, he knew it was time to flex a little. He sent a thought to his brother Cornelius, who stepped forward with a solemn look on his face as he raised a metal rod in his hand, his eyes sparkling.

Cornelius lifted off the ground, floating above the front lines, as stars danced around the rod held high. He waved it in front of him, and Aaron felt power swelling as a bright silver Rune appeared in the sky, seeming to bend the world to its will.

The sky rippled as meteors fell one by one, striking the horde with such fury that the ground rumbled. Large groups of beasts were ground to paste as they struck, causing craters and huge trenches where they gouged the earth.

Aaron heard shouts of triumph from his siblings and the humans as he grumbled, watching in shock.

‘How the hell can he fly... and when did brother get so strong!’

He gulped, thinking of all the pranks he pulled on Cornelius, second-guessing whether he'd made a wise decision. Aaron had heard the human’s whispering of an Archmage and knew his brother was adept at all the elements and mana control.

But this.

Aaron looked over the scarred battlefield at the craters and gouges as scores of beasts were decimated or confused, chuckling wryly. He better perform well today, or he'll have some answering to do. Cornelius came to rest by his side, breathing raggedly, as Aaron grabbed his shoulder, laughing excitedly.

“Way to go, you grumpy bastard!” He roared as Cornelius looked at him tiredly, muttering under his breath, as he went to stand beside Ciel.

Aaron shrugged it off, watching the front lines, who had gained some reprieve after Corenlius’s display of power. They continued to hold their ground, his siblings supporting them the best they could, as Bently stood tall, still swinging his massive blade.

The horde began to swell in numbers again as more beasts trickled in, and he felt a slight pull from the Bond. Nara was ready to show what she was capable of, and Aaron wouldn’t deny her the right to help their cause.

With a little worry, he sent her forward.

And his breath caught in his throat.

Nara stepped forward slowly, hands held to her side, as she and her group whispered to the forest surrounding them. The forest trembled as her green hair waved wildly and answered their call as vines, leaves, and whole branches began to wrap around her figure, latching on piece by piece. They kept coming, consuming the forest around her as she grew several times in size.

She walked forward, appearing like a walking, living tree.

Towering through the clearing as wood groaned with her steps.

She struck the front lines of the horde like a fury of nature. Swinging massive limbs that moaned as they swept through the air, striking hundreds of beasts with each swing. Wood creaking and rustles of leaves filled the air as she stomped through the horde, bringing death to anything that came in her path.

Aaron gulped again.

‘What the hell was he even here for?'

The horde tried to attack his sister but couldn’t gain purchase on the bark that comprised her treelike body and failed to harm her. She continued her frightening stomp as he sent power through the Bond, but she quickly tired and had to fall back as the soldiers cheered.

She came to rest beside Cornelius and Ciel as Aaron gave her a fist bump, still in complete shock at her show of strength. The horde began to recover quickly as the never-ending stream of beasts continued to move in. Fatigue started to show on the soldiers’ faces, and he could feel it spreading through the Bond.

Then a horrible aura rippled from the horde.

Aaron shivered at the repulsiveness of the foul aura washing through the battlefield as he rolled his shoulders, stepping forward. It was his turn to show his worth, and he couldn’t stop his heart from racing with excitement.

He paced steadily forward through the front lines as he connected with his soul and began to let the song of battle fill his heart. Fully immersing himself, he pulled his blade and let his golden aura spread.

He dashed forward, leaving golden streaks in his wake as his mad laughter echoed through the battlefield.

The first beast he faced was a fang that jumped at him, snapping at his throat. He deftly swiped his blade, cutting its head in half as its tongue dangled. Activating [Deadly Hands], he punched out, sending it flying back with a gurgle.

Hundreds more were there to take its place.

Aaron continued to dash around in a whirlwind of death, mixing in martial attacks in between swipes of his deadly blade. Taking the legs from one beast, he darted to the side and punched another, shoving its snout in with a satisfying crunch.

He somersaulted back, moving nimbly, then jumped high, kicking and sending a fang flying, his blade soon following, as he activated [Dance of Death]. His blade became a blur as the hum of death took him to another world.

These weren’t fangs.

There was no horde.

It was only him, his blade, and those who would feel his judgment. He marched forward, taking hits and scrapes from both teeth and claws, and stomped to the tune within his soul. Where his blade struck, heads, limbs, and whole torsos were cleaved as blood drenched him. It couldn’t keep the smile from his face, however, as he continued his march.

Golden lighting arched across his body as his sword, wrapped in a golden nimbus, weaved truth into the world. Aaron felt his siblings moving in, with Damian taking the right and Roman taking the left, supporting him on both sides. He continued his dance of death as their wild laughter joined his, making his smile even wider.

He dashed forward, punching in quick succession with [Deadly Hands] as beasts were sent flying. Swinging his blade as bodies started to pile around him and howls filled the air, he chuckled at an idle thought.

Who was the prey...

And who was the predator?

A fang managed to latch on to his shoulder, its teeth tearing through leather with ease. Aaron growled in pain but didn’t relent. Activating [Domination], he grabbed the beast by its throat and lifted it as golden sparks wrapped his hand and danced from his eyes.

Holding the fang high, he began to pull and felt the beast’s mana being drained from its body as it whined pitifully. He felt his core consuming and processing the foreign mana as golden sparks purified it.

He tried to discover the secrets behind the skill, ever since he got it, but was never able to figure it out entirely. The Runes were so vague, Aaron felt they could mean any number of things. He discovered two facts during his training.

The skill increased his grip tremendously.

And he could drain his victims of their mana and essence.

Not enough to damage one’s soul or kill, but he could drain them and cause instant fatigue and soul shock. Twisting his wrist, he snapped the beast’s throat and threw it into the horde, trying to surround him.

Aaron noticed the beasts becoming larger the more they killed and assumed it was the large packs of alphas from the back of the horde finally coming to the front lines. Shifting his stance, he sidestepped a lunging fang but lurched forward as he was struck by a massive weight from behind, toppling him to the ground.

Fear gripped him, as he knew to fall now was to die. He tried to roll, but the weight bearing down on him began to rake at his back with deadly claws, and he cried out as gouges were ripped into his flesh. He kicked back with enough force to snap a tree and heard a pleasant crunch, knowing he connected.

The beast futilely tried to continue raking but had no strength with its chest caved in. Aaron managed to turn, stabbing into the throat of the large strider still bearing down on him. Life left the beast’s eyes as blood flowed down his arm, but he still couldn’t move the damn thing as more beasts piled on top.

Fangs tried to lunge and snap at him, but Aaron continued to stab wildly and was soon covered in a layer of bodies as blood poured, blinding and choking him. From the bottom of the pile, he could feel more weight bearing down and started to think this was probably the end of him.

Smothered by a horde of beasts.

Still struggling to get out, he heard a muffled roar and felt the ground rumble. Something latched on to his arm with shocking strength and yanked forcefully. Aaron cried out, feeling like his arm was going to separate from his body, but sighed in relief as he was ripped from the pile and the cool evening air struck him. Looking at his savior, he chuckled wryly at who was staring back.

Bently dangled him in the air by his arm with worry in his eyes.

“Whoops…” Aaron croaked, “Tripped for a second.”

Bently dropped him unceremoniously, swinging his sword at fangs, attempting to climb the pile of bodies. Aaron sensed a ripple in the Bond and felt healing magic entering his body. He smiled, knowing that his sister, Nara, was helping with nature’s healing.

Power welled into him as his sibling’s sent mana through the Bond, and he sent back orders for Damien and Roman’s group to fall back. He could feel losses left and right as moans and cries hung in the air, mixing with howls of hunger and madness.

The beasts had become more vicious, and the human lines were failing. Aaron could see the bodies of both humans and his siblings being drug into the horde. Standing beside Bently, he fired several [Deadly Strikes] to help clear the massive amounts of beasts attempting to surround them.

He sent a call as a blot of arrows filled the sky, falling around them in a perfect halo, precise and deadly. Scores of beasts fell as Aaron and Bently continued their deadly onslaught from atop the pile of dead beasts.

Trying not to overdo it, he watched as the area surrounding them began to clear. Fangs and striders became sparse as they stood, gasping for breath, staring at the looming figure pacing their way.

The Great Beast had come.

Its massive frame rippled with muscle as it stalked forward slowly. The dominant head stood tall, eyes burning with hunger and madness as it growled, showing dagger-sized teeth dripping with drool. The corrupted head whined as black veins crept up its face, eyes swiveling crazily, tongue hanging, as black sludge foamed in its mouth.

As its shadow loomed, the corrupted head spoke with a guttural cacophony of growls.

“Taste their blood... Liar... Corrupter... Feed on their flesh.”

Aaron stared in horror as his soul trembled from the grotesque sound. Standing wide-eyed on wobbly legs, he cursed under his breath.

‘The damn thing can talk!’