Apparently, there was a time before the Spawn. The pantheon had shielded the world from them, but then humanity had committed a vile, unspeakable act, and had forsaken their protection, condemning the entire world into what it was today.

  Jude certainly didn’t believe it, but in the few years he went to school he had learned of such a period. It was something that he could scarcely imagine. According to the books issued by the Court that they had to cram into their heads, it was a time of wonders and technology, and they were approaching a victory that would bring back that world very soon.

  All utter garbage.

  The Great Houses, despite how fractured they were, stood united on that fact so they could maintain their power. Anyone with a brain could see that. They controlled almost all the Blessed in the continent. And despite all that power, even the Imperials themselves weren’t immune to the Fellstorms. Roughly two years ago, the first ever casualty of their incredible rulers was recorded in a mourning period everyone had to obey.

  Their raw threat was just that much.

  That was why as soon as Jude realised that his accidental death craving had come true, he nearly decided to whip out his knife and run for it right then and there. The only thing stopping him was the sinking fact that staying with the group that intended to kill him was – just barely – safer than out there.

  The large man, Cillin, was still looking at him. He cleared his throat.

  “Uh, do you think we need to tell them?”

  His soft tone had turned into a rumble, “They’ve got Blessed with them. I’m sure they have.”Despite how troubled he seemed, he looked perfectly content just sitting there with his daughter on his lap. He fell back, trying to think again, before the giant finally asked a question of his own.

  “Do you have family in Zola waiting for you?”

  “Yeah.” he gritted his teeth, trying not to sound hostile.

  Jude wasn’t lying. His dad had told him about the distant uncle that had found an opportunity to move to one of the strongholds of the Great House of Azure. That was who he was trying to find.

  But there was also her.

  He felt the floor underneath him unexpectedly begin to rattle, as if speeding up, and then spotted a man leap into view from outside. He had long flowing hair, and looked arrogant enough to be one of the nobility.

  The Peer was keeping up with the convoy’s movement with ease, to the point where Jude knew he was trying to show off. Then he suddenly leaned in and grabbed hold through the door, banging onto its metal hinges. Both the girl and the scarred man jerked awake. Cillin did not look too happy, ushering her to be quiet as they all looked at the face peering inside.

  Close up, Jude hated to deny it, but he looked quite handsome, hair and beard so carefully trimmed that it was clear that he was obsessed with appearance. But the ugly look in his eyes ruined most of that effort as he spoke.

  “You’ve seen the storm, I’m guessing. We absolutely cannot afford to deal with that, so we’re improving our speed to escape. But at this rate, we probably won’t completely outrun it. If that happens, I don’t want to see any dead weight. You lot will have to leave and run into the Veil on your own. Either me or Lilian will come find you. Understood?” his voice was laced with an underlying threat.

  Run… into the Veil!

  That was like welcoming death into your arms. Was he crazy? From the look of it, he was. Sure, they would be attracted to the convoy because of their souls, but there was nothing in the supplies. Why were they risking their lives for nothing?

  The crazy Peer did not wait to see their reply, already moving towards the next compartment, leaving them all shaken.

  “You said everything would be okay.” the girl accused Cillin.

  But he did not reply. Jude watched the large man’s arms tremble. He was probably struggling to hide his fear. No amount of muscles and brainpower could help a normal person against a horde of deathly creatures. The criminal, meanwhile, was now the calmest of them all. Paying the rest of them no mind, he closed his eyes and tried to sleep again. Only to give up once the convoy rapidly began to shake back and forth, jolting against the numerous cracks embedded within the rough landscape underneath them.

  Another crazy guy.

  Jude himself ended up focusing on the storm, waiting for it to fully form. Behind him, the noise of the scarred man reaching for his bag and the whispered conversation between Cillin and the girl was drowned out by the first peal of thunder.

  He thought of his first encounter with such a storm like this one. Holding his dad’s hand, perched on a tall rooftop in the distance, watching the sky transform into a bloody haze. They were a safe distance away, or at least his dad had thought it was, until the ripple passed above their heads.

  Both of them had ran back into shelter after that, watching from the minute safety of being inside a building.

  Then, the Spawn emerged.

  As the line tried to flee, all those inside the compartments saw the same ripple change the streak into a mighty vermillion. In front of them, the pillar of fog appeared much closer, but not quite enough close to escape into. Perfect for crushing hope.

  Both the long-haired man from earlier, and another older woman with tufts of ruffled grey hair, accompanied by two figures each surrounded the side of the convoy.

  And then, the same thing happened.

  The first nightmarish thing began to take shape in a blur behind them. A creature sharing similarities with an enormous scorpion, with vivid colourful shades draped onto its side. Another bug-like form crawled up next to it. Then came dozens more, a fleet of monstrosities that grew as the thickening cry of the storm commanded destruction.

  Not all resembled insects. One just looked like an amalgamation standing upon its two legs like a giant before its throne.

  Cillin covered the girl’s eyes. The criminal grinned.

  “Get out, get out, get out now!”

  Doors opened, and Jude was the first to leap. He had nothing to grab after all. The impact undulated through his sore legs, as he began the mad dash forward. Immediately, he felt his lungs tighten, as the full force of the frigid gale lashed against his side. Next to him, Cillin landed holding the girl’s hand, and caught up to him in an instant.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  “Hold on to me!” he bellowed.

  Jude gratefully grasped the large man’s other wrist, and felt the force pull him forward. They ran in a thicket of twenty to thirty people, all shabby, exhausted looking wretches that watched the line hurtle past them. It was difficult to make out anything in the chaos, other than the curled fingers obtruding from the rock ready to trip him up. The noise of battle, thunder, and screeches thundered into his ears.

  The Peer glanced back, and spotted a bright lasso pull the few idiots who thought they could stay and fling them towards the wave. As they deserved, he thought to himself before withdrawing his weapon, a curved blade crested in what looked like bone and grinned at his fellow Blessed.

  “You lot better not die before our reward.” he said to them as the fight began.

  Their desperate tangle soon broke off into separate groups while racing down the hill, some probably thinking foolishly that none of the Spawn would be able to reach them. Jude was the first to notice the skeletal birds. They were about the same size as a hawk, descending from the very tip of the clouds in a plunge that screamed bloodthirst. His rapid breathing only grew more harried.

  None of this was what he’d expected. Usually, he would plan from the worst, but the idea a storm could form like this barely crossed his mind.

  The first death amongst them came as the leader of the flock fell into a hysterical woman making the most noise, and its talons sunk straight through her. Soon after that, the others followed.

  Some stopped their run, gaping at the Spawn’s descent. There were at least two dozen plunging towards them. Cillin had practically heaved the girl onto his shoulder, who looked like she was going to faint.

  “They’re too fast.” Jude heard him whisper.

  Those grim words were thought by at least all those who had common sense. Flying species are one of the rarest in Fellstorms. That’s why if they appear in low classes, they’re usually weak.

  The bird-like creatures in front of him obeyed that rule, pretty weak for the Spawn. But they were faster than any ordinary human could handle. He just got unlucky. Again.

  But Jude refused to die so easily. He could see that the gentle man was close to losing hope. So, he drew his hand and prepared-

  A loud shot rang beside him, and one of the Spawn fell. Followed by another three successful, quick bullets.

  “Run if you like. Or die here.”All eyes fell on him, and they all complied with his demand. The scarred man followed them from behind, firing bullets whenever he could. It did not stop all of them. The one that had killed the first found another, and those far from him began to fall.

  Jude did not even bother to question why this man had a firearm. But the next obstacle came quickly, in the form of more flying things, and there was no time to slow down.

  His legs threatened to collapse, but he refused to stop. He was not going to be forgotten here. The world wanted him dead, to the point where his own body rebelled against him, yet he would not give in.

  The pillar of fog emerged, an odd saviour that split the storm in two. Now that he was quite close, he could see the sharp crown of its summit. Through the grey, an endless nest of gigantic branching silhouettes lingered between them and the mountains. The forest. That should provide them at least some cover. At least it could not get any worse.

  Then seemingly out of nowhere, a chunk of rock the size of one of their compartments landed in their path. The smattering of those left split up to avoid it, until it was too late.

  The wriggling surface of what they thought was a rock shifted upright, at least three times his height, as at least twelve wriggling legs emerged like stumps, each with a sword protruded from its edges. Silver-coloured slits peered open all across the side in an eerie motion that pulsed through its bulbous head, opening in a flash of hissing fangs.

  And then its eyes swivelled right towards where Jude was standing.

  I hate myself sometimes.

  He was one of the closest, and felt the urge to vomit as his senses overflowed with the sight and stench of what was at least a Ravager. But against his best interests, he did not move. Instead, he held out his hand and breathed.

  As the air left his body, something incorporeal tingled within him. Even after experiencing the feeling so many times, Jude could still not describe what was going on. The best way he’d ever been able to put it into words was that it felt like the sound of tinkling bells. Like something was being rung from deep within him. And in the space of that breath, a shimmering light coalesced into existence at the edge of his fingertips. Forming the shape of a small dagger with a glimmering hilt.

  Before either the scarred man or Cillin could say a word, the Ravager was on them. He dived to the left as two claw-like legs tore open the rock where he had just been while the noise of bullets found its mark into the creature’s protected skull. Ignoring one of his arms scraping against jagged crags, Jude made a quick swipe at the limb nearest to him while scrabbling to get up. The supernaturally sharp blade made contact with the shell and sliced through it with ease, but then the long nail slashed overhead in his direction, forcing him to the floor.

  Jude heard the shattering of the rock behind him and knew he had just missed death. The creature shrieked at the attack, sweeping a tail that appeared to emerge from thin air in a circle that struck some of those trying to flee from it. As he lay there, two horrible realisations happened around him. The ligament that was nearly dismembered blackened as the wound repaired itself. And those who were nearly at the wall of fog were met with two legged, rot-covered, humanoids that emerged from an unfurling strand of mist, snarling as if they held a personal grudge against those trying to escape.

  Where were their guardians? Was this what they intended of them; to perish at the hand of a Fellstorm? Everyone knew of what it did to those that lost their life within its confines. Not even their soul would be safe from its tyranny. A hell forged at the hand of the gods.

  No, that’s not going to be me.

  For whatever reason, a strange peace flooded into his thoughts, giving him the strength to move again. His arm dripped blood, but he was able to ignore it, as if the wound did not exist. He did not question it, did not think about anything, but rose to his feet. When he had stolen the Soulbound knife, the Nascent in question had tragically perished in a fight against a crab-like beast that shared some similarities. But before she died, she had slain it in a heroic sacrifice. The memory was hazy to him once, but was clear as day in this trance.

  He had been hiding away, and watched the battle inside one of the alleyways. She had the odd habit of monologuing to herself.

  “You might be a higher Class than me, but I know enough about you lot to know you have a weak spot.” she had defiantly said.

  Her eyes shone a strange green before she dashed towards her opponent in a superhuman blur. Skidding underneath, the dagger jabbed and tore a neat line straight through its underbelly. Or at least until halfway through, before a pincer ripped into her stomach and ended her epic stunt.

  ‘That’s the most stupid way to die I’ve ever seen in my life.’ was what he had thought at the time before retrieving his new treasure from her mangled corpse.

  But now he was about to learn from her wisdom.

  The only problem was three out of its eight eyes were focused on him, and he continued to flee out of the way as a half-dead man was flung in his direction and it began to chase the only target it had left. Cillin landed to his side, covered in lacerating wounds. His eyes were pleadingly focused on Jude, as his mouth tried to say something.

  “Protect her.” was what he guessed the message was.Instead, he ran over to the dying man’s side, pushing the blade into his twisted hands, mouthing ‘cut it’ before sprinting the opposite direction.

  And indeed, the creature ignored the dying man underneath it, prepared to cut poor Jude in two, flying forward with such velocity that it could not stop, only for a thin splinter of agony to bring it to a crashing halt. It let loose another cry, thrashing wildly. But the heart of its membrane had been struck and it did not take long for it to dissolve into shadows.

  Satisfied, he breathed in and the knife materialised back into his hands, shining brighter from the kill it had just earned.

  “You’re a lot more interesting than I thought, boy.” the scarred man walked up to him, “That knife nearly makes me want to kill you right now.”

  “But you won’t.” he replied calmly.

  He still felt the strange solace, and now that the immediate threat was gone started to question what was causing it.

  But now was not the time. Now he had to keep a promise. Jude glanced over at Cillin, genuine sadness briefly flitting on his face. He had barely known the guy, but he had saved him twice. The only reason he had made the large man hold the knife was because he was dying. Otherwise, Jude would have probably died in the process. His attention shifted to a lone, shivering figure, who had finally taken a step forward. Her eyes were clouded and misty, probably traumatised from everything.

  Another time he would have allowed her to grieve the death slowly. But not in the middle of a Fellstorm.

  “You want to bring the girl? She’s only going to slow us down.” his grin widened, “Bah, I’m just joking. We need to move quickly though.”Jude was about to walk up to her, but she conveniently strode their way. Her entire body was quavering, and not just from the cold.

  “You killed him.” she spat out.

  Ah, I should have expected this. He honestly did not know what to say, feeling a glare that pierced right through him. Instead, he moved, stepping behind and slicing another of the skeletal birds in two.

  “Cillin was already dead. Bleeding out, practically unable to walk. Even if we somehow got inside, we’ve got nothing to help him. So, he did the one thing he could. He saved all of our lives, and he asked me to protect you in return. I’m willing to keep that promise, but it’s up to you. Stay here and die if you want.”His words were like blows to her, as she swayed in the wind, but she remained upright, “Don’t say his name! You don’t know him.”

  Nevertheless, when he left, she tentatively followed from behind.

  “Nice charm you got there, eh?” the man said, cleaning his gun as they trudged over the hill where

  the last wave of zombie creatures were waiting for them.

  They were probably dead humans considering the similarities in their shape were too alike to be a coincidence. He raised his knife, watching them move and preparing for a final charge, but then the tide parted.

  “The hell?”

  The girl said nothing, but Jude could tell the shock on her face.

  None of the humanoids spoke, standing as motionless as statues in a clear line as if for them to pass.

  They did not hesitate to hurry past, but the scarred man leaned closed to one and pointed the gun right at their head. No response.

  “No need to waste a bullet on them.”

  With that, the three of them stood right in front of the whirling fog.

  “I didn’t think I’d be stuck with two teenagers, but this is an opportunity that can’t be wasted.”

  Neither of them said anything. Jude was too tired, and the girl was probably still lost at her guardian’s death. This close, they could see the reddish plaster choking the life out of the dried bones of the trees, each column of wood climbing to a considerable height before it was weighed down by the parasite hosting on it.

  They had no map, very little strength, nothing. Completely unlike the heroes that had traversed through this place.

  Still, they had no choice but to walk in.