The leader flew towards Mitch, its talons outstretched in a blur. Mitch stood tall until the very last moment before impact.

  With deliberate calm, he reached to the black mask coiled around his neck and pulled it over the lower half of his face. The fabric hid his cruel grin at the challenge.

  If cruelty is all you understand, he thought, then I’ll have to make you choke on it.

  The Abyssal creature slammed into him, talons raking his stomach. Skin split open, hot blood spilling out. Pain came next, but Mitch did his best not to flinch.

  Instead, he forced Flesh into the wounds before his guts spilled out. Mitch couldn’t help himself. He laughed at the Abyssal creature as it delivered another strike, this time towards his throat.

  Mitch raised his hand and caught the cold, rough claw before it reached his neck. This creature thrived on cruelty. And Mitch knew how he could be cruel to this monster who thought themselves so strong. It would only respond to strength.

  “That’s all?” Mitch asked as he front kicked the creature in the chest, sending it staggering back with a wet grunt.

  It’s roar filled the prison. It struck again, teeth bared. Rather than taking the hit again, Mitch moved–fluid and fast, dodging each slash. Mitch’s strength cracked through the air as he leap around the snarling, angry beast.

  His Skill, Agony’s Embrace, had forged strength, speed, and vitality into him. He danced around the creature and smiled under his mask.

  “You’re slower than I expected,” Mitch said, circling calmly. “Did your slaves make you soft? All bark and no bite?”

  The leader howled in fury, lunging again. Mitch sidestepped a swipe, pivoted, and drove his fist hard into the creature’s chest. A crack shot out as Abyssal ribs shattered beneath his strike.

  Mitch didn’t stop. He followed with an elbow to the leader’s jaw. Another crunch as the creature’s translucent skin did nothing to protect its teeth.

  The force sent the Abyssal leader staggering and spitting black blood from its lipless mouth.

  Hathgar’s voice boomed. “That’s it, lad! Show that basterd who’s the boss!”

  Varak cheered with her children next to the dwarf.

  In the shadows of the cages, the other Abyssal creatures grew silent. Both the hulking beasts still under lock, and the slaves of the leader that Mitch embarrassed.

  Mitch closed the distance, driving fists into the leader’s ribs again.

  The creature crumpled, but didn’t fall. Instead, it looked up at Mitch, revealing jagged teeth.

  “You think this is pain, Masked Lord?” the leader hissed.

  It dug its claws into its own chest and broke through its see through skin. Then, it peeled a measure away in a strip, throwing it to the side.

  Strips of flesh tore free, revealing beating muscle underneath.

  “This?” the leader rasped with malice as it smile. “This is nothing. Nothing where we hail from. You may be the Masked Lord, but I was once called the Marked One.”

  Mitch’s eyes narrowed as he analyzed what the creature was doing.

  It raised a hand toward the cage. One of the frailer Abyssal creatures inside whimpered.

  Quickly, the frail monster’s body shuddered and then shriveled while it tried to remain standing. It quickly lost it’s strength and dropped to the ground. Red energy surged from the withered frame and rushed toward the leader.

  Mitch watched as the peeled flesh from its own hand healed back together. His chest burned with anger as the leader absorbed the stolen life force. It stood taller and with a final crunch, its broken jaw snapped back together to reveal the leader’s strange smile.

  “You can’t beat me,” the leader taunted. “You cannot beat what thrives on suffering. When there are so many things to hurt.”

  Mitch felt the heat rise to his face. This creature wasn’t just a dumb brute; it wielded cruelty of others like a weapon.

  He charged forward, and the leader laughter.

  A searing heat sliced down Mitch’s back. His skin felt as though it was being ripped away in strips. He grunted, and Agony’s Embrace flared.

  Without thinking, he leapt over the leader with his strength. The cycle of pain and strength had forged his muscles into ready springs.

  Landing behind it, Mitch sealed his torn back flesh with Agony’s Embrace. The fresh scars added to his body’s collection.

  Before Mitch could lunge and shove the creature to the ground, Mook’s voice cracked through the Abyssal Bind with intense excitement.

  “Mitchell! I’ve done it! The Doors–I know how to fix them! I–”

  Mitch snarled in frustration and shot back through the Bind. “Not now, Mook!” His mental voice was sharp and cutting. “Get to the prison. And bring answers.”

  He severed the connection, leaving him focussed on the leader once more.

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  Mitch darted forward in a blur of motion as the leader spun to slash at him once more. He bobbed his head, talons just out of reach as he slammed his fist into the leader’s face with crushing force.

  The creature’s translucent skin splintered like glass, horned head snapping back.

  It snarled and retaliated with a swipe that Mitch deflected with his forearm, then drove his knee into its midsection with enough force to send it sprawling back.

  Mitch pressed his advantage, leaping towards it and driving a downward elbow into its skull.

  “You think you’re untouchable?” Mitch growled. “That taking from your slaves is strength?”

  The leader roared and tried to rise. With another command, a slave collapsed in the cage, energy siphoned into the leader’s broken face.

  Mitch’s fury ignited further. Each sacrifice was a mockery–a waste of a living thing. His strikes came harder and faster as Mitch pummled the leader.

  He caught himself picking up the leader and slamming him head first into the stone floor. Another punch straight into the chest resulted in a wet crunch.

  The creature crumpled beneath him, bloodied and broken and breathing raggedly as it reached again for another slave to surrender for power.

  “Enough,” Mitch hissed, standing and planting a boot on the leader’s broken chest.

  He pressed down, and the bones beneath his foot cracked audibly. The leader writhed, its earlier arrogance shattered.

  “No more sacrifices. You fight for me now–or you don’t fight at all.” Mitch said as he pushed down on the leader’s chest.

  The prison fell silent, save for Hathgar, Varak, and her children.

  “Aye! That’s the damned power ye’ asked for!” Hathgar roared and clapped.

  Mitch straightened and looked at the leader’s slaves in the cell. The creature had killed two Abyssal monsters to heal himself.

  The fight wasn’t just a victory for Mitch. It felt like a statement to every single watching Abyssal monster. He wasn’t just here to survive. With his newly gained knowledge, he was here to conquer.

  The leader wheezed beneath Mitch’s boot. Its black eyes now looked up at him with begrudging respect. “You are much stronger than I thought…,” it looked over at the other Abyssals. “We will serve. We do not wish to die yet.” It seemed to deflate from recognizing Mitch as its “better”.

  Behind the bars of the unlocked cell, the other Abyssals shifted. Slowly they folded into deep bows, forms lowering in unison.

  Their submission chilled the stuffy prison.

  Mitch’s chest barely rose from the exertion of the fight. “You’re going to tell me everything I need to know about the Factions later,” he said as his eyes locked onto the leaders. “We’re going to start with the Tormentors.”

  The leader’s mouth curled in a sardonic smile. “As you wish.”

  Mitch lifted his boot off the leader and it stood up shakily. “Name?” Mitch asked the broken monster.

  “Ha. There were no names where we hail. Not for the likes of us.” It answered.

  “Choose one,” he turned to look at the Abyssal creatures still huddled in the open cage. “All of you.”

  Mitch turned to the Leader and reached out with his Abyssal Bind Skill. He felt the minds of hundreds of Bugs under Varak’s temporary control, the Mice, and the many Abyssal creatures in the prison.

  He reached towards the leader’s dark mind and pressed his Abyssal Bind as an invitation. For all the creature’s misgivings, it was clearly intelligent. Mitch could feel it’s intellect analyzing him.

  The leader gasped for a moment, and Mitch felt the acceptance. The cool rush of a new minion brought with it a sense of power over Mitch’s shoulders. He tried to ignore it.

  Turning, Mitch cast his net wide on the others. Their minds were scattered between basically blank and brightly smart. Without a moment’s hesitation, they all accepted the Binding at his request.

  The cold rush built in his core at his new minions, and Mitch’s smile was shown to all as he lowered his mask.

  Varak clicked her mouth in approval. Almost as if she could feel him leveling his Skill. “Mask…Master always win. Of course,” she said as she tossed bugs to the new minions and her children.

  Abyssal Bind Upgraded

  Level 6(+1)

  Exert command over Abyssal beings and draw others into a permanent bond.

  Followers: Create lasting connections with chosen beings. Extend your influence and power over them.

  + Guardians of Will: Grant trusted minions the authority to command.

  Requirements: True allegiance must be granted willingly.

  Minions: Abyssal Fodder: 26(+22), Abyssal Bugs: 3082(-5), Mook, Abyssal Mice: 5

  Followers: Sable (First Follower), Leonardo XI

  Guardians of Will: Varak

  Each of the Abyssal creatures, including the leader, was temporarily shrouded in darkness. Just for a moment, they seemed to vanish, before they reappeared and shuffled out in a group.

  “Ain’t liking the look of that bowing, Mitch. Not one stinkin’ bit. Yer the Masked Lord and all, just damned eerie to see it from them.” Hathgar grumbled.

  “We’ll keep them too busy to scheme, don’t you worry, Hathgar,” Mitch smiled and went to pick up Galadrith. Rex padded over to the new minions and sniffed them. Some of the creatures looked pleased at the sight of a Shadowshroud and pet Rex’s fur, which the hound loved.

  “Just keep your guard up, lad.” Hathgar said.

  The Bind settled over his new minions. Mitch felt that he could reach out and order them to do his bidding. But he didn’t want just mindless beasts.

  He sent healing over towards the leader using some of his Flesh reserves. Instantly, his cracked face and chest healed over, and the leader sharply inhaled.

  Mitch looked over the rest of the new minions. Many were skinny, malnourished, and wasting away. He threw a blanket of Flesh towards all of the beacons, and a dozen red tendrils shot out to heal them of their ailments.

  Settlement Amount: 353 Souls, 335 Beast Souls, 0 Credits, 741(-80) Flesh.

  Mitch noted his Flesh reserves lessening.

  “Thank you,” the leader said, still measuring Mitch and watching his previous slaves faun over Rex’s massive frame. They weren’t affected by the energy Leeching like normal living things.

  Mitch had proved his point. He had gained two dozen new minions, strengthened his Skill, and brought on some intelligent creatures. He reached down and picked up Galadrith.

  “The forces grow. That was a good move. Though the Tormentors, they are sick. Be careful with them.” The sword grumbled.

  Mook was on his way, he could feel the scampering and wheezing of the fat Abyssal Scholar.

  Mitch started towards the Perch that overlooked the Pit. The remaining prisoners watched him in silence.

  Over his shoulder, he heard Hathgar and Varak talking with the new leader. Getting a feel for each other. Now that the leader wasn’t in charge, its previous violent look was replaced with a slightly less violent look.

  “Let’s go. We’re having a team meeting. Now that we’re growing, we need to plan some things out.” He barked over his shoulder.

  Instantly Rex zoomed over, and settled over his body like a thick t-shirt.

  Mitch hated that he was going to have to play manager. But his forces had grown, and he had a solution for his dwindling Flesh reserves.

  It was time to begin building his own Faction.