Plamus' eyes were each deciding upon a target, he had more than enough for the group of humans.
The earth all around was crumbling, sinking into the hole, causing it to enlarge with no end in sight.
A pink cube began spinning in the palm of the rank three mage, but Vivienne grabbed his arm, stopping him mid motion, "You need to conserve your strength."
"You are injured. We came here to rescue them, not to pile on more bodies." her stern voice interrupted him.
Vivienne floated above the rest, garnering Plamus' attention.
She cracked her knuckles, "I am confident that I can escape. I will distract him. The rest of you head towards the portal. We'll reconvene there."
"Master… are you sure?" out of everyone present, Daren had the most confidence in her abilities, but he also worried the most about her safety.
Vivienne's lips parted into a smile for only a moment, before her expressions hardened, as their situation required, "Don't make me repeat myself."
With a push from her, the others were involuntarily shoved out of the way.
"Sorry for making you wait." Vivienne smirked at the monster before her, "You seem like the impatient type."
The many eyes fell on her, scrutinising her, then back on the targets that were fleeing.
A puff of smoke spawned next to Vivienne, then grew into a big cloud to obfuscate Plamus' vision.
"Eyes on me, big guy." she pointed at herself.
Plamus raised one of his hands, but before he could unleash anything, Vivienne commenced her assault.
The cloud that obstructed his sight separated into many pieces, each flying at him, and clinging to his body, trying to restrain his movement.
His eyes watched his limbs get twisted, but he didn't hurry to retaliate.
There were no facial features to gleam emotions from, whether he was hurting, uncomfortable, or perfectly fine.
But the purpose of this attack wasn't to inflict damage, it was to probe his reactions, his defences.
The cloudy chains trembled; Vivienne was staring at his hands.
She didn't expect her spell to hold him for long, but it had only been a few seconds!
Plamus managed to rip his hand free, he swung it from left to right, but Vivienne was far ahead of him.
His palm got severed down the middle, a thin line travelled along his arm, then separated his body into an upper and lower half.
And yet, gravity did not regain hold over him, both halves hovered just a short distance away from another, before a meaty strand reconnected the two like threads.
Tissues reached out for another, the gap closed, and Plamus returned to his initial shape with no lasting damage.
"That's… a bit annoying." Vivienne grumbled.
The slices of his arm became one, he held it out, judging its condition, then turning it to see the other side.
Vivienne squinted her eyes, "Not impressed, eh? I'll try to do better this time!"
She threw both her hands up, then rapidly pulled them down!
The waterfall below defied gravity, it was falling upwards; Plamus could feel himself growing lighter, until it all reversed.
He felt impossibly heavier and experienced an irresistible downwards pull.
He attempted to fight it, but quickly found himself riddled with many tiny holes, the projectiles were nearly invisible to the eye.
The residues left behind in his body detonated.
Purple matter and countless eyes were separated, blown to many pieces.
Vivienne's eyes wandered over the scene of mayhem, she was confident that Plamus could reconstruct his body, even though he was no more than bits, the only question was where.
She flicked her finger, wind bursting through several lone eyes.
"Taking your sweet time?" Vivienne commented, blasting away anything that resembled fleshy tissues.
Every second she kept him here increased the others' chances of escaping by just a little more.
Strangely, Plamus had shown signs of intelligence even in his current state, and yet he wasn't rushing to intercept them.
Was he growing confident in his strength during their confrontation?
Or was she overanalysing everything, thinking too much into surface-level information?
Vivienne inspected her surroundings, the silence, the lack of action, it was ominous, dealing with a regular brute would have been far simpler.
Suddenly she inhaled, cold air filling her lungs, she looked down, a purple arm was struck through her abdomen!
Blood ran across the blinking eyes.
Vivienne shook, her skin was growing pure white, wrinkles spread all over her, then she disappeared into a puff of smoke.
A rough silhouette was leaving behind a trail of clouds, until she reappeared in full.
But her wound was still there.
She pressed against it, stemming the bleeding as best she could.
Vivienne caught her breath, but not for long.
The vision before her eyes deformed, something was cutting apart space, leaving an open, stationary slit in the fabric of the very world itself.
She turned back into smoke as her head was decapitated, sliced, along with everything hundreds if not thousands of meters behind her.
The slit opened momentarily, the rift widened, revealing a vast emptiness, before quickly closing the gap as if nothing had ever happened.
Vivienne reached for her neck with both hands, feeling her throat, fear was painted across her pale face.
Her horrified stare was directed at Plamus; she had been in life-or-death situations before, but this time felt different, like the smallest slip-up could put her into the dirt.
This thing before her was a threat to humanity, not just the survivors of this plane.
Allowing Plamus to reach the portal, and cross over into their home… she could only picture destruction as the outcome.
Taunting him didn't work, so she was better off keeping her mouth shut and focusing on the fight, lest she get a repeat of that surprise attack…
She was steeling her nerves, but Plamus didn't leave her a moment of respite, popping up right in front of her, claws reaching for her head.
Vivienne leaned back, her palm facing forward, air burst forth!
But Plamus merely needed to wave his hand to swat away the attack, causing it to vanish!
Vivienne's eyes grew wider, she clenched her teeth, any hesitation would surely get punished, there was no moment to spare.
She flicked her wrists, calling upon gusts of wind to ram into Plamus, and shave away at him.
But he shrugged each of them off, effortlessly.
Vivienne dissolved into clouds as he charged in, his hand going for her throat again…
She evaded, or thought she did.
The grip tightened, fingertips pressing into her skin, her cloudy transformation ended prematurely, no, she was forced out of it…
"Gh!" she gasped for air.
Plamus had caught the annoying fly, his many eyes could finally focus on the escapees that had disappeared off into the swamp.
Then they returned to Vivienne… a malicious idea manifested within what was left of his mind.
She was bleeding heavily, and what better lure than a live one?
The muscles in his arm became tense as he winded it up, then he flung her body into the horizon!
A white ring formed around original location that dispersed into all directions, levelling the already flat surface, and the trees far out that had remained intact up until now.
… …
"How are you holding up, Frey?" Agnes was clasping him tight as a small blizzard was transporting them.
The other survivors either had their own mobility spell, or were brought along by Daren's magic, like Kassan, Winny and Baron Beckett, where wind was carrying them.
"I'm fine." Frey made some affirming noise, while his mind was preoccupied with something else.
The wound on his shoulder had already closed, the blood on him had dried up, and he was feeling as normal as he could in this situation.
But it was strange.
Plamus letting them go was strange.
It didn't line up with anything.
Not with his own estimations.
Not with the signals that nature, the locals' connecting element, was giving him.
And not with the result that the coin had shown him.
But could he even trust any of that?
His own judgement was lacking, with little experience, and even worse strength.
The signs he was reading could be entirely misinterpreted, or the sources trying to deceive him.
And the coin?
That strange artefact he acquired by chance?
There was nothing supporting his believe, nothing to prove that it was doing anything, besides senselessly fuelling his delirium.
Frey's ears perked up; he was hearing some sort of faint vibration.
He started looking around, but nothing was visible to him.
Frey analysed the faces of those around him, and it didn't seem like anyone else had noticed.
"Can you hear that?" he nudged Agnes.
Agnes lifted her head, her eyes trailed over their surroundings.
She frowned, then shook her head, "Hear what?"
The rest overheard their conversation, turning to their direction, and Daren was the first to quit moving.
He stood in place, forcing the group to stop just ahead of him.
"What are you doing?!" Marquis Gomon questioned his actions anxiously.
Daren put a hand around his ear, his breathing grew louder.
His eyes opened wide, he jolted, "Everyone! Cover your-!" yet before he could finish his sentence, an overbearingly loud blaring overcame them.
The air shuddered, a sharp concussive bang hit his chest before his hearing caught up.
It felt like an invisible hammer slammed into his ribcage, followed by a deep rolling thunder that chased after the initial burst.
It was gone as quickly as it had come, but the ringing in their ears persisted.
Daren's eyelids clawed their way open, and suddenly a blurry object whizzed past them, tearing through trees, and leaving destruction in its wake.
He stepped closer to the newly carved path, and stared dumbfoundedly at one particularly red spot…
"No…" he whispered, his expression frozen, his heart was beating frantically.
Daren ran.
He lost control over himself, mindlessly chasing the object that flew by.
The wind that carried the humans ceased to exist; they were thrown to the ground.
"Wha- After him!" Gomon was the first to respond, his knees shaking from the impact.
Their feet were wobbly, and their balance was thrown off, but still they had to keep up with him.
Daren's outline was flickering in and out of the fog, elusive as a shadow slipping between lanternlight.
Marquis Gomon was huffing, the exhaustion getting to him, "Wait up, damn it!"
He ran, gods only know for how long, until he bumped into Daren's unmoving figure, as he was the one to get knocked back.
Gomon covered his nose in pain, "What's gotten into you?" he grabbed Daren's shoulder, then froze similarly.
Daren fell to his knees.
Gomon's hand remained in place, holding onto nothing.
"…-r…"
"…-a…-er…"
"…ma-…er…"
Vivienne could hardly open her eyes; all she could see were shadows hovering over her.
Her ears were buzzing, the noises the people around her produced didn't register properly.
She could feel a gentle hand touch her face.
"…Master!"
She blinked, internalising those words, 'Master?'
Her limbs were numb, feeling like she was floating on clouds, it was ethereal.
"Master!" that voice echoed inside her head.
'Master.' she repeated to herself, that title… a faint memory was resurfacing in her mind.
"Master! Wake up!" the voice sobbed right into her ear.
'Master.' she nodded, how many times had she heard that word?
The memory continued, her apprentice, all her life, all her friends and family, they rushed through her mind, filling in blanks, answering questions.
"Master! Please!" a tear fell onto her face.
Something so miniscule, and yet, to her it felt like the weight of the world.
Everything was replaying, especially so the last few memories she had made.
The bed of clouds was falling apart, the weightlessness she felt was gone, replaced by maddening pressure.
Her hand reached towards the shadow looming over her, wiping away the tears on his cheeks, "Hush… you oversized cry-baby…" she couldn't contain her smile.
Daren's heart was tearing little by little.
He was holding her in his arms, her expression looked so self-satisfied, as though she didn't realise what the state of the rest of her body was like.
Calling her wounded was putting it lightly.
Her armour had burst in all sorts of places, blood was streaming from the many deep cuts in her upper body, leaving behind the trail that Daren followed.
Not to mention the gaping hole punched through her stomach.
Baron Beckett threw himself to the ground, his fingers pressing against Vivienne, blood instantly stopped spewing out any further.
"Please…" Daren's trembling hands gripped her body tighter, "…please… save her…"
The Baron nodded but kept his attention on his patient.
Blood welled up wherever there was a wound, like there was an invisible barrier, keeping it from leaking.
Vivienne ignored the treatment, fully focusing on her disciple, "Daren… you have to leave…"
"Not without you, master. Not now, not ever." he squeezed her hand.
Vivienne's smile was fading, "You are… an idiot…" she looked concerned, "Don't even think… of fighting… that thing."
"You said backup will arrive. We'll hold out till then." Daren forced a grin onto his lips, hoping to reassure not just his master, but himself too.
Kassan pressed his hand against his chest, feeling a sudden and sharp pain in his heart, "Incoming!" he shouted through clenched teeth.
A pink dome covered the survivors in a flash!
"Stay inside!" the rank three mage warned.
The dense fog around them started to swirl, gathering in one spot, then dissipated entirely, leaving behind the green swampy waters, the tall wooden giants, and the path of destruction that led to Vivienne.
There, between the wilting foliage and the rotting tree bark, was the fleshy figure that Plamus inhabited.
His mere presence corroded nature and everything living within his vicinity.
He reached for his head, readjusting the crown that grew out of him, then flicked his wrist, instantly shattering the pink barrier into fragments, his eyes singled in on the survivors.
The rank three mage covered his mouth, coughing into his hand.
As expected, nothing had changed, that strength was monstrous after all, foregoing all reason.
Daren entrusted Vivienne to Baron Beckett, rising to his feet.
Wind was surging near his trembling fists, "You guys split up."
Marquis Gomon was stumped, "Huh?"
"As long as one of us can reach the portal, we'll get the help we need." Daren continued, "I'll stay behind… take his attention."
"Boy." Gomon spoke sternly, "You saw what that did to your master. What makes you think you'll fare any better?"
Daren closed his eyes, his fists shaking harder.
"There is no sense in you staying behind alone, he'll kill you, then move on to the next." Gomon shook his head.
The veins on Daren's neck bulged out, "But-!"
"That's why!" Gomon placed his hand on Daren's shoulder, interrupting him, "I'll stay behind with you." he said, then looked through the group, "We will buy you a short amount of time… make it count."
Daren recoiled, "…Marquis?"
Marquis Gomon averted Daren's teary gaze, focusing on the others, "Flee. Inform the church, warn His Majesty. They will have a way of dealing with this… thing."
Kassan sighed, helpless as he was at this time, all he could do was accept things as they were.
"Whether you live or die, your names will be eternalized as heroes. This I promise you." Kassan could merely offer those words.
"I'll remember you guys." Winny gave the two a court nod, before turning her back, ready to go.
Agnes whispered to Frey, "We're leaving." her tone not offering him a choice.
"Baron, please take my master and go. Don't turn back, no matter what she tells you." Daren pleaded with the man.
Baron Beckett gently lifted her off the ground, "I'll see to it that she gets the treatment she needs." he looked away, then back at them, "Take care."
The rank three mage struggled to his feet, their mission had failed spectacularly, this strategy was the only thing they had left to try.
Without another word everyone but Daren and Marquis Gomon split up and ran towards the fog, hoping to reach the supposed location of the portal, with each of them taking a different path.
Daren's shoulders eased, watching his master get farther and farther from the danger.
He turned to Gomon, then focused onto Plamus, "Thanks." he spoke in a hushed tone.
Gomon chuckled, "Don't thank me. My presence won't make a difference in terms of our chances."
"At least you won't die alone." he added.
Daren flashed a pained smile, "Neither will you."
"You seem heartless… but thanks for allowing us to say our last goodbyes." Daren spoke to Plamus' unresponsive husk.
"Still! I can't excuse what you did to master!" Daren roared, gusts of wind unleashed at his command, speeding towards the monster up above.
Marquis Gomon readied his stance, serpents snaking their way out of the murky waters all around them.
But all projectiles that flew at Plamus bounced off like they were pebbles thrown against a boulder.
"Hold nothing back!" Gomon shouted.
Masses of water were dragged out of the rivers, gathering into a whirlpool beneath Plamus.
Meanwhile Daren was frowning, his hand shaking as he was forcing it to close into a fist, his master's signature skill, distorting the air where Plamus was standing.
Despite the two all-out attacks, Plamus wasn't planning on moving an inch.
A figure was rising from the whirlpool, a jaw wider than the tree trunks next to them, with a long barbel on either side of its mouth, as well as four whiskers on its chin.
The higher it shot, the more of its long body was revealed.
Its dorsal fin appeared, but the rest of it remained hidden within, as this much was enough to reach Plamus!
The giant maw opened, then closed around him.
At the same time, Daren was finishing up his spell; the trembling air was getting out of control.
Both spells unleashed their might in unison!