DEATH'S TOUCH
"Guys!?" Frank yelled, ducking a slithering hand that lunged at him.
SLIITTCCH!!—His blade made a clean bisection through two approaching from behind.
"Don't let them grab you—or anything!!" Kaido shouted, rushing toward Tayla just as she loosed a glowing bolt from her crossbow, shooting down a creeping hand aimed at him.
"Tch!" Laura smirked, standing her ground as several arms scurried toward her. Gripping her sword tightly with both hands, an amber-colored aura erupted around her, surrounding her body. She glanced at the moon overhead and grinned.
"Good," she muttered.
But that'll drain her... Tayla thought, eyes darting as she dodged arms sprouting from the ground. Some latched onto nearby soldiers—lifting them—SNAP!!—limbs torn mid-air.
Laura's aura caught Jack's attention.
"Hm?" he muttered.
Suddenly, a cluster of amber-lit sword projectiles materialized above Laura's head, floating with intensity. As the hands lunged—
SWIIP! SWIIP! SWIIP! SWIIP!!!
Each projectile flew with unerring precision, tearing through the advancing arms.
"You're next!" Laura roared, dashing through the field. Her blade sliced through any stragglers, her movements agile and honed.
"HRAAARGH!!" she shouted, launching another strike.
"Heh… is that so…" Jack murmured, raising one hand.
"Hngh!" Laura flinched as more arms surged from all sides, rebounding with unnatural momentum.
SLASH! SLASH! SCHWIIT!!
Her blade danced, dodging and cleaving through the swarm. The remaining projectiles helped, nailing targets with surgical aim.
Then—
THOOM!!!
Dozens of hands erupted directly beneath her, throwing her off balance.
"No—!" Laura cried, arms closing in to seize her.
SMUUUUSH!!
A blinding green blast tore through the horde.
She turned to see Tayla, crossbow glowing brightly on her arm.
"I got your back!" Tayla called out, emerald projectiles materializing behind her in sequence.
"Doesn't that drain you?!" Kaido called while falling back.
Suddenly—GRAB!!
Something latched onto Kaido's right leg.
"Woah!" he gasped, dragged into the air, surrounded by writhing hands.
SLIIT! SLIISH! SLAASH!!
The arms were diced to pieces before they could tighten. Elias stood right in front of him.
"You alright?" Elias asked.
They landed together, limbs falling around them.
"He's fast…" Kaido thought. "I'm good. I had this, you know?" he grinned.
"What are these things?!" Frank shouted, stepping back.
"Why do you resist the cleansing vessel?" Jack's voice rang out. "You are the one who could end this!"
"Damn it—come at me!!" Frank yelled, gripping his sword tightly.
SLAAASH! SLIIISH! SLIIISH!! SLIIISH!!
He spun, slashing wildly in every direction as the arms rushed him.
It's endless… he thought, stale blood splattering across his face.
"How is he?" Jack mused, watching.
"He's pinning Frank," Bill noted.
"Main question is—" Astrid blocked another blow—"Why the hell is he attacking us!?"
"Astrid, watch out!!" Spike called out, scythes arcing behind her.
SHRRIILT!!
"ARRGH!!" Astrid grunted, clutching her side.
"It got me…" she muttered, using her blade's flat side to fend off more.
"This is abnormal…" Bill added. "He's not meant to have this much mana output…"
"ARRRGH!!" Frank cried.
Two arms latched onto his unguarded left arm. Before he could react—
SLITHER!!
More surged up, wrapping around him tightly.
"For a moment there, I almost gave up on getting a hold of you..." Elias's voice came calmly as he glided over, feet barely touching the hands that lifted him.
"Tch… I… can't… damn it!" Frank struggled, constricted.
"Well, to finish the ritual..." Elias whispered, pulling the same ritual dagger from his pouch.
Jack's expression darkened.
"...This again?" he muttered, watching Elias.
Frank blinked.
"Woah… still feels weird," he groaned, suddenly beside Kaido, regaining balance.
"Nice meeting you too, Frank. Good to see you alive," Kaido chuckled, tightening his sword grip.
"The attacks are less frequent now," he noted.
"What's he doing!?" Spike shouted, looking at Elias.
There's gotta be something… Frank thought, his gaze turning to Jack.
> Name: Jack
Level: ----
Class: Necromancer
Skill: Death's Touch, Soul Thirst
Weird skill set… but here goes nothing.
Frank rushed toward Jack.
"Oh?" Jack blinked.
BLURT!!
Blood spilled from Jack's mouth and nose.
"Something's wrong with this one," he muttered, raising his hand.
A tide of arms flew at Frank.
"I've overused this skill... one more time and it might kill me…" Elias thought, gnashing his teeth. His eyes glowed gold.
Suddenly—the earth cracked open beneath the assaulting arms.
The same monstrous limbs erupted upward, colliding with Jack's horde.
"Woah…" Frank gasped, springing off a rising arm, launching toward Jack.
"Woooaah—forgot for a sec there," Jack chuckled, flinging Elias aside.
"I got him!!" Nick shouted, diving toward Elias.
SLIISE! SLAASH! THOOM! BLAST!!
The ground exploded as Raymond and Augustus emerged from the battlefield.
Augustus, his white suit now soaked in blood, flung away his stained glasses.
Raymond struck out with lethal precision, slicing stray hands that tried to rise again.
"Huff… Huff…" Raymond panted as he and Augustus landed beside Tayla, Kaido, and Laura.
"Raymond!" Kaido called out.
"The hands… is it over?" Raymond asked.
"You'll need a new suit, General," Laura saluted, her arm now bare.
"How's the injury?" Augustus asked.
"Fine, thanks to my sister's colleague," Laura replied.
"What's the situation?"
"There," she pointed—Frank and Jack were still locked in combat, hands scurrying around them.
"Guys," Andrea's voice came through. "Nick can help. I'm checking on Scott and Piko. The support team's probably in the same state."
She vanished into the mist.
"This is insane..." Spike muttered, wiping stale blood off her cheek.
"Thanks for the backup," Astrid said. Spike ripped a sleeve and wrapped her injury.
"Oh, the barrier? No big deal," Bill shrugged, deactivating the holographic wall with a tap.
"At least now we know—we have to get out. Fast."
"I still can't believe it…" Astrid muttered, staring at fallen allies. "Why would he kill… his own?"
"Her…" Frank growled, dodging a hand, dashing straight toward Jack.
"He's mimicking my patterns. Every move I make—he copies it." Jack narrowed his eyes.
Three arms closed in.
SLIIISH!! Frank sliced two, pivoting gracefully away from the third.
"He's using his agility perfectly…" Jack thought, suddenly locking eyes with Spike.
He smiled.
"Say, Frank!" Jack called, amused.
"Tch…" Frank growled, sprinting full force.
"You're doing no more killing. Not on my watch!!" Frank shouted, left hand seizing Jack's neck.
THOOM!!!
His right fist collided square with Jack's face, sending him spiraling. The hands lunged—
SWIITTZZ!!
Frank dashed through before they closed.
"My turn," he snarled, raising a hand.
Four massive arms burst from the earth, grabbing Jack mid-air.
BAAARRDGGGEEE!!
They slammed him into the ground.
"GARRGHH!! Haha…!" Jack coughed, blood dripping from his mouth as he laughed.
Above him, Frank's fist descended again—
POOOOWW!!!
The blow cracked the earth beneath.
Frank stood over him, chest heaving, Jack unconscious and bloodied.
"Huff… Huff…"
"...He did it?" Augustus thought, wide-eyed.
"What the hell… did I just witness?" Laura muttered, stunned.
"You okay?" Nick asked Elias, who looked close to collapsing.
"Don't worry—I'll alert Piko," he added, pressing his comm.
Elias sat on a shattered slab, silent, looking away.
Then—
SPLURT!!
A sickening sound echoed.
"Huh?" Frank turned, eyes narrowing.
Gasp! Spike's expression froze.
"Huh?" Astrid blinked.
"Sp… Spike…" Bill muttered.
Blood poured from his mouth. A hand jutted through his chest—holding a still-beating heart.
Spike stood frozen. Silent. Trembling.
Frank… just stared.
Dumbfounded.