Mason broke through the final layer of shields and other magic barriers, slashing open his first enemy’s throat. The young man stumbled back with wide eyes and fell, hands still up to channel the spell that hadn’t saved him.

“He’s getting loose! More control! Focus all damage on the others!”

Mason growled and scanned for Damian’s voice. There were so many power effects flashing and bursting he could hardly see anything. Every step he took felt like wading through mud. OK sometimes he was literally wading through mud.

He’d walked into it all because he hoped it would make Jeong bold enough to attack. Little hairs were standing on the back of his neck, and he knew the man was watching. He felt the hungry eyes of a fellow predator. The stare of a beast waiting for its moment.

But nothing was luring the bastard out. His people were still spread out near the wall, exchanging ranged and some melee skirmishes at the bottom now. The damned undead protectors were still attacking them. And they were badly outnumbered.

Mason couldn’t let the defenders coordinate and really attack. He needed them distracted, broken up, and panicking. He’d hoped to lure out Jeong first, but it was time for the big guns.

He figured if the man didn’t attack him soon, he’d just have to settle for wiping out all his key people. It wouldn’t be a bad result for the day.

So he fought his way forward, pushing to the edge of his divine title bonuses with Demi. It wasn’t that he was worried about, though, it was the area effect of his anti-magic burst. He wanted to hit all his enemies, and none of his friends. The title range at least gave him a rough estimate.

He turned and forced his way through spraying water and grasping tentacles, slashing apart shields and constructs as he forced his way forward. He’d dealt with plenty of casters in the great game, but never so damn many at the same time.

The exact distance of his power wasn’t clear, but he’d used it several times and had a rough idea. It was big, but not giant. He just needed a little more space between him and the others…

It was only a flash of instant dispel—a moment of destruction of every kind of magic except nature. It wouldn’t stop his enemy from starting their powers again, channeling again. But it would free him completely, and cause a tremendous moment of chaos and panic. Often that’s all you needed to make an enemy break.

The emperor’s soldiers would have some natural types, too, and they wouldn’t be affected. But it wouldn’t be many. Certainly not enough to stop him.

He mentally commanded Streak to push with everything he had. He felt the wolf Shapeshift and activate some new power, but he didn’t concern himself with how or why. He took step after step through the countless magical barriers, took a deep breath, and turned on the active portion of Apex predator.

The ground shook. Trees started ripping through the pavement, vines growing up over buildings, stalks of high grass sprouting up everywhere. He shivered as he felt his muscles surge with power as the environment slowly turned ‘natural’. He waited until it was almost finished, then activated his magic dispelling Earthsoul gem.

The pulse hummed like a power grid going down. Every scrap of magic around him except his own popped or dropped or vanished in smoke, or fell as grains of sand. Unlike everyone else, he was ready. He sprinted straight for the last place he’d heard Damian’s voice.

The Brazilian swiftly came into view behind a group of players. He blinked in confusion, shielded by a line of equally confused casters and through a small patch of trees. He looked lost, beyond his ability to react with any kind of plan.

Yeah, Mason thought with a vicious grin. Didn’t show you that in the Neutral Zone, did I? You died too fast.

Everyone else seemed in slow motion as Mason dropped his own gravity. He charged with Aspect of the Cheetah, almost literally flying across the ground. His bare feet hardly even slapped on the cracked pavement as he covered the gap between them in seconds.

Men were shouting and renewing powers or calling out in panic. New energy was forming and flashing with light. Mason’s people were untouched, taking advantage of the confusion.

But for that moment none of it mattered. He had his target, his prey. He activated his Essence of the Stag in the final moment, letting the world go black until he saw only a dead man walking. It wouldn’t stop the others from helping, but it would mean the man couldn’t get away.

Damian jerked away as he formed a shield in one arm, a punching dagger in the other. But not even Jeong was fast enough to save him now. And his eyes were wide with terror as Mason’s Claws reached for his throat.

**

Jeong stood with Seul-ki in an empty barracks near the battle, watching on a mobile system tablet. His moment was soon. Very soon. His pulse was pounding, the hollow center in his chest aching with the need to kill. He’d chosen not to fill it for the day. He wanted to stay hungry.

He watched his people fighting with the western players, thrilled as he finally saw his enemy use at least two new powers. One of them seemed to banish magic in a large radius, the other create some kind of small forest right there in the city itself.

“How incredible,” he said, getting a concerned look from Seul-ki, and understanding why. He quirked his head. “Why didn’t you tell me he could do that?”

“I’m sorry, Oppa.” She looked genuinely upset. “I hadn’t realized. I don’t think he ever used them in my presence. We rarely fought together, and were always in wooded areas.”

“Not to worry,” he said, believing her and patting her hand. “Neither will matter. But I’m glad he used them now. Oh is he already…”

Jeong stopped and stared as he watched his enemy charge out from his little patch of trees. He almost called out in warning, then in rage at his casters. In mere seconds Mason had crossed the street full of players and rammed straight into his only ally.

He stood paralyzed with indecision. It was too soon. He wanted some of the man’s players to fall. Wanted him to maybe kill Erik and half of his troublesome order. Damian was supposed to keep well back. To keep out of sight…to protect himself so he…

Jeong heard himself groan as he watched his friend spray with gore. He trembled and tried to see more clearly, seeing half a dozen more spells from his casters start up and cover the screen in bright light. They had healers. He could be saved if he could move back and get away with support. It was too soon.

Red light flared and covered the screen, and Jeong tried and failed to swipe it away, thinking it more city alerts. But he stopped when he realized it was his personal profile, and that the flashes were still coming. Seul-ki was trying to ask him something but he ignored her as he swiped, his heart pounding.

What was it saying? That wasn’t possible.

[Empty Vessels: under attack. Contracts ended: three.]

He shuddered with an exhale, mind reeling to understand. Erik was there in plain sight. All his people were right there. And all his enemies. It was something he didn’t understand, or it was Blake Nimitz. But how was that possible?

The answer made no difference. He almost reached out and crushed his sister’s throat right then and there. His hand moved, but instead he touched her cheek and smiled.

“A boost to everything. Do it now.”

His sister looked pale, like she recognized the dangerous moment and look in his eyes. She nodded and took his hand, magic flaring. He shivered as the energy touched him, seeing all his stats and powers glow with a soft blue light as his alert flared again.

[Empty Vessels: under attack. Contracts ended: five.]

He had made a terrible, terrible mistake. He had underestimated that boy as older men had once underestimated him. He should have killed him the moment he had the chance. Now his hand was truly being forced. The moment had arrived.

All was not lost. It took time to kill so many civilians, he knew that all too well. He had little time, but that was all he needed. He had to attack and kill his enemy before he lost too much power.

Jeong turned and ran from the empty barracks with such speed he heard weapons and armor scatter in his wake. The city streets flew past him, his body humming with divine and arcane magic, muscles straining, legs pumping with such power he felt like a god.

Mason would die. And with him gone, Jeong could afford the loss of nearly all his Vessels. He had others in the city. With his enemy dead, he would demand hundreds more, forcing every remaining man and woman of ‘old earth’ to their knees. There was only one last risk, one last true threat. And ready or not, it was time to end it.

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