The compound was under attack. The first strike, meant for the Proxy and aimed at Alex, had been repelled through the meddling of an Incarnate. The cost of doing so wouldn't be realized now, but it was coming. Instead, Kahvin Talongleam led the charge, followed by the retainers of his house and his brother, Toralaw. The Torch Clerics remained at a distance, using their powers to monitor the situation and keep the strike group in contact with each other. Rikoor, Cleric of time, seemed to move with his own purpose. Then there was the volley of arrows that met and then passed Kahvin, all heading for one target.

"Ah! M-mistress!" Spinner screamed as she was rudely awakened, already coming into semi-consciousness as she sensed the thin webs spread around Alex's window break. "Mistress!"

Durable abomination, one of the retainers remarked, using the Telepathic Network Torch's clergy was providing. Hear how easily it feigns weakness to garner sympathy. To allow something like this to survive is madness.

If arrows won't work, we'll have to get close, Toralaw suggested, the dutiful son thinking of the mission in order to prevent what he was hearing from affecting his resolve. Brother, we still need to take care of the other two targets. Allow me to take charge of the hunt for the Proxy with half a dozen men, that traitor at least is within my level to address.

Kahvin was numb, to the cries of the spider creature, to the hunger of his brother for advancement, to the rousing of those nearby. His heart was in a cage and he had no expectation of it ever being free. When he considered that fact, he felt fine. He couldn't feel any other way. Section off a squad, half of level 2. Beware the Proxy, they could manifest Cloak at any time. The rest shall deal with this abomination, and then we hunt-

The Artificer! one of the men cried out as, in the background, Kahvin could hear the Clerics begin to report movement of the various auras. His focus went to one he now recognized, flying to meet them when they were but 20 meters from reaching the courtyard. Kahvin looked into the face of the man blocking his path and saw… no dishonor. What opinions he might have had based on their past were locked away. As a Hero only he regretted the conflict, but saw that it was unavoidable.

"Stand down!" Kahvin found himself saying as he pulled his group to a halt, Toralaw's slipping behind the central house to pursue the Proxy. "To all below, do not resist or we will respond with lethal force. I am Kahvin Talongleam, Hero of Threst. Admiral Lagori Talongleam of Apex Flight has given due challenge to the Regent and is assuming control of this region. We come seeking the rightful death of a traitor and an abomination, as well as fulfillment of the warrant for your arrest. Submit and all else here need not fear us."

His seventh sense picked out the faintest trace of a power beginning to build in the Artificer's weapon as he replied, this standing out against the background of the abomination's anguish and the Torch Clerics reporting the sudden appearance of a new aura. "I'm only going to tell you this once. Come down here, and I'm breaking your wings. Touch anyone, and it'll be your necks instead."

Hero, by advised, the Blessed across the compound are mobilizing, a Torch Cleric in his head reported. Toralaw is circling the Proxy but is about to encounter resistance, and no one can find Rikoor. He just drank a mana potion and disappeared, and that new aura is-

A piercing cry washed out everything else as, bursting out of a window from the house containing only female avianoids, something they hadn't expected emerged and threw everything into chaos.

…

"Mistress!" Tlara jolted awake, both from the cry and the arrow that had cracked her window. The volley had been aimed at Spinner, who had been posting up by the side of her house both before and after her awakening. They needed to do something else for her eventually, but it was literally the first night back.

"Spinner! Fuck." Tlara, ever a cynic, didn't wonder why people were shooting at Spinner but instead began to plan what she was going to do about it. At her level, Stasis Pouch allowed her to withdraw a monster once every hour, and she began priming the one containing the avianoid monstrosity. She didn't immediately release it, however. "Willow, get in here!"

Her sister was already doing so, judging by the fact that her door opened seconds later. "What's happening to Spinner?"

"Someone just shot her with over a dozen arrows."

"Wh- why!?"

"'Cause she's Spinner." Tlara was glad that Willow understood the point she was making because she hadn't meant that in her usual way. In fact, right now she was hoping whoever was holding a bow out there had their wills in order. "I'm about to summon a monster. You said the Astral's thin here like the ruins, right?"

"Not as thin, but it's getting thinner." Both heard another cry from Spinner, but as it seemed no more arrows were coming, Tlara wanted to finish what she was doing before rushing to her aid. Her anger was matched by Willow's tearful concern, yet she held out. "Tlara, Wisp isn't ready."

"I don't want them."

"He is ready, either!"

"Mistress!" Spinner shouted from almost right below her window in what sounded like a choking sob. "Why!? It hurts."

"You can put him in, you can take him out. Whoever did this deserves to burn."

…

I'm covering Alex, but these flimsy cardboard boxes don't have any real cover and it sounds like the smaller group is buzzing around our backsides. Should I start charging Scatter Teleport?

We aren't running, Daniel replied, assessing what he was seeing. Mortal combat wasn't something he was new to, even if you didn't count fighting elites, and he was willing to bet these bastards would peel back after they killed the first one. He didn't want to be a murderer in front of his sister, but they'd taken the first shot against her. He wasn't holding back.

Kahvin stared down from him with over twenty assorted Blessed at his back, a mix of level 1s and 2s with only a couple 3s, not counting the distant Clerics flying far up in the sky. Those didn't appear to be charging any kind of doomsday spell, so they could be ignored for now. Spinner's cries couldn't, and that was only another reason his threat against them was serious.

Cloak, you should get out of here, he added, the mutual shock of the group having a god in the Telepathic Network quickly worn off during the initial reaction to the attack.

…they have me marked, the god replied regretfully. I have to be one of the reasons they're here. The Torch Clerics are my perfect counter, and with what they've cast, it's too strong for my domain manipulation to overcome directly. I'd only be exposing myself.

Fuck them, I'm with Daniel. We're making them fucking bleed for Spinner, Tlara thought menacingly. Willow's ready. You're going to want to stand back.

Wait, you aren't letting him out are- A burst of fire and a warped bird's cry answered him as a new aura shot out and up.

Avianoid Monstrosity (3, Totem Warrior - 2, Forced Transmutation, ~Converted~, Possessed)

The avianoids behind Kahvin attacked immediately, most releasing spells that didn't require them to shift back their wings toward the possessed elite. It, currently piloted by what had to be the sparrow's spirit, screamed as it was struck but healed rapidly as the body's powers took over. One of his hands instinctively stretched out to perform the explosive wind punch, but as Daniel watched, a fire began building instead.

Aw crap. Evalyn?

I have my side handled, we'll keep your sister safe. You hold up your end of the deal.

Aye Captain. Feeling his Power Shot reach half charge, Daniel triggered Might and Magic and prepared to meet the falling avianoids. Going loud, everyone cover your ears!

He'd begun charging his power alongside Hunter's Fearsome Roar since leaving his room. The first steps had been to use Moment of Clarity to gather his bearings and then have Lograve link everyone telepathically. The Arcanist hadn't been affected by whatever revelation ability the Torch Clerics had been using, making him one of their aces. It'd been him, Daniel, Cloak, Alex, and Hunter in the main house, with most of his team in the right one.

Now, he was buying time for Wingcraft to get to his sister while Khiat made for a sniping position. She wasn't about to start taking headshots, but Evalyn had thrown together a plan to unwing the avianoids and buy time for reinforcements that Janice was running for. Differences with the Captain aside, this was blatantly illegal assault. Daniel had hoped to draw Kahvin out into a monologue, but this was ruined by both what looked to be his level 1 brother swinging around the side for a separate attack, and what Tlara had just done.

His blast bow fired, ruining any chance of talking things out but at the very least waking up the entire town. Shotgun mode was still enabled as refitting a barrel had not been on his priority list. It reduced his range but allowed splitting ammunition, which propagated Hunter's roar to as many individual pieces that struck targets. The lowest leveled among them were inflicted with fear and began to divert their flight, but the main effect on the mass was disruptive as the air around them trembled with sound.

The possessed elite struck a moment later, and Daniel was taken aback when the flaming hand punched through one of the level 1's and began immolating the avianoid from the inside out, causing a brief tortured scream. Tlara, god, control the elite!

It's… Fuck, he's not listening to me. Tlara's mental voice was as contemplative as it was disturbed. The domination effect fell off. Spinner, is she really just like that?

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"Feather Rain!" Daniel saw Kahvin turn to address the elite as a target of priority, the chaingun effect of the ability tracking the converted avianoid who had begun to build up the spinning cleave attack in turn, now with fire damage. He was more concerned with those taking notice of him and Spinner, though in the latter case Tlara and Willow were now trying to get her healed and into cover.

It was a testament to his experience that he didn't balk at five different mortals sizing him up. In fact, Daniel had the sense they were trying not to kill him. Beast Mode had given much, both positive and negative, but there was a sense for fighting he now had after being exposed to those instincts. It wasn't nearly as strong as what Hunter or Gadriel had, who had attained them naturally or through training, but he had an idea of who was targeting him and where the biggest threat was.

Nothing I want to get good at, but these people asked for it. Reaching into his bag, Daniel quickly withdrew and squeezed a normal smoke bomb to cloud his position. He was still glowing with a visible aura and suspected the Clerics above were helping the attackers coordinate, but he knew from experience how difficult it was telling allies where to hit something in the middle of a smoke cloud.

Daniel, however, could see his enemy's auras just fine. Shuni, Daniel thought, seeing the Rogue following the rest of his friends crossing between the houses to get to his sister. Thanks. You didn't have to stay.

Don't do me like that, I wouldn't bail. I'm fly or die. Now get out of my head, I don't need you distracting me. He could almost feel Lograve's eyebrow raising, knowing that the Arcanist was privy to every conversation networked through him. Rather than re-evaluate his feelings, Daniel pulled the trigger with Snap Shot, firing blank spreading ammunition at the level 2 Martialist coming at him with what looked like a committed attack.

One of his target's wings had a shield fitted onto it that blocked the first hit, but they were unprepared for his rate of fire, clearly expecting him to have some sort of crossbow. Daniel specifically targeted the other wing this time, seeing the aura of the head twist in pain as the second and then third hits damaged the limb enough that it reverted into an arm. The Martialist joined him in the smoke for only a moment before streaking past and hitting the ground.

Wings are great, aren't they? Right up until you lose them.

Daniel, Evalyn, they're attacking! Lograve warned him, instantly drawing his attention back. I'm not in trouble, but I can't fight and protect your sister at the same time. She's running back out to the front of the house and they're trying to get around me to her!

The Elite's drawing most of their attention, I'll-

"So, this is who slipped Fate's notice," someone suddenly said right next to him. The voice sounded old and knowing. "Thank you for the cover. Time Prison."

The air suddenly stopped around him, the thick smoke no longer moving with the wind. Confused, Daniel found he could still move, and so could the speaker as they appeared out from the cloud. He tried and failed to identify them, only placing an aura. "Who are you?"

"Cleric Rikoor of Hourglass. A mutual acquaintance, isn't he? Or, perhaps, more than that for you?" The member of a traditionally high wisdom class nodded approvingly as he read Daniel's face. "Yes, you do remember. You met my Lord in Rikendia. Not according to plan, but-" his words cut off as Daniel leveled his shotgun at the time Cleric.

"Let me out." From the auras and the incantation, it seemed like the Cleric had trapped them both in a moment of frozen time.

"I'm afraid that's not why I'm here." He withdrew an odd device that Daniel would have recognized if it wasn't-

Wait, that is a syringe. He fired the blast bow at the sight of that, but nothing happened. The Cleric just shook his head and, for some reason, stabbed himself.

"We did our research. The movement of all mana in this field is restrained. Your abilities won't work, your enchantments won't function. Ah," he slightly sighed as the needle was removed, some blood leaking out from the exposed puncture wound. "You kept us waiting, you know. You were supposed to come here after the Thormundz, and we'd make sure you'd get to the hub by the time your father's task was complete."

Daniel stared as the Cleric stabbed himself with another syringe. "What? You knew, you all… of course you did." Daniel shook his head. "He's not my father."

"Do not disrespect the Lord of Time," the Cleric said warningly, though without any real menace, as if he wouldn't be the one meting out justice. "The efforts our Lord has undertaken to ensure salvation from this nightmare of a world humble any mortal, even you, his son. Now prepare yourself, we have quite the journey to undertake."

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

The Cleric laughed at that. "You have no choice." He brandished a third syringe and noted Daniel's questioning gaze. "Mana potion. I require… a fair amount to bring us a year into the future. Enough time that Hourglass can come find you himself to ensure our deliverance meets no more interference."

"Yeah, fuck that." Daniel exited his body by using Universal Link, transferring his entire soul over to Hunter. That alone wouldn't do it as he had no doubt his body would just end up in the future, and he immediately activated Moment of Clarity on the other side in case re-entering the time stream would speed up whatever the Cleric was doing.

Daniel? Hunter thought as he registered both the time dilation and his presence. We are trying to reach her at the front of the house, but they got in before we did.

Bad people, Tak added. I did not know Threst was this unsafe.

Look, that doesn't matter. We need to do Slow Mirror Strike.

Now!? Hunter thought incredulously. He didn't dare accuse Daniel of joking because of what was going on.

Random time bastard sent by my dad is trying to send me into the future, this is the only thing I can think of to stop it. Hunter, you go second and send me the effect through Blood Union. We have all three people in the Moment, so all of us can designate what we need to do. If it doesn't work… then I guess we'll have to be roommates for a little bit because like hell am I going with him.

Good plan. Would make things awkward with Shuni, though.

Tak, I'm not dating anyone!

Oh. There was an awkward pause before he added. If it helps, I thought you were. She seems interested at least.

That… not now. This will lock down your powers, mine too, but I can't use any powers in my body as it is. This is the only thing that lasts long enough and will fuck with what he's trying to do. Daniel gave a mental sigh. Either way, that guy looks strong, maybe the best person they have. Let Evalyn know what's going on.

Ok. If this doesn't work, come back, Hunter replied, worried. I don't want to lose you again.

You're not going to. Daniel flashed back over and was met with the Cleric having moved half the distance toward him with a bewildered expression on his face. He could feel the startup of the combo attack working, his bond allowing him to load a spell into the combo attack despite the magic suppression as he wasn't the intended user of it.

"What did you just do?" the Cleric asked, reaching for and quickly injecting himself again. "Your soul actually left your body."

"You could tell?" Daniel asked, trying to buy enough time under the current dilation for the Mirror Strike to go off. "Surprised a time Cleric has a power like that, sounds more appropriate for the astral domain. Then again, you feel like someone Torch would incinerate on the spot for what they know."

"I'm hardly the only one, aren't I?" There was a sickly appearance of the Cleric after the next injection, as if he were about to vomit. Daniel's seventh sense was giving him an odd pulse from Rikoor that didn't feel healthy. "I don't know what you're hoping to accomplish, but it's pointless. My master has already assured the downfall of the current order. Whether the Illustrious remake the cycle or the monsters break it isn't our concern. Don't you want to go home?"

This… this guy sounds like he was coached on talking me into following him, Daniel thought, before another, darker one hit him. This was how the plan with Earth-Daniel was supposed to go. Lograve mentioned that Chris threw it off by saving him. If things had played out how they were 'supposed' to, I'd somehow end up here and be intercepted by this guy, who'd magically know where my dad was. The parts that would come after that were unclear, but Daniel didn't want to stick around to find that out.

"I want to see my family again," he said, acknowledging the point. "But that place you're talking about isn't for me. I think I've accepted it by now. I'm already home." Outside the Time Prison, Hunter and Tak's combo attack went off. Hunter became affected by a separate time dilation, slightly faster than what Daniel was experiencing but slower than the rest of the world. The ringcat was quick to try and send that over, and Daniel accepted it just before the Cleric decided to cut his losses and activate whatever ability they were supercharging.

"What have you done!?" the Cleric cried in dismay as things began to get glitchy. His voice went in and out of phase as the surroundings advanced and reversed, time becoming somewhat slippery. The Incarnate caught in the mix was able to make more sense of it but was both unable and unwilling to intervene. "This is a temporal anomaly. You, I can't activate Advance Time. The mana…."

"How many potions did you inject?" Daniel asked, abashed. He knew he'd missed at least a few injection's worth in the transition to and from Hunter.

"Tw…two hundred. The doses were concentrated."

"Two hundred!?" The Cleric looked at him with increasing unease, his mana flow now observable to Daniel as roiling chaos compared to his own. Unfortunately for Rikoor, he hadn't chosen to drink the potions and there was no easy option to expel that mana with Time Prison still suppressing powers. While Daniel was definitely stealing this idea for health potions after having gotten glass in his eye giving himself one earlier, he was not putting any mana potions in them based on the kind of night Rikoor was having.

"I can't… I can't…" Time was still flickering, but the distortions became greatest in the Cleric. He was reminded of going to around triple his normal mana and trying to use abilities, which almost caused them to go wild. How far Rikoor was over his mana pool was up to the level of potions he'd used, but two hundred of anything was overkill. "It, it's overwhelming me. Stop this!"

Daniel started trying to float away from the Cleric, though the variable flow of time made progress difficult. "And let you zap me into the future? My friends and family are fighting down there. Whatever's happening is your fault."

"You don't understand, it, it's, aah, aah, aaaAAAAAAA!" The mana flow became painful to observe as a pulse became a tide. Put in terms Mavar Helioc would use, far too much mana was currently suffused into the level 4 Cleric's mana structure. He was suffering the consequences anyone who entered the Crest unprepared would face, and those tended to get explosive. Or worse.

Fortunately for Daniel, his sister was currently being flushed out into the courtyard and was well within the blast radius. Daniel Brant wasn't Special, for all he was the worldly vessel of the Incarnate, but she was. It had deflected Time's Arrow with the force shield, but that wouldn't be enough if the result of the mana overflow of Rikoor went the magical equivalent of nuclear. It should have based on current factors.

However, Luck could solve a lot of things, and the Incarnate was still wide awake. Instead of obliterating the entire compound with raw magical force, the resulting mana tide could, instead, just produce light. A lot of light. Extraordinarily blinding magical light visible from adjacent regions. As the Incarnate made the necessary adjustments, the scales of Balance nudged back and forth, as if testing to make sure they could still measure properly.

As far as the Artificer was concerned, Rikoor went the way of a JRPG boss that couldn't show the actual death for rating purposes. First, his eyes and mouth started acting like floodlights, and then the entire screen went white. It was an oppressive force, magical as well as visible, that was so oppressive Daniel didn't feel the lingering time dilation from accepting Hunter's debuff.

The fighting everywhere stopped, neither Kahvin nor the possessed elite he was dueling had the endurance to sustain themselves. All closing your eyes did was put a shade over the surface of the sun, and plucking them out wouldn't save you entirely. It lasted for minutes on end, a controlled release of what would have otherwise been massive stored power that forced any below level 3 out of the air completely.

The magic in the air burned as, while nonlethal, what could be akin to radiation savaged the mana structures of those nearby. The eyes were the hardest hit, of course, but muscles were strained as they were forced to tense and relax in opposition to the will of their owners, bodies weakening as the mana flow within surged in response to the air.

Toralaw Talongleam screamed as the protective items his father had given him caught fire. Kahvin Talongleam had none such and fell to the ground, unable to sustain his wings. Lograve, through his powers, beheld a truer sense of what was happening and could not withstand what he saw. Tlara clutched both Spinner and her sister but could only protect one. Even the elite monster possessed by a spirit could not resist what one man introducing far too much mana into himself had accomplished.

The terrible light shone on, unending. Like all light, if left those it touched exposed.

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