Azura watched the eldritch spawn attack the mages of Deepmere from her hidden vantage. She didn't rush out to assist even as their fortifications were pressed. Instead, she watched as the monstrosities tried to climb the earthen walls. A continuous barrage of spells rained down from above, slowing the horde's advance. Many of the smaller creatures were simply blown apart in explosions of gore, their entrails decorating the landscape. The barrage only slowed the larger creatures. They would hold for a while. Even if they couldn't, that didn't matter to her. The years had repeatedly shown that the magical users of Deepmere cared nothing for kin, so she treated them the same. As long as they slowed the mists, that was all she cared about. Well, she'd also take the blood essence once it started flowing.

As if her thoughts were a portent of future events, a massive 'thing' climbed over the earthen wall. Azura could think of no better term for the monstrosity. Like many of those from the mists, it was a nightmare made flesh. This nasty creature resembled a porcupine the size of a hippo, with an insect-like face. Instead of quills, it had writhing tentacles all over its back, each ending in a syringe-like tip. She watched as a mage was repeatedly struck by the tendrils pumping her full of eldritch energy. The change to her flesh began immediately. Azura turned from the sight. It was always disturbing. Azura looked at the mists, waiting for any Eldritch Lord to appear. They were her only true challenge. There had to be one out there somewhere. If she could get past it, she might be able to reach the mist seed. Then again, maybe not. The last two attempts she'd been forced to retreat. At least this time, she sent a rat-kin back to get reinforcements. They could make all the difference.

"SUPERIOR FIREBALL!" The deafening chant reached all the way to her hiding position. A glance showed an elven mage launching a fiery ball of death into the swarm's center. Flames burst outward, instantly roasting many weaker creatures as the rest began to burn.

"I guess they'll hold…" Azura mumbled. The elves were definitely Deepmere's most powerful allies. Although it was strange. The last few days had shown fewer and fewer of the knife-eared bastards. In fact, the mages of Dageth were mostly absent. What was going on? Before she could ponder more, dozens of small eldritch abominations burst out of an enormous creature when it died. No single one was alike. Some looked like twisted grasshoppers. Others clearly originated from some rabbit-like creature that still had its distinctive ears. All were deadly. They quickly leaped out of the dead host, landing atop several mages. The screams could be heard all the way over here. That was when the kin appeared.

"At least they have armor this time…" Azura scowled as kin armed with spears and shields took the front lines as mages fell back. The kin were well-trained. They lined up, protecting the casters behind them. As one, they thrust their spears forward and slammed their shields into any spawn that came too close. The horde's advancement faltered… for about thirty seconds. The little eldritch monsters were quickly dispatched, but the larger horrors were soon over the walls without magical aid to suppress them. Those creatures didn't care about the weapons the kin held. Most blades couldn't even penetrate their thick hides. Spears broke on eldritch flesh as the kin fell. Yet they didn't retreat, or more accurately, couldn't. The slave runes wouldn't allow them. More and more eldritch horrors filled the gaps, pausing to feast on kin flesh. In the end, it didn't matter if they died at that moment. They all perished as a barrage of spells landed atop the horrors… and the kin. The spells, consisting of all various element types, wreaked absolute havoc upon the feasting horrors. The light from the onslaught was so intense that Azura had to look away for a moment. When she glanced back, fleshly sludge was the most accurate description of what was left.

She nearly broke then. The desire to punish both the mages and the eldritch was almost overwhelming. But she didn't. Azura had been tempered by war. Going out there would only make things worse. Despite her experiences, Azura hadn't changed much. Her hair was a deep sky blue, matching the fur on her legs and paws. She'd inherited her mother's cat ears and long, fluffy tail, which matched her hair color, fading to white at the tip. She'd also gotten her mother's green slit pupil eyes. These features denoted her half-cat-kin nature. Her hair color and pale skin came from her human father, who died at the battle of Fortunia over a year ago.

Unlike Azura's physical changes, everything else was different. None of it was good. The mists had spread like an infectious plague. Perhaps she could have fought it off if it weren't for the Lords.

A shift in the mage's formation brought her attention back to them as they repositioned to the earthen wall's next layer. The reason for this became obvious a moment later. A Lord had appeared.

Azura's heart sank. This one was familiar. There was no way she'd forget those bony protrusions. This was the first eldritch Lord she encountered. One that was strong enough to take her most potent attack and survive. She'd hoped it had died or was at least permanently injured. With its return, that made eighteen Lords. Each one was as powerful as a liquid cultivator. Inside the mists, they were more so. This one wasn't in the mists anymore. It was a chance. A small one, but she would take it.

Azura gave a small wave toward Azure's Rest, where a rat-kin would be waiting, signaling she was proceeding with the attack. Azura then jumped over the fallen tree, behind which she was hiding. With three quick leaps, she was inside the mists.

Immediately, she felt the eldritch energy entering her body with her constant drain on the ambient mana. The motes of corruption broke down as her ki-infused body dealt with the intruders. The cost to do so was concerning. Azura's regular consumption of ambient mana continuously refreshed her exhausted ki. In the mists, it barely kept up with the mounting corruption entering her. She needed to be quick as she attempted to find a tendril of the mist seed.

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The thick mists restricted her vision to just a few feet. Azura took precious seconds to locate the thick root-like structure. There. With a clear path to follow, the mists hampered her little as she raced down the path of the eldritch tendrils. At their source was the mist seed… and its protectors.

Abominations rose to intercept her but were quickly left behind as she raced past. None of these lesser creatures could match her speed. Two minutes later, the mists thinned around her. The mist seed was visible in the clearing. It was like all the others she'd assaulted. A large fleshy pod the size of a tall house. It pulsed with a steady beat, as if it were a twisted heart covered in thick, green veins that contrasted against its dull, gray skin. Before she could take another step, two Eldritch Lords appeared, and both of them were familiar. At least there were no new ones. She had dubbed one Flappy since it appeared bird-like with bony wings covered in eldritch energy. The other was Thwack. She named it for its towering size and the twelve arms ending in various bludgeoning tips. Their appearance wasn't unexpected. Before either Lord could intercept her, Azura consumed a small part of her ki.

The first time she did this, the experience was astounding. The power it gave her was on a whole new level. Now… she could only grimace at the loss. This past year had been abysmal for her cultivation gains. She did progress, but being constantly forced to burn her ki against the mists had slowed her progress significantly. At those times, she had no choice, just like now.

Power flooded her body, distorting the world around her as a crimson aura hugged Azura's body. The effect was so powerful that the Lords staggered momentarily as the mist was blown back. Azura's crimson aura tore at the fabric of the world, whipping her tail and long hair around like she was in the center of a private cyclone. Time seemed to slow as she moved. Once speeding toward her, the Lords moved in slow, exaggerated motions. Two quick blows sent each of them in opposite directions like a catapult tossed them. It would take far more than that to kill them, but that wasn't her goal. Azura unleashed the full power of her consumed ki at the mist seed in one mighty punch. It popped like a pimple under far too much pressure. Puss and other nastiness erupted from the seed, spraying its contents everywhere as her aura faded. Azura managed to dodge the eldritch-tainted goo when a club-like hand slammed into her face.

A sharp pain radiated out from the impact site as she was hurled away. She crashed through two trees before even touching the ground. Azura tumbled for several more wagon lengths before stopping. Blood flowed freely from her face. She quickly pulled the sanguine fluid to her closed fist with the power of her blood-attuned ki. She looked up just in time to see Thwack before her, one of his many arms descending down to crush her head. There was no time. Azura used the power of her own immensely potent blood essence to empower her fist. Thwack's mighty blow and Azura's empowered fist met in a collision that created a mighty shockwave, knocking all the surrounding trees flat. The force of the shockwave sent Flappy tumbling through the air before it could join the fray. Azura released her ki steps technique as she used the force of the shockwave to fling herself away from her much larger opponent. With agility from her cat-kin heritage, she landed on her feet, using the momentum of the blow to transform the tumble into a full sprint. A roar of rage erupted behind her as a crashing sound followed. She sincerely hoped that the other cultivators were prepared for her and her new friend as she fled the mists with the Lords in pursuit.

***

Gwen smiled as she saw the mage forces overwhelmed by the Eldritch Lord. She would rather be there doing the killing, but this wasn't bad either. The Lord shrugged off attacks that would've splattered her like an overripe fruit a year ago as he continued the one-sided slaughter. Now, she wasn't sure how she compared. How strong was she? It didn't matter at this moment. As long as that thing stayed away from her, it was all good for her. The Lord was exceptionally muscular, with visible veins snaking all over his body that pulsed with corrupted blood, giving his skin a greenish hue. Naturally, no foul spawn of the mists would have so few alterations. This one had bony protrusions over his body instead of hair, and his left hand was a knobby stump. He used that stump to reduce a mage's skull to a messy pulp.

Ah, good times. Gwen kept thinking that until the kin appeared. They were terrified. That was clear, but they charged the Lord regardless. The slave runes gave them no choice. The deep simmering hate that had been born when she was raped flared up as the Lord crushed kin after kin tossing away their broken bodies to be feasted on by the abominations. The Lord then began casting bolts of eldritch energy at the mages, which seeped into their active mana pools. They fell convulsing as the changes started.

What would happen if that hit me? Gwen wondered. She didn't feel fear often, but that thought was enough to send a shiver down her spine. At least she wouldn't have to find out. Their orders were clear. Do not engage the Lords. She could understand why. They could match the Magebane in power. A thrill went through her at the thought, banishing her previous fear. Soon, she'd have the power of ki, too.

Gwen turned to the rest of group one. Hamal, their leader, waited calmly, watching the battle play out. They were far enough away that they were in no immediate danger. He was a good leader. Not surprising. Rat-kin were always dangerous. Next to him, Tabatha sat looking horrified at the kin's slaughter, yet she didn't protest or run out to help. The past few years had taught the girl a great deal. She was still an annoying brat. Then there was Gerald. Big and powerful, his brown fur did little to hide his muscular frame. A true kin if ever she saw one. She would never understand why he insisted on spending time with a worthless human mage. He should be looking for someone better. Someone capable. Someone who could match his talent in cultivation. Perhaps a half-kin like…her.

She was saved from the horrors of romantic introspection by the Magebane bursting out of the mists. Azura landed not far away, panting heavily. Vigorously tenderized was the immediate description that sprang to Gwen's mind as she took in the Magebane's state. For her part, the Magebane quickly glanced around, spotting them. Instead of a cheeky wave, as she expected, Azura waved her arms frantically.

"Two Lords incoming!"

As if summoned by her words, a monstrous thing erupted from the mists. It was nearly double the size of the Magebane, with six arms ending in various bludgeoning shapes. The Lord, for what else could it be, charged Azura, all six arms swinging. A blow that could sunder a hill slammed into the Magebane. The blow sent her flying toward them.

Well shit…

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