The Forest of The Bugs

// Mod is @roxie-cozyspace \\

[humanoidworm-anon]

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" The name is . . . ummm.. I don't remember it like I don't remember everything about myself — But you can call me 🪱 (Worm) Anon or " Insect ", some people have called me that so it works as well.

I go by it/it’s pronouns but any/all pronouns work to, I am aroace. I was a experiment in a lab that I don't remember, making me have worm features on my body, which is human.

I have unworldly powers that I of course don't remember how I got them and I have knowledge that a lot of beings should not have, fourth wall breaking type of knowledge.

I don't have a house, I just wander around the world; homeless — Pretty sure I been homeless for years but I honestly don't know from my horrible memory issues that made me forgot everything about myself.

I like to cause chaos out of pure boredom and it is very fun to do but I will not go to far with my chaos, only the annoying and joking type of chaos, I guess-??????

I am able to make myself into liquid and go in and out of the soil to travel around, I can teleport also but I always throw up when I do so I only do it in extreme cases. I can as well turn into a actually worm, a weirdly fluffy one."

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> Tag Guide <

🌻 It would not say this 🌻 = Mod tag

🪞 This didn't happen 🪞 = Non-canon tag

🪱 A weirdly shaped worm 🪱 = 🪱 (Worm) Anon tag

🪱 The chaotic upbringing 🪱 = 🪱 (Worm) Anon chaotic sanagans tag

🪱 What is this? Lore?! 🪱 = Lore tag

- logs of the human insert project - = Logs tag

🐝🔪 a small friendly and afraid wasp 🔪🐝 = 🐝🔪 (Wasp Anon) tag

🐝 a silly little bee 🐝 = 🐝 (Bee) Anon tag

🕷 the queen of spiders 🕷 = 🕷 (Spider) Anon tag

🐞 a mute and aggressive ladybug 🐞 = 🐞 (Ladybug) Anon tag

🐜 the ant with too many wonders 🐜 = 🐜 (Ant) Anon tag

🪲 a shy beetle 🪲 = 🪲 (Beetle) Anon tag

🦗 a quiet and smart grasshopper 🦗 = 🦗 (Grasshopper) Anon tag

🦋 A rude butterfly 🦋 = 🦋 (Butterfly) Anon tag

🦋🪾 a sleepy moth 🪾🦋 = 🪾🦋 (Moth) Anon tag

🌿 a mute and silly centipede 🌾 = Centipede Anon

¿ A unknown voice ¿ = ????/King

🎨 A golden friend 🎨 = @the-golden-artist tag

🪶 A person who went through things worse than death 📖 = @d3r-the-golden-spartan / any D3rklord3 blog tag

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Tumblr is a place to express yourself, discover yourself, and bond over the stuff you love. It's where your interests connect you with your

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[humanoidworm-anon]

Hi there. Maz talked about you, once. Just a passing mention.

Thought I might drop by for a visit?

--Connor, The A.N Office

( @news-spreading-anon )

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Worm Anon floats upside down, a strong sense of unworldly power is felt off of it.

“ Yeah :\ „

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[news-spreading-anon]

Right. Okay, my name is Connor.

What about you? Do I just call you humanoid worm anon or?

--Connor, The A.N Office

[humanoidworm-anon]

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“ Worm or Insect by some. „

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[news-spreading-anon]

Okay, that's good to know. Feels a bit... degrading in my opinion but if that's what you prefer.

So, uh, Worm, can you tell me a bit about this place?

--Connor, The A.N Office

[humanoidworm-anon]

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“ I was made to be a worm humanoid by force. Anyways — this place is filled with magic and bug themed, that is all I know. Being a lab for most of your life can do that. „

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[news-spreading-anon]

Made by force? So you were... Okay, nevermind, let's not talk about that.

Uh, bug-themed, you say? So everyone is some kind of bug or insect, then? That's... pretty surreal, actually.

--Connor, The A.N Office

[humanoidworm-anon]

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“ Not all but it is most of this world theme. „

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[news-spreading-anon]

Good to know, but still not great considering that thing you told me of being forced to be like this...

Do you know a lot of people here? Or just a few acquaintances?

--Connor, The A.N Office

[humanoidworm-anon]

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“ Only three and one wasn't a acquisition but he is dead anyways now, he was a horrible person who tried to kill I. „

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[humanoidworm-anon]

Hi there. Maz talked about you, once. Just a passing mention.

Thought I might drop by for a visit?

--Connor, The A.N Office

( @news-spreading-anon )

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Worm Anon floats upside down, a strong sense of unworldly power is felt off of it.

“ Yeah :\ „

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[news-spreading-anon]

Right. Okay, my name is Connor.

What about you? Do I just call you humanoid worm anon or?

--Connor, The A.N Office

[humanoidworm-anon]

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“ Worm or Insect by some. „

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[news-spreading-anon]

Okay, that's good to know. Feels a bit... degrading in my opinion but if that's what you prefer.

So, uh, Worm, can you tell me a bit about this place?

--Connor, The A.N Office

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

“ I was made to be a worm humanoid by force. Anyways — this place is filled with magic and bug themed, that is all I know. Being a lab for most of your life can do that. „

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[news-spreading-anon]

Made by force? So you were... Okay, nevermind, let's not talk about that.

Uh, bug-themed, you say? So everyone is some kind of bug or insect, then? That's... pretty surreal, actually.

--Connor, The A.N Office

[humanoidworm-anon]

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“ Not all but it is most of this world theme. „

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[humanoidworm-anon]

Hi there. Maz talked about you, once. Just a passing mention.

Thought I might drop by for a visit?

--Connor, The A.N Office

( @news-spreading-anon )

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Worm Anon floats upside down, a strong sense of unworldly power is felt off of it.

“ Yeah :\ „

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[news-spreading-anon]

Right. Okay, my name is Connor.

What about you? Do I just call you humanoid worm anon or?

--Connor, The A.N Office

[humanoidworm-anon]

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“ Worm or Insect by some. „

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[news-spreading-anon]

Okay, that's good to know. Feels a bit... degrading in my opinion but if that's what you prefer.

So, uh, Worm, can you tell me a bit about this place?

--Connor, The A.N Office

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

“ I was made to be a worm humanoid by force. Anyways — this place is filled with magic and bug themed, that is all I know. Being a lab for most of your life can do that. „

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[humanoidworm-anon]

Hi there. Maz talked about you, once. Just a passing mention.

Thought I might drop by for a visit?

--Connor, The A.N Office

( @news-spreading-anon )

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Worm Anon floats upside down, a strong sense of unworldly power is felt off of it.

“ Yeah :\ „

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[news-spreading-anon]

Right. Okay, my name is Connor.

What about you? Do I just call you humanoid worm anon or?

--Connor, The A.N Office

[humanoidworm-anon]

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“ Worm or Insect by some. „

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[humanoidworm-anon]

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First chain :

Tumblr is a place to express yourself, discover yourself, and bond over the stuff you love. It's where your interests connect you with your

The Shadow summons a 60ft tall bird made from the pure shadows, the bird fly's off at incredible speeds around the top of the holder. The bird flying back from behind Derek — giant claws grabbing and digging into Derek, he is thrown to the ground with full force.

//OOC : @d3r-the-golden-spartan for some reason I can't reblog on the original chain so I might as well make a new one

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[humanoidworm-anon]

Hi there. Maz talked about you, once. Just a passing mention.

Thought I might drop by for a visit?

--Connor, The A.N Office

( @news-spreading-anon )

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Worm Anon floats upside down, a strong sense of unworldly power is felt off of it.

“ Yeah :\ „

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[stay-chill-vibes]

REBLOG IF YOU ARE HELLA BORED AND WOULDN’T MIND SOME CURIOUS ANONS.

[swellio]

hit me up y’all

[ask-alicorn-rarity]

no limits on how many you can send me!

[forgivemeomycyns]

YES! Time to annoy the “good doctor” on her day off! >:D -Gen Z

[roxie-cozyspace]

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𖤓 » Random character I just finished making when I saw and used the back cloud hair for the first ever time, no name nor anything really for them yet

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[roxie-cozyspace]

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𖤓 » They are now named Batty The Living Cartoon from The Forest of The Bugs universe (@humanoidworm-anon) :3

❀•°•═════ஓ๑♡๑ஓ═════•°•❀

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

(( @humanoidworm-anon

Derek appears in the middle of ruins. He has a vague idea of where he needs to go; now, he simply looks for what is most likely to be the anchors to the chains keeping a child trapped within the void.

The earrings, lent from Spider, he tucks into his inventory., along with the snippers and rubber gloves he'd snagged for Spider for later.

He will succeed. He will not fail.

[humanoidworm-anon]

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There is three 300ft long chains all around in a circle of the fallen kingdom ends, heavily cracked and come to falling apart after all those years.

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[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

These chains, Derek muses, must be it. Obviously. King is chained, these must be it.

He picks one at random, following it to its end.

How to break the chain... They seem old, would just, smacking a cracked part work?

Experimentally, he digs out his axe from his inventory, slamming it full force into a particularly fragile link in the chain.

[humanoidworm-anon]

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The part breaks quite easily, the chain far more.

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[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

"That... feels too easy." Derek murmurs, mostly to himself. Still, if it worked... He goes to the other chains, looking for similarly weak links and smashing them.

[humanoidworm-anon]

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A shadow appears right behind Derek, a simply puppet of The Mother. The shadow grabs D3r wings and rips them right in the middles with no problem, blood dripping from the now ripped wings.

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[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

A scream rips itself from his throat; he whirls, axe going to cleave the shadow in two, flame spewing from his mouth in time with the blade.

He could rescue his wings later; right now, there is a much larger threat.

He doesn't want to call on The King, but he will if he must.

[humanoidworm-anon]

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The shadow stares at Derek, not a single bit of life in those eyes. The shadow is just a empty husk that follows orders with no hesitation or emotion.

The shadow summons a large hand made from pure darkness — grabbing and throwing Derek into one of the fallen buildings walls that hasn't gone to the ground.

The shadow appears right in front of Derek, growling in his face.

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[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek goes flying - fortunately, he has enough sense to try and glide his way around the building. He... Mostly succeeds, with great effort, given his messed up wings.

He wastes no time with belting flame right at the shadow's face, swinging his axe in tandem and clipping the thing with it before booking it in the direction of one of the chain ends, towards one of the bases. He doesn't look to see how damaged he's made the shadow being; he knows he has hit it, and that is enough for him.

The shadow things must be protecting the bases. Drawing him away from the bases. If he can get to even one, he can fix things.

[humanoidworm-anon]

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The shadow gets hit with the fire, it hiss and cries in pain. Strange thing for a soulless puppet to ever do — they usually just deal with the pain. Hm.

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[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek hears the hiss of pain, and files that piece of information away in his head.

It can be hurt.

It can (probably) bleed.

It can be defeated.

For now, though, he focuses on booking it towards the closest base, given the chain he's loosely following. Zig-zagging in case the shadow comes after him, moving surprisingly quickly through the rubble.

It doesn't take long before the first base comes into his line of sight.

[humanoidworm-anon]

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The shadow finally puts itself out, disappearing into the darkness. The shadow soon appears from behind Derek — grabbing his legs and tripping him onto the ground, it jumps onto Derek and starts clawing into him.

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[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek rolls when he's tripped, kicking the shadow off as he scrambles to his feet.

Right. Shadow. Could probably teleport with shadows. He'd fly, but. Can't.

"Shit," He mutters, breathing flame in the shadow creature's direction, just to help keep it off long enough to stand. Did he need a light source to keep it away? No. That'd be too easy.

With some space bought, he books it to the base of the chain.

[humanoidworm-anon]

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The shadow dodges the fire this time, learning from it mistake. It growls loudly at Derek.

//ooc : This ^ but with the chain part being on the round handler and the large icon part of the item is in the ground deep, only having the handler seen.

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[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek looks at the thing holding the chain, mind spinning, even as he keeps at eye on the shadow. That it growls at him says it can learn; it can teleport, too. Could it fly? Did it need ground?

And, would swinging his axe at where the chain connected to the base structure sever the spell or would he need to do something else?

Well worth trying, in any case.

He fishes those teleportation earrings from his inventory, keeping an eye on the shadow being as he does so, and tucks them into an inner pocket just so he can't lose them. And then, pictures himself atop the base of the thing.

It works, and he wastes no time swinging his axe and full strength upon the connection.

(( ooc: that looks AWESOME I'm love it!!!

[humanoidworm-anon]

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The Shadow disappears into the darkness, appearing again from the shadow of Derek and grabbing him. The shadow forces the two to fell off of the handler to the ground.

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[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek swears, loudly; he missed the chain due to the shadow.

He breathes fire towards it, not caring if he catches his own armor in the flames as he tries to scorch the being off of him.

His mangled wings spread, only succeeding in slowing the fall into a semi-glide; even then, it's still a rather quick descent.

Lesson learned: light up the thing before breaking the chain so the shadow has nowhere to spawn.

[humanoidworm-anon]

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The shadow screams, soon going quiet. It burned to death.

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[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

... So the shadows could die.

Was he confident that that was the only one? Not a chance. King's mother was a god, apparently, and had probably made multiple of them. But it was enough for now.

He landed with a stumble, armor hot from his flame, but he would ignore it for now. He teleported back up to the chain, this time making a neat ring of fire to protect himself from the shadows, before swinging his axe hard at the connection joint.

[humanoidworm-anon]

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The chain slightly cracks — needing more force on the area. There is a purple colored magical barrier seen when hit. No shadows appear — seemingly only appearing when Derek at a chain.

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[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek blinks, then adjusts his grip on his axe.

No more shadows, huh?

But, he had to follow each chain. Did it appear because of the chain or because he had hit it?

No matter.

With all his strength, he swings the axe back down onto where he had hit it before, hoping it would be enough.

[humanoidworm-anon]

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The chain breaks open, now dropping to the ground of the fallen kingdom and ending the buildings underneath but luckily there is not a single life there anymore.

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[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek warps to the ground a distance away, looking around for the next chain. He spots it, a decent ways away. He could see the untethered end, so he would have to follow the chain again.

This time, he would be more careful.

[humanoidworm-anon]

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A shadow appears in front of the next chain, pointing a spear at Derek — this is more smarter than the first one was.

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[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek eyes the shadow being, the spear, and the chain. It was between him and his path, and the being had the reach advantage.

... The real question was, was it just the one, or would another reappear to take its place if he 'killed' it now?

To his eye, the spear is just a spear. No enchants, no magic, but he couldn't count on that. The chains looked normal, too, and they clearly were not.

"Fine. You want to fight?" He swaps his axe for a sword - not the best weapon for this, but the best one he has - and a shield.

"Let's fight, then." He knows what he is doing is the right thing. He just hopes he'll live to see the end of it.

[humanoidworm-anon]

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The shadow hits the ground with the spear, the ground cracks apart and open with large shadowy tentacles appearing — blocking the way.

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[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek takes a moment to assess.

Tentacled shadows in the way. He had seen.... Pretty far away, but he couldn't see through to see where they'd gone. Interestingly, the path away was left open - strategic retreat was still an option, should he choose to take it. Not that he would. Not yet.

Not that the tendrils could reach him where he stood, either. Would the shadow come forward, or linger within its defense?

[humanoidworm-anon]

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The Shadow appears on top of the chain handler, watching closely.

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[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

The shadow... Vanishes. Gone. He keeps an eye on his surroundings, mindful of any surprise attacks (his aching wings enough of a reminder of that fiasco), and thinks.

Could he damage the tendrils? Maybe.

He takes a deep breath, and out comes a thin line of flame, licking the base of one of the tendrils. Not white-hot, due to his distance from the base of the thing, but there nonetheless. Now: would it do damage, or not?

[humanoidworm-anon]

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The fire hits and disappears fast — a fail .

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[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Disappointing, but not surprising.

Now, he spots the handle - and his foe.

... Could the tentacles reach him if he teleported over there? Maybe. It looked like they just might be close enough, but maybe not.

Was he really going to try and fight the tentacles like he was in some... horny anime game?

No. Stop that, brain. Focus. This is not that.

They seemed impervious to flame, or at least the normal heat he could make at a distance. He didn't have his other breath type, and he wasn't inclined to fight them if he didn't have to.

Wait.

Could he just... Walk around them, from a safe distance? They couldn't uproot themselves, and his opponent would either be forced to make more or fight him one-on-one.

Well. If it's stupid and it works, it's not stupid. So, around the tentacles he begins to trek, careful to stay out of range of getting grabbed while keeping the chain base and his foe within line of sight.

[humanoidworm-anon]

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The shadow snaps it unseen fingers — large shadowy spikes appearing in the shy near itself . In a blink of a eye , the spikes hit and throw Derek off of the chain base .

The spikes stabbing into Derek arms and legs but soon disappearing — leaving wounds .

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[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

The spikes less stabbed through Derek, as nicked him where the armor had joints that weren't fully covered.

That it could aim for those spots from so far away (for a non-magic-shadow-being) was impressive. And alarming.

Rather than faff about further, he concentrates a moment. This shadow likely didn't know where on him the earrings were, so he was probably fine to teleport up there and fight properly, yes?

Or. Does he save that for later. For, he assumes, there will be another at the next chain. He may need that trump card for later.

"Will you come down and fight? Or will I need to go up there?" It's a question for himself, but also the shadow being. He doesn't expect a response from it, not really, but he's prepared for if it appears or jumps down for a proper fight. As he speaks, he continues to approach the base of the handle. Cautious, careful. He will not make the same mistakes he made earlier.

[humanoidworm-anon]

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The shadow glares but does not move .

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[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

"... Worth a shot." How close, he wonders, until it joins him below or attacks from above? Does it think he cannot get up there?

Well. There are a few conveniently-placed buildings (more aptly, rubble piles) that meant he could glide to... most of the way up the thing. If he needed to. But. He would simply continue to approach the base until he got there, or it hopped down to fight properly.

[humanoidworm-anon]

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The shadow points at Derek — shadowy bullets hitting Derek right in the legs , shooting 11 times in such a fast movement that there is no time to react .

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek is incredibly fortunate to have his shield and armor, and that it knocks the speed of the bullets down from will-kill-if-hitting-something-vital to big-massive-bruises, though they do punch holes in the shield.

It seems he doesn't get to have time to ponder this, after all.

It has ranged attacks, it has close-up attacks, and fire doesn't seem to do much anymore.

Does he take the fight to it, given that the tentacle things can't reach him from here, or does he try to bait them down?

... Take the fight to them.

He books it for the base of the thing, putting on speed he hadn't shown before now to close the gap and force the shadow into close-range combat. He's already lost his wings, he doesn't really care if he loses any other parts of himself to these shadows. He just needs to free the kid.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The Shadow rips off the right arm of Derek with ease, kicking him down to the ground. The ground he on breaks apart and falls down into a whole city underneath the land — a city that been there way longer but was forgotten. The Shadow jumps down and summons giant spears straight at him.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[the-golden-artist]

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

🪱 : “ Friend !!!!! Friend !!!! „ Insect said while jumping happily .

From 🪱 (@humanoidworm-anon)

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

Oh hello again worm!! Its been forever, how've you been?

The eyes shifted to look at it

[humanoidworm-anon]

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

🪱 : “ Fine enough ! Nearly died but was let go by my puppeteer ? Traumatized child ? Anyways it realized that it people would hate it for doing this and it doesn't like to be hatred . Also I remember some of my past now !!!!! „

//ooc : @the-golden-artist

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

(( @humanoidworm-anon

Derek appears in the middle of ruins. He has a vague idea of where he needs to go; now, he simply looks for what is most likely to be the anchors to the chains keeping a child trapped within the void.

The earrings, lent from Spider, he tucks into his inventory., along with the snippers and rubber gloves he'd snagged for Spider for later.

He will succeed. He will not fail.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

There is three 300ft long chains all around in a circle of the fallen kingdom ends, heavily cracked and come to falling apart after all those years.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

These chains, Derek muses, must be it. Obviously. King is chained, these must be it.

He picks one at random, following it to its end.

How to break the chain... They seem old, would just, smacking a cracked part work?

Experimentally, he digs out his axe from his inventory, slamming it full force into a particularly fragile link in the chain.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The part breaks quite easily, the chain far more.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

"That... feels too easy." Derek murmurs, mostly to himself. Still, if it worked... He goes to the other chains, looking for similarly weak links and smashing them.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

A shadow appears right behind Derek, a simply puppet of The Mother. The shadow grabs D3r wings and rips them right in the middles with no problem, blood dripping from the now ripped wings.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

A scream rips itself from his throat; he whirls, axe going to cleave the shadow in two, flame spewing from his mouth in time with the blade.

He could rescue his wings later; right now, there is a much larger threat.

He doesn't want to call on The King, but he will if he must.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow stares at Derek, not a single bit of life in those eyes. The shadow is just a empty husk that follows orders with no hesitation or emotion.

The shadow summons a large hand made from pure darkness — grabbing and throwing Derek into one of the fallen buildings walls that hasn't gone to the ground.

The shadow appears right in front of Derek, growling in his face.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek goes flying - fortunately, he has enough sense to try and glide his way around the building. He... Mostly succeeds, with great effort, given his messed up wings.

He wastes no time with belting flame right at the shadow's face, swinging his axe in tandem and clipping the thing with it before booking it in the direction of one of the chain ends, towards one of the bases. He doesn't look to see how damaged he's made the shadow being; he knows he has hit it, and that is enough for him.

The shadow things must be protecting the bases. Drawing him away from the bases. If he can get to even one, he can fix things.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow gets hit with the fire, it hiss and cries in pain. Strange thing for a soulless puppet to ever do — they usually just deal with the pain. Hm.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek hears the hiss of pain, and files that piece of information away in his head.

It can be hurt.

It can (probably) bleed.

It can be defeated.

For now, though, he focuses on booking it towards the closest base, given the chain he's loosely following. Zig-zagging in case the shadow comes after him, moving surprisingly quickly through the rubble.

It doesn't take long before the first base comes into his line of sight.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow finally puts itself out, disappearing into the darkness. The shadow soon appears from behind Derek — grabbing his legs and tripping him onto the ground, it jumps onto Derek and starts clawing into him.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek rolls when he's tripped, kicking the shadow off as he scrambles to his feet.

Right. Shadow. Could probably teleport with shadows. He'd fly, but. Can't.

"Shit," He mutters, breathing flame in the shadow creature's direction, just to help keep it off long enough to stand. Did he need a light source to keep it away? No. That'd be too easy.

With some space bought, he books it to the base of the chain.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow dodges the fire this time, learning from it mistake. It growls loudly at Derek.

//ooc : This ^ but with the chain part being on the round handler and the large icon part of the item is in the ground deep, only having the handler seen.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek looks at the thing holding the chain, mind spinning, even as he keeps at eye on the shadow. That it growls at him says it can learn; it can teleport, too. Could it fly? Did it need ground?

And, would swinging his axe at where the chain connected to the base structure sever the spell or would he need to do something else?

Well worth trying, in any case.

He fishes those teleportation earrings from his inventory, keeping an eye on the shadow being as he does so, and tucks them into an inner pocket just so he can't lose them. And then, pictures himself atop the base of the thing.

It works, and he wastes no time swinging his axe and full strength upon the connection.

(( ooc: that looks AWESOME I'm love it!!!

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The Shadow disappears into the darkness, appearing again from the shadow of Derek and grabbing him. The shadow forces the two to fell off of the handler to the ground.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek swears, loudly; he missed the chain due to the shadow.

He breathes fire towards it, not caring if he catches his own armor in the flames as he tries to scorch the being off of him.

His mangled wings spread, only succeeding in slowing the fall into a semi-glide; even then, it's still a rather quick descent.

Lesson learned: light up the thing before breaking the chain so the shadow has nowhere to spawn.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow screams, soon going quiet. It burned to death.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

... So the shadows could die.

Was he confident that that was the only one? Not a chance. King's mother was a god, apparently, and had probably made multiple of them. But it was enough for now.

He landed with a stumble, armor hot from his flame, but he would ignore it for now. He teleported back up to the chain, this time making a neat ring of fire to protect himself from the shadows, before swinging his axe hard at the connection joint.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The chain slightly cracks — needing more force on the area. There is a purple colored magical barrier seen when hit. No shadows appear — seemingly only appearing when Derek at a chain.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek blinks, then adjusts his grip on his axe.

No more shadows, huh?

But, he had to follow each chain. Did it appear because of the chain or because he had hit it?

No matter.

With all his strength, he swings the axe back down onto where he had hit it before, hoping it would be enough.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The chain breaks open, now dropping to the ground of the fallen kingdom and ending the buildings underneath but luckily there is not a single life there anymore.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek warps to the ground a distance away, looking around for the next chain. He spots it, a decent ways away. He could see the untethered end, so he would have to follow the chain again.

This time, he would be more careful.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

A shadow appears in front of the next chain, pointing a spear at Derek — this is more smarter than the first one was.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek eyes the shadow being, the spear, and the chain. It was between him and his path, and the being had the reach advantage.

... The real question was, was it just the one, or would another reappear to take its place if he 'killed' it now?

To his eye, the spear is just a spear. No enchants, no magic, but he couldn't count on that. The chains looked normal, too, and they clearly were not.

"Fine. You want to fight?" He swaps his axe for a sword - not the best weapon for this, but the best one he has - and a shield.

"Let's fight, then." He knows what he is doing is the right thing. He just hopes he'll live to see the end of it.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow hits the ground with the spear, the ground cracks apart and open with large shadowy tentacles appearing — blocking the way.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek takes a moment to assess.

Tentacled shadows in the way. He had seen.... Pretty far away, but he couldn't see through to see where they'd gone. Interestingly, the path away was left open - strategic retreat was still an option, should he choose to take it. Not that he would. Not yet.

Not that the tendrils could reach him where he stood, either. Would the shadow come forward, or linger within its defense?

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The Shadow appears on top of the chain handler, watching closely.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

The shadow... Vanishes. Gone. He keeps an eye on his surroundings, mindful of any surprise attacks (his aching wings enough of a reminder of that fiasco), and thinks.

Could he damage the tendrils? Maybe.

He takes a deep breath, and out comes a thin line of flame, licking the base of one of the tendrils. Not white-hot, due to his distance from the base of the thing, but there nonetheless. Now: would it do damage, or not?

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The fire hits and disappears fast — a fail .

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Disappointing, but not surprising.

Now, he spots the handle - and his foe.

... Could the tentacles reach him if he teleported over there? Maybe. It looked like they just might be close enough, but maybe not.

Was he really going to try and fight the tentacles like he was in some... horny anime game?

No. Stop that, brain. Focus. This is not that.

They seemed impervious to flame, or at least the normal heat he could make at a distance. He didn't have his other breath type, and he wasn't inclined to fight them if he didn't have to.

Wait.

Could he just... Walk around them, from a safe distance? They couldn't uproot themselves, and his opponent would either be forced to make more or fight him one-on-one.

Well. If it's stupid and it works, it's not stupid. So, around the tentacles he begins to trek, careful to stay out of range of getting grabbed while keeping the chain base and his foe within line of sight.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow snaps it unseen fingers — large shadowy spikes appearing in the shy near itself . In a blink of a eye , the spikes hit and throw Derek off of the chain base .

The spikes stabbing into Derek arms and legs but soon disappearing — leaving wounds .

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

The spikes less stabbed through Derek, as nicked him where the armor had joints that weren't fully covered.

That it could aim for those spots from so far away (for a non-magic-shadow-being) was impressive. And alarming.

Rather than faff about further, he concentrates a moment. This shadow likely didn't know where on him the earrings were, so he was probably fine to teleport up there and fight properly, yes?

Or. Does he save that for later. For, he assumes, there will be another at the next chain. He may need that trump card for later.

"Will you come down and fight? Or will I need to go up there?" It's a question for himself, but also the shadow being. He doesn't expect a response from it, not really, but he's prepared for if it appears or jumps down for a proper fight. As he speaks, he continues to approach the base of the handle. Cautious, careful. He will not make the same mistakes he made earlier.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow glares but does not move .

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

"... Worth a shot." How close, he wonders, until it joins him below or attacks from above? Does it think he cannot get up there?

Well. There are a few conveniently-placed buildings (more aptly, rubble piles) that meant he could glide to... most of the way up the thing. If he needed to. But. He would simply continue to approach the base until he got there, or it hopped down to fight properly.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow points at Derek — shadowy bullets hitting Derek right in the legs , shooting 11 times in such a fast movement that there is no time to react .

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

(( @humanoidworm-anon

Derek appears in the middle of ruins. He has a vague idea of where he needs to go; now, he simply looks for what is most likely to be the anchors to the chains keeping a child trapped within the void.

The earrings, lent from Spider, he tucks into his inventory., along with the snippers and rubber gloves he'd snagged for Spider for later.

He will succeed. He will not fail.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

There is three 300ft long chains all around in a circle of the fallen kingdom ends, heavily cracked and come to falling apart after all those years.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

These chains, Derek muses, must be it. Obviously. King is chained, these must be it.

He picks one at random, following it to its end.

How to break the chain... They seem old, would just, smacking a cracked part work?

Experimentally, he digs out his axe from his inventory, slamming it full force into a particularly fragile link in the chain.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The part breaks quite easily, the chain far more.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

"That... feels too easy." Derek murmurs, mostly to himself. Still, if it worked... He goes to the other chains, looking for similarly weak links and smashing them.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

A shadow appears right behind Derek, a simply puppet of The Mother. The shadow grabs D3r wings and rips them right in the middles with no problem, blood dripping from the now ripped wings.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

A scream rips itself from his throat; he whirls, axe going to cleave the shadow in two, flame spewing from his mouth in time with the blade.

He could rescue his wings later; right now, there is a much larger threat.

He doesn't want to call on The King, but he will if he must.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow stares at Derek, not a single bit of life in those eyes. The shadow is just a empty husk that follows orders with no hesitation or emotion.

The shadow summons a large hand made from pure darkness — grabbing and throwing Derek into one of the fallen buildings walls that hasn't gone to the ground.

The shadow appears right in front of Derek, growling in his face.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek goes flying - fortunately, he has enough sense to try and glide his way around the building. He... Mostly succeeds, with great effort, given his messed up wings.

He wastes no time with belting flame right at the shadow's face, swinging his axe in tandem and clipping the thing with it before booking it in the direction of one of the chain ends, towards one of the bases. He doesn't look to see how damaged he's made the shadow being; he knows he has hit it, and that is enough for him.

The shadow things must be protecting the bases. Drawing him away from the bases. If he can get to even one, he can fix things.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow gets hit with the fire, it hiss and cries in pain. Strange thing for a soulless puppet to ever do — they usually just deal with the pain. Hm.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek hears the hiss of pain, and files that piece of information away in his head.

It can be hurt.

It can (probably) bleed.

It can be defeated.

For now, though, he focuses on booking it towards the closest base, given the chain he's loosely following. Zig-zagging in case the shadow comes after him, moving surprisingly quickly through the rubble.

It doesn't take long before the first base comes into his line of sight.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow finally puts itself out, disappearing into the darkness. The shadow soon appears from behind Derek — grabbing his legs and tripping him onto the ground, it jumps onto Derek and starts clawing into him.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek rolls when he's tripped, kicking the shadow off as he scrambles to his feet.

Right. Shadow. Could probably teleport with shadows. He'd fly, but. Can't.

"Shit," He mutters, breathing flame in the shadow creature's direction, just to help keep it off long enough to stand. Did he need a light source to keep it away? No. That'd be too easy.

With some space bought, he books it to the base of the chain.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow dodges the fire this time, learning from it mistake. It growls loudly at Derek.

//ooc : This ^ but with the chain part being on the round handler and the large icon part of the item is in the ground deep, only having the handler seen.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek looks at the thing holding the chain, mind spinning, even as he keeps at eye on the shadow. That it growls at him says it can learn; it can teleport, too. Could it fly? Did it need ground?

And, would swinging his axe at where the chain connected to the base structure sever the spell or would he need to do something else?

Well worth trying, in any case.

He fishes those teleportation earrings from his inventory, keeping an eye on the shadow being as he does so, and tucks them into an inner pocket just so he can't lose them. And then, pictures himself atop the base of the thing.

It works, and he wastes no time swinging his axe and full strength upon the connection.

(( ooc: that looks AWESOME I'm love it!!!

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The Shadow disappears into the darkness, appearing again from the shadow of Derek and grabbing him. The shadow forces the two to fell off of the handler to the ground.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek swears, loudly; he missed the chain due to the shadow.

He breathes fire towards it, not caring if he catches his own armor in the flames as he tries to scorch the being off of him.

His mangled wings spread, only succeeding in slowing the fall into a semi-glide; even then, it's still a rather quick descent.

Lesson learned: light up the thing before breaking the chain so the shadow has nowhere to spawn.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow screams, soon going quiet. It burned to death.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

... So the shadows could die.

Was he confident that that was the only one? Not a chance. King's mother was a god, apparently, and had probably made multiple of them. But it was enough for now.

He landed with a stumble, armor hot from his flame, but he would ignore it for now. He teleported back up to the chain, this time making a neat ring of fire to protect himself from the shadows, before swinging his axe hard at the connection joint.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The chain slightly cracks — needing more force on the area. There is a purple colored magical barrier seen when hit. No shadows appear — seemingly only appearing when Derek at a chain.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek blinks, then adjusts his grip on his axe.

No more shadows, huh?

But, he had to follow each chain. Did it appear because of the chain or because he had hit it?

No matter.

With all his strength, he swings the axe back down onto where he had hit it before, hoping it would be enough.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The chain breaks open, now dropping to the ground of the fallen kingdom and ending the buildings underneath but luckily there is not a single life there anymore.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek warps to the ground a distance away, looking around for the next chain. He spots it, a decent ways away. He could see the untethered end, so he would have to follow the chain again.

This time, he would be more careful.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

A shadow appears in front of the next chain, pointing a spear at Derek — this is more smarter than the first one was.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek eyes the shadow being, the spear, and the chain. It was between him and his path, and the being had the reach advantage.

... The real question was, was it just the one, or would another reappear to take its place if he 'killed' it now?

To his eye, the spear is just a spear. No enchants, no magic, but he couldn't count on that. The chains looked normal, too, and they clearly were not.

"Fine. You want to fight?" He swaps his axe for a sword - not the best weapon for this, but the best one he has - and a shield.

"Let's fight, then." He knows what he is doing is the right thing. He just hopes he'll live to see the end of it.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow hits the ground with the spear, the ground cracks apart and open with large shadowy tentacles appearing — blocking the way.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek takes a moment to assess.

Tentacled shadows in the way. He had seen.... Pretty far away, but he couldn't see through to see where they'd gone. Interestingly, the path away was left open - strategic retreat was still an option, should he choose to take it. Not that he would. Not yet.

Not that the tendrils could reach him where he stood, either. Would the shadow come forward, or linger within its defense?

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The Shadow appears on top of the chain handler, watching closely.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

The shadow... Vanishes. Gone. He keeps an eye on his surroundings, mindful of any surprise attacks (his aching wings enough of a reminder of that fiasco), and thinks.

Could he damage the tendrils? Maybe.

He takes a deep breath, and out comes a thin line of flame, licking the base of one of the tendrils. Not white-hot, due to his distance from the base of the thing, but there nonetheless. Now: would it do damage, or not?

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The fire hits and disappears fast — a fail .

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Disappointing, but not surprising.

Now, he spots the handle - and his foe.

... Could the tentacles reach him if he teleported over there? Maybe. It looked like they just might be close enough, but maybe not.

Was he really going to try and fight the tentacles like he was in some... horny anime game?

No. Stop that, brain. Focus. This is not that.

They seemed impervious to flame, or at least the normal heat he could make at a distance. He didn't have his other breath type, and he wasn't inclined to fight them if he didn't have to.

Wait.

Could he just... Walk around them, from a safe distance? They couldn't uproot themselves, and his opponent would either be forced to make more or fight him one-on-one.

Well. If it's stupid and it works, it's not stupid. So, around the tentacles he begins to trek, careful to stay out of range of getting grabbed while keeping the chain base and his foe within line of sight.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow snaps it unseen fingers — large shadowy spikes appearing in the shy near itself . In a blink of a eye , the spikes hit and throw Derek off of the chain base .

The spikes stabbing into Derek arms and legs but soon disappearing — leaving wounds .

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

The spikes less stabbed through Derek, as nicked him where the armor had joints that weren't fully covered.

That it could aim for those spots from so far away (for a non-magic-shadow-being) was impressive. And alarming.

Rather than faff about further, he concentrates a moment. This shadow likely didn't know where on him the earrings were, so he was probably fine to teleport up there and fight properly, yes?

Or. Does he save that for later. For, he assumes, there will be another at the next chain. He may need that trump card for later.

"Will you come down and fight? Or will I need to go up there?" It's a question for himself, but also the shadow being. He doesn't expect a response from it, not really, but he's prepared for if it appears or jumps down for a proper fight. As he speaks, he continues to approach the base of the handle. Cautious, careful. He will not make the same mistakes he made earlier.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow glares but does not move .

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

(( @humanoidworm-anon

Derek appears in the middle of ruins. He has a vague idea of where he needs to go; now, he simply looks for what is most likely to be the anchors to the chains keeping a child trapped within the void.

The earrings, lent from Spider, he tucks into his inventory., along with the snippers and rubber gloves he'd snagged for Spider for later.

He will succeed. He will not fail.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

There is three 300ft long chains all around in a circle of the fallen kingdom ends, heavily cracked and come to falling apart after all those years.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

These chains, Derek muses, must be it. Obviously. King is chained, these must be it.

He picks one at random, following it to its end.

How to break the chain... They seem old, would just, smacking a cracked part work?

Experimentally, he digs out his axe from his inventory, slamming it full force into a particularly fragile link in the chain.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The part breaks quite easily, the chain far more.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

"That... feels too easy." Derek murmurs, mostly to himself. Still, if it worked... He goes to the other chains, looking for similarly weak links and smashing them.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

A shadow appears right behind Derek, a simply puppet of The Mother. The shadow grabs D3r wings and rips them right in the middles with no problem, blood dripping from the now ripped wings.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

A scream rips itself from his throat; he whirls, axe going to cleave the shadow in two, flame spewing from his mouth in time with the blade.

He could rescue his wings later; right now, there is a much larger threat.

He doesn't want to call on The King, but he will if he must.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow stares at Derek, not a single bit of life in those eyes. The shadow is just a empty husk that follows orders with no hesitation or emotion.

The shadow summons a large hand made from pure darkness — grabbing and throwing Derek into one of the fallen buildings walls that hasn't gone to the ground.

The shadow appears right in front of Derek, growling in his face.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek goes flying - fortunately, he has enough sense to try and glide his way around the building. He... Mostly succeeds, with great effort, given his messed up wings.

He wastes no time with belting flame right at the shadow's face, swinging his axe in tandem and clipping the thing with it before booking it in the direction of one of the chain ends, towards one of the bases. He doesn't look to see how damaged he's made the shadow being; he knows he has hit it, and that is enough for him.

The shadow things must be protecting the bases. Drawing him away from the bases. If he can get to even one, he can fix things.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow gets hit with the fire, it hiss and cries in pain. Strange thing for a soulless puppet to ever do — they usually just deal with the pain. Hm.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek hears the hiss of pain, and files that piece of information away in his head.

It can be hurt.

It can (probably) bleed.

It can be defeated.

For now, though, he focuses on booking it towards the closest base, given the chain he's loosely following. Zig-zagging in case the shadow comes after him, moving surprisingly quickly through the rubble.

It doesn't take long before the first base comes into his line of sight.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow finally puts itself out, disappearing into the darkness. The shadow soon appears from behind Derek — grabbing his legs and tripping him onto the ground, it jumps onto Derek and starts clawing into him.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek rolls when he's tripped, kicking the shadow off as he scrambles to his feet.

Right. Shadow. Could probably teleport with shadows. He'd fly, but. Can't.

"Shit," He mutters, breathing flame in the shadow creature's direction, just to help keep it off long enough to stand. Did he need a light source to keep it away? No. That'd be too easy.

With some space bought, he books it to the base of the chain.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow dodges the fire this time, learning from it mistake. It growls loudly at Derek.

//ooc : This ^ but with the chain part being on the round handler and the large icon part of the item is in the ground deep, only having the handler seen.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek looks at the thing holding the chain, mind spinning, even as he keeps at eye on the shadow. That it growls at him says it can learn; it can teleport, too. Could it fly? Did it need ground?

And, would swinging his axe at where the chain connected to the base structure sever the spell or would he need to do something else?

Well worth trying, in any case.

He fishes those teleportation earrings from his inventory, keeping an eye on the shadow being as he does so, and tucks them into an inner pocket just so he can't lose them. And then, pictures himself atop the base of the thing.

It works, and he wastes no time swinging his axe and full strength upon the connection.

(( ooc: that looks AWESOME I'm love it!!!

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The Shadow disappears into the darkness, appearing again from the shadow of Derek and grabbing him. The shadow forces the two to fell off of the handler to the ground.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek swears, loudly; he missed the chain due to the shadow.

He breathes fire towards it, not caring if he catches his own armor in the flames as he tries to scorch the being off of him.

His mangled wings spread, only succeeding in slowing the fall into a semi-glide; even then, it's still a rather quick descent.

Lesson learned: light up the thing before breaking the chain so the shadow has nowhere to spawn.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow screams, soon going quiet. It burned to death.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

... So the shadows could die.

Was he confident that that was the only one? Not a chance. King's mother was a god, apparently, and had probably made multiple of them. But it was enough for now.

He landed with a stumble, armor hot from his flame, but he would ignore it for now. He teleported back up to the chain, this time making a neat ring of fire to protect himself from the shadows, before swinging his axe hard at the connection joint.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The chain slightly cracks — needing more force on the area. There is a purple colored magical barrier seen when hit. No shadows appear — seemingly only appearing when Derek at a chain.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek blinks, then adjusts his grip on his axe.

No more shadows, huh?

But, he had to follow each chain. Did it appear because of the chain or because he had hit it?

No matter.

With all his strength, he swings the axe back down onto where he had hit it before, hoping it would be enough.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The chain breaks open, now dropping to the ground of the fallen kingdom and ending the buildings underneath but luckily there is not a single life there anymore.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek warps to the ground a distance away, looking around for the next chain. He spots it, a decent ways away. He could see the untethered end, so he would have to follow the chain again.

This time, he would be more careful.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

A shadow appears in front of the next chain, pointing a spear at Derek — this is more smarter than the first one was.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek eyes the shadow being, the spear, and the chain. It was between him and his path, and the being had the reach advantage.

... The real question was, was it just the one, or would another reappear to take its place if he 'killed' it now?

To his eye, the spear is just a spear. No enchants, no magic, but he couldn't count on that. The chains looked normal, too, and they clearly were not.

"Fine. You want to fight?" He swaps his axe for a sword - not the best weapon for this, but the best one he has - and a shield.

"Let's fight, then." He knows what he is doing is the right thing. He just hopes he'll live to see the end of it.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow hits the ground with the spear, the ground cracks apart and open with large shadowy tentacles appearing — blocking the way.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek takes a moment to assess.

Tentacled shadows in the way. He had seen.... Pretty far away, but he couldn't see through to see where they'd gone. Interestingly, the path away was left open - strategic retreat was still an option, should he choose to take it. Not that he would. Not yet.

Not that the tendrils could reach him where he stood, either. Would the shadow come forward, or linger within its defense?

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The Shadow appears on top of the chain handler, watching closely.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

The shadow... Vanishes. Gone. He keeps an eye on his surroundings, mindful of any surprise attacks (his aching wings enough of a reminder of that fiasco), and thinks.

Could he damage the tendrils? Maybe.

He takes a deep breath, and out comes a thin line of flame, licking the base of one of the tendrils. Not white-hot, due to his distance from the base of the thing, but there nonetheless. Now: would it do damage, or not?

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The fire hits and disappears fast — a fail .

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Disappointing, but not surprising.

Now, he spots the handle - and his foe.

... Could the tentacles reach him if he teleported over there? Maybe. It looked like they just might be close enough, but maybe not.

Was he really going to try and fight the tentacles like he was in some... horny anime game?

No. Stop that, brain. Focus. This is not that.

They seemed impervious to flame, or at least the normal heat he could make at a distance. He didn't have his other breath type, and he wasn't inclined to fight them if he didn't have to.

Wait.

Could he just... Walk around them, from a safe distance? They couldn't uproot themselves, and his opponent would either be forced to make more or fight him one-on-one.

Well. If it's stupid and it works, it's not stupid. So, around the tentacles he begins to trek, careful to stay out of range of getting grabbed while keeping the chain base and his foe within line of sight.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow snaps it unseen fingers — large shadowy spikes appearing in the shy near itself . In a blink of a eye , the spikes hit and throw Derek off of the chain base .

The spikes stabbing into Derek arms and legs but soon disappearing — leaving wounds .

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

(( @humanoidworm-anon

Derek appears in the middle of ruins. He has a vague idea of where he needs to go; now, he simply looks for what is most likely to be the anchors to the chains keeping a child trapped within the void.

The earrings, lent from Spider, he tucks into his inventory., along with the snippers and rubber gloves he'd snagged for Spider for later.

He will succeed. He will not fail.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

There is three 300ft long chains all around in a circle of the fallen kingdom ends, heavily cracked and come to falling apart after all those years.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

These chains, Derek muses, must be it. Obviously. King is chained, these must be it.

He picks one at random, following it to its end.

How to break the chain... They seem old, would just, smacking a cracked part work?

Experimentally, he digs out his axe from his inventory, slamming it full force into a particularly fragile link in the chain.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The part breaks quite easily, the chain far more.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

"That... feels too easy." Derek murmurs, mostly to himself. Still, if it worked... He goes to the other chains, looking for similarly weak links and smashing them.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

A shadow appears right behind Derek, a simply puppet of The Mother. The shadow grabs D3r wings and rips them right in the middles with no problem, blood dripping from the now ripped wings.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

A scream rips itself from his throat; he whirls, axe going to cleave the shadow in two, flame spewing from his mouth in time with the blade.

He could rescue his wings later; right now, there is a much larger threat.

He doesn't want to call on The King, but he will if he must.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow stares at Derek, not a single bit of life in those eyes. The shadow is just a empty husk that follows orders with no hesitation or emotion.

The shadow summons a large hand made from pure darkness — grabbing and throwing Derek into one of the fallen buildings walls that hasn't gone to the ground.

The shadow appears right in front of Derek, growling in his face.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek goes flying - fortunately, he has enough sense to try and glide his way around the building. He... Mostly succeeds, with great effort, given his messed up wings.

He wastes no time with belting flame right at the shadow's face, swinging his axe in tandem and clipping the thing with it before booking it in the direction of one of the chain ends, towards one of the bases. He doesn't look to see how damaged he's made the shadow being; he knows he has hit it, and that is enough for him.

The shadow things must be protecting the bases. Drawing him away from the bases. If he can get to even one, he can fix things.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow gets hit with the fire, it hiss and cries in pain. Strange thing for a soulless puppet to ever do — they usually just deal with the pain. Hm.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek hears the hiss of pain, and files that piece of information away in his head.

It can be hurt.

It can (probably) bleed.

It can be defeated.

For now, though, he focuses on booking it towards the closest base, given the chain he's loosely following. Zig-zagging in case the shadow comes after him, moving surprisingly quickly through the rubble.

It doesn't take long before the first base comes into his line of sight.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow finally puts itself out, disappearing into the darkness. The shadow soon appears from behind Derek — grabbing his legs and tripping him onto the ground, it jumps onto Derek and starts clawing into him.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek rolls when he's tripped, kicking the shadow off as he scrambles to his feet.

Right. Shadow. Could probably teleport with shadows. He'd fly, but. Can't.

"Shit," He mutters, breathing flame in the shadow creature's direction, just to help keep it off long enough to stand. Did he need a light source to keep it away? No. That'd be too easy.

With some space bought, he books it to the base of the chain.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow dodges the fire this time, learning from it mistake. It growls loudly at Derek.

//ooc : This ^ but with the chain part being on the round handler and the large icon part of the item is in the ground deep, only having the handler seen.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek looks at the thing holding the chain, mind spinning, even as he keeps at eye on the shadow. That it growls at him says it can learn; it can teleport, too. Could it fly? Did it need ground?

And, would swinging his axe at where the chain connected to the base structure sever the spell or would he need to do something else?

Well worth trying, in any case.

He fishes those teleportation earrings from his inventory, keeping an eye on the shadow being as he does so, and tucks them into an inner pocket just so he can't lose them. And then, pictures himself atop the base of the thing.

It works, and he wastes no time swinging his axe and full strength upon the connection.

(( ooc: that looks AWESOME I'm love it!!!

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The Shadow disappears into the darkness, appearing again from the shadow of Derek and grabbing him. The shadow forces the two to fell off of the handler to the ground.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek swears, loudly; he missed the chain due to the shadow.

He breathes fire towards it, not caring if he catches his own armor in the flames as he tries to scorch the being off of him.

His mangled wings spread, only succeeding in slowing the fall into a semi-glide; even then, it's still a rather quick descent.

Lesson learned: light up the thing before breaking the chain so the shadow has nowhere to spawn.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow screams, soon going quiet. It burned to death.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

... So the shadows could die.

Was he confident that that was the only one? Not a chance. King's mother was a god, apparently, and had probably made multiple of them. But it was enough for now.

He landed with a stumble, armor hot from his flame, but he would ignore it for now. He teleported back up to the chain, this time making a neat ring of fire to protect himself from the shadows, before swinging his axe hard at the connection joint.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The chain slightly cracks — needing more force on the area. There is a purple colored magical barrier seen when hit. No shadows appear — seemingly only appearing when Derek at a chain.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek blinks, then adjusts his grip on his axe.

No more shadows, huh?

But, he had to follow each chain. Did it appear because of the chain or because he had hit it?

No matter.

With all his strength, he swings the axe back down onto where he had hit it before, hoping it would be enough.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The chain breaks open, now dropping to the ground of the fallen kingdom and ending the buildings underneath but luckily there is not a single life there anymore.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek warps to the ground a distance away, looking around for the next chain. He spots it, a decent ways away. He could see the untethered end, so he would have to follow the chain again.

This time, he would be more careful.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

A shadow appears in front of the next chain, pointing a spear at Derek — this is more smarter than the first one was.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek eyes the shadow being, the spear, and the chain. It was between him and his path, and the being had the reach advantage.

... The real question was, was it just the one, or would another reappear to take its place if he 'killed' it now?

To his eye, the spear is just a spear. No enchants, no magic, but he couldn't count on that. The chains looked normal, too, and they clearly were not.

"Fine. You want to fight?" He swaps his axe for a sword - not the best weapon for this, but the best one he has - and a shield.

"Let's fight, then." He knows what he is doing is the right thing. He just hopes he'll live to see the end of it.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow hits the ground with the spear, the ground cracks apart and open with large shadowy tentacles appearing — blocking the way.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek takes a moment to assess.

Tentacled shadows in the way. He had seen.... Pretty far away, but he couldn't see through to see where they'd gone. Interestingly, the path away was left open - strategic retreat was still an option, should he choose to take it. Not that he would. Not yet.

Not that the tendrils could reach him where he stood, either. Would the shadow come forward, or linger within its defense?

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The Shadow appears on top of the chain handler, watching closely.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

The shadow... Vanishes. Gone. He keeps an eye on his surroundings, mindful of any surprise attacks (his aching wings enough of a reminder of that fiasco), and thinks.

Could he damage the tendrils? Maybe.

He takes a deep breath, and out comes a thin line of flame, licking the base of one of the tendrils. Not white-hot, due to his distance from the base of the thing, but there nonetheless. Now: would it do damage, or not?

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The fire hits and disappears fast — a fail .

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

(( @humanoidworm-anon

Derek appears in the middle of ruins. He has a vague idea of where he needs to go; now, he simply looks for what is most likely to be the anchors to the chains keeping a child trapped within the void.

The earrings, lent from Spider, he tucks into his inventory., along with the snippers and rubber gloves he'd snagged for Spider for later.

He will succeed. He will not fail.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

There is three 300ft long chains all around in a circle of the fallen kingdom ends, heavily cracked and come to falling apart after all those years.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

These chains, Derek muses, must be it. Obviously. King is chained, these must be it.

He picks one at random, following it to its end.

How to break the chain... They seem old, would just, smacking a cracked part work?

Experimentally, he digs out his axe from his inventory, slamming it full force into a particularly fragile link in the chain.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The part breaks quite easily, the chain far more.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

"That... feels too easy." Derek murmurs, mostly to himself. Still, if it worked... He goes to the other chains, looking for similarly weak links and smashing them.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

A shadow appears right behind Derek, a simply puppet of The Mother. The shadow grabs D3r wings and rips them right in the middles with no problem, blood dripping from the now ripped wings.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

A scream rips itself from his throat; he whirls, axe going to cleave the shadow in two, flame spewing from his mouth in time with the blade.

He could rescue his wings later; right now, there is a much larger threat.

He doesn't want to call on The King, but he will if he must.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow stares at Derek, not a single bit of life in those eyes. The shadow is just a empty husk that follows orders with no hesitation or emotion.

The shadow summons a large hand made from pure darkness — grabbing and throwing Derek into one of the fallen buildings walls that hasn't gone to the ground.

The shadow appears right in front of Derek, growling in his face.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek goes flying - fortunately, he has enough sense to try and glide his way around the building. He... Mostly succeeds, with great effort, given his messed up wings.

He wastes no time with belting flame right at the shadow's face, swinging his axe in tandem and clipping the thing with it before booking it in the direction of one of the chain ends, towards one of the bases. He doesn't look to see how damaged he's made the shadow being; he knows he has hit it, and that is enough for him.

The shadow things must be protecting the bases. Drawing him away from the bases. If he can get to even one, he can fix things.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow gets hit with the fire, it hiss and cries in pain. Strange thing for a soulless puppet to ever do — they usually just deal with the pain. Hm.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek hears the hiss of pain, and files that piece of information away in his head.

It can be hurt.

It can (probably) bleed.

It can be defeated.

For now, though, he focuses on booking it towards the closest base, given the chain he's loosely following. Zig-zagging in case the shadow comes after him, moving surprisingly quickly through the rubble.

It doesn't take long before the first base comes into his line of sight.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow finally puts itself out, disappearing into the darkness. The shadow soon appears from behind Derek — grabbing his legs and tripping him onto the ground, it jumps onto Derek and starts clawing into him.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek rolls when he's tripped, kicking the shadow off as he scrambles to his feet.

Right. Shadow. Could probably teleport with shadows. He'd fly, but. Can't.

"Shit," He mutters, breathing flame in the shadow creature's direction, just to help keep it off long enough to stand. Did he need a light source to keep it away? No. That'd be too easy.

With some space bought, he books it to the base of the chain.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow dodges the fire this time, learning from it mistake. It growls loudly at Derek.

//ooc : This ^ but with the chain part being on the round handler and the large icon part of the item is in the ground deep, only having the handler seen.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek looks at the thing holding the chain, mind spinning, even as he keeps at eye on the shadow. That it growls at him says it can learn; it can teleport, too. Could it fly? Did it need ground?

And, would swinging his axe at where the chain connected to the base structure sever the spell or would he need to do something else?

Well worth trying, in any case.

He fishes those teleportation earrings from his inventory, keeping an eye on the shadow being as he does so, and tucks them into an inner pocket just so he can't lose them. And then, pictures himself atop the base of the thing.

It works, and he wastes no time swinging his axe and full strength upon the connection.

(( ooc: that looks AWESOME I'm love it!!!

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The Shadow disappears into the darkness, appearing again from the shadow of Derek and grabbing him. The shadow forces the two to fell off of the handler to the ground.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek swears, loudly; he missed the chain due to the shadow.

He breathes fire towards it, not caring if he catches his own armor in the flames as he tries to scorch the being off of him.

His mangled wings spread, only succeeding in slowing the fall into a semi-glide; even then, it's still a rather quick descent.

Lesson learned: light up the thing before breaking the chain so the shadow has nowhere to spawn.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow screams, soon going quiet. It burned to death.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

... So the shadows could die.

Was he confident that that was the only one? Not a chance. King's mother was a god, apparently, and had probably made multiple of them. But it was enough for now.

He landed with a stumble, armor hot from his flame, but he would ignore it for now. He teleported back up to the chain, this time making a neat ring of fire to protect himself from the shadows, before swinging his axe hard at the connection joint.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The chain slightly cracks — needing more force on the area. There is a purple colored magical barrier seen when hit. No shadows appear — seemingly only appearing when Derek at a chain.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek blinks, then adjusts his grip on his axe.

No more shadows, huh?

But, he had to follow each chain. Did it appear because of the chain or because he had hit it?

No matter.

With all his strength, he swings the axe back down onto where he had hit it before, hoping it would be enough.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The chain breaks open, now dropping to the ground of the fallen kingdom and ending the buildings underneath but luckily there is not a single life there anymore.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek warps to the ground a distance away, looking around for the next chain. He spots it, a decent ways away. He could see the untethered end, so he would have to follow the chain again.

This time, he would be more careful.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

A shadow appears in front of the next chain, pointing a spear at Derek — this is more smarter than the first one was.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek eyes the shadow being, the spear, and the chain. It was between him and his path, and the being had the reach advantage.

... The real question was, was it just the one, or would another reappear to take its place if he 'killed' it now?

To his eye, the spear is just a spear. No enchants, no magic, but he couldn't count on that. The chains looked normal, too, and they clearly were not.

"Fine. You want to fight?" He swaps his axe for a sword - not the best weapon for this, but the best one he has - and a shield.

"Let's fight, then." He knows what he is doing is the right thing. He just hopes he'll live to see the end of it.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow hits the ground with the spear, the ground cracks apart and open with large shadowy tentacles appearing — blocking the way.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek takes a moment to assess.

Tentacled shadows in the way. He had seen.... Pretty far away, but he couldn't see through to see where they'd gone. Interestingly, the path away was left open - strategic retreat was still an option, should he choose to take it. Not that he would. Not yet.

Not that the tendrils could reach him where he stood, either. Would the shadow come forward, or linger within its defense?

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The Shadow appears on top of the chain handler, watching closely.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

(( @humanoidworm-anon

Derek appears in the middle of ruins. He has a vague idea of where he needs to go; now, he simply looks for what is most likely to be the anchors to the chains keeping a child trapped within the void.

The earrings, lent from Spider, he tucks into his inventory., along with the snippers and rubber gloves he'd snagged for Spider for later.

He will succeed. He will not fail.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

There is three 300ft long chains all around in a circle of the fallen kingdom ends, heavily cracked and come to falling apart after all those years.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

These chains, Derek muses, must be it. Obviously. King is chained, these must be it.

He picks one at random, following it to its end.

How to break the chain... They seem old, would just, smacking a cracked part work?

Experimentally, he digs out his axe from his inventory, slamming it full force into a particularly fragile link in the chain.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The part breaks quite easily, the chain far more.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

"That... feels too easy." Derek murmurs, mostly to himself. Still, if it worked... He goes to the other chains, looking for similarly weak links and smashing them.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

A shadow appears right behind Derek, a simply puppet of The Mother. The shadow grabs D3r wings and rips them right in the middles with no problem, blood dripping from the now ripped wings.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

A scream rips itself from his throat; he whirls, axe going to cleave the shadow in two, flame spewing from his mouth in time with the blade.

He could rescue his wings later; right now, there is a much larger threat.

He doesn't want to call on The King, but he will if he must.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow stares at Derek, not a single bit of life in those eyes. The shadow is just a empty husk that follows orders with no hesitation or emotion.

The shadow summons a large hand made from pure darkness — grabbing and throwing Derek into one of the fallen buildings walls that hasn't gone to the ground.

The shadow appears right in front of Derek, growling in his face.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek goes flying - fortunately, he has enough sense to try and glide his way around the building. He... Mostly succeeds, with great effort, given his messed up wings.

He wastes no time with belting flame right at the shadow's face, swinging his axe in tandem and clipping the thing with it before booking it in the direction of one of the chain ends, towards one of the bases. He doesn't look to see how damaged he's made the shadow being; he knows he has hit it, and that is enough for him.

The shadow things must be protecting the bases. Drawing him away from the bases. If he can get to even one, he can fix things.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow gets hit with the fire, it hiss and cries in pain. Strange thing for a soulless puppet to ever do — they usually just deal with the pain. Hm.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek hears the hiss of pain, and files that piece of information away in his head.

It can be hurt.

It can (probably) bleed.

It can be defeated.

For now, though, he focuses on booking it towards the closest base, given the chain he's loosely following. Zig-zagging in case the shadow comes after him, moving surprisingly quickly through the rubble.

It doesn't take long before the first base comes into his line of sight.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow finally puts itself out, disappearing into the darkness. The shadow soon appears from behind Derek — grabbing his legs and tripping him onto the ground, it jumps onto Derek and starts clawing into him.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek rolls when he's tripped, kicking the shadow off as he scrambles to his feet.

Right. Shadow. Could probably teleport with shadows. He'd fly, but. Can't.

"Shit," He mutters, breathing flame in the shadow creature's direction, just to help keep it off long enough to stand. Did he need a light source to keep it away? No. That'd be too easy.

With some space bought, he books it to the base of the chain.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow dodges the fire this time, learning from it mistake. It growls loudly at Derek.

//ooc : This ^ but with the chain part being on the round handler and the large icon part of the item is in the ground deep, only having the handler seen.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek looks at the thing holding the chain, mind spinning, even as he keeps at eye on the shadow. That it growls at him says it can learn; it can teleport, too. Could it fly? Did it need ground?

And, would swinging his axe at where the chain connected to the base structure sever the spell or would he need to do something else?

Well worth trying, in any case.

He fishes those teleportation earrings from his inventory, keeping an eye on the shadow being as he does so, and tucks them into an inner pocket just so he can't lose them. And then, pictures himself atop the base of the thing.

It works, and he wastes no time swinging his axe and full strength upon the connection.

(( ooc: that looks AWESOME I'm love it!!!

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The Shadow disappears into the darkness, appearing again from the shadow of Derek and grabbing him. The shadow forces the two to fell off of the handler to the ground.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek swears, loudly; he missed the chain due to the shadow.

He breathes fire towards it, not caring if he catches his own armor in the flames as he tries to scorch the being off of him.

His mangled wings spread, only succeeding in slowing the fall into a semi-glide; even then, it's still a rather quick descent.

Lesson learned: light up the thing before breaking the chain so the shadow has nowhere to spawn.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow screams, soon going quiet. It burned to death.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

... So the shadows could die.

Was he confident that that was the only one? Not a chance. King's mother was a god, apparently, and had probably made multiple of them. But it was enough for now.

He landed with a stumble, armor hot from his flame, but he would ignore it for now. He teleported back up to the chain, this time making a neat ring of fire to protect himself from the shadows, before swinging his axe hard at the connection joint.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The chain slightly cracks — needing more force on the area. There is a purple colored magical barrier seen when hit. No shadows appear — seemingly only appearing when Derek at a chain.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek blinks, then adjusts his grip on his axe.

No more shadows, huh?

But, he had to follow each chain. Did it appear because of the chain or because he had hit it?

No matter.

With all his strength, he swings the axe back down onto where he had hit it before, hoping it would be enough.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The chain breaks open, now dropping to the ground of the fallen kingdom and ending the buildings underneath but luckily there is not a single life there anymore.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek warps to the ground a distance away, looking around for the next chain. He spots it, a decent ways away. He could see the untethered end, so he would have to follow the chain again.

This time, he would be more careful.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

A shadow appears in front of the next chain, pointing a spear at Derek — this is more smarter than the first one was.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

[d3r-the-golden-spartan]

Derek eyes the shadow being, the spear, and the chain. It was between him and his path, and the being had the reach advantage.

... The real question was, was it just the one, or would another reappear to take its place if he 'killed' it now?

To his eye, the spear is just a spear. No enchants, no magic, but he couldn't count on that. The chains looked normal, too, and they clearly were not.

"Fine. You want to fight?" He swaps his axe for a sword - not the best weapon for this, but the best one he has - and a shield.

"Let's fight, then." He knows what he is doing is the right thing. He just hopes he'll live to see the end of it.

[humanoidworm-anon]

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

The shadow hits the ground with the spear, the ground cracks apart and open with large shadowy tentacles appearing — blocking the way.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩