We began to march the army arrayed behind me as I watched the darkness for signs of ambush. Afterall they had a week do prepare as much as possible, not a whole lot time but significantly more then we had planned on giving them. Their fortified hanging capital had a series of new forts some on the ground and some below. Between the two sets of walls where a series of walls connecting the walls was a shimmering barrier. The barriers properties were unknown and one of the variables I would need to keep in mind. Luckily the Web Weaver allowed Anastasia to remotely control the army so I could focus on chaos and destruction.
...
[Pseudonym Alert]
Your Pseudonym [The Slivered-One] had been activated as you have entered the system recognized de facto territory of the Tutorial Faction [Cave Yeti].
-[The Slivered-One]
Pseudonym
Grants +5% intimidation to members of the faction [Cave Yeti]
...
It was not long before we stood arrayed the small glimmer of the yellow barrier illuminating the surroundings. I had a rudimentary plan ready, which amounted to me attempting to bash down their walls and then figuring out the rest from there. Halting the army, I had them prepare and to be on the lookout.
"Web Weaver, I'm going to test barrier watch out" I spoke aloud as the puppets lacked the ability to use telepathy beyond other puppets and Anastasia.
...
Throne Room of the Yeti.
...
The Lord-Protector stood stalwart alongside his aunt and the scout that stood proud yet her face was worried as reported what she had seen. An army of monsters, small giantlike creatures, Ogres, and Yeti.
"The Yeti had strange white fur, all the monsters did your regency, they seemed unnatural, it is the only way I could describe it—" she was interrupted by a Guard short of breath stumbling into the throne room.
"Your Regency, Your Majesty, The Slivered-One has come"
...
Back to Kien
...
As I sprinted over the desolate rock desert surrounding the Yellow encased Bastion. Sounds of alarm rung and the shouts of guards both on the ceiling and the floor forts called out. Raising my club high I struck out at the wall before and it shook and their was looks of fear on the guards and yet the wall held. Reaching out I saw the barrier had the ability to block my [Geomancy] as It created a strange hum through the nearby earth that blocked my magical abilities. Deciding the good ole fashioned way would have to work I attacked the wall again each time shook the wall. Arrows of metal struck down at me. Their arrows heavy they might be were ineffective against my browny wrought armor.
Over the clinking of arrows I heard the soft footed march of my army. Large boulders were hefted from the ground around me by the Ogres as the hurled at the barrier. Arrows weren't exactly useful against creatures that didn't have organs or blood. The Yeti seems to have settled for a siege in order to leverage their defensive advantage.
The Barrier flickered under the stress and the Yeti rallied as they began to a mass. Then the barrier fell away, but only at the area we where attacking. Immediately a shadow attacked me tackling me as my puppets crawled up the walls battling the Yeti Defender.
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Rasing my shield I blocked an incoming attack on instinct as I saw the spear tip that reflected off my shield. It owner was a Yeti dressed in regal armor, sheets of iron fasten into a decent armor. Looking at the armor I could see the poorer quality and mistakes, a combination of my perception and my smithing experience.
Switching into a roof stance ready to attack, as my enemy looked at me his red face. No words were exchanged as we entered the battle, lowering my sword I forced his spear point to the ground. Moving forward I stepped on the spear point. With a strong kick I shattered the spear, my opponent moved back and used his tail blade to keep me at bay the unique patterns kept me from pushing.
Reaching behind him he drew a short sword and a dagger. Re-entering the fight he used his three blades to battle with me. We where still within the sphere of influence of the Barrier which prevented me from just crushing my opponent. Swiping forward I attacked pushing the offensive. With a risky strike I pierced through the armor and I felt the cool yet burning sensation as I felt a weapon slash the back of my knee. I kneeled as I cursed my opponent fell and yet the figure curled a up with a wound in its chest was not the one I had faced.
I looked on as my army was gaining ground until another version of the Warrior I had slain began to battle the champions. I stood up as my Regeneration slowly healed the tendons at a supernatural rate. Limping forward until eventually the pain became a dull ache as I sprinted and I tackled the regal warrior. He once again had his spear to which he speared right through one of my puppets. Once again he used the three blades to nip at my heals.
"Web Weaver, I'll distract him, you get rid of the rest and try to find the source of this barrier." I said before I stood stalwart against my Enemy determined to bait the hound.
Sliding away into a fool's stance I waited for a moment as my enemy attacked again a tail blade at my cheek with a quick last second chop I severed the blade. Returning to the fool's stance I did not have to wait long for my opponent to press as he tried to overwhelm me as his tail slowly bled out. My shield and my armor proved unyielding as my army made it to one of the forts and began to rip through the defenders. The Royal Yeti began to flag as his blood was draining from him.
Then his cherry red face paled he staggered his will strong but bodily functions where still vital and before I could stop him he brought the dagger to his neck and cut this time I watched as the form melted away into a Yeti frail in prisoner clothes. Looking around I heard signs of heated battle as the warrior retook a new form. Rushing forward the Yeti warrior reacted quickly his spear once again given new life he used it with quick probing strikes at my defenses. Not taking the bait I spared a second to take in the battle around me. We had lost a few elites but many more Yeti where strung up on the ramparts. The warrior rose his spear high and tried to take advantage in my slip of attention however [Flow of Combat] made that unlikely. Twisting my neck I caught his spear between my sword and shield and with a burst of strength broke it again. Grabbing the shaft I used to send its owner flying before he could let go. Rushing after the flying monkey I rose in the air before gravity took its hold. The Monkey was dazed and weaponless long enough for me to use [Force Field]. Trapped I watched cockily as the Yeti tried to barge out of the [Force Field], his solution? Ripping out his own throat. I nearly puked as I looked the other way as I reabsorbed the mana from the [Force Field].
The Yeti had a powerful ability but it definitely was a brutal one. This time though there was no attack by the same Yeti.
...
In the throne room of the Yeti
...
"Nephew are you alright?" The High Elder crouched by her sisters offspring as his bright face was pale and sweating.
"It is a side effect of such a powerful skill, I manged to get a measure of the Slivered-One, he is truly a calamity I have feeling that without the [Heart of Kaihao] we would have lost immediately." The Lord-Protector told his aunt and he tried to gather his strength.
"What can we do? If you cannot best him we are destined for death" Old Yetiess stated years of stress and loss burdened her. Now an unstoppable calamity was at her people's door, their protector the great Kaihao had long passed.
"I have an idea, it is costly but what value does anything have if our future cannot exist?" a council woman asked as she stepped forward, one of the eldest Yeti she had seen many years and was scholar just as her foremothers.
"What is it Honored Elderessa?" The Lord-Protector asked desperation brimmed in the grim atmosphere that hung like a fog over the inhabitants of the room.
"If the Lord-Protector consumes the Heart, he can gain a massive boost in his power one strong to battle this Slivered-One, though he will not survive such in influx of power" she stated her voice grim and saddened.
