To The Winner

  Rayna had waited until morning to leave with her new captive. At this current moment in time, Roark was her sharpest and most valuable tool. Given what he had planned for her, his situation was a tenuous one at best. and was allowed alive so long as he was useful. A fact that Roark was beginning to come to terms with. He always watched her with careful eyes. Learning her patterns, and habits. No doubt looking for any weaknesses to exploit, but quickly brought that to an end with a quick poke of a needle. This one only had enough paralytic to makes his extremities feel like jelly. Once they got to their destination, which was on the outskirts of a small village just on the edge the very same monster infested woods she had been briefly trapped in, Rayna dismounted. Instead of pushing the rapey sleazeball off a Lizzorse, she helped him off instead. Roark eyed her suspiciously still unable to move very well, and using that moment to secretly test his legs with no luck. She had been thorough. “Here is your chance Roark.” she said, letting hope ooz into her words. “If everything goes right, you will not have to deal with dual contracts, or have to deal with me for much longer. You could say that we will be going our own separate ways.” Rayna helped Roark over to a dilapidated shed.

  Roark was never foolish enough to play someone else's game, and on their terms no less. One could argue that taking contracts was doing just that, and in a way they would be right. However, those were terms brought about by his place of employment, himself, and the client. This time however, his only choices were to be obstinate and parish, or be agreeable and live if his captor was feeling benevolent, and he had at least one bargaining chip. “And how do I know you will let me go unharmed?” If he could bring this back to familiar territory, he might make it out of this yet. “You will not.” She said fishing for some items from one of their bags. “You just need to hope that I am feeling generous.” He smiled. “I think you will be once you here my proposal.” Roark said before flashing her his best business smile. “And what could you possibly have to offer me that I do not already have?” Rayna said with a laugh. “I know where your dad is.” Roark saw light bloom across his vision as Rayna slammed the but end of her crossbow into his temple. Roark braced himself for death. His gamble did not appear to pay off in the way he had hoped, but the finishing blow did not come. He opened an eye to see a very upset Rayna in his face. “You breath one more lie about my dad, and your usefulness to me ends here and now.” With her anger being brought under control, she gave him his instruction then handed him his Comm Crystal. “So, it is back to benevolence and hoping.”

  Gerwulf was giving his report to King when his Comm Crystal began to hum. He ignored it in favor of finishing. To answer it now was to show disrespect, but to his surprise, King encouraged him. “Just answer the damn thing already.” Gerwulf did so, but almost dropped the thing at Kings next comment. “It might be about Rayna.” King grinned at his second who began to pale at the ears, and looked as though he was a pup who got caught stealing and was about to have his hand removed for the crime. “I-I-I do not know what your talk...” but he didn't get the chance to finish his statement. “DO NOT LIE TO ME.” King yelled, then said softly. “Answer it.” So Gerwulf awkwardly and hesitantly did as he was told. He would have rejoiced at what he heard... Only king had known about it. Like a cornered beast, Gerwulf held eye contact with King. Despite his current state of horrified shock at being found out, what scared him more, was the fact that King was not killing him for the betrayal. What he did instead was pull out two folded pieces of parchment along with a scroll, and placed them in his lap so his second could see them. He read the names. One had his name, and the other had Rayna's name. “Give me your hand or I kill you where you stand.” King ordered. Gerwulf coming back to his senses, realized that not only had King known this whole time but let it happen. He obediently held out his hand. “Why? Why not kill me? I am trying to kill your slave.” King placed the scroll in Gerwulf's hand. “Not now. When you kill her, break the seal.” Snapping out of his confusion, he studied Kings face for a moment, searching for any hint of betrayal, but there was none. After King released Gerwulf, he left King's office chamber, and headed for his so he could finish what he had started.

  King sat back and pulled the stopper off a bottle and downed the contents of a bottle. He felt the soothing golden liquid slide down his throat, filling him with a sensation of calm vitality. In the corner of the Room was a shimmering green light were a beautiful women appeared with flowers braided throughout her long golden hair. Was she an assassin finally sent to kill him? Who but she only knew. He began to cough violently. “Are you here to kill me?” King asked this strange woman. He grinned at her. “I'M afraid you are too late.” She just shook her head. She glided over to King and gently placed a glowing hand on his chest. “No. I have come to collect on our deal. The deal we made all them years ago.” Sudden realization struck king. This was Craylon. The lady of the forest had come to make good on a bargain he had struck when he was on deaths door. “You poor thing.” She cood. King was beginning to feel the cold tendrils of death creeping upon him, but a Nethanual always payed their debt. It was the merchant inside him. So, he reached into a pocket and pulled out a silver spirit stone and tried to hand it to Craylon when he noticed the glowing hand on his chest. “Are you saving me again?” “No.” she said sympathetically. “Only God can do that, but I can give you what little of your time, that you would have had left so you may help me save my child, and perhaps see yours one last time. The hand grew warm, and suddenly King felt three days’ worth of life flow into him. He went to thank her. Not upset that his life could not be spared. Why should he be bitter? After all, she had given him his life when he should have been dead all them years ago, and all he had to do was cultivate a silver Spirit stone. When he asked why, she said. “To save my child.” He understood those feelings. It was the main reason he took the deal. So, he could save his from his once bitter wife. Craylon put a finger to his lips. “Shhhhhhhh. Be still.” She plucked the spirit stone from his hand, and replaced it with a necklace that hummed with magic power. “Give this to your child for me.” No more words were needed. With a grateful smile, he nodded, and said, “Thank you.”

  Rayna had been thorough with her trap. It was an improved version of her needle barrage. Only this time, she was using crossbow bolts in the mix. She made sure to cover every inch of the kill box and took her place in the corner of the shed. It should protect her from the onslaught. She still slipped the protective ring on her finger just in case, and overdosed her captive with the remaining paralytic. Of course, that was before she put well placed crossbow bolts through her ankles, which hurt like a bitch. She placed her hands behind her back and waited with a firm grasp on the trigger line. It wasn't long and there was a pop as a beastkin appeared.

  Gerwulf saw Roark face down on the ground with drool pooling up around his mouth with a crossbow in his hands. With panic, he looked around only to find Rayna tied up in the shed with what he assumed was a wrist needler on the ground in front of her and two crossbow bolts hobbling her movement. He looked back at Roark who had a needle in his back and let a smile creep across his face. “At last.” Gerwulf said triumphantly. “I have you. You know? I thought I was done for when King made it known to me that he knew about these plots of mine, but can you believe that even he wants you dead?” He was monologing. Rayna could not believe the dumb bastard was monologing. Well, she had to sell this by giving him her tough girl act. He was smart beast kin. Anything less would get suspicion. “Fuck you.” She spat at him, but the glob didn't even make it half way. “I will kill you.” That she did mean. Gerwulf just eyed her with an amused smile. “You know? When you threatened me back at the arena, I made a mistake. After all, no one screws you over and lives after being threatened by you of all people.” Gerwulf looked over at Roark who was struggling to breath. “You are a coward Gerwulf.” Rayna baited with a mach sneer. “He was not man enough and neither are you.” It was Gerwulf's turn to let loose his ugly. “If it was not for you finding those damnable devine beasts, I would still have the arena, I would not have had to relinquish a ring of regeneration.” Rayna inwardly smiled at that. Those were not cheap, and she would be making good use of that once this was over. “And if that is not enough, I have to put an end to you personally,” To emphasis the point, Gerwulf kicked the dying Roark in the ribs. “because if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.” Gerwulf smiled. “You are right. I am not man enough, but I am beast kin enough.”

  Rayna saw the old beastkin pull out a wicked black blade from a sheath strapped to the small of his back. Clearly incenses by the situation, he trudged into the kill box with the intent to finish her off once and for all. It was at that moment that Rayna gave the trigger line a good yank. TWANG, TWANG, TWANG, TWANGS TWANG, TWANG, TWANG, TWANG, TWANG, TWANG, TWANG, TWANG, TWANG, TWANG, TWANG, TWANG, TWANG, TWANG Gerwulf looked like a surprised, bipedal porcupine that took a bad evolutionary step. He looked stunned. Well, paralyzed would be more accurate to say the least. His eyes bulged as Rayna ripped out the very bolts that hobbled her with a scream and slipped on Roark's ring of regeneration. Once she was healed, she took the dagger from his hands and pushed him onto his back, and knelt next to the helpless beast kin so they were eye to eye. “I told you I was going to kill you.” Then slowly dragged the knife across his throat. Once her grizzly task was complete, she went through his things and found a magic teleportation scroll. Collecting the rest of Gerwulf's stuff into her bag, she activated the scroll not wanting to hang around any longer than she had to.

  Ross was in Grisre's lap being the unwilling subject of many pettings. It was humiliating. He was a human man that commanded the respect of the human race. Well, the humans back home anyway, but that was beside the point. Grisre had lost a friend and almost lost a second. That being said, this was the only meaningful comfort he was able to give. He was never good with words anyway. Truth be told, it was oddly relaxing. Over the months he had grown to like the amorphous shadow. So, Ross felt the sadness for its passing as well. Master Timdel was next to them with an arm around Grisre. “It is OK.” He said with comfort. “We are all tied together, and as such, live in harmony with Craylon. It was lucky to have known you and you it.” He handed her a handkerchief. “Take the rest of the day, and come find me tomorrow. There is something we need to discuss. Ross saw the Master motion him to follow. He did so. Grisre had loosened her grip, and taking advantage of the slight easement, slipped out of her grasp to follow. Ross had the feeling that this Master Timdel was no joke. The way he would look at Ross with his piercing yellow Catlike eyes made him feel exposed, similar to how you would feel when you had one of them naked dreams were you are in public with no pants on, and you're left with a constant sense of embarrassment.

  They arrived at Timdel's room where he let Ross in. The Master took a seat on the chair situated by the writing desk, and Ross chose the corner of the bed. He felt no hostility from the beast kin, if anything, he felt a kinship with him, and he was very polite. He had even introduced himself to Ross and Danny, despite Dan's current state, but just to be safe, left himself an avenue of escape. Human or not, all sentient life seemed the suffer the same human condition. The two studied each other’s for what seemed like minuets when finally Master Timdel broke the silence. “What are you?” Ross was taken aback by the question. He had gotten so used to others just seeing a beast that being seen as such had become his new norm. “What do you mean? What am I?” Ross had no intentions of irritating Grisre's former... No, still Master. Timdel just didn't know what he was just yet, but Master Timdel, true to his title exuded patience, and went into teacher mode to abate the ignorance. “You are Polymorphed. He said simply, but seeing Ross's confusion elaborated. “Magic has twisted you from your original form to this cat form. So please let me clarify. What was your original form.” “Human.” Ross said. “Specifically, a human from a different world.” He wanted to say more and demand that he severs the bond between Grisre and Dan, but he had a feeling patience vs his building impatience would triumph in the end.

  Master Timdel raised an eyebrow at that. “That would explain a few things. Your friend however, that is still a mystery. I take it he is also from your world, and that he to was once human.” As soon as he said that, Ross almost went from patient and calm to angry and murderous. There were only two other people who knew that, and it was Grisre and Morten Grey, and it was that fact alone that kept him somewhat stable, because a certain wizard had gone out of his way to kidnap good men and women, and turn them into fuel for his nonsense. He never gave revenge much thought, since they were worlds away, but just the memory of it angered him, because he would never get the chance to avenge them. “Please be calm. I see I touched a sore spot. Please forgive me.” Timdel's apology brought Ross back to himself and noticed that he had involuntarily engaged his blood rage. It wasn't the master's fault. He had merely sought affirmation. So, Ross decided to give him their story Starting with Mortan Grey. “Your right.” Ross said tail twitching. “We were captured by a deranged wizard who called himself Mortan Grey, or Holland.” This caught Master Timdel's full and undivided attention.

  “So that is what happened. You like my people long ago have been gifted by the Lady of the Forest, but I sense your time under Mortan's curse is at an end. All you need to do is evolve.” Master Timdel Said with certainty. “As for how long it will take, well, that is unknown. I suggest doing it at the the temple beneath the castle. It will be chalk full of pure Mana. As for Danny, we will need to take him there to finish his evolution and figure out why he is no longer human and break my learner's imperfect bonding.” He gave Ross a wink. Ross needed to ask about Mortan Grey. He knew it was probably pointless, but he needed to know if humanity would be safe from that maniac. Morten's words still echoed in Ross's mind. “Will Morten... Sorry Holland. Will Holland try to destroy what's left of my people for his own ends?” Timdel slowly nodded his head. “It is a possibility. He was obsessed with power back then, and sounds like he still is now. I know telling you not to worry is pointless. So, focus on what you can do for now. Cheer up. Tomorrow, we fix your friend.”

  Monk Voe and his group stood at the city gates being denied entry for the fifth time. With the gold and emerald seal handed to him by King Arista outstretched, he said. “You will allow me and my monks passage.” To emphasize the point, he waved it in the guard’s face as if he was hard of sight. The guard, having had enough pulled his blade free of its sheath and went to attack, but just as he was pulling his sword free, the head monk became infused with the elements and snapped the blade with his forefinger and thumb. “It is authentic Basil let him pass.” The other guard said placing a disarming hand on the shocked man's shoulder. The sensible guard gave the monk a bow and let them pass.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  The next morning Grisre did as she was told and left to find her master, Ross followed closely behind with excitement filling his whole being. He was about to be reunited with Danny. Of course, it involved a pilgrimage through a dangerous dungeon as Timdel said it, but it had to be done to get to the temple. It was a test meant to test the student’s metal during non-peaceful events when combat was required when the harming or taking of life was unavoidable. It also had something to do with learning from the past. Ross didn't care about that though. He just wanted Danny back. High lord Gwenith was not too keen on the idea however, and argued with Master Timdel until he made a very persuasive argument with his magic, and halted the growth of every beast being raised by the Coran military, then threatened to undo every soul bond that was performed at the choosing.

  Leading the procession was Lord Gwenith herself followed by Grisre, Danny's egg, and Ross, then followed by Master Timdel in the back. With the same nonplussed look plastering her face, she opened the door to the dungeon below. “She better not come to harm.” The Lord said in warning. Still not happy at being strong armed. “That is up to her. She has gotten this far without me, and has earned this right.” Then his face hardened. “I will not allow any outside force to hinder this trial.” Lord Gwenith wasn't mollified by this, but she did not have to be. Like it or not, the group walked into the maw of the beast. The entrance took the group minus the high lord to an area just big enough for a small group to set up camp. It looked like someone hollowed out the area, then smoothed it out. In the center of the room was a floating pedestal that held basin full of blue ghostly flame. As if sensing them, it regurgitated its flame which split into 10 smaller flames, and zoomed around the room, finding purchase along the wall in braziers held upwards by carved stony beast like hands. Both Grisre and Ross looked back only to see the door close on a worried looking High lord and vanish. “So, what now?” Ross and Grisre asked in unison.

  Danny awoke in his inner self. He felt weaker than before, but felt a strength flowing into him. Only this time, a pure wight door was before him with an image of a striped cat that looked like a stronger version of him was on it. As if sensing his eyes upon it, it opened ajar. Not enough to go through, but enough to feel immense potential flowing out from it. His potential, but just as the door opened, a piece of his inner self dissolved. His instincts told him what he needed to do, and that was get through that door and claim the power within, but more than that, Danny felt something else. It was familiar, motherly almost and powerful. It too called for him.

  Ross jumped out in full blood rage, his claws glowing crimson as he let lose a volley of his blades of blood. Each blade was carefully aimed, and struck their intended targets. What they faced felt wrong even for him. Seeing as he was a beast, it may have been that he was also strongly tied to the world's natural order. One of the unliving beasts, a 3 headed viper, lunged at him with glowing green fangs, but before it latched onto Ross, it was hit with 5 bolts of force, and sent 2 of its 3 heads careening off, causing the beast to miss its mark. “That was close.” Ross communicated via his Mind Link. “Just be careful not to get bit less you wish to be one of the unnatural.” Grisre remarked. Ross felt that Grisre wanted to end this fight quickly, so he jumped back as a ball of flame flew past and detonated in the swarm, and like that the battle was over. Nothing but ashes remained. Grisre took on a look of regret. “Master, why is there so much suffering in this place? Their souls screamed for release.” Master Timdel grimaced at the question as if he was reminded of a painful memory. “It is a lesson your predecessors and their ancestors had learned many eons ago, but alas, this is your trial not mine.” What the Beast kin said sparked curiosity within Ross. “Just how old are you?” Timdel just gave a wary look and said, “You will know the truth soon enough.”

  As if the room had read the Masters, mind another door appeared on the other side of the room. The door looked menacing. It was pure black and radiated a sense of doom. Both Ross and Grisre looked back at the old master for guidance, but found none. Grisre murmured something under her breath. “This is my trial.” She moved methodically to the door. Something bothered Ross about that door. It gave a feeling of doom yes, but it felt familiar. Like the day humanities flame was almost extinguished. “Wait.” Ross thought to Grisre. This is a test of combat and knowing when to take life right?” “Yes?” She thought back. “Before we go in let’s think about what has happened thus far.” Ross thought. “The ghostly flame that lit our path and showed us the door. I'M guessing that is to represent the ghosts...” His thoughts were interrupted by Master Timdel. He glowered at Ross “This is for her to figure out, and reflect upon. Not you. Say one more word and I will force you into evolution.” The threat was real, and while the beast kin wouldn't harm him or Danny, Ross felt he would do that much, but he was right. The sucky part about realizing the answer was that it struck close to home, and the lessons it taught hurt. How many were sacrificed to save the human race from itself?

  Grisre scowled at her master at having been denied the answer, but took the time to think about it. Ross was about to follow her the door when Master Timdel held him back. “You may guide her, but do not give her the answer.” Ross nodded his understanding and went in, leaving the master behind. The room was dark until a crystal set into the ceiling began to glow with a ghostly light that shot out a ghostly ball of flame that was similar to the one at the entrance. However, it didn't rest in brazier, but hovered at the edge of the wall. It was almost like it wanted them to follow it, and follow it they did. It showed a set of images that told of an impossibly hard war scenario, One Ross was all too familiar with. One with a trick answer that was not obvious or simple. You have two opposing factions with equal power. Neither side will compromise, and each side will not be happy until the other is destroyed. How do you end the war and with which side? Many cadets failed this, and he expected the same here, because the answer was betrayal.

  Grisre puzzled over the answer for a bit until two voices boomed throughout the room. They reenacted the scenario, giving life to each side’s complaints, ideologies, and hatred for one another. Once it finished, it demanded her answer. “The answer is not as straight forward as you think.” Ross thought at Grisre. “How do you break a war of attrition?” Grisre thought about the answer for a good 30 minutes, then her face dawned a look of disgust then thought some more. Ross knew she was going to answer wrong. “By choosing the side that aligns with my values and aiding them with my magic and talents. “WRONG!” boomed the voice. A real sense of danger permeating the room. “You have one chance left to end this endless cycle of war. What is your answer?” She flinched. Ross had no idea what would happen if the answer was wrong again, but time in this world had taught him that it wasn't going to be good. The sense of danger he felt only confirmed it. He gave Grisre a light scratch on the leg to get her attention. “Think about the riddle. You have two sides of equal power. Your answer is wrong, because you joining a side means they to have someone just like you joining theirs. Neither side will compromise, and won't stop till the other is destroyed.” Grisre's brow furrowed. “But that means no one wins.” Then her eye brows shot up in surprise. “Betrayal!” She shouted at the voice. “The answer is betrayal. Both sides are mutually destroyed.”

  Ross's fur stood on end. Had they gotten the answer wrong. No that couldn't be right. It was the very riddle he had been given by the military academy's headmaster as some sort of tradition. His worries came to a head when an inner circle of black and numbered Icosahedron crystals appeared. The ghostly light shot from the wall, hit the first Icosahedron crystals and multiplied to accommodate the rest of their new homes. Then the feeling of danger passed, then flared for the briefest moment as an archway appeared. Beyond the archway was a large cavern that looked as though it could fit a decent sized village. In fact, it did. Except the village was a ghost town situated around a central temple. The village was unremarkable, but the temple looked modern with a fantasy touch. The modern portion of the temple looked like an oversized habitat dwelling. The fantasy part of it was something else entirely. At first glance it looked like nature was trying to reclaim the building, but a closer look reviled that it was doing something else entirely. It wasn't trying to reclaim it. It was part of the building.

  Ross was brought out of his admiration for the temple when Grisre picked him up and carried him through the archway. “I wonder what this all means?” Grisre asked no longer using Ross's Mind Link. “I don't know.” Ross answered, then with his best impression of her Master said. “It’s your trial.” She giggled. “That is very true. Though something worries me.” Ross jumped out of her hands and onto a rock. “That overwhelming sense of danger we felt when the portal opened.” She nodded. “I felt it as well. Do you think it is the Demon Master?” Grisre asked concerned. “Ross nodded his head not wanting the possibility to be there, but that danger had a signature to its feel. One that he had come to associate with their foe. “I don't want it to be, but it likely is. It made some very bold claims.” Ross was horror struck. He just hoped it wasn't what he was thinking. “I think we’re in for a fight.” As if the universe agreed, a bright flash and a boom sounded from the temple.

  Danny milled about his inner self, examining the door that had appeared. The more the door opened, the more of his inner self seemed to vanish. By know the door was almost open. He had tried to go through it to claim the power within. The power that felt as though it was for him and him alone, but every attempt was met with an invisible force that stopped him dead in his tracks. Despite there only being a small platform left, there was no fear. Danny had spent enough time in here to know he wouldn't fall. Then as the last of his inner realm vanished, the door opened fully, and then he felt it again. That same familiar sense reached out to him, except it wasn't a motherly feel like he had originally thought, it was a longing for a mother. It wanted to live and grow.

  Ross and Grisre rushed to the temple. Ross was able to keep up with little effort. “That was Master's spell.” Grisre huffed. “He must be fighting that thing.” “Let us just hope he holds out. How is Danny doing? Is he OK?” Ross asked with concern in his voice. Grisre went quite for a moment, then answered. “He is fine. Master Timdel will defend him with his life.” He remembered hearing the guard that found them saying something along those lines, but if Grisre believed it then he would to. He was about to get Danny back, and no force on this world would stop that. When they arrived, they found a battered Master Timdel holding an egg in 1 arm and a sword glowing and swirling with green energy in the other hand, facing an equally battered Demon master. Master Timdel lashed out with his blade causing a tsunami of green energy to flow out of the blade. In the Demon master’s confusion, he tossed the egg to Grisre. “Take the egg to safety. RUN! NOW!” She didn't hesitate, and bolted out the door only Grisre wasn't fast enough. The Demon Master blocked the exit with a wave of magic. Ross, anticipating its next move, went into a blood rage, and let loose his blades of blood, which chopped off its arms before it could grab the egg. Master Timdel made a hand sign and encased his learner in a bubble of force energy with a brief look of pride.

  The demon Master was on the back foot now. “You all just keep interfering. You just cannot help but throw yourselves at me. Well fine. Then I will ascend using your souls.” It said, Then, it began to glow with a sickly red energy with tentacles bursting out in every direction. Master Timdel tried to cast a shield over himself, but wasn't fast enough, and was penned to the temple wall. Grisre's barrier rang out with a reverberated gong as three tentacles smashed against it. Ross Avoided 4 of the 5 only to have a tentacle grab him by the front leg. It hurt. Ross felt the tentacle crushing it. Moreover, he felt it sapping his life force followed by a CRACK as the Demon ripped his leg right out of its socket and free from Ross's body. Master Timdel Was fairing no better as the tentacle impaling him began to glow bright with the beast kin's life force.

  Danny inner self faded to pure darkness save for the fully opened door. Jumping through, he found himself standing on two legs again. He was human. Only, he was sitting at Cathrin's bed side as she was dying. A sense of what was real and what wasn't had become dulled to the point that he didn't know which was real and which was not. Pain. Pain that had come to a dull numbness returned. It plowed a hole in his heart the size of Jupiter. He grabbed her hand and kissed it to give her the comfort that life had so cruelly denied them both. She mouthed something to Danny something they had said to one another many times. Her voice failing her. “I love you.” “I love you to Cat. He said, tears welling up in his eyes as she mouthed something else. She looked torn. “Live for the both of us.” And just like that she died, leaving him alone in this cruel world. Then, he was at the bridge in his car. The feeling of a wounded heart freshly ripped asunder. He could do it. It would be oh so easy, and this time. “This time?” He asked himself confused. Suddenly as if a fog had been lifted, he remembered his friend Ross. He remembered how he took care of him through his hardship, and that's when he saw Ross with a missing leg and bleeding out. “No. NO. NOOOOO.” he yelled as he tried to open the door of the car only it would not. He needed power, and he could feel it. Reaching out with his aura, he found it and bound it to himself. He pushed the car door off its hinges, and found himself in Grisre's lap.

  The egg glowed a blinding purplish Azure, and standing on all four legs was a cat surrounded by Mana. It seemed to bend to its will. It bowed to him. It was Danny. Danny Activated bestial defense and Mana Barrier and charged the Demon Master. It shot a tentacle at him. Except. He felt it before it impacted his mana barrier.

  Mana domain (Passive) – As a mana beast you can sense and understand the magic within your domain. Your domain is X inches in radius where X= INT+WIS.

  It was at that moment, that he sensed the weave of mana being used by the Demon. It was powerful. An idea struck Danny. What if he could alter those weaves, and use the things power against it? He wasn't confident in his abilities to kill it in a straight on fight.

  Mana Site (Passive) – You can see the Mana around you. The longer you look, the more you know and understand.

  Mana Manipulation (Passive) – You may manipulate the mana within your domain to enhance or alter the effect. Effecting an enemies Spell requires X to be Hire then the opposing spell resistance were X=INT+WIS.

  Using his domain, he grabbed the mana radiating from the tentacle and went to work. Instinctually, the demon's spell made sense. It was a siphon for soul energy, so he altered the weave of mana to reverse the the flow of soul energy and feed all soul energy back into the demons’ victims. The effect was immediate. “NOOOOOOO WHAT IS HAPPENING.” The Demon master screamed. The demon tried to fix the spell, but as long as a tentacle resided in his domain, Danny controlled the spell, and refused to release it.

  To Ross's surprise, the Demon Master began to shrivel to a husk. A husk that reviled itself to be Tam. Before the husk burst into dust, its mouth moved to form words. “Thank you.” The fight over, Master Timdel went wide eyed in surprise and reverence at the Azure glowing cat. He soon snapped out snapped out of his reverent shock and began healing Ross. Danny collapsed.