Chapter 90: Evolving
Wuxia dismissed the notification and bent his knees, the stone beneath Varkhiel’s feet shattered as he launched from the battlefield and crossed over the western wall.
He passed over the damaged towers and burning streets, following the repeated collisions shaking the inner district until two figures appeared above the remains of the cathedral.
The Fortress Commander had already suffered several injuries.
Cuts crossed Zhao Tianhan’s arms and sides, part of the armour covering his left shoulder had been torn away and blood ran down the shaft of his spear.
None of the wounds appeared fatal, but his movements had slowed enough for the difference between them to become clear.
The Beast Commander stood opposite him with barely any visible damage, a shallow wound appeared across his cheek and another had opened beneath his ribs, but the black substance moving beneath his skin entered both injuries and slowly pulled them closed.
Wuxia landed upon the roof of a damaged building beneath them and the Beast Commander looked down immediately.
"Oh?" he said. "Now even insects have come to fight me."
He turned toward Zhao Tianhan and laughed quietly. "You have raised some interesting insects inside your walls, Zhao Tianhan."
Zhao Tianhan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and tightened his grip around the spear. "Take care of yourself first, Cassian Varro, you bastard."
Cassian’s smile widened before he disappeared, both living axes reached Zhao Tianhan from opposite directions, but the commander lowered himself beneath them and drove his spear toward Cassian’s stomach.
The point struck his clothing, yet the black substance beneath it hardened before the weapon could pierce deeper.
Cassian caught the shaft and pulled Zhao Tianhan closer.
Wuxia moved at the same moment as threads wrapped around the rear of the spear and pulled it sideways, forcing Cassian’s shoulders to turn before his knee could reach the commander’s chest.
The scythe crossed the opening and cut through his shoulder, black blood entered the air, but Cassian released the spear and leaned away before Wuxia could deepen the wound.
One living axe extended toward Varkhiel’s head, forcing him to scatter around the blade and condense behind Cassian.
Wuxia swung toward the back of his neck but Cassian turned faster than before and caught the scythe between the curved edges of both axes.
Zhao Tianhan drove his spear through the opening beneath his arm, piercing Cassian’s side before the black substance could gather there.
Cassian twisted away and tore himself from the spear, sending several drops of blood across the roof.
Wuxia landed beside Zhao Tianhan.
"Stay out of this," the commander said without looking at him. "You will die if you interfere."
Wuxia watched the wound in Cassian’s side begin closing. "I know how to protect myself."
Cassian rushed toward them before Zhao Tianhan could answer, the commander met both axes with his spear, while Wuxia moved along his left side and struck toward Cassian’s exposed knee.
Cassian shifted his leg away, but threads caught his wrist before one axe could descend upon Zhao Tianhan.
The restraint lasted less than a breath bu it was enough for the commander to release one hand from his spear and strike Cassian across the jaw.
Wuxia cut into the back of his knee at the same moment, forcing his balance forward as Zhao Tianhan spun the spear and drove the shaft into his ribs.
Cassian was thrown from the roof and crashed through the building below, Wuxia and Zhao Tianhan descended after him.
They entered through separate openings as Cassian struck the floor inside the ruined hall.
Zhao Tianhan’s spear followed him through the dust, forcing him to roll aside before the weapon pierced the stone where his chest had been.
Wuxia attacked from the opposite direction but the black substance surrounding Cassian spread outward and caught the scythe before it reached his waist, hardening around the pale blade.
Cassian stepped forward and raised one axe toward Varkhiel’s head, but Zhao Tianhan abandoned his spear and drove his shoulder into Cassian’s side.
The impact broke the hardened substance and threw both men through the remaining wall.
Wuxia freed the scythe and followed them into the street.
Cassian recovered first and rushed toward Zhao Tianhan, but threads wrapped around the commander’s waist and pulled him away before the living axes could close around his body.
Zhao Tianhan turned with the movement and caught one blade upon his spear.
Wuxia struck the second from below, forcing Cassian’s arms apart before the commander kicked him across the chest.
Cassian slid backwards through the street but remained standing.
Zhao Tianhan glanced toward Varkhiel for the first time since the fight began, the caution in his eyes had not disappeared, but he no longer ordered Wuxia to leave.
"Keep him from controlling the distance."
Wuxia nodded as Cassian attacked again. This time, Zhao Tianhan stepped aside and allowed Wuxia to meet the first strike.
One axe descended toward Varkhiel’s shoulder, but the scythe turned beneath it and redirected the blade into the street. Zhao Tianhan entered through the opening and thrust toward Cassian’s throat.
Cassian leaned backwards but Wuxia caught the spearhead with a thread and pulled it upward, changing its path during the final instant and the blade opened Cassian’s cheek.
Zhao Tianhan lowered his spear slightly. "You fight well."
Wuxia focused upon him without forcing Death Perception through the resistance around his body. He watched the surface of Cassian’s soul instead, following the black substance fused with it.
Both were still changing and with every passing second, their connection became deeper.
Wuxia remembered what had happened inside the cathedral, Cassian had consumed Qin Haoran after the ritual collapsed, taking his flesh, soul and whatever remained of the Church’s corruption.
There had been a reason behind it.
"He is evolving," Wuxia said.
Zhao Tianhan’s eyes narrowed, but he did not look away from Cassian. "Are you certain?"
"I cannot see his complete information, but his soul is changing, his wounds are closing faster and his strength has increased since I arrived."
Cassian’s eyes settled upon Varkhiel and the gentle smile across his face slowly faded.
Zhao Tianhan adjusted his grip upon the spear. "How quickly?"
"Every second."
A tremor passed through the distant walls as another section of the fortress collapsed beneath the beast army.
Wuxia continued watching the darkness beneath Cassian’s skin. "Whatever he absorbed from Qin Haoran is still merging with him, we need to subjugate him before the process finishes."
Cassian laughed, but the sound no longer carried the same calmness. "You should not look so deeply into things beyond your understanding, insect."
Dark lines spread beneath his skin and climbed toward his shoulders, while the pressure surrounding him expanded and crushed the loose stone throughout the street.
Zhao Tianhan moved first as his spear crossed the distance and struck toward Cassian’s heart.
Cassian caught it with one hand, the point entered his palm, but stopped before passing through it. He pulled Zhao Tianhan forward and drove his other fist toward the commander’s chest.
Wuxia appeared between them and the scythe caught Cassian’s forearm while threads wrapped around Zhao Tianhan and pulled him away.
Wuxia scattered Varkhiel’s body at the same moment, preparing to reform behind Cassian but Cassian’s foot moved and the kick struck Varkhiel directly in the chest.
Wuxia had already begun dispersing, but black material spread from Cassian’s leg and entered the soul particles before they could separate.
The impact folded the armour across his chest and launched him through the street.
Wuxia crashed through two buildings before striking the inner fortress wall, stone collapsed around him and the scythe flew from his hand as Varkhiel fell into the crater below.
For several breaths, Wuxia could not move.
Dark lines crawled beneath the damaged armour, holding his soul together and preventing him from scattering.
Zhao Tianhan landed several metres away, blood running from a fresh wound across his chest as he stared toward the crater.
Cassian walked through the ruined street between them, the darkness beneath his skin now covering one side of his face.
His calm smile had returned, Wuxia forced Varkhiel upright and summoned the scythe back into his hand and the damage across his chest slowly repaired.
Zhao Tianhan stepped beside Wuxia and raised his spear, while Wuxia turned the pale edge of the scythe toward Cassian.
For a moment, none of them moved, Cassian stared at the weapon inside Varkhiel’s hands, while Wuxia watched the darkness continuing to spread through his body.
A notification appeared at the edge of his vision.
[Dimensional Descent remaining duration: Fourteen minutes.]