Subjects and Kings

Whoom-!

The scepter flew through the air acting like some sort of remote-controlled projectile. Travis rolled out of its path and shot forth an [Everdeep Blast]. The Undead King raised a hand and forced Rot to disintegrate the blast. As the dark energy disappeared it revealed Travis had vanished from his original position. Unable to find the time to search for the missing attacker the Undead King turned his focus to an attacking Mira. 

Barely skimming the dirt with the edge of his axe Mira delivered a heavy cleave upwards. Simultaneously Opportunity slid to the King's blind spot while manifesting her war axes in a golden energy. Carving them into the calf wound made by Givale Opportunity widened it further. The King leaned back and barely escaped the swing from Mira, yet the axe paused an inch away and swung downwards! 

Surprised by the amount of force slamming into his head from no momentum the King stumbled for a second, an opening taken by all who witnessed it! Travis leapt upwards and utilized a point of revealing. Slicing through it on the back of the King's neck caused a gash to form, although lacking in depth. Travis was well aware of his shortcomings, if it weren't for [Averoth's Lust for Battle] the aftereffects of his Berserk skills would've made him useless in this fight. He was used to ending fights after using such a card, but to think he was forced to fight even after! 

Akiol stabbed the King's ribcage, trying to pass through the ribs themselves but failed to pass more than an inch deep. Through this coordinated attacks the King's rusted crown began to slip. As it left his head it began to gently fall, and the King suddenly turned desperate. Raising his hand he entirely ignored his attackers and gripped the crown, placing it back on his head he moved with a swiftness unlike a spellcaster.

Kicking Mira the King turned and grappled Travis. Swinging Travis into Opportunity he then spun and locked eyes with Akiol. Moving on instinct Akiol blocked a surprise blow and felt his body waver from the recoil. This all happened so quickly no one was able to recover to counter attack. A green glow began to burst from the King, threatening to push everyone away. Yet a magic circle suddenly appeared and the green energy was never released.

Kan'na let out a relieved breath, "Just in time."

The Undead King immediately noticed his attack being countered. Instead he controlled mana to swirl and push away his attackers, but this too was thwarted. Immediately he turned towards Kan'na in the distance, "Someone who's mana control surpasses that of perfect control?"

Mira was the first to recover from the attacks and immediately unleashed another attack with his axe. Spirit manifested and followed his axes. Catching the axe the King was forced to receive damage from the Spirit. Mira felt strain trying to pry his weapon free from the King's grip. Much to Mira's surprise, his strength was in the realm of Fourth Stage after all! 

Opportunity slammed her axes into the King's back. And Tilia crashed into his side with her tower shield. Raising a hand the Undead King gripped the top of the tower shield and attempted to shove it aside, but he couldn't move it! With his hands occupied he controlled the scepter to maneuver and attack Opportunity. Travis leapt up and gripped the scepter, being dragged along with it. Yet utilizing [Truth Twofold: Existence] he teleported himself and the scepter away. 

Magic circles spiraled across the Undead King, further suppressing the green energy. Due to it being ambient mana the effects of Rot didn't seem to apply to it, leaving the King helpless to this restriction! Ryolu moved despite her shattered kneecap and formed a talon of poison around her fist. Givale leapt forward with her daggers and aimed for the wound on the back of the King's neck!

Akiol borrowed Tilia's shoulder and leapt above the tower shield. Outstretching a hand he gripped the crown and removed it from the Undead King's head. He spotted the King's desperation and gambled on it being an important aspect to the King's strength! 

As the crown left the King's head the scepter suddenly dropped to the ground. Ryolu's talons pierced through and the poison fell to the ground. Givale's daggers pierced through the wound on the King's neck. Opportunity ripped fresh wounds on the King's back, and Mira finally wrangled his axe free! 

"I admit, you all are of some talent.", the King seemed unbothered by the damage he was receiving, "Uniquely strong each of you. Yet that does not give you the right! To come to my Kingdom! To slaughter my people! For that I will rip you to shreds myself!"

Akiol called out the hypocrisy, "You started this! Your underlings slaughtered and destroyed Goldlight! You welcomed this outcome when you allowed that to happen, and didn't do anything afterwards!"

The king began to violently twitch, muscles spasming underneath his sunken skin. . . Did the King always have muscle? 

Suddenly ballooning out the King grew in several sizes, becoming a new beast entirely. Reaching out he gripped Mira and lifted him, "Powerful Spirit! The strength it grants you is impressive indeed, but it still falls short!"

Tilia moved and blocked the arm of the King. His glare moved towards her, a glowing green flame in his eyes. An ooze dripped from his jaws as it looked like sanity left the King. Tilia was suddenly gripped, unable to realize what just happened before she was being crushed in the King's now massive hand. 

His voice gargled, "One of powerful War Sight. A rare sight, but can you defend anyone with such a pitiful state?!"

Slamming Mira about on the ground he crushed Tilia with the other. Warping her tower shield to the full body protection Tilia prevented herself from being crushed to paste. Givale morphed into her hybrid form and leapt towards the King's arm. Clawing away at the inflated muscles she demanded, "Let Mira go!"

Ryolu clambered on the King's back and her nails grew to talons as she pierced through the muscle. Injecting as much of her poison as she could she could. Throwing Mira away the King grabbed Ryolu and slammed her into the ground. Smacking away Givale with the fist gripping Tilia he began to fight in a crazed manner.

Punching Opportunity with Tilia he sent her clambering to regain any footing. Raising Tilia upwards he was about to slam down on Ryolu when a magic circle appeared and teleported Tilia out of the grip. Kan'na wiped a bit of sweat, "The King. . . not a spellcaster."

Tilia outstretched a hand and blocked a punch from the Undead King with a series of kite shields. Gripping the shield the King squeezed down to shatter it, even ripping his own skin from the effort. Tilia grit her teeth and switched the shield to her dual setup. Throwing the smaller shield forward she knocked the jaw of the King.

With a grunt the King called, "Heed my command. Those incomplete, rise and fight. Your King commands it so!"

Bones rose through the ground and formed various amalgamations of creatures. Travis leapt forward and roared, "Duck, all of you!"

Skill Sync-!

[Rising Black Moon]

+

[Everdeep Blast]!

=

[[Everdeep Moon]]!

A circular slash extended from a 360 degree angle around Travis. It expanded outwards and sliced the amalgamations in half. Akiol bolted up the moment the attack faded and utilized his footwork to close the distance. Flickering up the King's arm he deepened the wound on the King's neck. A flash of silver lingered at his cut. Yet the King spun and backhanded Akiol into the dirt.

Travis ran forth but suddenly tripped and fell. Pushing himself back up he looked towards his leg. It quivered as it struggled to support itself. The Rot had taken up their bodies, and was now hindering their movements. Gritting his teeth he forced his body to stand back up. Opportunity was suffering from wounds but her extreme amount of buffs kept the effects of Rot at bay for now. Mira was capable of regenerating the damage and seemed fine. Givale's body looked thin, as did Ryolu's. Kan'na was sweating heavily while trying to maintain her focus, but she couldn't quite stand up straight. Tilia was majorly wounded from the crushing she received, yet thanks to her buffs remained fighting against the Rot. 

Then there was Akiol. His slime body churned against the Rot, and thanks to it absorbing the rotted parts he looked like he was in good condition. Yet this fight was chewing at something within him, and not in an emotional way.

Reaching towards his chest he felt a section of slime that felt alien to the rest of his body. It warped about, making a poor spherical shape within him. Just as he pushed through his slime and touched it a voice entered his ears.

"Easy now."

The spherical shape of slime erupted outwards, breaking past his body and growing in size. The Undead King turned towards the commotion and frowned. The burst of slime finally stopped erupting, revealing a massive gray blob.

The Undead King made a scorn, "You are not welcome here."

"A fight of our kinds should remain as their fight. To act yourself is an invitation to a fight of Kings."

"It was your underling who challenged me."

"And it is I who challenges you as well."

Akiol didn't understand. This massive gray blob of slime, this feeling it radiated.

This was the Slime King!