Outnumbered

The next day, with the Blighted Titan defeated and the remaining Shambling Dead scattered, Corbin and his soldiers returned to the scene of the previous day's battle. Their mission now was to gather as many resources as they could carry, as they knew the growing population of Caer Corbin would need them to survive the harsh wasteland.

Soldier #1: "Hey, Commander. Check this out. There's a cache of aether crystals in this building here. Looks like a Rank C one."

Corbin: "Excellent work.

Soldier #2: "This place was a warehouse, or at least it used to be. There's more here than just crystals. Look, medical supplies, rations, and ammunition. It's like we hit the jackpot!"

Soldier #1: "Yeah, but don't forget that every jackpot in the wasteland comes with a price. There could be more Titans out there, or worse."

Corbin: "Stay alert, men.

Corbin: "We'll take what we can, as much as we can carry. Then we'll be on our way. The sooner we get these resources back to Caer Corbin, the better."

Soldier #1: "You got it, Commander. Hey, what do you think happened here? This place looks like it was abandoned in a hurry."

Corbin: "I don't know, but something tells me this wasn't just the work of Titans or Blighted. People lived here once, but they left everything behind. Something must have scared them off.

As the soldiers loaded up their packs with supplies and aether crystals, Corbin's eye was drawn to something in the shadows of a corner. A faded chalk drawing on the wall. It was a crudely drawn image of a skull with glowing eyes, surrounded by a circle of symbols and runes.

Corbin: "What's this?"

Soldier #2: "Looks like some kind of ward, or maybe a warning. I don't recognize the symbols, but it's not Etherwalker writing. Maybe this is what scared the people away."

Kraven turned towards the smoking corpse of the Blighted Titan, taking in the destruction he and his squad had wrought. "That was a good fight, Commander. One for the history books, eh?" He grinned, the fire in his eyes barely dimmed.

Corbin chuckled. "One for the history books, indeed. But we can't let our guard down. There are more monsters out there, and we need to gather what we can before we return to Caer Corbin."

Soldier #1, who had been kneeling beside a fallen comrade, rose to his feet, his face grave.

Soldier #1: "Commander...he didn't make it. The zombie's bite was too deep. He was already infected."

Corbin sighed. "Gods rest his soul. Gather his body, we'll bring him back to his family." He paused, his face somber, before continuing. "We've lost too many already. May they rest in eternal peace"

Kraven nodded grimly. "Aye, Commander. That's why we must keep fighting.

Corbin, steeling his resolve, turned to his squad. "Alright, we've got work to do. Kraven, see if there's anything useful on that Blighted. The rest of you, scavenge what you can. I want to be back in Caer Corbin before nightfall."

The soldiers, their solemnity replaced with a renewed sense of purpose, began to fan out, searching the rubble for anything that could be of use.

Kraven, meanwhile, approached the fallen Blighted Titan, his weapon still flaming in his hand. Kraven, his gaze cold and determined, began to inspect the corpse of the Blighted Titan. As he did so, he could sense a strange, almost pulsating energy emanating from the monster's remains. It was as if the corruption that had infected the Titan still lingered, even in death.

"Commander," Kraven called out. "You might want to see this."

Corbin, hearing the urgency in Kraven's voice, quickly made his way to the Titan's corpse. "What have you found?" he asked, his Etherwalker senses already alert. Kraven pointed to a patch of flesh on the Titan's chest, an area that glowed with a sickly green light. "It's like the corruption is still alive, Commander. Even in death, it seems to linger."

Corbin's eyes narrowed as he used his "Inspect" power on the patch of flesh. His brow furrowed as he read the information that appeared before him:

[Corruption Lingers: Rank D Corrupted Aether, Ability: Persistent Corruption]

"This is dangerous," Corbin said.

Corbin turned to Kraven. "We need to destroy the corruption before it can spread. I don't want to risk any of our men getting infected."

Kraven nodded, understanding the danger. "What do you suggest?"

Corbin's gaze grew hard. "Fire. Lots of it. It's our only chance to purge the corruption."

Kraven smiled grimly. "My specialty." Raising his weapon, he channeled his Infernus power, feeding the fire with his rage and determination. The flames grew hotter, brighter, the very air around them crackling with heat. With a roar that echoed through the alleyway, Kraven unleashed a torrent of flame, engulfing the Blighted Titan's corpse in a sea of fire. The flames danced and swirled, consuming the corruption with a vengeance, the glowing green flesh turning to ash in mere seconds.

As the fire burned, Corbin used his "Inspect" power to ensure the corruption had been destroyed. Sure enough, the message appeared before him:

[Corruption Purged: No remaining traces detected.]

"Good work," Corbin said, offering Kraven a nod of approval.

Kraven, his Fiery Touch still blazing, turned towards Corbin. "What now, Commander? Shall we head back to Caer Corbin, or continue our search for supplies?"

Corbin considered their options, weighing the need for resources against the risks of remaining in the dangerous city. "We've gathered a fair amount already," he said. "But there may be more to be found. We'll push on a little further, but be ready to fall back if the situation demands it."

Kraven grinned, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of battle. "You know us, Commander.

Corbin and his squad continued their search through the ruined city, their weapons at the ready in case of further attacks. As they passed through the streets, the signs of destruction became more pronounced, buildings toppled and rubble strewn across the once-thriving metropolis.

Corbin, scanning the horizon with his Etherwalker senses, felt a chill run down his spine. Something was off.

"Men," he called out. "Stay alert. I sense something in the distance."

The soldiers, their weapons raised, moved into a defensive formation, ready to face whatever threat might come their way. As the soldiers waited, weapons primed and senses on high alert, the silence of the ruined city was suddenly broken by a screeching wail, high-pitched and chilling.

Corbin, his Etherwalker senses confirming what his ears already knew, narrowed his eyes. "It's coming from the east," he said, gesturing towards a ruined tower in the distance. "Be ready for anything."

The soldiers exchanged worried glances, but none dared to break formation. The wail came again, louder this time, echoing through the streets. Suddenly, from the ruined tower, a shape emerged. It was humanoid, but twisted and distorted, its limbs elongated and its joints bent at unnatural angles. Its face was a mass of writhing tendrils, squirming and wriggling like a nest of worms, and its eyes burned with a malevolent intelligence.

Corbin, his expression grim, recognized the creature immediately. "It's a Spawn of the Blighted," he growled.

Kraven, his hand tightening around his weapon, stepped forward. "Leave it to me, Commander. Kraven, his Fiery Touch aflame with righteous fury, charged forward, his weapon raised and ready to strike. The Spawn, its twisted form contorting with unholy agility, dodged the initial blow, screeching and flailing its writhing tentacles.

Kraven, undeterred, adjusted his attack, feinting to the left before spinning and slicing through the creature's tendrils with a blazing arc of flame. The Spawn screamed, the stench of burning flesh filling the air. The Spawn, its tendrils smoldering and blackened, retaliated with a furious lunge, seeking to impale Kraven with its razor-sharp claws. But Kraven, quick on his feet, sidestepped the attack and countered with a slash across the Spawn's midsection, the fire of his weapon searing through its flesh.

Corbin and the soldiers watched in awe as Kraven and the Spawn engaged in a frenzied dance of fire and fury.

"By the gods, that's one hell of a fight," muttered Soldier #2, his eyes wide with disbelief. As the battle raged on, Kraven and the Spawn seemed evenly matched, each evading and countering the other's attacks with uncanny precision. But gradually, Kraven gained the upper hand, his Fiery Touch flickering and crackling with newfound intensity.

With a mighty swing, he drove his weapon deep into the Spawn's chest, the fire of his Etherwalker power coursing through its body. The creature thrashed and screamed, its tendrils flailing in agony as the flames consumed it from within. The Spawn, its wails reduced to a gurgling moan, collapsed to the ground, its twisted form smoldering and still. Kraven stood over it, breathing heavily, the light of his Fiery Touch fading back to embers.

"Well fought, Commander," he said, his voice rough with exertion.

Corbin, his Etherwalker senses confirming the Spawn's demise, gave Kraven a nod of approval.

"Indeed, well fought. But let's not get complacent. Corbin turned to the soldiers. "Search the area, see if there are any more of these creatures lurking about. We don't want any surprises."

The soldiers fanned out, weapons at the ready, their eyes scanning the ruins for any sign of danger. In the distance, the sound of clattering and skittering could be heard, as if something was scuttling over the rubble.

"Commander," Soldier #3 said, his voice low and urgent. "I think we've got company." In an instant, the clattering grew louder, and a swarm of creatures poured from the shadows, their bodies slender and segmented like an insect's, their eyes glowing with a malevolent green light.

Corbin's Etherwalker senses identified them immediately: Etherlings.

"Fall back!" he shouted, "Form a defensive perimeter!"

The soldiers, reacting with practiced efficiency, formed a tight circle around Kraven and Corbin, their weapons trained on the approaching swarm. The Etherlings screeched and hissed, their segmented limbs scuttling over the rubble with preternatural speed.

"Men, we're outgunned," Corbin barked, his voice cutting through the din of battle. "We need to fall back to Caer Corbin. We can't risk further casualties."

The soldiers, recognizing the wisdom in their commander's words, began to retreat, firing at the encroaching Etherlings as they went.

Corbin, always the last to retreat, turned to Kraven. "Cover me," he said, quickly gathering the supplies they had collected earlier. With Kraven at his side, Corbin grabbed the remaining aether crystals, medical supplies, and ammunition. The sounds of the Etherlings grew closer, their skittering feet and hissing screeches a cacophony of madness and chaos.

Kraven, his Fiery Touch igniting with a fiery blaze, stood at the front of the retreating soldiers. "I'll hold them off as long as I can," he growled, his eyes blazing with determination.

Corbin nodded, his Etherwalker senses stretched to their limit, keeping watch for any threats. "We'll meet at the extraction point.

As Corbin and his squad retreated, Kraven remained behind, his back to the wall, his fiery sword held aloft. The Etherlings, their numbers swelling, surged forward, their skittering legs clicking and scratching against the rubble-strewn ground.

Kraven roared, his voice filled with fury and defiance, as he unleashed his power, a blazing inferno of flames roaring forth. The Etherlings screeched and hissed, many of them bursting into flames, their carapaces blackening and smoking.

The Etherlings, driven mad by the flames, surged forward, some of them throwing themselves at Kraven, their bodies ablaze with aetheric fire.

Kraven, his sword a whirling dervish of flame and fury, cut down the attackers with devastating precision, his rage and determination fueling his every move.

Behind him, the soldiers, their weapons blazing with gunfire, continued to retreat, covering their commander's escape as best they could.

Corbin, leading the squad through the ruined city streets, could feel the energy of the fleeing Etherlings fade as they gained distance. But as he turned back to check on the status of the battle, he caught a glimpse of Kraven being overwhelmed by the relentless swarm.

"Kraven!" he shouted, his heart pounding. "Kraven!"

But Kraven was lost in the chaos of the battle, his fiery weapon a beacon amidst the darkness and death.