Immanent Ascension

Chapter 21: Another Clash with Abhorrent (1)

The disgusting odor grew stronger. If Xerxes hadnt already encountered such olfactory assaults on multiple occasions, he would definitely have shrunk back from it. In fact, behind him, he heard a retching sound coming from Satahsusar.

And Ninsunu said, In the name of the Pontifarch. That smell.

In the darkness ahead were spindly white legs, followed by a pale, glistening body and a maroon head. It was exactly like the Abhorrent that Gandash had summoned, except larger.

He gripped his sword and bent his knees. What to do? Slice off legs? Or try to stab it? Did these things have hearts or brains? How did you kill them? During the fateful battle with the female Abhorrent, he hadnt learned much other than they could take immense amounts of damage and still keep fighting. And they were stronger, even than mages.

I dont think its a spawn, Xerxes said. Its too big.

The thing crawled toward him, its dozens of spider-like legs moving in waves as it pulled itself through the corridor. Unlike the smaller versions, the reddish heads actually resembled mouthless human faces.

Careful, Xerk, Ninsunu said. If its a juvenile, it could have powers.

I know.

The legs, he thought. Ill go for the legs. If it cant walk, its not going to be as dangerous.

He was preparing to jump forward when something caught his attention. Movement further down the tunnel. More legs.

Theres more than one, he said.

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The first one was about five cubits away, with the second one only a few cubits behind the first.

What do I do, High Seer? he said.

Back out into the open, she said. That way I can help you.

Okay. However, he had already identified the best position to launch a blow, and he didnt want to lose that opportunity. The Abhorrent slid a bit further toward him, and he jumped. The corridor was narrow but tall, giving him just enough room to bring the blade down and to the left.

His blade slashed through five legs at once, sending the whitish stalks flopping to the ground amidst gelatinous ichor that pumped from the severed ends. The Abhorrent made a hissing soundfrom where, Xerxes wasnt sure, as he still couldnt see any mouthand shrank back briefly.

Okay, this isnt so bad.

He used that moment to back out of the corridor into the courtyard, keeping his eyes on the monster the entire time. It only took seconds for it to apparently forget about its injury and crawl forward.

Off to the side, Ninsunu reached into her spell component pouch.

Glancing in the other direction, he tried to locate Satahsusar, but didnt see her.

Dont tell me she ran off, he thought.

As the wounded Abhorrent came closer, Xerxes prepared to deliver a second blow. The first attack had been successful, so it made sense to follow up with more. As it reached the doorway, he jumped forward again. It flailed two or three legs to block his blow, but he chopped through them. His blade continued, biting into the things side and causing a brief spurt of blackish internal fluid. The stench in the area grew stronger.

It hissed and struck him with its legs, but he dodged to the left and pulled his blade back before swinging it from a downward position. It chopped right through the Abhorrents reddish head. Taking advantage of his momentum, he pulled the sword back and then stabbed it straight into the thing.

He twisted the blade and then angled it straight up, slicing the creature nearly in half from middle to top. It shuddered and shrieked, black blood and milky ichor splattering everywhere. The stench became overwhelming. The creature then collapsed, and Xerxes backed up, feeling more confident than ever.

See, theyre not invincible! He flicked his sword through the air hoping to get some of the blood and gore off of it. It only helped a bit. There wasnt time to fumble for the cloth hed brought along for that purpose. It would have to wait.

He heard a thump next to him and looked over to see Satahsusar. So, she hadnt fled.

In that case, she said, I cant let you have all the fun.

She held a long curved dagger in each hand. Where shed been hiding them on her person, he had no idea. Satahsusar held the blades with confidence, the way an expert fighter would. But her two, small blades were very different from his own longsword, which was roughly two cubits from end to end. He had a big advantage in reach.

Meanwhile, Ninsunu still hadnt taken out any spell component to cast a spell. How many more are there?

At least one, Xerxes said. Even as the words left his mouth, he saw the second monster crawling out into the open, all of its legs intact, its pale body glistening with slime. The legs are stronger than they seem. They

Seemingly making a point of ignoring him, Satahsusar jumped forward, her knives flashing as she removed four legs from the Abhorrent. She danced backward just in time to avoid a followup leg swipe from the creature.

Theyre not manifesting any powers, Ninsunu said. So theyre not juveniles.

Agreed, Xerxes said, he bent forward on one knee and struck from above, his sword completely avoiding any legs while cutting into the things back.

It swiveled and swiped at him, and one of the sharp, claw-like ends snagged his pant leg, ripping it open. He jerked the sword out of the Abhorrents body, then jumped back to avoid more leg swipes.

Need to be more precise than that, Satahsusar said, lopping off a few more legs, then burying a knife deep in the things head. Ripping the knife downward, she successfully ended its life, causing it to flop down next to the other.

Was the tide of battle turning?

Satahsusar tsked. I really dont see why everyone is in such a tizzy over a few overgrown spiders. Theyre no different than

Xerxes saw more motion in the corridor. Hey, he interrupted. Its not over yet.

Pursing her lips, Satahsusar said, You ought to show a bit more respect for

This third Abhorrent didnt waste time. It leaped forward like a jumping spider, its target being Satahsusar. She let out a squawk and jumped back, but the tips of the things claw-like legs snagged her skirts, tripping her. One of her knives clattered to the side. As she fell into a seated position, Xerxes swung his sword, severing the legs that had grabbed her. There wasnt time to help her to her feet. He tried to slash some more legs, but this Abhorrent was either smarter than its fellows, or perhaps it had learned from observing them get cut down.

Xerxes sword touched nothing but air, and then the thing was on him, its legs flailing at him from all directions. Almost immediately, it snagged some loose parts of his clothing. His sleeve at the elbow. His pant leg.