Inside the room, Niann knelt beside one of the corpses, rummaging through its pockets, unaware of the dire revelation his companions had just uncovered.
'NIANN!'
Riniock's voice rang out, sharp with urgency. Niann's head snapped up towards the sound, his attention torn away from his search. As he did, he failed to notice the subtle, grotesque movement unfolding beneath him.
Amongst the rotting remains, the nearest corpse stirred. A jagged split formed across its decayed flesh, parting like a gaping wound – only it wasn't a wound. It was a terrible mouth, riddled with acerated dagger-like fangs. A coiled tongue slithered free, dripping with saliva, tasting the air.
The corpse reanimated – not truly alive, but controlled by the shapeshifting horror festering inside it. Its flesh stretched, skin tearing as its unnatural maw widened.
'Riniock?' Niann muttered, confused by the urgency in his friend's voice.
'Get away from that room – NOW!'
'What? Why?'
Riniock and Siegmun skidded to a halt at the doorway, arriving just in time to see the creature fully unfold itself.
Riniock's breath caught in his throat. His eyes went wide in horror. He was too late.
The monster's elastic jaws snapped shut.
Blood sprayed across the room.
Niann lurched backward, clutching his hand – now missing three fingers. At first, only a harsh, ragged breath escaped Niann's lips – then came the wail of pain.
Meanwhile, the monster lurched upright, balancing on the corpse's rotting legs. Its grotesque form resembled an infestation, as though some sinister entity had gestated within the flesh, twisting it into something unnatural.
Riniock snapped out of his shock, instincts taking over. With a swift gesture, he conjured a wind spell – a forceful blast meant to drive the creature back. Just as it lunged for Niann again, its fangs barely missed their mark, slicing through his robe and raking shallow gashes across his skin.
The spell struck, shoving the creature back a few steps.
For a brief moment, it hesitated. Then, with a slow, mechanical twist of its head, its attention shifted towards Riniock. Its gaping maw trembled, ichor dripping from its teeth.
'Watch out!' Siegmun shouted, charging into the room. He moved swiftly, flanking the creature so that he and Riniock stood on opposite sides.
'Right.'
Both maegis summoned their magick and unleashed their spells.
But the creature was fast – unnaturally so. It moved with an eerie fluidity, bending backward at an impossible angle, its spine cracking as it evaded the attacks.
Then it snarled and lunged at Riniock.
Siegmun reacted instantly, sending another spell hurtling towards the monster. But the thing, sensing the attack before it even landed, twisted away with unnatural precision – leaving Siegmun's spell hurtling dangerously close to Riniock.
'Careful!' Riniock shouted, stepping back as the creature closed in. He drew his dagger, gripping it tightly.
It lunged, evading Siegmun's spells with unsettling ease, its movements too fluid, too unnatural.
Riniock barely dodged its snapping fangs, each near miss forcing him to retreat further. Between its relentless attacks, he lashed out with his dagger, but every strike met only empty air – the thing was too fast.
'Nothing's working!' Siegmun cried in frustration.
'It's too – damn – fast!' Riniock growled, each word punctuated by another missed slash. 'But I have an idea…'
Riniock let his dagger fall midair and engaged the shapeshifter barehanded, relying on Mesyo Mahas techniques. Though a monster, it still had a mortal body – one that could be broken.
As his fists and palms struck, his dagger darted through the air at his command. The creature twisted and contorted unnaturally, dodging what it could, but it couldn't evade everything. It was forced to take the brunt of both Riniock's blows and the relentless strikes of his hovering blade.
Siegmun pressed the attack as well, helping drive the thing into a corner. Yet, despite their efforts, no wound proved decisive – each strike was shallow, merely grazing its tar-black flesh.
'Get ready,' Riniock warned.
'For what?' Siegmun asked, bracing himself.
'Not sure if it'll work – just be ready.'
Riniock channelled his odh into his leg and stomped the ground, sending a wave of wind rippling towards the creature. Deceptively harmless, the monster didn't bother to dodge. The moment the gust touched its skin, Riniock twisted his magick, transmuting the air into frost. The wind hardened into ice, shackling the creature in place.
Siegmun took the hint. He unleashed a spell, a blast of energy that tore through its chest.
Yet it still lived.
Thick, blackened blood seeped from the wound, tarred by time and corruption.
It writhed and shrieked, a ghastly, ear-splitting sound. Its flesh darkened, shifting, mutating, evolving before their eyes as the two maegis struggled to end it.
Then Riniock saw it – an organ, pulsing deep at the wound's edge, barely missed by Siegmun's attack.
Without hesitation, he raised his hand, remotely seized control of his blade, and drove it straight into the creature's core.
It let out a final, piercing wail, its death cry shaking the entire tower of K'zarg – as if calling for something.
'Gods…' Siegmun exhaled, heart pounding. He turned on his heel and rushed to Niann's side.
Slumped against the wall, Niann trembled, hyperventilating as blood continued to pour from his severed fingers.
'We need to stop the bleeding –' Siegmun muttered, digging through his pack. 'Damn it, I can't find a cord!'
Riniock pushed him aside. 'Move.'
With two fingers, he struck Niann's wrist. The young maegi gasped as his palm turned pale, the bleeding slowing to a near halt.
Siegmun frowned. 'What technique was that?'
'No time for questions. I'll tend to him – you'll keep watch.'
'Fine,' Siegmun grumbled, turning back to monstrosity. 'But once this is over, you're explaining.'
Siegmun approached the slain shapeshifter, his gaze lingering on its grotesque features. Rows of jagged teeth had formed within the warped remains of what was once a mortal being – now twice dead. Undead creatures were common enough, but this? This was something else entirely.
Even in death, the thing was repulsive, its twisted form a mockery of life. A gaping wound marred its chest, and remnants of frost clung to its flesh, slowly melting away.
'Tch…' he spat, leaning closer. 'Foul spawn.'
He turned, scanning the room – only for searing pain to rip through his lower body. His vision blurred. The world spun. One moment he was standing upright, the next, the ceiling filled his view. He hadn't even bent his neck.
A choked groan escaped his lips, drawing Riniock's attention.
'Shit!' Riniock cursed, reacting in an instant.
A burst of wind magick slammed the shapeshifter's corpse against the wall, crushing its remains into a mangled, shattered mess.
Not taking any chances, he fired again. And again. Seven more times, each spell ensuring the thing would never so much as twitch.
Then he turned to Siegmun. 'Your leg…'
Riniock knelt, striking just above Siegmun's knee to stem the blood flow. His gaze fell to the wound – a deep, jagged gash where his limb had been severed. Just a few qius away, his leg lay motionless, severed cleanly from his body.
Siegmun let out a shuddering breath. His voice trembled. 'I–I can't feel my l–leg.' A tear welled in his eye, dread creeping into his expression. 'W–What happened? M–My leg…'