With a deafening crack, the team's work was done. The bridge groaned as the walls of the ravine began to crumble, fractures racing across their surface like bolts of lightning. The stone shuddered beneath the strain, dust spilling from widening cracks as the structure began to fail. Chunks of rock sheared away from the walls, tumbling into the abyss below, each impact echoing as the rocks ricochet off the walls.
Katrina turned to Lauri, bringing her bow to her chest.
"Lauri!"
Resting a hand on Katrina's shoulder, Lauri softly shook his head.
"It's alright, Katrina. I'm not going to let us get crushed."
The platform slid out from beneath the bridge as more of the wall gave way. Then one of the lowest anchors broke out of the wall, swinging down to dangle beneath the bridge. The increasing pressure caused the opposite anchor to come loose, tearing free of the stone.
The bridge lurched; its final two anchors remained grinding against the breaking stone.
For a heartbeat, the bridge seemed to hang in place.
And then the bridge's stability failed completely.
With a deafening groan, the centre of the bridge buckled. The massive structure folded in on itself, bending downward as if snapped across an invisible knee. The walls of the ravine cracked further as the final anchors were torn from the walls, and the entire bridge began to collapse inward.
Sections slid over one another, grinding and breaking apart as the whole structure tipped and gave way, plunging down into the abyss.
Everyone was silent, listening to the sound of the bridge as it twisted, scraping against the ravine. When the bridge struck the bottom of the ravine, a sound even greater than the explosion created by Danse roared upwards.
And then the world went silent. It wasn't any quieter than before, and yet, in the aftermath, the silence felt… unnatural.
Looking into the darkness beneath them, Lucky spoke softly.
"I think it was a little more than ten seconds…"
Shaking his head, Lauri gave the group a round of applause.
"Good job, you all did great."
The platform began to rise upwards.
"If we keep this pace, those last six bridges will be nothing but dust, and we'll be back in Falcon Scott in no time."
As the platform touched the edge of the ravine, Katrina quickly hopped off. Walking back to the Rhino, she rubbed her arms, shivering.
"There's one thing I can't wait to do once we reach Falcon Scott. Have a nice hot bath, the Rhino's shower is nice… But I want an actual bath, time to soak and unwind."
Tilting his head, Lucky would ask.
"Why not have a hot bath in the Dream Realm?"
Rolling her eyes, Katrina glared at Lucky.
"It's not the same. I tried that, but knowing it's my Dream Realm body having a bath and not my actual body just- It doesn't feel right, you know what I mean?"
As Katrina and Lucky talked, Danse stopped walking, turning to look back over the abyss.
"Lauri, do you think we'll make it in time?"
Stopping beside him, Lauri followed Danse's gaze.
"I'm sure we'll make it, after all. If it's our will, who will stop us?"
Danse squinted into the darkness. Slowly, he turned his gaze towards Lauri and asked.
"Isn't that the thing Lady Nephis says?"
Turning to Danse, Lauri held an innocent expression.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Shaking his head, Danse continued walking toward the Rhino.
Casting his gaze back to where the bridge had been, Lauri's eyes didn't rest on the empty space. But they moved further down, coming to rest on his shadow. Cast by the lights of the Rhino, it stretched across the ground, its edges defined against the white snow that settled around him.
Just as he was about to speak, a yawn forced its way to his lips. Raising a hand to cover it, Lauri's eyes narrowed. Instinctively, he activated [Well of Light], wrapping the light around his mind once more…
But even then, he could feel drowsiness creeping in.
Rubbing his face, Lauri sighed.
'When actually is the last time I slept?'
"Captain!"
The last one to get on the Rhino, Vick called to Lauri.
"Danse says we should get going now, who knows what could have heard the bridge collapsing."
Lauri's eye twitched.
'How thoughtful, coming from the guy who threw an explosive into the ravine.'
"I'm coming!"
Jogging over to the Rhino, Lauri quickly stepped aboard, shutting the door behind him.
----
Whistling a happy tune, Lucky tapped the steering wheel as the Rhino shot across an open stretch. It had been some hours since they had departed the site of the first bridge, but still, it would be some hours until they reached the second. Danse, Vick, Katrina, Sansa and Mele were lounging around in the living space. Some talked amongst themselves, others read whatever books they had managed to bring with them
And at the very back of the Rhino, Lauri was once again meditating atop his bed.
'We've been on the road for some time…'
Opening one eye, he looked around.
'...And nothing bad has happened…'
Opening his second eye, Lauri grinned.
'Let's see what beautiful things this Fallen Tyrant has in store.'
Pausing, Lauri waited a few seconds, waiting for some calamity to happen. But when no calamity crashed into the hull of the Rhino, Lauri stared into the empty space ahead of him and summoned his runes.
Name: Lauri
True Name: Final Dawn
Rank: Ascended
Soul Fragments: 1000/1000
Memories: [From Me To You], [Best Present Ever], [Hailrend], [Her Aegis]...
Echo: [Foulblooded Alpha]
Lauri's eyes settled on his new Echo.
Rubbing his hands together, Lauri's eyes shone as he focused on it. The runes moved, shifting to display the Foulblooded Alpha's information.
Echo: Foulblooded Alpha.
Echo Type: Tyrant.
Echo Core: Ascended.
Reading the Foulblooded Alpha's rank, Lauri's head tilted to the side as he came to a realisation.
'Oh, right… Of course, it's not going to be a Fallen Tyrant now that it died and was turned into an Echo. An Ascended Tyrant, huh? Doesn't quite have the same ring to it as a Fallen Tyrant, but who am I to complain?'
Lauri's eyes moved onto the next line, the part he had been anticipating the most since hearing the Spell announce his new Echo. The Foulblooded Alpha's powers.
Echo Attributes: [Fetid Heart], [Festering Veins], [Foulblooded Howl].
Fetid Heart Attribute Description: [The Festering Alpha's heart pulses with unnatural vitality, rapidly restoring its body no matter the damage it endures.]
Festering Veins Attribute Description: [The Festering Alpha's veins seep foul, corrosive ichor, turning its body into a vessel of potent decay and poison.]
Foulblooded Howl Attribute Description: [The Festering Alpha's tainted voice carries a soul-rending howl, each cry laced with power that gnaws at the very being of its foes.]
'Now that's what I'm talking about. Interesting, its attributes carry the same name as those of its minions, Fetid Hound and Festering Mongrel. I wonder, is that a coincidence, or is the Spell paying homage to its fallen allies… Either way, this is an incredible boon to the team.'
On their own, each of the Foulblooded Alpha's attributes was a powerful tool, incredible healing, vile poison and an insidious soul attack. But these three powers, all tied into one Echo, meant the Festering Alpha could masterfully play multiple roles in a fight.
With its healing, it could act as a shield on the battlefield, soaking up damage that would otherwise injure or outright kill an Awakened. Due to its poisonous substances, the Echo could play more of a support role, slowly poisoning a stronger Nightmare Creature until it succumbed and then last but certainly not least, its soul-rending howl.
'Its ability to damage souls allows the Alpha an almost unrivalled ability to deal damage. I've seen very few Nightmare Creatures capable of protecting their souls. It's also incredible, any Nightmare Creatures that rely on attacking directly with their jaws or claws will inevitably be poisoned…'
Laughing, Lauri read the last line describing the Echo.
Echo Description: [With the pack leader dead, the strongest fought among themselves to claim the title of alpha. And just as one emerged victorious, the weak struck.]
On its own, the description didn't make much sense, as if it lacked too much context. But having met and fought the Festering Alpha, Lauri immediately understood what the scene described.
'That explains a lot. The Festering Alpha was a coward. It didn't attack us directly… well, not at first. It attacked me, but only because I tore its neck out – but after that, it kept the pack between us. It only attacked when none of the pack could defend it. The weakest of the pack didn't challenge the strongest; that's how you die, so instead they waited. The Alpha let the strongest fight and kill each other, then attacked the last one when it was injured and exhausted .'
Crossing his arms, Lauri yawned as he studied the runes.
'Maybe that's why there were no other rotten pups of the Fallen rank in the pack. The Festering Alpha killed any that grew too strong to challenge its claim as alpha… An act befitting a Tyrant, I suppose…'