Essence pushed against Kelford’s skin like a slow river as he pushed forward. T.U.I’s light was long forgotten as he walked higher up the fortress. Again the cold of the blizzard pushed through worn masonry and ancient wood. Kelford pulled the furs closer together but his armor's current state allowed the chill to steal across his ribs. Crystalline windows revealed a world of white clouds, Kelford stopped as he appreciated the view, seeing an ocean of white both above and below. His gaze roamed up to see the craggy mountain face that reached even higher up. A veritable super structure breaking the clouds around it. It was awe inspiring in its sheer scale.

  “ This world must have been beautiful..” A world of such wonders deserved to have been explored. To grow as its people explored the stars. Now it was left to prove a challenge to others. Kelford’s attention finally went back to his mission as his feet finally resumed his journey. Each step taking him closer to the end. Shadow Essence increased in quantity every step. So thick it darkened even the light from the windows. Until Kelford stepped from the light of the viewing bridge to the very top of the fortress. Twin doors laid in pieces at his feet as above the threshold a design of sabertooths growled at each other. Above them in giant words read Warlords Throne . It was time. Beyond this room would be the safe room. With one last look back at the windows behind him Kelford stepped into the dark.

  Beware

  Golden words burnt themselves into existence as Kelford stepped past the threshold.

  A Threshold Fight Awaits

  Once Passed It can not be undone

  The previous floors will become inaccessible to you

  Slay the Warlord

  0/1

  The words disappeared almost as soon as they appeared. Behind him the light disappeared and as whirled around he saw that the destroyed doors from before now stood fixed. They blocked the passageway behind him, not even giving the illusion of escape. Kelford turned back to the dark room he found himself in. It didn't matter. He hadn’t planned on retreating anyway. Beyond the doors devastation was evident. Large counters made of highly polished stone were broken in pieces. Craters, torn drapery , and broken furniture were strewn everywhere. Worst were the bodies. Bloody and broken , it was as if they had only died minutes ago. Gnoblars, massive rams and sabretooth's laid partially eaten across the floor. As Kelford walked deeper he could see the terror in their eyes. Limbs torn and discarded , bowels ripped out. It was a grisly scene that left Kelford queasy. Worst, essence still wafted from them. Shadow Essence in droves. Kelford could feel it reach levels he had not thought possible , almost as if their bodies were irradiated with the stuff. Kelford stepped past them, boots slick with their blood. Pass the entryway was more destruction. A hallway with side rooms and offices held more bodies. Doors destroyed, bodies with giant bites torn out of them. The stench of blood grew with the tide of essence. Then Kelford heard the crunching.

  Simultaneously wet and crunchy, it grew louder as Kelford entered a cavernous space. Beautiful carving and architecture destroyed under the weight of ages and gallons of blood. Each step was covered in puddles of blood as Kelford found himself in the throne room. Glass from above let in dim light as long extinguished torches lined the curved walls. In the center the source of the ever increasing tide of Shadow Essence was a boiling pot big enough to swallow three men. Behind it something sat on a throne of stone. The source of the crunching was the body it ate. It tore into the body without care. Bones, guts , all went down its massive gulet. It was pale, like a cavern fish. Thick furs draped its form, stained with the blood from all it had eaten. Its eyes were black pits like a shark while its cavernous maw never stopped chewing. No weapons laid across from it. Only massive scarred hands the size of Kelford's entire torso.

  This was an ogre. Kelford thought back to the Ogre Youngling from the second floor and his heart sped up just a beat. There was no comparing the two. The creature before him was a full grown adult. Every movement was full of unrestrained power. The crunching stopped as its eyes finally fixed upon him. With a wet splat the body hit the floor as the ogre slowly unfurled itself from the throne. 11 feet of muscle and fat stared down Kelford. His heart began to race as the creature’s maw broke into a smile.

  “ Fresh… Meat” it groaned. Almost as if the words caused it pain.

  Burning words drew themselves upon reality as Kelford gripped his sword as if his life depended upon it. Unlike the usual gold this message was almost burnished copper, almost in warning.

  Quraq Crazed Warlord

  Quraq leaned forward , tendons and massive bones cracking under its calamitous weight.

  “ Well come on then!” Kelford's heart raced as pointed his sword at the boss. “ What are you waiting for? An invitation?”

  Silence echoed for only a moment before the beast threw itself into the air. Kelford leaped to the side as it landed like a meteor! Cracks broke across the stone as it bellowed its hunger into the air. Muscular arms the size of tree trunks swung forward leaving Kelford precious little time to dodge. Kelford sword flashed and the ogre bellowed. Kelford set his feet after the narrow side step but once again was forced to dodge. The blows just didn’t stop coming. Twisting aside he dodged again before putting his full weight into a slash right into its bicep. Blood covered his face , sending him blinking just as a hand slapped him away. Skidding across the floor the world lost all focus except for the painful cracking of his ribs. Rolling to his feet, his eyes locked on the warlord as it stomped towards him.

  “Strong,” Kelford thought as he threw himself into a roll. Wind tore at his furs at the ogres passing followed by a calamitous crash! Kelford pushed himself to his knees, eyes searching for the boss. A groan sounded from the wall , muffled slightly by the cloud of dust created in the boss's collision with the wall. Kelford found his feet just as it turned to face him. It didn’t even look hurt! Two shallow cuts marked it from their brief exchange and to Kelford’s chagrin they already stopped bleeding. Meanwhile Kelford’s every breath was slightly painful from just one blow. Already his Enhanced Constitution was healing him but it didn’t bode well for the strength disparity between them. Kelford prepared himself as the crazed ogre fixed its eyes on him. He could have attacked it while it was disoriented but he was going to give his ribs a few more moments to heal while he could. Besides, he had something planned for it. He was just getting started!

  Quraq growled as it launched itself like a beast! Arms and legs tearing across the floor like an animal. Kelford almost wasn’t fast enough! Kicking off to the side Kelford dodged but the ogre adjusted. Massive hand coming up to grab him. He slashed across the palm as he escaped. Will grasping at the essence , Kelford forced it into a spell. Quraq roared as it leaped at him again just as deeper shadows exploded around them.

  Darkness

  With a roar it crashed into the center of the shadows blinded. Kelford’s blade erupted in essence. Hidden in the blinding effect of Darkness he’d been able to dodge while the warlord couldn’t adjust.

  Empowered Strike

  The boss roared in true pain as Kelford finally cut into its leg. It raged as it kicked out only for Kelford to avoid within his shadows. Kelford slashed and slashed leaving pain in his wake. Dancing back and forth within his spell he was untouchable. Still the boss stayed, unceasing in its attempts to kill him even blind! Slowly the shadows parted and Kelford was forced to back off as his cover was blown. Quraq roared as it threw itself at him again . Kelford rolled to the side, shadows erupted across his sword as he rolled under another attack. He came up for a slash but found its grasping maw waiting.

  “ Damn it!!” Aborting his attack he kept with his momentum by leaping upward! It’s jaws closed underneath but he’d mistimed his jump! Instead of leaping over it’s head his feet clipped it’s forehead sending him sprawling! His head rang as it smacked against the stone. Adrenaline pumped through his veins as he rolled to the side on instinct just as a massive hand slammed into the stone. Everything was weightless before he crashed back to earth ! Groaning he forced his thoughts into a semblance of order as he gathered the bountiful essence around him. The thumbing of the earth was his only warning as he slammed a massive amount of essence back into his spell.

  Darkness

  Shadows erupted all around him but he didn’t dare stay still! He scrambled through the shadows half blind from agony and dust just as the creature roared into the spell's range. Hot agony raked across his back sending him tumbling to the side just before another crash sounded against the wall. Lost in the dust and stone Kelford blindly slashed out with his sword. A jolt and a roar of rage sent a thrill of vicious satisfaction through his heart just before he had the wind knocked out of him. He exploded out of the dust cloud. He bounced across the ground like a discarded toy before rolling to a stop. Wheezing Kelford barely rolled over to his knees. Stabbing his sword into the ground he staggered to his feet . Wiping at his eyes he got most of the dust and blood out. Quraq was roaring as it destroyed everything near it as it tried to see through the shadows and dust. Kelford spit to the side to get the dust out of his mouth. Quraq was bloody, the wounds clearly not so easy to heal as before. As if sensing Kelford’s thoughts it whirled with a roar.

  Craters doted the landscape between them but it didn’t care as it flew into another bestial charge! Kelford held himself back for only a moment as he pulled more essence towards him. Shadows grew darker as he pumped more Shadow Essence then he’d ever dared put into Darkness. Half the distance disappeared between him and the warlord as it only picked up speed! With a crazed grin Kelford forced the essence around him into the spell before casting it towards the warlord. Violet blazed from his eyes as he channeled more essence into Empowered Strike . Darkness slammed into the rampaging Warlord! It burst like a wave of blackness and Kelford charged forward! Empowered Strike cut across it’s lead arm while the warlord was blind breaking it’s charge. Its headlong charge broken ,it smashed into the ground momentum carrying forward. Kelford followed heavy strikes of Empowered Strike cutting into vulnerable flesh as the shadows kept swirling. Even in bestial rage Quraq protected it’s head while ineffectually slapping at Kelford. It didn’t matter.

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  Kelford’s blade pierced the darkness like violet lighting! Cuts opened across its arms then chest! Rents opened along its stomach as Kelford built himself into a fury! Essence bending to his will, he channeled it into his sword as he struck with building bloodlust. Fists slammed into the stone easily side stepped as he stabbed down again! Fading back to avoid the massive arm he stabbed again and again before a leg broke his assault. Kelford skidded back covered in blood as the Ogre tried to find its feet. Kelford couldn’t have that. Kelford charged headlong sword leading. Darkness was finally breaking down but he still had some cover left. The ogre didn’t realize the danger until Kelford’s sword stabbed through its knee! It roared in agony as Kelford twisted before tearing his blade out! The leg broke sending the ogre to the ground and Kelford leapt forward ready to capitalize. Black eyes locked on his flying form. Kelford realized his mistake as his feet left the ground but it was too late. The wind was knocked out of him as the ogre twisted its bulk into a massive uppercut!

  “ Well… Fuck”

  Kelford’s mind blanked as 4 massive knuckles imprinted themselves into his chest. The ogre fell in a boom only for Kelford to slam into the ground a second later. Kelford writhed on the ground desperate for air. He wanted to moan, scream but the only thing his battered mind could think of was the desperate need for Air. Chest heaving for breath Kelford couldn’t do anything as the ground shook from something massive moving in the distance. His mind could only scream in impotent rage. The ogre must be coming for him and he couldn’t do anything to stop it! He couldn’t go out like this! With willpower he didn’t know he had , Kelford flipped himself to his knees. Bones adjusted painfully and the ground quaked again before finally sweet air filled his lungs! Sight no longer going dark, Kelford whipped his head up convinced he’d see Quraq descending on him! Nothing.

  The deranged Warlord kneeled before the massive pot . Massive muscles sagged beneath its bloody hide. Its leg hung useless, hanging on by ragged sinew. Blood leaking from his lips Kelford barely climbs to his feet. Ribs cracked or broken and his body bruised from repeatedly slamming into the stone. Still he stumbles forward, sword amazingly still in hand! Kelford knew that whatever was about to happen was not good. He had been vulnerable and the ogre had wasted that opportunity to make it to the pot. Images of the gnoblars from previous runs growing stronger from eating raw meat flash through his mind. They grew more intelligent, bigger, stronger. If that’s what could happen to gnoblars then what would happen to an ogre? The pot was leaking an ocean's worth of essence!

  “ So.. Hungry,” The ogre’s words sat heavily through the air, “ Not..Ready…But So HUNGRY!”

  Its massive arms grabbed the pot and began to raise it to its maw. Legs bunched to throw himself forward but stumbled to his knees, head aching. His body pumped with adrenaline but that last hit took it to his limit. Kelford pushed to his feet but now there was no time as he watched the ogre begin to drink.

  The world bent ever so slightly. Enough to make Kelford’s stomach flip. Kelford's sight warred with his other senses only for the ogre to drink even deeper. Kelford's mind reeled as the world seemed to compress and stretch. Fear seemed to slither right out of sight. Then the whispers came.

  They started soft. One or two at a time . Promising secrets of the cosmos. Truths he needed to hear. Then they disagreed. More and more started to whisper. Overlapping like worms, squirming in his brain. Possible futures all overlapping again and again. They became a crowd and Kelford realized he was on his knees. Someone was screaming and Kelford's throat was raw. His mind began to fray. Pieces at the edge of self warping under the countless promises of different futures. Then something inside him stirred and the voices stopped as if a predator's gaze stared out from him.

  The Heart of Ice will Solidify the Path

  It echoed in ways he could only feel instead of hear. Yet some small part of Kelford found it familiar. His eyes stared blankly into the floor. What had happened to the other voices?

  A Path broken into Countless Pieces

  Only True Shadow can see all outcomes

  Kelford’s eyes wept blood as the voice shook the fundamentals of his being. He looked up to see the ogre dropping the pot. Shadow Essence from its very skin and it fell with a roar. Kelford watched as its muscles began to twitch as violet energy crawled up the ogre's skin.

  Leashed by Duty he is made free by our hand

  An Unworthy Vessel

  But a Potent Challenge

  Quraq screamed as his body began to break and twist. Kelford watched , frozen by building horror , as pale skin became violet and eyes began to bubble up from the skin. With an explosion of viscera tentacles exploded from its sides. Its broken leg reformed twisted, yellow eyes staring back at the frozen climber with boundless hunger. Wet snaps continued even as the crazed warlord stood now even taller than before. Its body was still covered in bloody rents but now carried an abomination's strength.

  Hear our Call

  Bathe in our light

  Within Memories Hall

  Your Path Will Be Made Right

  Laughter echoed in the chamber and Kelford realized that at some point the voice was no longer just in his head. The ogre bellowed into the air from numerous, twisted mouths.

  “ King of Winter, you hid this power from us!!” It howled in rage, its faculties more aware than ever, “ Now I serve a new master. One who will not leave stuck here to watch over scraps. I will feast with no end!”

  It turned ,essence leaking from every movement. Its black eyes now held a core of violet light.

  “ I will start with this false vessel. I will chew, rip, until it’s might is mine!”

  Kelford blinked as violet words burnt themselves above the ogres head as all it’s mouths roared in bestial delight.

  Quraq Called of the Black Sun

  “ No way,” Kelford’s mind froze as the words fell from his lips. That was his class. To have some type of connection between him and this thing revolted something deep inside him. Anger broke Horror and Kelford found his feet again. Whatever had just happened this thing still needed to die for him to pass the room. Kelford tore at the essence around him and dumped the essence within his amulet into the spell.

  Darkness

  Shadows exploded around them and Kelford kicked off to the side. The ogre didn’t even turn as the spell engulfed it. Kelford needed to end this quickly. Covered in the blinding effect of Darkness he should be able to…

  Yellow eyes locked on to him. A tentacle lashed out and Kelford barely got his sword in the way as it slapped him back. The ogre's violet eyes turned to look at him.

  “ Pathetic… I am no longer the beast you toyed with before.” Kelford jumped back as its fist slammed into the stone before him. Then the battle was on in earnest. Another fist swung in a wild haymaker. Kelford dodged under only for pain to rip up his leg as from a passing tentacle. His sword flashed to cut it off only for another fist to come for his head. Kelford tried to dance back, avoiding the blow at the cost of his balance. He turned his stumble to a roll as a massive foot slammed down. The ground quaked as Kelford scrambled away. Tentacles lashed out, ripping and tearing at flesh and furs. Panic rose in his throat but Kelford pushed it down.

  Empowered Strike

  Essence raced into his blade as he cut and slashed them away. Purple blood drenched him as he staggered back the massive ogre following slowly. It chuckled as it saw Kelford's pitiful state.

  “ There is no contest here. You are nothing compared to the gifts I have been bestowed.” the bleeding tentacles didn’t seem to bother it.

  “ I’m not finished yet!” Kelford spit back, his sword blazed with Empowered Strikes power.

  “ Allow me to demonstrate the difference between us.” The ogre chuckled just as the essence around them pulsed.

  Radiance of The Black Sun

  Kelford gritted his teeth as black flames erupted around the ogre's feet. Fear battered at his already depleted mind but Kelford held on. There was only one way to deal with this kind of challenge.

  Radiance of the Black Sun

  Black flames radiated from Kelford's feet to contest Quraq’s. Shadow Essence raged around them as they both pulled on the environment. Kelford pushed against the fear and essence around him but no matter his determination the end was clear. He was losing. Kelford had to admit that his headlong rush up the Tower was coming back to bite him. Then the entire fight before this had only further drained him. He took a step back as the pressure redoubled. The ogre laughed as Kelford slowly bowed under its might.

  “ Do you see? Only I am a worthy vessel. “ The ogre laughed as it’s aura bore down on Kelford's. Fear began to sneak between the cracks of Kelfords defiance. It was over, he wasn’t strong enough mentally or physically. He was hitting his limits and could barely contest the ogres control over essence. Despair began to weigh on his shoulders as he furiously tried to think of a way out of this. The ogre lifted its bloody tentacles as it began to move forward. Time was running out. Desperation coiled in his gut just as his eyes lingered on the pot. Power still poured from it , though not nearly as strong as before. It was insanity to try but the idea of losing here was rage inducing. Not when he was so close, not after his confidence earlier . Not after he promised T.U.I he’d win. Kelford roared as he charged Quraq. Tentacles slammed forward only to meet his blade.

  Kelford cut through them just as he sidestepped a descending foot. The last of his energy pushing him onwards he kept moving past the ogre only to see a devastating backhand coming from behind. It was too late to dodge so he did the only thing he could think of. He met it head on. Kelford twisted into a chop with all his force behind it. Sword and mutated arm met and the sword was found wanting. Shards of steel went flying as Kelford was slammed away. He bounced off the ground fear abated as he left the ogres aura. His sword was broken. A hilt with barely a foot of steel left. Despair welling up inside him Kelford pushed himself up. The ogre casually strode towards him. Unhurried as if the battle was already decided. Kelford staggered towards the pot.

  Quraq’s laugh echoed across the hall , “ The Hare throws itself into the pot. I have seen everything!”

  Kelford ignored it. He looked into the pot's contents to see the river of essence raging within it. Despite making it his heart fell.

  “It’s not enough…” Whatever reaction had generated the essence was now fading. The power he was seeing was only leftovers the ogre couldn’t handle. Quraq had taken the real prize and Kelford was left with nothing. The footsteps grew closer. Kelford's indignation bubbled up as he threw caution to the side. He pulled on Inventory and from his storage a massive leg materialized.

  “ What…What are you doing!!” Kelford turned to the ogres outraged expression

  “ Getting a light snack,” Kelford threw the leg inside the pot. At first nothing happened then a massive burst of essence raged out of the pot. Kelford couldn’t lift the pot so he threw himself inside. As the ogre roared its disbelief, Kelford closed his eyes hoping this would work. As the liquid splashed around he opened his mouth and took a drink.