The horde had grown since it had last been encountered today. Nox only nodded at the Ascendancy's question. He didn't want Jay to go off on his own but there were other things more pressing to deal with -- like the impending horde. They felt the danger and only one ventured into the light. The rest pooled in the darkness just outside their glowing orbs. Darkness their cover -- no idea how many lay in wait.
Nox wove a net of fire before them. The spaces would allow some through, but the idea was to let them slice themselves apart if they advanced. The little ones would escape. Nox pushed the horde back with a mental call. Most of the horde obeyed. He felt them push back but they went in search of easier prey. But there was some who didn't want to. They wanted to fight. It was hard singling them out. Sweat beaded on Nox's forehead as he concentrated on the horde, splitting his attention between the horde leaving, the horde fighting him and his current surroundings. Nox dropped to one knee and put his hands into the ground preparing for the onslaught -- each death would hurt.
"I'm letting those rest me through. Get ready."
Nox looked up as if in a runners stance but his fingers gribbed in the dirt pulling on the strength below him. One. Nox pushed the horde further away. Two. He let go of those resisting him.
Three. The dam broke and the horde advanced. The first large one raced through the firey mesh only to find themself sliced to peices. The dog sized and smaller ones found ways past, but nothing bigger could press through the mess. The deaths of the horde pulled Nox down. He felt each razor sharp edge slice flesh. He smelled the burning flesh and hair. His fingers dug into the ground and he ground his teeth and prayed they all died sooner rather than later.
Nox wove a net of fire before them. The spaces would allow some through, but the idea was to let them slice themselves apart if they advanced. The little ones would escape. Nox pushed the horde back with a mental call. Most of the horde obeyed. He felt them push back but they went in search of easier prey. But there was some who didn't want to. They wanted to fight. It was hard singling them out. Sweat beaded on Nox's forehead as he concentrated on the horde, splitting his attention between the horde leaving, the horde fighting him and his current surroundings. Nox dropped to one knee and put his hands into the ground preparing for the onslaught -- each death would hurt.
"I'm letting those rest me through. Get ready."
Nox looked up as if in a runners stance but his fingers gribbed in the dirt pulling on the strength below him. One. Nox pushed the horde further away. Two. He let go of those resisting him.
Three. The dam broke and the horde advanced. The first large one raced through the firey mesh only to find themself sliced to peices. The dog sized and smaller ones found ways past, but nothing bigger could press through the mess. The deaths of the horde pulled Nox down. He felt each razor sharp edge slice flesh. He smelled the burning flesh and hair. His fingers dug into the ground and he ground his teeth and prayed they all died sooner rather than later.
![[Image: nox_sig.gif]](http://thefirstage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/nox_sig.gif)