Dominion of Shadows -> Abyssal Bind

  Level 1 -> Level 2

  Exert command over lesser Abyssal beings and draw others into a permanent bond.

  Followers/Minions: Create lasting connections with chosen beings. Extend your influence and power over them.

  Requirements: True allegiance must be granted willingly.

  Minions: Abyssal Mice: 4

  Followers: Sable (The First Follower)

  Abyssal Bind’s upgrade unfurled like a rotten flower within him. Mitch felt a subtle but powerful shift–a pull from Sable’s presence, safe and unwavering. He could sense her as another awareness tethered to his own. There was no ability to read her thoughts, but he felt the wonder and cautious trust.

  She had accepted the Skill, recognizing him as...something more.

  New Title Earned: Veiled Sovereign

  Bearer of secrets and masked power, your influence extends beyond mortal understanding.

  You command loyalty in silence. Veiled from all but those who see you as their true lord.

  Effect: Followers gain heightened awareness of your presence, sensing your will. With each follower, your power grows, and you strengthen your call.

  Her eyes blinked at him in astonishment. She seemed at a loss for words, caught between awe and hesitation.

  Mitch felt it as well. The bond, though new, felt ancient. As though he was meant to bring others into his fold.

  The words of the title lingered in his mind. They resonated something deep within his memories–a moment of recognition.

  Veiled Sovereign. That is a lot of responsibility.

  The moment shattered as a feral roar echoed above. Their attention snapped to the perch, where the first creature Butcher had sent was glaring at them with pure vitriol.

  A towering, gorilla-like creature hurled itself into the pit, slamming into the stone with such force that the ground cracked beneath it.

  It loomed. Its hulking frame was an unnatural blend of raw muscle and twisted sinew, each bulging and barely contained in its mottled gray skin and straggly, oily hair. Veins throbbed across its arms and chest like rivers of shadow.

  Its face was distorted, the heavy brow jutting over deep set eyes that glowed red with Abyssal fury. Bone-like spikes overlaid its shoulders and forearms. They were rough and uneven, and appeared to be grown from mutated bone. Claws curled at the end of each massive hand.

  A low, guttural growl rumbled through its throat. Saliva dripped from its jaws, sizzling as it hit the ground. Its roar was not just a sound but a physical force, vibrating through the very marrow of their bones. It panted heavily as its gaze locked onto them with a primal, relentless focus. Its eyes landed on Sable, and it charged.

  “Move!” Mitch yelled as his instincts flared to life. The Abyssal Gorilla’s massive body lunged at Sable, claws extended and ready to tear through flesh.

  He felt the bond with her resonate. Without thinking, he channeled Agony’s Embrace, and tried to force his own healing capabilities on her. He had patched her up previously but knew she was still weak from her injuries and needed to move quickly.

  Settlement Amount: 0 Souls, 0 Beast Soul, 0 Credits, 90(-23) Flesh

  A grotesque red tendril surged from Mitch’s chest, pulsating with raw energy as it twisted and then connected with Sable. The connection was organic, almost alive. A ropy cord of sinew and shadow intertwined. Mitch felt the drain as each pulse of Flesh left his core, thinning a much larger chunk of his reserves that he thought it would.

  Sable threw herself aside, screaming as the beast charged. The invasive energy surged through her, and Mitch saw her threads knit even tighter through her roll. A surge of warmth flooded through their bond as Mitch channeled healing into Sable. She gasped as torn muscles knitted and strength returned, the abrupt recovery both exhilarating and disorienting. But the beast was relentless.

  It spun, slamming its fists into the ground where Sable had been moments before. Shards of stone erupted, peppering the air. Mitch launched himself forward, soul sword flashing as he aimed for the creature’s exposed flank.

  The blade struck flesh but barely penetrated. The gorilla’s hide was tough and armored. It spun around, backhanding Mitch with bone-crushing force.

  He flew backwards and skidded across the rough ground. Pain tore through him as his skin peeled, but Agony’s Embrace flared, converting the torment into new power.

  “Get up!” Sable shouted, her voice sharp and newly regenerated. She extended her hands, and her metallic wires shot out like vipers. They coiled around the beast’s wrists and dug into its flesh.

  Mitch pushed off the ground, ignoring the protest of his flesh as the Gorilla spun towards Sable. It charged her again, and clipped her side through her roll. She spun through the air in a yelp.

  He sprinted and leapt, intercepting Sable mid-air. He twisted to absorb the impact as they hit the ground together. Through their link, he sent her a flash of healing from Agony’s Embrace, the red tendril zipping towards her in a flash.

  Settlement Amount: 0 Souls, 0 Beast Soul, 0 Credits, 89(-1) Flesh

  “Thanks,” she gasped from the sensation, eyes wide.

  “No problem, can we focus please?” he grunted. The beast was already upon them, its massive shadow swallowing them whole in the dimly lit pit.

  Mitch rolled to the side as a colossal fists bound with metal wire cratered the spot they’d occupied. Dust and debris filled the air. He coughed and ran a circle around the beast.

  This thing is too large and fast.

  Reaching, Mitch pulsed his newly upgraded skill, Abyssal Bind, to within their immediate surroundings. Just as he hoped, he felt the speck sized minds all around him. Grinning, he squeezed them into his fold in a flash. With his upgrade it was much easier to control their small minds.

  Minions: Abyssal Mice: 4, Abyssal Bugs: 232 (+232)

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  The ground beneath the gorilla began to writhe as the shadowy insects swarmed upwards through cracks in the floor. They crawled over its legs, many getting crushed in the process.

  But many got through. Their legs scrambled up the beast’s legs as it lapsed in its charge towards Mitch. They bit and stung, tiny jaws and mandibles piercing the beast’s hide. The gorilla roared, thrashing and shaking its body as it tried to shake off the swarm. Its movements grew frustrated under the crawling, biting mass.

  “Now!” Mich shouted.

  Sable flicked her wrists, her metal wires snapping forward. They coiled around the creature’s ankles, slicing into flesh. She whipped her empty hands back, and wires tightened instantly.

  The beast stumbled, dropping to one knee. Mitch seized the moment.

  He sprinted forward, sword aimed low. With a swift strike, he slashed across the back of its other knee. Tendon snapped in a fountain of gore. The gorilla howled, collapsing further.

  But Mitch wasn’t done yet.

  The monster swung a massive arm, claws tearing through the air towards him. Mitch barely ducked in time, feeling the rush of wind above him. He swung again at its flank, cutting through hide and flesh, but not nearly enough. The soul sword flashed countless strikes across its tough body. Even with Mitch’s natural inclination with the blade and his profound strength

  Mitch rolled another swipe from the stumbling monster, coming up beside Sable.

  “It’s too strong, you’ll take a swipe before we kill it,” she panted.

  “We’re wearing it down,” he replied, eyes fixed on the creature.

  The gorilla slammed its fists into the ground, crushing the swarming bugs beneath it. The Abyssal insects clung stubbornly, burrowing into its flesh. Blood oozed from countless tiny wounds, but the gorilla still looked ready to fight for hours.

  Rex growled within Mitch, eager for his release and meal.

  Not yet…but we can use you.

  The beast reared up, fury burning in its crimson eyes. It let out a deafening roar, the force of it rattling Mitch’s bones.

  Sable glanced at him. “Any idea?”

  “Just one.” He met her gaze and pointed towards the wall of the pit. Giant jagged rocks stuck out. “Do you have to shoot your wires out, or can you hold onto them?”

  “Either…I’m just not the strongest, so I always shoot them.” She responded, curious.

  Perfect.

  “Follow my lead. Hold onto them. I’ll help.”

  Mitch charged forward, drawing the gorilla’s attention. It swung at him, but this time he was ready. He braced himself against the ground, and absorbed the impact of a blow to his body. He skidded back, and converted the pain and impact into more power. His ribs cracked, and shoulder crunched, but Mitch was being very accustomed to pain.

  Each blow, each round of torment, only fueled him.

  Settlement Amount: 0 Souls, 0 Beast Soul, 0 Credits, 88(-1) Flesh

  He healed himself quickly with Agony’s Embrace, feeling his ribs and skin knit back together. He ran backwards towards the wall, the monster swiping air as it just missed up.

  “Over here!” he taunted the beast, beckoning it closer to the wall.

  The creature snarled and rushed him. Behind it, Sable moved into position. She gathered her wires internally, focusing.

  Mitch stood against the wall and grinned. It was going to crush him into the wall. Above him, a giant stone precariously extended from the wall, looking as it was going to crack and fall at any moment.

  “Now, Sable!”

  She unleashed her wires, but not at the beast. At the rock above.

  Mitch rolled at the last minute, the gorilla throwing itself into the rocky wall. Sable’s wires latched onto the rock, and she kept them connected to her. She squeezed, and the wires wrapped themselves around the precarious base. Mitch spun and yanked with her.

  He pulled as hard as he could, the wires digging into his palms. A crack, and then all at once, the giant rock fell towards the gorilla, shaking itself off.

  The massive boulder crashed down onto the gorilla’s back. The impact drove the beast to its knees, a shockwave rippling through the pit. Dust and debris blanketed the creature.

  Mitch surged forward, sword poised on his bleeding palms. The gorilla roared under the weight of the rock.

  Sable was already in motion. She leaped onto the fallen boulder, shooting wires that whipped out to coil around the beast’s neck and arms. She squeezed her palms, cinching the wires against the gorilla's neck.

  The creature thrashed, but its movements were more sluggish than before. Mitch darted in, slashing across its body. The blade bit deeper than before, a result of his strength increasing from Agony’s embrace.

  The gorilla swung a massive arm upwards in defiance. Sable shot another wire towards it and wrapped its wrist again. She kept the wires loose and wrapped them around a stone, flexing her will to tighten them. Locking the arm down.

  With a swift, decisive strike, Mitch drove the sword’s tip into the creature’s chest.

  A guttural howl erupted from it. It bucked violently, nearly throwing Sable off balance. Mitch held firm, and twisted the blade deeper. The gorilla’s movements became erratic as its strength began to wane.

  “Finish it!” Sable yelled, sweat dripping down her brow.

  Anger ignited within Mitch—a foreign emotion that wasn't entirely his own. It dissipated as quickly as it came, leaving him unsettled.

  Looking at her, he grinned darkly and answered. “We will.”

  He ripped the sword free, collapsing the gorilla into a bleeding, wheezing, but still alive mess. Mitch stepped back and Sable leapt off, joining him.

  “Rex, your turn.”

  The Shadowshroud leapt from Mitch’s side. The tendril tethered him to Mitch’s liver like a shadowy leash.

  As he detached, his form shifted from a ball of black to something different. No longer the writhing mass of dark tendrils, Rex resembled a very small dog. Forged from the very essence of the Abyss with shaggy hair. Black as night, his body was small yet muscular. His single eye gleamed with a glow, and small fangs of obsidian shimmered as he growled from his maw.

  With a snarl, Rex bounded toward the fallen gorilla. He left wisps of darkness in his wake. He moved with the grace of a predator and the inevitability of a storm. Rex began his feast.

  Shadows enveloped Rex as he began to consume the dying creature in squelches and crunches. Rex didn’t seem to mind that the creature was still alive, even if barely.

  Reaching, Mitch claimed the gorilla’s soul. A thick roped tendril flowed into his core. It was darkly colored and raged about its prison. More intelligent than the serpent, and huffing with a simmering rage.

  Settlement Amount: 0 Souls, 1(+1) Beast Soul, 0 Credits, 89 Flesh

  A deep rumble resonated through the pit. The vibrations intensifying beneath their feet. From above, the echoes of multiple creatures reached their ears. Snarls, growls, and the scraping of claws against stone.

  Much more than one.

  Sable’s eyes widened as she stared at her hands. “Uh…that shouldn’t be possible,” she muttered, a mix of confusion and astonishment in her voice.

  Mitch turned to her, still feeling the lingering energy from the beastial soul strengthen him. It felt purposeful to have his core occupied once again. “What?” he asked

  Sable looked up at him, disbelief etched across her features. “I got a new Skill, and a Title…but…this shouldn’t be possible. What is going on?” The weight of her words hung between them.

  Mitch’s pride surged at hearing her development. He had a self-satisfied feeling that it was in part due to his influence and capability.

  The sounds from above grew louder. A cacophony of impending Abyssal threats.

  The horde was about to appear. Rex continued his meal in a disgusting display. Mitch sent his controlled bugs into a tight mass. He was shirtless, scarred covered body healed and stronger from Agony’s Embrace.

  Hope there’s a lot of small monsters. Maybe this pit is exactly what I needed.

  Mitch grinned at Sable, before turning to face Butcher’s perch. The horde was about to descend. But Mitch knew they could face it together. And grow all the more powerful.

  “Let’s see what that new Skill does.”

  that kind of harem, anyways. This is the part where I think my writing got a bit better, or at least my story telling. A smidge better.

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