Chapter 05

 Transcendence

''' Chapter 05: Dungeon Running 101? '''

 The Treants of Dire Maul were a very... interesting enemy to fight.

 It took some strength to cut through their thick bark and even more to cut off a good piece of them. They were very dangerous adversaries for the unprepared and unskilled, but the group that Ichigo was travelling with was far from unprepared or unskilled. They took down these corrupted Treants with ease.

 Whether it is by a sword; a gun or by magic. They fell to the might of the warriors of the Horde.

 The leader of the group was Tauren Hunter, named Turuk Thunderhorn.

 A very skilled and well known Hunter within Tauren society and his Tribe. His skill with his gun is almost terrifying. He uses the butcher knife bayonet on the end of his gun as much as he does the gun itself. He can cleave though a Treant and blow it apart with his massive cannon with ease and move on to the next target in the blink of an eye.

 He never misses his mark from all the kills Ichigo could see. Many of the Treants had been blown in half by his massive calibre bullets, and others were missing the upper part of their torsos, completely reduced to splinters.

 The other Tauren was a woman named Hawnia Brighthorn.

 A very skilled and powerful Druid. She was just as devastating against the Treants as her male counterpart. Where he blew the enemy away with bullets, she did so with wind and magic. Bolts of pure energy shot from her palm and collided with attacking Treants and tore them apart. They were nothing against her! She was a force of nature to be reckoned with and nothing could stand against her might.

 The temperature rose suddenly and an explosion was heard to the far edge of the small boulevard they were moving through.

 That was Shikil'hi, a Troll Shaman burning many Treants to ash with her elemental powers.

 Like Hawnia she was a force to be reckoned with. She appeared as a savage but was very cunning and dangerous, and her lack of armour made Ichigo wonder which was more dangerous, her power or the woman herself? With but a wave of her hand she could set someone alight and with a sway of her hips she captured the attention of many around her.

 He shook his head from the thought he didn't need to deal with this right now, he had walking trees to deal with.

 He cut down another before he heard the all too familiar sound of Ria fighting.

 He was very energetic and athletic. He would bounce around and perform very complex and likely borderline impossible moves to deal with his enemies. He would leap over them and then bury either of his swords through their skulls or strike at their thick trunk-like bodies and cut them in half. He would always try and show off, and either it was how he fought or how he tried to entertain himself by trying to pull off the impossible during a fight. Either way, he was killing them as fast as they were coming. Every second or two he would lash out and in that time one of the Treants would be dead and he would be moving on to the next one.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He then saw three of the Treants cut in half from where their waists would be. Their top halves sliding off the stumps and onto the ground. A shocked expression on their faces before the light in their eyes faded into nothing.

<p class="MsoNormal"> In front of them was Uruk Bloodtooth, a very nasty piece of an Orc.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He was said to be from the Warsong Clan. More specifically the Warsong Outriders, a band of raiders that would work in Ashenvale against the Night Elves to acquire lumber for their people.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo didn't like the sound of that. He had met the Night Elves at Feathermoon Stronghold and when they said that they were fighting to protect their lands from the encroaching Orcs he was adamant that the Orcs weren't exactly good people. From what he was seeing now, he could only support that assumption. Uruk was violent, ruthless and uncaring to anyone around him aside from himself and possibly Turok. But only because he was the Leader of this little party of warriors.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo could see that each of them alone was dangerous, but together, they were a force to be reckoned with. He would be doubtful nothing short of a Fukutaichō or a Taichō in the Goteijūsantai could handle these guys. They were some of the most dangerous warriors he had ever seen. If they went up against a Hollow they would probably win against it easy. They were some of the best he had ever seen when it came to fighting and their group was a real power house.

<p class="MsoNormal"> A girlish scream reached his ears and he knew exactly who it was.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He turned on his feet and looked over to see said girl was currently in a very dangerous situation, but also funny.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo looked at the plight that was Adelina.

<p class="MsoNormal"> She was currently caught in a very comical bout with the Treants. One that would make him laugh at the sheer outlandishness of it had the situation been different. Adelina had done something very stupid when they were attacked, so stupid that he thought that she may be one of those 'types'. The type where she was more of a danger to herself and those around her than to the enemy she was supposed to be fighting.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Right now she was running for her life.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Behind her were three Treants moving to tear her limb from limb.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo and the others were having no real problems dealing with the walking trees as they were slow and quite easy to put down, a simple chop here or there and they would be on the ground waiting to be split into fire wood.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Stop!" Adelina shouted at her murderous pursuers. "I just wanted to talk! To help you! I don't want to fight!"

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Hey girl, did ya rememba' to water them? Plants can get very grouchy if you forget to water dem every day!" Shouted Shikil'hi, laughing at Adelina's plight with little concern.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "God damn it!" Sighed Ichigo slumping forward slightly before charging off to save his 'baggage' as Uruk had dubbed her.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He pulled back Zangetsu with both hands and in three quick motions he dispatched them all cleanly.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Adelina halted and looked back to see her saviour was standing there, amidst the remains of three fallen Treants. She looked at him as he rested his sword on his shoulder and had an almost bored look about him, and that was what Adelina found very awe inspiring about him.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He was so powerful that those corrupted Treants stood no chance against him...

<p class="MsoNormal"> That with his sword he could dispatch many enemies like they were nothing...

<p class="MsoNormal"> That no matter the situation he remained calm and collected...

<p class="MsoNormal"> She wondered what he would look like if he was a Night Elf? Dreamy thoughts ran through her head a short while before she was drawn away from them by a command from Turok.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Form up! We need to move, more will be coming!" He shouted to all around him.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Without protest everyone gathered back together, and slowly made their way forward and through the ruined streets of Dire Maul.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo had Zangetsu by his side and was scanning the area, which was once a very luxurious suburban area by the looks of it. Now all that remained were destroyed buildings and overgrown plant life.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He scanned the darkness within the buildings and alleyways for anything that might be waiting to jump out and surprise them, but luckily it seemed that there wasn't much here in this section of the ruins. Hopefully this was the less populated part of the city. The last thing they needed was to be overwhelmed by those Treants before they could even find out where the Demons were.

<p class="MsoNormal"> The odd thing was; there was little of anything in this city. Not even animals were here, which is odd. He would have thought that they would have tried to make this place their home, but maybe the feeling he got when he walked around was also keeping them away. His instincts told him this place was no good, bad things have happened here, very bad things.

<p class="MsoNormal"> As Ichigo was thinking and keeping a look out, Adelina was walking beside him.

<p class="MsoNormal"> She was rubbing her arm nervously. She didn't like this place once bit, and it felt completely wrong to her, like there were things here that shouldn't exist and that which had been tainted by what shouldn't. She looked over toward Ichigo to see his hard eyes scanning the ruins around her for anything that may be present. There wasn't much around them, just a few open spaced living quarters reminiscent of Highborne design. Much of nature had worn away and covered the pale grey stones that were used to build this city. And the nature that had taken hold had been tainted by the very forces that still dwell within this place.

<p class="MsoNormal"> A low rumble could be heard in the distance as it slowly approached.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo pulled Adelina behind a staircase leading into a house and the others move to hide themselves with whatever cover they could find. They waited as the rumbling grew louder and more frequent. Eventually the cause behind the mini-quake became known.

<p class="MsoNormal"> It was a large Corrupted Ancient Protector.

<p class="MsoNormal"> It was walking by and wandering aimlessly through the ruins. Its faded leaves and rotted trunk showed that the corruption that ran deep in this place was also corrupting the once noble being.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Adelina could see it in its eyes. There was no life in them, almost like it was a shadow of what it was meant to be.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Eventually it passed them and continued down an adjacent street and allowed the others continued onwards.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Soon they exited the rural area of the ruined city and into a much more open and lush area.

<p class="MsoNormal"> A large square courtyard that had a large green pasture with paved pathways and several dried up and polluted ponds. At the far end they saw a large balcony that acted as cover for a small square, but as much as this place was made for people to go and enjoy their day and let the children have fun, it was not something completely different.

<p class="MsoNormal"> A graveyard was the best way to describe what its current purpose was now. Dozens of bodies littered the area: Treants, Ancient Protectors, Demons, they were all here. Their remains beaten, torn apart and scattered across the faded green patches of earth that would once have been – thousands of years ago – the city's most beautiful park.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Looks like de Demons ‘ave cleared out a good amount of de city for us." Said Rai.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Leaning down and examining the corpse of a fallen guard who had been ripped in twain, leaving various organs and intestines of different colours across the ground.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo felt bile rise in his throat but swallowed it back down, he needed to keep calm and not let this get to him. These things were monsters, they didn't deserve his pity with what their trying to do. And the Corrupted Ancient Protectors were like hollows, they needed to be killed so they could be cleansed and freed from the taint that has taken hold over them.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Turok looked up and quickly motioned everyone forward and behind a fallen statue of a very beautiful Night Elf, from Ichigo could tell it was likely a statue of this cities former patron and ruler, Queen Azshara.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Turok scanned the area before them. The park ahead of them was very large and open and it seemed to be bustling with Corrupted Ancient Protectors and Treants, which would make traversing the open area difficult.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Turok glanced around and his sight fell onto the covered square at the far end of the park.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He could tell that the balcony that acted as its persuado cover was more than that, it likely led to another section of the city. And from the colosseum he could see in the distance, it was likely where it let to and where they had to go. But the fact that there were many powerful enemies between here and there made it unlikely they would be able to get on the other side alive.

<p class="MsoNormal"> They could rush through and avoid combat as best as they could, but they would be surrounded quickly nonetheless and killed. Their only choice was to sneak around or at least get as close as possible and then try and make a run to the balcony. And from the current layout of the terrain the latter was the most likely to succeed. But they needed a cover to make it that far, Turok let his gaze roam over the park to anything that could hide the seven of them from sight, and far off to the side he could see a large fallen statue that covered much of the right side of the park and close to the square. It had fallen a good distance from the wall and covered a large section of the area and it appeared that the Treants don't go near it, Turok turned towards his group and gave them his orders.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "We will travel up the far right side of the courtyard, using the fallen pillars and walls as cover. Then we move to the building and then find the stairs to the balcony above the square." stated Turok.

<p class="MsoNormal"> A silent confirmation went up around them; slowly he stood up and moved toward the edge of the cover the group was hiding behind and waited.

<p class="MsoNormal"> His keen eyes looking over the many Treants and walking plant-life, making sure that they were not looking when he gave the command for them to run.

<p class="MsoNormal"> When he saw the time was right he motioned everyone to move. Quickly they moved from their hiding spot to the far side of the courtyard where the fallen statue lay. They rushed forward as quickly as they could move. Their feet and armour making no noise as they raced twenty five metres to their next source of cover.

<p class="MsoNormal"> When they reached it they all pressed themselves against the smooth stone surface and waited for any signs that they had been spotted. But a minute later and there was nothing that spoke that they had been caught. With that no longer a concern they made their way around the statue and to the far side of the courtyard, avoiding the Corrupted Treants without a problem. But then they came to the point where that could all change.

<p class="MsoNormal"> They were still a far ways away from the square beneath the balcony, but still a lot closer than they were back at the far end of the park. They could reach the square easy without a problem, and the trents and ancient protectors in the park wouldn’t be a problem.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Turok could see along the walls that sealed off the tiled square area were wide archways leading into dark hallways. They could hide in there but there was a problem that prevented them from doing so. The square below the balcony had a single Corrupted Ancient Protector guarding it. If they tried to attack the Corrupted Ancient head on, it was likely they would draw attention from the rest of the Treants that were currently roaming the park; they would be swarmed in minutes, unless they could kill it quickly enough.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "What's the plan?" inquired Uruk, impatiently shifting from side to side.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Turok ignored the Orc as he scanned the area around him. He knew that getting past would be tricky. After all he didn't expect to get through this without fighting at least one or two Corrupted Ancient Protectors, but he had hoped to avoid the half a dozen in the park.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Looks like we have no choice, we will need to take that thing down and then make an escape before we are overrun." stated Turok. Everyone gathered closer to see about the plan. "Shikil'hi, Adelina, Hawnia, cover us while myself, Raizza, Uruk and Ichigo deal with the Ancient. Don't let anything get past you."

<p class="MsoNormal"> They nodded to his orders, they could keep the trents and protectors at bay while they worked on taking it down, Ichigo leaned towards Hawnia and asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Could you look after Adelina for me and make sure she doesn't try to make friends with them again?" He did so subtlety, so no one else would hear. She simply smiled and nodded towards the young man. "Thank you."

<p class="MsoNormal"> Adelina and Shikil'hi were standing in wait with Hawnia as Turok thought of how they could deal with the Corrupted Ancient Protector that was guarding the covered square...

<p class="MsoNormal"> And then the Elven Druid said something that took them by surprise.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Have you noticed that we're all woman and that they are all men?" Adelina said as if she had some sort of epiphany.

<p class="MsoNormal"> This earned her a curious glance from Hawnia, who didn’t know what she could possibly be talking about, and an irritated one from Shikil’hi, who even if she did understand probably wouldn’t care.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Gee, it slip me mind girl, I should really see a Witch Doctor." Retorted Shikil'hi, obviously not getting what Adelina was trying to put across to them.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Huh? What? No! I mean that they are going off to fight and we're stuck keeping the weeds out." Even though she was a dolt most of the time and one certain individual couldn't stand her, she did make some sense when she said that.

<p class="MsoNormal"> They looked over towards the male part of the party and saw them arguing what the best way is to knock down a tree. No matter what world you reside on in the vast universe, all women know one thing about the opposite sex:

<p class="MsoNormal"> 'Men, they think they know best.'  They all though at once.

<p class="MsoNormal"> The 'Men' moved towards the far end of the pillar and waited for the perfect moment to strike, all the while they were discussing how they should take it down, many opinions were offered, some stupider than the last.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Just chop it down like a tree, works more times than you may think." growled Uruk, his axe now in hand and a dark snarl on his lips.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Yeah, if ya be a complete idiot and had enough idiots to back ya up!" Retorted Rai, his swords still on his belt, but ready in a moment's notice to pull them free and use them.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "I think it's vulnerable near the face." Said Ichigo. They stared at him oddly. Where the hell would he get that idea? As if hearing that unasked question he answered "I kind of fought one before..."

<p class="MsoNormal"> "How did that turn out?" Asked Rai, curious on how he would have dealt with one of them alone.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "We both fell off the side of the city wall and crashed through the roof of a building." He deadpanned, to which the Troll's head dropped and shook with mirth before looking back on, now he understood; the boy was lucky. "But after a few stabs I think it actually died before it hit the ground. So what do we got to lose from trying?"

<p class="MsoNormal"> "That could work... We blind it and then tear away the protection before destroying it." Said Turok, pulling out a cylindrical barrel from the underside of the guns barrel; and placing within some very large bronze coloured bullets before slamming it back into the gun. He turned towards the young Shinigami. "I will only need one shot to put it down, but I need an opening, can you get if for me?"

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Orc and Troll were shocked that Turok was actually taking the boys advice seriously and actually giving him an important task. The thought he would actually consider having the boy take on a task of creating an opening for the Tauren was even more surprising! The boy looked up and then nodded to him. But there wasn't any cocky grin or overconfidence in his eyes, just a serious determination that showed that he knew what he had to do and that he had to do it right. He wasn't doing this for himself now; he was doing this for them.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Turok raised his arms and in a single motion of his hand they took off.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Running out of cover and to their respective spots.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Turok, Ichigo, Rai and Urok charged towards the Ancient, while the three female spell-casters remained near the edge of the square and made sure that if anything approached they kept it at bay.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ahead of the attacking force the Ancient saw them approach and with a hollow roar it marched forward. His heavy stumpy feet thundering loudly as it did, and as it reared back it hand to strike so did the others. As it swung its mighty arm at the four, they dodged it.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo and Rai leapt above the attack and out of harm's way.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Uruk and Turok kept their distance and avoided the attack before they got to close.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo held Zangetsu in a reverse grip and leapt at the ancients extended arm and buried it deep in the creatures bark skin. As the creature swung its arm back in pain, Ichigo held on for dear life as his grip on his sword and its leverage inside the timber flesh of the Ancient was the only thing preventing him from being flung away. When the arm halted its violent movements Ichigo made his move to create the opening Turok requested.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Quickly and effortlessly he pulled Zangetsu free and moved to strike.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He rushed along the side of its arm and leaped past its face. As he did he sung a deep gouge across the ancient’s brow, right eye and nose. Not enough to handicap it, but enough for it to stumble back in pain before moving to clutch at its wounded face.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo landed on the ground without injury. He then looked over to see that Uruk and Rai where charging in to make their own attack. The creature recovered from its wound and made to halt them both, but a quick attack from Turok stopped its attempt.

<p class="MsoNormal"> A bullet struck it in the stomach and shredded some of the thick bark that acted as its skin.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Even though the bullets were big and had a massive kick to them, they were still not powerful enough to breach the Ancient's thick hide... This is likely why Turok asked Ichigo to make an opening for him.

<p class="MsoNormal"> This was likely a test as well as the quickest strategy to finishing the creatures off.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Rai had moved to the side of the beast as it was stunned, he attacked using his sword-breaker to carve away some of the bark from the leg as he passed and allowed Uruk to deal the telling blow. The Orc did so and with a mighty roar that was matched by his swing he tore through the creature's leg and took a good chunk of it with him.

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Ancient let out another roar before it fell forward losing all support from that leg. Ichigo charged forward and Turok aimed up another shot.

<p class="MsoNormal"> As the Ancient's hand came down to stop itself, a bullet struck its outstretched arm and knocked it off centre, thus preventing the Ancient from stopping itself from colliding with the ground headfirst. When it did, the sound of bark cracking could be heard over the sound of its low wailing.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo shot forward as it made to rise, and as its face came into view and stared in shock at the approaching Shinigami it didn't have time to blink before another wound was etched into its face.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Its body shot upwards and clutched its head with its free hand and use the other to keep itself upright. Then, with an angry roar it tried to crush the young Shinigami under its fist, but a quick sidestep by Ichigo and another strike from Zangetsu forced the hand away. But this time he didn't have his clawed hand with him, which had been severed clean from its wrist.

<p class="MsoNormal"> As it tried to stand and attack Ichigo again it was met by another strike to the head. This time by Uruk, who had somehow climbed up its back and was now standing on top of its hunched body. He had buried his axe into the creatures forehead.

<p class="MsoNormal"> It screamed in agony at the repeated assaults against its wooden visage. Uruk's axe had kept him from falling free from the Ancient's wide shoulder, which was long enough for the creature to stop thrashing and allow him to pull his axe free quite violently and leap off. The Ancient's hand returned to its face once more to cradle the freshest of its wounds.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo saw his chance to create the opening he needed and he turned to Uruk who stood only a few feet ahead of him.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Uruk!" Shouted Ichigo, gaining the Orc's attention. "I need a lift!"

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo charged forward towards Uruk, who readied his axe quickly. He held it tightly in his hands and laid it flat so the boy could use its surface as his jump point. When Ichigo leapt from the ground and onto the weapon, Uruk threw him skywards and toward the Ancient who was only just beginning to recover.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo sailed towards the massive Treant with Zangetsu in hand and ready to bury it between the creature’s eyes, as it removed its hand to see the commotion. It was surprised once more to see the boy flying towards his face that had been the subject of many malicious assaults. But that shock was replaced with pain as the blade once more sunk into the creatures face. The black and silver blade impaling the ancients left eye.

<p class="MsoNormal"> It thrashed wildly to dislodge its attacker. It worked as Ichigo leapt off the creature and back onto the ground.

<p class="MsoNormal"> But Zangetsu was still embedded in the creature's eye, and in the young substitutes hand was a thin white cloth. With both hands he tugged on said cloth hard. The creature lurched forward at the sudden tug, its head bobbing forward at the blade dragged it along with it. Then another tug forced the bark skin to crack and groan under the pressure of trying to decide whether to go with the blade or stay with the rest of its body. The third and final tug freed Zangetsu and mutilated what was left of the Ancients face. The left side of its face had been torn apart and allowing all to see the rotten interior within.

<p class="MsoNormal"> This was all that was needed for Turok to make his move.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cocking back the hammer on the gun he aimed towards the very large opening and without a second to waste he fired the gun. The bullet hit its mark and buried itself deep in the soft and vulnerable timber beneath the thick bark. In that moment the creature was motionless, and then its entire head exploded as the explosive round went off within its head.

<p class="MsoNormal"> The front of its upper body had been blown open, leaving splinters and black sap to fall around the square before the remains of its body followed suit and lurched forward and hit the ground with a loud thud.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo rested Zangetsu on his shoulder as he took in the remains of the fallen Ancient... and he didn't like the look of its insides. Even though it wasn't nearly as disgusting as a human's or Hollow's body, it still didn't leave much to imagination with how its innards were rotted timber and blood was black gooey sap.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Dat wasn't as hard as I thought it would be." stated Rai, walking over toward Ichigo, who nodded in silent agreement. Although the last time he fought one of these things was when he was alone and in pretty bad shape. "Nice work wid dat sword of yours, I like your style."

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Thanks Rai." Said Ichigo.

<p class="MsoNormal"> But their friendly chatter was cut short when Turok moved closer, his dominating presence silencing any more chit-chat between the two of them.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Form up, we can't stay here. The enemy will overwhelm us!" Shouted Turok.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He turned towards the three woman who were currently holding off the brunt of the attacking Treants. And there were many of them.

<p class="MsoNormal"> It was only due to Shikil'hi elemental abilities that kept most of them at bay, and allowed the two Druids to strike them down with their Druid powers over nature. Moonfire and Wrath was cast towards the Treants, rending bark and timber with ease.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Shikil'hi! Adelina! Get to Turok!" Shouted Hawnia towards the two younger casters.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Shikil'hi and Adelina moved away from the edge of the plaza and rushed back towards the others. While Hawnia channelled a small hurricane around her, wind and stone flew around her quickly and with a push of her hands she it out towards the charging Treants, knocking most away and dazing the rest. Hawnia turned on her heals and shifted into a leopard and took off after the others. She spared only a glance behind her to see many of the Treants were only a few metres behind them.

<p class="MsoNormal"> As they were running towards the rest of the group, Turok raised his rifle and fired it in the general direction of Adelina and Shikil'hi. When the weapon went off the sound of wood splintering and being blown apart could be heard behind the two blue skinned females. Behind them a Treant had been able to get within reach, but thanks to Turok it had been blown in half thanks to the massive calibre bullets he used for his cannon.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He motioned to the far side of the square towards the hallway entrances. He along with the others moved with all speed towards them and stopping only to shake off any pursuers that were getting too close for comfort. Turok stood by one of the archways leading into the hallway and kept an eyes on Hawnia, Adelina and Shikil'hi as they approached, using his sharpshooting skills to take down anything that got to close.

<p class="MsoNormal"> When the three of them came through Turok moved out of the archway and ushered everyone down the hall. They needed to find the stairs. It was their only hope to escape, and they followed it for a short while before they found their salvation in the form of stone steps that led to the balcony above them.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo and Uruk charged up with their weapons drawn, while Turok and Shikil'hi turned towards the Treants to hold them while everyone got up stairs. The Treants were coming at them in much larger numbers now, since they knew where they were now they were coming in force.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Turok fired shot after shot into the oncoming crowd while Shikil'hi turned them into charred firewood with her elemental power. But where one fell three more took its place and there were dozens of them and more were coming up from behind, Turok grimaced, they needed to seal this passage off.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "We need to destroy the stairs!" Shouted Rai, from the top of the staircase.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Turok and Shikil'hi were slowly advancing up the stairs and keeping the Treants at bay.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "The stairs are made of solid stone, how in the hell do we do that?" bellowed Uruk.

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Treants were at the base of the stairwell and moving up the large steps with ease, pushing and shoving one another like animals to get to the intruders-of-flesh above them.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Hey, Shikil'hi!" Ichigo shouted to the Shaman. She turned around to berate him for interrupting her while trying to save all their lives, but he beat her to it. "Can you bring down the wall and onto the stairs?"

<p class="MsoNormal"> She looked at him for a moment not fully understanding what he meant, and then she looked to the massive walls that soured high above the balcony and the stairs... Which if it were to crumble could seal off the stairs for them to escape.

<p class="MsoNormal"> She smirked.

<p class="MsoNormal"> This human actually had some brains after all! She cast another Flame Shock towards the Treant before rushing back up the stairs with Turok in tow. She got to the top and turned towards the wall. She couldn't move it but she could weaken the balance of the stone and make it fall.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Keep dem off me, I need time to finish de call!" She shouted to them.

<p class="MsoNormal"> She placed her hands against the stone wall and began to chant.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Turok, Adelina and Hawnia stood at the top of the stairs and sent down whatever spells or bullets they could to hold back the army of deranged Treants. Even Rai came up to try and keep them at bay with his pistols.

<p class="MsoNormal"> But Ichigo and Uruk had to wait up top and do nothing. The Orc looked annoyed and it was likely because he wasn't killing anything. Ichigo was more annoyed by the fact that here he couldn't do anything! He wanted to help! He didn't like feeling powerless to help and wanted to be able to do something! But he knew that if he tried to it would mean he would do something stupid and he would get in the way of everyone else.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo turned to Shikil'hi. He could sense a great deal of power coming from her and the thing was it wasn't Mana, but something similar to Reiryoku... Like Reiatsu... And he could feel it coursing through her and the wall itself. From what he knew about Shamans when he learnt about them in school, they were Spiritual Leaders that could commune with spirits of their ancestors and the land... And it looked like it was also similar here too.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He could feel something moving through the stone and trying to tear it down... Like there was a spirit inside the stone trying to help Shikil'hi take down the wall. Maybe there was one and she was able to call upon this spirit to aid her.

<p class="MsoNormal"> As the call for the Spirits of Earth's aid came to its crescendo the wall began to shake and crack. She was actually forcing the wall to buckle!

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo looked at her and was shocked to fell a very powerful force make its presence known. She was definitely strong! Not like Byakuya or Renji, but still powerful.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Then, when the chant was finished she pulled back her fist and roared before punching the wall. The stone cracked around her fist and travelled up and along the lengths of the wall above the stairwell.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Turok, Hawnia, Adelina and Rai rushed back and away from the stairwell. They knew exactly what was coming.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Turok only stayed a moment longer to load his gun with a special bullet before firing it at the advancing group of Treants, their bodies were blown apart burnt to a crisp by the explosive round.

<p class="MsoNormal"> They rushed from the wall as it began to fall.

<p class="MsoNormal"> The entire section of the stone wall fell onto the large balcony! Soon the stairwell was destroyed as well as a good amount of the balcony. Either buried under rock or collapsed to the ground below, effectively killing or trapping the Treants that had been following after them.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Well done, Shikil'hi!" said Turok, before turning and moving forward without another word.

<p class="MsoNormal"> They followed after the Hunter and moved across the balcony towards a wide path leading even further into Dire Maul.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Adelina walked up besides Ichigo and stood with him as they moved forward.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Why did you want to come here anyway Ichigo? Shouldn't you be going back home to Theramore?" Asked Adelina.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "I don't want these things causing more harm to anyone else. I know about what happened at Mount Hyjal four years ago, the last thing I want is more people to suffer." He said, not wanting to tell her the whole truth that it was him who is responsible for the Dreadlord being here.

<p class="MsoNormal"> After all, they would likely throw him away or kill him for that.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "For someone who scowls so much I didn't know you were such a softy." Said Shikil'hi, who was coming up from behind them.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo looked over his shoulder and stared at her in a bored expression that was mixed with irritation.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Kiss. My. Ass." Said Ichigo.

<p class="MsoNormal"> To which she smirked and leered at him, before moving very close and whispering in his ear.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Actually I prefer what's up front, but we can leave that for later, when no one's watching." He turned beat red at the propositioning she whispered into his ear.

<p class="MsoNormal"> She walked past him with a grin on her face, leaving a red faced Shinigami and a confused none the wiser Night Elf to think about what happened.

<p class="MsoNormal"> A few minutes later they eventually arrived at another balcony.

<p class="MsoNormal"> But instead of being a solid platform it was a hollowed out square balcony, and below them they saw a paved area around a large stone walled pit with a large rotted tree propped against the wall. Below they could make out the bodies of many Demons and Ents sprawled against the dirt and tiles.

<p class="MsoNormal"> But there was more here than just the bodies of the dead. All of them could see just out of the corner of their eyes the faint outline of something moving, but when they turned toward the apparition they disappeared.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo expanded his sense and he could feel it all around him.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Dozens  if not hundreds of Spirits were here. He could feel them roaming aimlessly around these ruins. They were lost and if he could concentrate hard enough he could hear them.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Crying out to be saved, to be set free from this torment.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo looked up and far across the hollowed out expanse and on the other side of the terrace he saw someone. He gazed over to see a woman he believed to be standing near the edge of the terrace and looking over the courtyard below.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo without a word moved to speak with her.

<p class="MsoNormal"> The group watched as he moved away from them and was gazing at something across the side of the terrace. They couldn't see anyone, but they sure could feel it.

<p class="MsoNormal"> There were spirits here and all of them were whispering on the wind.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo could see the many apparitions of the dead as he moved closer to the woman. They were wondering around aimlessly, completely oblivious to him. He could see men and woman everywhere, crying and wallowing in despair and grief.

<p class="MsoNormal"> But they didn't change at all.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He saw no chains, no Hollowfication, they simply existed to live in perpetual torment. This was crueller than anything else, to be forced to live here for eternity until you either are released or your spirit is destroyed. That is more horrifying than anything he could possibly imagine.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Soon he stood before the woman he had seen over the gap.

<p class="MsoNormal"> She was a Night Elf, or a Highborne as they were more correctly called. She had long blue hair that went down the lengths of her back and wore a very beautiful dress of green, gold and red. She gazed over the fields of the courtyard below, watching as the Corrupted Ancient Protectors wandered aimlessly around the decaying field.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo could see she was dejected. This was her fate, to forever be bound her and wallow in misery.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Can you hear me?" Asked Ichigo.

<p class="MsoNormal"> She didn't respond, she simply continued to stare out across the courtyard.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Ichigo." Turning around he saw Turok and the others were there, watching him closely. They could make out the Spirits as they moved close, but they were but ethereal to them. The Magic in the air made it easy for them to see the ghost but still they had little way of interacting with them. "What are you doing?"

<p class="MsoNormal"> Before he could reply the Spirit spoke.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "You mortals should not be here, leave this place." She said to them, her voice low and solemn. "Before it consumes you as it has my people and all other that have been touched by it evil."

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo looked around the area before him. He could see hundreds of Spirits and the corrupting of the land was as evident here as any other. But this wasn't the work of Demons, this had been going on for a long time, a very long time.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "What happened here?" He asked the Spirit, who only then decided to turned towards him to speak.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Do you know of my people, the Highborne, the Shen'dralar?" She asked the boy, her voice regal and emotionless.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "No, I'm sorry, I don't know about them." Replied Ichigo.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He had an idea about the Highborne, kind of like nobility within Night Elf society ten thousand years ago.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "They were the nobles of Night Elf society ten thousand years ago." Aaid Adelina, almost like she had read his thoughts. "You were once the servants of Queen Azshara."

<p class="MsoNormal"> "That is right and the Shen'dralar were once Queen Azshara's most revered Arcanists." She said with some pride in her morose voice. "It was within these walls we carried out our Queen's will. No matter the task we followed her command without question, and in secret."

<p class="MsoNormal"> "But what happened here? What caused this?" Asked Ichigo.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "After the destruction of the Well of Eternity and the subsequent lethargy that overcame the Highborne and lesser Night Elf sects, we were forced to find a new font to feed our hunger for Magic." She said. "The Prince of Eldre'Thalas, Tortheldrin, began construction of the pylons that you can see below, now destroyed and left in shambles."

<p class="MsoNormal"> True to her word, below they saw two pillar on either side of the courtyard and two more on either side of the terrace they were currently residing on. They were large pedestals with large crystals tethered to the metal base. But they were broken... The crystals shattered into hundreds of pieces.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Were they meant to be used as a source of power to help with your hunger?" Asked Hawnia, leaning down to pick up a fragment of the crystal that was near her hoof.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "No, the Prince plotted to imprison a Demon of immense power behind a grand force field. The pylons would channel latent energies into the shield, keeping it operational and the Demon bound." Said the Spirit.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "You mean… that Demon, that massive dog creature... You were keeping that imprisoned here as a source of food?" Asked Ichigo disgusted.

<p class="MsoNormal"> And from how the others reacted they thought the same.

<p class="MsoNormal"> But Turok and Rai caught onto something that others didn't when he spoke.

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Spirit didn't mention a Demon dog, just a Demon.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Yes. While imprisoned, it was a creature called a Void Hound, Immol'thar was its name. And it would serve as a battery to the populace of Eldre'Thalas." She said, her head lowered in anguish.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Either in recognition of that the act of using the Demon as a power source or because of her current situation was not known.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "But why? Why would you do such a thing?" Asked Ichigo.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "The siphoned energies would sustain the Highborne's Magic, allowing those within the walls of Eldre'Thalas to feed their endless and growing Magical pangs and keep us and our civilization alive." She said, as an act of defending her race. "For thousands of years we were able to do this without fear of losing control of the Demon or dying from the thirst."

<p class="MsoNormal"> "But it didn't last did it?" Asked Turok.

<p class="MsoNormal"> His hard eyes boring into the Spirit's, who closed her own and lower her head.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "No, the power required to keep Immol'thar imprisoned while sustaining the population within Eldre'Thalas began to shift. It was subtle at first, but then it became harder to maintain." She said, her voice becoming nostalgic as she recalled those events. "The cost to keep Immol'thar bound grew too difficult. Our people were numerous and we couldn't siphon enough energy from him to sustain everyone."

<p class="MsoNormal"> "All these people..." Murmured Ichigo, looking around. He knew it in his heart what had happened here. "They were all killed weren't they?"

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Spirit looked at him before her face contorted in sorrow before she lowed it.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Yes, the Prince himself carried out the task of slaying his people, keeping only enough to maintain the pylons to Immol'thar's prison and to quench their thirst."

<p class="MsoNormal"> "You were one of them weren't you?" Ichigo asked. "You were one of the people he killed?"

<p class="MsoNormal"> "I… I couldn't follow him… My family… My daughters. I couldn't let him take them." She said, her voice was croaking as she tried to hold back tears. "I watched them siphon the power from their bodies, leaving only husks behind, I couldn't… I couldn't…"

<p class="MsoNormal"> A hand descended on her shoulder, shocking her and those who were more aware of what the boy had just done. She looked up at him and looked at him. She had no idea what was going on, and how could he touch her? There was no way someone living could touch her.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Where is this Prince?" He asked in a low tone, his anger evident as the fire in his eyes.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "He is located in the Athenaeum, just beyond the Prison." She said, her voice full of surprise that his hand could still remain on her shoulder. He was different from the rest, she could feel something from him... Power, raw power, maybe… maybe he could end this. "If you can slay the Demon, then the Prince's power will be diminished. He will be vulnerable, that will be your chance to strike at him."

<p class="MsoNormal"> "If I defeat the Prince, what will happen to everyone here?" asked Ichigo

<p class="MsoNormal"> "We cannot leave this place. The power that holds us here is etched into every stone. As long as this city remains here, so shall we." She said, casting one final glance at the Spirits around her, before turning back to the young Shinigami.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo nodded and reached up to his blade, everyone was a little surprised by his current action.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He pulled Zangetsu from his back and the cloth unfolded from it with but a thought. The Ancient looked at the blade for a moment and closed her eyes. If he could touch her, he could cut her down. She resigned herself to this fate. At least with the death of her Spirit she would no longer worry about her misery, and she could have some peace beyond this tortured existence, she just wished for only rest.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Ichigo, what are you…" Ichigo raised a hand to silence Adelina.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Your family? Are they here?" She looked up at him with shock etching her face.

<p class="MsoNormal"> She could see his warm eyes looking into her ethereal ones.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "No, they were fortunate to be taken into the goddess' embrace after they passed." She said, a genuine smile gracing her features before she lowered her head and closed her eyes. "Make it quick, I would like to at least meet my end quickly rather than how I met it in life."

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo raised Zangetsu and the Shen'dralar Ancient waited for the inevitable strike...

<p class="MsoNormal"> But what came next was not what she expected.

<p class="MsoNormal"> She felt a soft tap against her forehead. She opened her eyes to see the man had tabbed the hilt of his sword against her forehead.

<p class="MsoNormal"> She blinked at his actions.

<p class="MsoNormal"> She would have asked why he did this, but before should could she felt something. Looking down she saw a chain appear from her chest. A chain of wood covered in many green leaves and vines.

<p class="MsoNormal"> It was attached to the stones beneath her.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Where it was bound she could see the rot and disease that sprung from it and up the chain and into her.

<p class="MsoNormal"> But now the blight was receding from her.

<p class="MsoNormal"> As well as the anguish and despair she had been forced to suffer for many centuries.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Then it snapped away. The chain hung freely from her chest, and as if a great weight had been lifted she felt no more pain, no more grief, no more despair, she looked up at the man and she couldn't even speak to ask what he had done.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Go find your family." Ichigo said with a smile.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Light appeared around her and her form turned into a brilliant light that ascended towards the heavens and disappeared.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo looked up at the cloud for a while longer before he turned to the group before him...

<p class="MsoNormal"> Who were all staring at him wide eyed. He just realised that he may have gone a little bit overboard when he performed Konsō on that Spirit.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He looked at them sheepishly before rubbing his neck and saying some very unconvincing words.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "There's a perfectly logical explanation behind this." He said.

<p class="MsoNormal"> They all looked at him.

<p class="MsoNormal"> They knew that there had to be an explanation but it wasn't a simple one.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "It doesn't matter." Said Turok, moving off ahead of them. "We will speak of this after we are done here, not before."

<p class="MsoNormal"> There was no argument raised by the rest of the group, but everyone wanted to voice their questions as to why he was able to touch that Spirit and also somehow put her to rest. As Turok moved past Ichigo he stopped only for a moment to say to him, a word of caution.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "I don't know why you want to find this Demon, or how you are able to touch and cleanse Spirits, but if there is more to you than just being human, I will find out..." The Tauren said, and Ichigo glanced over and saw his hard eyes boring into his very soul, "And take the appropriate actions."

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo remained ramrod straight as Hunter passed him by.

<p class="MsoNormal"> The last thing he wanted was to be on the wrong side of that cannon of his. He stood there for a moment before continuing on, all the while the group was giving him some very odd looks.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He didn't likes this now. It looked like his little stunt with the Spirit had earned them their curiosity or possible suspicion. His powers here were a complete unknown, so there is no telling what may be going through their minds. Maybe like Shandris and Quintis when they first met, they thought he was a Demon.

<p class="MsoNormal"> But luckily they didn't broach the subject any more than Turok telling him that he had his eye – and by extension his massive gun – on him. But it left the group wondering what kind of powers this boy has. He was able to spot the spirit from a considerable distance and also interact and cleanse it with but a simple tap of his sword.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Adelina looked at Ichigo for a second.

<p class="MsoNormal"> She didn't know how he was able to do those things and he was a little frightened by it. She could always feel something coming off him when she was close to him. It felt like a force was building inside him and then pushing itself out. She didn't have any reason to distrust Ichigo or anything and they had only known each other for only a few hours so she really couldn't put judgement on him yet...

<p class="MsoNormal"> But the ability to touch the Spirits and cleanse them may not appear bad, but it spoke that he was hiding something from them. She knew he was powerful, she remembered what he did to those Naga when they attacked. He completely and utterly decimated them in a single swing of that sword. They were blown apart!

<p class="MsoNormal"> But she remembered something...

<p class="MsoNormal"> Those words that left the Naga's mouth before he died...

<p class="MsoNormal">'' "Not human..." ''

<p class="MsoNormal"> She looked over towards Ichigo, her curiosity and worry building in equal measure

<p class="MsoNormal"> 'If you're not human, then what are you?' 

<p class="MsoNormal"> Soon they found a stairwell that led them down from the raised terrace and onto the ground floor.

<p class="MsoNormal"> They walked out from the undercover hallway and towards the wall that railed off the pit and that was mainly what it was. All that was down there was dirt, a large rotted out tree and the ramp leading down into it. As they observed it more clearly they could see a wooden door in the far right hand corner of the pit, just adjacent the tree. They couldn't see anything down there and also from what they could tell the door lead under the courtyard and in the general direction of the Colosseum that was in the distance.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Rai moved up towards Turok and spoke with him privately.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Should we be worried about de boy?" Asked the Troll Rouge.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "As long as he doesn't pose a threat to this group, then I have no qualms with him... But if he makes a single mistake, I will find out what I can from him before making my move." Said Turok, glancing towards the young 'human' who was overlooking the pit below and the area around them with alert eyes.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Don't worry, I'll keep an eyes on him. If something happens, I'll be there." Said Rai, glancing towards the young human as well.

<p class="MsoNormal"> When they turned away they continued on their way, moving towards to ramp.

<p class="MsoNormal"> A few minutes later and they were on the dirt floor of the walled off pit. There wasn't a single things down here but that tree that was blackened and growing against the side of the far wall. The entire thing looked like it had been singed and its leaves dyed in purple ink.

<p class="MsoNormal"> They walked down and looked around and saw nothing about this place that showed off whatever elegance it was meant to hold. Maybe the tree was meant to be the main spectacle of this little depression in the earth, but none the less they moved past it quickly.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Turok and Rai leading the group towards the doorway on the far side of the pit. As they did so Ichigo kept his eyes on the walls, looking for anything that may try to attack from above, but he couldn't sense or see anything that suggested there was anyone up there.

<p class="MsoNormal"> But as they moved Turok motioned them to stop.

<p class="MsoNormal"> But just as he did everyone could almost feel like something bad was going to happen.

<p class="MsoNormal"> From Adelina's and Hawnia's Druidic powers, Shikil'hi's Shamanistic abilities, Turok's, Uruk's and Rai's keen instinct and Ichigo's ability to sense Reiryoku, they knew something was going on.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "The tree!" Shouted Shikil'hi.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Everyone turned to the massive black oak that began to twist and groan, before something began to sprout from the rotted wood.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Massive black arms of wood and bark released themselves from the side of the wall. With them it pushed against the stone and dislodged the torso and head that were rooted to the stone. And then the legs beneath the body were pulled free.

<p class="MsoNormal"> What  dismounted from the wall and a large section of the tree, that had once been part of the wall, was actually a Corrupted Ancient in hiding.

<p class="MsoNormal"> It was a massive creature that dwarfed it's cousins throughout the rest of the ruins. There was little foliage among the dark bark that made up its skin. It had a long box like face with tusks protruding from the side of its face and branch like hair. On its back were large jutting tree trunks.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Standing at a whopping twenty six feet in height it leered down at the little being before it.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "You do not belong here! I will destroy you for intruding on this sacred ground!" It bellowed, its voice thick and hoarse.

<p class="MsoNormal"> And without another word it charged at them.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Everyone dispersed and moved away from the rampaging Ancient. Its massive fist coming down to crush them all in one fell swoop.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo leapt away and as he slid along the dirt as he drew Zangetsu. Without missing a beat he charged in towards the Corrupted Ancient. The Ancient saw the boy coming and brought its massive arm over its body before swinging it at the Substitute. Ichigo not reacting fast enough wasn't able to dodge the attack.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He raised his sword to prevent the blow from striking him directly but it didn't stop it from sending him flying away and into the stone wall.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Ichigo!" Shouted Adelina in worry.

<p class="MsoNormal"> But Ichigo got to his feet quickly, only wincing as he did so. That thing was fast and strong, nothing like the others they had come across before!

<p class="MsoNormal"> An explosion rocked the side of the creatures head.

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Ancient showed no signs of pain but it did turn quickly towards the one who had attacked it.

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Ancient raised its massive fist overhead and intended to crush the Tauren beneath it. Turok leapt out of the way as the hand came down towards him. He was able to roll and regain his footing and fire another shot. The Ancient kept its gaze on the Tauren and moved to attack again, but as it tried to raise its fist from its most recent attack it found that it could not move it.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Looking down it saw many roots had formed around its arms and held it to the ground. It looked over to see two Druids summoning the roots to keep it in place. Treant groaned in annoyance and worked to remove its hand from the vines.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Uruk rushed forward and leapt at the creature's face, ready to bury his axe right between its eyes. A quick shake of its head and the Ancient was able to clip the Orc with its tusks and knock it away with little trouble...

<p class="MsoNormal"> But it couldn't stop the Shaman from lighting a small bonfire on his exposed back.

<p class="MsoNormal"> There was a dull roar from the Ancient as it work all the harder to remove itself from the vines. It was all the time Ichigo needed to charge up and leap onto its arm, and charge up it and stab at its face. The ancient couldn't stop the attack quickly enough with its tusk and was now howling in anger as the boys blade pierced its face right below its right eye. Then as Ichigo ripped Zangetsu free from the rotting wood to strike again, the sound of snapping vines caught his attention.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Looking down he saw the Ancients arm was free now, and was moving to grab him. Ichigo leapt off the horn he was standing on, but that still didn't save him.

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Ancient was able to grab him and trap him within his iron bark grip. Ichigo watched as its dark sap eyes looked at him as it applied the pressure necessary to crush him. Ichigo groaned and tried to get out of its grip but it was useless. He cried out in pain as he felt his entire body being crushed...

<p class="MsoNormal"> But the pain subsided when the side of the Ancients face was engulfed in an explosion of fire. It reach up with its free hand and try to brush away the flames that still linger, which allowed Ichigo to raised Zangetsu and stab it into the Ancient's arm.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Another roar escaped its lips before it released its grip on the young Substitute, who fell to the ground and landed in a crouch before he had to leap away lest he be crushed under the ancients massive foot. Ichigo rolled to gain himself more distance and looked up at the leering Ancient.

<p class="MsoNormal"> This  one was a lot harder to put down then the rest!

<p class="MsoNormal"> He hefted up Zangetsu and prepared to attack once more, but was forced to leap away again when it struck out with its fist again. Another one came down where he landed and he narrowly dodged it, but the forces of the strike knocked him further back than he expected. He lost balance and rolled across the ground before coming to a stop just a few feet from the wall.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo looked up to see the others were trying desperately to take the ancient down.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Shikil'hi tried to burn it.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Turok tried to shoot it.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Adelina and Hawnia tried to blast it and restrain it.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Uruk tried to chop it down.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Uruk charged at its leg and sunk his axe into the back of its wooden heel, but it did nothing but alert the Ancient to the Orcs presence. Which it used to try and crush him under its foot... Luckily Uruk was able to leap out of the way before being smashed into pudding.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Turok shot at the back of the exposed leg, right where Uruk had cut into the wood. The bullet was able to pierce the much softer interior of the Ancients body and exploded within. A good chunk of the creature's leg was removed and it stumbled and nearly buckled to the ground.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Hawnia and Shikil'hi were more than willing to give it the much needed push to bring it down, both stood before the ancients back and where channelling elemental winds within their hands. When they were ready they sent a massive wave of wind towards the charred back of the Ancient.

<p class="MsoNormal"> When it struck the creatures exposed back it was enough to bring it to its knees. It lurched forward and stopped itself short of landing face first on the ground, but it was low enough for Rai and Uruk to make their moves.

<p class="MsoNormal"> The first was Uruk, who charged in from under the Ancient and with a upward swing intended to dig his axe deep into its face. This time he actually succeeded, and the axe struck the Ancients large triangular nose, cutting it vertically along the bridge and leaving it two separate pieces. The Ancient tried to lift itself away from his attack, but could only do so from the Orc. For the Troll was on his back and moving in to do his own damage...

<p class="MsoNormal"> Rai leapt over the Ancient's raised head and as he fell before it he sunk his sword-breaker into the walking tree's left eyebrow. He hung on its face for a second before he attacked with his Rapier, stabbing the narrow blade into its eye.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Black polluted sap burst free from the ocular socket and blinded the beast. It roared aloud and drew back quickly. Its head facing the sky and its screams moving towards the heavens. This action also knocked Rai's sword-breaker out of the tree's brow and launched him off and away from the large Ent. As he sailed through the air he was saved as a tunnel of wind formed around him and glided him back down to the ground safely.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Thanks!" Said Rai.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "No problem." Said Shikil'hi.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Rai got on his feet quickly and charged back in, while Shikil'hi prepared to send another ball of flame at the Corrupted Ancient.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo charged under the Ancient and slashed his blade against it's injured leg. The sword passed through the very fragile limb with ease and took out more of the rotted timber. Ichigo didn't stop when he struck, quickly moving forward and getting as much distance as possible from the Ancient. After all, the Ancient could strike from a good distance and Ichigo didn't want to be within his range when he attacked. Ichigo turned around quickly to see the creature was straining itself to use its left leg. If they could keep this up then they could bring it down and finish it off.

<p class="MsoNormal"> But as he readied Zangetsu to attack again he saw vines wrap around the creatures leg, trying to pull it down. He looked around and saw Adelina trying to bring the beasts leg down, but as much as it was struggling to prevent that, Adelina was struggling more so.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Eventually the vines snapped and the Ancient turned to the source of the attack and spotted Adelina. She reeled back as it moved to grab her. She was too close to dodge and Ichigo was too far to reach her. He cursed under his breath and he raced forward to try and save her.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Adelina watched in horror as the dark iron bark claw hot towards her, ready to grab hold of her and crush her lithe form between its fingers.

<p class="MsoNormal"> But as it drew closer she felt herself being knocked out of the way. She hit the ground hard and out of harm's way.

<p class="MsoNormal"> When she looked up to see who pushed her out she saw Hawnia...

<p class="MsoNormal"> Standing in her place with her hand extended from pushing her aside...

<p class="MsoNormal"> That was the last she saw of her before she was ensnared by the Ancients claws.

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Ancient grabbed hold of Hawnia and with her still in hand slammed his fist into the ground in front of him, before bringing it up to slam it into the wall on his right hand side and then throwing her away to his left. Hawnia's broken body flew through the air before impacting against the far wall and then crumbling to the ground.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Everyone watched transfixed on her body as it fell to the ground and didn't move.

<p class="MsoNormal"> They all knew...

<p class="MsoNormal"> She was dead...

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Hawnia!" Shouted Adelina.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Quickly moving towards her. She knelled beside the fallen Druid and looked her over, her hand clamped over her mouth in shock as she looked over her broken form.

<p class="MsoNormal"> She was dead without a doubt.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Her chest had been deformed and her limbs had been snapped and broken in several places. Her horns had been broken, her face was the only thing that had not been completely destroyed by the Corrupted Ancients actions.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Adelina was so transfixed on this she didn't noticed that the hand was descending down towards her once more. It was only when the shadow appeared over her that she looked up to see it coming towards her.

<p class="MsoNormal"> But a flash of black shot between her and the massive claw, and it halted its descent to crush her.

<p class="MsoNormal"> She looked up in shock.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo stood there, his blade flat against its massive hand and with strength she did not think he could possess he held the corrupted ancient at bay. She looked on in awe at the fact that the boy who was only a year older than herself was using strength beyond anything he should be capable of to hold off against the Corrupted Ancient Protector.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo groaned as did the ancient he was holding off as he tried to fight against the overwhelming pressure that was being pressed down upon him. Ichigo couldn't hold back against this thing, it was too powerful! He needed to end this before more people died!

<p class="MsoNormal"> He cast a glanced behind him to see the bloodied face of Hawnia. He felt guilt building up in him, as well as anger.

<p class="MsoNormal"> She was dead because of this monster in front of them!

<p class="MsoNormal"> She was dead because they had come here to stop that Demon!

<p class="MsoNormal"> She was dead because of that Demon being here!

<p class="MsoNormal"> It was his fault for it being here!

<p class="MsoNormal">' It was his fault she was dead. '

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo roared as he knocked the mighty arm to the side. It landed on a few metres to his left and shattered the solid ground beneath it. The Ancient leered down at the Substitute with an annoyed sneer, it obviously didn't like the boy.

<p class="MsoNormal"> But that dislike would soon be ripped from its face.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo brought back Zangetsu in both hands and began funnelling his Reiatsu into his Zanpakutō. Soon a wave of pressure descended on the entire area, there was no movement from anyone as they watched the scene unfold before them.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Around the blade a massive burst of energy appeared. The wind kicked up and from his blade a massive surge of blue energy appeared. It was like lighting was flowing out from the blade!

<p class="MsoNormal"> The pressure continued to rise as the energy grew larger. They all watched with wide eyes as the young human drew back his blade and readied to strike, the power in his blade matching nothing they had ever seen before!

<p class="MsoNormal"> It was grand.

<p class="MsoNormal"> It was terrifying.

<p class="MsoNormal"> It was powerful.

<p class="MsoNormal"> And with a final roar he set the energy loose.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Getsuga Tensho!"

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo swung his blade in an upward arc at the Corrupted Ancient, who watched in his own shock as a massive arc of energy shot forth from the blade and in the short distance between them engulfed him.

<p class="MsoNormal"> The crescent wave crashed into its torso, shredding bark and splintering wood as easily as paper. The Ancient was thrown two feet off its feet and into the air as the explosion occurred. It had been thrown away from the Shinigami.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Everyone watched in awe as the massive Corrupted Ancient Protector was thrown off its feet and sailed through the air before crashing into the ground with a mighty thundering boom. They looked on to see its entire torso had been rent asunder and nearly snapped the creature in half.

<p class="MsoNormal"> It lay on the ground motionless.

<p class="MsoNormal"> The once dull glow within its black sap eyes finally dulling into nothing. Its mouth still wide open in shock from the attack that had defeated it, similar to those who were watching from the sidelines. Their eyes lingers on the fallen Ancient before turning to the one who defeated it.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo stood there, his blade hanging by his side and he was panting heavily. Obviously that Spell had taken a lot out of him, and from what they could feel it was more than any of them could possibly put out in a single spell of their own.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He pitched forward and nearly fell to the ground. He used his blade to keep himself from falling completely. He had sweet beading down his face and his legs were shaking slightly, obviously that attack had taken more out of him than just a bit of Mana.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Turok recovered quickly and marched up to the young human, but he didn't think for a second that he was anything of the sort. There was no way that power came from the sword!

<p class="MsoNormal"> He could tell.

<p class="MsoNormal"> His instincts told him that the power was the boys. True, some artefacts have enchanted powers, but nothing of that sort. And also the power drained the boy rather than the blade, which meant that the boy possessed a power that was far greater than what any of them had. But there was something about him that didn't sit right with him.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo could barely keep himself from falling over. Zangetsu was the only thing keeping him upright, and from the way his Reiatsu had been drained it was obvious that in the week since his recovery he still isn't recovering his Reiatsu any faster. If this kept on happening to him if he used any Reiatsu based abilities then it would be difficult for him to fight any prolonged fights against powerful foes.

<p class="MsoNormal"> And from what he has seen, this giant ass of a tree isn't the last thing that he may be contending with in the next short while.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Ichigo." The gravelly voice of Turok alerted the young Substitute to his approaching presence.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo looked up to see him moving toward him in a hurried pace. But the way he walked and the way he was holding that gun of his made him think it was more to finish him off rather than to check on his condition... And from what he did next further confirmed that suspicion.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He stood in front of Ichigo and sized the boy up. Turok checked him over and levelled his gaze with his own.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He was gauging the boy to see what he could see beyond those human eyes that he didn't believe were just that. He wanted to know what just happened and he wanted to know right that second!

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo just stood there and let him make his decision. He didn't have the strength to really fight back against all these people anyway... In the end they would likely kill him for being different. Turok turned away from Ichigo and toward something behind him. His eyes softened slightly before he moved off, looking over his shoulder Ichigo was reminded what was there.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Adelina and the late Hawnia, the former kneeling before the latter and offering a prayer to her.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo could see that the death of Hawnia was having a very huge impact on the young Druid. Her eyes were not as bright as they were before, and her expression was one of sorrow. Even though they had barely known each other, the fact that Hawnia sacrificed herself for Adelina weighed heavy on her shoulders.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He couldn't blame her, the woman had saved her live and was dead because of it. That brought up some bad memories of his youth, memories he wish would have never come to pass, he just hoped that her worries and pain would not grow from her time with him.

<p class="MsoNormal"> The sound of hollowed growling caught everyone's ears.

<p class="MsoNormal"> They knew that more of the Ents were coming. They weren't in a position to fight them off, they had lost one of their own and some of them were severally injured and needed treatment.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Sadly, without Hawnia here, they would need to rely on Shikil'hi's healing abilities which were below standard and Adelina, who has yet to prove her worth outside of combat, but hopefully she was up to the task.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Turok leaned down and picked up the broken form of Hawnia.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Adelina rose to her feet slowly, everyone else looked on and waited for orders. Turok looked them over before his eyes fell on the slowly recovering Ichigo, they narrowed a little, not in completely in threat, but enough to let him know that this wasn't over.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Move to the door, we can't stay here any longer." Ordered the Tauren Hunter, cradling the Druid in his arms before moving towards the door.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo watched as everyone went on their way towards the large wooden doors on the far side of the pit. He could see their glances toward him before they turned away and moved on, he had obviously earned their suspicion. He was so damn frustrated, he killed the thing and saved Adelina, and he's the bad guy!

<p class="MsoNormal"> Where's  the justice in that?

<p class="MsoNormal"> If it wasn't for him she would be dead, likely more people would be dead and they would have more to deal with than just one angry walking tree but a dozen.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo looked to his side to see Adelina passing by, her head downcast as the sorrow in her features remain firmly etched into her face. When she looked up at Ichigo all he could offer was a sad and knowing looked that showed that he understood what she was going through. She turned away from him quickly however, and moved off to join the others.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Ichigo let out a breath before hobbling after them.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Uruk and Rai were busy trying to keep the door open to allow everyone through, eventually they held it ajar enough for everyone to get through. Rai and Uruk being the last as the closed the door behind them and barricaded it with a nearby piece of wood. They then sat on the walls of the tunnel they resided in and caught their breath.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Turok had propped Hawnia against the wall and allowed her body to rest against it. He offered her a silent prayer in Taur'ahe, while Adelina and Shikil'hi were busy trying to heal everyone who had been injured in their recent battle. Ichigo remained off to the side of the group, not finding it wise to sit next to them or to close.

<p class="MsoNormal"> After all the way they were eyeing him showed that they obviously didn't trust him as much as they did before.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "What the hell are you?" Asked Shikil'hi.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Her hand aglow with green energy that went from her fingers and onto Rai who was looking at Ichigo with serious eyes.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "What do you mean?" Asked Ichigo.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He knew it was a stupid thing to do, but he couldn't just blurt out too much about himself here. The less people that know the better, after all there was no telling how these people would react to his proclamation of being a death deity.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Don't try to slip past the question boy. That power that you used against the Ancient out there, it be nothing like of which I have seen before. What are you?" She barked at him.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Her hand no longer over Rai but in a fist by her sides and waiting for his answer before she beats it out of him.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "It's just an ability of mine. I can… channel Mana into my sword and send it out in a wave." Ichigo lied as smoothly as he could.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He didn't want them to think the worst of him. If he tried to tell them about Reiatsu and how it was dense and dark then they may see him trying to make excuses and then kill him.

<p class="MsoNormal"> After all, the Elves thought he was a Demon from the power he used. If they acted like they did when he was there, then there was no telling what these people may do if they think that as well.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He probably wouldn't leave this city in more than a few pieces.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "You think I'm gonna believe that boy? That wasn't Mana, that was something else!" She retorted.

<p class="MsoNormal"> She knew he was lying. She could feel it... She could sense the energy that was used to destroy that Corrupted Ancient. It wasn't Mana at all! She wasn't paying much attention but she couldn't tell what it was.

<p class="MsoNormal"> First she thought it was elemental, because of the lightning.

<p class="MsoNormal"> But she ruled that out when she saw that it was simply the energy rapidly being forced out of the weapon, and it wasn't Mana. It wasn't exactly the right consistency.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Mana couldn't be condensed into such a focal point for so long or with that much energy. When she sensed it she was getting almost two separate feeling from it: the first was familiar, similar to when she walks through the Spirit World and the other more dark and menacing, which could mean it was Demonic in nature.

<p class="MsoNormal"> And when he somehow cleansed that Spirit, there was something about that that surprised her. She felt a very familiar presence on him, almost like primal energy, similar to nature, but the boy wasn't a Druid or a Shaman.

<p class="MsoNormal"> But he didn't have to be one to cleanse a Spirit.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Even a Warlock could do it. All they needed to do was break the Demonic or Evil bindings that held the Spirit to this world and they could pass on, but she had never met anyone of that intended profession that would do it.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "I'm telling you the truth; I can channel energy into my sword and send it out as an attack, that's how my ability works." Ichigo pressed on his lie.

<p class="MsoNormal"> He could exactly go back on it now, though it wasn't a complete lie, he was lying about what he used as an energy source.

<p class="MsoNormal"> She looked at him through narrowed eyes.

<p class="MsoNormal"> She tried to sense the energy from him again. It was small, too small for her to really tell what it was, but it was growing. Slowly but surely it was reconstituting itself in his body.

<p class="MsoNormal"> This boy could be a Warlock, but it is always hard to trust one of them. After all they consort with Demons and the ones that aren't their slaves usually work to their own ends that involve making themselves more powerful. She was beginning to get the suspicion that this boy was here not to help them out of the goodness of his heart. He was here for something else, as soon as they mention Demons he was all but eager to join them in their little hint.

<p class="MsoNormal"> 'What are you after boy?'  She thought.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Enough, there is no time for this! We cannot stay here, we need a more secure location to bunker down and plan out our next move." Said Turok, rising from his feet and going to move through the tunnel.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "What about Hawnia?" Asked Ichigo, looking over to the fallen Druid who's body still remain where Turok had placed her.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "She will be reclaimed once our business here is done. She will be sent back to Thunderbluff to be buried with her ancestors." Said Turok, not bothering to look back at Ichigo as he moved down the hall.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Everyone else followed soon after.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Shikil'hi moved up to speak with the Hunter more privately. She spoke to the Tauren in Taur-ahe to make sure the boy didn't understand what they were speaking of.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "We cannot trust him, he is hiding something." She said quietly to Turok.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "I know, the boy's power is not normal, nor is he." Said Turok. Before Shikil'hi could ask what he meant he continued. "The boy was able to survive being thrown aside and nearly crushed, twice, by that creature and can still walk."

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Do you think he is a warlock, it is not uncommon for their kind to be powerful?"

<p class="MsoNormal"> "It's a possibility, but I think he is something else entirely. My senses tell me that he isn't natural, he isn't something that exists in nature. He is not of this world." Said Turok.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "A Demon perhaps? Maybe one of the Dreadlords servants?" Asked Shikil'hi.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "I do not know, but the fact that the boy was able to touch the Spirit and also knew about the Demon that was imprisoned here disturbs me. Obviously he has been here before."

<p class="MsoNormal"> "You mean Immol'thar?"

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Yes, the Spirit didn't say that it was a Demon dog, just a Demon."

<p class="MsoNormal"> "He knew about it then." Said Shikil'hi. "He might even know how the Demons are here... He could possibly be responsible!"

<p class="MsoNormal"> "We have only conjecture for now, we will keep an eye on him. If he can help us reach the Demon then we will keep him, but if he proves to be a threat, Raizzariza is ready to slit his throat at a moment's notice." Replied Turok.

<p class="MsoNormal"> As they continued further down the tunnel they eventually saw a bright blue light at the end. They picked up the pace and arrived at the destination of their next target.

<p class="MsoNormal"> They had arrived in a massive circular room with massive walls. Inside they could see the Mana flowing through the room easily. It was very dense within the sanctum and would almost be mistaken as fog... And it was brightest within the inner amphitheatre at the centre of the room.

<p class="MsoNormal"> As they moved further into the room they could see the bodies of many fallen Highborne, viciously torn apart and killed by the demon Immol'thar. But there were also many that had been killed around the fallen pillars that were situated around the room. Many of them had been torn apart and destroyed. Obviously they were the same pillars that kept the Demon contained, but from what they could see the Highborne had died trying to maintain them, and keep the Demon inside.

<p class="MsoNormal"> But they were all slaughtered for their efforts.

<p class="MsoNormal"> As they moved further inside they stepped into the inner amphitheatre area. There they could feel the energy moving against their very skin, but it wasn't just Mana and Arcane Energy.

<p class="MsoNormal"> No, it was something much fouler.

<p class="MsoNormal"> In the middle of the room was a single round lowered stage where it was likely the Demon Immol'thar once was chained, but now there was a recently inscribed summoning circle etched in blood on the floor. From the amount of corpses around the foul magical rune it was likely that it was used recently. They had obviously used their blood as a sacrifice for this ritual, likely to summon more Demons here to aid him in conquering the city. How could have this happened? What could have caused the Demon to get lose?

<p class="MsoNormal"> But before they could even contemplate that the far alcove shattered and from its falling debris emerged a massive beast or black scales and many red eyes. They looked on in shock at the massive Demon that charged through on all fours like a dog and roared. They barely had time to prepare for the Demon before it was upon them, ready to rend flesh and metal with its jagged teeth in its two massive maws.

<p class="MsoNormal">