Seed Of Speed

"A Daemora!" Moonwater gasped.

"What is a Daemora?!?" Oro asked.

"One of the Dark Gods of our world," Firesand said solemnly. "It is a Daemora that rules the Anzoli Empire, and without out a doubt, the strongest existence within these red sands. I have not heard of Nyra'teni, but there is no mistaking the form of an Avatar. Abyss black skin, the binding pact in crimson runes across his flesh, and power that eclipses the Laws of the Heavens. The full power of the Konto Sect would be needed to handle this man, and nothing close to what my meager strength is capable of."

"That thing has two of my sons!" Barru growled, puffing his c.h.e.s.t.

"And the power to kill us all. If he is willing to talk, then we need to try!" Firesand snapped back.

"So, what do you suggest? We offer him the kids? What of Ishu and Tovao?" Anoe replied coldly.

"Pray that he has heard of the Konto Sect and that its name is big enough to hold him off. Daemoras are bound to their contracts, but they also like to amend them. Your forefather was the one who made a deal with a devil, so either we amend the contract or we all die here," Firesand said. "What say you, Patriarch?"

As bash as Barru could be at times, there was still a cunning and calculating side to him. He knew this was not an enemy he could defeat despite his instincts screaming at him to fight. The more he was suppressed, the more he d.e.s.i.r.ed to fight, but this was not one of those times, so he needed to be a leader of his people, not as a lone man. Without a word to anyone, he kicked off the gate and shot towards Echo.

Echo did not even flinch as Barru came rocketing at him, either convinced the man meant no harm, or he had complete faith in his powerful body. While undoubtedly the latter was true, Barru stopped just in from of the man that even he had to look up to meet his eyes.

"You speak of my forefather, Patriarch Krutii. Any record of this contract had been lost when I took my seat, so I humbly ask your forgiveness. I understand our family owes you a debt of blood, but two of my heirs now belong to the Konto Sect. Our shaman, another member of the Konto Sect stationed here, explained your master might be willing to alter the contract. May I invite you into my home while we serve you and discuss what we can do for each other?" Barru asked in an out-of-character humble tone.

"That man in the red robes... He is your shaman, the one you spoke of?" Echo asked.

"Yes," Barru replied with a slight bow.

Echo waved his hand and a crimson spear formed. Before anyone realized what was happening, it shot out and flew straight into Firesand's c.h.e.s.t. Echo's hand then reached forward and grabbed Barru by the neck, hoisting him off his feet.

"The stink of your lies give you away then you dare try to barrow the power of a third-rate power to intimidate me?!? You knew of the contract, you just wanted to be greedy and steal from my master! Then you would even dare try to weasel out of it when you were caught! I offered forgiveness, but you have chosen damnation for you, and your people!"

"Telryn men! Attack!" Anoe shouted as he drew the longsword at his waist.

The gates of the village swung open as nearly a hundred men poured out into the open desert. Dozens of archers jumped up on the walls and started firing arrows down on Echo, just as he broken Barru's neck and threw his lifeless body to the side.

Firesand laid in Moonwater's arms while she desperately tried to heal the damage. The spear had completely destroyed his heart, but, unknown to her, no amount of normal healing could repair the damage caused by an Avatar's conjured weapon. Rainshower would have been able to since she had the 'holy' branch of water magic which was a powerful form of healing magic, but sadly, all Moonwater was doing was extending his pain.

"Cesola," Firesand coughed as he grabbed the jeweled talisman hanging around his neck, "you have to warn the sect!"

"But if I stop..." she cried, "you will die."

"What will Dystina... do the moment of my death? We have to keep her safe!" he whispered as he shoved the talisman into her hand.

"I will," she said softly as she pulled her hand away.

Due to his cultivation, he could survive a few more moments without her aid which he used to hold her cheek one last time before his arm finally fell. Moonwater could not help but let out a cry of heartbreak and pain as she collapsed on his body, oblivious to what was happening behind her.

Echo opened his arms wide as if welcoming the rain of arrows, but in the next second, hundreds of crimson chains bloomed from and fanned out in a stunningly beautiful manner. The arrows found their mark, but bounced off harmlessly, unable to penetrate the natural defense of his skin.

That was when the pointed tips of the chains turned and rained down upon the Telryn warriors. Tens of men were skewered by the chains, but a few found themselves wrapped up in and unable to move. Bako, Euniti, and the other sons of Barru were the only to survive the slaughter, but they were forced to watch on as their clan's men died around them.

With the warriors dead, Echo turned his attend to those on the walls. His chains easily ripped through the archers, but he approached the crying woman with his true body.

While the Konto Sect would likely not care about the death of one measly desert village, he also was not going to invite extra trouble for himself. She sat up and started to pour mana into a talisman in attempt to bind it when Echo appeared behind her. He grabbed her roughly by the back of the neck then ripped the talisman out of her hand.

"I am only keeping you alive because I don't want your sect meddling in my affairs and killing you both will draw suspicion," Echo growled as a crimson chain wrapped itself around Moonwater's body. "And after I finish slaughtering this village, then I will call those two boys back and get my master's final tribute from this dirty, puny clan!"