This was the third time that Lucretia had been called to the haunted lands of the phantom lords, to a particular Church within it that held many a problem and many a level underneath it. The catacombs were a hotspot of spirits, ghosts and other types of specters; ones that needed to be laid to rest. But to do it effectively they needed to tire themselves out.

Lucretia knew it wasn’t a good idea to let them rampage because they tended to cause a lot of trouble; either from the population of humans that made those catacombs their home or the various priests trying to do their duties. Even the peaceful spirits and ghosts there would often become their target.

Lucretia felt the hollow words of the priest address her again and she’d turn her head to him; his words seemed slow. Muffled. Strangely distant to her and she couldn’t help but shake her head after a moment; putting a hand to her head. Ever since… Ever since her fight against Kon she had felt her body undergo some changes she couldn’t explain.

Like something deep within her stirred so greatly that she could barely really understand it; the bloodlust that once came with her werewolf heritage had muted itself. Instead she felt something else pump in her veins and it was… Hard to describe. The priest seemed worried but she’d just wave him off.

”What level this time?”

”I-its deep within the Catacombs. Wh-whatever spirit is responsible consumed the spirits from previous levels. Th-The oracles said that it’d try to go deeper but… W-we can’t have that happen.”

Lucretia frowned a bit as her question went unanswered and the priest sighed before motioning to the stairs lucretia would have to take. She’d sigh a bit before shaking her head. Figuring that if he wasn’t answering her it’d be a bit. She’d just keep going until she got to where she needed to be. It’d be obvious to her once she arrived.

”S-somewhere on… the tenth level of the catacombs we think.”

Lucretia’s expression of frustration quickly changed to that of surprise. The ghost had consumed five whole levels of other spirits? It’d have to be massively powerful at that point. She’d bite the inside of her cheek at the thought of exorcizing such a powerful spirit. She regretted for a moment giving up her chosen profession but she had to admit that now it was the best possible choice. To feel the fear associated with the beings of darkness to better understand what those she swore to protect went through. Growling she’d start her journey down the stairs.

I wish that more spirits were like that one that just wished to guide people… a shame…

WC: 456/2000

The first five levels Lucretia knew well enough to where she paid them very little heed; the homeless population had made it’s way into them and were spending a great amount of time enjoying themselves. It was something that lucretia honestly felt like she should work to help rather than slay the spirits. But if the catacombs could be a home and resting point for living and dead? She was doing what she felt was right.

Each staircase was a gift of where she could see how people lived when given the chance. The happiness she saw on the faces of people she passed was something she cherished and spurred her on. She felt the tickle of the lion in the back of her head and the wolf within stirred slightly at this. It once had been a bloodthirsty beast but it could feel the warmth from the people around it.

The woman eventually came to the end of the levels and she could feel the fear rolling on the ones behind her. They weren’t happy with the idea of having to perhaps dealing with another rampaging monster but Lucretia was at the very least happy to explain that the spirit was far below and wouldn’t be a problem for the living. They seemed a little skeptical but given how she was responsible for clearing out these levels they were willing to at least give her the benefit of the doubt.

Lucretia made her way through the empty catacombs; one after another. There was simply nothing but empty silence. The wailing that would have been a part of them before went unsaid and the violence of the spirit responsible was something she could see as she stepped through the halls.

”I think my master said it best… The more you take the less you have.”

She’d cast her gaze around, noting that there were some candles lit for honor or respect of the dead here and her visage softened as she noted some of them were messed up from the spirit responsible for this. She could tell that there was a huge gash from the spirit’s actions. Three claw marks that practically tore one of the shrines apart without much of an issue. She’d grit her teeth and continue onward.

Each level had a heightened level of violence as she passed through it and upon the precipice of the tenth level she could feel the malice of the spirit below. Her teeth set against themselves and she knew what she had to do. Her body changed, distended and where a woman of impressive stature stood before… Now was a wolfen warrior ready to take on the world. The spear was gripped tightly in one hand and she’d drag her hand along the wall as she walked down the stairs. As though she was marking her turf to those that would care to look. Though the light scraping brought with it a howl of irritation from below.

They were challenging one another before even seeing one another and once she was standing at the bottom of the stairs what lay before her was something that could only be described as a nightmare to those that weren’t prepared…

WC: 536
WCT: 992/2000

The walls wept with the blood of it’s many victims, the ceiling had screaming faces that some managed to choke out the word ‘help’ or some other kind of begging manner. The floors seemed like the prickly nature of darkness itself. Her feet sinking into it like bog as she stepped forward. The pillars that held everything up seemed like they had been wasted away into thorny mimics of life. Twisted and malignant growths spurned along the corners of her visions and the twisted line of distance that should have been the walls of the opposing corridor was instead the backdrop of some nightmare realm.

An eclipsed sun that was weeping blood was barely visible from behind what lay in front of it. A spirit that had become so powerful that it was manifesting it’s own reality into the catacombs. Lucretia’s breath was practically taken away from her and she couldn’t help but stare at the creature that had once been a human spirit. Long sharp scythe-like claws were at the end of each of it’s grotesque twisted limbs. The number of which Lucretia quickly lost count of. Many different heads sat upon it’s shoulders, twisting and groaning in what she could only imagine was a painful existence on its own. The crest was malformed almost… deity like visage of many eyes. The closest thing you’d ever get to seeing an angel she figured.

It was a hulking mass of spiritual energy so dense that she had to wonder if she would be able to pierce it with her assegai in this state. She had to wonder how many spirits it had devoured to become this powerful. This being was so strong that she could feel her body trembling; not out of fear but of both of her beastial links wanting to fight. The muted sensation quickly was replaced with the desire to give it their all.

She’d exhale slowly, the air was chilly frigid almost. It reminded her of the crisp mornings in iceberg and you’d think that would make most want to flee. She’d square her shoulders; feeding mana into the Assegai. The lion chuckled deep within her and she could feel it start to take hold. Her form grew to that of an incredible sixteen feet tall. Normally unattainable within the catacombs but with how twisted the reality here had become it wasn’t like the ceiling stopped her growth. If anything the twisted landscape practically begged her to push against it. Testing the very fabric of reality. Lucretia’s ice blue eyes wandered around it’s form for a brief instance and she could tell that it supped in many a spirit judging by how those claws wept blood of it’s own.

It had been busy while she had traversed the many levels before it. Likely feeding as it sensed and incredible well of mana making it’s way down here. It had already gorged itself and the two of them would be locked in a bitter battle that would likely even tear this delicate fabric of reality it had crafted apart. With her body finishing it’s transformation she’d let out a roar to challenge the being in front of her which was answered by a dervish of whirling blades. A shriek that resonated both with her ears and her soul answering her in kind…

WC: 555
WCT: 1,547

She felt the clang of many blows land against both her armor and spear. It was trying to tear her apart, screeching and rending at her with an intense fury. But she met each of it’s blows with ones of her own. She felt it’s body give way to her strikes realizing that while dense the being in front of her was practically an infant in terms of understanding it’s power. A power that she understood very well and would have to rectify very quickly if this catacombs was to become anything other than a hotbed for spirits like this. She’d scowl as a head looking much like her own was brought among the mass of varying heads upon it’s shoulders. Scowling she figured that it was trying to unnerve her which instead she found that it just pissed her off.

Without hesitation she’d ball a fist and slam it into the offending head without even more than the spare glance she took of it. The spirit reeled as it realized that the magic laden warrior in front of it was capable of hurting it even with it’s fists made it start to back away. The other spirits it likely gorged itself on didn’t fight back to this degree and she felt the fabric of reality around them twist a little more as it put forth more effort in trying to make it actually manifest. But the creature’s distraction was something Lucretia could use. Leaping forward without much more than a grunt she’d drive the assegai into the spiritual beast.

The woman felt her body shiver from head to toe as she ran the spirit through. She could feel the effects of this reality warping her sense of self for a brief moment before she let the beasts that dwelled within her drag her back by force. This creature was barely a threat to the world in scope of things and the fact it was trying to force it’s reality on it was laughable. The wolf within had seen much in it’s short life and the lion… It was a beast beyond compare. For the moment at least Lucretia felt her grounded vision twist the fabric that was being presented till…

Like everything in this world it was a delicate balance that was based on others and like that it’d shatter into a thousand pieces. The twisted realm that they were in changed rapidly and she found herself instead standing in a catacombs. Spear resting at her side, a spirit holding her tightly in it’s grasp. She felt the weakness of her body for a brief instant. Now understanding truly what danger she was in. The moment she had stepped on this floor she had been in it’s clutches and it was simply draining her magic. Looking to make it some kind of grand spectacle in her mind while it slowly fed off of her lifeforce till she died. Growling her hand shot forward; grasping around the throat of the spirit. It’s visage changed from a malevolent overtone to that of surprise and fear.

”Feeding time is over.”

She’d force her hand closed around the throat of the spirit crushing it in an instant. She was capable of doing something like this as it had manifested in order to try to sup of her mana. She’d growl as she felt it flail in her grasp. She wasn’t about to just let it get away from her. No she was going to exorcize it good and proper. She’d drive her assegai through it like she had in her ‘reality’. Watching with a grim satisfaction as it started to waiver… then simply burst into a intense wave of mana. She’d stand there for a few long moments to collect herself. Realizing that without her wolf and without the lion within the spear she likely would have been consumed by the spirit. Much like the many bodies of humans that lay at her feet. It had been doing this for quite some time and she nearly had been it’s next meal.

She’d turn her head back to the entrance of the area. Realizing that she hadn’t gone further than the sixth floor… Meaning that all of the other floors had been a grand illusion of the dreamscape it had offered her. She’d sigh a bit and shake her head; heading back the way she came. It’d be a strange couple of days as she would have to work against the idea she was still within the creature’s clutches no doubt. Once up in the priest’s hall she’d ask for them to check her over; they found that she had been deeply wounded by the spirit but they were able to rectify that before sending her on her way with her payment…

WC: 798
WCT: 2,345