Oreario. The guild. Late evening.
In the dark room of the Guild, Hulk sat on the edge of the table, listening to the details of the new mission. Loki was sitting across from him, unpacking a scroll with instructions.
"Guarding a refugee caravan," she said, reading carefully. — The regions south of Oreario are susceptible to attacks. The caravan moves through forests where monsters and... pseudo-gods regularly appear. The follower of Gra'n-Dol'Rakhta, one of those who uses the magic of "Chains", attacks small settlements and forces people to follow him.
The Hulk nodded, wrapping the black chains that had once been a part of his own life around his palms. He was ready.
"The assignment is clear,— he said, standing up. "But what if they use dark magic?"
"You can handle it,— Loki replied. — But keep in mind: this will be a serious test.
⸻
Southern forests. Evening.
The caravan, consisting of many refugee carts, was moving along a dirt road framed by tall trees. Hulk walked in front, next to Ais and Riveria, while Beta followed on guard at the end of the caravan.
The Hulk felt a dark anomaly in the air. Something was wrong. The energy of the curse was in the air. The smell of fear.
"There!" Ais shouted, pointing at a black spot in the forest. It was a figure hidden in the shadows, with a body covered in black chains. His eyes were burning with a bright red light.
"They're coming!" Hulk shouted. He activated his rage chains, stretching them across the ground to enhance his power.
Skill: Chains of Rage II.
Magic protection increased by 75%.
The figure in the shadow approached, and then the Hulk realized: It was a pseudo-god that took the form of a destroyed human soul. There were many broken chains on his body, and his eyes shone with insane rage.
"Did you come to stop me?" The pseudo-god laughed, his voice like the rasp of metal. "I am Gra'n Mor'ah, heir to Gra'n Dol."Junk food. All of you who do not recognize Chains will become part of the Great Path.
—We won't let you take them,— the Hulk replied, his fist clenching. "I won't let you enslave people again!"
The pseudo-God laughed again, and his chains hummed in the air. He threw them like deadly stingers right at the Hulk.
The Hulk responded with a punch, his fist pierced through the chain and crushed the enemy. However, Gra'n'more'Ah used magic, and the chains shot out again, grabbing the Hulk by the neck.
"You're too strong for an ordinary person, but not for a god. You're just a puppet like everyone else. And you can't break the Chains. We are all part of them.
Skill: The Second Rage is activated.
The Hulk tore out the chains with a bang, his body shone red for a moment, and the ground beneath him cracked.
"I absorbed these chains. I'm free. You're just one of many.
The Hulk leapt into the attack, and with incredible force tore the Gra'n-Mor'ah apart.
Skill activated: Chain Absorption.
The curse is broken.
The shadow disappeared into the mist, and the pseudo-god's body disintegrated like sand.
⸻
In a few hours.
After the battle, the Hulk was back in the caravan. People were grateful for the protection, but the shadow did not leave his heart.
"He was just one part of a greater nightmare,— he told Ais. — There are others. The chains will never disappear.
Ais looked at him with respect.
"But you freed these people. You broke their chains. That's what's important.
The Hulk was silent, standing guard.
"This is just the beginning,— he added. "I won't stop until all the chains are destroyed."