60 Chapter 60 - The Manic Awakens (1/2)

Hero Scout Willsimulated 23630K 2022-07-23

”Get these off me,” Jack said as evenly as his temper would allow. Phillip continued to stare like a sad puppy, as if the cold priest were somehow the restrained one here.

”Jack, you know I cannot do that. Our work here is done, we leave today for the capital,” Phillip said, the loyalist crusaders hauling the drunken bodies of their comrades into wagons.

”They will die without us - you cannot abandon the innocent and call yourself a servant of a benevolent god, Phillip!”

Phillips cold eyes flared with the slightest flicker of hate as he stared at Jack. His face contorted as if Jack were a mewling man sized leech.

”Do you even hear what your saying? The instance the people of this town accepted the aid of that evil soul the gods vacated the land. Tariak belongs to the heretics now, and while I can't force you to grow a spine I can at least save you from falling into the same decadent activities that will only make your path back to becoming a Templar that much harder!”

”Templar...?” Jack hissed, his muscles burning with effort as he pulled at the rope binding his wrists. ”After all that has happened, you still think I want to be a Templar?”

”Jack, without the Three you are nothing. You were raised from an orphanage for the Everseeing's sake! An unwanted child taken in by the church, we forged you, we created you and you have no right to turn your back on the destiny that you were made to serve. Open your eyes, it is not too late to return to the warm arms of the church. Our aside your doubts and your desires, renew your faith and become pure again.”

”Purity...such a strange word,” Jack chuckled , feeling something bubble within him. Somthing strong, somthing powerful.

”Jack, calm down,” Phillip said carefully, ”I'm going to out you to sleep now and then-”

Roaring Jack stood up and with a burst of strength pulled at the thick cord. In moments the band's snapped, and Jack was free.

A crusader attacked, but Jack stepped aside his fist and through the crusader into the air. Another swung, but Jack hit his arm down before sending the crusader tumbling to the side.

Leaping forward Jack grasped Phillips throat before he could whisper his prayers and grinned an inch from those cold eyes.

”Phillip....what is this?” Jack giggled, the power flowing through his body like waves of hot magma. His hair bristled and curled, his eyesight sharpened and his ears felt keen as a razer.

”You...need...to sleep...” Phillip gurgled, cold eyes still staring at Jack with a laser focus even as his face became bloated and purple.

Slowly Jack pulled his hand away, but the power rushing through him was too great to contain. It urged him to act, to fight to die and be reborn.

”My little Templar, how naive you are,” Phillip whispered as his eyes went wide. Unblinking he thrust Jack's hand aside with surprising strength, great gleaming grin spreading across his face.