Chapter 1603 – That Terrible Sound

The Krath were in a frenzy.

“Move back!” Thulziss bellowed, phlegm and mucus flying from his lips as he glared down at the others. He loomed large over them, radiating power and authority, yet he did not get the reaction he expected.

Some were cowed, especially those from his own tribe, the Gluzzgith, who had travelled from the heart to come to this blighted place, but others still roared back at him, foaming at the mouth.

“Can’t you hear it?”

“It’s cleansing filth! I’ll tear it apart!”

“I can’t take it! I can’t take it!”

The last Krath, frothing with anger, eyes bulging to the point it seemed they might burst, lashed out, no longer able to contain their rage. Almost blind with anger, they sank their fangs into the Krath beside them, who screeched and retaliated in kind.

In moments, the entire scene would descend into chaos, Krath tearing each other apart in an orgy of violence that would kill dozens. The Krath’lath of the Gluzzgith sucked in a breath and let the rage boil in his voice.

“BE STILL OR I WILL TEAR YOU APART!” he roared, the threat resonating in the air as the thick, acrid scent of his unfathomably concentrated acid spread.

He moved amongst the crowd, daring them to defy him, his maw gaping wide to reveal his enormous fangs. It was difficult for them, he could see that they were deep in the grip of the rage, and he didn’t blame them, he felt exactly the same.

When finally the last of the crowd had been cowed, Thulziss moved decisively; as the leader of the undisputed largest tribe in the area, his presence commanded respect.

“Get them out of here,” he commanded the various Krath’lath of the smaller tribes in attendance. “Move to the first staging ground. That should be far enough from the fortress.”

“Has the way been made safe?” Ulliz demanded.

“If you don’t leave, you will find this place will grow increasingly unsafe,” Thulziss growled.

Ulizz, Krath’lath of the Bulg, understood him immediately. With the help of the others, they were able to keep the slugs in line long enough to get them moving away from the fortress. Thulziss, along with the other Krath who were strong enough of will to resist the rage, waited to ensure that nothing went wrong as the other tribes withdrew.

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All the while, the singing resonated in their minds.

Pure, clean sounds rang like peals of unsullied water, washing against their thoughts and trying to soothe their souls. Endlessly, effortlessly, the song invaded, calling, seeking, desperately crying out for acceptance and peace.

They hated it.