We're making good progress. Already in the Serpentine Canyon after only 2 days of travel, with just the rest of the Lost City and its Dry Hills to go. 2 days ahead of schedule. My chance to prove to the Matriarch my worth has finally come. With the destruction of Lut Golein and its newly built fortress, the Felton, will come my final climb to the top of the Cold chain. Right hand woman of the Cold Matriarch is in sight!

The march is going steady even as the sun dies along the horizon. A stoppage in a canyon is just right for this section. The heat will stay with us throughout the night to warm our beds and the walls will protect us from the harsh winds of the Cold Plains. It is a good reprieve, rest after the cold and preparations for the heat. My genius knows no bounds!

We lost less than 10 to the Rogues of the Sightless Eye, and 94 of our number remain after decimating them. This is still more than enough to build up a Siege camp in the Rocky Waste. Final strike force strength will be 15 thousand strong, enough to crush even the armies of Zakarum and their priests.

What? Head scouts have sighted a man in our path? Odd. Who would go solo into the Valley of Snakes, let alone this canyon? hA! He must be some sort of self-acclaimed adventurer! Very well, if he seeks to test the strength of the new order we shall give him a taste of the frost we've brought with us!

"Glacial Mages of Horror! Ready your magicks! It's time for target practice!"

                                                                        ~*~

I've been spotted.

Ezekiel completes his incantation, his eyes glow a fierce bright red as 3 comma-like black orbs in the whites (now red) of his eyes swirl around his pupils. The pupils flush pure white, a stark contrast to the blood red glow. Veins popped out at the corner or his eyes where crow's feet of the elderly usually grow. The lines stretched out almost to his ears. Hidden by the curtain of his long fringe, the pulsating eyes see through even the thickest of rock. With a quick glance at the walls around him, he found the weakest link in the canyon walls. The hardened ground beneath his feet cracked under the pressure building up around him, a light wind circled his feet, picking up gusts of sand.

NOW!

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What the

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A foot kicked up and back, shooting the Kubikiri Houcho up into the air. The foot slammed back down onto the slate, shattering it. With the impact, his body became a blur of motion, shooting forward as he burst into a rapid succession of motion. His black cloak split where no seam seemed to be, arms crossed, then not. A cloud of shurikens and kunais flew their path, making a beeline for the forward mages. His hands flashing back together in a quick but organised pattern then clenched together. Blowing out the deep breath he had taken while throwing the weapons, a bust of flame shot from his mouth, splitting into 5 full blazing balls. Completing his stride, he slammed the other foot into the ground, this time sending him vertically into the air.

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So fast! So Fast! TOO FAST!!

"Blood Clan!! Body Barrier!!

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Grabbing the sword, he seemed to crouch in mid air. The chakra in his feet, so concentrated it manifested itself in the air as a crackling blue glow, propelled him further upwards with an audible 'Crack'. The blue lightning glowed again, this time surrounding the formidable blade. Now halfway up the canyon and his blade resting across his shoulders, he jerked backwards and simultaneously swung the Kubikiri Houcho a horizontal arc, slashing the canyon wall. The chakra hardened metal bit deeply into the rock, creating a gash almost half a metre wide, 9 metres long and at least 5 metres deep. Crouching again, this time sideways against the wall, he stretched out with another audible 'Crack' and shot to the opposite wall. Slashing ahead of him with another chakra-hardened strike, another gash was created.

Timing, perfect.

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No! Not now! I'm so close! But how? How could this have happened? Who in the hell is that...

"Retreat! Avalanche!!"

                                                                        ~*~

Flipping his body to kick off the wall once again, he felt the impact and shock of the explosion as his explosive seals tied to the kunais detonated. As ripples of the explosion travelled though the solid rock, the gashes crumbled, sending tones of rock and sand raining down onto the minions of the Cold Empire. Spreading his cloak wide open, he rode the waves of the explosion, soaring up above the opening of the canyon. With a third 'Crack' while sheathing the massive sword, Ezekiel shot back down towards the earth, landing some 50 metres away from the horde of panicking hell spawn.

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Pain! Good thing the blood clan made that Body Barrier in time; otherwise I would have been incinerated. Good enough for me to escape with just scorch marks. With the path closed up, it'll make for harder travel, but I Will Return!

What? Why is everyone slowing down? Ahead? What's ahead?

"Let me through you brainless tainted beasts!

                                                                        ~*~

Incantations already more than halfway out of his mouth, his right hand half clenched, as if holding a ball. Air swirled in his hand, rotating and picking up speed. Within seconds, a mini hurricane seemed to manifest itself in his hand. Without waiting for the ball to complete its strength, Ezekiel plunged it towards the ground. From years of experience, the timing was impeccable. The swirling ball of energy reached full power upon striking the explosion-weakened ground, ripping it apart from epicenter to the walls on both sides.

                                                                        ~*~

Not Again!!