Dullahans and Tablets

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Dullahans and Tablets Page 15

by Daniel Kolade


  “Pessimistic, aren’t we?” Remi glanced at him with a blank expression.

  “It keeps things interesting.”

  “I think we’ll get away fine,” Mila smiled.

  “Wager, anyone?” Abe asked.

  “C’mon, listen up!” Zora stole away their attention. “Hyde found The House of Sages, so we’ll rendezvous with him. Mari, give us another dose of Weightless, Abe: Resolve. Nitro: Frozen Ground. Mila: Net Shot.”

  The party members gave a curt nod.

  Although, they only had a few seconds, the orders had come in and everyone took their stations.

  One. Two. Three. Stealth expired and their veil of invisibility disappeared, rousing the beast to their location.

  “Retreat!” Mari’s voice echoed like a shockwave. Her Skill was the first to be activated, replenishing their supply of Weightless. Following closely behind was Abe’s skill and Nitro’s and Mila’s, respectively. The offensive skills targeting the beast was meant to at least slow it down. But that quickly proved impossible when they started their escaping dash once more. The cave troll chased them far more dogmatically than before.

  “Damn… this troll never quits,” Zora gritted her teeth. “Mila! Scout for Hyde!”

  The girl in question simply nodded and activated Rocket Boots and then following her hasty landing came a second skill Rocket Jump, propelling her even further. Her movement Skills gave her an obvious advantage when it came to mobility as she quickly disappeared beyond the trees.

  Her return or at least her reappearance in the distance came almost as fast. She waved towards the party, who quickly adjusted their course at her signal. It didn’t take long until they arrived at the rainless plot of land and reunited with Hyde. What now? The thought circled among them.

  In the very next moment, Zora ordered them to jump in.

  The party fell through the portal. Everyone but Hyde seemed relieved, maybe it was because he wasn’t sure which was worse, getting flung across a forest or experiencing portal sickness once more. However, after his sad attempt to pacify the nausea, he put his stomach to rest.

  “So, this is it?” he asked, but only silence answered him. He glanced at his companions who all stood frozen, gazing at the interior of the dungeon. “What is it?” he turned to see what had caught their attention so strongly.

  Wow… He too was infected with the heartstopping, muscle-numbing experience of seeing the inside of The House of Sages. The walls were all etched with foreign symbols, identical to the ones they had seen at the entrance, and they shone with the same majestic glow. But it wasn’t just that. Even though this was a dungeon, its architecture was impressive to say the least. The stone work was amazing. It clearly demonstrated the artistic vision that had been imagined before the sculpturing.

  This is a dungeon, they thought, glancing at the different subtle details that gave the scene such an awesome atmosphere. There were very few torches lit, but the glowing runes were more than enough to light up the big room.

  After a deep breath, Abe’s voice came. “That troll sure was close,” he smiled.

  “Yeah, but we made it in one piece,” Mila smiled, accepting the money that he owed her.

  “Who would have thought that we’d end up here?” Remi added.

  “Who cares, now I can prove who the true Sage is!” Nitro chanted. Her voice echoed against the walls, demonstrating the dungeon’s amazing acoustics and abolishing the eerie silence.

  “Well, we’re already here, might as well check the place out,” Zora said, leading the party forward.

  However, as Hyde took a step, his portal-sickness resumed. It was almost as if the surprise of the dungeon had made him forget for a moment. “Wait…” Hyde whispered.

  “What?” Zora looked over her shoulder, only to see Mari rubbing the poor Dragoon’s back whispering, “there there.” Somehow, the sight of that made it humourous to think that he was their vanguard.

  “Hey, wait for Hyde.” Zora stopped the rest of the party before they could continue.

  “Oh c’mon!” Nitro grumbled, noticing why they had to stop. “Really?”

  “You shouldn’t be talking, Lolo,” Remi smirked.

  “Watch what you say!” The cloaked girl drew her staff, but she too didn’t seem very threatening, even though she wielded a weapon.

  After a few deep breaths Hyde recovered and the party moved on.

  They exited the room through three huge, intricately designed stone gates and entered into a smaller, narrower room. They stopped close to its centre, or more precisely, Zora stopped them.

  “Something’s wrong,” she said.

  “Why do you say that?” Remi asked.

  “I don’t know, I just have this feeling,” she explained. “Nobody move!”

  “What?” Mila looked over her shoulder, but unfortunately, she hadn’t stopped moving.

  “Wait!” Zora exclaimed.

  But it was too late. Mila had taken one step too far. Under her foot, a rune was revealed. “What the—” she quickly stepped back, but it was already activated. A wave of light pulsed from it and tided over them. In a second they all felt it. Their legs grew heavy and running seemed impossible. Crippled. Their stomachs turned and contracted, almost as though to force the contents out. Poison. Their equipment seemed unbearing as did their very limbs. Weakness.

  The Conditions infected the party in an instant and following was a squad of elementals climbing up from the ground like a group of zombies.

  “Shit, run!” Zora issued a retreat, which every member heeded. All but one.

  Hyde stood immobilised, unable to move, unable to speak. Maybe it was the Conditions he suffered that hindered him, but those had already been cured by Abe and Mari the moment Zora sounded the alarm. This was something else.

  Why did it have to be elementals… he thought, every fibre in his being growing cold and stiff. Each and every hair stood upon his skin. His eyes shuddered, but he couldn’t look away from the horrific elementals. Levi—

  “Hyde!” Zora screamed.

  What? He shook his head. Run! Zora’s words flared in his eyes and in one easy motion, he turned and followed the others.

  They returned to the room they started in, looking for the portal they’d entered through but it was gone. It was almost like, once in, that was it. The only way out was winning. But there was still one other option left.

  “Teleport using your tablets,” Zora ordered. Everyone tried to do as she commanded, but it looked like it wouldn’t be possible. It was then when it became dangerously obvious that when inside a Dungeon there was only one way out.

  “Shit…”

  They turned to the marching elementals that wouldn’t let them go so easily. Their rocky humanoid bodies seemed all the more sinister in Hyde’s eyes. His hands shook as his breathing grew quicker and his eyes dried. Fear crept in, pulling that which shouldn’t have been pulled and chilling that which should have been warm.

  “Hyde.”

  He jumped as Mari lay her hand on his arm.

  “It’s okay, we’re here with you,” she said.

  Her steady voice was the only thing he could hear. The warmth of her hand was all he could feel and the gentle expression of her face was all he could see. Somehow, his chest was no longer pulled and heat returned to his limbs. He looked around at his allies standing around him, ready to take on the foe before them.

  You’re right. I’m not alone. Thank you.

  CHAPTER 18

  “Zora,” Hyde whispered. “Cover me.”

  Before he got confirmation from his leader, he took a decisive step forward, answering the challengers. The rocky armoured creatures had no voice to use or expression to read, the only communication that they allowed themselves was their steps. Their heavy lumbering feet against the stone ground and lowered weapons almost remarked their foes as not worthy of any effort.

  But Hyde, he was ready to prove them wrong with the blade of silver manifesting in his hands.

&n
bsp; Zora smirked, watching the armored boy tread forward. She was almost a little amused or maybe more like a proud parent as she said, “Mari, stay with Hyde, Mila with Nitro, Abe and Remi with me, we’re supporting wherever we’re needed.”

  Everyone but Hyde nodded. He seemed like he was ignoring her, but the expression on his face said otherwise. His strained, vengeful grin, welcomed the battle ahead and communicated his words of anger, sorrow and fear. I won’t be afraid anymore, he thought, tightening his grip around his sword. I won’t let another friend die.

  Now at the point of no return, with all the members quickly getting into position, Hyde jolted into action. C’mon! The elementals quickly moved to surround him, but his friends didn’t allow it. Mila sent one flying with an Overcharged Shot. Remi, Abe and Zora intercepted one each respectively. Hyde, on the other hand, wasn’t just faced with the one, but a pair. They didn’t stop him. Though he was scared and Levi’s death was fresh in his mind, nothing would stop him now.

  He went for quick a Shoulder Bash, knocking back one of the elementals, then turning his attention to the second. With a swing of his blade, faint sparks flashed in the dungeon from the clashing weapons. The loud piercing ring from metal against stone echoed. He struggled against the second as the first was about to return.

  “Stand Your Ground!” Mari screamed with the same overpowering voice that didn’t quite fit to her small stature. But the effect of her Shout proved very real.

  The party was quickly enveloped in the gentle glow of Resolve, shrugging off the Shield Bashes and other disabling attacks, while also gaining sharpness in their eyes, Insight.

  Hyde met the first elemental, leaving glowing trails from his eyes as he moved, under the effect of the Boon. The exchange between them was short. The elemental swung its rocky arm that acted like a sword, while its other was a shield. However, as the blade neared, the Dragoon parried it like it was nothing, but didn’t manage to stop the creature. Even off balance, it recovered far too easily, pushing back with ease.

  Before he knew it the jagged edge of the elemental arm had stabbed through his side. The pain was like nothing he’d ever known. It was so swift, sharp and acute, far more than the other injures he had endured. He looked up at his life gauge and watched his HP bar drop far lower than expected. What… it was only the one attack, but at least a quarter was gone, maybe even more. Why?

  And that’s when it hit him. Dungeons are where the strong go to prove themselves. He released a few struggled breaths that felt like tiny daggers were cutting through his windpipe.

  The blade of the first elemental was drawn back, releasing him from its grasp as the metallic fluid filled the boy’s mouth. The second elemental, however, didn’t pay much heed and moved in for another attack. But the Dragoon quickly retreated. Until—

  “Hyde…” her voice was so sweet as she held her hand up to his back, with her book in the other, she healed his wound, restoring most of his life.

  “Mari?” he looked back worried, only to see she wasn’t the least bit fazed. If I don’t win this… she’ll be up against those two. He thought. I can’t let that happen. “I can do this,” he smiled and looked ahead. When he moved to return to the fray, he could have sworn that it wasn’t just the warmth of one hand encouraging him, but half a dozen.

  His sword moved with the precision of Insight but that still didn’t prove enough, their armor was far too great. Damn. He backed away, giving himself just a bit of room before he realised something. Valor. He grinned and stepped forth, evading the sword from the first elemental and then proceeding to Shoulder Bash the second, forcing it away. Now, with a little alone time with the first, he lifted his sword about to unleash Rend, however just before he delivered the blow he gained Valor, and instead performed a quicker downward slash with one hand on the hilt and the other on the forte.

  The stroke of silver drew a cut on the armor of earth. I see. He smiled figuring out that he had just needed a bit more power. The second elemental had now returned to dance. Hyde followed up with a second strike against the first and then a third—but that one was Feinted in order to bait out an attack, which came without fail. He Parried and threw the second elemental off balance allowing for a fully charged Rend to whip free. It came down shattering the creature’s armor that it struck.

  However, as Hyde turned to the first, an attack had already been sent his way. He leaned back, but the stroke grazed his arm. It was amazing just how much it hurt. Although, he endured a small injury, he went on the offensive, performing an uppercut with his pummel, dazing the elemental. He held his blade with one hand and grabbed it with the other, shoving the second to one side.

  The pair of them staggered, leaving room for yet another Rend. Hyde pulled his sword loose after the attack and watched the elementals shrug off the injury, but this time they didn’t push ahead. Instead, their cores that were previously yellow turned red.

  Hyde backed away consciously wondering what was going on. “What’s happening?” He looked around at his allies reacting the same way as he did.

  “Enrage,” Zora whispered, standing firm. “Kill them quickly!”

  The party, without questioning her judgement, did as ordered. Hyde stepped forth with his silver in hand, steadying it on his forearm. The pair of elementals stepping up to the challenger were slightly different this time around. Aside from the red core, it was obvious that they were under the effects of Boons. Valor glowed on their rocky weapons and Insight was probably what was responsible for their red cores. While they moved, slow, faint light trails followed.

  “Stay where you are!” Nitro’s voice echoed against the walls. “From clouds darker than black and turmoil fiercer than tornados. In the name of the Great Sage, thine foes shall perish under the clap of thine hammer. Chain Lightning!”

  She slammed her staff into the ground, invoking a huge lightning current that slithered forth, twisting and curling around her allies like a hydra. The sharp sparks enveloped their foes, electrocuting them, until only a pile of rocks remained from the armors of earth. The cores had been completely burned out, leaving behind a dreary smell.

  Their breather came right after the elementals turned to dust. Everyone but Zora dropped to their knees, realising just how tough that fight had been. It wasn’t that they suffered a great many injuries, but it sure was taxing when fighting a foe that could strike you down without much effort. It was an experience they weren’t quite used to. It was scarier than normal. Or at least it was for Hyde. He had determined that a good three strikes in total would have led to his demise if Mari hadn’t been there to keep him afloat. Frightening, but true.

  “Are you okay, Hyde?” Mari asked.

  “I’m fine, thanks,” he said, after glancing up at his nearly full HP bar. “Check with the others.”

  Mari did, but she barely had to heal anyone. Instead, she performed a Skill that granted the party Regeneration in order to heal them slowly while expending a small amount of energy.

  “Everyone alive?” Zora said, taking a knee almost as if to be courteous. “Abe?”

  “Alive.”

  “Remi?”

  “Same.”

  “Mila?”

  “Here.”

  “Mari?”

  “Alive.”

  “Hyde?”

  “Uh… Alive.”

  “Nitro?”

  “Barely…” The girl had almost exhausted all her magical energy.

  Everyone was accounted for. A burden was lifted in Hyde as he heard the voices of his companions after their first encounter with elementals. Nobody died… thank goodness.

  “Man, that was a little more than expected,” Abe grinned.

  “I hate to admit it,” Remi sighed.

  “But I think it was still fun,” Mila said chipperly.

  “In some sadomasochistic way, maybe,” Hyde added with a warm smile.

  “You surprised us all going up front like that,” Zora smirked.

  “Does that mean Mari won again
?” Nitro grumbled.

  “Won what?” Hyde wrinkled his nose.

  “I think so,” Abe nodded lightly.

  “That girl really knows how to scam us of our money,” Remi added.

  “Mari, why are you so good at this?” Mila asked.

  “You’ve got to be kidding…” Hyde trailed off for a moment. “You did not gamble on my resolve!” He raised his voice after glancing at the beaming faces, but no one answered. “How did you even have time for that?”

  Zora was the first to crack, letting out a hearty giggle, sparking the rest of the crew to do the same.

  “What?” Hyde leaned back, as the only one not laughing.

  “C’mon, break time is over, let’s find a way out of here,” Zora perked up, obviously ignoring his question.

  “Did you guys really make a bet?” But no one answered. Instead they simply followed their fearless leader into the narrower room up ahead.

  Hyde gave up on his questioning after Mari told him it was a joke, which made him flush of course.

  Although they were silent for a moment, the relaxed bravado was shot as soon as they arrived at a huge dark corridor that was scattered with a few glowing runes, offering only a glint of light.

  “Stay together,” Zora whispered, moving along with the other members at her rear, while squinting into the darkness. It was so thick and unyielding, but the runes allowed just enough light to see.

  They moved quietly, trying their best to not alert another group of elementals. However, they soon arrived at a huge door, open wide enough to allow a sliver of light to pass through.

  The party peeked in, lining their heads up along the door. However, what they found inside was no golden goose, but rather, a larger elemental—just the one, but that one alone was intimidating enough. It had metal armor with a blue core of lightning. No one had to say anything, but it was obvious that it was some sort of boss. The party backed away into the dark corridor. Nope. Not happening.

  “Let’s avoid bosses for now shall we,” Zora smiled shamelessly, leading them down the hallway again. “There’s no way we can take something like that on when we’re having trouble with the small fry.”

 

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