After a deep breath, her eyes set and she took a single step, that by itself almost shook the very flames burning on the torches. She drew a sliver stroke across the elemental’s shield, twisting the moment the blade of the halberd connected. Now with the polearm continuing on its track, turning in her hands, the final strike was upon the elemental. It came down like a thorned guillotine with the hook of the halberd as the tool of execution. However, no soul was executed on this day with that attack.
The elemental blocked and parried. Zora was pushed back. Her attack, her stupidly obvious attack, resulted in a moment of vulnerability that she was sure would be her last. But her eyes didn’t show any signs of fear, but rather, pity. Maybe she pitied herself or maybe it was her party. I’m sorry, Hyde, we couldn’t even beat the first dungeon.
The Boss moved in to take advantage of the moment of clarity with a Shield Bash that would probably be comboed into an unavoidable slash, or at least that’s what Zora expected. But that didn’t happen. Instead, mid-dash the elemental vanished liked it had once before.
Oh no! She turned, steadying herself on her feet. Nitro. The unguarded Sage continued to chant, but nearly froze at the sight of the hulking elemental that was far too close into her comfort zone.
Nitro! She wanted to run, to hide, to disappear. She was their leader and she couldn’t even protect them. Her eyes wanted to close, but she wouldn’t let them, she had to watch that silver blade cut down the girl who’d put all her faith in her. No… Please… H—
Nitro refused to stop chanting. Something was coming, something would save her. She was sure of it. Zora would probably come, right? Her jaw set and her words leapt off her tongue, her Spell wasn’t finished, there was still a couple of lines left for the grand finale, but she wasn’t about to let it end like this. Someone would come. Because she wasn’t alone.
And sure enough, in the nick of time, another stroke of silver came to answer the sharp steel headed her way. The two blades bit into each other, glittering with the sparks and ringing with the Sage’s chant. A Dragoon had come to her rescue, the same way the other had held off the foe all this time. He carried a smirk on his face and a force in his muscles that could almost be seen through his metal armor.
Touched by the Boons Barrier, Insight and now Valor, he performed Guard Crush, forcing the blade and the elemental wielding it back as if he was the Boss and it was the unwanted visitor.
It was only allowed a second to stagger before a Shadowstepping, Valor-fuelled dropkick came its way, forcing it in another direction, a good distance away from the Sage.
The elemental shook off the daze and looked up, steadying its vision and expelling the blur, only to see a grinning Sentinel shut his glowing book and raise his sword. The Spell he unleashed wasn’t one that would hurt the creature directly, but it was one that would make sure what came next would hurt far more. The Boss turned to the Sage now clad in the glow of Valor.
“Flames hotter than furnaces, I beseech thee, set those in opposition ablaze. The time has come. Appear as the heat born from my will. Appear as the sole torch in the darkness. INFERNO!” Nitro screamed, snapping her fingers and sending out a thin spark that soon turned into a tidal wave of fire. The Spell easily distinguished between friend and foe, scorching only the elemental. The creature was torched in an instant, and in the very next moment it was covered in the awesome flames only Sages knew how to control.
The wildfire cracked with the jumping embers and shadowed the entire elemental in its warm body. It appeared like a dark silhouette slowly eaten away by the bonfire.
Wow. Zora looked up at the suffering creature and then at her companions. Thank you, she thought looking at the bright faces that had carried her burden when it was far too heavy for her to manage alone.
This—this is—Nitro smirked ruthlessly as her Valor-touched staff lost its glow, but her smile remained—This is art. She smiled even as she fell and was unable to move a muscle, incapable of catching herself. It all happened in an instant, the infection that would cripple her nerves and her muscles reaping all of her strength set in. It was the poison known as Exhaustion.
“Easy,” Hyde whispered, catching her. The brilliant show of fire and light, shone across his face and gleamed with his armor.
“Thank you,” she smiled, letting him steady her.
Soon, the maelstrom of flames were extinguished and the crack of embers silenced. What remained was a seared elemental in charred armour. The entire party was frozen still, hoping for the best, but as the creature moved an inch, the thought crossed their minds—It’s not over.
The Architect and Sentinel were inbound, the pair of them wielding their respective weapons. One with a rifle, the other with a magical tome. The former burst into action with a Rocket Jump, quickly followed by a Buckshot, unloading a powerful slug at the barely conscious elemental. The latter called upon the Skill that only the highest caliber tome-wielders used to inflict the highest of punishments onto the damned, Spear of Judgment.
The giant glowing lance that appeared, pierced through the thick armor of the elemental and made its way cleanly through it in an instant. No blood came, just the crushed armor signified the potency of the Spell.
The mortal wound had been inflicted and the Boss was on the brink of death. Its Health Bar was still not visible, but when it fell to its knees, surely it was taking its final breaths. However, for one moment that seemed like an eternity, the party stood waiting for the beast to explode into black crystal dust—but… that never happened.
The elemental jerked up into an attentive posture, arms stiff and weapons at the ready.
“Dammit!” Zora gritted her teeth. “Brace yourselves!”
Her words filled the room, but that was nowhere near enough to expel what was about to come.
The elemental lifted its charred thin sword and slammed it down tip-first into the ground. The stone beneath it cracked and from them came a sudden drop in temperature. In a blink of an eye, breaths become visible and the torch lights reflected against the frost touched surfaces. Despite all of that, the real effect of the Spell crippled the spirit of the invading party. They were frozen in place. It wasn’t just the cold, but the very demeanour of the elemental had changed. Its bearing was far greater and that which once seemed defeatable was no longer.
Fear clouded their judgement. Their legs wanted to flee, their eyes wanted to shut, their spirits were ready to throw in the towel. The frost bit into their limbs, draining their lives with each breath, but none could even comprehend what was taking place. They couldn’t even look away from the great monstrosity that now rose to its feet. Even after being burned alive it was capable of something like this.
“Surrender was never an option, Survival was a prerequisite, Victory was the only way. Those who stand without resolve, I beckon thee to seek guidance under this banner.” Zora’s chant filled the chilling silence and grabbed the attention of every pair of eyes. She stood unaffected like the rest of them, her mind, her resolve, it was all in check. She spoke words of courage and power before her friends, who were about to cave under the pressure of the chill.
“Cling to your allies, let them strengthen your wills, steel your spirits and lift your morale. This is my call to arms.” She glowed with the power of Resolve. “Come! Warbanner!” She spoke the final words, completing her chant. In that moment, she called upon the tool that would rescue them from themselves and bestow upon them the power to fight further. The power of a second wind.
CHAPTER 25
Zora spawned a shining golden flag that fell from the ceiling, crashing down in a loud thump. A huge golden symbol spread across the ground with the banner at its centre, marking it’s effective radius.
Its effect touched each and every party member in a second. Their Fear was quickly stilled. Their Resolve returned with the Boons granted to them. Their slouching postures were corrected, their legs stood firm with the power of Weightless. Their low eyes now set with the furious glow of Insight.
Their grip tightened around their Valor-touched weapons as they rose to the challenge.
The Skill Zora used was nothing like anything they’d ever seen before. Even more so, none of them had a Skill that was anywhere as powerful as it. Nothing needed to be said or explained for them to know that this Warbanner-summoning was something special, more than just an average Utility Skill.
These Boons seemed endless. Each effect resurrected their ability to fight and extinguished all hesitation. Shock wasn’t even part of the mixed emotions they felt any more. There was only the foe before them and the weapons and tools to take it down.
“Heal!” Mari cried, wielding her tome. The single word brushed by like a healing breeze, restoring some of the Life lost. They stood, not at the brink of death, but damn near close all the same. It didn’t stop them. Nothing would.
Zora didn’t even need to make a command, the party moved as single like-minded unit. They marched past the Warbanner, marking their arrival into enemy territory, but still enjoying the Boons that would carry them to victory.
Mari began chanting a new Spell as did Nitro who was no longer burdened by Exhaustion. The metal-wielding bunch just prepared themselves. Mila placed her drone, giving them the unique ability to survive and attack, while she loaded up special rifle rounds. She knelt, stabilising her firearm on her forearm as the other members continued their march. With her aim set and her breath exhaled, she squeezed the trigger, unloading the Skill Headshot. The shell was quick, almost instantly hitting its target after being fired. It struck the elemental’s helm, exploding on impact and inflicting a Daze.
The blast set off the other party members. Mari completed her Spell, enchanting her allies with The Flames of Retribution. Nitro scrambled into a dash, running sideways from the party and their foe. Abe and Remi naturally Blinked to the elemental. One Shadowstepping and the other with Divine Intervention. In a single moment, the elemental suffered a shadowy kick to the shin and a solar flare, along with a quick succession of sharp blows that ignited it once more.
Now, Burning, Blinded and Knockdown, the Daze had already worn off, the Boss remained vulnerable before the marching Dragoons. However, even under such harsh circumstances, the elemental was able to rise and slam its sword against its shield. The action wasn’t solely a taunt, but something more. For a moment, it shook the ground and their thoughts. This was its last stand.
Yet, it had overlooked one single factor. The Sage at its rear. “Pile Driver!” Nitro screamed, lifting up her staff and commanding the churning earth to heed her call, firing the same heavy shell that destroyed the previous elemental boss. However, it was just a desperate dream to believe it would go down so easily.
The creature turned deflecting the flying boulder into a couple of the torch stands on the other side of the chamber, denying the Sage’s killshot.
Dammit. Nitro gritted her teeth, falling over again. Ugh…
Zora, however, took advantage of the opportunity, dashing forward and inflicting a pike stab. Before giving the elemental a chance to counter, she ripped the spike free, adding a quick pummel slam to the mix. The blow chipped its helm, but the halberd-wielding Dragoon wasn’t finished there. The polearm twisted in her hands and drew another stroke at her foe. The axehead slammed into the elemental’s shield, cutting into the beaten up metal, though not enough to hit anything vital.
Zora retreated back leaving room for Hyde to finish the job. He dashed forward in place of his predecessor and quickly slammed into the creature. Metal clinked against metal, feet shuffled. The elemental staggered and the Dragoon advanced. With his blade high, he performed Rend. Despite the shield that came to the elemental’s rescue, the steel sword severed through its metal and into its core.
Still assuming that the beast would survive, Hyde pushed the forte of his blade, ripping it up the same way it had come down, and with a pivot and a twist, his silver came round like a sideways executioner’s axe, swiftly ridding the elemental of its head.
The charred silver gleamed with the dull shine of the blue torch flames as it fell from the creature’s torso next to the kneeling metal suit of armor. Its core was shattered and the seared metal vanished, leaving behind only black crystal ashes that soon flickered into nothingness.
The party stood frozen in the chamber, their eyes wide with disbelief, but the fatigue soon caught up to them and one after another, they fell to their knees, holding their weapons as stabilisers.
Before anyone could speak, a creak rang in the silence. A pair of doors they hadn’t noticed, behind the throne of the elemental, slowly opened.
Damn. The party bowed their heads. There’s more.
They tightened their grips around their weapons and slowly rose to their feet. Although, they were all exhausted and suffering from multiple injuries, no one complained. Instead, they began a limping march in silence.
Mari casted a Spell, granting them all Regeneration. Slowly but surely the lost Health Points were returning and the limps soon turned into smooth gaits.
They arrived at the mouth of the next room, but stopped at its entrance. What they found before them wasn’t another trial or a boss or a puzzle. What they found was sparkles and glitter. Treasure.
“I guess this means we cleared the Dungeon,” Zora smiled.
“Cleared?” Nitro asked. “Really?”
“Yep.”
“Wooo!” the Sage cheered, racing into the room with her arms in the air.
The treasury was packed to the brim and now everything in it was theirs.
“I don’t get it Mari,” Remi rubbed the bridge of his nose. “You always make bets with the odds stacked against you and yet—” he sighed.
“Yet, you always win!” Abe grumbled giving his share of the pot to her. “It’s like optimism really pays off…”
“Tell me about it,” Remi whispered, giving his share as well.
“You guys made a bet?” Hyde cringed. “When did you even have time for that?”
“When we made that ridiculously slow walk here,” Remi explained.
“You didn’t notice?” Mila tilted her head to the right.
“You knew?” Hyde asked.
“Yeah, they were talking pretty loudly,” she smiled.
“Hyde, I think you were just far too busy trying to look as cool as possible,” Zora giggled.
“Wha—” Hyde blushed, trailing off.
“Hey,” Nitro came running back. “I saw these cool gloves things that are Sage weapons, can I have them?”
“Sure,” Zora shrugged.
“Yeah!” Nitro screamed, running off again with her arms in the air.
“I guess it was time we reaped our rewards,” Zora smiled and stepped forward, igniting the same reaction in the other stationary members.
“With this, this month’s rent is paid in full,” Remi smirked.
“Were we really that behind?” Mila asked.
“I kept telling Zora, but she just wouldn’t listen,” he shook his head.
“Hey, what can I say, I knew something like this would come our way sooner or later,” Zora shrugged.
“And just like the rest of us, you thought ‘it’s all ogre now’ moments ago,” Abe scoffed.
“Hey, Mari, what rent are they talking about?” Hyde whispered, walking alongside them.
“Guildhall rent.” Mari replied.
“Guildhall rent?” he stopped, looking around at the majestic treasure they’d found. All of it in clean gold. And all this is going to be used for rent? Somehow, the thought of such a fantastical reward being used for something so mundane was irritating. Spending all that time and energy, nearly dying in process, all so that they could get by for the next month, hopefully the next couple, was just ridiculous in itself. “What the hell are we doing with our lives!”
“Scavenging,” Zora glanced at him with a blank expression. And just like her, the others glanced at him and gave a curt nod in silence. He stood frozen for a moment, gazing at them as they stashed the gleaming me
tal objects into their inventories. Soon enough, he did as they did, albeit reluctantly. He had to repeatedly shake off the thought of just how anticlimactic this entire escapade had been.
He pocketed shiny metal object after shiny metal object, sighing as all he could see was the word rent written across them.
“Hey, Mari?” he said, scooting over to her.
“Yes?” she replied.
“Why exactly is Remi so against Mila touching anything?” he remembered.
“Because whenever she does, something bad happens.”
“But that can’t be true, it’s not like she’s some weird bad luck charm or something.”
Mari just looked at him, blank as ever.
“That’s just ridiculous, you guys are being superstitious!”
“She touched the puzzle.”
“She probably solved it before anyone noticed. Besides she’s probably touched some of this treasure by now.”
Mari shook her head and said, “She hasn’t touched anything in here.”
“That can’t be right,” he glanced over his shoulder and saw Mila standing over Remi while he was stashing the treasure. “Holy crap, you guys aren’t even kidding!”
Mari just nodded.
“You people have lost it—wait, she’s moving, I bet if she touches something, nothing will happen,” he smirked.
“Twenty silver,” she nodded again, clearly accepting the bet.
“You’re on.”
The pair of them watched Mila, slowly move away from Remi. Once at a safe distance, she squatted down and reached over, but hesitated in the very last moment.
“Why’d she stop?” Hyde asked.
“She’s worried,” Mari replied.
“C’mon!” he palmed his forehead. “Nothing is going to happen, just touch it,” he whispered, trying to give her the push she needed from the otherside of the treasury.
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