Hiccup and Astrid stared up at Gaxkang the Unbound and saw it raise its greatsword. They didn't waste a second, they ran out of the chamber screaming and didn't stop until they were good distance away from the boss room. Toothless followed close behind.
They laid down next to the cavern walls panting for breath. Toothless just laid down sleeping. "That one's going to be tough to beat," said Astrid.
"You're right," Hiccup agreed. "It only had that greatsword, but I'm pretty sure it's got some special attacks too."
"Were going to have to put tanks in the front row and mages support them while arches attack it from the back row just wear it down."
"Yeah, and it won't hurt to have about ten shield users."
Astrid then looked at Hiccup curiously. "Shield users, huh?"
Hiccup blinked. "What? What's wrong?"
"You are," said Astrid. "You're hiding something, aren't you?"
Hiccup looked at her. "What are you talking about?"
Hiccup was never very good liar and after could tell he was definitely hiding something. "I just realise something. You're a rogue and so you specialise with speed attacks and yet you use a long sword. To the best of my knowledge a rogue could use two daggers. That allows them to deal nasty bug bites to larger foes."
Hiccup crossed his arms and looked away from her. "And how come you're not using the sword Ragnar gave you." She narrowed her eyes. "Very suspicious."
Hiccup just remained silent, but she could tell that he wasn't going to explain himself. "Never mind," she sighed. "I'm sure you have your reasons, but I wouldn't mind if you share them."
"I have a very good reason not to," said Hiccup. He then began to open his menu. "Well, since it's so late we might as well have lunch here." Then a backpack landed in front of him and pulled out two sandwiches and handed one of them to Astrid. "Here you go."
"Thanks," said Astrid taking a bite out of it. "How do you do it?"
Hiccup shrugged. "Oh, I simply just calculated the parameters using flavouring creating engine and… proof… delicious food."
"Simple?" said Astrid raising an eyebrow. "Sometimes I think you're the cook not the commander of the Grey Wardens."
Hiccup frowned at her. "You know, with you it's hard whether it's an insult or complement."
Suddenly they heard footsteps and coming out of the corner was Ragnar, leading Astrid group. They certainly came to a stop when they saw Hiccup and Astrid sitting there.
"Hiccup? Astrid?" Ragnar blinked.
"Ragnar?" the two of them said in unison as they got to the feet.
Heather giggled. "Did we interrupt something?"
"No!" they both yelled, much to their embarrassment.
Snotlout looks heartbroken. "Why are you with him, babe?"
"Clearing the caverns," said Astrid. "What else?"
"Doesn't look like you're clearing caverns?" said Ruffnut raising an eyebrow.
"More like you're having a good cuddle," said Tuffnut.
Hiccup didn't know whose face was red, his or Astrid's. "We were taking a break."
"Sure you were," said Ruffnut.
The conversation probably would have led to a battered and bruised Ruff and Tuffnut, but then they heard more footsteps. They turned and found Inquisition soldiers turning round the corner. They looked completely worn out.
Hiccup just stared. "What's in the—it's the Inquisition."
"What are they doing here?" said Ragnar crossing his arms.
"They were almost slaughtered on floor twenty-five and they decided that they should focus their efforts on catching red players and other criminals while increasing their ranks," said Astrid.
"We haven't seen them on the front lines for a while," said Hiccup.
They suddenly came to a stop and their leader looked at his men. "At ease!"
Almost at once the soldiers collapsed, Hiccup didn't think there would be up to a fight. Then their leader approached the Grey Wardens and looked at Hiccup.
"I'm with the Inquisition, Lt Col Corbatz," he said.
Hiccup looked at him with a firm look. "I'm Hiccup, commander of the Grey Wardens."
"It's an honour Sir," said Corbatz saluting. "Have you clear the area up ahead?"
"Yeah, we also got a map with directions to the boss room."
Corbatz looked at him and then raised a hand and placed on a determined look on his face. "Right, then hand over that map and will be on our way."
They all stared at him.
"You just want us to give it to you," said Eret. "Do you even know how much of pain in the ass mapping is?"
Corbatz glared at him angrily. "We share our information and resources with civilian players all the time. And we don't charge anything for it!"
He then looked at every single one of them. "We maintain order in the chaos of battle. So, all players can leave this world as quickly as possible isn't that the same thing you Grey Wardens stand for? Therefore, it's your duty to cooperate with us. So, handover that map"
Astrid glared at him. "Listen you—"
The other Grey Wardens were reaching for their weapons and Toothless growled at him. The last thing Hiccup wanted was an incident with the Inquisition, after all they were allies and they needed all the help they can get.
Hiccup raised a hand in front of them. "Relax, when I got back to town I was going to make this public with the map anyway. It's cool."
Hiccup then began transmitting the map to Corbatz. Wardens just stared at as if he'd gone crazy.
"You're being way too nice to him," said Ragnar.
"I don't care about making money off map data," said Hiccup as he finished transmitting the data to Corbatz.
"Thanks for corroborating," said Corbatz turning back towards his men.
"By the way, if you're playing on hitting the boss I would recommend it," said Hiccup.
Corbatz stopped and turned his head towards him. "That is my decision to make."
Hiccup eyes widened. "Hey, I just took a look inside that room pal and you can't be that part of your trip to half dead." He then gestured to his men which were still completely exhausted. "Look at them there exhausted."
Corbatz quickly turned his eyes upon him. "Nonsense! My men are tougher than that! They want quit until I say so!" He then turned onto his men. "On your feet! Come on, move!"
Clearly Corbatz wasn't the most experienced leader, his men were completely worn out, but he didn't seem to notice as they walked off.
"Are those guys gonna be okay?" Heather asked.
"I'm sure they know what they're doing," said Astrid. "They wouldn't rush the boss without checking it out first, right?"
Hiccup wasn't convinced, but surely Corbatz wouldn't be stupid enough to take on the boss of the forces he had. There again he seemed quite adamant about it. "Maybe we should keep an eye on them anyway."
"We better move out," said Ragnar.
"Agreed, let's move wardens," Hiccup ordered.
As they walk through the cavern Heather made her way over to Astrid. "So, when were you gonna tell me that you hooked up with the commander?"
Astrid's face turned pink. "We're not in a relationship."
"You sure? Because I can give you tips if you like," she whispered into her ear.
"No, no, no, I don't want to hear this," said Astrid firmly.
Heather giggled. "You can't fool me Astrid."
Further along Hiccup and Ragnar were having a similar conversation.
"So, when he gonna pop the question?" Ragnar asked.
Hiccup stared at him. "We're not even a couple."
"You certainly argue like one."
"Only because two people yell at each other doesn't mean they're about to kiss."
Ragnar raised an eyebrow. "Then how you're looking at her legs?"
Hiccup face turned the right shade of pink. "I wasn't looking… I glanced in that direction… just for moment."
Ragnar shrugged. "Suit yourself, but I'm telling you you're missing out in quite the experience."
Hiccup groaned.
Ten minutes later, they were battling against a small cluster of genlocks.
"That's the last of them," said Ragnar as the last one fell. "The only thing left is the boss' room. Maybe those guys used a teleportation crystal to warp out of here."
Hiccup was is convinced and that was proven true when they heard a scream nearby. "Astrid!"
Astrid nodded and they rushed over towards the boss room. Ragnar on the other wardens followed close behind as did Toothless.
As they got close of they could hear screaming and saw the doors of the boss from the wide open. They stop just outside and looked into the chamber.
"Hey! You guys okay!" Hiccup yelled.
He didn't need them to answer the question, they were anything but okay. They were battling against Gaxkang and they were losing. Most of them were lying on the ground exhausted and the others looked as if they were about to fall.
"Don't just stand there! Use your teleport crystals!"
"We can't!" A soldier yelled with the blue crystal in his hand. "The crystals aren't working!"
They watched as Gaxkang knocked them away with his greatsword.
"But I for teleport crystals worked everywhere?" said Snotlout.
Heather shook her head. "That's not entirely true, I've heard that our traps that prevent you from warping out."
"She's right," said Eret. "In my old guild we stumbled into a trap like this and I was the only one who came out of it."
"But I've never heard of a trap like this been in a boss room before," said Astrid.
"The Inquisition doesn't know the word retreat!" Corbatz yelled. "Come on! Keep fighting!"
"Their insane," said Hiccup. "We could distract the boss, but going in there is too risky."
"We can't just sit round here and do nothing either," said Ragnar.
"Ready! Charge!" Corbatz roared. He and his men then charge straight at Gaxkang.
"Don't do it!" Hiccup yelled.
It was too late, Gaxkang opened he mouth and blasted them with an electric breath attack. He then slammed his greatsword right on top of them and all of them fell to the ground.
Corbatz tried to attack him while his guard was down, but he was swatted away and landed outside the chamber slamming into both Ragnar and Heather.
Hiccup rushed over to him. "Hang on, Corbatz."
Corbatz helmet was destroyed and he at Hiccup with a face that read puzzlement. "I can't believe it."
He then shattered into a million pieces. Hiccup turned to Ragnar and Heather in the hope they can use a resurrection spell, but the two of them had been pushed so far away that they would reach him in time.
"No," said Astrid horrified.
Then they heard one of the soldiers screaming. Gaxkang was now making his way through the rest and there was no way they would survive on their own. Astrid watched as he raised his greatsword ready to do the final blow on a soldier.
"No," she said using all her willpower not to grab her axe. "I can't." Then just as Gaxkang swung his greatsword Astrid grabbed the handle of her axe and rushed into the boss's room. "NO!"
"Astrid!" Hiccup yelled running after her.
Ragnar sighed. "Oh, what the hell. Come on!"
Ragnar and the rest followed them into the boss's room.
Astrid jumped into the air with her axe held high and slammed it into Gaxkang's back. This caused him to miss the Inquisition soldier, but he turned his eyes upon her instead. Astrid blocked the greatsword with her axe, but could do nothing to stop him from punching her with his massive fist.
She was sent sprawling across the ground and she looked up in time to see Gaxkang raising his greatsword above her. Hiccup then appeared out of nowhere and use all his strength to show off the greatsword a few inches to her right, missing her completely.
"Get out!" he yelled to her.
Astrid nodded and jumped back to a safe distance.
Meanwhile Ragnar on the rest of the wardens' window to the Inquisition soldiers.
"I've got him man," he said as place Inquisition soldier's arm around his shoulders.
"Thanks," said the soldier.
Gaxkang then turned his sights upon them, but before he could do his breath attack Hiccup slashed him across the back. Gaxkang then turned towards him and the two began to trade blows with one another.
Hiccup knew that there was no way he would survive this. He then blocked Gaxkang's blade with his sword, but he continued to press down upon him. Hiccup could seize HP falling.
"Get out of there!" Astrid yelled.
"Hiccup!" Ragnar yelled.
Hiccup was able to push the blade away, but was burying to dodge another one of Gaxkang swings. There was only way they could survive this, but he was reluctant to do it. He looked at the HP of the others and while he and the other wardens had nearly full health the Inquisition soldiers would dangerously in the red zone.
Hiccup quickly blocked an attack from Gaxkang and decided that he had no choice. He turned his eyes upon Astrid and Ragnar. "Astrid! Ragnar! Listen, I need ten seconds keep them off me!"
"Yeah, you got it," said Ragnar.
Then he and Astrid charged at Gaxkang while Hiccup John back to a safe distance. He then began to open his menu and scrolling down his skills.
Toothless assisted Ragnar and Astrid by firing a plasma blast right into Gaxkang's face, but then he was not aside by one of Gaxkang's fists. Ragnar then fired several fireballs straight at him, but he knocked them aside with a single swing of his blade and the shockwave not Ragnar off his feet. Astrid dodged one of Gaxkang swings and slammed her ad right into his wrist.
"Okay! I'm ready!" Hiccup yelled. "Get out of the way!"
Astrid knocked Gaxkang blade aside and moved aside to let Hiccup pass. Then the all saw him do something incredible just as he pushed Gaxkang's greatsword away another sword appeared right across his back. He grabbed its handle and next second he pushed Gaxkang back with his two swords. The sword that Hiccup was holding in his left hand was Starfang.
The wardens and Inquisition soldiers just stared at him, Hiccup was using a skill that none of them had ever seen before.
Hiccup then brought us swords up just as Gaxkang slammed his greatsword upon him. He then pushed him back with all his might and his eyes were full of determination as if he knew he was going to win.
"Okay, here goes. Starbust Stream!" he yelled.
He then began pounding Gaxkang with his blades at such a fast rate that it was impossible to see the tip of his blades with the naked eye. He also showed no signs of stopping, it looked as though he was in a mad frenzy.
"What the hell kind of skill is that?" Snotlout asked.
"I don't know, I've never seen anything like it," said Ragnar.
Gaxkang hit Hiccup base across with one of his fists, but it didn't faze him. Hiccup was so focused on defeating Gaxkang that he didn't notice anything around him. Hiccup blocks one of Gaxkang's swings, but it knocked us swords out of his hand.
However, he quickly grabbed hold of them and slammed them straight into Gaxkang's chest. Gaxkang recovered quickly and punched him across the face, but like before it had no effect on him. Hiccup was now moving even faster dealing more damage upon Gaxkang.
Then Gaxkang grabbed the sword in his right hand with his bare hand and raised his greatsword high. Astrid and Ragnar rushed over to Hiccup, but they won't make it in time. However, they hand nothing to fear, Hiccup used the last of his strength and slammed Starfang into Gaxkang gut.
Everyone watched as Gaxkang disintegrated, but the battle had really done it all upon Hiccup. He just stood there in a daze and they can blame him Hiccup had a small fraction of HP left.
"Is it… over?" he said.
Hiccup then fell to the ground in a crumpled heap and everything went black.
"Hiccup! Wake up, Hiccup!" Astrid's voice screamed.
When Hiccup regained consciousness he found Astrid looking over him with a worried look on her face and tears in her eyes.
At once he rubbed his forehead, he had a massive headache. "Man… my head." He looked around and saw the other wardens and Inquisition soldiers looking at him. "Man… that was close. How long was I out for?"
"Just a few seconds," said Astrid brushing the tears out of her eyes.
She then punched him hard on the arm. "Ow! What was that for?"
"That was the scaring me!" she said furiously.
Hiccup began to open his mouth, but he knew he deserved it. Then Astrid did the most single surprising thing she had ever done. She kissed him on the cheek.
"That's… for everything else," she said. She then pulled him into a big hug. "Don't ever do anything so reckless again."
Hiccup just smiled. "Geez, take it easy. I'll lose the last of my HP."
Heather began to heal him and Ragnar walked up to him. "Corbatz and two of his men are the only ones who did make it."
Hiccup closed his eyes. "We haven't lost a player in a boss fight since floor sixty-seven."
"That wasn't a boss fight. It was suicide," said Eret.
"He's right, Corbatz was a dam fool," Ragnar agreed. He then turned his eyes upon Hiccup. "Speaking of which, would you mind telling us what the hell did you just do right now?"
Hiccup looks away. "You don't want to know."
"You've got to be kidding. I've never seen anything like it."
Hiccup closed his eyes and sighed. "It's an extra skill I picked up. Dual Wielding."
Everyone's eyes widened.
"What other conditions to obtain it?" Snotlout asked excitedly.
"If I knew I would have shared them," said Hiccup.
Ragnar then began scrolling down the info broker skill list. "Well, there is no mention of it in the info broker skill list. I guess it's only exclusive to you." He then looked at Hiccup in amazement. "You've got a unique skill right there. How come you didn't share this with the other wardens?"
"About six months ago I was scrolling through my skill menu and it was just… there. Dual Wielding." Hiccup explain. "But… if anyone else found out I had a skill like this…"
"They'd get pissed because you had something they didn't," Ragnar finished. "No right people would be jealous you had that." He then eyes Astrid, who was still hugging him. "And that. Anyway, we'll go and trigger the warp gate, you coming?"
"Nah, I'll catch up with you later," said Hiccup. "I still need to rest for that."
"After that I am not surprised," said Eret.
Ragnar then that the wardens towards the warp point. "I meet you bag at headquarters. Oh, and Hiccup remember you acting like a hero today when you say those Inquisition soldiers."
Hiccup just stared at him as he walked up the stairs, but then turned his attentions upon Astrid, who still hadn't let go. He could feel his cheeks turn red as he looked down upon her golden hair and all his thought turned upon the time they spent together. He began to wonder if Ragnar was right that they were too stubborn to admit their feelings for each other.
The next day at Vigil's Keep, Hiccup was sitting at his desk with Fishlegs. He was forced to remain there thanks to today's newspaper Fishlegs was now holding.
"A pride demon that annihilated a big squad of Inquisition soldiers and a fifty hit combo from a Dual Wielder, who took the boss out by himself," Fishlegs read. He then stared up at Hiccup. "Man, I'm having a hard time believing this."
"Every word of its true," said Eret, who just walked in. "I know seeing is believing, but I was there and I don't even believe it."
"Well, it richly blown up into my face," said Hiccup. "A butt load of swordsmen and info brokers showed up at my place this morning. I have to remain here because they know where I live."
Gobber sitting at a nearby chair reading the paper as well. "Maybe you shouldn't blab it out then. You said you gonna keep it secret."
Hiccup just leaned back into his chair muttering something under his breath.
Then they heard footsteps outside a Mexican Astrid slammed the door open. She was completely out of breath. "Hiccup, we've got ourselves a huge problem."
A few hours later, they were at floor fifty-five and was standing in the headquarters of the Seekers of Truth. Hiccup and Astrid were standing in front of the desk that belong to Lord Seeker Lucius.
"It's a pleasure to meet you again commander, but I wish it was not under these circumstances," said the Lord Seeker.
"You're the one who brought this matter forward," Hiccup pointed out.
"I know, but that does not make it any easier. As you know both our organisations contribute the most fighting forces onto the front lines and now were faced with a problem that can no longer be ignored. Communication between organisations are getting muddled and because of this we are losing more players as such we should have one commander in charge of the forces that lead on the front lines."
Hiccup crossed his arms and looked right into the commander's eyes. "I doubt you Seekers are to be trusted, not after what happened yesterday."
"You have my sincere apologies for any trouble you might have had with Denam and rest assured he has been dealt with the suitable punishment. But you must simply understand that we cannot allow this miscommunication going any further."
"And you know I'm not going to give you full command of the Grey Wardens."
"I expected as much, so I suggest that we should sever this on the battlefield. We will have a dual and the victor gets to come and all players on the front lines."
Hiccup and Astrid looked at one another. The Lord Seeker was a formidable opponent in fact he had never lost a fight.
Hiccup then turn towards the Lord Seeker. "It agreed then."
