p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: large;"Chapter 33/span/span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"3/spansupspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"rd/span/supspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;" person (General)/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"A prophecy, huh?" Imbir spoke up after Bereit and whom he was with explained what they saw on the upper floor./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"That's right." Bereit replied. "While I can't say for sure what's what and who's who, I get the feeling we're the center of it all."/span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Scharf laughed. "No wonder we're still alive." He commented with his hands together. "What's next, we're contacted by some gorgeous Goddess and they tell us we're the chosen ones?"/span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"While Bereit was aware he was being sarcastic, he would still give a serious answer. "As far as I know, there was no glowing woman in any of those carvings."/span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"But you said Shiva was in them, right? Was there anything particularly different about the carvings and her?" Fallen asked curiously. Though that was to mask her worry./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Nothing that I noticed." He answered Fallen./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I see." Fallen said quietly. She looked at the fire that the party circled around, feeling a bit on edge about this whole thing. What could that all mean? Why were they centered around it? What made them so special? A lot of questions filled her mind. And it was overwhelming./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit might have thought the same thing. If it looked exactly like her Shiva... things might be getting a lot more crazy than they cared to know. But what really concerned him the most, what who was lying in the woman's arms. If it was what he thought.../span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Hey, guys?" Imbir spoke up, snapping Bereit and Fallen out of their thoughts. "As much as I'd rather stay by this fire, I think we should get out of this place as soon as possible. For all we know, the longer that Erpel stays up there, the stronger it becomes."/span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"He has a point." Tier agreed. "I'd rather not wait any longer to find out if he's right."/span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"But we've still got the ice spears to worry about, AND not freezing to death." Scharf explained to her. "Any ideas, anyone?"/span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Silence filled the party's surroundings. Not a single one had a good idea. No direct plan that could guarantee their survival./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Didn't think so." Scharf added, with a sigh. "I guess we'll just have to wing it. No warmth... no path to follow."/span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Well... not entirely." Fallen spoke up, having an idea. "I had one of my summons help us scale this huge ice wall. Maybe we can have one scout our path ahead. At least as far as it can."/span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Why not just have it carry us to the top?" Vanessa suggested./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"For all we know, it senses magic, not fire. Or both. So if we ride it, we risk getting hit." Fallen explained herself. "I'm sure you don't want to be a tourist sight as the first person to be hit by Shiva's Ice Spear, do you?"/span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Point taken." Vanessa replied with a slight shiver at the thought./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Here's a suggestion." Tier spoke up. "How about you send a small creature? That way it's less likely to be sensed."/span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"3/spansupspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"rd/span/supspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;" person (Fallen)/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen nodded in agreement. "Good idea, sis." Fallen soon stood up. "I'm gonna go try it out. I'll let you guys know the results." She told them, as she moved towards the entrance on the upper floor, having gotten up from the lower floor they fought the giant./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"She stood by the entrance and to Sylph out of her shirt, since she didn't have her coat anymore. "I'm sure you know what you have to do." She assured she heard her previously./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Sylph nodded with a salute of her hand. With that, she then summoned a dark fox from the ground and had it run on ahead. There were no spears coming onto the creature, so it seems magic wasn't what was sensed. It was fire, as they theorized and witnessed earlier./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"A bit of time had past, Fallen's ears being filled with the noises of the spears hitting the roof of the temple and the strong winds of the outdoors. But the fox soon returned and then disappeared. All that was seen by the little dark animal was brought into Sylph's mind. "Wow. It's almost like it was made for you guys to follow." She remarked./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"How far does it go?" Fallen asked curiously./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"We reach another cave. I think that should lead you all the way to the top without worrying of anymore of those spears either." Sylph explained to her summoner. "The fox left it's tracks for you guys to follow. So I don't have to remember where to tell you to go."/span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen giggled. "You've done more than enough. You can get some rest." She told her. Sylph soon disappeared. At least they had their next place to go for. And out of Shiva's attacks. She had a hopeful expression, knowing she could get her friends out of here alive. With that glimmer of hope in her heart, she looked down at everyone from above. "Hey, guys!" She called out to them. "I have a path for us to follow! We'll make it to Shiva in no time!"br /br /With that news being delivered to the party, they all gave big smiles. One by one, they packed up to get ready to go. Though, there was one problem. Kurve was still passed out. As was Zelkova./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Guys, hold on." Imbir spoke up, making everyone turn to him. "Who's gonna watch over these two? I don't know if bringing them further up would be a good idea."/span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Definitely not..." Tier agreed, gently scratching her chin. "Well... somebody's gotta stay." She stated, looking back at everyone./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"They were all silent, not because no one wanted to, but they all expected someone to speak up. With a sigh, Tier shrugged her shoulders. "Alright then. I guess I'll watch over them. Unless anyone objects."/span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"There was silence once more. They didn't seem to mind nor care who looked over them. They all trusted each other./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I'll stay here with them." Vanessa spoke up. "We've got enough ranged fighters. Plus, I'm sure you'll cause more damage than I will." She reasoned./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Tier laughed a bit. "Well, don't sell yourself short." She told her. "Just sit tight. We'll be back before you even know it."/span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Vanessa smiled hearing Tier's confidence. It was reassuring./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"With that decision made, Bereit, Fallen, Imbir, Scharf, Tier and Strake stepped out of the temple ruins, their safe haven. Now, they were out in the harsh opens once more. But thanks to Sylph, they had a path to follow, and Fallen lead them./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"To think you're the one leading us now." Strake spoke up with a chuckle./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen quietly chuckled as well. "As long as it isn't to our deaths."/span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The party continued to walk forward. Fallen followed the fox tracks, her eyes remaining low on the ground to keep track of their path./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit looked up at the sky, imagining if the spears came crashing down on them. A grim thought, but he was pretty on edge out here. As was everyone else. He wondered how Shiva felt knowing she was facing an ancient version of herself. The cave they slowly approached only brought the answer to his question closer to him./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The party entered the cave, being safe from any kind of spears being brought down to them./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"So this is what's gonna take us to the Erpel?" Scharf asked./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Not directly, but it'll lead us to the right path." Fallen assured Scharf. "And hopefully soon. I'm growing tired of the cold..."/span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"They followed a long path of ice, the floor thankfully being dry ice so the grip of their footwear was able to keep them from slipping. As they kept going further and further, they soon came to a new discovery. They found a long, large, spiral set of stairs that lead to where their destination lead. It was all built elegantly, and not big surprise, out of ice./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit narrowed his eyes. "Something doesn't seem right about this..." He announced to the party. "It feels... kind of like a trap." He explained himself./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"What makes you... actually, no, I believe you." Scharf spoke up. He looked up the stairs, pursing his lips. "'Think we should have our weapons ready. Just in case."/span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Everyone nodded their heads and held their weapons out, ready for what possible things may come. Of course, Strake already had her weapon out and ready to go./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"As the party progressed, slowly making their way higher and higher up the stairs, they began to hear noises coming from above. While it was heart racing, knowing something was coming for them... it honestly left them in no surprise./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Falling shards of ice came raining down around them. Everyone looked up, shielding their eyes in case some of those shards of ice got in their eyes. And what was coming down towards them were giant lizard-like beings. At least five. They came rolling off the walls with big and razor sharp spikes along their backs./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"In a split second, they leaped off the walls and landed on the stairs, showing their cold blue eyes and teeth that were made of stone. Like they were attached to their jaws and not in the gums./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"If this weren't a life or death situation, I'd say these things are kinda badass." Tier commented./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"If you're feeling brave, you can keep one as a pet." Bereit suggested in a sarcastic manner./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Tier shook her head. "I'm not that stupid."/span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"One of the beasts jumped at Tier, her ducking to avoid the attack. "Alright, nothing too big." She reminded herself. She summoned two wolves to her side. She pointed to the beast that attacked her, having her shadow wolves run for it. The beast tried to escape the shadow animals, but they got the legs and were able to keep it from running away./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Without even having to tell them, Fallen came in and stabbed it through the back with her ice glaive, quickly disposing of the beast./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Strake saw one of the beasts high up in the air, as it spun against the wall and launched ice shards towards the party. "It's shooting ice shards at us!" She called out to the party. Some moved up and some moved down the stairs, just to avoid the attack./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Imbir aimed his gun and then shot a bullet and hit it right between the eyes, digging deep into it's stone head, breaking the ice shards on it./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Now there were three left./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"They were all circling the party, as if waiting to catch them off guard./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"But the party regrouped and stood close to each other. But just when they thought they were safe, they heard more sounds coming from above. They all looked up to see thousands of suits of armour coming down towards them from the very top of the stairs./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Alright, what's the plan?" Strake asked./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"There was silence among everyone for a brief second. "Simple. Imbir and I will focus on those lizard things on the walls. We'll help you guys out whenever we can. So just face them and give us some time." Scharf told them. He was at quite the disadvantage given his sniper, but he would still do his best. "I've got an idea to quickly dispose of those knights coming for us."/span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit, Fallen, Tier and Strake all looked at each other and ran right up the stairs. Bereit coated his weapon in fire, thinking it would give him the edge./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I'll start with the attack." Tier spoke up. I'm gonna summon a bull and see how far it'll go through 'em."/span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I can help with that." Sylph spoke up, as she popped out of Fallen's clothing. She flew out and then slowly formed her own shadowy bull, with horns that were made especially big. Tier did the same, matching the size of the animal itself and horn size. Both swung their hands forward, making their beasts run head on along the stairs. Good thing these were only shadow creatures. Then they'd slip./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Both beasts rammed through at least a quarter of the barrage of soldiers that were blocking their path. They broke through the shields at the front and shattered a good amount of the hollowed soldiers. But they eventually slowed down and were stabbed to death./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit came in, now that the shielded soldiers were gone. He coated his sword with a more intense fire. With that, he held his sword with both hands and swung a wide horizontal slash. The intensity of the flames along with the force of it made a good chunk of the knights fall to pieces, now leaving them down to half. Though, with their strong attacks used, they were gonna have to use their metal to fend them off./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen and Strake were hitting from a distance, using the very ends of their weapons to knock off helmets and armour parts one by one. While Bereit was up front. Tier kept throwing as many beasts as she could, doing her beast to do her part, as did Sylph. But they just kept coming./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"3/spansupspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"rd/span/supspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;" person (Imbir)/span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Imbir shot another bullet towards one of the beast, missing a shot. He quickly loaded another, before he noticed it jumped at him. He quickly dodged away and drew his machete, slashing it's hind leg. It tried to get away, but Scharf stepped in and stomped his boot on it's back and then shot it in the head, finishing it off./span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Thanks." Imbir thanked Scharf./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Don't let up now. We've still two more." Scharf reminded him, taking aim with his sniper./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Imbir nodded, seeing the last two were still circling around, occasionally shooting ice shards at them from the walls. But they avoided the incoming projectiles. With the way the beasts were always on the move, it gave him an idea. Reaching into his bag, he pulled out an explosive bullet and loaded it./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"He took aim and fired ahead of the beasts, creating a big crater./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The beasts would circle them one last time, until they went on the crater and bounced off against the edge of the crater, landing on the stairs near the two gunners. And both proceeded to aim their sights to the heads of these creatures. And they pulled their triggers at the same time. And all that was left was rocks, with a big bullet hole on the staircase they were standing on./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Alright. Now, we need to help the others." Imbir spoke up, as he then looked up, seeing the group above them was starting to be pushed back./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Don't worry, I've got this." Scharf spoke up, as he then loaded a fresh magazine into his gun. He then aimed right up high of the spiral stairs, and then eyed Imbir. "Got any explosive rounds?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Imbir nodded, as he reached behind his back and loaded an explosive bullet. "Your plan?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"We bring this entire set of stairs down. And the knights with them. Of course, we'll warn the others." Scharf explained to Imbir./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Imbir nodded, understanding what he's to do./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Hey! All of you up there! You might wanna get out of there! We're gonna bring these stairs down and all of those knights down with it!" Scharf warned them./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Wait! What!?" Strake shouted from above./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"But Fallen had an immediate idea on what to do. "Go ahead! We'll be fine!" She called out, avoiding a swipe for her neck./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Imbir looked towards the stairs' very bottom and aimed his gun. With a pull of the trigger, the bullet dug into the center of the stairs' middle. And with a few suspenseful seconds, the bullet exploded./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Scharf then followed up with taking a shot at the very top of the stairs. His bullet broke right through it, causing the icy stairs to come crashing down. One by one, every staircase shattered into icy shards. Each knight that fell went into pieces of armours one by one./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"As for Fallen and the others, she summoned Shiva and she made a big sphere of ice to cover themselves from the stairs that were slowly piling more and more on them. With the pile of armour pieces too./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"It took a while before all the ice falling came to a stop./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Imbir and Scharf gazed upon the pile, anxiously waiting for the group to come out of it without a scratch. And soon, a sphere of pure ice rose from the pile, as it showed the group residing within it. Though, they were piled one on top of the other./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Is everyone alright?" Strake asked, looking down at everyone as she got off./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen nodded, as she got up as well. She looked up to see Shiva was up in the air, staring way at the very top. She wasn't even moving. She just... stared./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Tier rubbed the back of her head. "Agh... damn, that hurt." She said, looking back at where she was sitting. "Oh... sorry, Bereit." She realized./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Just get your fat ass off of me." Bereit demanded sternly./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"FAT ASS!? YOU LITTLE-" Tier was ready to deck him right where he lied, before Fallen caught her wrist./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Sis... he didn't mean it." Fallen defended him. "Right, Bereit?" She asked him, eyeing him with a narrow glare./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Just get her off of me, please? I can't breath." Bereit was not helping his case./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Tier slowly turned her head to Fallen. But Fallen shook her head before she could utter a word. Tier got right off of him and dusted her clothing. "Ass..." She insulted him in a hushed whisper./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit then got up and pushed off any ice shards off the back of his coat. "Alright... now that we got the enemies out of the way... what do we do now?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Scharf looked up at Shiva. "Oi! Shiva!" He called out for her./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Shiva stayed there for a few seconds, before she slowly descended down to the others, having a worried expression on her face./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen soon had one on her face as well. She knew what she was thinking. And frankly, it worried her too. "Listen, Shiva." She spoke up, walking up to her. "We'll be there. To ask all the questions you wanna know. Okay? I'm scared of her too. But we'll be okay. We made it this far. We won't back down now."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Shiva looked down for a few seconds, pondering on her summoner's words. She soon nodded, and then stood right at the center where all the shards of ice were. And soon, she began to spin and swing her arms up into the air. Slowly, they began to rise and reform the stairs that was previously there. From bottom, all the way to the very top./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Everyone was left astounded by the strangely beautiful to see. All that glittering light reflecting from each individual shard. Like sparkling stars in the skies. They were all in awe for a few seconds, before the entire set of spiral stairs were repaired./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Well, here we go." Strake spoke up, looking back at everyone. "I'm just gonna let you guys know... this is my first dragon I ever fought. Or, Erpel, whatever it's called. I'm gonna need some pointers."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Just follow our lead. You'll do just fine." Fallen answered, but in an encouraging tone of voice. She soon started making her way up the stairs, with everyone behind her. She was beyond determined to defeat this Erpel. She wasn't backing down. Never in her life. One way or another, we was seeing this to the end. With everyone by her side./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Save your game up to this point?/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Yes -/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"No/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"3/spansupspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"rd/span/supspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;" person (General)/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"A prophecy, huh?" Imbir spoke up after Bereit and whom he was with explained what they saw on the upper floor./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"That's right." Bereit replied. "While I can't say for sure what's what and who's who, I get the feeling we're the center of it all."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Scharf laughed. "No wonder we're still alive." He commented with his hands together. "What's next, we're contacted by some gorgeous Goddess and they tell us we're the chosen ones?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"While Bereit was aware he was being sarcastic, he would still give a serious answer. "As far as I know, there was no glowing woman in any of those carvings."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"But you said Shiva was in them, right? Was there anything particularly different about the carvings and her?" Fallen asked curiously. Though that was to mask her worry./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Nothing that I noticed." He answered Fallen./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I see." Fallen said quietly. She looked at the fire that the party circled around, feeling a bit on edge about this whole thing. What could that all mean? Why were they centered around it? What made them so special? A lot of questions filled her mind. And it was overwhelming./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit might have thought the same thing. If it looked exactly like her Shiva... things might be getting a lot more crazy than they cared to know. But what really concerned him the most, what who was lying in the woman's arms. If it was what he thought.../span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Hey, guys?" Imbir spoke up, snapping Bereit and Fallen out of their thoughts. "As much as I'd rather stay by this fire, I think we should get out of this place as soon as possible. For all we know, the longer that Erpel stays up there, the stronger it becomes."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"He has a point." Tier agreed. "I'd rather not wait any longer to find out if he's right."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"But we've still got the ice spears to worry about, AND not freezing to death." Scharf explained to her. "Any ideas, anyone?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Silence filled the party's surroundings. Not a single one had a good idea. No direct plan that could guarantee their survival./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Didn't think so." Scharf added, with a sigh. "I guess we'll just have to wing it. No warmth... no path to follow."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Well... not entirely." Fallen spoke up, having an idea. "I had one of my summons help us scale this huge ice wall. Maybe we can have one scout our path ahead. At least as far as it can."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Why not just have it carry us to the top?" Vanessa suggested./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"For all we know, it senses magic, not fire. Or both. So if we ride it, we risk getting hit." Fallen explained herself. "I'm sure you don't want to be a tourist sight as the first person to be hit by Shiva's Ice Spear, do you?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Point taken." Vanessa replied with a slight shiver at the thought./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Here's a suggestion." Tier spoke up. "How about you send a small creature? That way it's less likely to be sensed."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"3/spansupspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"rd/span/supspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;" person (Fallen)/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen nodded in agreement. "Good idea, sis." Fallen soon stood up. "I'm gonna go try it out. I'll let you guys know the results." She told them, as she moved towards the entrance on the upper floor, having gotten up from the lower floor they fought the giant./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"She stood by the entrance and to Sylph out of her shirt, since she didn't have her coat anymore. "I'm sure you know what you have to do." She assured she heard her previously./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Sylph nodded with a salute of her hand. With that, she then summoned a dark fox from the ground and had it run on ahead. There were no spears coming onto the creature, so it seems magic wasn't what was sensed. It was fire, as they theorized and witnessed earlier./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"A bit of time had past, Fallen's ears being filled with the noises of the spears hitting the roof of the temple and the strong winds of the outdoors. But the fox soon returned and then disappeared. All that was seen by the little dark animal was brought into Sylph's mind. "Wow. It's almost like it was made for you guys to follow." She remarked./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"How far does it go?" Fallen asked curiously./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"We reach another cave. I think that should lead you all the way to the top without worrying of anymore of those spears either." Sylph explained to her summoner. "The fox left it's tracks for you guys to follow. So I don't have to remember where to tell you to go."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen giggled. "You've done more than enough. You can get some rest." She told her. Sylph soon disappeared. At least they had their next place to go for. And out of Shiva's attacks. She had a hopeful expression, knowing she could get her friends out of here alive. With that glimmer of hope in her heart, she looked down at everyone from above. "Hey, guys!" She called out to them. "I have a path for us to follow! We'll make it to Shiva in no time!"br /br /With that news being delivered to the party, they all gave big smiles. One by one, they packed up to get ready to go. Though, there was one problem. Kurve was still passed out. As was Zelkova./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Guys, hold on." Imbir spoke up, making everyone turn to him. "Who's gonna watch over these two? I don't know if bringing them further up would be a good idea."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Definitely not..." Tier agreed, gently scratching her chin. "Well... somebody's gotta stay." She stated, looking back at everyone./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"They were all silent, not because no one wanted to, but they all expected someone to speak up. With a sigh, Tier shrugged her shoulders. "Alright then. I guess I'll watch over them. Unless anyone objects."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"There was silence once more. They didn't seem to mind nor care who looked over them. They all trusted each other./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I'll stay here with them." Vanessa spoke up. "We've got enough ranged fighters. Plus, I'm sure you'll cause more damage than I will." She reasoned./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Tier laughed a bit. "Well, don't sell yourself short." She told her. "Just sit tight. We'll be back before you even know it."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Vanessa smiled hearing Tier's confidence. It was reassuring./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"With that decision made, Bereit, Fallen, Imbir, Scharf, Tier and Strake stepped out of the temple ruins, their safe haven. Now, they were out in the harsh opens once more. But thanks to Sylph, they had a path to follow, and Fallen lead them./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"To think you're the one leading us now." Strake spoke up with a chuckle./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen quietly chuckled as well. "As long as it isn't to our deaths."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The party continued to walk forward. Fallen followed the fox tracks, her eyes remaining low on the ground to keep track of their path./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit looked up at the sky, imagining if the spears came crashing down on them. A grim thought, but he was pretty on edge out here. As was everyone else. He wondered how Shiva felt knowing she was facing an ancient version of herself. The cave they slowly approached only brought the answer to his question closer to him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The party entered the cave, being safe from any kind of spears being brought down to them./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"So this is what's gonna take us to the Erpel?" Scharf asked./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Not directly, but it'll lead us to the right path." Fallen assured Scharf. "And hopefully soon. I'm growing tired of the cold..."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"They followed a long path of ice, the floor thankfully being dry ice so the grip of their footwear was able to keep them from slipping. As they kept going further and further, they soon came to a new discovery. They found a long, large, spiral set of stairs that lead to where their destination lead. It was all built elegantly, and not big surprise, out of ice./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit narrowed his eyes. "Something doesn't seem right about this..." He announced to the party. "It feels... kind of like a trap." He explained himself./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"What makes you... actually, no, I believe you." Scharf spoke up. He looked up the stairs, pursing his lips. "'Think we should have our weapons ready. Just in case."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Everyone nodded their heads and held their weapons out, ready for what possible things may come. Of course, Strake already had her weapon out and ready to go./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"As the party progressed, slowly making their way higher and higher up the stairs, they began to hear noises coming from above. While it was heart racing, knowing something was coming for them... it honestly left them in no surprise./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Falling shards of ice came raining down around them. Everyone looked up, shielding their eyes in case some of those shards of ice got in their eyes. And what was coming down towards them were giant lizard-like beings. At least five. They came rolling off the walls with big and razor sharp spikes along their backs./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"In a split second, they leaped off the walls and landed on the stairs, showing their cold blue eyes and teeth that were made of stone. Like they were attached to their jaws and not in the gums./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"If this weren't a life or death situation, I'd say these things are kinda badass." Tier commented./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"If you're feeling brave, you can keep one as a pet." Bereit suggested in a sarcastic manner./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Tier shook her head. "I'm not that stupid."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"One of the beasts jumped at Tier, her ducking to avoid the attack. "Alright, nothing too big." She reminded herself. She summoned two wolves to her side. She pointed to the beast that attacked her, having her shadow wolves run for it. The beast tried to escape the shadow animals, but they got the legs and were able to keep it from running away./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Without even having to tell them, Fallen came in and stabbed it through the back with her ice glaive, quickly disposing of the beast./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Strake saw one of the beasts high up in the air, as it spun against the wall and launched ice shards towards the party. "It's shooting ice shards at us!" She called out to the party. Some moved up and some moved down the stairs, just to avoid the attack./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Imbir aimed his gun and then shot a bullet and hit it right between the eyes, digging deep into it's stone head, breaking the ice shards on it./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Now there were three left./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"They were all circling the party, as if waiting to catch them off guard./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"But the party regrouped and stood close to each other. But just when they thought they were safe, they heard more sounds coming from above. They all looked up to see thousands of suits of armour coming down towards them from the very top of the stairs./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Alright, what's the plan?" Strake asked./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"There was silence among everyone for a brief second. "Simple. Imbir and I will focus on those lizard things on the walls. We'll help you guys out whenever we can. So just face them and give us some time." Scharf told them. He was at quite the disadvantage given his sniper, but he would still do his best. "I've got an idea to quickly dispose of those knights coming for us."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit, Fallen, Tier and Strake all looked at each other and ran right up the stairs. Bereit coated his weapon in fire, thinking it would give him the edge./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I'll start with the attack." Tier spoke up. I'm gonna summon a bull and see how far it'll go through 'em."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I can help with that." Sylph spoke up, as she popped out of Fallen's clothing. She flew out and then slowly formed her own shadowy bull, with horns that were made especially big. Tier did the same, matching the size of the animal itself and horn size. Both swung their hands forward, making their beasts run head on along the stairs. Good thing these were only shadow creatures. Then they'd slip./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Both beasts rammed through at least a quarter of the barrage of soldiers that were blocking their path. They broke through the shields at the front and shattered a good amount of the hollowed soldiers. But they eventually slowed down and were stabbed to death./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit came in, now that the shielded soldiers were gone. He coated his sword with a more intense fire. With that, he held his sword with both hands and swung a wide horizontal slash. The intensity of the flames along with the force of it made a good chunk of the knights fall to pieces, now leaving them down to half. Though, with their strong attacks used, they were gonna have to use their metal to fend them off./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen and Strake were hitting from a distance, using the very ends of their weapons to knock off helmets and armour parts one by one. While Bereit was up front. Tier kept throwing as many beasts as she could, doing her beast to do her part, as did Sylph. But they just kept coming./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"3/spansupspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"rd/span/supspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;" person (Imbir)/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Imbir shot another bullet towards one of the beast, missing a shot. He quickly loaded another, before he noticed it jumped at him. He quickly dodged away and drew his machete, slashing it's hind leg. It tried to get away, but Scharf stepped in and stomped his boot on it's back and then shot it in the head, finishing it off./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Thanks." Imbir thanked Scharf./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Don't let up now. We've still two more." Scharf reminded him, taking aim with his sniper./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Imbir nodded, seeing the last two were still circling around, occasionally shooting ice shards at them from the walls. But they avoided the incoming projectiles. With the way the beasts were always on the move, it gave him an idea. Reaching into his bag, he pulled out an explosive bullet and loaded it./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"He took aim and fired ahead of the beasts, creating a big crater./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The beasts would circle them one last time, until they went on the crater and bounced off against the edge of the crater, landing on the stairs near the two gunners. And both proceeded to aim their sights to the heads of these creatures. And they pulled their triggers at the same time. And all that was left was rocks, with a big bullet hole on the staircase they were standing on./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Alright. Now, we need to help the others." Imbir spoke up, as he then looked up, seeing the group above them was starting to be pushed back./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Don't worry, I've got this." Scharf spoke up, as he then loaded a fresh magazine into his gun. He then aimed right up high of the spiral stairs, and then eyed Imbir. "Got any explosive rounds?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Imbir nodded, as he reached behind his back and loaded an explosive bullet. "Your plan?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"We bring this entire set of stairs down. And the knights with them. Of course, we'll warn the others." Scharf explained to Imbir./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Imbir nodded, understanding what he's to do./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Hey! All of you up there! You might wanna get out of there! We're gonna bring these stairs down and all of those knights down with it!" Scharf warned them./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Wait! What!?" Strake shouted from above./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"But Fallen had an immediate idea on what to do. "Go ahead! We'll be fine!" She called out, avoiding a swipe for her neck./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Imbir looked towards the stairs' very bottom and aimed his gun. With a pull of the trigger, the bullet dug into the center of the stairs' middle. And with a few suspenseful seconds, the bullet exploded./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Scharf then followed up with taking a shot at the very top of the stairs. His bullet broke right through it, causing the icy stairs to come crashing down. One by one, every staircase shattered into icy shards. Each knight that fell went into pieces of armours one by one./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"As for Fallen and the others, she summoned Shiva and she made a big sphere of ice to cover themselves from the stairs that were slowly piling more and more on them. With the pile of armour pieces too./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"It took a while before all the ice falling came to a stop./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Imbir and Scharf gazed upon the pile, anxiously waiting for the group to come out of it without a scratch. And soon, a sphere of pure ice rose from the pile, as it showed the group residing within it. Though, they were piled one on top of the other./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Is everyone alright?" Strake asked, looking down at everyone as she got off./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen nodded, as she got up as well. She looked up to see Shiva was up in the air, staring way at the very top. She wasn't even moving. She just... stared./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Tier rubbed the back of her head. "Agh... damn, that hurt." She said, looking back at where she was sitting. "Oh... sorry, Bereit." She realized./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Just get your fat ass off of me." Bereit demanded sternly./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"FAT ASS!? YOU LITTLE-" Tier was ready to deck him right where he lied, before Fallen caught her wrist./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Sis... he didn't mean it." Fallen defended him. "Right, Bereit?" She asked him, eyeing him with a narrow glare./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Just get her off of me, please? I can't breath." Bereit was not helping his case./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Tier slowly turned her head to Fallen. But Fallen shook her head before she could utter a word. Tier got right off of him and dusted her clothing. "Ass..." She insulted him in a hushed whisper./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit then got up and pushed off any ice shards off the back of his coat. "Alright... now that we got the enemies out of the way... what do we do now?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Scharf looked up at Shiva. "Oi! Shiva!" He called out for her./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Shiva stayed there for a few seconds, before she slowly descended down to the others, having a worried expression on her face./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen soon had one on her face as well. She knew what she was thinking. And frankly, it worried her too. "Listen, Shiva." She spoke up, walking up to her. "We'll be there. To ask all the questions you wanna know. Okay? I'm scared of her too. But we'll be okay. We made it this far. We won't back down now."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Shiva looked down for a few seconds, pondering on her summoner's words. She soon nodded, and then stood right at the center where all the shards of ice were. And soon, she began to spin and swing her arms up into the air. Slowly, they began to rise and reform the stairs that was previously there. From bottom, all the way to the very top./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Everyone was left astounded by the strangely beautiful to see. All that glittering light reflecting from each individual shard. Like sparkling stars in the skies. They were all in awe for a few seconds, before the entire set of spiral stairs were repaired./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Well, here we go." Strake spoke up, looking back at everyone. "I'm just gonna let you guys know... this is my first dragon I ever fought. Or, Erpel, whatever it's called. I'm gonna need some pointers."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Just follow our lead. You'll do just fine." Fallen answered, but in an encouraging tone of voice. She soon started making her way up the stairs, with everyone behind her. She was beyond determined to defeat this Erpel. She wasn't backing down. Never in her life. One way or another, we was seeing this to the end. With everyone by her side./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Save your game up to this point?/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Yes -/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"No/span/p