Jesús : "And…I'm back. I hope I can get this done by the "Scheduled" time this time. So then, without further ado…" [Disclaimer] "I don't own the RF series nor any of the Anime/Manga/Videogames referenced in this story. All credit for them goes to their respective owners."
Ch. 41
Raguna POV
Not too long after Red joined us it got late so Brodick and I had to start heading home.
"You wanna meet again tomorrow I'm guessing?" Brodick asked as he handed the hammer back to me.
"Yeah, if that's fine with you." I replied and put the hammer on my back.
"Yeah, I'm good. There's not that much to do over break you know." Brodick said and then just gave a "salute" like gesture and went home.
"Well then…now to tell my parents about you…" I said and looked at Red.
"Is fine. I can just camp out." Red said
"And freak out every passerby? I don't think so. They'd send you back to the first forest if they found you." I replied
"It's fine. I can just come back here." Red said pointing at the ruins.
"I've made my decision. Come on, as long as I'm with you people won't do anything. I mean, they don't do anything to Kin do they?" I said and we started walking.
I made it home with everyone else and Red waited outside while I called my parents out.
"Whoa!" Dad yelled and got ready to run for his weapon.
"Calm down Dad. Mom, Dad this is Red, he was one of Great-great Gramps friends." I said
"Nice to meet you all. You must be Raguna's great Grandson." Red said and bowed his head.
"Right…Say, how can you speak…?" Dad asked
"Raguna gave me this ability shortly before his death." Red explained his ability to speak again.
"We don't have an issue with you staying here, but is clear you won't fit in the house." Dad said
"And he'll easily loom over the back yard's wall." Mom pointed out.
"There is that place…" Dad said
"That place?" I asked wondering what he was talking about.
"Come with me." Dad said referring to everyone.
Dad took us to the tool shed and after leading us through the usual path to the "Raguna Room" he continued to the far right of the room. He opened a door and then led everyone in it.
"This room has been unused for a while now. Your great-great gramps apparently used this as a barn room after some hardcore remodeling. I think you can fit at least 15 of this guy comfortably in here. There's also living quarters in this one section of the "Raguna Room" and edibles can be stored on that room." Dad explained as his finished pointing to the left side door on the new room.
I looked over at Red who seemed to remember this place.
"It sure has been a long time." Red said and dusted a spot on the wall next to one of the beds. In said spot his name was carved in. "This will suffice. I can take care of myself here. You can contact me with a communication pipe on the tool shed. Raguna used to call all the time through there when he was in a hurry."
"So you've been here before?" Dad asked
"Sure have. A long time ago, but yes." Red replied. He settled down and then just sat on the bed.
"Alright then, welcome to your new home then." Dad said and Red bowed his head thanking him.
The rest of the evening went by smoothly. Mom served dinner and packed my and two others on "bento" boxed to go eat them with Red and Kin, who also moved into the "Monster Dorm". After eating we all said good night and off to sleep.
The next morning wasn't any different from the norm; get ready, eat breakfast, have a short warm up and then go to the Ruins. Kin and Red joined right away and off we were to the Lava Ruins again. Brodick was waiting for us at the entrance of the Ruins and after handing the Hammer to him we started our way through. With Red's help it was all far easier and we made it back to the place where we found Red again.
"From here we could just go that way." Red said "I still remember most if not every layout of the dungeons I visited with Raguna."
"Awesome, so you know more or less what we can find where?" Brodick asked
"Not really, but I do know the way forward for the most part." Red replied
We followed the path according to Red's directions and before we knew it, we were at the Ruin's "Boss gate"
"I must warn you. You must have water Magic with you. You can go in without it, but having it would make things easier." Red said
"I can't use any magic. Even those Magic rods were a pain for me." Brodick said
"I think I can cover for all of us…" I said "…Red, Brodick put your weapon in front of me…" I said and they followed my request.
I started to concentrate and tried using water magic. I knew enhancing a tool with element magic was possible, but unless the sword was forged with the element it was only temporary, about ten minutes' tops. I needed to enhance the two weapons and then my own sword/s which I'd do in battle for myself, giving myself a longer time frame. My energy would most certainly be smacked silly after this one. The energy required for the axe and hammer was molded and now it was time to transfer the energy.
"Ha!" I said and thrust my hands into the two tools.
The Hammer and the Axe gained a slight blue tint to them and then I dropped to my knees.
"Man…" I said exhausted
"What did you do?" Brodick asked
"He enhanced our weapons. By the way I've seen you fight as well as the skills you have, I believe you're a "spell fencer" and not just that, you're also using the double swords Raguna made before he died." Red said
"Yeah, I was able to grant you two the affinity of water on your weapons. It'll last for more or less ten minutes." I replied and got back up to my feet. "Let's go, time's a wasting."
"What about you? I'm sure this put a big strain in your body." Red said "Raguna had to use Magic Rods, yet that tired him out after just a few uses."
"I'm fine. My Mana replenishes quickly and I can fight without magic for as long as I need to." I replied
"Right, but the monster ahead is a Lava Slime. I don't think too many physical attacks will hurt it much." Red explained
"Well, I can deal with that when the time comes." I said and opened the Boss gate.
The room opened and inside there was a huge load of…nothing…the floor was in a really bad state, and near the middle there was a hole full of lava. We were actually standing on a platform suspended off a lava pool, so we could fall too. All of a sudden many pillars of light appeared and from them Lava Hornets appeared a total of 8.
"I thought you said it was a slime…" I asked Red.
"It is a slime. It has a total of four forms. First it'll be these hornets, then four "Blood panthers" then two "Lava Ogres" and lastly its true form." Red explained
"I see, so we have to beat these to a pulp first. Piece of cake." Brodick yelled and rushed in.
"Gotta give him props for enthusiasm." Red said
Brodick rushed in and then started spinning the Hammer over his head to build momentum. When he felt he had enough he swung it down at one of the hornets and the hit was strong enough to take it down on the one hit.
"Way to go!" I yelled and Brodick just smirked in reply.
Red, Kin and I rushed in too and started dealing with the hornets. Red distracted two of them and then Kin another two.
"That leaves three for Brodick and me huh?" I said and then I reached Brodick who was surrounded by the remaining three hornets.
"Any ideas Magic boy?" Brodick asked
"Duck!" I yelled and as we dived down the hornet's stingers flew right over our heads.
I used the momentum from my dodge roll to attack one of the Hornets, instantly activating water magic for my sword, and hit it three times; one with the complete sword and two more with the Split form. Once back on my feet I pounced in the direction of another hornet and slashed as I usually do. Since I deactivated the water magic to save energy it didn't hurt the hornet as much. it almost hit me with one of its stinger attacks, but I was able to block with one of my swords.
"Nice one. Though it took longer than I thought you would." Brodick said and turned to mee as we both finished our enemies.
"Don't drop your guard yet…" I said and I noticed that the small flame pools that formed from each defeated hornet started gathering at four different spots in the area. 'Blood panthers…considering what I've read From Great-great Gramps' Bestiary they should be amout as tall as I am even standing on all four.'
The Flames finished their morphing and out came the four Blood Panthers…By the way…they were about two, maybe three, times bigger than gramps said…
"Their…Huge…" Brodick said
"Oh yeah, did I forget to mention they're about three times bigger than normal Blood Panthers?" Red said and got ready for their first attack.
"Everyone, Scatter and try to take them out one-on-one." I said and reached my target.
"On it." Red replied
"Right on…" Brodick said
Kin just barked in reply but it was obviously saying "ok".
Everyone reached their target and the battle began. Brodick started trying to hit the Blood Panther in front of him, but the panther was too fast and dodged his attacks.
"Try to go for a counter!" I called as I noticed he was having issues.
"Got it." Brodick timed the next attack of the panther and then, by kicking off the panther's paw, he jumped and hit it right on the face with the hammer. The hit brought the panther to the ground, which Brodick used to his advantage and struck down on it. The two hits took the panther down.
Red knew what he was doing and continued to block the Lightning balls the Panther was throwing at him. Whenever he found a good chance he would rush to attack or simply swing its axe. By the time he managed to defeat the panther the effect of his axe's water attribute ran out.
"Darn, ten minutes already?" Red asked
"No, the charge drops quicker the less you use the weapon." I called back.
"Darn, at least I'm not strongly affected by the heat here." Red said
Kin was quickly running around the field dodging the lightning ball and pouncing every time she had. Considering Kin didn't use a weapon she didn't get any Magic enhancement and so it was taking longer than usual for her to finish the Panther. Kin rushed in while keeping low and then clawed at the Panther taking it out.
"Alright, now I'm the only one left…" I said and started pushing back on the Panther's attacks.
The panther backed off and started shooting electric balls at me.
"I can play that game too…" I yelled and shot Lightning balls to counter the ones shot at me. Right behind the lightning balls I rushed in and managed to reach the panther. "…Take this!" I yelled and again charged my Swords with Water magic. I used a 10 hit attack and landed every single one without giving the panther a chance to back away.
Once again the fires started moving around the room and then gather at two different spots.
"Here come the ogres." Red said.
"Let's take them out quickly." Brodick said
"Kin, stick with Brodick. Red and I'll take one out." I said considering I could use water Magic for more damage on this enemy, and the fact Brodick, as strong as he is, still moved rather slowly, especially with the Hammer in hand.
The groups split and we started our attack as soon as the Ogres appeared. Brodick and Kin started running around the Ogre and whenever they were close enough Brodick would swing the Hammer. Brodick jumped off Kin's back and hit the Ogre in the face bringing it down, the ogre hit the ground and Kin started attacking too. The Ogre didn't seem to like it and got back up and started swinging at the two.
"Whoa!" Brodick said and blocked the Ogre's hit.
The Ogre kept swinging and Brodick kept getting pushed back more and more. Kin noticed Brodick was nearing the edge of the platform and rushed in to quickly pick up Brodick. After getting Brodick back to safety Brodick started spinning the hammer again for momentum and then Jumped off Kin again, this time he started spinning forward and then hit the Ogre square in the face. The Ogre went down and turned into the "Flame pool"
"No big deal…" Brodick said and then patted Kin on the head.
Red and I were still dealing with the Ogre in front of us.
"We should probably hurry it up. The others already finished the other ogre." Red said
"Alright, Distract the Ogre for a second." I said and backed off to use some magic.
Red rammed towards the Ogre and the Ogre attempted to Hit Red. The attacks clashed and Red got knocked back a few feet as well as the Ogre losing its balance from the impact. Red took this chance and started swinging his axe at it. After about three hits the Ogre got back up and started flailing at Red.
"Hit the floor!" I called and Red followed my command.
Right after Red was off-range I shot the strongest attack I could use with Water Magic. The attack shot out a stream of water about two feet wide and stayed shooting for about five seconds unless lengthened. The Ogre started slowing down and steaming because of the damage.
"Red, throw your axe at him." I said and once again Red followed orders.
The Axe hit the Ogre on the chest and took it out. Red quickly retrieved the Axe and got ready for the final form of this Slime.
"Everyone ready?" I asked
"The slime had a basic attack pattern. It'll flop down on us, or at least try, and then summon geysers of fire for about two seconds. The best chance to attack it will be as soon as it lands and attacking from all possible directions away from the Geysers." Red informed.
"If that's the case, I'll try to call its attention for the Geysers. I might be able to counter them with Magic , and if it comes down to dodging I can attack from a distance with Magic too." I said
The slime finally came into view and right away it jumped high in the air and tried to crush us. Thanks to Red's advice we were ready for this attack and so we just got out of the way. As soon as it landed we started our first attack. We each landed four hits and then it started shooting the Flame Geysers, luckily in my direction. I dodged the Geysers since they were last second and started shooting water balls at the Slime.
'So it'll be four geysers and then stand still for a few seconds…' I started thinking coming up with a strategy.
The slime bounced up high again and tried to land on us for the second time. once again we all got out of the way and started our attack.
'And…now!' I said to myself and jumped back and started charging Water Magic.
The magic buildup actually called its attention and so it shot the geysers at me. I shot the Magic and it actually countered the first two Geysers.
'A little stronger ought to deal with all four, and then a little stronger than that and it'll even hurt the Slime then…' I finished formulating my plan.
The slime stayed motionless for a couple seconds and then it jumped back up.
"Third time, We've got it this time…" Brodick called.
"Keep your head in the game." I called back to make him focus.
The slime landed right in front of me and then it actually swung at me by making some sort of solidified slime whip. I blocked and was forced to back away.
'So much for attacking instantly…' I said and noticed the Geysers were about to be shot.
The slime was still focused on me and so I shot the Water Magic at the Geysers once they appeared. The Water magic materialized as a Laser and actually shot through the geysers and hit the slime directly. The slime didn't seem to like that and started flailing the solid slime whip thing. We all figured that keeping our distance was probably for the best
"Raguna, We'll call it'll attention, we need something that can take it out in one hit, or at least quickly enough." Red called and threw his axe at the slime, the Axe had a boomerang effect and came back to him.
"Alright I'm on it…" I said and started focusing on an all out Water Magic Attack.
Red continued his Boomerang attack while Brodick and Kin ran around the Slime trying to confuse it. For the most part it was working considering it kept the slime from targeting me. A few seconds passed by and my magic attack was nearly done…
'Come on, hurry it up…' I continued to think.
Throughout the whole room you could hear Kin's heavy panting. At this rate she'd run out of stamina and maybe get hurt by the slime along with Brodick before I even got ready to shoot my attack.
'Almost there, come on…' I said and then I felt it. When I manage to fully charge a spell I get this chill and also my right eye twitches, I guess is just something my body made to let me know about my targeted Magic charge.
I took Aim and got ready to release the Magic.
"Kin!" I called signaling her to back away.
As soon as she was clear from danger I shot the new Water beam. The beam was a cylindrical shape from in front of me all the way to the Slime. It had a two meter diameter and the current within the water was really fast. I hit the Slime directly and you could tell it was getting hurt. Red and Brodick Rushed from the other angles and supported the attack with attacks of their own. I kept the blast up for as long as I could, about 10 seconds, and in the end we were able to defeat the slime.
We all gathered at the middle of the room and just sat on the ground.
"That was quite a ride…" I said breathing the heaviest along with Kin.
"Tell me about it. This was the first time I reached a Boss room." Brodick said
"You mean you haven't even finished the Griffon thing in the Green ruins?" I asked
"Nope, didn't even know it was a Griffon." Brodick said and started laughing.
"I think we ought to go. I believe it should be around 4 PM by now. We actually finished here in about 4 hours." Red said
"Wow, awesome…" Brodick and I replied and we picked up the things left behind by the Slime.
Among the things there was some weird looking stone tablet.
'Wonder what this is for…' I said and put it in a small backpack I decided to start taking with me to the dungeons.
We reached the outside soon enough and we parted ways. Red carried the Golden Hammer and we started walking back home. On the way Red kept explaining battle strategies and possible upcoming dangers. It was like I was sitting IN Gramps' basement reading one of the books with an Audio of it playing along with it.
Once back home Red Kin and I had Lunch, Made by me, and I decided to go to Cinnamon's afterwards.
Jesús: "Sorry for the long delay. Work, adult life, and the fact I just got a PS3 along with BlazBlue ChronoPhantasma and Tales of Xillia. Really good games and so far I'm greatly enjoying both to an unbelievable degree. And before anyone decided to pester me about just getting the PS3 I have a WiiU and a 360, a coworker sold me his, unused, PS3 for a good price so let the epic gaming begin…Anyway, enough ranting. Thank you all for reading and I hope you all enjoyed this. Please come back next time for more on this story. Please leave a review telling me what you think and I'll see you all later."