7
Looming over the group were four fearsome, aristocratic knights belonging to the corrupted labyrinth of the demonic world. Stormy Knight, Abyss Knight, Doppelganger and the Lord of Death stood abreast, creating an aura of doom.
Each of the four stood at least two feet taller than an average human height. The Avenger was shrouded in the shadows cast by the spawns of the dead branch, each of them awaiting death to befall them, which was obviously going to happen anytime soon.
The Stormy Knight indeed possessed the characteristics it's name suggested. Covered in the color of storm, a striking pale blue, the approximately eight feet demonic knight carried a shield and a sword with a color which matched his body. The brown shield it held was carved exquisitely into a face of a certain pharaoh, although small, but it just seemed to accentuate his already sturdy defense. It barred it's row of jagged teeth at the group, ready to snap someone's neck.
Beside it was the notorious Doppelganger, an undead swordsman of exact replica to some swordsmen found on the Prontera streets. It's appearance of a novice swordsman eluded many, for his powers far exceeded a veteran knight despite it's naive look.
Entering the world of Rune-Midgard together with both of them were mounted warriors, the Abyss Knight and the Lord of Death, which definitely looked twice as lethal. The two ten foot tall knights were a distinct contrast, not only in their color, but their steed as well. The ebony Abyss Knight, draped in the attire of the deepest black with crimson outlines, rode on an equally dark nightmare. It's helmet, which looked something like an overturned pail, encased his head. A tiny slit in the helmet revealed those beady, yet fiery eyes.
The Lord of Death, however, wore armor of gleaming silver, not excluding his tough steed. It looked as if the monstrous knight itself could turn night into day. A humongous, great sword dangled ominously from it's right hand, the other hand holding the reins of his heavily geared horse.
Manald trembled uncontrollably, motionless from the gut-wrenching terror that seized her senses and drained her energy. The sense of urgency wrecked the jeopardized guild, for their pleas for the priestess to open a warp portal were unanswered. The badly traumatized Manald just continued sitting, unmoving, staring up at the four formidable monstrosities.
The unnerving sight too brought uncertainty and hesitation to the rest. Initially the group planned to make a beeline for the entrance; however, to their dismay and horror, Pay dismissed the idea since his superior sight spotted the rows of ice wall sealing off the entrance, barring their escape.
"They're bent on eradicating us," the distressed leader of the group said.
"We underestimated the cursed Overlords," Skull added, aiding Manald in her recovery process together with Pay and Piffy.
Nimmber shifted uncomfortably. "Look who's the underhand bunch now. That Von guy is a murderer!"
"The monk might be the mastermind," Cerberus guessed.
"Hey!" Pay exclaimed. "Where's Sagi?"
That introduced another dilemma following the hunter's observation.
"There's no reward even if you guessed his whereabouts right. Get to the tower top now, quickly!"
The four demon spawns seemed to overhear their conversation, for they approached at a faster pace, eager for a kill. The Lord of Death, apparently, was not some impulsive, lumbering animal charging head on without pondering about the possible dangers. The shiny knight had plans forming. Lifting it's great sword of about fifty inches, it brought the massive blade down towards Manald, hoping to sever her body into two halves. Without their priestess, in other words, without their only means of escape, the four could prey on the group with any means they deem fit.
Well-attuned to his surroundings and impending dangers, Skull leaped over the priestess instinctively and brandished his Infiltrator. He swung his left katar sideways, hoping to knock the heavy blade off target.
Surprised at the success of his first attempt, the Lord of Death's sword indeed swayed off track. But in the process, the blade somehow inflicted a deep cut in the assassin's left bicep. Wincing in pain, he screamed for the group to make a run.
Pay offered to carry the priestess, but stopped when a sharp pain acted up in his right shoulder, reminding him of his injury. Cerberus then took the cue and carried her, his strong legs taking him up the stairways as swiftly as possible. Piffy and Nimmber followed closely behind, concerned about Skull's safety. They wanted to assist him, but the obstinate assassin waved them off, assuring them that he would find his own means of escape.
Meanwhile, at the foyer of the Sbanhealt castle base, Skull did not want to escape just yet. Noticing a few blue gemstones left over from Von's earlier spectacular spell, he cloaked himself into the walls, keeping himself well hidden. Albeit the knowledge that these superior demons would still spot him, that was the only choice he had to move efficiently.
Emerging out of the walls, the four marching towards him with the two mounted knights in the lead, he ran ahead, sweeping up the gemstones along the way. The shrewd assassin then proceeded to hide underground.
Skull was well aware of the distance between him and the four knights closing up every second. He immediately summoned bone spikes that shot up from the ground, with the Grimtooth ability. However, that was not directed at the four, but rather towards the entrance blocked with the melting ice walls.