A/N: The Coldwolf Clan are quite a proud clan indeed. Lightning and the others were lucky they have rescued Slave or they would have been dead meat. Let's see how this will end for our heroes when they have to face the Black Council once again.
MARCH 31st, 2023. FLOOR 13, WOR'GOL
It was a cold night, even for me. Usually the cold never bothers me but tonight it does. How the hell did the Orcs live up here? Sure they're used to it, living in the cold all their life but still. The cold wasn't the only thing that kept me up all right. I still can't trust these...creatures, even though Slave has been nice to us.
It's early in the morning, like 5 AM, and I walk right out of the hut. The sun isn't even up. It's still dark out. The bonfire is still burning brightly. My guess is the orcs have been keeping it lit.
I look at the other huts everyone is staying in. I can only detect Yeul, Noel, and Leafa. Hope is missing and that worries me. What if those Orcs took him? I look around the village. There are only a few Orcs working. All of them still have yellow cursors. If any of them really did try to harm us, they would turn red.
After a look around the village, I decide to take a look outside. Fifteen feet outside of the village I see Hope. I feel so relieved seeing he's all right.
"Hope!" Hope turns around. "There you are. You had me worried, I thought you were in trouble."
"I'm sorry," Hope says.
I sigh as I approach Hope. "So, what are you doing?"
For an answer, Hope steps aside. All I'm seeing is some snowman. Seeing this surprises me. Hope has a thing with making Snowmen. Like the second it starts snowing, he bolts outside. Sometimes Serah goes out to help him out while I just stand by the porch and watch them.
"You made a Snowman?" I ask.
"Yeah." Hope answers. I remain silent for a while. How can Hope still enjoy life in this death game? During my first week, he was pretty scared, couldn't sleep even. Still, I suppose it's nice to see he's gotten better from that day. My silence must have taken too long cause what Hope says next makes him sound either worried or concern. "What's wrong?"
I rub my fingers on my forehead. "Nothing...it's nothing. I'm just tired. Let's just head back into the village."
Hope and I return to the village. We just spent the rest of the early morning sitting by the bonfire. It feels warmer here. Really brings back some memories of when the three of us spent long cold nights by the fireplace.
"Brings back memories, doesn't it?" I ask.
"Certainly does...Makes me wish Serah was here." Hope says.
Hearing that gives me a sense of alarm. My own sister being sent here in this death game. That's something I never want, not even if I spent the rest of my life here.
Time fly by real fast. The next thing I realize the sun is rising and Leafa, Noel, and Yeul are gathering around the bonfire with us. Slave and Duraton join us shortly afterwards. Slave just meditates, concentrating his power. Duraton does have a quest for us to do.
"You may have saved my son from the hands of the Inflamed Legion, but we still don't trust you, outsiders. If you wish to prove yourselves, find my brother: Gan'ar. He is reckless and impatient. You'll know it's him once you see him. He's gone off to the western area of our land, where the Black Council have their base set up. Bring him back here before he can cause any trouble for our clan."
We accepted the quest. "Reckless and impatient. Sounds like Snow." I say.
"I just hope you'll don't get all scolding with him as you do with Snow," Noel says. "I've heard from one of the Information Breakers he's pretty aggressive. If you make him mad, he'll tear you to pieces."
"He doesn't scare me. I have endured worse back in the Guardian Corps." I say.
"Yeah, but you're not with the Guardian Corps. You're a Swordsman now." Hope says.
For saying that I give Hope a flick on the forehead.
We all headed west riding on white wolves. An Orc commander is riding with us, obviously, to keep the wolves we ride on under control. We ride as the cold winter blows against us very hard. I doubt it's very windy, it's mostly like this because we are running against the direction of the wind.
We take a clear path avoiding the monsters. Even if we get close we don't aggro the creatures. Not really sure why but I don't bother wondering. We travel far and wide. Very soon, the ground we arrive at turns black. It's dread instead of snow. That means we're close to the Black Council clan.
FLOOR 13, MAGNAROK.
Up ahead, we see a dark encampment, filled with jagged rocks, green fel crystals, and hundreds of Wizards/witches working on dark magic.
This is the Black Council base. Near the entrance, there are corpses of the Coldwolf Orcs. The commander approaches the dying orc.
"Grunt! Report! What has happened?" The commander says.
The grunt Orc gasps through his breathing and coughs. He's dying, I can so easily tell. I've seen deaths like this back in the Guardian Corps mission fields.
"Gul'Damned! ...He is here! Gan'ar...went after him...Then we were...ambushed." The orc says.
"Save your strength, brother." The commander carries the grunt on his back. "I will turn him to the base. Outsiders, I trust you to find Gan'ar and return him safely."
The orc commander gets on his mount and storms off.
"Well. This is just great." I say. "Leaving us here to deal with the Black Council and find this...Gan'ar."
"He had to help a fellow member of his clan," Noel says.
"You should understand that. Didn't you always say 'never leave a soldier behind' back in the Guardian Corps?" Hope asks.
I just sigh and roll my eyes. He's right. That's something my Lieutenant taught me during my training years. I really shouldn't complain about that commander looking after his kind.
"Yeah. You're right. Now that we're here, let's take care of these monsters." I open my menu, setting up my weapons and equipment. Everyone else does the same. Yeul, Hope, and Leafa even refreshed our buffs.
Once we're all set, we invade the camp. We fight the corrupted orcs guarding the entrance. A scout notices us and sounds the alarm by hitting the gang.
"Intruders in the southern entrance! Warriors! To arms!"
I do a Heroic Throw skill to kill that scout. If only I had done it sooner before it sounds the alarm. Now we're going to be in deep trouble.
After killing the guards, more of them come at us, along with several Wizards. This isn't good, and we don't have a Crusader to hold them off. "I will handle this. Keep them off of me."
Yeul stands back, begins chanting a spell. The warriors are pretty close. One of them leaps towards us but I get in its way and block his attack with my sword. Yeul is still chanting her spell. It must be a long 20-word spell. Whatever it is, it better help us out here.
Noel and I become overwhelmed by the warriors. I'm holding back five and he is holding back four. Finally, Yeul finishes her spell. The tip of her staff is enhanced in frost magic. She shoots an orb of ice in the air. Dark clouds appear above us.
"Espeon! Power Word: Barrier!" Yeul says.
Hope does what Yeul says and begins chanting the spell. The clouds spread thirty yards wide, which is above all of us and the Wizards up ahead. Once Hope finishes his spell, Noel and I leap back, landing right inside the holy barrier. The warriors are coming towards us then it starts raining large shards of ice.
The ice shards crash on the warriors. Each of their HP's drop like crazy. I'm amazed that Yeul is a powerful Spellweaver. Can't say I'm surprised. In real life, she is very wise beyond her years. Spellweavers are a class where wisdom is their power. I guess the role fits her.
In the end, Yeul's Blizzard spell ends and all of the enemies are entombed in ice, up until they die by shattering into shards of light.
"Man. That was hard. And I thought hunting alone on Grand Pulse was tough." Noel says.
I don't blame him. I have been to Grand Pulse on a mission once. Even with an elite troop, it was deadly. I barely made it out with my own life. I was bedded for days, Hope and Serah had to take care of me while I recover.
After that hard battle against the warriors and Wizards, the rest of the enemies in this camp was an easy fight. Hope even use his power to help us attack the enemies. I fight as Vanguard. Noel and I constantly switch places, so he can cut down his enemies.
After half an hour, we still haven't found Gan'ar. We do find a safe place near one of the huts. We take a small break, sit and relax, I however just stand and keep watch.
"Where is Gan'ar? I'm starting to think he's not here." I say.
"If we find Gul'Damn. We'll find Gan'ar." Noel says.
"But isn't Gul'Damn like all-powerful? Wouldn't it be best to stay away from him?" Leafa asks.
"Maybe we just don't fight him. Let's just grab Gan'ar and make a run for it." Hope says.
"Yeah. But from what I've heard about our little friend, I doubt he'll agree to it." I say.
Everyone else mutters.
We continue fighting the Black Council through this encampment. At the end of the base, there's a stone pillar hanging at the edge of a cliff, over a pool of that green molten liquid. That I believe would possibly be that corruptive blood Yeul and Slave mentioned, the one the Battlesong clan drank to become the abomination monsters they are now.
We find a red-skin orc chained to the pillar. Gan'ar. The Damned Lord and Grommash stand in front of him like they're trying to interrogate him.
We hide behind each of the spikes near the cliff so we're out of sight but still listening.
"Are you sure about this one, Hailroar?" The Damned Lord asks.
"Yes, master. This is Gan'ar, brother of the Coldwolf Clan chieftain, Duraton." Grommash says. "We get him on our side, we'll have control over the Coldwolf Clan."
"Indeed, Grommash." The Damned Lord stands in front of Gan'ar. He holds a wooden cup, that has green steam coming out if it, right in front of Gan'ars face. Gan'ar gives the Damned Lord the stink eye. "Drink, Gan'ar! And claim your destiny!"
For an answer, Gan'ar spits at the Damned Lord, right in the eye. The Damned Lord grunts in disgust and even flinches back. He wipes his eye then glares at Gan'ar.
"I'd sooner rot a thousand damnations than to serve the Inflamed Legion!" Gan'ar says.
I'm surprised to hear that. I guess not all Orcs are stupid. I know I would do the same thing. The Damned Lord and Grommash don't look too surprised, but not happy at all. They exchange looks then return their attention to Gan'ar.
"Your will is iron, just like your arrogant brother." The Damned Lord says. "If you rather suffer damnation, so be it. But the Coldwolf Clan will-wait!" The Damned Lord turns in our direction. "That power...I know it anywhere!"
The Damned Lord channels corruptive fire. He launches green firebolts at us, destroying the pillars and revealing us. Grommash looks surprised. "It's those outsiders again!"
"You don't say, Grommash?" The Damned Lord turns to Gan'ar. "So. It seems you have these outsiders on your side, Gan'ar. Quite impressive I must admit." The Damned Lord turns to us. "Sadly, you outsiders are too late! This land will soon belong to the Inflamed Legion!"
The Damned Lord slams his staff on the ground. A large portal appears behind him and Grommash. "Come, Grommash. We must prepare for the assault."
"Yes, master!" Grommash and the Damned Lord walk right through the portal.
They're fools to leave our objective behind. Noel and I break the chains with our swords. Gan'ar collapses on the ground. He groans in exhaustion then looks at us, with a rather mean look.
"Thank you..." Gan'ar struggles to get on his feet. "My...brother sent you, didn't he. Bah! He's a fool! He doesn't understand what it takes to be a true chieftain! But none of that matters. I must return home and warm my people about the invasion! Feel free to tag along, cause I'm going even against a hundred demons with nothing but a broom!"
An update appears in our quest log. We must escort Gan'ar out of the camp and back to Wor'gol. The second we accept it, Gan'ar makes a run for it. Even before his HP gauge appears within my party list.
"Let's go! But first, I need my weapons!" We follow Gan'ar, but we only end up running since he doesn't slow down.
All over the camp, the Black Council are everywhere. Boy, they respawn fast. Or maybe they only appeared as part of the escort quest.
We ready ourselves to battle, then Gan'ar leaps at one of the warriors. "You monsters will all pay!" The warrior he attacks falls and Gan'ar punches him hard. Duraton is right about him being aggressive and reckless. He's like a volcanic version of Snow.
The fight through the Black Council clan. We could barely stop and rest because of Gan'ar's impatience and recklessness. I'm starting to dislike this guy.
We arrive at the barracks. Gan'ar rushes in and knocks out the guard. We walk inside to see Gan'ar is search through the room. It's full of countless weapons, swords, and axes, enhanced in fel energy. In a rage, Gan'ar pushes the weapons out of the racks. All of them end up on the floor.
Finally, Gan'ar picks up two axes that are in a similar model as Duraton's two-handed ax. "Finally! Now to cleve some flesh!"
Now we run out of the barracks and start cutting down the Black Council. Gan'ar is more powerful now that he has his dual axes. Gan'ar makes fine vanguard, but I wish he could control his aggros. He pulls a ton of Black Council warriors. Hope could barely keep our HP's high, even Leafa has to help him out with the healing.
We spent the next half hour pretty much kill the entire camp, under Gan'ars "leadership". He really hates the Black Council.
Once the entire camp is empty, we make a run for it. By the exit, there's a powerful Wizard waiting for us. A Black Council named Terra'gore.
We all stop by the exit. "Coldwolf insect! Nobody escapes from the Black Council alive!"
"Well guess what! I just did! And nothing will stand in my way! Not even you, monster!" Gan'ar shouts.
"So be it! You will burn in the name of Chaos and the Inflamed Legion!"
Terra'gore becomes attackable, with his cursor and one Health Bar appearing. We're mostly exhausted cause we didn't get any rest since we released Gan'ar, but we can't stop and rest until we defeat this last enemy.
Terra'gore starts off by casting multiple spells on all of us. Instantly, we all suffer Bane of Agony, Fel Corruption, and Unstable Darkness. "Wither away!" Our HP's deplete rapidly as we suffer damage over time attacks, a DOT as I hear other people call it.
Gan'ar shouts in rage as he leaps towards the Wizard. "BLOOD AND HONOR!"
Terra'gore is too late to react. Gan'ar pummels him down then slams his ax in his throat. Terra'gore was killed instantly, most of us are shocked at how quickly the Wizard die.
Once Terra'gore shatters, Gan'ar stands and turns to us. "I thank you...strangers. I can return to Wor'gol from here. Come when you can. I'm sure my brother would want to see you all."
Gan'ar leaves the party. His HP gauge vanishes the minute he was out of sight. "What...just happened?" Noel asks.
"I have no idea," Hope says.
I look at my quest log, at the one we just completed. "We finished the quest, so I'm not complaining."
"I agree with Lightning, but something's bothering me. What did the Gan'ar mean by 'Invasion'?" Leafa asks.
"Let's head back to Wor'gol. Maybe we'll find an answer to that." Yeul asks.
We all agree, then head out back into the cold blizzard. Whatever invasion the Black Council and the Battlesong are doing, it defiantly cannot be good.
