A/N: Demon Slayer, brought to you with love. Seriously you guys, thanks for sticking by me.
NetherOrbit: Nothin' like surprises! Yes, healers now have a built-in [Rage] mechanic. Hurt their friends and they'll eventually pay you back.
Den3424: Fear the old bake...
Doctor: Jeez, who gets 'Employee of the Month' where you work?
Thunderwolf: Wonder where you've gone, hope everything's alright.
TheAwesomess1: Missed you, fam!
bitchbot: would beat me at math every day and twice on Sunday.
Also, I've got a new poll up regarding this story. Just a quick question to see what you guys think of a certain development, will love to hear!
Enjoy!
December 2nd, 2022 - Castle Diebry
"Move I say!" Godfree shoved through, "woe be thou, must we all wait and fester in glory-less filth!?"
Others cried out as he passed their desolate corner, calling out the Dane's name hastily.
"You're gonna get shot!" Asuna said.
"Age shall kill me first at this rate!"
Godfree's [Battleaxe] shined in torchlight as he breached, shouting at their enemy's [Ballista] team. His words echoed through bleak halls, their floors brimming with a bubbling green refuse, of which no one dared touch, their walls splotched with pits and tunnels.
"Ignore me at thy own peril, rat!"
Oran's heart quickened, feet rising as Godfree continued to taunt, his eloquence far-reaching. Aoki, however, rolled her malformed hands in a circular motion, cycling just below her belly button, as if turning a tennis ball. An orange aura glowed between her hands, an orb of waving red forming, Tai glancing to this new light source, eyes widening.
"Good slayer, you didn't come alone!"
Where, what, how?!
Others looked with shock as Aoki's [Aethereal Node] formed, a ball of fire dancing around its creator. An alien power had been exercised among them, captivating all who stood close and far. Catching as much attention as a firework rocket, however, Aoki quickly stiffened.
"What're you looking at?" she stuttered.
Godfree's right eye panned towards his crowd, a rapid shiver rippling through his body as he leaped aside.
Am I not encouraging enough? Hast thou lost thy will to fight on?
A sharp crack rippled in riposte, a projectile of glowing red properties zipping by a dancing Godfree, bystanders jumping instinctively. Striking stone, a cloud of pale green plumed, sending shards of hot wooden splinters soaring. People shielded their eyes, their distance great enough to dissipate most shrapnel, their arms peppered.
"Bombs!?" Oran shook his head, "I want some!"
"You're not loading zhat in a [Ballista!]" Kuradeel peeked around, "zhis needs to be downed!"
"Profound observation," Godfree shouted, "now would thou layith thy bridge?! Someone must curse them from afar!"
"Finally you make sense!" Aoki rushed out, long hair flowing as she skid to a stop, raising her stone composed hand and wrist.
"Don't!" Teika waved, "it's out of-"
Her fingers curled slightly, as if catching a baseball, [Aethereal Node] transferring like a channeled orange liquid before her palm. Cumulative, an amorphous mass of red plasma formed, jetting out like a cannonball with a loud bang, Aoki's hands glowing as the air heated around her, reducing costs for casting more spells. Eyes watched with great focus, Aoki's attack launching out, reaching one of the three islands of tiles before slowing. Upon losing velocity, her [Flammekanon] detonated, sending bolts of fire licking frigid air. Planted across their acid dumped hall, the [Ballista] and its crew were unharmed.
[MP: 65%]
Aoki paled, awkward as others watched her.
Dammit, Teika was right!
"Lower that bridge, you curs!" Godfree waved, "our enemies reload anew!"
Engineers dropped their first of three wooden bridges, its bronze feet hovering mere inches above a green pond, scraping as it touched their first island. While it wobbled gently, stability was meekly assured.
"Third platoon, rush it!" Diavel waved, "move, move!"
Johnny eyed their means of approach, observing as others stepped on rowed planks. Their bridge bent slightly with every passing body, bronze hissing as it struck green refuse, its surface etched with a pale, gaseous excretion. With Aigen first to cross too, Johnny prepped, merging with a group as another funneled through.
[To Haru: What material would you use to contain acid? Bronze?]
[From: Ceramics are way better]
The assault team's bridge bent harsher, its angle sharpening ever so slightly, Oran and Graye crossing with two dozen others, Teika and Aoki joining on brisk feet. A cold click was followed by a crack, their foe's [Ballista] spewing its spiteful ordinance, glowing and brittle as it flew. Being composed of DPS classes, their highly agile members easily ducked, letting their round sweep by. As they settled on stable ground, however, shouts and snarls were heard, side tunnels loud with activity, a new opponent rushing forth from sightless pits.
[Kobold Bruisers], rodents skimming two feet in height, with helmets shaped like wide bowls lunged out, fingers wrapped around [War-Picks] and [Spears]. Their weapons struck shins, knees, infiltrating between players, sending some into panic, Oran quickly raising his staff, bashing one atop its helmet. While it rung, the Kobold beneath it neither flinched or stopped, proceeding to jam a hooked pick against his shin. Oran jerked, choosing to go for an upward flip, knocking his attacker off its feet. Its helmet had four legs, of which all were clasping the wearer's shoulders, not its head. While Graye tried using his [Glaive], crowds were too dense, creating risk for knocking his friends into acid. Aigen, however, enjoyed no such hindrance, his weapon far smaller. Hacking into the arms and legs of two foot warrior rodents, all he expressed was exuberance, occasionally kicking his opponents into acid with a deeper grin.
With second group came not only Johnny, but another twenty DPS and healer units, flooding in to secure congested, albeit contested ground. Taking one side of the bridge, Johnny leaned hard, bending his knee in prep for a jump, forcing wood into acid. Many filed around him, obscuring his move long enough for its conclusion to result, their bridge cracking and sinking into a sickly vat, pouring a dozen members into its soupy space.
Screams sent Oran glancing, a loud sizzle accompanying them as bodies melted, their physiques consumed by a malicious concoction. Fighters were cut off from helping, either by distance, Kobolds, or each other. Johnny looked back, sighing before decapitating an incoming rodent.
Hardly sporting, they can't even fight back. There'll be nothing to wear either if I do that again.
With mouth agape, Oran turned away, eyes nearly popping as their cries died down, shaking horribly as he covered his mouth. Watching men melt into bone, then into soup had proved insurmountable.
Ugh I feel sick.
"Oh god," Lind paled, watching them all, "we need to reinforce them more! Our bridges aren't working!"
"With what?! Bronze's what we got," Kibaou shouted, "we have to make this quick, give our engies time to plan while we shut off that [Ballista]!"
Another click was heard, a clock of death for those repelling [Kobold Bruisers]. Illfang's [Ballista] fired, its round striking an unlucky healer across her temple, tearing her head off without struggle, flying unabated.
"Oh Christ!" Graye screamed.
Slamming against a wall, the soaked missile expanded like a pinkish cloud, sending less fortunate fighters scattering in fear of fragmentation. Aigen's [Ninjato] swept low, cleaving above the necks of bruisers with ease, albeit leaving him heavily hunched due to height differences. Like a snake, Johnny stalked, steady in chaos, eyes on his prey, whose own eyes honed on their possession.
A [Kobold Bruiser] dashed by, aggro'd towards another. With a gentle sweep of his leg, Johnny skirted it, slamming it against Aigen from behind, stepping aside before Aigen turned. His target raged, perceiving a strike from Johnny's bait, wailing on it mercilessly. With his vengeance blinding him, another [Kobold Bruiser] charged with a [Spear] from behind, Johnny watching with a corner of his eye.
[Sneak Attack Critical!]
Aigen thrashed instinctively, a [Spear] jamming into his back, wiggling as he twisted in surprise. Johnny's giggle was muted, the battle around them both silencing both mirth and curse indiscriminately.
Take your time, Johnny boy...the best things come for those who're patient.
Asuna called out to any wounded, shouting for another bridge, [Holy Water] gripped as she watched others relieve their wounded allies. A loud thump was followed by sets of heavy foots, a second bridge dropped. Utilized by fourth platoon, Taiyama and Heathcliff raced on solid ground, their lighter equipped cohorts moping up what remains of their opponents. A familiar click, however, left their feet frozen, hearts stopping.
"Get down!" Heathcliff raised his [Cross Shield], rushing forward in defense.
His defense was solid, a [Burning Stake] striking head on with his shield's center, resulting in detonation, head on. With not a moment to spare, Heathcliff was blown away, his sword arm torn from the elbow down as shrapnel turned it to slag, his shield arm broken and hanging. Thrown back several feet, his body half dipped in green, thrashing as he sizzled. Others scattered around him, the result of proximity, many splashing in similarly dire ponds.
Cursing aloud, a member of their forward groups rushed out, cowl concealing their face as they scrambled for a convulsing Heathcliff. Grabbing a shoe, they tugged him desperately, thrashing themselves back in furious effort, others scrambling to gather their spilled allies. Acid sprayed all around, splinters catching others in the eyes, time slowing for who drew Heathcliff from deadly refuse.
Their eyes stared at what was Heathcliff, his face mangled a pale green, twisted by frightful chemistry. Without warning, their whole world froze. It wasn't a cold that struck Heathcliff's rescuer, nor all who stood around her, but a hitch. Nothing moved or breathed. All anyone could do was stare, a nothingness gripping them like a tightly wrapped blanket. A lone static jolt blurted out, a winding down, echoing as if projected inside a cave. Heathcliff's heart nearly gave out.
No...no, no, no. The servers, they're shutting down! It hasn't recalled us!
Fifteen seconds, fifteen moments of absolute nothing reigned supreme over both time and space. Some human fighters disintegrated, their conscious' severed from this reality. After what resembled a blink of time's end, all events resumed, their flow of order returning with a collective gasp, their world resuscitated.
"The hell was that?!" Oran shrieked, "if that's what lag feels like, I'm done!"
Heathcliff stared up, tears welling up as his body shook. Not out of pain, but of defeat as his eyes found his daughter's. [Holy Water] was deposited, his face restored by Asuna as she slid over to him, [Rapier] in her hand. While superficial elements were restored, only his shield arm remained, with his fighting arm stubbed and bloody.
"Gonna be a while before he can fight again," Asuna glanced to the cowl wearer, "his armor's gone too."
"I'll take care of him, don't worry about me."
Heathcliff with shaking hands reached up, watering eyes softening further at a familiar drop of blonde hair.
"Lyra?"
Leopon's eyes jerked away, hearing her name announced. Saying nothing, she devoted [Strength] stats to lift him, Taiyama rushing over to assist.
"No," Leopon said, "I've got him."
"But what if you collapse?" Tai protested.
"I won't."
Tai grabbed Leopon's shoulder, only to release when she looked.
"I'll only make sure you get out of the castle. The rest I'll leave to you."
A third bridge was hauled out, their last of three initially built. Their second bent as acid ate away, their opportunity closing. Looking between this and their next island of stone, whose surface hid enemies all knew, Leopon nodded to Tai. Retreating from the frontlines, Kibaou and Lind only confronted them briefly, stepping aside the second they saw Leopon shouldering her father. Taiyama, however, wasn't permitted to leave, as his unit was still deployed.
While he argued fiercely, he inevitably backed down, but only when Lind promised to escort Leopon personally. He called out to her, the blonde viewing him briefly before venturing out. In her direction, however, Taiyama spotted a man crawl out from a wall tunnel. He was dirty, older, with a sort of camouflaged cape draped on his person. The stranger didn't stay, walking past Leopon on his way out, a quiver bobbing on his back.
"Who's..."
"Tai, the bridge's folding!" Kibaou pointed, "get back there!"
Hesitant in his approach, the former competitive boxer looked to his station. A war torn path awaited, whose pits of acid bobbed with the weapons and shields of fallen warriors, the air rippling with cries and clashing bronze. Chilled to his core, he stepped forth, his allies calling. Carried off by his daughter, Heathcliff could only cry in silence.
This can't be happening!
Sun Dancer
One last [Kobold Sentinel] fell, crying out in pain as it turned to glass like its friends. With a fall of wood came rushing boots and shields, pouring into what was their final stop, raising weapons to dispose of their enemy [Ballista's] crew. Aigen smiled broadly, his body pockmarked with blowdarts, weapon gouges, and broken mail. Cursing and sprinting, they slowed to a stop, surrounding the spiteful mechanism.
While the blasted machine remained intact, its crew had passed away, arrows decorating its wooden surface. What they found most peculiar, however, was the direction these projectiles pointed, they could've only been directed from a vertical position, as well as originating along a wall. While heads were scratched, others looked behind themselves.
A hall of red and green bubbled behind them, whose surfaces packed with weapons, their forms corroded as acid ate at their bronze bodies. Not one could say for certain how many fell, carnage having robbed their minds of all forms of time beyond the moment. Darts littered spits of land, Godfree's [Ballista] rolling over forgotten tools with dull cracks. Under weight these weapons snapped, shattering like their masters had, their identity lost forever. Seeing this, Graye drew forth his [Glaive], fishing out corroded gear with haste. His bronze-headed polearm hissed, losing effective shape as it waded, recovering weapons, helmets, and shields, gingerly taking every sample away in his storage.
I won't let their memory die here. They're heroes and should be cherished forever.
Oran and others watched with softening gazes, gathering around their Irish healer with tools of their own. Dozens reclaimed gear, Kibaou and Lind ordering for unit reinforcements before proceeding. While many minutes passed, not a single fighter complained, though Aigen's eyes never left Illfang's door. Johnny watched Aigen, keeping brief in his observations.
His armor is damaged, surely a lowly Kobold couldn't strike him so finely. For this to work, however, I must not rush. I've learned much from his style, I can wait.
[From PoH: it's all set, is he gone?]
[To: No, too many witnesses]
[From: it doesn't need to end today. Aid in the raid and we'll talk later back at our new site.]
Johnny flicked off his interface, rubbing his arm bandages. Briefly screening his surroundings, his eyes traced Aoki as she passed.
Swords are pretty bog-standard, exploding fire rockets, however, not so much.
Teika glanced sharply at Johnny, their gazes meeting briefly before parting, the latter merging with crowds. Tracking him, the axe-wielder shivered for a mere moment.
I don't like that guy...can't put my finger on it.
Diavel's strut in front of his people aired of confidence, his [Lance] clutched fresh with a pentagonal [Heater Shield] in his left. Despite having spent this fight standing behind others, he moved forward without restraint, propping himself amply before doors several times his height, wiping his brow and clearing his throat as if strained. They looked to him, their faces grimy and tired, though many more expressed a sort of fascination with their newest figure. Standing close by to Aoki, Taiyama kept a low voice.
"Where did you get that? That power's amazing!"
With arms wrapped around her stomach Aoki ignored him.
"Can you show me how you got it?"
Teika bore an expression meagerly wrinkled, watching as yet another person tried learning their secret.
Aoki wanted this, yet she complains about this kind of attention. What was she expecting? Then again, I should be happy she didn't torch anyone by accident.
"Please, there's people who'd love to have what you do."
Aoki shrugged, rubbing stone formed fingers together.
Secrets like this will get my friends hurt if I spill them.
"It has been an honor, fighting beside you all," Diavel nodded, "bravery like this proves our result, charging in with you all, that was right."
While their eyes turned Diavel's direction, most had tuned him out, taking this time to recuperate their mental faculties. Only one stepped through, closing the gap between himself and their speaker. Stacked taller than most, he leaned on his [Bo-Staff].
"Hold up now," Oran pointed, "fighting with us? Where were you, mate?"
Diavel clammed shut, blushing slightly. Eyeing his fellow commander's expression, Kibaou's shoulders hunched.
"Bollocks," Oran glared, "that's what it is."
Oran raised his voice, wringing his finger.
"You sat back while the rest of us fought, yet you talk like you're one of us? Mate, I had to watch my mates melt! Where were you?!"
"Shut up!" Kibaou stepped forward, honing in.
Lind triangulated, approaching the contentious Englishman.
"Yea that's right," Oran clutched his [Bo-Staff] in an offhand, "second things don't work out, shut them up. Just like home."
Graye watched with a deep grimace, leaders converging.
I agree with him, but my God this is embarrassing.
Bale, however, grinned softly. He made certain to stay clear of Johnny, fearful of suggesting allegiance with a character of clandestine tastes.
Good, keep 'em on their toes.
"We're the reason this worked!" Kibaou poked Oran in the chest, "if you don't get back in line-"
"Piss off," Oran swatted Kibaou's hand aside, "bunch of wanks can jerk yourselves off for all I care. If it weren't for all the people fighting, you'd be doing just that."
"Alright then," Lind barked, "you can forget about being on the team, if being this childish is gonna be routine."
Oran turned away, grumbling to himself. Watching him part, Graye too turned away.
"Hey," Kibaou called, "healer, we need you here."
"Um," Graye froze, "I'm sorry, I can't."
Taiyama stood back, taking no part in what Oran had sown, watching as both him and Graye walked away.
"Anyone else feeling a bit self absorbed?" Lind marched back beside Diavel.
Wudramor only observed from a distance, his skin forming crags, color darkening.
Humans seem to love fighting, each other mostly. I ponder as to what documentation came with their arrival, what were our ancestors doing relating to them?
[To Oran: Bro, I'm sorry I didn't join. Couldn't leave Aigen back there to do stupid stuff]
[From: Don't worry mate, I'll send ya a friend request. Tired of their shit]
Taiyama sighed softly, switching off his interface. Diavel continued harping, his fellow leaders standing on opposing sides of them, Kibaou growing a vein out of his forehead.
We're so close to better, easier times. If we let that reality show bullshit get to everyone, we'll lose it all. We'll have to start from scratch.
Aigen had long tuned out their speech, his eyes unmoved from what his heart sought. After minutes of rushed talking, Diavel finally turned, pushing both twenty foot doors eagerly. A swift buckle, however, left him skidding softly, their way blocked off. Upon seeing an effort made on Illfang's throne room door, however, all set upon it, eager to rip it open. Axe wielders went to work, a battering ram deploying as demand required, formerly a tree trunk, sharpened for such use by engineers. Wood cracked and groaned, their [Battering Ram] gouging, dozens of Kobolds within shrieking as a hole was made.
"Faster!" Aigen shook, "they're in there, they can't run! We gotta catch 'em all!"
"Methinks thou cherish this deed a bit much," Godfree sighed, hacking away with his [Battleaxe], "I would find it unfathomable, punishing them past this single instance."
"Single instance?" Aigen turned, "but this is war!"
"Whoever this Garr is that instructed thee," Godfree shook his head, "hasn't the mind to," he paused in translation, "hasn't the maturity of an adult, let alone a teacher."
As their last defense cracked, a great and sudden breach sent many flying apart, a [Halberd] of titanic size punching through weakened planks. Skewering its nearest victim like a hungry shark, many jumped back, screaming as hands were raised.
"How'd we not hear a freaking [Palace Guard]?!" one screamed.
A second polearm delivered, sending chunks of broken cellulose scattering, married to the dust composing Castle Diebry's interior. This, however, struck no one, as self preservation had long shielded those initially carving. Aoki stepped forward, another three [Aethereal Nodes] charged and bobbing around her. A rock molded hand drew, red plasma forming beyond her palm, rippling with an orange, even yellow tinge. [Flammekanon] sent a molten slug flying forth, arced for a gap in Illfang's door, scorching hanging flecks as it passed.
An early detonation and screech lifted spirits, Aoki's attack forcing [Halberds] into retreat, their owners squeaking.
"Thou haft cursed the demons back!" Godfree cheered, "do not dally!"
"Now!" Aigen rushed.
A massed effort brought Illfang's door crumpling, its metal hinges left without a frame to grasp. Bursting through, fighters raised arms, only to slow their approach. A sanctum of darkness, whose greatest coloration laid at their feet, a red and gold carpet, caked in ruinous debris. Stretching out far past torchlight, only a rumble of stone could be heard from across, a mass creaking as it rose beyond human sight.
"Shit," Aigen squinted eyes, "someone toss a torch?"
"You not find my kin."
Fighters shuddered, a deep voice echoing where eyes couldn't see.
"I expect from Taiyama, very much."
Hairs rose behind Tai's neck, a weighted pill ramming down his throat. His [Tower Shield] rose harshly, stone rumbling beneath them.
[Floor Boss Approaching!]
[Lord Illfang - Level 24]
"Fourth platoon, aggro!" Diavel called, "Third and first, take flanks!"
Torchlight extended only so far, with their owners staring out into nothingness, treading on patches of broken floor, whose stones had sharpened from fracture. Of all who stood, Asuna's shadow lengthened greatest, unwilling to approach. Her hazel eyes were wide, shaky as they met a hateful abyss, its seditious curtain hiding innumerable foes. Miakane's malignant form played games in her brain, teasing at promised malice. Standing in between ruined chunks of wood, her [Rapier] wobbled, only to jerk as a sharp yelp rung out. A [Halberd] rushed out, a demon of bronze and wood whipping out of darkness without warning, goring a man before pulling away.
"Bastard!" Aoki yelled, utilizing [Flammekanon], aiming it where the weapon originated.
Red plasma soared through dust choked air, radiating spaces like a dying star, collapsing into itself and exploding. In its moment of brilliance, a [Palace Guard's] jutting teeth glistened, his corpulent frame displayed.
"Charge there! Toss a torch!"
Among the DPS groups, a slim Kirito emerged, first to lunge where others declined. Kuradeel lobbed a torch central of their arena, ordering his men to encircle it for maximum sight, facing outward. Hearing heavy breathing, Kirito raised his [Anneal Blade], its blue body glowing subtly. Aoki in a rush of anxiety, half clenched her fingers, fire pouring from between digits like pellets from a shotgun shell. [Bikubrenne] gushed forth, flaming projectiles spreading like a cloud.
Possessing great investment in [Agility] propelled Kirito far, but he stopped upon a glance, swerving hard as Aoki's guesswork spell arced into him. A swift slash dissipated a flaming pellet, a mighty crash sending Kirito stumbling forward not a second later, his sword burning dimly. A [Halberd] of gargantuan scale scraped by, narrowly missing him.
"H-Hey, his sword's burning!"
Kirito said nothing, absorbed in a near-death experience, breathing as he followed its retreat. His [Anneal Blade] had not only protected him from spells, but absorbed them, Aoki's fire clung to blue steel like a coal. A second [Palace Guard] struck, hitting Taiyama's group with a gut wrenching plunge, sending fighters scattering as their floor shook.
Aigen followed this, sprinting with a wide grin and [Ninjato] raised. Like Kirito, he stumbled upon a familiar sight, fifteen feet of fatty meat, bones, and rage. While both struck their pursued target, their yields varied. Kirito delivered minor flame, lighting his foe as blade struck skin, hairs lighting up, enabling others to approach easier. Aigen's blade scored [Bleed], resulting in a minor trickle, attrition working it down. Both guards growled before leaping away, regrouping in sightless pockets as a chain rattled.
"Uh," Diavel blinked.
Aigen continued chasing, only to be slowed by broken pavement, leaving him slogging. Kirito fell back, Platoon three quickly aiding fourth in reformation. Metal clacked before quieting, until a hooked blade swept out, breaching like a whale, whipping around like a moon's orbit. Two fighters turned too late, their bodies split with an obnoxious crack, a [Great Kunai] rolling on stone. Its thick bronze chain pulled back, resulting in several following it, tossing torches fervently, hoping to clear obstruction, to see with human eyes what struck them.
Diavel and Kibaou scooted around, holding weapons tightly as their men fought. Where they led, a recoiling Illfang stood, busy recollecting his chained weapon. Descending on him with many blades, cuts and slashes were delivered, Illfang grunting as he repelled them with wide sweeps of his [Nagamaki], its [Katana] shaped edge gleaming as it soon stained red.
Upon setback his guards descended with barbarous cruelty, three round bodies dropping and rolling, crushing some under their insane girth, leaving survivors stumbling in broken pavement off-center. Taiyama shouted loudly, his tanks rolling up along with Kuradeel's, whose few [Siege Blades] and [Slaughter Mauls] ended the guards' boulder maneuver with stronger swings, stunning them with heavy hits. Earth rumbled below them, leaving only Taiyama's unit and Illfang's retinue stable. Illfang's [Palace Guards] descended wrathfully on Kuradeel's men, only for Tai to roll up with shields, repelling their attack with gathered mortal might. Several flew off, wounded from sheer recoil, healers rushing to revive, Taiyama shouting at his foes as he repelled an attack from Kuradeel.
"Danke!" Kuradeel breathed, rushing up and stabbing a [Palace Guard's] thigh.
"Whatever that means!" Tai babbled, "I'll take it! Dank, right?!"
"Dank-eh, not dank!"
Asuna shivered, watching men fall left and right.
Oh god, it's just like last time. Monsters slaughtering people, but I told myself I can't be making decisions.
Seeing her friend so close to Illfang, however, Asuna's world stopped, Illfang swinging his [Nagamaki].
No, I have to!
She launched like a rocket, [Rapier] over her shoulder. Asuna's focus was set, leaping high as she closed in, planting a foot on Tai's shoulder before vaulting higher, stabbing for Illfang's face its swing readied. A light rip was met with a deafening shriek, Asuna's thin sword digging into the rodent's nose like softened cardboard.
[Critical Hit!]
The rodent king buckled, dropping its weapon as hands gripped nostrils, falling back clumsily.
"Don't let it retreat!" Asuna called, "keep at it!"
Taiyama blinked quickly, staring at who had not only delivered such a precise strike, but who commanded afterwards. Others roared at her display, rushing forth at her command, only to be repelled by its guards, a chain crackling as Illfang prepped his [Kunai] again. Kirito watched her prepare others, motioning them to corner Illfang's crew, lobbing torches in distant pockets.
Thought she was just another nooby, she's got decent skill.
[Palace Guards] refused to leave their king unprotected, parting only upon Illfang's sprint, his stride bearing an eerie quiet, resulting in some widened eyes, especially from Kibaou.
Wait, if he isn't making the ground shake, what is?
Left and right, [Halberds] flew, east and west, bodies broke. Walks of life across continents and cultures ended, their remains indiscriminate as they detonated to glass. While slashes and jabs were exchanged, the assault team's torches were put out by desperate security, snuffed out by stamping feet. Illfang careened his [Great Kunai] like a side flying fishing net, snaring fighters from shadowy recesses. Falling back to the entrance, remaining forces breathed haggardly, only Aigen refused to retreat, despite a lack of sight. Behind lightless screens, kobolds and Aigen shouted, weapons crashing and shrieking.
"I zhink ve need new plan," Kuradeel shuddered.
"We should burn this whole place down!" Aoki clenched hands, "make sure they can't get out!"
Kibaou rubbed his chin, his heartwood eyes focused across their battlefield.
"Peeps," he pointed, "race across the place."
"What?" Diavel glanced.
"What's one thing Kobolds hate?"
"Fire!" Aoki growled.
"Sunlight," Kuradeel said, eyes lit.
"Exactly," Kibaou nodded, "see if those doors swing open."
"Our tanks won't reach it quick enough," Tai shook his head.
"I can do it!" Asuna chirped.
Tai glanced, nodding to her.
"Yea guys, she can pull this off!"
"I guess I could try too," Kirito shrugged, [Anneal Blade] reverted to its blue glow.
Without another word both rushed forward, paired off as Taiyama gathered more tanks, Aoki prepping more [Aethereal Nodes] beside Teika.
"Why aren't you going with them?" Aoki said.
"Charging blind into a dark corridor? Not my style," he looked to her, "waitin' to see when they'll show up."
Tiles cracked beneath Asuna as she ran forward, Kirito jumping to avoid similar obstructions. Both had invested in [Agility], but neither could see well past each other. Without sight, Asuna squinted, her fright growing as crashing could be heard.
Are they on to us? I can't see a thing, what if they're behind me!?
Kirito's [Anneal Blade] left him a minor clairvoyance, to which he clung too with clenched fingers.
Oh god, why'd I choose this?! Impressing this girl was a stupid idea!
[Halberds] slammed, missing their speedy targets, cracking stone, damaging their own weapons. In great calamity, Aigen rushed in front of Asuna, resulting in a ferocious tackle, sending Asuna tripping and rolling beside Illfang's throne. Hearing her gasp, Kirito slowed, looking over to her dumbfounded, Aigen unmoved by her impact, rushing to continue his attack.
"Go!" Asuna shouted before shaking her head, "jeez Aig...what're you made?"
Kirito turned, but hesitated, looking back to her.
"Move, you idiot!"
Kirito blinked, eyebrows raised.
In the bleak darkness of this...place, there're only tsunderes.
Obeying with a slower gait, he moved with renewing focus, Asuna catching up as she climbed out. His sword's glow revealed great wooden doors, sized much like that opposing the entry. Pushing from both yielded little effort, Kirito nearly collapsing, its frame barely wobbling.
"Dammit!" Kirito slumped, "where's some [Strength] stats when you-"
"Yea ha!"
A burly Lox barreled through, his sluggish body guarded only Kuradeel's retinue as his shoulders bashed against double doors. With great musculature, Lox slammed them open, sunlight flooding in Illfang's throne room as he tumbled from exertion. With light leaking in, Illfang and his guards were exposed, shielding their eyes, forced to move away or fight blind. By this point, they were in range of Godfree's [Ballista], however, they moved quicker than he could turn it, preventing any shots.
"They're open!" Diavel waved, engaging with a frontal charge, "rush 'em!"
Players from all teams engulfed them, spacing themselves carefully away from their giant foes' polearms, taking turns to poke legs, Godfree's siege weapon knocking [Palace Guards] off their feet, allowing for others to climb over, dishing much greater damage. Put into corners, Illfang's defenders relinquished whatever decorum remained, resorting to animalistic tactics. Biting, slashing, crushing and punching, many more fighters fell, only to be replaced by dozens more. Swarming them like ants, they each took bits of health, grinding their opponents down. One by one, Illfang's guards collapsed, another earthquake buying Illfang time to run, racing for the exit.
"Godfree!" Diavel pointed.
"Too quick, sire!"
Aigen stalked on quick feet, his eyes reddened like a mad dog's, his prey fleeing behind his throne. Behind him, Kirito, Asuna, even Kibaou and Diavel descended, vision set upon a wounded Illfang. Dashing behind his throne, the rat king's hands threw aside his [Great Kunai], forcing his pursuers to disengage, lest they too be scattered like shreds of grass. Peeking down behind his throne, Illfang's ears furled, arms wide as he backed away. His eyes watered, sunlight burning their corneas.
I can't let them through!
Grabbing door handles, Illfang winced as blades cut into his calves, startling him into kicking back, catching Aigen in his chest. His body screeched across stone, others eagerly jumping away in fear. As Illfang's eyes set downhill, past the doors he held so firmly, his heart dropped like a bomb, grasp loosening.
No...
Kirito and Asuna furiously hacked at Illfang's layers of fat, as they had done to his guards, their weapons continuously whittling him down. Among all attackers though, it was Aigen and Kirito who struck hardest and fastest, Aigen quickly peering at Kirito's damage as he returned.
This is my fight, not yours!
Kirito, viewed Aigen too, trying to swing faster.
I need that boss's item!
Overcome with unseen grief, Illfang threw himself out of his throne room, discarding his last weapon before dedicating to a hobbled sprint. Taiyama rushed forward, catching up with everyone else.
"Where's he going?!" Tai roared.
A loud crumble sent tiles sliding aside, voices silent as a shadow lengthened from stone floors, rising between him and his friends.
"Wow," Tai skidded to a halt, "guys, move!"
A great mass grew from Diebry's floor, clawing out where a sizable trapdoor once laid, covered by a red carpet. Looking behind them, Asuna and her comrades stepped away, mouth agape as it rose. Aigen had paid no heed, vengeance having left him without care for outside events.
"Oh..." Kirito shuddered.
Talons extended, their hooked keratin clacking against broken stone, each unit easily half a foot long. Its avian forearms ended at its elbow joint, continuing past with fur, muscle. The elongated torso of a great cat, proud as it stood nine feet tall on all fours, two pairs of eyes staring, neither of them similar. Their head, no their heads lacked similarity, one possessing a great mane, flat nose and whiskers. Its cephalic neighbor had a greater upward arch, its neck and face scaled with a ferrous coating, armor plating. Adorned with curled horns, a thin snout and little black nose bobbed and turned. Swinging recklessly behind it, a beaded tail thrashed with a crown of stingers, their bases ovular like a scorpion's. Wings of a scaled exterior unfurled, turning to face its peers.
[Anomaly Risen!]
[Botched Gorgimera - level 56]
"Yup," Kibaou threw his hands, "Cardinal hates us."
"Elves?" its plated goat head snorted, "quick, gut now!"
"Too weak!" its lion head growled, "need better prey!"
"You didn't say that during breakfast!" it turned, facing its neighbor.
"It wasn't questioning my skill!"
Asuna's heart steadied, looking instead with a raised eyebrow, an argument ensuing as both heads debated on their next move.
Um...why's this remind of my parents so much? Now I just wanna find my room and wait this out.
"Oh fine let's go," the Gorgimera's horned head said, "listening to both of you is ruining my day!"
Turning sharply, its wings flapped with great strength, allowing its escape, its shadow sweeping over golden grass from lands beyond Diebry's border.
[Congratulations!]
[Floor One Cleared!]
Many cheered as confetti launched, hollering as the notice spread throughout their ranks, faces lighting as danger abated. With bright faces, they rushed to regroup with their leaders, who stared out to Floor two's landscape with both wonder and concern. While hill-less savanna brought warm air, an emptiness came with it. No mountains could be made from where they stood, only pale blue sky.
"Oh wow," Lind opened his interface, "we can own this fortress ourselves. Seriously, we can repair it, update stuff, even modify. We just need to establish a ruler."
Asuna's eyes trailed down their mountainous slope, lips pressing and shoulders dipping as matters of ownership were discussed behind her.
"You can have this place man," Kibaou nodded with a smile, "we need someone to watch our flank anyway."
"Is anyone going to comment on what that was?"
Wudramor's statement rippled through their optimistic bubble as he walked with his elves towards Diebry's exit. Despite this, the merry mood hadn't changed, most simply happy to be alive, embracing their friends closely as their weeks long siege ended.
"Sir," one of his elves grimaced, "where do we go now? We've looted this place, Ilioc's not taking us back."
"Frankly," Wudramor's yellow eyes turned calmly, "we can set course as we please now. How about we hold here?"
"Yes sir."
Wudramor's subordinate took his right hand, placing it over the left flank of his hip, Wudramor mimicking. A military salute, strictly followed as any. Turning to Kibaou and Lind, his skin smoothed, turning a pale blue.
"Is anyone at all bothered by that thing?" he said, hand idly fiddling with his mace's pommel, "it possesses flight capacity."
"Nah," Kibaou shrugged, "we'll deal with it when it comes time. Besides, Aigen's still gotta be pun-"
Their spiky haired commander stopped, looking around quickly.
"Yo, where'd he go?"
"Probably where the crowd of monsters is," Tai said with half dead spirit, his sight north bleak.
"Where?" Kibaou went to observe, "oh damn, Illfang's there! Come on, let's finish this!"
With victory pocketed, they eagerly pursued their distanced foe, racing down a mountain slope. Hot air welcomed them with a quick embrace, a cloudless sky brightening their world to seemingly endless pastures. As they descended further, their pace slowed, newer figures standing out, taller than them. Armored bipeds stood in rows, [Lucernes] and [Executioner Swords] resting beside bowed legs, their stomach and legs guarded by bands of bronze, equestrian snouts painted with a solid yellow stripe.
"Hail," one spoke, raising its right hoof over its left knee briefly before replanting, "Alltai's expecting you."
Illfang's shadow could easily be made out behind them, standing a whole man taller than even the assault team's newest encounter. He looked to his assaulters with folded ears, keeping himself behind columns of Tauran soldiers.
"Yea," Taiyama nodded, "poking these guys would be a brilliant move, right guys?"
A collective heat grew, wilted expressions spreading at the sight of so many warriors.
"But...we're supposed to kill Illfang!" Aoki stammered, "we won, he...he."
"He surrendered," a new voice emerged behind Tauran, "it would be foolish to waste it."
The horse-men standing between them and Floor two eased aside, letting through a single person within their ranks. Most looked down, as his height was diminutive compared to those around him, almost comical for some. While shorter than most, his musculature bordered natural, entire shoulder widths wider than them. His square jawline was elevated, brass eyes bright with a smile as he stopped several feet from them. Covered in a tunic of bright yellow, he too wore similarly colored face paint.
A/N: A new horizon rises, what awaits them as they enter the new world? When will I finally git gud? See next chapter and find out!
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