Yugo stood at the edge of the crater, a pink themed Eliatrope emerging as well. She didn't just have burgundy clothes, she also had pink hair.
Eva, Amalia and Ruel had tears in their eyes. They had hoped Yugo was alive, but did they really believe he could have been? Yet here he was, Yugo, the boy who had started their adventures, and was with them now.
Dally looked like a dog who had just seen the return of his master, a joyful grin plastered on his face, "Hey Yugo! Yugo!" Dally began to run towards the Eliatrope. Yugo turned to see Dally, and shared his over joyed expression. Suddenly, Dally slammed into an invisible wall.
Rubilax suddenly shouted, "Dally, we have to get out of here, now!" he sounded…terrified.
Dally shook himself up from falling on the ground, and a purple translucent barrier began to rise around the village.
The Black Beasts began to shriek, flinching and scrambling around the village.
Dally laughed at Rubilax's terror, "What's the matter Rubi? We could be legends!"
"Dally, we have to go now! PLEASE!" The sword cried in panic.
Percedal looked down, feeling a slight nervousness, "Please? You've never said that to me before. What's got you so nervous?"
The Sword practically shouted, "GET ME AWAY FROM HERE!"
Dally slowly walked away from the barrier.
Yugo looked waved at the Brotherhood. The girl eliatrope elbowed him, gesturing to calming, but curious black creatures. It seems they were surprised by something, or a lack of something.
Amalia placed her hand against the barrier, "What is this?"
Eva mirrored the princess, "I have no idea, it is a barrier, but nothing like I am familiar with. Ruel d-"
Ruel interrupted, "I don't know anything about this, sorry."
The black beasts were growling and their bodies were convulsing.
With a strange horror, Amalia realized that the beasts were laughing. Yugo and his companion were nothing to them. They were expecting something much worse. That thought alone made Amalia shudder.
Yugo stretched his leg forward, bending it into a sharp stance. He seemed, sharper, in both shape and knowledge. He had certainly been working hard, where ever he was these past few days. Tristepin was impressed, Yugo looked like he had been training with Goultard his whole life. He actually couldn't let that go.
Master Goultard? He spoke in his head, calling out to his old master.
What is it Percedal? Goultard sounded distracted.
Have you been training Yugo without me? Dally tried to hide the jealousy.
Goultard sounded troubled with a mutter No, what ever trained him is far beyond my capabilities. What it is, don't provoke it.
Percedal whined in his head But we Iops live for challenges and great foes
Goultard scorned Dally in his own head Not this time Dally-o. Do not fight it.
Percedal's face contorted to a pout. Did his old master not trust him. No, he was angry at Dally. Not for anything Dally did, but rather for who he was. Goultard begrudged the Iop god, and by extension, Percedal.
Eva spoke, seeing her husband's troubled face, "Dally, are you okay, you seem worried?"
Dally shook his head, "I'm fine."
Eva looked skeptical, "Dally, you can-"
A loud crashing was heard as Ruel slammed his shovel against the barrier, "I'm coming Yugo!"
Amalia jerked toward Ruel, as thought they had been snapped out of the deadly situation that they had previously resided in. The dangerous monsters that The Brotherhood couldn't even damage were now against Yugo and his Eliatrope friend. They were outnumbered two to one.
Amalia summoned brambles to slap the barrier. They continued to slap the purple wall, each strike getting more furious. She was so focused on trying to help Yugo, that she didn't notice the Black Creatures getting closer. Amalia continued to slam into the barrier, longing to see her best friend…or someone maybe even more valuable.
Suddenly, the black creature slammed its skull into the purple wall. It struck the barrier, producing an impact sound. The Creature staggered away, frantically jerking around. It was like the black creature was surprised by something about the barrier. Then the Brotherhood stopped, and began to notice the grey that was forming on the black beast's skull. It began to screech, as the grey expanded, going further and further, down the neck, across the chest and into the arms and legs.
The Brotherhood of the Tofu was horrified, as the beast crumpled into dust. Yugo seemed to understand, and he turned to the Eliatrope girl next to him. She nodded.
Amalia got it too. The barrier was harmful to these dark monsters, but ordinary people would only be stopped by it. Amalia tried to summon some brambles on the other side of the barrier, but the energy simple backed off once it struck the purple dome. She shook her head at Ruel, who looked helpless and terrified, like a father unable to catch his falling son from a tree.
Eva frowned, this would be tough for the young Eliatrope king. He was exceptional with Wakfu, but if these monsters got close, well Yugo wasn't known for his strength.
Then, a shrill roar was heard as one of the black beasts charged, lunging its claws at Yugo. It was followed by its allies, who circled the girl Eliatrope.
Yugo had braced, summon his Wakfu Shield, blocking the claws, and narrowly ducking as a barbed tail aimed for his throat.
Amalia felt her breath get stiff as she could only watch helplessly as Yugo was pushed back, his shoes digging into the darken ashy dirt as the beast slowly overpowered him.
Yugo growl, bracing and putting all his strength into keeping himself from getting pushed against the barrier.
Eva's lynx eyes could tell Yugo was giving…most of what he had. He was holding something back, not looking desperate in the slightest. Or maybe it was that optimism that always led the Brotherhood through the worst situations. Regardless, Yugo wasn't out of the fight just yet.
/*-*/
Yugo wasn't sure how to win this. He placed all of his strength without relying on his trance state into pushing the Shadow, only to have to give so that he could evade a tail stab.
He could practically feel the barrier up against his back. These creatures had him outmatched. Which meant Nora was probably doing worse. Nora.
Yugo had to step up and help her. He had to get away from this beast and even the playing field. His back pressed against the barrier, closing the window of mobility. His shield was holding, so that was a plus. He could hear portals being made as Nora was dodging various attacks.
The Shadow began to pull down on the shield, displaying its large array of teeth. The tail seemed to hoist itself up, rattling as though to taunt Yugo. The Eliatrope had no choice but to grit his teeth, and prepare to swerve.
The rattles seemed to get slower, not by a significant amount, but enough that Yugo could tel- it stopped. Yugo immediately jerked right, and the beasts tail skimmed over the vest, and into the barrier. For a creature without eyes, they did widen a lot as the Shadow staggered away, and lowered its slowly fossilizing tail.
It was now or never. Yugo lowered his shield and gripped his blade with both hands. As the Shadow took its claws and cut off the tail's end, stopping the stone process, only to find a Wakfu blade straight through its chest. The monster let out a howl, as it began to crumple in a black dust. First its arms, then its shoulders, before the rest of the body finally collapsed.
Yugo took a quick breath to acknowledge a cheer from Dally, and to recover some of the stamina he had lost. He to end this quickly. He allowed himself only a moment to catch his breath, then Yugo began to walk over to where Nora was fighting.
The Shadows were circling, and going in for jabs. If it were any other people, their target would have died, but the Eliatrope portals were proving to be problematic, as Nora only had to focus on one attack at a time. She would just teleport behind that attacker, who would become a shield from the second shadow, and would kick and punch as she went to land.
Yugo almost thought Nora might not need his help. But he didn't want to take that risk. Every portal Nora made burned her Wakfu reserves, and He could already see the toll it was taking on her. She was panting and sweating, whenever she would land, she would take a breath. Nora didn't have much evasion time left in her.
Yugo mustered all the Wakfu he could. He would enter the trance state, and end this fight quickly. Then a doubt lingered in his mind. Did he have the Wakfu to finish the fight? What if he ran out?
Yugo felt a vibration in his arm. He looked down to see his fist clench tight. Was he scared? No, He didn't have time to be scared. Yugo Burst forward, an explosion emerging from his step as his vest seemed to partially tear, revealing swirls of across his chest. His muscles felt lighter, and his arms felt stronger.
One of the Shadow that had been lurking behind Nora seemed to panic, bolting around as Yugo slashed at its chest. But the strike didn't land, as the creature had recomposed itself, and clawed the blade to its side. Yugo twisted around attempting to cut into the ribs, but the beast leapt back… into its ally.
Nora's pam lowered as she panted. She needed more Wakfu. She sent a silent plead to Yugo to buy her some time. Yugo understood that she needed a breather, but how was that going to- Efrim! Of course, she could still call on Efrim to give her Wakfu… if she could find a medium.
Yugo readied himself, bracing his shield in front of him as first Shadow charged. Instead of waiting for the impact, Yugo lunged forward with a stab, cutting into the arm, causing half of it to fall off. He didn't have time to celebrate, whipping his shield around to stop a stab from the Second one's tail.
Nora had a purple glow erupt around her. The Eliatrope's breathing had stabilized but her eyes remained closed as more energy transferred into her.
Yugo Ducked to avoid a slash, dropping a brief, but costly portal to evade the synchronized attack. He had to rely on what ever was in the shield and sword, which wasn't good. If only he had the Eliacube to recharge.
The Shadows seemed to slow down, prowling around their prey in a beastly manner. Yugo raised his shield over his body and charged. Perhaps it was a bluff, perhaps he wanted to try a shock attack. Whatever reason, it worked, and shield slammed into the first Shadow's chest, before Yugo's sword went over the top, into the Shadow's neck.
It was supposed to be a success. But it had a Pyrrhic side to it, as the tail whipped around, and cut a small mark into Yugo's arm.
He yelped, grabbing the wound. Why did it hurt so bad?
"Yugo!" Nora's cry was heard as a Wakfu beam traveled right next to him. Yugo felt woozy, his vision blurring. What was happening?
He heard a snarl right behind him, and Yugo sluggishly whipped around only to fall on his back. His vision blackening.
Nora Fired a second beam, burning into the last Shadow's flesh, watching it dissolve. She was horrified! "Yugo!" She cried again, hoping for a response, and when none came, running to the Eliatrope. She picked him up, and he started screaming.
Yugo's friends banged on the barrier Asis had set up.
Yugo's cries were from pain. He was suffering, and in anguish. But from a tiny cut?
Nora saw that the blood coming from Yugo's arm was dark purple, and had veins already stretching along his arm, "HELP!" She cried. What could she do? She wasn't a doctor nor a priest. She wasn't an Eniripsa? How did she deal with this.
Nora cried out again, "HELP! PLEASE!"
The Familiar voice spoke in her mind Nora, Yugo will be fine, I need you to calm down.
Asis's voice had a comforting effect, and was surprisingly tender. She nodded, "Ok."
I am opening a portal after I will lower the barrier, you need to make sure you grab Yugo, but avoid touching the wound. Ok?
Nora nodded, she reached across Yugo's back, which was difficult since he was thrashing around. She picked him up, and the Barrier collapsed, rising from the ground into the sky. Then, a swirling purple portal appeared.
Suddenly the cries of Yugo's friends became apparent. Nora turned around, but remembered what Asis had said. If they came through, Yugo would never be the same. They were good people. "STAY BACK!" She shouted and began to walk backwards into the portal.
Yugo seemed to calm down, but began to murmur in a distressed state, "Ami…Ami!"
The Sadida walked forward, "Yugo! I'm right here!"
Nora shouted, "Stay back, You can't come!"
The Iop growled, "We won't leave him alone."
Nora saw that he was walking towards her, so she did the only thing she could. She opened her hand and shot the Iop with a Wakfu beam, singeing his stomach. The Iop fell down, shouting in pain.
A roar of protests erupted, "WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT."
Nora didn't have time to answer. She fell back into the portal, ready to face her newest friend once he awoke…if he awoke.
/*-*/
Lady Echo raised her hands and commanded, "CALM!"
Adamai wasn't even affected. He roared, spewing fires all along the marble palace, melting the grooves, roaring in agony.
The other members of the forgotten had taken cover, desperate to avoid being burnt to a crisp.
There was no explanation for this behavior. The Dragon was walking with their leader, her beloved, before suddenly crying out in pain. Now they weren't sure what was going on, but he seemed to have lost all control.
Echo called out, "Michelle!"
The Osamodis came appeared from behind her pillar.
Echo commanded, "Transform him into something…less dangerous…for now."
Michelle nodded, ducking behind the pillar to avoid being burned, then running and jumping up to touch Adamai's forehead. He was turned into a….. Piwi.
Yet even as a Piwi, He continued to claw and peck mindlessly. The other members of forgotten could attest, this wasn't an act of betrayal, or at least not a typical one. Oropo, appeared, "what has disturbed him to be in such a way?"
Echo shook her head, "Forgive me, I don't know? He seemed normal, until just a few moments ago."
"We must find out what ails him, and if it can affect anyone else."
Echo nodded.