With Lawrence in the lead they banged into the room at a dead run, skittering to a stop at what they saw. It was an empty room, perhaps the largest in the entire underground complex, with nothing in it save the single door across from them, presumably leading to freedom; it was guarded by four hulking guards, all with massive spears. Centime immediately drew out his pistol. "Elites. They're the pride and joy of Admiral De Loco's fleet, and much stronger than the guards we have faced thus far."
He looked around; Lawrence was already clutching his broadsword, teeth bared in a snarl, and Domingo brought his kukris to bear with a blinding flash; behind them, Ilchymis was letting Cupil materialize into a tangible shape and preparing to cast when necessary. The mercenary and the treasure hunter sprang forward.
The guards were much faster than they looked, especially since their armor was so bulky, and both Lawrence's and Domingo's head-on attacks caught nothing but air. Centime, sighting down the barrel of his pistol carefully, loosed a silver bullet that just nicked the faceplate of the nearest, but Cupil streaked forward to help and Ilchymis was already casting. The twittering Silvite creature morphed into a hammer and came crashing down on the soldier Centime had shot at; with a cry of "Pyres!" the mage sent fireballs speeding through the group to singe at their opponent's armor. A spear grazed Lawrence's shoulder, but not mortally, but two guards attacked Domingo at once and sent him sprawling to one side of the chamber, where he lay unconscious. The mercenary set up a defensive in front of him, shouting "Mage!"
Centime's pistol jammed, and he cursed; Ilchymis bade Cupil to aid Lawrence, and the little creature soared away, gnashing his teeth at the guards. The mage set about casting the spell that could awaken Domingo, but it was an extremely faulty silver spell called Risan that was only fifty-percent effective; the magic flickered and died, leaving Lawrence alone to stave off the attack. He swung his broadsword with a growl, driving away one spear, and changed his momentum into a heavy backswing to deflect another, and while he fought valiantly he knew that if Ilchymis couldn't get Domingo up and battling soon, they would be in real trouble. Beside him, Cupil snarled and bit the hand of another.
The Risan spell failed again, but Ilchymis kept his concentration long enough to cast Sacri on the swiftly-fatiguing Lawrence and was heartened when the mercenary moved a little faster. Cupil was attacking ferociously, but with little use, and Centime had finally had enough. In rapid succession he loaded one shot and fired, striking hard at a soldier who might have killed Lawrence, and then fired again, knocking that soldier back. In the confusion Lawrence pounced and slashed the guard's throat out with a single thrust, but a spear found his shoulder and he grunted out a cry.
Then with a cry of "Risan!", Ilchymis sent a bolt of silver energy crackling around Domingo; the treasure hunter rose at last, rejuvenated, tightened his grips on the two curved knives at his sides, and leapt in front of Lawrence, who was bleeding and exhausted. Domingo tore into the leading guard and dropped him to the ground, where he floundered about for his spear, but in soared Cupil, clamping down upon the soldier's throat and shaking his teeth until the man lay still. Centime fired from behind, and the tricky shot struck the soldier squarely between the shoulderblades; Lawrence dashed forward and slashed with his broadsword, but the attack was sluggish and slow and the man kicked the sword from his hands.
They had all forgotten about Ilchymis. Domingo struck again, tearing in deeply with his kukris until the kneeling soldier was no longer a threat, and Centime leveled his pistol and fired once more, nicking the last man standing in the breastplate. Seeing a disarmed Lawrence in immediate danger, the mage began casting at a rapid pace; at the word "Crystales!" the soldier was suddenly encased in ice, and the battle abruptly ended. Lawrence bent to retrieve his sword, panting.
Above them, the ceiling gave a great rumble; looking up, Domingo saw it begin the collapse down toward them, and at last noticed the enormous wicked spikes protruding from every inch of the surface.
"Ilchymis! Do something!" cried Lawrence furiously, and his face was horrified.
"I have no spell that could stop an entire ceiling!" the mage cried back, and they stood, helpless, as death approached from above.
While De Loco danced about merrily in the room above, heavily anticipating the moment when the spikes would at last skewer the bothersome quartet, Alfonso watched from another room - the control room that powered all electricity and machinery throughout the mines. Teeth gritted in a snarl, he weighed his two options: he could watch the four die today, or he could do the unthinkable and continue to defy Galcian from afar.
The First Admiral chose. His hand clenched a lever off to one side, and he pulled it down. All machinery within the mines abruptly ground to a halt - including De Loco's death trap.
Lawrence, Domingo, Ilchymis, and Centime sprinted for the opposite door and exited Moon Stone Mountain at last; Alfonso disappeared into the shadows.
Syek: Glad you approve! Someday soon there will be five!
Derek Barona: You should feel special; when I have nice reviewers, I'm nice to them. You'll like my two OC's, I've been working with them for quite some time - and you're not an egomaniac, although your review made me laugh.
Kasysty: Thank you much!
Meowzychan: I did update a lot yesterday, and Centime's bit there was pretty much his induction into the group. And there were a lot of battle scenes, but they were fun to write!
Until next time, fight-fans!