If it isn't made obvious through the title or anything like that, this is the sequel to At the Beach. –Lurbe

In Which the Crimsons Are Shut Up
(By None Other Than Klaos Blackadder)

Seventy-one seconds later the group was assembled on the beach, carefully arranged in a circle around the still fuming Panuku for maximum chance of survival should he blow a fuse again. Having agreed that they might as well give Klaos's idea a shot, if only to have lashing rights later when it didn't work out, they prepared to make their final death-defying run at the base camp.

Klaos finished casting Death Nova on Sister Tai, and the battle begun.

The group charged the bewildered Crimsons – the surprise nature of their assault carrying them unprepared deep into enemy territory and into hand-to-hand combat with elementalists and the like usually accustomed to dealing with foes quite a ways off.

"JAO! OPPUGNATE! AUDITE TUBAM? VOCANTI SUMUS TUBA IN PROELIUM!"

Panuku, following close behind the over-zealous youngster raised his arm instinctively in order to cut down he who threatened the safety of the entire group by proposing that they all tank. Unbeknownst to Klaos, he was saved from a rather disgraceful end by the appearance of a Crimson Skull assassin behind Panuku, who cut down the master with a quick blow, sending himself and several others in the vicinity on a one-way trip into wherever they went after death as Panuku exploded in a brilliant shade of greens, yellows, and bits of blood and bone.

Realizing too late that he had forgotten to draw his sword, Talon was struck helpless as several rangers turned him into a pincusion — but a pincusion with killer velocity. Talon's momentum carried him straight into the unfortunate archers even as he exploded, leaving his enemies injured and confused around him. Tripping over the body of his dead companion, Klaos managed to kill himself spectacularly by snapping his neck, sending the dumbfounded rangers to join their fellow Crimsons where the sun does not shine (at least not at night).

Others from the Nova'd party followed suit, and they soon found themselves all piled atop one another at the foot of the ressurection shrine a bit further up the mountain.

This was repeated a second time; One by one, the group exploded; killing 7 Crimsons and injuring roughly 7 or 8 more, including Jim, who tried stabbing his half-brother in the back only to have Klaos's Death Nova shower bits of ex-Jim over his remaining comrades.

As the sun was finally setting, the group prepared their last assault; having only died 13 times already but killing all save a few Crimsons.

At the approaching dusk, they finally came face to face with the core of the Crimson camp; Miki the Skull Spirit himself.

Emerging from his makeshift tent, Miki barely hesitated and began to cast spells as the group battled their way closer. Realizing the absurdity of his situation, Miki gave in and went full-out aiming to at least take out his treacherous half-brother with him. Sensing victory, Klaos made the ultimate beginner's mistake, and charged ahead, failing to notice that the rest of the party was recuperating out of range.

Klaos was easily dispatched.

The party remained out of range.

"Quis existimatis fecire?"
Pai jumped up in surprise.

"Shut up. We're figuring out a strategy." "Sed non egetis habere unam!"
"Yes we do. Otherwise we will die. Like you did."
"Donc, votre strategie est: attackez-le!"
"Why don't you stick to learning languages rather than pursuing a military career, eh?"
"Desole."
"Whoah! What can you see from there?"

There was no response.

"That worthless little —"
"Yes, thank you, Panuku," said Gai sarcastically.
"But it's his duty! That little —"
"Thank you, Panuku."
"The little —"
"Panuku!"
"And what do you know about it, eh? You're just like that little —"
"Can you two shut up!"

Both Gai and Panuku stared guiltily at Pai.

"He started it."
Pai didn't bother looking to see who offered this piece of self-preservation.

"I! I!"
"You shut up, too, Klaos."

A very long, silent minute followed, with the hired hands all waiting in a circle to see if Pai would explode, or burst into flames, or do something really dramatic.

Note: this continues to end in a cliffhanger.

Editor's Note from Pix: I do apologize for Lurbe's rudeness. I'm sure you all know quite well what a cliffhanger is, and absolutely do not need to rely on your English teachers for such rudimentary things. Why not ask them about parallel syntax instead?