Eyo! Time for sadge Slayer rip. Poor baby is getting the side character treatment.
Armour: Brimflame
Weapon: Winter's Fury, Undine Retribution, Stormfront Razor
Acc(11/11): The Bee, Celestial cuffs, Mana Flower, Sorcerer Emblem, Cryo Wings, Ankh Shield, Deific Amulet, FrostSpark Boots, Grand Gelatin, Permafrost's Concotion, Evasion Scarf. (Unlimited Buffs)
Health: (430/500)
Armour: Aerospec Armour (Ranger)
Weapon: Galeforce (Jester Arrows); Arkhalis
Acc(11/11): Band of Regeneration, Amidas Spark, Frostspark Boots, Luxor's Gift, Deific Amulet, Counter Scarf, Crown Jewel, Bundle of Balloons, Harpy Ring, Aero Stone, Skyline Wings
Health: (10/400)
He'd never been more terrified in his life.
He was trembling so badly, he barely knew what to do with himself. All he could manage was to cling to his blade and point it at whatever seemed the most threatening at the moment. The Man in Red? The Invisible Mage? Something deep in the back of his head told him it didn't matter either way. These two were so dreadfully strong, all of his resistance amounted to nothing. Even so - he had to fight. He couldn't be taken by these men to do... whatever they wanted him to do. It didn't particularly bother him that he was being used for somebody else's agenda, but he had already attached himself to The Guide. He would not abandon him so easily. The Guide needed him, so he needed to go back. In order to go back, he needed to escape. In order to escape he needed to fight...
*thud*
But how in the world was he supposed to fight against a man who'd just caught his blade between his fingers!?
"Hah! a pity to waste this on you..."
He doesn't hear what The Man in Red says. The noise rumbles in his ears, but the words don't register. Indeed, The Terrarian isn't registering much at all. His brain is static and terror. His ears are filled with the pounding of his heart. His chest shoots with pain with each concussive impact. The scarlet cross on The Red Man's helm glows and pulses oddly, looking entirely foreign. Entirely alien. There's power rolling off his form. Absolute, unrelenting strength. The Terrarian cannot see what expression his enemy makes - but he's certain it must be a sneer.
"... How did you get your hands on this anyways?"
The Man in Red laughs at him. His voice is mocking. His tone, utterly dismissive. There is ease in his form, not the slightest bit of strain or effort as he hurls The Terrarian into the dirt. Surely this is the person who had passed them by on the floating island - traveling so quickly, The Terrarian could scarcely react. He must have been the one who fell upon The Crimson Worms - slaughtering them so mercilessly, there was nothing recognizable left. The Man in Red seemed to stand on the very peak of power. He is savagely graceful in his movements. He wields his thundering blade with natural elegance. His strength is overwhelming. Before The Terrarian had even raised his blade - he knew he could never best him.
It was utter folly to try.
But he tries anyways.
*SLAM*
The sky becomes the ground. The Ground becomes the sky. An open palm appears over The Terrarian's face and begins to squeeze his skull like a vice. He doesn't even have time to shout before he releases his blade and scrambles away. His empty helmet crumbles like an eggshell in his enemy's palm, and although his brains are not splattered all over the loamy sand - the impact leaves The Terrarian's eyes are rattling in his skull with such intensity, he can scarcely stand upright. He trembles like a leaf. He's so scared, he can hardly think. Right now, all he wants is to rush home and hide. He wants to dig a hole where nobody can find him and stay there until The Man in Red is gone. He wants to cling to The Guide until the danger is passed... but he is not at liberty to do any of these things.
So he summons another blade.
*CRACK*
Because what else can he do? Fighting was all he'd ever known. It was all he was good for. The Terrarian knew he wouldn't be able to argue himself out of... whatever this was. Hell, he couldn't argue himself out of a paper bag! He had almost no idea what was happening. He didn't know who these two people were (besides that they were stronger than he) and he couldn't even begin to fathom their intentions - much less convince them of anything. Why had The Vulture-Headed Mage kidnapped him? He hadn't a clue. Why was The Man in Red attacking him? He didn't know that either. He had tried to escape, but his magic Mirrors didn't work. Why? And what was the air burning so acutely! Why was the sky bright at night? Why Why Why... A million questions, no answers. If only The Guide were here...
*SNAP*
The Sea is pounding maddingly against its shores, casting up foam and violent froth. The air is burning, stinging his face and his open wounds as he bleeds freely into the toxic sand. Above, the clouds are dark and oppressive... yet although it was nighttime, the sun had been plucked out of the sky. It hangs above The Vulture Headed mage, shrunken down to float above them like a scepter and hovering so low over them The Slayer was quite certain he could touch it if he leapt high enough. Of course, he wasn't thinking about such carefree things. His mental faculties are entirely absorbed with with adrenaline, pain and frenzy.
*crunch-crunch*
For throughout The Terrarian's very short, but very eventful life - he had obtained for himself an impressive collection of injuries. He'd had his insides scrambled by The Desert Scourge, great teeth driven through his legs. He'd had been launched sky high with explosives, which messily amputated two of his limbs. He'd been bludgeoned by The Flying Eye. He'd been lashed by The Floating brain... but each time he was injured in any significant way, although he was not always a victor, he was at least a contender.
But today. But now... The Terrarian was being beaten.
He was completely helpless to resist. It was like an object, or a slab of meat. All of his efforts resulted in him laying here, unable to move, watching as his form was splattered about him by the bottom of a stranger's foot. The pain is so great, it almost surpasses the fear and the dread.
*Shatter*
It all happens so fast. Almost faster than The Terrarian can register. The Man in Red is standing over him - no weapon in hand, just his hands and his feet... yet the blunt blows are terrible. They shatter his armour. They crush his bones. They pulverize the organs beneath. It hurts like nothing had ever hurt before. He opens his mouth to scream, but his teeth are promptly smashed down his throat. His vision becomes blurry and bleeds red - did he just lose an eye? He feels the flesh being stripped from his ribs but his wail is cut short when his lungs are crushed to nothing. He's scared. He's scared. His heart is wax. His flesh has been torn from his bones. His nerves are exposed to the open air - screaming as the acid eats away at them. His intestines are spilling from his abdominal cavity, slowly leaking fluids into the crater he lays in the centre of. The Man in Red stops... his red cross glows. He turns his back and leaves. Is he done? It doesn't matter. The Terrarian coughs and feels his chest constrict. Something in his guts breaks and gushes fluid. He knows he will not survive.
He's going to die...
I want to go home...
A sob wells in his throat but no sound comes out - only a flush of blood and a piece of slick flesh. Why is he here? Why did this happen to him? The Terrarian closes his eye as tears run down the side of his face. He wants to go home. He needs to return to The Guide. If he can somehow drag himself back to The Compound, If he can fall into his parent's arms, then...everything will be alright. He'll be safe.
I want to go...
If he wants to go home, he needs to fight. He needs to fight? He hasn't landed a single strike during this entire ordeal. His arms lay shattered to each side, he cannot even move a finger, much less draw his bow but, perhaps its by instinct he summons his weapon anyways. He's not sure what he's thinking. He's thoroughly delirious from the pain and the blood loss. His vision swims sickeningly. His chest rattles ominously. The Man in red mutters something from out of sight...
*blub... blub*
A black viscous fluid fills around him.
It's cold... so cold, he's sure its the embrace of death itself.
It sinks into his armour. It soaks up his blood. It fills his wounds and makes them numb. It rises up past his face, it begins to fill his nose and throat... The Terrarian struggles weakly to keep from suffocating... but its no use. He's already in his death throes. He chokes out a sob. He closes his eye. Death looms like a scepter before him. What follows next? Will he disappear? Will he vanish into the dirt? Will he stand in judgement? Will he be lost, wandering amonst the stars? He's scared... The fear is as cold as the tar. He wants to go home. I want to go home.
*shunk*
And when the spears thrust upwards to pierce his heart, The Guide's face is the last thing on his mind.
The Doppleganger.
I'm not sure exactly what it is, but I know it lives in my magic. When my magic lay dormant, it likewise sleeps... but when I opened the floodgates - when I summoned those dark spears and thereby let mana once more traverse my veins - oh, My Doppelganger returns with a vengeance. It rages at me... its raging from within. My blood curdles. My guts churn. My brain is knocked haywire and begins to short circuit. I hunch over and fight to stay on my feet... I knew the rebound it was going to be bad - but not this bad.
*B-booom!*
In my periphery, I see The Knight dissolve and his armour crumble in a heap. My magic spear has pierced him through, killing him where he lay. Yet this... is no victory for me. Now, I must contend with a new enemy. A far stronger, far more intimate, far more terrifying one. Can I do so quietly? Can I fake my way through this? The Lunatic Cultist is watching me - his eyes as sharp as an eagle's. I can feel his glare on my back as I twist and try to keep the nausea away.
Oh shit... control it...
Uncontrolled, wild, dark, bursting. Evil secrets spoken in ancient languages. Sinister whispers. Low chuckles. Unearthly drones and rumbling howls. I watch with mounting horror as my elbow creaks and contorts; my nerves scream as if they're being seared. My skin prickles as the rogue magic cracks through every finger, twisting them and straining the joints. The pain is far worse than what I endured in The Crimson, but I swallow my wails. I want to I flail about. I want to fall to my knees... but I don't. Even as darkness edges the corners of my vision and my eyes begin to roll back in my head, I plant my feet and glare into the foaming ocean, My mind sparks and begins to collapse in on itself. I feel fangs press against the back of my neck. I feel the hot breath of a monster tickling the tips of my ea-
...
...
"My... you're just full of surprises, aren't you, Hero?"
I blink and come to in a panic.
The ground is soft against the back of my neck, and my elbows have sunken into the crusty soil. Above, the skies are cloudy and grey, but lit with The Cultist's illumination spell. My Teacher is standing behind my head and leaning over me, his hands planted on his hips and his mask - somehow - twisted in something that looks halfway amused. I stare at him for a quick moment before adrenaline punches me in the brain. My heartrate accelerates. My breathing becomes rough and desperate with effort. I scramble to my feet and leap back to put distance between us. Why was I laying in the dirt just now!? Did I faint?! Agh! I must have! Despite all my efforts, The Lunatic Cultist must have just watched me collapse in the dirt and fall unconscious. What a disaster. He must know I cannot use magic now... is he going to kill me? Is he going to throw me back into The Crimson? Maybe he'll deliver me to Braelor. The Archmage has yet to move my spawn point (the necessary documents to do so are in my inventory) - so if I die now, I'll be cast back into that fleshy hell with no hope of escape.
I need to run!
My Teacher sounds amused at my distress. Indeed, he even crows with laughter.
"Oh, Child! My Child indeed. To imagine you're also suffering from this... Magical Insanity!"
"Stay back!"
I draw my stormfront razor and stumble backwards, my heels sinking in the sticking sand in my effort to guard myself. I need to flee, but somehow I know turning my back to The Cultist is inviting my own death. The rain has begun again. The droplets hiss when they hit my armour. As I backpedal, I feel my brain sloshing about in my skull. I'm tired and panicked. Doppleganger always takes a lot out of me. It's as if that evil force fills my brain with a terrible flood, invading my body like it wants to take over... I... have I slept a long while? Why is the Doppleganger quiet? I'm not intimately familiar with him, but I know his effects last longer than this. The Sun isn't even up yet. I ponder as I raise my blade.
My Teacher chortles again. His voice is loud in my ears - as if he's talking directly into my thoughts.
"You've obtained for yourself a split personality, haven't you?"
I blink in shock. My gestures might as well have been an affirmative.
"Don't worry - I've sealed it away for the moment. It won't last long, but for now, there's no need to fear."
I don't let my guard down, neither do I dare speak to The Cultist. Not only have I just slaughtered all of his followers, killed his Knight and stole items from his office - but I'm now completely at his mercy. He is not behaving in a hostile manner - but The Cultist is a master of deception (or perhaps I am simply naive). Did he... really seal The Doppelganger? Was such a thing really possible? I briefly introspect to find that my mind is clear. The dark nonsense thoughts, the creeping shadows... they've vanished into thin air.
My Teacher continues. He's terribly excited.
"After all, I am the same. Mana is insanity, you know. Utter madness... The world is disordered by nature, and the entropy is harnessed in magic. Are you crazy?!" The Cultist's eyes burn with an odd light, "If yes, the world grants you strength. You'll become a wild, destructive beast. So powerful, you can level cities - but as mindless and erratic as the forces of nature themselves. Dangerous. Very dangerous... Did The Archmage tell you these things, Hero? That old coot goes on ad nauseum about it. Given he hasn't stripped your magic away, I can only assume you were smart enough to hide this from him."
"..."
Much to my chagrin, My Teacher is exactly right. From the beginning, he's always been right. I had shared everything with The Archmage... except for Doppelganger, for I feared he would take my magic from me and cast me out. Now - My Teacher knows... he has seen it. What will he do? Will he tell The Archmage? All he needs to do is plant a doubt in The Archmage's mind, and that will be enough. I will have no good reason not to show him my magic. Indeed, I'm surprised I got so far without him demanding it of me.
The Lunatic Cultist is watching me. His voice is beginning to become annoyed.
"Nothing to say, Hero? No interest at all?"
I hate how my voice stutters as I answer. I try to sound authoritative, but we both know I'm begging.
"Teacher, don't... tell The Archmage."
He scoffs.
"Ah - practical as always. You don't want to be killed. I respect that. But fear not, I don't intend to talk to that frosty bastard. Even if I wanted to destroy you, I wouldn't subject myself to a single moment in his presence to do so. Besides, I didn't come to hurt you."
"... yes, but will you deliver me to Braelor."
He scoffs again, more incredulously this time. His eyes are hard.
"Nonsense. I am no friend of Braelor... no longer anyways. Hero, I want to strike a deal."
I blink. The Cultist continues, speaking quickly for how excited he is.
"There is something very precious to me in the depths of the dungeon... my... project, if you will. I require your abilities to move it to a place of my choosing. It's very large and very bulky - but a being such as you should have no problem at all. Such is the nature of Terrarians. Anyhow, should you accomplish this, I am more than willing to recompense you. Your... split personality? I can have it dealt with. I'll seal it away so you may use that powerful magic freely without its encroaching presence. Come now, it is your only weakness - is it now? What do you say?"
It... sounds almost too good to be true.
Is it a trap? But I am already ensnared. I cannot leave. I cannot escape. If I don't take this deal, The Cultist will not look kindly upon me. Then, perhaps, he really will deliver me to Braelor! Ah... what a mess. I stand here with no option but the one My Teacher presents to me.
And so... I take it.
Lots of Skits! Thank you Cipher from Discord :hearts:
LC: You Can't defeat me!
Guide: *confident* Oh I know, But he can!
Slayer:... 0.o
Slayer: *begins to cry*
G: um... This is kind of embarrassing, can we have a moment?
Hello! sorry for the late chapter my schedule got thrown off. I should be back to weekly soon.
So I work on stuff both mobile and computer. Sometimes my phone does a shit and I lose all my work... which is why this chapter is slightly scrappy... because When I lose like 3 hours of work I also lose motivation :)
Hope I got my points across though, even if the text isn't as punchy.
Also Guide hurry and give bab a hug
Much love and kisses. thanks for reading.