After climbing out of the hole Adil looked at his current steel sword. It once had a leather around ti's handle but this had become so ripped it was in tatters. The blade itself was cracked and dull a saw you wouldn't trust to cleanly cut bread. He threw it to one of the goblins, he caught it but swaggered a bit from the unexpectedness and weight.
"Take it, I hope it helps," Adil said.
He looked back to his new sword again, the white trim on its single-edged blade seemed almost frosted over. It was shorter than most Japanese style swords and unlike a katana, straight. Staring into the blade he could see the blackness of it move like clouds. It was as though there was an enormous ever raging storm inside with it holding clouds as black as night.
Suddenly Adil notice parts of his internal map seemed shakey and started turning grey. bit by bit the parts disappearing seemed to be getting closer. A crashing sound was heard in the distance.
"We need to go, now!" Adil shouted to the party. another thundering sound crashed closer to them as dust trailed through one of the conjoining pathways.
"lead the way" Seras shouted to Adil before they went on their way.
They went down path after path, the dryad holding her staff high to clear both the dust and help sense the areas structural stability as Adil went down the paths his map suggested were the most stable, trying to find a way out of these catacombs.
They quickly moved through, trying to stay close they didn't move as fast as they could. In the next cavern, a stalagmite fell as a quake happened and Seras managed to slam it out the way, saving Ezra from the crushing blow. The goblin looked in shock gasping in the cloud of dust. The area began to collapse as the team moved to another area. Dust echoing through the tunnel. They emerged in a new area, surrounded by the dome of protection Morganna produced
The area was a fresh part of the catacombs, a cave untouched by the damage of the taint, the glow of fauna along the walls combined with the presence of luminous insects. The walked further under Adil and Morganna's guidance. Eventually, they appeared in a place decorated with ornate glyphs on the walls. A solid tree-like growth seemed to be holding up the wall.
Morganna walked to the stony wood and placed her hand on it.
"By the abyss," Morganna said. Then she focused some form of green-white energy on the root, it appeared to resonate against the pressure before coming undone. As it fell apart a small goblin fell to the floor. Slowly raising consciousness the creature started moving and eventually opened its eyes.
Another goblin rushed over and quickly held its arms before it started to get up, struggling slightly from the effort. unlike before when the goblins were infected with the form of taint corruption, affecting their psyche and physique, this goblins was purely a goblin alone.
The goblin held up by one of the fighters and workers was looking towards the dryad as she stroked the side of his face.
"There's nothing to fear little one, you're safe now." She said. The goblin let out a tear staring up at her before under the hold of the fighter fully getting to his feet. under the arm of the fighter, the infant goblin moved with the rest. One by one the dryad opened the woody formations releasing the goblins held inside. eventually, they arrived at a small part of the cave system a large collection of child and older goblins behind them, A well was in the middle of the path, glittered with luminous insects.
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"Ho-ley-shit" Seras said.
"This is my spawn." She added.
Looking up just ahead she saw the glowing light coming through cracks in the floorboards. A newly made trap door with rope ladder lead to her slot in the brothel. The telltale sign of banging with a collection of moans cemented her belief. Turning around she saw that a couple of the adult goblins had their hands around a few of the children's ears.
Seras pulled Adil closer. "How are we meant to get 50 goblins and a Dryad through the town and into the maze?" She asked.
"Maybe you can give them all blankets and pretend you found a bunch of sick children?" Adil replied half-heartedly.
"Fuck it, we can move at night. I might be able to convince some of the guards to back out."
Morganna had begun setting things up, and the goblins started collecting mushrooms. They refused to clear too many from one area letting the growths come back and appeared to be setting up camp. Something the goblins looked used to.
Adil decided to look at his new power choices to spend all he had earned from his last two levels, after reaching the heights of level five.
Browsing through the choices he desperately tried to find levitate, but it appeared to have disappeared. He found the options he liked before, air spear, alchemy and an increase in strength but bis dream of gliding through the air had taken an arrow to the chest. He scrolled through the new options trying to find some redemption. Then he created a plan, finding new interesting abilities to replace the old.
Flowing momentum
Without thought but merely the desire, your movements are augmented by air around it. The wind will guide and push you towards your destination enhancing your acrobatic potential. A focused version of this can create a wave-like vortex of air around your hands and feet.
Enhance element
Unlock the second stage of your essence, the power of electr^%.
Detect emotion
Expand your mana towards a target and lightly connect to their essence. This can detect their desires, fears, urges and instincts without going into their mind. However, doing this your own intentions can be seen more clearly as they more easily sense your emotions.
To Adil, it seemed like he could go another magic path, upgrade to control both air and electricity but it costs two points. At risk of the option disappearing, he chose the power of electricity along with sense emotion but couldn't bring himself to take the flowing momentum. He instead went for the old one of 'strength 1'.
Finally, ready Adil looked towards Seras. she had started trying to break the trapdoor open whilst swinging from the rope ladder underneath. Finally seeming to have had enough, she took out the axe and tapped the side of the door, a second later, splinters erupting from the location and she managed to jimmy the door open.
"The fuck?" Seras questioned as a blue sky was revealed beyond the door. Aware that the trapdoor was only meant to lead into her room she pulled herself up. The brothel was destroyed, both floors and most of the walls. She turned around to see a troll lying across its broken frame resting on a clump of silken pillows. the beast's eyes opened up and it saw Seras. Clambering across broken bits of furniture and wall the troll charged towards her. crashing into the impact of an axe across its chest cutting through half off it. the troll collapsed to its knees holding over the wound before it ruptured and exploded, spreading blood and gore over the half-destroyed brothel.
Adil popped his head out of the hole after dodging some of the blood.
"Looks different," he said after a brief look around.
"This was my home Adil, show some respect."
"I'm sorry for your loss." He said. A portion of the wall collapsed between the both of them.
Seras gave out a low groan.
"I Was gone for 2 days!" She said collapsing to the ground and burying herself in her hands.
She got up and stood next to Adil, staring out onto the town. There was a goblin in the distance running from another two, it held a loaf of bread between its arms.