COI C18
The audience used their devices by streaming it to the city to see. The shamanistic totem creature stood against the seven challengers. Everyone watches the fight including the Sister's Hope Highschool. Haw and the rest of the teachers stay in the cafeteria and watched the show. Alche is with Haw discussing on other matter.
"Will Ironno going to come back to school to help your project?"
"He is fine doing work at Stranding Island. There is much more to be done on out there"
On that moment, one of the teachers interrupts them
"Hey Alche, you shouldn't ask about that and should talk about that goblin on screen"
First and Second are describing about the situation where the teachers were listening to the discussion.
"Goblins' shamanism is never to take it likely, their rituals and curses can never be countered through anything except the other types of mana. Only be destroyed by physically or magically contact that is natural"
"Won'ies is right, but Totemic creature like that is full quality made from the forest and with the orb it carries. It shouldn't be wise to use its weakness against it"
"Why is that Secius?"
"The orb has Alga's light. It will prevent it to die"
Haw knows something about goblin's utility on the totemic creature. He secretly tells Alche
"Alche, there is a weakness of that kind of totems"
"Really? Did you know about it Haw? Please tell me, and why are you whispering to me?"
"Because others might bother us, I'll say it after the match"
Alche is a type of person don't like to be spoiled, whispering on to him would make him don't want to listen until what the monster is capable of.
"Alright, I'll be waiting for the details after this"
The teachers were in awe seeing a goblin made a creature in point view in a live stream. Many of the audience are excited and others kept pestering on something that the reason why this challenge ever existed.
"All of that, because both announcers are making a bet"
Other guild members heard the news about the streaming, many others watch it, and others go there to see it for themselves. Inside of Mihayara district, where countless others attracted on the match as flying platforms are summoned and raised for this show. Even people rented the flying platforms and other far view devices for them to use. The totemic creature shows an angry face from the four heads with its eyes coming from the zigzag lines that looks like sharp teeth. Along down its neck are other heads with closely intimidating look and only the bottom one is circles like it was surprised by something.
The totemic creature, its four heads, and its body is well crafted in wooden body frame. An orb stays in place close to the fourth head below in carving of circles. The two nerds have enough time to analyze it while Sork announced his side of his introduction. Team Platinum sticks closely with one another as they are ready.
"The four of us will protect you two. Test first its attacks then let us know"
"We're glad to, but we have no magic in our equipment"
"Good, we will do that. Do you have anything else?"
The nerds only tell what they can do.
"We can do physical damage with our experimental gun and with this . . ."
"Fuel?"
"And more like we have with these three special weapons; Ice, Fire, and Electric. It's not supernaturally made, we scavenged what we can"
One of Team Platinum had experienced with this type of elements in game, and enough to trust them for this challenge. These two actually made these out of their own abilities, as they are some kinds of battle engineers. The nerds continue,
"Remember it is limited, we made as much we can in our free time"
"Don't worry, used it later. Our plans are starting to change after a few attempts. Use the other ones you can use without any waste"
The siren looks at the one who is carrying a gun that is bigger than to his own arm.
"And that thing is an actual sniper rifle?"
The guy who is holding it gives a nervous smile.
"I have no idea if it can work, but it makes the loudest boom"
"Does it shoot properly?"
"Yeah, and we never tested it"
"Will it damaged the magic field?"
"We did some testing but never considered using it like that. Only the shot persists"
The announcer lady is starting the match and the challengers aren't figuring out what the two nerds can do. The totemic creature's heads are starting to shine and darken where the only one top its head stays glowing. The orb starts to shine as the Alga's light exposed it to the totem.
Its wooden body grows and its size enlarge to a giant brute. The challengers pull out a smoke bomb and throw it at the ground and reposition. Two team platinum members are at the enemy sides, The other two, the siren and the one who has a sniper rifle are at the far back, and the three are at the front with the nerd holds a device in hand. He presses the device and his magic inventory opens up a mechanize platform. An exoskeleton suit in a marine combat appearance and it wears itself to the nerd and form a battle suit as the helmet started to move on its own and climb up to cover up his head. The audience was in awe.
Sork was both weirded and awe, and seeing one of them wearing it on the spot and slowly equipping on its own. The totemic creature initiates first. A sniper shot erupted it and it pushed back and parts of its body was torn off. The orb retaliates and regrows back in quick succession. The sniper falls back from the experimental recoil as he slides back not fully prepared to set it up. Sniper calls out to the three while Sork saw something unusual. They are cooperating in a different way, slowly steady along with the totemic creature, and they are moving in and out with the guy in a combat armor.
Two platinum members remained are behind the creature, looking for the right time to strike. The siren began to sing her song as the rhythm filled their focus. Sork knows nothing about these three. One who sings, one at the back manages to give a big impact on his totem, and one in a suit of armor with a weird looking helmet that blinking some lights on its eyes. The totemic creature is having trouble getting closer and the challengers are maneuvering and protect each other's sides. The totem was forced its wooden body to use its hidden tricks as the shamanistic rage inheriting the first top head of the totem.
The first top head had compelled itself in rage. The combat armor detected it
"Its charging up"
The totem started to spin around its body and whip itself in a full circle, a whirlwind attack coming through their way. Another shot from the sniper, but got batted out as the orb strengthen it. They moved back and the two at the back reacted. The first one charged into it and the other pulls out a talisman as they jump together on the totem's head. The totem counters them and the orb dodges them as they attacked it at the back side, missing it, and the totem's head stomps itself on its wooden body causes it to explode and the splinters erupted only to its neck.
Their armors withstand the attack but flew them back out. The others from the front used a grappling hook to catch one of them. Repeating the same tactics as the attacking members pulled back to the totem's head again with their own grappling hook. One of them got it, she reaches to the head with another strife of splinters coming her way, and the sniper picks up a special ammo for her. Without any saying anything of its danger, his overconfidence put the bullet on the chamber gritted his teeth to time it right. Surely of a thought of doubting, he takes the shot and the totem's whirlwind broken through as it kept stomping itself. His chances are questionable and seeing it a hit made him paused for a moment.
She pulled herself in that moment of the shock and landed on its head. The talisman is placed on it, while the orb heals itself back and started swinging and hitting the others to the front. The whirlwind impacted on them as one of team platinum already sets his twin shields and bind them together to form a bigger one. The sounds banging as the two from behind lost their hold with the grappling hook as it cut off. The combat nerd turns to the man shielding them and help him held a bit more as he is about to get knock back. The creature is running towards them where the talisman is in place.
"Get to cover!"
She activates the talisman and explodes. It stumbles but kept its whirlwind in a high momentum.
Now at the back, Sork got whipped out from the totem's sudden tilt. Greeted to a punishable ability, the totem stops as Sork is taken the blows of its whirlwind. The audience cheer seeing him beaten by his own monster.
"Playing stupid won't going to work, this boyz are using actual skills"
Commented by Sork. The totem creature remained to its size and durability by the orb of Alga's light. Sork looks at the sniper to prove that it can cancels out what it supposed to do. The totem moves on by its summoner and started to hasten its rituals and collapses its wooden body and landed on the ground. It is waiting, the challengers regroup as the one in combat armor detect the changes.
"The totem is powering up, take the anti-magic shot. NOW!"
The totem got shot again and tore apart of its head, and the Alga's light can't heal it. To their surprised it worked, but the light fused the other part of the totem as it grows itself a new one and letting the dead parts removed. The totem replaced itself a matching copy of itself where one of its head carved itself. The sniper called out to them
"I'm all out of my anti-magic ammo"
"What about the ones in testing?"
The two nerds were busy while the shield bearer called his team out.
"That's enough, gather to me, it's our turn . . ."
"That thing is going into a battle phase, right?"
The totem pulls up from the ground and the light brings back its body into a more shamanistic form. The other team platinum members react to its ability.
"What? is this like one of those boss phase?"
"No . . ."
The one in combat armor had discovered what he observed.
"The totems had trouble interacting with the Alga's light. Like its body being covered with thick layers as it won't move properly"
The totemic creatures lunges at the front where the shield man held it in, and the one in combat armor helped him hold it from its powerful ritual might.
Totem kept pushing as the fissure in thin air forming vines, the Alga's light had opens part of its hidden secrets as it begins to stretch and pulled them in. Another ritual, and the nerd shouted at the sniper through its device.
"READ IT! READ IT NOW!"
The siren heard him from the sniper’s device and changes her tone to encourage them to fight on. Those two by the front persist as it rams them with its own totem heads, the two of Team Platinum from the backsides quickly used their grappling hooks on them for an escape. The one who is behind the two front is freely defending at the back from the vines surrounding them. The totem uses itself to stomp again giving a powerful shock to their shield.
No longer to read its powers, the shield bearer dropped to his knee and his team member hooks him away, but the one in combat armor took his shield and endure the punishment. The armor withstood it as he is surprised the data he gathered. His helmet starting to lose its durability as the shock is damaging it without even touching. He continues to face the punishment. The one who hook the combat nerd is waiting patiently when is needed as the others are planning on surrounding it. It stomps and the vines freely and blindly whipping them. The sniper waited for any opportunity and realized that his partner slightly moved back. Hearing the armor sliding off by its metal screech, he is expecting for any readings, but his partner didn't respond.
The siren's song helps the others on focusing their rhythm on the fight. The song during this battle put them like some kind of video game, and the sniper grew intense from her more serious tunes. Ram after ram and sliding after sliding closely to the backline, he could hear the siren voice ever so inspiring close by. Knowing he is pushing back. Team Platinum altogether surround the totem, only one of them remained with the nerd in combat armor. They group up and opened their weapons, the weapons were drawn out, then brought stones with the other hand. The stones have mysterious power within as it carved in runes.
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They place it on their blades and rub it with the stone's glaring glow. Temporary rune writings are in place as they charge in. They all used their bladed weapons in its shining glory. The runes are not from Rusic but from their own, making it by their own magic by their innovation. One of them has his own weapon style and the one didn't use blade weapons, instead, he brings out his two-handed mace. He swings it along as his teammate stands alongside him. He swiftly swings and the siren enforced his mace to swings lighter like a prop. Siren added a few buffs on their weapons as well.
The maces bluntly smash the vines at it as it is enforced with an explosive rune and the other one who brings out a spike hammer and knocked the explosive force as magic. The totem changes its target where the vines pierced to the ground and picks up the cement on the street but the field won't let it, the marking shows that the pipelines will also be pulled out from the ground and violates the rule. Sork saw it and changes the order to the totem with his gem. The totem reacts and uses the vines to grab hold on the nerd and swing it like a weapon. Alongside as the man with the spike hammer who supposed to rescue him but drag along as well.
"Never thought it could Aaah!"
"Aaah!"
Screaming along the way, the nerd cut off the line as the siren used her melody to catch him.
"What luck? I never thought that it starts to act more effectively"
"Probably because its master ordered it too"
The totem rages in a greater rate as Team Platinum kept breaking it and save the others by cutting off its grip, and the vines quickly regain by the light and managed to take their shield. It is enough time for him to be free but the tangled vines are hardening by the light. His suit moves slowly by the remains of the vines and couldn't break free as the light kept healing it. It should be advantageous for the totem to entangled them, but what makes it don't used it.
The audience saw the effect of the light cause the vines in a powerful grip, even the school watches ask Haw the same thing. Second answers them
"It can't, its hardened but won't moved. It only grown and inflated, like the string turned into a rope then finally turns to chains. The heavier it gets, the more difficult to control it. They didn't know the weakness of using Alga's light that bound by other magic. The totem needs to be tear down by their attacks in order to released its shamanistic rituals. But stays using the light because how destructive their powers are. One hit and its gone"
The challengers started to tire themselves out as the siren changed her song into a lighter approach, signaling the team that some of them are getting tired. Where the others lose their buffs in the process. One of them swings his mace slowly, remained effective, and the totem was breaking down but its body engulfing its surroundings. The totem's aura has open and exposed, and the sniper couldn't take the shot with the shield taken from his team. He couldn't predict the damage could inflict on that magic shield let alone with his handful of ammunition left. Hearing the signal with his partner
"They want to stall a bit, bring out the tazer"
The sniper turns to the siren
"Can you raise me up to the air?"
"I can, what are you up to?"
"Just see what those guys can do. They'll guide me where to shoot"
The Siren sings another song and only a soothing sound would heal them through regeneration. Her voice is getting tired and she sang it softly now, she is no longer boost their confidence now as she soon be preparing casting a spell. The totem used its vines to shield its head from the sniper, and the team put themselves in the defensive and use their other rune stone on their weapons again.
"Use ghost blade"
Their weapons soon turn ethereal looking as they set their weapons to strike. The one who uses the spike hammer smash down to its leg as the totem's leg kick him to counter it. The woman didn't change her runes, and kept it hidden. Waiting for the right moment
"Is this enough? we have gathered what we know about this monster"
"The totem . . . Aaah"
The totem started stomping again on its wooden body and burst splinters around it. Alga's light consecutively recovers every stomps. The annoyance of repetitive routine forced them use what the nerds will be using.
Sork couldn't open any more rituals unless he found out more about the two. He figured out that the sniper is persistent on doing the killing blow as the totem grab the shield for protection. Team Platinum trying to take it down by draining the light's energy, but the orb won't be broken easily as it won't let them destroy it. The orb was there to control the consumption of the totem. Either absorb or release the light, it won't going anywhere without any forms of life consumed it entirely. The totem's rituals made it release the light, and it is hard for him of making a comeback as they barely take any damage and being an attrition is not how the Horde should do.
The Agathean man is impressed but hardly any done for both of them. Both analyzed their abilities and strategies, the difficulty of getting through as the creature must be defeated in order to unleashed its totemic rituals. That demented light held it back and the rituals were overwhelmed by the light as the energy benefits only to it than the totem controlling it. The others have real unique way of fighting, but didn't have knowledge to handle against shamanism. If he is the one who is fighting it, he will always hit the head with circle drawings. That part of the totem seems to be the least exposed.
One of Team Platinum run with his weapon, just an ordinary peeler, and powerfully shave the vines off from the combat nerd. Runes are infused with the peeler as it easily removes with ease yet it quickly weakens its durability. He needs to remove the vines covering the combat nerd, he focused on where that nerd is using. The totem was kept busy and confused by the illusion of the ghost blade, until his arm is free. Combat nerd quickly opens his inventory, as his limb broke free from the entanglement, throws something up to the air and landed around the totem. The siren uses her magic to pull the team out while they throw their weapons at it. The ethereal weapon starts to lose its duration of the rune and soon return to its original form.
The ghost weapons give a false sight of attacks, it will phase through or not, even if it did, it’s the wielders will decide. It is difficult to defend what the opponent couldn't expect, but the totem will endure it. It forcefully ignored their next move to have a chance to attack them. It managed to reach and to hit the five of them with its vine. The creature didn't know what to do next but moving forward. Where they hold the totems in place where combat nerd is preparing. The combat nerd brings out his spear and throw it, attached with rockets and electrical components. The spear was thrown like a ballista where the rockets activated and it pierced and stuck on the totem's body, breaking through the shield itself.
During the hit, they jump back from there and in the air along with the sniper as the team uses their knife barrage. The totem's broken shield held close to their direction as it rained by knives. The knives were stick to the shield then it melts, covering it to the ground. It hardens soon after. The totem didn't react what is happening. Sork couldn't see, and the sniper opens fire with another unique ammo. A big thunderous coming from it, as he recoiled himself back from the air while the others grapple hook him back to them. The totem got shot through the hole of the shield with an electrical bullet as the magnetic field was activated.
With siren's magic wind, she pushed it down to where it suppressed. The metals from the melted knives and the broken shield have been magnetized and pulled itself down. Team Platinum noticed the wooden creature managed to resist the electrical current, the combat nerd opens his inventory pulling his own electric weapon. It looks like a prototype still in the making.
"Am I going crazy?"
Looking at the totem as it forced it out from the magnetic field by growing from Alga's light.
"I hope our world’s ultraviolet is the key to the light"
He throws at it and a small dome shield appeared on top of it and block the light's exposure.
Turning it into a sun blocker field, it didn't know but tries anyway. He coincidentally thought of it on his personal reason. In his selfish words coming through his thoughts,
"I will make you again someday mark I"
He throws a bomb to the totem's head, and managed to tear the top head. The totem pulls itself back down to the magnetic field as the crowd cheers.
"It's down, the mighty monster is down"
They all cheered, and they thought it was the end of it. Sork sees the light remained hold, but that strange small dome caused it to stop
growing and made the head won't recover.
Now the totem's head is split into two, and the Circle model below kept the lights. Recovering again one last time, it moves slightly and the wooden body itself starts to shred itself apart, but the magnetic field and siren's wind magic kept it there as it breaks away the extra thick bulk of wood. The totem's heads began to shine and becoming in stasis, and the aura is filling with unfamiliar magic. The combat nerd rushes back to them.
"I have found out its weakness, block the light's radiation. Can anyone of you have the same thing as I have?"
They don't know and the sniper was almost in cheer for it.
"Damn it, if we know it sooner"
"We can't fight much longer"
Team Platinum in brace of fatigue sees the totem getting hold off from the magnetic field.
"We don't have much time left. The totem is getting back up"
The totem slowly breaks loose from the magnet. It will be going back for more where the other challengers will soon rely team platinum for the rest of the match. Sork didn't know that it was destroyed, but the confusion from what he saw can't let him be in a disadvantage. The totemic might stops, waiting for them to initiate, as the two other totem heads are recovering. Quietly and patiently, where it slides away from the magnet.
The challengers rest and bring out their potion and distribute them one another. Siren receives a nice cold tea with special redeemable taste, the two nerds had their own drink
"It's fine, a have drink right here"
and pulls out their cooler then opens up some beers. the team was impressed as they drink their potions. Secretly known that these potions were brew together with Rusic's recipes. Alcoholic potions drank down to their throats, and hearing the audience complained on those two nerds. The team hid their smiles, as the nerds and the audience argue.
"You're in a middle of a fight. Don't getting yourself drunk"
"Really? Then come here to the battlefield and face that kind of monster"
Both the nerds and the audiences quarrel one another. The siren checks her voice and she is ready to sing again, then the Team Platinum member comes closer to her with an advice.
"It's better not to get involved for a bit. Your skills are too impressive, is there any one from your guild is here in the festival?"
"Yeah, but they are not here for a fight. I just want to face those monsters"
"Really? I heard by those two tech ups want to test their weapons on them. They are impressive in a least"
"Impressive? They get a hold on that totem. Do you know how long that magnet last?"
One of the nerds answered them with his jug up face.
"I don't know about your weapons that goes oogey boogey, the monster will break free eventually"
While the challengers were resting, Sork sees the two nerds as a threat and the siren has not done anything impactful by his own eyes except acting like a mage. Two totem heads are starting to tear away its wooden body. Sork observed the reaction of his totem
"The Storm Volcanoe and Stone heads are starting to activate. I'll guess I lose on this one, that small dome will ruin them both as it needs the sun to powered their rituals"
The totem broke free by destroying its body, the orb flew away and will return soon after. Where the totem crushed its own body down to the ground. The melted metal broke free, and team platinum resummoned their weapons. One left behind is the spear of the nerd and the secret tazer bullet, the melted shield returned to him as he can't see where the handle located.
"I'll be fixing my things again after this summer festival" H
e returned it back to his inventory, the challengers watched the magnetic field taken down by the totem’s new body.
The electrical field is merging part of the totem's new body, now it possessed electricity as it faces them. The combat nerd laughs so crazily and seen more astonishing tricks coming out of it. Both the challengers and the audience watch him playing like a crazy person, and Sork knows crazy stuff.
"To think I have to fight my own creation, a prototype, ahahaha!"
Sork didn't think of it and didn't care the totem took their items, it always never going to work as he expected those two to be good fighters. The magnetic field blows a spark lose its magnetic property. Sork predicted it
"I knew it"
Meanwhile to the Nerd
"It crushed my device while its transforming, guess we're not dead yet, sooner"
The totem's new body in a form of cement, but the street didn't show it was taken from there. A body is sure to be made of stone, but it is starting to release a form of molten ooze from its body. Melting the device and the spear alike, the nerd stood there is in his dark moment. Then quickly scream into despair.
"Nooo!"
Then his partner pokes his sniper rifle to his head.
"Hey, don't make it your moment. The battlefield will restore them back after this match"
His partner automatically remove his helmet by itself, and wear his eyeglasses and place his finger on it's bridge.
"I'm too committed to this"
The adventurers came to watch the match as they moving in and the audience let them. A familiar sigil coming through and many people see them in awe after passing steps.
"Heist, don't cut in line, we can see them with our devices"
"It's team platinum! Seeing them fight and getting all the fame. You could at least have a grand entrance after this match"
Heist comes across the other adventurers and show no recognition towards them, then there's the S ranks.
"Gordon? What brings you here?"
Heist found Gordon, the representative of the city guild, as he stares at the totem at sheer intentions.
"What else? Slaying monsters"
"But it's just a match"
"A monster is a monster, but I like to face this kind of creatures"
"Those monsters are made by that goblin"
Gordon grins so heavily and excited leaving Heist the impression of his guild, Sun's skies, who are the famous monster slaying team.
"And it is an opportunity for us to be next"
The announcer lady joined in their conversation as she was brought by them. Looking in a terrifying mood as she watches enough of the match.
"Gordon! Sir! I . . ."
"Cecilla, I never would have thought . . . but good work. Your hosting career will be flourishing than ever before"
"But SIR! If Sork wins, I have to be his escort"
Heist wants to know her situation because of their bets, but Gordon gently pushes him away.
"It's ok, is there any more chances left for you?"
"I have one more chance, and I don't know what's the next monster is"
Heist intervenes and warns him.
"Will any of the adventurers going to face Sork's monsters? The challengers are nearly close normal rank adventurers"
Team Platinum, rank unknown, acts like B ranks during the match, the siren's abilities are commons used by the Melody guild, B ranks, as she performed splendidly without everyone knowing that she is just a bard, and not musician.
Lastly, the two nerds giving a big impression to the audience. A sniper with unique style of fighting with special ammunition. Comparing the magic snipers, he is below average but two unique ammunitions are close to impossible for other snipers to use. Exposed to non-magical property, it is needed to research it, and the combat nerd. They supposed to ignore him as he is a guy with a suit, but his equipment in his inventory is proven unique where they couldn't know its worth. The devices like the spear with an electric attack is close to a taser with his spear. Believing to be A ranks if they continue the fight and win.
"Can you make a grand entrance for me? only me"
"Gordon, are you really going to do it?"
Cecilla regained her attitude from his request.
"You sure!? Everyone is cheering while the other challengers are backing out during the fight against that monster"
Gordon shows a little appreciation and give her some encouragement.
"Persuade him, this message is coming from me. He would be giving my request seriously. Would you please?"
She doubted a bit, but she is talking to Gordon, one of the best in city guild. She would be relief but she has nothing left to joined the match after this match.
"Alright, please help me"
Gordon smiles and Heist has a little to no confidence to him.
"I hope you can Gordon"
At the back of the battlefield were the previous challengers watching the match looking a bit more intense than they have face.
"I just can't . . ."
The martial artist watches the most unbelievable battle, the hammer warrior and the archer took turns focusing on the screen as they share the snacks laid by the producers of the match.
"An impressive fight, oh sorry"
"They need a bigger bowl"
The fat man lied sleeping with his depleted mana and the support who recently regain his conscious.
"Hmm, you're awake"
The three saw the support pulls himself up and the martial artist brings him a chair.
"They should make some makeshift rooms . . ."
". . . The announcement was personal, they never expect a fight like this"
The archer and the hammer exchanges words, and the martial artist return back watching on the screen after helping the support.
"You can leave anytime you want. We are here for the compensation"
He left and joined the two. A stranger walk in to their room, seeing the previous challengers enjoying the show. He sees the support and reached out to him. The support reacted and ask first.
"Can I help you?"
The man carried two swords on both sides, and flashes towards him. Both of them stares at each other not knowing what is going to happened next.