Evelyn ripped her wand from her belt line and began to chant as she stood up.
“Hear me, oh dawn that chase away the dark, answer me, Light!”
3 large orbs of brilliant white light sprung forth from Evelyn’s wand and illuminated the dark in which Adrith and Connor fought. Yet as the light was cast over the walls, Evelyn could see a dark black liquid cover the walls, the fighting became intense as the light then illuminated Adrith. He danced quickly as a large silvery white axe slammed down where he was a moment ago. The lights finally reached Adrith’s target as there stood ‘Connor’, now much of his facial features, and his body had been softened. His entire body turned into that same silvery white color as his body began to shift and shape. He had cleaved in half, yet a thin layer of white tendrils kept his body connected as he spoke.
“Fools, it’s too late”, it then cackled out as 4 completely faceless bodies moved forward. They each look identical in humanoid shape. They look just enough of what a person would look like to make Evelyn’s stomach churn. It was uncanny to see such a horrifying sight. ‘Connor’ began to change his shape as well, now he took on a larger form, as both his hands began to change to that of giant axes.
“Take care of the group!” Adrith barked out as he took up his blades, “You need to ensure they can’t do anything else!”
‘Connor’ tilted his head as he said, “Afraid?”
Adrith aimed his blades toward ‘Connor’ and the other Face Stealers, “No, but I hope you are".
Adrith firmed his stance as he said, “Come now, meet thine maker”
‘Connor’ lunged forward as he immediately came slashing down with his axe, Adrith, however, gracefully sidestepped the axe swing as he quickly countered by slicing with his saber to take ‘Connor’s’ arm off. Yet before the blade could connect, another Face Steal ran from Adrith’s side and tried to lunge at him to tackle. Adrith slipped back and saw another monster try and slip by, yet he would not let that happen. Adrith enhanced himself as he launched himself forward into a thrust against another Face Stealer, yet was stopped short as ‘Connor’ reacted and came to try and cleave Adrith in 2 while he was attacking.
Evelyn watched the fighting, it was an intense 5 versus 1, yet Evelyn almost felt at ease knowing Adrith was to fight them, he job was to figure out who was a Face Stealer. The moment she turned she saw everyone was beginning to awaken. She took a breath in as she began to look around between them. Maidrin was the first to rise as she called to them, “Adrith is trying to fight these monsters! You have to help him!”
Maidrin instantly took their blade and rushed forward. Their speed was incredibly fast. Almost on par with Adrith, she couldn’t believe that this was the same person who was winded after a few hours of walking. She couldn’t dwell on the thought, for now, she needed to figure out between each of them who was who. All of their energy signatures were identical, she could even tell that ‘Connor’s’ and Adrith’s were identical to the other 4 Face Stealers. She pursed her lips as she called out to the other, “These things can’t die to physically being cut in half! Does anyone know their name so I can perform astral divination on how to beat them?”
Gloria raised her hand, “Yes, I think they are called-”, Evelyn gritted her teeth, she knew a name they were called by Adrith, an experienced man down in these dungeons, maybe even more experienced than she was. A simple name like that was important. “-Chimera Mimic, they are spawn from Chimera Dragons who can look like people”.
Evelyn smiled as she said, “Okay, well I need some help, if you can come and help me with this incantation then we can beat them”.
Gloria nodded as she began to follow Evelyn, Evelyn turned to everyone else, “Please you need to help them beat those monsters. They need to be distracted long enough to be beaten”.
As everyone went to help the group fight the Face Stealers, another person turned to follow Evelyn and Gloria. Evelyn and Gloria began to work on the incantation, “Okay first things first is-”, Evelyn wanted to buy a moment for people to head off, yet one person seemed very willing to come and watch them. It was a younger man, he carried 2 blades and seemed to be very focused on something. He stepped forward as the moment Evelyn saw him, she said, “Oh hello, is there-”,
Evelyn then saw the man dash at her at an alarming speed, his arm changed as it became like a liquid until it solidified into a dagger.
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Evelyn’s eyes widened as she saw Gloria’s face in that moment, it was that of surprise, then a wide smile appeared.
Evelyn leaned back as she unclenched her jaw and roared out, “BLAST!”
A loud explosion filled the cavernous area behind Adrith. Yet he did not care, he moved and attacked with such an intense fervor that even before Maidrin entered the fighting Adrith was already pushing back and landing multiple blows upon each Face Stealer. Maidrin jumping into the fray made the fighting much easier. Every slash that Maidrin landed left a wound that the Face Stealers were unable to morph and heal. Maidrin attacked with ferocious and powerful sword swings that each one cleaved and slashed through the Face Stealers.
The moment Maidrin came face to face with the monstrous form of ‘Connor’, ‘Connor’s’ body contorted and changed as he shrunk within that moment to that of his normal self. A small smile came on his face, “Hey Maidrin”.
Maidrin hesitated at that moment. Maidrin’s sword faltered as Connor opened his arms. The moment was broken by another person entering the conversation with a roar, “By my command, cleave and claw against all my foes, care not what stands before you, heed my command, Lion’s Blade!”
A shimmering gold blade cut into Maidrin’s view, as it cleaved right into Connor’s head and took the top of his head off. Leaving behind Connor’s body which began to drop and transform into a small whitish silver cube. Maidrin was stunned in that moment as Adrith barked out, “Fight!”
Maidrin’s body stiffened and then loosened as the both of them finished the fighting quickly. Leaving the two of them over 5 silvery white cubes, and 3 people running over. Adrith noticed Evelyn wasn’t among them, meaning that she may have been able to take out some, yet he needed to be sure, so he dashed off and through the 3 people coming his way.
Evelyn could hear a constant ringing in her ears. She had let off an explosive spell right in front of her before leaping back. The spell had been placed right in the way of the monster leaping at her. Evelyn was dazed as she tried to get up to her feet. Yet before she could get to her feet she felt a painful stinging pain in her back as she let out a scream. Another sharp pain rang out from her ribs as she felt herself get lifted and launched. She fell to the ground with a yelling cry as she slowly began to be able to hear again.
“I fucking knew it…”
“...Fuckin’ monsters…”
“The stupid bitch…”
Evelyn was barely able to open her eyes as she could see 5 people were making their way over to her. 3 people she thought would go and fight with Adrith and Maidrin, and the 2 Face Stealers who didn’t die.
She could see as one of them checked on Gloria and the other group member was there, Gloria said, “There was no way a half-baked spell could hurt us, I thought she was a Chimera Mimic”
The others agreed as they began to come closer to Evelyn. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes. She was afraid of death, it was a terrible experience, it was a feeling of going through every single emotion, every thought she had, and then an absolute nothing. She looked on as she saw them coming close, Gloria began to perform a spell, blue energy swirled around her like water, if was such a cool and almost welcoming color. Yet Evelyn knew that this was going to kill her, she just took in the moment.
Her eyes were closed, she waited for her end, she hoped Adrith would kill them all. Give none of them the satisfaction of stealing her face. It was in this malicious wish, that she heard a loud screaming that became malformed and twisted. She opened her eyes to see all 5 of their bodies were cleaved completely in half. All their bodies fell as she could see the man wielding 2 blades standing there.
A small smile came onto her face as she closed her eyes. She thanked the stars that Adrith answered her wish, she took a breath in and sighed as she opened her eyes again to see Adrith had placed onto her chest Gloria’s Staff. She smiled to herself as she knew what he was telling her. She thought he must have quite a bit of faith in her to have a healing spell when she never even showed such abilities.
“Guess I shouldn’t disappoint, Hear me, oh heavenly star that guides us warry souls-”
Evelyn began to mudder to herself as Adrith nodded to himself.
Once Adrith put the staff onto Evelyn’s chest, he began to make his way back to Maidrin. Adrith noticed among the 5 people, 3 of them were Face Stealers. He nodded to himself, knowing that his biggest worry was over, he just needed now to finish this up.
It did not take long for Adrith to find Maidrin, they were standing over the 3 others who had come to help. Adrith saw that none of them had been attacked, it must have been the moment the brainwashing was stopped they all passed out. Yet that wasn’t Adrith’s biggest worry.
Maidrin stood there, looking directly at Adrith as they began to heave, shoulders rising and falling violently, the single-handed grip Maidrin took on their blade tightened more and more. Adrith nodded to himself as he knew this was going to be a fight.
Maidrin took up their blade, as with an angered voice, “Come now, meet thine maker.”
Adrith took up his blades and aimed them at Maidrin, “I deny your duel”