The notification blared in Asher's vision, confirming what he had just witnessed. The destruction of the 'Spikeguard Shield' left a sinking feeling in his stomach. The 'Spikeguard Shield' wasn't just equipment; it was a symbol of their countless battles, their struggles, and their victories. It was a testament to their journey thus far.
The close calls, the moments when the shield had been the thin line between life and death, and the relief he felt every time it held firm against an enemy's blow. The realization that this trusted ally was now gone left a bitter sting. It wouldn't be a lie to consider the guardian and himself being 'nacked' in a sense. The shield was its main source of damage and defence. without it, how would he deal with enemies? In many ways, both he and his guardian felt exposed, like they were without armor. The shield wasn't just for defense; it was their primary weapon too. Now, without it, how would they fend off adversaries? Key skills like shield charge and shield throw were off the table, as they depended on having the shield. And without it, even basic retaliations seemed like a distant hope.
The destruction of the shield wasn't just a material loss, but it had shattered his confidence and the rhythm they had established in battle. Asher's gaze darted around, searching for a solution, any alternative to their dire situation. But every strategy he could think of hinged on the guardian's shield, their now-lost centerpiece.
Liam, sensing Asher's panic, tried to rally himself for both their sakes. "Asher," he began, "we've faced tight spots before. Remember the abandoned prison?!"
Asher nodded slowly, recalling their narrow escapes, but his voice betrayed his uncertainty. "Those times were different, Liam. The shield... it was more than just equipment. It was our strategy, our edge."
Liam sighed, "I know, but we can't just give up. We've always found a way. We've got to think, adapt."
With an air of satisfaction over its recent destruction, the FlameHowler, its molten claws dripping with traces of the demolished shield, persisted in its relentless attack on the guardian.
The guardian, already disadvantaged without its primary defense, without its shield, the guardian's options were limited. It maneuvered to dodge the incoming swipes of the FlameHowler.
Woof!
Ace's sudden bark cut through the tension of the scene. Both Asher and Liam turned instinctively, their eyes following the determined German Shepherd. To their astonishment, Ace was leaving Carl's side, charging towards a far corner of the area.
"Ace! Stay with Carl! Why's he moving?" Liam's voice rang with anxiety, fearing Carl might get hurt amidst their clash with the FlameHowler.
In the soft glow of the moonlight, a distinct shield lay ahead. It had a unique translucent sheen. Demonstrating remarkable agility for a dog, Ace grabbed the shield in his jaws and swiftly carried it over, placing it beside Carl.
With evident strain, Carl managed to speak between pained breaths, "Use this. I grabbed this anti-riot shield from the police station before we ended up here. It got yanked from me while i was fighting the wolves, It could be our saving grace."
The shield's transparent surface gleamed, brilliantly catching and refracting the moon's rays. Seeing the potential of this newfound protection, hope and gratitude swelled in Asher's eyes as he approached Carl and bent down to claim it.
https://i.imgur.com/FckQKCG.png [https://i.imgur.com/FckQKCG.png]
Asher quickly tossed the shield towards his guardian. Whom with precision, caught it mid-air, fitting it seamlessly into its arm.
"Avoid its swipes; don't block with the shield!" Asher commanded, knowing that direct contact with the FlameHowler's searing claws might spell disaster and redo the unfortunate situation he experienced prior to receiving the new downgrade. The guardian, processing the order, readied itself, shifting its weight in preparation to dodge the fiery onslaught that was sure to come.
As the FlameHowler lunged and swiped with its molten claws, the guardian displayed exceptional dodging capabilities to each attack. The fiery aura around the wolf began to wane with each missed strike, indicating that its enhanced state was temporary and would soon expire.
Meanwhile, Liam, capitalizing on the distraction, kept firing round after round at the FlameHowler. The bullets struck its hide, causing the creature to growl in frustration. Sensing the threat, the wolf's attention shifted from the guardian to Liam.
Noticing the change in the FlameHowler's focus, Asher shouted, "Guardian, now!"
Reacting instantly, the guardian activated its provoke skill [ https://i.imgur.com/Jh70ESi.png [https://i.imgur.com/Jh70ESi.png] ], pulling the FlameHowler's aggression back towards itself. The guardian braced, ready to continue its evasive maneuvers, buying time for Asher and Liam to strategize their next move.
Suddenly, a distinct howl resonated from behind them. It was Ace, the shepherd dog. As his howl reverberated through the canyon, Liam and Asher were caught off guard when a system window appeared in front of them. The message displayed read:
Pack Mentality has been applied to you and your guardian, Increasing the attack and defense of allies the tamed creature fights alongside with by 10%.
Blinking in surprise, Asher and Liam turned to see Ace, not cowering or retreating, but actively approaching the fray, ready to aid them in battle. Behind him, Carl, despite his weakened state, managed a small smile, nodding towards them.
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"I took the tamer class," he rasped, pride evident in his voice. "Ace isn't just a regular dog anymore. He's my tamed companion."
https://i.imgur.com/ysl8TGk.png [https://i.imgur.com/ysl8TGk.png]
The reassurance in Carl's words bolstered their spirits. Liam couldn't help but smile at the expected advantage provided to them.
Suddenly, the demeanor of aces shifted instantly the moment he arrived in the front. The typical docile shepherd dog now bore an aggressive stance, his teeth bared viciously and its eyes locked on the FlameHowler. Every once of his being seemed intent on defending his allies.
"I've triggered Ace's Territorial Aggression skill!" Carl announced, using the altar for support as he laboriously rose to his feet.
"Territorial Aggression?" Liam inquired, eyebrows raised in intrigue.
Carl clarified, "It's a skill that amplifies Ace's aggressiveness when defending a specified territory. Any intruder stepping into his territory will take more damage."
https://i.imgur.com/QZ8FKum.png [https://i.imgur.com/QZ8FKum.png]
Noticing the change, Asher shouted, "Now's our chance! The FlameHowler's buff has worn off!"
Asher's guardian, rushed forward, its movements swift and precise. Liam, not missing a beat, started rapidly firing at the FlameHowler, each shot more accurate than the last.
Ace, empowered by his territorial skill, lunged at the beast, biting and tearing with an intensity none had seen from him before. The combined onslaught of Ace's fierce attacks, Liam's relentless gunfire, and the guardian's charge created a symphony of chaos for the FlameHowler.
The beast, overwhelmed and disoriented by the sudden assault, staggered back, its flames dimming as it tried to fend off the relentless trio. The tide of the battle had shifted, and the FlameHowler was now on the defensive.
That moment was all the team needed.
Liam, capitalizing on the FlameHowler's distraction, unleashed a rapid barrage of bullets, each shot echoing through the canyon. Asher, not missing a beat, commanded his guardian to strike with all its might, both of them having their every blow enhanced by the Pack Mentality buff.
The guardian, with impressive agility from the added movement speed of the Shield Charge skill allowed him to deliver a devastating strike. The once-mighty beast was now at the mercy of their coordinated assault.
Ace, fueled by his Territorial Aggression, lunged at the FlameHowler, sinking his teeth into any exposed flesh he could find. Each bite seemed to sizzle with an intense heat but Ace still gnawed at him, making the FlameHowler howl in pain.
The combined assault was overwhelming. With every passing second, the FlameHowler's movements became slower, its roars less fierce, its fiery aura dimming.
Asher, seizing the moment, yelled, "Now's our chance! Full force!"
With one final combined effort, the team unleashed a devastating blow, leaving the FlameHowler defeated and motionless on the ground.
You have participated in the elimination of 'Bladeback FlameHowler'. Experience point earned have been divided by the amount of participants(4). You have earned 155EXP! EXP (550/600)
Everyone paused, catching their breath. Liam, leaning heavily against the altar, managed a weary smile. "Well done, team," he rasped, his voice filled with exhaustion.
The stillness that followed the intense battle was suddenly broken by a brilliant radiance emanating from the fallen FlameHowler. Its body started to dissolve into particles of red light, lifting off the ground and swirling like a fiery tornado. The particles merged forming a stream of radiant energy that shot directly toward the monolith altar.
"What's happening?" Asher asked, captivated by the mesmerizing display of light.
All eyes were fixed on this spectacle, the luminous trail left behind by the FlameHowler's essence cutting through the night sky like a beacon. As the stream of light reached the monolith, it was absorbed into the stone, targeting one specific design. The wolf that bore the closest resemblance to the FlameHowler began to glow a deep, vivid red. The intricate patterns of the design seemed to come alive, pulsating with energy.
A low hum filled the air, resonating from the monolith. The other three wolf designs, though still dark, seemed to shimmer ever so slightly, as if anticipating their turn.
Asher, looked at the scene with a certain understanding, he whispered, "It's as if the FlameHowler's essence is fueling the monolith."
Liam, nodded. "It seems we've activated a part of this structure. Each wolf design might represent a guardian we have to overcome."
"If that's true... then the others might be... gone," Carl murmured, his face clouded with sorrow.
"Gone? What are you implying?" said with a worried tone
Carl took a deep breath, his eyes distant as he recalled the events. "When we entered this dungeon, there were four of us in total. Since there were three distinct paths leading forward, we decided to split up. The plan was for me to stay back, near the monolith altar, so I could rush to aid any path that needed assistance."
He paused, swallowing hard. "But soon after we separated, that FlameHowler emerged from the monolith altar. As it appeared, I heard the terrified screams of my comrades from the other paths. I wanted to rush to their aid, but I was swarmed by those wolves. I couldn't leave or even see what was happening to them. And the rest, well i guess you could make sense of it yourselves, if it weren't for you guys timely assistance I would of been dead by now. And now, seeing the light traveling to the monolith and illuminating one of the wolf designs... I fear the worst."
Asher and Liam exchanged a somber look, the weight of Carl's words settling heavily between them.
"We can't delay any longer," Liam declared. "Let's choose a path and move forward. We'll find our answers there."
Asher and Carl were in agreement, but before they could proceed, Ace, Carl's trusted companion, let out a bark that caught their attention.
He gently placed a red gemstone on the ground, which bore an uncanny resemblance to the FlameHowler's face. The stone glowed softly, emanating a warmth that seemed to resonate with the same energy as the beast they had just defeated.
Carl, despite his injuries, managed to crouch down to inspect the gemstone. "This... It looks like a... crystalized heart!"
https://i.imgur.com/y4Hnjv8.png [https://i.imgur.com/y4Hnjv8.png]