“I might’ve overestimated this ‘Acolyte’ waiting at the Tower.”
Irvan said as he yanked his weapon free from the Shadowed Creature’s abdomen before its silhouette was consumed by the light emitting from his blade. He studied the empty chamber once occupied by a large monster guarding it and could not find the Tower’s core similarly other dungeons had.
That wasn’t to say the foe he faced was weak. It was formidable, but in the end, he and his companions were the victors.
“Have you defeated the master of the Tower?” Alc’Bruk emerged from behind.
“It seems like it, but something’s not right. What did the Fake say?”
“Are we to believe in fabled tales spewed from the Faker?”
“Tell me. Things we know don’t line up with what we see. We defeated the thing guarding the Tower and there’s no reaction.”
“Hrm… that is certainly true.” Alc’Bruk rolled his eyes, making his own survey of the empty chamber. “He claimed the guardian were Heroes of a long ago era. That itself sounds preposterous.”
“It does indeed. The Fake’s statement contradicts with our success in Easul.” Elius added. “We may have fought a decoy. Search the place.”
“What’s left to search? There’s literally nothing.” Irvan impatiently tapped his foot.
“What if this wasn’t the right entrance?”
That could be a possibility.
Irvan led the Dragonkins towards the Tower and wasn’t given time to inspect it. Being swarmed by thousands of spawns, he only saw one of its octagonal faces containing a door and rushed through it without a second thought.
He was lucky it wasn’t a trap.
The room started to shake.
“This rumbling is from outside?”
“Let’s get out. Alc’Bruk, what’s wrong?”
The Dragonborn curled his neck, looking at the entrance with a scowl on his face. “Hrm… this energy. The Pale Dragon’s champion is approaching.”
Right after Alc’Bruk’s words, shouting could be heard outside. It didn’t sound like the Dragonkins were engaging the enemy, but a mixture of orders being shouted and heavy footsteps moving about.
“Tch. The Fake broke through the massive horde I sent his way?” Irvan snarled.
“Irvan. We do not have any time to challenge another room if it exists. We should swiftly take care of the Fake and the Scalemen.”
“Yeah. Let’s do that.” Irvan raced outwards.
As soon as his feet stepped into the world’s crimson light, his keen ears heard something sharp cutting through the winds. He snatched one of the five floating blades handled by his [Ribbons] and cut the arrow aimed at his shoulder. Following the trajectory of where it came from, his ambusher was beyond the tall buildings looming over him.
He looked at his shaking hand and quickly stopped the trembling.
“Irvan!”
Another arrow flew at him. When he attempted to deflect the projectile, it suddenly vanished and reappeared at his side. Right before it pierced into him, a blast of wind knocked the arrows onto the floor.
“The arrows teleported. That must be the archer Kaz’Bruk talked about.” Irvan frowned.
“Indeed.” Alc’Bruk snorted. “My blood brother will return shortly. In the meantime, shall I dispose of the Devil Folk?”
“The archer must’ve moved by now.” Irvan clicked his tongue. “I need you here to subdue Draigh and whatever the Pale Dragon’s champion is. We’ll send Rogus to track down that archer. Elius.”
“I’ve sent the message. Should I have Lidian activate my spells?”
“They won’t be any of a use anymore. The Fake will go and dispel them. Have her help the Dragonkins defend their position. As for Justiva, have her harass the enemy. As for Haku…”
“I have sent him on a special mission.”
“I see.”
“As for my Brothers and I, we will engage with the Heretics.” Alc’Bruk slammed his tail. “Brothers, this is a rare opportunity! We have the heretics running at us but comparing to their rage, ours is greater! Show them no mercy and massacre them for the suffering they brought upon us!”
The Dragonkins collectively roared, their eyes ignited with fury, their scales slightly glowed orangey red.
Though their numbers were drastically lower than the Scalemen, none dared to question the chances of them losing to the heretics they loathed. So long as the Crimson’s Wrath led them, they would fight to their last breath.
Looking down the beaten path caused by the Herald’s breath, the Scalemen were spotted marching towards them.
Upon seeing the enemy approaching them, the Dragonkins slung a volley of hellfire bombs. Flammable contents spread across the road to slow the enemy’s advance as the Dragonkins wisely used their time to reinforce fortifications.
In response to their hellfire bombing, they heard the sound of cannon fire. All the sudden, a pillar of dirt rose in the middle of their ranks then several more. The casualties were minimal as their forces were spread thin before the Scalemen retaliated, but without shelter, they were sitting ducks.
“What was that?!”
“Move it!” The Alven crusader, Justiva shoved the Dragonkins aside to inspect the crude object sitting within the crater. She jabbed her spear at it. “Chancellor! It’s a hunk of iron. The Scalemen fired cannonballs at us.”
“They’re forcing us to take the fight to them or we’ll be continuously bombarded. Irvan, we have but moments before the next volley.”
“You insolent whelps are wasting precious time. I will act on my own accord.” Alc’Bruk bellowed.
“Alc’Bruk wait!”
“Do not command me! I will not mindlessly sit as my brothers are the ones taking the brunt of the attack!”
The Dragonborn called upon Crimson’s blessing to ascend into the first form of his transformation. The heat radiating from his body was enough to make anyone nearby instantly sweat. He gathered magical power within his mouth and fired Crimson’s breath attack.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
On the opposing side, a flash of daylight basked over the Scalemen. One of the five Pale Dragon’s head arced over a single believer, launching a dazzling beam of energy to fight off [Crimson’s breath].
The two powers collide, instantly vaporizing everything at the center. It ended in a tie when both sides went breathless.
Alc’Bruk narrowed his glare, watching the radiant figure from the opposing end. “Brothers, we advance! Leave no Heretics standing on our path of conquest!”
He spread his wings, spreading embers to his army. Magic flames cloaked the Dragonkins, granting them immunity against projectiles the Scalemen peppered them with. Not even ordinary steel could touch them once they engaged in close combat.
“I see you, Herald! For the Pale Dragon to lend its blessing to you how do you fare as a warrior?”
Alc’Bruk’s target was Ainig. Take down the Herald fast, thus his search for the Faker could begin.
“H-he’s here! Holy Draigh!”
“Ayo! Round two, you bat winged lizard!”
An unstoppable force smashed into Alc’Bruk’s face, knocking the Dragonborn into the face of a building. Before Alc’Bruk was aware of where he was, a hand grabbed his neck and flung him through more buildings even farther from the battlefield.
The Dragonborn sat up, staring at the direction of bold heavy footsteps.
It had been long since their battle. Alc’Bruk instantly recognized the Enui his kins called the Goliath.
“The first match we fought wasn’t fair. So how about another round?”
“Rising from the brink of death, have you?”
“Right on! This time I got more friends I trust to have my back, so I don’t need to worry about anything else.” Draigh spat. “Let’s see if my fists are strong enough to wreck a Dragon!”
Armed with a pair of magical gauntlets he received from the village a decade ago, Draigh dove at Alc’Bruk.
The Dragonborn’s burning deer horned knives clashed against the barrage of hard punches. Both of them were proud of their brute strength as neither of them backed away from the exchange until a damaged building toppled down at them.
The first to emerge from the pile of debris was Alc’Bruk. As he searched for his opponent, he noticed a mound growing. An orange glow crawled up his throat, then spat flames where his enemy was.
Draigh burst out from the hellish flames with his heated shield at the front and slammed it into Alc’Bruk’s stomach. He ducked towards the Dragonborn’s side and threw a deadly right hook. The prided crimson plates protecting Alc’Bruk’s bicep cracked.
“You’re always going on about having no equal. What about now? Seems to me my muscles are stronger than your scales. It’s almost not a contest.”
“Then so be it!” Alc’Bruk threw a quick jab, the edge of his weapon shallowly scratched Draigh’s nose. “I will gladly answer your duel to the death.”
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An hour prior.
People of importance, close friends, advisors gathered just before the Scalemen reached their destination. They discussed among themselves when Kihet suddenly slammed a copy of the map taken from the tome onto the table.
“Any concerns?”
The party around the table looked at him in silence implying they agreed to the plan.
“Good. To reiterate, Lily, you’ll harass the other Oracle’s companions as much as you can. They’ll send someone after you, but you’ll keep changing locations to throw them off. Tama, you’re going to support her in case it’s Rogus and try to convince him again if you meet.”
“En!”
“Definyitly. I’m gonna give that ungrateful Lycanthrope an earful. Doesn’t he knyow how worried sick Douglas and his mother are?”
“Krullu, you’re in charge of the cannons. We outrange the Dragonkins’ catapults so expect them to come to us.”
“Naturally!” The chameleon nodded. “It better not happen like the last time where they take us by surprise!”
“Ainig, you’ll use the Pale Dragon’s power to lure Alc’Bruk to you to which Draigh has the most important role of keeping him occupied. Until I arrive. But I might not, so brace for that.”
“G-got it.”
Draigh grinned. “Don’t worry, I know how to keep Alc’Bruk in a fist fight. B’sides, you got the most important job, not me.”
“If Alc’Bruk slips away from you, make sure to let us know. Aten, you will go assist anyone in needed depending on the situation. For one, we can’t have Alc’Bruk reach the army. Phase two is to isolate and defeat Alc’Bruk after I complete phase one.”
[You go alone?] Aten flipped his writing slate. [Won’t enemy try find you?]
“It’s very likely I’ll get discovered. If possible, I’ll need the rest of you to occupy and hopefully defeat the Oracle’s companion. It’s too dangerous for us to move without knowing what’s around the corner. We might have to end up improvising.”
----------------------------------------
She anchored the bottom of her greatbow into the ground and pulled the strings far back. Though her stomach cramped up, she held the pain for only a moment before she released the projectile onto oncoming enemies.
She put her hand on her stomach but was relieved to not find any blood spurting from her old wounds. “Ugh… At least I’m not bleeding.”
“Don’t push yourself Carmyn. You’ll open your wound. That’s why Kihet told us to stay in the rear.”
Carmyn smiled and sat next to Salith. “I know, but I want to help him as much as I can. If it wasn’t for him, I’d thought I’d never see you again.”
Although most of the action was taking place facing the Tower, the Scalemen split some of its forces to keep the Tower Monsters from flanking their backs. Carmyn who was previously injured was assigned to help at her own convenience.
The person she long sought for, her remaining family left was also assigned alongside her. Salith was once forced to work under the ‘other Oracle’ may still bounded by a curse that allowed the enemy to control her. Thus, she was kept far away from the main battlefield as a precaution to be controlled.
Salith noticed an Immortal charging towards them.
“I’ll be back.” Salith closed her visor and pointed to a Lizardmen infantry. “Hey you, get ready!”
A flash of light surrounded her and, in her place, a Lizardman dropped onto the ground confused. Salith swapped herself to where the infantry was, and her mace pummeled the Immortal’s jaws. She shield bashed with her entire weight to overthrow the creature onto the floor, then delivered a crushing blow onto it.
The Scalemen were baffled by her ability to swap places with people. A Giant’s strength far surpassed all other races and to see one suddenly appear in front of you was horrifying. It was especially frightening when the witnesses were unsure she was an ally or foe.
It wasn’t as though her powers were omnipotent either as it followed a set of rules.
Salith disclosed the range and usage was limited. Before the battle, she must mark the targets she would swap to and within twenty meter distance in her sight.
Salith easily incapacitated an Immortal with a heavy blow. She trampled over its pulverized body and stomped on magic bead ending its existence.
“Form a wall with me!”
At first, the Scalemen questioned whether they could trust her or not. From what they knew, Salith worked with the enemy but was also contracted as a slave. They couldn’t devalue her as a veteran warrior. She proven her capabilities by single handedly defeated an Immortal.
She was also the second Hero under the guidance of the Oracle. Her shining mace and shield were cladded in silver light, vanquishing oncoming foes.
“Reinforce the right side! They’re sending heavy hitters! Warn me of any larger creatures that come your way and I’ll crush em all for you!”
The Scalemen begrudgingly stood by her side as they banded together against the Shadows. Perhaps they witnessed the makings of a Hero brimming with confidence and strength to instinctively follow her.
“We got a big one here!”
“Leave it to me!”
Carmyn watched from the sidelines, clutching her wound as observed Salith closely. A faint smile formed on her face rejoicing her decade long mission was completed. With Salith, Carmyn now has good news she can deliver to Rozzosea’s Queen. The day to reclaim Rozzosea was just so much closer.
“What’s with that face? Is somewhere else hurting?”
Carmyn looked up and shook her helmet. “Nope. I can’t help but feel all jittery right now.”
Deep inside Carmyn asked herself if days like this, fighting together, could last forever.
“What’s with you? You got all soft on me after a decade.”
“You’re not good with these conversations are you?”
“Shut up. It feels awkward and icky.”
“You hate it?”
“You’re just making fun of me.”
“Kridas always said smiling does make the pain go away.” Carmyn grabbed onto the mound of bricks and pulled herself up. “Up we go. I feel like shooting some arrows now-.”
She saw a shiny thread hovering over Salith’s neck. A chill ran down her spine as Carmyn immediately kicked down Salith before it weaved around her. By doing so, Carmyn’s leg was caught. Her view quickly became upside down as she was pulled up, and a numbness spread from her foot.
“Carmyn!”
“I’m alright but my foot’s tangled-!”
And in the next second, a figure glided by Carmyn. Her assailant passed her with a ribbon of blood trailing from its daggers to her neck.
Salith only watched in horror as a pool of blood splashed onto her. It was so sudden, without warning. A second ago, Carmyn and her talked so freely that nothing should’ve happened.
And yet in just one moment, that future which they thought they secured had been lost. Carmyn’s body landed a heavy thud, unmoving.
“Elius. I’ve assassinated the target. Proceeding onto the next task.”
Miasma poured from the assassin arm, forming a large ghastly hand that slammed Salith into the ground before she could retaliate. A glowing purple ring suddenly formed around Salith’s neck.
“HAKU! FUCK YOU! I’LL KILL YOU!”
“You will not.” The Ogre leaned in and stared into Salith’s hateful glare. “Instead, you are to run amok among your allies with all your strength and let none live. Whenever the chance arises, crush the Faker.”