The next few [Floors] were painfully uneventful. Nothing to keep Thesa's mind off of the upcoming confrontation.
[Floor] 59 was just two rooms with a winding, empty corridor between them. A right turn and a left and three rights and two lefts. The hallway wound endlessly around itself.
What am I going to say to Kelreyn?
[Floor] 58 was lightless. Thesa remembered the pit traps from this [Floor] on her way down. Between her [Infravision] and whatever Merijest was using to see, the darkness was an underwhelming twist.
Who even is this ‘new champion’?
“I just need a distraction,” Thesa said as she sidestepped another spike pit. “Anticipation is the worst.”
Merijest nodded empathetically as she flapped her wings, hovering through the chamber along Thesa's side. “We'll be there before you know it, kitten.”
“People always say that kind of thing but I've never found it to be true.” Did other people not experience time as an excruciating lull down a broken set of uneven stairs?
What am I even going to say?
The Chimerblin and Hundred-Legged Snake had no problem either, but what surprised everyone the most was how Yabba was navigating at all. The strange little creature waddled along on its chicken legs, sidestepping drops and hopping over gaps without missing a beat. The hole in the bird box wasn’t even looking down half the time.
The next few floors also lacked much of a challenge and the boredom allowed Thesa’s mind to wander more than she preferred.
On [Floor] 53, they ran into another of Lenum's shops. Merijest bought some health potions and a smoke bomb. Thesa reached Level 3, which boosted her spellcasting abilities and the damage from her halberd.
Kelreyn was nearly Level 20 the last time we spoke. Garteth is a max Level [Paladin] AND has the Eminent Class [Angel of Death]. Merijest is powerful, but is she THAT powerful? I’ve hardly once used most of my abilities in combat. I'm basically useless at Level 3.
[Floor] 52 actually did have an interesting theme. They had to follow some clues to dig up treasure in each chamber. If they chose the wrong location, there was a brief fight with a Dirt Construct.
Merijest tried to let Thesa take the lead but by this [Floor] her anxiety had simmered so close to a boil that she couldn't focus. They ended up fighting three quarters of the Dirt Constructs before Merijest took over.
We're going to die. Oh my god. We're going to die.
***
image [https://alicepow.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/dirtconstruct.jpg]
Dirt Construct
Rank: Varies
Attacks: Slam, Worm Blast
Notes: Depending on the skill and effort expended in their creation, a Dirt Construct can range from an angy lil mud pie to an entire field of crops which can rise from the ground in response to serious threats.
***
The walls and ceiling on [Floor] 50 were smooth concrete. The floor was tessellated with ceramic tiles.
At a forked corridor, Thesa spoke. “I still don't see them.” Her voice echoed more than she had expected which did not help her nerves. She continued in a whisper, “what now?”
“The Chimerblin seems to think there's something further in,” Merijest replied in a low voice, gesturing to the creature.
Its tiger-head was low to the ground and its tail flicked. Its eyes were locked on the corridor to the right.
Thesa breathed deep but she felt like she still wasn't getting enough air.
Slowly, the sound of careful footsteps emerged on the auditory horizon. The sound of armor lightly clinking. A low grunt. Whoever made the sound wasn't sneaking but they were moving cautiously.
“We got this, kitten,” Merijest said. She winked at Thesa, but Thesa was too on edge to really process it. All she heard was Merijest being more chipper than usual which ended up reinforcing the idea that this was about to go really poorly.
Thesa's expression was blank. Only her eyes were ever so slightly wider than usual.
Someone rounded the corner. Face obscured by a helm, they wore celestial armor identical to the set Thesa had donned as a Knight. Thesa didn't recognize this Knight's build so she had to assume it was the newbie. The Knight didn't react in any observable way to his sudden view of the [High Devil], [Witch], Chimerblin, Hundred-Legged Snake, and Nest Walker.
Thesa, rather than jumping into action, had to force herself to stay present. For a few seconds, she felt outside of herself.
Then, behind the new Knight, the similarly armored builds of Sir Kelreyn and Sir Garteth came into view. Garteth maintained the same non-emotive nonchalance as the newbie, but Kelreyn did seem momentarily taken aback by the sight of Merijest's party.
“Kelreyn,” Thesa tried to say although her mouth was dry so it came out somewhat garbled. “Kelreyn, it's me, Thesa.”
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Kelreyn moved as if she were about to reply, but Garteth looked back over at her and held up a hand. Kelreyn nodded.
“[High Devil] Merijest,” began the new Knight, “saint of killers and breather of shadows…”
“Kelreyn, Beautuk has been lying to us,” Thesa interjected.
“...in the name of Beautuk, son of wisest Owtem and rightful wielder of the Manifest Slate…” The Knight drew his sword.
“Beautuk even killed me,” Thesa said.
“...I bless your wicked soul and drive it from this realm you have cursed with villainy and dread…”
“Merijest hasn't done anything wrong,” Thesa said. “Please, you have to stop. We have to save my mom and…and everyone.” She summoned her halberd in a flurry of ethereal feathers. “I don't want to fight you guys.”
Before the newbie could say anymore, Merijest shot an icicle toward the Knight’s head. He tilted out of the way and combat broke out.
“Formation A,” Garteth grunted. She and the newbie charged Merijest while Kelreyn drew her sword and approached Thesa.
“Kelreyn, why are you doing this?” Thesa shouted. Her halberd caught the Knight's first swing. “Why won't you even say anything to me?”
“I–” Kelreyn paused for a moment.
“Modess Kelreyn!” Garteth shouted. “Not a word!”
“Fine,” Thesa said, “if she won't let you speak to me…” Thesa signaled to her [Minor Familiar].
Letting out a whining creak, Yabba leapt up from behind Thesa and its talons gripped Kelreyn's helm. At the same time, the Chimerblin jumped on the Knights back. The overall effect was more distracting than damaging.
Meanwhile Merijest was dancing around her two attackers. Dodging a burst of light here and a holy blade there. She was so focused on dodging Garteth and the new guy that she wasn't landing any hits of her own.
“Who even is that guy,” Thesa shouted as she ran up from behind and cast [Blindfold]. Darkness filled the corridor. As humans, Kelreyn and Garteth didn't have any natural means of seeing in the dark. Even if they had a spell to aid their lack of sight, it would hopefully still be a short term complication.
Thesa's [Infravision] activated. No hidden threats caught her attention as she scanned the battlefield. Three Knights, bodies radiating red and orange heat tones.
Merijest took advantage of the opportunity. She summoned several ethereal blades and hurled them at the newbie. Disoriented by the darkness, he took the hits.
Thesa didn't have a lot of power, but if she could sufficiently distract the Knights while Merijest did the heavy hitting, they might have a chance.
Thesa approached Garteth from behind, stabbing her halberd into the center of the hot infrared aura of the elder Knight. The spade of her Halberd met no resistance. None at all. Garteth's heat map dissipated. An illusion. The Knights had anticipated the threat of darkness and Thesa’s [Infravision].
Thesa felt a warm blade crack through the back of her ribs. It cut smoothly through her right lung. Another crack. The tip of the blade emerged from the front of her chest. It happened in an instant. Garteth's attack had completely ignored Thesa's armor.
Thesa gasped. She struggled to take in any air at all. She couldn’t even activate the [Back Up] enchantment because her violet breastplate didn’t register an incoming attack.
“Thesa!” Merijest shouted. In the midst of her distraction, the new Knight struck the demoness's shoulder, leaving a burning gash dripping with the [High Devil]’s blood.
Thesa turned to see the Chimerblin unconscious behind Kelreyn. Beside the Knight, Yabba lay limp on the ground with a crack in the roof of its birdhouse.
Thesa felt like she was watching it all from above. Disconnected. Holy magic pulsed from Garteth's sword, further damaging the [Witch]’s internal organs.
The Knights hadn't argued. They hadn't gloated. They were sent to kill and so they would kill. She still hadn't even learned the name of Beautuk’s new champion and she was helpless to defend her [Minor Familiar] or her [Deity]. Merijest had saved her, in a sense, and Thesa wouldn't be able to repay the favor.
Merijest shrieked. A pathetic shriek that shook the [Dungeon]. Even as the newbie struck her again, Merijest's body surged with an ethereal blaze. Her wings grew larger as additional pairs bloomed along her back. Her body contorted, neck, spine, and tail lengthening to serpentine; arms and legs cracking and stretching into many-jointed appendages. Her blue, humanoid skin was filled in by black plumage and maroon scales. Her face remained structurally unaltered but contorted nonetheless by rage. White pupils expanded to cover all but a thin red border of her eyes.
In a mad, strange dash, she slinked through the corridor, past where the Knights had come from. The new Knight chased after. In a jolt, Garteth pulled her sword from Thesa's chest and turned to Kelreyn.
“I'll follow Sir Peter,” Garteth said. “Make sure the Apostate is fully dead, then join us.”
Kelreyn nodded as Garteth took off down the corridor.
Thesa teetered on the edge of unconsciousness. “Kelreyn, please,” she choked out.
Kelreyn looked down the hallway. Garteth was gone.
Kelreyn removed her helmet. Her blonde hair was neatly braided as if she hadn't been in a fight.
“I told them it would be a mistake to send you,” Kelreyn said. “Too easily convinced.”
Thesa tried to process the words. “I thought…you were…my…friend.”
“Like I said. Too trusting,” Kelreyn said. She loomed over Thesa.
Then, Thesa saw the Hundred-Legged Snake. Never had she been so glad to see that weird creature. It was crawling toward Kelreyn's leg.
Thesa had to keep Kelreyn going. She had to put off processing what she just heard. “But even now…why not…you?...Who even…is…‘Sir Peter?’”
“What so you can [Message] useful information to that devil before you die?” Kelreyn asked. “I'm not an idiot.”
The Hundred-Legged Snake reached Kelreyn and sank its fangs into her leg. As the Knight cried out, Thesa took the opportunity to chug a potion. There was no time to wait for its effects, though.
Thesa pulled herself up to stand as she felt her internal organs churning and itching. The edges of the stab wound in her torso inched agonizingly toward one another. Thesa's Level was still abysmal, but her Ability Scores reflected her previous training. Her chances of success were low but not impossible.
Kelreyn's shock subsided and she shook her head. The Knight reached down to the Hundred-Legged Snake and squeezed the sides of its jaw, forcing the creature's mouth to unclamp. She held it up to eye level, its legs wriggling and kicking to no avail. “Gross.” Her sword impaled its head.
Thesa stared and whispered, “no.” She couldn't bring herself to move. “Merijest, what do I do?” she [Messaged].
Merijest's reply came through harsh and fuzzy. The thought was panicked. “Run.”
Thesa threw her halberd at Kelreyn, scooped up Yabba’s limp form, and sprinted in the other direction. She rounded corners and bolted through chambers until she found the entrance to the next [Floor].