Surrounded by the turmoil of the battlefield, a tense exchange unfolded between Lorianth and Valicar, their words laden with a volatile mixture of resentment and urgency.
"You're filthy, and the stains of gore are more than just the blood of the men you've killed today. The fact that you've only resurfaced now speaks volumes. They locked you away for what you've done. They didn't care that you fought on their behalf. Join us, Valicar. As you've already witnessed, I'm not opposed to those who wield demonic magic or even those aspiring to be templars," Lorianth's words held a convincing edge.
Sophia's voice joined the conversation, with a dim glimmer of hope in her eye, "Funny thing I was going to try to convince you to join us, It's not too late to switch sides. Your abilities could make a real difference against the pillars." Sophia called out knowing it was a long shot.
Lorianth's laughter cut through the air, laced with scorn, "HAHAHA, you could try to bribe me with all the gold and jewels in the world, but such treasures are worth nothing when you're six feet under. And that's where anyone foolish enough to join your suicidal cause will end up."
Mike's tone turned menacing, the air around them charged with tension, "Let me make this perfectly clear: if you don't join us, you won't have a single coin left when I strip them from your corpse. I'd sooner crawl back into that cell than listen to another cunt word spew from your bitch mouth. This is your last chance, you worthless piece of shit." Mike gathered his power, and the field grew tense.
"Then it seems we have nothing left to..." Lorianth started but was interrupted by an icy spike sent forth from Valicar's hand.
Lorianth's reaction was swift and decisive. He raised a fiery sword to block the incoming icy spike, the collision creating a burst of steam as the elements clashed. But this was only the precursor to an even more chaotic turn of events.
Amid the chaos, the holy mage joined the fray, his presence a beacon of divine energy. From his outstretched hand, a radiant beam of golden light erupted, descending upon Valicar like divine judgment. The searing beam burned all in its path, leaving scorched ground in its wake. The memory of a similar attack in their childhood home, unleashed by Bellic, flashed through Valicar's mind, the trauma rekindled by the sight of the devastating light.
As if in counterpoint to the holy mage's power, the bard among Lorianth's party began to sing, his voice weaving an enchanting melody that resonated with his comrades. The song seemed to bolster their strength, enhancing their abilities and emboldening their spirits. But there was an unsettling twist to the bard's performance – his tune subtly sapped Valicar's own strength, the melody resonating with the darkness that still lingered within them from their demonic pact.
Valicar's movements through the air were fluid and swift, their strength subtly amplified by the emotions of the onlookers around them. Unbeknownst to the elves, Mike's lie about his pact further fueled their power, enhancing their abilities discreetly. This hidden wellspring of strength was something the elves couldn't perceive, but it played a pivotal role in tipping the balance in their favor.
Sophia, in contrast, put her formidable spellcasting prowess on full display, weaving a series of potent and imaginative attacks. Her command of magic was evident as she summoned mighty ice golems with the incantation "Gromfa," sending these colossal beings crashing into the midst of the battle with a force that left a trail of destruction. Drawing inspiration from her strategic prowess during the games, she chanted "Famonala, Norvio," causing molten lava to rain down upon her foes in an attempt to catch them off guard. However, the holy mage's shield proved impervious to the fiery assault. When Sophia attempted to utilize the same trick that had worked against the warlock, Lorianth pressed the attack, his strikes nearly cleaving her magical bag in half. Mike, however, had other plans and an ego to defend. His determination to prove his superiority as a swordsman surged within him.
At present, the primary threat lay with the bard and the holy mage, whose combined efforts were proving to be a formidable obstacle. Mike recognized that neutralizing them was crucial to leveling the playing field for his one-on-one confrontation with Lorianth. The synergy between the adversaries was undeniable – their strengths and weaknesses complemented each other flawlessly. But Mike knew that breaking their unity would be key to gaining the upper hand.
The battlefield underwent a breathtaking transformation, evolving from its once mundane expanse of rubble into an arena of dazzling magic and grandiose clashes. To the ordinary soldiers who bore witness, the scene resembled nothing less than gods locked in a titanic struggle. Mages of S rank were an exceedingly rare spectacle, their capabilities transcending the realm of normalcy. Each movement executed by Valicar was an outcome of years of combat experience, a meticulous dance that alternated between martial and magical prowess. The twins' synchronization was evident – as Mike deflected blows with masterful parries, Sophia's swift counter-spells neutralized incoming magical assaults. Blades gleamed as they sliced through the air with lethal precision, severing limbs and decapitating foes unlucky enough to be caught within the cyclone of battle. Simultaneously, spells surged forth, punctuated by fervent incantations, only to be met by an equally swift and calculated response of golden light.
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The bard's songs, infused with potent magic, reverberated through the air, casting an enchanting spell that empowered the orcs. Fear dissolved, replaced by a united determination to engage in the imminent fray. However, an unexpected facet of the bard's power emerged – the orcs' attention directed elsewhere caused Valicar's magical potency to waver, and it became evident that Valicar's strength was intricately tied to the orcs' focus.
Gorlion waged his formidable battle against Joearai in the distance, his mastery over earth magic molding the very terrain of the battlefield. The ground trembled in response to his command, bearing witness to the ferocious intensity of the ongoing struggle.
"We have to kill that fucking bard before our strength drops further," Mike's voice carried an undertone of irritation, his attempts at cutting down the bard thwarted by an artful interplay of golden light and Lorianth's masterful swordsmanship.
In the thick of their grueling deadlock, a surge of frustration welled up within Mike, prompting him to send a mental inquiry to Sophia, "Can't you just use your magic to manipulate these assholes' minds? Like you do sometimes to get information?"
Sophia's response carried a visible air of exasperation, "No, aside from the ethical problems with enslaving people, their magical abilities render them resistant to my control, unless I were significantly more powerful. And that's not a risk we can afford right now, not to mention it's not like having them dead helps either." The frustration was evident as she acknowledged the difficulty of recruiting the adventurers to their cause.
Mike's mind churned with determination, seeking an alternative path. "Well, not at the moment, but what if we preserve their bodies... Could you use that book to resurrect them?" He proposed, his thoughts actively exploring a solution to break the current impasse.
Sophia hesitated, clearly disturbed by the suggestion, "That's... pretty fucked up, but yes, if we store their bodies in the bag, they won't decay, and I should be able to revive them once they're inside. But this plan is risky, Mike."
With determination, Sophia summoned a spell she was growing more familiar with, manipulating the strands of probability to tip in her favor for this audacious move. "Gormai Hys Nalova Bavask," she cast, channeling less mana than usual but relying on their luck to make up the difference. As the battle raged on, drawing them into another clash with Lorianth, they expertly dodged at the last instant. In a swift motion, they released their swords and seized hold of the bag, a barrier of golden light flaring around the bard as a final line of defense. But Valicar was prepared – they used the shoulder pad on her armor, which had absorbed holy magic before, to counteract the barrier's effects. The radiant shield flickered and vanished as they made their move.
With a quick tug of the bag, they hoisted it over the bard, capturing him headfirst in the extradimensional pouch. The bard's enchanted song abruptly cut off, and the barrier dissipated as he was whisked away into another plane.
"One down, two to go!" Mike's triumphant shout echoed through the air as they successfully executed their audacious plan. Taking to the sky once more, Mike felt the rush of freedom as he soared, his eyes fixed on Lorianth. The sword master, was right on his heels, utilizing golden steps created by the holy mage to level the playing field and engage Valicar in an aerial duel. As the bard's magical influence waned, the orcs redirected their attention to the clash between the S-ranked fighters, once again empowering Valicar.
"Give him back!" Lorianth's furious roar reverberated, his sword sweeping in a vicious arc aimed at tearing open their bag.
"Fat chance, but I bet he's feeling a bit lonely now, so..." Mike's voice was laden with amusement as he abruptly plummeted from the sky. He hurled his broken shoulder pad at Lorianth's feet, the enchanted piece of armor absorbing the magic it encountered. The sword master's footing was instantly destabilized, sent tumbling to the ground. Seizing the moment, Sophia chanted "Gromfa" and conjured an ice golem to keep the holy mage preoccupied.
Valicar seized the opportunity, swiftly positioning themselves below the falling Lorianth. Unable to maneuver in the air without a proper footing, Lorianth was defenseless as Valicar executed their plan. With calculated precision, they maneuvered behind and below him, deftly avoiding his wild slashes as he fell. A triumphant grin played across Mike's lips as he taunted, "We'll have our rematch once we bring you back, but for now, enjoy the gold we're carrying, you arrogant bastard!"
His laughter carried a manic edge as Mike abandoned the idea of a fair sword duel, choosing instead to capture Lorianth in the bag. Valicar executed their move, effectively entrapping the sword master within the extradimensional pouch.
"One left," Sophia's voice cut through the tumultuous battlefield, her expression a mix of determination and distaste for the violence and destruction around them. The holy mage employed every trick at their disposal, but the twins' years of combat experience against templars, combined with their armor's immunity to holy magic, rendered the mage's efforts futile. In a swift and calculated move, the holy mage found himself ensnared within the bag, adding to the growing collection.
"Gotta catch them all!" Mike's snicker echoed through the air as he unceremoniously pushed the holy mage into the bag. The immediate challenge might have been addressed, but the battle was far from over – The battlefield retained its chaotic and brutal atmosphere, as the orcs had finally made it up the wall now locked in a bloody struggle against the elves atop the city walls.
"Let's join Gorlion and put an end to this bloodshed," Sophia's voice carried a weight of sorrow for the violence she had once again become entangled in.
"It would have been easier if we just nuked their ass from the start, But I suppose this way we've got something more than dust to bring back," Mike's dark humor cut through, a somber reflection on the grim circumstances as they flew toward Gorlion.