Shin spun and twirled, the two curved broadswords in his hands blurring, chipping away and cracking the scales of a horned drake’s head as it knocked around helpless. Shin pivoted, clasping the two swords into one and the blade flickered three times in an instant before the drake could even react, the path of the strikes more complex and versatile now. Shin darted to its side and thrust a palm, narrow ripples sending it crashing into another horned drake, the surging frost in its mouth finding no purpose as the explosion of a firebolt claimed both their lives.
With the den wiped out, he glanced at the sword he had obtained from the Atreus Swordsman. An epic tier scimitar with of a unique type he hadn’t encountered so far. As one, it held the active skill Flourish, but it could be split into two halves at will, each with the Greater Quickstrike. A useful ability for now as Rapid was not yet maxed and even with the twofold cost, a greater quickstrike attack cost a bit less aura.
Donny picked up a white orb that dropped next to the pair of horned drakes and stored it. “117.”
“It’s way too inefficient to grind this way. We need go back to stealing as soon as possible.”
“And run into a party of Shins?”
Yen fell silent with a frown for a moment. “Why did they even want you so bad anyway?”
Kamala didn’t answer.
“Who the fuck even were they anyway? Invulnerability this early in the game, that’s fucking cheating.”
“Atreus.” Shin answered.
“One of the big 12?” Yen turned to Kamala, knowing better than to ask Shin. “Is that their power? Invulnerability?”
“It varies.”
“Are you gonna say that about all of them?”
Kamala turned to Yen, her cold eyes holding a trace of annoyance. “They are the product of dozens of lineages spanning millennia of renowned heroes across the old world, so yes. It varies.”
Yen balked and Donny stepped in. “Any specialties?”
“...Strength and invulnerability are the most common among them. Most are resistant to poison, curses, and disease as well.”
“How do you even kill that, besides choking them out?”
“Mind attacks. Soul attacks, maybe.” Shin chimed in from the outskirts.
“Some have powers that can damage them.” Kamala added.
“Such as?”
However, the priestess walked off to Shin without response, joining him towards the next tunnel.
“You suck at exposition, you know.” Yen complained as she followed after them. “Hey, what are the other-”
Shin burst forward at full speed without warning.
“Form up!” Boris roared. He glanced again at the body of their scout in the jaws of a slender drake before gritting his teeth and bashing away one of the charging monsters. The five of them remaining huddled between the drakes and a beautiful golden eyed woman, ready to give their lives to defend her.
A ball of fire spat by the horned drake shattered their mage’s mana shield, the remnants of flames washing over him. “Kill the horned, I’ll buy time!”
“But-”
“Just do it!”
The other fighters struck at the drakes surrounding them as the mage condensed a bolt of mana. The horned drake spat another large fireball and Boris charged out, shredding through the attack, flames scorching his skin even through his resistance. A dense mana bolt soared past and cracked in the face of the horned drake. A soothing light healed him, their goddess, the one he wanted to protect above all.
A scream to his right pulled his attention to one of the fighters who lost his arm to the drake he fought. He glanced back at their priestess, whose eyes looked as though they turned white, just in time to see a red blur snatch away their mage, the ambush drake claiming another. The axe wielding barbarian slew two of the monsters before a fireball struck, burning him alive. Boris turned back as the horned drake on unsteady legs took a few steps then slumped to the ground, struggling to rise.
The ambush drake struck the barrier their goddess formed around herself as the others began to fall and drakes barrelled towards her. Boris let out a cry of battle and charged hacking and slashing away at the drakes as their claws and fangs tore his flesh. He spun around, sword out as the ambush drake slammed into him, impaling itself through the roof of its mouth.
Boris pushed the creature’s body off him and grimaced at the wounds its claws pierced through his armor to give him. He slowly rose to his feet towards the person he should protect most of all, the person he wanted to protect most of all, who had been their beacon of light in this new world of madness.
“Are you alright…” He asked but the golden goddess stared ahead, paying no heed to him at all. A ball of fire enveloped Boris before he could utter another word, and everything went dark.
A second fireball shattered the mana barrier and the woman fell back, afraid and helpless as a third soared towards her. A cobalt sword slashed the ball of fire into nothing. A bow took its place in the boy’s hands and an arrow pierced through the eye of the horned drake, ending the last of the den.
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Shin turned to the goldened eye woman. “Have you been to the center? Which way is it?”
“I don’t know…”
“Okay.” Shin started to head towards the bodies on the ground.
“Wait…” The woman pleaded with a soft voice.
Shin turned back. Beautiful curled golden hair draped down her shoulders as she leaned forward sat on the ground, the thin white dress covered loose on her body revealing perfect ample curves. Two straps over her shoulders flowed down into fabric covering just shy of not enough. A sad captivating expression lay on her mesmerizingly gorgeous face.
“Will you help me?”
“I guess.”
She held out her hand and Shin took it, helping her to her feet. She stood a few inches taller than him, standing close where she rose, still holding onto his hand. “Thank you.” Her voice like a sweet song brushed easily against his ears as she looked with sorrowful, alluring eyes into his.
“What is this?” Yen interrupted from just outside the tunnel, before stopping in her tracks as she saw the woman’s eyes. “Is she an Atreus?!”
“Yeah.”
“Why?!” Yen’s question related to a number of aspects, all of which Shin ignored.
“Gonna take her to the center with us.”
“Is that a good idea?” The mage asked sharply.
Shin tilted his head. “Maybe?”
“Why are you unsure?!”
“No point arguing once he decides something, you know that.” Donny walked past.
“Yeah, I’m sure that’s your only reason…”
Shin looked back at the woman who noticed his attention. “Shin.”
“Helena.”
“Which tunnel did you come through?”
“The center…”
Shin’s hand slipped out of hers as he darted around scavenging through the valuables and hopped over to one of the other tunnels at random, looking back at the others to follow. Helena was the first the move, just behind Donny.
“So stupid…” Yen walked on, and Kamala followed without a word.
---
A condensed mana bolt cracked in the head of a horned drake and a second shattered it open. Shin and Donny darted around the den slaughtering the regulars that remained. Four charged at Donny from all angles. He beheaded one clean and bashed his shield against the head of another. A snapping jaw caught only air as he darted to the side and cleaved through its neck.
The remaining two lunged from opposite sides. Donny pivoted, pummeling one with his shield and taking the head of his third. A claw grazed his arm deeply but he ignored it, bursting forward and burying his axe in the skull the last, wrenching it out as the beast fell still. Seeing Shin having mopped up the other drakes, he relaxed, noticing Helena appear by his side. She held out her hands and a warm light enveloped his wound healing it fully in moments.
“That healed up nice.”
Helena brushed a strand of her hair back letting her eyes linger on Donny’s ever so slightly before walking over to Shin.
“That slut is taking your job…” Yen muttered to Kamala. “Shouldn’t you do something?”
Kamala said nothing as they followed Shin down another tunnel at random. “She hasn’t even looked at us this whole time, you know what she’s trying to do, right?”
“Bazaar.” Shin informed them. The others joined him as they scanned over the second makeshift marketplace bearing little difference from the first.
“Is it safe?”
“Two big factions looks like and no one’s fighting. Safe as it’s going to get.” Donny and Shin walked out first at the same time, relatively carefree. Helena followed right behind them and the other two after, Kamala with her ever present stoic expression and Yen doing a fair job at mimicking the other’s lack of caution. The party of five walked into the bazaar and around it freely without any more than prying eyes and a volley of identifies.
“Hey… shouldn’t we disguise you and her?” Yen directed at Kamala.
“No.”
“It’s fine.” Shin added.
“Only another fight to the death, yeah, don’t get too bent out of shape.” Donny heads towards the stall of a dark skinned young man, putting 10 silver on the counter. “So who’s running things around her?”
“The Saba.” The man said assertively. “And the Pendragons.” Gesturing over to the other side of the Bazaar, though his focus largely laid on Helena, specifically her golden eyes.
“...as in Arthur?” Yen asked.
“Princess Helena. Lady Rani.” A dark skinned man greeted before the stallowner could respond. He stood tall with long white dreads bound in an elegant manner bearing an imposing physique in his aged years and a calm dignity unattainable by most. He wore cloth garbs like that of a monk with leather bracers though it did not take away from his regal bearing.
[Human Diplomat (rare) - Intermediate Lord]
“Your Majesty.” Kamala returned the greeting without movement, in contrast to Helena who nodded in slight bow without words. The stallowner bowed deeply in silence.
“Princess, we could safeguard you until you are able to be returned to your father, if you would like.”
“I would. Thank you…” She looked back with the delicate eyes of a maiden.
The man gave a cordial smile for a moment and turned to Kamala. “I, of course, offer the same to you, my lady.”
“I have no intention of returning.” Kamala replied with apathetic authority.
“The Saba would gladly open their doors for you-”
“Getting ahead of yourself, aren’t you, Eskender?” A middle aged man of stern expression approached from the side, followed by a small entourage. Shoulder length blond hair parted to the sides and a thick well kempt beard, he donned a circlet crown and higher tier armor with a red cloak that flutter slightly as he walked.
[Human Knight (rare) - Intermediate Lord]
“Simply greeting those that ought be greeted, Richard, my friend.” Eskender returned without missing a beat.
Richard gave a grunt in acceptance, nearly a scoff, and turned to the Kamala. “Princess, I offer you the hand of my eldest and all the luxury and status the House of Pendragon can grant.”
“I will join no family.”
Richard held his tongue for a moment as Eskender silently assessed the situation. “These are dangerous times. Stubbornness will see the downfall of many.”
“She will make it.” Shin spoke up, calmly and certain.
“...and you are?” Richard looked down with some derision.
“Shin.”
The Pendragon King took a pause, Eskender as well, paying attention to the boy for the first time. “I see…” He looks to the other two with regal expectation.
“Yenny Phoenix.”
“You wouldn’t know me.”
Richard glanced over the party of four and gave Eskender a look, the two seeming to come to a silent understanding. “I will take my leave, then.” He walked off, unhurried but with purpose.
“As will I.” Eskender bid them farewell and Helena followed without a word to the party.
“Bye.”
She stopped and looked back at Shin for a moment, a trace of confusion in her expression, before nodding and continuing on.
“Yeah, seems like we can set up here, no problems.”
“Except for the fact that everyone wants Miss Holy Grail here. Why…” Yen stopped herself, remembering Kamala wouldn’t answer, and changed the topic instead. “What are their powers?”
Kamala stayed silent for a moment before responding. “The Pendragons can tap into power beyond their abilities. I am not sure how that translates to the system. The Saba can innately master all forms of combat. Saba children can toy with elite professionals before they are past their teens.”
“Leaders and lancers.”
“You do know no one’s got a clue what you say half the time.”
“Shutup.” Yen’s focus turned to Shin. “And you. Since when do you think with your dick?” She cut herself off as she realized something for the first time. “How old are you anyway?”
“19.”
Yen paused. “...what month?”
“March.”
Yen’s face fell in silent devastation as she learned the weird boy with a maiden’s face was older than her.
“Rest up then take on the dungeon?” Donny asked Shin, ignoring Yen’s minor breakdown.
“Yeah.” Shin looked at the giant door, unconcerned with the squabbles and intrigue growing within the tutorial. He need only walk towards his goal, and remove everything in his way.