Human
Name: Erith Ashrend
Leval: 12
Ascension: 0
It worked! Ray nodded in satisfaction at his skill upgrade. He could not see much yet, but any information was helpful.
“I think I'm ready,” Ray said, making his way to the entrance.
“Ok, but don't push yourself.” Erith responded while moving the furniture out of the way. Ray finally got a good look at her and saw she was upset, but decided to ask what was wrong after they escaped that crazy place. Clearing the last piece, she opened the door and observed their surroundings. Seeing that the coast was clear, she exerted the room. Ray followed as they moved down the corridor and toward where that thing had attacked them. They crept past the hardened puddle of steel and into the workshop they had previously observed. A large semi-circular space opened before them, filled with square tables pushed haphazardly against the walls; upon their surfaces, an assortment of items and parts lay strewn about. As they crept into the room, Ray heard a faint scratching noise from the left side of the room. He turned to see a small cage containing a small lizard-like creature. Ray, noticing the creature's striking resemblance to Zenith, activated Draconic Insight, certain they'd found their target.
Newborn Scale-kin
Name: Olrin
Leval: 4
Ascension: 0
The closer Ray got to the cage, the more agitated Olrin became. A growl rose in his throat as he watched Ray approach.
“Shh, I'm here to help your mother sent me to save you.”
Ray said in a low, calming voice. Olrin stopped emitting the noise and tilted his head towards Ray. reaching the cage he undivided the small latch, keeping the scale kin inside. Olrin burst into movement, scurrying around the room before making his way up to Ray again and sniffing his hand. A few yipping noises came from the small lizard as it climbed onto Ray and settled on his shoulder.
“Well, aren't you too cute?” Erith said with a small giggle.
Ray grinned in response, patting the head of the creature as it nuzzled his cheek.
“Let's get out of here before that man or any of his creations return.”
Ray said.
“Agreed.”
Erith responded and walked toward the entrance of the room.
The newly formed trio quietly retraced their steps, making their way out of the complex. They made it to the entrance to the large room containing all the captured beasts before Erith stopped dead in her tracks.
“What's wrong-”
Ray's mouth dropped, leaving him unable to finish his sentence as he saw what had made Erith stop. In front of them stood an army of modified creatures standing behind the man that they had seen earlier. Noticing the trio, he turned to face them before speaking.
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“It's good you stayed in my humble dwelling after having killed my poor Babo. I feared you'd departed. A feeling of anxiety consumed me, steadily intensifying with each passing moment. I feared we would need to pursue you following your actions; however, you presented yourself to me unexpectedly. Oh my goodness, what a stroke of luck today has been!”
The man spouted. Ray closed his mouth and raided his weapon while using Draconic Insite on the madman in front of them.
Human
Name: Alistrod Brenic
Leval: 30
Ascension: 0
A wave of despair washed over Ray as he realized the insurmountable gap between himself and Alistrod.
“My pets' field test is finally happening!” Alistrod said while hopping foot to foot like an excited child “Now all of you play nice and whoever can bring me their heads will get an extra meal today!”
The army of beasts slowly approached as a mad cackle rang out. A crash sounded from the other side of the large room, followed by a large metal grate flying through the amassed Hord behind Alistrod, turning half of them into a spray of metal and blood.
“Huh.”
He said, dumbfounded, his cackle ceasing.
“Take my son and leave now!”
Zenith roared while charging into what remained of the army. Seeing their chance, Ray and Erith bolted towards the staircase. As soon as the tiny lizard heard its mother, it tried to leap from Ray’s shoulder; Ray reacted by scooping up Orlin and holding him tight while they ran. Ray struggled to hold the wriggling scale kin as it cried out, desperate to go to its mother.
“You will not get away with this!”
Ray looked over his shoulder to see Alistrod closing in on them with an unnatural speed. He cackled madly as a wheal sprouted from both of his legs and carried him toward his escaping quarry.
“No!”
Zenith roared, trying to chase down the madman, but a few of his larger creations blocked her path.
“What a sorry excuse for a mother. Jeopardizing the life of your child just to save two lowly vermin that wandered into my workshop.”
Alistrod said. He pushed his acceleration, gaining on the fleeing trio.
“Keep running. I will buy you two time!”
Erith yelled, skidding to a halt and readying her sword.
“No,” Ray cried, “He is already past the 3rd threshold, you won't stand a chance.”
“Just go, you are only in this mess because I keep making mistakes. We would still be with the clan if I could have just worked harder and reached level 10 before the deadline and If I was just stronger, you would not have been so badly injured in the last fight. Let me do this for you.”
She roared, igniting her sword. Ray’s heart dropped. He did not know that Erith felt that way and wished that he had talked to her back in that bedroom instead of letting it fester. Resolving himself to not let his friend deal with this alone, he wrapped Orin in the remaining piece of the bedsheet he had taken and tied him tightly to his back. Drawing his daggers and placing one in his injured arm, he joined Erith in facing down Alistrod as he approached.
“What are you doing? Get out of here while you can!”
She yelled.
“I will not leave you behind!” Ray yelled back. “Not when you never left me behind, even when the rest of the clan turned their back on me. You're the only friend that I've got and I will not lose you. I don’t want to lose someone close to me ever again.”
Erith blushed as tears flowed down her cheeks.
“Thank y-”
Her words were cut short as Alistrod raised his arm, and a loud bang echoed through the chamber. Erith's eyes went wide as she fell to the ground, a red stain slowly growing on her shirt.