Maria drew her Serpent’s Blade
She took another glance around. The arena was empty, not a single soul was sitting in any of the seats. “Who the hell are you talking to?”
“Don’t you worry about that,” The Ringleader chuckled, the deadpan gaze of his mask piercing Maria’s soul. “I applaud the three of you for withstanding the assault of my demons. They aren’t easy to kill.”
“They sure felt easy,” Tanalia said.
“Maybe to those who are strong enough. I’m impressed to see how you three have grown. I remember watching you three do battle with Hallows in the first. You held your ground well, but not even you three were perfect. Some of you slipped up.” The Ringleader pointed to Tanalia. “I watched you several times get nicked by swords and axes as you ran atop the walls.”
Tanalia grunted.
“Though, while you were entertaining, you weren’t entertaining enough. It grew boring watching you three battle for so long. By the time the Terra Elemental appeared, I was ready for some true entertainment!”
Chariot aimed her sword at the Ringleader. Before her vines could sprout, and coil around him, he leapt up, backlipping away. “If you’re so strong, why didn’t you just kill it yourself?”
“It would have been too easy, and there would have been no fun in that.”
“That can’t be the only reason you do things,” Maria said.
“Is it so hard to believe?” The Ringleader put his hands on his hips. “I could kill the three of you right here and now, but then where’s the rising challenge? What fun is it if you were to go through all your trials and tribulations, only to be crushed like ants when you finally reach the end? No, it’s far more satisfying to watch the heroes suffer as they climb to the top.”
“I thought you wanted to kill us,” Chariot said. “It wouldn’t be a satisfying story if the heroes die.”
“It would be if it was a well-deserved death. Oh, how excited I am! I’ve been waiting for this day. I knew it would come!”
“Did the Oracle show you this day?” Maria asked.
“Of course not! Where would all the fun be if you knew how the show ended? No, I don’t want to spoil myself on a truly fantastic ending. You’ve journeyed far and wide, leveled up, grew stronger! You’re even dressed for the occasion.” The Ringleader chuckled. “You visited Hargrim, didn’t you? I recognize his handiwork all over that shield. How is the old dwarf? Enjoying retirement?”
“He is, yeah,” Maria said. “He’s enjoying it far away from the likes you people.”
“You people? Do you mean us? The sons and daughters of the demon king?”
“I may be his daughter, but I will never be one of you.”
“You will… eventually,” The Ringleader said with a sinister head tilt. “Just like the rest of us.”
“I’ll never. I’ll never hurt anyone who doesn’t deserve it, and I sure as hell won’t ever send an army to attack a city like Oxfell.”
“I wasn’t trying to attack Oxfell, I was merely clearing out the surrounding villages.”
“So you could get to Oxfell!”
“Oxfell was never the goal.”
“You manipulated their guild!”
“And it was quite easy to do so. All I needed to do was send my Shadow Jesteres here and there, kill a little, and spark up some fear. The more people crammed into the city, the more desperate it got to find a way to end the relentless attacks. The guild and the guards were spread thin. They were desperate. Watching that city crumble to fear was Turley entertaining.”
“That’s seriously why you did it? Just because you wanted to watch them cower in fear.”
“Precisely. With everyone spread thin, it left the guild with only a few people to send in search of the map. All I needed to do was tell them where it was and wait to see who they would send. The Terra Elemental our father left to guard his precious map was merely a stepping stone for me. I could have wandered into that ruined fort and crushed it in the palm of my hand. But where is the fun in that? It was far more entertaining to lure someone out there and watch them do battle against the beast.”
“You’re a psychopath,” Maria said, aiming her sword at the Ringleader. “We’re going to stop you. We’re going to get payback for everything you did to the villages of Spirmond, Galille, Eimdon, and all the others you needlessly attacked! We’re going to avenge Master Eardwulf for what you did to him! And we’re getting that map back.”
The Ringleader chuckled. “You mean this?” He summoned the cube into the palm of his hand. “I am sorry to say but I cannot part with it. I must care for it like it were my child.”
“I pity any child born from you,” Tanalia said.
“Enough talk!” Chariot said, stepping up. “I’ve sworn my life to keeping the people of Mytharia safe from monsters like you. You’re not getting away this time.”
“Such determination. I love it! Use that to fuel you!” The Ringleader started taking steps backward. He was ascending an invisible staircase, glimmering purple glyphs appearing beneath his feet as he walked back up into the seating. There was only one piece of the circular arrangement that was different, an elevated platform with a golden throne placed atop it. “You’ve come this far, don’t stop now. I want to see what you have. Show me your passion! Show me your strength! Show me your determination!” The Ringleader snapped his fingers.
The music suddenly rose.
Maria looked up. Lutes and harps, shimmering purple, floated down from the ceiling above. They swam around the edge of the area, starting with a slow, melancholy tune.
A sudden gust surged through the arena. Maria’s cloak flapped in the wind. A tempest was forming. The stone floor beneath the trio started to rumble. Bricks slid up and out of place as they were sucked into the vortex. The trio stumbled as the bricks beneath their feet stirred. They stumbled back as more and more of the arena floor cracked apart, and converged into the center of the vortex. They molded into the form of a colossal floating torso. It towered high, nearly the size of three grown men consisted of a chaotic amalgamation of boulders, pebbles, and stones of varying sizes, all held together by an enigmatic, unseen force.
Maria groaned. “Oh, you have to be kidding me.”
It’s disjointed arms were bulky, and adorned with jagged stone claws. The creature's rugged facial features contorted into a terrifying snarl, revealing a menacing array of sharp, pointed teeth capable of pulverizing bone. It hovered over a swirling vortex of stone fragments and roared so loud that Maria had to cup her ears.
A massively wide health bar appeared at the top of her vision as the music crescendoed into a high-pitched screech.
Terra Elemental - Lvl 70
Maria’s eyes went wide. She couldn’t take her eyes off the level.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
The Ringleader chuckling was muffled as the Terra Elemental let out a deep, grave roar. It slammed its fists into the ground. Three jagged poles of rock burst from the ground in front of the trio, striking each of them, and sending them flying into the far wall. Maria gasped and grabbed her chest as pain radiated up her torso.
“How long it’s been since you’ve faced such a creature! Here is your second chance to impress me!”
Maria staggered to her feet, and glared at the Ringleader, before diverting her attention to the hulking beast before her. That one attack had dropped her HP down by nearly half. {HP 1135/1900}. She groaned. There was no escape. They couldn’t run last time, but there was no one coming to save them, no one like Eardwulf at least.
“Let's get this over with,” Tanalia said. “One more stepping stone.”
Chariot nodded and raised her sword and shield. “I have a plan.”
“You always do.”
“I’ll keep it distracted, and try to absorb most of the heavy hits. You two worry about dealing damage to it.”
Maria nodded. “Exactly what I was thinking.”
The Terra Elemental flexed its arms, emitting a resounding and aggressive roar that sent tremors through the air. Floating closer to them, the creature shattered each rock that comprised its arms, causing the fragments to hover independently. With a swift spin, the elemental gathered momentum, as if preparing to unleash a devastating punch. In a sudden flurry of motion, it whirled around and flung the rocks with tremendous force.
Maria dodged to the side as one rock exploded against the arena wall. Pebbles and debris blew back at Maria. She rolled to the side, evading another stray boulder, and cast {Demons Fury}. A flaming skull flew through the air, trailing around the Terra Elemental before striking its chest. The explosion caused it to stagger. Chariot summoned her web of vines, entangling the Terra Elemental. The barbed foliage interweaved between the boulders, and pulled the creature apart, causing a sudden eruption of rocks and boulders to fly all over the arena.
Maria deftly evaded one boulder and narrowly missed another as she rolled to the ground. She looked around. The elemental lay scattered. Maria swung her Serpent Blade, striking the rock. It chipped away at it’s health bar. “Keep hitting it!”
Tanalia dashed from boulder to boulder, planting unlit sticky bombs onto the torsos. Chariot meanwhile bashed the boulders and pebbles with her shield and sword. The rocks began rumbling, and rolling back across the arena. The trio backed away as the stones converged and reformed back into the Terra Elemental.
“Maria!” Tanalia yelled.
Maria cast {Firebolt} hurtling the blazing beam into the mesh of sticky bombs left on its torso. The noise was so loud it left Maria’s ears ringing. She stumbled away as the blast pushed her back, and the heat that enveloped her tingled her skin. When she looked back, the Terra Elementals health bar had been taken about by nearly a quarter.
Chariot smirked. “Oh, this can work.”
The Terra Elemental unleashed another barrage of boulders and pebbles, sending them hurtling toward the trio with formidable force. They dodged out of the way and scattered as the elemental relentlessly threw parts of itself at them before summoning them back. The Terra Elementals started spinning rapidly, causing the wind to whip through the arena. Pebbles and boulders dislodged from the creature's torso and rode the chaotic current
Maria ducked under one of the boulders and cast {Fire Rune} onto it as it passed over her. The shimmering rune glistened on the stone. When the boulder flew back at the elemental, it exploded, causing it to stagger backward. Chariot used the opportunity to bind it in vines again, and rip it apart.
Again, the trio unleashed a barrage of damage onto the beast while it was down. Tanalia spread more of her sticky bombs but wasn’t able to plant as much as last time. She was slowing down. Was she getting fatigued as well? She ignited one of the bombs herself this time and caused the explosion to stagger the Terra Elemental. It’s health dropped to a little under half.
They were doing it.
The Terra Elemental, fully reformed, growled like a snarling beast, and hurled a large boulder at Tanalia, striking her, and knocking her away. The Terra Elemental pivoted its attention towards Maria and Chariot, emitting a menacing growl before forcefully slamming its massive fists into the ground. A ripple coursed through the arena, causing the stones to surge like an oncoming wave. Both Chariot and Maria leaped over the undulating terrain. The elemental pounded its fists into the ground, causing several more ripples of rock to come their way. The two hopped over the uneven rings and landed safely on their feet. Before they had time to fully reorient themselves, the elemental had swung its fist at Chariot. The knight raised her shield, but as the Terra Elemental struck her, she was sent flying across the arena. She slammed into the wall, yelping as she collapsed. The Terra Elemental spun around, and roared violently, hurling itself at Tanalia while she was still getting up. Tanalia was crushed against the wall, screaming as her arm was pinned to the stone. The Terra Elemental wrapped her up in its grasp and violently slammed her into the ground before throwing her up into the bleachers. It then turned to face Maria.
Maria gulped. The Elemental chased her around the arena, slamming its fists around like an angry child, bashing and breaking the ground. More boulders were added to its already bulky figure. It used them like ammunition, hurling them at Maria. She ducked, and dodged, but the relentless onslaught was unavoidable. She was struck in the back and sent flying across the arena. Agonizing pain surged through her body as she fell to the ground. Her vision blurred, tinted with a reddish hue as she gasped for air. She clutched her chest tightly. Her health bar had plummeted.
Déjà vu was setting in.
Her health had dropped to {225/1900}.
The Terra Elemental floated over to her, growling as it raised its fists to pound her into the ground. Maria rolled onto her back to gaze up at the beast. She felt a sudden surge of light build up inside her as its fists came crashing down, and crushed her. The rocks comprising its arms crumbled to pebbles from the sheer force, destroying the arena floor beneath her. Maria opened her eyes and glanced around. She was unharmed. The Terra Elemental pulled away as its fists were left to crumbs around her.
Chariot’s shield.
Tanalia double-jumped onto the Terra Elemental’s head from the bleachers. She took out her remaining sticky bombs and stuffed them against the surface of its body. Chariot ran over to Maria, and helped her to her feet, pulling her away from the fight. The Terra Elemental spun around, trying to knock Tanalia off. Pebbles were sent flying in every direction, and Chariot raised her shield to block a few from hitting Maria.
Tanalia double jumped away. “Now!”
Maria’s ring glowed as she held out her palm, and opened her buffs menu. She activated the damage buff and felt a surge of power flow through her.
Chariot used {Arc Slash}, and twirled around, sending a massive horizontal arc of light flying towards the Terra Elemental. It slashed its torso in two, causing it to crumble to the ground. The monster groaned in pain. Tanalia cast {Starfall}, firing her arrow into the elemental's torso. A blinking glyph was left in the wake of the arrow strike, and soon a barrage of elemental arrows rained down relentlessly onto the monster, chipping away at its body.
Maria finished it off with {Fireball}. She threw the massive orb of burning fire at the Terra Elemental. The explosion ignited the rest of Tanalia’s sticky bombs. The blast knocked the trio off their feet. Maria’s ears were left ringing again as she slowly sat up. The Terra Elemental lay scattered, it’s health bar fully depleted. The various boulders that were left from its body vanished into explosions of polygons.
Name: Maria Marigold
Lvl: 28 >> 30
HP: 225/1900 >> 325/2034
MP: 25/513 >> 45/549
Total Defense: 148
Total Attack: 83.1
Maria sat there in silence. She held her hand to her chest, trying to catch her breath. Her body was aching, sore to the touch.
They did do it?
They did it!
A smile crept along her face as she chuckled. “We did it!”
“Bravo, bravo!” The Ringleader practically leaped from his seat clapping. “That is the performance I have been waiting for. Teamwork is such a powerful thing to witness.”
Maria’s smile faded as she looked back up at the Ringleader. The man stood tall, outstretched his arms as if he were praising the sun.
Chariot slowly got to her feet, panting. She was exhausted, barely able to stand. Tanalia didn’t look any better. Her arm was red where it had gotten crushed. How she guaranteed the strength to fire an arrow with that injury, Maria had no idea.
The Ringleader hopped down from his seat and landed back in the area with a graceful front flip. He continued clapping. “Oh, how satisfying it is to see the heroes finally overcome their challenges.”
Maria groaned. “Shut the fuck up. We still have you to take care of.”
“You three look like you’re in no condition to fight me.” The Ringleader chuckled.
“Watch us,” Chariot said, raising her sword and shield.
“Where would the fun be then?” He retrieved the cube from his inventory and held it out tauntingly. “This is what you’re after, no? The map. The key. If you want it so bad, I would say you’ve earned another chance at taking it. So drink up! Fill your health! Fill your mana! Buff up on potions and stand tall and ready. I want a good fight from you because the only way you’re getting this map from me is by prying it from my lifeless fingers.”