Michelle – Dimensional Siphon#3924
You have entered Dimensional Siphon#3924
To leave you must cleanse this subspace pocket of all hostile entities. You will be rewarded accordingly for your efforts.
Willing away the notification she looked to the gateway as Farooq then Un-Bep’ee appeared, both looking just as disorientated as she had been by the transition.
Curiosity getting the better of her, Michelle walked back toward the gate and attempted to enter it only to be rebuffed by an invisible yet impermeable wall, accompanied by another blue box:
Egress is currently impossible. To leave you must cleanse this subspace pocket of all hostile entities.
Shaking her head in the negative to Svetlana’s questioningly raised eyebrow, Michelle replied ruefully.
“Looks like we really are stuck here until we kill whatever else is in here.”
Shrugging in response their leader replied.
“This we already knew from Oksana. So we continue as planned, yes?”
The rest nodded and began to scan their surroundings in earnest.
On closer inspection, the Party seemed to have arrived in a small cave, roughly 5 cubic meters in size, Making the decision of what path to take a whole heck of a lot easier, there appeared to be only one way in and out.
Unsure of what they would find outside they took up a tight defensive formation as they exited. Oksana was the only person that they personally knew, who had gone into one of these things and come back out alive, well that is if you didn’t count the grey skinned, homicidal maniac.
According to Oksana she had gone in with a team of four other individuals who had ‘jelly for spines’, and she alone had driven them forward and as a bonus, the monsters to extinction. She had also added almost absent mindedly, that should they find a large variant of the monsters littered throughout the Siphon that they should kill all the others first.
The burly Russians remarkably sound reasoning being, that it would alert the rest of the monsters in the Siphon so you would have to fight it and the smaller ones at the same time.
Tactics aside Oksana had also recounted how she had got sand in every nook and cranny from the ‘blasted desert’ that their mercantile Party had been transported into and that her ‘delicate skin’ had been ‘ruined for a month’ because of the ‘godawful heat’.
Given that she had only been into one once, the Party had no illusions that they had any reliable idea of what they were walking into in the slightest.
Thus when Michelle entered the gloomy light of what appeared to be lush marsh land, she was hardly surprised to find it exactly the opposite of what the surly older Russian had depicted.
Despite the expected difference in terrain Michelle was more than a little on edge, but trusting in her friends she stuck to formation.
What she definitely didn’t do was jump her own height in the air and squeal like she hadn’t done since she was 5, at the unexpected emergence of a saucer sized triple-hijueputa frog.
No.
She most certainly did not.
Calming her nerves as her flushed face regained its natural complexion, Michelle stridently ignored the barely controlled laughter of her Party, making to intently study her surroundings instead.
There was exactly what you would expect of a marshland and its boggy ground near the fetid water’s edge; old wizened trees replete with hanging moss and vines, clinging to drooping branches as water based plants stagnated the flow of water whilst a plethora of small insects danced in a cycle of reactivity to one another.
Taking a moment to think on it, Michelle found it almost unbelievable that this was all artificially constructed just to house a bunch of monsters. But the more she ruminated on it while her face finished returned to its natural color and the laughter finally died out, the more began to accept the reality of it. Owing in no small part to that fact it was possible to transport people through dimensions or for her to throw magic around like a superhero from one of her films.
‘I wonder if I can make one of these myself in the future? Maybe have a home outside of the world for me and Svet…’
That line of internal wonder almost made her burst out into laughter as she quickly covered the bottom half of her face with her hand, masking her mirth as a cough and saving herself from further embarrassment.
This however had two unintentional consequences. First it caused most of her friends to give her curious looks once more, but second and more importantly, it alerted the enemy to their presence.
“INTR-“
The lizard man began to cry out only to Michelle’s surprised relief to be silenced by a swiftly summoned arrow to its windpipe, from Farooq’s bow. Clutching at its arrow lampooned throat in pain, it dropped its primitive looking bow as its mostly mist obscured crocodilian companion, let out a loud *HISS* and charged.
This was all the warning Michelle needed to loose a [Magic Missile] at the large and rapidly approaching reptilian predator. The purple projectile impacted violently with the right side of its leathery head, causing it to falter before charging again not three heartbeats later.
Calvin deftly moved to intercept the 12 ft long monster, sidestepping its snapping jaws to land a [Shield Bash] to the uninjured left side of its head, instantly followed by a [Concussive Strike], staggering the beast while he and Svetlana made short work of the angry amphibian.
Farooq, not one to be outdone, had followed up his opening salvo with a [Staggering Shot] then [Strafe] to finish off their alarmed and cold blooded foe:
Your party has slain a Silaurian Initiate Scout level 52, all experience awarded equally.
Your party has slain a Lesser Silaurian Crocodile level 51, all experience awarded equally.
Willing away the notifications as she smiled apologetically at her Party. Svetlana looted any Manamotes and they regrouped near the tree where the Silaurian Initiate Scout had first appeared whilst Svetlana gave orders in a quiet but insistent tone.
“We must move from here now, more will-“
However she didn’t get the chance to finish as further into the marsh a group of 4 larger Lizard men wielding wooden shields and spears began to converge on their location. They traversed the muddy and creeper festooned terrain with ease, quickly closing on the Party.
“Cal distract, Michelle burn, the rest, the stragglers.”
Their tall leader rattled off.
“I fuckin hate this part…”
Grumbled Their Apprentice Knight, as he closed the distance between the approaching enemies and quickly cast [Lesser Taunt]. When their leader had put forth the plan Michelle, with heart hammering, had begun casting [Fireball] so as Calvin had released his [Lesser Taunt] she was 2 seconds from releasing the spell.
“DOWN!”
She yelled as the spell went forth toward the semicircle of reptilians intently focused on the Australian. Leaping backwards and skidding in the mud, in an ample impression of a Jamaican bobsled team toward his Party, the slow moving ball of fire made contact with their foe and released a deafening blast of sound and oppressive heat:
Your party has slain a Silaurian Initiate Warrior level 55, all experience awarded equally.
Your party has slain a Silaurian Initiate Warrior level 55, all experience awarded equally.
Your party has slain a Silaurian Initiate Warrior level 54, all experience awarded equally.
Your party has slain a Silaurian Initiate Warrior level 57, all experience awarded equally.
Your party has slain a Silaurian Initiate Warrior level 53, all experience awarded equally.
Slack jawed at the results of their efforts the party collectively blinked in bewildered surprise at the string of notifications. Before Michelle offered.
“Well call me a chapero piñata and whack me with a stick….guess they really don’t like fire…”
“That…was a welcome outcome…”
Supplied Svetlana in a relieved tone.
“God’s dammit, I’m bloody filthy again!”
Calvin half spat, much to the amusement of the rest.
“I think brown and green suits you.”
Added the Apprentice Archer, to which Un-Bep’ee confirmed unashamedly.
“Hahah, my friend I’m afraid I must agree!”
He said with a chuckle.
Svetlana waded through the shin deep mud to get to the bodies whilst Calvin scraped off the now semi-baked mud from his armor with the shaft of his mace. With the enemies manamotes retrieved, whilst Un’Bep’ee muttered about wasted loot, the Apprentice Spearwoman prompted somewhat insistently.
“This time no loitering Calvin, we go left.”
And without further ado they headed deeper into the swampy and fetid marsh land.
The further they pressed into the marsh, the more the mist seemed to descend from its lazy drifting overhead to a neigh omnipresent blanket, obscuring everything more than 10 feet in front of them.
“This is bad is it not? Should I get out the [Mage-light Stone]’s?”
Their Apprentice Cleric asked in a nervous whisper.
“What, so we can mark ourselves for archers to pick us off?”
Their incredulous Apprentice Knight replied to which Michelle countered tentatively.
“What about a [Fire Ball] to burn some of it off?”
Farooq only shook his head at the proposed ideas and looked to Svetlana with a pleading expression on his face.
“I think it best if we continue without lights, any spell we use will draw them to us, which is a bad plan yes?”
Griping internally Michelle made a mental note to not put forward any more bright ideas in the future, before Spanish expletives consumed her thoughts whilst the Party quietly waded through the now knee-high murky and mosquito infested water.
She was unsure exactly, how long it took them to reach the only raised bit of land they had found in the Marsh, but when they did, it gave the impression of stretching on forever, as the only terrain visible in a bank of thick fog could.
Coming to a halt after a time, the cautiously traveling in front Calvin, held his mace aloft in a halting gesture. Motioning to his eyes with his fore and index fingers of his hand, followed by his index finger in a pointing motion directly in front of himself then followed by the same index finger a finger to his lips.
Michelle was quietly impressed he managed all this while not hitting himself in the face with his own weapon, also got the message that they were to come and take a look at something as quietly as possible.
Shuffling up stealthily beside their Apprentice Knight, she could just make out through the vapor laden fog that there was the beginnings of some type of tan colored material directly in front of where he’d halted.
Heart racing in anticipation of the probably combat that would ensue, Michelle began to look to her lover for direction when a hissing voice emanated from the fog close by.
“My lord, the planetsss nativesss have come oncccce more! This time there were ssseveral casssualtiesss!”
There was a growl in followed up by a deeper toned voice.
“Where are their corpsssesss?”
To which the first speaker hissed out in groveling reply.
“Pleassse forgive thisss one, there were none found my lord.”
“They musssst be on their sssssecond classsesss… it ssseemsss I might actually get a chanccccee to sssstreccch my limbsss thisss time.”
Then the second voice paused for a moment before releasing an ear splitting, half screeching roar.
“KIEEEEEERRRRRK! THE NATIVESSS HAVE COME AGAIN MY CLUTCHMATESSS! IF THEIR CHAMPION ISSS HERE, DO NOT ENGAGE IT WITHOUT MY PRESENCE! BRING HONOR TO THE QUEEN THISSS DAY BEFORE WE FEASSST UPON THEIR FLESSSSH!
When the speaker finished his eardrum assaulting command there was a chorus of hissed responses like a discordant choir of snakes. Following which, a ruffling of tent flaps and an orderly thudding of heavy footsteps and clanking metal broke out, then tense heat beat by tense heat beat, faded from the Party’s straining ears.
In response Svetlana signaled for them to retreat back whence they had come till they were some 100 footfalls removed from their previous location before she spoke in a quiet whisper.
“So the good news, we found their camp. The bad, they are the smartest monsters we have encountered, clearly organized and many. Your thoughts?
“Hit and run starting with the camp guards.”
Proffered Calvin to which Michelle added.
“I’m with Cal. No pinche way can we take that many in a straight up fight…”
“I concur.”
Confirmed their Apprentice cleric before they all looked to Farooq for his opinion and he supplied.
“Why for you look to me? I just shoot the things…”
His response eliciting soft chuckles, Svetlana closed out the make shift strategy session.
“Ok! Like big man said, in and out, and remember, be quiet and calm, but deadly!”
In an effort to play it cool Michelle rolled her eyes in response to her bunkmate’s combat mantra, as a poorly timed rush of arousal ran through her. The rest of the Party however had grim smiles as they nodded their ascent, and with that they proceeded to make short bloody work of the camps remaining guards:
Your party has slain a Silaurian Initiate Warrior level 55, all experience awarded equally.
...
Your party has slain a Silaurian Scout level 52, all experience awarded equally.
....
Your party has slain a Lesser Silaurian Crocodile level 51, all experience awarded equally.
.....
Your party has slain a Silaurian Initiate Warrior level 56, all experience awarded equally.
Willing away the last kill notification as the two front liner’s finished off the lone Silaurian Initiate Warrior, Michelle watched as Svetlana and Calvin cleaned their weapons of reptilian blood in a mechanical fashion, whilst a much happier Apprentice Cerlic began picking over the itemized spoils of the lizardmen.
Shaking her head to free herself of the near overwhelming surreal sense of her new normal, she whispered.
“So what now?”
Shrugging their leader responded in kind.
“We are stuck here until we finish them all, what else but hunt them before they us?”
Stifling her growing concern at the unknown of the situation, she nodded in response as Calvin added in an annoyed hiss.
“Anything that gets us out of this fucking mud and fog faster gets my vote.”
This received smiles and nods of agreement from the rest and the leggy Apprentice Spearwoman finished by instructing.
“Ready check, and use Mana potion if you are less than 85% full. We do not want repeat of giant snake incident, yes?”
Another low round of laugh’s issued from the Party as Michelle shot a scowl at her partner’s blatant act of betrayal. Like it was possible for her to ever forget how she ran out of Mana and got swallowed whole by the ambushing Large Striped Mamba before they got around to rescuing her! And why the hell did Svet feel need to remind everyone about it?
In response to her fuming, Svetlana pinched her rear as she thoroughly ignored the provocation and brought up her ‘status’:
STATUS
Name: Michelle
Age: 23
Titles: Survivor
Class 1:Apprentice Mage Level : 49
Class 2: N/A
Profession: N/A
HP: 119/94 + 25 (119) MP: 415 / 311 + 150 (461)
Status Effects: N/A
Vitality: 40 x 1.05 (42)
Strength: 20 Dexterity: 20
Intelligence: 104 + 21 (125) Wisdom: 106 + 10 x 1.05 (122)
Charisma: 9 Luck: 7
Undistributed Attribute points: 0
Passives –
Human: + 5 attribute points per level
Lingua System: Able to communicate verbally with any system integrated entity and be understood
Introspective: + 5% to Wisdom
Survivor: + 5% to Vitality
True Believer: + 15% to damage dealt and -10% damage taken when taking an action or actions that you believe are correct , -20% damage dealt and + 15% damage taken when taking an action or actions you believe are incorrect.
Skills – Apprentice Mage
1) Magic Missile (LvL 10): Cast a Magic Missile at a single target causing it to seek the target whilst caster is in line of sight and deal 30 – 70 Arcane damage (damage and mana cost scales with skill level). Cost: 15 Mana, Cast time: 1 second, Cooldown: 10 seconds
2) Minor Mana Barrier (LvL 10): Cast a Minor Mana Barrier within 1 meter of yourself that is able to absorb damage until the imbued mana is depleted (size, absorption and mana cost scales with skill level) Radius: 1 Meter, Cost: 20 Mana, Cast time: 3 seconds, Cooldown: 30 seconds
3) Blink (LvL 8): Cast Blink on yourself causing you to disappear and reappear instantaneously at a target location 8 meters from your current position (distance, cooldown and mana cost scales with skill level) Cost: 23 Mana, Cast time: 0 seconds, Cooldown: 25 seconds
4) Fireball (LvL 10): Cast a slow moving Fire Ball toward a target location which will explode on contact with any surface causing a radial explosion of 100 – 110 Fire damage (damage and mana cost scales with skill level). Cost: 35 Mana, Cast time: 6 seconds, Cooldown: 10 seconds
5) Silence (LvL 10): Cast the effect of Silence on a target causing it to be unable to use magic for 10 seconds. If the target is casting while Silence is cast upon it the spell being cast will be interrupted and cause disorientation to the target for 20 seconds. The target has a chance to resist the effects of Silence based on their wisdom and intelligence when compared to that of the caster (Duration of silence, disorientation, cast time and mana cost scales with skill level). Cost: 20 Mana, Cast time: 2 seconds, Cooldown: 60 seconds
6) Frost Nova (LvL 7): Cast a nova of frost that rapidly radiates outward for a distance of 3.5 meters, causing 35 – 70 of frost damage (Distance, damage and mana cost scale with skills level). Cost: 30 Mana, Cast time: 1 second, Cooldown: 30 seconds
When she finished distributing her Attribute points she then looked to her item’s durability:
Wo’Dan Apprentice Warlock’s Sky-Iron Staff
Level Requirement: 47
Attributes: Melee Damage + 27 – 31, Magic Power + 78 – 106, +11 Intelligence, +26% damage to all magical skills, +21% to Mana Regeneration.
Durability: 141/163
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
Description: A mana infused Wo’Dan apprentice warlock’s sky-iron staff, inscribed with intermediate offensive runes, basic empowerment and basic support runes. An Wo’Dan warlock’s uncommon magical staff crafted by two unknown Wo’Dan crafstmen.
Elevant Aspirant’s Empowering Robe
Level Requirement: 40
Attributes: Increase Physical and magical defense by 10%, +10 Intelligence, +10 Wisdom +25 Maximum Health, + 150 Maximum Mana, +10% power to all spells
Durability: 79/100
Description: Intricately woven mana enriched robe, embroidered with basic defensive runes, intermediate enhancement and empowerment runes. A necessary yet uncommon magical item generated for phase 1 worlds.
Finishing her durability check and signaling the others with a thumbs up, she waited a few seconds for the others to do the same.
When Calvin had finished downing a [Basic Mana Vapor Potion] Un-Bep’ee had fished from his [Moderate Bag of Holding], they formed up and moved stealthily in the direction of where the multitude of claw tracks led.
Passing the shadowy, inert forms of the willowy and moss festooned trees that occasionally loomed out at them from the fog, they tensely traversed the boggy marshland as quietly as they were able.
Doing so for what felt like hours, Michelle had half jumped at a whizzing insect or a swaying branch more times than she could count, and it inevitably reached the point where she was not afraid to admit that she just wanted to go the fuck home.
Svetlana motioning for the rest to halt wrested her from her internal grouching, as the tall Russian pointed to her ear and made the gesture for silence.
Closing her eyes and focusing only on sounds, Michelle gradually started to filter out the common ambient sounds of their environment and slowly began to discern the telltale faint *rasp*ing and *clank*ing of metal making contact with objects.
Opening her eyes again she looked to the others for guidance as she couldn’t tell where exactly they emanated from, Calvin was pointing in the direction to the Party’s left while Farooq was pointing just a bit to the left of where he indicated.
Svetlana being adjudicator of the silent vote, pointed to Farooq and nodded in confirmation, and a softly sighing Calvin shrugged and nodded his agreement, as once more they set off.
Edging and questing for their foe in eerie silence while in all but unknown terrain, was one of the most difficult things she had ever done, well that or pretending to actually enjoy Svetlana’s cooking…
So maybe second most difficult.
Despite the omnipresent obstacles the Party strove ever onward, over the rambling and boggy terrain in pursuit of the sounds of metal that were becoming more and more distinct over the susurrations of their ghost like surrounds.
Now easily able to detect the direction of their prey, Svetlana brought them to a halt and signaled Michelle with the hand motion for explosion, then putting a hand in a wall shape in front of the other one and pointing to Calvin.
The two immediately understood her mute communiqué by way of experience and Michelle diligently waited for Calvin to stand two feet in front of her, shielding the light the spell would cast.
A spark of fire bloomed into the all too familiar spells formative stage as she began to cast [Fire Ball] whilst targeting the direction from where the sounds originated.
“Now!”
Michele whispered loudly enough for Calvin to hear and he dove to the side instantly with a none too soft *Squelch* while the completed [Fire Ball] careened free of her hands, toward their prospective foes, illuminating the shallow watered clearing they found themselves in with its passage.
The spell traveling a few feet a second was by no means slow, but given it was the only light source in the dank and fetid environs, it naturally alerted the now visible Silaurian’s to its imminent arrival.
As the mail clad group of five enemies scrambled into action, their moments surprise cost them three of their number’s lives with their three clawed feet failing to find enough purchase to get out of the spells scorching blast radius in time:
Your party has slain a Silaurian Initiate Honor Guard level 61, all experience awarded equally.
Your party has slain a Silaurian Initiate Honor Guard level 59, all experience awarded equally.
Your party has slain a Silaurian Initiate Honor Guard level 60, all experience awarded equally.
Willing away the notifications, Michelle rushed to take in the glorious destruction her [Fire Ball] had wrought on the monsters.
The smell of cooked flesh and burnt wood found her first as she began to rapidly blink her stinging eyes in an effort to keep the hot and smoke filled air at bay. When it had dissipated enough, she saw through the haze of heat a half enflamed tree trunk next to a crater the size of a small car and on its outskirts, two mud baked forms of the remaining Silaurian Initiate Honor Guards.
One of the two surviving and mud crusted lizardmen uncurled from his cowering fetal position and let out a screech in alarmed anger at their ambushers.
“KIEEEEEEERRRRRRRK!”
Not waiting for a better invitation Farooq finished wiping his eyes with his sleeve and loosed [Staggering Shot] at the screecher quickly followed up by the rapid staccato of [Strafe], at its companion. Their two front liner’s charged the partially skewered and now prone humanoids and with the sound of braking metal, flesh and bone being smashed and severed, the Party was simultaneously informed of their demise, however Michelle received more than she was expecting:
Your party has slain a Silaurian Initiate Honor Guard level 60, all experience awarded equally.
Your party has slain a Silaurian Initiate Honor Guard level 58, all experience awarded equally.
You have leveled up.
Your party has slain a Silaurian Initiate Honor Guard level 58, all experience deferred until class is evolved.
You have reached level 50, primary class evolution now possible:
>Initiate Ice Mage (Uncommon)
>Initiate Fire Mage (Uncommon)
>Initiate Mage (Common)
>Initiate Air Mage (Uncommon)
>Initiate Illusion Mage (Common)
>Initiate Sound Mage (Uncommon)
…Selection time remaining: 4 Minutes 59 seconds...
Blinking in surprise at the options in the final blue box, and setting aside the abruptness of the situation, only one really spoke to her. Without wasting any more time she mentally selected ‘Initiate Fire Mage’.
Feeling a rush of energy emanate from her solar plexus she was bombarded again with text laden notifications:
Your primary class has evolved into Initiate Fire Mage +1 Intelligence per class level, retroactive application of +50 Intelligence commencing…
The skill Magic Missile evolved to Fire Bolt.
The skill Minor Mana Barrier evolved to Lesser Fire Shield.
The skill Frost Nova evolved to Fire Nova.
Primary class has reached level 50. Secondary class choice enabled:
>Apprentice Spearwoman (Common)
>Apprentice Woman At Arms (Common)
>Apprentice Archer (Common)
>Apprentice Mage (Common)
>Apprentice Bard (Uncommon)
>Apprentice Warlock (Uncommon)
...Selection time remaining: 4 Minutes and 59 seconds...
Still reeling from the previous results of her class’s evolution all of Michelle’s confidence seemed to have evaporated.
Turning to her Party for help she notice that while the other three were alert to their surroundings apparently having finished collecting gear from the enemies corpses, Svetlana also had a befuddled expression on her face.
Closing the distance to her partner and leader, she motioned the others to join as well.
Once sufficiently grouped, she informed them about the choices she was presented with and the outcome of the first one to which she received mixed responses.
“About bloody time I got some flashier skills!”
Was the Apprentice Knight’s excited whisper. To which their Apprentice Archer responded whilst tapping his chin.
“This provides interesting possibilities, that for is certain….”
“I do wonder though, if the common to uncommon is an upgrade or just a different path.”
The Apprentice Cleric added in a thoughtful whisper.
“I too received a choice, though I have not yet chosen…..Perhaps…yes…I am now an Initiate Maiden of Battle….and also…..an Apprentice Spearwoman once more.”
Confirmed Svetlana in a low tone, as her face shifted from pensive to surprised, then it finished its journey at pleased.
Smiling at their leader’s endearing quirks, she pulled up her list and asked the others what she should pick for her secondary class.
“I am but a humble taxi driver, but I would suggest Apprentice Archer.”
Offered Farooq as a mischievous smile played across his lips. Smirking at his trite reply she looked to Un-Bep’ee for answers.
“Even if it has been over a year since we have been using these…things, I would not feel comfortable to advise someone else, let alone myself on such matters.”
The Botswanan supplied, in a self-deprecating way, no sooner had he finished Calvin espoused animatedly.
“Look it’s simple really, you like sitting back and shooting things with magic yeah? So just pick one of the magic ones. We have enough melee and Bep can run interference for you and Farooq so it’s a no brainer…”
Frowning at his take on it she replied.
“Yeah I get all of that, and I know Lana was only teasing about the snake…sort of… but what if I need to stab things?”
Sighing in exasperation, Calvin condescendingly added.
“Fine… put all that aside if you want, but what about your attributes? You’ll be forced into having to invest in physical ‘and’ mental and end up being a master of none if you go that route…”
Annoyed that he was right, Michelle was just about to make a point about how melee felt like the right choice and it wasn’t about the fucking attributes and tactics, when Svetlana interjected before the argument could escalate into raised voices.
“Silence! This is no time for fighting we mu-“
But she failed to finish her sentence as a deep and hissing voice interjected.
“On the contrary, little mammal’sss, now isss the prefect time for fighting….”
Suddenly every one of the Party members froze where they stood.
“Before we get to sssuch pleasssantriesss, I have a proposssition for you sssoft ssskinsss….”
Svetlana narrowed her eyes in suspicion at the offer, but she obviously felt it worth engaging the fog shrouded speaker as she asked.
“What is this proposition of yours, man lizard?”
Chuckling for a heart thumping moment, the disembodied voice continued conversationally;
“It’sss sssimple anssswersss I ssseek tailesss onesss…tell me where your champion isss and I will make your endsss quick and painlesss…”
Feeling her breathing stop completely as her heart attempted with renewed vigor, to escape her ribcage, Michelle frantically sought guidance. Eyes finding Svetlana, she noted in budding relief that the Russian was covertly signaling Un-Bep’ee to use his [Blinding Light] spell after a count of 10. Her hand subsequently made the gesture for [Fire Ball] in her an Calvin’s direction as she kept the monster talking;
“Sorry to disappoint you man lizard, but I know of no champion…”
Laughing once more the ominous voice countered.
“Sssurely warriorsss of your caliber are above deccception? How could you not know of the one who commandsss a progenitorsss classs?”
Laughing in turn she asked the voice with a hint of scorn creeping into her voice.
“Hah, now you are just making up fancy words scale man!….NOW BEP’EE!”
She finished with a yell and even though Michelle had her eyes closed and was ready for the blinding flash she almost faltered the beginnings of her [Fire Ball] cast that was forming behind their Apprentice Knight’s back.
“HONORLESSS SSSCUM!”
The leader screamed as the Silaurian’s hissed out collectively in pain and annoyance.
Willing her mana through the spell form as her vision blanked out momentarily, she felt the [Fire Ball] come to completion as she yelled.
“CAL!”
And loosed it toward the voice of the angered Silaurian. Rolling to the side the Apprentice Knight got to his feet and ran in a tangent from the careening [Fire Ball], Svetlana simultaneously mirroring his movements on the other side of the glowing projectile while Farooq drew his bow taut, in anticipation of the spell revealing some unprepared reptilians.
Unfortunately, unlike the time before, the green scaled enemies were much quicker to react to the appearance of a molten sphere of fire traveling toward them. So by the time the spell had revealed its intended targets, they had managed to split into two groups of five as their sleek bodies darted away from their potential doom.
Making a snap decision Michelle willed the [Fire Ball] to detonate when it was still an equidistant few feet from the dashing reptilian groups.
Releasing a deafening explosion, the spell seemed to both suck in the surrounding air and expel it as the superheated oxygen was ignited, heated and displaced all at the same time.
Two of the fleeing lizards were too slow as notifications appeared and were willed away in Michelle’s vision:
Your party has slain a Silaurian Initiate Honor Guard level 62, all experience awarded equally.
Your party has slain a Silaurian Initiate Honor Guard level 61, all experience awarded equally.
You have leveled up +1 to intelligence.
The six remaining Silaurian’s dove into the quickly evaporating brackish and murky water to ensure their survival. What Michelle did not expect however, was one of the prone forms to loose a spear of ice straight at the still charging Svetlana. Managing to initially dodge the projectile in a blur of movement, it too veered at the last second, tearing straight through her leather armor and into her thigh.
The scream Michelle’s partner released as she faltered mid stride, was something that grated at her very soul, yet unable to lend immediate aide she opted for the next best thing, furiously sending a [Fire Bolt] streaking at the offending individual.
Beside her and with a plethora of now visible targets, Farooq set about loosing skills and plain arrows, with calm and ruthless efficiency.
The Silaurians now recovered from their desperate evasions had started to return fire with bow and spell alike. Michelle opting for partial defense and offense was forced to erect [Lesser Fire Shield] in tandem with their cleric’s [Minor Sanctuary] when either spell faltered and collapsed under their enemy’s assault.
She idly noted that the group to the left that Calvin had engaged was employing similar tactics to great effect. However the one closest to the beleaguered and evading Svetlana, seemed to lack a shielding ability, opting for a traditional solid one instead and coupled with his lone position paid the ultimate price for it:
Your party has slain a Silaurian Initiate Honor Guard level 63, all experience awarded equally.
“EYES!”
Yelled the Apprentice Cleric before casting [Blinding Light] and once more bathing the area in piecing white light. Reacting just in time to close her eyes and reduce the light to a merely temporary artifact inducing level, Michelle opened them to find all the Silaurians but the largest blinded yet again.
“KIEERRRRRK! TARGET THEIR MAGESSS YOU INTELLIGENCCCCE DEFICCCICENTSSSS!”
Bellowed the largest one, she labeled as their leader.
“We advance!”
Comanded Un-Bep’ee, pointing to Svetlana’s limping and muddied shape, all but ignoring the Silaurian’s leader, engaged by their battered but still standing Apprentice Knight.
Making haste to their own leader, they were able to regroup with their Apprentice Cleric’s [Blinding Light] skill having bought them an easy passage, also enabling she and Farooq to cast and shoot unmolested subsequently earning another two welcome notifications:
Your party has slain a Silaurian Initiate Honor Guard level 62, all experience awarded equally.
Your party has slain a Silaurian Initiate Honor Guard level 60, all experience awarded equally.
Erecting an orange and translucent [Lesser Fire Shield], Un’Bep’ee quickly got to work channeling [Minor Heal] to Svetlana’s skewered thigh. Taking a moment to look at the harried, yet beautiful Russian woman, Michelle let out a sigh of relief as her wan complexion began to visibly improve.
“A LITTLE FUCKING HE-“
Was all that Calvin was able to get out before an arrow thwacked between his mail armors unprotected knee joint resulting in the leg all but collapsing and him loosing his bracing stance. Whipping her head to look at the injured Australian, Michelle watched in horror as the kneeling man held his shield up to block an incoming spear slash and already having lost his center of balance, was knocked casually to the muddy ground by his skilled assailant.
Going in for a killing blow the larger reptilian leader flourished his polearm and brought it down on the hapless Apprentice Knight. Refusing to go quietly he brought his mace up to [Lesser Parry] the death blow, and although succeeding in his gambit, the lizard man retaliated by letting go of his deflected weapon completely, then grabbed Calvin’s mace arm faster than Michelle’s eyes could follow.
Numbly she looked on as her [Lesser Fire Shield] flickered from another bolt of ice from a remaining scaled foe, whilst the sound of their tank’s breaking arm seemed to cut through the sound of the spells hissing impact.
“NIET!”
Roared their leader and from the corner of her eye Michelle saw the Initiate Battle Maiden’s spear begin to glow white before it disappeared in a blur of motion as Svetlana hurled it at the preoccupied Silaurian leader.
Holding her breath as the dazzling spear turned into a streak of light, she barely managed to follow its passage toward Calvin’s tormentor, and although the spear flew true, Michelle’s unspoken prayer of a miraculous lizardly impaling was denied. As at the last split second a globe of transparent blue flashed into existence around the three reptilian’s that assailed the lone human, causing the spear to deflect harmlessly to the muddy ground at its side.
Then as if the glowing spear and frost like globe were not enough fodder for her racing hearts oxygen starved plight, Svetlana winked out of existence in a flash of white light. One moment she was standing stationary next to her and the next she reappeared a moment later, holding the thrown spear in a lunging position.
Her mind transfixed by the recent development, she watched enraptured as the Initiate Battle Maiden slashed and stabbed at the newly formed defensive barrier, only managing to come to her senses when her [Lesser Flame Shield] failed completely.
Casting his [Minor Sanctuary], Un-Bep’ee created golden translucent dome that defended their position anew, from the still oncoming projectiles. Passing her a [Basic Mana Vapor Potion] he too began downing one before passing another to the obviously fatigued Farooq.
Switching back to offense, Michelle sent [Fire Bolt] after [Fire Bolt] in an effort to help Svetlana crack the flickering defensive dome.
Quicker than she had anticipated the hemisphere winked out of existence to reveal the large Silaurian holding the dangling and bloody form of Calvin by a malformed arm whilst the Australian feebly coughed up blood, causing it to dribble down his obviously fractured jaw and stained chainmail to the fetid muddy ground.
His reptilian tormentor glanced to the side as he was cocking an arm to again punch his un-resisting prey, then sported an approximation of a smile as its forked tongue flickered this way and that as it skirted its tooth infested mouth.
“Maybe you will be more of a challenge than thisss one.”
It hissed out mockingly to the blonde haired Russian while tossing Calvin’s body like a spent rag to the muddy and pocked ground as it deftly retrieved its polearm from where it had stuck it.
Stopping her fiery assault for fear of hitting her allies, Michelle gritted her teeth as she could only watch Svetlana charge headlong at the monstrous humanoids.
Gesturing with it’s weapon in the direction of the two surviving members of the other Silaurian group it yelled a command to the remaining mage and bowman behind it whilst it eagerly the human leaders charge.
“THISSS ONE ISSS MINE, AID THE OTHERSSS!”
Beside her she flinched as a raspy voice yelled into her ear.
“MICHELLE FIREBALL!”
The normally reserved Farooq demanded while pointing with the end of his bow toward the other group of Silaurian Honor Guards with an encouraging glint in his eye.
Berating herself at being so short sighted, she began casting [Fire Ball] with the wounded two Silurian Honor Guard and their rapidly approaching reinforcements in mind.
As their Apprentice cleric’s shield flickered and collapsed from the renewed enemy assault Michelle loosed her [Fire Ball], designating the almost arrived pair she began shooting [Fire Bolt] after [Fire Bolt] at the staff carrying lizard man.
Reacting as expected another icy dome winked into existence around their now four cold blooded opponents. Farooq having recovered some of his mana loosed a staccato [Strafe] at the barrier causing it to fail almost as quickly as it had formed.
With a shared vicious smile between the two ranged attackers, they watched as her [Fire Ball] made devastating contact with the now unprotected, scaled humanoids. The resulting explosion confirmed her visceral want of vengeance as death notifications occluded her vision:
Your party has slain a Silaurian Initiate Honor Guard level 61, all experience awarded equally.
You have leveled up +1 to Intelligence.
Your party has slain a Silaurian Initiate Honor Guard level 60, all experience awarded equally.
Your party has slain a Silaurian Initiate Honor Guard level 62, all experience awarded equally.
Your party has slain a Silaurian Initiate Honor Guard level 64, all experience awarded equally.
Willing away the notifications as she grinned victoriously at the smoldering crater she admonished herself mid gloat, as she remembered Calvin’s horrific defeat. Turning to look at where their leader was doing battle with the remaining Silaurian, her heart refused to work like it was supposed to.
Mind drawing a blank at the sight of her lover being held aloft at the end of the monsters polearm like a freshly caught fish, skewered there with her vital fluid running down it’s shaft Michelle collapsed to her knees, bereft of all hope and reason.
“ISSS THISSS THE BESSST YOUR KIND CAN OFFER? SSSURLEY THOSSSE ABLE TO KILL THE SSSCALED PRINCESSS COULD OFFER MORE RESSSSISSSTANCE THAN THISSS?”
She numbly heard the words but her mind meandered through them like they were alphabet soup tipped into the ocean during a storm.
As they washed over her drowning mind she heard the twang of Farooq’s bow and barely registered its significance till her swimming vision showed the beasts polearm being flicked down to the side and her beloved’s corpse being strewn to the churned up marsh below.
Sufficiently angered by way of Farooq’s arrow having managed to lodge into the Silaurian’s left deltoid as it turned to shield it’s chest from the shot, it let out an enraged screech.
“KIIEEEEEEERRRRRK!”
Before it launched its now unencumbered polearm at the culprits own chest with unimaginable speed and accuracy.
It was only until Michelle turned groggily to her right when she felt a rush of air and noticed the absence of Farooq that she made sense of what had just happened, leading silent tears to start flow down her mud stained face.
As Un-Bep’ee ran after the now impaled Farooq who was screaming in agony she could only shakily swivel her head to the direction of the now approaching monster come lizard man as its heavy footfalls led it ever closer.
“PATHETICCC RAB-“
It began to taunt but was cut off when a glowing spear head protruded through its sternum with a wet *Schlick* sound, penetrating its chainmail armor and scales, like a hot knife through butter.
When it touched its clawed, three fingered hand to the bloodied glowing head and brought it back in front of its face in shock, it abruptly turned to look for the location of the new assailant.
As it turned it was like the sound and light was turned back on in Michelle’s dark and once hopeless void. Clinging on for dear life to the shaft of the spear was a bloody and battered blonde Russian. And though she was bucked about like a rider at a rodeo, her face wore a rictus grin as she demanded.
“LITTLE FIRECRACKER! EXPLOSION!”
“BUT WH-“
Michelle began to yell back in questioning protest, but was cut off by her lover’s one word command.
“NOW!”
Placing her trust in Svetlana, Michelle began to cast [Fire Ball] as the giant Silaurian clawed at its back in frustration as it spun frantically in an attempt to dislodge the dedicated Initiate Battle Maiden.
“EYES!”
Yelled her Apprentice Cleric from behind Michelle, causing her in learned reaction to jam them shut as tightly as possible.
Loosing her [Fire Ball] as the brief blinding light finished dissipating, she looked on as the fiery ball of death careened toward the struggling and riveted duo.
With growing horror Michelle realized that Svetlana was not letting go the closer the spell neared to the site of their struggle. Color drained from her face as she realized she never intended to let go in the first place. Failing to shake the confused train of thoughts from her brain until the last second, she only remembered she could prematurely detonate the spell when it was half a meter away from the embattled pair.
Issuing the mental command to the spell the explosion of fire, hot air and smoke knocked Michelle back from her kneeling position to lay flat on the mud caked and moisture evaporated ground:
Your party has slain a Silaurian Initiate Legate level 74, all experience awarded equally.
You have leveled up +1 to Intelligence.
You have leveled up +1 to Intelligence.
You have leveled up +1 to Intelligence.
Your party has slain a Initiate Battle Maiden level 55, all experience awarded equally.
Svetlana has left the Party.
Elevant has failed to make a choice in the allotted time frame, having failed to do so Elevant’s second class will now be chosen at random.
Second class chosen at random >Apprentice Spearwoman<
You have successfully cleansed a Dimensional Siphon!
Rewards: 500 Manamotes, [Necklace of Renewal]
Warning: Dimensional Siphon closing in 4 Minutes 59 Seconds
Barely registering the blinking of her blue mana bar, the slew of notifications and implications proved too much for Michelle’s already overtaxed mind.
So as the mana withdrawal headache set in, her consciousness opted for the only escape left too it.
It embraced the all too welcoming release of unconsciousness.