Blisters now!

My order came out as quick as the thing had materialized.

Not even a second passed before a volley of damage was sent hurtling towards the newly spawned blister.

It had only been a handful of minutes, but under pressure, with the threat of death looming, we grew and learned at voracious rates. We consumed and absorbed the mechanics of the raid. Feelings of inadequacy fell off like old skin. Buffs of inspiration flowed like banners atop castles that glowed of royalty.

We hummed with the glory of battle.

We, the poor bandit band, were royalty here. In our domain, the battlefield, we were kings.

To us, that's all that mattered.

Not out there.

Not the realm that distorts.

Not the high guilds that hold power.

Here, as I glance over at my fighting men, men who fight for the most human endeavor any man can ever aspire…to overcome the great obstacle blocking their path towards the next.

The next what?

I asked myself as I steeled my mind and readied my blade, for an opening was coming.

The hulking beast was still a product of the realm, meaning he possessed a stagger bar under his ruby red one.

One that was slowly filling it's fill.

A bucket soon overfilling.

Soon, I thought.

But what comes next?

A wail broke out as the faustenstien creation wheaped and fell to one knee.

His newly formed dialogue came next.

No no please not me!

Stolen novel; please report.

I don't know any better!

I was created for more!

Not to die for nothing!

Let me try and live!

It fell on deaf ears.

Marry Shelly no longer moved. Her body lay frozen in red tendrils of corruption, ones that moved throughout her body and fed of her life force, feeding her creation.

That which we love more than ourselves will be our downfall.

What goes beyond love?

I glanced over at the reason for my beating heart.

She danced amongst death with a grin that said, not today, and not ever.

What goes beyond love and what comes next?

Unlocking every cooldown, I prepared my final blow.

Glowing bright crimson my blade shivered and hummed, my muscles tensed and pumped. Feeling all parts mortal and godly, I yelled:

Now!

I screamed as we charged, intending to give the final blow.

And a final blow it was.

An eruption of red and golden crystals flooded the sky as the boss disintegrated into a million scattered particles.

Experience rushed in.

Progress once again.

The feeling was intoxicating.

I wanted more.

More of this feeling.

To be rewarded with gear was great, but this feeling of moving forward will never be surmounted.

What comes next?

What is beyond love?

I had no clue.

Raising my blade up high,

I screamed with the dragons breath still in my lungs.

Victors of today!

I congratulate my men for achieving another feat beyond ourselves!

For the realm!

Rumblings of earth moved and quaked as the rest of the raid joined in.

A delirium of victory began to flood in.

Life became a dream.

Shelly moved towards me.

Life stopped.

Everyone allowed us our space.

I didn't know what it was.

Was it my thoughts or the toxin that was victory?

Whatever the reason was, I took Shelly in my arms and then took her lips as well.

Her eyes cold and blue invited me in and then closed off from the world.

I followed her lead.

Forgetting where I was.

I lost myself in the moment.

In a dance shared by her and I.

And her and I alone.