Swordslayer and Ozun battled each other in a flurry of flashing steel and speed. The two highly skilled combatants took up the entirety of the corridor and chamber. They both utilized the Sanguine Blades style and mirrored each other with precise movements and attacks. Any slight imperfection in technique or hesitation resulted in a cut. And the two sword fighters nicked each other a few times already. Each time blood was drawn, they would pause to speak to each other as if they were friends instead of mortal enemies.
"Nice, that was well timed," Swordslayer proclaimed after Ozun landed a cut in between the armor plates of his arm.
"Thank you," the other replied, and the two resumed their dance of death.
Ozun was bleeding from a gash along his cheek and the two fought with such intensity that an aura of physical energy could be felt emanating from them. It was as if the two were not a part of a team and they encountered each other by themselves. Also fighting back and forth within the hallway and chamber was Zabo and the stocky Cultists, Shiv.
Zabo's sharp eyes had spotted Shiv, the Cultist assassin, and the two faced off against each other. Each tentatively tested the other's defense.
"You fight with the falchion in the style of the Sand Vipers," Shiv observed.
The stocky Cultist wielded a curved scimitar and a sharp kukri. He attacked high and dove low, but Zabo was too clever for such tactics. The bald Amber guard deflected one attack and evaded the second while countering with a flourish, which forced Shiv to retreat.
Shiv grinned and asked, "You have good instincts to have spotted me. You are a Sand Viper? Tell me I am wrong."
Without hesitation or waiting for a response, the bald Cultist lunged forward with a two-pronged attack that came from different angles. Zabo casually defended and evaded with the proper footwork of a skilled fencer.
"You are Sand Viper, I know it. You have taken the vow of silence and have had your tongue removed. Before coming to the Guild, you were of the highest rank among the Vipers. A truly worthy opponent," Shiv continued to speak. He gave a brief salute before rapidly attacking again.
Shiv tried to redirect Zabo's falchion to the side with his scimitar in order to open up an opportunity to stab with his knife. The disadvantage for Zabo was that he wielded a single weapon in two hands. Shiv was able to tie up the Amber Guard's falchion with his sword and attack with his knife. However, the disadvantage for Zabo was also an advantage under the proper circumstances, and a good fighter knew how to create those circumstances. The falchion wielded in two hands allowed the fighter more leverage over the single-handed scimitar. Zabo was able to twist his sword to free from the bind and take control of the centerline, which allowed the bald Amber Guard a quick thrust and a sudden downward parry. The tip of his curved sword nicked Shiv's forehead, and the parry knocked the dagger out of the Cultist's hand.
"I can speak. I chose not to," Zabo replied.
Shiv quickly retreated while nursing the bleeding wound to his head. The bald Cultist scowled and drew another curved knife from his heavy leather jacket.
The pale lady with the spiderweb tattoos quickly Summoned and Shaped a wall of thorny vines that burst from the ground to entangle Tara and Aaron. Rainbow easily countered and dispelled the attack. The Vines crumbled to dust and disappeared as fast as they were Summoned.
"We have more fighters, and they have more casters. Push through fast and hard and pressure their Rune artists," Rainbow said to her teammates.
Without hesitation, Tara and Aaron complied. They fought hard against Drake's sword and shield. Tara chopped down heavily with her halberd, and the blow banged loudly against Drake's shield, forcing the disgraced Legionnaire captain to the side. This allowed Aaron to charge forth after Val. To Rainbow, the blonde-haired Rune caster looked pale and sickly. It must be from using the Rift aspect, Rainbow considered.
Drake tried to interpose himself but was forced back again by Tara's powerful blows of her halberd. Val began to Summon balls of fire but was disrupted as Rainbow bombarded her with a salvo of stone fists. Web, the pale lady with the spiderweb tattoos, unleashed a wide net made out of webbing that was too large to dodge. The web engulfed Rainbow.
"This is new," the multi-colored hair lady stated.
Rainbow's arms were tied tightly against her body, but her hands and wrists were free to move. She tapped a Channeling tool with one hand and rapidly completed glyphs with her other hand. She ended the chain with a snap of her fingers, which Summoned a burst of flame that rapidly burned away the webbing, and she was free. Aaron slashed and sliced Val, who, under pressure, was unable to complete the glyphs necessary for Rune caster. The blonde Cultist was forced to flee. Drake barely dodged a powerful blow from Tara and ran to smash his shield into Aaron's side. This forced the Amber Guard to fall and stumble back up to his feet. Val was safe for now. Drake grinned at the two before him that showed perfectly white teeth.
"I always wanted to test myself against the Amber Guard. I never imagined I could face two," he said.
"And I always wanted to face off against a treasonous bastard. Everyone gets what they want today!" Tara replied.
The red haired lady twirled her halberd around and rapidly attacked from different angles that included thrusts and slices. Drake parried with his sword and deflected with his shield, but he was too occupied to stop Aaron from pursuing Val. The blonde-haired lady was an extremely skilled Rune caster, and even under pressure, she was able to launch explosive fire magic at the Amber Guard. Aaron wielded a variety of Rune-covered weapons and tools. Even his shield had Rune chains etched along the inside. The Amber Guard tapped one chain and completed a glyph with his fingers, and he poured some of his Will into it. A frost spell was activated on his shield that negated Val's fireballs.
"Always happy when that works," Aaron muttered and he nicked Val across her hand with his sword.
The man-at-arms purposely attacked Val's hands as that was the best way to negate Rune casting. He managed a cut but was aiming to remove a finger. Val glared at him, and despite her injury, she was able to Summon and Shape a wall of flame that forced Aaron to pause his assault.
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Drake desperately tried to break free from Tara so that he could protect Val. Rainbow knew that Val, with the Rift aspect and other Rune magic abilities, was the key to victory in this standoff. The multi-colored-haired adventurer assessed the situation. Swordslayer and Ozun were both locked down. Zabo kept the sneaky assassin at bay. Rainbow, herself, faced off against the pale Rune caster with the spiderweb tattoos. Her name was Web, Rainbow recalled. Web was skilled in magic, but Rainbow was confident that she had the slight edge in this fight. As long as Tara kept Drake from protecting Val, and if Aaron could keep the pressure on the blonde lady, they could win this fight. Rainbow stayed focused on the moment, but she felt confident that they would win. That was until the Fiends came howling down the corridor toward them on flapping bat-like wings.
*****
"Be careful. These are Fiends, and they can range between Tier 4 and Tier 7," Miss Heng said.
"Where did these blasted things come from? I thought we agreed that the Lich was also fighting them," Kash pointed out.
The scarred Amber Guard put on his helmet, which covered his entire head and face, and readied his stiletto and sword. His teammates did the same with the practiced ease of seasoned teammates.
"Form up! Let us show these Fiends our might!" Orn roared, and he clanged his twin axes together. The sound echoed off the walls and reverberated in everyone's hearts.
Gunhild, Mikal, and Jeze Summoned the Frost aspect and pushed their hands out to Shape the Frostbite spell. Ice coated the walls, floor, and ceiling, and the first Fiends to enter within range noticeably slowed down as frost covered their red-skinned bodies.
"Attack!" Kash cried, and his team rushed forward to engage the weakened Demons.
Jeze felt invigorated as Rainia started the Vitality Spring. She saw that this taxed the Spirit Walker tremendously to have the spell enhance so many people. But if there was ever a time to do this, it was now. Because, in the distance down the corridor, a hulking Fiend with one eye marched toward them.
“Is that, Azsith?” Mikal wondered.
The Demon whose eye is a part of a sword.
"I hope so, I owe him a lost limb," Dunar growled.
"Yes!" Rolfe cheered.
"For glory!" Helga cried.
"Hurrah!" All the Frostsworn chanted back.
The two evenly sized groups clashed in a cacophony of steel, screams, and explosive Rune magic. Zena peppered the back ranks with explosive arrows, as Paca weakened them with the Moon aspect. The Fiends also unleashed their own magic of Fire, Darkness, and Afflictions. Jeze helped by Shaping away the curses, and Mikal rapidly healed the accumulating wounds as fast as he could. The fighting moved along the long corridors and opened into others. Both wounded and dying Fiends and Adventurers fell to the ground.
Orn and Miss Heng engaged the towering Greater Fiend with one eye. The Demon stood twice as tall as Orn and fought with a two-handed axe that was wreathed in flames. Miss Heng rapidly Summoned, Shaped, and Controlled a variety of Rune aspects that bombarded the giant Demon. Orn circled, dodged, and weaved gracefully around the monster while attacking with his axes with perfect execution. Despite their amazing abilities, the Greater Fiend appeared unharmed and more annoyed, if anything.
"Come child," Couzart said and he grabbed Jeze by her waist.
Before she could protest the two were shrouded in shadows and rapidly left the battlefield behind. They traveled so fast that Jeze felt her chest go down to her stomach and her stomach fall down to her ankles. They stopped just as suddenly, but were far enough away where the sounds of battle were faint like a memory. Jeze turned on Couzart.
"What are you doing?" She demanded and turned to run back.
Couzart held her with a grip that was stronger than Helga's! This was the strength of an Elite, Jeze realized as she tried to break free. He squeezed harder, and Jeze feared that her shoulder would snap. With fury, she tapped into her wrestling skills and ducked, twisted, and escaped his grasp. Her weapons were in her hands in an instant.
"Don't be foolish, child. You do not stand a chance against me," Couzart said. He didn't even bother with drawing his Scythe, which still shimmered with dark energy.
Jeze clanged her sword and axe together. It did not make the noise like Orn's, but it was enough to get her message across.
"Try me," she challenged.
Couzart rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Look, if you wish to help your friends, then you should help me to get the Hold Core. You are the only one that knows how to release it from the Stronghold."
"I'd rather help them by fighting alongside them," Jeze growled.
She backed away from the Elite and toward the sounds of battle. In a blur of darkness and shadow, Couzart appeared behind her and blocked her from going further. Jeze felt fear grip her heart. He was too strong! He was an Elite! How could she even hope to fight against him? But she crushed those thoughts in an instant.
"For glory!" Jeze roared and lunged forward with an overhand chop of her axe.
Couzart slipped the attack, but Jeze paused mid-swing, like the way Orn had shown her and swung again. She missed the elusive and faster Elite, but she continued with another slash of her axe. This time, she predicted where Couzart would dodge, and she sliced at that spot with her enchanted sword. The tip of her blade cut through Couzart's armor and drew blood along his shoulder.
In response, Couzart unslung his scythe. He attacked. Jeze dodged and Summoned a ball of bright light that blinded the Elite. Couzart shielded his eyes and saw numerous pockets of shadows.
"Fool, I am the Shadow Reaper," He growled and waved the Shadows away as one would smoke.
Jeze appeared on the side near the wall, and she launched a boulder at the Elite. Couzart chopped it in half with his scythe and blurred with tremendous speed to strike Jeze hard in her chest with the butt end of his weapon. Jeze felt her ribs crack, and she coughed up blood. She recovered as fast as she could. I just gotta fight through the pain, she told herself. But she was not fast enough as she felt Couzart's energy-infused scythe blade burn her chin.
"Make another move, and I will end you. Then, your friends will die next. Is that what you want?" Couzart said.
"You would kill them? Members of the Guild you swore to serve?" Jeze growled.
Couzart smiled weakly. He almost looked sad. "It wouldn't be me. They are fighting a losing battle now. The only way for us to win is if I get the Hold Core. With its power, I can end all of this, and no one else has to die."
Jeze truly hated the Hold Core, but what other choice did she have? "Do you promise to save my friends?"
"Yes."
"Swear it upon your life," Jeze stated.
"I swear upon my life and all that I love that I will protect you and your friends from harm."
Jeze sighed and asked, "I'm assuming you know where to go?"
Couzart grinned, and Jeze found that odd. It was as if they did not just fight to the death.
"Of course. I have this entire area mapped in my memory," the Elite replied with a tap to his forehead. Was that an Elite thing? All he did was look at Dunar’s map once.
In the distance, the sounds of battle continued to rage. Among the noise, Jeze could hear the screams of pain. Was that an adventurer? Was that one of her teammates? One of her friends?
"Let us go. We have little time," Couzart said and led her deeper into the Core Tunnels.