It felt like an armored gear suit-up. Solomon constantly checks each of everyone’s outfits and new gear for any potential fallouts. He went as far as doing the footwear and various other additions within a shorter time as he regained the time efficiencies he once had.
“Thank the Yinhai for how it turned out,” Solomon said, viewing everyone’s new look. “You all look good as new. This should get us out quicker.”
Daniel could hear the clunking sound as if he was wearing a heavy metal armored suit. He gave a feel of his feet, moving a couple of spaces around the workshop. “Wow, thanks a lot; somehow, the boots feel more comfortable around the edges of the foot despite nothing having changed with the sole. How common is Elefantstahl?”
“Not that much,” Solomon replied, rubbing his chin. “That’s due to the lack of knowledge and the lacking number of blacksmiths who know how to properly create and optimize it. But if there were, there would be huge supply and demand, yes.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Celeste isn’t a fan of overcoats for daily use like Daniel would wear, but she opted for a regular jacket. Sally, being the simplicity type, opted out of the extra wear. Instead, she received arm bands like Solomon’s.
“Are we ready to go?”
“Yeah, I’m ready to leave this hellhole. Too much torture down here.”
“Just a moment,” Solomon said, strolling back to the anvil.
Daniel and the other two watched as they saw his hand illuminating dark orange in a flash and dissipated. The anvil and sledgehammer were gone from the site, and Solomon returned. “Ok, we are good to go.”
“Where’s the anvil?” Daniel asked.
Solomon raised his hand, “Remember, I got my blacksmith abilities back hence I can summon it on my own will.” He snapped his fingers, and the heavy metal dropped straight to the floor.
“Convenient…”
Celeste sprinted right to the door, and they followed right behind her.
--
Swordsman Class In effect: +10% Stamina Recovery; +15% Endurance
--
Daniel wielded Licht, a greatsword, across his arm, and Celeste nudged away, almost tripping Sally. Licht spewed white qi of energy from the tip of the blade like an extension. White light extended the length of the blade by half of its original size, forcing Daniel to leap further away to give some distance. He danced with his sword while carefully not carelessly pointing it across multiple points of altitude until he could feel the urge reach his wrists.
Mimicking Solomon’s hammering of the sledgehammer, he went for it hard slam, creating a wide slash of qi that broke the door in half and shooting tsunami’s worth into the depths of the hallway. What was left was a roaring echo down in the dark abyss of a hallway. Qi dissipated from his blade, reverting to its original appearance.
Celeste, Sally, and Solomon went up and peeked over the entryway, viewing the bare darkness. Daniel flashed a step right to the entryway and released a trail of qi for lighting. He turned to them, “Shall we?”
“Wait, I almost forgot,” Solomon said, quickly pulling something out of his backpack. He took out two thin plates of metal about the size of his palms, holding one of each. Walking up to Daniel, he urged him to lift his chin. “You need this.”
“Alright…”
Solomon slid the two plates underneath Daniel’s jawline, placing them at the spot where he had metal cybernetics to fix his jaw.
A mechanical click followed by a push right on the spot and Solomon backed away. What felt like water flowed along his face and rubbed his beard like a massage only for it to harden both of his facial cheeks. For a moment, it tightens as if someone pinched his face. Next, something formed in front of his mouth and covered it up to the center of his nasal bone.
“A mask?” Daniel questioned, finding it extra.
“I haven’t told you this, but your flow of breathing needs some work. Sometimes you grunted too much after a battle, wasting your stamina.”
“How do I take this off?”
Solomon’s reaction turned priceless, almost reluctant to tell him. “I think you’ll know immediately after a couple of minutes.”
“No, I’m serious!”
Celeste had to disagree with this one, siding with Solomon. “Keep it on, it looks good on you.”
“Fine!” Daniel grunted, “Can we now leave?!”
“Yeah, yeah. After you,” Sally replied.
The hallway now brightened; Daniel strolled in until the three entered the hallway, which was when he began sprinting through. Solomon sped up like a flying boulder and passed him to the left and took over the lead.
“Light up,” Solomon yelled, prompting Daniel to jump midair, disrupting his momentum.
Daniel fired a tennis ball-sized blast and swung his sword like a baseball bat, speeding it right back at the workshop. He swirled and thrust his legs, summoning a flickering blue flame around his feet. The pressure momentarily gave him leverage to speed up, passing Solomon’s running speed briefly.
Boom!
Celeste cast a barrier, towering over Daniel which crashed into the ceiling. “Dan, lower yourself down!”
Yikes! Daniel went for an abrupt descent as he got bombarded by rain debris, dodging a few instances. He went low enough to almost touch the floor with his chest.
The loud explosion brightened the hallway and he could see his peripherals flashing from the bright light. Celeste’s barrier obstructed the gusts from pursuing further, effectively reflecting the air pressure.
Any time now! Daniel, raising his altitude, desperately waited for a turn as he kept his distance in line with Solomon’s.
“Prepare for a right!” Solomon announced, speeding up and drifting away along the flow of the path.
The path progressively curves until a full one-eighty straight, and the gust stops following the group. Celeste’s shield dissipated, and she summoned a flying platform. She leaped on, grabbing Sally’s arm with no resistance. The flying platform generated a wall-like around the perimeter, giving more leeway for the two to relax and comfort themselves without risking falling off.
The flying platform went by Daniel’s side, and Celeste stared briefly at him when he glared back. “Right by you.”
“I forgot you can cheat like this, fair play to you.”
“It’s not cheating, bastard. Bet I can run faster in a track match.”
“And I’ll win because I will take your platform.”
“Oh, so you are admitting you need assistance?”
Daniel shook his head, “Like I said, Cheats. Come on, you can’t beat a guy who evolved from running to flight.”
“Wanna bet on it?” Celeste offered.
“Let’s.”
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Solomon, too focused, saw a dead end. Quickly, Daniel cut his palm and allowed it to bleed his entire palm. Celeste does the same, revealing her purple hand. The two grabbed each other by the wrist, soaking their blood all over their skin until a bright light flashed through the thin spaces between their fingers.
Daniel lowered his legs, slowing down the platform as he was still holding onto Celeste’s wrist. His feet reunited with the floor, returning to sprinting. He let go of her and both revealed a hand mark all over flashing bright colors. That was the first time he saw her purple blood, meaning her qi was purple. Purple light engulfed his wrist, removing the mark, while blue light did for Celeste’s wrist.
Solomon did a one glare back, coming to a drifting stop. The friction through the floor strained his thighs while also bracing against Celeste’s platform to slow down. Daniel saw the dead-end brick wall, and he used Licht to break his speed.
The outsole of his boots barely touched the wall, and he stumbled back, realizing there was no other way out. Solomon took a breather while Sally and Celeste were unfazed by the sudden stop, sitting on the platform and glancing around as if there were other directions to go.
<< So, this is what an upgrade feels like. >> Licht commented on his new change.
< You learned something new already when I loaded off the qi to break that door. >
<< It’s like a lock that’s preventing me from doing everything new all at once. I think that will depend on how you control and unlock it from my understanding. >>
< Well, I better. Since there is a possibility that there are more than twenty relics, we have a lot of damn work to do. >
<< Don’t put all the pressure now. >>
< Anyway. I’m thinking of punching one of these walls. Unless you have better ideas.>
Daniel looked around in the same manner as Celeste and Sally. He randomly backstepped from the dead end while keeping his eyes focused on it. And he stopped when he got behind the flying platform. Wait a minute. Something’s off.
< They try to fool us. Clever bastards. > Daniel told Licht about debunking what’s got his attention.
<< Woah, slow down! I don’t even know how much power I can control in this thing. >>
< That’s why we are doing it. > Daniel wielded Licht in a double-handed fashion. “Hey, guys. Move a little over,” He gestured, telling them to move left.
Rasing overhead, he followed with one heavy slash, shattering the dead end. He then leaned to the left, directing the qi attack more to the right.
“I see an opening!” Celeste yelled, pointing to the right corner curve. She summoned a barrier for Solomon and the rest to pass the loaded flood of qi.
Daniel slapped the spine of his sword, nudging it away. He dashed through the puddles of qi, arriving in the new hallway.
--
Suspicion nearby!
--
“Something’s coming,” Daniel muttered.
“Any clues of what it might be?” Solomon asked.
Daniel shook his head, only wishing for the best in both worlds; only hoping to be disposable goons. He had Licht out ready to go as he took the guard on the rear while Solomon took the front.
Solomon’s fist raised, “Hold!”
It was empty in Daniel’s hand, thus turned around. A silhouette blended behind a fog of smoke, and the lighting from the smoke reflected from the background as if there was lighting from behind. Reminding him of those live shows where the performer steps onto the stage in pitch black, and the lanterns are directed at its back putting a mysterious vibe to it.
“I wondered where the rest of the group was. And here we are…”
Lord Buhne! Daniel angrily recognized the voice. His right hand began to sweat from the constant grip holding the hilt.
“How did you get through this hall?” Lord Buhne continued, questioning the arrival.
Daniel stared at everyone in his sight, wondering how they would react.
--
Lord Buhne HP: 99%
--
< How much can you inflict on this bastard? >
<< Is it fake?! >>
Daniel hasn't thought about that part. < I see a shadow, reflecting through the light from the smoke. Does that count as realistic? >
<< I don't mean fake as in illusion. I mean is this a body double, or is it the real him? >>
< A checklist then. Bald from that head shape, but I can't see the rest as he is still covered. >
<< You don't have night vision? >>
< Heck no. I didn't even train enough in the dark without assistance way long ago during Earth days.>
<< Do your thing then. >>
Daniel's qi exerted from his feet, dispersing all the cover-up. Leaving the silhouette identity exposed. Yep, that's him.
He flashed a step right beside Lord Buhne from behind and shoved the hilt right into his neck. Followed by a twirl and returning to the front of him to see his startled face, Daniel right side-kicked his lower abdomen. The foot struck vertically bringing the infliction all the way down to the groin.
--
Lord Buhne HP: 50%
--
It sent him away into the depths of darkness. Daniel wasn't going to lose him, so he flew, and the others trailed behind.
<< Hurry and throw me right at him! >>
< If you say so! >
Daniel boosted close enough and positioned midair, collecting a boost of kinetic energy through the end of the hilt. Thanks to Skoltor's level 4 qi containment, provided him with more control and was able to perform various unattempted activities. He glided above Lord Buhne, maintaining his speed to keep up. Bending his knees down a bit, he rose up to barely touch the ceiling and angled his arm to where he could get the best shot.
<< Now! >>
He breathed through his mouth, throwing Licht right at Lord Buhne.
Lord Buhne gasped as the blade pierced through his chest, thrusting to the back of his shoulders. Daniel then leaped right on top of him and saw the hallway was about to open to an entryway with light peeking in. He yanked the sword out of his chest and pursued with a push kick, dashing him past the entryway.
--
Lord Buhne HP: 0%
--
He observed his face collapsing from the impact, lowering his eyelids as the light from behind engulfed him before disappearing.
<< You did it! >> Licht cheered.
Smiling was inevitable as Daniel descended back to the floor, mask open, and a breath of joy. He stopped, hearing the crowd noise behind the brightened light. Turning back into the hallway, Celeste and Sally were walking as they joined him, listening to the noise. Solomon was strolling along, appearing to be thinking about something as expressed by a slight frown.
“You good?”
“I’m fine, just processing,” Solomon muttered.
Celeste stared at the light, “What happens now?”
“Do we care enough about them or not?” Daniel asked in a serious tone. “And I mean that by recruitment.”
“I don’t think that would be the wise decision to focus on,” Solomon denied, thinking it’s not wise to recruit anybody from the audience. He recounted more than a year of experience in the arena, pointing out they only have one eye. Their surroundings and personalities were shut off, leaving the desperation of violence visible through their attention.
“I agree with him but for a different reason. I don’t want any reminders related to any of this. Most of what’s in the arena stays down here. It isn’t made to thrive in the open environment. They have no dignity to be integrated into society, right?” Celeste closed her opinion.
Seems we all are on the same page. Daniel reflected on their important verdicts. He turned around back to the entryway. “Then it’s a yes,” he paused, “We should annihilate the whole arena. That’s my call. However, one more thing. Do you guys know where Lord Buhne’s office or residence is?”
“It’s one floor above the chow hall,” Sally answered. “I know it because I peeked.”
“Destroying the arena first should be fine then…well let’s go,” Daniel said, sprinting out. Passing the entryway, he leaped up into the high air. The audience’s attention turned to him, receiving a mix of boos and cheers. Paying attention down at the center of the arena from up high, he saw Lord Buhne’s dead body lying on the hard tiles with a cracked head aligned with his pool of blood.
No! Daniel’s mind turned into horror when he descended immediately, finding Hierax shallowly breathing as he bled out from his back. He was in pain but not for much longer. Daniel tried to call Celeste to heal him only for Hierax, with his last strength, to shake his head. “I’m sorry. Get out of here. You’re free. Heal your mind and cherish what you have…”
“Hey! Wake up!” Daniel yelled as his mouthplate opened.
Hierax drifted off with a closed smile and his head faced Armando and Summer laying in peace.
Splat!
--
Optional Mission Added (1):
Underground Bloodbath Derby
--
Daniel wiped dirty shit off his face, growing belligerent to the point of losing his mind. “Screw you all!!”
His mouthplate closed aggressively, leaving only his fiery eyes and furrow eyebrows like a mindless beast.
To be Continued in III.