Kelford’s resolve didn’t leave him as the cold bit into his skin. The large corridor he found himself traversing was clearly closer to the blizzard raging outside, demonstrated by the broken windows and piles of snow. Until this corridor there had been some warmth. Every step leaving Kelford found deeper into the fortress and higher on the mountain's foot. Glimpses into the outside storm giving no clue to just how much he had progressed. The relaxing atmosphere of the Healing Room went alongside the feeling in his fingers. T.U.I’s words still echoed in his head as he moved forward undaunted by the dropping temperature. Stone gave way to wood, almost like he had made it to a different wing of the fortress. Kelford tensed as he followed the corridor through its twists and turns. The next room was probably close.
A few minutes went by until the slight incline of the corridor leveled off and a large landing opened up before Kelford. What was left of the architecture was grand. Wooden carvings of powerful beasts and monsters decorated the wooden walls. Kelford walked below the growling faces of sabertooths and massive bears. Rams bigger than he’d ever seen stood by a type of overpowered rhinoceros as a massive mammoth seemed to roar behind them. Though what kept his attention was the double doors and the words etched above them. Years of wear and tear that had weighed on the room still wasn’t enough to prevent [ Languages of the Mountain] from translating the words.
Kennels
Steeling himself Kelford moved up to the doors and pushed them open. His mind played out the potential enemies as the doors swung open to reveal a massive hall filled with sand. Kelford walked in the familiar words of another room swiftly forgotten as his sword immediately came up to defend himself. Yet nothing came for him. The deeper shadows along the hall's edges held nothing back from his enhanced sight but still he didn’t see any enemies. The sand was a few feet below, surrounded by an upraised wooden platform. Along the walls destroyed windows and massive holes let in some of the cold but strangely none of the storm. Still on guard Kelford found himself edging to the closest of the holes in the wall. A sea of clouds met his gaze. Kelford’s gaze turned up to above only to see another layer of clouds preventing him from seeing the rest of the mountain.
“ Well that’s interesting,” Kelford muttered as pulled away from the outside chill. There were two layers of clouds, almost like he was between two seas. The only bastion of quiet. By him were massive cabinets and shelves. Their contents were empty but clearly once used to feed the animals that the gnoblars kept here. Stains and feeding troughs seemed to dominate the other side. No monsters or beasts. Kelford kept walking until he noticed a shine in the sand half way into the stadium sized hall. He hopped to the sand before making his way to it. He reached to find a large bell buried in the sand. Its silver sheen dazzled in the dim light with symbols slightly glowing on its surface. As Kelford gazed at it in slight awe the Tower finally deemed him worthy to hear at least a bit of the challenge.
Meal Bell
Description:
Used to notify meal time
It was as good an invitation as any, clearly the room's challenge wouldn’t start until the bell was rung. With a deep breath Kelford pulled on the Shadow Essence around him until smokey vapors began to ebb from his skin. He rang the bell. It echoed strangely through the Kennels. Then the sand lurched! Kelford almost lost his footing as the entire center of the Kennels began to descend. Hidden mechanisms creaked as Kelford was lowered. Runes glowing a dull brown activated and the sand clung to his feet. He tried to rip his feet up to no avail. He was helpless as the platform was lowered deeper and deeper into the floor. The smell reminded him of a zoo as the real Kennels came into sight. Broken cages leading into dimly lit feeding areas. Tunnels lead deeper under the floors he had traversed earlier with some seemingly leading outside. All of this his brain took in even as the eyes opened all around him. Dozens of feet below the main room lived the Sabertooths.
Survive The Kennels:
0/2
The cat's began to growl as their gazes fixed on him. Slowly waking from their casual napping.
“ Well fuck, “ Kelford muttered as slowly backed away, “ Nothing but more overgrown cats in here.”
Really what was it with gnoblars and sabertooth tigers?! It was ridiculous. He turned, seeing that the other wall had plenty of tigers too. He pulled back as he realized that there was no wall to put his back to. There were only more tigers. The cats slowly began padding to the sand, eyes fixed on the human in their midst. They were small, all of them Sabertooth Younglings . Relatively small at least. Adrenaline slid through his veins as slowly Kelford turned in a small circle. He couldn’t keep them all in his line of sight. Each time he turned back around he found they had gotten just a little closer. Taking his lack of attention to prowl closer.
“ Only a few ways out of this,” Kelford thought, “ And they all involve not being surrounded” . Most of the sabertooths were on the sands now and it was only a matter of time before one took the first shot. Kelford clamped his will on the Shadow Essence around him. It was now or never.
Darkness
Shadows erupted at his feet to the sound of surprised hisses. Kelford dashed forward. The first sabertooth wasn’t fast enough to dodge.
Empowered Strike
Its body laid in two cooling pieces as Kelford burst from the shadows, eyes blazing. Five sabertooths roared in surprise as he fell into their midsts. His fist crashed into the closest one's face . An Empowered blade cut across the flank of another but he didn’t stop to finish it. The element of surprise could only last so long and he had to keep moving! The last three tensed claws sinking into the sand ready to pounce.
Radiance of the Black Sun
Shadows inflamed their fears and their eyes went wide. That moment of indecision was too long as Kelford’s blade cut across them. Empowered Strike drank deep of his temporary reserves as he cut past them. Two roared with pain as the other was left cooling on the sand when finally Kelford reached the edge of the sands. Kelford began to dive into a roll only to smash face first into a glowing forcefield.
Gaahhhhhhh , His nose almost broke as he fell backwards. “ Freaking Tower!”
A roar was his only warning until his vision was filled with teeth! Claws dug into enchanted furs as one of the sabertooths lunged for his face!
Empowered Strike
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Kelford’s fist sent it reeling only for another to take its place. He rolled away scrambling to his feet only to be tackled from the side! Sword flying from his hand, Kelford and two sabertooths rolled in a clawing , biting mess. Essence roiled off his fists as he slammed them into both the beasts until with a cry he threw one of them away. The latter dug its teeth into the meat of his arm, desperately trying to get at his face. Kelford’s fist collided into its skull . Once! Twice! Then with a sickening crack it fell limp. Another roar came from behind. Kelford whirled, Enhanced Strength driving the dead tiger in his hands into a brutal collision . The leaping Saber Tooth fell away tangled in the body of the dead. Kelford’s eyes locked on his sword as he scooped it up in time to run through another monster.
Darkness has faded and the rest of the sabertooths sprinted to the fray . With a Growl , Kelford killed another before placing his back to the forcefield. They fell on him like a tide and Kelford stood like a mountain. Essence raised around him as he dumped it all into his aura. Radiance blazed as the front ranks of the sabertooths fell into confusion breaking their charge. Kelford didn’t let the chance pass. Sabertooths died with every swing of his sword with no pause. Soon he was in their midst, blood and claws trying to bring him down . Fear rampaged through their minds as Kelford’s rampage sent some fleeing . All at once it ended and with one final stab everything came to a stop. Chest heaving Kelford stood up in time to see the last few sabertooths fleeing into their tunnels. The rest of the sands around him were a bloody mess of corpses .
Survive the Kennels
1 / 2
The golden words burnt themselves into the world as Kelford freed his sword from the last sabertooth he’d slain. He was covered in blood, most not his own. His armor had seen better days but overall Kelford was in pretty good condition. A few scratches here and there but overall he was… A piece of wood fell to the sand. Kelford turned in a whirl only to see the empty kennels until his gaze went up. The next wave of Sabertooths stared down at him. Each was bigger than the younglings from before and they didn’t look hungry.
Sabertooth Adult
Description:
Never fully Domesticated by their ogre handlers , Sabertooths can form bonds with specific handlers to be useful in hunts and war. After the fall most have seen their handlers die .
Their eyes stared down at him with barely controlled rage. Two bunched their powerful leg muscles and Kelford began pulling on the essence around him.
Dark-
He was too slow. Shadows had barely begun to form before one crashed into him. His breath stole from his lungs even as he rolled back on the sands. Fear dismissed the Tigers roared in his face as they slammed him down to the sand, massive fangs drove towards neck. Kelford’s fist slammed into its throat. It leaped back in a coughing fit leaving Kelford just enough time to roll to his knees . The other crashed into him ,claws digging into his side. Kelford gritted his teeth as he barely braced for the force, enhanced strength barely enough to keep from tumbling back.
Empowered Strike
With one hand holding back its massive jaws Kelford used the other to drive his sword into its chest! It fell to the sand coughing blood as it died ripping its claws along his leg. A hiss escaped his lips as he wrenched the sword out just in time to ward the other Sabertooth back. The others made their move. They pounced, five monsters using their superior mobility to jump off the walls to land in the sands around him. He was surrounded again. Cursing Kelford pulled on the essence again as he finally got a moment to cast Darkness. Shadows exploded around him covering the space in pitch black. Kelford prepared to dash forward only to see they had all leapt back out of easy range. They prowled at least a dozen feet from the shadows. They weren’t going to fall for the same trick as their younger offspring.
“ What am I going to do,” the words came out in a hiss as Kelford furiously thought through his options. His leg was partially weakened from just one clean strike from their claws. Without his defenses and constitution he’d have probably been unable to walk. These Sabertooths were faster, stronger , and more cautious. Kelford eyed one, its massive front fangs making a cold shiver run down his spine. They were big enough to go cleanly through his thigh. The Darkness spell was beginning to dissipate , his time to breathe was coming to an end. Kelford shook his head as he held his sword in two hands. Why overthink this? One of the tigers laid dead already, clever plans weren’t his style anyway. Empowered Strike was strong enough to kill them in a blow, he’d just have to be good enough to not take those teeth to the face. Kelford grinned as he pulled on the essence around him, coating his sword in shadow. Darkness dispersed and Kelford was revealed. The sabertooths dashed in with a roar, bounding runs eating the distance between them. Kelford whirled his sword in a defensive web and met their charge.
Blade and claws slashed at each other. The tigers in his view lept back as those behind came forward ready to take advantage of his split attention. The sword was there warding them off even as Kelford pivoted into their charge. His fist burned with purple light as it slammed into one sabertooth that was too slow. It sprawled away only for another to leap to its defense. Kelford didn’t hesitate as the last was isolated. Its eyes widened as purple eyes locked on it . It tried to run but Kelford was too close and with a savage roar he buried his sword in its skull.
Empowered strike
Blood and brain matter exploded but Kelford didn’t stop. His muscles screamed as he grabbed the cooling corpse, stomped his foot into the ground and whirled his impromptu weapon. The Sabertooths behind him went flying. He’d have only seconds. The two from before were already preparing to attack as he turned back towards them. They came in faster than he could adjust leaving Kelford scrambling to defend himself. Claws cut through enhanced flesh and fur as Kelford barely kept himself alive. Taking a blow to his chest Kelford managed to pull essence into his aura.
Radiance of the Black Sun
Empowered, the aura finally broke through the Sabertooths' minds. Kelford dashed back in, bloody sword leading. The sabertooths wheelled for a moment as Kelford fell amongst them leaving both corpses on the ground. Chest heaving, reserves draining , Kelford didn’t react in time to the leaping remaining beasts. Again the feeling of weightlessness took him as slammed to the bloody sand. Both hands came up to hold the tiger's maw. It roared in his face as its fangs dug into his shoulder, held back only by his burning muscles. He kneed its stomach trying to get some leverage. A crack had it push away from him only for the other to try to take a bite. Kelford’s world devolved to fangs and pain as he wrestled with cats. Shadow essence coated his fists as his sight went red. Time flew strangely until he found himself slamming a tiger away as another lay dead at his feet. His limbs were beginning to feel like lead, as he dragged himself to his feet. The last two were bloody. eyeing him with reluctance and murderous hate. Kelford found he didn’t care. He pulled on the remaining essence around him, dragging it into his body before funneling it into his aura.
The air darkened as Kelford became the center of a veritable whirlpool. The tigers froze before they leaped forward. Kelford didn’t move, focusing entirely on his aura as it almost went out of his control. His body shook from the torrent of essence, black essence racing along his skin. The Sabertooths crossed the boundary of his aura and slammed to a stop. Kelford’s eyes blazed as he flexed his skill.
RADIANCE OF THE BLACK SUN
His voice echoed with power as liquid fear raced around the Sabertooths. For a moment everything was covered by shadow before Kelford fell to one knee heaving for breath. All was silent, aside from his heavy breathing. The Sabertooths stood perfectly still. Kelford looked up, seeing them barely a few feet away. Their eyes were blank. Kelford didn’t dare move until golden words burnt themselves into the air in front of him.
Survive the Kennels
2 / 2
The Sabertooth Adult fell to the ground. Falling back Kelford heaved a sigh as the adrenaline slowly left his body. Deep scratches made themselves known, his body ached but overall he was whole. His sword was somewhere in this bloody mess and from the clumps of furs that hung off his body Furs of the Warlord was on its last legs. Kelford chuckled at that, he didn’t even know that Relics could be destroyed. Figured that his first piece of armor would be the first to go. Closing his eyes , Kelford let himself relax as Enhanced Constitution accelerated his healing.
Two more floors. Then the 5th floor would be conquered. How much worse could it get?