[F29-EV] Delivering the Sword #3

[Jevi 0]

//Thread #1
//Thread #2
//The Final Stand

Various materials used to build up the barrier had fallen. Furniture, doors, parts of brick walls where the mortar had held strong all crashed to the ground as the overwhelming force of monsters broke through. The valiant players who put their lives on the line to keep these abominations back from flooding the beach where the Frontliners did battle had to regroup. They struggled to gain footing over their enemy, but fought with every once of strength they had. Each and every one of them had a job to do, and each of them had hope that they would see the end of this madness with a new floor to explore. 

She was starting to lose hope that she would even see tomorrow.

Shouts for assistance fell upon deaf ears, as battle raged on around her. Snarls and unearthly squelching sounds, players rallying their teammates and steel crashed into their foes. No one could hear Jevi calling for help from under the fallen debris. In theory, crouching behind the fortifications to repair weapons and armor on the fly was a sound idea... but none of them were expecting the demons of the void to double - no, triple in size in a matter of seconds. Something must have bolstered their resolve, a 'second, more difficult wave' to put it in suitable, gamer terms. Despite, Jevi was still unable to free herself on her own.. and that was a bigger issue to her than a possible third wave. 

Feeling in her left arm was starting to go numb, the limb crushed under the weight of the fallen barricade. Loose strands of soaked, brunette hair fell down her face "Come.. on.. fuuUCK" she growled through grinding teeth, as she fought with all of her might to free herself. It was just like doing a push up, she told herself. A one handed pushup, easy.

With, like, five hundred pounds on her back.. maybe more. She wasn't good at math.

Who was she kidding, it was pointless.. Her muscles went slack as her body crashed back to the soaked ground. If this was where she was going to die, then she was ready to accept that. 

Wait, what is that light?  

Heading up the road from the South, she saw a player holding what looked to be a sword.. but one giving off a bright, radiant light. She never heard of any weapons in the game with abilities like that. As the one carrying the blade came into view, they appeared almost unphased by the madness and destruction around them. Holding the long blade up like she was carrying the Olympic torch. Gold eyes went wide with realization, piecing it together. In that moment, Jevi recalled that weird 'Fatal Error' quest that they all had gotten. Wasn't there a sword that needed to be returned to the labyrinth? What are the odds that this girl was carrying that very weapon. 

Launching from the shadows, that same, oversized creature that lead the charge through their defenses leapt out at the sword barer. "Look out!" Jevi shouted, but it was too late. The girl carrying the sword didn't have enough time to react and counter the eldritch monster - but Jevi did. Fight or Flight kicking in, and she decided to fight, Jevi pushed herself free with her newfound energy. Bones snapped and her trapped shoulder popped.. but it was a necessary sacrifice to make in an attempt to save this girl's life. Shattered arm hanging at her side, the brunette charged at the monster. 

"The hell are you doing?!" Jevi confronted the girl after taking down the threat. "You didn't even look like you were ready for a fight, do you know where you are?!"

She took a step back, and took a breath. 

"Are you alright?"

wc.626

Spoiler

Jevi | HP: 680/680 | EN: 82/82 | DMG: 23 | MIT: 78 | EVA: 3 | ACC: 2 | BH: 30 | KEEN: 2 | PARA | REC: 4

Jevi,
Level: 32
Paragon Level: 6
HP: 700/700
EN: 84/84

Stats:
Damage: 23
Mitigation: 78
Accuracy: 2
Evasion: 3
Battle Healing: 29
Keen: 2
Rec: 4
PARA

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: Maelstrom Bracers -  Keen | Keen | Para
Armor: Brawler's Respite - Mit | Mit | Recovery
Trinket: Fancy Footwork - Eva | Eva | Eva

Skills:
Combat Mastery: Damage R3
Specialization: AoE
Martial Arts R5
Light Armor R5
Fighting Spirit
Lock Picking R3
Battle Healing R4

Active Mods:
Meticulous

Addons:
Stamina x
Precision x
Ferocity x
Resolve x
Dismantling

Active Extra Skills:
Survival 

Buffs: 
Rested | -1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat
Clean | The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 20%
Multipurpose | Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll    
Relaxed | Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.    
Meticulous | +1 CD when crafting in one’s workshop.
Working | +2 EXP per crafting attempt
Forager | +2 Gathering EXP per gathering attempt    

 

[Adelyte 0]

  

  

   ♦Lv1 Adelyte

Spoiler Adelyte | HP 20/20 | EN 20/20 | DMG 6 Lv. 1 equipped 2H Warhmmer DMG|DMG -- -- battle-ready inventory 3x Potion (+50 Hp) skills Spoiler HAMMER | Rank 1  data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==   buffs Spoiler   data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==

"But like... I don't fight with a sword, I use a hammer!" 

...

"Oh! Its a special quest sword... does it have any cool powers?"

...

"Bummer... Okay, you wait there! I'll go get some rope from town, and I'll give the sword to someone to take to Mordor, and then I'll be back! Pinky prom-"
They were too far down to accept her pinky promise. Blowing them a big, overexaggerated kiss, Adelyte would step away from the cliff edge. 

"Stay frosty! I'll be right back!" 

Unwrapping the red scarf from around her neck, she would fasten it to her forehead like some oversized bandanna. Some mud based warpaint on her cheeks ala Rambo, and she was ready to do her part. No point in dismissing the sword into her inventory, she would be the beacon of hope this floor needed. Holding the weapon up high, the light the blade emitted would shine a path forward and bring hope to all that fell in its rays...Jeez, its actually pretty heavy..

The road from the thick forests to Miremore was a straight shot, though it was not without danger. Players fought back the monsters of the darkness at every angle, turning the entire floor into one big warzone. She had heard stories of the Landonian Rebellion and how many players assisted in the battle there.. but this seemed like an entirely different level. Sticking to the path, Adelyte rushed across the open plain, shining sword upon her shoulder. It caught the eyes of a number of players, but even more monsters. Probably would be best to pick up the speed, she didn't have the combat expertise to fight anything on this floor. 

Out of the corner of her eye, an entity approached her, fast and large. She could hardly describe what she was looking at, and it filled her belly with such dread and disgust. Tentacles writhed where shoulders and a head should be, and its legs vaguely humanoid, though broken and misshapen to appear like an animal's hind legs. Whatever it was, or used to be, it looked dangerous. One scratch from it would probably reduce her health to zero, and she would have perished right there if not for some hero. 

The woman pummeled the creature into the muck and mire, its corpse melting into a pile of sludge rather than erupting into data like usual.

"Bwaah thank you!" Adelyte shouted, sounding exasperated. "I'm fine, I'm fine."

Hefting the blade off of her shoulder, she let the tip crash into the mud between her and the brunette. 

"I'm Adelyte, by the way. You wouldn't know where this sword needs to go, would you?"

wc.444

[Kyra 0]

"The barricade! It's going to fall! They're getting through!"

Shouts rose above the catchy K-pop, high pitched and spiking with panic. Kyra swung away from the Player she'd been tending to, her lavender gaze searching through the rain for the source. All around her, others did the same, pausing in their efforts to watch, horror-struck, as the barricade bowed dangerously. 

"Wha-what's happening?" stuttered the young man in her arms, his eyes wide and glazed, his health bar only a tiny crimson sliver.

"Just another wave," Kyra informed him, her smile warm, her tone even, even as she watched the barricade tremble. She swung her attention back to him, then eased a health potion against his pale blue lips. "Drink up," came her soft command. "We need you to get your strength up."

He obeyed, and though he sputtered, his bar began to refill. "You're going to be a bit shaky on your feet," she explained. "Just because your health bar is going back up doesn't mean your brain has caught up yet. You've endured some terrible trauma, and-"

An enormous crack interrupted her, followed by a cacophony out of her worst nightmares. Walls exploded, their bricks blown apart by the force of the impending swarm. Hastily constructed barriers of wood and stone tumbled, and the snarls of the freshly released hoards rivaled the shrieks of the Players that they fell upon. 

"Oh god," the Player in her arms choked out, thrashing away from her before climbing to his feet and sprinting away. Kyra couldn't possibly fault the man - every instinct begged her to join him. Fleeing would be the smart thing to do, especially given her low level and lack of any real equipment. Encouraging a friend - that, she could do. But that was likely where her abilities stopped, and in a life or death situation such as this one, Kyra knew that she had to be realistic.

Granted, being realistic also meant recognizing her inability to leave anyone in harm's way.

Even as Players ran away from the breach, Kyra ran toward it, drawing her beginner sword from her hip. It likely wouldn't be much help, but charging in unarmed seemed like an even riskier move. She weaved through the fray, attention snapping from person to person, hoping to find someone who she might be able to help. Her gaze was drawn instead to a startling bright light off in the distance.

"What in the world?" she breathed, adjusting her course to intercept the vibrant glow. It didn't look like a sword art - it shone too consistently to be a sudden snap of power. So what could it be? She was nearly upon it when many things happened at once. First, a mob appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, and launched itself at the light-sword wielder. And then another figure materialized just as suddenly, dispatching the threat with the practiced ease of a Frontliner. The explosion of anger that came hot on the victory's heels didn't reflect that ease, but the dressing down was likely warranted.

"Are you alright?" Kyra finally managed once an opening presented itself. She glanced between the two women. "Both of you?"

At the blue-haired Adelyte's response, Kyra offered a curt nod. "Nice to meet you, I'm Kyra. I have no information on the sword, unfortunately." She looked back to the last of their trio, silently examining the mangled limb. "Do you need a healing potion? I have quite a few."

[569]

Spoiler

Kyra | HP: 20/20 | EN: 20/20 | DMG: 2 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 0 

Level 1
Stats: Novice 1HSS
Gear: Vanity Sword, (3) Starter Healing Potions (Heals 50 HP)

 

[Hackman 0]

Without a hitch, the raid began.

Hackman the Scout watched from the cliffside. He counted eighteen players—enough for three strong teams. Almost everyone he had called on showed up, despite the obscurity of his identity and suspiciousness of his message. He made note to thank Bistro for her reliable information and retreated to a safer position. His job was done. He could count on the frontliners to do theirs.

In Miremore, war raged on. The flow of combat drowned out the noise of battle. His mind was silent, and every action he took was fully intentional. A few swishes and button presses caused the system to form a dagger in his grip. A green glow enveloped it. The attack patterns of the shamblers were engrained in his memory, and so his body acted on its own. Against this mob variant in particular, he rarely exceeded three hits: a quick slash to the midsection to subdue it with paralysis, followed by two successive stabs. Individually, they were fodder creatures. Their strength came from their numbers.

Nobody believed the barrier would hold forever, but monsters found cracks in it far quicker than anticipated. Groups rushed to stop them from advancing to the beach, but the horde was only growing while the players grew weaker. Hackman huffed, sticking his knife into what he thought was the head of a shambler. He watched it dissolve to dust to confirm that it was dead before he proceeded.

Across the way, a light burned brilliantly. His head turned, but from his position he couldn't pick out what was creating it. He moved closer to get a better look.

The light drew the attention of many, it seemed. Nearby mobs, attracted to the glow, sprinted and crawled down the muddy streets of the old fishing town. Screeches flooded the air as they drew near. Hackman's knife zipped through the air, embedding itself in the back of a rotten creature. He retrieved it on the way by, arriving at the light before the bulk of the mobs.

The light came from a sword. Not just any sword, he realized, but the sword. The same item that the game had prompted the player-base to find—that he had been searching for the previous day and night combined.

Three players, grouped together by chance, talked amongst themselves. Two admitted to knowing nothing about the sword. "That way," he pointed past the broken barricade and into the dark forest next to Miremore. "The sword needs to go to the labyrinth. Sooner rather than later, I think."

He gestured backwards. A small army of shamblers drew near.

[435]

Spoiler

Hackman | HP: 20/20 | EN: 20/20 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 0 | ACC: 0 | EVA: 0 | SNEAKY: 2

Level 1

Gear:
Decorative Earing | Rare T1 Trinket | SNEAKY II

 

[Jevi 0]

A hefty sigh escaped her, carrying with it relief at the blue haired woman's safety. "Good. Keep an eye out next time. Its a goddamn shit show out there, and you don't want to be catching any strays. And I'm Jevi." she attempted to move her arm, whether to wave or add a gesture to her introduction. It did not matter, because her arm from the elbow down did not move. It looked more like a fish on the end of a hook, weakly flailing. The concerned newcomer, who introduced herself as Kyra wasn't entirely sure where the sword needed to be delivered either. Had only certain players received the quest? "Pretty sure we have to bring it.." Jevi began, raising her arm - her good one, this time- to point upwards, trying to find the towering labyrinth amongst the dark, stormy skyline. 

"That way."

Glad someone knew exactly where they needed to go. Even if it was a stranger who popped up out of nowhere. 

"Would it heal it up instantly? Can't say I've ever had my arm shattered before." she chuckled, shaking her head, "Wouldn't recommend it." Accepting the potion from Kyra, she would eye the contents with a swirl of the bottle. Worst case, it pops her health back up to max.. so there was really no harm in drinking it. "Thanks." she would remark with a quick smile before downing the contents. A warmth washed over her body, soothing any cuts and bruises that littered her body. She felt a now persistent thrum in her arm, but it seemed the bones itself would take time to recover. "Welp, props to the devs for keeping a small sense of realism, I guess. It'll be fine. Thank you." she politely nodded to Kyra as she thanked her again.

"So why didn't you bother fighting back, doesn't that sword have any special powers?" Jevi asked Adelyte as they quickly moved towards the forest.

"I don't think I can use a sword~ I use a hammer." 

"...So then why didn't you have your hammer out to defend yourself?"

"Because I had to carry the sword, duh!"

It was solid reasoning, but why did it make her blood boil. "..Fair.." Jevi barked.

"By the way" Jevi turned her gaze towards the dark haired dagger user, who guided the way towards the sword's destination. "Don't think we ever got your name." 

[398]

 

[Adelyte 0]

"Ah shit." Adelyte cursed as the labyrinth was pointed out. Right in the middle of the forest. The forest where she had just come from. "I was going the wrong way.."

No matter her little snafu, they were back on track to have the weapon delivered. After passing into the tree line, they had lost sight of the massive cylindrical tower. Did the frontliners really have to climb one of those to get to each boss fight? Adelyte shook away the thought, now wasn't the time to get distracted and start asking stupid questions. Untying the ridiculously long scarf from her forehead, she would fashion a makeshift scabbard so she could secure the sword to her back. With her hands now free, she summoned her warhammer from her inventory. The weapon materialized, and she very obviously struggled to hold up its weight as it suddenly settled in her hands. Heavier than she remembered, or maybe it showed how little combat experience she had. What better way to learn, right?

"So, like, can I be completely honest with you guys?" she asked, needing to hear something else other than their heavy breathing and squelching of boots. "I totally didn't sign up for this. The only other time I've been to a floor other than the first one was to go to a beach party! Though there were definitely some weird monsters there.. I don't know how she controlled them.." Nobody else present was at that party, maybe they needed some context. "So, like, this girl Zandra threw a party on the beach on Floor 24. Everyone was invited, you should have come. There was a scavenger hunt, and -"

"Adelyte" Jevi interrupted her.

"Yeah?" 

"The point?"

Adelyte took a moment for her mind to get back on track. ".. Oh yeah! I was in a party who were going to help me out with some quests. We were about to warp to the second floor when they got some message, calling everyone to Floor 29. Since I was standing there with them on the platform, I got teleported up here as well. We got separated and I don't know what happened." 

She knew exactly what happened. She abandoned them and ran away. And when their names disappeared from her party...

It would have been her too if she hadn't run.

She sniffled once before continuing, a tremble in her voice quickly steadied. "You all seem pretty strong and capable, though.. Maybe one of you should take the-" 

Something leapt out from the brush, scampering towards Adelyte and the group. It was the size of a dog, resembled a toad but covered in eyes. Rows and rows of razor sharp teeth filled its mouth, and Adelyte's own scream drowned out the creature's screech as it opened its mouth. Without putting much thought into it, Adelyte swung her hammer high up over her head, nearly tossing herself onto her back in the process. With a move that looked straight out of a Saturday morning cartoon, she allowed the hammer to fall, hopping into the air as her weapon pummeled the toad into the mud. 

"DID YOU SEE THAT THING!? IT WAS GOING TO EAT ME!"

[530]

[Kyra 0]

The dark-haired man materialized at her arm. Though his voice gave her a start, she had a tight enough hold on control to keep from showing it. Whether it was the stranger’s skills, the distractions around them, or the overall off-kilter feel of the floor, she hadn’t noticed his approach. That likely didn’t bode well for her, given that most things that might sneak up on her could easily end her life. She would have to pay more attention. And if she survived this ordeal, she would seek out someone to help her get stronger for instances just like this one.

“I appreciate the help,” she told the man with a small incline of her head. Kyra meant it, too. She was woefully unprepared, and she hated being caught with her proverbial pants down. “In truth, I don’t belong here, either,” she confessed, once the player called Adelyte admitted her own uncertainties. “I came to help a friend, and while I’m sure she liked the support, I don’t think it was worth either or both of our lives.” She slanted an apprehensive look at the sword, gleaming brilliantly against the shadows and stormclouds. “I suppose I’m making the same mistake yet again, but we’ve come this far, so I might as well see it through.” Her expression teetered in sheepish for a moment, then smoothed into resignation. “I don’t have much in the way of combat training or skills, but I do have more potions if anyone needs them.”

As if her words spawned the creature itself, a multi-eyed monstrosity flung itself from the darkness and charged her blue-haired companion. Cold, jagged fear lanced through her, and Kyra found herself completely unable to react. Had the mob attacked her instead, she had no doubt she would be dead three times over. Fortunately, Adelyte proved to have much better reflexes.

“Nicely done,” she commended on a soft exhale of breath. “I believe you’re the strongest and the most capable of the two of us, at least. If the sword doesn’t have any special properties, you’re likely better off carrying the hammer you’re accustomed to.” With a small gesture toward the squashed mob, she added, “You’re clearly quite adept with it. And I don’t actually have anything beyond a vanity starter blade. I could at least carry it for you.”

It’s the least I could do. The words hung, unspoken, in the cold air between them.

[404]

[Hackman 0]

He begged their pardon for his lack of manners and introduced himself to the group. "John Hackman. Unaffiliated scout," he said, reaching out to shake each of their hands. He moved to speak on but something scrambling from the bushes interrupted him. He flipped his dagger, ready to pounce, but a flash of blue hair and a comically large hammer beat him to the punch.

His eyes grew as Adelyte's warhammer crushed the many-eyed frog, turning it to a eollection of sparkly pixels. Based on first impressions alone, he hadn't pegged her as the capable type. If not for her abrupt display of strength, Hackman might have suggested Adelyte hold onto the sword. The party could act as a wall and protect her from whatever mobs came their way while they journeyed to the labyrinth. Obviously, she required no protection.

Jevi appeared strong on paper: forearms clad in leather bracers and a tall, fighters posture. A martial artist, most likely. He wanted her at the helm, not bound by the weight of the Sword of Kings. Kyra volunteered herself, citing her own lack of experience, skills, and equipment as the reasons.

He cleared his throat and spoke in agreeance with Kyra. "I wouldn't dare take the sword from you, but she may be right. If you'd let her have it, I think the three of us could escort her to the drop-off point. It won't be an easy walk, but I know the way."

His map opened wide. The forest was dark, dense, and difficult to maneuver, but it was also the shortest path to the labyrinth. If they could cross through, he thought it was a straight shot to the finish line.

Normally a solo player, Hackman found himself eager to join the trio. "What do we think? Are we a team?"

In Miremore, the distant sounds of battle continued. Now, out of combat, Hackman could finally hear them. Uneasily, he turned to glance at the town. He wanted to get the sword as far away from it as possible.

[341]

[Jevi 0]

John Hackman, he introduced himself. Interesting choice for a username, especially if it was his real world name.. but who was she to judge. As he took a moment to introduce himself formally, and greet each of their squad with a handshake, Jevi took a moment to look down at John's outstretched hand. With an expression on her face that plainly said Really? she would take hand awkwardly in her left, the right hand still hanging nearly lifeless at her side. 

"Might not be the worst idea." Jevi chimed in, shifting her attention to the clearly shaken Adelyte. "Obviously you're pretty decent with that hammer." 

As the blue haired woman began to untie the weapon from her back, she would look to Kyra. "You sure you're good with carrying it? Seems like the light its giving off is drawing some unwanted attention.. and if you aren't confident with combat then-" 

Jevi's ears perked up, over the pattering rain and distant battles, she could have sworn she heard incomprehensible whispers. They would increase in volume, until they were a constant droning in her ears. She spun around, trying to locate the source of the sound, but it was not just one source - it was all around them. Shadows stirred between the trees, thin and flickering at the edges. Nearly impossible to track if not for piercing yellow orbs for eyes beaming like headlights from each entity. At first, it was just one. Then two. Then dozens. A swarm of writhing darkness, crawling from the underbrush and bleeding down tree trunks. 

"Team. Right. Lets get moving!" Jevi shouted at the group as the fell into step, following the path Hackman noted on his map. As the shades hit the ground and began chase, they gained form. A mix of animalistic and humanoid, twitching with each movement as if bones were still popping into place as they raced towards the group. The deeper into the woods, the thicker they came, a rising tide of living nightfall. Tumbling over each other, like a living wave made of the void itself.

Running wasn't a choice. It was instinct. Survival. And the shadows were gaining. 

Vaulting over a fallen log, Jevi would make use of a sword art to kick the fallen tree behind them in an attempt to slow their pursuers. But with how many had gathered, she was unsure if it had done any good or if they simply demolished the lumber in their path. Quadrupedal creatures broke from the swarm, like wolves on the hunt, and surrounded Jevi who had taken up the rear of the retreating party. "Don't slow down! Keep going!"  

They struck fast, like lightning, slipping between the trees. When the first of the wolf-like creatures lunged, she sidestepped out of the way, using its weight against it and guiding it into the ground with a swift pivot. Another came from the opposite side, and Jevi performed a spinning kick that was just enough to send it stumbling. Every one of her motions was sharp and focused. She moved around the wolves, not through them, dodging more thant striking, and using their momentum and her own speed to keep ahead. The thick wood was a blur of trees and movement, the sounds of pursuit growing closer. Louder.

She wasn't trying to win, she knew she could not handle this entire group on her own, she just needed to survive.. Or, at least, buy the others seconds to deliver the sword to its rightful place. 

[584]

[Adelyte 0]

Adelyte clenched the hammer within her hands, her knuckles white with how tightly she held onto the weapon. Clearly trembling, she looked down at the head of the weapon, the strange sinew of the once-toad still dripping to the ground.. very much unlike the usual way monsters pop like confetti when they died. 

"Y-Yeah" she stammered, swallowing down the knot in her throat, "I guess its because I'm pretty strong." She would flex an arm, showing off that she did, indeed, have muscles. Attempting to joke and force confidence was her way of dealing with the absolute dread that turned in her stomach like a washing machine. "Well, as long as we stick together, I'm sure we'll be alright." Adelyte's smile was more genuine this time as she looked to each member of the group.

She pondered the others' suggestion for a moment - to give the sword up to Kyra who did not have as much combat prowess. Hesitant to give up the weapon, she tugged at the makeshift housing for a moment. There was no denying that she wanted that responsibility - no, the glory of being the one to put the sword in the stone and save the day. Reality set in, however, as they came to realize that they were being watched.

They were being hunted. 

"Okay, okay, take it." Adelyte fumbled with the knots in her scarf for a moment before just slipping it over her head and handing it over to Kyra. The literal weight lifted from her shoulders instilled her with a smidge of confidence. She was still unexperienced, helping lead a charge that would help all of Aincrad.. incredibly out of her element. But she wasn't alone, and as she planted her hands on Kyra's shoulders, she reminded her that she wasn't alone either.

"We will protect you." Would they? Could they? Could she? 

Boots pounded against soaked earth as the group rushed towards the labyrinth, following the path that THE John Hackman pointed out for them (What an honor). The horde behind them was ever growing, crawling over each other and closing in on them. No regard for each other, just the mindless urge to snuff out the burning light of the sword Kyra held onto. Jevi fell back, obviously the most experienced of the group, and she easily fended off some of the faster moving monsters. While her attention was focused over her shoulder, something crashed into her body from the side that nearly sent her tumbling. Another attack, this one with claws.. or teeth, she wasn't sure but they were sharp, cut deep into her skin. Her health bar dropped lower than she had ever seen, and that alone caused her anxiety to spike. 

"No!" she screeched, regaining her footing and swinging her hammer upwards into the undercarriage of the beast. It buckled and fell prone for a moment, but it was able to get right back up. Definitely much sturdier than the evil frog that she squashed earlier. Swinging the hammer around for a second strike, she clocked it in the side of the head. Still not enough to take it down, but enough for her to put some distance between herself and whatever it was. 

"That was close.." she panted, holding her side where three, bright red marks cut through her robe. 

You're okay.

You're alive.

She repeated to herself over and over.

[564] 

[Kyra 0]

She inclined her head as the scout introduced himself. "It's a pleasure, Mr. Hackman. It would be a more of a pleasure were it under different circumstances. But I suppose beggars can't be choosers." Despite the truth that wove through her words, she couldn't help the smile that flickered across her face as the party request populated. Raindrops dripped from her hand as she lifted it to press the accept button. There was strength in numbers, and she would gladly take any strength that the universe offered to her.

This is such a bad idea, that little voice insider her head chided for the hundredth time. She simply ignored it, reminding herself that she took this risk for the greater good. Was it not the same reason that Kyra did anything? For the betterment of the world she lived in? 

And how far has that gotten you?

Her jaw clenched, then relaxed, her entire expression softening as she faced Jevi. "Yes, I'm sure. I cannot commit to pulling my weight as a fighter. This way, I can literally carry my weight, and allow you three a bit more maneuverability." Would the light draw the mobs to her like insects to a flame? Sure it would. But that was why she had three flyswatters escorting her. As if reading her mind, Adelyte placed a reassuring hand on Kyra's shoulder, and the words and weight of her touch went a long way toward providing comfort. "I appreciate that, thank you."

She accepted the offered weapon, squinting against the light that it cast. "You certainly were not joking about the light," she commented, resting it over her right shoulder, and pivoting the hilt out of her direct line of vision. The sword was surprisingly heavy, a symbolic and actual heft to it that Kyra did her best not to think about.

Their group took off at a trot, but quickly transitioned to a true run as the mobs closed in. Kyra had seen the humanoid creatures that battled on the beach, and for whatever reason, she had just assumed that they would face similar threats further inland. Unfortunately, the deeper into the floor they ventured, the stranger the abominations became. From four-legged creatures that moved like wild beasts to shapeless blobs that seemed to flit through the shadows, Kyra began to wonder if this was a suicide mission after all.

She drew in a shaking breath, focusing solely on placing one foot in front of the other as the party pounded closer to the tower. Fear and exertion flushed her cheeks, and she suspected her eyes were rolling like a spooked horse's. If nothing else, she was grateful for the privacy that the rain provided her - her companions wouldn't see the twin tears that escaped her eyes as horror dug in its talons. It wouldn't be appropriate to demonstrate weakness, especially at a time like this, when everyone around her fought so valiantly to ensure her survival.

[495]

[Hackman 0]

John Hackman preferred positioning himself in the middle of a group formation. It was easier to see clearly, to be more vigilant of his surroundings when he wasn't the one in the lead. He could keep an eye on both the front and the rear, available to support whichever end needed him most. Being pushed to the front (whether by choice or circumstance) always made him uneasy. Truthfully, group work in general unsettled him. Years of playing solo had made him solitary, and he was comfortable keeping to his own bubble.

From the head of the party, it was difficult to tell what was happening behind. The stomping of boots against dirt, the shrieking of deformed monsters, the shattering of glass whenever one was killed. He craned his neck for only a second to see who was holding up the flank. Jevi fought an uphill battle, trying to keep the mobs from catching up with the swordbearer. His eyes returned to the path ahead just in time to see the frog-thing crawling into their path. Wide-eyed, he raced straight into it, jamming his dagger directly into the spot where its heart should have been. Paralysis took hold, but the damage wasn't enough to put it down. He stabbed it again and again, quickly and with consistent strength, until it finally broke apart.

"How're we doing back there?" Hackman asked, rebuilding his pace.

The sound of the horde on their tail only seemed to grow louder as more monsters joined in on the chase. Hackman racked his brain, trying to put together a plan to make their mission less doubtful. "There's gotta be a way to stop these things from coming after us..."

The forest wasn't endless. Eventually, they would hit the other side and the terrain would open up to a vast plain. Once they were out, the horde was free to swarm and surround them. He needed a solution before they reached the treeline.

A risky, imperfect plan came to mind. Between the forest and the labyrinth, there was a ravine. A bridge, old and wooden, connected the land unsteadily. "We'll cross there and use sword arts to bring it down. That should slow them down."

He exhaled hard through his nose. Easier said that done.

[377]

[Jevi 0]

"How're we doing back there?"

The smaller creature clung to Jevi, slimy tentacles slowly snaked around her arm and neck while fang-like protrusions dug into her shoulder. Another of the wolves scampered towards her legs, launching itself at her ankles to try and trip her up. "Oh you know" Jevi shouted up to the front of the group as she reached across her body, ripping the monster free from her shoulder and slamming it into the creature hot on her heels. "Doing great! Thought I'd set down a blanket, maybe have a picnic. You guys in?" She barely had the time to duck under a writing appendage, like a giant serpent, whipped over her head and smashed into a nearby tree. 

That was far from the truth, but sarcasm meant she was alive. 

Jevi looked to the hand at the end of her once shattered arm, opening and closing her fingers into a fist. Bending at the elbow, rolling the shoulder.. it all felt fully healed once more. If not for Kyra's potion that sped up her recovery, she would probably need to rest on it for a night - if not just a few hours. "Now we're talkin'" Jevi said to herself as the corner of her lips pulled into a smirk. No more handicap meant she could cut loose and really deal some damage. 

Planting her foot into the mud, she would quickly turn around to face whatever creature was breathing down her neck.  With that powerful pivot gathering momentum for her strike, her right fist erupted in blue, flame-like energy as she charged up a sword art. A crack like thunder boomed as her fist collided with her pursuer, knuckles nearly rupturing through the carapace on its back before it was sent rocketing back into the horde it ran ahead of. The larger beast crashed into multiple forms, definitely causing a ripple in the seemingly endless wave of enemies that chased them.. but it wasn't enough to stop them in their tracks. Just enough to allow them a couple of seconds to gain some extra distance. 

Hackman pointed out a long bridge that crossed over a ravine. He suggested cutting the rope once they were across, perhaps it would put an end to this chase and give them a moment to breathe. "I don't see many other options!" Jevi called up. Altering their course slightly, they set their sights on the bridge. The living wall of darkness drew ever closer with gangly arms and appendages reaching out for them, the haunting sounds of snarling and whispers drowning out any other sounds. 

Even though it was the only sound idea of how to break free from this pursuit, it was becoming worse of a suggestion the further they approached. The bridge was old, the weathered planks appeared slick and waterlogged from the constant battering of rain. The passageway across the deep ravine creaked and groaned as it battled against the lingering storm, and for a moment Jevi considered having the group circle around again in hopes of finding some extra help. No, this was the only option. There was no turning back. 

Just the first step onto the wood and she thought it was going to buckle under her weight. "One of you may have to do the honors!" Jevi shouted to both Kyra and Hackman, who each had a blade at the ready. "Not sure if blunt force is gonna split any ro-" SNAP

Beneath her foot, the wood had splintered, and she was no longer traveling across the bridge. She was falling down. Down into the dark ravine below. If she somehow managed to survive the fall, whatever demons lurked down there would make quick work of here... So she preferred not to meet them. Grabbing onto the first thing she could, Jevi reached for the next plank.. but the sudden pressure caused it to meet the same fate as the first. 

Was this the end of her story? 

[657]

Edited 10 hours ago by Jevi

[Adelyte 0]

Move move move.

All she had to do was move. Keep running. Don't stop. Don't look back. Hackman ran just in front of her, and Kyra to her right. The only one she could not see was Jevi, but the constant sounds of combat amidst the undiscernible screeching meant she was holding her own. The sudden, explosive boom from just behind her caught her attention though, and caused her to stop in her tracks for just a second. Eyes widened at the power behind that punch, leagues above her own strength, and her mouth hung agape. A tiny "woah.." was the only sound that came out with a breath. 

"Keep moving!" Jevi reminder her, grabbing her by the bicep and pulling her along for a moment once Adelyte had regained her footing. 

"Sorry that was just, like, totally cool!" 

"You can gawk all you want later, for now focus!" 

Oh, right. They were running for their lives. How could she forget? 

---

A bridge across the ruptured earth seemed like the best plan. How many books had she read where the heroes escaped across a rope bridge and slowed down the enemy by cutting it down before they could cross. It was classic! 

Those stories definitely made it seem much easier though. After the first couple of steps, she nearly lost her step as an unexpected gust of wind rocked the bridge from side to side. With her hammer still in her main hand, she gripped onto the ropes beside her for support, slowing her sprint to a more careful pace. Everything seemed to be going well until she heard another crack behind her - this one very much not the sound of Jevi punching some other baddies in the face. 

Horror filled her face as the bridge broke beneath the brunette, who fumbled for something to grab hold of. Adelyte's mud caked boots slid across the rain slick board as she stumbled, trying to turn around. Trying to do anything she could to save Jevi, the same woman who had saved her from certain doom not even an hour earlier. Dropping to a knee, she offered the end of her hammer to the woman, who was able to grab hold. 

She was much heavier than she looked.

"Hold.. on!" Adelyte struggled, her own muscles straining as she lifted her hammer up, and Jevi with it.

"Holy shit, I owe you one." Jevi would gasp before quickly getting back onto her feet and across the rest of the bridge. 

The moment they all stepped foot onto solid ground again, Adelyte would turn to face behind them. The horde had condensed to a single file line.. or close to it. Some were tossed over the edge, others were trampled by their kin.. but they all moved with purpose to get across the bridge and continue their chase.

"YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" Adelyte would shout as she spun the warhammer in her hands and slammed it into one of the wooden spokes that held up the bridge.

".... Okay yeah maybe cut the rope." 

[509]

Edited 10 hours ago by Adelyte