Akira and Nox 1 and 2 raced down the tunnel towards the sound of battle quickly reaching an intersection, the first one since they had left the large pool room.
The sounds that had caught his attention were coming from the new path so they turned onto the path and ran up the path as it curved back diagonally from the main tunnel.
Akira made sure to hold his shield in front of him as charged up the dim tunnel.
“Yap!”
Crack!
Bright blue light from the ice attack temporarily lit up the tunnel revealing a Dark armored Knight with its back towards Akira and Nox 1 and 2.
The [Dark Knight lvl 140] stood firm blocking the path as it took every attack from Fluffball and Klyn.
With jerky motions caused by the thin layer of ice covering its body, the [Dark Knight] used its long sword to chop down with a great force only managing to nick Fluffball’s Ice armor as he jumped back.
Fluffball made sure to stay in front of Klyn as he acted as a tank protecting the squishy Klyn using the Holy ice armor that covered his entire body to block any attack. The Holy Ice Armor already had many large gouges from the Dark knight’s longsword. Luckily none of the attacks had gone deep enough to pierce his furry skin and draw blood.
Klyn kept Fluffball fully buffed with every buff he knew and continued to send the few debuffs he knew towards the [Dark knight] allowing Fluffball to fight with the higher leveled monster.
Fluffball’s ears perked up and looked between the [Dark knight’s] legs to see Akira Approaching.
This made him fight even harder to show off his strength. A blue ice shard formed around his mouth and shot right for the dark helmet of the[Dark knight].
The attack blew off the [Dark knight’s] helmeted head, sending it bouncing off the wall and rolling all the way down to Akira.
As Akira kicked the helmet aside, he noticed it was empty. The [Dark knight] without its helmet revealed that there was no physical body inside the suit of heavy armor. The loss of its helmet did not hinder it as it still fought on as best it could with all the ice covering its body and the many holes it had received.
It was stumbling from side to side as Akira ran up behind it and used a [Sword Slash] sending a blue light out severing the black armor in half.
The [Dark knight] still continued to move until Fluffball along with Nox 1 and 2 ripped apart all the pieces of the armor using their teeth claws and ice attacks.
“I am so glad to see you,” said Klyn, as he bent over to catch his breath.
“Yap!” said Fluffball proudly strutting over to Akira ignoring Nox 1 and 2. He was extremely proud after managing to fight against such a strong monster with only Klyn up until Akira had arrived.
Akira ruffled Fluffball’s furry head as he looked to Klyn and asked, “What happened to you and the others you were with? How did you end up with Fluffball?”
Klyn shrugged his shoulders, “We fought against those arms but Mileena and the cavalrymen protecting me were dragged into the different pools one by one. When they were all gone I was pulled into one of the pools as well. After reaching the bottom I swam to a glowing light above me and found Fluffball was already fighting two people in a large room back that way. They were Demigods who had been waiting for us to exit the pool.”
“No one else was there?”
“You are the first person that I have seen other than Fluffball,” said Klyn.
“And that thing?” asked Akira pointing to the shredded [Dark knight].
“We ran into it as we were walking down the path, it was pacing back and forth blocking our path so we had no other choice but to fight it.”
“Yap!” said Fluffball, nodding his all-knowing wise furry head.
‘What now?’ asked Nox 1.
“There is no going back. We need to keep following the path forward and face whatever is there. Are you two okay or do you need a second to catch your breath?” asked Akira.
“I don’t know about Fluffball, but I need a quick break to regain some of my energy,” said Klyn as he sat down and rested his back on the cold gray stone. He popped a blue candy into his mouth and then closed his eyes as he began to meditate.
Fluffball decided to rest as well and sat down next to Akira chewing on a blue candy. Even though Fluffball wanted to hurry, he really did need to regain some of his energy as he had been on high alert ever since entering the dungeon which was mentally draining, and then the two short battles took their toll as well.
When ten minutes had passed, Klyn opened his eyes and stood back up.
“I’m Okay now,” said Klyn.
“Yap!” said Fluffball, letting Akira know that he was also better now.
Akira stood up and looked at Fluffball seeing that the many major gouges in his ice armor had mostly smoothed out to the point of only showing minor cuts and cracks.
Akira led the way down the tunnel path back to the intersection.
“Yap!” warned Fluffball as they reached the intersection.
Everyone stopped and became fully alert as they listened to the faint sound that had alerted Fluffball.
It was a faint swishing and clicking sound and it was coming from the wall and ceiling.
The sound was like hot water passing through a cold metal pipe as it was warmed up.
Akira had not paid much attention to the gray stone pipes lining the walls and ceiling but now as he looked at them they started to glow red as some sort of red energy started to flow through them.
This reminded him of the red energy that had come from the Chimera Knight outside the dungeon.
Now, there was a constant flow of that similar red energy and it was all heading down the tunnel deeper into the dungeon.
“There definitely is something happening down there,” said Klyn, as he watched the flowing red energy rushing down the many pipes like a tsunami tidal wave.
As they resumed their quick walk down the main tunnel they did not find any other intersections or monsters that were patrolling the tunnels.
The only odd thing they saw was the constant flow of red energy into even larger pipes that were all headed deeper into the dungeon.
The absence of any traps or guards unnerved Akira as he knew that there was no way the cultist would have left such a large stretch of tunnel unguarded.
As they walked deeper the large stone pipes started to hum and buzz as the red energy flowed through them growing brighter and then lighter every few seconds giving Akira a feeling that they were veins leading to a beating heart.
“Yap…” said Fluffball quietly warning them.
Akira and Klyn stopped and listened intently trying to block out the hum and buzz coming from the pipes.
Akira’s ears twitched as he listened intently, he was able to quickly pick up on what Fluffball had heard.
He could just barely make out the low chanting of several people. As he listened for a few seconds, he could not make any sense of the chant as it was in some language unknown to him.
Akira looked over to Klyn who shrugged.
They continued to walk down the tunnel path still not finding anyone guard blocking them. The chanting grew louder and louder until it sounded as if it was coming from inside their heads.
The group stopped walking forward when they reached a glowing milky light that was swirling over what Akira guessed was the entrance to the deepest part of the dungeon.
“Another one of these things?” said Klyn in a worried tone.
They had no clue what was on the other side so Klyn was hesitant to move forward.
“… should we really be going in there with only the four of us?” asked Klyn.
“There is no other choice. We must stop whatever dastardly plans the Cult of Science has put in motion,” said Akira, his mind firm.
“Yap!” said Fluffball letting Akira know he was not afraid to fight the cultist!
Akira cast [Darkness Domain] covering everyone before touching the swirling light.
Ding!
-
Entering the ritual room!
Nearby party members will join you.
Akira hoped that the other scattered party members would be brought into the ritual room by using this portal. But when the white flashing light cleared he was disappointed, only Fluffball, Klyn, and Nox 1 and 2 had been teleported into the glowing red room along with him.
Akira and the three other party members stood at the edge of the red ritual room covered in darkness. The [Dark domain] blocked the pulsing red light from piercing through and reaching them.
At the center of the ritual room was a raised platform where the many hundreds of glowing pipes ended.
On top of the platform were 9 [Life absorption Chimeras] each wearing a red gem necklace.
They were all chanting in a formation that created three triangles which were positioned to create one large triangle. At the center of the large triangle sat the dark-robed cult of science member Bonestringer.
The red energy was flowing out of the pipes into the [Life absorption Chimeras] and from them into three ornately carved paths on the platform that all connected underneath Bonestringer who was solemnly chanting in a guttural ancient language that was different than the chants from the [Life absorption Chimeras].
Akira felt a raging heat coming from his bag and grabbed onto the item… it was the Energized gem. The heat was so strong that he had to throw it away lest it melt his armored hand. The raging energy inside the gem was also sucked out and sent to the chanting Bonestringer.
Seconds later a bright flash of red light spread out from both of Bonestringer’s hands which were holding onto a large red diamond.
When the red light died down the red diamond was no more. It had been transformed into a crystal clear diamond with no flaws or defects.
Bonestringer held out his hand to the left where Tibia appeared from the shadows of the platform and placed the diamond into a small ornate wooden box.
“Some uninvited guests have arrived. Can you handle them Tibia? I still need to refine the second core,” said Bonestringer.
“Leave it to me,” said Tibia.
Akira and the others heard what they said and became fully alert.
Ding!
-
Main quest update!
You have found the culprits! Now stop the ritual and kill those responsible for controlling the Molten Onyx Plague.
“We must stop this ritual they are performing!” growled Akira.
“Yap!” said Fluffball as his holy ice armor grew even colder.
“How are we to stop it?” asked a worried Klyn.
“Kill them all!” growled Akira as he charged forward to attack with Fluffball running along with him on his right and Nox 1 and 2 on his left.
The darkness domain moved along Akira, blocking Tibia’s view of the intruders. Even if she was unable to see who they were she knew of only one person who had such a skill like this.
A blue crescent sword slash shot out of the dark mist and headed towards the immobile Bonestringer.
Tibia stepped forward and with a flick of her hand and red crescent flew out from one of the Stone pipes and collided with the blue [Sword slash] stopping it from reaching Bonestringer.
Several more skills along with ice shards shot out from the approaching dark mist.
None of the attacks were aimed at Tibia, they were all aimed at the Chimeras and Bonestringer behind her. This forced Tibia to focus on defense to protect the ongoing Ritual.
After several frustrating minutes of blocking all the skills, Tibia stood straight and grabbed onto the clear diamond with her right hand. With her left hand, she pointed at the slowly approaching black mist.
“I didn’t want to use this skill but you are forcing me to use it! I can not let you interrupt the ritual! Die and become energy for the Core!” shouted Tibia.
Akira stopped moving forward and sidestepped to the side away from her pointing hand. Fluffball, Nox, and Klyn all did the same.
Tibia had started to quickly chant something under her breath causing sweat to run down her brow that was hidden by her hood.
When she stopped chanting no skill or light shot out towards them. She just let her hand fall.
Akira looked to Klyn and Fluffball to see if something had happened to them but as he did, his vision grew blurry for a second. When it cleared he saw Mileena groaning on the ground several dozen paces ahead of him.
She was severely wounded and had blood pouring out many of the fresh wounds.
Akira rushed forward to cover her from any attacks that were sent their way from Tibia.
“What happened to you? Did you receive those wounds from the demigods or the cultists?” asked an angry Akira as he tried to pull out a red potion to heal Mileena.
Mileena lifted her head and with gritted teeth said, “They…”
“Yes?”
“…want you dead!”
With those words, the wounded Mileena stabbed her daggers into the small gap of Akira’s armpit armor.
“Aaaa!” Akira stumbled back in pain, blood now dripping down his arm and chest.
“Mileena! What’s wrong with you? Snap out of it!”
Mileena ignored his words and lunged at him again, her blood splattering on the ground as her wounds grew worse with each attack.
Akira tried to keep dodging each of the attacks from the crazed Mileena but he kept getting several minor wounds that were quickly stacking up. He had no choice but to at least try to immobilize her.
He leaped forward and used the skill [Shield Slam] right into her face.
Crack! A loud sickening sound rang out when the shield connected.
She skid across the stone floor and lay still not moving as the blood pooled out of her body quicker than before.
Before Akira could move forward his vision blurred for a moment and Mileena disappeared.
Akira shook his head to clear his vision and found both Fluffball and Klyn were immobile with blank stares.
“Fluffball! Klyn! Snap out of it! That cultist has cast some sort of hallucination on you!” shouted Akira as he ran over to Fluffball to shake him out of the spell.
When he shook Fluffball his body shivered and then looked to Akira with glowing red eyes.
Akira jumped back as Fluffball tried to jump at his neck and tear his throat out.
“Snap out of it, Fluffball!” growled Akira, as he blocked an Ice shard from Fluffball.
He was being pressured once again by Fluffball slowly getting covered in frost that was slowing him down.
Akira was once again forced to fight with and eventually immobilize Fluffball. His vision once again blurred and Azura appeared in front of him.
“Azura? What are you doing…” Before he could finish his question she launched an attack with her rapier.
Akira had felt something was not right but now that Azura had appeared in front of him, he knew that it was not the others around him that were caught in some sort of spell, it was him.
He had no idea how he had been hit with it or how he could break out of it. So he decided to just try and brute force his way out of it.
He launched an attack towards Azura and severed her body making it so she could no longer fight, in doing so his vision blurred again and a new opponent appeared causing Akira to grow extremely angry.
“You filthy cult of science!”
In front of him stood his dead grandfather!
One after another Akira was forced to fight and kill those closest to him whether they be dead or alive, family members, friends, and acquaintances.
After what seemed like the 100th fight Akira’s vision cleared and he heard the sound of snarls and the crack of ice smashing into stone.
“Akira have you broken free from the spell?” shouted a worried Klyn.
Klyn chanted a buff and sent it towards Fluffball who was fighting Tibia along with Nox 1 and 2. They had her surrounded and were slowly pushing her back towards the platform.
Even so, each attack they made was blocked by a red slash of light.
“I’m fine now,” said Akira. Both he and Klyn were still hidden in the [Dark domain].
Klyn sent several buffs after Akira who ran forward to join the fight near the platform.
Fluffball sensing Akira join them, jumped to the side allowing Akira to take over the main attacking role to keep the pressure on Tibia.
Tibia tried to send a red slash towards the escaping Fluffball but missed as he jumped behind Akira.
With Akira joining the fight it became more heated and one-sided as Tibia was getting pushed back faster and faster.
Crack!
The last of the red power from the pipes flowed out into the [Life absorption Chimeras] and was transferred from their bodies into the path, their bodies began to crack open as the last of the red light faded from them.
The [Life absorption Chimeras] crumbled and turned into red energy light that was sucked into the red diamond.
As the last of energy rushed into the diamond it started to let out a flash of red light to fully complete the ritual.
Fluffball shot past both Akira and Tibia and bit into Bonestringer’s neck. Tibia was unable to stop him as Akira attacked with a [Sword Slash] trying to behead her.
Bonestringer with glazed eyes sat still and continued chanting as Fluffball bit deeper into his throat, silencing the chanting as he ripped Bonestringer’s neck open, nearly severing his neck with just that one bite.
With a swipe of Fluffball’s sharp icy claws, Bonestringer’s head was severed and rolled to the side as the bright Red energy light started to fade.
Seeing this Tibia ignored the incoming attack from Akira receiving a large gash on her left arm as she launched herself towards the clear crystal diamond held in the hands of the now-dead Bonestinger.
Fluffball acted fast and snatched the diamond with his mouth and jumped off of the platform dodging two red energy slashes sent by Tibia.
Fluffball hugged the platform to stay out of Tibia’s vision as he ran around to the front where he jumped behind Akira who was readying another attack to finish Tibia along with Nox 1 and 2 who were trying to flank her once again.
Klyn focused his chants towards her, sending several debuffs to give Akira and the others an easier time to finish her.
Tibia, although conflicted about how things had turned out, made an immediate decision seeing how bad things were looking.
POOF!
A red misty light exploded outwards covering her.
When it cleared, she was no longer standing on the platform.
Akira and Fluffball looked around cautiously, sniffing and listening to their surroundings.
Akira activated [Life detection] but still found nothing.
They searched the room for any secret escape trap doors but again found nothing.
Ding!
-
Completed ritual dungeon!
Completed ritual sub task!
