Center of the 3rd Floor's Forest
The waves of mutant monsters have been held back for now. But I don't know how long this will last. Ivy seemed to have run off on her own and looks to be fighting a fierce enemy. Well… I know she'll be fine… Glancing over to Anansi Cavilhaugh and Katya, I noticed a strong enemy came their way too. I would have gone over to help, but my hands are tied. While trying to find away out of this situation, one of the two tough mutants before me spoke.
"There's no point trying to run, elf! Our master the Scourge of the Caustic Wastes especially wants you to be returned to them!"
These mutants were vastly stronger than any opponent I've fought to the death with. Both gave me the impression of being peak Duke stage or initial King stage Battlemasters. I knew they were Battlemasters given the lack of magoi moving at their will. Instead aura condensed weapons were in hand. These mutant monsters were somehow able to create their own Aura Avatars!? To make matters worse, the mutant Anansi and co are facing also seems to be wielding an Aura Avatar.
I can only hope, the monster they are facing is a newly developed initial Duke stage, or… No! I must have faith in their ability to weather the situation. We are adventurers, and our very job is wrought with dangers beyond imagining. If they cannot overcome this situation, then death may as well be a peaceful consolation for them. No longer focusing on the others, I gave my all to overcome my own tribulation.
…
"Cavilhaugh!! Have your Valkyrie keep the monsters away!!!"
Anansi shouted, his scythes interlocked with the glowing weapon of the lieutenant sent by Midgardsormr. Simultaneously, his enemy used another glowing weapon to keep Goeff, Gwenn and Raptor at bay. Their battle occurred within the protected vail of Ra's Domain. The spell's veil covered everything within a 450m2 area of effect which weakened the mutant, but not enough to drastically turn the tide. Meanwhile, it would appear the mutant monster looked down on the trio as they posed no immediate threat.
Such a notion was evident as Anansi was on the defensive while fighting alongside the three golems. Cavilhaugh kneeling on the ground, one leg pierced deeply by a jagged spike. Katya was split between treating Cavilhaugh and operating her golems, causing their firepower to drastically fall. Holding back the urge to release a blood-filled shout, Cavilhaugh replied,
"I'm busy not bleeding out here!! The Valkyrie is already doing just that!!! Ugh… fuck these damned mutants!! "
Katya knelt with Cavilhaugh, and used a third of her magoi to cast healing spells. Meanwhile, she slowly removing the spike from Cavilhaugh leg. In spite of being focused on healing her party member, she also observed her enemy while issuing commands to her golems through the control apparatus she wears around her wrist.
(This monster seems to be an aura user. But I don't know how they can wield such weapons. I can't even get a good gauge of their power. This can only mean their way stronger than I am. If only I were as strong as Yuriy…) Katya thought to herself, channeling endless amounts of magoi into the control apparatus, her healing spell and into a cautionary offensive spell. The three of them were facing a dire situation, nonetheless they understood this is an expected tribulation they'll need to survive.
A sense of inferiority swelled the three as they were facing an enemy whose might outstripped their own. Still, the only choice they could make was to struggle until either their victorious, or death claims them. By the time the spike was completely removed for Cavilhaugh's leg, Anansi was able to break away from the deadlock which trapped him. Sadly, all he could do was create minimal distance between him and the mutant lieutenant before being pressed again. Watching the battle, Cavilhaugh urged Katya on,
"Go!! Help him… ugh… I will be fine enough to fight from the rear."
"…Okay… Run if things get worse."
Katya replied. She then got up and ran towards the ensuing fight. Meanwhile, her response earned a sadden chuckle from Cavilhaugh. Mumbling to himself, he rose to his feet saying,
"Haha… to think a young 10-sol-old lass would tell me to run… How pathetic I've become…"
With deep self-ridicule, Cavilhaugh began manipulating magoi with his staff. Slowly the earth began to swell around him, shifting, cracking, rising and falling until 10m tall rampart was form beneath his feet. During the spell, Cavilhaugh quivered at the thought their enemy may charge him while he worked.
With Katya joining Anansi, her focus was now on commanding her golems and releasing a rain of fire and lightning spells. The extra firepower helped create enough wiggle room for Anansi, allowing him to go on the offensive. Their joint effort, although did not pose any real threat the mutant monster, prevented it from interfering with Cavilhaugh.
Noticing the Earthen rampart now within the effect area of Ra's Domain, Katya used air magoi to propel her towards the top. Once there, her spells were then switched for more explosive elemental artillery-ish spells. After absorbing half of the magoi stored in her robes, she began to rain down death on the surrounding monster hordes within the golden veil. Some of her spells also fell onto the mutant lieutenant, giving Anansi a chance to land a few bloodied attacks.
In contrast, Cavilhaugh began summoning another elemental Valkyrie. Understanding their current predicament, the 25-sols-old mage threw his pessimistic caution to the wind while casing this spell. During the summoning, he coughed up blood and even felt weak in the knees. And yet instead of stopping his spell, he began using his own blood to form the magic summoning circle. Katya saw this and was about to aide him, when he held up his free hand and said,
"Don't Your worry is duly noted; however, unneeded. At least for the likes of me. Know this young mage. In order to advance in the ranks, you must risk everything. Learn from this moment, as I risk it all…"
Saying no more, Cavilhaugh continued to form the spell, coughing blood and adding it the magic circle. Unbeknownst to him, Cavilhaugh had been offering his blood to the spell circle, changing its originally intended target. After 4 minutes of forming the spell, the magic circle begin to ferociously suck in large amounts of magoi, blood pools scattered everywhere, the caustic fog, and other energies as it hovered above the battlefield. In a dire moment a miracle appeared. That miracle appeared in the form of the Dungeon Core's automated voice, Dori.
While Yuriy was inside the core chamber, Cavilhaugh had been studying some of the celestial runes etched into the raised platform in front of the Abyssal Treant. The mage had thought the runes would be useful to him as he incorrectly translated them. Unbeknownst to him, these runes had something to do with the dungeon's core. The quack of a mage had decided to integrate these runes into his summoning magic, hoping to reduce the cost to summoning a Valkyrie.
When using the modified spell, he summoned his Fire Valkyrie yet experienced no changes to the spell. Now with the addition of his blood, the caustic fog, and ambient magoi, Dori responded to his spell, speaking out for Yuriy to hear,
"Anomaly detected! Energy convergence occurring on dungeon floor 4… Alert!! Summoning coordinated received. Please select which entities to send through the portal."
-End of Chapter