The descent felt endless as Az hurtled toward the ground, his energy drained and fate seemingly the only force guiding his fall.
"It's not like I can die for real," he muttered to himself, resignation lacing his words.
But just as the ground rushed closer, a sudden shift altered his fate. Lumi swiftly leaped into action. She intercepted Az's plummeting form, catching him in mid-air. They collided with the ground, but it wasn't a harsh impact—Lumi rolled, cushioning Az's fall as best she could.
Their bodies tumbled across the earth, each roll serving to mitigate the force of the fall. As the momentum finally subsided, they lay there, panting and battered but safe. Lumi's eyes held a mix of concern and relief as she looked at Az.
The hazy blur of consciousness slowly sharpened into focus for Az, a familiar sensation of dizziness enveloping him. As he roused, his gaze met Lumi's concerned eyes.
"Hey there, feeling like déjà vu," Az murmured, a wry smile playing at the corners of his lips. It reminded him of their time in the simulation.
But before he could fully gather his bearings, a shrill voice pierced the air. Az tried to lift his head, only to be met with a flood of red-faced embarrassment—Elodie stood behind Lumi, both hands covering her face.
Az's eyebrows shot up in mild surprise and felt a pang of embarrassment after he realized he was still naked.
"Oh, Elodie, didn't see you there," he remarked casually, despite the oddity of the situation.
Lumi glanced back at Elodie, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes as she tried to suppress a chuckle. "I think Az might need a moment, Elodie," she said, trying to ease the tension with a gentle smile.
Amidst the turbulent aftermath, a figure emerged from the rumbling rubble, shrouded in dust, causing a brief jolt of alarm within the group. For a moment, they tensed, half-expecting another adversary to burst forth, ready for an ambush. The silhouette's emergence set their senses on edge, each of them briefly assuming a defensive stance.
Bursting forth, she cried out, "Elodie!?" in a manner akin to a pup discovering a stash of treats. Racing toward Elodie, she enveloped her in a bear hug, her relief palpable.
Observing the scene with a raised brow, Az inquired, "Were you here the entire time?" The response was swift as Beatrice tossed a bundle of cloth toward Az.
"Do you honestly think you could handle this alone?" she chided, an exasperated yet endearing tone in her voice. "I activated my skill book the moment you engaged with the captain. There's no way you could handle him on your own."
As the dust settled and the tension eased, Beatrice took a moment to catch her breath, her eyes glinting with a mix of relief and excitement. "You know, sometimes it's a gamble activating these two skills," she began, brushing off the debris from her clothes. "But boy, did it pay off this time!"
Az's brow arched in curiosity. "What did you do?"
Beatrice grinned, excitement bubbling in her voice. "The moment Hex tore up the ground, I had my little moment of panic," she admitted with a chuckle. "But then, instinct kicked in—I activated my Arcane Book of Fortuna Art."
Az's interest piqued. "Your book skills?"
"That's right," Beatrice confirmed, her enthusiasm contagious. "First up, my Fortuity Surge—saved me from the fall. Thought I'd splatter, but nope, landed on my feet like a pro!"
Elodie nodded in admiration. "And what was the second one?"
Beatrice's grin widened. "Serendipity Aura," she announced proudly. "Figured if we, mostly you, were going into a throwdown with a captain, might as well tip the scales in our favor a bit."
Az raised an eyebrow. "How much did it tip the scales?"
Beatrice winked. "Let's just say, you wouldn't have stood a chance without a little extra luck on your side."
In the midst of their relief, Beatrice's demeanor shifted "If only we arrived a bit earlier, Arnold would still be..." a shadow crossing her features. Elodie, sensing the change, gently asked about Arnold, the concern evident in her voice.
Beatrice merely shook her head, a silent answer that spoke volumes. Elodie's eyes welled up, and Beatrice, understanding the unspoken grief, pulled her into a comforting embrace.
Amidst the shared sorrow, Lumi's voice broke the momentary silence, a reminder of their immediate concern. "Where's Hex?" she inquired, her voice tinged with urgency. Beatrice glanced around, pondering. "He might be in the other room. Let's go."
As they hurried towards Hex's possible location, a pang of admiration mixed with envy struck Az. He marveled at Beatrice's already mastered two skills. Yet, a tinge of jealousy simmered within him, a desire for the same prowess.
Curiosity tugged at him, prompting Az to check his status. He noted that his skull points hadn't increased, prompting that the alien captain still lurked. The realization dawned on him—he had yet to eliminate his formidable foe.
As the group pressed on towards Hex's location, Elodie, feeling the urgency, activated her tracking skill. With a renewed cooldown, she skillfully navigated the base's corridors, leading them directly to Hex.
The sight that greeted them was grim – Hex lay unconscious, a critical wound on his shoulder from the earlier encounter with Alexn.
Lumi sprang into action, tearing unused cloth into makeshift bandages, she carefully tended to Hex's injury, her hands moving with practiced precision. Beatrice, her mind occupied with a pressing matter, scanned the room for Az, only to find he was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Az?" Beatrice questioned, her tone a mix of curiosity and concern. The group exchanged puzzled glances, realizing that Az had momentarily slipped away.
As Az ventured alone through the winding corridors of the alien base, he noticed that the architectural intricacies of the structure became more pronounced.
Illuminated by natural light streaming in through the breached walls and ceilings, the previously dimly lit passages now showcased the alien craftsmanship in vivid detail.
The walls were adorned with pulsating patterns that seemed to react to the ambient energy, creating an otherworldly ambiance. Luminescent panels embedded in the floor emitted a soft, ethereal glow, guiding Az's path.
Air hummed with subtle energy, and the faint echoes of distant machinery added an eerie soundtrack to his solitary journey.
As he continued, Az encountered chambers with holographic displays projecting alien symbols and diagrams, hinting at the advanced technology that powered the base.
The further he walked, the more the base revealed its dual nature – a harmonious blend of organic and technological elements seamlessly integrated into its design.
The base's exterior was a mesmerizing combination of smooth, metallic surfaces and bioluminescent accents that shimmered in response to the ambient energy.
Exiting the base, Az found himself bathed in the unfiltered light of the sun, revealing the external facade of the structure.
Az's footsteps echoed through the mist.
The impact had left behind a testament to the clash of powers that had unfolded. The ground around the javelin resembled a crater created by a celestial body's impact, an otherworldly scar marking the intensity of the event.
Az's path led him toward the epicenter where Allveigandi, the captain's weapon, had landed. The environment around this focal point bore the scars of the recent clash, with debris scattered haphazardly and the ground scorched by the immense energy that had been unleashed.
Approaching ground zero, the once-imposing structure of the base now appeared even more imposing, as if the impact had magnified its grandeur. Broken fragments of the base's foundation were strewn across the landscape, and the area felt charged with residual energy, crackling in the air like static.
As Az walked closer, the residual aura emanating from Allveigandi was palpable. The javelin, crackled with latent electricity, dancing along its surface in sporadic sparks. The weapon seemed to retain a residual charge from the powerful surge it had unleashed earlier.
The weapon lay embedded in the ground, its surface emitting a faint, eerie glow, a testament to the immense power it possessed. The area surrounding the weapon seemed to exude an almost ominous aura.
Approaching the javelin, Az's breath hitched as he extended his hand toward the weapon. With a mixture of anticipation and caution, his fingers grasped the handle. He could feel the residual energy coursing through the weapon, a thrumming power that seemed almost sentient.
"Come to papa," Az murmured under his breath as he pulled the javelin from the ground. The weapon yielded with a reluctance that hinted at its formidable nature.
Name: Allveigandi
Description: Empowered by the crackling might of lightning, this javelin is forged by the artisans of the Kunnigr, a weapon destined to vanquish the Skrímsli.
STR | Strength: B
DEX | Dexterity: A
INT | Intelligence: B
ARC | Arcane: A
Passive 1: Elemental Synergy - Allveigandi's Strength, Dexterity, and Intelligence surge in tandem with the wielder's mastery of lightning-based abilities. (No cooldown)
Passive 2: Thunder's Cache - Allveigandi possesses the capability to store surges of absorbed lightning energy. When triggered, inflicts significant damage to the target and nearby foes, channeling the amassed lightning energy into a devastating area-of-effect attack.
Az attempted to activate his Technomage skill, seeking to command the javelin power. However, as he tried to exert control over the weapon, an unexpected message flashed: "Condition not met, weapon full potential locked."