The revolver's hammer clicked, a sharp, resounding sound that echoed through the sewer tunnels. Caelum's finger tightened on the trigger, and with a deafening blast, the gun roared to life. The bullet, propelled by the scatter shot, tore through the nearest River Fiend. Its grotesque body shuddered under the impact, dark ichor splattering against the damp walls.
Lily, unprepared for the gun's explosive sound, flinched, her eyes widening in shock. The brutal efficiency of the weapon, so unlike anything she had seen, sent a ripple of fear through her.
Caelum, undeterred by the creature's death throes, advanced steadily. Another shot rang out, finding its mark in a second River Fiend. The creature's screech was cut short as it collapsed, its body convulsing before lying still in a growing pool of its own acidic blood.
Elara, her senses heightened, watched the scene with a grim determination. She whispered an incantation, and vines sprouted from the ground, entangling the legs of an approaching fiend. With a swift movement, she lunged, her dagger finding the soft underbelly of the ensnared creature. It let out a guttural cry, thrashing violently before succumbing to its wounds.
Lily, still reeling from the initial shock, found herself rooted to the spot. Her gaze was fixed on Caelum, a mix of fear and fascination in her eyes. The way he moved, the confidence with which he wielded the gun, was both terrifying and mesmerizing. In this moment, she saw him not just as the man she admired but as a warrior in his own right, fighting against the darkness that threatened her home.
Caelum's focus was unyielding as he surveyed the area for more threats. His revolver, a beacon of death in the dim sewer, was reloaded with practiced ease. He glanced back at Elara and Lily, ensuring they were safe, his expression a mask of concentration and resolve.
He looked at the map, his brows furrowing as he saw dozens of red dots converging towards their location. "This is bad," he muttered under his breath. The Leviathan above was just a decoy. The main party was coming from below, and it was unlikely they'd send weak creatures like the River Fiends without a stronger force behind them. But what was their purpose?
As he pondered, the sewer's murky air was pierced by new, sinister sounds. From the shadows emerged creatures vastly different from the River Fiends, larger and more menacing.
"Stay alert," Caelum warned, activating his Observe skill. Data flooded his vision:
[System Message: Observe: Darkwater Brutes
Class: Subterranean Predators (Level 7)
Abilities: Crushing Grip, Razor Fins, Stealth in Water]
"These are Darkwater Brutes," Caelum announced, "Stronger and more dangerous."
Elara clenched her dagger, ready to use her nature-based skills. Lily, though scared, stood her ground, her faith in Caelum unwavering.
Caelum advanced, his revolver at the ready. His experiences as Eclipse, where he'd honed his instincts and agility to their peak. Now, those skills combined with his Gunslinger abilities would be crucial.
A Darkwater Brute lunged forward, its enormous clawed hand sweeping towards Caelum. He rolled aside, using his enhanced agility, and fired. The bullet hit the creature's eye, but it barely flinched, its tough hide absorbing the impact.
Elara acted swiftly, whispering an incantation. Vines erupted from the ground, entangling another Brute's legs. Using her Barkskin, she withstood a glancing blow from its razor fin, her arm's bark-like texture deflecting the worst of the damage.
Caelum, seizing the opportunity, switched tactics. He closed the distance and engaged in hand-to-hand combat, using his knife in a fluid dance of strikes and parries. Each move was a blend of his training with the Town Chef and the lethal grace of Eclipse. He remembered the Brutes' crushing grip and kept his distance, relying on his agility to keep him safe.
Lily, watching from a safe distance, saw the prowess and determination in Caelum's actions. She understood now why he had distanced himself from her – he was a warrior, burdened with responsibilities she could barely fathom.
A Brute broke free from Elara's vines, charging towards Lily. Reacting swiftly, Caelum threw his knife, embedding it deep into the creature's skull. It fell mere feet from Lily, who gasped in both fear and relief.
Caelum activated Advanced Bullet Time. The world around him slowed, giving him precious seconds to act. He retrieved his knife and reloaded his revolver with practiced ease.
In this slowed reality, Caelum moved like a specter, his shots calculated and precise. Each bullet found its mark, taking down Brutes with strategic shots to their less protected areas.
Elara, meanwhile, kept Lily shielded, using her Seed Shot to create barriers and impede the Brutes' approach. As the Bullet Time faded, Caelum felt a surge of fatigue, but he didn't let it slow him down. He picked up his revolver, now utilizing Trick Shots to hit multiple targets.
Caelum looked ahead, his eyes piercing through the damp darkness of the sewer, sensing the orchestrated malice behind the relentless attacks. The creatures they faced were too organized, too strategic in their assault. It wasn't random; someone, or something, was pulling the strings.
As Caelum contemplated this, a new wave of creatures emerged from the murky depths. These were unlike the River Fiends or the Darkwater Brutes. Sleek and serpent-like, they slithered and coiled, their scales reflecting the dim light with an ominous sheen.
[System Message: Observe: Serpent Shades
Class: Amphibious Assassins (Level 9)
Abilities: Venomous Fangs, Coiling Grasp, Stealth in Water]
"These are Serpent Shades," Caelum informed Elara, his voice low and steady. "Watch out for their fangs, and don't let them coil around you."
Elara nodded, her face set in a determined expression. "I'll keep them at bay with Seed Shot," she said, readying herself for the next onslaught.
Caelum changed the bullets in his revolver to Incendiary Shot, deciding its fiery properties would be more effective against the serpentine foes. Just then, Lily approached him, her expression earnest. "Caelum—" she began, but he cut her off with a frown, "Fall back. It is not the time."