"Well, you look like you've been through the wringer," Ellie remarked, cracking her neck with a flourish as we stood once more on the ledge outside the cave entrance.
"You could say that," I replied, handing her the map.
As she took it, the map levitated from her hand with a flick of her index finger, enveloped in a vibrant green aura. "Lea, could you work your healing magic on him, even if it's just a scratch?" Ellie commanded, whispering words from an arcane tongue I didn't recognize.
Lea materialized behind me. "I'll give him a quick patch-up, alright?"
"Yeah, let's do it," I sighed, bracing myself for the healing.
She knelt down and placed her palms on the back of my shirt. Her eyes turned a soft rose-pink, her hair swirling as if caught in a tempest, while her palms emitted a dazzling white light. Then, as swiftly as it had begun, everything returned to normal. "All set," she stated impassively, leaning against the nearest wall. She reached into her inventory and conjured a green potion, downing it in a single gulp—an energy booster.
In an instant, everyone's maps flew from their pockets, including mine, still in Ellie's possession. Imaginary lines in the air drew them all together until they merged, emitting a brilliant light like a comet streaking across the sky. When it subsided, a new map floated down into Ellie's hands. "hey, what do you guys think about Montag," she pondered aloud.
"I don't really have much of an opinion. They wanted war so we gave them war." I said.
Ellie rolled the map up. "Right, but what's the endgame?"
"I'm lost," Lea admitted.
Ellie unfurled the paper again, and it multiplied into four copies. "Forget I asked. Just take one each," she said, distributing the maps to each of us. "Agreed?" I nodded, tucking the map into my pocket.
"So, what's the next move, Ellie?" Kurogane inquired, already anticipating her strategy.
"Well, we either lay low and wait it out or we go in guns blazing," Ellie declared proudly, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"I'm all for causing some chaos," Kurogane grinned.
I wasn't keen on playing the waiting game, especially if my older brother was involved. "Alright, count me in," I agreed, stealing a glance at Lea, whose expression remained unchanged.
"Guess I'm in too," Lea affirmed.
And just like that, we all agreed to dive headfirst into the action.
"Excellent. We've got the whole map laid out. The moment one of my traps springs, that's our cue," Ellie announced.
The three of us nodded, and soon after, maybe ten minutes later, we felt a sudden vibration from our pockets. I retrieved my map, noting a red blinking arrow pointing downwards about four levels below us.
Ellie rose to her feet, dusting off her pants, and surveyed us. "Stay close," she commanded.
**********
Somewhere In The Cave.
The Remainder of The Chapter is Not in First Person POV.
The ground bore faint traces of blood, a testament to the recent skirmish. A man lay wounded, his foot missing, while a woman tended to him—a healer. Two other figures stood nearby, surveying the scene.
"A trap, you think?" One asked, scanning their surroundings.
"Absolutely," the other confirmed, his eyes darting around vigilantly. The first man grew visibly jittery. "Listen, they're onto us. There's no time to waste. Prepare yourselves for a fight."
"Prepare? With Clark out of commission, it's three against four! Maybe more if they got backup!"
"So, what's the plan? Retreat?"
"Well... no, but..."
"But what? You better start placing sigils on that sword of yours, or we're toast."
The nervous warrior, Jermaine, let out a resigned sigh. "Fine. I'll inform Clark and Michelle. Just do what you gotta do." He made his way over to the injured man and the caring woman, relaying the situation.
Declan Roy, leader of the Avalanche Fire Team, exuded a quiet intensity. His curls tumbled around his face, framing earthy eyes and a strong jawline. He withdrew a hand from his pocket, rubbing it against his tan skin.
Despite his outward calm, Declan seethed with frustration. His team's ineptitude was maddening—they couldn't even detect a simple magic trap.
'IMBECILES!' He seethed inwardly, quickly regaining his composure. Someone was about to make a move against them, and he needed to be ready.
"Inventory," he murmured.
A magnificent staff materialized in his grasp—a weapon of formidable power. Crafted from refined wood with flames dancing at its peak, it radiated an aura of raw magic.
But it wasn't for him.
He crouched beside Jermaine and Michelle. "Think you can handle this?" He asked Clark, who gritted his teeth in determination. "You better believe it."
"Help him up," he instructed Jermaine and Michelle, who assisted Clark to a standing position, propping him against the cave wall. "Keep chugging those potions for now, Clark. We'll find you a healer once this is over."
"You got it, boss."
"Keep your wits about you," Declan cautioned, sweeping his gaze around the cavern. "There's a little rat scuttling about."
Instantly, the team sprang into action, weapons at the ready. Clark wielded his staff, Jermaine brandished a jet-black sword, and Michelle gripped two gleaming daggers.
As for Declan, he was armed with a single, menacing crimson short sword—a lethal weapon befitting an assassin.
"Quit skulking in the shadows, assassin," Declan challenged the empty space.
Silence hung in the air for a tense moment, broken only by the sound of heavy breathing, until a figure emerged from the darkness. "You must be quite the expert to sniff me out," the unknown voice taunted.
Though they strained to see, the figure lacked any discernible features, blending seamlessly into the shadows.
But Declan could see him clearly. "I know you," he declared, raising his short sword. "You're Lucio of the Viper Squad."
The shadowy figure stepped forward, revealing his identity. "Guilty as charged. We both know why I'm here, so let's cut to the chase." Lucio squared up, ready for battle.
"An assassin without daggers?" Declan questioned.
"Last one broke in a brawl. You know how it is," Lucio replied nonchalantly.
"In that case, you're at a disadvantage," Declan observed.
"Don't be so sure," Lucio retorted with a smirk.
Suddenly, the rest of Lucio's team crashed through a hole in the ceiling, landing with a thunderous impact. Kurogane clashed swords with Jermaine, while Lea abandoned her healer persona to engage Michelle, delivering a swift kick to the face. Ellie and Clark began conjuring spells, preparing for the impending chaos.
Declan wasted no time, charging at Lucio with his sword. Their blades clashed, drawing first blood from Lucio's cheek.
Lucio slid back, blood trickling from his cheek. He wiped it away, considering whether to continue the fight with lower grade daggers or resort to hand-to-hand combat.
"What's it going to be, Lucio?" Declan pressed, advancing. "Do you have what it takes to best me?"
'Eagle Eye,' Lucio thought, but there was no sign of Declan's HP bar. 'If I can't see his HP, he must be at least a hundred levels above me.' Chuckling to himself, Lucio remarked, 'so many of them.'
Declan awaited his response, his focus unyielding.
Meanwhile, the others continued their skirmish.
Kurogane's sword clashed with Jermaine's, their blades ringing out in a metallic symphony. With a swift upward motion, Jermaine missed his mark entirely, giving Kurogane an opening. Seizing the opportunity, Kurogane unleashed his signature move, "Starfall Strike!" Bright blue stars shot from his sword, striking Jermaine relentlessly, eliciting a yelp of pain.
As Jermaine staggered back, Kurogane capitalized on his advantage. With a powerful swing, their swords clashed, sending shockwaves through the ground. Jermaine's blade cracked under the pressure, and he stumbled, losing his footing.
Kurogane chuckled triumphantly. "Dart!" He exclaimed, releasing his sword and impaling Jermaine's shoulder. With a cry of agony, Jermaine collapsed to the ground, defeated. Standing over him, Kurogane issued a smug challenge. "Ready to surrender?"
"Gah! I yield!" Jermaine cried, clutching his wounded shoulder.
With a cocky grin, Kurogane seized the hilt of the sword. "Better brace yourself," he warned, as a deafening scream echoed through the cave. With a swift motion, Kurogane yanked the sword free, blood gushing forth.
Clark, in the midst of casting a spell, snapped back to reality at Jermaine's scream. His eyes widened at the sight of Jermaine sprawled on the bloody ground, hesitating as doubt crept into his mind.
Before he could resume his incantation, a warm sensation enveloped his shoulders. "You..." he stammered, shocked by the sight before him.
Ellie hovered in mid-air, her hair billowing around her as she raised her hands parallel to each other, conjuring a ball of radiant energy. As she extended her arms, the ball grew in intensity, bathing the cavern in a warm, golden glow. Its brilliance defied explanation, a manifestation of celestial power that left all who beheld it in awe.
"You've harnessed the power of the sun," Clark breathed, awe-struck.
As he attempted to retreat, he found himself blocked by a wall of arcane energy, trapping him in place.
'It's her. She cast such a powerful spell without uttering a single incantation?'
Interrupting his thoughts, Ellie spoke, her voice tinged with a mixture of determination and resolve. "I endured unimaginable pain to master this spell. My flesh burned, my eyes seared, and my insides melted like molten steel. But my master taught me a valuable lesson." With a smirk, she continued, "Embrace the searing flames of adversity, for within them lies the crucible of greatness."
With a swift motion, Ellie unleashed the energy, hurtling it toward Clark. The impact was cataclysmic, engulfing him in a blinding flash of light.
On the other side of the cave, Lea and Michelle were engaged in their battle. Lea had crimson flowing down from her mouth down to her chin while Michelle's face was puffed up, the both of them battered and bruised. Michelle was plastered with fear, but with just as much as anger. She rose and hurled a right hook in Lea's chin, "fuck you!" She roared, ducking below Lea's counter and sending another fist to the stomach. Lea coughed in pain.
As she fell to the ground, sneakily and cunningly, she twisted her waist, and swept Michelle off the ground. In order to take advantage of the situation, Lea quickly got on top of Michelle, sending rockets down into Michelle, pummeling her face as she scurried to get out. With each punch was infused arcane. And because she's a healer, this meant that each punch was also healing Michelle, keeping her in an endless cycle of getting beat.
"Enough!" Ellie intervened, her voice cutting through the chaos.
Reluctantly, Lea ceased her onslaught, allowing Michelle to rise unsteadily to her feet.
With Kurogane by their side, they turned their attention to the center of the cavern, where Declan and Lucio still squared off.
"You took your sweet time deciding, didn't you?" Declan taunted.
Lucio, crouched and ready, brandished his silver daggers. "Consider this your reward for waiting patiently."
Declan smirked, assuming a defensive stance. "Defeating you will be the ultimate prize," he declared, as the final showdown loomed on the horizon.