[EQUIP the armor?]
Horizon silently thanked the gods that his luck hadn't failed him. Without hesitation, he equipped the armor, feeling its weight settle around him as it formed perfectly to his body.
Von let out a low whistle as the Bone Armor took shape around Horizon, its ghostly aura shimmering in the dim light.
Von whistled. "You look . . . different. Not human at all. Are you sure you're human?" he asked, eyeing Horizon's appearance.
Horizon's small pointy ears, white hair, pale skin, and those striking purple, slit-pupil eyes that seemed far too fierce for any ordinary human.
Horizon brushed off the comment, his focus shifting to the weapon that accompanied the armor.
|| Drakescourge Scimitars ||
Very Rare, all Classes that can wield sword
These slightly curved, jagged-edged scimitars are crafted from the rib bones of Nix'Udjar dragonkin.
The blades were all white like bones and have a reddish hue, as if eternally stained with blood. The crossguards resemble drake wings, and the hilts are wrapped in scales that provide a secure grip.
Special Abilities:
❶ Bloodlust: For every enemy slain, the blades absorb a portion of their life force, slightly healing the wielder and increasing attack speed.
❷ Scorched Earth: The swords leave a burning trail in their wake, scorching the ground and enemies alike with every slash.
|| E N D ||
With the newfound power of his sword, Horizon felt a surge of confidence.
The second feature of the blade would finally allow him to harness fire magic, and without relying on Von's help, he'd be able to fend off the Draconic Wisps that lurked everywhere in the Catacombs Reaches.
"Those are some impressive swords," Von remarked, his gaze fixed on the gleaming weapon in Horizon's grasp. "Humans really have all the luck with those chests."
Horizon didn't comment and stowed his previous equipment in his bag, slipping the new sword into its scabbard at his waist for quick access.
"Let's move. The battle isn't over yet," Horizon urged.
As the surviving Amberskin warriors began to collect their dead from the cave entrance, piercing screams shattered the night, drawing everyone's attention.
Horizon and Von spun around, eyes widening in alarm as a horde of Nix dragonkin emerged from the darkness, encircling them with a menacing advance.
The Amberskin tribe scrambled to defend their territory, but chaos erupted as the battlefield devolved into a frenzy.
Horrifically, a few of the fallen dragonkin, their runes glowing with a sickly green light, began to rise from the ground. With swiftness, they attacked unsuspecting Amberskin warriors, their spears piercing through armor and their clawed hands tearing through flesh.
The battlefield plunged into turmoil as the undead dragonkin turned the fallen against their own allies, the cursed runes binding them to a tormenting, eternal servitude.
"They . . . they turned the fallen Amberskins into undead?" Von stammered, shock lacing his voice. "But only their Azhurma could do that! What's happening here? How do they have that power now?"
"There's no time for questions!" Horizon barked, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Everyone, focus on the runes! They can only be stopped if we destroy the runes!"
[QUEST! Kill Nix'Udjar x20 and the Undead x10. REWARDs: Silver Chest x1, 200 gil]
Horizon dismissed the quest prompt as he charged toward the undead and skeletal dragons, piercing their runes before they could close in. The air crackled with necromantic energy as he severed the connection between the dark forces and their twisted magic.
Above the camp, a massive warband — larger than any before — had scaled the cliff walls and was now pouring into the cave entrance, their intent clear: total annihilation.
As Horizon and Von battled through a relentless wave of eight Nix'udjar dragonkin, the Amberskins fought to fend off the remaining attackers.
Horizon paused for a breath. His [Dragon Awareness] flared, pulling his gaze toward a distant figure. There, he spotted a particularly ominous Nix'udjar — larger, draped in shaman-like robes, wielding a skeletal staff. The figure was flanked by three Nix'udjar dragonkin, a formidable guard ready to strike.
Without hesitation, Horizon stormed toward the figure. The skeletal mage was engrossed in a dark incantation, giving Horizon just enough time to dispatch the three guards. He struck swiftly, shattering the staff and piercing the mage's rune in a blink.
The moment the leader fell, a wave of chaos erupted. Numerous undead crumbled to dust, and some Nix'udjar disintegrated into nothingness.
Von arrived at Horizon's side, his eyes widening as he took in the scene. "That's a Nix'udjar corpsemancer. No wonder the Fallen Amberskins kept rising again."
Von's face tightened with urgency. "We need to get inside! Vodgo's in trouble. We can't hold off this many Nix'udjar and undead."
The two plunged into the cave, joining the remaining defenders. The survivors formed a tight circle around Vodgo and the elders, fighting back against the relentless assault of the enemy as they prepared to escape.
"Vodgo!" Von shouted and pushed through the enemies ranks with Horizon.
The circle of defenders pressed on, pushing out of the overwhelmed cave and abandoning the devastated Amberskin camp.
Vodgo, despite needing support from Tulemo and Nukkos, roared commands. "Close ranks! We need to descend to the foot of the cliff!"
As the group made their way down, the pursuing Nix'udjar dragonkin were soon joined by a swarm of skeletal flying lizards — lesser undead dragons — that swooped down on the fleeing tribe.