Chereads / Gearsword / Chapter 7 - The Harbingers

Chapter 7 - The Harbingers

The Temple of Daemora loomed before them like a forgotten sentinel, its towering spires stretching high into the darkening sky. Unlike the city's sleek, metallic skyline, this structure was something out of a dream—a fusion of ancient mysticism and futuristic design. Its smooth walls shimmered with an otherworldly sheen, reflecting the last rays of sunlight, while intricate geometric patterns crisscrossed its surface. Despite its grandeur, vines and moss clung stubbornly to the facade, reclaiming it for the wilds.

Damien stepped forward, the crunch of leaves and twigs underfoot the only sound as the party approached the entrance. A massive archway stood open, revealing a gaping maw that led into the unknown. As they crossed the threshold, the temperature dropped, a cool, damp air enveloping them.

Inside, the temple was an eerie juxtaposition. Bioluminescent lights glowed faintly from the high ceiling, casting a dim, greenish light over the vast hall. But the once-sleek floors were now cracked, roots snaking through them, and patches of moss spread like green carpets. Leaves rustled underfoot, and the occasional chirp of hidden critters echoed through the corridors.

Kiyara ran her fingers over the wall, brushing away a layer of grime to reveal intricate carvings beneath.

It felt like walking through the ruins of some long-lost civilization, a place where time itself had ceased to matter. Pillars rose from the floor to the ceiling, some overtaken by thick vines, others broken and crumbling to the ground. Statues of Daemora, the goddess, stood sentinel in various alcoves, their expressions serene yet solemn, as if guarding secrets long since forgotten.

They moved through the hallways, past broken altars and dried-up fountains that might have once flowed with mystical waters.

Yet, despite their thorough search, there was no sign of the Tears of Daemora.

"Empty," Tyson grumbled, kicking at a stone. "All this for nothing."

"Not yet," Damien said, his voice tense. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were missing something, that the temple was keeping its secrets close. He turned to Kiyara. "There's got to be more to this place."

Kiyara opened her mouth to respond, but a sudden sound cut her off. A low, throbbing hum echoed through the chamber, followed by a faint rustling from somewhere deep within the temple.

"You hear that?" Grizz whispered, his hand already reaching for the hilt of his axe.

Damien nodded, signaling for silence. They moved as one, their footsteps muted against the mossy floor, following the noise. The corridor led them into a vast, open chamber at the heart of the temple. Here, the decay was less pronounced. In the center of the room stood an ornate dais, its surface marked with glowing runes that pulsed with a dim, eerie light.

But that wasn't what caught their attention.

High up in the shadowed recesses of the ceiling, something stirred. A shape detached itself from the darkness, descending slowly toward them. The party froze as they beheld a creature straight out of a nightmare—a woman's upper body, pale and twisted, melded grotesquely into the form of a massive spider. Her eight legs clicked against the stone as she moved, her eyes gleaming with a malevolent intelligence.

As Damien lifted his gaze, the Arachwitch descended from the shadows, her terrifying form coming into full view. Instantly, a blue label appeared in his HUD, identifying her with stark clarity: Arachwitch

Beneath the label, two health bars pulsed ominously, their levels indicating the creature's current vitality.

"An Arachwitch?" Kiyara breathed, her eyes wide.

The Arachwitch hissed, her mouth curling into a wicked smile that revealed rows of sharp, needle-like teeth. Her voice echoed through the chamber, a haunting whisper that seemed to seep into their very bones. "Intruders... you dare disturb my nest?"

Damien's hand tightened around his sword. He glanced around the chamber and noticed the walls were lined with silky, web-like strands. Hanging among them were egg sacs—hundreds of them, pulsating with a faint, sickly light.

"This isn't good," Cass muttered, backing up slightly. "We're in her lair."

The Arachwitch raised her arms, dark energy swirling around her fingertips. The room grew colder, the air thick with malevolent intent. "You will make a fine offering," she hissed, her voice filled with malice.

"Spread out!" Damien barked, drawing his weapon. The party scattered just as the Arachwitch unleashed a torrent of dark magic. Shadows shot from her hands, snaking across the floor like living tendrils, reaching for them with clawed ends.

Kiyara rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding a swipe from the shadowy appendages. Grizz and Tyson flanked the beast, moving in with their weapons ready. Grizz swung his axe in a wide arc, aiming for the creature's legs. But the Arachwitch was quick. She skittered across the chamber, her movements unnervingly fluid, dodging their attacks with ease.

Damien lunged forward, his sword glowing with a faint, blue aura as he aimed for the creature's heart. "Now!" he shouted, hoping to coordinate their assault.

The Arachwitch was prepared. With a flick of her wrist, she conjured a barrier of darkness around herself, Damien's sword striking it with a burst of sparks. She countered with a swipe of her claws, forcing him to leap back.

"She's too fast!" Cass yelled, dodging another wave of shadow tendrils. "And those eggs—if they hatch—"

"We don't let them," Kiyara cut in, her eyes fixed on the Arachwitch. "I just need to get close enough to land one good punch. I have an idea."

Kiyara's eyes narrowed with a fierce glow as she faced the Arachwitch, her Salamander scales shimmering with the intensity of her resolve. "I've been working on a new ability," she announced, her voice cutting through the tense air with a note of eager anticipation.

She inhaled deeply, her chest expanding as she gathered the fiery power within her. With a guttural roar, she unleashed a torrent of blazing fire from her mouth. The flames roared like a dragon unleashed, tearing through the air with scorching intensity. The fire roared over the Arachwitch's cluster of eggs, turning them into a blazing inferno in moments. The eggs burst into flames, disintegrating into smoldering ashes and sending up a cloud of smoke.

The Arachwitch's reaction was instant and dramatic. Her eyes widened in horror, and she let out a piercing scream. "My babies! Nooooo!" Her anguished wail echoed through the chamber, a raw cry of despair. Her dark magic flared uncontrollably, shadows writhing and lashing out as she skittered about in a frenzied panic. The chamber seemed to vibrate with her despair, dark magic crackling wildly in every direction.

Kiyara's eyes locked onto the distracted creature. With a determined burst of speed, she charged forward. Her powerful Salamander legs propelled her with incredible swiftness, her movements a blur as she closed the distance between them.

In one fluid, devastating motion, Kiyara leaped into the air and delivered a colossal uppercut. Her fist, enhanced by the fiery energy of her breath attack, connected with the Arachwitch's chin with a bone-jarring crack. The sheer force of the blow sent the creature hurtling upwards, her grotesque form lifting off the ground as if propelled by a cataclysmic force.

The Arachwitch crashed into the ceiling with an explosive impact, shattering ancient stonework and splintering debris. Her scream was abruptly cut off as she burst through the roof, her body disappearing into the void above. The ceiling buckled and crumbled, dust and rubble cascading down like a rain of destruction.

The sound of the Arachwitch crashing into the floor of the level above echoed ominously through the temple. The chamber shook with the aftershocks of her impact, a deep rumble resonating through the ancient structure.

Kiyara stood amidst the ruins, her chest heaving as she took in the aftermath of her fiery assault. The HUD flickered briefly, displaying the Arachwitch's health bar plummeting dramatically, the once sturdy line now reduced to a mere sliver.

Kiyara's eyes locked onto the debris-filled ceiling where the Arachwitch had vanished. Her pulse raced with the thrill of the fight, her scales glowing with the afterburn of her previous attack. "This ends now," she growled, her voice carrying a deadly certainty.

With a powerful push, she launched herself skyward, her Salamander legs propelling her through the collapsing stone and dust. The temple seemed to hold its breath as she ascended, her figure a blazing silhouette against the dim, shattered sky.

Reaching the ceiling, Kiyara opened her mouth wide and summoned the full force of her fire-breathing ability. The air around her crackled with energy as a massive torrent of flames erupted from her throat. The inferno surged upward with unstoppable ferocity, a wave of scorching heat and blinding light.

The flames tore through the ceiling with explosive force, incinerating everything in their path. The Arachwitch, who had been trying to recover from the brutal uppercut, was caught in the raging inferno. Her screams were drowned out by the roar of the fire as it engulfed her in a blistering embrace. The dark magic she wielded was reduced to nothing more than wisps of smoke in the relentless heat.

The fire blazed through the ceiling, consuming stone and debris alike as it blazed a path of destruction. The temple shook with the force of the flames, the once sturdy stonework now nothing more than charred fragments. The searing heat reduced the Arachwitch and everything around her to ashes, the furious torrent of fire creating a cascading shower of burning embers.

Kiyara descended back to the ground, her figure landing with a resounding thud amidst the smoldering wreckage. She surveyed the devastation with a fierce satisfaction, her chest rising and falling with the aftershock of her final, explosive attack. The chamber was now a charred ruin, the remains of the Arachwitch nothing more than scattered ash and smoking debris.

The HUD flickered briefly, the health bar of the Arachwitch now completely empty, confirming the total annihilation of their foe. The air was thick with smoke and the pungent scent of burned stone and flesh.

Damien and the others, still reeling from the intensity of the battle, exchanged looks of awe and respect. The silence that followed was heavy, marked only by the crackling remnants of the fire and the settling dust.

Damien took in the scorched remains of the Arachwitch and the charred debris scattered across the floor. He shook his head, a grin slowly spreading across his face as he approached her. "Damn, Kiyara," he said, his tone both admiring and incredulous. "That was some seriously insane strength you just unleashed."

Kiyara, wiping sweat from her brow, met his gaze with a tired but proud smile. "Glad I could impress. Took a lot of work to perfect that move."

Damien chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "Work? It looked like you just turned the whole temple into your personal barbecue pit. I don't think I've ever seen anyone make an entrance—or an exit—quite like that."

Kiyara laughed softly, her expression a mix of satisfaction and exhaustion. "Well, I guess it's a good thing you didn't have to clean up after me."

"Trust me, I'm more than happy to leave the cleanup to whoever's in charge of this place," Damien replied with a wink. "But seriously, great job. That was some epic firepower."

Damien turned to the others, his voice cutting through the oppressive silence. "Let's move," he said, his gaze shifting to the wrecked temple. "Looks like it's back to the drawing boar—"

Before he could finish, a flash of movement stole his attention. A hooded thief darted past him, snatching the Tear of Daemora straight out of his inventory. Damien's eyes widened in shock. "Wah—hey!"

The thief was already sprinting toward the exit, their figure blurring with frantic speed.

Damien reacted instinctively, adrenaline surging as he took off after them. "They've got the Tear!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the temple's corridors. "Come on!"

Kiyara, Grizz, Cass, and Tyson were quick on his heels, their footsteps echoing loudly as they raced through the collapsing ruins. The once-silent temple was now alive with the pounding rhythm of their pursuit.

They burst into the open air, skidding to a halt at the sight before them. The thief was surrounded by a group of Harbingers, their dark, cloaked figures forming a circle around her. Damien's heart sank as he saw the thief struggling in their grasp. The Harbingers were trying to wrest the Tear from them, but they fought back with desperate determination.

The Harbingers roughly pulled the thief's hood down, revealing a young Cait Sith girl with wide, terrified eyes. Damien's breath caught in his throat as he saw her face. "She's just a kid!" he exclaimed, his gaze locked on the girl.

The Cait Sith girl was petite and wiry, her short brown hair cut into a bob that framed her fierce crimson eyes. Brown cat ears twitched at every sound, and a sleek tail lashed behind her in irritation. Despite her defiant glare, there was a wild charm to her feline features.

Kiyara shook her head. "What's a little girl doing in a game like this?" she muttered in disbelief.

Damien shouted desperately at the fleeing thief, "Don't let them take the Tear!" His voice was a mix of urgency and frustration, hoping she'd keep hold of the artifact.

In a desperate move, the Cait Sith girl threw the Tear of Daemora into the air. The artifact spun through the chaos, its ancient energy glowing faintly. Damien lunged forward, catching it deftly before it could fall. He quickly equipped it, feeling its powerful magic surge through him. He lifted the gauntlet, its surface crackling and sparking with raw energy.

The Harbingers, realizing their prey had escaped their grasp, turned their wrath on Damien. "You think you can stop us?" one of them sneered, drawing a dark, wicked blade.

The Harbinger with the sword lunged forward, swiftly followed by another Harbinger drawing his own blade. They flanked Damien from either side with ruthless precision. Damien barely managed to raise his gauntlet in time; the first blade scraped off his armor, but the second one sliced across his cheek, sending a jolt of pain through him. He grimaced, his breath catching as he fought to stay on his feet. Blood poured from the open cut on his left cheek. In the corner of his vision, his HP dropped slightly.

"Damien!" Kiyara's voice pierced through the tumult, a sharp cry of concern.

Ignoring the searing pain, Damien's fury ignited. With a growl of determination, he seized the nearest Harbinger by the neck before they could strike. Without a moment's hesitation, he unleashed a point-blank energy bomb. The explosion roared, vaporizing the Harbinger in a blinding burst of light and energy. The other one came back for another strike, but Damien spun around and served a dirty right hook to their jaw, sending them flying and exploding into digital fragments.

The remaining two Harbingers were unperturbed, still clutching the trembling girl. The one on the right sneered with a chilling arrogance. "They were weak. You won't have such luck with the two of us."

Damien's heart skipped a beat as he heard the young, female voice beneath the hood. "Let the little girl go," he demanded, his voice a mix of command and desperation.

The Harbinger on the right shrugged, her smirk widening. "Give us the Right Hand of the Goddess, and we'll release her."

"Not a chance!" Tyson roared, his voice dripping with contempt. "As if people like you need any more power!"

The hooded Harbinger on the left let out a soft, sinister chuckle. She raised a dagger menacingly towards the girl's throat. "If you don't comply…"

"No!" Damien's shout was raw with anguish, his heart hammering.

"The Tear, then." The Harbinger on the right's tone was coldly matter-of-fact, as though it were a simple, rational exchange.

Damien's mind raced, paralyzed by the gravity of the decision. He remembered the devastation at Fort Keller, the smoldering ruins and the chaos. The thought of the cult wielding the complete set of armor sent shivers down his spine.

I can't give them the Tear, Damien thought desperately. If I do, they'll unleash untold destruction. I can't be the one who gave them the means to kill more people.

Damien lunged forward, his gauntlet clenched in a powerful fist. As he charged, one of the two remaining Harbingers also advanced, its cloak billowing ominously. A single leg, clad in crackling, similar armor to Damien's gauntlet, jutted out from the cloak. Their strikes collided with a shower of sparks, both combatants reeling from the impact and springing back to a few feet apart.

Damien's mind raced as he assessed the situation. This Harbinger bore a Tear of Daemora too—specifically, the right leg.

How many of these artifacts are in the hands of this cult? Is it possible they're targeting me because I possess the last one?

"Who are you?" Damien asked, his voice stern.

The two Harbingers simultaneously threw back their hoods, revealing their striking faces. The first was a female Elf with silver hair cascading down her back, her eyes gleaming with a predatory glint. She wielded the left leg of the Tear of Daemora. Next to her stood a female Dark Elf, her brown skin contrasting sharply with her glowing amber eyes and blonde hair. She controlled the right leg of the Tear. Both were unnervingly beautiful, their devious smiles sending a shiver down Damien's spine.

"Our names are irrelevant," the Elf said.

"Now that you've seen our faces," the Dark Elf cooed, her voice dripping with malicious intent. "We definitely have no choice but to kill you."

Without warning, the Dark Elf launched into a relentless assault, her kicks coming with blinding speed. Each strike was followed by a chilling giggle that echoed through the vast, ancient temple. The room erupted into chaos as Damien's gauntlet crackled with energy, his movements a desperate blur as he tried to deflect the barrage of kicks.

Sparks flew with every clash, Damien's gauntlet barely holding up against the onslaught. The Elf joined the fray, her strikes coordinated with the Dark Elf's. Damien was thrust into a brutal whirlwind of attacks, his every move met with an explosive burst of energy.

The room lit up like a fireworks show, each collision of metal and magic sending brilliant sparks cascading through the air. Damien fought to stay on his feet, weaving and blocking with all his strength. The two Harbingers moved with deadly grace, their attacks coming faster than he could manage, forcing him into a corner with their synchronized strikes.

Damien's breath came in ragged bursts as he struggled to hold his ground against the overwhelming power of the two Tear-Users. The temple trembled with each powerful impact, the ground vibrating under the relentless assault.

"Damien!" Kiyara's voice rang out, filled with urgency.

"Stay back! They're too much for you!" Damien shouted, his voice strained as he deflected a brutal kick from the Dark Elf.

The others looked on in helpless frustration. Cass, Grizz, and Tyson were outmatched by the sheer power of the Tears of Daemora.

Damien's concentration wavered as he tried to anticipate the Harbingers' next moves, but the Dark Elf's deceptive footwork caught him off guard. In a split second, she executed a masterful feint, drawing Damien's attention away. As he turned to counter, he barely had time to react before the Dark Elf's foot smashed into the back of his head with brutal precision.

The impact was like a sledgehammer, sending Damien crashing to the ground. He slid across the ancient stone floor, leaving a crimson trail of blood in his wake. His vision blurred, the pain searing through his skull like a wildfire. The HUD flashed red, his HP dropping sharply to half.

Damien's breath came in ragged, uneven gasps as he struggled to push himself up. The world around him spun in a dizzying whirl of lights and shadows. His gauntlet crackled weakly in his hand. The Dark Elf's sinister laughter echoed in his ears.

As Damien struggled to regain his footing, the Elf seized her opportunity. With a swift, powerful motion, she delivered a brutal kick to his stomach. The force propelled him through the air like a ragdoll, and he smashed through the temple's wall with a deafening crash. The anguished cries of his friends screaming his name reached his ears, but the sound faded swiftly into the distance as he shot into the sky.

Damien soared outside, his body wracked with excruciating pain. The blue sky above, dotted with drifting clouds, blurred into a hazy swirl as he flew farther and farther from the temple. His HP plummeted alarmingly fast, from about 3,000 to a precarious 200. The corner of his vision flickered with the ominous countdown: 200...175...150...125...

As he began to plummet towards the ground, the grim realization sank in. He was spiraling towards certain death. The ground rushed up to meet him, and despair gnawed at his resolve.

This is it.

He closed his eyes, bracing himself for the inevitable impact, a wave of helplessness washing over him as the world around him blurred into darkness.

But then, his eyes shot open. Instinct surged through him, and he twisted his body mid-air, ignoring the searing pain. With a desperate roar, Damien outstretched his gauntlet-clad arm toward the forest below. A surge of power coursed through his veins, and he unleashed an energy bomb at the last second.

The blast's force hurled him sideways, sending him tumbling through the air like a ragdoll. He crashed through the treetops, branches snapping and tearing at him, each impact a new jolt of agony. Finally, with a heavy thud, he slammed into the forest floor, the breath ripped from his lungs. Dirt and debris exploded around him, the echoes of the blast still ringing in his ears.

He groaned, body screaming in protest as he tried to move. His HUD flickered in the corner of his vision: 75 HP. Alive, but barely. Deep down, Damien knew that if it weren't for his gauntlet, he wouldn't have survived this far.

Damien forced himself to sit up, every muscle in his body protesting with a searing pain. He gasped for air, eyes darting toward the smoking crater he left behind. Where there had once been a dense patch of forest, there now lay a gaping, smoldering wound in the earth. The trees were gone—obliterated in a blink. The ground was charred black, steam rising in twisted spirals from the blast's epicenter.

For a heartbeat, he was back at Fort Keller, the ruins of the town and the cries of its people echoing in his head. His fingers trembled as he clenched his fist, his gauntlet still faintly crackling with residual energy.

Damien's gaze hardened.

This has to end differently.

He pushed himself to his feet, his body swaying as his vision blurred at the edges. The Harbingers still had the girl, and his friends were back there, facing an impossible fight.

Damien swipes two fingers through the air, a translucent menu materializing in front of him. His Quick Use inventory pops up with a soft chime. He doesn't waste a second, his eyes locking onto the Max Health Potion. With a quick tap, the vial appears in his hand, glowing with a vibrant, red energy.

He uncorks it and downs the contents in one swift motion. The liquid is cool and sharp as it slides down his throat, leaving a tingling sensation that spreads through his entire body. He watches as his HP bar in the corner of his vision pulses, climbing steadily from the brink of death back to full. His wounds knit themselves together, bruises fade, and the crushing pain dissipates. Strength surges through his limbs once more.

Damien rolls his shoulders, feeling the newfound energy coursing through him. His fists tighten, the gauntlet sparking with renewed vigor. He shoots a glance back toward the shattered temple in the distance.

Damien narrowed his eyes, peering through the gaps in the trees. There was something moving—no, rushing—toward him from the temple. At first, it seemed like a distortion in the air, a strange mirage wavering in the distance. But then it took shape, growing faster and larger with every passing second. His eyes widened as the realization hit him.

It was a spell—a wind spell—racing straight for him.

"Shit!" He threw himself to the side, diving just in time. The cyclone of wind sliced through the air where he had been standing a split second before, roaring past him and tearing through the forest with brutal force. Trees were uprooted, splintered into shards as the whirlwind carved a path of destruction through the woods.

Damien hit the ground hard, rolling to a stop. His heart pounded in his chest as he watched the cyclone fade into the distance, leaving a trail of shattered trees in its wake.

"That's wind magic," he muttered, his gaze snapping back to the temple.

Suddenly, two streaks of orange light blazed across the sky, hurtling toward him like twin shooting stars. Damien's eyes widened in the split second he had to react. Instinctively, he raised his gauntlet, bracing for impact. But even as the energy around his arm crackled to life, he knew it wouldn't be enough.

The impact came like a freight train.

The Dark Elf and the Elf materialized before him, their armored legs smashing into his stomach in perfect unison. The force was overwhelming. Air blasted out of his lungs, and a jolt of pain shot through his body. It was as if his entire frame had been struck by a pair of iron hammers. His vision blurred, and before he could even register the agony, he was airborne, rocketing backward with terrifying speed.

The world became a chaotic blur of green and brown as he crashed through tree after tree. Each impact sent a fresh wave of pain rippling through his body, branches snapping like gunshots around him. He felt the bark tear at his skin, leaving splintered scars across his armor. He twisted midair, trying to control his fall, but the force of the kick had turned him into a ragdoll, flung helplessly through the forest.

Finally, he hit the ground hard, tumbling and skidding to a stop in a broken heap, leaves and dirt kicked up in his wake. For a moment, everything was a swirling haze of pain and nausea. He gasped for air, his chest heaving, fighting against the white-hot agony searing through his core.

Damien groaned, trying to push himself up. His body screamed in protest, every inch of him throbbing with pain. The gauntlet on his arm sputtered with weakened sparks. Through his blurry vision, he caught sight of the two figures approaching, their silhouettes framed against the destruction they had wrought.

They were closing in, and he was running out of time.

Damien's body screamed in agony, but he forced himself up, planting his feet firmly in the dirt. Blood dripped from his mouth, his vision blurred around the edges, but his eyes were fixed on the two Harbingers. They strolled toward him like predators closing in on wounded prey, a smug glint in their eyes. They had no idea what was coming.

His breath ragged, Damien thrust his gauntleted arm forward. Energy roared to life at his command, the gauntlet buzzing, heating up with raw, untamed power. He felt the familiar hum in his core, but this time he didn't hold back. He tapped into every reserve, every ounce of strength left in his body. The air around his hand shimmered, growing heavy with crackling blue and white arcs that spiraled around his arm like a furious storm.

The ground trembled beneath him as if the earth itself feared what he was about to unleash. Pebbles lifted off the ground, caught in the rising torrent of power. The light from the forming energy bomb was so intense, so blindingly pure, it scorched the darkness from the forest. The bomb pulsed and expanded, swelling larger with each heartbeat, a furious maelstrom of light and destruction.

The Harbingers faltered, their confident strides slowing. Their eyes widened as they realized what he was doing. This wasn't a desperate attack; this was a weaponized rage, a force of nature he was about to set loose.

Damien's gauntlet shook violently, the energy bomb now a pulsating sphere of cataclysmic power, crackling with unbridled intensity. He could feel the heat searing his skin, the sheer force of it threatening to tear his arm apart. The ground around him began to fracture, spiderweb cracks spreading out from his feet. This was more power than he had ever dared to wield, more than he knew he could handle—but he didn't care. He was past the point of holding back.

The forest around him fell silent, the wind stilled, and for a moment, even the Harbingers seemed to hold their breath.

With a raw, guttural roar, Damien thrust his arm forward, unleashing the bomb. It tore from his hand like a missile, a blinding comet that screamed through the air with the fury of a thousand storms. The force of its release sent a shockwave ripping through the forest, flattening everything in its path. Trees bent and snapped like twigs, the earth itself recoiled from the blast.

The bomb shot forward, an unstoppable force, growing larger, brighter, hotter. The Harbingers' eyes went wide with something between awe and terror. They had milliseconds to act, milliseconds to realize that they were standing in the path of absolute annihilation.

The energy bomb struck with a cataclysmic detonation. The forest lit up like day as the ground exploded in a flash of light and heat. The shockwave ripped outward, uprooting trees and sending debris flying in all directions. A deafening roar filled the air, drowning out everything else as the sheer power of the attack consumed everything.

The explosion erupted with a thunderous roar, swallowing the forest in a blinding inferno. Damien was thrown violently backward, his body flung through the air like a ragdoll. Trees shattered into splinters around him, and the ground churned like a storm-tossed sea. The heat was unbearable, searing through his protective gear, but he kept his focus. His mind was a battlefield of chaos, but the one thought that kept him anchored was the image of the Harbingers' smirks melting into horror.

As the light dimmed, Damien managed to right himself in mid-air. He crash-landed on the remnants of the forest floor, the ground trembling beneath him. His vision swam as he pushed himself up, his limbs feeling like lead. He had to see the aftermath—had to confirm his strike had landed.

The once lush forest was now a smoking wasteland. Trees were reduced to charred stumps, and the earth was scorched and scarred. The crater he had created yawned like a gaping wound in the landscape. Smoke billowed from the center, and embers drifted lazily through the air.

Damien staggered to his feet, his breathing ragged, his chest heaving. His gauntlet was cool now, the energy expended. His body ached with a deep, bone-weary pain, but he forced himself to move, eyes scanning for any sign of the Harbingers.

As the smoke began to clear, he saw that the figures of the Dark Elf and the Elf had vanished. In their place, lying amidst the debris, were the two crystallized Tears of Daemora.

The Tears shimmered in the dim light, their multifaceted surfaces catching the flickering glow of the flames. Each tear was a swirl of vibrant colors, catching every hue of the forest's destruction in its kaleidoscopic dance. They lay there untouched but for the scorched earth around them.

Damien staggered over to the fallen crystals, each step a battle against his battered body. He reached out and touched the Tears, feeling their energy pulse beneath his fingertips.

The system's notification flashed across Damien's HUD:

Tears of Daemora Acquired:

Right Leg of the Goddess

Left Leg of the Goddess

As the message disappeared, the Tears of Daemora began to merge with him, the crystals transforming into sleek, radiant armor that enveloped his legs and reinforced his gauntlet. He felt an immense surge of power course through his body, so potent that it almost tickled, even causing him to chuckle.

Damien checked his stats, and the numbers dazzled him with their rapid ascent:

HP: 3,000 → 5,500

Attack Power: 250 → 700

Defense: 300 → 800

Speed: 200 → 1,000

Magic Power: 280 → 650

Damien's eyes locked onto the speed stat's level cap, and a rush of exhilaration surged through him. He glanced down at his newly armored legs. A fierce grin spread across his face as he felt the raw power coursing through him.

Without hesitation, Damien's gaze fixed on the dark, brooding silhouette of the Temple of Daemora. He tensed, his body coiling like a spring, and then he launched forward with explosive force. The ground beneath him shattered into fragments, and a deafening supersonic boom ripped through the air. A blazing streak of light carved through the trees as he streaked towards the temple, every stride a blur of speed and power.

Damien burst through the ruined entrance of the Temple of Daemora, his speed still crackling with residual energy. Inside, he found his friends gathered around the Cait Sith girl, her struggles against her bindings futile. Grizz, looking every bit the brawny hero, hefted her like a sack of potatoes on his shoulder, a slight frown of irritation creasing his brow.

"Damien!" Kiyara's voice pierced through the chaos. She sprinted forward and enveloped him in a hug so powerful it nearly toppled him. "I thought I'd lost you... What happened? Did you beat them?"

Damien managed a faint smile despite his exhaustion. "Yeah…" He looked down at his armored legs.

"And I see you took the Tears of Daemora," Kiyara said with a smirk.

Tyson, smirking, ambled over and gave Damien a hearty pat on the back. "I never doubted him for a second."

Cass, leaning casually against the wall, pointed at the Cait Sith girl with cat ears and a tail, who was now lying on the floor.

"You might wanna take a look at this, Damien."

Grizz set the girl down with a grunt. "We captured the thief. What do you suppose we do with her?"

The girl, her eyes blazing with defiance, struggled against her bindings. "Free me this instant, you buffoons! I swear, when I get untied, I'm gonna kill you!" She tried to kick Damien in the shin, but his reflexes were too sharp. He stepped back effortlessly.

Damien glanced down at her with a smirk. "What's your name?"

The girl spat at his feet. "I'm not telling you shit! Who asks a hostage what their name is, anyway?"

Damien chuckled, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "You make a good point there."

The girl's glare sharpened. "Why the hell are you being so nice to me? I stole your precious Tear of Daemora!"

Damien shrugged nonchalantly. "But I got it back, so no harm done, right?"

"You're weird."

Damien laughed heartily. "So, hey, what do you say we be friends?"

The girl's eyes widened in surprise. "Friends?"

"Yeah, we're all friends," Damien gestured to the rest of his team. "We choose to play the game together because it's fun. You seem to be on your own, so I thought I'd offer."

She hesitated, staring at the ground, conflicted. "I don't need friends. I've survived just fine on my own."

Kiyara knelt down to her level, her voice gentle but firm. "Yeah, but with us, you can do more than just survive, honey. We want to help you. All you have to do is trust us."

The girl mulled over Kiyara's words. Finally, she sighed and looked up. "Fine, whatever, I'll join your stupid party. Now can you untie me, please?"

"Promise not to kill me?" Damien teased

"I'm not gonna kill you!"

Damien drew his sword and sliced through the ropes binding her. She leaped off of Grizz's shoulder, landing as gracefully as a cat. She rubbed her wrists, scowling but slightly softened.

"Thanks, I guess. And… my name is Ruth."

As Ruth's name appeared in Damien's HUD, a notification popped up:

Ruth has joined the party.

He smiled. "A pleasure to have you with us, Ruth."