Lynn was still somewhat bewildered by the appearance of the ethereal flames. He didn't understand why he had instinctively used them at such a critical moment, as if compelled by some external force. To his surprise, the strange flames had indeed stopped the dragon's fiery breath, which left him both astounded and puzzled about his newfound ability.
However, reality did not allow him time to ponder. While he had survived the initial flames, the dragon was still looming above and appeared ready to dive down upon the crowd below. Lynn could block the flames, but he certainly couldn't defend against the dragon's sharp fangs and claws. In a moment of desperation, he shouted, "I know the whereabouts of the Book of Dragons! Count Karyel, I want to negotiate!"
"What!"
The vampires who had been watching from a distance gasped in disbelief. For Count Karyel, it was a day full of unexpected turns. He had thought he would merely kill a few adventurers and then leave Dagger Valley, but now he found himself betrayed and presented with news of the Book of Dragons.
That had been his quest for over a century; he had believed he might have to search for it in a different location, but now he had a lead.
"Where is the Book of Dragons? Tell me, and I will spare you!"
The vampire stepped forward, gesturing for the dragon to cease its assault temporarily. Lynn remained silent; he wanted a concrete assurance, not just empty words. Meanwhile, Finn quietly picked up his flail, looking for an opportunity. He wasn't sure if Lynn's claim was true, and the sudden appearance of the ethereal flames had left him somewhat disoriented, but he understood that he needed to seize the moment and act.
While Lynn's mind was racing with thoughts of negotiation, another voice cut through the chaos.
"I know the location of the Ring of Radiance! Loshanda the Priestess, you must help me!"
The speaker was none other than Uryss, the previously arrogant Drow priestess who had just been knocked down by the explosion. In the face of the unexpected changes, Uryss had reacted quickly. When the red dragon took flight, she had cast protective magic upon herself. However, while she had shielded herself from the flames, she had failed to account for the explosive barrel nearby, which had sent her tumbling to the ground, bruised but alive.
Seeing Lynn attempt to negotiate with the vampire, Uryss quickly realized the danger of the situation. If the adventurers and vampires settled their differences, the first order of business would be to eliminate her. Ignoring her pain, she scrambled to her feet and shouted, "I've found the Ring of Radiance! If you want to reclaim the artifact and the weapons of the Dwarven Brightblade Clan, you must work with me!"
This time, Eirich was taken aback. The priestess had unexpectedly mentioned his name. The mention of the Ring of Radiance and the Dwarven weapons implied that she truly had discovered the treasure vault. Their party's mission to find that vault was indeed of utmost importance.
However, Eirich despised this arrogant Drow, and faced with the threat of the dragon, he quickly assessed how to respond. He opened his mouth to refuse her, but saw Uryss raise her hand. Seizing the moment of tension, she produced a staff, pointing it at the dragon soaring above.
"Maze!"
In an instant, she unleashed an eighth-level spell upon the dragon. It wasn't her own magic but rather one enhanced by her staff. The dragon was enveloped in a force field, distorting its form before vanishing from the sky.
The spell had worked; the dragon was gone. However, the Maze spell had a time limit. Even if the dragon was too foolish to escape, it would return in ten minutes. This realization left everyone stunned, but quickly, they understood the implications of this sudden turn of events.
With the dragon's disappearance, Count Karyel could no longer remain composed. The dragon had been his greatest assurance; without it, he was in a precarious situation, surrounded by enemies, and with the Drow plotting to negotiate with Loshanda the Priestess. He knew he couldn't afford a peaceful negotiation.
Even without the dragon, Karyel was still one of the strongest individuals present. Faced with danger, he chose to unleash his fury.
He raised his hand and cast Acid Rain, creating widespread destruction. Uryss staggered to avoid the attack but still couldn't escape unharmed. Yet, she laughed defiantly, relishing the chaos she had sown.
Once combat broke out, it wouldn't easily come to a halt. The Drow's plan had worked: she had disturbed the balance, used the Maze to eliminate the dragon, and triggered a new wave of chaos. For Uryss, only chaos could guarantee her survival.
With the vampire choosing to strike, the adventurers had no choice but to retaliate. Many of the adventurers were not keen on negotiation. For instance, Eirich's wizard, Taderik, seized the opportunity. As soon as the vampire attacked, he hurled a spell at him.
"Black Tentacles!"
Taderik ripped a bead from his wrist and cast the spell. Aware that his own spell level might not suffice, he used the power-enhancing bead. He was skilled at cooperating with priests, and his spell was aimed not at killing but at restraining the vampire.
Simultaneously, Finn and Eirich cast Dispel Undead at the vampire, who found himself bound and unable to escape. Under the effects of the dispel, he would become a sitting duck, which was precisely the kind of coordinated effect they needed.
Their initial wave of attacks was largely successful, but their strikes were aimed primarily at restraining the vampire, not inflicting lethal damage.
The real, lethal attack came from Eirich's companion, a warrior named Bol. He stepped forward, his muscles bulging as he entered a barbaric rage. With a fierce swing of his battle axe, he hurled it towards the vampire.
The axe whistled through the air and struck the vampire, cleaving through shoulder and head, almost severing him in half. The vampire let out a pained wail as he fell, but just as Bol sought to finish him off, the vampire raised a hand and cast Disintegrate.
In that moment, the warrior's body crumbled to dust.