Chapter 66: The Weight of Mountains
A week had passed since Lucian's encounter with the Ice Warden. The guild hall buzzed with the usual hum of adventurers preparing for quests, the air charged with determination. Lucian had finally recovered enough to be released from the nurse's care, though his left eye remained covered by a patch, a stark reminder of his encounter.
Meanwhile, Guild Master Alaric had taken on a mission that demanded his full attention. A group of experienced adventurers was struggling to deal with three drakes that had been terrorizing the western region near the Vale of Eldraen. Drakes, though not full-fledged dragons, were formidable creatures—more monstrous than majestic.
At the Battle Site
The drakes loomed large in the desolate valley, their serpentine bodies coiling and shifting with unnatural grace. Their scales shimmered like molten metal, reflecting the dim light of the overcast sky. Their presence alone was enough to weigh heavily on the minds of the adventurers.
Alaric stood at the forefront, his calm demeanor betraying none of the tension that gripped the group. The adventurers around him were seasoned, yet the sheer aura of the drakes had caused several of them to falter.
"Focus," Alaric commanded, his voice cutting through the oppressive silence. "Don't let their fear-inducing aura overwhelm you. Stay sharp and keep your formations tight."
One of the drakes let out a guttural roar, the sound reverberating through the valley like a thunderclap. The adventurers flinched, some clutching their weapons tighter.
A younger adventurer, barely in his twenties, muttered nervously, "They say a single drake weighs more than the largest of mountains. How are we supposed to pin one down, let alone three?"
Alaric adjusted his round glasses and stepped forward, his coat billowing in the wind. He raised his hand, and glowing chains of ethereal light shot out from the ground, wrapping around one of the drakes. The creature thrashed violently, its roar shaking the earth, but the chains held firm.
"We fight smart," Alaric said, his voice steady. "And we fight together."
With a flick of his wrist, he activated his ability: [Windful Amplification]. A surge of energy rippled through the air, and the adventurers felt their bodies grow lighter, their movements swifter, their strength amplified.
"Your stats and speed have been enhanced," Alaric explained. "Use it wisely."
The Struggle Against the Drakes
The adventurers, now emboldened by the tactical advantage that Alaric's amplification provided, moved in perfect synchrony. They had become a well-oiled machine, each of them aware of their role, working with a precision that was almost surgical. A group of archers, their hands steady and practiced, loosed a volley of enchanted arrows aimed directly at the second drake's eyes. The enchanted tips of the arrows shimmered with magical energy, their purpose clear: to incapacitate, to blind, to render the beast vulnerable.
Simultaneously, a team of warriors, their armor glinting in the dim light of the valley, charged the drake's side. Their movements were a testament to years of rigorous training, each step executed in flawless harmony. Thanks to Alaric's subtle amplification, their speed and strength were magnified, making them more than capable of matching the drake's monstrous size. They moved as one, each warrior knowing precisely when and where to strike, using the chaos of battle to their advantage. The beast roared in frustration, its massive head whipping back and forth, trying to shake off the swarm of attackers. But the warriors were relentless, pressing forward without hesitation.
The second drake reared back, its massive tail whipping across the battlefield like a battering ram. It was an explosion of raw, destructive force, and the adventurers scattered, barely managing to evade the tail's destructive path. One of the warriors, his eyes wide with terror, leaped to the side just as the tail swung by, the sheer force of the blow causing the air to crackle with power. He landed in a roll, his body moving with newfound agility, a result of Alaric's influence. His heart raced, but his body responded with the speed of a seasoned warrior, and he quickly regained his footing.
"We've got it pinned!" one of the warriors shouted, his voice filled with triumph as he drove a massive, enchanted stake into the ground, anchoring the drake's tail in place. The creature let out an enraged screech, its tail thrashing in a futile attempt to free itself. The warriors took advantage of its helplessness, launching a barrage of strikes at its vulnerable underbelly, slowly wearing down the creature's massive form.
However, as the second drake began to falter under the weight of the combined assault, the third drake made its move. Unlike its kin, this drake did not rely on brute strength alone. It was a creature of the mind as much as of flesh, and as it began to astral project, its form became translucent, shimmering in the air above the battlefield. The space around it seemed to ripple as waves of psychic energy emanated from the projection. The air grew thick with the tension of its presence, and suddenly, the adventurers were not just fighting a physical threat—they were battling their own minds.
The psychic energy reached out, washing over the adventurers like a tidal wave. Nightmarish visions flooded their minds, each one more harrowing than the last. Those closest to the drake staggered, clutching their heads in agony as twisted, horrifying images flashed before their eyes. Some fell to their knees, their bodies wracked with torment, their sanity slipping as the drake's mental assault deepened. The battlefield became a blur of confusion, each adventurer fighting not only for survival but for their own grip on reality.
Alaric's eyes flicked to the third drake, his calm demeanor unfazed by the psychic onslaught that was now affecting his comrades. His expression hardened, his focus sharpening. He could feel the mental assault trying to invade his mind, but it was nothing he couldn't handle. Activating his passive ability, [Legacy], he absorbed the oppressive aura of the first drake he had chained, taking in its fearsome power, its presence, its very essence. The fear, the dread, the dark weight of the first drake's legacy coursed through him, amplifying his own abilities to an even greater degree. Now, he was more than a mere observer—he was an embodiment of the very power that had sought to crush them.
Alaric extended his hand, his fingers curling slightly as dark tendrils of energy shot out from his palm. They surged through the air, wrapping around the astral projection of the third drake, dispelling the illusion and severing the connection between the creature's physical form and its astral self. The drake let out a deafening screech, a howl of frustration as its psychic attack faltered. The nightmarish visions that had plagued the adventurers dissipated, leaving them stunned but free from the creature's mental assault.
The Turning Point of the battle had arrived.
With the third drake's astral projection now neutralized, the tide of the battle began to shift. The adventurers, emboldened by their success, pressed forward with renewed vigor. The first drake, still bound by Alaric's chains, thrashed one final time, but its efforts were futile. A mage, focused and determined, struck it with a well-placed spear imbued with potent magic. The creature let out a final, tortured roar before succumbing to the powerful blow, its massive form falling to the ground in defeat.
The second drake, though it had fought valiantly, was now overpowered. Despite its roars of defiance, it was eventually brought to the ground. The combined efforts of the warriors and archers, now working in perfect harmony, proved too much for the beast. The warriors pressed their advantage, hammering the creature with every strike, while the archers fired their enchanted arrows relentlessly, finding purchase in the drake's scaled hide. Slowly but surely, the drake's strength waned, and with a final, thunderous cry, it collapsed to the earth.
Alaric, his aura now a powerful blend of his own energy and the legacy he had absorbed, turned his attention to the third and final drake. His eyes locked onto its form, and without a word, he stepped forward. The creature, seeing the threat before it, lunged at him, its massive jaws snapping shut just inches from his face. But Alaric was already moving. His body flowed with the grace of someone who had seen countless battles, each motion fluid and precise. He sidestepped, his movements an elegant dance, and in that moment, the drake's strike missed by mere inches.
Alaric raised his hand, his fingers cutting through the air as if shaping it to his will. The atmosphere around him seemed to shift, a gust of wind slicing through the drake's thick scales. The creature howled in pain, its body writhing as the strike landed with pinpoint accuracy. It collapsed to the ground, its once-feared form now crumpled and broken.
Alaric placed a hand on the drake's head, his gaze unflinching, his expression cold. The creature's eyes stared up at him with a mix of pain and disbelief. "Your time here is done," Alaric said softly, the finality of his words hanging in the air.
With a surge of energy, Alaric absorbed the drake's legacy, feeling its immense power coursing through him. The creature's aura faded, its presence diminishing like a dying star. The valley, once filled with the chaos of battle, fell silent. The adventurers, weary but victorious, stood in awe of Alaric's power. The battlefield was his, and he had brought the drakes to their knees.
The victory was complete.
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Aftermath
The adventurers stood in awe, their breaths heavy as they surveyed the battlefield. The drakes lay motionless, their once-mighty forms now lifeless.
One of the older adventurers approached Alaric, his expression a mix of respect and disbelief. "You… you took down three drakes and absorbed their power. How is that even possible?"
"Drakes are big black creatures." One adventurer mused as he turned to the guild master
Alaric adjusted his glasses, his calm demeanor unshaken. "Drakes are formidable, yes, but they are not invincible. Fear is their greatest weapon—and their greatest weakness, also, I'm not the guild master for nothing."
He turned to the group, his voice steady. "Rest now. You've earned it. But stay vigilant. If the drakes were acting together, it's possible they were sent by something—or someone—far more dangerous."
As the adventurers began to tend to their wounds and gather their gear, Alaric stood alone for a moment, his gaze distant. The power of the drakes lingered within him, a heavy burden that he would carry forward.
For now, the threat had been neutralized—but the shadow of what lay ahead loomed ever larger. As guild master Alaric somehow managed to drag a drake towards Celeste, "mission accomplished." he said as he dusted himself off.
Celeste hummed in response and gestured to the adventurers group to go and rest, the group sighed in relief, grateful for the guild master's interference.