Act II - Rising Tide
[Temple of the Trench | Labrynth]
"Who designed these places!?" Rain whined from a few steps behind me, her wings flapping heavily. For me? I was about ready to pass out
"A bastard sadist by the name of Ryder!" I spat, grabbing a stamina pot and downing the contents, Rain doing the same with hers as we recovered immediately. "Alright, let's keep going," I said in a calm manner, taking off at the speed of sound as we went round and round the spiral staircase. "Funny, the quest I got with Genesis actually told me this Region's boss' name!"
"What is it called!?" Rain called, flying to glide beside me
"It's called, Trench, and it seems this 'Kranon' might have tainted it!" This was probably a water-type boss so Crimson Square was out of the question, guess it's time to switch things up
We finally made it to the final level of the underground ruins, and while our road ahead would be a large U-turn, we had enemies between us and the boss room. The dark stone walls lined with goblets of blue fire, the entire structure segmented by archways, and some indents on the stone floor.
Drawing Genesis, I lunged forward, sliding onto my knees as I brought <Horizontal> across the stone, the thin contrail tearing through the cannon fodder for Rain to thrust her sword through a <Water Serpent>. One leapt from behind, but in a flash of amethyst, her blade sliced upright through the rippling scales.
"Keep moving!" I ran by, bucking another from our path. I parried a blow with my buckler, shoving two Serpents away with a blast of air. With a subtle focus, I was enveloped by shadows once again, my speed increasing as I spotted Rain crossing the ruined hallways with the same skill active, our movements faster than the fangs and spears of <Cursed Armor> could catch
Moving in great strides toward the end of my minimap, the monsters continued to cut our path forward. A few sword swings or head bashes with my buckler kept the way clear, Rain finishing them off with Sword Skills covering a large breadth, lighting the chambers like fireworks up above.
In the gloom of the halls, my instincts flared as I jumped, sinking my sword into the floor as a large wave of water cascaded through the halls, Rain merely flew higher to evade the raging torrent that left me in a foot-deep pool. "Uhh, you okay, Artorias?" Seeing the nervous grin on the flying bat pony I kept my gaze straight
"Well, since the stench of sweat does exist in this game, I am no longer sweaty," Coughing up some water I yanked my sword free and ran for the bright light ahead, hearing the yells and skirmish within. "Idea! Rain, toss me!"
"What?" She blinked, kicking through the water behind me, splashing me yet again
Spitting out the freshwater I jabbed my sword ahead of us. "I cannot make the distance so you have to toss me!" I shook my hoof to her. Shrugging, she grinned and pulled me back for a swing, lifting me from the water while I bent my bracer to rest against my lower back. "Toss me!"
"Here you... GO!!" It wasn't feeble as I was thrown farther than if I swayed through the water alone. However, once <Airlock Shield> flashed a large crescent of water roared behind me, my speed gradually increasing as I shot through the dungeon at unbelievable speeds
The boss room itself was structured like a coliseum. The entire room was blue with an outer ring of water along bright blue walls decorated with dark blue wave patterns. The columns and roof atop them were also blue in color, leading to a stairway and black doorway that remained sealed. The floor, surprise, is also blue, I know shocker, the same wave-like runes in a ring at the center.
The boss stood over a few drenched players, raising its front hooves. A pale, bluish-black equine body with a wavy, seaweed-style mane. The backend was covered in dark scales starting from the waist, leading down to a large tail with bright blue fins, webbing of black tainting the texture, the patterns many shades of blue underneath. The eyes were a heterochromia red and blue, lacking pupils as it 'neighed'.
<<< Trench, the Scourge of Kranon - Lv. 26>>>
"Time to strut my stuff," Lining my body for a steady landing, I bent my right foreleg back to line my sword parallel with my cheek, the hiss of gold stained red crackling across Genesis. A roar of a jet drowned the equine's voice, and with a powerful thrust my body and blade subsequently struck the head with the force of a person nearing terminal velocity
Genesis hissed and crashed against the thick-skinned Hippocampus but threw the boss backward from dealing a serious blow to some of the players, myself landing perfectly with only a slight stumble. "I here I thought you guys actually defeated the boss before I could make an appearance," I scoffed, rubbing my nose. "Here I go sounding like an optimist."
When I turned to the player on the ground, I found it to be none other than the man in black himself, Skye. No longer just wearing blue but with a black overcoat, his old chestplate underneath. He blinked, somewhat surprised by my guest appearance as I held out my hoof, genuinely happy to see him. "Sup, fellow gamer."
"A-Artorias," He let a wary smile appear. "Took your time catching up?"
"Eh, what can I say, I have better things in my life to worry about," I smugly remarked, then waved my sword to the Royal Captain herself. "Fancy seeing you here, Cassandra."
She was actually happy to see me? So she does have a smile it seems. "And you too, your timing couldn't have been better."
Letting go of Skye's hand I spun to face the boss, now focused on the other players that were being completely trashed by its water attacks. So it focused more on AOE, not many close-range moves either. Another two players ran over, one a -- wow, that pony's intimidating looking, I like him, and a girl with long, pink hair, that same girl Gin mentioned.
"Skye who's this?" She asked but I merely bowed with a smile
"Love to catch up bud, but recover, for now, let the veteran tag in, eh?" I waved, spinning around as I saw Rain fly into the chamber, completing this little show of ours, perfect. I put my sword up, angling it as if I were trying to set up a picture frame, squinting my eyes. "The scene is set, the audience is captivated, let's wrap up the final act!"
With a boost of strength and vitality, I galloped into the fray, evading the massive waterspout conjured around us. Swishing through the wall I drove <Slant> through its thigh, twisting then creating a lightning-quick incision with <Horizontal Arc>. Rain flew in between two players, rolling away from an obviously telegraphed charge.
With a burst of speed, I brought Genesis close to the ground, drawing up with a powerful gleam of red, the skill tearing into its hide as I rolled aside of a water hose attack, blade spun behind me as I struck in four quick successive right angles, <Horizontal Cross> locking the boss in place for Rain to switch over my head, carving her sword through Trench's muzzle, flicking her emerald green sword left and right as a broken shield appeared below the boss' name.
"There, switch!" She called as I slid under her flying backflip, another spit of water grazing my cheek as I dived upward for a powerful uppercut with the true edge. Eye-level with Trench, I twisted my waist, both back hooves hazel as I gave the neighing boss two roundhouse kicks to the crown, hearing the crack underneath
"Hey, get--" I didn't need advice from the stands as we moved far enough away from several fountains of water rising around Trench, followed by a sudden charge across the arena toward Skye's party. He looked ready to fight as he stepped aside with Cassandra, and the other two, the tall, dark-furred earth pony, Axel, and the cream-colored unicorn from before, Seraph
[※•⁎·°•⁎․•°·•⁎※]
[No POV]
With the assault team still on the fence, Skye and Artorias rallied around the boss, the massive spout of water falling as they rushed in together. Skye and Artorias took the lead. Fanning to the sides of a charge the two pivoted, thrusting together with a combined <Rage Spike> their skills clanging across the boss' skin as it kicked back, spraying another horizontal line of water, the two flipped forward, evading the spray.
"Switch!" They called, Rain and Seraph flanking Trench, Seraph prodded the boss first with a sudden four-hit skill, immobilizing it for a second. Rain slid under its belly, blade cast pink as she carved from right to left, then crossed with a horizontal slash that rotated as she hopped to her hooves, brandishing her left forehoof for a vertical slit across the belly, scoring the boss with an abundance of energy as she laughed, sliding away for Axel's ax to zip by her face
His ax came down heavy, embedding a massive flash of gold light across Trench's back, he was then pushed aside by Cassandra's magic, the two narrowly escaping another AOE ring of water spouts as it charged the two. Cassandra raised her sword to counter but found Artorias by her side to deflect the charge, executing the parry at the last possible second.
Cassandra nodded graciously and yelled while driving her blade through the neck, slicing with a sonic blast dispersing the water by their hooves. "Fall back!" She declared as the rising tornado of freshwater cut off their view, then came the horizontal and vertical spray of water from the hippocampus' maw as it neighed, slamming its front hooves down, releasing a wall of water in the process as the assault team was divided.
"Its health is in the red..." "Come ooooon!!" Artorias cried, braving a wall of water with <Airlock Shield>, clearing the way for her and Rain, both bringing their swords to bear on the tail, blocking the thrash. "Rain, if you got the same elemental move like me, use it!" It was a gamble on her part, but what's teamwork without trust, right? They quickly angled their swords horizontally, both edges turning a shade of white, blue mist exhaled from their blades while they executed a twin <Frost Strike>
With two arcs of white mist splitting through the front hooves, ice erupted from the wounds, freezing the boss to the floor while its already soaking body shivered and struggled in the chilling debuff. Trench roared in agony, back legs bucking wildly with random intervals of water spraying from its maw. It wasn't going to go down so easily.
"Skye, you owe me!" Artorias remarked as she slid straight into the AOE funnels of water, body tossed skyward but she was ultimately unphased, flicking her mane from her eyes as she held her shield down, smacking straight into the hippocampus' snout. "Say cheese, Buckaroo."
Like a flashbang the boss wailing uncomfortably to the blinding light. Upon realizing the plan Skye and Seraph ran across the semi-flooded floor. "The boss is stunned, now's our chance!" Seraph rallied Axel, Rain, and Cassandra from around the boss, the other players trying to play catch-up now that they were left to the sidelines for so long, recovering from debuffs
"You heard her." Artorias grinned to Skye, herself by Rain. "Want to show them how us real beta players roll?"
He couldn't suppress a chuckle, a glint of glory in his emerald eyes, "Sure, let's do it."
Trench raised its hooves again, bringing them down as it released multiple small walls of freshwater to keep their retaliation at bay, but they kept on their toes, weaving between the gaps. Seraph poised her rapier for a single-thrust skill encased in rose, contrasting her magic aura. Artorias spotted Rain through the waves and brought her shield against Rain's back, startling her.
"Wha-!"
"Hold on tight!" With a vague warning, Rain was sent flying, the water dispersed as she adjusted her body's weight, bringing her hoof forward for a destructive pierce alongside Seraph's own red gash, their skills connecting as it downed the boss with an orange halo.
"Now's our turn to add some muscle!" Axel hollered, his heavy ax drawn behind his back with both hooves, the head of the curved blade came crashing down atop Trench's temple with a flash of lightning that webbed the floor, a sharp 'tiiiing' of metal ringing. Cassandra hopped across the beast's back, slicing in a flurry, deepening the wounds still present across its backside
She flipped off one hoof, bring her blade across the back of the crown, shaving the mane completely, but both her and Axel were caught by the large columns of water, tossing them to the ground before the enraged boss as it readied the area for a massive tornado of liquid. All eyes in the arena frozen, even the leaders of the two so-and-so guilds wouldn't make it through the wall of water the boss created.
There was only the sight of red and black crossing through the maelstrom, their health dropping gradually within the heart of the tempest. Skye wasn't going to let up, not while the boss was a hair away from the end. Artorias, having clawed her way forward, actually gaining a reliable partner, she wouldn't falter because of a little splashing.
At that moment, both their minds burned for the same truth. "I will clear this Region on my own terms!!"
Artorias bound over a wave, swiveling under Trench's throat, her right forehoof tugging Genesis through the sloshing waves, cast in a light blue tint. Skye soared above, clasping his Silver Grove sword in both hooves with the same color basking his sword. With resounding strokes their skills crossed at the axis, decapitating the annoyingly loud Trench in a flash of starlight blue that broke apart in the air between them, the water cast aside in dazzling twinkle of droplets.
Headless, the boss seized up and flopped to the ground, both bursting with a grand spectacle. Rain watched with wide eyes, her mouth agape. Seraph looked relieved while the crowd remained dead quiet. The two beta testers had landed atop one another, drenched and panting, but managed small smiles while bumping a hoof together.
[CONGRATULATIONS!!]
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[Artorias' POV]
"Quite the finishing move," She mused, going somewhat rigid as Skye loomed over her body. "Um... hey bud, little space?" Seeing the position they were in he threw himself back, chuckling a little while she sat up, laughing alongside him
"Sorry 'bout that," Skye sheathed his blade as I did, "Seems you haven't changed much since the start."
"I don't know if that's a compliment, but I'll take it anyways, ditto, by the way." I winked, our allies walking over while the crowd patted themselves on the back, all of us having leveled up again with gusto. Then aside from the boss drops, sadly without the Final Attack Bonus, lucky bastard, my quest finally updated
[Rare Item Drop]
Drowned Guard (Key Item)
[Quest Updated!]
|Bloodied Blade|
Genesis Veil resonates with the lost guard, increasing its power. Continue to pave your legacy red and restore Genesis to its former glory.
[ ] Defeat Treasured Serpent
[ ] Defeat Crimson Blade
[✔] Defeat Trench, the Scourge of Kranon
True to its word, the guard appeared, black in coloration, both appeared like pointed wings angled down at the tips. And from the status screen, all of its stats had risen considerably, it could probably take me to level thirty-five!
"That was some fine teamwork, and you two were definitely the top players this time," Axel chuffed with his dark brown eyes on us, nudging Rain's shoulder. "You both came in and saved his neck."
"Yeah-yeah, don't let me live it down..." Skye scratched the back of his head
"I wasn't easy babysitting AL and KOH, though." Seraph sighed, glancing from under her hood to the players in question, I had to agree, they didn't even try to remotely get involved, which I found to be the only good thing to come out of this. "The boss blasted them around, stacking them atop one another, and STILL they bickered with each other."
I slumped, whining. "You okay, Artorias?" Rain asked as I nodded, pouting with a gloomy aura over my shoulders, dark swirls gathering around my head
"Why... why wasn't I here for it!?" I put my hooves together and spun around to where the Rat was standing. "Please tell me you recorded it!?"
"Nope! Got washed away myself after I pried the doors open!" That is a tragedy
"It was fun to watch." Skye smiled with a hoof on his pommel
"Eh, no skin off my nose," I shrugged, pursing my lips. "Honestly, I've seen sheep with better coordination than those bumbling idiots, weren't they going on about one-upping you?" I gazed to Skye, tilting to one side
He nodded, though with exasperation. "They've been doing it since the first Region Boss, call me a Cheater but I accept that if it keeps them motivated to clearing bosses." A scapegoat then, a rather bold sacrifice on his part
"First Skye and now... sorry, who are you, and, you know each other?" Seraph brought up the question, even Cassandra looked curious as to why I believe Skye never mentioned me. I blinked, then a sly smirk slithered onto my face as I wrapped my hoof around him, hugging him tightly
"Aw, you never mentioned me? And here I thought we were close, two beta testers against the masses!" I chuckled boisterously as Seraph slowly turned red. And Cassandra was confused as Rain since I only mentioned Skye in passing, Axel was smiling knowingly like me while Skye gawked like a deer in headlights. "What's wrong, bud, cat got your tongue?"
"I see," Cassandra hummed, rubbing her chin. "Are you two...?" That brought out a crimson fury across Skye's face as I pulled away with a cackle, almost toppling over
"WE'RE NOT TOGETHER!!" His face was a picture and a half
"Oh hahaha, you know you really didn't need to deny it that hard, I feel wounded!" My mocked sadness couldn't hide my bumbling snickers. "Pfft, sorry, I can't, this is too freakin' funny...!"
"You're the worst." He grumbled, running a hoof over his face as I slowly climbed back down from the clouds
"What a strange companion of yours," Cassandra remarked, but then frowned. "Back on topic, while this is indeed a triumphant day, the other trials will not come by so easily."
Recovering, I agreed. "You guys all got info beforehand thanks to Cassandra, right?" A few nods and that only made the mood sour. "Thing is, info like that won't come by every time, how long will these 'deathless' assaults go on for? When will everyone here stroke out?"
Rain hummed, frowning. "I guess, these guys were so hung up on beating each other that I left to continue leveling alone, they rushed in without a plan or anything." This was apparent when we arrived, seemed Skye did most of the work with these three by his side
"They relied solely on info from the Dev Streams--" Axel added
"--Which never said we'd be fighting a water pony... if that makes sense!" I blurted out
He continued regardless. "--Which we now know isn't even useful."
With that, I clopped my hooves. "Well, this has been fun, really, it has, buuut," I walked between them. "Canterlot is waiting and I am done looking at large open expanses for a while," With a flick of my hoof I wandered off toward the doorway that remained shut. "Seeya around, Skye."
"Same to you, we'll probably catch up later anyhow," That actually felt great to hear... strange, I never usually feel excited when meeting with old allies, hmm, guess Skye's just on my wavelength
"Wait just a damn minute!!" A voice silenced the lot, and I continued on my merry way, eager to see what's changed for the road ahead-- "Oi, I'm talkin' to you, Red!" I slowed at the steps, turning my head as I mockingly put a hoof to my ear while looking around the arena. "Don't ignore me!"
"Ooooh, you meant me," Turning completely I kept a neutral smile and lazy eyes. "Whatsup, my guy?"
It was a short yet solidly built unicorn clad in scale-mail armour, but it had a strange sheen to it that even I couldn't place, a buckler on his right hoof, and a black longsword on his left hip. His coat was brown and had spiky, cactus-styled hair and tail, orange in tone with a matching goatee and orange eyes. He had an irritating way about him just from how he gave me the stink eye. "The hell you get off swoopin' in for the killing blow, huh!?"
"'Killing blow'? Um, you guys do know it still had three-quarters of its health until we arrived to clean up your screw up, right? Your welcome, by the way," I can't be alone here. All watched on, Skye's group with pretty relaxed expressions say a few tense nerves, clearly, this is routine, but the others, some didn't like me. Oh? I can use this. "Actually, better question, why didn't you guys jump in -- Oh, unless you were waiting to land the killing blow?"
The unicorn known as, 'Bombard', looked stumped, but remained as boisterous as ever, waving his hoof to me angrily. "Don't go changing the subject! You and your little brat there came in to take the glory for yourself while we're out here bustin' our asses to--" I chuffed, then giggled, then broke into full-blown laughter in seconds
Slowly, I climbed back down from the high horse, smiling crudely from the staircase. "Buddy, if I wanted to I could clear several more bosses than you and your little gaggle of idiots could in a year," My smile twisted as his temper rose, his magic crackling from his horn. "That includes both guilds FYI!"
"You kill stealer!" "Bet she's with that Cheater too, did you see how they fought together!?" "Yeah, hand over your rewards, you didn't earn 'em!" The lists kept on coming, and I couldn't be in a more blissful state
"You brat! Don't think I don't know who you are. Red Warrior right? The petty, self-absorbed chick who solos, gathering great drops 'cause she used to be an Alpha Tester!" He snarled, I'm surprised he knew that. His eyes narrowed at my smug stare. "Am I wrong?" More yells and demands were made of me, and Skye to my far left looked tense, biting his lip
I kept smiling. "Yeah, that's me, Bombard," He sneered as I stepped forward. "Let me be transparent, a bit of... Alpha advise, no changes made!" With an elegant twirl of my hoof, I constructed my sage-like wisdom for the runt. "Don't pat yourselves on the back, be grateful you can still crack a smile."
"'Cause when there's a 'next time', no one will be there to save you but yourself," I stepped closer, a mere inch between us. "All you are is an adequate meat shield, and no one can take that away from any of you," Stepping up the last of the blue marble steps I fanned my hoof out. "So reach for the stars with blazing speed!" It dropped. "It'll be that much more fun to kick you back into the dirt." My condescending smirk only fueled the fires
With a bow, I turned and walked away, hearing hoofsteps behind me. If it's a fight he wants then I've got enough bite left in me to -- I stopped, finding Rain waiting before me patiently. "Our contract as expired, you are free of my progressive narcissism."
She rolled her eyes. "You serious? No way, I'm sticking with you!" I'm sorry, what? I blinked slowly, hoof on the iron door to the exit. Rain trotted over to put her hoof on the adjacent door, smiling with unwavering confidence. "You were so cool, the way we took on the boss, back and forth with Skye and his friends, it was amazing!"
I kept my eyes forward to the metal. "Then stick with them--"
"Nope, I told you, it's totally like destiny our meeting, not in some cheesy way, but," Her voice was lower, but still brighter than mine. "You and I were changed differently than anyone else. You saw something similar to me before the death game, maybe it was this Malware guy that dragged me to this game, I want to help but I want to help you."
Again with that 'destiny' crap. Still... she really wanted to help me? I'm stuck in this stupid, pony body of my own mistake for being curious, and I know how abrasive my attitude can be. She really wouldn't leave? She... wouldn't use my trust?
"I..." Letting out a sigh, I flicked the side of her head
"Ow, what was that for!?" She then saw my hoof held between us, blinking while I tried to suppress a small, pink hue rising to my muzzle
"Alright, your funeral, and no backsies." That was paramount and indisputable. She laughed and I for once did to, without an ounce of sarcasm or needless procrastination. With her hoof against mine, we pushed our way forward toward the next step in this Death Game
"Now the real fun begins."
To Be Continued...