/// > Designated Drop Location: Regional Sector 24.18 [X: -193, Y: 056]
// Target - Terminus #### [Status: Inactive - Function compromised] █
/// > Launching Breach Pod... █
/// > Establishing comms from Overseer ####... █
--- Overseer ####: I suppose my hot-headed subordinate have throw you in this Terminus, did he send you for anything particular?
--- ####: No, sir. Routine Relic sweeping.
--- Overseer ####: Then I have a task for you, something personal. There is a Relic, a unique one but it has been kept by someone, I know for a certain it lives one in these Termini.
--- ####: Target elimination and acquisition?
--- Overseer ####: I merely wanted a proof of its existence, so do as you wish but be mindful of that Relic, anything could happen would lead a... catastrophic consequence. Will you oblige?
--- ####: Yes, sir. Additional task has been noted.
--- Overseer ####: Continue on your assignment. If you happen to find what I am looking for, have it or not, report only to me...--- Overseer ####: And keep this secret between us.
[Transmission Ended]/// > Entering Liminal Space
// Breaching designated target / ETA 30 seconds
/ Prepare for landing... █
--- ####: Drop successful. Parameters all clear. Ready for sweeping.
Years had passed since the Court had led the battle against the Usurper. And once they secured their victory, they left the King's Throne and his Crown unattended, leaving the Paragons to guard the entrance to ensure that no one would claim it, not even themselves. Years passed, and they reclaimed their once-old kingdom and brought some semblance of order. It wasn't long before they unearthed something: a golden scroll lying within an empty chamber hidden away in their ornate library, unaware of its existence ever since they founded this Gate.
They called their Scribe to decipher its ancient text, but he failed to do so; it was incomprehensible even to him. It was uncharacteristic to see the Storyteller to be frustrated but for some time, he managed to learn some portions of this golden scroll, but he deduced that it was a schematic of some sort, a sort of a map of their Gate. Some parts of it weren't too familiar for the Court, then it's assumed that these were uncharted areas, and so they went to discover them, further expanding their domain.
Each area was vastly different from their usual place, much grander and more extensive than ever. It is said that some of those have a purpose behind them, but no one knows how to operate them given these golden apparatus and its otherworldly treasures presented to them. Then there's this one area that might have piqued their interest: an expansive chamber within this chambers are several of these monolithic Gates that are all too familiar to theirs, but each of these designs is more ornate, distinguishing from one another, they called this part of this area the "Halls of Ancient Gates." But one thing that sets them apart from theirs and those ancient Gates are the marbled plinths with finely cut gems, each standing before these mighty Gates. Of course, the Keymaster's keys do not work; instead, these plinths and their gems will sink into the pristine floors, vanishing as the corresponding Gates will open themselves with a simple downward push. Then he came to a simple conclusion: their Gate is not special, it's just one of many; perhaps theirs is the latest. And a more important question arises: who built these?
After the discovery of this area, and it being so vast, and given the Gates are many, some of the Paragons act as their keepers, while others are assigned as scouts, scouring throughout these ancient structures. They discovered that there are two of these: one remains eerily empty and still retains its pristine condition, and the other is the Derelicts, dark and decrepit. And they weren't alone either, as some discovered entities live there, while others, though rarely, are wanderers seeking treasures for their own. And those treasures that those wanderers have in their hands are similar to the golden scrolls.
A few months pass, and there are reports that their Paragons have died and returned to the sarcophagus, recounting of ambush attacks by someone, not a creature, but a person. But it was too quick to know who their attacker was. And so, they send another team of Paragons, but with more numbers and more heavily armed, sending them to that same Gate from before. But it wasn't long before all of them were wiped out and returned from their sarcophagi.
This concerns the Court, there is someone who could threaten them, so they form a perimeter within that Gate and discuss how to deal with it. The Crimson Wanderer and his Squires volunteered to be part of this excursion. With no one objecting, they allowed him and his students, the Keymaster, to lead them to where that Gate is, and he gave them a warning about the dangers they would face. He opened the Gate with the plinth, releasing a chilling air as it opened.
Then the five went the unknown.
"What are we doing again, Boss?" Uruz asked, bored and ever-antsy, always looking for a good fight.
Galla sighed. "We're here to investigate, remember? I doubt you're listening intently, only looking for a stronger opponent."
"Well, I became bored. Besides, his tone annoyed me when he speaks like that to us," Uruz said sarcastically.
The quiet Kash questioned, "How could an entire party of Paragons be killed off so easily? What are we dealing with?"
The Crimson Wanderer then asked, "As far as they know, one of them told me they were ambushed by a red-eyed soldier who wears black armor."
"A Counter-Entity, perhaps?" Galla suggested.
"Ha! If those rookies couldn't handle a single, pathetic creature, they wouldn't stand a chance against the Revenants," Arcish boasted, her laugh laced with pride. "It's either embarrassing or just plain hilarious, I can't decide."
Uruz rolled her eyes in annoyance, "Whatever you say..."
Galla then argues, "But if it was a Counter-Entity, wouldn't their eyes be blue? And they usually work in groups."
"Perhaps a Counter-Entity that happens to became a Revenant?" Kash suggested.
Galla argued, "Even then, I doubt a single one could take down six Paragons."
"Regardless," the Crimson Wanderer said, his voice firm. "It is clearly dangerous. Stay alert."
Arcish, ever the overconfident one, scoffed. "Come on, five against one? How bad could it be?"
As they ventured deeper, the ruins became increasingly decrepit the farther they went. It left an eerie atmosphere in this dark and empty place. They could be attacked at any moment, but none of it happened. Hours passed, and then the Squires began to chat to fill the deafening silence, trying to ease their minds and their boredom. The Warrior didn't mind, nothing particular had happened in this place. Perhaps the Keymaster had taken the wrong Gate?
Then, out of the sudden, terrifying screams of people then silenced by muffled gunshots echoing in the empty halls, then everything fell into silence. This made the five on alert, and the Crimson Wanderer gestured with his hand, signaling them to ready for a fight.
And he went ahead.
The Squires began their attack in coordination, with Arcish and Kash showering a volley of arrows and knives, but the one-eyed stranger deflected and evaded them unharmed. In the second wave of their attack, Galla and Uruz landed blows, with Uruz smashing with her maces. However, the stranger took a few steps back, dodging Galla's slash once again. As the battle continued, the Crimson Wanderer noticed how effortlessly the soldier dodged, demonstrating remarkable reflexes. When he joined the fray, his sword and foot prevented him from moving. He looked down and saw tendrils anchoring him to the floor. It took some effort, but he managed to break free. It seemed their enemy was several steps ahead of them.
Arcish attacked the soldier by launching her arrows from its blind spots, while Uruz charged head-on. The soldier quickly pulled Uruz then evaded Arcish's arrows, which were about to hit her. Fortunately, Uruz quickly ducked down.
Uruz's angry shout, "Hey, watch it!" was cut short by Arcish's panicked cry, "Watch out!" pointing frantically at someone. Before Uruz could even turn, a hand clamped roughly around her head, followed by a knee strike that sent her stumbling. Her attacker wasn't finished, unleashing a powerful hook punch that connected with her head, then the tendrils of energy wrapping around it and pulling her down to the floor.
Galla sprang into action, attempting to behead the stranger, but it dodged and drew its rifle, aiming not at Galla, but at the struggling Uruz. Galla rushed to shield her, deflecting a burst of steel darts with her shield. One managed to dent it then some throwing her off balance.
The Warrior entered the fray, his sword flashing in a series of strikes. One attack made the soldier stepped forward, allowing it to grapple his arm, as the red tendrils wrapped around on the Warrior's arm, it then throw him to the floor with such strength and its martial skill that everyone surprises of its move.
As the Warrior crashing down on the ground with a loud thud, then it raised its boot, about to crush his head, but a furious Uruz, now free from her binds, intervened. She unleashed a flurry of mace strikes but the soldier dodging and blocking of her attacks. Finally, she landed a few blows to its head, but instead of leaving a dent of its helmet, it only leaves a flickering blue light then it fades out. Then the soldier glared at Uruz with its single, mechanical eye.
"What?!" Uruz gaped, Galla intervening just as the soldier unknowingly aimed its gun at her stomach. It was close call.
Meanwhile, the Crimson Wanderer stood, his voice booming, "Is the man alright?" Kash's reply was heavy with dismay, "No sir, he died soon after I reached him."
Suddenly, Kash's voice cracked with urgency, "Sir, watch out!" The Warrior whipped around to see Uruz hurled towards him. He caught her swiftly.
"Uruz!?" he exclaimed. "The bastard threw me off..." she groaned, the Warrior gently lowering her. Kash rushed to her side with a healing concoction.
Then he felt his body of this sudden weakness, not only himself but other Squires – Galla, Uruz, and Arcish, he saw exhaustion creeping into their faces. Unusual. How could they be so drained in such a short time? Then, his gaze settled on the soldier's eye, noticing something wrong.
The enemy just stood there, gazing intently, something flickered from its single mechanical eye. And then, he noticed Kash, perfectly fine only confused to what to him and his sibling. It dawned on him: its eye drained them of their strength as long as it maintained eye contact. He has to do something.
Without hesitation, he charged forward, his sword sweeping through the air as he passed the students, kicking up a billow of dust to blind the soldier momentarily. He swung his blade down, aiming for a clean hit, but the soldier sidestepped, the blow landing on its chest, dislodging only white stone fragments instead of blood. The soldier remained unfazed, its gaze unwavering.
All three attacked simultaneously, but the soldier shifted its attention to Kash, tossing something with a flick of its wrist before vanishing in a white flash. A crater marked the spot where it had stood, leaving them confused. Meanwhile, Kash and Uruz saw something rolling towards them, then the soldier reappearing with a gun raised. The others scrambled to intervene, but Uruz, revitalized by his vial, kicked Kash aside, narrowly avoiding the deadly shots. The soldier turned its attention to her, but before it could fire, the Crimson Wanderer swooped in, forcing it to evade once again.
Arcish's arrow found its mark, embedding itself deep in the soldier's chest. A triumphant smirk played on her lips. But the soldier barely acknowledged the hit, casually yanking the arrow out before fixing her with a cold glare. Just then, Uruz came charging from behind, launching into a furious spin kick followed by a hail of mace swings. The soldier, however, easily countered, sweeping her leg and sending her crashing to the ground with a thud. Galla intervened, bashing the soldier with her shield to protect her reckless sister. Seizing an opportunity, the Crimson Wanderer lunged, aiming a decisive thrust at the soldier's eye. Being quick, it rolled away from his strike. The combined force of Uruz, Arcish, and Galla tried to intercept, but the soldier activated its jetpack, soaring away and distancing itself from the five.
As it landed, they heard an ominous hum filled the air. They watched as its tendrils coiled around each other on the soldier's arm, forming a deadly, oversized spike.
Without warning, it slammed.
The place was leveled, the marbled floors cracking, pillars and ceilings shattered, smoke billowing and debris spewing out as the spike relentlessly pursued the five. In this moment of chaos, they all scattered in every direction, running from it, but even as the spikes disappeared, its seismic shockwave was enough to crumble down, falling and raining debris as they all evaded from every angle.
Everything went quiet, only the sound of crumbling marble debris echoing through the chambers. Then someone emerged from the crumbling remains; it was the Warrior, finding himself alone in the aftermath.
"Anyone?" His cry echoed in the darkness, met only by the sounds of debris and the silence of their absence. Then, a faint red glow pulsed within the smoke. Peering through the smoke, he realized this familiar malice where the eyes should be - it was the soldier's. It somehow saw him, then fired a volley of metallic darts. He raised his massive sword, deflecting most, but some pierced his armor like paper, spewing blood upon impact.
Then it vanished into the smoke and darkness, firing again from another angle, circling him. As the Warrior's body was riddled with wounds, he erupted in flames, the fire revitalizing him and magically restoring his armor as the smoke cleared, thus revealing the soldier.
As it aimed its rifle again, he lunged at it but the soldier effortlessly dodged it, however its gun cleaved in half by his blade. It immediately jumped away from him, then the explosion from its destroyed gun nearly caught him in a blast. Then it drew its pistol, firing at his helmet, yet it merely shrugged off with his armor. With no delay, he closed the distance, his sword swinging. But it flawlessly redirected his blow, sending his sword crashing to the floor, then the soldier countered with its tendrils, piercing his abdomen before distancing itself, its gaze still fixed on him. The Warrior collapsed to his knee, holding his injury, feeling weak from its eye, but he broke free from its bind, "Fiend... soon my blade will have your head!" he retorted to the soldier with contempt, but it remained silent - uninterested in his threat, slowly approaching him with its spike coiling on its arm.
The chamber trembled once more as another fist slammed into the floor, sending debris raining down from above. The Warrior braced for the expected surge of spikes, but instead, loose rubble became deadly boulder, swung by the red tendrils of the soldier. While at it, a boulder soared towards him, hitting him but it did little harm to him.
But the Warrior found himself engulfed in smoke as the boulder exploded upon impact, obstructing his vision. Then he was peppered by repeating spike attacks from different directions, he felt his strength waning. Desperately, he burst into flames, healing himself and dispersing the smoke, only to find the soldier standing menacingly in front of him.
Bracing for an attack but it instead focusing on his sword. With a single punch, the soldier caused a loud metallic clang, cracking the Warrior's sword. But it wasn't finished. Its tendrils snaked around the weapon, snapping it in half with a simple tug. As the Warrior recoiled from the loss of his weapon, another strike pierced him, spikes emerging from his body with each painful blow.
He staggers back from the soldier, nearly collapsing from his injuries, but his broken sword prevents his fall. He wonders how his sword could shatter so easily; it was forged from sacred fire and made of ancient steel, it should've been unbreakable. Yet, to the soldier, it snaps like a brittle metal. He underestimated his enemy, mistaking its savagery for a brute force rather than recognizing its deadly cunning. All along, it was part of its plan - to weaken them, to separate him from the Squires and finish him when he's alone.
Despite his diminishing strength, he have to stop this thing from reaching their Gate. With every ounce of focus and power, he muster up for one final attack. Plunging his broken sword into the marble floor, he quickly dislodges a large piece of floor aimed at the soldier. But it but it break the rubble, exploding into smoke and debris. By the time it clears out, its head slashed diagonally, it was the Warrior landing a deadly blow, the rubble was merely a distraction. Yet he failed, only manages to slash its helmet, missing its eye not enough to kill it. Then the Crimson Wanderer finally succumbs to unconsciousness.
Then the soldier retaliates immediately with no signs of stopping. It grabbed his head then slamming it forcefully into the ground, blood spraying upon impact. But it wasn't done yet. It dragged him upright and hurls him against a pillar then relentlessly bashing his head. Though already unconscious, it continues to beat him to a pulp, as if its venting its anger on him. Finally, it grasps his faceplate then the tendrils creeping inside of his body, slowly crushing and tearing him apart.
It turns its attention upon hearing a frantic cry piercing from the darkness, "My Lord!" It was Galla, and the Squires come rushing in, witnessing their god beaten and battered, clinging to his inch of life. Yet, it remains uninterested, turning to the Warrior. Then the Squires charge head-on, desperately attempting to save him.
But it was too late.
"NO!" The Squires cry out in agony and horror as their morale shatters. The soldier toss the Warrior's mangled corpse aside, in front of them, it leaves a sickening insult and delivering a clear message: it is not to be trifled with, if it were to mock them. Then it began to walk towards, as it picked up his sword along the way as if inspecting it. Then, with another insult, it breaks his sword into useless fragments and tosses it aside like garbage.
Fear and rage war in the Squires' hearts, terrorizing their very psyche as the soldier gazes at them with its apathetic mechanical eye. They hesitate to fight back, all except Uruz, who is now more furious than ever. Deep down, she is afraid, but her pride as a warrior and a student of the Crimson Wanderer demands that she kill the creature to avenge him.
Uruz roars in blinding rage, her crimson eyes and gems embedded on her maces shining fiercely as she charges head-on with reckless abandon. Galla and the others try to stop her, but they fail.
"Damn it, that idiot!" Galla curses under her breath.
Kash, his composure broken, yells with panic in his voice, "It's too late! We need to help her!" He lets out a flurry of shuriken, flying toward the soldier as Uruz converges to attack. As she is about to join, her eyes are drawn to Arcish. The usually boastful archer stands trembling, gasping for air. It's out of character for her; even in the heat of battles, she never cowers. Yet, after it killed the Warrior, it seems all of her bravado has finally been torn down.
Arcish looked at Galla with fear in her eyes and muttered, "How did this happen?" But Galla felt pity for her; she couldn't form a word, unsure of how to respond. Instead, she joined the battle, leaving Arcish alone.
Uruz launched herself at the soldier, blinded by rage, grief, and desperation. She wildly swung her maces with increasing power, but the soldier effortlessly dodged her attacks. Exploiting her rage, it leaned closer as her arm moved to strike, then grabbed her, dislocating her arm and causing her mace to drop to the floor. It then punched her face multiple times. Kash arrived with an urumi in hand and struck the soldier, but it stopped him as soon as it held Uruz in front of it, halting him in his tracks. It constricted her body with its tendrils and flung her at Kash with full force. He dodged his sister, realizing the soldier was focusing on killing Uruz.
Uruz crashed against a pillar, grunting in pain from her back and dislocated arm. As her vision cleared, she saw the soldier looming over her with her stolen mace in its hand, broken and covered by its tendrils and spikes—a mocking and cruel mirror to her weapon. Her arm was broken, and with only her other one to try to block its relentless assault, she found it useless. Each strike battered her face, shedding blood. The soldier took off her helmet to strike her head more efficiently, then proceeded to beat her until she was knocked out cold. But it wasn't done, with just one blow it slammed her aside to the floor and raised its hand, about to cave in her head with her stolen mace. However, her mace shot off and fell to the floor, it was Arcish's arrows. She mustered up all her courage to save her sister; she couldn't afford to lose another. The soldier snapped and turned in the direction from where she shot her arrows, glaring at her, freezing her in terror as she stood in place.
"Uruz!" Kash and Galla screamed in desperation. Kash threw another volley of knives at the soldier, evading its attacks. Galla jumped in for an attack, but it was quick enough to dodge away. Fortunately, it distanced itself away from the beaten and unconscious Uruz. Kash rushed to her side, laying her down as he tended to her with his healing salve. He noticed her other mace was gone, then turned around to have his face met with her now broken mace. The soldier had stolen her other one when it evaded it. It was so fast that even Galla couldn't register as it flung near to her head, only to have her brother get hit by the mace instead. The soldier was now fixated on Kash, ignoring Galla as it flew towards him. Before Kash could recover, the soldier loomed over him, quickly grabbing him by his collar and his arm where his urumi was held, now covered in its energy tendrils. A painful sound of bone snapping was heard as Kash screamed in agony at the top of his lungs, but he was immediately silenced, muffled by its hand covering his mouth. It slammed him on the floor then impaled him through his stomach with its spike, spewing blood before he fell unconscious due to the trauma. But even that wasn't enough for this cold-blooded killer. It looted his body, finding where he hid his medicine and crushed it with its boots and breaking his urumi into pieces.
Galla and Arcish intervened to help Kash. They stopped the soldier from Kash's demise. They went to his side, he was bleeding profusely, and she panicked, searching for any surviving medicines to stop the wound. She found some and treated him and Uruz, but sadly, in their situation, it merely delayed their demise. Suddenly, the soldier quickly flew toward Arcish with its grasping hand, but Galla saved her in the nick of time. She fended off against the soldier with ferocity and desperation, while Arcish desperately dragged Kash and Uruz away to safety, hiding among the rubble, hoping it could not see them. Arcish came out to help her sister, only for Galla to be thrown and hit against the collapsed wall.
Arcish wore a worrying look. "Galla?!" As she helped Galla to stand, she saw that she was injured, coughing up blood with a terrible gash on her waist, already weakened by its malicious gaze.
The world felt like it spun into chaos, with their god dead, Uruz and Kash severely wounded. Then Galla faced a choice.
"Arcish," Galla rasped, her voice strained with pain. "You... you need to return to the Gate... Tell everything... everything that happened."
Arcish's voice trembled, laced with fear and uncertainty. "What? But what about you?"
Galla paused, a grim resolve hardening her face. She coughed up more blood, wheezing in pain as she struggled to speak. "I'll hold that monster off... for as long as I can. And just... don't come back. Just tell the Keymaster to seal the Gate for good. No matter what."
Arcish stood quiet, disbelief. "We can't let it reach the Gate," she uttered, her voice barely audible. In a silent exchange, she hugged her sister, it was her of saying goodbye. With a gentle push, Galla urged her forward. Torn between duty and the desperate plight of her fallen siblings, Arcish hesitated for a moment. Then, as Galla, with whatever strength she had left, sprinted towards the soldier, determined to stall it, Arcish fled back to the Gate as fast as she could.
Galla clashed with the soldier, glaring at it with defiance in its malicious eye. Despite her injury, she roared in fury, drawing it away as far as she could. She smacked it away, and a fleeting smirk crossed Galla's face as the soldier realized Arcish was gone, retreating back to her, seeing her as a surviving witness it couldn't let her live to tell. As it prepared to fly away with its jetpack, Galla tackled the soldier's legs mid-flight. "Don't you dare!" she roared, her injured muscles straining to hold it back, then she flung and slammed it to the ground with all her might.
Launching herself at the soldier, Galla fighting it with determination and fury in her eyes. Then spikes erupted from its arm, aimed to skewer her. With split-second timing, she leaped and danced through the air, evading its deadly spikes. Finally, she saw her chance. With a surge of adrenaline, she slammed her sword into the gaping wound left by the Crimson Warrior, driving it deep into the soldier's chest.
Clamping her shield on its neck, she pinned the soldier with all her might. But the soldier was relentless. She felt a spike pierce her abdomen, yet despite the pain, she continued to pin her sword against its body with all her strength. Blood welled up, choking her coughs, yet she remained determined to kill the soldier. With tears in her eyes, Galla shouted in defiance as she drove her blade deeper, the soldier resisting with all its might.
But the soldier remained indifferent, unfazed by her attack, as if unimpressed by her defiance. Then, it threw something beneath her feet, and a blinding flash engulfed Galla as the soldier vanished, taking her sword with it. She collapsed near the debris, struggling to stand while holding her fatal injuries. Where had the soldier gone? A sudden glint of metal caught her eye; it was the soldier with a gun in hand, aiming straight for her head. With a desperate groan as her strength slowly failed her, she raised her shield, deflecting the volley of shots. Then the soldier charged, its spiked fist smashing her shield to splinters. Exposed and vulnerable, Galla braced for the inevitable blow. It was pointless. In a flash, the soldier ripped her sword from its chest and plunged the blade into her chest, barely missing her heart but delivering a devastating blow that knocked her down with a swipe of its gauntlet.
Lying there, fading in and out of consciousness, Galla watched as the soldier ignored her and renewed its pursuit of Arcish. With the last of her strength, Galla desperately grasped its boot, but a swift kick to the face sent her sprawling, blood spilling from her open wound. As darkness crept at the edges of her vision, she saw a flickering flame engulf the Crimson Warrior's body, then—nothing. His body was gone, yet a glimmer of hope remained for her sister, Arcish, still alive. That was all that mattered. Just as darkness finally claimed her, a familiar voice pierced the silence…
"Galla," said with hint of a sad tone in its otherworldly voice, then faded into darkness. Not long after, she regained a bit of consciousness and felt a comforting presence in her body. She realized all her wounds were gone, even the serious ones. She peered around and saw something—a Paragon, but it was different. Help is arrived and perhaps this savior would save Uruz and Kash as well, and Arcish must've been safe at the Gate and called for help. Then her consciousness faded back to black, though her and the remaining Squires' fates left a positive note.
Arcish sprinted, alone and afraid She was exhausted, leaning on the ancient walls of the Derelict. Then she felt tears welling up in her eyes, and she collapsed and wept, knowing that the Warrior and the Squires had died at the hands of that "thing" they fought. She regretted everything, even though it wasn't her fault. She felt what she did wasn't enough; if only she could have done better, maybe she could have saved them, but it was too late.
Then she heard something—the heavy footsteps she had become familiar with. It sent chills down her spine, and she felt as if her heart stopped beating from fear. There was no doubt—it was the soldier's.
Arcish fumbled for her arrows, desperately loosing a volley, but they bounced harmlessly off its arm guard. The soldier charged, closing the distance with terrifying speed. She reached for another arrow, but it was too late.
It grabbed her bow...
Arcish choked out the word, "Bastard!" Tears pricked her eyes, but the soldier remained silent, its eye showing indifference to her pain.
Its gaze bore into hers, leaving her feeling weak and helpless. Though she could hold her breath for periods of time, its vice-like grip threatened to snap her, or worse, its tendrils could twist her into a mangled form, sharing the same fate as the Warrior's demise. And yet, it chose not to. It didn't seem to torment her; instead, it had something else on its mind. Still lifting her with one hand, it scanned something at her waist, inspecting it before snatching her dagger and hurling her to the ground with a guttural sound. She attempted to escape, but the tendrils lashed around her neck, constricting slowly as the soldier studied her weapon.
She recalled something from their earlier battle. It had taken the Warrior's and the Squires' weapons to inspect them before breaking them. What did it want? From the looks of it, it was after something maybe the Court's Treasures, yet it still seemed intent on destruction, completely disinterested. Whatever it was, Galla was right, they mustn't let this soldier through their Gate.
"Keep my dagger, freak!" Arcish spat, a smirk despite the tightening tendrils. The soldier remained focused on the blade, ignoring her bluff. She pressed on, "You know, if we can't come back, let alone one left alive... others will come, and sooner or later, they'll have your..."
Pain surged through her as the soldier slammed its boot into her stomach, a choked cough escaping her lips. Her words had struck a chord, or so it seemed. Then it shattered her dagger and drew its pistol, inspecting it as it loaded and primed. The cold metal aimed at her head, and she felt defeated. Arcish closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, preparing to join her fallen comrades in whatever afterlife awaited.
Then something caught its attention.
The figure picked up her hat and gave it back to her, an otherworldly voice echoing within the halls, "Here." As the figure extended to her, she recognized the voice—it was him, the Crimson Wanderer, but different. His very being radiated life force, bright like a sun, his warmth washing over her. This was his divine form, a sight she hadn't seen since the dark days against the Festering.
"H-How?" Arcish stammered, disbelief warring with relief. He was alive, but how? Regardless, she offered and took her hat back, the heat strangely comforting despite its intensity.
In his otherworldly voice, the Warrior spoke, "No time for questions. Galla... She must have told you to return to the Gate and tell everything, correct?"
"Yes, sir..." Arcish said, feeling a twinge of shame.
"There is no need for shame," he reassured her, his gaze shifting back to the soldier. "However, even at my peak, I cannot guarantee victory." He steeled himself, channeling power against their formidable foe.
Though that attack from earlier didn't seem to affect this soldier, regardless of the obvious blow it had sustained, it kept its pacing, slowly walking towards them, more menacing than ever.
The Crimson Wanderer felt its effects from its malevolent eye, even in his form. He felt his grip weakened, even for a bit, a concern clouding his featureless look. "I will drove it away as far as I can." Arcish remained silent, an understanding passing between them.
"Be ready," the Warrior instructed. Arcish nodded solemnly. He then conjured a multitude of glowing crimson blades, aiming them at the soldier—a display of awesome power that would make even the mightiest warriors cower. Yet, the soldier remained unimpressed, still walking towards them. Then it suddenly propelled itself at him, but he unleashed a barrage of burning blades raining down on the soldier. It maneuvered, contorting mid-air, curving around his attack and aiming for Arcish. It became quicker and more responsive. As its hand reached to grasp her, in a split second, it redirected its flight, dodging away from the Warrior's scorching blade. With his other hand, he blasted a beam at the soldier, but it was quick enough to shield itself with its tendrils, sending the beam away to another area.
Arcish, awed by her god's power, echoed his command, "Now!" The Crimson Wanderer shouted, and with no time to admire his power, she disappeared into the dark.
As the soldier still flung in the air, it stabilized its flight and landed roughly on the floor. Just as it was about to look up, a variety of floating searing blades rained down on the soldier but evaded from his attacks, taking cover between the pillars as the Warrior's blade chased after it, leaving chaos and billows of smoke until it eventually ran out, leaving silence. The Warrior arrived in the area, his godly presence clearing out the smoke.
Despite his awesome power, seeing how it dodged so easily while creating cover for itself, he knew it became clever, already adapting, formulating. He heard something behind him, and when he turned around, the floor split open, red light seeping from the cracks. He dodged effortlessly as a massive spike emerged, but other smaller spikes impaled through his torso unnoticed. However, his form allowed him to regenerate his wound in an instant, he then retaliate with his blades but there's was nothing there either.
Frustrated, "Your parlor tricks are meaningless against me, abomination," the Warrior boomed in this quiet place, announcing himself to the voiceless soldier. "You face one of the Court, for I am the Crimson Wanderer, the Warrior!" Then nothing but silence, his boast went unanswered.
Then there he sees the soldier in the distance, it ripped its energy tendrils from the ground, causing the chamber to rumble and collapse. Crumbling pillars and collapsing ceilings rained down on him, but the Warrior swept them away with a dismissive gesture. He charged at the soldier with blinding speed, blade raised for a killing blow. As his blade closed in on the soldier's head, it vanished before his decisive beheading, then it leaves him with a spike hitting his shoulder. There it was again, vanishing in a blinding flash, but he did see its hand flick at something—a throwable device that make it teleport to other place. But now was not the time; it was hiding somewhere. Suddenly, a spike burst out from the ruins where it vanished, then it pulled a tethered debris, slamming him and leaving him disoriented. He had enough of this, he flew high and spotted the soldier from a distance, running away. He returned in kind with volleys of blades that he conjured, raining them down on the soldier. It flew and dodge the blades then began to change its course and went after him. Dodging and hiding between ruins as his blades bombarded to the soldier
He swung his blade, sending a huge burning wave sweeping across the collapsing chamber, cutting pillars and expanding as it went on. However, the soldier was quick enough to maneuver through his devastating powers, surprisingly sustaining little to no damage. It finally closing on him then it breaks a nearby pillar and flinging pieces of it away with its tendrils. But he flicked them into dust and sent another volley of blades. The soldier flew beneath him and sent its tendrils to wrap around his sword arm, swinging him as he dropped his sword. But he had been waiting for this moment. He flew down toward the soldier, finally grasping its helmet. His burning hand slowly warped and melt the soldier's helmet, his fingers sinking down as he intended to reach inside its head to kill it. However, it used its tendrils to deliver a fatal blow to his chest where near his heart should've been. Reacting to this pain, he threw it down as it buried under mountains of rubble, leaving it stuck.
Without delay, his light grew into brilliance and with his might...
...he let out dazzling beam of light.
Nothing but a scorching wasteland within the chamber, marbled stones melted into slag, the air turned torrid—overwhelming the usual chilling atmosphere. Ashes and burning detritus billowed from the explosion, scattering in all directions. His blast send a powerful shockwave throughout this quiet ruin, threatening to collapse yet this timeless creation built by the forgotten ancient builders stood still.
With only the Warrior remaining, gazing upon the utter destruction he brought. Now, his light is slowly to dim, the heat emanating from his being growing weaker. He had used all of his power to ensure its demise. Then he felt this unbearable pain piercing in his heart, his Crimson Heart finally took its toll but he'll live. He slowly falling then his weakness finally gave in but safely landed onto the dirty floor, barely standing up but he maintain his posture from then and there.
He wondered throughout the ruins then he had a thought. Did Arcish had made it out safely? Perhaps she would seek help from the other Court to search for them and rescue them in this Derelict. But for now, all he needed to do now was wait but remained vigilant.
After the fight with this soldier, he can't deny of that thing, no doubt it's not as strong that he fought might beast from before, it's something its ruthlessness and yet being cunning and resourceful, it always have dozen steps ahead of him and the Squires, it's surprisingly creative with the use of its tendrils to catch them off guard. Though he wouldn't commend his enemy however, he find it unnerving, something about its gaze, he felt as if it wanted to kill him in a gruesome fashion.
Then he heard something throughout the ruins, he summoned enough strength to create a sword in his hand, ready for whatever might come. Yet, there was nothing there, only him and the crumbling ruins. This unease him but there's no need for him to be wary as he made sure he vaporize that thing along the place that he struck.
Or so he thought.
"How...?" He struggled, blood splattering from his skewered body. The tendrils constricted his body, slowly crushing him.
It was a gruesome sight, it's missing its arm and was burning on its left side of its body being crumbling away into scorching rocks. Despite this, it still unfazed, even its vigor remained unchanged even after such gruesome injuries. It approached slowly, its gait seeming strained but persistent.
He attempted to break free, but it was pointless, he was too weak to break off from the bindings without the tendrils worming further into his body and crushing him. The soldier continue to walk, its gaze burning into his. The Warrior grew weary, weakening even further the longer it gaze. Finally, it drew close, standing over its ensnared victim, it was looking at him with its red eye as if curious, then it snaps its attention to his chest. It was fixated on his Crimson Heart, but how did it know?
It raised its other functioning arm, red tendrils humming and crackling with intense energy. He could do nothing, it was hopeless. But something strange happened: the soldier's fingers just twitched, and its arm seemed to struggle, pulling itself away from him.
But it seemingly relents and it shoved into his chest.
Then he felt the agonizing pain.
...
...
...
...
Nothing but darkness...
The Warrior heard something, initially incoherent, but gradually, he discerned someone speaking to him, expressing concern for his well-being. However, he couldn't identify the speaker. Then he lost consciousness again. Later, he regained vision, though blurred, feeling dizzy and sluggish as he attempted to communicate, but failed before losing consciousness once more. The Crimson Wanderer felt as if an eternity passed, struggling to awaken before succumbing to darkness, until finally...
He woken up
He found himself back in the Hallowed Gate, lying on an ornate bed in the vast grass plain beneath a vivid night sky. He recognized it as the Dawn Greenery, and realizing he had reverted to his normal form, he must've reached his limits during the fight with the soldier. But where was the soldier?
"Took you weeks to finally wake up," a familiar voice said, and he looked around to see the Keymaster.
The Keymaster explained that they had found him and the gravely wounded Squires, nursed them back to health, and asked what had happened. Arcish had shared everything she knew, but she was too shaken to provide much detail. The Warrior recounted their encounter with the soldier, his desperate attempt to defeat it, and the intervention of the mysterious "Paragon" who had saved him. Still, they had no idea who this savior was.
Months passed, and the Warrior and the Squires fully recovered. During a gathering of the Court, the Keymaster reported on the progress of the Hallowed Gate, which seemed to be thriving. They discussed recent events in the Backrooms, including reports of invading armies known as the "Marauders" with familiar red eyes, enslaving people and claiming levels as their own. This news worried them, given their past encounter with these dangerous foes.
The memory of their battle with a Marauder drove the Warrior and his Squires to train harder. Despite have their weapons destroyed by the Marauder, they've made newer, stronger ones with the help of the Alchemist's science and the Dark Sovereign's powers.
"Faster, Squires!" the Crimson Warrior shouted during their training. "Just one mistake, and it could be the end of you!"
As they rested, Uruz asked the Crimson Wanderer about the Paragon who had saved him, wondering why the individual hadn't claimed credit. The Wanderer speculated about the Paragon's motives and whether they had also defeated the soldier.
Arcish joked about the possibility of meeting the savior again, to which the Crimson Wanderer chuckled and pondered the future.
"Perhaps..."
Incursion/Convergence Tale Crossover
/// Author, Wikitext, Illustration / Marauders & Travelers || SomeGuyCasual
/// The Crimson Wanderer & The Squires entities || Pyro
