The Undying Queen writhes in pain as she is engulfed in blue flames. Dorothy turns and aims the mini crossbow on her arm at Asmodea, who observes the scene with a grin still painted on her face. Wynn, Ruda, and Iris remain alert, assessing the situation.
"You should've finished the job," Asmodea remarks, looking at the burning Calanis, ignoring Dorothy's threat.
"You should've finished us yourself," Wynn responds to Asmodea's remark, thinking that it was the enemy's complacency that allowed them to turn the tides of the battle.
Asmodea, still fixed on the burning Calanis, spoke, "I was referring that you should've finished her off."
Wynn's eyes widened when he realized that Asmodea's remark was not for Calanis but for them. Just as Wynn turns his head to face the burning woman, an arm reached out from the flames and gripped his throat tight. Ruda, instinctively lunged at Calanis to help Wynn but was also caught and gripped by the neck by Calanis' burning hand. Wynn surmised that Calanis had greater regenerative abilities enabling her to heal wounds and regrow mutilated limbs. Calanis gazed at Wynn with her glowing red eyes from the fire with rage as her grip on his neck becomes tighter.
Iris quickly reacts to attack Calanis but as she was about to thrust her spear, she was deflected by Thalia, who finally made her move. Iris clicks her tongue and attacks Thalia but was continually deflected. Calanis' grip was so strong that Wynn had dropped his swords as he struggles to breath while wrestling to remove Calanis' hand, his neck starts to burn.
Dorothy, seeing the scene unfold, quickly aims to shoot Calanis once again to help their comrades when the golem suddenly moves, making her lose her balance with the unstable footing.
The golem, who is continually being attacked by the adventurers, ignores them and proceeds to prepare to attack the Sylvenspire castle once more. The golem lifts its right arm and clenches its fist tight, it swung back, gaining momentum for a moment that stretched into eternity. The adventurers, who witnessed the golem's movements, rushed their attacks with combined forces, pouring everything they had hoping to stop the golem.
But with a burst of movement, it launches its fist towards the castle, destroying it completely. The force of the punch was so strong that it produced an explosive boom that echoed in the entire kingdom, the earth quaked, followed by a shockwave that sent adventurers who failed to cast and hid in a barrier flying.
But the golem's attack was not done, it did not wait for the quake and shockwave to stop as it raises its right leg slowly where the adventurers are attacking. The adventurers could only watch as they saw the gigantic foot raise above them. Hopelessness dawned in them as the others ran frantically while some resigned to their fate and continues to attack with everything they had, but there were also those who cast a barrier hoping to be saved.
In just a few moments, the golem descends its foot in a rapid pace, gaining momentum each second it descends. Screaming and shouting is heard from below from the adventurers. Finally, the stomp reached the ground with greater force, producing not only quakes and shockwaves but also a large fissure to where the foot landed, adventurers screamed and cried. Their earlier brave and ambitious disposition turned into horror and despair as they fell to their doom from the fissure crack. The barriers were destroyed like fragile glass, and many of the adventurers were flattened where only traces of blood and bone remains.
When the dust settled and the screaming stopped, Asmodea, filled with joyful malice, smiles on top of the golem her gaze fixed on the magic circle, now visible with the Sylvenspire castle completely demolished.
Meanwhile, Calanis is focused now solely at the adventurers on her grasp as she tightens her grip to their necks more, bones slowly cracking could be heard while Wynn and Ruda struggles desperately while being held up in the air. But then another holy bolt struck at Calanis' arm, Dorothy made the shot, trying to help her comrades. But to Dorothy's surprise, the holy bolt didn't burn Calanis.
"That won't work anymore!", Calanis remarked as she glared at Dorothy with rage.
Dorothy, now running out of options to a deeply disadvantaged fight took out a glass vial from her belt pocket. Sweat drips from her brow, the strands of her long raven-colored hair sway, twist, and twirl by the strong wind. On her hand she grips a glass vial containing a round purple pill.
"Don't hesitate", Dorothy mutters to herself as she steels her resolve to make a decision.
Opening the glass vial, Dorothy held one purple pill on her hand when suddenly, a spear spinning like a windmill comes between her and Calanis. Wynn and Ruda, seemingly unconcious, drops to the ground together with Calanis' severed arms.
Dorothy and Calanis gazed at the origin of the spear and found Iris in her beastman form gasping as she knelt down, blood and sweat dripping from her. Dorothy inspected Iris and found her right arm severed on the ground, Thalia just beside her looking down.
Calanis became angrier, her severed arms grew in an instant.
"You disgusting dog!", She shouts as she was ready to pounce at the weakened Iris. Dorothy grips the purple pill in her hand ready to swallow it when suddenly.
"Kneel"
A chilling voice was heard in their heads. In that moment, without thinking, Calanis drops to her knees and knelt. Thalia also did the same. Dorothy drops to her knees and stared at the ground with confusion with what just happened.
"As someone who loves a good bloodfest, I hate to interrupt but let us not waste anymore time shall we?"
Asmodea, who spectated their fight just a few moments ago decided to intervene.
"Yes, my great goddess."
Calanis, readily replied as she stood up and opened up a portal. Asmodea stops abruptly at the portal entrance and addresses Dorothy without gazing her.
"You fought well, I hope next time you won't hesitate."
Asmodea then enters the portal, followed by Calanis who didn't even look at the defeated adventurers. Thalia, on the other hand looked at them for a moment before entering the portal. The portal closed the moment Thalia went inside.
Dorothy's mind was filled with questions but she put it all aside as she runs towards Iris whose right arm was severed and immediately gave her treatment.
The air is covered in silence around them as they refused to speak or rather they were speechless to their defeat. Wynn and Ruda lies on the ground still, unconcious. As Dorothy stopped the bleeded and closed the stump, Iris reverted back to her human form. Finally, Dorothy broke the silence and spoke.
"Iris, I-I'm -"
Before she could finish, the ground they were on suddenly rumbled and shook. The golem suddenly vibrated from within. Dorothy felt something was amiss, this was not the golem moving. True enough, Dorothy's feeling was warranted when cracks formed beneath their feet.
"The golem is crumbling!" Dorothy shouts.
____________________________________________
A few moments earlier, Aria who was protecting Layla, Dorothy's daughter, is in a nearby tent. Aria was treating some of the injured people from the golem's onslaught. Layla was observing Aria curiously as she worked. But she became bored in only a few minutes.
"Big sister Aria, let's play!" She interupts Aria while tugging Aria's cloak.
Aria looks at the bored child. Her thoughts are directed at Dorothy's situation, but she couldn’t let the child feel her worry and fear. She gave Layla an assuring warm smile.
"We will Layla, just let big sister finish, okay?" Aria, kindly responds. She raises her hand wanting to pat Layla's head to reassure but her hands are messy, so she refrained.
"You promise?" Layla urges. Her eyes lit as she clutches her hands together containing her excitement.
"Yes, I promise" Aria gave a short but sincere response.
She continues to treat the injured while Layla patiently waits. After a few more minutes, Aria had skillfully treated all of the injured people with the help of other healers and apothecaries as well.
Finally, Aria had finished, she cleansed her hands and calls Layla.
"Layla, come let's play-"
Before Aria could finish. Another loud boom was heard. The ground shook and rumbled. Thankfully, the tent Aria was in is protected by a barrier.
"Layla!" Aria called out to Layla as she grabbed her. The scared Layla hugged Aria tight.
The rumbling continued longer than before making the people inside the tent uneasy. Suddenly, a warrior adventurer who was on guard came frantically inside.
"Run! Everybody run! The ground is splitting!" the warrior bravely urgently warned the people inside the tent.
With that warning, the people inside began to pack their things. The others helped the injured and carried them in a cart placed just outside the tent.
"Layla stay close to me!" Aria told Layla but even in Aria didn't tell her, she wouldn't leave her side as she clutches Aria's robe.
Aria helped the injured walk outside the tent while keeping Layla close, Aria turned and could see the trees unrooted as it fell down.
"Big sister, what's happening?"
Layla with worried and scared eyes looks at Aria, hoping she would reassure her. Her grip on Aria getting tighter.
But Aria could see the trees and tents from afar succumbing to the fissure. It was getting nearer to them. The houses broke and collapsed as the fissure passes through. Aria steeled herself for the child's sake.
"Don't worry, big sister's going to keep you safe" Aria tries reassure Layla as best she can.
Aria tries to walk faster with the injured while holding Layla. She didn't want to show it but she was getting exhausted.
"Please, just leave me here. Take the child and go"
The adventurer Aria was helping suddenly spoke. His severed left leg made him unable to walk properly.
"No, I won't."
Aria gave a short but convicted reply. She won't forsake anyone who she could help.
"We're all going to die if you won't let me go"
Although he knew Aria had a good heart, the adventurer insisted. He couldn't in his good conscience let someone die because of him.
Aria wouldn't let him go and Layla kept close to her. Eventhough they moved slow, Aria kept going hoping they would get far.
But it their efforts would be in vain as the fissure catches up to them. Before Aria would notice, the adventurer reacted first when he pushes Aria and Layla aside. The adventurer accepted his fate as he was led to fall in the fissure. He closed his eyes and smiled, thinking he had at least saved Aria and the child.
The adventurer opened his eyes and felt himself hanging. He looks up and sees Aria gripping his hand tightly. He sees Aria's unwavering resolve to save him.
The adventurer was not a bad person nor was he a good one. In his years of adventurering, he knew that people including him are often selfish when push comes to shove. As he locks eyes with Aria he felt relief and shame as he thought Aria was one of those selfish people. Tears streamed down his face as he found someone who was willing to risk herself for him.
"Mister, please... Don't give up"
Aria pleads with labored breath. Layla, in her own way, helps Aria as she held onto her robe to keep her from falling, straining all the while.
The adventurer didn't want to dissapoint his savior anymore and tried to climb up with all his might. Aria and Layla pulled him up and finally he was above ground. His face full of sweat and tears. But ultimately, he laughed. The thought of death that evaded him made him laugh.
"Thank you, lassie. You saved me twice now" the adventurer thanked Aria with all his heart. "And you too little lady", he also thanked Layla while patting her head.
Aria and Layla smiled back. But their celebration was cut short when they heard another rumble. Their faces turned into bewilderment when they gazed onto the view on the horizon. When they saw the two hundred-foot golem crumble and fall.
The Undying Queen writhes in pain as she is engulfed in blue flames. Dorothy turns and aims the mini crossbow on her arm at Asmodea, who observes the scene with a grin still painted on her face. Wynn, Ruda, and Iris remain alert, assessing the situation.
"You should've finished the job," Asmodea remarks, looking at the burning Calanis, ignoring Dorothy's threat.
"You should've finished us yourself," Wynn responds to Asmodea's remark, thinking that it was the enemy's complacency that allowed them to turn the tides of the battle.
Asmodea, still fixed on the burning Calanis, spoke, "I was referring that you should've finished her off."
Wynn's eyes widened when he realized that Asmodea's remark was not for Calanis but for them. Just as Wynn turns his head to face the burning woman, an arm reached out from the flames and gripped his throat tight. Ruda, instinctively lunged at Calanis to help Wynn but was also caught and gripped by the neck by Calanis' burning hand. Wynn surmised that Calanis had greater regenerative abilities enabling her to heal wounds and regrow mutilated limbs. Calanis gazed at Wynn with her glowing red eyes from the fire with rage as her grip on his neck becomes tighter.
Iris quickly reacts to attack Calanis but as she was about to thrust her spear, she was deflected by Thalia, who finally made her move. Iris clicks her tongue and attacks Thalia but was continually deflected. Calanis' grip was so strong that Wynn had dropped his swords as he struggles to breath while wrestling to remove Calanis' hand, his neck starts to burn.
Dorothy, seeing the scene unfold, quickly aims to shoot Calanis once again to help their comrades when the golem suddenly moves, making her lose her balance with the unstable footing.
The golem, who is continually being attacked by the adventurers, ignores them and proceeds to prepare to attack the Sylvenspire castle once more. The golem lifts its right arm and clenches its fist tight, it swung back, gaining momentum for a moment that stretched into eternity. The adventurers, who witnessed the golem's movements, rushed their attacks with combined forces, pouring everything they had hoping to stop the golem.
But with a burst of movement, it launches its fist towards the castle, destroying it completely. The force of the punch was so strong that it produced an explosive boom that echoed in the entire kingdom, the earth quaked, followed by a shockwave that sent adventurers who failed to cast and hid in a barrier flying.
But the golem's attack was not done, it did not wait for the quake and shockwave to stop as it raises its right leg slowly where the adventurers are attacking. The adventurers could only watch as they saw the gigantic foot raise above them. Hopelessness dawned in them as the others ran frantically while some resigned to their fate and continues to attack with everything they had, but there were also those who cast a barrier hoping to be saved.
In just a few moments, the golem descends its foot in a rapid pace, gaining momentum each second it descends. Screaming and shouting is heard from below from the adventurers. Finally, the stomp reached the ground with greater force, producing not only quakes and shockwaves but also a large fissure to where the foot landed, adventurers screamed and cried. Their earlier brave and ambitious disposition turned into horror and despair as they fell to their doom from the fissure crack. The barriers were destroyed like fragile glass, and many of the adventurers were flattened where only traces of blood and bone remains.
When the dust settled and the screaming stopped, Asmodea, filled with joyful malice, smiles on top of the golem her gaze fixed on the magic circle, now visible with the Sylvenspire castle completely demolished.
Meanwhile, Calanis is focused now solely at the adventurers on her grasp as she tightens her grip to their necks more, bones slowly cracking could be heard while Wynn and Ruda struggles desperately while being held up in the air. But then another holy bolt struck at Calanis' arm, Dorothy made the shot, trying to help her comrades. But to Dorothy's surprise, the holy bolt didn't burn Calanis.
"That won't work anymore!", Calanis remarked as she glared at Dorothy with rage.
Dorothy, now running out of options to a deeply disadvantaged fight took out a glass vial from her belt pocket. Sweat drips from her brow, the strands of her long raven-colored hair sway, twist, and twirl by the strong wind. On her hand she grips a glass vial containing a round purple pill.
"Don't hesitate", Dorothy mutters to herself as she steels her resolve to make a decision.
Opening the glass vial, Dorothy held one purple pill on her hand when suddenly, a spear spinning like a windmill comes between her and Calanis. Wynn and Ruda, seemingly unconcious, drops to the ground together with Calanis' severed arms.
Dorothy and Calanis gazed at the origin of the spear and found Iris in her beastman form gasping as she knelt down, blood and sweat dripping from her. Dorothy inspected Iris and found her right arm severed on the ground, Thalia just beside her looking down.
Calanis became angrier, her severed arms grew in an instant.
"You disgusting dog!", She shouts as she was ready to pounce at the weakened Iris. Dorothy grips the purple pill in her hand ready to swallow it when suddenly.
"Kneel"
A chilling voice was heard in their heads. In that moment, without thinking, Calanis drops to her knees and knelt. Thalia also did the same. Dorothy drops to her knees and stared at the ground with confusion with what just happened.
"As someone who loves a good bloodfest, I hate to interrupt but let us not waste anymore time shall we?"
Asmodea, who spectated their fight just a few moments ago decided to intervene.
"Yes, my great goddess."
Calanis, readily replied as she stood up and opened up a portal. Asmodea stops abruptly at the portal entrance and addresses Dorothy without gazing her.
"You fought well, I hope next time you won't hesitate."
Asmodea then enters the portal, followed by Calanis who didn't even look at the defeated adventurers. Thalia, on the other hand looked at them for a moment before entering the portal. The portal closed the moment Thalia went inside.
Dorothy's mind was filled with questions but she put it all aside as she runs towards Iris whose right arm was severed and immediately gave her treatment.
The air is covered in silence around them as they refused to speak or rather they were speechless to their defeat. Wynn and Ruda lies on the ground still, unconcious. As Dorothy stopped the bleeded and closed the stump, Iris reverted back to her human form. Finally, Dorothy broke the silence and spoke.
"Iris, I-I'm -"
Before she could finish, the ground they were on suddenly rumbled and shook. The golem suddenly vibrated from within. Dorothy felt something was amiss, this was not the golem moving. True enough, Dorothy's feeling was warranted when cracks formed beneath their feet.
"The golem is crumbling!" Dorothy shouts.
____________________________________________
A few moments earlier, Aria who was protecting Layla, Dorothy's daughter, is in a nearby tent. Aria was treating some of the injured people from the golem's onslaught. Layla was observing Aria curiously as she worked. But she became bored in only a few minutes.
"Big sister Aria, let's play!" She interupts Aria while tugging Aria's cloak.
Aria looks at the bored child. Her thoughts are directed at Dorothy's situation, but she couldn’t let the child feel her worry and fear. She gave Layla an assuring warm smile.
"We will Layla, just let big sister finish, okay?" Aria, kindly responds. She raises her hand wanting to pat Layla's head to reassure but her hands are messy, so she refrained.
"You promise?" Layla urges. Her eyes lit as she clutches her hands together containing her excitement.
"Yes, I promise" Aria gave a short but sincere response.
She continues to treat the injured while Layla patiently waits. After a few more minutes, Aria had skillfully treated all of the injured people with the help of other healers and apothecaries as well.
Finally, Aria had finished, she cleansed her hands and calls Layla.
"Layla, come let's play-"
Before Aria could finish. Another loud boom was heard. The ground shook and rumbled. Thankfully, the tent Aria was in is protected by a barrier.
"Layla!" Aria called out to Layla as she grabbed her. The scared Layla hugged Aria tight.
The rumbling continued longer than before making the people inside the tent uneasy. Suddenly, a warrior adventurer who was on guard came frantically inside.
"Run! Everybody run! The ground is splitting!" the warrior bravely urgently warned the people inside the tent.
With that warning, the people inside began to pack their things. The others helped the injured and carried them in a cart placed just outside the tent.
"Layla stay close to me!" Aria told Layla but even in Aria didn't tell her, she wouldn't leave her side as she clutches Aria's robe.
Aria helped the injured walk outside the tent while keeping Layla close, Aria turned and could see the trees unrooted as it fell down.
"Big sister, what's happening?"
Layla with worried and scared eyes looks at Aria, hoping she would reassure her. Her grip on Aria getting tighter.
But Aria could see the trees and tents from afar succumbing to the fissure. It was getting nearer to them. The houses broke and collapsed as the fissure passes through. Aria steeled herself for the child's sake.
"Don't worry, big sister's going to keep you safe" Aria tries reassure Layla as best she can.
Aria tries to walk faster with the injured while holding Layla. She didn't want to show it but she was getting exhausted.
"Please, just leave me here. Take the child and go"
The adventurer Aria was helping suddenly spoke. His severed left leg made him unable to walk properly.
"No, I won't."
Aria gave a short but convicted reply. She won't forsake anyone who she could help.
"We're all going to die if you won't let me go"
Although he knew Aria had a good heart, the adventurer insisted. He couldn't in his good conscience let someone die because of him.
Aria wouldn't let him go and Layla kept close to her. Eventhough they moved slow, Aria kept going hoping they would get far.
But it their efforts would be in vain as the fissure catches up to them. Before Aria would notice, the adventurer reacted first when he pushes Aria and Layla aside. The adventurer accepted his fate as he was led to fall in the fissure. He closed his eyes and smiled, thinking he had at least saved Aria and the child.
The adventurer opened his eyes and felt himself hanging. He looks up and sees Aria gripping his hand tightly. He sees Aria's unwavering resolve to save him.
The adventurer was not a bad person nor was he a good one. In his years of adventurering, he knew that people including him are often selfish when push comes to shove. As he locks eyes with Aria he felt relief and shame as he thought Aria was one of those selfish people. Tears streamed down his face as he found someone who was willing to risk herself for him.
"Mister, please... Don't give up"
Aria pleads with labored breath. Layla, in her own way, helps Aria as she held onto her robe to keep her from falling, straining all the while.
The adventurer didn't want to dissapoint his savior anymore and tried to climb up with all his might. Aria and Layla pulled him up and finally he was above ground. His face full of sweat and tears. But ultimately, he laughed. The thought of death that evaded him made him laugh.
"Thank you, lassie. You saved me twice now" the adventurer thanked Aria with all his heart. "And you too little lady", he also thanked Layla while patting her head.
Aria and Layla smiled back. But their celebration was cut short when they heard another rumble. Their faces turned into bewilderment when they gazed onto the view on the horizon. When they saw the two hundred-foot golem crumble and fall.
