The wolf saw it all happening. His planned reinforcements were apprehended, the gates closed, and the legendary parties combined. Yet, he couldn't intervene. At first, he didn't want to be caught up in a fight against the Tree at one of the two new gates.
Seeing how there was nothing he could really do to turn the situation for the troops at the gate, he decided to join his colleagues in raiding the tree. Although he was not specialized in fighting against massive creatures, he could do at least some damage. However, when he turned to leave, he had a sudden visitor that needed his attention.
“Hello, young friend. It took me a while to find you, but we can finally have a little talk,” a friendly old man had appeared behind him. he had a long white beard and a kind smile, as he stood there with his hands behind his back, wearing exotic robes.
“Who...?”
“You may call me Master Mountain.”
...
They were in the middle of coming up with a strategy when the hair in Soti's nape stood up. Centuries of experience warned her a fraction of a second before a bewitching sound entered her sharp ears and the vines pressing against Krista's barrier slowed.
“Off with their heads ~” a whisper snuck into everyone's ears as the music swelled to be heard by everyone. It was a language she didn't recognize, but it snuck into her brain and gained meaning. She was sure she had heard something similar before but she couldn't quite remember.
Like her, the other legends looked around, trying to find the source, not really affected. However, party members of lower levels showed various reactions, from looking around shocked and panicked, or outright freezing stiff. This was what she could notice in a fraction of a second before her attention was drawn to signs of movement beyond the wall of vines.
“Unholy Slash!” someone hollered and a dark energy blade barreled through the forest of vines, crashing into Krista's Barrier. The defensive membrane that had withstood even the onslaught of roots trying to crush it, shook.
Dark spiderwebs of cracks spread from where the energy blade struck the barrier. It didn't collapse, but it also didn't recover as quickly as before. At a quick glance, a dark energy permeated the cracks in the barrier. judging by the name, was this actually the unholy attribute?
Beyond the gap stood a muscular Minotaur, wielding a giant double-headed axe. It was such a typical depiction of the bullheaded monster, that Soti was struck with nostalgia for a moment. She remembered the time when she first started adventuring, centuries ago. Like back then, the beast exuded a menacing aura, like the executioner who had come to deliver their sentence.
“Dance 'til you're dead~”
The new phrase broke her nostalgia, as her leg suddenly jerked a little to the side. She was an elven scout. She had become a legend decades ago. her body suddenly moving against her will, even if it was just a little jerk, shocked her down to the core.
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Looking around, Demus, Krista, and Jarvan had experienced something similar, while their parties had begun swaying to the music, at various decrees. Many could forcefully resist the lyrical command, but it was clear that all of them were affected.
“tsk, where is this music coming from?” Demus exclaimed angrily, looking at the dancing people.
“ Dripping with divinity, Tatzel stop tattling. The table's all set. You're all done.”
“It's the Tower Master, he's on the branch up there. He's the one sing-” Soti was about to warn her allies, when the song interrupted her, sealing her mouth.
“The priest cries out- The elf cries out- The warrior cries out- The Saint cries out- Their men cry out-”
Demus:” Oh no.”
Soti:” Oh no.”
Jarvan:” Oh no.”
Krista:” Oh no.”
Party members: “ Oh no!”
As the music became even stronger and the beat penetrated their bodies they were forced to sing along!
“The priest cries out- The elf cries out- The warrior cries out- The Saint cries out- Their men cry out-”
Demus:” Oh no.”
Soti:” Oh no.”
Jarvan:” Oh no.”
Krista:” Oh no.”
Party members: “ Oh no!”
Twice. It happened twice. Soti was in a state of shock, as her mouth had moved on its own to go along with the song. Just what kind of instrument was this for someone of that level to manipulate them?