Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Cost of Victory

Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Cost of Victory

Yvone! yells Aelara as she rushes towards her fallen friend. Ragnar has stopped laughing, and thats somehow creepier than when hes having a good time in a pitched battle. Him and Tiny are handling the rest of the undead, giving Aelara a chance to tend to Yvone. Not to Teemo, though.

He was a champ, but I can already see his respawn timer on the rat spawner. Good job though, little buddy. I think Aelara can save Yvone. Honestly, if she can get that sword out of her, the ants can help, too. Poor birb, though, is laying down and trying not to cough up blood. Or she cant breathe. That thing probably got her diaphragm, come to think of it. Get that sword out of her, someone!

Aelara seems unsure what to do, but Fluffles is great at moving things around. I have him remove it as carefully as he can, and the healing ants swarm in. That seems to kick the elf into gear, and she adds her own magic to the mix. As far as I can tell, Yvone is getting better.

Whats not getting better is the situation in the tunnel. I think maybe Neverrest wants to make this a mutual kill or something, because thats definitely his lich down there now. Its not very concerned with aiming, either, and is tossing around all kinds of fire. I guess that when you dont need to breathe, you stop caring about burning things in a tight space.

Its pretty effective, though. The slimes boil easily, it seems like, and everything else I have still needs oxygen to function. Uh I need to figure out something to stop him. Jello! No, hell see her a mile away and just fireball her, too. Well there are a few twists and turns down there. Jello, fall back to a good kink in the path. Hopefully you can grab him as he rounds a corner or something.

Back in the graveyard, Yvone seems to be getting better, but Aelara still looks concerned. Tiny and Ragnar finish off the last of the undead on the surface, and the dwarf sprints over to his fallen companion, with Tiny not far behind. Fluffles. I need you to go to the crypt. Tiny wont fit inside. Just be wary of traps. In fact, levitate something and ride it, if you have to.

Whats wrong? asks Ragnar, doffing his helmet to look at the wounded birb. Aelara gives an exasperated sigh.

I dont know! Ive healed what I can, and the ants are helping, but something keeps hurting her! The dwarf frowns at that and looks to the sword on the ground. He gingerly picks it up, and his frown deepens as he follows the runes with a finger.

His frown turns to a look of horrified shock as he seems to finish reading them Lifedrinking

Aelaras face turns ashen at that, and she looks down to her friend. No

Yvone, at least, is able to breathe again, even if she looks to be in a lot of pain. Nnf h-how bad is that?

Bad whispers Aelara. Its an enchant that fits this accursed place and its stronger than I can counter.

CONSUME

I mentally jerk back, shocked at the what was that? Fluffles? Oh, you touched the core. Do it again, I got a bunch of mana from that.

DEVOUR

Screw you, Neverrest!

MINE

Nope, this is my mana now.

STRONGER

Hah, clearly not, bucko! Any last words? Feels like youre about tapped already. No wonder my ants flipped their crap when that mole touched my core. I get the feeling a scion drinks a lot faster than just an invader, though.

GOT ONE

What? Wait Yvone!

I focus through Tiny, and see the worst. Aelara is slumped over Yvone, sobbing. Ragnar has his hand over her eyes I think he just closed them. He seems to be murmuring a dwarven prayer for her. Dammit

Resident Request. Accept/Deny?