Chapter 32: Dynamic Quest

Chapter 32: Dynamic Quest

“The Ritual of Summoning? What is that?” Nivian asked.

“Something bad, from the sounds of things,” Seena said.

“Then we should probably stop it,” Hiral said, looking up the ramp at the keep. “Hey, was there purple light there before?” He pointed at the area that looked like a platform higher up.

“Not that I remember,” Seena said.

“There wasn’t,” Left confirmed. “I suspect that’s where we’ll find this ritual.”

“Change of plans, boss?” Wule asked.

“Yes. Let’s have Nature’s Blade. These things are too tough to go easy on them,” Seena said.

Wule nodded and held up his hand. Another plant grew out of his palm, this one with petals shaped like swords.

You have been buffed by Nature’s Blade.

Increases damage inflicted by 10% for 570 seconds.

“Nice,” Hiral said before looking at Left and Right. They nodded to indicate they’d also received the buff. Very nice.

“Uh, fair warning, Hiral—this may look pretty creepy, but it’s effective,” Seena said, and a thorny vine similar to Nivian’s whip grew out of her hand. This one only got to be about six inches long before the woman pulsed with solar energy, and the vine turned to dust.

Almost immediately, there was a tickle on the back of Hiral’s shoulders, and he got another buff notification.

You have been buffed by Lashing Vines.

Vines will make independent attacks to enemies within range for 570 seconds.

“Vines?” Hiral asked, only to notice six-foot-long thorned vines hanging from the backs of everybody’s shoulders. A quick glance confirmed he also had the new appendages. “Yeah. Creepy.”

“Nine and a half minutes left,” Nivian said. “We need to move.”

“Heading for the platform will take us into the path of the patrols instead of sneaking up behind them,” Vix pointed out.

“Nothing we can do about it. Nivian, let’s hit that first group,” Seena said, tapping Nivian’s shoulder. The tank barrelled up the ramp with the others close behind. “Hiral, watch the...”The original appearance of this chapter can be found at Ñøv€lß1n.

“Already on it,” Hiral said, his eyes scanning the rope bridges crossing above them.

“Incoming!” Nivian shouted as they crested the top of the ramp, and the man cut a hard right straight into three surprised-looking Troblins.

Vix and Yanily were already moving to engage, the distance apparently too close to make the strange teleport ability worth the cost, but movement above caught Hiral’s attention.

Two Troblins, one on each side of the path, emerged from concealed doors, something like crossbows in their hands, and rushed to the edge of the balconies to get a better shot.

“Right, catapult,” Hiral said, dropping to a knee and cupping his hands.

“I hate this idea!” Right said, but the man rushed over and put his foot in Hiral’s hands.

As soon as the foot was in place, Hiral heaved and poured solar energy into his Rune of Rejection.

The world tilted. He struggled to draw in a breath, but movement to the side reminded him he didn’t have time to lie on the ground, even if his body refused to move.

Good thing he had two other bodies to work with. Hiral cancelled his summons of Left and Right. He lost the solar energy he’d invested in them—he’d only given them ten percent each before—then immediately activated Foundational Split again.

Left and Right burst out of him and charged the approaching Troblins while Hiral got himself up to his hands and knees. His lungs still felt like hollow pits in his chest, but with the aid of the wall at his side, he pulled himself to his feet and then leaned his back against the rough-grained wood.

I really need to find a new shirt.

Left and Right fought with the axe wielders, deftly dodging the heavier weapons and scoring their own hits, though these Troblins looked even bulkier than the last ones. Thankfully, Nivian burst off the ramp at that point, actually getting under the crossbow-wielding Troblin and lifting it on top of his shield. From there, he simply tossed it over the side to crack on the ground somewhere below, then lashed out with his thorn whip to get the attention of one of the others.

The axe-wielding Troblin twisted at the infuriating pain, then took two slashes from Right’s Lashing Vines—the ability lasted through getting absorbed and resummoned?—and a right hook that spun it in place like a top. When it finally got its feet under it properly, it took a staggering step straight into Yanily’s spear. The first strike tore out the side of its abdomen, while the second, third, and fourth rapid blows cratered the bark-like armor on its chest.

That just left one more—and between Vix, Left, and a swarm of splinter-like projectiles from Seena, it toppled to the ground a bloody mess.

“Are you crazy?” Seena shouted at Hiral as she ran over.

“I knew... you’d... back me up,” he said, forcing the words out as he finally caught his breath. “Besides, I had them.” He pointed at Left and Right.

“And what if more Troblins were waiting where we couldn’t see? Or came to cut the bridge and separated you from us?” The anger on her face shoved him against the wall like physical pressure.

But there was more than just anger on her face. There was worry there too.

She was worried about me...?

“I... I’m sorry,” he said. “You’re right. It was reckless of me... but it was all I could come with on the spot to make sure they didn’t cut the bridge.”

Some of that fury drained from her shoulders. “Damn right it was reckless,” she hissed. “But if you realize that, it’s a start. When we get out of here, we all need to work together and practice as a team. We’re not used to you, and you’re not used to us. That needs to change. You’re a member of this party now, and I won’t lose you. Understood?”

“Understood,” Hiral said.

“Six minutes,” Vix said. “Looks like one more bridge, though that purple light is getting stronger.”

“It’s giving me the willies,” Yanily added.

“I’m ready when you are,” Hiral said, standing straight up without the aid of the wall, but not moving a step until Seena stopped glaring at him.

“No more being reckless,” she said, but then her face softened. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Just got the wind knocked out of me. I’m good.”

Seena gave him a look, like she was trying to tell if he was just faking it, but finally seemed satisfied with whatever she saw. “Buffs are still good. Nivian...”

“Actually,” Hiral interrupted, “let me and Right go first. We can get up there faster, and if more Troblins are waiting to cut the bridge...”

Seena narrowed her eyes at him.

“Not trying to be reckless,” he said, holding his hands up defensively in front of himself. “You’ll all be right behind me, right?”

“Right. I get it, go,” Seena said after a moment’s consideration.

Without another word, Hiral dashed toward and up the final rope bridge, Right on his heels. Energy gathered in his Rune of Rejection in preparation as he crested the edge of the platform, but he needn’t have bothered—there weren’t any Troblins waiting for them.

Instead, in the middle of the platform, what had to be six Troblin Shamans sat bathed in smoky purple light in a wide circle, all facing inward. In the center of the group sat another, larger pillar of the same ominous light, and within it, two eyes almost as big as a person looked at Hiral.