Bleary Mirage and Silver Blade joked around while slowly descending to the ground.
The conversation made Silver Blade look forward to her own flying mount. However, she knew from the information her family collected that flying mounts would only appear with level 60 which was still quite some time away.
Silver Blade was somewhat absentminded when she heard movement from above. Vague figures appeared one by one.
The first was Watchful Eye who had tried to keep close to Silver Blade but couldn't quite match her speed. Others quickly followed. Cyclone and Balm, Repha and Seytor, Silent Acacia and Quickstep...
Finally Bloody Edge landed on the floor, looking upwards with a worried expression.
"Did you jump together with shield?", asked Cyclone, puzzled.
"Yes. But he activated the scroll early."
"Oh..."
Everyone involuntarily glanced at the party's HP bars displayed in their vision. The flinched noticing Radiant Shield's HP suddenly decreasing.
Fortunately, the man was tanky enough. Until he reached the floor only a third of is health was gone. He landed unsteadily, his legs shivering, supporting himself on his knees.
"Never... again!"
"Don't be so pessimistic. A few more times and I'm sure you will get rid of your fear of heights!", encouraged Silent Acacia, which was seemingly ignored by Radiant Shield.
The other friends echoed Acacia's words, trying to convince their tank while studying their surroundings.
They had landed close to a forest dominated by black and brown colours. A suspicious number of grey mushrooms grew everywhere, their appearance everything but delectable.
A stream of murky green water sneaked out of the forest, passing a town not far away. The town's wall looked as if corroded by acid and almost no sound came from behind.
Seytor scanned the surroundings, his eyes grave as he addressed the players:
"It's even worse than expected. Adventurers, I am glad you came with us. You can tell for yourself that the inhabitants here can use all our help.
I suggest we split up and save the people. When Taragal's followers appear, they will surely try to get our attention so we can gather and end their damn lives!
If you get stuck, talk to me. I have prepared items for all eventualities. I will stay in the vicinity of the castle."
"Alright!"
Listening to the speech even Radiant Shield recovered gradually. The young man had always enjoyed playing the hero, aiding the week, so this quest seemed tailor-made for him.
The party watched as Seytor and Repha walked off in different directions. They waited for a few more seconds until Radiant Shield's HP had recovered before Cyclone signalled for Liam to take the lead.
The veteran, however, had a different idea. Knowing that the tasks associated with the island were more about quantity than difficulty he suggested separating as well.
His friends didn't doubt him and soon they split up.
Liam advanced alone, taking the path into the gloomy forest. He didn't have a certain target knowing that quests were everywhere.
After only a short walk Liam sopped, perceiving the sound of cracking branches. Eyeing the trees to the left a figure suddenly stepped out of the shadows.
"Roaaar!"
The creature roared, hungry eyes staring at Liam. Yet if one looked closely, one would detect the bitter pain in its eyes.
Liam let out a sigh scanning the creature. It had a human body but scaled, monstrous arms. The wings of a bird were attached to its back, moving clumsily as if the creature had difficulty controlling them.
Knowing more about Taragal, Liam was sure this creature was a human experimented on by the crazy nephilim and his followers.
Officially Taragal was one of the original nephilim interested in reforging a contract with a devil so the nephilim could regain their dark magic.
He had good connections to the dark nephilim and by extension hell and was protected by like-minded individuals in the Broken Council.
Yet unofficially he researched dark magic, dreaming of creating a system only for nephilim, independent and powerful. For this dream Taragal had long abandoned any scruples.
These thoughts played through Liam's mind as the creature suddenly lunged at him. The veteran did a quick check while dodging below its claw.
[Tom Delly
Rank: Elite
Level: 29
HP: 9900/9900]
[Stance -18]
Liam adjusted his mindset as the ferocious claw passed close to his head. The biggest show of sympathy he could grant this creature was a swift death.
Eyes turning cold, Liam slashed with his swords after less than a second, drawing blood from the bare upped body. Yet his luck was bad, not producing a single holy mark.
[-610!]
[-305!]
"Ahh!"
Tom let out an eery shout portraying a hint of humanity. But his blood red eyes with which he stared at his prey made it clear that he had already turned into a beast.
Leveraging his nimble body Tom moved quickly, his claws aiming for Liam's face. The latter didn't dare to take the hit. With a flash step he again appeared behind the monster, aiming his [Cross Slash] perfectly at the connection between the back and the wings.
[Stance -22]
The flesh at this spot was a dark red, infested due to the forceful attachment of the wings, indicating an obvious weak spot. Liam's accurate hit was rewarded with a critical strike!
[-1978!!!]
But he didn't stop there, his motions fluidly transitioning to a [Double Slash], triggering the two holy marks stacked by his skills.
[-803!]
[-494!]
[-160!]
The elite monster's body trembled. Its veins popped out. Suddenly its speed increased as it abruptly turned around, swinging its claws in a fury, clearly the effect of a skill.
Yet Liam noticed the signs early. Seeing the change on the monster's body he hastily kept his distance.
Two of Tom's attacks slashed at empty air, the claws drawing a red tail looking quite frightening. The elite monster froze for a moment, eyes rolling wildly before stopping on Liam.
With a swift push of its legs the monster suddenly lunged towards Liam. Tom moved surprisingly fast catching even the veteran off guard for a moment. Too late to dodge Liam hissed as a claw cut into his shoulder.
[-1311!]
Losing more than a fourth of his HP the veteran didn't panic. With measured steps he pulled away from the elite monster flicking his wrist, exchanging his swords for a fishing rod.
Even Liam's opponent appeared confused for a moment. Making use of this opportunity the young man swung the stick in his hands. The thin line attached to it glided through the air, finding its target and wrapping around it.
Tom roared and struggled but couldn't get rid of the deceptively thin line.
Liam grinned as it was time for the first appearance of his new skill. With a thought [Holy Sword Trinity] activated. Three large swords appeared behind Liam's back, orientated in a triangle formation, surrounded by a sacred white light.
For a moment the gloomy air in the surroundings was suppressed as the swords began moving towards the elite monster.
Despite their slow advancement they gave off a feeling of inevitability. As if there was no place in the world to hide from them.
Tom stared closely at the swords his eyes showing uncertainty. Suddenly the monster blinked. The sword formation turned into a flash of light. Tom's eyes opened just in time to witness the swords materialize before him, stabbing into his body.
[-834!]
The elite monster groaned from the pain, but the skills wasn't over. Since Tom wasn't afflicted with holy marks, the additional effect triggered. A holy light exploded from the monster's wounds dealing dreadful holy damage.
[-294!]
"Kill!"
Tom growled in a raspy, inhuman voice. Struggling heavily the line around him finally loosened. At the last moment Liam conjured a wave of holy magic before swapping equipment.
A moment later the elite monster already appeared in front of him. Unfortunately, it had no new tricks, using its normal attack. Yet Liam was prepared to show off. His swords flashed right before he dodged, the difference between the two actions barely discernible, reaching a maximum of efficiency.
[-610!]
[-305!]
[Stance -17]
To Liam's surprise he even afflicted another holy mark. Missing once more, Tom's eyes revealed his rage, attacking again, assured of success. But before his claw could land, a sword found his head, coming with a strange power which froze him in place.
Liam interrupted the elite with [Brutal Strike]. An explosion of holy light went off as the two holy marks were triggered.
[-914!]
[-160!]
But Liam knew that the enemy wouldn't remain frozen for long after already suffering from a stun for the second time.
He hastily performed another normal attack before taking a step back anticipating of retaliation.
[-610!]
[-305!]
And it came swiftly. With a shake of his body Tom broke out of the stun, swinging his claw at Liam who continued to dodge.
[Stance -18]
After another useless attack Tom stopped in place. His body trembled as his veins bulged again, a clear sign of a skill.
Liam's thoughts moved swiftly, calculating his moves as his stance was running low. With one large step he appeared next to the boss, swinging his swords once more.
[-610!]
[-305!]
Tome gritted his teeth as he counterattacked abruptly. This time Liam didn't dodge the attack, tanking the claw with his body.
[-1311!]
But the damage didn't matter much as his swords stabbed through the monster's chest, taking its last bit of HP.