As the looming figure of the Blood Trent Rose from where it had leaned to throw Jax, a gripping horror ran trough me, with the fight I had the certainty of the shield, and even if the shield fell there were Jax and Selene. Yet I had just watched this creature slam Jax around like a ragdoll while Selene could barely keep from getting thrown with its strikes. What hope did I ever have of living, much less withstanding those strikes. As it took a step towards me my mind screamed for my body to move, to do anything, but fear rooted me down.
"We need to stall for time!"
Liora yelled stirring my body into an almost numbly slow movement as she started to run away from the shrine, another blast of air forming on her staff and flying at the Trent.
Party member Liora has used the skill Wind Blast(E)
6 damage done
I racked my mind trying to come up with a solution when an idea struck me. We can't do this, this was stupid, your no adventurer flashed in my mind as I tried to think but my thoughts were drowned out. However, as I tried to roar my thoughts over the sea of doubt, an idea managed to come through.
"Buy me some time!"
I yelled as I grabbed two of my 3 remaining flasks of fire starter. I grabbed one of my night vision potions and threw the 3 bottles at the ground as hard as I could.
You have used items Firestarter Flask(E) X 2 and Basic Night Vision Potion(E)
They shattered in a rush of flames and billowing smoke from the fire starter flasks and the night vision potions both fighting to either ignite more or dampen the fire, the process creating lots of billowing smoke. I started to run with Liora, my legs starting off slow and heavy, but picking up to their normal speed as I was hoping to buy distance for my plan, hopefully, to work. My system pinged a new message at me, and while it had been pinging me with a practical play by play, this one was new.
Party member Selene has used Soulskill Chimeric Surge(C)
Party member Selene's strength is enhanced for the next 20 seconds
I turned back to see the rubble of the broken building go flying up and away as I saw Selene standing, slightly hunched over and panting, her left arm now bulkier and seemingly spreading purple veins throughout the rest of her body. She seemed almost manic in a way, especially as she lunged towards the Trent and grabbed a chunk of bark and ripped it off.
Party member Selene has used the skill Claws of the Beast(E)
Party member Selene has done 14 damage
"Once that timer reaches zero there won't be much more we can do, we need to kill it while we have the chance. Goddess of love, guide my friends to strike true against those who would serve to oppose you."
Kaelen said holding his staff in both hands with a white knuckle grip.
Party member Kaelen has used the skill Guiding Faith(E)
Party member Selene has received the buff guided strike
Party member Selene's accuracy has been increased
"Looks like the little gnats are getting desperate!"
The Blood Trent bellowed as it swung its arm around. Selene braced to take a hit but to her surprise he thrust a handout towards Jax as we all realized too late who his real target was.
Enemy Blood Trent has used the skill Thorn Spray(E)
Party leader Jax has failed to dodge
Party member Selene has failed to dodge
Enemy Blood Trent strikes a Vital point CRITICAL HIT
Party leader Jax has taken 34 damage
Party member Selene has taken 15 damage
Party leader Jax has used the skill Lifeforce Control(E)
Party leader Jax has spend 6 Ki to take 28 damage
WARNING WARNING WARNING: Party Leader Jax is Unconscious
WARNING WARNING WARNING: Party Leader Jax is bleeding out
It was fast, Jax tried to jump away but the rubble he was standing up from caught him as the spikes hit him center mass. We saw the white aura block a spike, but when the others hit it shattered as they stabbed into Jax as he yelped in pain, rolling to a stop where he layed limp.
Everything seemed to tunnel as my ears seemed to no longer hear things. I could hear my breathing, my racing heartbeat as I stared at Jax laying limply. I told myself over and over again, he's just unconscious, he's not dead, Kaelen just needs to heal him, right? However, as I turned, I saw the others looking at me. Selene was pushing with her back to try to push the Blood Trent back, but it wasn't working as it slowly moved towards Jax, Liora and Kaelen seemed to be saying something to me, but as their lips moved, nothing came out. However, as they continued to yell my hearing seemed to adjust back to the present.
"AIDEN, SNAP OUT OF IT OR JAX IS GONNA DIE!!. Kaelen Yelled his hand coming around to slap me.
Party Member Kaelen has struck you
You take two damage
The pain, it was centering as their words finally clicked into place. Liora had already turned back towards the Trent trying to help slow its progress as Kaelen grabbed my collar and dragged be in close and despite his handsome face, his words were cutting and harsh.
"DAMN IT AIDEN, you have a job to do, so do it so we can end this quest and celebrate at a bar instead of visiting a graveyard!"
Party member Liora has used the skill Wind Blast(E)
5 damage done
Warning: Party member Liora is low on mana, 10 remain
I felt my weight shift Kaelen threw me towards Jax, turning back to the fight as he yelled
"Hear me mother of love and family, may those who wish to do the innocent harm be burned by your protective flame!"
Kaelen yelled out holding his staff out. A gold and white flame forming at the top of it as he thrust his staff forward like a spear towards the Blood Trent. The flames from my first flask smothering as the fuel is used up.
Party member Kaelen has used the skill Condemn the Wicked(E)
The Skill has failed
Warning: Party member Kaelen is low on faith, 5 remain
I didn't look over at the fight, running until coming to a stop beside Jax in a small slide from the momentum. I grabbed a healing potion from my bag, popping the top off I grabbed the splinters, pulling them away as I poured the potion in, alternating between pouring in Jax's mouth for the internal injuries and in the wounds to heal them faster. After the first bottle ran out, I grabbed for another one just splashing it on Jax in hopes it could help, even if just a bit.
You have used a Basic Healing Potion(E) X 2 on Party leader Jax
Party leader Jax is healed for 16 HP trough your meticulous application
Party leader Jax is healed for 6 HP trough your hasty application.
Jax jumped up, writhing as if trying to pull out the splinters I had just removed. He looked around and asked
"How long was I out?"
"Just a few seconds, but everyone is running low on energy and strength."
I said turning back to the battle as Selene was stabbed trough the side by a root that shot up from the ground. She coughed up blood as she seemed to struggle trying to pull at the root, writing as if in agoney, but as the Blood Trent seemed to lean in to inspect its work, she drove her left arm into its right eye.
Party member Selene has used the skill Claws of the Beast(E)
Party member Selene has struck a Vital Point, CRITICAL HIT
Party member Selene has done 26 damage
Enemy Blood Trent has used the skill Blood Drain(E)
Party member Selene failed to dodge
Party member Kaelen failed to dodge
Party member Liora failed to dodge
Party member Selene has taken 11 damage
Party member Kaelen has taken 11 damage
Party member Liora has taken 11 damage
Enemy Blood Trent has healed for 33 HP
As Liora's hand was still in the Trent's eye socket I saw where its roots had stabbed into Liora's arm and Kaelen's legs as both cried out in pain. I looked back to the Blood Trent as it slowly rose, a satisfied evil smile on its face as its eye reformed before our eyes. You were close little one, but I believe you are out of time. As if on command Selene started to spasm for a moment before her left arm returned to normal and the purple veins retracted.
Party member Selene's Chimeric Surge(C) has ended
Party member Selene has pushed their body beyond its normal limits and is weakened
Party member Selene has their accuracy and strength reduced by 50% due to fatigue
The Blood Trent slowly panned over our group until it turned to me.
"It seems you're the only one left with enough strength to do anything now, but I can see you seem to be an alchemist, so while your fire trick was annoying, there really isn't much you can do right now."
I tried to look him over for anything I could use, a weak spot of bark, or even just a blindspot I could get into, but being directly the one being looked at was crushing. It was larger, stronger, more durable, and even dare I say smarter than us, we used items, plans, preparation, and we couldn't beat it. There was nothing I could do but hope my smoke signal from earlier worked.
I want to say I had a witty retort, that the others gathered around, and trough the power of friendship we all become strong enough to defeat this thing, but as I looked to the others, I only saw despair on their faces. Liora was holding her staff in trembling hands, Kaelen couldn't even stand anymore and was muttering prayers. Selene was coughing up blood from her side wound and seemed to have less and less strength as she struggled against the root in her side, the fatigue her body was probably under right now setting in. Even Jax, who up to this point had never shown even an ounce of fear even when fighting the ash spirits stood, his posture was as if he was ready to lunge, but his entire body shook, I could hardly blame him, he was probably terrified, so close to having almost died, and without the little energy he had left he would have died. Aside from me everyone else had almost no energy left. As I stood shaking the Blood Trent leaned in close to me.
"Did you know that to make a Blood Trent one must perform alchemy on a Trent seed? It's for that reason I owe quite a lot to alchemists such as yourself, so I am willing to offer you a deal. If you leave the rest of your group for me to consume and bring me 1 livestock animal per week, I will not only let you live, but I'll also even help you learn about blood alchemy."
The offer surprised me, but as I looked to Jax, Kaelon and Liora they looked resolved, as if they knew my choice for me before I even made it. Thinking back, I don't blame them, for almost a month now I have been saying daily how I am not their party member, and only a few hours ago did I agree to join them, a fresh commitment is a flimsy commitment after all. A part of my brain screamed at me to do it to survive, it told me how I could come back with more gear and avenge them, or how I could use the knowledge of blood alchemy to better the world, so what if it cost a mountain, or even a city.
However, as I started to lean back, my mind racing with the reasons why I should survive, my eyes met Selene. She had had almost no connection with us, but despite her shyness and apprehensions she agreed to help us, putting her life on the line for strangers. She didn't look at me with the defeated looks the others gave, she looked at me with a trust that said I know you will save us. A trust I didn't know if I could back up, but it held me in place. My mind screamed at me to move, run, hide, cry, do anything to live, but that little spark of trust seemed to catch.
"They are not just my group; THEY ARE MY ADVENTURING PARTY!"
I yelled as I threw the last of my fire starter flasks at the Trent.
You have used item Firestarter Flask(E) on Blood Trent
Target is vulnerable to fire
6 damage done
The Blood Trent did not thrash, or flinch, it calmly rose up from where it had been grinning at me as it had leaned down before, the flames dancing on its surface seemed to only extenuate what made it terrifying. A part of me dreamed that this would be the moment when power surged, this would be the time when I gained a special EX rank hidden skill or title, and yet the world did not look to random people and grant them power. Power was something one earned through effort dedication and risk.
"While I would say your resolve is admirable, I find your theatrics bore me, farewell little alchemist."
I closed my eyes waiting for the blow, my body tense as my only thought was, I hope this doesn't hurt for long. The Blood Trent quietly moved its arm, the bark grinding and shifting as it did. I hear its hand slam down, felt my body get moved, and I waited for the searing pain, the cracking of bones to reach my ears, hells even the flash of one's life as death approaches, but I felt nothing. I opened my eyes to find the Blood Trent was thrashing wildly at something on its back, as it spun trying to reach it, I saw one of the ash spirits, the others gliding in letting out a ghostly wheeze of a battlecry as they slashed at the Blood Trent, their Claws carving the bark away as the embers caused chunks of bark to break off. The Blood Trent that had been composed and arrogant before now seemed to break, becoming enraged and feral as it roared.
"Damn you, even in death you shrine keepers continue to oppose me, DAMN YOU!!"
The Blood Trent Roared as a slash cut part of its vines, as another lashed out bringing it to one knee. The three ash spirits seemed to circle the burning tree, their combined 6 palms pressed into the wood as we had seen many times before, the bark and wood igniting as the Blood Trent screamed.
"I was so close, years of effort, growth and patience for NOTHING!"
As the mighty Blood Trent tried to raise its one intact arm to the sky as if reaching for the sun a quiet cloud moved to cover it from view.
"Damn you all."
The Blood Trent said as its body started to break down and fall apart, the flames quickly charring and flaking off white ashes from the wood as a quiet notification appeared
Blood Trent has Been Defeated