Dragonskeep

Weeks after their encounter with Emerys, The scouts arrive at a deserted Dragonskeep.

" After our encounter with Eryis, we lost more bodies. We're all that's left all twenty of us " says Dave as he walks towards an empty cave. Leaning in with his fists clenched as blue light flickers around it.

Bats exit the cave in a frenzy as footsteps echo from inside the cave, Dave signals the troops to hold their position as the blue lights go off.

     Four indistinct sets of red glowing eyes approach the scouts who slowly retreat to the entrance of the cave. A figure moves past the scouts in the corner of Dave's eye as the scouts break into teams of three, Dave, Anne and Percival lead their various teams

Team Dave

Larry Dustin

Anderson Leonard,a dirty blonde haired young man with a pair of dusty brown eyes.

Team Anne

Sophia Crowley, a redhead young lady with lime green eyes and a flower pin on her cloak

Phil Micah, a dark-haired young man with snowy white eyes draped in purple leather jacket and black pants

Team Percival

Amber

Violet

    Belis, Celeste and Franz approach the scouts with a delighted grin on their faces

"This should be fun," says Celeste as she licks her lips and heads straight towards Team Anne drawing out a curved sword with emerald gems on its guard, she sweeps the sword releasing an emerald wave that builds a barrier.

     Team Dave faces Belis While Team Percival faces Franz

" This is quite a new environment but I believe it'll be a perfect experience," says Franz as he draws out his sword

" Bloodlust Drive "

A rush of adrenaline runs through Franz. He bursts in the formation of Team Percival swinging haphazardly at his opponents slightly cutting Violet's shoulder. Percival runs towards Franz.

" Black Star: Disintegrate "

Tiny black orbs spread out sporadically covering Franz collapsing on him.

" Blue Bolt: Re-Energize "

Strands of Blue lighting rains down on Belis, who manages to evade them, he then spears Larry, grabbing Leonard by the throat

" Where is the bounty?! " says Belis as he lets out a low growl while crushing his windpipe. Larry staggers to his feet drawing out his sword he runs towards Belis thrusting the sword at him, Belis tosses Leonar, at Larry. Dave runs in Belis chuckles

" I haven't even used my weapon yet"

     Team Anne is down to Phil and Anne both panting whilst Sophia lies on the floor between life and death bleeding out.

" Ravaging Strike "

" Cindering Phoenix "

Multiple shockwave slashes combine with a cloudy explosion attack and head straight for Celeste, who uses her emerald wave to dissipate the attack creating a smokescreen, They use the smoke as cover to flank Celeste allowing Phil to slightly cut her cheeks before she dashes backwards. She stops and touches her cheeks drawing the blood on her face to her mouth, then lets out a sadistic laughter

" Great! This is just great! At least you too aren't as useless as that one I mean she couldn't even last a minute against Belis " she says pointing at an unscathed Belis as he draws out his sword...

" Juggernaut Destroyer "

   The sword gleams reflecting a broken crystal shard on its handle. Belis charges at Dave " Goodbye..." thrust the blade forward but it's stopped by Larry who sacrificial himself.

" Tch! "

" Superior Technique: Thunderous Emperor," says Dave silently as Belis chuckles, Blue electricity dances around Dave's body. He dashes close to the speed of sound towards Belis gathering all the electricity at the tip of his fingers. Thrusting it at Belis who blocks it with his sword to slow down Dave but it breaks in a split second due to the clapback of thunder forcing Belis to retreat.

" Too slow," says Dave as he appears behind Belis almost instantly

" Celestial... Wrath!!!"

    A large explosion of white light covers Belis, Leonard and Dave.

"My my any slower and your move would have gotten me. How stupid of me! " says Franz bleeding from his head and left arm.

" Just look at what you did to my arm? There's no fixing it. You!" pointing at Percival " you're danger..."

Percival, Amber and Violet flank Franz.

" Black Star Room: Black Out "

A black dome covers team Percival and Franz.

" Uproaring Earth! "

" Cinder Bomb! "

Smoky Fireballs and stalagmites shoot out in a frenzy towards Franz.

A scorched and semi impaled Franz staggers to his feet." I said you were dangerous " he rushes stabbing through a surprised Percival.

" One more time. Bloodlust Drive Alpha! " says Franz drawing out the blade to land a finishing blow. Amber and Violet pin him down but he overpowers them, tossing them aside, only to be faced with a black orb.

" Disintegrate! "

The orb explodes.

"Franz..." Celeste laughs maniacally

" Who'd have thought that the only person that who was weaker than me would get killed so quickly, the sun isn't even setting yet."

She turns around with a straight face paying more attention to Phil and Anne.

" Ravaging Strike Tier 2"

   Phil rushes in relentlessly releasing wave after wave until he closes the gap between him and Celeste.

Phil smiles, looking as though to take the offensive.

" Scorching Phoenix "

Anne attacks from behind releasing a bird-shaped fire attack. It envelopes Celeste. She drops to the floor, her body covered in smoke.

" Heh!... "

The smoke clears  Celeste is seen her clothes almost burnt off and bending on a knee, her sword gleams brightly. She staggers to her feet her breast almost exposed.

" I've underestimated you primitives. No more. Emerald Splash Effect "

In an instant, she appears beside Phil, who is seemingly too slow to defend a spinning kick that knocks him away.

" Impossible! A sec... " says Anne as Celeste appears in front of her with a dropkick smiling deviously.

" My trump card. Is a marvellous one isn't it?"

    Phil staggers to his feet, coughing out blood then shifting his dislocated shoulder in position.

" Broken rib huh?! " he looks at Celeste and Anne.

" Ravaging Strike Tier 3 "

Sporadic shockwaves shoot towards Celeste. She barely dodges them, Anne notice Celeste's strange inability to dodge the attack. Phil begins closing in on the distance.

" Stay back Phil. Her skill is useless against long-range atta.... "

" Oh shut up, "says Celeste as she beheads Anne...

Phil rushes in with anger.

" Ravaging Strike Max"

  Suddenly his attacks become slow as he covers the distance between them. He notices the spherical Shadow underneath them.

" Damn it! "

Celeste appears in front of him, cutting through him then disabling her ability.

   A one-handed Belis regroups with Celeste.

" Oh my! At least I know I look better "

" says you. Wanna trade dance partners, oh wait you killed them all " says Belis as swings his sword cutting deep into her shoulder.

" Well then see ya "

says Belis as he leaves an injured Celeste with teams, Dave and Percival, on the battlefield...

" That bastard! Going after the bounty all by himself. No matter I'll just kill you all and then I'll kill him" she says with a smirk on her face.

" Superior Technique: Thunderous Lightning Emperor. I'm looking to end this real quick, I have enough on my hands "

" Black Star: Dusk Setter. Indeed " says Dave and Percival simultaneously as their core magic level increases

" Emerald Splash Effect! "

Dave appears behind Celeste in the twinkle of an eye as Percival attacks from the front with a pitch-black sword in hand.

" No effect... No, he's too fast "

Celeste deflects Percival's attack as she releases a feedback energy wave but not before Dave sinks his fist through her.

The electric charge leaves her disoriented with a hole in her back

" Fadeaway. Celestial Thunder! "

  Percival backs away as a huge storm of lightning bolts rain down on Celeste burning her body... The battle is over and the smoke clears as the remaining scouts tend to their injured.

   As the sun sets in the Reiki Territory of Hale

Max Crowley kneels in front of a pool of water.

" It's been weeks since I got here. How did I get here again? Who am I running from? What am I looking for"

   A figure arrives at a distance behind Max.