Fight Or Die

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POV: Astaros

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After passing my orders to Fillia I walked out to catch up with the departing figure of raven, passing several adventurers as I went. This mission to collect materials was fairly dangerous but with raven backing us and my vanguard capabilities it would be pretty safe as long as no one broke formation. Now why was Ravens presence reassuring? She was an extremely capable spellcaster with a number of spells at her disposal. She was more than capable of doing the entire quest by herself. It was simply time consuming to do so. She had to watch over what we brought and preserve certain items but other than that it was unlikely she would cast any other spells. Grey mana had a low recharge rate but high versatility, volume and power. Expending massive amounts, while not fatal, was certainly time consuming to recover naturally.

I ran up besides the witch, my boots crunching against the dust and stone of the southern main road. The hubbub of bustling lives passed us by as we walked in silence towards the gate. The sun was nearing it's midday height and was just beginning to repeal it's scorched earth policy.

"Hello witch, how are you doing on this fine day." {Astaros}

Not a single insult was spoken yet I had said it in the most aggravating way possible. She pulled down the wide brim of her hat, hiding her face.

"What do you want." {Raven}

I put my finger to my chin and looked to the sky as though I was pondering her question seriously.

"Gold, Platinum even." {Astaros}

She sighed and tried to walk faster but alas, I had been slowing my stride and in actuality had slowed down for her. The pace had changed but the positions hadn't.

"It seems Christine is doing better, at least superficially. Did you accomplish this? Or did she decide to forgive you?" {Astaros}

She stumbled and continued, now giving up on speed. She spoke quietly with a voice full of regret.

"She forgave me." {Raven}

I continued to stare up into the cloudless sky, my kama fluttering in the wind behind me.

"You're lucky. I certainly would not have forgiven you for that. I would have fought you over such a transgression." {Astaros}

She had laughed in the face of her disciples despair and I was more than willing to bother her over it. I had already guessed Christine would forgive her but I certainly wouldn't.

We reached the gate and Raven flashed her guildcard and we were all allowed to pass. Government officials are allowed to leave and enter towns and cities with little to no concerns as long as they have identification. The guild is government funded and thus is allowed to grant some members such identification. (Authors footnote: I may make an extra lore chapter but that depends on whether you lot actually want one. If you want one please say so.)

We walked out of the city and headed to the forest. Under normal circumstances Lupus and the others would have greeted me but the group of adventurers were far too unpredictable in how they would respond to a giant flaming wolf. So instead I ordered him to rest for the day and sit this one out.

We passed into the forest walking towards the campsite. Once we were there we would have set up an appraisal point and she would appraise things we brought back from her list. It was mostly monster parts and the occasional herb. We walked for about an hour, the sound of adventurers conversing echoing throughout the seemingly empty forest. Odd. Perhaps I should get Lupus to hold back a bit.

"Astaros, right?" {Raven}

I looked at her with visible disdain causing her to sigh.

"The reason why that ha-" {Raven}

She never got to finish as a massive shadow passed over us. The parties looked up into the sky. While their eyes widened mine narrowed. Is that a dragon? 

The creature did a short ascension before flipping and back and coming towards us. Wait, it's a dragon right? THEN-

"EVERYONE DOWN NOW!!!!" {Astaros}

The scaly red beast passed over, breathing a massive flaming path across the forest road. I rushed forward raking my hand towards the ground and then ripping it up to the sky.

A titanic wall of fire and lava roared from the earth blocking the wave flame which hurled towards us. I cooled the wall into obsidian with my dark element and we all ran under it the flames licking at the black edges of our makeshift shelter.

*BOOOOOM!!*

We all leaped out from under the obsidian wall as it crumbled under the weight of the monster which had landed atop it.

The whirling dust and dirt from the impact whipped around and flung small shards of obsidian which cut some of the less armored combatants. We all looked up at the monster which had attacked us so suddenly. It's enraged, flaming orange eyes peered down at us as though we were insects, the scarlet  scales that covered it's body clanked like metal armor as it moved. Its tail slithered across the black stones, as it reared its head, flared out it's wings and roared like an enraged tempest.

*ROOOOOOOAAAARRRRRRR*

We were outmatched. But let's try anyway. Before anyone could return from their stupor I rushed forward and drew Shattered Star, the red light flashing from my chest as a reflection of my boiling red blood. If we were to survive this we would need to fight. Running was futile. A battle was our only option.

The monster arched it's head back and looked down on me. The lighter under scales on it's throat began to glow orange as it opened it's vast maw, the air wavering as it prepared to incinerate everything.

*FWOOOOSSHHHHH*

Burning breath raged around me as the dragon breathed down fire on us.

"LIKE I'D LET YOU!!" {Astaros}

I slammed my blade down, the deafening inferno splitting from the air pressure of the strike.

*BLAM!!*

The creature moved quickly, whipping around and smashing it's tail smashing into me as I brought up my massive sword in a rudimentary yet solid guard. I flew through the air, using wind element to reorient myself and land. I crushed and cracked the ground upon landing, wind gathering beneath me to cushion my legs and prevent damage.

Suddenly a volley of arrows flew over me and shot towards the beast, most bouncing off harmlessly while some stabbed into the spaces between the weaker under scales. Several elemental wizards began firing away, earth, wind and fire crashing into the the beast's head as it roared in pain. Several adventurers rushed past me as I slowly stood from the kneeling position I had landed in.

Raven ran up besides me as the bombardment continued, a magic circle appearing around her wrist before she uttered an incomprehensible phrase.

"ENVRANTRENT ARACHNILUS!!" {Raven}

An empty black hole opened up above the monster and a blanket of spider silk shot out pinning the creature to the ground as swordsmen, axe wielders, and spearmen began hacking and slashing at it's near impenetrable hide. Given the short reprieve I turned to Raven.

"Is that a dragon!?!" {Astaros}

She grimaced as the began preparing another spell, a massive magic circle us appeared beneath her as placed her palm to the ground

"It's not if it was we would be dead by now. It must be a drake. EVERYONE GET BACK HERE WERE LEAVING THE HARD WAY!!" {Raven}

Raven pulled out a wand from her cape and began chanting the circle now glowing purple. The others ran back as the drake began to free itself. The blazing forest around us was smothering us with smoke making fighting here nearly impossible. The drake strained it's head back and tried to open its mouth which was being clamped shut by the silk snaring it closed as the drake slashed its claws across it's face.

"HEY YOU MAY WANNA HURRY THAT UP!!" {Astaros}

The drake ripped the spider silk off its face and screeched at us in indignation. 'Why are you running?' It probably thought. It's throat glowed orange as the coughing and choking Raven was barely managing to chant now.

'Were not gonna make it.' {Astaros}

I looked back at Raven.

"Haaaah" {Astaros}

I patted her head and she looked up at me.

"Tell everyone to get their butts down here and exterminate this thing." {Astaros}

I walked forward and stepped out of the circle to face the fiery disaster now blasting towards us. If it hit the circle it was all over.

So I put out my hand and began redirecting the raw mana within the flames. My world turned dark as I closed my eyes and concentrated. It was chaotic and unrestrained power. It was nothing like the controlled mana Katia had put out for me when I first learned this technique.

My arms burned as scalding flames began to cook me in my armor. I yelled and my knees buckled under the pain yet my mind was calm. The flames created a dome sealing out the overwhelming smoke. IT BURNED! and yet I still turned back to Raven, my helmet retracting as I smiled at her.

"Good luck!" {Astaros}

The circle then flashed them away as the flames consumed me.