rescuing Percy's sister (chapter 24)

Chapter 24

Inside the resistance hideout, the air was thick with tension as Vox Machina engaged in heated debate. Ted meticulously carved a branch from the giant sacred sun tree, shaping it into a staff adorned with the head of a crow. The sacred sun tree's energy resonated in the air, a subtle hum that added an otherworldly vibe to the room. The Vox Machina's discussion echoed against the stone walls, each word bouncing with the weight of their collective decisions.

Percy's newly crafted gun lay on a table, a peculiar contraption in this world. The metal gleamed faintly in the ambient light, and Ted couldn't help but marvel at the ingenuity. "First gun in this world, huh?" he mused to himself. However, the contemplative moment was interrupted by the realization that the gun might have consequences, consequences Ted wasn't willing to intervene in. He sighed, resigning himself to let events unfold.

As the group planned the rescue of Percy's sisters and the city's takeover, Archibald voiced impatience. Ted, sitting on the sidelines, focused on carving the staff, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. "I could offer methods to improve that gun, make it stronger," he thought, but decided against it. The world's intricacies were not his concern, and meddling seemed fruitless.

"Why am I even doing this?" Ted questioned himself, pondering the motives behind his involvement. The Briarwoods had somehow ensnared him with a tracking spell, sending undead creatures after him. The reasons remained elusive, leaving Ted with a sense of unease. "Recover, gather materials, enhance durability," he muttered as he finished the carving, contemplating the purpose behind his actions.

"If things go awry, the teleportation cube is the way out," he concluded, a strategic decision to prioritize injury over risking his life. The invisible threads that bound him to this quest compelled him forward, even if the full tapestry of motives eluded him.

Scene Change:

Standing at a distance from the manor where Percy's sister was held, Ted observed as flames engulfed the building. Vox Machina entered from the front, and Ted, invisible and intangible, shadowed their every move. His mission, crystal clear in his mind: ensure the mission's smooth execution.

As the chase unfolded, Ted noticed a peculiar calmness in Percy's sister despite the knife at her throat. He hesitated, realizing the complexity of the Briarwoods' machinations. "Rushing would be foolish," he conceded, retracting his knife and intangibly passing through the floor.

Descending upon the guards below, the atmosphere crackled with magic as Vox Machina battled. Ted's staff became a conduit for pyro blasts, flames dancing in the dimly lit space. Vox Machina, in the midst of the chaos, took pieces of fallen armor. "Looting in the middle of a fight?" Vax's incredulous shout reverberated. Ted's response was a simple question: "What fight?" The room fell silent, save for the distant echoes of their victory. "If you're not dead down there, a little help," Vex's voice called from upstairs, prompting the team to regroup.

Where they saw Percy and Vex fighting giant armored golems, the excitement was visible on Ted's face as his eyes gleamed with the prospect of facing these mythical creatures. The battleground unfolded before him, revealing not just the towering golems but also an array of items on display, catching the dim light of the crumbling surroundings. "This should be exciting," Ted declared, his enthusiasm matching the sparks flying from his outstretched hands as he launched a barrage of pyro blasts at the golems. The ambient temperature rose as the fire clashed against the golems' formidable armor, each spell contributing to the intense atmosphere of the battle.

As the golems retaliated, Ted swiftly dodged and leaped into the air, narrowly evading a massive axe swing that would have otherwise been fatal. Suspended mid-air, he keenly observed the golems, noting the gaps in their armor. "Aim for the gaps," he directed the team, switching to his spectral bow—a weapon that belied its name. The bow, tinged with an otherworldly glow, became an extension of Ted's will as he aimed for the weak points in the golems' defenses. A realization struck him as the arrow left the bowstring, "Right, these arrows have a 13% chance of ignoring armor," a tactical advantage he wished he had remembered earlier. The arrows found their mark, blowing off the golems' armor piece by piece, exposing their vulnerable cores. The battle unfolded like a symphony of destruction, each strike contributing to the crescendo.

"Wow, so you do really use all types of weapons," Vex remarked, leaning over Ted's shoulders, her eyes curious and appreciative. Ted chuckled, his eyes never leaving the battlefield, "Alright, you know what, I am done with that guy." He focused his spectral bow on the menacing professor, whose provocative words seemed to have no effect on Ted's unwavering resolve. A silver flash in Ted's eyes marked the system's defense against a mind-control attempt. Dismissing the notification, he coolly addressed the professor, "And that is supposed to do something?" before firing the bow and incapacitating him with a precise shot to the knee.

Walking out into the decrepit streets of Whitestone City, Ted's gaze fixed on Cassandra, Percy's sister. The air felt stale, carrying the weight of despair from the city's desolation. "You might want to say hi if that's your type," Vex teased, but Ted's attention was elsewhere. A sense of foreboding gripped him as he observed something amiss. "Something is wrong," he declared, catching the eyes of the entire group. The panting of a familiar figure drew their attention as the gnome, out of breath, appeared. Grog rushed to him as the gnome urgently spoke of a looming undead horde.

"We need to leave. NOW!" Ted's voice rang out, urgency painting his words. The team snapped to attention, reacting to the imminent threat. "He is right, there is a horde of undead," the gnome confirmed, prompting Ted to take the lead, ensuring he wasn't surrounded. "Follow him," Vex commanded, and Grog, with his immense strength, overtook Ted, clearing a path through the undead like a force of nature. "Oh, I am definitely creating some holy runes," Ted thought to himself, noting the necessity of enhancing his arsenal.

Drawing his fortune coin, Ted activated it, feeling the subtle expansion, a manifestation of luck weaving into his favor. A crack appeared on the coin, a reflection of destiny guiding him. Following an alleyway, Ted couldn't help but question his trajectory. "That is a dead sentence," he muttered, aware that fate didn't seem to guide him to the intended safe house. Panic ensued as people followed the group, a chaotic scene unfolding as the gnome found himself bitten. A sense of impending danger loomed, the ominous atmosphere heightened as giants appeared, forcing the team to scatter and regroup at the Sun Tree.