The purest of hearts: Rachel

Meg was the only one that followed through with the idea of being covert. He sneaked his way into the dungeons before Richard and Legend. One could argue that it was way easier for a pigeon to move around unnoticed in a place like that. Either way, he took advantage of his size and the situation at hand.

As he managed to find his way to the dungeon, he saw a relic jewel at the front above the entrance to the dungeon and another one at the end of the corridor. A faint yellow glow was emanating from both jewels, which got Meg thinking...

Meg: {If Rachel's a White mage, why wouldn't she attempt to free herself from a dungeon like this one? There aren't even any guards protecting this place! Unless, for some reason, she couldn't use her magic! And I'll bet these jewels are the things preventing her from using it… Legend, please be safe!}

The one thing he wanted to avoid was what ended up happening. Legend was being surrounded by mimics. However, he devised a strategy to better face this situation that was less than ideal. The trick was to reduce the distance between them and make an extra effort with his One thousand punch barrage to hit two to three monsters at once.

It was working so far. Although after he managed to get away from the first bulk of monsters, he was mostly just encountering pieces of mimics on the floor... Richard wasn't leaving any one of them standing.

Richard was also facing many at once. But right before the entrance to the dungeons, he encountered an alpha mimic. A much stronger version of mimic. Bigger. Stronger. Faster. It had double the number of tentacles. Richard tried using his sword tech Projectile, but it failed to hit the monster, which countered with a tentacle blow that knocked him down a flight of stairs, at the end of which he fell unconscious.

Not long after Richard was knocked out, Legend had outrun a large number of monsters he had aggroed. He saw Richard's sword that was stuck in the wall, evidence that he had faced an enemy in battle. As the alpha mimic was about to surprise stab Legend with its razor-sharp pointy tentacles, Legend was aided by an unexpected ally.

Nimrod came flying and received the attack instead. He shook it off and did another charge attack knocking off balance the big monster, which was unable to get up. He then did a Dive Stomp crushing the monster's head. The monster died instantly.

Nimrod: And stay down! 

Legend: I don't understand... I thought you were one of the bad guys... Why did you save me?

Nimrod: Didn't save you, kid. I took out my enemy. And I decided that I'll marry Rachel... Yeah... She's definitely the marrying type.

While Nimrod went down the stairs to the dungeons, Legend followed a trail of blood that led him to Richard, who seemed to be just waking up after being knocked out. Legend helped him up, and they went together toward the dungeons.

Nimrod had already entered the dungeons. He saw Rachel behind bars. When he looked at her, it was like looking at an angel. For some reason, he hadn't realized before how beautiful she was.

She had beautiful, long magenta hair... blue eyes, and pale skin. The outfit she was wearing was something any White wizard would typically wear, and it kind of hid her other feminine attributes, but one could notice them even in her modesty. She was definitely a mature woman physically... in her early 20s, at the very least. 

Nimrod: {Wow! I never realized how beautiful she was... I guess when I kidnapped her, I really wasn't paying attention because of all the adrenaline and all that... OK, Nimrod... say something heroic! You can be her knight in shining armor!} - he thought to himself while watching her nervously.

Rachel realized that someone was there and turned to look at him. She didn't recognize him since she was unconscious when she was captured. She looked at him with her beautiful blue eyes but with a hint of confusion scribbled around her face. 

Nimrod: I--ummm-- uhhhh--

Merlin: Breath-taking, isn't she? A shame we can't spare her from the sacrifice - Merlin had suddenly appeared behind Nimrod. He, in turn, was startled.

Nimrod: Hey! Where'd you-- Never mind... I've decided to re-negotiate our agreement. And by re-negotiate, I mean let her go, or you're finished!

Merlin: Hahahahahahahahaha! What could you possibly do against me? You are nothing but disposable garbage. You couldn't even handle the rats that invaded my domain! Let's see... there's the Holy knight... surprisingly a child... Oh... and a Black knight? That one seems to have anger issues... I suppose I should count you among the rats, then.

Rachel: {Who is that odd-looking fellow? At first, I thought he was one of Merlin's monsters... but since he can speak, I suppose that is not the case... he is obviously at odds with him... could he be here to... save me?} - she pondered while curiously watching what was unfolding right outside her cell.

Nimrod: Look, pal... if you don't let her outta there now, I'm gonna have to get violent. Honestly, I like violence... but I don't think you're gonna like it too much!

Merlin started cackling non-stop really loudly. It almost seemed like it was a fake laugh that was uttered only to psych Nimrod out. And Nimrod was actually getting psyched out.

Nimrod: Shut up!!!

Nimrod was quite irritated after hearing that unending and sinister cackle. He charged toward Merlin, but Merlin cast a spell called Mirror. So despite Nimrod hitting him, it was Nimrod himself who received the damage from the attack. He tried several times more to no avail, further taking damage.

Nimrod: What the hell is this? I pummel you like crazy and I'm the one getting beat up? Why don't you fight fair, you nincompoop! 

Merlin: Would you give a rat a fair fight? All vermin deserve is to be crushed like the pests they are! Or perhaps in this case... they should be burnt to a crisp... - he uttered in the creepiest and most ominous way possible. And not for one second did the evil grin leave his face.

Merlin began channeling a major spell. Nimrod was stunned by the damage of his own attacks. And Legend arrived with Richard, using his sword like a cane to aid himself with walking.

Richard: Rachel! Fear not... I will get you out of this foul dungeon!

Rachel: Brother? Be careful! He is a Dark wizard!

At that moment, Sir Lionel, the Dark knight, broke through a wall and walked into the dungeon. He looked really angry.

Lionel: Princess! Forgive me for taking this long to find this foul dungeon. Have no fear. The evil-doers that did this to you shall receive no mercy from my blade!

Rachel: Sir Lionel!

Richard: I was wondering what became of you... I did find it hard to believe that my sister had been taken on your watch.

Lionel: My prince... I must admit, it is the greatest shame of my carrier. I plan to atone for it later. Now, however, allow me to execute this fool.

Rachel: Sir Lionel... please, be careful! He's a Dark wizard! 

Merlin: Perfect. All the rats are here. I'll cleanse this corridor with the fires of the Dark dimension!

Lionel: I don't think so! - Lionel jumped at Merlin with a swipe of his sword. He felt the blade hitting him, but it looked like it just went through him. Lionel looked confused when he saw that, but he continued to swing his sword at him and kept having the same result.

Lionel: What is happening? Is he some sort of illusion?

Legend was about to go help him, but Richard was stumbling next to him. His bleeding hadn't stopped. He decided to stay by his side, helping him up.

Lionel: No matter! This is the end for you, heretic! DARK WAVE!

Lionel unleashed a black wave of energy that came out of his sword with one swing. The wave hit Merlin in his chest but didn't do anything at all. Merlin was still with that annoying crooked smile on his face.

Merlin: Idiot Dark knight. Do you know where the power of the Dark sword comes from?

Rachel realized what Merlin was getting at and understood why Lionel wasn't able to hurt him.

Merlin: No? I'll tell you before you die. It comes from the same place where I draw mana... the Dark Dimension. So you attacking me with that is like you're trying to kill me with medicine! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! It's so funny it's almost sad!

Lionel was winding up to swing his sword again at Merlin. Merlin then seemed like he was fed up with Lionel's futile efforts.

Merlin: OK. You managed to bore me, Dark knight. Farewell. DEMISE!

Merlin cast an instant-death spell at Lionel. He fell to the ground immediately. Sir Lionel was dead.

Merlin then turned around to look at the others and began chanting in preparation for another spell... apparently a much stronger spell. He started to float a bit above the ground, and his voice now had a strange echo to it. 

Merlin: FIERY HELL THAT DANCES DEEP IN THE DARK DIMENSION WITHOUT END... SEEK THE FLESH OF MY ENEMIES AND BURN THEM ALL! Incin—

Rachel: WAIT!!!!!!

Her sudden and guttural cry interrupted Merlin's channeling. Rachel was crying loudly from the moment she realized Sir Lionel was dead. She feared the same thing was about to happen to her brother and the child that came to save her.

Rachel: Whatever it is you want of me... I shall give it to you. You can have it. But please... Let them go! In the name of all that's holy... Please don't harm my brother! - Rachel desperately cried. It was clear that she was willing to sacrifice herself in order to prevent her brother's demise, which would have surely come to pass if she hadn't intervened. But Merlin was, for some reason, extremely bothered by this gesture. His evil grin was replaced by a frown for the first time.

Merlin: How touching. I never understood selflessness. How utterly pointless. You risk your life... Show compassion... Engage in heroic acts, and still, humans forget what you did for them and betray you for the most trivial of reasons. I've seen it time and time again. Back then, in the days before the so-called Demon Wars, the same thing happened. Humans will always stab each other in the back. It's in their nature... vermin always live ruled by their instinct.

Richard: {Did he mean to imply that he was alive before the Demon Wars? That cannot be! That would make him over 150 years old...} - Richard wondered while Merlin was venting.

I'll let you all in on a little secret. The god we're summoning from the Dark Dimension is actually called Adramellech... A very powerful demon whose only purpose is to destroy humanity! But I need the essence of divinity in this White mage so the portal can withstand the dimensional jump. The seal that cast him away is still way too strong. But once he's here, all your lives, hopes, dreams, and efforts would have proven to be pointless, just like life itself. So you see... nothing you do here actually matters. For when the Lord of Destruction arrives, you and everything you know will die! Are you ready to join the chaos of oblivion?!

As Merlin was monologuing, Meg quietly flew with one of the relics in his beak and set it in front of Richard, signaling him to destroy it... which he immediately did by driving his sword through it.

Meg: Richard! The other one's on that wall far behind you! You must destroy it now!!!

Merlin: Who said that? What is happening?

Richard threw a dagger and hit it dead center. The other jewel shattered, and a weird sound was heard. Rachel felt how the connection to her mana was restored. She was now able to use her magic again. In the blink of an eye, she teleported next to her heroes and then warped them all outside the compound, herself included.

Meg: Rachel, you need to take us someplace farther... We cannot defeat this mage... He's too powerful!

Merlin warped out of the dungeons as well, just behind them.

Merlin: Did you think I would just let you leave? Without saying goodbye?

Nimrod: I hate to admit it but... The talking bird is right. Did I just say talking bird? Did anyone else hear the bird talk, or was it just me? 

Rachel: I'm sorry! I'm not able to warp us any place farther! My mana hasn't been completely replenished!

Legend: What should we do??!!

Richard: Rachel! Get behind me! I won't let him hurt you! - Richard put himself in front of everyone while struggling to remain standing.

Merlin resumed channeling his big spell.

Meg: Nooo! It's way too soon! Legend! The hilt! It's the only way!

Legend: What?! What do you want me to do with it at a time like this?!

Merlin: FIERY HELL THAT DANCES DEEP IN THE DARK DIMENSION WITHOUT END... SEEK THE FLESH OF MY ENEMIES... AND BURN THEM ALL TO CINDERS! INCINI--- As Merlin was about to cast his fiery spell, a voice of unknown origin interrupted him.

"Hold on, Merlin. We need you to find us. An urgent matter has come up... Something that has priority above our holy quest."

Everyone heard the voice, which was that of a woman. It sounded so soothing and pleasant... like a voice that one would want to keep hearing over and over again. Nonetheless, no one was able to tell where the voice was coming from.

Merlin stopped his spell. His everlasting evil smirk was gone. He had a look of disappointment on his face instead.

Merlin: Yes, my dear. I shall leave at once.

What a pity. We shall continue this another time... How fortunate are you! Hold on to your meaningless existence for a little while longer.

Merlin then vanished.

Everyone was so relieved. Rachel embraced her brother in tears.

Richard: There, there, now. I am so glad you are safe, Rachel!

Legend looked at Richard with a smile on his face and gave him a fist bump and a thumbs up.

Legend: Quest completed!