Game On

Chapter Eleven: "Victory & Defeat"

Sean hovered in place, his entire body in shock. He couldn't believe that was the ability of a level one boss. It didn't seem fair. How were they supposed to counter that? The Crystal Knight flicked his blade triumphant at his side, laughing as he watched the Crystal Soldier stomp toward the fallen Aesir. Snapping from his horrified state, he looked for Mark among those in the direct path of the Crystal Soldier, finding him just out his range. The other Aesir stiffly got to their feet, when Mark shouted out. "Take out his legs!" The other Aesir hefted their weapons, bracing for the attack. From the side, Kol yelled out. "DWARVES!" As the Crystal Soldier swung his hammer, the Dwarves dashed out from between the Aesirs' legs to deflect the hit with their shields. The hammer bounced off the line of shields, then the Dwarves quickly dropped down to their knees to let the Aesir lunge in to attack the giant's legs and arms. The Humans started to charge their spells and the Elves notched their bows as Kol yelled out to them. "Humans! Elves! Focus on the Knight!"

The Knight grinned dashing around on his wings to avoid blasting spells and arrows. Sean watched his moment, trying to calculate his fight pattern but his moves seemed random. He swung at a few Elves forcing them to retreat but giving him an opening. Sean saw it and dashed through the air toward Kol. The Knight had calculated the situation himself and made Kol his target. Barely reaching Kol in time, Sean lifted his bow and activated his shield. The Knight's sword slammed into the shield with so much force that Sean gasped and felt blood leak from his nose. The shield had held but at a cost. The Knight tilted his head, then adjusted his sword to grip it with both hands before wielding on the shield. The blows came harder then before, forcing Sean to the ground as he felt the buffered blows hit his shield. It was like the Knight was attacking him mentally over physically to break his spell. Behind him, Kol placed a hand on his shoulder before telling him seriously. "By me a few seconds more! Then I'll take him!"

Sean felt the blood leak faster from his nose, whining out to Kol in distress. "Please hurry! I can't hold him!" A female Elf flew in to shoot an arrow at the Knight's back, causing the Knight to pause as he screamed and whirled around to face her. The other Elves opened fire on him, and Sean blinked in disbelief. The Knight had gotten hurt when she'd shot him but took no damage when he faced her to take the barrage of arrows. Staring at the Crystal Knight's back, Sean inhaled slowly. Set between the Knight's shoulder blades, and bright glowing wings was a small crystal star. It was easy to overlook because at first glance it appeared to be a part of his glowing wings, but it wasn't. It was just the same glowing white color. Gasping as he realized what the hidden giant clue meant, he uttered under his breath in shock. "Bound to a light unseen. He can't see his weakness!" Sean's train of thought was broken as something behind him let out a sharp screech that startled everyone in the room.

Quickly turning around, Sean's jaw dropped, and he fell back on his ass in shock. Kol's body was bursting into blue flames as he transformed from a Vanir man into a stunning blue phoenix! Kol raised his wings high like the symbol on the guild's crest, then swooped out with blazing grace toward the Knight. Gripping the Knight by his shoulders with his sharp burning talons, Kol lifted him into the air and spun around to fling him into a stone pillar. The Knight was just as surprised by Kol's transformation, falling victim to his attack. Hitting the pillar, the Knight burst through it and into the far wall to dent the stone wall. Falling from the wall onto all fours, the Knight let out a light chuckle, before saying aloud. "Aren't you a feisty little Vanir. I'm going to enjoy having you on MY side." Kol narrowed his fiery white eyes on him, his long flaming peacock tail spreading out frighteningly behind him. Sean took a moment to breathe and jumped when Mark dropped down beside him.

Mark cupped his face, his thumb brushing the blood away from his nose as he rushed out. "Jack? Oh my god! Are you alright?" Sean nodded, mumbling out a little shaken up. "Ya. Ya. I'm good." Mark's hand moved over him, checking for cuts, but Sean stopped him to blurt out in a rush. "His back! The crystal on his back, Mark! He only takes damage when it is hit!" Mark started to get up, but Sean grabbed the strap over his chest and pulled him down to snap out. "Mark, no! You'll never do enough damage to him. I think he's picking targets that can deal enough damage kill him!" Mark tensed up, glancing up at Kol who was quickly flying around pillars to dodge the Knight's powerful swings. Every hit to a pillar, stunning the Knight briefly enough for him to swoop in and slash at him with his fiery claws. Then Mark's attention drifted to the last giant in their party who finished off the Crystal Soldier with a hard hit to the other giant's face. Turning his attention back to Sean, Mark uttered out nervously. "Oh shit..."