Return to Jorgaldur Volume V: Reunion (2)

Infiltration (IV)

Gjaki turned to deal with three others that were coming from behind, when a Fireball engulfed them. Three spears followed through Javelin, and pierced them from behind.

Other losts, which were a little further behind, tripped over some branches that came out of nowhere, which wrapped around their front legs. Water Blades cut them easily from below.

"It's about time!" she was glad to see the drelf and Eldi with the girl. "Come from the other side of the tree."

"Threads?" he wondered out loud.

Anyway, he didn't wait for an answer before heeding her. Eldi left behind him a Frozen Wall, to hold back those which tried to pass through the area free of threads or traps. Immediately, he placed a few more where his companion pointed.

On his back, Menxilya watched with curiosity. It was surprising that a little girl wasn't scared of what she was experiencing, although it is also true that that girl was a somewhat special case.

On the one hand, she had lived through worse experiences during her escape, decades ago. On the other, her real age was over a hundred years old, even though she still looked and acted like a child. At least, on most occasions.

However, her presence there made it impossible for Eldi to fight hand to hand. Although she was protected by several enchantments, including Projectiles against me?, Magic against me? or Protect, it was too dangerous for her.

The initial plan was to hide her in one of the shelters when they fought, but it wasn't viable in the current situation. Their priority was to get out of there as soon as possible.

For now, he launched several Fireballs into the sky, which almost grazed Goldmi, and exploded on her pursuers. She was descending at high speed, and was still shooting at her enemies.

The elf created a second Black Hole, which compromised her mana reserves. Only then did she slow down thanks to Hover, although she ended up falling at a speed that would have broken both legs of a normal person.

"Ugh..." she grunted upon landing.

Luckily for her, she was at level 100, though that didn't stop her from casting a Basic Healing immediately.

"With me! I'll cast Night. Follow me then!" Gjaki shouted.

Everyone quickly gathered together, as the high human created a Rock Shield to add a layer of protection, and buy them some time. Then, Night fell.

Suddenly, most of their enemies lost sight of their targets, except for a few which had night vision. However, they weren't many, and they were easy targets for the companions.

Goldmi shot at them, while prioritizing the winged ones. She aimed through the lynx's eyes with Visual Link, since the feline could see at night. She lent her vision to her sister, who was riding on her back.

Gjaki, who had Night Vision, was sending Blood Hounds against those which approached, to keep them at bay. Although, she let them pass if they came straight at her, to eliminate them herself.

For Eldi, it was a bit more complicated. Sharpening Senses allowed him to get an idea of where the enemies were, where they were approaching from. The problem was that it lacked precision.

He could only place some Earthen Walls, because now, what they needed was to hold them back and escape.

The drelf wasn't having a great time either. She could see perfectly well at night through the plants, but there were no plants there to synchronize with. Therefore, she was hugging the elf from behind, also riding on the lynx.

They walked to the edge of the spell. There, the vampiress stopped and cast Shadow Protection, with everyone inside except the goshawk.

She was still in the sky, facing the aerial losts. Although there were many, they didn't have the level, speed, or skill of the albino bird. She could go to her sister at any time through Always With You, but the truth is that she was enjoying an aerial battle of one against hundreds.

Of course, she didn't attack them all at once, but rather flew quickly until she found a prey sufficiently far from the others. Then, the goshawk went for it, preferably by Plummeting and Colliding against them.

Sometimes, she alternated Growing to attack larger enemies. There was also the tactic with Slalom, that is, flying between them if they weren't too close together while throwing Wind Blades at them, before Colliding into the one furthest behind.

"This's been a bit stressful, but fun! Ha, ha!" the vampiress dropped to the ground.

"It's better if we don't repeat it," the elf got off her sister. Being the target of so many losts hadn't been a pleasant experience.

"It's been dangerous, but there're two of those things less. Are you fine?" Eldi asked Menxilya, as he bent down to let her down.

"Yes! It's been incredible!" the girl was excited.

She had been quiet while riding Eldi, but had also been looking everywhere. Although she herself had chosen them, seeing them in action was a new experience.

"These children today..." the drelf sighed. "Shall we eat something?"

"Sure. What do you want?" Goldmi offered.

They needed to recover mana, so it was a good time for a break. They were surrounded by miasma and losts, but protected within the spell.

It didn't take long for them to purify the area within Shadow Protection. In addition, the elf had created an Oasis, and they had taken out some mana crystals to increase the density.

Generally, it wasn't necessary, but the area was low level, and it was full of miasma. Therefore, they had to resort to special methods to have the influx of mana they required.

"Chocolate!" Menxilya asked.

"Okay, but it'll be for dessert. First, how about a pizza with lots of purple tomatoes?" the cook suggested.

"Great!" the girl exclaimed. She loved it.

"I'm in too," the vampiress added.

"Pizza or chocolate?"

"Both!"

"Well, that's not a bad idea. I..." Maldoa was going to join in too, but she stopped suddenly.

Roots came out of her legs to penetrate the corrupted earth. The feeling was unpleasant, but she could deal with the consequences. It was more important to verify what she had felt. It had barely been a flash, an instant, but she was sure she hadn't imagined it.

Everyone stared at her in silence, waiting. The drelf had closed her eyes and concentrated on her senses. At the same time she was fighting against the corruption that threatened to enter through the roots.

Finally, after a long wait, she opened her eyes, and cut her roots with a gesture. Normally, Maldoa would have reabsorbed them, but the corruption had taken its toll on them. She would have to regenerate them, but that was of no importance at that moment.

"There is an Origin," she revealed, her eyes shining, visibly excited.