Return to Jorgaldur Volume V: Reunion (2)

Plan D (IV)

Several losts detected the drelf's aura. It was more intense than that of the other living ones, so it attracted more of their attention. Some of them forgot about their current adversaries and headed towards her.

Others, inside the tower, woke up and wanted to go after her as well. They found a Rock Wall at the exit, or the tower's own structure, separating them from the aura, so they began to strike without delay. However, it wasn't easy for them to break through against a spell of that level. Their claws, horns and teeth tried to crush it, and their bodies struggled to pull it down, but for the moment, it held.

On Eldi's side, the corrupted forces concentrated on the side of the tower. They were trying to get past the defenses where the drelf's aura was strongest. They crowded into that corner and, without even planning it, climbed on top of each other, thus threatening to surpass the physical and mana walls.

The high human tried to stop them with spells like Iceballs, Gravity, Frozen Ring or Frozen Prison. He feared that if he used any of his other resources, he would destroy the previous Walls. It would make the situation worse.

He managed to slow them down, but the corrupted beings were powerful, and greatly outnumbered him. He was forced to create a new Rock Wall on top of the current Walls, although he wasn't very sure of its stability.

What Eldi didn't expect was that the centaur would climb on top of a lost, and use it and a jump skill to overcome the Walls from the other side.

He threw a Javelin at it, but the distance was too great for preventing the corrupted being to avoid it. It moved away from the wall, before going around to stay out of the battle mage's reach, and to approach the drelf's aura.

Eldi would have wanted to chase it, but then he would have left the area undefended. Instead of one lost, more than ten would pass through. He had no choice but to leave it to his companions. It was more important to prevent more enemies from crossing.

Arrows began to fall on the corrupted centaur. The first ones were blocked by a Miasma Shield, a corrupted variation of the original Mana Shield. The centaur's movement didn't prevent the arrows from continuing to hit their target.

Goldmi soon discovered that the Light Arrows could penetrate the lost's shield and consume it. They were followed by arrows with Purifying Touch and Piercing Arrow. Thanks to Magic String, she could apply the blessings continuously and at a lower cost.

Soon, the projectiles began to penetrate the corrupted flesh of the centaur, but that didn't stop its march. It even blocked some with a spear skill similar to Eldi's Mill.

The albino bird's Collide, and several Rough Arrows that followed, only managed to slow it down for a few moments. The centaur was determined to reach its destination, no matter how much damage it suffered.

When it reached the drelf, it raised its spear, while ignoring the projectiles that were coming towards it. The centaur couldn't see her, but it knew there was something there that needed to be eliminated. The weapon crashed into the Rock Wall that protected the drelf, and dented it slightly.

Perhaps not satisfied with the result, it began to concentrate a large amount of miasma on the spear to execute a powerful attack. It wasn't clear if the lost would succeed, as its body was beginning to crumble. That was the result of the elf's offensive at range.

The biggest problem for the group was that the other centaur was also approaching their position, pursued by the lynx. The archer couldn't take care of the two in such a short time, as they were too powerful, and the corruption made them immune to pain.

What she didn't expect was what happened. She couldn't even have begun to imagine it.

Goldmi stood, stupefied, not knowing what to do. The lynx stopped at a distance, confused, waiting. Gjaki continued to fight, but what one of her Bats had shown her was impossible to believe. The albino bird watched without understanding. Eldi, Maldoa, the kraken and a certain fairy were too far away and busy with their own affairs to witness the event. Menxilya's eyes flashed briefly. It was unclear whether she had seen it or not.

While the centaur on Eldi's side prepared to breach the wall, the lynx continued her reckless run through the corrupted troops. Her fur had numerous areas that looked burnt, and even several cuts could be seen. Nevertheless, it wasn't as serious as it had been a few moments before, since her elf sister had half-healed her with Life Link.

The vampiress had joined the battle once her wall of adamantine threads was in place. Her four Blood Hounds were mercilessly attacking a kind of corrupted elk, whose antlers had become much more pointed and lethal. They had caught it by surprise, and each one had grabbed a leg with their jaws. Now, each one was pulling to their side, threatening to dismember it. It would take them a while before they succeeded.

Gjaki took advantage of the fact that its enemies were focused on the lynx to attack a corrupted hippodile from behind, thus surprising it. It had the head, skin and tail of a crocodile, but its body and legs were as wide as those of a hippopotamus.

Its two meters in height and five in length made it a fearsome enemy, but its body was no longer as resistant as it was before the corruption. Combined with a difference of eight levels and the high quality of the daggers, Drill pierced it from side to side.

It didn't die instantly, but a small Marabunta had appeared inside it. The dozens of small beings began to nibble from the inside, where it couldn't defend itself. It was a method as simple as it was effective, which finished off the powerful corrupted being without it being able to offer any resistance.

The attack and her presence made several of its enemies pay attention to her, which meant that it wouldn't be so easy again. Of course, it wasn't her intention either to be disregarded. In fact, she wanted to get their attention to give the lynx a break.

The feline was really in a bad situation. Many powerful enemies were focused on her, and her sisters had to focus on a certain centaur that had snuck in. She was mostly concerned with dodging, and using her flames as an added defense, but she didn't have a moment of rest.

When suddenly almost half of her enemies stopped attacking her, she finally had the chance to fight back. The tiger that had been relentlessly chasing her swallowed a Fireball. It had wanted to bite her, and it had gobbled what it shouldn't have.