Return to Jorgaldur Volume V: Reunion (2)

More power

A small crater formed in the corrupted ground as Kan Golge crashed into it. He stood up furious, more than ever, as he had been interrupted again.

"More power!" he demanded.

He didn't care about anything but his revenge, since the miasma he had accumulated had increased its influence over him.

The vampire opened his arms, and all the miasma within a kilometer around rushed upon its owner. Suddenly, abruptly, it increased his power, but it affected the stability of his being too.

All the losts in the area suddenly lost their miasma. When they awakened, there was still miasma in their bodies that kept them whole, but which could no longer control them. Now, it was disappearing in any form, everything was being absorbed by the vampire. Soon, they crumbled and vanished forever.

He was walking towards them, step by step, while blocking the elf's arrows with the miasma that seemed to boil around him. He looked at her, and hundreds of magic circles formed around her. They imprisoned her in a kind of sphere of more than a hundred meters in diameter.

A ray of miasma emerged from one of the circles, which she blocked with three Light Arrows. The problem was that all the other circles were activating too.

"Sister!" the lynx exclaimed.

She was running towards the vampire, but she returned to Goldmi through Always With You, went In the Shadow of her sister and both of them Synchronized.

The elf was agile, but not as much as the vampiress or the feline. However, once Synchronized with her sister, she could notice how her senses sharpened, as well as her sense of balance.

She rolled to the side to dodge a ray of miasma. While firing three Light Arrows with Three Better Than One and Shoot Anyway, she jumped forward to dodge two, and to the side to dodge another.

The three arrows exploded with Light Overload, which destroyed three magic circles. Nonetheless, they were only a tiny fraction of the many that were there. She had a long way to go to get rid of them. Besides, it was dangerous to try to escape, as it would mean being too close to some circles. She couldn't dodge them that close.

Two more were cut by the goshawk's Wind Blades, while the kraken used water and Ink to try to damage them. However, there weren't that many within her reach.

The elf rolled back, and raised a Green Cuirass to defend herself from a ray that was coming from the side. Unfortunately, the plants had only grown enough to become a small protection. Otherwise, the skill would have offered her a firm defense.

A round shield taken from the inventory protected her from another ray, while more than a dozen attacks exploded around her. They had cut off all her escape routes, so she had been forced to block.

She put the slightly dented shield back into her inventory, her arm shaking. Goldmi had no skills to use it better, and each attack was very powerful. If she received a direct hit, it might not be lethal, but she could be seriously injured. She wasn't sure to what extent Cyclonic Barrier could defend her.

For now, the elf had to continue dodging and eroding the enemy spell. She couldn't support her companions, although, at least, all that power and concentration couldn't be used against them.

Gjaki and Eldi continued their race towards the vampire. The best way to help their friend was to keep him busy, to have him focus his attention on them. Of course, even better if they finished him off.

Eldi threw two Javelins at him, one after the other, took up the axe and executed an Abyss. He didn't think the spears could harm him, but they could be a distraction. If he could unbalance him with the axe skill, perhaps he or Gjaki could launch a powerful offensive.

At the same time, Gjaki had summoned two Blood Hounds that she sent charging at Kan Golge. They arrived just moments after the Javelins, and were dissolved against the dense miasma surrounding her enemy. Perhaps, the darkness magic was resistant to the miasma, but not the blood that was part of the spell.

The spears didn't dissolve, but they barely managed to pierce a bit of the thick protection. The earth opened due to the Abyss, but it stopped before the vampire's defenses. At the cost of his own body, he had gained immense power.

Eldi continued to strike with the axe, as he tried Double Edge, Slicing, X or Shred. The attacks were slowly breaking through the miasma defense, but it was still solid.

He also cast Fireballs, Iceballs, and Lightningballs, to test if any element was more effective. However, for now, all of his attacks were crashing into the wall of miasma surrounding the vampire. They managed to wear down the defenses a bit, but it was far from enough.

The vampiress attacked with Thousand Lashes, though she cancelled the skill as it was ineffective. Even Purifying Touch had lost its effect after a few hits. She decided to reinforce her body with Blood Overload and attack directly. The miasma didn't affect her much, so she may surprise her enemy.

Since the defense was quite strong, she decided on Drill. It was a relatively slow attack, but very powerful. Perhaps, her enemy could dodge it, but at least it should break through the layer of miasma.

To her surprise, Kan Golge didn't flinch, but instead was looking at Goldmi. She found it strange, and had the feeling that he was plotting something, but she couldn't stop attacking just because of suspicions. Her friend was in serious trouble if they didn't distract him, if they didn't interrupt the massive spell.

She rotated on herself, with her arms stretched out, and holding both daggers. Although with some resistance, she began to penetrate the miasma shield.

"Too easy," she worried.

In that position, it was difficult for her to observe what was happening, but she could do it through a Bat. With Parallel Thinking, it was easy to do several things at once.

She didn't understand why her enemy didn't react, nor the little resistance his body offered. After passing through the miasma, she was piercing the vampire.

Suddenly, he turned and looked at her, smiling, oblivious to being pierced. Then, Gjaki felt her entire body stop. Her own blood had escaped from her control, and the ability was cancelled.

"You're powerful, but do you think I've never faced powerful ancestral vampires before? Ha, ha, ha! I developed this measure by practicing with my children. With my current power, it's like taking candy from a child. You're very welcomed. Your heart and blood will help me stabilize for a few years," he mocked her.

"Let her go!" Eldi demanded.

He increased his power with Overload, without caring about the repercussions of the skill. He also executed Physical All or Nothing and Mana All or Nothing. That would have a cost when they finished taking effect, but now all that mattered was rescuing his friend.

"Stay still, insect," the vampire looked at him for a few moments.

His now black eyes briefly radiated a red glow as he cast Agony.

"AAAAAAARGHHH!!!" the high human screamed in pain, as he collapsed on the ground.