53 - Trouble (Patreon)

“Paul, wait!” Everin shouted at him and he paused his flight in the air to glance back at the Emerald Caster trying in vain to catch up to him but he still heard the words carried on the wind, “At least let me cast my Boons on you! Anything to give you an edge against another Ruby in your state.”

“The Rebel Fox is correct,” Orebela stated in his mind, “Wayland should let him help before we go. Or is Wayland going to ignore This One again?”

“He needed to be put in his place, Bela,” he argued, pinching the bridge of his nose in weary frustration.

“Wayland is acting like a young one. Your mind is beginning to fragment and you are lashing out–” 

“I’m not breaking!” the Ruby Caster retorted and even mentally he could hear the petulance in his tone. He sighed, shaking his head again as if that would chase away the exhaustion, “I can’t break. Not yet. Not while everyone is counting on me to save them.”

“Thank you for waiting,” the Cleric said as he finally reached the Paladin, hovering in the sky as the threat loomed closer in the distance. They were above the wreckage of the ship that was still a raging storm of broken magic as the voxen added, “Listen, I’m sorry for earlier. You’re right that I didn’t fully consider the risks and gambled with a soul that was not mine to do so with.”

Paul was surprised and vaguely wondered if he had finally passed out on his feet and was dreaming that the rebel before him was actually apologizing. The rare look of sincerity on the voxen’s face was enough to make him soften slightly as he said, “I’m sorry I snapped. Not for what I said but how I said it,” he clarified.

“I think we’re all aware now of just how much strain we’ve put on you,” the Cleric said with a sad smile, then gazed towards the approaching enemy as he added, “I don’t like you taking on this enemy alone. Lower Caste Emeralds like me is one thing but you’re not invincible, Paul. You don’t have to fight at a disadvantage like this.”

The Paladin leveled a tired gaze on him, “Who else is there, Everin?” he asked, slowly drifting down towards the top level of the ship that hadn’t collapsed yet.

“The Emeralds can gather with you. Together we can take out a Ruby monster, even a dragon.”

“If it’s coming here, that means it’s Caged,” Paul pointed out, repeating what he had witnessed over and over again during his time wiping out groups of the enemy, “If it’s Caged, that means there’s a Caster controlling it,” he landed on the abandoned deck and finished wearily, “If there’s a Caster, it will do exactly as that first Emerald we ran into did. It will avoid me, killing as many as it can, while I’m forced to deal with the monster. Even if I tried to focus on the Caster instead of the monster, it would be a game of cat and mouse while the dragon kills off the other Emeralds instead.”

Paul took a deep breath to center himself and the static of wild magic in the air tickled his fully magical lungs. He contemplated sitting for a moment but worried sleep might overtake him if he allowed himself to become that relaxed and kept standing instead as he added, “If I’ve learned anything in the past five days, it’s that I’m better off fighting them alone instead of worrying about protecting others. I’m not a Defender.”

“You don’t have to be alone, though,” Everin argued then incanted, “Let the long path be free of burdens.”

Paul felt the quickening buffs of the Cleric’s [Light Spirited] Boon take effect and he smiled slightly, “Thanks, but I still don’t want you too close to the fighting. Cast your Boons then make sure the others retreat,” he said, looking around the area, “I’ll fight them here. Perhaps the environment can work to my advantage. If anything, I’m hoping it can provide a distraction from our forces as they retreat.”

The Paladin then allowed the merged effects from Orebela’s latest ascension to flow over him, coating his skin in a thin layer of liquid gold

“You look like a living statue with that,” Everin observed, glancing from his exposed hands to his face, “It’s rather intimidating in an alien way.”

He simply nodded, assuming he resembled his Familiar more now, only with a mop of red hair and his onyx armor with matching wings. A golden statue of the god, Avenger.

“While I appreciate the idea of a nice statue of myself,” the deity whispered into his mind, “I believe you should retreat and rest as well. Fight another day.”

“Is that an order?” the Paladin mentally growled.

“No,” the god said, sounding regretful, “But you are not a hero, Paul Wayland. An anti-hero at best, a villain to many. You were never one to risk yourself to this extreme.”

“People change,” he retorted, “Or is the dragon not weak enough to warrant your execution?”

“We talked about that. You know what retribution means and that it takes the strong to avenge the weak. You should leave and rest now.”

“People will die. A lot of people, if I just leave to sleep for a week and hope the Emeralds will be enough to muster a resistance.”

“Then you will return to avenge them. I can help with vengeance but not with this. I am not Hero and he already spent quite a bit of his power on your daughter.”

Paul grimaced as the silence returned to his mind. While Tulimeir would likely survive against just a single Ruby Caster and their pet monster, there would be a lot of loss. Deep down, he knew those losses would include the children he had been fighting to protect and hoping to see grow. Their loss wouldn’t be something he could live with, knowing that he could have prevented it. Perhaps Avenger was right… he was just doing this seemingly heroic thing for selfish reasons.

“Have you thought that maybe the sudden appearance of a Ruby Caster is because of you, Paul?” Everin asked, breaking his reverie and causing him to look back at the Cleric in surprise. He would never admit it aloud but he hadn’t thought that. It was just the newest thing on his list of “shit to take care of before getting to sleep” that had only seemed to grow with each passing day.

“They had weeks to get them here before,” the Emerald Caster continued with an amount of logic that he barely felt capable of piecing together at the moment. “Why now, if not for news of you reaching them? All the AOA reports have always been about them using just enough force to overcome an area.”

He shook his head, tired of arguing, tired of talking, “It doesn’t matter why. They’re here now and I’m the only option.”

Everin frowned at him but thankfully didn’t argue this time as the Healer proceeded to cast a few more Boons on him, even a heal that slowly rejuvenated him over time. He slipped another [Ruby Mana Bit] into his mouth, wincing at the sickly syrup it melted into, and hoping it would give him enough of a pick-me-up to not simply get eaten in mid-air.

“I know it might sound strange coming from me,” the voxen said gently, giving him a warm smile, “But try to stay out of trouble. Don’t act like your wayward daughter and pull a big flashy stunt. Just do what you do best and take them out brutally quick and without mercy.”

“Did you just call me a merciless brute?” Paul asked with a chuckle.

Everin smirked, “You can punish me for it later, Daddy Wayland.”

“I’ll ground you just like the others, fox kit,” he replied then glanced back towards what was indeed a dragon. Silver scales shone with a blue sheen along a long sinewy serpentine body as giant wings moved strangely through the air, appearing more like humongous fins swimming through the sky. Large horns, like those of an ox, sat upon its wide head and, though sharp, Paul doubted they would be able to impale something as tiny as he was compared to the great beast.

The biggest worry for him now, however, was the Ruby Caster’s aura that he had felt briefly brushing against his before vanishing completely. He frowned in concern as he said to his companion, “Hey, Everin?”

“Yes, Paul?”

“No matter what happens, promise me you’ll keep her safe. It’s not her life but her heart and soul that I worry for.”

“I may be a Spirit Advocate but I’m leaving that job to you, so stop talking like that and go kill them already.”

Paul grinned, spread his midnight wings, and triggered [Wrath From Above], which had been upgraded by the [Hunt Spirit Gem], causing him to take off straight into the air.

Ability: Wrath From Above

Type: Special Attack (combination, movement)

Cost: Low stamina.

Cooldown: 1 minute.

Current Caste: Ruby 1 (1%)

Crystal Effect: Leap into the air above a target within range. The next attack deals increased physical damage.

Sapphire Effect: Each subsequent combination attack deals greatly increased damage.

Emerald Effect: Each subsequent combination attack decreases the cooldown of this ability.

Ruby Effect: The next attack also inflicts [Heretical Prey].

• Heretical Prey (bane, divine, radiant): Decreased Divine resistance and Combination attacks inflict increased damage.

While that ability was spurring his movement, he began activating a plethora of other abilities all at once for a devastating initial strike. [Righteous Fury] that had bonded to Defiance, followed by [Accelerating Strikes] that had been enhanced by Zeal along with [Ferocious Assault] that was now empowered by Battle.

Ability: Righteous Fury

Type: Boon (magical, arcane)

Cost: High mana.

Cooldown: 10 minutes.

Current Caste: Ruby 1 (1%)

Crystal Effect: Increase your Strength and Agility attributes for a short duration.

Sapphire Effect: Increase your damage dealt for a short duration.

Emerald Effect: Increase your Mind and Fortitude attributes for a short duration.

Ruby Effect: Increase all your resistances and penetration against all other resistances by a large amount for a short duration.

Ability: Accelerating Strikes

Type: Special Attack (combination, purge, elemental, magical, fire, light)

Cost: Low stamina per second.

Cooldown: None.

Current Caste: Ruby 1 (1%)

Crystal Effect: Each attack slightly increases your attack speed while this ability is active.

Sapphire Effect: Each attack inflicts escalating Fire damage.

Emerald Effect: Each attack inflicts escalating Light damage and an instance of a Magical or Elemental Boon is purged from the target.

Ruby Effect: Each attack grants you an instance of [Zealous Striker].

• Zealous Striker (boon, divine, radiant): Increased Agility and Strength. Radiant attacks have increased resistance penetration.

Class Ability: Ferocious Assault

Type: Special Attack (boon, combination, magical, dimension)

Cost: Low stamina per second.

Cooldown: None.

Current Caste: Ruby 1 (1%)

Crystal Effect: Each attack slightly increases your Strength while this ability is active.

Sapphire Effect: Each attack slightly increases your Agility while this ability or another combination ability is active.

Emerald Effect: Each attack inflicts escalating Dimension damage and an instance of [Dimensional Confusion].

Ruby Effect: Each attack grants an instance of [Warrior’s Heart] while this ability or another combination ability is active.

• Dimensional Confusion (bane, magical, dimension): Your perception of your surroundings is confused, occasionally mistaking areas for another. Instances are quickly lost over time.

• Warrior’s Heart (boon, divine, radiant, stacking): Decreased cost of Special Attacks. Can consume all instances of this Boon to empower your next attack. Instances are slowly lost when not attacking.

These would feed into his [Meteor Strike] which was now even further enhanced by his [Strength of Purpose] passive.

Passive Ability: Strength of Purpose

Type: Boon (magical, arcane)

Current Caste: Ruby 1

Crystal Effect: You have increased Strength and Fortitude.

Sapphire Effect: The effects of other Boons on you are slightly increased.

Emerald Effect: The effects of your Execute are increased and Execute effects upon you are decreased.

Ruby Effect: Speed is greatly increased when moving towards an enemy and Movement abilities have increased effect.

“The judgment of the righteous has deemed you guilty,” Paul thought the incantation, no longer needing to speak it aloud at Ruby Caste, and performed his [Judgment of the Zealous] Execute purely for the reflective boon of [Instant Karma] given when using it before taking damage from the target.

His surroundings became a blur as he sped through the air towards his target and he impacted straight between the glowing orbs that were the dragon’s eyes with an explosion that seemed to crack open the very sky. The stacking effects created a ripple of power unlike any he had ever conjured before as Fire, Light, and Divine Radiance channeled from his being, through his newly named [Blade of Vengeance], and into the Caged monster.

Passive Ability: Blade of Vengeance

Type: Utility (construct, elemental, magical, arcane, fire)

Current Caste: Ruby 1

Crystal Effect: Construct a sword that reflects the wielder and can be used as a medium for Spells and cantrips for a slightly increased effect.

Sapphire Effect: Special Attacks with the Magical modifier performed with this weapon inflict increased damage.

Emerald Effect: Normal and Special Attacks made with this weapon inflict additional Fire damage and [Burning].

Ruby Effect: Normal and Special Attacks made with this weapon inflict additional Radiant damage and [Penance].

• Burning (bane, elemental, fire): Inflicts ongoing Fire damage.

• Penance (bane, divine, radiant): Inflicts ongoing Radiant damage.

Sometimes, abilities would update their titles to reflect how the soul had changed and his abilities apparently thought that he had made a significant enough shift to warrant the update. He had no qualms with it and was immensely grateful for the Radiant damage that now coursed through his enemy in a devastating strike that was enough to halt the beast’s forward momentum toward the camp of Adventurers and allies of the duchy still in the process of retreating.

The moment immediately following his blow that embedded his onyx greatsword in the dragon’s magically reinforced skull was strangely quiet and still, the explosive force having shoved away even the sound waves in the air. Until he felt a slight pressure against his back and a masculine voice cursing in surprise as a sheen of a magical shield swirling with rainbow colors appeared around him for only a moment before vanishing and he smirked as he felt the protection of [Instant Karma] get used up. 

While Stealth specialists were obnoxious to deal with, they could be fairly predictable at certain times. By the time he turned to punch the assailant, however, only a cloud of dark mist remained in their place. He turned back to yank his sword from the now screaming and pissed-off dragon. Its roar shook through him and he felt heavier, slower, and knew that wouldn’t do.

His blade cut between the scales as he struck again, taking advantage of his stacking combination attacks to ramp up the Boons that would counter the effects of the monster’s Banes being cast upon him. 

When globes of water began forming in the air around him, he knew this wouldn’t be like the dumb Cave Troll and it was time for him to start moving as one of the orbs sped towards him, striking where he had stood a split second ago. The water splashed harmlessly against the dragon but he was fairly certain it would not be as kind to him.

Paul ran up and along the beast’s back, spines of rock jutting down its middle, as he weaved between them, slicing the scaly flesh beneath him, and dodging the aerial spell of water bolts.

After a particular nasty swarm of wet globes that caused him to push his winged acrobatics to the limit, twirling parallel to the creature with his wings wrapped around him as a black feathered shield inflicting Light damage and a blinding effect from the [Flash Bomb] the wings had back on the dragon with each orb that struck them, it was then he felt in his aura what he had been waiting for.

The brief flutter of a Ruby Caster as the attack from stealth landed before he could react. Though he couldn’t dodge in time, the twin blades digging into the tops of both his shoulders through the feathered armor, he could trigger his ability that required at least two targets to work.

Class Ability: Flicker Strike

Type: Special Attack (combination, movement, divine, magical, dimension, light, radiant)

Cost: High mana.

Cooldown: 5 minutes.

Current Caste: Ruby 1 (1%)

Crystal Effect: Your next successful attack triggers a flash teleportation to another nearby enemy, chaining up to two times.

Sapphire Effect: Can chain up to five times. Inflicts additional Light damage, increasing with each successful attack.

Emerald Effect: Can chain up to ten times. Each successful attack inflicts [Dazzled] and [Sensitivity].

Ruby Effect: Can chain up to twenty times. Inflicts additional Radiant damage, increasing with each successful attack.

• Dazzled (bane, control, magical, light): Hinders vision and movement for a very short time.

• Sensitivity (bane, magical, light, stacking): Decreased Light resistance.

This particular ability had been seeing a lot of usage over the last few days as it helped him swiftly clear out the larger packs of enemies all in a matter of moments but now it had an even more devastating effect as he vanished in a flash of light, his sword slashing across the would-be assassin’s back before he flickered again to the dragon’s flank, cutting deeply and triggering yet more stacks of his Boons only to teleport once again to the slightly stunned enemy Caster. Back and forth, with ever-increasing speed, power, and brilliant radiance.

Until the special attack ended with the Soul Reaper vanishing into another burst of mist-like shadows and this time Paul chased downwards toward the wreckage of the ship and the direction of the [Nemesis] Bane he had managed to lay upon his foe.

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