Zool

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

All their efforts - every weapon Second Chance had brought to bear - all for one last gasp attempt to bring down their target. MacKensie watched hopefully as the final weapons hit their mark - a flashing white/blue anchor and a flaming white/gold greatsword. The damage was clear, but would it be enough? Baited breath and a moment that seemed to last an eternity followed, before the brain-shaking roar and following explosion of wind and energy shook the very temple. MacKensie was frozen in the silence that followed, not daring to celebrate too early. Her spell of statue-like stillness was broken when she turned to the ritual chamber entrance, hearing the cries and shouts of the once-angry cultists that had turned from violent and bloodthirsty to horror and despair.

"It can't be!"

"What have I done!?"

That's when she knew for sure that it was over. They'd won. The breath she'd not realised she'd been holding suddenly exhaled, and she found herself breathing heavy, her head pounding. Hair a mess, she moved a hand over her face and head to tame the unruliness then said a short, silent prayer to the sky. She wanted to cry. This adventuring business was tough. On the body, thrice moreso on the mind, and who knows how badly on the spirit.

She didn't cry though. Instead she forced her tears back and went to see that her friends were okay. The cocky remarks from the party idiot was enough strength to help her smile at Fenna as she approached the other woman. "We did it," she said, meaning only to touch the woman's arm but finding herself going in for a big hug instead. She was glad they were all alive, of course. Even having unique affections for each of them, besides Barracker as he was obviously so very new to the group, but she honestly wouldn't know how long she could go on, in this world, if Fenna was not around. The woman she looked up to, in so many ways, was a constant source of resilience for MacKensie. And so the tightness of her hug said so much more than words ever could. Her repeated words choked a little, but she managed not to cry. "We did it."

For Adam, she gave a slow nod with a relieved hand on her heart, so happy that he was okay, but careful to avoid closing the distance out of awkwardness. The feelings she woken up with had yet to be resolved, if ever, and their dynamic from her side would likely be difficult to navigate until she'd figured things out. Speaking of which, the other man in this awkward situation was approaching. Zell - a man that, along with James, she was perhaps the most buddy-buddy broey-broey with. But that just made things even more awkward and difficult, because the feelings underneath all that banter were clear. Keeping her distance from him looked so obviously weird, she could sense it, but she gave him a nod and an uncharacteristic salute, then quickly moved on.

James she hugged, careful to avoid hurting his inuries. "You saved us all, at the end there," she told him. "A more perfect leader, I could not ask for."

She was about to inquire further about the blessing, but sighted Zell's approach and made herself scarce. "Barracker, you were amazing," she said to the vampire, offering him his own style of embrace; his patented clasp of forearms. "I cannot count the amount of times you carried the way through this mission. You have been a boon to Second Chance, and it is an honour to call you friend."

Adam removed the barricade easily with his magic, another display of his amazing powers, then began dealing with the very apologetic and traumatized people in the corridor, handling them with the care he was known for. She was glad that the Druid was willing to step up and manage things outside. It was likely his own way of dealing with things. As for MacKensie, she decided to hold off on leaving the ritual chamber, wanting to catch her breath and decompress a moment from the arduous journey before dealing with anything else.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

Agreed, Zapdos, it was a fantastic finish to the mission xD

I'll try and get a short post in tonight so I'm available for multiple posts this week.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

A palpable energy and tumultuous whispers rode swirls of rushing wind when the box was broken, leaving no doubts in MacKensie that she'd correctly carried out James' directives. Disgusted and alarmed, she recoiled back a step, shaking the foot she'd smashed the phylactery with, trying to rid herself of any stain, in case it stuck to the leather sole of her shoe like a bad smell. As the feelings and sounds dissipated, her focus returned back to the room and the greater threat. The old man - the lich, as James had called him - was now on the floor, struggling to defend himself against the combined efforts of Adam's oak tree and James' light beams. Fenna, Zell and Barracker had chased the Greater Wraith up to the ceiling. The entrance to the chamber was now sufficiently barred and nobody was coming to save their masters. It felt like Second Chance was on the cusp of victory.

But it wasn't over just yet. And whatever nasty surprise the Greater Wraith was charging up was best avoided if at all possible. Off her back foot she sprang with great acceleration, running back to the action. The mechanical double-click sound of the ranger working the bolt-action signalled she was ready to aim as she sprinted. The pop and twang sound signalled a bullet shot, the holy fire enchantment making it look like she was firing golden tracer rounds - a beautiful sight amid the chaos. One wraith she hit was gliding in to engage Fenna and interrupt her concentration, but MacKensie had put an end to that idea with the timely interception. Another wraith she hit actually burned up into nothingness with a dying screech - it had already been injured after crossing blades with Zell.

She arrived on the main battle line with her friends, dodging around the attacking oak tree and letting off a close range shot at the Lich as she lept past him. Had she possessed the Source Crystal back in high school, her Long Jump personal record would have been crushed, such was the massive distance she covered, even managing to pass by Zell with the spear before landing next to Fenna and dipping back into her ammo pouch for more bolts.

From under the Greater Wraith, the magical noise of the charging spell was louder than ever, generating tension within her similar to the feeling she felt when Aurok the Maneater was launching it's final attack. She only prayed that they could kill it while it was defenceless, and so she fired a bolt upwards, launched her dagger with a pirouetting underhand fling, before smoothly reloading and firing again.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

I think Sil learned a trick from Zell: bring two enemies together and disappear.

@Loksfjoer

Sil is a legitimate member of Second Chance! She should have to register, for all the work she's put in xD

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

There was no time for MacKensie to show her gratitude to Fenna for dealing with the wraith that was on her. What came next was a horrifying parcel of time where the entire battle seemed to zone out - sight and sound - completely. Fenna was struck by another wraith and screamed. MacKensie's mouth was agape in helpless terror. Sil sqwauked as she hovered about. Nothing else existed. Nothing else mattered. As Fenna was brought to her knees, MacKensie's half-stepped forward but froze. She couldn't touch the wraith! She had no magic with which to save her friend.

"Oh my god," she breathed frantically. The wraith raised it's sword, charging a powerful attack. And then MacKensie found her voice. "Somebody help!"

And that's when a steel blade flashed into place, right at the last second to block the wraith's glowing strike. The strange sound of the clash of ghost-blade on oiled steel whiffed through the air, bringing the entire battle around MacKensie back into her senses - sights and sounds - once more. As she tried to catch her breath, she looked along the steel blade until she saw the hands that wielded it.

"Barracker."

Finally able to move again, MacKensie jumped over Fenna and dealt with the skeleton she'd had in a chinlock earlier. Then she turned back around to see the Paladin pulling Fenna up to her feet. Both had taken some damage after that, but MacKensie was just glad that Fenna was alive. Barracker rushed off to help Adam and James with even more wraiths that had shown up on the back line, MacKensie choosing to keep Fenna covered until she'd oriented herself and was ready to jump back into the fighting. It didn't take long before the dutchwoman was off, leaving MacKensie count the number of targets that her mundane weaponry would be effective against.

But that wouldn't matter anymore.

"I beseech thee, Mother Iris, thou who are radiant and wise, ruler of the skies and bearer of the sun, Guide us with thy luminous light's gentle sway so that in thy name victory may be attained "

Both dagger and crossbow became engulfed in white-gold flames. Flames that touched her hands but did her no harm. It quickly made sense to her that this enchantment was the elemental damage she needed to not only do extra damage, but hit all and every enemy on the battlefield. After the torture she'd just been through; almost forced to watch helplessly while her friend was killed - this moment was extremely empowering.

She started by sheathing her dagger, grabbing a handful of bolts and aiming at the remaining wraiths Barracker had not yet dealt with, near Adam and James. Each bolt caught fire as it dropped into the firing mechanism of her crossbow and she shot one at a time, not as fast a Deadly Flurry attack, but working the bolt-action crossbow with lightning dexterity nonetheless. Four holy-fire bolts was all it took to destroy two wraiths. The joy was apparent on her face.

"Mac!" MacKensie's eyes locked onto James. "The phylactery should be a vessel!"

The phylactery! It was up to her. She nodded resolutely. "Oui!"

Barely thinking about it - barely even looking where she was aiming - she shot her grapplehook at the ceiling above the Greater Wraith, and flew off just as soon as it connected. Even as she closed in on the giant ghostly being, having to lift her legs to avoid touching it's head as she swung past it, she could hear James' voice above the sound of the Greater Wraith's charging spell.

"A locket, a skull, a fucking vase, as long as it is meant to contain something it can be the phylactery!"

Her grapplehook disconnected and sailed through the air the rest of the way. Her double-foot landing was cushioned by dropping into a roll, the rest of the momentum dying out by skidding a couple of yards once back on her feet. Immediately she was upon the cabinets, repeating James' description to herself as she opened each door and started rifling through the contents.

And then she found it: A small wooden box, about the size of her jewelry box as a teenager. It had to be it. Her gut told her it was. And so she dropped it on the floor and delivered a mighty stomp with all she could muster. The box smashed into pieces.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

@TeyaoThis week, I may not be able to post until Friday or Saturday, but I was thinking that MacKensie would easily be able to zip over to the cabinets with her gauntlet and get the phylactery. So if you want to leave that part of the battle to me, I'll write it up at the end of the week. Also, if you want to use this info in your post somehow, like James tells her to go in place of Barracker, maybe shouts a description of the phylactery across the room or covers her as she flys over. Or something of your own invention, I can work with anything.

Or if you have other plans, or have an idea for James getting the phylactery, that's fine too xD

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

I'm on vacation today through Thursday, so I wanted to make a post in case things were too busy later. My original idea was to have Adam move the walking stick while James held onto it tightly to fly him out of danger. What I ended up going with seemed more practical though :P

Also, we have 500 IC posts now! It's been fun writing in this RP with you all.

@Zapdos

Enjoy your vacation!

The big five double-o! It's been an enjoyable ride everyone xD

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

“Here, hold this?”

"Of course."

After taking the bag of medical supplies from Barracker, MacKensie helped herself to some stretches of bandage and a couple of antiseptic pads. James had offered her first refusal, and she had stoically declined, not wanting to hold everyone up, but now that Barracker and Zell were taking the time to patch themselves up, she thought that she might aswell.

"You are right," she said to the party leader. "There is no sense in not being on top of our game for the final battle."

She hoped that the next battle would indeed be the final one. Second Chance had endured two already, and injuries were beginning to mount up. Staying next to James in case he needed some help standing, she carefully unstuck her clothing from her lacerations then rolled up her sleeve to pad and bandage her first wound. After that, she lifted her tunic and undershirt a little so she might pad and wrap her waist with the rest of the bandage roll. Once everyone was finished, she helped James hook his bag onto his person and they were off to the next room.

As everyone grouped up behind Adam while he found the right book to open the hidden door, there was a small interval of silent tension. MacKensie looked to her right to see the face of Fenna and whether the woman looked back or not, the frenchwoman pursed her lips in a solemn and determined smile. They could do this. Gold mission or not, the power of their bonds would see them through. Warrior bonds. Friendship. Strangers brought to an even stranger world. She had to believe there was a deeper reason for all of this. She had to believe that Fenna would hold her little boy and girl again. This belief she held fast so that she would not drown in the sea of anxiety that was constant danger.

The atmosphere changed as they passed from the relatively cozy and colourful library to the dark and dreary ritual chamber. Before she'd even laid eyes on the cultist and the Greater Wraith, she'd drawn her crossbow and dropped a bolt into it. Just the oppressive and foreboding air, in this room, alone was enough to make her ready herself. But even with the heavy weight of anxiety on her shoulders... even with the fear in her heart of potentially losing one of her comrades to an unthinkably powerful foe... even with the gravity of the situation before them, she couldn't help but smile - almost laugh, even - at the verbal exchange between the robed man, Zell and Barracker. She felt much lighter for it. It annoyed her - pained her, in fact - to say it yet again but, Thank God for macho dummies.

Aloud, she said, "Oh dear. Now there are two of them," as she looked from Zell to Barracker. She took a few steps to take a position on the flank, drawing her dagger with her free hand. "Would you two kindly take this seriously?"

When the fight started, she managed to let fly two bolts before requiring her dagger. The two bolts in question hit the same target, the first cracking the bridge between the eyes of a skeleton, before the second punched the exact same spot right through, creating a giant hole in the skull of an enemy that collapsed to the ground. Another rapid reload of a bolt that sat between the fingers of her dagger-hand's grip, then she cocked back and instantly switched from 'southpaw' to parry a sword that swung her way.

Her speed, agility and reflexes were far more than a match for the single skeleton in front of her, but what was more concerning was a Lesser Wraith drifting around to her flank. Even more concerning was the cultist and Greater wraith who were out of reach.

She dodged two follow up swings until the skeleton tried a high arcing downward strike, then caught the blade on her dagger and pulled it to one side, throwing the skeleton off balance and into her grasp. Seizing the bony enemy in a chinlock, her forearm under it's chin, she found time to aim over it's shoulder, right through the crowd and at the Leader Cultist, then fired.

Before she could see if her shot hit the mark, the Lesser Wraith attacked and she was forced to let go and hop out of reach of the ghost blade.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

I'll post tomorrow too!

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

MacKensie stepped back in relief as Barracker dealt with the wraith. It was actually quite stunning to see that; while she and the others from Earth had such unbelievable abilities and magic, there were still clearly higher levels of power that could be reached, and Barracker exemplified this.

She returned the warriors handshake, her grip firm and the look in her eye filled with fire and gratitude. “How serious are your wounds?”

MacKensie suppressed a sigh and shook her head. "I should be fine." She flinched when the fiery explosion of Fenna's finishing blow went off. Seeing that Fenna herself was okay, she continued on to the Paladin. "Thank you for your assistance."

“Are you able to fight on?”

"It looks like there is no need," she answered, giving a small nod as she looked around the library. No enemies were left standing. Her brow furrowed momentarily when she saw Zell relaxing on a sofa, but thought better of inquiring further. Zell was Zell. That was an explanation enough. A more thorough view of the room confirmed that everyone was alive. James looked the most worse for wear, but he'd patched himself up and was at least able to walk. Whether he could he continue the mission was another story. Still: Victory. "Thank goodness. Good job, my friend," she smiled at Barracker squeezed his shoulder.

“Is everyone alright?”

"All good over here," she replied to Adam, giving him a thumbs up and a smile when he looked. Then she turned back to the Barracker. "That was quite the surprise, was it not? We thought that we were the ambushers but turned out to be the ambushed. This enemy is clever indeed." She was late to notice that he was wounded also, his dark, leather armour hiding the injury. "You are hurt. How bad is it?"

After inquiring about Barracker's wounds and checking to see if he needed anything, MacKensie saw Adam approaching, his red gaze showing his intent to speak with the Paladin, so she left them to converse, giving Adam a nod and pat on the shoulder as they crossed paths.

"Good job, James," she said as she approached the Cleric, a touch of his arm as she came to stand next to him. "How are you holding up?"