Denizens of the Labyrinth

This floor was quiet and well lit, the stairs opened up into a widened chamber hall in the shape of a huge circle. In the centre of the chamber was a pool, it was darkened and deep, yet full of Mana. Jazmel’s eyes immediately picked it up.

After stepping into this chamber, the groaning of age-old machinery could be heard and behind them a block of solid coral blocked the exit and entrance. Jazmel drew Hajime immediately.

From the pool in the centre of the chamber, a single man clambered out. He looked like a man; he wore armour made out of metal that was tinged with coral and Mana that Jazmel had seen all around the temple. The man was easily over six and half feet tall. He had etchings in his body that were pale blue, as if they had been drawn with Mana. Designs of spirals and other symbols unknown to Jazmel. This man was strong though, he clambered from the pool and unscabbarded a heavy spear from his back. It was elegant and well made, the metal darkened and keen.

He rushed grace, she blocked his attack but just a swing of his spear shaft knocked her off her feet. Myn and Morwen were there immediately, and they fared no better, he fought them both and if Tera Nema did not bombard him with Mana blasts from her wand. He would have pushed them back too. They fought him and Jazmel helped grace to her feet, they soon joined and before the might of all five of them; they killed the warrior.

DING!

TIER III CORRUPTED ATLANTEAN GUARD KILLED

…

NEW QUEST

…

DEFEAT THE ATLANTEAN GUARD WHO PROTECT THE THRONE ROOM

Jazmel looked at Tera Nema and it seemed she and her party had gained the same notification.

Springing from the water, a three guards landed around the pool. They did not look like the first, but they were similar with similar Mana tattoos but bearing an assortment of weapons. Another spear user, a swordsman this time and one clutching a huge great axe.

The girls paired up and Jazmel was left to fight one guard alone, the one with the sword, it made sense.

Clutching his katana in his hand and breathing deeply, trying to slow down his heart in the heat of battle. The Atlantean guard rushed him, swinging his sword in a dance Jazmel had never witnessed before, he struck out and they duelled, they fought fighting back and forth, pushing for purchase or an advantage.

HEART OF THE SWORD IS ACTIVE

ATLANTEAN SWORDMANSHIP BEING STUDIED

UNDERSTANDING THE SWORD OF THE SEA

…

Jazmel felt his system flutter, and suddenly the fight grew a little easier. The guard realised something had changed because it did something different. It screeched and from the pool more guards clambered out. So now Jazmel was fighting three and he was alone as the girls own guards had also been reinforced. He drew Nozarashi from his belt and beckoned the guards.

They fought and this time Jazmel was a flurry of movement, he swung his swords in a spiral deflecting of sea metal blades and clashing where the blades. Whirling his blades about him to protect his body, he feinted to the left, parried, and countered a blade and stabbed one of the guards in the neck, but moved off before he could drive it deeper, the guard fell away. Bleeding profusely from its wound. The other two circled Jazmel, he struck out; lashing out with both swords. One of the guards pinned him but he was not done.

Slash

He said and the skill activated, cutting the sword in half, but not the guardsman. This strike cost him though, for the other guard stabbed him in the back. It was not deep, but the pain almost made him delirious, and he hopped out of their pincer to protect himself.

Flight of the blue kite!

He snarled through gritted teeth and knocked the unarmed guard back. In that split second moment he whirled on the other guard and drove Hajime into its stomach.

Slash

He whispered and used Nozarashi to cut off a flailing arm. The sword dropped alongside the arm, and it died on his blades. He watched as the light left its eyes and he turned just in time to see the second guard picking up the sword of the Atlantean who had been stabbed in the neck. Jazmel gave him no time though, he threw Nozarashi, it impaled the Atlantean in the stomach and it fell to its knees. Picking up the sword of the one he had killed before, he walked over slowly. Wincing as his back bled.

He drove the sword up into the stomach of the Atlantean guard and watched it as it died slowly. The pale blue of the Mana tattoos fading out with its life. Without a word, his shadow swallowed two of the corpses and he felt the system pop open.

DING!

TIER III CORRUPTED ATLANTEAN GUARD X2 KILLED

TIER III ATLANTEAN GUARD CONSUMED

SHADOW WRAITH RECOVERING

Still recovering from the death, he almost had in Orevalor, Jazmel sighed and thanked Paldane silently.

TIER I MERMAN PEARLS X34

TIER II ATLANTEAN SWORD X1

TIER II ATLANTEAN GARB X1

TIER I DEEP SEA PEARL X2

The sword was interesting enough, no katana but the balance was good, and he knew he could sell it at an auction if he needed. He turned to see how the girls were faring. They were just about to finish off their own guards. He walked over to the other guard and put the sword in his storage.

TIER II ATLANTEAN SWORD X1

Paldane consumed this corpse too and Jazmel drank a health potion and then awkwardly over his shoulder poured the last of it on his wound. He felt it close up, it was still tender, but for now it would have to do.

DING!

ATLANTEAN GUARD HAS BEEN DEFEATED

QUEST COMPLETE!

…

NEW QUEST ADDITION!!

…

WELCOME TRITON THE MER KING!!

Jazmel immediately sighed.

A hand rose from the pool, huge. Bigger than the Atlantean guards who had dwarfed Jazmel. The hand clutched the edge of the pool and soon a long arm pulled a torso up and then a head adorned with pearls, coral, and gold. A fantastic creation.