Chapter 28: Functions Of Essence Runes
Meanwhile, hidden within the upper darkness of the cavern, another pair of eyes silently watched the battle unfold...
Those pair of eyes were emerald green, lazy and relaxed, carrying a perpetual amusement of someone who never truly took anything seriously.
Naturally, this pair of eyes belonged to the lazy youth from before.
He stood atop a jagged crimson outcrop protruding from the cavern wall like the fang of some buried titan.
Even while surrounded by gore, blood, and endless shrieks, he looked comfortable... And almost bored.
He had trailed behind the group since they walked into the cavern. At first, when he realized that the Sauryeans might be connected to this breeding nest, his first thought had been to intervene and rescue the group from the doom they are about to walk into...
But later, as he watched the battle between the Scaled Wights and the eight exiled, he realized that he might as well be worrying for nothing.
It seems that they were actually more than capable of taking care of themselves.
Naturally, he had also seen the robed figure; which further confirmed his conjecture about the involvement of the Sauryeans in this mountain...
But beyond that, he was pretty relaxed. Because while the group might struggle against the figure or it’s monsters; they were actually something that he could have ended long ago if he so wished with a single strike of his sword...
So for now, all he did was observe the group with a slight curiosity in his emerald eyes...
Below him, chaos had swallowed the whole chamber as the Scaled Wights rushed endlessly across the cavern while the grotesque monstrosity rampaged amongst the eight like a nightmare birthed from insanity itself...
Tentacles crashed against Soul Essences while scaled claws ripped through the ground as the creature battled them viciously.
And yet, through the barrage of attacks from the monstrosity and the Scaled Wights, the group still stood.
The playful youth actually admired their tenacity, especially the Knight’s.
From the moment he had seen Regaleon since the previous day, the youth had noticed something unique about him.
It was not his rusted Armour nor his plain Halberd that fascinated him; instead, it was Regaleon’s composure.
The youth noticed that even while fighting, the failed Knight continued observing. He made sure to analyze their strengths and the enemy’s weakness before battling while also calculating their chances of survival...
Most people panicked within the Nether Lands, yet Regaleon actually adapted. Like a battlefield commander moving with the rhythm of war itself.
The youth watched as Regaleon blocked another incoming tentacle strike...
BOOOOM!
The impact shook the cavern violently.
Stone exploded apart beneath the knight’s feet as the force sent him sliding backward across the fleshly ground...
At the same time, he saw two Scaled Wights lunge toward a little girl from behind...
Besides Regaleon, the youth had also kept am eye on this girl. Not because she was unique or strong, but because she was different.
The girl, who looked like she was in her early teens, turned out to be the only unawakened amongst the group.
This had made him wonder what circumstances could have caused her to be sent to the Nether Lands at such a young age.
Sure he was aware that the world doesn’t appreciate weakness, but the way he saw it, this girl couldn’t be described as "weak" yet since she haven’t awakened her Soul Essences.
Perhaps, there was a very interesting story behind her odd circumstance... Or perhaps, it might actually be the fault of her sister...
Speaking of her sister, the youth watched as the assassin girl appeared instantly to defend her younger one. Silver flashed...
SHING! SHING!!
And then, one creature lost it’s head while the other lost both arms. Yet despite the damage, the Scaled still continued to move...
The youth clicked his tongue irritably. "Persistent bastards!" He cursed under his breath.
Then, he watches as the fight escalated...
By now, the battle had already become increasingly dangerous. The biggest problem wasn’t merely the monstrosity anymore, it was the blood pool.
Every time a Scaled Wight died, their broken flesh and scattered blood would crawl unnaturally toward the scarlet pool beneath the cocoons.
And everytime this happened, the cocoons would pulse brighter as whatever was within them grows further.
The first monstrosity alone was already troublesome enough. If more appeared...
"Well..." The youth muttered lazily. "...that would suck for them."
Still, he made no effort to interfere.
There was a reason his companion had warned him repeatedly against involving himself with this group of arrivals, and he wasn’t about to get an earful just to hear about the reason again.
Besides, he wanted to see what the newcomers were truly capable of...
And so, the youth crossed his arms behind his head casually and continued watching...
Below him, it seems that the group was beginning to struggle.
Valmyr slammed his shield forward again...
BOOOM!
The Scaled before him reeled backward this time; but another instantly leapt onto his side, claws scratching across his beastskin armour.
"Damn pests!" He gritted his teeth frustratingly.
He then swung his Broadsword wildly and crushed it’s torso apart...
Meanwhile, Vaelorin continued to unleash torrents of flames to hold back the growing horde of Scaled Wights, but sweat had already begun dripping from his forehead...
Even Caelestra’s floating Coins were moving across the cavern haphazardly now...
Only Regaleon still maintained a semblance of calmness as he fought. Yet he couldn’t ignore the state of his peers.
He saw the mounting pressure posed by the Scaled Wights, the churning blood pool, and most importantly, the second cocoon that was beginning to open.
His expression hardened instantly as he knew they couldn’t continue like this...
A Scaled Wight lunged towards him...
SHING!
Regaleon split it apart with his Halberd before shouting. "Enough!"
The group instinctively turned toward him and even the Scaled pulsed momentarily.
Golden light flickered beneath the cracks of his rusted Armour as he shouted.
"Activate your Essence Runes!"
Then, the atmosphere changed instantly. Even the playful youth straightened slightly as he focused intently now...
Regaleon moved first.
He raised his silver Halberd before speaking words none of them truly understood, yet instinctively recognized it.
"Argent Tyr Valakor."
The Halberd exploded with silver radiance immediately.
At the same time, glowing runes ignited across the rusted Armour like ancient stars whose light haw been rekindled.
The pressure around Regaleon changed as it became overwhelming. For the briefest moment, a hint of shock and fear appeared within the monstrosity’s crimson eyes...
Then, Regaleon moved.
BOOOM!!!
The cavern floor shattered beneath his steps as he lunged at the creature explosively.
His Halberd cleaved downwarf toward the monstrosity and this time, the strike was different because it was reinforced by his Essence Rune "Silver Sheen".
The offensive power behind the Halberd amplified monstrously as the blade carved directly through one of the creature’s tentacles completely...
Normally, his Baron Tier Halberd haven’t dealt any damage to the monster previously, but now...
SHING!!!
Black blood erupted everywhere as the monstrosity shrieked in agony while reeling backward.
Immediately after, more Scaled Wights went after him. Like loyal soldiers trying to protect their commander.
But Regaleon didn’t stop.
He started carving out a path through the horde and every Scaled that he killed around him released crimson wisps that flower directly into his Armour...
Also, the more enemies that fell, the heavier his aura became as another Essence Rune "Conqueror’s Momentum" was activated.
His strikes became faster, sharper and crueler as he decimated Scaled after Scaled while moving through them like a battlefield tyrant...
Aureleah vanished next as darkness curled around her Cloak unnaturally.
"Nox Vel Vareth." She whispered.
The shadows beneath the Scaled suddenly rippled as she disappeared. Then, a Scaled shrieked as silver flashed across it’s torso...
SHING!
A dark mark appeared instantly as she activated her Essence Rune "Mark of Darkness."
The next strike landed precisely on a weak point as if the creature’s scales cracked part automatically to reveal it.
Before it could even react further, there was another silver flash and the creature fell with a thud.
Aureleah didn’t waste time as she vanished again... Then reappeared instantly behind another monster. The same thing occured as she killed it easily...
Then, she activated another Essence Rune "Bloodstep."
And from there, she moved through the battlefield like a phantom. Every thrown Dagger became a gateway and every shadow became her territory...
And just like that, Scaled Wights collapsed one after another with a precision so terrifying it bordered on unnatural...
Vaelorin slammed his Staff against the ground as he shouted. "Sol Ignavar!"
The runes on his crimson Staff erupted brightly and suddenly, blazing rings of fire began orbiting around him.
This was a function of his Essence Rune "Inferno Orbit."
The flames circled protectively like miniatured suns and every Scaled that attempted to approach him was immediately cooked to crisp...
Then he pointed his Staff forward and activated another Rune "Solar Lance."
A brilliant beam of condensed fire erupted outward as the concentrated heat pierced directly through multiple Scaled at once before exploding against the cavern wall behind them.
Then, the temperature within the chamber rose so sharply that even the blood pool began steaming...
Valmyr roared next.
Poor Valmyr had been stiffled since the beginning of the battle and now that there was a chance to let it all out, the failed Vanguard didn’t hesitate.
He shouted like a beast unleashed, "Durak Tharos!"
Silver runes spread across his Shield instantly as the failed Vanguard planted it into the ground.
Then he activated his Essence Rune "Mountain Stand" which anchored his body completely...
BOOOOM!
A Scaled slammed into him... And this time, Valmyr didn’t even blink.
Instead, the creature’s own bones cracked from the collision.
Valmyr grinned savagely as he swung his Broadsword deliberately. Destructive force accumulated upon the blade as he activated the Rune "Cataclysmic Strike."
Then...
BOOOOM!
The moment the sword landed, the Scaled Wight exploded apart completely alongside several others nearby...
Kaeloris adjusted his spectacles nervously while unrolling his scroll. Runes ignited across the parchment as he spoke, "Lexar Invictus."
Then, words appeared upon the scroll glowing with supernatural authority.
"Slow." Kaeloris muttered softly and instantly, every Scaled movements became sluggish.
Even the monstrosity felt it and Regaleon took that advantage to cut off a tentacle again.
Just like that, the pressure upon the group lessened tremendously...
Caelestra’s silver Coins floated around her as she spoke. "Auric Vey Solen."
Then, the silver Coins multiplied instantly before transforming into armoured silver warriors.
This was an ability of her Essence Rune "Coin Legion."
The silver constructs surged forward fearlessly and intercepted incoming Scaled Wights head-on.
At the same time, Caelestra touched five silver Coins and activated another Rune "Equivalent Exchange."
The Coins exploded into motes of light that flowed into her body. Strength flooded through her veins instantly and she slammed her ornate Treasure Chest into a Scaled...
BANG!
Instantly, the Wight was crushed to death...
Finally, Veyrath had stopped panicking. Though still visibly terrified, he raised both hands and shouted, "Verdanis Rootar!"
Massive roots burst from beneath the cavern floor. They were thicker, more flexible and stronger than before. This was a function of his Essence Rune "Root Dominion."
The roots wrapped around the Scaled violently, restraining them in place... Before constricting them to death.
Slowly, the tide of the battle changed once again as the group finally began fighting as true Awakeners.
The Scaled Wights were no longer overwhelming and even the monstrosity had begun to retreat under both Regaleon and Aureleah’s relentless assault.
By now, it has already lost four tentacles and was beginning to defend itself with it’s claws and teeth...
For the second time, victory seemed possible again...
Until, the robed figure messed it up once more.
Standing near the pool, the mysterious humanoid slowly raised a hand. It’s hidden gaze swept across the battlefield, then it also spoke it’s own runic phrase...
"Vhar’zen Morvak."
Then...
CRACK! CRACK!! CRACK!!! CRACK!!!
The second cocoon split open faster...
Then the third began to open...
Then the fourth...
Then the fifth...
The entire cavern trembled violently as more monstrosities began emerging from the bloody cocoons one after another...
Regaleon’s expression darkened. He wasn’t the only one because above them...
Even the playful youth’s smile slowly disappeared.
