The forest, once teeming with the shrieks and snarls of vampire spawn, was now hauntingly silent. The trio pressed on, the crunch of their boots on snow the only sound accompanying their trek. With the undead horde mysteriously vanished, their pace quickened significantly. The earlier battle left them drained but resolute, and the eerie quiet seemed almost like a reprieve as the dense trees began to thin.
Kael, walking a step behind Lorelai, couldn’t keep his eyes off her. Her angelic form lingered in his mind—a vision of radiant light and divine grace. Every movement she made now seemed imbued with otherworldly elegance, even as she trudged through the snow. His admiration had grown into something deeper, and his thoughts swirled with unspoken feelings. He shook his head, trying to focus, but the image of her wings spread in celestial glory was seared into his mind.
Thrax, however, wasn’t oblivious to Kael’s lingering gaze. The dragonkin’s sharp eyes narrowed as he marched alongside them. His axe rested on his shoulder, frost still faintly shimmering along its edge. "Kael," he rumbled, breaking the quiet. “You’ve been staring at her since the spawn left. Maybe keep your focus on the mission instead of your daydreams.”
Kael stiffened, his hand instinctively tightening around his bow. “I’m perfectly focused, Thrax,” he replied tersely. “Maybe you should worry about yourself.”
Thrax stopped abruptly, his towering frame casting a shadow over the beastman. “You’ve got a lot to say for someone who hasn’t stopped gawking. If you’ve got something to prove, say it now, or let’s settle this properly.”
Lorelai, who had been walking ahead, whirled around, her eyes flashing with irritation. “Enough, both of you!” Her voice carried an authority that silenced the tension immediately. She glared at Thrax first. “We don’t have time for your posturing.” Then her gaze shifted to Kael, hardening slightly. “You stop ogling me and focus. Raziel’s watching, and every moment we waste arguing could cost us.”
Thrax grunted, shouldering his axe and stomping ahead without another word. Kael sighed, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he avoided Lorelai’s gaze. “Sorry,” he muttered, falling back in line.
The path ahead was mercifully clear, and soon the trio emerged from the forest into an open expanse. Before them loomed an enormous castle, its obsidian walls jagged and foreboding, like the fangs of a great beast. Frost clung to the stone, glittering under the pale light of the rising moon. Massive towers stretched skyward, their spires piercing the heavens like black needles. The air grew colder as they approached, each breath misting before their faces.
At the base of the castle’s towering front doors, two enormous knockers shaped like vampire skulls stared back at them, their hollow eyes glinting in the dim light. Thrax stepped forward first, his hand brushing over the cold metal. “Subtle,” he muttered, grasping one of the knockers and slamming it against the door. The sound echoed like a thunderclap, reverberating through the still air though the door remained shut. "It can't be this cliche could it?" Thrax thought to himself as he allowed one of the vampire skulls to puncture his skin, a small amount of blood oozed into the fang, the skull changing color and the door opening up.
The dim light of flickering torches illuminated the cavernous entry hall. The walls were adorned with tapestries depicting scenes of battle and bloodlust, each thread woven with a sinister elegance. A massive chandelier hung precariously above them, its crimson crystals casting a hellish glow that danced across the polished marble floor.
“Stay close,” Lorelai whispered, her voice steady but low. Her sword, now glowing faintly with divine light, illuminated the immediate area. “Raziel’s castle wont be as straight forward as we think, will start the moment we—”
The ground beneath them trembled. With a deafening crack, the floor split, forcing the trio to leap aside as a gaping chasm yawned where they had stood moments before. Out of the darkness rose a creature, its form twisted and grotesque. It stood on six spindly legs, its elongated body covered in slick, black scales. Eyes—dozens of them—opened along its sides, each one glowing with malevolent intelligence.
“Ah, you’ve met my sentinel,” Raziel’s voice purred, echoing from unseen corners. “Let’s see if you’re worthy to climb any higher.”
The creature lunged without warning, its many legs skittering across the broken floor with horrifying speed. Thrax roared, meeting its charge head-on. His axe cleaved into one of its limbs, severing it cleanly, but the monster retaliated with a whip-like tail that sent him sprawling. Kael’s arrows flew true, embedding themselves in its glowing eyes, but the beast seemed only enraged by the assault.
“Focus on its legs!” Lorelai commanded, darting forward with a speed that defied her human form. Her blade flashed, carving into the creature’s joints with precision. Holy light sizzled against its dark flesh, and it let out a keening wail that shook the walls.
Thrax was back on his feet in an instant, his rage fueling a relentless assault. He hacked at the creature’s remaining legs, ignoring the blood trickling from a gash on his forehead. Kael provided cover, his arrows striking any limb that reared toward his companions.
Finally, with a final, desperate cry, Lorelai plunged her sword into the creature’s core. A burst of radiant energy exploded outward, incinerating the beast in a blinding flash. When the light faded, only ashes remained, scattered across the fractured floor.
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The trio stood panting, their injuries minor but their exhaustion threatened to rise to the predominant sensation. Raziel’s laugh echoed once more, this time slower, more deliberate. “Impressive,” he mused. “That was merely the opening act. Climb, little mortals. I’ll be waiting at the summit.”
The floor reformed beneath their feet, and a staircase spiraled upward into the shadows. Lorelai sheathed her sword, her face grim. “No turning back now,” she said, leading the way.
As they ascended, each step echoed with the weight of the trials ahead. Raziel’s castle promised only more horrors, but the trio’s resolve burned brighter than ever. Together, they climbed, their fates entwined with the darkness waiting above.
They waited, weapons ready, the tension thick between them. Lorelai stood at the center, her blade drawn, while Kael nocked an arrow and Thrax gripped his axe tightly. Time seemed to stretch, the silence amplifying every small sound—the rustle of the wind, the distant creak of ice shifting.
Finally, a low groan emanated from the doors as they began to creak open, revealing a sliver of darkness beyond. Cold air rushed out, carrying with it the faint scent of blood and decay. The trio exchanged a glance, their resolve hardening as they stepped forward into the yawning mouth of the castle.
“Welcome,” came a voice from within, smooth and mocking. It carried through the shadows, filling the air with a palpable weight. “You’ve done well to make it this far. But your trials are only beginning.”
The doors slammed shut behind them, sealing them in Raziel’s domain.
There stood a monstrosity that stood over twelve feet tall, its grotesque form a patchwork of twisted flesh and sinew. Stitched seams crisscrossed its body, the blackened threads struggling to hold together the mismatched limbs and torsos of countless victims. Muscle and sinew bulged unnaturally under its pale, mottled skin, and patches of decay revealed exposed bone beneath.
Its head was an amalgamation of features: one eye was missing entirely, while the other glowed a sickly green. A jagged mouth stretched impossibly wide, exposing uneven rows of teeth that dripped with an ichorous fluid. Massive arms, each ending in jagged claws, twitched spasmodically as though barely under the control of the creature’s limited intelligence. A faint hum of necromantic energy emanated from it, the sickly green veins running beneath its skin pulsing in rhythm with its heavy, labored breaths.
As the trio stood frozen, Raziel’s voice echoed through the chamber, mocking and cold. “Behold my craft, mortals. A marvel of death given purpose. You’ll find it far less forgiving than my other servants”
The golem roared, a guttural, bone-shaking sound, and lurched forward with terrifying speed.
The creature’s first attack was devastatingly fast for its size. Its claws lashed out at Lorelai, who managed to deflect the blow with her glowing blade, sparks flying as steel met supernatural strength. She slid back from the force, her boots leaving marks in the stone floor as she was nearly sent flying, “Keep moving! Its way stronger than it looks!” she shouted, darting to the side.
Kael, already on the move, loosed an arrow aimed for the exposed seam along the creature’s shoulder. The arrow struck true, the impact tearing through the stitching and causing the arm to hang awkwardly. The golem didn’t seem to notice or care, swinging the damaged limb with as much force as before.
Thrax roared, his axe gleaming with frost as he charged. “Let’s see if this thing feels pain!” he bellowed, his strike cleaving into the creature’s leg. The axe bit deep, black ichor spraying across the floor as the golem stumbled. Before Thrax could withdraw, the monster lashed out with its massive arm, catching the dragonkin in the chest and sending him flying into a stone pillar.
“Thrax!” Lorelai called, her voice tinged with worry. She didn’t have time to check on him as the golem turned its attention to her. It charged, its lumbering steps shaking the ground. Lorelai dodged to the side, her blade slashing at the creature’s exposed flank. Divine light seared the corrupted flesh, eliciting a monstrous howl as the golem swung wildly in retaliation.
Kael darted around the edges of the fight, his sharp eyes scanning for weaknesses. He nocked a trio of arrows in quick succession, each aimed at the creature’s remaining seams. The arrows struck with precision, splitting threads and causing one of the golem’s arms to dangle uselessly. Still, the creature pressed on, seemingly fueled by rage and dark magic rather than logic or pain.
Thrax rose from the rubble, blood dripping from a gash above his eye. “That all you’ve got?” he snarled, gripping his axe tightly. Now that he was inside a castle, he changed tactics, he ice cold axe was now coated in a searing blue flame as he charged again, this time aiming for the creature’s other leg. His strike shattered bone and tore through flesh, bringing the golem to one knee. Lorelai tried to pin it down with [Oppression] but she could tell immediately that it was either too strong or had some magic resistance. If she had to guess, it was both.
“Now!” Lorelai shouted, her sword blazing with radiant energy. She leaped onto the creature’s back, driving her blade deep into the base of its neck. The golem roared, its body convulsing as holy light spread from the wound, searing through its unnatural form.
The creature, thrashing wildly, tried to dislodge her. Its remaining arm swung upward, but Kael, anticipating the move, fired an arrow into the exposed muscle of the limb, causing it to falter. Thrax followed up with a devastating overhead strike, his axe cleaving through the golem’s skull with a sickening crunch, the decayed flesh started to burn independantly.
The golem shuddered, its body trembling violently as the necromantic energy binding it unraveled. With one final, deafening roar, the creature collapsed, the green light fading from its eyes. The room fell silent except for the labored breathing of the trio as they watched the fallen golem burn to ashes in an azure flame.
Bloodied but victorious, the group exchanged weary glances. Lorelai wiped ichor from her blade, her expression grim. “Not sure how many more trials Raziel has for us, but this is exhausting,” she said, her voice steady despite the tension in the air.
Kael retrieved his arrows, glancing at Lorelai with a hint of admiration. “If that was just the beginning, we’ll need to rest here for a bit, I'm not sure we're quite ready to move right now.”
Thrax grunted, leaning on his axe. “Good thing we’ve got more than that, then.”
Raziel’s mocking laughter echoed through the chamber. “A commendable effort, mortals. Climb higher if you dare. I’ll be waiting.”
The trio steeled themselves as the floor beneath their feet began to shift, revealing a spiraling staircase leading upward into the shadowy depths of Raziel’s castle, lets level before continuing, that will give us a break. Lorelai was granted three stat points with her level up and put one into INT, END and one into STR, she also got a rank up to her smite ability since she has had to use it continuously on this journey.
"What does rank two give me?" She thought as she brought up her status sheet.
class: Martial Force
Agi - 24
Will - 22
End - 21
Int- 20
Lightning Animus: Scarlet Thunderbird
Aura of Purity - emanate a protective aura that radiates from you granting allies protection and curing against poison, charm effects, and status ailments such as paralysis and petrification. Cures minor curses.
Bolt Slash/Piercer: A slash(sword)/Punch (Spear) that sends out lightning/radiant magic attack from a weapon. Small chance of paralysis effect, duration 1.5 s
Gravity Slash/Piercer: The slash presses down, the punch presses to a wall or other object. Str of gravity effect coordinates with WILL stat.
Daylight(light magic)- illuminates dark areas, weakens undead, and dispels magical darkness below a certain level/tier
Zakir- large bolt of lightning shot with two fingers, high piercing effect
Oppression- greatly increase the gravitational force in an aoe
Gravity Centrifuge-you create a focal point to create your gravitational pull point. Any enemy within a fifteen meter radius is pulled towards the center. The closer to the center, the stronger the pull. The ball of gravity explodes at the end of the spell dealing damage proportional to proximity to the center
Repulse- can repel or pull any metal object under the effects of lightning clad
Weight Manipulation (upgrade pending)- Alter the weight of yourself or target, concentration required. Drastic changes are available at a higher tier
Spatial Storage: Provides a pocket dimension to store non-living things in, the size of the space is dependent upon your INT stat.
Rapid thrusts - Give numerous quick thrusts, number of thrusts dependent upon AGI stat power of thrust dependent upon STR stat
Dash(Rank II)- rapidly increase movement speed for up to 2 meters cd 15 seconds. Speed of dash is dependent upon AGI stat, distance is dependent upon STR stat. At a small mana cost create an after-image to confuse enemies
Counterstrike- Parry and counter strike with a higher chance to critical. crit chance dependent upon WILL stat, damage dependent upon STR
Smite - Coats armaments in divine energy to augment weapon damage.
Affinities: holy, radiant, light, lightning, gravity, spacetime, electromagnetism
basic skills- dash unarmed combat
Swordsmanship: Diamond Cutter: Dragonslaying Sword (second form)
Spearmanship: Spear of the Divine: Precision and Punishing (second form)
unique talent - shapeshifting (human only)
