A lightning raid

When the light fades, you find yourself in a now familiar grove outside the capital. You look around to see that everyone is still with you. Most of the girls have made a trip like this before, but it’s clearly still disorienting. Samus, meanwhile, seems to be gathering his strength, and looks at you.

“A moment for me to focus, and then I’ll bring us into the palace. Be prepared for guards. I’m trying to get us right outside the door where my father and Victoria are held, but there are new wards in place. This will be difficult.”

You nod, drawing Caliburn and stretching your limbs. The others prepare as well, with Ferra shifting to her combat form, Sarah hefting Forgebreaker, and the others readying weapons or abilities as they can. Most notably, Alex conjures flames, her black eyes glowing slightly yellow, and then the flames turn cold and blue, her eyes shifting colors to almost pure black. Dismissing her magic, she grins and gives you a thumbs up.

Samus sighs. “I am ready. Prepare yourselves.”

You tense as there’s another flash of light, and as it fades you find yourself in a hallway you remember. This is where Victoria presented you to the great one. However, the door you remember has been replaced with one of solid metal, engraved with arcane runes. And in front of the door are a pair of guards, wearing heavy plate armor and carrying long halberds.

They don’t even have time to react to your arrival. Ferra lunges at them, lightning fast, her bladed arms tearing through the softer armor at the neck of the first guard. Black ichor spurts they are decapitated, the headless body dropping to the ground with a clatter. At the same time, you rush forward as well, a surge of speed and power from your armor enhancing your reactions. With a thrust, your blade smashes through the closed faceplate of the guard’s helmet, killing them instantly. When you yank Caliburn free, they also drop like a puppet with its strings cut.

Ignoring the bodies, Samus steps close to the door, examining the runes. He shakes his head. “Niran warded this specifically to keep me out. We’ll never get through this before more arrive.”

Melora places a hand on the wall near the door, closing her eyes. “I can feel them both within. They are alive, but…suffering. And unconscious.”

Samus nods. “Niran is allowing the corruption to gain strength. They don’t have much time.”

Surprisingly, it’s Alex who steps forward. “Everyone get back, I’ve got an idea!”

You all move down the hall, as she holds her hands against the wall. Even standing away, you can feel the heat radiating off her as she channels fire into the stone. Very soon, the wall begins to glow. Some of it even melts, as she heats it more and more, a large section of the wall glowing white hot.

Nadia grips your arm. “She can’t possibly melt the wall fast enough. It’s too thick for that.”

You nod. “Agreed, but I don’t know what else to do.”

As you speak, Alex steps back, nodding. She takes a few steps towards you, winks, and turns back to the glowing wall. She gathers herself, frost appearing on the floor by her feet as she does. Then, thrusting her arms forward, she hurls a ball of cold at the glowing patch of wall.

The wall explodes, shards of rock clattering everywhere. Grinning, Alex skips over to the hole she’s blown in the wall, and gestures grandly towards it.