Echoes in a cave

BACK WITH THE OTHERS:

Kyuala, Terra and John are currently engaged in a battle with a few Darkcross guards, the large orc taking on multiple by herself while John and Terra focus on one each.

John puts his defence training, albeit limited, to good use, managing to deflect multiple attempts to end his life, focusing on waiting for an opening.

Eventually, the guard makes that key mistake, overextending on his attack, giving John a few second gap to take advantage of, which he does, thrust his sword upward into the guards torso, instantly killing him however he struggles to get the sword back out of the guard but as he does, he lifts his shield up just in time to block an attack from his left.

Terra thrusts her glowing staff forward, encapsulating the guard before John manages to get his sword out of the other man as he then strikes down the trapped guard.

"Thanks!" John says to Terra.

"That makes us even!" Terra responds with a little chuckle as they go over to Kyuala and help her out.

The trio now take on a guard each, Terra using the bottom of her staff, striking the Darkcross member with the bottom of it, Kyuala goes up against he bigger of the three guards, using her strength to just overbear the dark-orc with her brute power alone while John goes steel-for-steel with the pig-man ahead of him.

The trio of adventurers gets the upper hand, Terra managing to knock her opponent back and using her magic to throw him upward, cracking his head on the cave ceiling, that distraction gives John the opportunity to thrust, piercing the pig-mans chest, leaving only one attacker remaining.

Kyuala however didn't wait for any help, kicking the dark-orcs kneecap, sending it inward, causing him to drop his club, allowing her to cleave his head off with one clean swing.

The trio look amongst one another after their victory, smiles etched on their faces as Kyuala says, "I have to commend you on your fighting ability Terra, I don't know many mages who can fight like you do".

"Thank you, my mother was a monk before meeting my father so she taught me her fighting ways before-" Terra stops, obviously hurt by the mention of her mother.

"You needn't say more" Kyuala says while putting her hand on the smaller elf, trying to comfort her which Terra seems to appreciate.

The quiet, resting moment is interrupted as they hear more footsteps rushing toward them and so with a collective sigh, they ready their weapons.

The group of five rush into the chamber, weapons drawn as they charge at the trio, immediately, one is cut down as Kyuala swipes with her trusty axe, slicing the guards chest open before he slides across the room due to his momentum.

Next, Terra conjures another spell, creating a shield to protect them as more Darkcross members get to the chamber entrance but can't enter due to Terra's ward.

That's when a dark elf runs up to the ward, he then begins to coat his body in a red magic similiar to Ivellise's before bursting through and charging toward Terra.

John sees this and runs toward the dark elf, attempting o intercept him but he's stopped by two of the five that entered before the ward went up.

John parries an attack, disarming the guard on his left before knocking him down with his shield before focusing on the other attacker.

The dark elf then gets up to Terra and she begins o fend him off, keeping herself alive while also trying to concentrate on the ward so that it doesn't crumble and they become overrun.

She strikes with her staff, hitting him in the stomach before attacking the leg, following it up by lifting the staff up, hitting the man in the jewels, causing him to grab his groin in pain.

He is then swiftly dealt with as just like he bursts through the ward, a sword bursts through his body, causing him to fall onto the floor as Terra looks at the wielder of the sword and sees John, blood splattered on his chest as she sees the remains of the two guards he just dealt with.

"I think that means you owe me again" John says with a chuckle before rushing over to Kyuala, immediately making an impact as he cuts down one of her attackers before helping her deal with the other two.

"Fuck, these bastards are gettin' brave" Kyuala remarks, trying to catch her breath again as they head over to Terra as they see the Darkcross that we're previously stuck behind the ward have now vanished back into the cave system.

"Yeah, we really need to find Amilia and Lani, quickly" John says.

"Then let us not delay, more numbers means a better chance of getting out of this nightmare once and for all" Terra adds as the trio ready themselves to move once more.