against the shifting sands. Jon, ever the tacticia

the silence, "are we sticking to the o

ogy and Mage craftsmanship, humming faintly with latent energy. "Improvise? Again

It's not creativity that'll save us, it's p

his focus unyielding as he adjusted the straps of his gear. "Stakes?" he finall

isn't the time to second-guess. We know what we're up against, and we

e leader, trust each other, a

h static: each breath, each step, each motion charged with electricity. They came prepared however. Jon, the team's diversity man had cast a spell which gave them, and their gear by extension, insulatory properties.

horizon, noting the t

territory no

overhead, vast and foreboding, as the Cumulodrake descended from the storm-laden skies. Its roar shattered the sile

ery scout they sent, all the gear they dropped which they hoped to use later, eve

arked, his command cut

and years of battle read

fully extended. Its scales, a polished, stormy gray that shimmered like flickering lightning within thunderclouds. The edges of its wings were semi-translucent, with veins of glowing, blui

its eyes burned with a deep, cerulean hue that gave the impression of staring into a calm before

r of Knights, and its teeth gleamed like icy stalactites. A faint, c

ed from the essence

dious and calculative, this b

we

as off....' S

be weary...

y aura teeming with trepidation. Even weirder was the fact it hadn't uttered a word, only letting out growls and

d it upon reaching the island, it did so out of some deep rooted fear. A thought flashed through Sabbath's mind before fading a second later due to th

e could do such a num

remained, could

rwhelming, in practically every aspect, even when it wasted its own energy being more weary than it had any place bein

ng light, their surfaces rippling with energy as they absorbed the first gust of the dragon's gale. Angelie darted fo

ght." she sa

na, weaving through the air to ensnare the beast's mo

de cover fire, his projectiles imbued with explosive force, and a little surprise for the Cumulodrake, each shot timed to e

emed to anticipate their every action. Paying dearly for every mistake. Deep gashes, bloodshot eyes, batt

ht not as individuals but as a single, unbreakable unit, t

ugged off, each spell largely ineffe

displayed, having resistance to everything.... their very existence seemed to repel every force, as if going against nature its

he pinnacle of power any beast could h

5; Uny

Sure, there were slight differences in some, but the base principle remained the same throughout. Within the Knightdom, at the lowest level, you had

surable - only an Avalon could kill an Avalon.... or the other Kingdom's equivalent of one. That is, supposing Avalons could actually

the third tier. Scaling backward from the pinnacle, they were no Av

of growin

Axioms 1, 2,

est suprema, Diviner/E

sei, Ashigaru, H

Templars, Bishops/Em

to be out of the weary Drake's immediate range, but close enough for him to not lose momentum before impact

of glistening scales, maiming of once pristine flesh, the crunching of adama

t have come from any living creature overpowere

uised from the encounter with the Fiend, and this was with measures prepared beforehand so they wouldn't

Est suprema, An Ashigaru and t

othing simp

king point, their battered bodies looking no different from poorl

make them wait long. It erupted from its dazed state in a whirlwind of fury, its head snapping and snarling, its massive tail lashing

e had tru

×

they advanced, the terrain slowly lost its desert-esque features, the once barren desert gave way to jagged outcroppings of obsidian rock, their surfaces glistening as if perpetually wet.

nd all around them. Behind her, the others moved in practiced formation, their years of camaraderie evident in

uman known as Angelie said, her voice

bser

ine of the charged air, the vibration of footsteps, the faint metallic tang of weapons suffused with power. T

have they not done enou

erulean eyes narrowed as it tilted its head, the static coursing through its horns sparking faintly. These hum

as far more

e of arrogance. The humans were a distraction, an irritant. The true nightmare still lurked in its memories - a shadow far deeper than any t

d, not the hubris it felt before.... before. Memories of that encounter still plagued it. While it didn't fear

ings flickered faintly, absorbing ambient energy from the storm overhead. Every crackling bolt of

liar territory within its cave. However, the island itself was his,

This is courage.'

lbeit few - before, simply known as "The Bound". He knew not what qualified them for this sigil, nor what it enta

in rank, but in the confidence only seasoned warriors possessed. The

deal.' The Fiend thought, calculating how long they would survive agains

he mountain's threshold, the cavern yawning above them like a beast'

s voice firm as all hell

dy to lay siege against the opp

ake had made