Chapter 77: Bandits Breach
Bert huffs om another breath as his weapon slams into the ground, a small splash of crimson splashing his ankles before he stumbles out of the way of a leaping rubbery cat. Anissa dodges past Bertram's legs before stumbling backwards as two weak attacks break through her evasion, the adorable eyes of small white mushroom creatures staring innocently at her while they merge back into the horde dragging rubbery mallets. Stein grunts as another phantasmal hand rips through his arm, a small glob of blue in its palm as the wraith howls in anger and devours the piece of mana before being blasted to rapidly fading pieces.
"Yes my soldiers! Break them! Rend them! Make them regret challenging us! Make them rue the day they stepped foot within our hallowed halls!" Screams the Despot as a heart rending melody drifts through the room, the voice of an angel merging with the phantom instruments. It sings of peace in suffering, of glory in death, and of happiness merged with vengeance.
{Banshee's Lullaby has taken effect! All resistances are reduced by 10%. All mental and psychic damage and effects are increased by 5%. All allies of the same gender as the banshee are immune to these effects.}
"Damn ghost broad! We should have sold her when we had a damn chance instead of holding out!" Screams Bertram angrily as he splits a mimic in two before using the handle of his axe to bash in the skull of a scritcher. As Bertram turns to block a charging plant creature he flinches as spectral claws sink into his side. Glancing behind him he see's the ethereal form of a scritcher spirit fading back into the throng of enemies. Growling in frustration, Bertram swings his axe like a blender, splashes of flesh, blood, and bone dust coating his body as he continues deeper into the mass of enemies. His howls of fury reach a crescendo as a towering giant made of bone and blood towers before him, its hands reaching to him with fingers made from sharpened bone blades. Bertram glowers at the new foe and attempts to take its arm but grunts in surprise as the creature deftly moves from the strike before slowly reaching towards him again.
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'Looks like the boss failed his sanity check.' I say while watching Bertram swing his axe towards Anissa once more, the swift assassin dodging the titanic blow as it pulverizes a Hammer Spore servant behind her.
"Yea, hopefully it sticks because even on his own he's worth a solid A rank adventurer. His class is some kind of evolved barbarian or warrior and that axe is enchanted so it can deal with ghost and insubstantial enemies.. Anissa is taking it like a pro though and hopefully if she survives will see reason. Having someone of her caliber would give us an edge in information gathering. My biggest fear is the stitched up guy. He's throwing out dark magic like a lich and he's healing himself by killing. If he isn't a necro he's something close and thats something that needs death by fire. Holy fire. And dipped in acid." Mutters Tilly as she flinches while watching Stein reach out with a hand made of shadows and skewer a wraith, its face screaming in tortured silence before its fades into death and its respawn timers begins counting down.
"Boss, half our people are down out there, most lower levels but still a few higher as well. Spooky and the psycho priest still have hours until they can come back as well. We've focused us three as well as our remaining forces in the core room and living quarters. Gratin has set traps throughout the floor and Narghal has inscribed rune work on top of his work. I've managed to summon a few soot sprites to form a forge but they can do minor fire damage as well and have been posted where useful. Orders?" Spouts Grabba as Gratin and Narghal salute from behind him, each looking bother determined and exhausted as they wait for further commands.
"Fraz what kind of support can you lay down and if it comes to it can you fight and protect the noncombatants?" Tilly asks as the Myconid straightens and fidgets before nodding.
"You know I don't dig the violence dudes but...I saw childrens man.....like....tiny people....so yea....I'll blast these assholes if I need to...just....try not to make me need to cool?" Fraz mumbles as he begins taking the round balls from his sides and sticking them to random parts of his outfit.
"Just remember bro...if I hafta to blast them....just be ready for the aftermath..." whispers Fraz as he begins making his way to the safe area, his head hung low as he releases a huff of breath.
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"Damnit Bert would you wake the fuck up and stop making my job harder!" Shouts Anissa as she dodges another axe blade before planting a dagger between the eyes of a scritcher trying to sneak up behind her. Looking past the falling corpse she see's Stein dispatch another creature with that strange shadow arm as a ghastly smile stretches across his stitched face.
"Have to finish this quick before that psychopath actually wakes up and does real damage to everyone." Anissa mutters under her breath before darting towards Bertram's Shadow, her body sinking into the darkness as she fades from view before reappearing behind Lafey and slamming both daggers to the hilt through the banshee's chest.
"Sneaky Bitch! Will take more than that to silence my voice!" Screams Lafey before releasing an earthshaking screech, every living creature grabbing their ears in pain as Stein begins mowing down the cowering creatures. As the two women begin to fight in earnest the forms of Stein and Bertram begin making their way towards the fighting pair, one holding the rictus of a grin on his stitched face while the other holds a look of murderous rage as the bodies begin piling behind each of them.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone