Solar Flare [-200 Goodwill Points]
A blazing spear of concentrated sunlight shot across the city, slamming directly into the giant’s chest. The creature staggered back, roaring in pain as the light seared its crimson flesh. For a mont, it looked as though the attack had worked.
But then, the unthinkable happened. The wound didn’t just regenerate; the crimson veins around it pulsed violently, seeming to absorb the holy magic. The flesh knit back together, stronger and darker than before. The giant roared again, this ti with renewed vigor.
"It... it ate the spell," Lila stamred, her face pale.
Riku stared, a cold knot forming in his stomach. His most powerful light-based attacks were not only ineffective, they were making the creature stronger. His earlier intuition was correct.
’System,’ he ntally commanded, his mind racing. ’Analyze the target. Why are my attacks failing?’
A blue panel shimred into his vision.
Ding!
[Analysis: The ’Creep Giant’ is a prototype vessel directly linked to the ’Source’. It is sustained by the Source’s energy. It cannot be permanently destroyed by conventional ans while the Source remains active.]
’So, to kill this thing,’ Riku thought grimly, ’I have to complete the ’Ending It’ quest and destroy the source?’
[Affirmative, Host. The key is the solution.]
Just then, the sounds of marching and battle cries filled the air. The Royal Army had arrived. Ranks of armored soldiers flooded the streets, led by a furiously glowing High Archon Seraphina. She, along with the Fla Matron and other high-ranking priests, began erecting massive barriers of light, trying to contain the monster.
But as they engaged the giant, hordes of smaller, Creep-infested creatures—mutated dogs and monstrous rats—poured out from the alleyways, swarming the soldiers. The army was instantly bogged down, unable to focus on the primary threat. Seraphina and the others hurled holy fire at the giant, but just like Riku’s spell, their attacks only seed to enrage and empower it.
Riku knew he had to leave. He was the only one who could end this. He pulled out a communication stone. "Seraphina! Can you hear ?"
Her voice ca back, strained over the sounds of battle. "Riku! Our magic is useless! It’s absorbing the Light!"
"I know," Riku replied. "Listen to . I know how to stop it, but not from here. I have to destroy its power source. I need you to buy ti. Keep it distracted, no matter what."
"Buy you ti?" she shouted back. "Look at this thing! We can barely hold our ground!"
"I’m sending you so power," Riku said, his voice a firm command. "It won’t be enough to kill it, but it should be enough to hold it off for a while. Get ready."
He closed his eyes and focused, pouring a massive amount of his goodwill into a single, potent enchantnt.
Blessing of the Divine Champion [-10,000 Goodwill points]
From the heavens above the chaotic battlefield, a brilliant column of pure, white-gold light descended, slamming directly into Seraphina. She cried out as an unimaginable power surged through her. Her battle vestnts began to glow, her silver sword blazed with holy fire, and a palpable aura of divine strength erupted from her.
She looked up towards Humr Manor, her eyes wide with stunned disbelief.
"Did you... did you do it?" She asked, completely shocked by the newfound power coursing through her veins.
"No ti to talk. Do your best to stall that thing. I will find the way to stop it."
With Seraphina now empowered and engaging the giant in a spectacular new battle, Riku turned to his own task. He hovered in the air, his eyes fixed on the rampaging giant.
Tracker’s Scent [-20 Goodwill Points]
He cast the spell, not on a piece of clothing, but on the creature itself. For a mont, nothing happened. Then, a single, faint silvery trail, visible only to him, materialized in the air. It connected to the giant and went sowhere deep into the city.
"That’s it," Riku whispered. "The source."
He flew back to the balcony of Humr Manor, where his friends and the other guests were watching the battle in horror.
"Everyone, listen to !" Riku commanded, his voice cutting through the panic. He turned to the Underbelly folk. "Elder Borin, Elder Thrain, gather your people. You are not safe here. I’m sending you to Elowen, where my village’s wards will protect you. You will be safe there as the village should still be invisible due to the barrier I had set up earlier."
Before they could protest, he turned to his companions. "Lila, Lysaria, Elara—you’re going with them. Your fight is not here. Your safety is what matters most to ."
"Riku, no!" Lila cried out. "We fight with you!"
"Not this ti," Riku said, his tone final. He turned to the Humrs. "Marquis Gregor, Charles, you and your family should go as well."
"Absolutely not," Marquis Gregor said, his voice a firm rumble. "This is our city. Our ho. We will not abandon it. We will stand and fight with our soldiers."
"Riku, this is my ho as well." Lysaria tried to protest.
"No can do. You have to go with the others, but I promise you that everything will be ok." Riku did not budge this ti. He did not want to take any risk.
He gathered Lila, Lysaria, and Elara close for a final, urgent farewell. "I have to go," Riku said softly to Lila, his voice filled with an emotion he rarely showed.
"Be safe, Riku," she whispered, her own eyes wet. "Just... co back. Otherwise...otherwise.. sob" Lila was about to break into tears when Riku went forward to cover her mouth. He lifted her face gently, and looked her in the eyes.
"I promise," he said. "Soon, we will all be back at Elowen, enjoying our peaceful life."
Lysaria stepped forward. "May the Light guide your path, Riku."
Elara simply nodded, noticing the charm with her mother’s spirit tied to Riku’s wrist. "I will be waiting for you and my mother. Promise that you will co back safely," she said, her voice small but strong.
"I promise. Rember, use the stones and call if anything happens. Do not shy away."
Riku gave them one last look, morizing their faces. He then stepped back, raising his hand towards them and the assembled people from the Underbelly.
Mass Teleport. Very Long Distance [-5,000 Goodwill Points]
Target: Elowen.
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