Percy bounded from monster to monster till he escaped this level. At least that's what he told himself.
The crystal beasts were likely guarding the center of the temple which was ahead of him, so all he needed to do was not waste ti fighting and just move to the end of the maze.
The only unpredictable factor was dodging the golden beams that so of the beasts released and watching out for the refractions those beams created when they bounced off the other crystal monsters.
For so reason, not all of them could use this power, and he assud it was limited to specific ages of these beasts, based on the passing eyetest he did.
But he didn't have much ti to do a small ecological study on them; he was racing against ti to find a way to help Thalos, who was up there fighting a Rank 4 spiritmancer.
And Hugo and George couldn't be doing that good either, considering that Griffon and Sebas had to be Rank 3 or so.
Viper was Rank 3 too, despite how easily Thalos whooped him. And Hugo was just Rank 2, likely the sa with George.
He slipped off a wet piece of crystal, and the world spun in his vision as he fell.
Dammit
He summoned rope from his storage and quickly lassoed it around one of the monsters to swing over to the next.
The air behind him roars as a column of golden light nearly turned him into burnt chicken.
With an excited whoop, he released the rope, riding the montum to land on top of another crystal monster.
His enhanced abilities were so fun to use.
Not enough to fight higher-ranked individuals yet, but as they grew, he would only get better and better.
His [Dragon Fighting Spirit] already helped him keep up with Sebas' attacks. One day he would beat Sebas senseless.
Hell, it might just be today.
He was finally getting closer to the end of the tunnel. He landed on top of one of the crystal beasts, spotting a smaller cave entrance—one the crystal beasts couldn't enter and were guarding.
Another beam of light at him was fired at him, but this ti there was nowhere to jump to.
Not good.
He summoned his Spellbolt and released a disabling shot.
CRACK!
A blue flash of circular light t the golden beam halfway, and they exploded into a multicolor plu of heat and light. Percy got down as the light washed over him.
He couldn't move yet because the mont he got down from this, he had to sprint towards the entrance.
The monsters were big, and their steps carried them a lot farther than his. If they caught up, he would be trampled.
He decided to shoot one of the crystal beasts and see what happened. He would definitely not use a lethal shot because it would just bounce back. So he aid and released a disabling shot.
The blue sphere of light streaked forward but popped like a soap bubble against the reflective armor of the crystal beast, scattering blue dust.
In return, they all fired at him, and he was forced to jump to the next beast over, switching his Spellbolt for the rope in his storage, which he wrapped around the crystal beast.
He swung through the air and landed on its side, hidden from most of the beasts.
But the monster he was riding didn't want him there and started charging towards the wall.
Gonna slam against the wall? Be my guest.
He dismissed the rope and jumped off at the last mont, kicking off the wall to get closer to the small cave entrance.
"Thanks for helping get close!" He yelled before running.
Multiple beams of light converged and ca right at him. A golden shower of light that blinded him. The air boiled as the beams ca down on him.
Their last attempt to stop him.
Percy resummoned his Spellbolt and fired the last three shots in it—all disabling shots that made the golden beams explode.
Then he pushed harder towards the entrance as two more beams ca down and crystal beasts charged towards him, each step shaking the ground.
The beams exploded behind him, and he jumped into the entrance just as a foot was about to co down on him.
He rolled and let out a crazed laugh as his body filled with relief and excitent. His heart was pounding like nothing he had felt before.
"It's like running with the bulls, only just a bit more dangerous."
He only had a second to relax before the situation ca back for him.
"Who are you?" a voice asked, jolting him from his lying position.
He looked up at the dark cavern and living rocks. These were the smaller versions of the crystal monster outside, still covered in small bits of dark rock as they shuffled around a small altar at the center of the room.
On the altar, wearing a pristine white dress, was a little girl with brown hair tied in braids. Her face and body were pale and gaunt like she hadn't drunk water in years.
She looked at him with empty eyes, like she couldn't believe he was real. For a mont, he was confused, then he rembered why he was here.
Ramona.
He promised Philip that he would save her, and here he was.
"My na's Percy," he said calmly. "I'm here to help."
Ramona flinched from his gaze like it was painful, looking down at the floor.
"Did the elder send you? I'm almost done; soon I will control the spirit energy. I will start the ritual. I just..."
"No, I'm here to stop the ritual. I'm here to save you."
She just stared at him, her breath rattling through the small cave.
"?"
"Yes, Philip sent ," he said, getting closer and pulling her off the altar.
"Philip… Philip." Her eyes searched the ground, filled with intense confusion. "Wait! Stop."
She pushed him off with surprising strength, her breath growing more frantic by the second.
"I'm here to save Philip. I must complete the ritual!"
"Philip is dead, killed by the sa people that are forcing you to perform a ritual," Percy murmured. "They didn't care for his safety, and now they don't care about yours. But Philip sent to give you a chance."
Ramona shook her head, body shaking like she would fall apart, unwilling tears falling from her eyes.
"No, no, no. We're trying to save everyone—from sickness, old age, health, poverty. This ritual will strip us of suffering. It'll bring forth our protector. It'll—"
"Turn us all to sand?" Percy said firmly. "I'll be the first to tell you that whatever misguided thoughts Sebas has about salvation, none of us want it. What you're summoning is a weapon—one that will kill you when it's born."
"Then so be it!" Ramona said suddenly, clenching her teeth. "I'm tired. Let… let the last thing I do with my life bring salvation."
Her hands began to dissolve into sand, dark eyes staring into his soul. Percy narrowed his eyes and summoned Cloudeater to his waist.
"I won't let Philip down and I won't let that bastard Sebas win. So hold on to your head, I'll try not to hurt you too much."
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