The first thing that Dallion saw once his petrification subsided was the ground. Even with Lux’s current level, it took a while for Dallion to return. Thankfully, the firebird had let him hit the ground before starting the process. The dartblade—Lux’s new home—was somewhat more difficult to fly with, though that wasn’t its main purpose. Dallion had put in a lot of effort to reforge the weapon as well as link a set of bolts, specifically so he could fight crackligns and other Star-spawn.

You feeling okay, boss? Lux chirped enthusiastically as color got restored to Dallion.

Yeah. Thanks, Lux.

The gorgon who had petrified Dallion didn’t seem to care what was going on below, joining in the fight against the shardflies. Unlike people, the insects couldn’t be petrified and had to be dealt with the old-fashioned way. What made it difficult was Gleam’s ability to use illusions. That was how she had transformed the whip blade into her awakening realm form. Furthermore, she had used her ability to render Ruby invisible. Now the only visible opponent for the gorgons was a “shardfly” that was impossible to harm. Meanwhile, her hidden partner could attack virtually unimpeded. That had led to a very destructive stalemate—either side could survive the attacks of the other, but not deal any actual damage.

Nil, think any of them have scholar skills? Dallion asked, slowly reaching for his harpsisword. There was no point in combat splitting—that was going to attract more attention than any sound he could make.

It’s not impossible, but not likely either. Mercenaries only target people, they don’t need to know too many languages. Then again, it doesn’t hurt to have the skills, either. Of course, it’s also possible that they aren’t awakened.

Dallion had difficulty believing that. He hadn’t seen much of their skills, but he trusted Gleam to give him a good assessment. If she was having difficulty against one of them, they at the very least knew what they were doing. True, so far, they hadn’t resorted to combat splitting, but that didn’t prove much. On the positive side, even if they could, it wouldn’t matter, since Dallion intended to force the reality he preferred.

Dallion removed his backpack.

You’ll need me, the armadil shield said. Against two of those, you’ll need all the help you can get.

Keep an eye on my still, Dallion said, placing the shield on the backpack. Speed and flexibility were here, not so much defense. Also, he preferred to be able to have two weapons when dealing with gorgons.

It’s a mistake.

If it is, I’ll go down and fetch you.

Using the bonuses of his reaction trait, Dallion moved his hands and fingers so fast that he created the impression he was holding two harpsiswords. Concentrating, he thought back to the moment just before he had been turned to stone. It hadn’t been much, but he had caught a glimpse of his opponent. The gorgons were smart to wear blocker rings, but there was a chance that music could still each of them. There was also an absolute certainty that Dallion could influence the trees of the forest by combining his herbology and music skills. At the end of the day, Dallion didn’t need the forest to know where the attackers were, he just needed the trees to be angry enough at everything in the area and react accordingly.

Dallion started playing. However, he didn’t play it merely once, but twice. It looked as if he had sprung four hands, each pair playing a different harpsisword. One focused on affecting the forest, filling the air with anger, vengeance, and aggression. The other tried to establish a link to gorgon Dallion had seen adding weight and clumsiness.

Branches shook, snapped, and even twisted, making it difficult for any foot to remain on them. At one point, one of the gorgons lost his footing. Dallion was just about to enter the fight as well, when suddenly the gorgon combat split. It wasn’t much—a mere five instances—but it gave Dallion an answer to his question: at least one of the gorgons was an awakened after all.

Be my eyes, Harp, Dallion said while closing his. The strings of the weapon vibrated, allowing him to get a sense of his immediate surroundings. The second pair of hands disappeared. Dallion switched the grip of his harpsisword and rushed up, leaping from tree to tree like a squirrel. Barely had he gone twenty feet up, when over a dozen flying knives flew in his direction. They were small, thin, more like spikes than knives, mercilessly hitting several of his instances right in the shoulder.

Given the level of skill the gorgons had displayed, this wasn’t an accident. They had missed any vital points deliberately, suggesting they needed him alive.

Forcing himself to run even faster, Dallion grabbed the Nox dagger. He could feel Nox purr eagerly. Since his level up, the crackling had become exceedingly like a large cat, which meant that it almost exclusively did two things: sleep and hunt. Now it was time to do some hunting.

Eyes still closed, Dallion spun around, slashing at his unseen enemies. The level of the perception trait allowed him to sense that they were near—Harp’s assistance narrowed the spot at which they were at.

Two your left and just behind you, the harpsisowrd’s guardian instructed, creating a mental image in his mind. It wasn’t an image she provided, but rather a subtle series of sounds indicating the precise location of his opponents.

Fighting two enemies, the gorgons took turns defending and attacking. One would parry or block his own attacks, while the other would follow up with an attack from the flank. Simultaneously, they—and for that matter Dallion himself—had to be wary of the shardfly’s continuous attacks, and the trees’ hostility. Dozens of instances filled the combat zone. Over two-thirds of them, on all sides, were killed or injured moments after appearing. Flying knives would fly by, each killing an instance.

What weapons am I facing? Dallion asked. He couldn’t sense any guardians, which meant that they had some blocking item affecting them, or the weapons were sphere items.

Knives and gauntlets, Gleam replied. One of them has an elbow buckler.

Elbow buckler? Dallion had only seen those in combat instruction scrolls. Supposedly, they were an elite piece of gear, which was to say they were quite deadly in the hands of an expert and hazardous in the hands of everyone else.

The sound of metal hitting metal combined with the rustling of leaves and snapping of branches, Dallion and the gorgons would get quite creative in their instances. Acrobatics, athletics, attack, and guard were used in every exchange. On multiple occasions, the gorgons used their gauntlets and even armor to deflect attacks the same way Euryale had taught Dallion to do. Even while using Nox, it seemed impossible to get a good strike. Eventually, the crackling got its way.

Got him, Nox said as the dagger blade came into contact with the buckler. The moment it did, a spiderweb of cracks appeared covering the entire metal surface.

After a second successful hit, Dallion changed tactics. Opening his eyes, he had all his instances spin around and do a sweeping kick aimed specifically at the elbow buckler.

One kick was enough to shatter it to pieces, causing the gorgon to fall off the branch. To be more precise, it wasn’t the kick itself that sent the gorgon falling. Rather, the branch Dallion and the gorgon were standing on snapped off the rest of the tree. Normally, this wouldn’t be an issue. The gorgon split into twenty instances. Nineteen of them managed to land on a nearby branch without issue. However, Dallion used forced splitting to make the remaining instance reality.

The snakes on the gorgon’s head swirled in surprise ad he found himself falling down. The very same moment, Dallion focused his attention on the remaining gorgon.

Gleam, wrap him! he said, attacking with both harpsisword and Nox dagger.

Seeing the effect of the Nox dagger, the remaining gorgon twisted and turned, avoiding the blade of the weapon at all costs. The pressure of the fight was so intense that he didn’t even notice the whip blade extend around his waist. A second reason for this was the whip blade being invisible. While Gleam had followed Dallion’s order, she still maintained the illusion of being a shardfly, just one that could no longer perform her usual wing attacks.

Feeling the invisible segments coil around him, the gorgon stopped attacking and moved both arms against his torso, forearms pointing up so that the gauntlets could keep the whip blade from harming him.

That’s one, Dallion thought.

Briskly, he turned around to deal with the other gorgon. Sadly, he wasn’t fast enough.

“Stop!” the gorgon said, pointing a weapon Dallion hadn’t seen before. It looked like a brace one would put around the gauntlet for increased strength, but Dallion’s forging and scholar skills told him that it was a long-range weapon. “Even splitting won’t help you escape this.” He didn’t seem to be lying.

“If I go I’ll take you with me,” Dallion replied calmly.

“We haven’t been ordered to fight you.” The gorgon’s snakes stirred. “Yet.”

“What have you been ordered?”

“Do we have a ceasefire?”

Gorgons weren’t a species known for politics, so when one made such an offer, Dallion was inclined to believe it.

“Vow by the Moons,” Dallion said.

“I vow by the moons that I won’t harm you or yours today,” the gorgon replied.

“I vow by the Green Moon that I will not fight or harm you today,” Dallion replied. He could have added that he wouldn’t harm any items, but being an empath that was understood.

The gorgon lowered his weapon.

Let him go, Gleam, Dallion said.

The whip blade regained its standard visible shape, then uncoiled, and moved back into Dallion’s scabbard. Ruby followed shortly after, handing on Dallion’s shoulder. His wings, though, remained open, displaying their bright redness as a warning.

“Thanks,” the gorgon facing Dallion said, making a sign for his companion to join him.

While that occurred, Dallion played a few chords to calm down the trees. There was no need to keep them trying to harm everyone involved anymore.

Gleam, get my things, Dallion thought.

What do I look like? The shardfly laughed.

Please, Gleam. I have a feeling that if I step down, I won’t see them again.

Gleam grumbled, then had the whip blade leave Dallion’s scabbard once more. Next time tell me sooner! She extended, flying down to fetch the backpack.

The gorgons on their part seemed rather relaxed. The taller one, who had made an offer, was checking his elbow to see whether there was any additional damage resulting from the shattering of the buckler. The other seemed a lot more focused, half of his snakes staring at Dallion.

“What are your orders?” Dallion asked.

“What do you think?” the shorter gorgon asked.

“No need for that.” The order’s tone was firm, indicating he was the one in charge. “I’m Aias.”

“Dal.” Dallion hadn’t heard of him. He wasn’t a hunter, that was for certain. “Mercenary?”

“That’s not part of our deal. However, since you’re reasonable, I’ll say that we’ve been hired to do the same thing you have. This little trip was just to check your skills. You’re a bit better than expected. I didn’t think you’d notice us, or pick a fight.”

“Your friend didn’t seem of the same opinion.”

“My brother’s still young and emotional. Stoning you was rash. Although I knew you’d handle it. If not, you wouldn’t be as impressive as you’re claimed to be.”

“Nice to know someone has a good opinion of me.”

“In this province,” the gorgon pointed out. “But yes, after the things you’ve done, people are starting to keep score, especially when you’re after the prize they are. In fact, many have even started betting who’ll get to the phoenix first: you or one of the other parties.”