Big Kong, as Lucas had taken to calling the giant gorilla, took a moment to register that his tormentor is no more. With a roar that felt like it shook the very ground they stood on, Big Kong smacked his hand into the earth. Resulting shockwaves caused both parties to lose their balance and Lucas found himself face first in the dirt once again, too many times this night by Lucas’s reckoning. He quickly stood up and did a quick scan of the battlefield with his “Eye for Details”

“Enlarged Earth Gorilla, level 29”

“Dryad, Corvid knight level 30”

“Dryad, Battle Druid of the Moonlight level 30”

“Ent, Guardian of the groove level 33”

Armed with new information, Lucas had a proper contest for what he saw of the party. The female green humanoid, dryad, with long black hair that seemed made from plant mush woven together, had armor on it body completely made out of black tree bark. It was decorated with engraved motifs representing birds soaring in flight, hunting prey or resting in nests. In her hand laid long two – edged sword whose hand-guard sported two huge wings. The sword gave of black gleam that coated already black dryad in even more dark shimmering. Beside her, a thin looking male dryad, with silvery eyes and wiry hair which was snow white, covered himself in what looked like pure strand of moonlight. It enveloped his frame, giving him protection but accentuating his defined muscles. He didn’t have any visible weapon brandished, but his hands were glowing and sucking moonlight that was shining on the basin, giving Lucas a good idea what was he all about.

The trio didn’t give him any more time for studying as they burst into action. A pale blue light exploded from the druid towards Lucas and his party, following closely by the Ent. But, as Lucas prepared himself to dodge the towering tree attack, Kong decided on his first target. He intercepted the Ent, slamming his giant body and sending him flying towards the mountain walls surrounding the basin. Meanwhile, Hannah dispelled the attack from the druid while Michael light the dryad duo with hail of bullets.

Lucas spurred into action, choosing the druid as his target. But as he ran towards his target, the knight – dryad made her move. She pointed her sword toward Lucas and shot a spectral image of something resembling a long beak. Before Lucas managed to activate “Dodge”, beak hit his chest, burrowing himself deep in his flesh. Hissing in pain, Lucas stumbled forward, landing face first in the dirt once again.

“You took 113 points of damage”

“This is getting old” me managed to whisper trough his grinding teeth

As he got up, he spotted a quick movement from the sword of the dryad. Once again, his instinctual “Dodge” saved his life. Heavy thump was heard and when Lucas looked back to the place where he lay just a moment ago, he saw a spectral crow slamming into it, opening a deep wound in the soft earth.

“Okay, bitch, round two” he snarled at the dryad. She responded him in some unknown language and took a posture. Lucas lunged towards her and in a blink of a moment he was in front of her. Activating “Pierce”, he thrust the blade forward. His sword made contact with the blackened tree bark and was deflected, to Lucas’ great surprise. Not letting up, he jumped back and spin to his left, his Agility allowing him the maneuver that was impossible before the System. He activated “Pierce” once again, this time connecting with the shoulder of the she dryad. The point of the sword bit into green flesh, going all the way through it. As soon as he ripped the blade out, he activated “Dodge”, avoiding sword that swung his way and activated “Battle Dance”. He threw a faint of another pierce. His opponent scrambled to block it with her blade, and Lucas took the opportunity, using his substantial Agility and his boosted reflexes to redirect the blade mid – flight towards her face. The attack connected, drawing deep gash on her cheek. But, Lucas wasn’t done. He activated “Stinging Cut” as he was withdrawing his rapier, deepening the cheek wound and letting a fountain of blood in the wake of his sword. He pivoted to his left, expecting once again the sword swing, but it didn’t come. Instead, dryad muttered something and black raven wings sprouted from her back. Lucas was thrown back in the gust of air, barely managing to stay on his feet. His opponent didn’t waste much time, throwing a swing his way. Lucas managed to parry incoming strike, but the dryad quickly did a backswing and ripped his chest piece, wounding him deeply in the chest.0

“You took 90 points of damage”

Just as dryad lift her to sword to strike again, a bullet connected with her leg. She screamed in agony, John’s Dragunov shattering her lower leg. Mentally thanking the old timer, Lucas pressed his attack, activating “Pierce”. A last moment bat from the raven wings saved the dryad – knight, who managed to reposition herself to take a sword trough the stomach instead of the hearth. She soared into the air, landing about 10 meters from Lucas. As soon as she landed, her sword started glowing intensely. She pointed the tip towards him and in an instant she launched towards him. As she was gaining distance, she was starting to look more and more like a beautiful black raven, with its sharp beck pointed to Lucas. Spotting a weakness, Lucas smiled. Activating “Dodge” he jumped straight up. He deactivated the skill, and put every bit of his Agility to spin himself in the air. Now in the air upside down, he activated “Stinging Cut” just as the dryad was soaring below him. His sword took a red glow and the tip cut full length of the dryad body. She crashed on the nearby three, sporting a gash on her back that vent from the base of her neck to her feet. Blood was pooling at her feet, and she barely stood up, battling for every movement with intense pain she was in.

“Round two is mine” Lucas told her. But as he raised his sword to finish the job, his flank was hit by a massive branch.

“You took 150 points of damage”

He went flying through the air, but before he managed to land, massive roots came from the earth, binding him in place.

“You are rooted. You will not be able to move until roots are dispelled or you take damage”

Instead of going after him, Ent stood by the mangled knight. As Lucas watched, branches of the massive tree started glowing green. In its shade Corvid Knight started visibly healing, flesh visibly knitting on places where it was open. On the rest of the battlefield, Lucas saw Maraya distracting Kong with her riot shield, tanking every blow the massive monkey put out. Michael was split between firing at the druid and the Kong, muzzle of his rifle in the state of permanent flashing. Hannah was sitting back, letting streams of white magic, healing and propping Maraya whenever she buckled under the massive monkey.

“HERE” he yelled, knowing his only hope was that somebody would notice. All humanoid heads snapped in his direction, Maraya lowering her guard for a precious few second. Kong grabbed her and smashed her into the ground. There was loud yelp and then her body lay unmoved. The big monkey then spotted the Ent once again and with a roar and hadful of chest bumps charged toward him. Ent braced himself, abandoning the healing of his ally. Reading the situation, Michael lobbed a bundle of orange energy toward the Ent, which exploded like a pre – System frag grenade. Shrapnel lodged into the Ent, doing minimal damage but diverting his attention enough to let Enlarged Gorilla once again carry him to the edge of the battle. In turn, silver light hit Michael in the back before the Dragunov once again fired, shattering his shoulder and forcing the druid back to cover.

Hannah stroll to him, anger and dismay visible in her face. He quickly dispelled the roots, freeing Lucas from his bindings.

“You fucking idiot” she said to him, her voice full of venom. Before he managed to defend himself, she rushed toward the unmoving body of Maraya, already casting healing spells.

Lucas stared blankly at Hannah’s back, torn between apologizing and cursing her to seven hells. Perishing the thought, he turned toward the restored Corvid Knight, finding the suitable target to vent his frustration on.

She was already prepared and in a blink, wings sprouted from her back. Lucas steadied his footing and stared at the annoying dryad.

“Let’s dance, bitch” he snarled and rushed forward.