Hearing those words from Liora I was on edge. Turning to the advancing group I saw that the others had seen them too. Ms. Oxhouse didn't seem to be reacting to them, so they had at least meet each other.
"What do you mean finally showed up, were you expecting us?"
Jax asked, sounding very confused. The figure in purple continued to approach, stopping around 20ft or so away from us.
"You sound so convincing, had you not been the very group who had stolen the bodies from us to claim the emergency bounty I would have been fooled."
I stared the man down for a minute, my eyes narrowing as I realized his game. Jax and Liora turned outraged, Kaelen also seemed angry but seemed more focused on comforting Ms. Oxhouse.
"What are you talking about, we found them in a dungeon and there was no previous attempt record for anyone aside from these two!"
Liora yelled angry, however to my side I could see Thalia was already starting to make her strings. The figure in purples head snapped to Thalia as they slowly shook their head.
"Thalia my dear, there is no need to be so hostile, our last interaction was a bit tense, but let's put that in the past. I'm even willing to make a deal and not report you to the guild for your crimes."
"What are you talking about, you think they will believe the 6 of us against you!?"
Jax yelled, now being on guard himself.
"They will when it's a party of newbie porcelains vs a seasoned obsidian. The plates aren't just rank and level you know, with them also comes recognition from the guild of trust."
The figure in purple said, an evil gleam in their eye as they spoke as if we were already on the palm of your hand.
"What exactly are you asking for here?"
I asked, a bit of a plan formulating in my mind. The figure smiled wide as a glint caught my eye. Their canine teeth were too long, practically so long they would poke down in front of their lower teeth if they closed their mouth.
"The deal is simple, you all can go on your way and even take the emergency quest bounty with you, all we want in return is your ride."
Glancing back at our vehicle I walked over to stand in front of the bodies, they were already partially obscured by Ms. Oxhouse crying and Kaelen, but with me there as well, you could barely see a bit of them behind us. Jax, Liora, and Thalia were looking at me with a look of worry as if I had lost my mind when I said.
"Fine, but I have a condition."
The purple figures eyebrow raised as they rested their cheek on their palm as they held their elbow with their other hand.
"Really now, then what is this condition?"
Their voice was sickly sweet in a condescending way, like an adult explaining to a child that something needed to happen. I smiled back at the figure, but while theirs was a relaxed, taunting smile, mine probably seemed nervous and worried.
"Since you say you had the bodies first, you would know what injuries killed them."
Ms. Oxhouse seemed to turn back to the other group waiting for their reply, as the figure in purple seemed to take a moment of quiet surprise before lightly facepalming and laughing into their hand.
"Well done, then again you did seem to be the most dangerous one of your groups. You hide it well, but We fateless can see it, those dark whisps that coat the edges of your form."
I turned back to look at the other as questions ran through my mind.
-What in the gods names made me look like the most dangerous!? I don't even have a combat skill!
-What in the hells is a fateless?
-What does me mean dark whisps, there's nothi-
My train of thought was cut off by a sudden tap to the back of my knees, my legs buckling under me as the flash of a rapier flew just past where my ear had been but a second ago. Jax stepped from where he had hip checked my knee and swung his paw around. Ymer who seemed confident his first strike would land was caught off guard as Jax's paw slammed into his jaw as he skidded back a few feet from the blow
Enemy Ymer has attack You with Vermilion Rapier(D)
Party leader Jax has pushed you out of the way of the attack
Party leader Jax has struck Enemy Ymer in a Vital Spot CRITICAL HIT!
Enemy Ymer has taken 20 damage
With the first attack made, everyone was drawing weapons. The rush of adrenaline from the near-death experience allowed me to quickly change my train of thought to fighting. Landing on my back I quickly scrambled up, grabbing one of the potions on the outside of my bag, I threw it. I however misjudged my throw, the bottle landed in front of the figure in purple who I now knew was named Ymer, but as the glass shattered, the dust within burst forth. Ymer threw his arm over his mouth as if to stop himself from breathing it in, but I hadn't used a breathable poison or anything like that. Instead, it was itching powder.
You have used item Itching Powder(E)
Ymer is distracted by the itchiness. Their physical abilities are reduced by 20% due to the lack of concentration.
As Ymer Spasmed, still standing, but wriggling like there was a snake in his fine suit. The ape beast kin drew her twin blades and rushed at me. I held my spear up to defend as best I could. The first strike I managed to awkwardly deflect, but the second one flew at my stomach. Thin strings of mana wrapped the blade as it was halted. I saw Thalia in the corner of my eye Yank her arms back like she was throwing a bale of hay over her shoulder as the beast kin woman's blade was yanked around, almost striking Ymer who raised his rapier in time to have the blade bounce off each other.
"Do you really not think I remember that trick my dear Thalia?"
Ymer asked tauntingly.
Enemy Aflmaril has used item butterfly swords(E) X 2
You have deflected Enemy Aflmaril's first attack
Temp party member Thalia has used Marionetting Fingers(E) to redirect Aflmaril's attack to Enemy Ymer
Enemy Ymer has deflected the attack
"True, but you should also remember this!"
Thalia yelled, her normal calm stoicism was replaced by a fiery passion. She pulled what seemed to be a ceramic bottle from her bag, pouring the contents on the strings extending from her fingers as she swung her arm around, the strings lashing at Ymer. Ymer seemed to scowl as he sliced the first two mana strings with his rapier as the other 3 wrapped around him, dragging him back towards his group as Bloody lines started to sprout on where the strings touched his skin.
Temp party member Thalia has used item Prickle Resin(E)
Temp party member Thalia used skill Marionetting Fingers(E)
Enemy Ymer is wrapped and restrained by Temp party member Thalia's strings
Prickle Resin does 8 damage to Enemy Ymer
Ymer's feet dragged in the dirt as he was forced back by the strings. A look of outrage shaped his face as he tried to strain against the strings, only cutting himself more. Selene lunged from where she had been standing beside Ms. Oxhouse. Her arm swelling as she activated her soul skill. She swung her arm over her shoulder, her body almost horizontal as her feet planted. Her strike landed a devastating blow on the Beast kin woman named Aflmaril, the sound of cracking bone resonated as was sent flying back. Aflmaril coming to a stop when she collided with the fence gate. The wood cracking slightly.
Party member Selene has used Soulskill Chimeric Surge(C)
Party member Selene's strength has been enhanced for the next 20 seconds
Party member Selene has used skill Claws of the Beast(E)
Party member Selene does 18 damage
The human woman in the cyan clothes knocked an arrow at a surprising speed as I saw Liora gather wind at her heels as she sprung 15ft into the air. She swung her staff with a yell. The air that would normally blast from the end of her staff now circled around her in a rushing wave of turbulence. The arrow flew from the woman's bow. Aimed for Selene the arrow wobbled, but the force behind it made its aim true as Selene was struck in the shoulder. She grimaced, wincing as she turned to her attacker. Her now much larger left arm grabbing the arrow and yanking it out.
Enemy Sena has used item Shortbow(E)
Party member Liora has used skill Gale Step(E)
Party member Liora has used skill Whipping Winds(E)
Party member Selene has taken 10 damage
Kaelen was mid-chant as Liora jumped, slamming his staff into the ground there was practically a golden glow in his eyes as I saw the human woman Sena get surrounded by a small circle of white and gold flames. Before she could jump out, they jetted upward, Sena crying out in pain. A second later the flames faded, she fell over unconscious but still alive, her body covered in burns. The man with the long red hair grabbed his flute from his bag, bringing it to his lips. A melody flew from it, literally in the form of green music notes that hovered over their entire group. A green pulse seemed to float over the group as wounds started to mend, however Sena remained on the ground, the healing not enough to rouse her.
Party member Kaelen has used skill Condemn the Wicked(E)
Party member Kaelen has struck a Vital Spot CRITICAL HIT!
Party member Kaelen has done 12 damage
Condemn the Wicked's secondary effect does 14 damage.
Enemy Sena is unconscious
Enemy Straun has used the skill Rejuvenating Melody(E)
Enemy team is healed for 2 HP
Jax stepped forward, a cold look like an animal staring down a wounded rival on his face.
"It's over, it's taken less than 10 seconds to practically wipe out half your team and you could barely scratch us."
Ymer stared Jax down, his face still marked by the now purpling bruise Jax left on it as He shook his head, a sinister grin on his face.
"My friend, this isn't over, it's barely even begun!"
Ymer yelled turning to the red haired human Straun and Bit into his neck.
Enemy Ymer has used Skill Blood Drinker(D) and regained 18 Blood
Enemy Ymer has used skill Sanguine Satiation(D) and regained 21 HP
Enemy Ymer has used Soulskill Dance of Crimson Chaos(A)
Your soul Stirrs