Accidental Reaver

A familiar yet foreign feeling overcame Luke, and his body began to regenerate, all damage healed up.

He capped the health potion he'd pulled out on reflex. At the coincidence, he chuckled, "A level up, that certainly makes the recovery easier. Maybe I'm not as unlucky as I thought."

Frowning, Luke realized he'd frozen Fleur to the point she couldn't speak. He sucked the ice into his hand, and exhaled mist after processing it, "Lukewarm." The young man chuckled at the corny joke.

Taking on three groups at once bought the Reaver a sizable time chunk. The candles responsible for keeping back further groups had yet to melt, their flames stable. Shadows writhed around; all appeared grayscale to Luke.

An ominously dressed Hallow Priest trained its eyes on the Reaver, the only moving part revealed from its smiling, bloodstained mask. Tapestries with foreign insignias fluttered, defying the lack of wind indoors. At some point, the organ music stopped.

Half of the monster groups in the Cathedral were eliminated, with one 'regular' group remaining. The other four held a Hallow Priest each. While Luke could sense them, three stayed out of sight.

Fleur yelled at Luke, suppressing the shivers and chattering teeth, "What the hell is wrong with you? Fighting like that is suicidal. I'm stuck in here with you, madman. Getting yourself killed is getting me killed. If you want to go out with a bang, do it after I'm gone."

Wrinkling his nose at the pungent blood smell pervading the Cathedral and Gothic architecture, Luke side-stepped the conversation, "That sure was fun Xera. I'm beginning to see why you revel in battles like that."

"I'm always accepting applications to the Xera Faith. We chop monsters, blast baddies, and behead creatures. Our one iron rule is chests are for psychos."

Conversing with Xera for a while, Luke eventually calmed down enough to have a more concrete interaction with Fleur. The elf ran her throat raw when he continued to ignore her. When he saw heavy smears on her light makeup, Luke felt…nah, he didn't feel bad. That'd be a lie—more—open to letting bygones be bygones again.

"Alright, I did my form of venting-"

"You call that venting!? That's more like calculated suicide with a small chance of survival. It's a miracle you're still breathing. This place kills parties of five constantly, and you want to try and clear it all alone? You're insane."

"I'm a Defier, you idiot. Damn right I'm insane. We talked about this like ten minutes ago. Enough of that, anger at each other is counterproductive. When you're ready, let me know, we tackle a Priest-led group next."

At the mention, Fleur steadied herself, huffing several times before relenting. She turned her head away from the Reaver, "Fine, I'll be doing my best to convince Veyri to keep you off the Tower Team after this."

"Thank you, you'd be doing me a favor."

"I can't get used to you at all. Humans."

"Elves. Well, elves that aren't Iona so far. Also, I doubt my being human has anything to do with what I'm capable of."

Continuing banter with Fleur, Luke inspected the last new monster type in the Shadowed Sanctum, the priest figure with a bloodied mask, in white, smudged robes, lined by black.

[Hallow Priest] (Sub-Boss)

Tier: 1

Level: 49

HP: 10575/10575

Holds one of four shards used to crack the barrier surrounding the Sanctum.

"You happen to know any of the Hallow Priest abilities, Fleur? I've got a strong handle on the other four kinds of enemies."

Coming up to the center path, weak light accentuated Fleur's face. She scuffed her cloth boots on the ebony cloth lining the path, rubbing her staff on some of the stone pillar work nearby, "Hmph, why should I tell you?"

"Fine, stay out of the way."

Alarmed, Fleur started to say 'Wait', but the words died in her mouth as Luke tensed a leg. Using Triple Step, he accelerated in, coating ice multiple times over himself. The moment he came to the group's center, an explosion of mist, frost, and ice blinded every monster in the gathering.

Searing cold expanded, and new winter fell upon the blindsided creatures. The Reaver took full advantage of the ill-prepared entry, focusing down the Acolyte before Fleur could blink, let alone the enemies around Luke. The Hallow Priest recovered first, summoning a crimson ring around Luke, settling it in a fifteen foot radius. Unsure of the ring's capabilities, the Reaver avoided it.

Then a tug could be felt from his vitality, and surely, his health began to drain, while the entire monster group started to heal. Bat-like, blood-colored wings sprout from the Hallow Priest's back, overtaking a protective stance. Having already enhanced Xera with his abilities, Luke controlled the ice to blast back the Hallow Priest, yet once the monster came in contact with the Blood Ring, it wouldn't budge.

Cursing under his breath, Luke applied Essence Bond to the Hallow Priest, hoping the attribute reduction, as well as smothering it in Ice would keep the Hallow Priest slowed enough for him to work his magic on the other monsters beginning to recover from his frost flash bomb. In a reverse to his previous pattern, Luke isolated the Shade Vampire first. He plastered an Essence Lance into the bubbling black pool, causing the Shade Vampire to take heavy damage, and rise from its hideaway. The glacial flooring gathered around the Shadow Bound Thralls, ruining their balance. Luke swept up the recently generated frost and hyper-concentrated it on Xera, giving her a grey-blue coating.

Rearing Xera back for a two handed swing, Luke let loose. When his weapon made contact with the Shade Vampire, a blizzard settled onto the site. Luke carved the Shade Vampire with vicious calculation, relying on enhanced senses to dodge what he could feel from behind. He overheard a yell, and right after, a vertical cyclone smashed into the monsters beginning to hack into him from behind. A soothing wind drew to his body, the wounds from the Void Sentinel's shadow blasts already mending. With the added speed, Luke shredded apart the Shade Vampire, trading one deep claw strike to his side in return for its death.

A low wail left the Shadow Sentinel as it unraveled into nothingness with its deceased master. Luke whipped around, blocking a Shadow Borne Thrall's axe strike. Fleur summoned a Gale Barrier over Luke, taking care of the other physical attacks coming his way. The Hallow Priest, having returned to the center, started a chant at an incomprehensible speed. A swirling vortex appeared behind the monster, with two skeletal hands beginning to force its way up.

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Working in tandem with Luke's attacks, Fleur sent gusting gales the Hallow Priest's way, trying to interrupt the cast. Even that failed.

"Prevent the cast, Luke, that Blood Reaper is a group killer," Fleur warned.

Whispering Tome lit up, black runes vibrating. Its active ability, Silent Domain, overlaid Luke's position, shutting down the summoning, and all chanting from the Shadow Thralls. The interruption dazed the Hallow Priest, and split the swirling vortex in half, slowly dissipating it. Taking the opportunity, Luke hacked apart the most vulnerable Shadow Thrall, dismembering it.

Twin twisters tried to bind the Hallow Priest in place but failed to do so, instead slowing it down further. With Silent Domain's slow effect also in effect, the Hallow Priest became akin to a snail in speed. Weaving between the two remaining Shadow Thralls, Luke took minor nicks to his arms and shoulders. With each exchange, the Thralls would lose a limb. By the time the Silent Domain let up, one Thrall lay dead, while the other was on its literal last leg.

Gathering ice to his left palm, Luke blocked the Hallow Priest's Wing Strikes with the other. Laying the left palm onto the barely breathing Thrall's chest, Luke injected ice; then, a hole appeared in the chest where the ice had torn it away. The Hallow Priest's other wing smashed back Luke, but the measure came too late, the Thrall already having returned to death.

At least Luke learned what the Blood Ring was for. He couldn't leave its enclosure; moreover, when he touched it, the passive health drain effect tripled. Shattering ice underneath him—while assisting the motion with his Triple Step—Luke reappeared before the Hallow Priest, too fast for its wings to protect it. Xera plunged deep into its chest, and ice began to infect the Hallow Priest, its blood magic trying to fight the elemental war within.

It was losing.

Fleur assisted Luke, using her abilities in a competent rotation. Wind blasts, cyclones, twin twisters, even her winds allowed the Reaver to dance around the mini-boss. It tried to strike back with its staff and wings. Luke's speed outclassed it, his perception above it, and momentum crushed it.

Less than a minute later, it became a sorry sight of cloth, blood, and meat. Luke felt strength enter him with every strike he landed on the Hallow Priest. As it weakened, he strengthened, the gap becoming wide enough to flourish. He eventually performed a fatal strike to its eyes. Ice entered, turning its brain to mush.

A low tone hymn left its throat, and the mini-boss became motes of light, leaving a crystal behind, dropping to the floor. A golden light flash entered Luke's Inventory. The other cleared monsters had also dropped various loot, most being common or uncommon items, crafting materials, and, of course—what Luke wanted most—Beast Crystals for Sooty.

Bright sliver and above tended to mean a rare item. The Reaver pushed back any log checking for now. Fleur and him—well, mainly him—delved this area at a breakneck speed, but that didn't mean he could lounge all day while the remaining candles burned, which would allow the remaining three Hallow Priest groups to swarm him all at once.

The confidence in him believed he'd come out on top even in that scenario, but why fuck around to find out in this case? Poor Fleur had grown deep eye bags already, yelling about 'taking it easy' and 'learn their abilities first'.

Luke saw fit not to remind the elf he'd asked her about the Hallow Priest's abilities before engaging the monster. On the bright side, he knew what the Hallow Priest was capable of now: protective wings, a deadly summon if completed, a ring that forced those within to stay in its confines while draining their health, and its more basic attacks.

Nothing he couldn't handle. Flicking Xera out, the monster blood coating the Sword Wand spilled to the floor.

"Master, does this count as Mage blood?"

"Dunno, they cast. They also do tons of things other Mages do."

"Hm…I'll give it a pass for now. Tastes like Iron too much. Can we find something tastier?"

"Like what? How would I figure out if a monster's blood is tasty or not? Give me a break."

Cutting short the chatter, Luke retreated to an internal pillar next to the ebony cloth path. A candle flickered about a foot away. Locating the three Hallow Priests left, the Reaver spoke to Fleur, the elf still in the midst of her rant, "You'll encounter worse the higher you go, Fleur. Let's clear this place out, and we'll go back to arms length acquaintances. "

"And how would you know? A bull-headed man is no acquaintance of mine."

"I've already been in deadlier situations, plenty of them, in fact. That's beside the point. Together, the last three groups won't have us break a sweat. Here's what we'll do…"

Clutching her staff to her chest, Fleur turned her head away, "I'm not taking orders from you. I can't believe Veyri forced me in here alone with a maddened human. This is where it all ends. The way you're acting, Arjanax will drain us until nothing is left."

Glaring at Fleur, Luke examined her for a moment. The more he saw, the more sure he became. Flushed skin, accelerated breathing, a heart beating so loud he could hear it from here, eyes that struggled to return his gaze, constantly checking her hair.

She was either incredibly nervous or had developed an attraction toward him. Both created issues when trying to clear a dungeon in a timely manner. Luke came up to the woman, pressed her against the wall, a hand next to her head, and locked eyes with her.

Fleur appeared as if she were melting—out of embarrassment or happiness Luke couldn't tell, "What are you doing? Another one of your tactics? Get off me. This isn't how you're supposed to treat a lady. This is the last place I wanted…"

Done with the quips, Luke put a thumb on her chin and the ridge of his index finger under her jaw, "It's just the two of us in here, Fleur, work with me, or die with me. You may be used to leading. But shove aside your pride. At this rate, we can take out the three Hallow Priests and the final boss before dinner. I know you're better than this, people rarely reach level fifty, yet you have."

Eyes glazed over, Fleur repeated the word 'Dinner' over a few times, and Luke stepped back. The girl dropped to the floor. Giving her a minute, Luke waited until she gathered herself. She came to stand beside him, silent.

"Ready?"

The elf nodded, wind spells generating around her hands. A quest popped up at that moment.

[Slay the Hallow Priests, and release Arjanax, the Blood-Bone Coven Lord]

Rewards: Five Skill Points, Ten Shadow Resistance

Eager to get it done, Luke swiped away the notice screen. With Fleur coming in line with Luke, the pair made short work of the remaining three groups, tackling them one by one, expeditiously. In each fight, the Reaver felt his power grow, particularly when engaged with the Hallow Priests, and the vitality within felt like it thrummed up against another limit. A shard dropped from each Hallow Priest, as well as two rare items. Luke unceremoniously handed one to Fleur, not bothering to look at its attributes. He'd ask later if it felt right.

The black barrier around the altar vanished when the final Hallow Priest breathed its last. Uncovered within laid a podium, a casket to its back. Four slots line the casket's top. Each shard appeared to be a perfect fit. A high pitch note played, snuffing out the rest of the candles. True darkness overtook the interior. Troublesome for those with poor vision manipulation, which meant it was a minor annoyance to Luke, who basically retained night vision as long as he powered frost essence to his eyes.

Wayfinder's vision stat bonus also helped, of course. Luke would be uncertain of how much, however. The Reaver lobbed two shards to Fleur, who caught them with ease. The last two appeared in his hands. Tossing them up and down, Luke asked Fleur, "Alright Fleur, no charging in this time from me, I promise. What do you know about this boss, this—Arjanax?"

Walking around in a circle, Fleur appeared almost as if going on a nature hike, except she was in the middle of a Gothic Cathedral with blood-sucking monsters. Steeling her gaze, perhaps finally accepting something, Fleur said, "Arjanax holds three primary abilities, on top of a few lesser ones. I'll tell you about the ones that matter. First, you have its Crimson Shards area of effect ability. It's cast in a frontal cone, if you keep your eyes on him, you'll have enough time to avoid it. The damage is dangerous but also forces you to bleed from any contact point the shards hit."

Fleur explained the other two central abilities, Blood Binding Ritual, which summoned an undead Berserker and tethered its life force to one party member. This person couldn't attack the Berserker. Otherwise, it would heal. The Berserker also spawned blood pools every so often. Lastly, Arjanax would attempt to cast Sanguine Surge, an zone-wide attack that affected the entire Cathedral. Damage dealt would heal the boss back at twice the rate, and it became empowered by each blood pool on the floor.

The strategy to deal with the ability was evident to Luke, keep blood sources to a minimum, helped by killing the minion and avoiding the frontal. Believing over analysis would do more harm than good, the Reaver slotted in his two shards to the four empty openings.

Letting Essence Bond and Infusion cover Xera, Luke consciously began to generate frost in his position, keeping his focus on the casket, tensed. He prodded Fleur, "Waiting on you."

Fleur chose the nonverbal route. She cast Soothing Winds on them both, and a Wind Barrier appeared over her. She jammed her two crystals into the casket before scurrying back, positioning herself directly behind Luke.