All in Charisma (A LitRPG/Isekai Adventure)

Silence enveloped Eldrin's words as everyone strained to listen to the street outside their door. Eldrin's demeanor made it clear that the best course of action was to remain still and silent.

The rumbling of the floor subsided, stretching the silence further. Justin held his breath, hoping the trolls had moved on.

He exchanged glances with the others. They had been quiet, speaking only in whispers, while Justin's cane practice had not made a sound. It was just bad luck.

Bohemond stood ready with his sword and shield, his jaw clenched. Kargan gripped his Staff of Blood Aegis, its smooth wooden finish glowing with elven runes. Justin recalled that the weapon would automatically cast Blood Aegis as soon as combat began. Eldrin had an arrow nocked on his Bow of Eagle's Sight, while Lila's fingers danced over the hilts of her silver Echoing Knives.

Justin, for his part, stood poised with his Cane of Valoria.

Then, without warning, the wall in front of them exploded.

Kargan's Blood Aegis activated, shielding them from the cascade of stone and dust, but nothing could protect them from what followed. A massive troll burst through the rubble, its bark-like skin towering at least nine feet tall. The creature's eyeless face twisted as it sniffed the air, nostrils flaring at the scent of prey.

The troll charged, its tree trunk arms swinging, shattering what remained of the Blood Aegis with a sound like breaking glass.

"Scatter!" Eldrin shouted, already nocking an arrow. "Bohemond, take point!"

The Knight hesitated for a heartbeat before charging forward, shield raised. He crashed into the troll's midsection, causing it to stagger backward. His sword flashed in the dim light, carving a deep gash across the creature's chest.

The troll recovered, swinging a massive fist that Bohemond caught on his shield. The impact sent him skidding back across the stone floor.

Justin darted forward, his cane whistling through the air as he activated Poison Barb. "Even by troll standards, you're remarkably dim-witted and ugly, aren't you?"

The troll hesitated momentarily as the cane's hidden blade slashed across its leg, cutting deeper than it should have. Justin's Add Injury to Insult boon enhanced the damage against his debuffed opponent. The creature howled, its leg buckling.

Eldrin's arrows flew in quick succession, each finding its mark with precision. Within seconds, three shafts protruded from the troll's shoulder and neck.

Lila's voice rose above the chaos, her Coordination song weaving through the air like silver thread. Justin felt his movements sharpening, becoming more precise. The whole party moved with newfound synchronization.

As they began to gain the upper hand, the wall crumbled further. A second troll, larger than the first, squeezed through the opening, sending chunks of masonry flying.

"Another one!" Lila called, her song faltering for a moment.

Kargan slammed his staff into the ground, a crimson aegis erupting in a circle around him. "Stay inside!"

The second troll battered against his Blood Aegis while the rest of the party took shelter.

The first troll, still reeling from Justin's cut, lunged at Bohemond. The Knight stood his ground, meeting the charge with a raised shield and a battle cry.

Justin glanced between the two threats, weighing his options. The first troll was wounded but still dangerous. The second was fresh and hammering at Kargan's barrier, which was already showing signs of strain.

"Time for a morale boost."

He stepped to the center of their protective circle and activated the skill, executing a perfect pirouette while spinning his cane in an arc. Yellow light surrounded him, infusing his allies. The display seemed absurdly out of place in the midst of combat.

The effect was immediate. Bohemond stood taller, his strikes becoming more confident. Eldrin's already keen eyes sharpened further. Lila's song gained new depth and power. Even Kargan's barrier strengthened slightly as Justin's Dandy's Swagger took effect.

At the same time, both trolls seemed to falter, their movements clumsier as the charisma debuff hit them.

"Now!" Justin called.

Eldrin fired three arrows in rapid succession at the first troll. Two found their mark in its throat, while the third pierced its chest. The creature staggered but kept coming.

Bohemond pressed the advantage, driving his sword deep into the troll's side. It roared in pain, swinging at the Knight, who moved with unexpected grace to sidestep the blow.

Justin circled around, looking for an opening. The troll raised both arms for a crushing blow aimed at Bohemond. In that moment of vulnerability, Justin struck, driving his cane up with all his strength while activating a Solid Thwack.

The stag's head connected with perfect precision against the troll's jaw, the sound resounding through the broken home. The creature froze mid-attack, its eyes glazing over as the Daze effect took hold, and its massive arms dropped to its sides.

Justin seized the opportunity, spinning his cane and driving the blade into the creature's exposed neck. The strike of his enchanted blade cut deep. The troll collapsed to its knees, then fell forward with a ground-shaking thud, its form collapsing into a large pile of dirt, as if magic had been holding it together.

The second troll roared at the death of its companion, redoubling its assault on Kargan's barrier. The Blood Warden was strained now, blood seeping from beneath his collar as he channeled more Life Force into a new aegis.

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"I can't... hold it... much longer," he gasped.

Two of Lila's blades sailed through the barrier, embedding themselves in the troll's chest. They twisted on their own, digging deeper into the creature's flesh before flying back to Lila's hands.

Eldrin fired an arrow that struck the troll's shoulder, causing it to howl and back away. In that instant of reprieve, Justin slipped through the aegis.

"Justin, no!" Lila called, breaking off her song for a moment.

Even Justin knew he was stretching himself too far, but it was too late now. The troll fixated on him immediately, nostrils flaring as it charged.

Justin stood his ground until the last possible moment before sidestepping, securing a lucky dodge he probably couldn't have achieved without Lila's Coordination buff. As the creature barreled past, he swung his cane with all his might, connecting with the back of the troll's knee.

The monster stumbled. Justin seized the opportunity, pressing his advantage with a flurry of strikes, each one finding a vulnerable spot. The troll twisted, trying to face him, but Justin stayed one step ahead, his movements enhanced by Lila's song and his own swagger.

"Eldrin, now!" Justin called.

The Ranger's arrow flew true, striking the troll's throat. It gagged and staggered backward.

Seeing his chance, Bohemond charged through the barrier, shield first, slamming into the wounded creature with enough force to drive it against the stone wall.

With a final, decisive swing, Bohemond ended the fight. The second troll crumbled, its body disintegrating like the first.

The chamber fell silent, broken only by their heavy breathing. Kargan's barrier flickered once more before dissolving completely. The Blood Warden sank to one knee, his face pale from exertion.

"Is everyone all right?" Eldrin asked, already checking for injuries.

Justin twirled his cane, returning it to his side with a flourish. "Well," he said, straightening his disheveled clothing, "I believe I've officially earned my keep."

Bohemond stared at him with newfound respect. "What was that you did? With the... insult? I never thought Socialite was a damage class."

Justin smiled. "A gentleman never reveals all his secrets, Sir Knight. But let's just say words can cut deeper than any blade."

They had done it. His heart still raced, the adrenaline of the fight surging through his veins. He looked around at the others—Bohemond, Eldrin, Lila, and Kargan. They were bloodied, bruised, and battered, but they were alive.

Bohemond's eyes were fixed on Kargan, his expression darkening as the last of his blood absorbed into his body, hastened by his Blood Warden's Seal amulet. The silence stretched on until, finally, Bohemond broke it.

"That magic…" His voice was tight with repressed fury. "You're using Blood Magic, aren't you? Speak!"

Kargan grimaced, his tusks protruding as he met Bohemond's glare. "Without it, you'd be dead, Knight."

"Blood Magic!" Bohemond spat the words as though they burned his tongue. His voice, usually steady, was now laced with disgust and revulsion. "That's the power of Nyriss, the Dread Goddess of Chaos. You're an abomination!"

Lila stepped forward, positioning herself between Bohemond and Kargan. "Kargan saved your life, Bohemond. Without his magic, none of us would be alive right now. Including you. You should be thanking him."

Bohemond's face twisted in fury, his hands gripping his sword so tightly that his knuckles whitened. "I don't consort with followers of Chaos. This is an affront to everything I believe in! I should have known better than to follow you down here. I've compromised my faith, my honor!"

"Bohemond," Eldrin said, his voice calm but edged with urgency. "We're all in this together. The Baron is the real threat here, not Kargan. We need to stick together if we're going to survive."

But Bohemond wasn't listening. His face was a mask of righteous fury as he turned toward the street from which they had come. "I won't stay here with a worshipper of Nyriss, even if it means taking my chances with the Baron. I'd rather face death than consort with Chaos."

Justin knew he had to act quickly. If Bohemond left, they would lose their tank—and he might not get far before the Baron found him. If he survived at all. And assuming he did, Valdrik could find the Knight and manipulate him. Or worse, turn him into an undead thrall to use against them.

Justin needed to say something that would cut through the Knight's blind anger. Already, Bohemond was stalking toward the rubble of the collapsed wall.

"Bohemond, wait!" Justin called, his voice strong despite the pounding in his chest. He had to take the risk of being loud, given the stakes. "Think about what you're doing. You're not walking away from us; you're walking right into the Baron's hands. He can use Death Magic. He has the power to turn you into a perversion of everything you believe in. Do you want that? If it's Morvath or Nyriss, which would you choose?"

Bohemond hesitated, pausing in his steps. Justin pressed on.

"You're a Knight of Arion, a defender of justice," Justin continued. "But justice isn't just about slaying monsters and demons. It's about protecting the innocent and standing with your comrades, even when it's hard and you're conflicted. We need you, Bohemond. If we're going to make it out of here alive, we have to stay united. If you leave now, you'll be playing right into Valdrik's hands. Into Morvath's hands. More than that—you'll be abandoning the mission Arion has set for you. Arion sent you here for a reason, and I don't believe that reason is for you to walk away."

The silence that followed was tense, each heartbeat echoing in Justin's ears. Bohemond's face remained contorted with anger. But when he turned his head, something in his eyes flickered—uncertainty, hesitation. For a moment, Justin thought he might still walk away.

Bohemond let out a breath, turning to face the group, though his eyes remained cold as they settled on Kargan. "Fine. I'll stay. But know this—I'll be watching you, orc. If the Ranger has any potions, I'll take them, but I won't allow any more of your Chaos Magic to touch me. I feel… defiled beyond words."

Kargan's jaw tightened, but he said nothing, nodding in acknowledgment. The relief Justin felt was fleeting. Their group was still together, but the cracks in their unity had been exposed. With the dangers of Drakendir still looming, those cracks could prove fatal.

Eldrin gestured for them to move on, his eyes scanning their surroundings. "We need to keep moving. The sounds of that battle could have drawn attention. We can sort this out later. Survival is the priority."

At last, Bohemond nodded. "You're right, Ranger. Lead on."

It was better than nothing. They were quiet as they filed out of the ruined home. The buildings loomed around them, a ghost town of hewn stone and forgotten lives. Shadows clung to the crumbling walls, and every sound seemed magnified in the oppressive silence.

Justin stayed close to Eldrin, his eyes darting around. The battle had left him on edge, and every crunch of stone underfoot, every flicker of movement, sent a jolt of fear through him. Coming down here had been a huge mistake.

But there was nothing left to do but keep going.

They moved further from the heart of Drakendir, following the road that surrounded its outskirts. They had been walking for five minutes when Justin thought he heard something—something that sounded like the faint flutter of wings above them.

He looked up sharply, scanning the darkness, but there was nothing. Just the endless shadows of the cavern.

"Did you hear that?" he whispered to Eldrin.

The Ranger glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "Hear what?"

Justin hesitated. "It sounded like wings, that's all."

Eldrin's face paled under the light of the blue crystals hanging from the ceiling. "I pray it was your imagination, lad, because I heard nothing. Either way, we need to keep moving."

The Ranger's attention returned to their surroundings. Justin hurried after Eldrin, forcing himself to focus on the path ahead. If Eldrin had heard nothing, then maybe it had been Justin's imagination.

As they continued onward, Justin couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.