Isecant - Party based LitRPG-lite / Progression adventure

"I think it's going to consume the shards in the cellar!" I shouted. Lucy and the Von family cast a spell that caused the floor to collapse in its entirety and keep bursting through, a spell of that calibre probably broke through the barrier, I thought to myself. It also brought up so much dust that we could not see more than a few inches from our faces, which was never a good thing in the middle of a fight.

The silence became overwhelming. Tension and anxiety were increasingly worse for all of us as we waited for the dust to settle and hoped for a moment to compose ourselves. Particularly now that the item effects were wearing off, and the kickback started happening. Causing myself, Lucy, and Horace to drop to the floor with fatigue, Rhua held herself up by her shield, dug deep into what floor she could reach, but she was panting hard, heavy breaths and took off her helmet out of necessity from the heat build-up from fighting.

"I do not think you have won just yet. I still sense a presence below us. We should try to retreat, perhaps by now the guild may have started making its way here, they have far more capable fighters there." Frigibits warned us.

"Mama, look out the window," Rella's voice shook with fear. We looked outside, the barrier was now swirling with many distinct colours of the elements.

"Shit" I said aloud.

"Watch your language," said a weak voice under some rubble

"You're back with us?" I jokingly said to Wardi as he slowly crawled out from under a pile of bricks

"Just about, whatever you did seemed to cause the effect to disappear. I'm useless, though, it's left me heavily weakened." Lucy and Horace used area of effect healing Arts and enhancing shells to perk us up once more, at least enough to make a dash for safety if we could. But it was no use

A large translucent hand rose up from the cellar, followed by another which slammed into the staircase. Spiked tendrils now shot up into the air, smashing through the ceiling and roof, and slowly the creature reappeared, only this time, much bigger, more menacing and with not just one head but four.

Rhua once again enhanced herself, ready for a fight. But seeing that there was no longer a floor, realised fighting would be pointless as only Horace and Lucy could fight things not at ground level now.

"RUN!" she shouted. Darting over to Wardi, picking him up to jump back, and Lucy aiding her with a wind art.

We split up due to the rather large hand smashing through the staircase. I was separated into a pair with Horace, whilst the rest were gathered. We ran upstairs, and the walls were light work for the creature. I couldn't gather my thoughts from the constant dodging and picking up Horace when his legs were giving out. A hard hit from the creature eventually connected, and we crashed into a room and out onto a balcony outside we had not noticed previously.

"UGH, this is ROUGH!" Horace piped up. Nodding, I slumped down against the wooden balcony and hid from sight out of that thing inside. Thunderous banging was ringing out, which could likely be felt and heard from quite far away, as it was wrecking the house, my friends and newfound acquaintances to pieces.

I thought back to the words the serpentine eye said. "You must fight in ways you would not think to~"

I reached into my inventory and pulled out the droplet. Looking and holding it, I thought maybe the answer would come to me…it didn't. Horace looked at me, bewildered, having not been looking around after the eye froze everyone and noticing the teardrops. He pointed at the tear, as if asking, "What is it?" too tired to speak.

"No idea, but it's supposed to be able to help us fight?" Shrugging my shoulders at the end of my sentence. Peeking round the corner, it seemed the creature focused on the others and was not paying much attention to us. I thought it would be a good opportunity to try sneaking towards the thing.

Horace shook his head and used a sneak canister he made to help me reach it. I told him to stay outside since it doesn't seem to be interested in us, and maybe if it all goes to hell, at least one of us can get out. Besides… he was exhausted and scared; fear will make you do silly things.

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Now being invisible and silent, it's an opportunity to strike, but these sneak tools aren't always fully safe; True sight, True hearing, and the not-so-unique: True sniff, are dangerous. It's probably got at least one of those to counter my attempt. I snuck around and got up into the attic and hid in a corner.

I noticed that it had consumed all the shards in the cellar and put two and two together; it is likely now the reason the barrier is staying powered and stronger than when Broekslang had control of it.

Looking down from the ceiling, I thought, it's now or never, and I drank several durability potions, and I dropped down. The creature noticed me dropping down, but I was unable to deduce how. One of its large hands punched me midair, causing me to lose control of the droplet, and it fell through the air as I blasted through the armoury doors.

It felt as if time was stopping, watching everything happen slowly. My vision faded, and I was losing consciousness. The droplet fell onto the creature through what little sight I had left. A deep black erupted throughout the manor. The creature screaming was the last thing I saw and heard.

"N-NO, HOW!? L_LOST TO THE AGES, BLECH~"

There was nothing but darkness and silence. Until the voice visited me again. "Well done, fate denier."

My eyes opened, and I was in the grounds of the garden, but it also seemed like it wasn't quite the place either.

"You defeated a baptised one fate denier, you, and your friends deserve much praise for this" A dark portal-like whirl appeared to be next to my face.

"Is it you? The thing from before?

"Yes, my boy, it is I-"

"Who and what are you?"

"Who am I? Well, this I cannot say for my purpose was served long, long ago… and I have long since stepped beyond… though I suppose you may call me Tofla for the time being. A fragment of another age, hoping to make things right… that have gone wrong."

"There are agreements that prevent me from interfering, I may only guide."

"Well, that can't be true, or else that stuff you gave me for the fight would have counted against that surely? So, what was it? We were practically swimming in enhancements, and it may as well have fought us with one tendril tied behind its back!" Pissed off from pain and confusion I lashed out at Tofla.

"What I gave you was guidance… AND The Obelisks Eight. It was down to you, fate denier, to make what you will with them. The thing you battled with your friends, it is called an Invørsår, that particular one was the Holy-Invørsår, a corrupted entity that comes forth during a broken baptism, the summoning of something forcefully from another time, another place in the universe, they are not meant to exist, the ways to summon those were taken by the gods, they lead to nothing but misery.

"The little girl? Is she one of the corrupt ones?" Tofla stayed silent for a few seconds regarding my question towards it.

"I am not aware of this little girl that you mentioned," said Tofla, the voice sounded curious "Are you feeling well, fate denier? Perhaps you took a bump to the head, you are a fragile creature after all"

I stared into the sky for a brief time. And rolled with it pretending I was hurt "I just don't get any of this, and yes, I think I did just take a bump to the head too hard, I will be ok. "What is a tear… sorry, The Obelisk Eight?" I said, now holding my hands over my eyes, trying to block the light out.

"Your world uses hierarchies, so perhaps I should explain it using that? Tofla echoed.

"Sure." I was too tired to talk and move at this point.

"If the elemental sands are at the lowest, and we move up the hierarchy in order. Shards, Clusters, Rods, Boulders, and Formations are at the top with the most power. Then the obelisk eight are the purest and most raw elemental forms. Born during my time in the past. A failsafe, designed to stop the things that should never be.

"The Invørsår?"

"Things such as those, but not exclusively those,"

"Bit vague mate." Frustrated and not particularly thrilled about these damn gods and other worldly entities invading my normalcy for the third time.

"Forgive me for the mystery fate denier, should I break the agreements, I will cease to be for eternity. Always keep your friends close, may you stand united against the perils ahead. I will return to you soon. Go, return to your party members." Tofla echoed.