Rayla then bursts through the smoke and seems affected a lot more than me, crying and reeling for air, “Everyone! Cough In formation!”
We quickly get in formation as the smoke dissipates.
John yells, “What the fuck happened?”
“I’m not sure but Gork and Zark took the horses and ran off, imitating the Forest Orc’s cries.”
“It would seem we were set up. Do you guys have any enemies?”
“Cough Not that I know off. Thoma start the ritual, we’ll try to protect you as long as possible. I have a feeling we’ll need it.”
I then start the ritual as Forest Orcs approach us. It will take me about three to four minutes to complete it even if I rush myself.
Current time elapsed: 0:01
Rayla: “Minor boost strength, minor boost speed, minor boost defense.”
Sher Aka: “Moderate boost defense, minor boost strength, minor boost endurance.”
John: “Minor boost speed.”
Pushing and punching each other while running towards us a horde of nineteen enraged Orcs approach.
Rayla commands, “John! Release the pigs, it will preoccupy some of them. Also prepare the trip and blinding magic.”
“Yes!”
John then opens the pen and about thirty pigs start running away in different directions.
Current time elapsed: 0:33
The pigs seem to confuse the Forest Orcs. Some of them start fighting over them while a few of the weaker looking ones run after them into the forest. Fifteen Orcs left. A large and lanky forest Orc then runs towards Sher Aka.
“From darkness, matter sprung forth, from shadow a rope, from rope a trap. Dark Trip!”
From its shadow a dark string comes froth, tripping the Orc and making it fall down. Rayla on all fours starts running towards it and claws out its neck while growling at the other approaching Orcs, causing a few of them to hesitate. Two Orcs now approach Sher Aka, attacking her at the same time with their clubs. Sher Aka manages to dodge one of them and with her shield parries the second one piercing her sword into the Orc’s neck and quickly turns around slicing the neck of the second one open.
Current time elapsed: 1:10 Twelve Forest Orcs left
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Five more Orcs run at us at the same time, three at Sher Aka and two at Rayla.
“Cake! Light, come forth in a burst, overwhelm the sensory nerves and disperse! Blinding Light!”
Even though I, like the rest of the party, closed my eyes I can feel the burst of light emanating from John interfering in my dark mana absorption for just a second. When I open my eyes again both Rayla and Sher Aka have each killed one of the charging Orcs while the other three swing their clubs around violently, accidentally hitting each other in the process and getting into a fight. Four more Orcs then start running towards Rayla and she retreats back to Sher Aka while John casts another trip spell, tripping one of the chasers who leaps forward and grabs one of Rayla’s tails. Trapping her in his grip, another Orc hits Rayla in the stomach with his giant club and makes her go flying into a tree. Hitting the back of her head on the tree she starts to bleed and at this point is only being made to stay conscious by the adrenaline pumping through her blood.
Current time elapsed: 2:23 Ten Forest Orcs left.
Sher Aka then gets surrounded by three Forest Orcs frothing from their mouths. At first she manages to block and dodge the attacks but then the one behind her grabs her while another attacks. John, seeing this, runs towards her, “Cake! Light, come forth in a burst, overwhelm the sensory nerves and disperse! Blinding Light!” Light bursts forth from him, blinding the three Orcs and allowing Sher Aka to cut them down. John however didn’t notice the Orc sneaking up behind him who attempts to bring down its club on him. Right before hitting him, Rayla pushes John away screaming, “Escape!” as she gets hit by the club instead and flung to the cart, dropping unconscious, blood flowing out of her mouth.
“Fuck! Sherry, pick up Rayla I’m starting the Dark Bomb!”
“Got it!”
Sher Aka then runs towards Rayla, dodging and blocking wooden club attacks on her way there, and picks her up.
“Darkness, the origin of all, disperse all light and cover the area in nothingness. Dark Bomb!”
Darkness then surrounds an area of about a thirty meter radius.
Current time elapsed: 3:19 Seven Forest Orcs left.
Being completely surrounded by the dark element I start to take in the orbs but this time something is wrong. There is too much darkness around me, it feels like I’m drowning. No matter how much I absorb, there seems to be more and more. It feels like I’m trying to drink myself out of the water I’m drowning in. Should I cancel the ritual? No, I need to be strong, show more power in my dance. I must show confidence in the face of overwhelming darkness. I must absorb more, more, MORE!
—------------------------
Meanwhile Sher Aka and John are running away.
“Should we really leave Thoma Ahad behind like this Sherry? It looks like he’s not coming.”
“If he’s staying, that means he’s trying to secure our escape. Don’t let his sacrifice be in vain, we need to make sure both his sister and us survive.”
“Fuck! Fine.”
As they keep running, three Forest Orcs appear. They were the ones chasing the pigs before and are now surrounding Sher Aka and John, slowly approaching them with their clubs. Sher Aka puts Rayla over John’s shoulder, “Run, I’ll make sure to keep you safe.”
“No, we’re in this together!”
“No. Go while you still have a chance. Please John…”
“FUCK! Fine! But you better survive!!!”
“Don’t worry I’ll try to come b-”
Suddenly three arrows in rapid succession come from the dark cloud and kill the Forest Orcs surrounding them while the screaming of even more Orcs is heard coming from inside the cloud. A figure completely covered in darkness, wearing a dark melting crown on its head approaches from the cloud, dagger in hand. It looks like it's bleeding pure darkness from its eyes, mouth, nose and ears before collapsing to the ground. The darkness then slowly melts and sinks into the ground revealing Thoma Ahad’s body. His clothes drenched in blood from both the Forest Orcs and himself.
Current time elapsed: 4:12 Zero Forest Orcs left.
