As the group continued their journey, they were faced with the need for faster transportation. With Atlas' current state and knowing that Master Borin wasn't a Magus, Ery took out his special Nature Staff and cast [Summon Nature Familiar].
From the depths of the dark, cold rock beneath their feet, an unsettling tremor began. Cracks appeared, spiraling and expanding like spider webs, releasing a chorus of earthen groans. Slowly, chunks of rocks began shifting and rising, lding together. Soon, a colossal rock Lizard stood before them, its rough, stone-like scales glistening in the dim light.
It was a summon that mirrored the transport Ery had once ridden in Vanyar planet, except the material composition ca following the planet he was casting the spell at.
As they mounted the rock lizard, its massive legs propelling them forward at a surprising speed, Master Borin, curiously probed about Ery's storage ring. Unable to reveal about Khaos gate, he briefly explains that he could only access the ring just now without giving any reason. However, with the blacksmith master basically depending on Ery's prowess, he was smart enough not to ask further on the matter.
Ery then took out the small device gifted by Jinkan to show the inventor. He detailed the escape plan associated with a ship and emphasized the necessity of a person's presence for its success, Master Borin squinted, inspecting the detail of the ship's technology,
The master inventor's thoughts seed distant before he finally remarked, "You know, tampering tech like this could be more trouble than it's worth… No, no it will be simpler to just construct another ship from scratch."
Ery contemplated Borin's words, but before he could respond, an orange and yellow hue began painting the horizon. As they neared, the source beca chillingly clear: the once mighty citadel was now ablaze. Towering walls that had withstood countless assaults now crumbled, and the inferno's heat was so intense that even the rocks seed to weep molten tears.
Master Borin's face contorted in horror and disbelief. Pointing at the heart of the citadel, where the highest concentration of smoke billowed, he cried out, "No!! My workshop!"
The scorched earth bore testant to the brutal confrontation that had occurred just hours prior. Oddly, given the size of the battle that had raged, there were strikingly few orcs present in the vicinity.
Thinking quickly and prioritizing safety, Ery disbanded the rock Lizard, its form crumbling back into the earth from whence it ca.
With Atlas on his back, Ery grabbed Master Borin's and began to stealthily maneuver through the landscape, reaching the lava river. He summoned vine-like bridges, their roots deep and secure, creating a path over the fiery river.
Ery focused his senses, searching for any residual presence of elves. Sensing none, he entered the burning fortress.
The sheer scale of the devastation beca more evident. Smokes and embers danced in the air, and the heat radiating from the flas made the air thick and oppressive. Ery closed his eyes briefly, channeling the vast reservoir of his magical prowess. A gentle mist, summoned from deep within the earth, its droplets sizzling upon contact with the flas. The water spell began to quench the fire's fury, turning roaring flas into subdued embers.
As the smoke cleared, the aftermath was a chilling tableau of devastation and loss. Charred remains of orcs, humans, and elves littered the grounds, painting a somber portrait of the price of war.
Ery's chest tightened as his eyes locked onto a particularly heartbreaking sight – two human bodies, seemingly frozen in their final monts, locked in an embrace at the entrance of the citadel. Recognition dawned, and sorrow laced his voice, "Senior Blane, Senior Cas... may you rest in peace."
As Master Borin's eyes darted around, anxiety evident in every movent, he rushed towards the remains of his workshop.
anwhile, Ery, consud by the gravity of the mont, summoned the power of his Nature Staff once more. The ground trembled gently in response, and the earth itself seed to stretch forth, gently cradling and pulling the fallen warriors into its embrace, offering them a final resting place.
Yet, just as the last of the bodies was being interred, a disturbance caught Ery's attention. From the eastern gate, a solitary figure was approaching. The silhouette was familiar, one that was believed to be lost.
"Commander Sheperd! you're alive!"
However, as he observe closer, the vibrant, confident leader that Ery rembered was replaced by a hollowed-out version, with eyes that bore the weight of countless heartaches. His gaze, distant and haunted, darted around, trying to take in the devastating scene.
"Are you alright commander? Are you hurt?"
Shepherd's eyes finally focused on Ery, a dazed expression etched across his face. His voice ca out in a cracked whisper, "Ery… the ship… all failed, wasnt it… everyone.. they all died?"
Ery nodded, a heavy sorrow weighing down his words, "Only Atlas, Master Borin, and I survive."
A sad smile tugged at the corners of Shepherd's lips, "I see… it's still good you survive" He looked toward the grave once again and said "In the end, we always lose"
Lost in his own torrent of thoughts, Sheperd's voice beca softer, as if he were talking to himself, reliving past tragedies. From a distance, the clatter of tools echoed out, and Master Borin erged from his workshop, his face ashen. "It's all gone. The tools, the parts… We can't build another ship with the remains."
Shepherd let out a bitter chuckle upon hearing Borin, "Building again? "Don't bother… it's a loss cause"
Master Borin was annoyed as he said "You can sulk if you want, I am going to build another ship and get out of this hell hole!"
The two began to argue, and Ery attempted to soothe the rising tension until the commander voiced out an outburst "Do you think this was our first attempt?! Five ships!! We've built and lost five ships in the eight years I've been trapped here. Not a single one made it past the planet's barriers."
Master Borin's face was drained of color. He himself has only been trapped on the planet for a little over a year. The realization that he had been kept in the dark about previous failures was a hard pill to swallow.
His voice, usually composed, quivered with anger and disbelief. "What are you saying, Shepherd!! Why did you never tell about this!!?" Master Borin shouted forcing an explanation. The silence that followed was thick with tension, awaiting an explanation, a justification for the lies and lost hopes.
Commander Sheperd's gaze was distant, mories of past failures and heartaches painted vividly across his features. "Eight years," he began, his voice barely above a whisper. "Eight years trapped in this infernal place, and this citadel is the third to fall under my watch."
He paused, inhaling deeply, as if to muster the strength to continue. "We have dealt with gravitation problems for the ship before, unfortunately, they were shot down by elven ships right after they leave orbit. it's impossible! there is no escape from this prison"
Master Borin was angered once again demanding why he never told this matter and let him work hard on building the ship if he knows it was all pointless.
Sheperd's eyes held a weariness that belied his years, yet he remained silent. Ery however understood "Hope… he just letting people not lose hope"
Their somber reflection was abruptly shattered by the ominous rumbling overhead. Eyes turned skyward, and the sight of a descending ship heading toward the elven citadel on the other side.
"Elvish reinforcents!" Master Borin cried in panic.
Ery himself was shocked, however for a different reason, just a second ago, Chututlu the Khaos guardian voice echoed in his mind.
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