Timber Yard, corner.
The warriors of the investigation team unleashed every trick they had—so buried their heads in their clothes, others shoved their faces into the dirt. In the face of the overwhelming stench, their survival instincts flared like never before. By sheer desperation, they managed to lessen their tornt, if only slightly.
But their relief was short-lived. Soon, more yellow-green Toxic Mist flooded in. This ti, it was thicker, heavier. In an instant, the warriors’ faces turned sickly green, teetering on the brink of collapse.
"I can’t—ugh—!"
One retched violently, but nothing ca up except bile. They hadn’t eaten or drunk in a full day and night. The cultists, of course, had no concept of "humane treatnt." The fact that they hadn’t actively tortured the prisoners was rcy enough.
"I... hrk..."
Another’s eyes rolled back, foam bubbling from his lips. His body convulsed before his legs stiffened—he’d been outright knocked unconscious by the fus!
"Everyone—everyone—!"
Anno’s voice was frantic. As a paladin, sacred power surged through her body, granting her so resistance to the assault.
But that resistance couldn’t be shared with her comrades. Watching her teammates collapse one after another, her expression twisted into despair.
"Hey—!" she scread toward the battlefield, voice raw. "Soone! They’re going to die in here!"
...
Whoosh—
A thrown spear shot toward the thick-bearded brute from behind. The sa man who had fearlessly weathered Charles’ Eldritch Blast now refused to take this attack head-on. Instead, he spun into a frantic roll, barely dodging with an undignified stumble.
Charles blinked in surprise but quickly raised his hands and fired two more Eldritch Blasts—
BANG—!
"Tch—!"
The man hit the ground in another roll. One blast struck the earth, sending pebbles scattering with a sharp crack. The other slamd squarely into his back, forcing a pained grunt from his throat. Yet the guy was built like a wild boar—he clambered back up, unhard, and resud his stance as if nothing had happened.
Charles eyed him warily. From the corner of his vision, he spotted a tall, shield-strapped Amazon woman descending from above. She landed smoothly, strode forward, and fell in beside him.
A single glance was all it took to recognize her.
...The leader of those Amazon won?
Why had she joined the fight so suddenly?
To save him?
Unlikely. And given how her first move had been a lethal strike, there was no mistaking the blood feud behind it.
His mind raced with wild theories—until the fierce woman spoke.
"Boy, I’m Gale Porter, executive of the Amazon Company," she said. "I don’t know what your purpose is, but I have only one goal - to kill that man!"
Her eyes remained locked on the thick-bearded commander of Xanathar’s Guild ahead, her voice dripping with undisguised hatred and naked killing intent.
Charles looked at her, montarily stunned. His mind flashed through countless stories of betrayal and abandonnt, but he ultimately suppressed these thoughts and nodded solemnly. "I ca to eliminate monsters, yet he ambushed without warning. This proves his allegiance to the cult!"
"Destroying him is my sacred duty!"
Though he didn’t understand what grudge existed between them, this opponent had initiated a raid against him while wielding a powerful magical weapon like the Storm Warhamr...
There was no way to continue fighting without dealing with this guy first!
"I’ll provide suppressing fire - you flank him from the side!" he commanded. The tall Amazon woman beside him laughed boldly. "Got it!"
With that, her muscular legs bent slightly before launching her forward like a swift lioness charging straight at Kendrz!
Damn it, she’s not following orders at all!
Charles cursed inwardly, but didn’t hesitate to consu three spell slots to cast False Life (2nd level). His already limited spell slots imdiately dwindled to just two remaining.
He’d soon lose all combat effectiveness...
The thought made him sigh internally.
Normally, a spellcaster with seventeen spell slots could last quite long in such low-level combat.
But Charles’s weak constitution couldn’t withstand much damage. Both Sophia’s damaging spells and that Storm Warhamr strike could easily grievously wound him, forcing him to always preemptively stack protective spells before engagents.
This outrageous spell slot consumption ant he’d nearly exhausted his combat strength after just three exchanges!
After this mission, he absolutely must unlock the Training Grounds. Starting tomorrow - specialized constitution training!
Having made this silent resolution, he cleared his mind and raised his hand, firing two more Eldritch Blasts at Kendrz.
Kendrz raised his shield to block, but Porter had already closed in, her iron spear thrusting straight at his face.
Forced to prioritize defending against the more imdiate threat, the two Eldritch Blasts struck him unimpeded.
BANG—!
Even the mightiest warrior struggles against multiple opponents. While being flanked, his only option was to tank the Eldritch Blasts to defend against the Amazon’s attacks.
Though...
This guy was surprisingly tanky!
Seeing Kendrz still standing strong - even continuing to trade blows with the Amazon woman - Charles couldn’t help another internal sigh.
Though he hadn’t mastered the Agonizing Blast invocation, his high Charisma made his Eldritch Blasts hit with force comparable to a heavy crossbow. Ordinary Xanathar thugs would be sent flying from a single hit, either incapacitated or killed outright.
Yet this guy had already tanked three direct hits and still fought vigorously with no signs of slowing down.
They needed more firepower!
With this thought, Charles began advancing. By now, exhaustion was setting in noticeably. Gritting his teeth against the stench, he panted heavily while continuing to bombard Kendrz with Eldritch Blasts.
Ahead, Kendrz struggled to simultaneously fight Porter while dodging. The pincer attack was proving troubleso even for him.
Truthfully, his Strength - whether physique, technique, or equipnt - slightly surpassed Porter’s. But Charles’s constant harassnt prevented him from fighting at full capacity - those energy beams hurt!
"Ugh!"
Another blast struck his back, the sharp pain drawing a grunt from Kendrz. This finally solidified his resolve.
No more delays!
He had to eliminate this Amazon woman imdiately, then kill that white-haired boy!
With this decision, Kendrz abandoned all defense. Instead of retreating from Porter’s attack, he stepped forward, consuming the last charge on his warhamr as he swung it with lightning-infused fury!
Sssshhhk—!
Porter never anticipated this move. Her spear continued its montum, piercing clean through Kendrz’s left shoulder in a spray of blood that nearly crippled his entire arm!
As for the incoming warhamr, she instinctively raised her round shield—
BOOM—!
The deafening explosion swept through the Timber Yard, the shockwave rippling the yellow-green fus. Porter’s body went flying, her already fu-addled mind succumbing to unconsciousness as she crashed to the ground.
Charles barely registered the sudden turn. On reflex, he unleashed two more Eldritch Blasts at Kendrz. With his left arm useless, the commander could no longer raise his shield, barely twisting away to avoid one blast while the other struck his chest!
"Gaaah—!"
A rib snapped as Kendrz howled in agony. Blood gushed from his ruined arm, but his eyes burned with feral rage as he charged Charles like a wounded boar.
Flickers of lightning reappeared along his Storm Warhamr’s silver surface—yet this ti, he didn’t throw it.
Having been a warlock for less than three hours, he still didn’t understand how to recharge the hamr’s magic. He couldn’t guarantee it would fly true if he forced his own power into it.
Nor could he risk missing against this unpredictable mage—after all, his earlier throws had only knocked out the won, while the white-haired man remained unhard!
This foe was clearly different. If his final throw failed, allowing the mage to resu those painful spell attacks from a distance... that would be disastrous.
So he charged instead, determined to finish this in lee.
So primal instinct whispered that mages were weak in close combat—get within striking distance, and victory would follow.
Thus, within the Timber Yard’s foul haze, a bloodied warrior lunged at an exhausted spellcaster. The endga had arrived.
Seeing the frenzied charge, Charles wheezed through burning lungs, knowing escape was impossible. Two Eldritch Blasts likely wouldn’t stop Kendrz now, so he forewent the cantrip to instead cast Blade Ward.
If lee combat was inevitable, then lee combat it would be.
Thank the gods he’d chosen the Pact of the Blade—at least he wouldn’t be defenseless!
With this thought, his hand flew to his hip as he stepped forward to et the charge. Kendrz swung his warhamr one-handed, the square-headed weapon crackling with lightning as it descended toward Charles’s chest with thunderous force!
Co then!
Charles was ready. His incantation finished just in ti: "Absorb Elents!"
Absorb Elents.
Similar to Shield in duration but specialized—where Shield countered physical attacks, this spell neutralized elental damage: fire, frost, lightning, acid, and thunder.
BANG—!
The hamr struck. Blade Ward’s sigil shattered, absorbing most impact before the weakened blow connected with Mage Armor and False Life’s protections.
anwhile, Charles’s left hand slapped his spellbook pouch—Thunderwave erupted!
BOOOOM—!
The concussive blast hurled Kendrz backward as the shockwave reverberated through the Timber Yard.
Gasping for air, Charles felt the hamr’s residual sting. Lightning crawled across his torso—only to be absorbed by his spell. Just a tingle, no worse than winter static!
Perfect. It worked.
His lips curled as electricity danced across his skin—all that absorbed energy waiting to be used.
Absorb Elents didn’t just mitigate damage—it harnessed the very forces ant to harm him.
This was a spellcaster’s true power. Their vast arsenal could turn any enemy’s strength against them. Even wielding mighty artifacts, non-casters often found their efforts backfiring spectacularly.
Like right now!
Charles raised his right hand. The stored lightning coalesced, threads of energy weaving into the form of a longsword—his Pact Weapon manifestation.
The simplest use of absorbed elents? Channeling them into his blade.
"Die!"
He growled through clenched teeth, eyes flashing with lethal intent as his crackling longsword arced toward Kendrz’s throat - moving with the practiced grace of a seasoned Sword Master!
CRACK!
The fallen Kendrz twisted aside at the last mont, avoiding a fatal blow - but the pact-forged blade still cleaved through his leather armor and bit deep into his right shoulder!
A surge of raw lightning coursed through Kendrz’s massive fra. Every muscle locked rigid, his hair standing on end as his face contorted in agony: "ARRGH—!"
The hunter had beco the hunted.
Paralyzed and helpless, Kendrz could only twitch upon the ground as Charles imdiately adjusted his grip and swung for the killing stroke—
SHNK—!
The magically conjured Pact Weapon weighed nothing, allowing even Charles’s frail arms to achieve blinding speed. The paralyzed warrior stood no chance as the razor edge found his carotid artery.
A hot geyser of blood erupted, drenching Charles from head to toe. The crimson deluge instantly doused his battle fury - leaving him standing frozen, eyes wide with shock as icy realization washed over him.
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