"Someone's playing tricks."
Cyclone shook her head and pulled her eyes away from the gate. Despite all the cultists leaving, the room was not silent. Strange noises came from a door to the right. But before the party investigated those, they had to open the two treasure chests. Other than the usual materials they surprisingly received an egg of a unique flying mount.
"Sometimes I can't help but get jealous of your luck!", exclaimed Quickstep.
Cyclone only chuckled as she inspected the flying mount. It was a Winged Lion, quite majestic in appearance. Although it didn't have the potential for upgrades like the party's mounts, it was still extremely desirable as a unique mount. Cyclone placed the egg in the guild treasury where it would wait for a fated person with enough contribution points.
After this pleasant surprise the friends continued. They approached the large gate at the rare wall and Radiant Shield pushed with all his strength.
"It does not budge."
"Oh wow, who would've thought…", said Silent Acacia ironically. No one was surprised that the gate, which had been closed the entire time, couldn't be opened.
"Either we need to find a key or a way around it."
Hearing this, everyone's eyes fell on the only other door in the room. It would rather inconspicuous if it weren't for the muffled sounds coming from behind.
"What do you think is going on there?"
"Well, we are about to find out."
Silver Blade took the lead and pulled the door open. Everyone was taken aback, surprise evident on their faces. Behind the door was a smaller corridor seemingly leading to some living quarters. But right now, it was extremely chaotic as infernals rampaged around, clashing with the cultists. Doors were broken and shelves overturned. Blades clashed and flames latched onto the walls.
"Woah, do we have to pick a side?"
Cyclone's question broke the silence. The friends immediately started discussing but it was cut short as Radiant Shield took a step forward, holding his hammer high:
"My friends! We are heroes of the order faction! How can we stand by when demons are causing chaos? I beseech you to vanquish these evil infernals! Banish them back to Hell!"
"Yeahh!!"
"Order!!!"
Cyclone and Balm drew strange gazes from the others as they cheered loudly.
"We just wanted to add to the atmosphere…"
Fortune chuckled while gladly recording everything, a new video already forming in her mind. The friends were amused by the scene. They agreed with Radiant Shield as they entered the corridor.
[Flame-Sabre Skeleton Warrior
Rank: Common
Level: 66
HP: 61.000/61.000]
Silver Blade checked the first enemy nearby. The skeleton warrior's name was written in yellow, marking him as a potential enemy. The same was true for all the other NPCs. However, this would change as soon as the friends chose a side.
"Die! Filthy creatures of chaos!"
With such weak enemies Radiant Shield didn't discuss with his friends and directly engaged the enemy. He slammed his shield into the skeleton's back. The bone creature abruptly turned around, staring at the newcomers with shock and hatred.
"You dare to meddle in this affair, adventurers?!"
The skeleton's hoarse voice was accompanied by some sparks making it appear quite extraordinary. But the status panel didn't lie. The enemies in front of the group were only level 66 common monsters. They didn't pose much of a thread.
It only took a few minutes for the friends to dispose of a group of six monsters. With the skeletons transforming into a pile of broken bones, the cultists they had been fighting against could sigh in relief. Or at least that was what the friends would think. But in reality, the cultist stared wearily at the unknown adventurers, far from showing trust.
"Hey, hey. We helped you just now, right? Can you tell us how to get through the gate back there?"
Cyclone waved her hand in front of one of the cultists. The poor guy shivered and took a step back. However, his eyes wandered towards the back of the corridor.
"So the key is over there? Thanks!"
Cyclone grinned happily at the intimidated cultists. The friends passed by and went further along the corridor. There were a few more groups of internals but nothing which could trouble the party.
At the end of the corridor was a somewhat bigger door leading to the left. Although it was open, there were a few cultists crowding in front of it, blocking the view, their backs towards the corridor. Noticing someone approach the cultist at the back turned around and addressed the party:
"Adventurers! You have killed all the demons! Amazing! Can… can I ask you to help us one more time? In this room up front the demons have constructed a portal. Aunty Befra is trying to destroy it but there is a strong demon protecting the portal. Please, adventurer, help us. I don't want my brothers and sisters to die! But I am too weak to be of help!"
The cultist was only a young girl with some cat-like features. Tears came out of her eyes, instantly melting everyone's hearts.
"Don't worry, young one! We are heroes of the order faction! If we come across demons we won't stop before all of them are eliminated!", responded Radiant Shield proudly.
"Really? You are willing to help?"
"Of course."
"Thank you!"
The little cultist showed a relieved smile. She informed her friends in front. They all stepped to the side, nodding kindly at the party. Finally, Liam and his friends could see the next room. It was a large bathhouse with three baths. Usually, it might look extremely welcoming but at this moment it had lost much of its splendour.
In one of the baths a black portal was erected, emitting a tantalizing heat, turning all the water into steam. In front of it there were two people fighting. One was a cultist in green robes. Although her figure looked human-like there were wooden antlers growing from between her long, green hair.
The other combatant was a brutal demon. One half of his black skin was engulfed in blue flames, the other in red ice, contradictory to the extreme. His three menacing eyes held a mocking gaze as he stared at the cultist in front of him. He fought barehanded, raining ice and fire upon his enemy. Meanwhile the cultist let out a crisp shout and summoned a wall of plants to block the attacks.
"We know what we're dealing with now. Let's go!"
Silver Blade took the lead. But as soon as she set one foot into the bathhouse there came an invisible pulse from the portal.
"Woah!"
Her gracious silver bird was directly sent back to the inventory. Silver Blade let out a startled shout as she dropped to the ground and landed on her butt. Weird noises came from behind her back and Silver Blade didn't even need to turn around to know that Cyclone and Balm were pressing their hands on their mouths, desperately suppressing their laughter.
"What's so funny, huh?"
"Nothing, nothing!"
Cyclone waved her hands; but because of this laughter almost escaped her mouth. She held back the last moment, and the noise turned into a strange chortle. The others rolled their eyes, hiding their own amusement. They jumped off their mounts and reluctantly sent them away.
"Let's go!"
Finally, the party was ready. They entered the room and approached the two combatants, who quickly put some distance between them, pausing the battle for now.
"Who are you? Daring to interrupt this lord's business?! Do you have any idea who you are messing with?!"
The demon was the first to speak, glaring angrily at the party. Before they could answer, the cultist's, Befra's, voice rang out:
"Adventurers! You arrived at the right time! Thank you for offering your help! Please, assist me in dealing with this demon. Our temple won't forget this gratitude!"
The female cultist looked quite strange, like a mix between human and tree yet not quite a dryad. But her voice was incredibly comfortable, easily invoking goodwill. Since the friends had already made their decision, they naturally didn't hesitate.
"Don't worry Befra! We are here to quell chaos! We won't stop before this portal had been destroyed!"
"Ha! Whatever, vermin! Do you think I am afraid? I can take you all on! Come at me!"
The demon yelled loudly, his voice filled with rage. He brought his hands together and a ray of entwining fire and ice shot at the players with incredible might. Befra instantly raised her hands to construct a barrier of wood, stopping the attack.
"Now, adventurers! Take this chance to fell the demon!"
The start of the battle was quite sudden. A mix of freezing cold and scalding heat radiated from the wooden wall, which blocked in front of the players. Silver Blade quickly adjusted herself before signalling to her friends and rushing around the wooden wall. Her eyes fell on the demon not far away. A brief check revealed his status.
[Lord of Hellfire and Hellice Chratyo
Rank: Sub-Boss
Level: 67
HP: 104.000/104.000]