"Good job!"
"Don't fall behind, guys!"
Some faint praise and encouragement floated through the room. Watchful Eye didn't show a change in expression as he moved forward, about to pass through the wall of blades. But before he could do so, he noticed something off. All the white runes on the other side converged to the hole, floating in front of it. Watchful Eye's heart skipped a beat. Should he step through, the runes would instantly hit him, immobilizing him for who knows how many seconds, even minutes.
"Hurry! Make more holes!"
Liam realized that his friends had slowed down to observe Watchful Eye, probably thinking they were already fine. Unfortunately, this was far from enough. Liam surmised that they would have to blast at least five holes through the wall for the runes on the other side to disperse again.
Everyone realized their mistake and put in more effort. Even Balm attacked the wall although it didn't do much damage. Finally, a second and a third hole were created but the party was left with ever decreasing space. It became incredibly difficult to dodge. Cyclone, Fortune, and Balm each pulled off some nice flash steps while the others did their best to control their flying mounts.
"We don't have much space left!", exclaimed Cyclone anxiously.
"I don't know if we can do it!"
Liam gritted his teeth. He made a difficult decision:
"Stop attacking! Go through! Quick!"
Everyone immediately reacted. They held back their weapons and flashed towards the holes which had already been created. Silver Blade, Radiant Shield, Quickstep, and Watchful Eye took the lead, bearing the brunt of the runes. They instantly found their bodies wrapped like a dumpling, completely unable to move, covered in runes. Silver Blade had her [Unbreakable Will] but the skill could only break through mental impairment, not physical.
After those four took the lead, the rest swiftly followed. However, they still couldn't escape the rest of the runes which were lingering behind the wall of blades. Every single one of the party members was hit and lost their ability to move.
"Intruders! It is time for you to leave!"
"Die!"
Bariohl and Renriohl both approached swiftly. Their gazes falling on the immobile intruders were filled with superiority. Renriohl waved his staff from behind and a barrage of flames shot right at Watchful Eye. The latter could only watch stoically as the attacks violently slammed into his chest.
[-6688!]
[-6688!]
[-4180!]
[-4180!]
A hint of panic appeared in Watchful Eye's gaze as he found his HP bar evaporated. More than half was gone in an instant. And yet the bosses were not done. Bariohl also attacked from a distance, swinging his dagger in an arc, unleashing an arc of sharp white blade light at the party. Its size increased as it travelled, soon large enough to engulf Watchful Eye as well as the nearby Balm and Silver Blade.
[-13.887!]
[-10.468!]
[-11.001!]
Both Silver Blade and Balm were blessed with large HP pools. But Watchful Eye was close to his limit. One more hit and he would be done for. Fortunately, Renriohl seemingly didn't care about finishing him off, directing his staff elsewhere. Another burst of flames erupted, aiming right for Cyclone. The mage became agitated, struggling around. Suddenly she felt her Lightning Hawk shiver. She managed to escape!
Without the time to think she used the first skill that came to her mind. One of the three proud tailfeathers of her hawk shone in a bright purple light and crackling lightning engulfed both rider and mount. They transformed in a bolt of lightning which flashed across the sky. From one side of the room to the other in no time at all, almost like teleportation.
On its way the brutal lightning bolt glanced Renriohl's winged snake, sending a shock through its body.
[-528!]
After Cyclone, the others also gradually regained their movement one by one. At least as long as they hadn't been hit by too many runes. Watchful Eye was still struggling. He noticed his friends starting to free themselves and felt a glimmer of hope. However, Bariohl was less merciful than his brother. His dangerous eyes were fixed on Watchful Eye as he waved his weapons once again.
"Protect Watchful Eye!"
"Careful!"
"Balm!"
Instantly chaos broke out. Balm waved her wand, dousing Watchful Eye in brilliant light, using her dazzling, life-saving [Heal]. It was like a shower of golden light which could revitalise all things. Watchful Eye felt extremely comfortable as his HP instantly recovered.
[+106.249!]
Thanks to Balm's own strength, her new class, and various effects, [Heal] had become extremely potent. It could even completely recover Radiant Shield from certain death. However, as a consequence its cooldown had been drastically increased to a full five minutes. Fortunately, there was a small change to the skill which reduced some cooldown according to the unused energy.
In this case, [Heal] bestowed about 34.000HP to Watchful Eye but the skill had the power to recover more than 100.000HP. Thus, about 68% of the energy remained unused. A fourth of the overspilling golden light returned to Balm and [Heal]'s cooldown was reduced by 17%, leaving it at 249seconds.
Watchful Eye didn't know all these calculations in detail. He only knew that the party used one of their important life-saving skills for him. Although it wasn't really his fault, he still worried how it would affect their battle going forward. And just as he had that thought he noticed that Radiant Shield also made his move.
The majestic griffon let out a piercing cry as white light shot out of its eyes, hitting Bariohl who was in the process of erupting with an attack which would send Watchful Eye to the graveyard. But the light was too fast, reaching the boss before he could finish his move. It slammed into his chest, instantly causing him to freeze. This skill called [Eagle's Piercing Gaze] was an extremely potent, almost guaranteed stun. Bariohl's attack was interrupted, and Watchful Eye was safe.
Radiant Shield sighed in relief but simultaneously he noticed the familiar golden light falling on Watchful Eye. He froze, realizing that he and Balm acted at the same time, using up two potent skills with long cooldowns to safe Watchful Eye. It was somewhat of a waste.
The others also realized what had happened, but they didn't discuss it now. What's done was done. With everyone regaining their movement the battle had to continue.
"Let's go!"
Radiant Shield and Silver Blade took the lead. Obviously, throughout the whole sequence they lost the aggro of the two bosses. It was their job to firmly secure it again before the others could launch their attacks. Silver Blade and Radiant Shield rushed at the two cultists, slamming their bodies against the enemies. After a brief exchange they signalled to their friends and the fight continued as before.
Radiant Shield entangled Bariohl in a fierce back and forth. From time to time the boss would shoot arcs of blade-light, forcing Radiant Shield to block hastily and the others to escape. However, Bariohl didn't play by the rules for long. His HP had barely been reduced to below 100.000 points when he revealed a new skill.
"Intruders! Why are you so stubborn? Can't you even spare the children? Are you determined to eradicate our family?"
"But we…"
"Silence!"
The half-elf bellowed angrily. The blue winged snake below his feet let out a cry, unleashing a bright light to engulf both her and her master. The light split into three portions and when it receded, three identical versions of Bariohl appeared, confidently staring at the intruders. And is if this wasn't enough, Renriohl pulled a similar trick. He retrieved another two staffs out of nowhere which hovered around him, aiming at the players.
"Four bosses?"
"Careful! The clones don't seem to focus Radiant Shield!"
"Are they attacking us?"
Everyone could feel the increasing pressure. Bariohl's clones ignored Radiant Shield. They turned left and right, targeting Quickstep and Liam.
"Not that easy!"
Radiant Shield let out a shout as he forcefully struck his own shield, causing a wave of golden light to scatter. It quickly hit one of the clones. Yet, the other suddenly allowed his body to drop lower and the golden light passed above his head. Now nothing stood between him and his opponent.
Liam frowned as he noticed the clone waving his daggers. An arc of white light shot right at him. The experienced veteran refrained from using his ultimate skill until this point. But now a light and dark layer of magic surrounded his body as [Chaotic Tempest] was activated. Immediately another skill followed.
The air above the clone was suddenly brimming with a golden light as if a piece of heaven descended to earth. Liam disappeared from the spot and instantly appeared within the golden light, enveloped by it. He rushed at the clone below him like heavenly punishment, slamming right into the boss's body, causing an explosion of light around him, and applying two Holy Marks. This was the skill [Heavenly Sky], an illuminated mirror image of the skill [Darkened Sky].
[-292!]