DBoots caught up to Eden with his horse as he called to her again. "Are you in such a hurry to get yourself in trouble?" said DBoots with a laugh. Eden smiled and replied, "trouble follows me, oh look it just caught up." They both chuckled a little before Eden asked DBoots, "are you here for the new boss as well?" DBoots shrugged his shoulders and said,
"I was exploring the area out of curiosity and saw a golden stag running around the hill. I followed it and as I turned the corner I saw you and CallanRok by the entrance of the cave. So pure coincidence I guess. Then I decided to tag along after you told Callan he wasn't needed. Ha ha ha that was funny."
Eden smirked and said, "So you like punishment, isn't that what you call a masochist?" DBoots chuckled before cunningly responding, "I take pleasure in watching, there's a difference." Eden turned to look at him to see him wiggling his eyes. She laughed and said, "Alright peeping Tom, I'm pretty sure that's illegal." Dboots replied, "Not in this world, King still hasn't issued the decree to outlaw it. So I'm gonna cash in for now." They both laughed and Eden said, "Aren't you just full of bright ideas." DBoots answered, "that was many many many brain cells ago. My last great idea was with a toaster in my bathtub." Eden shook her head with amusement.
After a few more minutes, they noticed that their light crystals began to dim which they had pulled out of their bags when the sunlight was fading into the cave. It was odd because the description of the crystals were ever lasting light. Unless, Eden paused as she moved the crystal closer to her eyes to see it more clearly. As she inspected the crystal, she noticed black particles around the crystal. The darkness was produced by solid particles and it was also entering their lungs because they were breathing it in. Eden looked behind her and noticed there was moving space in the shape of a globe that wasn't affected by the particles. The soldiers surrounded by the globe could be seen because of their crystals still shining. That must be where Erza is. Eden then turned to look at DBoots who was now curiously looking at the same spot. "Do you trust me?" asked Eden. DBoots answered in a deeper voice than normal, "is this where you say, come with me if you want to live?" Eden couldn't help but smile a little but then shook her head and said, "promise you won't say anything to anyone just yet." With hesitation DBoots replied, "I'm not sure I can make that promise, but I'll give it some thought." Eden groaned a little out of frustration, but decided she trusted him regardless. She then said, "Erza, uncloak and expand your forcefield." Erza emerged from being invisible and the globe around her pulsed outward until it covered all of them. The phoenix that was sitting on DBoots shoulder was pushed off him with force, that it only flapped its wings once the air around it stopped moving. Then it stumbled into a glide in front of them. The phoenix began to light up with the fire that came from its wings. At the same time, the particles that had entered everyone's lungs came out. They felt their chest, throat and nostrils tingle as it left their bodies.
Erza was practically floating in the air in the center of the group. The rest of the soldiers were coughing from the particles leaving their body all at once. Eden wondered how long they have been inhaling that substance. Then she asked Erza for a status report. Erza said, "everyone's health has dropped to 30 percent. The time of exposure to substance began once we entered the cave. Would you like me to transport all injured to the infirmary?" Eden replied, "No, use recovery potion as necessary to regain health to 100 percent." Eden and her army began to recover. DBoots said, "Seraphina, use recovery magic." The phoenix answered in soft but aged voice, "Of course my liege." Then a fire from the ground raised and enveloped DBoots and his army. The fire didn't burn them, but gave them health instead. Eden looked at DBoots with awe, and then said, "I guess we all have our secrets don't we." DBoots smirked and responded, "I guess we do." After they verified they were all back to 100 percent health, they continued forward.
Eden cleared her throat after a few more minutes and said, "So are we going to talk about it?" DBoots responded," ladies first." Eden narrowed her eyes at him. DBoots then said in Callan's tone, "I was just trying to be a gentleman." They both laughed and then DBoots said, "I found out Seraphina can do more than just guide me through the server while I was in purgatory." Eden raised her eyes, "purgatory?" DBoots scratched his head a bit as he answered, "it's a place where catholics believe they go to cleanse their soul. I'm not religious, but I figured you would know more since I sometimes catch you in prayer." Eden then said, "Ohhh, I forgot about that but we have one here?" DBoots nodded before saying, "Yeah, I guess we do. It's basically going through unpleasant memories until your 5 minutes of cool down is up and you can respawn." Eden looked puzzled because she still didn't understand what it had to do with Seraphina.
DBoots continued,"anyway, I was in purgatory for longer than I would like, but that's when I saw Seraphina as a little bird appeared and aged before my eyes. Then she was injured and bursted into flames. Besides being caught by surprise and possibly unlocking a new trauma, I noticed Seraphina using recovery magic. When I came to, I was surrounded by flames. Panicked a little, then realized it was Seraphina's flames getting me back to health," finished DBoots saying with an awkward laugh. Then he just paused and waited for Eden's response.
Eden took a moment to think how to explain her situation. She didn't really know how to put in words. Then she finalized her resolve and went for it, not caring if he thought she was crazy. "Yes I believe in God and yes, that God is Jesus Christ. I have faith in a loving and all good God. And he is not weak. Everything has a consequence. The truth is I don't know what Erza is. Just that she is connected to him. I believe that there is a spiritual realm and we either can't see it, refuse it or we don't have the gift of sight. I'm just as confused as everyone else, but there's this spirit we believers feel. It's the Holy Spirit. The helper was sent to guide us. So farm what I do know is, Erza is unique because she isn't a mythical creature and has unknown powers. That's what the man I faced in server war told me. I might be gullible in believing him, but I don't have an alternate explanation for the things she can do. Plus, when I originally picked Erza, I just wanted a double. Also, I don't know everything there is to know about my own religious beliefs, I'm a student. Maybe the worst kind because I haven't done anything that could classify me as perfect or good. Shit, I stabbed someone in their throat not too long ago. It's a constant struggle internally. I don't know how to be perfect, but I'm counting on my God to show me. So that's it, my whole story and I still couldn't tell you much about Erza. Just that I use her for battles sometimes and I keep her hidden until I know more."
Eden was looking at the cave wall when she was done saying what was on her mind. Then she looked at DBoots and he was snacking on some popcorn while watching her. "Where the fuck did you," responded Eden as she tried to snatch the popcorn off his hands. He laughed, and said, "I'm just lighting up the mood hahaha , are you done with your monologue?" Eden looked away and at the direction they were traveling. "This is why I have trust issues," she said with a hmph. DBoots chuckled a little and said, "You know what, if you can keep your faith in this shit hole, then I think you're all right. No punt on the hole since we are in a tunnel." They both smiled. Then DBoots added, "that was quick thinking, we would have been down on health halfway by now." Eden thought to herself, but he would have been fine, his recovery magic would keep them alive until they got back home at least.
Then a heavy breath echoed through the cave. A male voice was heard from the darkness, "turn back now or die." A growl followed. DBoots said, "we came this far for a talking dog." Another growl was heard and the voice said, "idiot! You dare insult us for mere dogs." Then pairs of different colored glowing eyes could be seen in the dark. Eden knew right away it was intentional, the dark particles had to make room for their eyes to be visible. "Ready yourselves," commanded Eden and the men quickly got into formation. It's an entire group of them and there wasn't a clear indication of how many there actually are. Then Eden dismounted Thunder and looked at it in the eyes, "you get back to the entrance. Stay safe, that is an order you stubborn horse." Thunder snorted and then turned to leave, before it took off, it looked back one last time before it ran. DBoots chuckled a little as he dismounted his horse and smacked it away. "Get out of here Bullet! Go!" DBoots commanded. Then DBoots turned to look at Eden, "I guess it's talking dogs were fighting."
Eden instructed Erza to find the source of the particles quickly and engage in whichever style of fighting she saw fit. DBoots had told Seraphina to find a place away from them but to keep shining her light over them. Erza moved quickly through the figures in the darkness. She came to a halt and said, found you. The figure was about 5 feet high on all four legs, but it grew twice its height as he stood up. It was a Lycan male with blue eyes glowing in the dark. The particles retracted from the cave and formed armor and weapons around him. As soon as his particles stopped distorting the view, the crystals gave light to the cave. The Lycans then shifted into a hybrid humanaid form. Standing on two legs with a large body covered in fur. Each one had an individual power and style of armor that matched them. Erza and the black particle Lycan began to exchange blows. That's when the rest of the Lycans charged in to fight as well.
Eden and DBoots swiftly moved through the crowded cave to find the leader. They knew that in a pack, there was always a leader they had to defeat to win. This was more difficult than expected because Lycans had super powers. It was already difficult enough to fight one alone, but an entire pack at once, it was nearly suicidal. Still, Eden had made the decision to engage in combat and DBoots didn't want to look like a bitch, so he joined as well. They barely dodge a few attacks from different directions. Lightning, wind slashes, rock throws, fire balls, all different types of magical attacks were aiming at them both. Arthur, Sir Tristan and Gabriel stayed close to Eden and covered her in the three directions she wasn't looking. Sir Lancelot and Gwaine were fighting and commanding the rest of the army. Every man that fell, Eden would say, transport. It was almost as if she was chanting. Eden had no desire to lose anyone on this boss hunt. They both got close to a large door that was heavily guarded. Eden and DBoots assumed that is where they would meet the boss.