[center][abbr=Octopath Travelers][img]https://i.ibb.co/88KWNj5/OTbanner.png[/img][/abbr]
[sup]____________________________________________________[/sup]
[color=FFC6C6][u]Level[/u]: [b]10[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 177/100[/color] [color=2e2c2c]------[/color] [color=BC8DBF][u]Level[/u]: [b]7[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 228/70[/color]
[color=gray]𝙱𝙿[/color] [color=gold]●[/color][color=gray]●●●●[/color] [color=2e2c2c]----------------------------[/color] [color=gray]𝙱𝙿[/color] [color=gold]●[/color][color=gray]●●●●[/color]
[color=lightgray]Word Count: 1196 (+6 exp)
[b]Location[/b]: The Under[/color][/center]
At this point, F's taunting felt very empty - and because he was unwilling to confront the Seekers himself, the way to the area's Guardian was now completely unobstructed. Seeing as she'd be needing it soon, Primrose didn't stow her weapon. She stabbed the butt of the shaft into the ground below and took a deep breath, composing herself as the others decided how to deal with the spirits of former allies. So long as she kept thinking of them as the Masters of Masters had described, how she had with her own spirit last night, the thought of using them didn't seem as bad - no where near fighting the people themselves. Even so, she had no interest in taking any for herself. 

Therion felt the same, just sighing when it was all over. He had a deep wrinkle in his brow that wouldn't disappear anytime soon. He turned to look at Kamek and Junior while Primrose chuckled at Nadia's taunting of the absent Consul.

[color=BC8DBF]"Think about it from his point of view. He probably thinks he [i]could[/i] beat us, but he's seen what we've accomplished - if he slips up, there's a chance he dies. He's interested in self preservation, so with all of us together? Trying is too dangerous."[/color] F was a prick, but he was playing this smart. While trying to do his job (which they all assumed was to protect the Guardian) he'd thrown deadly problems at them, and when that didn't work he tried something that could have broken the spirits of a weaker team. And it had all been without putting himself in harm's way. 

In Therion's opinion, the consequence of F failing must not be dire enough for the Consul to really risk his life. F had to know there was a chance the Seekers destroyed the Under's Guardian even if he assumed they'd fail, but since he wasn't here fighting them himself, protecting his own life came to first above any duty. At least Therion could relate to that for the most part. Whatever the Consul's reasoning, the fact was he wasn't there to stop them anymore. 

The Temple of the Black Egg had been imposing before, and was even more so now. When the hard won masks were fit into place and the door burst apart, letting a terrible cry from whatever was sealed within echo toward them, Primrose glanced at the other Seekers. Naturally, she found not a one hesitating to step forward.

At the end of the glowing path they found what they'd come here for. One of Galeem's Guardians, and the source of the Under's infection. It was bound, just as the Sandswept Sky's Guardian had been, but it was wholly different from the Red Eye that Primrose and Therion had fought before. Though on the surface it seemed a much more straight forward problem to deal with both Travelers knew wouldn't be any easier than its akrid counterpart. 

Primrose tightened her grip on her lance. Nearby, Therion drew his stinging dagger and prepared for battle. [i]This is it.[/i]

The fight came at them fast; almost as soon as their target hit the ground it lunged for Bowser. Without missing a beat, the Travelers got down to business themselves.

Primrose opened as she usually did when there were so many allies around - with a dance. She started off with the dance of seduction on herself, then quickly transitioned into the Mole Dance while the Koopa Troop were holding the Hollow Knight down. With buff from their dancer in place, a debuff from one of their thieves was soon to follow. Since Primrose had increased the party's defense, Therion went in to perform the opposite on the vessel. He darted close to tag it with Armor Corrosive, dodging a wide, wild slash as he got back out again. 

It was when things were really getting going that Kamek shouted out his findings.

[i]Underground, behind a sealed door, inside of a monster... how many layers of locks are there?[/i] Primrose thought, hoping that with the Dreamcatcher as the key this would be the last one. But to weaken the vessel without destroying it?

[color=D34C25]"Much easier said than done,"[/color] she said. It was difficult to keep deadly, dangerous things alive without serious risk - much more difficult than simply killing them. They just had to hope that the Dreamcatcher would force the creature into slumber, like Robin's magic had to them.

She cast Fire Orb to draw its attention, and while the spell burst into flames against its body Therion circled around into what he thought was a blind spot. He dashed in with his blade at the ready - but it snapped its masked face toward Therion and shifted its stance inhumanly fast. Its nail was held high in one hand, but pointed toward the ground. It was unlike any parry stance Therion had seen, so he didn't realize what was happening until it was already over. His dagger struck the nail, causing a bright flash just before the Hollow Knight followed through with its riposte and sent Therion flying with a gash drawn through his torso. He hit the ground some distance away, managing to pick himself up after a couple rolls. He clutched at the wound, hoping it wasn't as bad as it felt. Thankfully the vessel hadn't chased after him, as it was currently engaged in battle with Primrose.

She had lashed out with her lance after the Hollow Knight's parry, stabbing it and setting the cold flames to it as many times as she could. Her approach was different from Sectonia's - they couldn't afford to go easy on this thing even if they weren't trying to kill it. 

Primrose summoned the dark lance in her Rites of Termination, hoping to pin the creature down if even for a few seconds. The magic lance materialized midair and struck, just missing the vessel as it pulled back from Primrose in order to better line up its next attack. The waves of dark energy that rolled off of the construct didn't seem to phase the Hollow Knight; it slashed at Primrose three times in quick succession. Tearing through her guard, it advanced with her even as she retreated. Thinking quickly to stop its onslaught, Primrose took her lance in one hand and cast Warmth with the other. The Baldur Shell protected her from the Hollow Knight's next slash, giving her the chance to heal herself and retaliate. She got one good stab in before the knight too changed tactics.

The vessel let out another cry and leapt high into the air. It seemed to swell, its body glowing brighter as it let loose more globules of infection. The infection rained down over the entire area, threatening everyone present. 

Therion had made his way back to the front line, but pivoted to take cover behind one of Sectonia's gold antlers when the rain of infection began. He fetched some crystal darts from beneath his shawl, preparing to pop out and throw once the vessel came back to ground. Primrose conjured a boulder with her stone gauntlet as a makeshift shelter, launching it at their foe when its attack was over.