[color=788275][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/9PSOboc.png[/img] [img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/dHRmLjgwLjc4Y2JlOC5TMmhoYkdsMWJnLjA/italianno.regular.webp[/img][/center] [center][h2][url=https://youtu.be/2QBsk7KxoEM]♫[/url][/h2][/center] Khaliun, along with Fritz the Landkenecht and Sugawara the Ronin, was particularly keen on dumpster diving the collapse. More so than the rest of the group. Aggressively, she pushed to venture through the depths and reach the bedrock of the bedrock with minimal regard for the risks. [color=787869]“Kuso …!”[/color] the darkness even got the exceptionally skilled Ronin, causing him to badly sprain his ankle. [color=78CBE8]“Must we stop?”[/color] inquired Khaliun, her tone cold and judgemental as were the shining hues in the dark. [color=787869]“No. I just need to gather my bearings.”[/color] he refused to show weakness. [color=78CBE8]“If you say so.”[/color] Eventually they hit the abyssal zone. Pitch black and with frequent rockfalls. The map the Strazi had previously purchased was serving this small group well in navigating the semi-collapsed tunnels and sniffing out the true treasure hidden deep down. [color=A19D49]“Shhh, I hear something.”[/color] Fritz drew his spear. [color=78CBE8]“I do too.”[/color] Khaliun hovered over to a piece of matter that didn’t fit with the rest of the stony mess. [color=78CBE8]“This should be one of the vaults …”[/color] she mumbled to herself. Indeed, the quantity of metal that could be found had been suspiciously abundant. Something had been built here. Then, she found it. A box containing none other than a Chaos Marble. [color=78CBE8]“Here!”[/color] squeaked the royal sentinel. A radiant smile graced her expression as she covered the box from random debris. But just as she thought she was home free, a Thresher burst through the dense, hard earth below and attacked the intruders! [color=A19D49]“Big Bug! We need to leave now!”[/color] warned Fritz, but Khaliun wouldn’t budge. [color=78CBE8]“Keep it busy! I’m almost done.”[/color] sweats accumulated quickly on her tanned forehead. Meanwhile, the Ronin and the Landskenecht did their best to repulse it. Sugawara successful stung the creature, prompting its retreat, buying Khaliun just enough time to extract the spherical mass of pure destruction. She had the power to hold it, albeit imperfectly. Next was the insertion into the hammer. The mighty weapon that had been hovering behind her was dragged toward the levitating orb, and soon they merged together to create an instrument that could even make mortals dance with Gods. By then, the beast returned and caught the bodyguards by surprise. Rocks began to fall and retreat became more and more difficult. Contract or not, was it worth a suicide mission? [center][h2][url=https://youtu.be/4Zr__aDoLoc]♫[/url][/h2][/center] They didn’t have to worry for long, as they too could feel the immense pressure coming from the now fully empowered Indigo Fury. A wicked grin grew on her face as she held the weapon with both her hands and dragged the face through the cold, dark stone. [color=78CBE8]“Good job.”[/color] she congratulated her associates. [color=78CBE8]“This is perfect to test it out!”[/color] Khaliun hovered, and then darted toward the armoured creature, the dragged hammer leaving a mild gust of pebbles behind it. Even a stupid creature could recognize the threat, and attempt to burrow underground rather than ward off the danger. But, it couldn’t move. Gravity suddenly became unbearably heavy for it and its movements seemed constrained by a force that bent space around it. It couldn’t even properly move its claws to protect itself. Aided by an unseen external force, she striked with no hesitation. [center][i]SPLAT![/i][/center] A single upward strike right under the head had over half of the beast’s body utterly annihilated and sucked in by the marble. It was clean and contained in a small radius, preventing any sort of massive shockwave to condemn them. Not that a collapse could do much to someone with a hammer. [color=78CBE8]“HO HO!”[/color] Khaliun gleefully watched the result of her work. [color=78CBE8]“Blyaaaat.”[/color] giddy, she scoffed at the many thoughts that crossed her mind. Just how fucked up it was to such things actually existed. [color=78CBE8]“It’s as good as they said.”[/color] the tip of the hammer was dropped to the ground as she turned to her associates. [color=78CBE8]“That’s your first contract fulfilled.”[/color] she looked down to the two, hovering high enough to have her hand rest over the pommel of the gigantic weapon. [color=78CBE8]“Now, for the next one.”[/color] would they dare say no at this point? [hr] Khaliun and Fritz were stationed about a kilometre away from the monastery, while Sugawara was placed near those that entered the lion’s den. [color=A19D49]“I don’t often ask questions about a well-paying job,”[/color] he began, prompting a raise of brow from Khaliun, but her eyes stayed on the remote building she locked her senses into. [color=A19D49]“but why are we even considering attacking a holy site? It doesn’t feel right.”[/color] still, there he was despite being briefed on the gist of the job. [color=78CBE8]“A lead has brought us here. And conflict is inevitable with these ones.”[/color] answered Khaliun in a matter of fact way. The Landskenecht scratched his chin. [color=A19D49]“The monks?”[/color] he asked, to which Khaliun responded with a shake of her head. [color=78CBE8]“The children.”[/color] First offensive draw was sensed. The fight had commenced. [color=78CBE8]“It’s begun.”[/color] the Tethered announced, prompting the bodyguard to draw his blade. Support was offered to those in need, however they would have to fend for themselves soon enough. Behind Khaliun appeared the gold-cloaked Abbot - the most powerful she had sensed - attempting to freeze her innards. [color=A19D49]“Watch out!”[/color] Fritz swiftly drew his blade to break the clergyman’s focus, allowing Khaliun to repulse the man before any fatal attack could be made. [center][h2][url=https://youtu.be/X0AdKzkKShs]♫[/url][/h2][/center] [color=BA55D3]“Who [i]are[/i] you, blasphemer?!”[/color] the abbot bellowed. [color=BA55D3]“Begone!”[/color] [color=78CBE8]“New management.”[/color] Khaliun sneered, hammer raised over her head. [color=78CBE8]“I will give you three seconds to leave the borders of Kirimansk.”[/color] the power was swelling at an alarming rate. [color=78CBE8]“One.”[/color] [color=78CBE8]“Two.”[/color] all forms of energy were being devoured by this instrument of unadulterated destruction. Khaliun's bodyguard knew exactly what was coming and made some distance BEHIND her, while the abbot was right before the levitating menace. A smirk pushed at the corner of her lips as the supposed clergyman desperately drew the scraps of energy he could find. Finally, at the zenith of the charge, there wasn't even sound to be found in the vicinity. Except, of course, for Khaliun's singular word. [color=78CBE8]“Three.”[/color] The hammer descended down. It was not an explosion of all-consuming death that befell the earth it struck, but instead an implosion so severe, even the temporal flux the abbot attempted to make use of to escape was disrupted. He could BARELY warp out of the death radius, at the expense of massive internal damage, ranging from a broken femur to various bruising from pops vessels. He could still stand, albeit with growing difficulty. [color=78CBE8]“Shall we do this again?”[/color] uttered Khaliun as she lifted the hammer over her shoulder again. [color=78CBE8]“One.”[/color] [color=A19D49]“H-hey wait! Let me at least leave!”[/color] called out the panicked Kerreman who knew just how crazy that hammer could actually get. [color=A19D49]“I can still help from afar!”[/color] but the abbot was having none of it. In a flash, his wounds restored themselves and a kinetic blast interrupted the mercenary’s escape. Then, he drew from the hammer itself. [color=78CBE8]“Tw- Cyka …”[/color] she instantly felt it - the loss of connection between the power source and the tool. The abbot had damaged the hammer enough to partially disconnect it from the marble. A hateful glare was shot at the goldcloak’s direction. [color=78CBE8]“Two!”[/color] she would not falter. [center][h2][url=https://youtu.be/YuRcZVU4aV4]♫[/url][/h2][/center] The abbot crossed his arms and awaited. He could foresee the future without temporal magic, as Khaliun’s frustration made her predictable. The hammer was raised and … Nothing! The marble failed to respond, prompting her to improvise. [color=78CBE8]“Three!”[/color] and she missed. There was no epic blast, just the normal thud of a normal, oversized hammer. The abbot laughed. [color=BA55D3]“Out of tricks, girl? Not counting anymore?”[/color] and despite this brief opening out of sheer arrogance, the Landskenecht narrowly missed shoving his spear into the man’s skull. Khaliun's eye twitched. [color=78CBE8]"I only need to get lucky once.”[/color] [color=BA55D3]“You look like a lucky person …”[/color] the abbot replied. The hammer’s vigour returned, and multiple minions of the monastery had been taken care of. It was at this juncture that the abbot’s eyes grew wide and manic. [color=BA55D3]“None of you understand! You fools! [i]You saboteurs![/i] We are trying to save our nation here!”[/color] A massive nuclear reaction thrummed into existence. The power was spellbinding. Incredible. [color=BA55D3]“If we die, [i]you[/i] die with us!”[/color] Both Khaliun’s and Fritz’s eyes widened and their pupils retracted. They both simultaneously knew what was coming. Both tried their best to limit the chain, but … It was at that very moment that … The magic just … Stopped. For a flicker of time, the abbot’s eyes widened. Perhaps he remembered his gods. No magic. No control. Even Khaliun dropped to the floor. This was a nuclear reaction. A runaway nuclear reaction, now. [color=78CBE8]“Make a shelter, quick!”[/color] the pale and terrified Khaliun sprang into action. Her cloak was dropped - it got in the way, just like her braided hair she undid out of pure panic and frustration - and she floated there thanks to an unseen aid. There was no stopping this. [color=78CBE8]“I’m going to move it. [i]We[/i] are going to move it.”[/color] she said with frigid confidence that her hired sword did not buy, but all he could do was hide. The hammer was readied once more, this time readied to her side. A deep breath. She could not do this alone. Another force, one far away, gorged her with additional strength. Strength that matched her almost identically. [color=78CBE8]“Боги желают …”[/color] she ascended and readied her chaos hammer. With a mighty swing that nearly ripped her shoulder ligaments, she unleashed a blast of pure, gravitational energy that could not only displace the catastrophic chain reaction, but do it fast enough to avoid total obliteration. Still, the blast was titanic. For a moment, there was a complete absence of sound, as if it had left the world. Then, there was a roar. And head. And light so intense that eyeballs melted in their sockets, skin peeled away. And flesh. And bones. A gigantic mushroom-shaped cloud rose over the Vossoriyan wilderness outside of Kirimansk. But then the magic was back. Too late for the abbot. His eyes melted out of his head and most of his skin peeled away. Khaliun, on the other hand, was snagged by Fritz just in time as she fell to the ground, keen on being paid and partial to letting a girl that saved him just die. Such was the force and fury of this cataclysm that, even channelled in the opposite direction by two very powerful mages, it was nigh-irresistible. The student had a chance to resist, though. It was a slim one, but there was a chance! The dust settled and they lay strewn about the countryside, as a group of hegelans poked their heads out of the damaged temple. Marz was among them, and many other faces that the group did not know. They two groups sighted each other. The false monks had been defeated. Kirimansk had been freed... in theory, but there was far worse news. Their activities here had drawn attention. [/color]