Chapter 74: Crushing the Cataclysm (1/2)
The idol flashed once, and suddenly the room was filled with the hum of some unseen power. A hum that seemed to steadily grow louder. The white-robed summoner raised his hands in exultation, revealing that his hands were covered in black gloves, and his face was obscured by a faceless white mask.
The adventurers moved swiftly towards the altar while attempting to remain unseen. Their intrusion had gone unnoticed, or at least so it seemed, until a cold voice rang out from the man standing in front of the tattered congregation.
”Welcome, interlopers. You are just in time to see the culmination of decades of work. Tremble in awe at the majesty-”
He was interrupted by a javelin made of hardened stone which impaled him.
Eyes wide with shock, the priest stared down at the weapon, and was able to squeeze out one last gasp before collapsing backwards onto the altar.
”Get them!” An angry voice called from the mass of worshipers, inspiring a howl of rage, as they charged across the cavern in a disorganized mob.
”Look what you did! Now they are furious!” Sera yelled at Mike.
”He started monologuing! You can't expect me to pass up that kind of opportunity! He was basically asking to be killed.” Mike replied defensively, as he blocked a blow from one of the cultists before decapitating him with the follow through.
[This isn't as bad as I thought. I wonder if it has something to do with my increased Willpower.]
He had initially expected to have some hesitation when it came to killing other humans, but besides some mild emotional discomfort, it didn't really bother him. He idly wondered if that might be a problem.
”Mike has a point. Stopping to give a speech in the middle of a life or death battle is foolishness.” Brenden added while fighting off a trio of the cultists.
He cut down two of them with quick efficient sweeps of his sword, and was about to finish off the last one, when an skeletally thin demon with long, wicked claws launched itself at him from the shadows.
Brenden tried to pull back, but the surprise attack had been too unexpected, and he had yet to regain his balance. Bracing himself for the blow, he was shocked when a spike of earth passed over his right shoulder and skewered the oncoming demon.
”Focus. Surrounded.” Tal called from the rear of the formation, already starting another chant.
”Does anyone see the ritual caster?” Mike yeled while killing another of the cultists.
He'd noticed that his sword had a tendency to thrum in apparent pleasure every time it took the life of a human, and he was beginning to get unnerved by it.
”By the portal on the right!” Sera said while pointing.
Mike caught a glimpse of the white, embroidered robe in the distance, but the cultists, and an increasing horde of demons stood in the way. If they continued like this, they'd eventually be overrun.
[Its time for something flashy!]
”I see him. Everyone get back, I'm going to make us a path!”
”Careful. Ritual site.” Tal called while pulling in behind him.
”I know.” Mike replied while pulling forth a rush of mana. He pushed his left hand down towards the ground, summoning a low wall of water.
Raising his hand, Mike sent the wall more power, causing it to rise to the height of nearly 30 meters.
The cultists and the demons alike had stopped to watch the proceedings. Had it not been for the wall blocking their view, the adventurers might have seen the moment when they realized what was coming, and started running back, trying to seek cover.
Mike thrust his hand forward, and the wall collapsed into a tidal wave that crashed down on the accumulated enemies, crushing them beneath a vast weight of water. The roar of the ocean filled the cavern as the wave pushed through the rock formations to slam into one of the portals, leaving broken bodies in it's wake.
Evidently the wave did something to disrupt the spell that was keeping it open, since as soon as it had passed, the portal closed with a shrieking sound that resembled nails on a chalkboard.
One section of the wave was halted, however, as a wedge made of transparent force popped into existence. It knifed through the water, protecting the white-robed ritual caster.
Once the wave had subsided the wedge vanished leaving its creator to walk forward unscathed. Mike noticed with some disgust, that he hadn't even gotten wet.
The ritual caster spoke with a oily, slippery voice. ”Huzan finds your magic sad. Wasteful, wasteful. Huzan thinks you need to stop making magic sad.”
[Great, not only is he insane, but he speaks in the third person. This will be an annoying fight.]
Mike used Appraise.
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Huzan
Race: Human/?
Age: 267
Class: Grand Abyssal Summoner