The cultists had mere moments in which they were turning the tides against their former slaves. A brief window of opportunity was in their hands, and supported by Affilan, they dealt a blow that reduced the Gobhead horde significantly. In a bout of frenzy, the cultists were biting and clawing at limbs and heads, with skin torn off like wallpaper. Rivers of blue blood stained the floors of the Western Cavern route as the unnatural strength of the cultists flowed through them.

Other forces at hand wanted to see a level playing field. The newly equipped and better trained Gobheads joined in the fray. Kaisers boon no longer granted them the same advantages as before. The toughness of shield units closing in on frenzied fighting crippled the counterattacks as they failed to tear apart their foes. In possession of much more powerful equipment, the Gobheads struck back with weapons far beyond their means.

A cultist having just bitten deep in the neck of his foe's ally, rushed to make his move against a heavily armoured incoming Gobforcer. A hard, timed slash struck against the helmet; CLANG rang out as the hand of a cultist continued on its path into the open air. The Gobhead wielded a flail coated in Dizzinium Dust, swinging it upwards into the cultist's jaw; a connecting blow detonated and activated the dust.

As the blast of gas puffed around the wound and began to spread rapidly into his blood. Struggling to do anything but flail, as senses were overwhelmed by this unencountered substance and a thick, heavy spike dragged him along the floor, he was powerless to fight back.

Allies of the Gobhead jumped into the fight; a Gobhoon with her spear jumped and slammed the tip of her scaly purple spear into the chest of the cultist. The gas caused the cultist to convulse, whilst the venom-infused spear's deadly toxins caused the body to start shutting down.

The cultist commander watched as a comrade slowly died in agonising pain. They fought with weapons that surpassed the boon Kaiser deemed his followers worthy of. Thoughts of doubt filled his mind. Run, Feriz, this battle is lost. Go while distractions are occurring. Kaiser has betrayed us today. With no time to grieve and the body continuing to be desecrated by the attacks of passing Gobheads, the commander began running along the sides in an attempt to avoid the gaze of any superiors along the way.

A ripple in the air. Swirling all the colours of the elements. Time began to slow down for all but the cultists.

"You dare run amidst battle. Do you think my gifts are not worthy, followers?" Its voice boomed and spread with malice in the minds of those trying to flee.

"You have shown the true level of your devotion. I deem you unworthy to be my children."

Unhallowed ground

All fighting ceased as Kaiser unleashed his word. The cultists that attempted to flee, their bodies began to rot and crumble away. Screaming for mercy, " KAISER. STOP." "MY LORD, I BEG OF YE, I WAS A FOOL TO DOUBT YE!" It was too late for the cowards; the price to pay for apostasy was death.

A foe that kills his own struck terror in the hearts of these soldiers desperately seeking liberation. Yet Kaiser lingered in the battlefield. Swirling colour unseeable to those who do not believe in him. Affilan, one of his prized possessions, was valiantly following his will. And he spoke to her directly during the fight with a traitor.

"Affilan, my child. How proud I am of you in this moment. To finally see you dance in my honour."

Mind focused on the fight as her heart relished in acknowledgement from the one she adores, "My Lord, I am not worthy of those esteemed words!" she said as a fist swung wide over her ducking head.

Garfisk was disturbed by her lunatic ramblings midway during a fight. Already having been unnerved by her previous actions, he fought with his battle lust taking over his rationale. His punches began to generate tailwinds as the anger took over, his comrades joining in a fight that was a danger to all but only the toughest in the vicinity now.

They jumped in front of him as a red mist took over his mind state. "Garfisk, you madman...That drug will consume your mind." He thrashed around, small tornadoes forming from the tailback span recklessly taking both friend and foe indiscriminately.

"It would please me, dear, if you would bare your heart to this old soul. Fruits of your labours have still yet to be shown in the world."

"My lord!?. You permit me to run free?"

Having been exposed to the rambling lunacy of Affilan up close, Anton and Colt both realised the dangers they were in as the three struggled to barely cause her any issues. Terror was not a familiar feeling to three such as these. Even with the drug enhancements, Garfisk was crumbling away mentally. They had continually attacked her, and yet she showed no signs of faltering as blows rained down on her, with perfect parries and shifting between strikes and projectiles. Anton, consumed by fear, drank potions from his own inventory.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

*Loco's-Locomotion Potion

Invigoration of the highest order, agility +300%

60 min duration, side effects – causes 24-hour paralysis upon buff upon ending. *

His reflexes skyrocketed, his sense of time slowed, and he could hear everything he focused on. The Luth within Colt surging from deep within to their staff's elemental core. He was combat ready – Anton felt as if he had awakened a new side of himself. He shouted to his comrades, "GET OUT OF THERE," activating an ability.

Point and obliterate

Large sparking rocks began to form in a circle around Affilan. She attempted to leap out of harm's way, but the speed of Anton had far surpassed hers. He stabbed her in the stomach, a parry saving her at the split second, though he kicked her back into the circle unavoidably. Large chains began to wrap around her, and she dodged several in succession. The boulders shone brightly, blinding light in the caverns; eyes were shielded, trying to save their vision.

The Western Cavern entrance began to be partially blocked off from falling rocks as the light blinded the battlefield. Affilan had prepared for the attack; a single free sword arm was all she needed. Spurred on by Kaiser, Affilan coated her sword in the Kaha she absorbed from Garfisk earlier. "My precious Affilan, oh, how I have looked forward to one of your performances. Be free of these lowlings and non-believers; show them your shine, my child!"

She spun in a circle, twirling on the spot as the shockwave of the blast tried to pass through her. pushed back against the pairing of her unnatural movements and the Kaha enhanced blade. "YES, THIS IS IT AFFILAN. HOW WONDERFUL YOUR MOVEMENTS ARE."

The light faded and the liberators stared in astonishment. Dust clouds were blown away, revealing a barely unharmed, only huffing for breath, Affilan.

"Bellissimo, my dear child. I'm so impressed by that performance I'd shed a tear if I could. Up you get now. There's still yet to come, it seems. Though, I believe you may have just given them something to lose sleep over tonight."

The cultists took advantage of the lull in the fighting, jumping straight back into the fighting. Shouts and cries echoed around as Gobhead's newfound confidence shattered at the sight of such a monstrous attack being negated.

"Oh my lord, I am blessed that you would say such kind words." Affilan trembled from the praise, sobbing mid-battle.

Traitorankers attempted to attack her moment; Garfisk, fully engulfed in his own insanity, managed to finally strike her face, breaking her jaw clean off and sending her crashing into the cavern walls. Echoes of the impact rang out far down and beyond the palace walls. Guido was alerted by the sensation. 'Hmm, I wonder what they are getting up to over there.'

Roaring with delight and feeling the need to hit something else, Garfisk slammed his fists into the floor, repeatedly punching giant craters downwards at his feet. Anton charged into the fool, knocking him over. "Don't get too excited; we do not know if this is over yet."

Garfisk was unable to regain control of himself after the potion he consumed earlier ravaged his sanity. "RARGH~" YASHHH~" He roared into the air, swinging wildly at targets that didn't exist. Yet through his eyes all he saw were shadow figures and something else...something in the air. He jumped at it and simply passed through; his comrades fell back, forcing the Gobheads to retreat.

Kaiser was curious about the events that just occurred. "Affilan...it seems we may have found some worthy individuals worth joining the ranks."

Boulders that had trapped Affilan beneath were lifted into the air. Her foes were unable to see that she had shielded her Kaha from sight; it was coursing around her, and if her lord commanded it, she would slay everyone present with a single precise blow.

"My gods... Colt look at this one. She's barely taken any damage, and I'm spent from the fighting already." Anton's words came out shaking with fear. Even with his potion benefits and Garfisk's mysterious drug abuse, they had only lost ground and position in the fight.

"Where the fuck is Guido!? Has he betrayed us in the last moments?" Colt screamed, trying to conjure a large ice stalactite in the air. 'Artica Stalactite', she yelled, and it began to descend towards Affilan.

The attack was met with a sword swing that split it clean in half, sending it crashing to the ground, splintering into thousands of smaller shards as sharp as broken glass.

Cultists and Gobheads that hadn't quite made it away dropped to the floor as the shards ripped through them; weaker ones met an unfortunate fate, whilst the stronger took the blow, living to fight another day.

"Ugh, Anton, how do we fight a monster like this!" Grunting as a quick-cast barrier blocked their former attack, Colt's barrier held up strong.

I don't think we can… Anton was locked in with fear.

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