<24 September 2024, GRAND MESA OF SUMMER, A+> [Theo and Julia] Theo stepped out of the layers of Ward runes. "Let's isolate as much as we can, Julia. If anyone wants to come to the edge of the Ward circle and get some hits in, I will stay close; otherwise, let me deal with the Lions, then we can pull the ents one at a time. "

There was a rumble of assent from everyone, while Ordus, Renno, Fred, and Joshua stepped forward to the edge after Joshua handed Sarah off to Velna. Julia was tossing bolts of damage from her Glimmer Branch. Velna then looked at everyone and nodded. Theo felt the damage he was taking from the Lions that had rushed forward drop.

Ordus was doing his best to try to trap the Lions as he had the Barron, but they were too nimble. So instead, he switched to letting loose with the butt of his staff. Alongside him, Renno was making quick cuts at every lion that tried to get at Theo. On the other side of Theo Joshua and Fred were laying small attacks on the lions.

Theo, for his part, had Taunted and started channeling his Penitent Strike the instant more than one Lion had begun to lay into him. He could feel the stacks of Retaliate piling up as he covered his face and neck with his hands and simply bore the brunt of the attacks while Julia healed him.

When the twenty-second channel time was up, he slammed his foot down. All of the lions went flying, hitting the Ward runs that Julia had tossed up behind them. Nine lions, died. Only the level five lion remained, and it looked haggard.

It waited a moment and was soon flanked by the two Knights. Soon, all three were attacking Theo thanks to his taunt. He focused again, and when he slammed his foot down, the last of the Summer Lions died. The knights stumbled back several steps and then rushed forward.

The King of Summer let out a roar, and the Knight Captain stepped forward, wielding a nearly six-foot-long stick shaped vaguely like a sword. He joined the two knights, taking the center position that had previously been held by the lion.

They worked together and were able to get in some solid strikes on Theo. Still, his cumulative damage mitigation, as well as the constant healing from Julia, and the harassment of the ents from the others, led to the first of the knights falling, then the other. Finally, Theo lashed out, using the Inverse Scaling effect of Penitent Strike to slam the axe of Voltun into the Knight Captain's neck.

As the Knight Captain fell to the ground, the King let out a roar and rose to his feet. The Crown Prince also stepped forward. The two ents, both of whom were larger than the Barron had been, rushed forward. The Crown Prince found himself trapped in a ring of Ward runes, while the King continued his rush forward.

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Theo Taunted, and the King immediately brought a massive branch-like limb down on him. Theo groaned, feeling the blow, and feeling Julia's skill heal him. He started slamming the Axe of Voltun into the ent, using Penitent strike and its Inverse Scaling to hit the ent with the equivalent of forty stacks of Retaliate every time.

While this was happening, Ordus, Joshua, Fred, and Renno were all doing as much damage as they could. It took almost a full five minutes to bring the King down, and Theo was spitting up blood as he did so. Julia, who was still containing the Prince, looked around, "Everyone needs a minute, or you want the Prince?"

"I am good," Theo said, spitting out some blood as he felt the warmth of Julia's skill flood him with healing. Everyone else agreed. "Let's be done with this."

Julia nodded and stopped renewing the circle of Ward runes around the Prince. The Crown Prince took one look at the King lying dead and used a skill; suddenly, he was inside the ring of Ward runes. Joshua, Renno, and Theo all moved to try to get there in time. But the arm of the Prince came down in a slash, about to hit Julia, who had wrapped herself around Sarah and Velna while trying to stop the arm with Ward runes, but failing.

Suddenly, a golem of Cherenkov blue light with Skully at its core was there. It did not move, but it stopped the arm, and then the golem opened its mouth and spoke in a terrible voice. "System Protection of User Saran Armstrong activated."

Theo was able to take advantage of the moment and taunt the ent and between everyone, laying into the ent, it fell within two minutes. The golem disappeared, letting Skully drop to the ground.

Sarah squirmed free from the arms of Julia and Velna. She scrambled over to Skully. "Skully, are you okay?"

Theo was nearby, and the terrible voice was gone, replaced with the normal tones that Skully spoke in. "I am fine, though I have been instructed to tell Lord and Lady Sorrin that this was a one-time protection; any attempts to instigate the protection of the System will result in User Sarah Armstrong being stripped of her ability to gain a class. The System advises that you keep this in mind and ensure that no others try this with User Sarah Armstrong."

Theo and Julia nodded. Theo spoke. "We understand Skully. Thank you for protecting Sarah and Julia."

The tension that had been permeating the air seemed to fall away.

>Local Message: Combat Complete >Local Message: Calculating... >Local Message: Congratulations! Users Velna Marrowglint, Renno Marrowglint, Fred Ursiyn, Joshua Armstrong, Go'Van' Ordus, Theo Sorrin, and Julia Sorrin have leveled up! >Local Message: User Sarah Armstrong is PROTECTED, rewards Banked until coming of age and Class selection

They all chatted for a moment, everyone on edge. Finally, they all took a breath and settled into their level-ups, while still keeping a watchful eye around.

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