01-31-2017, 11:57 AM
Eric called to Jams, but kept his gaze fixed upon the stony monstrosity before them. “Whatever you do, don’t panic. We’ll fall back and hit it with ranged attacks.” Beginning to circle the goliath, the mage was cut short by Jams. “Hold on, maybe it isn’t as bad as it looks.” Jams strode up to the monster, stopping just outside of its immense shadow. “Hey there, my name is Jams and th-“ the youth was cut off as the beast, with an almost unnatural swiftness, casually swatted him into the trees.
With a roar, Eric flung himself into the fray, jumping up and over the monster to land between it and Jams’ general direction. Requiem dropped into his hand, dripping with water vapor. The usual light blue aura enveloped it, staining the mage the color of the sea. Without uttering a word, the mage fell into a destructive rhythm, the calm fury of combat taking over. Blow after blow he rained upon the colossus’ body, only pausing to dodge the its clumsy swings. Above Eric a red figure flew past, colliding with the monster’s head; it toppled over, shaking the ground with its impact. Jams began to bash the opponent’s head with his broom, but to no avail. Meanwhile, Eric had spotted a green glow coming from a crack in the giant’s chest. The heart, perhaps? “Jams, do you see that light coming from its chest? Quite possibly that might be its core.” Jams, flipping off the behemoth, narrowly avoided being smashed by a stony fist. The duo regrouped, and surveyed the rising monster. “Yeah, I see it.”
Suddenly the clearing was plunged into darkness. Whirling around, Eric noticed several burning logs flying in their direction. Fire washed over them as they rolled out of the way, but a hefty piece clipped Eric’s shoulder. Pain spiked down his arm, causing him to groan. The mage looked around. Jams was nowhere to be seen, but so was the rock giant.
His first mistake was summoning Requiem. Within moments of the cold blade falling into his hands, a swift stony punch sent him flying. His sword vanished as he tumbled across the ground, slamming into a tree. Jams, somewhere within the darkness called out. “Eric, are you okay?” The kid’s question was rewarded with the sound of an enormous fish smashing into the ground. “Keep moving and it won’t be able to track you!” Eric yelled, already sprinting across the edge of the clearing. Well, at least that’s what he hoped would happen; if the monster had night-vision, they would likely not fare well. But from what he’d gathered, the monster could only track sound.
A plan started to form in the back of Eric’s mind. Not a very good plan, mind you, but it would have to work for the time being. Coming to a stop, Eric began to launch low-strength fireballs at in random directions. They formed flying spheres of light, illuminating small swaths of ground, before slamming into the ground. One sailed past Jams, and judging by the look on his face, scared the hell out of him. About to cease firing, he caught a glimpse of something rapidly approaching. Eric whirled to the side, blasting a fireball into the beast’s backside. The plan in the back of his mind finally solidified. Keeping the blasted thing lit up for long enough would be the key element, so continued his assault on the monster, backing up as he did so. “Jams, wherever you are, I need you to topple it onto its back.” Backpedaling, he led it towards the last place he had seen his comrade. The forest drew closer, and Eric started to worry if his friend would come through. This train of thought was quickly derailed, right after Jams performed his flying takedown to the monster’s face yet again. The sweet sound of the colossus’ heavy bulk meeting the ground rang through the clearing.
Bunching his legs, he flew into the air, slowing to a momentary halt above the battle. In that instant Eric surveyed his surroundings. A path of destruction led up to the clearing. Down below, the rocky monster had begun to stir, and was about to rise. Gravity returned, and the mage began to descend. With Requiem held tightly between his sweating hands, he aimed for the glowing crack. The ground rushed up to meet him, but his aim proved true. The blade sank into the thing’s chest, releasing an ear-splitting howl from the beast. Within moments it had crumbled into a fine powder, no longer a threat.
Eric checked on his friend, and noticed a broad grin spreading across his pale face. “What the hell are you smiling about?” Eric asked. Jams opened his mouth to respond, but the exhausted mage interrupted him. “Never mind, let’s just catch some rest before it’s daylight.” He shuffled over to his bedroll, and collapsed unceremoniously onto it.
I hope I didn’t make him mad, Jams thought with a slight frown on his face. He ambled over to his own resting place, laid down, and soon was fast asleep.
With a roar, Eric flung himself into the fray, jumping up and over the monster to land between it and Jams’ general direction. Requiem dropped into his hand, dripping with water vapor. The usual light blue aura enveloped it, staining the mage the color of the sea. Without uttering a word, the mage fell into a destructive rhythm, the calm fury of combat taking over. Blow after blow he rained upon the colossus’ body, only pausing to dodge the its clumsy swings. Above Eric a red figure flew past, colliding with the monster’s head; it toppled over, shaking the ground with its impact. Jams began to bash the opponent’s head with his broom, but to no avail. Meanwhile, Eric had spotted a green glow coming from a crack in the giant’s chest. The heart, perhaps? “Jams, do you see that light coming from its chest? Quite possibly that might be its core.” Jams, flipping off the behemoth, narrowly avoided being smashed by a stony fist. The duo regrouped, and surveyed the rising monster. “Yeah, I see it.”
Suddenly the clearing was plunged into darkness. Whirling around, Eric noticed several burning logs flying in their direction. Fire washed over them as they rolled out of the way, but a hefty piece clipped Eric’s shoulder. Pain spiked down his arm, causing him to groan. The mage looked around. Jams was nowhere to be seen, but so was the rock giant.
His first mistake was summoning Requiem. Within moments of the cold blade falling into his hands, a swift stony punch sent him flying. His sword vanished as he tumbled across the ground, slamming into a tree. Jams, somewhere within the darkness called out. “Eric, are you okay?” The kid’s question was rewarded with the sound of an enormous fish smashing into the ground. “Keep moving and it won’t be able to track you!” Eric yelled, already sprinting across the edge of the clearing. Well, at least that’s what he hoped would happen; if the monster had night-vision, they would likely not fare well. But from what he’d gathered, the monster could only track sound.
A plan started to form in the back of Eric’s mind. Not a very good plan, mind you, but it would have to work for the time being. Coming to a stop, Eric began to launch low-strength fireballs at in random directions. They formed flying spheres of light, illuminating small swaths of ground, before slamming into the ground. One sailed past Jams, and judging by the look on his face, scared the hell out of him. About to cease firing, he caught a glimpse of something rapidly approaching. Eric whirled to the side, blasting a fireball into the beast’s backside. The plan in the back of his mind finally solidified. Keeping the blasted thing lit up for long enough would be the key element, so continued his assault on the monster, backing up as he did so. “Jams, wherever you are, I need you to topple it onto its back.” Backpedaling, he led it towards the last place he had seen his comrade. The forest drew closer, and Eric started to worry if his friend would come through. This train of thought was quickly derailed, right after Jams performed his flying takedown to the monster’s face yet again. The sweet sound of the colossus’ heavy bulk meeting the ground rang through the clearing.
Bunching his legs, he flew into the air, slowing to a momentary halt above the battle. In that instant Eric surveyed his surroundings. A path of destruction led up to the clearing. Down below, the rocky monster had begun to stir, and was about to rise. Gravity returned, and the mage began to descend. With Requiem held tightly between his sweating hands, he aimed for the glowing crack. The ground rushed up to meet him, but his aim proved true. The blade sank into the thing’s chest, releasing an ear-splitting howl from the beast. Within moments it had crumbled into a fine powder, no longer a threat.
Eric checked on his friend, and noticed a broad grin spreading across his pale face. “What the hell are you smiling about?” Eric asked. Jams opened his mouth to respond, but the exhausted mage interrupted him. “Never mind, let’s just catch some rest before it’s daylight.” He shuffled over to his bedroll, and collapsed unceremoniously onto it.
I hope I didn’t make him mad, Jams thought with a slight frown on his face. He ambled over to his own resting place, laid down, and soon was fast asleep.
Avatar courtesy of Jade Harley.