Chapter 50: 50. The Chainling

 

Labyrinth section damaged!

Overall completion 37%

“One more to go,” Dallion said in an attempt to cheer up the rest of the group.

The plan, innovative as it was, had been received with a lot more enthusiasm a few hours ago. At this point everyone, Dallion included, just wanted to get it over with. Fifteen floors… five of which had to be damaged in very specific fashion. If there was a definition of poor man’s crafting, this was it.

So far all of the sections had been modified according to specifications, including the Cleric’s temperature adjustment. Dallion wasn’t completely sure that a sudden heat source within a bell shape would create the equivalent of an explosion, although according to his internet knowledge it was supposed to. Having something heat up so much almost instantaneously had to have the same effect. Either way, they would soon find out.

I definitely hope I don’t have to make everyone go through the same without any results.

The final labyrinth was located just under the bolt’s guardian chamber. While Veil was destroying certain walls of the labyrinth with alarming speed and efficiency, Dallion took a peek. As expected, the guardian wasn’t there.

“How certain are you this will work?” Gloria asked.

“Fairly certain,” Dallion lied and instantly regretted it. For a moment it had slipped his mind that the girl was a walking lie detector. “Somewhat certain,” he corrected himself.

Gloria’s expression remained unchanged.

“Hit or miss, we must be ready for what’s to follow,” Dallion went on. “Once we return to the battlefield, stay close. I might need you to modify my other two bolts.”

There was a loud groan.

“I’m just saying.”

“If things get bad, I’ll take care of things.” The Cleric said with a pensive expression. “You just run and don’t look back.”

“What about you?”

“The Seven won’t allow me to be killed.”

That wasn’t encouraging.

There’s a four in five chance that this would work, Dallion told himself. Given what the dartbow was capable of, there was a fifty-fifty chance that the modified bolt hit the creature in its weak spot. Even if it didn’t, there was a sixty percent chance that fragments of molten metal were sprayed all over its body. In the end, all they had to do was distract the creature for long enough for Dame Vesuvia to engage it.

“Veil? How’s it going?” Dallion asked.

“Final punches, Dal.” A loud slapping sound echoed throughout the room. Dallion had no idea what Veil had done to be able to break metal, but he was glad for it. “Ready. What do we do now?”

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“Now we exit.” Dallion took a deep breath. This would be the first time he’d go from a calm state to an intense sprint. “Everyone ready?”

All but the Cleric nodded.

Good enough, Dallion thought, and left the bolt. Pain hit him like a sledgehammer as in his mind he accelerated from zero to fifteen miles per hour in zero seconds flat. It would be funny that awakening was the only instance in which the phrase could be used properly… if it wasn’t for the shock he experienced.

All plans of modifying two more bolts went out of the window as the shock made Dallion stop after several steps and empty his stomach contents.

I feel like I’m dying! He wanted to shout, if his body would let him.

A lout roar filled the air, sounding like a cross between a lion and a rusty chainsaw. Despite his pain, Dallion looked up. Against all odds, the bolt-rocket operation had been a success. It would have been nice if he had seen the bolt in action, but seeing gushing black from the chainling’s chest was the second-best thing.

“It actually worked,” Dallion smiled. “It really actually worked.”

 

COMBAT INITIATED!

Huh?

This was supposed to happen. Rectangles shouldn’t appear in the real world, but it was right there, clear as day. Instinctively, Dallion looked at his left hand. There was no buckler there, just the second dartbow he was holding.

As terrifying as this was, however, a realization soon kicked in, making Dallion’s blood freeze in his veins. There was only one creature on the battlefield that would want to fight with him, the same creature that had awakened powers.

Craaap!

Dallion jumped back. Both dartbows raised in the air, though no marker lines appeared. At that point the chainling reacted. In a second it moved from its position to a step away. Several of the chest bones were fractured, sticking to the body like pieces of broken porcelain. At this distance, the only course of action was for Dallion to shoot. As he squeezed the triggers, a paw emerged from the chainling’s body, thrusting forward.

That was fast… Dallion thought as he flew back. At this point, he could consider himself pretty much dead. There was nothing he could do anymore. He was out of tricks and options. Given what the creature could do, he couldn’t even awaken in a piece of his clothing to hide.

It was good fun, at least. Dallion had managed to distract the chainling. Heck, he had even wounded it. Now Vesuvia and the Cleric would have a much easier time killing it. At least Gloria and Veil would get back safely to the village, and who knows? Maybe they’d be able to change the chief’s mind on a few things.

The village chief… That was one of Dallion’s main regrets. He had hoped to have a one to one with the old geezer.

And just when I got rid of the echo, too. Dallion tried to laugh. You’re lucky, old man. I would have taken you in a minute. Five at most.

The pain spread through Dallion’s chest. There wasn’t anything extraordinary about it, it felt very much as if he’d been hit with a pipe or club. If the caravan bodies were any indication it was clear what would happen now—flames would burst through Dallion’s body burning him beyond recognition, after which—

With a loud thump, Dallion crashed onto the ground. A few more seconds passed and he was still there, out of breath, in pain, but very much alive. Just then the combat rectangle vanished.

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