LRAB Chapter 272: Obsidian Dragon
Chapter 272: Obsidian Dragon
Chapter 272: Obsidian Dragon
Dallion couldnt stop thinking of the shardflys last moments. It was easy to wave the sensation away as a momentary low. After all, he had felt the same when Nox and Lux had originally faded out of existence. This should be no different and yet the intensity of sadness was multitudes stronger. Maybe it was because the guardian could speak, unlike Dallions previous familiars. That sounded like a logical reason, though as much as he tried to rationalize it away, Dallion felt that there was something more to that.
What do you think Marchs expedition will be like? Gen asked all of a sudden.
No idea, Dallion said. Probably a copy of the real world in some aspects but you know that. He paused for a moment. You know everything that goes on in my mind.
Yeah, and you needed a distraction. Itll be fine. She was happy. Remember the echoes of the dagger? They were happy when you fulfilled its destiny.
Yeah all I need to do is defeat the last guardian
From what Dallion had seen so far, the task wasnt going to be difficult. His skills had given him a significant advantage. Now it was clear why guilds divided jobs based on performance. Not only was it a waste to use a high-level awakened on item leveling, but it was probably a terribly unfulfilling job. Even elites who had been doing the same job for years, wanted to feel at least a partial challenge. Thats why the higher levels were focused on area and sphere item jobs, while the rest were pretty much packrats.
The third level of the mirror was once again very different from the ones before. If the first was a forest, representing the wood of the handle, and the second a lakebeing the mirror itself, the third had absolutely nothing to do with either. A desert of black sand stretched to the horizon while a pale red moon shone above.
Centors moon, Dallion said.
Quite right, Nil sounded somewhat impressed. That means that the mirror has likely been strengthened.
The glue? Dallion thought. Im in a realm that represents the glue between the handle and the mirror?
That would be hilarious if it were the case, also very creepy. Last time Dallion didnt have to venture so far. After coming to an arrangement with the spectral shardfly, she had instantly dealt with the cracklings throughout her level, letting Dallion get the credit for it.
Music, Dallion thought.
There was no metal to be seen, and no creatures. That was good, though it made him slightly anxious. The last time he had been in a desert, the guardian he had fought had been
COMBAT INITIATED
A giant green marker appeared on the sand below Dallion. Without wasting a moment, Dallion dashed back, and right on time. A creature the size of a tower thrust up, filling the air with black sand. Despite Dallions best efforts, a few specks managed to get into his left eye.
Damn it!
Focusing, he fought the urge to scratch his eye. With his hands covered in sand, that was only going to make things worse. It would have been nice if he had some water, but there was none anywhere to be seen. Next time, Dallion was going to have the foresight to carry some from his own realm, especially for the expedition. That wasnt his only problem at the moment, though.
LEVEL 3 GUARDIAN
Species: DRAGON
Class: OBSIDIAN
Skills:
- Sandstorm
- Wing slice
- Sand shield
Weak Spots: EYES
Nox, you up for some action? Dallion summoned the Nox dagger in his left hand. The crackling meowed. Okay. Lux, listen up.
There was a time when aerial combat alone was all it took to defeat a slightly stronger enemy. Against a capable flyer, though, Dallion had a lot of catching up to do. Concentrating, he split into three instances, all of which headed towards the dragon in slightly different fashion. It was only now that Dallion saw the wisdom in Vends teaching. The elite had insisted that Dallion should be able to control his familiars reliably in all instances. At the time, that seemed a useless and impossible task. If only Dallion had known
Each combat splitting was the equivalent of fine tuning, reducing the lag between his orders and the firebirds execution. Sadly, that proved not to be enough.
The moment Dallion went near, the obsidian dragon sprouted wings of obsidian dust and slashed through the air with them. One of Dallions instances was severed in two, receiving a terminal wound. The remaining two managed to block the attack thanks to the quick reaction of the armadil shield, which expanded so as to stop the layer of sharp dust.
Normally, Dallion would have quickly moved out of danger, allowing himself a few moments before he could take another go. This time, he only had one instance of him do it, while three more twisted in the air, combining his acrobatic skills with Luxs flight. Using the Nox dagger, he slashed at the wing.
A dark line appeared along the layer of dust. Cracks extended in all directions, created the start of an opening. Thanks to his new sight, Dallion was able to see the crack for the first timeit wasnt just a series of cracks, rather it resembled a portal to another world shimmering away.
The fascination only lasted a second, as Dallion twisted again in the air, thrusting his harpsisword so as to pierce the dragons eye.
As expected, a protective layer formed inches from the target, no larger than a saucer. This time, though, the defense was not enough. The strings of the harprisword vibrated, the melody linking with the new object. The protective tile froze in reality only to have the rest of the weapon smash through it like a chisel through an eggshell, buddying itself deep in the dragons eye.
FATAL STRIKE!
Dealt damage is increased by 500%
A roar pierced the air. Wounded, the dragon dove down, a violent sandstorm forming around it.
Shield! Dallion shouted.
The piece of equipment extended further, surrounding him completely before it was caught in the cone of the sandstorm.
Hardly the best strategy, dear boy, Nil criticized. It seems you have forgotten all of the attack patterns I tried to teach you.
Were in the air, Nil! Dallion snapped back. You never taught me any patterns for the air!
Oh. Well, an omission I will be certain to correct once this is over.
The shield ball was swung violently, causing Dallions body to slam against the inside of it.
Lux, keep me steady! he shouted.
Never in a million years would he have thought to use a firebird as a makeshift gyroscope, but here he was. At the end of the day, if it did the job, who was Dallion to complain?
Who would put a dragon guardian in a mirror? Dallion asked as the sandstorm outside switched direction yet again.
Someone whos very serious about his craft, Nil replied. A bladicorn to ensure the condition of the handle, a spectral shardfly to gain unparalleled reflection, and an obsidian dragon to ensure that neither magic, nor humidity would harm the item. Maybe when you fulfil the items destiny, we might find a stamp or signature which will provide us a clue as to the craftsmans identity.
Thats great. But before that, I still need to actually defeat the guardian. Hes still got one eye, remember?
Not to worry, dear boy. I have complete faith in your abilities. Defeating such a guardian should be a walk in the park.
As he said that, the sound of sand brushing against the outside of the shield abruptly stopped. Moments later, Dallion felt his stomach rising like it did when we went down a rollercoaster.
Crap!