Donna looked helpless when even her friend was against her. "Fine! If you're right, it's not like we have any other option except to stay here and rot anyway."
"So, we're all agreed then?" Colt asked as he glanced at the two women.
Both of them nodded, although Donna was still somewhat reluctant. Colt chose to take the centre path while the girls took one of the side ones each. When Colt reached the end of his, he could see a blue, glowing rune that he did not understand glowing on the wall of the dead end.
'It really is designed to split us up.' He sighed as he looked around one last time to make sure that he was not missing anything else. 'So what? Do I just touch it?'
Colt reached out to place his hand on the rune while gripping his shield tightly. At the moment of contact, he was engulfed by blue light. Colt found himself standing on a stone platform suspended over a canyon with a single bridge leading to a door when he opened his eyes. 'Teleportation? Or some kind of illusion?'
Colt wanted to try and understand as much as possible about the tomb in case they failed. That way, he could return at a later date while being more prepared. 'It looks like there's only one way forward.' Colt thought as he glanced at the canyon walls in case there was a secret path hidden in them.
Colt steadily approached the bridge, and a bright blue apparition appeared before he could reach it. The phantom was of a gorgeous woman with supple curves. However, her expression was lifeless, and there was no telling what colour her clothing, skin or hair was supposed to be. Everything was just the colour of the bright blue glow emanating from her.
"Welcome, challenger." The apparition said in a flat tone. "I am the last will of Allevia. If you are listening to this message, then I have fallen during the assault, and you have found my final resting place."
'So this is Allevia? Why does this one seem to be so lifeless compared to Jarxos?' Colt wondered as he waited for her to continue.
"If you wish to continue, be warned. You will be tested by my Devout Souls, who survived the Fall. Defeat them, and I will acknowledge you of being worthy of inheriting the final piece of the First Flame that my body still carries."
[HP and DP fully recovered]
Colt raised an eyebrow as blue light streamed into him while a notification arrived at the same time. 'Final piece of the First Flame? So that means that there are other pieces out there somewhere.' Colt frowned as he realised that this would either turn into a Quest chain or finding clues to each piece might be down to your own personal luck.
The apparition of Allevia faded away and left Colt standing alone at the edge of the bridge. 'Since she healed me, I can assume that the bridge itself is probably going to be the stage for the test. Maybe it's just the first test in a series, or it's the only one. She said Devout Souls, so I should expect a variation of the Lost Souls we fought outside.'
Sure enough, when Colt placed a foot on the bridge, the door at the opposite side opened up. However, he did not like what he saw. Golden humans marched out wearing full armour and wielding spears with round shields. They marched across the bridge like a well-trained army that stuck close together.
'How am I meant to beat that?' The squad of Devout Souls marched in a square of four by four. Which was the perfect amount to take up the width of the bridge. This prevented Colt from trying to kite them or rush past them.
'Maybe they'll come onto the platform? There's more space here.' Colt's frown deepened. 'No. Letting that happen will be suicide. They'll be able to surround me.'
Colt saw no other way around it but to face them head-on. He could only hope that they were weaker than they appeared. Colt charged towards one edge of the formation. As soon as he came within striking distance, the Devout Souls lunged with their spears. Most of them hit his shield and caused a rebound effect for those wielding them. However, a few managed to strike his left side.
[You have been attacked by Devout Soul (Weakened)]
[Divine Power Damage Check… Your Endurance 9. Enemy Authority 11. Your Divine Power is inferior. You have been dealt -3 HP.]
[-3 HP]
[-3 HP]
Colt's shield slammed into the front line at that point and knocked several Devout Souls off balance. Four of them stumbled and fell into the canyon, causing Colt to grin broadly as a quarter of the enemy numbers were taken out in one blow.
'41/50 HP left. The trade-off was worth it.' Colt quickly retreated out of reach of the spears as they attempted to strike at him again. The Devout Souls in the rear line moved to fill the gaps. Turning the square formation into a rectangle. 'Twelve enemies left. Maybe this won't be so hard.'
[-3 HP]
[-3 HP]
Another four Devout Souls fell into the canyon as Colt utilised the same strategy again. Now that their numbers were cut in half, he used Minor Blessing. Recovering 10 HP in the process. '45/50 HP left now.'
Colt frowned as he wondered if the girls had received the same challenge. If they had, then there was no way that he could think of for them to survive it. After all, neither of them had any spells at all, let alone ones for healing. 'Hopefully, they can surprise me and make it through. It seems like it is supposed to be a party quest, but so far, there hasn't really been anything that someone could not have done on their own.'
Colt charged at the remaining Devout Souls with a calm and collected expression after he had that thought. The sounds of their battle echoed throughout the canyon as they exchanged blows…