Galactic Fist of Legend: Volume 2 Page 13

  Scott cried out in pain, but kept his wits about him well enough to slam his shield against her, knocking her back a step, and then followed it up with another sword strike. She recovered quickly enough to deflect the strike with her staff, but then tried to capitalize with another punch to Scott's face. He was ready this time. His kite shield knocked her hand upward, and revealed a solid opening. Scott slammed his sword forward into her abdomen.

  Staggered heavily by the attack of opportunity, the undead elf screamed in pain and panic as several hard strikes tore into her.

  "You bastard!" she raged, before unleashing a sphere of energy from the core of her being that sent Scott flying.

  He rolled to a stop like a discarded rag doll, his arms and legs flared wildly around him. He could not move for a moment, but neither could the elf. The spherical wave of energy continued to radiate wildly around her for a while.

  Scott recovered before the energy field came down, and drank his last dose of spiritus. He felt strength return to his body, but he was still badly hurt.

  The moment the protective sphere dropped, Scott raced in and pummeled the elf with a series of wild strikes. She was unable to block at all due to her magical exhaustion. Yet, she withstood the constant hammering of blows. Scott's final strike was deflected by her staff, and to add further insult to his attempt he took a hard kick to the groin that caused his eyes to water.

  "Ha! Such is the fate of all men who challenge me!" snarled the evil she-elf, before she reared back and slammed the head of her staff down across Scott's face.

  "No man will have my heart!" she raged while whipping the ever loving shit out of him with a series of weak, but numerous, staff blows that kept him reeling.

  However, she continued the pummeling for too long. Scott recovered from having his taters mashed, and rose up furiously. The pommel of his sword slammed into her chin with great ferocity.

  "I said—" shouted Scott, before slamming his shoulder into her chest, "You're not my type!"

  Knocked to the ground by the heavy blow, she was completely vulnerable when he leapt in and slammed his blade down atop her again and again. Thick black blood welled up from tiny lacerations torn into her flesh. At last, signs of damage!

  Soon, the sphere of energy returned to defend her once more. Scott was sent flying, much of his life fading as he hit the ground. He was at the end. He could still fight, but one more hit would do him in, and he knew it.

  "I'm every man's type, fool!" raged the elf maiden as she floated to her feet. "I was known as the most beautiful dark elven sorceress in the city!"

  Scott rose to his feet, and snorted. "Baby, you got real ugly."

  It was not entirely true, to be honest. Even as a raging undead, she was still reasonably pretty. She would no doubt have been quite the attractive sorceress in her day.

  "Don't lie to me, mortal! I'm beautiful still!" she cried vainly.

  "I wouldn't touch you, but I know a few men who might do so if you paid them by the hour," remarked Scott snidely.

  She hissed at him like a cat, then came in swinging. Strangely, she did not use any magic.

  More by instinct, than by skill, Scott managed to deflect her strike and trip her to the ground. His sword flashed downward in a brutal strike that took her across the back.

  However, she turned quickly and howled. "Tell me I'm beautiful!"

  "Sure, if you say so," said Scott, before he struck her again.

  "I'm beautiful! Say it!" she cried.

  Scott lashed out at her again and again. The fight had gone out of the undead she-elf. The more Scott denied her beauty, the less she struggled. Eventually she rolled over and hid her eyes with her hands.

  Finally, a heartbreaking sob erupted from her throat. "I just always wanted to be beautiful."

  "Why?" asked Scott curiously, before whacking her across the back of the head with his sword.

  "S-so, I would—" she said with a hiccup. Scott whacked her again, though it did little more than cause her to sigh.

  "Tell me," he said, before slamming the bottom of his shield down on her lower back.

  "I just wanted to be with him, forever!" she cried.

  With that, her body flared with light and burst into fire and ash. Scott stood there panting, his body on the verge of death once more. "Crazy ass girl— but kind of sad, I guess."

  He received forty-eighty EXP for defeating her, and three items. "Whoa, treasure trove," said Scott.

  Scott took the burning heart and put it into his inventory, and then checked his new haul. He had a robe, a staff, and a ring.

  [Saelil Lothuialeth Crimson Robe of Flames]

  Wrapped in the luxurious silks of the far eastern lands, Saelil Lothuialeth spent many days in quiet study. Her heart longed for the gentle touch of a powerful lover, but her studies would not allow for such things. The path of the archmage was paved with heartache, and the ever present loneliness that defined the paths of many would be masters.

  Restriction: You cannot wear this item or view its stats.

  [--]

  "What... I can't wear it?" Scott frowned. That was some bullshit, he thought, but he discovered a similar issue with the staff.

  [Divine Thunder Staff of Saelil Lothuialeth]

  Carved from the heart of an ancient tree struck by lightning, the powerful sorceress Saelil Lothuialeth used this staff to forge her destiny. Her lust for power caused her to deny the other lusts that a woman might feel. Despite her many suitors, she died and soon forgotten in all things save for her violent destructive acts.

  Restriction: You cannot wield this item or view its stats.

  [--]

  "Man, really? Come on..." That staff sounded far too cool not to be able to use it or even see what it could do.

  He was not particularly excited for the ring. Clearly, these items were not meant for him. They were probably meant to be worn by a woman, or something. Scott looked to the ring then blinked.

  [True Heart of Saelil Lothuialeth]

  A symbol of eternity, and innocence, the powerful sorceress bound her true heart within this ring. He who wears it will receive a beautiful gift.

  Restriction: Only the one who defeats Saelil Lothuialeth, may equip this ring.

  [--]

  Scott rubbed his chin. "A beautiful gift? Maybe this thing will let me have her powers or something?"

  The idea of summoning tornadoes, fire, and lightning did seem like a beautiful gift. Scott slipped the ring on his finger then looked around expectantly.

  Nothing happened for a moment, but then a soft feminine whisper echoed in his ears. "With this ring, I thee wed..."

  Scott's eyes widened. "Oh, hell no."

  "Don't be cruel, beloved," whispered the sweet voice.

  He sighed loudly. How was this a beautiful gift? "Seriously. I'm not interested in being married."

  "We'll just live in sin, then... Naughty, naughty, sin," she replied with a throaty giggle.

  "Dammit..." he muttered. What was even going on here, anyway? Was his beautiful gift supposed to be a strange haunting by a dead elf girl?

  "Say my name, beloved. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised..." whispered the elf.

  Scott sighed. Well, what was the worst that could happen? "Saelil Lothuialeth."

  The ash on the ground began to rise up in a whirl of wind. Soon it coalesced into a somewhat physical form, a transparent ghostly image. Though, it was quite the attractive ghostly image.

  Completely nude, the undead elf girl from before reappeared before Scott. Admittedly, she was quite fit for a dead woman, but Scott could not see how a relationship would work out.

  "Thank you..." she whispered softly, "for everything thing."

  "Did I do something?" he asked curiously. Sure, he kicked her ass, but she nearly killed him in the process. He was honestly surprised that he did not die during that fight.

  She smiled shyly. "I spent so much time studying that I never really allowed myself to do anything else. I killed my enem
ies, destroyed demons, and studied."

  "So, alright... what does that have to do with this ring?" he asked her.

  Her shy smile shifted to a nervous one. "It represents what I truly wanted before I died... someone who could accept me even when I was not beautiful, someone who was strong enough to defeat me."

  "Am I really that guy? I'm pretty sure you used to be a lot stronger," he said, "Hell, I barely scratched you during that fight."

  "It is true. The long years of my nightmare have taken much from me. My own faults have caused it, and you have delivered me from that darkness," she said.

  "What now then? Are you doomed to be a ghost, or something?"

  She shook her head. "My doom is yours to decide, beloved. You may break the ring that seals my heart, and send me to my final rest in the cold darkness of the true death, if you wish. If not..."

  "If not...?" asked Scott.

  Saelil ran her hands down along the curvature of her sides. "The ring acts as a contract, a permanent bond between I and the wearer. If you would have my power at your side, I would gladly serve you in any way that you wish."

  "Any, way?" asked Scott curiously.

  Her throaty giggle returned. "Oh yes."

  It was strange, but she seemed like a much nicer girl after beating the ever loving snot out of her. Was that thought misogynistic? Probably. But then it was hard to think that beating an undead fire hurling tornado girl into submission meant that he was less of a man. Besides that, she'd started it.

  "Are you the jealous type?" asked Scott curiously. How he would explain this situation to his other team mates was something he would have to think about carefully. Breaking the ring was not an option. She seemed interested in hanging around, and at the very least she might be able to teach him about magic.

  She laughed softly, but said nothing. Saelil was an undead dark elf who wanted to keep a bit of mystery about herself, who would have thought it? Either way, his little mission was finally progressing. Burning Heart, get!

  Chapter 8

  The obelisk shined brightly, as Scott put it to work. The return of the conquering hero, newfound ghost elf sorceress in tow, led to restoration of health and further understanding of the current situation.

  "I see, level ten desiccation means you lose your physical body altogether," said Scott. He looked to Saelil then back to the information on the obelisk. "Would be sort of hard to earn more essence if you can't manipulate anything in the world."

  "Yes. Unfortunately, I have been dead so long that destruction of my previous form left me in this sad state," said Saelil. "I cannot even access my magic or touch anything beyond the obelisk. I also fear that my total ability will be greatly reduced even once my form is restored."

  Scott rubbed his chin. In order to revive her to the point that she would be flesh and blood, the obelisk demanded over one hundred ten thousand essence. He took a moment to work out the math then realized that she would require over twenty-seven hundred EXP to regain her fleshy form.

  Achieving that much EXP in this world would take forever. Well, a few months if he remained in his current location. However, her powers could prove useful. Even with her abilities reduced, her actual knowledge should remain intact.

  The most efficient method of restoring her would be to complete the mission and hope that he earned enough EXP to restore her to life. Defeating her in the first place earned him a cool eighty EXP. As a boss, she was worth roughly thirty-two hundred essence.

  "I'd like to restore you if possible, but how would we do that?" asked Scott. He eyed her carefully. "You have to be the one to spend the essence, correct?"

  She smiled at him slightly. "If you truly mean that, there is a way."

  "Which is?" asked Scott.

  Saelil said, "Since you are actually able to use the obelisk, you can choose to set me as an official member of your party. The gods will accept that as a decision to split the rewards of battle."

  "You won't have to do anything to gain EXP?" asked Scott.

  "As long as I am physically near the battle, I should acquire some of the EXP, as you call it," said Saelil. She floated over to him then hovered in place. "I am tied to you at any rate. I will have to be near you."

  "Do you know any nearby areas where the opponents give a lot of essence, but are not too difficult?" Scott looked to her, a hopeful expression on his face. He could not personally do much with essence other than convert it to EXP. At least, not at the moment.

  "Unfortunately, such creatures are hard to locate, beloved. Most of the time any beast who grants a great deal of essence upon death will be far beyond the level of power and skill that you showed to me during our fight," answered Saelil. She affected a warm smile, but it did not reach her eyes. She too was saddened by that fact.

  "Well, there is still a quick way to help you. It all depends on my personal situation," said Scott.

  "What situation might that be?" she asked curiously.

  "It probably won't make sense for now. However, if we continue onward with my current mission, we will be able to see if it is possible for me to help you using alternate means," replied Scott.

  "Ah, you have a purpose for being here? What manner of mission has brought my new love to me?" asked Saelil.

  "Well..." Scott was uncertain of what to say. Technically, the large stone he appropriated originally belonged to Saelil. In the end, there was no harm in explaining things as he saw it. "I need to take your burning heart to light the Crimson Beacon in the city of Roscaliane."

  She looked at him carefully for a moment, and then laughed joyously. "A jester! Surely, you were some form of comedian before you became an adventurer?"

  "No..." said Scott, a knot of worry beginning to form in the base of his stomach. "Why do you say that?"

  "Surely you know?" she asked him, her eyes widened slightly in surprise.

  "No, do tell me," said Scott.

  "You— You are serious?" she looked to him with fearful eyes then quickly said, "Beloved, you cannot be serious. It is an impossible task!"

  "No, I'm pretty sure it's possible..." said Scott. The aliens, gods, or whatever the bastards running the game happened to be, they were dicks. However, sarcasm aside, they so far had proven themselves to be generally honest dicks. Even their commentary, and false leads, were typically shown to him using different text than the normal mission text.

  In every previous situation they always granted a path that allowed for at least one chance of success. If he failed to achieve it, that was his doing. Added difficulties were possible, but he was also the one responsible for unleashing them. Giving him an impossible task did not seem likely with their track record thus far. Whatever game they were truly playing, the bastards seemed to value their ability to pretend it was fair for the players.

  "Beloved. I know that you are courageous and kind, but no mortal man may light that beacon!" she reached out and tried to grasp his hand only to slip right through his flesh.

  Scott felt nothing of her touch. He was neither colder, nor did he feel a tingle. It was as though she existed only in his sight and not in reality. A true ghost, she could not even change the world in those small ways. What he did feel was a slight sense of growing awareness. He could nearly guess what her next words would be.

  She sighed deeply then shook her head. "No mortal man may light the beacon, not even his shade. Even a Child of Heros such as you, cannot accomplish this. Only a true god can do so."

  "Only a god, huh..." said Scott. Before she could answer he looked into her ghostly eyes and asked, "What constitutes a god? For that matter, why do you call me Child of Heros?"

  "Beloved?" she asked curiously.

  "Pretend I was born stupid, and never learned anything in my life," said Scott. "Tell me everything you know about such things."

  "I see. Very well then..." she said, a slightly confused smile on her lips.

  Saelil took a breath, though she clearly did not need to breath in order to speak. "A god is a being a
bove the mortal plane. They descend to Fear Rune in the form of chosen avatars in times of incredible chaos, but generally they send a lesser god, their divine champions, in their stead."

  "So, a champion is considered a god?" asked Scott, his curiosity piqued.

  She laughed beautifully. "Yes, but they are only a myth. Clearly they are half-remembered drunken tales spun by those who witnessed the death and resurrection of someone such as you, beloved."

  "Someone such as me.... a Child of Heros?" asked Scott casually.

  "Yes, certainly," said Saelil.

  "What makes you think that I'm one of those children?" asked Scott.

  She looked at him curiously for a moment then smiled. Clearly he was having fun with her. "Beloved, only one of the Children of Heros, a Hero, can awaken an obelisk to this degree. Most others can only use it to heal their wounds or cure ailments. It is only your presence that will even allow me to heal my desiccation."

  Things began to make sense for Scott after he heard those words. In Saelil's eyes he was a hero, no doubt someone with divine blood, but not to the extent that he would be considered a true deity. In her view, he was more akin to a demi-god, a human with a touch of the divine within him. However, she revealed something equally important. Champions were considered to be gods.

  Scott spent a good bit of time questioning Saelil after that. His questions confused her to no end. Questions about the nature of his statistics and other concerns that any small child would know, caused her to wonder at his purpose. It was as though he was only just born into the world recently.