Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"No, but people have said through selective breeding, it's theoretically possible." Vexa says.


I look around for any enemies posing a serious threat, but not close to the ice tower so I don't blow up my allies.

Artemis freaks out a little, throwing the arrow before trying to grow a tree around herself for protection.

Katie builds a wall to keep the draconians out...of the northern side of the tower, trying to create a semicircle of them instead of a full circle around the tower using ice.

 

"Where is everyone? No one was in the training room when we got there."
Crystal asks as Voidfiller gets a better view of the portal.

 

"...I hope nobody tries. That sounds... cruel."


Pro: Everything's visible from the tower.
Con: Everyone around the tower is hittable, and you're putting your friends in a 10%-Chance killzone (according to the visor, which says you've got a .5% chance of death now)
Seems that there isn't much playing it safe with draconian artillery... moving your friends to the 1% killzone puts your enemies in the 5% killzone.

The arrow sort of explodes, more splintering a few bits of metal everywhere with a little dud explosion.
The actual payload seems to go off out in the distance.

Sure enough, they stop trying to encircle it. Now you can watch your back less.

________________________________

Voidfiller can see Aj and his friends fighting around a tower of ice.
"Fighting or dead. Emerald's in the library as usual. Everyone else is out trying to support Gaia, but I'm starting to regret that decision."

 

"Well, it's more just trying to get the right people to partner up with each other, or collecting the respective sperm and egg cells from certain guardians." Vexa says, shrugging.


I decide to store the bow away for when it's safer to use, looking for a suitable host to possess.

Artemis, shaken, takes a moment to recover and regain her focus, staying close to the tower and trying to control her breathing.

Katie begins freezing icy spikes around the outer area of the tower, readying them to fire outwards.

 

"What's happening with Gaia?"
"Fighting, apparently."
Voidfiller sounds more intrigued than scared. Crystal's just about the opposite.
"Fighting? Can we help?"

 

"...I'm going to pretend I didn't ask." Ruby sighs.


Nobody healthy is nearby, though you can identify a few dying fae and a draconian who's struggling to stay alive despite missing a significant portion of their chest.

Another arrow flies right in front of her face.
Much closer and Artemis may as well take a few daggers of elven corpses and go in melee. Or, you know, transform.

It's a bit late for that, frankly. They're approaching melee range as they start firing the occasional arrow or bolt towards the totem.

"I don't know. I don't know if I want to send you two... I've yet to hear back from any division I sent in." Xlentia says, stressed.

 

"Well, we can help!"
Crystal gains a bit of confidence as Voidfiller just continues to stare at the portal.
"We'll get back to you, I promise!"

 

Xlentia sighs.
"...If you really want to go, then I won't deny your aid."
Pause.
"...but I'm holding you to getting back here alive."

 

"Sorry." Vexa says, pouring out a mold for a hilt.


I empower one of the dying fae, bringing them back to health.

Artemis quickly reacts, grabbing the arrow from the air and throwing it back in one swift movement.

Stephanie creates a weak shield around her totem to stave off a few of the hits, while Katie tries to home the ice spikes in on the enemies.

 

"I will."
"I'll take care of him."
Voidfiller says to Xlentia.
"I'm not a baby."
"You're not a warrior, either."
Voidfiller stares at Crystal, and the two lock eyes for a bit.

 

"No, my fault. Thanks for the answer, though."


Their mind winds up being too weak to oppose you. At least they'll just be unconscious...?

It hits another arrow, both getting deflected.

Katie gets four kills and scatters about half of the front line. Stephanie's shield holds up, but barely. One more even lucky shot will break it totally.

________________________________

Xlentia licks Crystal comparatively gently, knocking him over anyways.
"Just make it back to me, hon."

 

His focus is lost as he's knocked over, immediately getting back up.
"I'll make sure of it."
Voidfiller says confidently.
"Now, let's get out there."

 

Vexa shrugs.


I send a shock through their system to wake them up.

"Hey, this is destiny calling. You've got another shot at this." I say in their mind.

Artemis takes a moment to think about the chances of hitting an arrow with another arrow so perfectly, shocked.

"Katie! Could use some extra protection! This thing still has a bit to go!" Stephanie shouts.

Katie grows a thick dome of ice around Stephanie, adding protection.

 

"Do you want to join your friends, or go to Gaia's palace directly?"

 

"What're they doing out here?"
Voidfiller asks, giving Crystal the time to think.

 

Ruby glances at the entrance.
"...I wonder if my sister ever bought her own house on Earth like she said she wanted to." She says offhandedly.


"...H-huh...? I... but..."
They try to look at their wounds, then the others around them before trembling.
"B-but... I... everyone's..."

The chances of that? Probably less than .1%.
Chances of getting clocked by a draconian gauntlet? Apparently 100%.

The occasional arrow starts getting aimed at Katie instead of the totem.

Not long to go, but the draconians don't have far to go either.

________________________________

"They said they wanted to set up some sort of totem or something, and I dropped them where there are the fewest troops... I think."

 

“With them.”
Crystal decides.

 

Vexa doesn't respond, busy working with her molten hilt.


"You've been chosen out of the hundreds of dead to avenge them. You, you are the chosen one. Now, end this." I say in their mind.

Artemis gets knocked out, Katie noticing this and quickly grabbing her with some ice hands, disabling her attacking for a moment as she drags her into the safety of the tower, putting her up with Stephanie.

After rescuing Artemis, Katie starts catching the arrows in water before charging them up and firing them out, isolating any of the explosive ones after seeing what happened to Artemis with one.

 

Just in time to see Artemis get punched.
"Okay... opening in three seconds..." Xlentia says, running her claw around the portal.

Ruby watches to see if Vexa bothers decorating the hilt or not.


"B-but... I... I just... I..." They protest, starting to crack with electricity.

The explosive arrows seem to just detonate when wet, sending surprisingly small shockwaves through the water.

The ice hands are now about the only thing left between the tower and the draconians... but a portal opens up nearby. It's one way, so it's impossible to tell where it's coming from...

 

Wings sprout from Voidfiller’s back, as Crystal gets shocked for a second before making a spear.