“...”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaRw4Px1Ti
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“...”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyiCp9t3fH
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I couldn’t explain how it wound up this way. Maybe it was how I always lagged behind, or that other members were simply more courageous than Juke and I. Maybe it was bad fortune becoming of me, an ugly trait that reared its head in inconvenient times. Pondering an explanation was a useless endeavor anyhow. At this point, I realized it just wasn’t always needed.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOD7ZZMt9Kc
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But still, to think Juke and I were the final two members was absurd.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBBXqDD7wS
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I didn’t have any evidence, but my gut screamed at me that the final floor would be the most challenging to combat. I readily acknowledged that the Harbinger was on a lower floor, but all the suspense that had been accumulating in my body informed me that wasn’t the worst of it. Perhaps it was a superstition– no, it absolutely was –but I was still compelled to tell Juke of my hypothesis.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKmjk5hQYa
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“I have a feeling–”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvMhLiw3A4
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“This next floor’s gonna be a pain in the ass, eh?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3rK1lzYO5
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I was momentarily stunned at his read. Only in mind of course, because my legs didn’t dare to stop climbing.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8iAlaTX9O
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“Do you also have that feeling?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OjJSUnF3G
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“Nothin’ like it. I could just tell by the look on yer face. Either way, I don’t think we’re gonna deal with somethin’ so meddlesome.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRACd8yqd6X
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“I don’t know, Juke. I just don’t know.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyRdEjYhH1
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His words appeased me a little bit, but I still found it nearly impossible not to wonder and assume the worst.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhYHSvg2aT
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But, ultimately, I reminded myself yet again that that hardly mattered. Now that we’d arrived on a flat surface, there was nothing to do but to walk through that door and eliminate whoever was behind it. So we made sure to make a loud entrance. As I was able to match his pace, the both of us busted the door down. We ran into the master’s room, a spacious office stacked with papers. It was different, and far, far messier than the Foreign Pillar’s.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6i3OcNeRt
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“Y-You!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60tOnw0RoA
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I was shocked by a sudden voice from my left. I turned my head and saw a skinny gentleman, one I could only assume was the Pillar’s Dean.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZoWGNOnSy
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“T-Thank goodness! Please, release me from these ropes!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwQQIDoqBw
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“A-Alright!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBEFBapru2
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Whether his words or his pathetic visage swayed me, I ran to untie him all the same. But I was stopped in my tracks by a hand grabbing my shoulder.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxU2SEqh69
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“Hey! Juke, what are–”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMr4E7QiJnK
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My question was cut short the moment I looked at where he was point. Now, I was looking at the reason behind the different papers, the reason why the dean was tied in rope.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9Fmzb5coV
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A man stood on the desk. A man with a robe I knew all too well, but more importantly, with a style of hair that I recognized. He turned his head towards us as he put a paper down, and frowned.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaiuR1RsAk
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“You two… I figured it would be you that I meet.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiM83EpXGb
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With almond-shaped eyes and a jagged, unusual hairstyle that screamed “punk,” the Bringer in the streets of this city right as this mess began glared at us with the sheen of his blade.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqaiXHsVbT
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“He’s alive!?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6bk0xYHTV
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The shock of it all was one thing, as the last time I saw him, I was sure he was pulverized and left to bleed out. But what truly made me yell in such volume was that he still had both of his arms.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFlx9c7r9a
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“How the hell? I cut yer thing off, didn’t I?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqA2kkLUpV
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“My ‘thing?’ It was my arm, you ass! But never mind that. What matters now, is that it’s back.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJg5qybQbyA
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He said it matter-of-factly, as if none of it should be a surprise. Missing limbs weren’t impossible to restore with highly potent, albeit rare and extremely expensive potions, but processes like that took months, often years to complete. And they would only proceed smoothly with frequent tending and doctoral observation.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdG1SguEiu
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And yet, it had only been a little over a day since I last saw him.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡku1ZL7L6pM
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“Kid, that ain’t possible, is it!? Tell me I’m hallucinatin’!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB21zpj64EH
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“...Well, not exactly.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEjEhX2GJ5
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I could see his mouth agape through the steel of his helm.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeSz6hQPhr
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“Restoring limbs isn’t impossible; I tried and failed to make a few like that myself. But to be able to do it that fast, there’s only one explanation.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepkaweJshy
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“Tell me, won’t ya?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZakg7QrGX2
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3msBiyTAAM
“There’s someone in Hard-Bringer who’s a Grade Zero mana spinner.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa94sHaORAg
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“...Seriously? I thought they were one-in-a-million rare.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymvoY9Hzsg
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“It’s something like that. I’d call ourselves lucky if they weren’t our opponent.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJ6y8QHYH5
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“You got a sharp mind, child– Bison Frost, right?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3A4dsXbR7
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I clicked my tongue at the mention of the name. And to think I forgot all about it.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpC04hchZFy
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“There’s someone among our ranks who’s a world-class healer. It’s phenomenal to see her work, really. I was out like a light, but by the time I woke up, I was better than new!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWCrGwEdP9
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He pulled the sleeves of his robe back to show his vascular arms.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPM3fAxK3U
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“A her, eh? Looks like I know who ta’ look for.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnME0DK81Qo
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The Bringer’s enthusiasm dwindled with Juke’s remark.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡET1Pi3IBgF
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“Right, I need to watch my tongue. I can’t be too safe.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvcG2MmB4s
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The Bringer hopped off the desk and reached for the other scabbard on his belt. Wielding two curved blades yet again, he stared at us with crazed, narrowed eyes.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNxB1HPweI
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“If you two are the last of your platoon, that’s perfect! It means you won’t get any help!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQuHNwNbAw
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He took one step forward, a clear indication that he was going to charge.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiM4dKtiOZ
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“If I can chop you two up here and now, then we can pack up and go home!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHkP3DxQKm
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And then he broke into a sprint, igniting our unexpected rematch.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7I7vkYaPw
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–
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–
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–515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSOkgr66FK
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The Bringer’s immediate dash complicated this whole mess. It might’ve been my fault for not taking Juke aside and speaking of a plan, but there was nothing I could do now. I didn’t have time to speak with him about our battle strategy. It helped not that the Bringer’s gesture was so sudden. It stunned me for a moment and forced me to think of a counterattack. But Juke thankfully had a quick, simple proposal:: he just drew his sword and matched the Bringer.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WTvh98b6o
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The first collision of the battle followed right after. Juke blocked a double swipe with his single sword, and immediately I noted that Juke had more physical strength than the Bringer, as he was able to keep him in a lock. The Bringer dashed away shortly after, glaring at us while humming curiously. I was oddly disturbed by that gesture, but I had no time to contemplate. I drew my tendril and sprouted the perfect plant for the occasion: the Thistle-Bloom. One of the first plants I ever copied from Prince’s garden, Its spikey bulb protruded from the tip of the tendril. I squelched its root as if I was choking it.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrfcFAyJjJ
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Juke looked over his shoulder, and seeing that I had a plant out, he gestured his hand in a question.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZCdxN2zmE
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“It’s ranged, that’s all you need to know! Keep the pressure!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVkVubpr13
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He nodded right after, boldly charging at the still-humming Bringer. I put one knee down and bent the Thistle-Bloom, aiming it directly at the two fighters.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoq6ARB21MG
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It was impossible to safely shoot while the two were in close combat, but that bothered me barely. Juke’s endowment gave him a defensive edge, and with the constant threat of his sword and wind magic, the Bringer would be forced to back away eventually. I just had to wait for that moment, and as I did, I keenly watched the battle unfold.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9b7y16phW
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Juke played the offensive role spectacularly. I wasn't sure if the Bringer was hesitating from past experience or gauging him in some fashion, but the end result was that swings were being thrown his way. None of Juke's swings connected, however, and the Bringer kept too small a distance for me to shoot.
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Eventually, the Bringer retaliated. He swung his swords across and Juke blocked them at the center. From that position though, Juke was forced to back away. Almost losing his sword, he awkwardly stepped a few paces back while swinging his arms to keep from falling. In that moment, the Bringer dashed and thrust his weapons.
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**CLANG**
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"...So I wasn't hallucinating."
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The tip of his blades practically bounced off Juke's skin, and from the looks of it, made only a scratch on his helmet. Juke looked relieved, and the Bringer looked annoyed, and though I was distracted by relief of not seeing my friend be penetrated, I surged mana through the tendril.
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"It's a weird ability you have there. Fortunately–"
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All of a sudden, right before the thorns of the bulb spew like the water of a dam, the Bringer flung one of his blades my way.
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"I can just chip away."
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I tripped over myself trying to dodge it, and though all but a clip of my hair avoided it, it managed to glide through elsewhere.
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My body reacted immediately.
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"Urg--Glurrgh!"
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The Thistle-Bloom was torn apart, and that viscous purple liquid ejected itself from my throat yet again.
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"Kid! Ah, shit!"
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I collapsed to the ground, limp and lethargic in my lazy legs. I mustered the strength to tilt my head up and look at the fight. Juke kept the Bringer occupied, but everything about the sight was wrong. That Bringer was missing a sword, so why was Juke forced to block every attack? Why did his posture falter while the Bringer's only strengthened?
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Familiar shivers ran through my spine. My limbs denied my commands, and even my eyes forced themselves blind to the scene. Then the word "run" entered my head. And then I–
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"Kid! C'mon, I need ya here!"
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"...Come on. Come on, just shoot!"
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A rush of adrenaline helped me endure the pain of forming the Dragon-Maw, but with my other hand, I quickly created a ball of fire and lobbed it at the two fighters. I didn't hit anyone, but the blaze separated them, giving Juke crucial time to breathe. He shot me a thumbs up while brandishing his weapon, threatening the Bringer just enough for him to back off.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOmwPZSluh
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The Dragon-Maw snapped at the Bringer, knowing by instinct who the opponent was. But to my surprise, it didn’t uncontrollably charge.. Rather, it retracted, hissing at the adversary as if he encroached on its territory.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeI6g2MwFJ
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“We don’t have time for you to act like this! Go, fight that cloaked man!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMhc9poydg
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After my call, the Dragon-Maw calmed down. I extended my tendril, and the tide of battle tipped in our favor.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8omqgWJF8N
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Though carrying such a dislodged, extended mass was difficult on my tiny body, I put no energy into making attacks. Dragon-Maw complimented Juke’s fighting patterns superbly, striking at times when Juke reeled from swinging his sword. The Bringer was put on the backfoot almost instantly, and the pressure was obvious from his drenched face. Despite our suffocating offense, we never managed to break the guard of his blistering blade.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CYNaiaegE
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He was, however, getting closer and closer to losing his footing.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraEuFSP0e9
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Though my arm strained and heaved, I kept the tendril out. The Bringer carried Juke and Dragon-Maw around the room, lining its edges and narrowly missing the paper piles. At some point, though, I noticed that the Bringer had to block less and less. I thought for a moment that exhaustion from Juke or I was to blame, but as I narrowed my eyes, I noticed his feet moving further and further back.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0rgly1K6M
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And only until I turned nearly one-eighty degrees did I realize why.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR44S5rtpZe
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“Crap!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGd4QYgX1qT
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I stopped supporting my right arm with my left and quickly began mana expulsion. I didn’t have the time to make anything dangerous, so I conjured a messy ball of water and flung it at the Bringer. But I didn’t put enough for or mana for it to be meaningfully threatening. It merely splashed his face, not enough to stop him from picking up his other sword. But that brief moment of blindness afforded me a–515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxgc2hiD2b
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**CRUNCH**515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp775lwyrvA
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The Dragon-Maw managed to clamp the Bringer at his side. It didn’t bite anything off, but from the grunts of the Bringer and the new hues of red, it was clear that the wound was deep.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SewN0GS80
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Unfortunately, that was all Dragon-Maw had to offer.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuX4pbR4UE
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Like it was a basic reflex, the Bringer swung his sword and cut the head of Dragon-Maw off. I clicked my tongue and closed my eyes, bracing myself for the ensuing, and brutally-arriving pain. My preparation suppressed it adequately. I was still on my legs, after all. But it was offset by my dwindling willingness to use the tendril, and by the way its brown roots shed its sheen, I figured it felt the same. I had to ask it for one more favor, though.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdXeGpT7HS
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I realized it was reckless, especially with how small the room was, but I didn’t want this fight to drag on any longer than it already had. Thus, I procured a–515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vKfOngnHZ
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“Child! Child, please!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37XT5H6XTZ
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“W-What!?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO17dO7Mr5y
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My focus was split by the sudden calling of the Dean, who rested behind me still trapped by rope.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVOaynM2it
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“I can’t help you right now! I’m in the middle of a fight–”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkT289vSrf
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“N-No, please, at least release me from these ropes! He won’t hurt me, so at the very least I can escape!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFK0shmlVN0
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“...”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSRMAMPJKX
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I had this sick feeling that the Dean was far sleazier than I initially thought, but under this kind of situation, I could hardly blame him. I didn’t turn to save him, however. As a Freeze-Dry bloomed from the tip of my tendril, I stared with sweaty palms at the dueling two. Juke matched the Bringer far more comfortably now, even with him having two swords, as that injury was unignorable.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeq21yyAeCQ
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With that in mind, freeing the Dean suddenly didn’t seem so outrageous.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHhx7DleDc
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“Please, child! We don’t have m-much time! If you–”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsC2MIs0NyB
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“I understand that you’re stressed, but please shut up and let me think!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRxKvHv0qT
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Even though it would just take making a small dagger out of earth, sinking that time to free him felt like a terrible idea. I knew it was possible, I knew Juke could last long enough for me to do so, and yet– and yet–515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHndyAPlKB
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And yet, the option caused my arms to shiver. To be responsible for his freedom, would just mean I was responsible for everything that followed.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ddXz5f8E6
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUc7YuN3cCI
How could I not freeze, then? How could I move like a lubricated gear to cut his ropes and–515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9GXRbFSEn
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxkjpxK5lb
“Kid! Watch out!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuwMocwEeH
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTJ0WIEQPc
“--Huh?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQl6fFGvmAP
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLEZZIs9ii
I was swept from my trance by Juke’s loud, worried call. My vision registered with me then, and I realized that the Bringer was charging directly at me.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3bLwuKR7L
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpCiWT3yfh
“S-S-Shit!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPck28HgOX2
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLNrjqpEAW
I did the first thing that came to mind: I conjured a hasty spell, shot it, and jumped to the side, causing me to land on my hip. Only, it didn’t go so smoothly. The spell I created wasn’t one of earth or fire, as trying to rush those would erase nearly half of my mana supply. So I created a large wave of water before moving. It blinded the bringer sufficiently, just enough for his thrust to miss me.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7NXA9lhNY
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8QFjThqvP
**SQUELCH**515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5oe4vivgK
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTHumQuqrP
But the momentum of that thrust didn’t stop at empty air.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnudopYtUep
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“--H-Hrk!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiA20eGYoDF
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2qzGS8DHt
“Oh?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUOixjCGoZ
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrmCjpZWnh
The Bringer rubbed the water out of his eyes and looked at where his sword had been lodged. He wasn’t happy or upset, nor did he look amused or angered. He had the look of someone who made a simple slip-up, like a man putting a box in the wrong place and merely shrugging his shoulders at the sight.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLoI5N3iZz
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpXfP5w1No
But the Bringer didn’t put a box in the wrong area. He thrust his weapon into the shoulder of the Dean.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYB3QysYVr
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0W0k8sjWn3
“Ark… W-Why?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnJzQEG4BL
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3FULxNDuC
“I don’t have a reason. It was an accident, relax. Goodness, just relax! It’s not as if I hit your lungs, did I?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznP70YbwAI
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdl3IkCiJa6
He took the sword out and sighed, pinching his nose in mild irritation.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPLB9qdDu4
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEHOUqb0b8
“Bystanders aren’t all that important. You sit there and try your best to live, won’t you?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyofRHn1LO
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAqgpCSH67
“A– y-you monster!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaaEr5AEpG
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MzvpfK2iG
He rolled his eyes and pointed his sword.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MJOMU4S1I
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqxLo7qMgk
“Shut up now. You’re just asking to be stabbed.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1i28Iio4c9
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImVM6cEWR4
After that threat, he turned, looking right at me.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9lNjT9wVw
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqRaNNUhIC
“What’s that face for? Are you just now feeling afraid?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIXKniQrEI
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fdReTCqzO
“A-Afraid?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuPkNtqx8I
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoUWIallpe
I was stunned, undeniably, but it wasn’t paralysis. That wasn’t the case, because I saw the Dean right there, writhing but breathing, trying what he could to cover his wound. But to call myself afraid wasn’t incorrect. I could hardly keep myself from melting.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIfmPaYExE
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrYRntdayK
“Don’t freeze on me, Kenny!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRSbUHLRxq
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYQcoXWouj
But then Juke’s words resounded from my side, and the sight of the Dean became enough for me to move. Though, I didn’t do so before giving myself a necessary rebuke.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhumtWorf5
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQAZXFfcCy
“Damn it. Damn it!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEw81yMtfAN
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4eDe2eHM8
I aimed the Freezey-Dry at the bringer and let it work. The Bringer stepped to the side, avoiding the wall of ice that formed until the end of the room. I didn’t have to face any counterattack either, as Juke kept the Bringer occupied while I ran to the Dean, forming an earthly knife.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1naN1TucRT
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFCuF8nh7Y
“Come on, weren’t you going to be more courageous? Come on, come on!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpd8aqBdx6
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ398g5AlJn
I hurriedly cut the ropes, slicing one of my own fingers in the process, but still managing to free the Dean. He grasped his shoulder and got on his legs.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBLK40pcSz
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSL0JPck8yf
“T-Thank you.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGL7R3ZtmPa
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqph7BahUc
“What are you thanking me for? This is my fault! Ah, never mind! Can you walk?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7vLnoDOy4
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdEwyPcPLN
The Dean meekly nodded, which made me greatly relieved. I conjured up a quick earth spell and shot it through the ice wall, creating an opening.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MWyqejysd
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5pAmVA410
“Go through there and leave. We’ll take it from here.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2MA4zuK8g
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAobevMVCr
“Thank you. T-Thank you so much!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOzKCy7tLj
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQsNwk6WMt
Though his run was gaunt, he managed to leave the parameter without being stopped. I walked around the ice wall to make sure of it, seeing him go through the entrance, and then I returned my attention to the Bringer.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzFMMnsLoJ
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxO7z4KlPP
He and Juke were still fighting. The Bringer landed stray hits far too often for comfort, but I saw a window when the two clashed their swords and stared.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfoKsLUdkA
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyhttoTyLj
“What’s the matter, helmet-man? Is something on your mind? Your swings are getting sloppy.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2njJrQB7oE
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeH6XzeN5w
“...I hate yer type. Ya bastards always read inta shit ya shouldn’t.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9jE4YoxgE
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysjwfeY3gx
“Juke!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1HwE05EP1
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyHoKvURXs
I interjected as quickly as I could. I formed a ball of earth and shot it at the Bringer. He moved to dodge it, but his toilsome wound forced him to hiss and I managed to nip his shoulder. Juke took advantage of the generated momentum, swinging his sword barbarically but only scratching the Bringer’s cloth as he dodged. The Bringer clicked his tongue and massaged his shoulder. Though it was a reach of a call to make, I felt confident that his shoulder was dislocated.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXu3nGy4C4Q
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5La7yGHzsT
“That kid is such a nuisance!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQXZkyudY9
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGCNB9qR1K
He yelled an enraged sentence, jerking his head to me and glaring with dagger-like eyes. I brought my tendril out in front of me as a kind of shield, though with the ferocity of which he sprinted, it clearly wouldn’t do anything.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwoVluXUdE
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTfooTRWrF
Fortunately, it didn’t have to.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkVLU6RBvg
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“Ahck!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTGlHVXQcg
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywEn9HTmeb
A gust of wind came from my right, slamming the Bringer hard enough for him to tumble to the floor. Juke followed his spell by charging with his sword raised. He swung down and collided with a shielding scimitar, unable to break its barricade. But as they struggled, I made my move.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmTJBKIHN1
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccRn3CQr9l
A spell wouldn’t do me good, and this wilting Freeze-Dry wouldn’t fare any better. My other offensive flower had been pierced and shredded, so I only had one thing at my disposal.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQIkZep5M3
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryemL9APce
And so I extended my tendril, slamming it as strongly as I could on the laying Bringer.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYpo9GxnBp
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5QV02LVwY
Juke moved his sword in the nick of time. The tendril caught the flat side of his scimitar– to my great relief –and crashed directly into his stomach. The air escaped from his lungs, and remnants of his meals flew out of his orifice. The blow stunned him well, and I retracted my tendril so Juke could quickly finish the job.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnaXs6aWNV
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But, that did not happen.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgpRk6kbLe
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNovh9C07PH
With gritted teeth the bringer kicked himself from the floor to his feet, keeping Juke and I at a distance while pointing his swords. In the midst of it, I prepared a spell with my left hand: the embryonic stage of a geyser that would hose him to the wall. Preparing it took a while, however, and it was within that window of time that the Bringer515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmPCTbnK1t
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuSssB1q3f
“I’ll get you two… oh, I’ll get you this time!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFZxpaVICL
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxNVtezz7M
He twirled his core along with his blades, swindling himself like a leadenknob. His arm covered every feature of his face but his eyes, and he glared at us with the eyes of a feline.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqX75Wl0iMY
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhVtJEzir2
From his body language, posture, and exasperated voice, it was clear to me what was coming: that bizarre technique that troubled Juke and I when we first fought.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXM3joT7KmR
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And he let it rip just a moment later.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWw3kGBwwU
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His speed was unprecedented, his rotation made him blurry, and his rapid blades howled in the wind it sliced. Though he spun in a rocky direction, it was just accurate enough to gain ground on Juke and I. And I knew that helmet of his wouldn’t last under such a flurry.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy90elpQRA5
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTfXYUOcha
But true as that might’ve been, it wasn’t his helmet that would be put to the test. The Bringer veered from Juke right into me, approaching at a speed I could hardly react to. React I did, however. I produced a flower from my tendril and injected mana into it as fast as I could, and before his flurry of blades came, I had something to guard myself.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgF6qfNlKq
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeszsCquAdT
The beige and jagged texture of the Valencia-Bloom’s shield defended me. Small enough for me to carry, but large enough to stop speedy metal from sneaking past. It kept up with the flurry miraculously, as every cut it received closed immediately. Dozens and dozens of cuts, and none strong enough to pierce through.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMxyfApZCC
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“...!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobMtYxHWIu
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLvsi2NkOE
None so fierce to kill my plant.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1Iu46uWgN
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“M-My arm!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZv80ic50YV
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6Jr1XaeFu
But with how often they came, my arm came close to failure.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayFN7GQ7XD
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeVtItTaVD
“Juke!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82HzkUxaTf
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEFgQsGAQ2
“Gotcha, kid!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLDW9LTGBT
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ368sqTejgO
The barrage had no effect on the shield, but my puny arm couldn’t stand against such pressure. It was impossible to keep it up. I could already feel the fear seep into me; flashing images of what would become of me should those spinning blades connect.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkB4BBonoG
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhRi4bGsee
But something unusual happened in light of that. An action I didn’t know I had the capacity for, but was driven by nothing but my own will.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchRhpkSmLk
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tyx0FvD3X
I finally finished the spell with my left arm, and I shot it before I inevitably faltered.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCTEt6NNFb
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2K4Jil4cF
It wasn’t a clean hit– the complete opposite. I couldn’t aim my palm in any useful direction, but the force of the spell was so great it still adjacently struck the Bringer. As I didn’t have time to plant myself firmly, I was sent flying as well, colliding into the wall to my right and across the room.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2URsDzXiJw
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFOaWH4Gar
“Hrk!”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNyLzIsDuZ
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKAvcFDGIb
The slam was ugly, and I slid to the floor like mushy food. I didn’t let myself rest then, however, because that Bringer was still alive. I stood up and peered over the Dean’s desk, at the Bringer.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNRQ3si6BH
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSiiGuS6xa
The Bringer, whose back was skewered by Juke’s blade.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDftxchKLHF
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“...”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYetkcl133
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMGEgpYzRr
“Thank ya, kid. Ya made it real easy.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqydEfngDf
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsA8QbdcUDA
I didn’t respond to Juke’s praise. All my attention tunneled to the Bringer. His gaping mouth, his constricting eyes, the fading strength as his staunchblades slipped from his grip. He finally turned his eyes to me, then to the man who left him in such a state.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCqvNo065Y
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmX06BsLf4
“Curse…”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQb0MZhrYAt
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIc7H7cvcu8
“What’s that? Can’t hear ya.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DNRgSeJSE
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSJOIFpDFN
“Curse you, you strayfreak. Your days–”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZlfU4sI97
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wgmPY9V8j
He cut his sentence to cough. Blood leaked from the corners of his mouth– an organ of his was hit515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALUr57vOwj
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVBpvvdMJa
“May they, be few.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9XoLfUeRL
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdZEEVjFG6
Another fit of coughing followed. It was intense and abrasive, ripping at his throat with each installment. Their strength eventually dwindled. His noisy coughs turned to raspy whispers, ejecting all the piling blood that clogged itself in his throat, lower and lower volumes as it progressed.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnP0l6gM23j
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dk6ByL2tB
Then he went limp. Juke dragged his sword out of the man’s chest, and he fell to the ground with a hollow thump.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GJ8T1MpXU
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWv4mMB0bG
“That was… sad.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIx8OyXssj
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKicWxPZzRt
“Sad,” Juke asked, tilting his head as he shook the blood off, “What’s so sad about killin’ this freak?”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtLtycJnHz
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ473exG8Jz5
“Well, I’m glad he’s dead, but… I didn’t think it would be so, so meek.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQWKh4X6Ig
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWBIzy2ZJK
“...Yer weird, man. Yer weird.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkgbt7S3Qf
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcu45uNrifb
I chuckled at his assessment. He had a point. I should’ve just been glad to be alive, shouldn’t I? I showed my gratitude by taking a few steps over to Juke, raising my palm with as sweet a smile I could make. He matched my gesture, and we high-fived.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnS4yBqJp6
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNa081zIr2
“Good job. I couldn’t have done it without you.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYQBWeBM8J
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAmmFtsmNy
“C’mon, kid. A weakling like me–”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQ5gMOc5Zb
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPfLfloQVi
“Don’t continue.”515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Jvdv0Sujx
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIkqjG2NWr
I looked at the Bringer’s corpse. In a twisted way, it was a trophy. A tangible token that indicated our success, our reclaiming of the Central Pillar. If the lower floors have succeeded, that is. I didn’t want to think like that now, however.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxMFnmJxHU
515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjO8RoU3yvf
Instead, I collapsed to the ground, because the distance I ran had to catch up to me eventually.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6h8GZ1vlW
and then Add to home screen.