Dev #3

The mouth of the cave that led to great bounty was going to be the start of their adventure. A testament to strength, a desire to brave the depths and to vanquish each powerful foe that lied in wait. This was going to be a true test of might that the Exarch intended to pass. A vertical descent into terror, braving the horrors that awaited him on each floor.

"Thank you for tagging along, Andras. I expected to go alone, but it seems it's best to go in pairs." Especially when there's no telling if Nemein might end up fighting not one, but two Witches in his descent into attaining strength. There was no fear in his gaze, no desire to retreat before the first step.

"Shall we?" He spoke, taking the first few steps into the cavern entrance. "It's going to be a lengthy trip, so I hope you're prepared." Andras might not have intended to stay for as long as Nemein did. Days, weeks, even a whole two months were planned to have him occupied. Though it sounded like he was shirking his duty, it was merely how dedicated the man of Sparda is to making sure he earns his keep.

The titan of a greatsword is gripped with one hand, ready to unleash it the second they encounter an enemy.
(Nemein Sparda)

Against his better judgement, he would defer to trust in the typically reckless behavior Nemein had a tendency to show. Despite this, he felt it impertinent that he not leave his fellow Exarch off on his own to wander the caverns, especially when his intent to train fell in line along Andras' own. Despite being one of the younger Exarchs, and possibly the newest, he was still intent upon refining his abilities. He had overcome many obstacles to reach this point, but he had to continually push himself in order to reach a higher level of strength. Becoming complacent was something that he personally wished to avoid, lest he found himself in a position in which he lagged behind the others.

 Many of his comrades had developed into their own set of skills, but he had yet to do that, and acknowledged his short-comings. Perhaps that was why he readily balanced his spear upon his shoulder, 'Titan Breaker' carefully positioned to not poke anyone by accident. Along their journey, he had watched animals intently, focusing upon his surroundings with an acute gaze. Watching them interact with one another brought an odd sense of clarity, as if he ought to look into the matter further.

 His head snaps back to Nemein as he spoke up, only to offer a nod in conformation. "Aye, let's just ensure we make it back from this trip. Where are we heading, anyhow? I wasn't leaving you to wander off on your own."
(Andras)


Fooma's Mine-Shack
Fooma's fine little shack, nothing special; however, he has aspirations for it.

Fooma's Mine-Shack
Fooma's fine little shack, nothing special; however, he has aspirations for it.
Grubworm: Hsssh!

You have entered Scouting Mode! You will be immediately prompted when anyone moves within 15 tiles of you to pursue them. This will cost you 5 ENERGY every 10 seconds. You may use /scout again to exit Scouting Mode.

** You spot
 Timothy Espaze nearby! [Click to pursue] **
The first step into the depths below was met with a sudden assault by Grubworms. Plasma immediately surges to life within his body, instilling his being with the strength necessary to swing the blade with one hand. Two was required, when confronted by the grubworms while wielding his natural might. But there was no desire to measure his strength on weaklings.

The Grubworms are cut in two, the gathered group smashed to pieces with a single grand slam. The deep cave shakes from the vibration, echoing out the devastating slam that was but a practice swing. The Nyeshk was true to its name; Heavy for Magi, tremendously difficult to wield and equally powerful. A mere standard sword could not be made with its heft.

"This sword has been serving me nicely thus far. But these are but warm-ups, Andras. Our true test of strength is the giant beasts below." The Ultra sword of Nyeshk wasn't meant to slay small, pitiful grubworms. It was meant to slaughtet titan-sized foes, felling Giants and their kith, as well as any that were far beyond the stature of Man.

"Let's keep going."

They were on their way to slaughter the Queen.
(Nemein Sparda)

** You spot
 Nemein Sparda nearby! [Click to pursue] **
Grubworm: Gru-gru...!

Grubworm: Hsssss....

Andras continued making his way through the cavernous tunnels that were crawling with putrid worms, the low-cast lighting making a great show of troublesome navigation. Nonetheless, he could at least make out his surroundings, and scoffs as they're assailed by the bottom-feeding maggots. His spear is drawn from his shoulder with a quick flourish, only to allow for his legs to tense up. With the strength conditioning done with REina, such a matter of rending through the fleshy exteriors of these putrid beings was accomplished in short work.

 He continued trekking along with Nemein as scattered body parts scour their immediate surroundings, flicking blood from the tip of his weaponry. Despite the gap in skill levels with these otherwise unruly worms, he took the opportunity to apply technique into the mix. Rather than just haphazardly gutting them, he took precise, minute alterations in the midst of his strikes. He afforded himself the opportunity to reconstruct the way he fought, taking on a less brutish way of approaching his enemies.

 Within moments, the duo would make short work of the 'swarm', only to trek deeper within. It was by this point that Andras was gathering the idea of what they were seeking, a small grin forms upon his face. "I knew this would be interesting, at least."
(Andras)

Grubworm: Gru-gru...!

Grubworm: Gru-gru...!

Grubling: Hsssh!

Grubworm: Hsssh!

Grubworm: Hsssh!

Grubling: Hsssh!

The closer they got to the Queen's location, the more they began to swarm. Their numbers were becoming insufferable, their very echoing screeches becoming ingrained upon Nemein's mind. But he holds fast against the storm of worms, wielding the blade with both hands firm onto the hilt. The blade is swung in rapid succession, cleaving the path forward as he begins his march through the mutilated path of Grubworm corpses.

"Andras! Cut through them!"

It was a command spoken amidst the constant screeching that nearly drowned out the booming voice of Sparda, the cacophony of violent critters that were the size of a Man continued to swarm them. But bit by bit, they were pushed back. It was not long, however, that they were due their reward. The first stepping stone from which the two knights would battle.

There she stood, crawling within the pit of her creation; The Grubworm Queen lets her bellow be heard for all to hear. Throngs of Grubworms both big and small come surging out, to defend their territory and to devour the invading knights that pushed into their section of the cavern.

"We're going for the queen-- Get through the fodder!"

Plasma pulsed from the Nyeshk, purple brilliant flames cutting through with a precise ray of electrical fire. It couldn't reach the queen, but it did give them a breather as Nemein's body gradually grows hot from the flooding of plasma within his veins. Purple flames dripped from his aura, scalding the grubworms as he makes a sprint straight for the queen, his body moving with increased speed as he feels his mana circuits strained to contain the heat of his mana.
(Nemein Sparda)

Your vitality bonus of +8 VIT has worn off.

Despite no longer being a part of the Lion's, Andras' tactics still reflected the upbringing that was engrained within his mind. Countless years of Atrosus' words drilled into his head ensured that he wouldn't feel overwhelmed in the midst of combat, even with greater numbers against him. He marched onward akin to that of a stalwart tank, his spear accurately dissecting the worms that rapidly encroached upon their positioning. Notably, he attempts to refrain from relying upon his magic, solely working on enhancing his battle prowess with his spear-work. Contortions of his limbs are made, revealing surprisingly flexibility as he shifts in place, standing his ground as the mighty, gargantuan spear rend the fleshy opponents asunder.

 Their blood splatters along the low-lit flooring, and his weaponry glints maliciously as he briefly twirled it over-head. He readies the weaponry before him, only to back Nemein's flank up as they come to be surrounded. His strikes needed to land faster, with that much more emphasis placed upon his blows. If he could not earn decisive killing blows, he would contort his wrists to ensure that hemorrhaging would be the fate of several roving worms that neared them too closely. "Easier said than done, but we'll have it done, yet!" He barks back.

 It was within this moment that he would shift away from Nemein, wary of the plasma attacks that stemmed from the elder man. He watched as purple flames incinerated the grubworms that crawled en masse, leaving him to clear the pathway. With an adjustment grip upon his spear, he would leap into the air, only to descend after accomplishing a sizeable leap! Descending akin to a meteor, his weapon would slam straight through one of the foul creatures, earning a massive plume of debris to rise from the impact. Shockwaves send grubworms flying into stalagmites and rocky walls alike, splattering them in quick succession. His spear was then notched,unleashing volley of strikes that cleaved a way toward the Queen.

 It was plenty of sweat earned, but their efforts offered a path to the Queen, however briefly. "It's open! Let's push through!!" He calls out, a wild grin forming as he readied his Nyeshk weaponry...
(Andras)

Grubling: Gru-gru...!

You have stopped scouting! (Total ENERGY used: 176)

You have entered Scouting Mode! You will be immediately prompted when anyone moves within 15 tiles of you to pursue them. This will cost you 5 ENERGY every 10 seconds. You may use /scout again to exit Scouting Mode.

The Exarch was given a path forward. He would be a fool to not accept it. The skill of Andras to act as a mobile bastion was something to behold. It was no wonder Vandigan had such high esteem of the younger knight. But now was not the time to pay homage to the retired Radiant. Now was the time to press forward and to claim his prize: The Head of the Queen.

As Andras cleared a path forward, Nemein charges right after the shockwave. Each sweep of the blade strained his arms to the max of his limits, surging through Grubworm after Grubworm as he cuts and burns his way through to the Queen. The horde of Grubworms continued their incessant cries to protest their intrusion. But Nemein continued onward, stalwart, resolute, and full of determination to train his body to withstand the burning overcharge to empower his strength.

"GIVE IT YOUR ALL!"

The surging strength carried the nyeshkblade through the air. The Grubworms that sought to intercept the blow are instead, bisected with little effort. The sword is raised up high, as high up as Nemein's arms could bring them before he comes crashing down on the screeching queen's face. Gore is splashed upon the Exarch, upon the Grubworms nearby that sought to grapple Nemein, only to be scorched to ash by the radiant, incandescent brightness of his plasma.

The entire cavern is shook from the blow, rattling stalagmites loose from the cavern ceiling, impaling and crushing the grubworms below. With their queen slaughtered by the Exarch in a show of strength, the remaining worms flee their sector, to find themselves within the grace of another sovereign.
(Nemein Sparda)

** You spot
 Actaeon nearby! [Click to pursue] **
Andras was content with simply being the literal spear-head that ran itself through the thick of the crowd. He was typically the vanguard in most situations, and it was where he's come to acquire some modicum of comfort within the battlefield. It was only through the heat of combat that he could refine his craft, the profession that was bound to showcase his immense efforts. His spear spilled ichor as he charges through the opposition, accurately bisecting the heads of varying grub spawn that attempted to intercept Nemein's path of destruction. While he only played the support role to his senior, he kept the worms at bay while the pulsating purple sword sought to delve into the flesh of the brood-mother.

 An overarching blast of gore briefly caught Andras' attention as he kept the line, wrinkling his nose as his head quickly drifts back. A grubworm had attempted to launch itself toward his face, though the staff of his spear would motion to intercept its bite. Rather than shaking it free, his hand extends outward, a large shard of crystalline mana rupturing a hole through the unsightly creature's hide. It sprawls out along the ground as Andras regains control of his spear once more.

 Brutal strikes descend upon the remnants of the worms, even as their hivemind was interrupted upon the Queen's death. As they scatter about, bones crunch beneath under metal greaves as he sought to eviscerate as many as he could. Each new thrust, swipe, or twist of his spear was earning him a new sense of familiarity. It was reminding him to delve into the roots of the primal battle styles of old, and to accomplish a state of nirvana that was only acquired through the forge of battle.

 A brutal roar of victory escapes his lips as the remnants of the worms scurry off, leaving him to slam the pointed-end of his spear into the terrain.

 <Font size=+2>"OORAH!!!!!!"</font> Quite the adventure, indeed.
(Andras)

Grubworm: Gru-gru...!

Andras assumes the Ifrit: Way of The Raging Demon stance!

Grubling: Gru-gru...!

The Grubqueen was slain.

The first of many tests for Nemein's strength, from the looks of it. For now, there was no reason to loiter within the emptied sector. All that was left was to rest and recuperate, their next target was well within their grasp. All they had to do was go deeper. The path was clear for them to do so, giving Andras a stoic nod of approval for his skill thus far.

"My circuits burn." It wasn't the good kind-- Alcohol flowing down the back of one's throat. It was the strain of constantly flooding the hottest flames known to Magi through his body. But in the end, it proved to be worth it, stimulating his muscles to as great a capacity for carnage as possible.

"I'll take a short rest before pressing onward." Just a moment of respite that would be found at the bottom of their target. The ladder is spotted in the dark, making his way over as he beckons Andras to follow. "I won't need magic for aladder. Let's get going."
(Nemein Sparda)

** You spot
 Caelus Lunaris nearby! [Click to pursue] **
Grubworm: Hsssh!

Andras had ensured to make clean work of the leftover grubs that lingered for too long, systematically executing them. His expression had become relatively solemn, the spear-head burying itself neatly into the head of unruly bugs. He was left somewhat spent from his exertions, but he could discern his muscles had been taken to a new level. Reina's work out had done well to push him into a new state of fitness, where he was able to properly fight in heavy-set armor without much issue. Upon Nemein's instructions, his eyes would drift toward the Exarch as he nods.

"Well sai,d staying in these caves for too long would drive anyone crazy. Let's get going before more worms try to make a mess of things." He muses, balancing his spear upon his shoulder. This had been an eye-opening experience for him, if only due to the fact that he's harnessed the concept he wished to continue building upon.

 This would certainly be of help to him, as he continued developing..
(Andras)