The minotaur brings its hand up and smashes into the ground, splitting it open and causing the Fissure to grow. More chimeras appeared, snarling, screaming, and without a second thought, began attacking.
Attacking... me?
My eyes widen at the sight of every Exile in my vicinity charging at me, including the ones that Max and Isaac were occupied with. The other three Venators attempted to pick off the chimeras before they could reach me, but some were able to slip through. Four lunged at me from different angles before I activated [Interference], pushing all of them back into the walls of the crumbling building we were in.
Why are they all attacking me? I took a second to think while I ran towards the minotaur, intending to stick to the plan Micaiah laid out.
I only placed [Heart Mark] on the minotaur, so I don't get why all of the other Exiles are aggroed onto me. Unless...
———————————
Skill Name: Passage 1
Skill Rank: Null
Skill Type: Passive
Skill Description: "The Goddess's light refuses to be contained, even when it endangers its bearer."
———————————
This skill is at fault! I think I have an idea what this passive actually does, but it'll have to wait!
Activating [Health Strike], I pull my front foot up and stamp it into the ground, the shockwave rebounding and spreading out in front of me, causing immense damage to fall upon the pack of chimeras in front of me.
Call me Captain Obvious, but this really isn't good. Even if I do reach the minotaur, I don't think I'll be able to take it out. The damage of [Health Strike] resets whenever I use it, making it hard to use it consecutively. If I cast it while trying to get to the boss, I won't be able to finish it off. I need to heal more. I still have [Angel's Gambit] activated, so one thing comes to mind. It's incredibly risky, but it's the only shot I've got.
"Don't try to stop the chimeras!" I yell out to the other three who were behind me. "Focus everything on the minotaur!"
In the split second I said this, one of the chimeras scratched at my leg. I wince from the increased pain, but the wound quickly closes afterwards.
"You crazy, man?! They'll kill you!" Micaiah rushes up to me, followed by Max and Isaac.
"I'm all for that, but having another man down is really gonna make us fall apart here!" Max reloads his gun and fires at the minotaur, the bullets bouncing off its hide until the 7th shot causes some significant damage to its ankle, resulting in it faltering.
"Let them try." I mutter as I push forward into the swarm of chimeras that awaits in front of me. Each of them bit and clawed at my body. Their nails cut deep into my flesh just to loosen it to pull it off with their jaws. Nonetheless, I keep going and heal it back up. Each wound inflicted and healed, it's all leading up to one attack. Golden energy crackles around my right fist, ready to fire at the minotaur who was almost in arm's reach.
Almost there! Words echo in my head until a wound lingers for a little longer than expected.
———————————
Skill, [Angel's Gambit], is now on cooldown.
———————————
Crap. I was so close too...
My legs fail me, and I fall forward. Each of the chimeras began to pile on top of me, their unrelenting onslaught continuing to maim my body. I go limp, unable to move under their weight.
Is this how I go out? So painful... So early too... I failed. Not just everyone who's helped me get up to this point, but the Goddess of Alleviation as well. I'm sorry. I never met you, but I'm sure you're a good person. You'll have to find a different representative...
My heart throbs. It didn't feel right to say that. In fact, none of this feels right at all! Come on, Iason! Just one skill!
———————————
Activating [Interference]
———————————
The Exiles get sent flying in different directions, leaving me in a pool of blood. All I can feel is hope.
I heal up my wounds close to full, but the amount of pain lingers along with the stress of a near-death experience. My legs barely keep me standing as the shadow of the minotaur looms over me. We lock eyes and clench our fists.
One arm was almost bitten to the point of seeing my bones. I raise the other one, just about regenerated to its original state.
My head can't make out any noises happening around me, but I feel my vocal cords strain as I let out a scream. The two of us launch a punch forward, determined to douse whatever faint, flickering flame lingers inside us.
———————————
Activating [Health Strike]
———————————
One flame goes out. Everything goes black.
I fall into the endless darkness, almost like sinking underwater. My senses go back and forth from feeling cold then warm, in danger then safe, in pain then content. Like a grandfather clock, I go from one side to the other, experiencing everything in two separate states.
Tick.
Tock.
Tick.
Tock.
Everything stops. A warm embrace surrounds my body, as if I'm being held tightly by someone I love. Yet, there's some sort of unfamiliarity about them. How can someone so close be so distant? How can I be sure to accept them in welcoming arms?
Despite these thoughts, I accept the embrace. Although I know nothing of them, they have an energy so benevolent and relaxing. My heart beats softly like a metronome, proving the existence of a song that is my life.
I wake up, instantly sitting up in a cold sweat.
Kia screams and punches me in the face. Everything goes black.
"Oops. Hey!" She grabs my shoulders and shakes my body, my eyes shooting open.
I blink quickly. "Did you just punch me?"
"What? No! It was like that when I got here." She lets me go and backs away from the hospital bed I was in. It was late at night, surrounding our city in darkness, only to leave it gleaming on its own with billboards, signs, and street lights. The view was similar to that of the one in the Diamondback building's cafeteria. I must be in the infirmary then. Kind of silly that I, the only existing support in the world, am in an infirmary, but I really did push myself back then.
"So, you repelled your first ever Fissure, yes?" A soft, familiar voice speaks to me past my room's curtain. Elena steps into my view, hands behind her back, and, like always, a slight, kind smile on her face. "Congratulations."
I stare in surprise at her words of affirmation. "Thanks," I reply, smiling back at her.
"How did I get here, though?" My head tilts.
"Ah, that one mage teleported you and some other people back here. We were just passing by and noticed how hurt you were."
"I was about to show those guys what's up, too!" Kia speaks up, but Elena continues speaking.
"But... Micaiah let us know that a Fissure popped up where you all teleported. A B-rank Fissure as your first exposure. Very impressive indeed." She folds her arms and looks out the door, motioning her head towards me as if signaling for someone to enter.
"Hella impressive! I was just there to check if the rumors were true, but seriously!" Micaiah steps in, the golden mask now off.
When I mentioned that he was one of the most influential A-ranked Venators, I literally mean that in the sense that he is an influencer. He streams some of the Fissures he completes and uploads them.
"Wait," I interject. "Did you stream the whole thing?" My eyebrows furrow along with the rest of my face tensing up.
"Huh? Oh, nah, nah! I did record it, but I'm not posting it without your permission, of course."
A long exhale escapes my mouth.
"I do wanna know about your whole situation though." He pulls up a chair on the other side of the room and drags it closer to the bed. I really shouldn't be passing around the whole burst support stuff, but he seems trustworthy enough. He's also one of the few people who didn't shun me for being a support too.
"Oh, before that, your rewards from the Fissure repelling should be in your system inbox." He picks at his teeth, presumably due to something he ate.
I nod and open up the system, a blue panel appearing before me.
———————————
Congratulations on repelling a Fissure! Rewards will now be distributed.
-Minotaur Horns
-Minotaur Hide
-Minotaur Soul
———————————
There were other rewards, of course, but those two were really of note. The stuff I got isn't really suited for me anyway. Not to mention they're pretty basic, low-ranked items.
The minotaur's horns and hide can be used to make or enhance items, so I'll definitely keep that in mind. As for the soul...
———————————
Item Name: Minotaur Soul
Item Rank: B
Item Type: Consumable
Item Description: Upon consuming via resonating, grants the consumer the passive skill, [Rage], which lowers their damage taken and increases their stats by 50% while at lower health. Once activated, this bonus lasts until the end of a battle.
———————————
Now... now we're talking!