It was a risky plan for content at the Mythic level. The dazzling Stag and the chaotic elemental conflict were expertly framed thanks to Ethan's camera settings adjustments. He sent his partner the final confirmation.
"In three,two,one Master Artisan Vulcan the distraction starts". "Anchor, focus on the largest elementals".
First to descend from the ridge was Vulcan a wall of armor fit for a myth. He moved with the scary gradual confidence of an immovable object. He depended on the sheer weight of his body and the brute-force strength of his specially crafted Mythic plate. Massive beings made of granite and solidified lava the Level 70+ Earth Elementals quickly turned their focus from the struggling Arctic Stag of Dissolution to the new armored intruder.
A lesser player would have been quickly flattened by the roar of the largest Elemental's lava-crusted fist. A shockwave was sent through the canyon when the strike struck Vulcan's shoulder.
[DAMAGE RECEIVED: 55% MAX HP]
Vulcan's massive armor and Core Aegis held fast as he took the astonishing damage. The absence of structural damage to their target briefly shocked the Elementals. Vulcan invited an inflow of molten rock by using the pause to channel their concentrated anger. He would not break because he was the center point.
"Anchor now!" Ethan gave an order.
The slime pulsed quickly. After hiding in the ridge's shadow Anchor grew to his full size. He grew quickly, taking up the area close to the brink of the canyon and transforming into a massive gelatinous mass of flowing chaos energy. Vulcan and the earth elementals was intimidated by its size alone, which covered a significant amount of the approach way and dwarfed him. Vulcan's analytical intellect registered the magnitude of the power he had just coupled with as he gazed at the transformation briefly ignoring the conflict.
"By the elements," Vulcan couldn't get enough of it as he examined the slime's enormous throbbing core and its size "That is the full weight of the Dragon's Essence amplified by something... other."
Anchor focused his whole attention on the Elementals. His concentrated, fast eruptions of raw chaos power skills tore through the Earth Elementals' hardened lava hides and struck their soft magma cores. The Elementals were instantly unstable due to the controlled chaos and tiny cracks appeared in their granite bodies. In order to stabilize their own melting forms the Elementals had to shift their focus from assaulting Vulcan.
Ethan secured the wide-angle camera shot while he observed the magnificent natural chaos. This footage which showed the Mythic master Artificer Vulcan tanking attacks as the enormous slime fought Elementals, was priceless.
He conducted a last evaluation by turning on his Logic Bubble. The Stag was a sentient representation of Anti-Magic a unique and crucial part of the deeper mythology of the realm. It was fragile. Even though they were hostile the Earth Elementals were only responding to the Stag's presence by attempting to extinguish the chilling power that endangered their rule in the area.
Using his Forgemaster's Grasp he felt the Elementals' structure. Rapid high-impact force might overcome the heat resistance in their cores.
Ethan used the Energy Anchors to achieve perfect balance as he descended the ridge. He entered Flow State moving silently and at an unbelievable speed through the glowing artificial frost.
The movement was noticed by a Level 73 Elemental. It swung its enormous arm made of lava in Ethan's direction. It would have disastrous effects.
Ethan maintained his Sneak status by using the Legendary skill which caused him to instantaneously disappear from his place and reappear 10 meters to the side. He was now nearer the Stag behind the Elementals. He diverted the Elementals' attention from the main battle by using his dagger to deliver targeted fast kinetic hits to their recently created cracks.
For a brief while the Elementals' targeting systems were divided between the ghost (Ethan) crawling through their ranks the enormous chaotic powerhouse (Anchor) and the stationary enemy (Vulcan).
The Elementals were fierce but Vulcan was absorbing damage like a mountain. The constant pressure made the Master Artisan's armor creak.
"Witness the Aegis is reaching its energy absorption limit!" Vulcan said in a strained voice. "The Stag needs to be evacuated now!"
With the intention of eliminating the minor bothersome threat, the Elementals directed one last well-planned lava explosion in Ethan's direction. His innate resistance was overwhelmed by the heat and kinetic power.
Ethan didn't think twice. He had to make sure that both he and the Stag survived.
[MYTHIC SKILL: CHRONIC SHIELD ACTIVATED]
The combined elemental onslaught was neutralized for the valuable two seconds when the force field and Aegis ignited. In order to get closer to the Stag Ethan used that time to execute the last Shadow Blink. Now he stood directly next to the shining worn-out guardian.
He held the Stag tenderly instead of grabbing it. This was a live independent entity that needed to be protected, not a resource to be taken. The Stag's crystal structure was dulling from extreme exhaustion.
Anchor stopped attacking the Elementals and directed all of his energy toward the Stag after seeing Ethan secure the entity. In order to drain the surplus, chaotic fire energy that the Elementals had poured into the Stag's delicate Anti-Magic matrix the massive slime surrounded the entity but not to kill it. The structure of the Stag was stabilized as the chaotic energy entered Anchor's core.
Vulcan started his slow withdrawal as he saw the Stag secured and the Elementals were perplexed by the abrupt depletion of their chaotic influence.
The Stag was still encircled by Anchor safe on the ridge. The immediate crisis was passed. The dazzling Anti-Magic essence was no longer being shed. But the raw Legendary Anti-Magic Essence that the Stag had previously released was scattered across the ground in jagged crystalline shards.
Ethan confirmed "The Stag is stable" in a respectful rather than arrogant tone. "The Elementals are confused. Fantastic work Vulcan. Mythic-caliber defense was embodied in that tanking performance".
Vulcan kneeled next to them and said "The Aegis is a masterpiece" and staring at the Stag he observed that the creature's structure is amazing" Witness it is more than just a material source. It is an example of equilibrium. It is disrespectful to the craft to treat it like ordinary metal, this must be protected".
Sensing that Anchor's controlled chaos was calming the Stag carefully turned to face Ethan. Its once-panicked crystalline eyes now contained a deep ancient intelligence.
With much effort the Stag lowered a crystalline antler to the ground and touched it to Ethan's new Core Aegis as it turned its head toward him. A passive surge of stabilizing anti-magic essence was accepted by the glowing Mythic armor.
[SOVEREIGN ENTITY BOND FORGED]
[NEW QUEST UNLOCKED: AETHERAL VOW: SSS RANK QUEST]
[THE ARCTIC STAG OF DISSOLUTION YOUR DEFENSE AND SPEED OF THE ELEMENTAL BALANCE. IT REQUIRES A GUARDIAN AGAINST THE CHAOS OF THE AETHELGARD.
STATUS: UNSTABLE
GOAL: GUIDE THE SOVEREIGN ARCTIC STAG OF DISSOLUTION TO THE FROZEN CITADEL OF THE PRIME ELEMENTALS ( UNCHARTED MAP )]
Ethan gazed at the alert from the system. The rescue marked a fresh start rather than an end. They had obtained a high-level special guardian NPC that required safe transportation throughout the continent in addition to securing lore. This narrative content had the potential to change the world.
"Master Artisan" Ethan stated by glancing from the delicate Stag to the difficult map coordinates. "It appears that we now have a permanent destination and a passenger on our voyage. We must escort a vulnerable Sovereign Entity to the unexplored Frozen Citadel. We simply switched from material hunting to SSS RANK escort quest as our goal"