Phoenix
The creatures that dwelled within the forest were more hostile then usual, putting an extra strain on the team as they pushed through. Upon reaching the boundary line where thick woodland trees met dense jungle, they took a break to recover their depleted health and stamina.
"Is there another glitch in the programming again?" Drax asked, polishing off an elixir. His armor bore a few new divots from an absurdly powerful and aggressive Great Stag's unexpected charge. It took Lira's Thorny Vines skill and a wolf pack of three with Opal's help to free him of the beasts assault before Drax finished it with a heavy slash of his sword.
Phoenix checked both the game data and with the AI program. "Nothing had changed in either area." Phoenix announced. She proceeded to wrap a bandage around her right forearm where a purple comet fox sunk its fiery needle like teeth into her flesh, leaving behind a black and red scorch mark. The wound was immediately healed and her health restored.
Lira shivered, "I don't like this, you guys. First the heavy chill in the base where it's normally warm and cozy. Now, all of the animals in this forest are five times stronger and more bloodthirsty than they should be. There's gotta be something going on." Her apprehension was almost palpable as it seeps out of her.
Memories of the Alpha Night Shadow Wolf flashed to the forefront of her mind. The helpless she felt during that trial when she thought she was left unarmed and incapable of fighting back. Could this be part of another such event?
A soft whisper on the breeze tickled her ear just like it had before the first shadow trial.
Come, O wandering soul
The darkest night claims its toll
It restricts you with its heavy tether
Come to me to break your fetter.
Phoenix sprang up, her muscles tense with anticipation. So far none of the beasts that attacked were shadow entities, but it was only a matter of time. If her instincts were correct, they needed to get moving quickly. "Get up and don't let your guard down."
The second the rest of the group jumped to their feet, Phoenix smelled and felt the fishy rot and decay of a predator's breath directly on her skin.
[Lagoon Drake LVL 100 has challenged you]
She swiped through the air with a clawed hand smacking her palm into scaly skin. The impact caused a ripple of colors to spread across its flesh until the creature's camouflage completely evaporated, revealing the large blueish black reptilian monster. Beady eyes stared unblinking, as its forked tongue tasted the air. When it tried to whip its snake like head to take a bite of her arm, thorny vine tendrils erupted from the ground to ensnare the drake, immobilizing it.
It thrashed its alligator claws and long whip-like tail violently, snapping some of the vines holding it in place. Phoenix shifted, pinning its tail in place. Drax raised his sword, aiming for the agitated beast's head. The drake slammed its head in into Drax's arms. His sword flew out of his grip and to the ground. Opal jumped at the serpentine head, cosmic fire blazing from her claws. They dug deep into the monster's eyes. Now blind and further enraged, it sent Opal flailing through the air from shaking its head.
Phoenix went airborne with a furious flick of its tail. She slammed into a mossy trunk hard enough to knock the wind out of her, but she could still see her friends while she pulled herself together. Lira was using all of her energy, struggling to keep the creature trapped with her vines. Drax managed to get his sword just as the last of Lira's energy was spent. The drake rushed right at him. He lifted his sword, bracing himself. 'Shink' His blade sunk deep into the armor scale plating. The deceased drake's body disintegrated, leaving behind its pelt and poisoned fang.
Lira downed two stamina potions, then healed Phoenix and Opal with her glowing green life energy. "That was insane."
"Be on your toes. Its about to get more challenging." Phoenix warned, fully healed and ready to keep going. Drax and Lira nodded in solemn agreement.
They rushed through the jungle, taking out more drakes as efficiently as possible until they reached the rocky ledge overlooking the deep dark waters below. Physically and mentally exhausted from the endless waves of attacks, they topped up their health and stamina for another round. Despite all her preparations, their resources were almost spent.
The electrical jolt of impending danger hit her just before the skies suddenly changed to pitch black night. Giant ripples broke the surface of the dark glass-like waters of the lagoon. Something was slithering toward them from the murky depths at an alarming rate. The only evidence of the creature breaking the surface was the towering spray of water that chased the invisible beast's leap into the air.
A thick mist blanketed the stony ground, making the smooth rocks slick with moisture. Lira rocketed into the air on her dragonfly wings to get above the elements obscuring their vision. Drax's sword and shield manifested from thin air cloaked in a haze of blazing heat. Opal's body was engulfed in a myriad of colorful flames that radiated from within her small body as her fur stood on end.
Phoenix changed back into her wolf form, her body's glow cutting through the darkness as if tearing through a veil. In the haze, the beast darted around them. The dancing mist the only sign of its movement. Then a swirling void appeared mere yards before them. A large snake head passed through the void with eyes like a vipers and sharp teeth for ripping through flesh. Then meaty claws as thick as Drax's bicep ripped through the inky darkness, scraping the stones underfoot until its whole void black scaly reptilian body was revealed all the way to its dangerously long and powerful whip-like tail that split into three tips at the end. The scent of rotten flesh and stale blood hung heavy in the air nearly drowning out the sharp tang of terror rafting off of their group.
[Umbra Savage Stalker LVL 120 has challenged you]
"What's going on?" A tremor crept into Drax's voice. A rare occurrence for the man who was usually so composed.
Phoenix bared her fangs, compelling her protective instinct to override her cold crippling fear. The hidden boss in this map turned into a shadow entity.