Despoina found Shamael about two hours later. The poor, blue-skinned young man was quite dehydrated without an available source of fresh drinking water, relishing in the moment that Sariel removed a Blooming Gourd from her [Gluttonous Bird Of Cobalt Sanctuary].

Shamael drunk from the gourd with a reckless abandon, not caring for the water dripping down his neck, spilling onto the warm golden sands beneath him. The Fourth Initiated Mortal was perhaps the weakest amongst them, even in comparison to Sariel.

Whether it was a cruel twist of fate, or just pure luck, Shamael had managed to appear near a nest of Sand Fang Worms. The first step he ever took after arriving within the Burning Desert Of Kel caused dozens of worms to swarm his location, forcing him to expend an extraordinary amount of spiritual energy.

Although he could outrun them through the usage of his Fragment Of Marrow and Fragment Of Constitution, Shamael stood and fought with Ahuatzi subsequently bringing more Sand Fang Worms to his location.

He had used up the vast majority of his blood natured spiritual energy and rot natured spiritual energy while holding off waves of Sand Fang Worms that swarmed around his location.

Despoina had mentioned that the battlefield looked quite inhospitable, given the nature of his abilities. Shamael's abilities possessed numerous similarities to the Malum Hobgoblin, able to push out low amounts of burst damage but was extremely effective and dwindling down opponents beneath endless debuffs and afflictions.

Jon did offer a Poison Mana Core for him to integrate but was rejected.

Shamael said that the next Mana Core he wanted to integrate would be one that was compatible with his Source. Although a Poison Mana Core would lead to synergy with a Rot Mana Core and a Curse Mana Core, decided to follow his gut remaining at the Fourth Initiation.

Both Sariel and Avahni used their Fragments Of Spirit to restore some of Shamael's spiritual energy allowing his Mana Cores each to sit around eighty percent their maximum capacity.

The five of them sat before the ruined pyramid structure, most of which was buried beneath the golden sands. All of Avahni's summoned companions, bar Ortlinde opted to dwell within her knowing that the Second Sister Of Destruction would be more than enough to guarantee her safety.

The lightning fey, who possessed characteristics quite similar to the lutin, leaned against the pyramid, listening to the conversation between Avahni and her companions.

"Unlike our previous encounter with a Knight, this time it will be on our terms." Wilheim said, sharing a glance with each of his friends.

Jon nodded at his words.

"We know that the Guardian of the Burning Desert Of Kel has received the Title of Venomous-Sand Hydra. At the very least we can expect that it would have manifested a Hydra Mana Core and integrated a Sand Mana Core and Venom Mana Core."

Shamael and Sariel shared a glance with one another, not knowing what a "hydra" was. The latter lifted her hand, shaking her head from side to side in confusion.

"Hydra?" She asked.

"Lutins used to worship hydras given that they were amongst the first descendants of the Mother! The number of heads that a hydra possessed correlated with their age and wisdom, each one representing a facet of their power!" Avahni chirped in, giving the two satanas a wide smile.

Jon and Wilheim shared a glance both somehow realizing that their own cultures and mythologies represented them in an extraordinarily different light.

Although the thing about having numerous heads was accurate for the purposes of their explanation.

"From this we can extrapolate that this Guardian will possess an incredible physical size and strength. Its abilities will be capable of inflicting powerful venom-related damage over time effects or even controlling the ambient sands around it," said Wilheim, gesturing towards Avahni and Sariel.

"The two of you will remain in our backline. Avahni, using Metzli can provide spiritual shields for the rest of us, and through Annwn Boann can provide a medium amount of long-ranged damage."

"Sariel on the other hand is our support and healer. In the event that one of us becomes inflicted with a debuff or affliction, she will be how we counter their effects. The defence of Sariel will be left to Avahni, who can manifest additional summons if the situation calls for it." Wilheim gave the two green-haired women a small nod, watching as they shared a glance.

Placing a hand on his chest while patting Shamael on the back, Wilheim continued speaking.

"Shamael and will serve as the bulwark to break the oncoming advance of the Venomous-Sand Hydra. Through debilitating Spells or through shield constructs we should be able to halt its movements to a degree. In the event us being overwhelmed by the Guardian, Schwarz Eis will be able to support us."

As if on cue, Schwarz Eis manifested herself behind Jon, giving Sariel and the others a small playful smile. The White Lady Of The Winter Castle was adorned in a pure-white sundress from Jon's memories and could not help but wink at Avahni before flashing the Second Sister Of Destruction a mischievous grin.

The lightning fey narrowed her eyes at the winter demon spirit before scoffing, closing her eyes.

Jon could not help but glance at Avahni, mouthing an apology on behalf of his summoned companion.

"And at the forefront will be both Jon and Ortlinde, our primary sources of damage. Ortlinde can fly using lightning natured spiritual energy, although will be constrained greatly given that the Guardian is located underground. Jon is able to pierce through spiritual shields and constructs through the use of his Fragment Of Eradication which will be our go to in the event that the Guardian possesses such abilities."

"Jon can resist debuffs to a degree, but it will be our job to prevent them from stacking up after his incarnations are annihilated. Ortlinde will be our primary focus but remember to listen out for Jon the moment his ability effects end." Wilheim watched as the other four members of the group nodded, listening intently to his words.

Stolen story; please report.

Although Avahni could just summon Xochitl, Ler Setanta and Ortlinde and kill the Venomous-Sand Hydra in a matter of moments, it would not benefit the rest of them to just stand back and watch as the Dungeon was cleared for them.

Sariel and Shamael experienced dramatic growth over the past few weeks and needed something to test out their new abilities on.

Avahni needed to learn how to observe and control a battlefield. Given her abilities, the role suited her the most even if Wilheim was a better strategist.

Jon was perhaps the most experienced of the five of them but had not shown his full potential during the fight against the Malum Hobgoblin. Lacking both spiritual energy and his two incarnations, the final result of the fight might have ended up going quite differently all things considered.

'Two summoned companions both with Memento Source Fragments. Three Mortals at the Sixth Initiation and two Mortals at the Fourth Initiation. And a certain white salvation phoenix as well.'

'How bad could this possibly go?' Wilheim thought to himself.

Break

Wilheim continued to run for his life, swarmed by dozens of dog-sized incomplete hydras and horse-sized two-headed hydras. [Light Of Thou Consecrated Shield] extended behind him as he continued to overload both his Malphas-Mountain Marrow and Flauros-Forest Heart.

Just moments after manifesting another Fragment Of Wall in front of him did cracks start to appear across the physical shield construct. Focusing on the Fragment Of Pillars within him, Wilheim extended one of his hands outward finishing the chant in a matter of seconds.

[Mountain Art; Earth Forest Erosion].

Enormous ten foot tall pillars of stone and rock erupted from the ground within the buried pyramid. The earth forest erosion impaled several unlucky hydras the moment they burst out from the ground.

Whether it was intentional or accidental, Wilheim shaped the Fragment Of Pillars with a sharp, rocky surface, making the Spell appear similar to an overgrown silk floss tree. Their rough and jagged surfaces slashed into the undeveloped bodies of the approaching hydras causing them to screech violently killing multiple in the process.

Wilheim did not stop there however, flowing spiritual energy into his Fragment Of Bog.

[Cursed Lake Art; Tepid Mud Disaster].

A swirling horrid amalgamation of mud, acid and lake natured spiritual energy appeared within his hand. What once started out as a small golf-ball sized acid mud orb swiftly grew as it was fed spiritual energy, expanding beyond the size of a human exercise ball.

Gritting his teeth, Wilheim hurled the tepid mud disaster into his Fragment Of Wall.

Mere moments before impact, dismissing [Light Of Thou Consecrated Walls] and allowing the Spell to crash into the helpless bodies of the infant hydras. The earthen forest made it difficult for the beasts to move forward, their bodies to wide to traverse the narrow gaps between each pillar.

Those that slipped through had cut themselves deeply on the Fragment Of Pillars and opened themselves up to an explosion of dirtied, acidic water and toxic, poisonous mud.

The screams and cries of the undeveloped hydras echoed throughout the enormous internal chamber within the Pyramid Of Kel.

All of them went unheard as Wilheim glanced towards Jon, still fighting against the Dungeon Guardian. Wilheim had to force himself from looking at Jon directly, fearing that he would be put under the influence of his Hastor-Yellow Horrors.

The Princeps Of The Wandering Mutation literally danced around the Venomous-Sand Hydra, avoiding noxious beams of bright-green acid capable of melting stone and earth. The seven mouths of the Dungeon Guardian lunged forward with a bestial instinct, maws wide enough to swallow a grown human whole.

The sound of chant could be heard on Jon's lips, causing Wilheim's eyes to almost burst out of their sockets. Turning around the sound of his voice echoed throughout the Pyramid Of Kel.

"Brace!" He shouted, hoping his voice would reach his three other companions.

Wilheim manifested another Fragment Of Wall right in front of him, using almost ten percent of his total castle natured spiritual energy to expand the length of his Spell.

Schwarz Eis manifested a physical ice barrier of a similar size, allowing it to envelop herself and Shamael.

Titus Claudius appeared in the space in front of Avahni, extending his Aura backwards to protect his summoner. Metzli had done the same but focused on protecting Ortlinde through the use of Avahni's wood natured spiritual energy.

Sariel cast [Thou Shalt Not Gaze Upon Thine Image] while allowing her Archetype Shield to expand behind it, transforming into a grandiose-looking tower shield.

Jon had been under the combined effects of Avahni's [Thou Art The Monarch Of Ash And Life], Sariel's [Thou Is The Monarch Of Lotus And Dreams] and Wilheim's own [Thou Art The Monarch Of Lakes And Tranquillity].

The combined effects of three different Fragments Of Spirit all piled onto one another, suffusing Jon with so much spiritual energy the blood vessels in his eyes started to burst.

[Baptism Of Fire]: Manifests an impenetrable spiritual shield of fire natured spiritual energy. [Baptism Of Fire] will withstand a single blow before shattering.

[Thousand Lotus Blessing]: The next ability with the Spell Trait cast will have their spiritual energy expenditure reduced by half.

[Blessing Of The Lake Witch]: The next ability with the Spell Trait cast can be cast once more without the need for a chant.

The sound of Jon's roars matched the ferocity of the Knight Ranked Venomous-Sand Hydra. The continuous overloading of his Fragment Of Heart and Fragment Of Marrow dyed his hair white, fluttering freely without a hairband to tie it back.

Jon had long since abandoned both Luin and Assail to cast a single instance of this Spell. His ice natured spiritual energy would be good for two casts before being emptied out.

Wilheim, Sariel, Avahni and Shamael all ignored the approaching incomplete hydras or two-headed hydras swarming towards them as Jon finished the incantation born from his Fragment Of Annihilation.

Jon extended his hand outwards, flinging the chaotic amalgamation of ice natured spiritual energy towards the Dungeon Guardian. Blood spilling out from one of his eyes, his mortal form unable to withstand the spiritual energy contained within it.

[Frozen End Art; Envelop Seas And Mountains In Ice And Snow].

Moments later throwing another instance of his Fragment Of Annihilation out.

Watching as the first sphere came into contact with the Venomous-Sand Hydra, enveloping the Knight Ranked beast in a chaotic prison of white snow and pure ice. An explosion of pure white appeared upon the moment of impact, which only grew brighter and brighter as the second instance of the Spell collided with against it.

Piercing thorns of ice penetrated through scales and muscle.

Cold seeped through the wounds, forming minute crystalline shards of ice in veins and arteries.

Snow covered its eyes, all fourteen of them, freezing them shut lest the ice spread towards their brains.

The inner chamber of the Pyramid Of Kel was dyed an unblemished white.

A winter wonderland if it was not for the frozen bodies of its children scattered across the floor. The Mother Mana Core that it had integrated was unexpected, but one with undeniably powerful effects.

Instances of [Frozen End Curse] and [Glacial Revelation] took root within the Venomous-Sand Hydra, cancelling the effects of specific active abilities.

[Frozen End Curse]: Inflicts a continuous ice-natured damage over time effect. Ice natured spiritual energy clings to the mind and spirit, gradually freezing them over time. Additional stacks have an additive effect [2].

[Glacial Revelation]: Disrupts active abilities with the Spell Trait and Technique Trait. This effect cannot be resisted [2].

The children born from its Mother Mana Core vanished into tiny motes of pinkish-red light, allowing Wilheim and the others to breathe for the first time since entering the Pyramid Of Kel. The sound of laboured breathing echoed throughout the chamber as Jon fell to his knees, clothes dripping with sweat.

He sent Wilheim a glance, causing him to return it with a small nod.

'Well… that wasn't so bad.'

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