I coughed harshly as the dust-filled my lungs, my arms pierced by multiple wood splinters as a shadowy figure approached me appearing through dust cloud until I saw Thorn standing on the ceiling "you alright?" Realizing I was upside down I fell forwards just short of Thorn standing up properly "nothing major~" I looked over my arms to see a few wooden splinters in each
I pulled the longest out then set the rest aflame "care to give me the name of your move?" The tiny dragon looked up at me wanting me to reveal my secrets "it's called thunder thrust. Same thing I did to avoid that snake scorpion things acid."
"Really? This one seems more... refined."
"That's because I made it back then but have been working on it since then. I'm not that lazy though it may be hard for you to believe." The black dragon gave a subjective glare as he winced but I scanned my arms one last time making sure I got all the splinters then continued on our way picking up Thorn "you can move now Ronik!"
The golem shrank its body down putting all the wood and stone that made its body into the void ring hidden on its core now in its stubby form following beside me not daring to speak. "I know you didn't do it on purpose so don't get depressed Ronik" the golem perked up no longer sad happily walking with a smile across its face.
We crossed several more bridges descending into the pit of darkness until we finally reached the stone floor at the very bottom finding Lupra's frosty paw prints "looks like she went this way." Her tracks led to a long corridor that looked concerning untouched and well-kept compared to the rest of the ruin.
The three of us affirmed it's likely a trap rigged hallway and Lupra already sprang them all but they likely reset themselves. To test this I chucked several pieces of ice landing on several pressure plates that caused spinning saw blades, spears, and acid to all come shooting out of the walls. "That's hardcore. What's down there that they'd need this much protection for it?"
"Don't know. You two jump in, I'm gonna sprint across. Doubtful there will be any metal wires if Lupra's already been through." The stubby golem and dragon jumped into me entering the soul veil as I charged my legs with mana strengthening my protective mana aura bursting forwards destroying the stones beneath me with every step as traps sprung to action immediately after we passed them that would of normally of killed a regular mage immediately.
After a moment the series of traps had stopped and I could hear claws scraping against a metal door trying to get in somewhere I slowed my pace until I came upon Lupra desperately trying to get into a room the aura that was trying to scare us away when we first entered had grown stronger, whatever it was, it was on the other side "you okay Lupra? Need a hand?"
Lupra stopped clawing at the door looking at me happily "papa! Something tasty smells on the other side!" I intensified the white flame on my hand revealing a large door with a golden circular center and a large keyhole. I pressed my eye against it to try and see the other side but to no avail.
I pulled out my violet sword jamming it into the keyhole all the way to the guard then twisted it sideways creating a loud clang and could hear gears shift as the door slowly began to shake open "ah~ the old break the lock to open the lock trick"
Thorn jumped out of my shoulder as he let his joke be heard.
The large door opened to reveal a skeleton knight made of ice wearing a cape of wind and water with a pulsating cyan core. It moved its jaw rattling trying to roar out at us creating a giant mace of ice "how rude!" Ronik jumped out of my chest pointing his purple claw at the ice-made skeleton. "We are not some invaders who came to break your home!"
We really are though
Thorn looked at him confused alongside me "care to say how you can speak undead?" Ronik looked back surprised at Thorns questioning glare "I thought you knew?"
"Evidently we do not." Tired of being ignored the skeleton shot an arrow of ice at us but I simply raised my hand and used alchemy to turn it to wind the second it touched my finger creating a cold gust as I continued to stare at Ronik. The skeleton rattled at us once more and in response to it, Ronik also rattled as the two approached each other.
"I guess even I can learn new knowledge." The fact that undead and spirit category beasts can communicate is a major find not written down in any of the books I still have from my time with Dendra. One did talk about beasts briefly but it only mentioned which parts are useful for earning a quick buck.
"Care to translate Ronik?" The purple golem ignored Thorns' question as it stayed its stubby size looking up at the ice skeleton both shaking vigorously. "You think they're reciting poetry to each other?" Roniks arm then extended latching onto the cape made of wind and water and pulled it into his violet core getting quickly sucked in to be devoured surprising us both.
The ice skeleton in a panic tried to run away but got tugged back by his cape falling back first to the floor getting dragged across rattling frantically doing what I thought was a plead for mercy until its head came crashing into the violet core of Ronik getting grinder apart along with the rest of its body until nothing but a few shards of ice and its cyan heart remained on the clean stone floor.
Ronik gave a little burp of satisfaction before he turned around to see me and Thorn both hiding fearfully against the wall fearing the same fate befell us "master? Is something the matter?" The way Ronik acted as if it was natural made it even more horrifying.
Thorn said with a whisper "I don't think he can do that to fleshy creatures. Else he would have done that to us a long~ time ago." I nodded at Thorn's theory and regained my composure "it's nothing. Just a little surprised is all." I patted his floating wooden head and headed to the back of the room where a circular artifact with a black ring lay atop a web-covered black cushion.
Lupra was digging through a pile of scrap metal and stone that looked to be various destroyed artifacts until she pulled out a glowing turquoise stone taking a big bite out of it until it was all in her belly.
I walked over picking up the cyan heart plundering the surprising amount of mana in it directly infusing it into my circuits hoping to grow my affinities for ice and water magic as well as loosen my bottleneck but movement showed that I had made my mood shallow but diverted my attention to the black ringed bronze orb.
"Seems like a ruined treasure trove despite this thing." Thorn jumped off my shoulder placing his forelegs paw against it trying to get a reaction but nothing happened. I picked it up taking it away from him as I inspected it "I tried infusing mana but no dice Cayde."
"That's the annoying thing about artifacts. There's no instruction manual to them." I tried twisting it to see if it would open. It twisted slightly turning the black ring yellow but then it flashed red making me think it required a charge. I poured some mana into it but instead of blowing up like a regular artifact would it repelled it intriguing me.
Leaving my research on it another time I tucked it into my pocket and overlooked the rubble of different assortments of artifacts behind it. One area was half-melted another had been cut into several parts and the last had all the crushed together. "There's nothing else for us here. Let's go."
"Aren't we going to take the scrap? Some artifact refiner would pay a hefty sum for that junk." Looking back at the three piles I did consider the idea but just looking at one made it obvious they were irreparable. "You sure about that Thorn?"
"Of course~. They care more for the materials made for artifacts than the actual things of course." I pulled out my necklace and sucked the three rubbles of metal, glass, and stone into my void ring heading out with the three beasts following behind until I heard all of them stop in unison.
I was in the middle of the doorway as I saw the three of them looking back at me in fear and shock "what? Have I got something on my face?"
Lupra and Ronik immediately ran into me jumping into the soul veil not answering me "this is no time for jokes! This place is about to come down!' Not believing Thorn as he flew down the corridor I chased after speaking in a worried tone "what do you mean this place is coming down, explain what you mean!"
A heavy rumbling then shook the ancient ruin and several bricks in the wall fell out revealing the mechanisms behind them "it's an earthquake you idiot hurry up!"
In the horror of his word I ignited ashreaver and shot forward pulling Thorn under my arms, why now we're probably a thousand meters underground! We reached the end of the corridor and we looked up to see all the bridges collapsing as well as an orange cloud holding still gushing out violent red bolts of thunder setting the place on fire.
"What the hell is that!" The fear in Thorn's voice was apparent as hunger began to fill me from the sight of the strange storm. The attrium inside me demanded for it to be devoured as I stared up in awe of the chaotic storm made of pure attrium.