Turns out a horde of this size has five deputies and one leader. Kaelon and Arka made quick work of the last two deputies while working together. Arka would distract the opponent with big swings and twirls of his staff. Kaelon took the openings he provided to deal devastating damage.

  The two looked to be perfectly in sync. As if they were performing a dance instead of fighting for their lives. After finishing the last deputy they moved through the more disorderly horde. Looking around they tried to find more deputies but had no luck.

  Turning to Arka, Kaelon killed the kobold between them before speaking.

  "I think that was the last one Arka. It's not looking like there's any more deputies around. Let's go to Kane and the Abbot see if we can help out."

  Arka nodded and the two shot towards the most chaotic area of the battlefield. The fight between Kane, the Abbot and the leader of the horde did immense damage to their surroundings. The earth was cracked and fractured from their blows and many kobolds became collateral damage.

  The kobold swung its scimitar wildly with no regard for its surroundings. Kane clashed head on with it, parrying its blows and dealing little damage whenever possible. The Abbot moved around them like a bee, stinging when he had an opening.

  As they fought Kane led the kobold toward the cliff bordering the city. The further he led the leader from the wall the better, so he led him down the river for a few minutes. Once they were far enough, Kane began fighting with all his might.

  Aproaching them Kaelon could see Kane fighting a giant kobold at the edge of the cliff. The Abbot played support from behind his fist glowing golden. The impact from Kane's clashes with the kobold sent waves through the air.

  The Abbot suddenly shot at the kobold delivering a few quick punches. Dents looked to be left on the kobold's abdomen as he finished his barrage. The kobold's eyes were red with madness. It tried to attack the Abbot, his scimitar falling on the old man, but Kane parried the blow with his blade.

  Presented with another opening the Abbot moved fast. He shot at the kobold once more but this time he didn't attack. Instead the Abbot went for the kobold's side with his hand stretched out. Looking closer you could see a black crystal hanging from the kobold's hip.

  The Abbot took the crystal and dashed backwards. As soon as he even touched the crystal the kobold roared out in anger. It's eyes became even madder than before and its body bulged in an unnatural way. Black marks spred on the kobold's body, the same marks that covered Rick. The kobold shot at the retreating Abbot with a speed it had not shown before.

  Kane tried to intercept it but it moved to quickly. In the blink of an eye the Abbot was sent flying towards Kelon and Arka. He had a large wound on his side from the attack and skidded on the ground before regaining his footing. The crystal remained intact in his grasp.

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  The kobold was about to continue its attacks on the old man but Kane caught up. Coming at the kobold from behind Kane delivered a few slashes to its back. The kobold's buffed defenses made his attacks a bit shallower than usual preventing Kane from finishing it off. Still, he dealt great damage with the attack.

  Long gashes were left on the kobold's back as it roared in pain. Arka rushed to the wounded Abbot with a worried look. Kaelon on the other hand never looked away from the fight. No, Kaelon wasn't one to just watch either.

  Seeing the opportunity Kaelon rushed at the roaring kobold. His sword flared as he used The Breath of Embers.

  'First Form: Kindling Spark'

  He jumped up to reach the kobold's neck and delivered fast and precise strike. His flaming sword cut through the kobold's neck, leaving a burning gash on it. The kobold immediately hit the airborne Kaelon. It punched him into the ground with a loud crack as Kaelon was lodged into the earth.

  Kane immediately stabbed his sword through the kobold's back before he pulled it up. The kobold split in half from his chest up, and finally fell dead. Luckily Kaelon had already gotten up with some struggle. Otherwise the giant kobold would've fallen directly on top of him.

  Kane approached the staggering Kaelon and punched him in the head.

  "What the hell are you doing?! That was extremely dangerous Kaelon. You're not at the level you can infere in these fights. If I didn't finish it off right there, you would be dead right now!"

  Kaelon rubbed his head with a pained expression.

  "..But you were there, I knew that. Do you think I would so that otherwise? I'm not stupid you know."

  Kane's face twitched as he spoke, it seemed his response had only made Kane angrier.

  "Are you serious?! That's not the point! Point is that you were being reckless! You have to think these things through Kaelon. I don't want to see you dead on some battlefield."

  Suddenly the cliff around them trembled. The fractures left from the fight began to break apart. The earth under them began falling and panicked expressions appeared on their faces. Both Kane and Kaelon weren't in the best condition. Wounds marked their bodies and exhaustion was beginning to set in.

  They were unable to do anything as the earth under them fell apart. Kane and Kaelon began falling down towards the river below the cliff face. Boulders fell along with them, threatening to crush them if they neared.

  Kaelon's mind recited prayers to any God that would listen. Especially Thalasar, Serpent God of The Seas and Water. This could be the end for him.

  Kane reached for him, a hand stretched out.

  "Grab my hand Kaelon! So we don't get separated in the water!"

  Kaelon followed his words and a few long seconds later they crashed into the water. As they neared the river Kaelon thought he saw scales in the water but they quickly vanished. Crashing into the water Kaelon felt like he hit solid ground.

  The air was knocked out of his lungs and he was sure a rib or two was broken. The impact almlst knocked him out but he magaed to stay conscious. The torrential waters knocked Kane and Kaelon around as they struggled to breathe.

  Kane pulled Kaelon in and held him close to his chest. The water washed over them and dragged them along the river. It wasn't long before Kaelon lost consciousness in Kane's grasp. Kane struggled longer but eventually the water got the better of him.

  The two began to sink into the flowing river. Only they kept sinking. even after they reached the river's bottom. An azure light called to them in the depths, dragging them down towards it.

  Eventually they found themselves in a large underwater cavern. In the caves darkness a large figure rested. It was a giant sea serpent covered in azure scales. The pressure it exerted was one Kaelon had felt before. This was a divine being!

  Thalasar, Serpent God of The Seas and Water. Sapphire of The Deep and Selemare's Lost Treasure.