The Heart is a Void: Ashes to Ashes

Chapter 139: Renegade

As he leaned forwards, Crucis saw that the warrior on the ledge below was actually a familiar figure: Dionarcy, from DeathGang. That explained the high Strength and Constitution which he had displayed on the bridge, keeping his balance and forcing the other player off despite the bridge's precarious swaying.

From what he knew of DeathGang, Dionarcy would probably be a tougher opponent than Balofager. They were pragmatic enough that even this slightly blunt warrior would probably have some idea of how to use the basic features of this event, and had managed to win the bridge fight with a well-timed shoulder charge. While it was difficult to make out from a distance, Crucis did notice Dionarcy using the Divine Mana as he surged off the bridge into safety, so it was likely that he was familiar with this aspect and might sense Crucis' approach.

All the same, Dionarcy still looked slightly ill after his recent experience, and was stumbling awkwardly across the mountain ledge near its edge. This was an opportune moment to attack, since he couldn't rely on Dionarcy, whom he didn't know that well, not becoming a foe if they ran into each other in the near future.

Crucis once again used the Divine Mana to stabilise as he plunged down ten metres towards the ledge below. His sword flashed out as he neared his target.

However, Dionarcy had paid attention to the approaching ripple in the Divine Mana, and firmly raised his sword to block Crucis' midair [Overhead strike]. Crucis quickly dropped to the ground and swept his sword in a horizontal [Sweep] towards Dionarcy's chest, but this was also blocked. Dionarcy seemed shook by the attack, and didn't have the time to look carefully at his assailant.

After a brief, fast-paced flurry of swords that took Dionarcy off-balance, Crucis dodged to the left with [Drift]. Dionarcy turned to face his attacker, leaving his back perilously close to the edge of the mountain. This had been Crucis' intention, to change angles in order to force Dionarcy up against the edge and put them on the back foot.

Surging forwards, Crucis attacked with a firm [Overhead slash] which pushed Dionarcy back. Losing balance, Dionarcy was only able to offer up a slightly weak block as he tried to find his footing, and found his sword tilting uselessly to his right.

This block left Crucis' sword still pointed forwards at Dionarcy's neck. As it lunged forwards, Dionarcy desperately batted his sword upwards to try and deflect it, but Crucis' attack had been a [Feint].

Switching easily to a sweeping [Slash] from the left, while taking a driving step forwards, he cut through Dionarcy's neck. The warrior's body fell off the mountain and skidded down the rocks below, while the head dropped separately into the distance.

This kill had gained him 100 more Divine Mana, compensating for the 40 which he had used up in the leap. Further, it gained him another 100 Ivaldi Gold, and he plundered a [Kruxol Mighty Breastplate] and some [Noble Goat Potion] which Dionarcy had been keeping on hand. In order to move more quickly, warriors in this event had often removed their armour on realising that it wouldn't defend them from the Divine Weapons, but this meant that these were more likely drops.

As an additional reward, he received a [Rune of Hel], an item which could be appended to swords by players at level 100 or above, and would add a chance of dealing a more harsh form of the [Bleeding] status effect to opponents. Seemingly, there was a chance for additional, rare items like this to drop on every kill. He wasn't yet able to use it, but it would be useful to keep around.

Once again, he ducked into the wall behind him as soon as possible, and quickly surveyed his location. The bridge was an obvious option if he wanted to get away from this mountain, but it would be too conspicuous and anyone nearby could spot him easily.

While this ledge seemed like a dead end, and would have been for Dionarcy, he could see a ledge lower to the right which he could leap towards out of the right side of the wall. Sizing up the chance, he made sure that there was no player below, then prepared to leap. It would be a long way down, but it didn't require that much motion forwards and he could stabilise his fall enough to make it harmless.

As he jumped, he suddenly heard the sound of commotion and buzzing swords from just beneath the ledge he was heading towards, and instantly regretted his decision. Still, he shut this out for a moment, since he had to focus on pulling off the jump without missing the ledge. Using Divine Mana, he managed to curve his path and soften the uncomfortable plunge until he just took a couple of scrapes on his hands while breaking his fall.

Crouching on the new, lower ledge, he looked around.

There were a couple of player corpses laid on this ledge, bleeding out profusely, suggesting that there was danger nearby. These corpses had been hidden by rocks above them when he had looked down from the right earlier. From the sound of swords and shouting below, it sounded like the killers were still at large. He would have to head uphill again and hope that he wasn't noticed.

While looking, he noticed that the red, skyward columns from elsewhere had headed to the East, but only two remained. Clearly, the group of players that Apollo had marked were being quickly targeted by others, because of how conspicuous they were. The remaining red columns raced quickly to the East, and were probably being pursued.

As he ran silently up the sloping path, he was suddenly stopped by a loud groaning from the rocks in front of him. A ghostly, semi-transparent, pale young man floated through the rocks, wearing a white-grey outfit, with blonde hair that had partially faded. Crucis could see that this was a level 46 creature known as a [Fylgja].

Seeing the Fylgja raise a glowing sword and stand in his way, Crucis sighed and drew his own sword. This was likely to draw the attention of the players below, but he didn't have much choice.

As the Fylgja lunged forwards heavily, Crucis parried the blow and stepped forwards to counter-attack.

While the Fylgja's body lurched back and its arms moved into position to block, Crucis noticed that its movements were awkward and unsubtle. Seeing it raise its arms to telegraph its next move, he slashed carefully towards its neck, with his own slash disrupting the Fylgja's.

As its sword deflected off his, he struck into the creature's neck, and then used [Agile Step] to approach it at close range and sever the rest of its neck.

He heard shouts from behind him, and turned quickly to see a small group of agitated Assassins walking onto the ledge. The strongest among them looked to be level 80.

As they started to rush for him, he quickly set off up the curving mountain path.