Side Story - Team Crusader 2

The break-slash-conference room in the staging building outside of the Dharan Exclusion Zone was unsurprisingly humble. A single long wooden table and chairs set alongside a kitchenette. Lillian barely paid any attention to it even as Snow fiddled with one of the chairs, probably carving something on it. She looked down at the briefing pamphlet while John explained what they were going into.

The newly-minted vice-Guildmaster had only been Bluestar’s assistant for a little while but he had earned her regard quickly. His blunt demeanor in contrast to Bluestar’s more gentle-but-firm approach created just the right kind back and forth for the guild. He adjusted his tie again and closed the pamphlet himself. “...and that’s everything,” he said. “As I said at the beginning of the briefing, Dharan is a unique place. The dungeon break has been going on for a long time and the monsters have evolved and grown since the initial blast. The respawn rate is also significantly higher. We believe it has something to do with the local geography. Mana clouds build up against the Himalayas and double back down below. Your job is not to clear the break, just to cull the monster population in the outer ring. Any questions?”

Alex grunted as he rested his head against Cass’ while she flipped through the pamphlet thoughtfully. “Why doesn’t a mythic or two go in there and deal with it?”

“The last attempt was by Heroes Qilin and First Wind. They went in about as far as the edge of the central area before the sheer volume of monsters forced them out. They aren’t invincible,” John said. “We would need a large strike-force to push all the way in and that many heroes cant be spared right now.”

“Ishtar,” Lillian growled. “This is her fault.”

John nodded, “Actually, yes more or less. We got word that she put out a bounty on dungeons recently, we believe she wants her villains to clear dungeons rather than take control of them  for resources to humiliate the Pandora Committee.”

“First she tries to blow Sonya up and now this,” Alex grumbled, sitting up straight. Cass pulled off of him and frowned a little before looking back at her book. “That lady is getting out of hand. I say we take the fight to that maniac.” He pushed back in his chair and crossed his arms. “Seriously, who in their right mind would work for someone like that?”

John raised an eyebrow, “Do you have a strategy to take down the Queen of Villains, BLF? You were lucky you survived running into her during the war.”

Cass scoffed, her eyes fixed on the table. She clenched her hands together. “She nearly killed Snow, I wouldn’t call that lucky.”

Snow shifted in her seat and looked away. Lillian reached under the table and grabbed her hand, squeezing the momentary shakes away. She knew that Snow was still a little traumatized by whatever that ability Ishtar had used was. She wasn’t a forward fighter and getting hit by something like that couldn’t have been easy. Alex raised a finger and tapped the table, leaning forward. “That’s another thing,” he said. “Has anyone here noticed she doesn’t seem to ‘like’ killing heroes? She lets us go a lot.”

“It’s psychological warfare,” John said flatly. “Let’s not get off topic, you have a job to do here. ASTA is handling the political and public-relations situation back at home, by the time you’re done with your tour things should be more comfortable.”

Cass sighed, “Sorry guys.”

Snow clicked her tongue and static preceded her words, “Don’t you go apologizing for shit that isn’t your fault,” she clipped. “If an asshole wants to believe the sky is falling, the world is flat, and there are gremlins in his socks, there’s not much you can do about that. Whoever decided to pick you to frame for the whole fiasco is the real problem and if I had my way I’d fry his brain for it.”

John sighed, “While I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment and wish I could do something similar with my knives, can we not vocally express the desire to commit acts bordering on villainous activity during a meeting of heroes, please?”

Snow winced, “Sorry.”

John gave her a rare smile. “It was a slip of the tongue, of course.”

Lililan got to her feet. “We should do an initial foray and get an idea of what we’re really dealing with. Pamphlets are good and all but the longer we’re in here the less time someone’s out there keeping that population down.”

John’s expression turned grave and he nodded, “Good luck.”

–

“Move them into the maze!” Crusader shouted and doubled back towards the walls of Harbinger’s maze. Behind her was a small pack of over a dozen of the oversized hounds that lingered in the outer parts of the monster-infested city. They snapped their jaws and roared, scampering forward as fast as their legs could carry them. Overhead she heard a screech and tapped her earpiece. “BLF we’ve got incoming flyers!”

<“On it!”>

As BLF’s arm stretched towards the sky from within the maze, Crusader dove through the opening and spun around, planting her feet as the hounds were forced to follow a narrow path. She held her broadsword out in front of her and took her first swing. The weapon drew up and across the attacking creatures, severing the head of one and sending another shrieking to the ground with a grievous wound. She stepped back and swung again, taking one down at a time while flying monsters fell from the sky.

She kept her eyes forward, trusting that BLF would be able to handle the dive-bombing monsters. The sound of a crunching jaw was all she needed to know that he was well on his way to building up more mass. She took another step back and allowed some of the growing horde of hounds to bleed off into a side passage rather than face her. “They’re heading further inside, Snow, you’re up!”

<”It’s gonna take a second to figure out what they’re afraid of, I’ll get them to Harbinger though!”> Snow said into her earpiece.

“No worries! I got this,” Crusader replied and took a step forward. She switched her grip and shifted into an aggressive stance. One arching swing after another drove her forward with methodical steps, each monster succumbing to her wrath as she turned the hallway into the interior of a blender. Even with all the damage she was putting out, there were always more of the enhanced hounds to flood in and start pushing her back. She retreated with the flow, letting them come in and scatter into the adjacent halls again like releasing a pressure valve. “Second wave coming!”

<”They don’t like big lizards! Ha ha! They’re on your way, Harbinger.”> Snow cheered.

<”I’m ready for them, just send them to the heart and I’ll clean up.”> Harbinger growled.

<”More flyers incoming, gonna need some backup, bird lady!”> BLF said.

Crusader glanced up briefly as a hound fell to yet another swing and saw a small cloud of the winged monstrosities heading their way. She clicked her tongue and held out a hand towards the oncoming wave of hounds. “Just a sec!” She grasped the air, pulled back, took a step forward and released. A wave of golden flame washed down the hall and the monsters screamed in agony, their numbers dwindling in a flash as she dipped into her stamina. More mana drew towards her body and while she had a few seconds of breathing room she turned her attention to the sky. “Al!”

Power passed from her to her companion and far overhead the golden hawk began to glow. It let out a screech of challenge and more birds raced into the sky to join him. Soon a blackened cloud of local fowl was flying towards the incoming monsters. Alone they would be helpless, but soon each and every bird began to catch with golden flame. The two approaching clouds collided and bodies began falling from the sky.

“How’s that?”

<”Perfect! Thanks! I’m about ready to hop the wall!”> BLF said, <”Just a bit more!”>

ROOOAAAAAH!

She whipped her head towards a thunderous roar and her eyes widened. A pair of the massive brutes were charging towards the maze. If it had just been them it would have been fine, but the armored one behind them was an even bigger problem. Snow noticed it as well, <”That thing’s peak Epic! What the hell is it doing in the outer ring?”>

“No idea! BLF I hope you’re almost full!” Crusader shouted and broke into a run. While the hounds were easy to deal with in the halls of the maze, the brutes thrived in it. The last thing she wanted was three of the big things in a space where she couldn’t move around. She kept running and leaped over a pair of hounds that charged her, stepping on one head and kicking off. She could see the brutes' eyes now beneath their hooded hulking brows. “BLF!”

A shadow hurtled overhead and two enormous hands launched down from above, grabbing the two forward brutes and pulling them into the air. Crusader popped her neck and picked up speed as the armored brute tucked in and charged at her in response. She leaped off the ground and raised her sword over her head.

You’re not getting past me!