Civilization

Blocking a blow with my spider legs, I fish into my small pouch and pull out 5 Bone Fragments, gripping them tightly as I activate one of my skills.

"Bone Totem." - Ian

I didn't use this skill earlier due to our positioning, after all, the skill will cancel if the totem is destroyed. Creating the totem against the wall protects it from the monsters while it gives everyone the buff, making us do more damage to skeleton-type monsters. With the skill activated, I see everyone doing slightly better against the monsters. Even Kaede was able to join in on the attack.

With all of us in a semicircle, we retaliate against the incoming monsters. At the peak of the semicircle surrounded by the most monsters is David. His Flame Body allows him to soak the most hits while also allowing him to retaliate the best he could against the monsters.

On his right, all the way from David to the wall is Howard, Yor, Gibing, Frank, and Kaede. On his left, I, Kingston, Ken, Gopopo, Gewari, and Rebecca. While Rebecca wasn't stronger than a Deadbeat, with our positioning she was only facing a singular monster, without the fear of another monster attacking her. Taking a Poison Fang, she does her best to defend against the attacks while having the Copper Armor, tank the damage.

The rest of us were destroying skeletons one after another, slowly eliminating the horde. Glancing up, I see Calliope tapping her finger against the handle of her scythe. A small crease forms between her brows, as her army slowly depletes. An uncomfortable feeling starts to form inside me. Taking a glimpse at everyone's conditions, I start to see something worrying.

Rebecca started to get hit more often, and even Gewari, Kaede, and Howard were having difficulty. Sweat starts to drip down the side of Kingston's cheek as I see him support Ken. Yor and Gibing had to help Frank and Kaede repeatedly as well and taking a peek at David's stats, I see his HP already below 30% nearing 20%. Piercing through my thoughts, Calliope's voice booms across the floor.

"Deadbeats. Deadbeats! DEEEEAAAADBEATSSSS!" - Calliope

Banging the butt of the scythe against the ground, Calliope stands up angrily. A menacing gray aura surrounds her, bending the air like heat waves. Her eyes shine scarlet, revealing the bright color in this grayscale world. Following her, all the Deadbeats stop their movement, taking a few steps back. Their bodies shake violently as Calliope's aura increases, reaching the heart above her.

"Ian… I don't know about this. Low-key you might have to say goodbye to someone soon…" - Kingston

"Don't jinx it Kingston. Everyone here is dear to me." - Ian

"I'm just saying. This doesn't look good. Belial is currently warning me that we either have to escape right now or we somehow kill Calliope. Both don't seem viable right now." - Kingston

"I can still do this. Don't worry and stand behind me." - David

"No, you are already low HP. Any more and you might die." - Ian

"He is right, David. You have been taking hits for me as well. I'm grateful, but there is a limit. Don't do any more than necessary." - Howard

"What's the plan? We can't just stand here." - Ken

"Push through to Calliope? Try to break the bone wall?" - Gopopo

"Both are possible plans, but both have too many variables. Rushing to Calliope is too unpredictable. Her strength is way above ours, and we don't even know what she is capable of, since the only skill she has done is summoning the skeletons. The bone wall is most likely our best course of action. It is a skill, we just don't know how durable it is but if we hit it hard enough it will break." - Yor

"What's the strongest single target ability we have? Because Calliope is giving off massive bad vibes and I don't need my danger sense to tell me that." - Rebecca

"It would be David's Jahannam Naar Dire, or my Demon Trigger/Seal of Belial, but I can't summon Belial since I already did that already. Furthermore, without my Dark Spear, I'm not doing the most damage I could be doing. David, are you able to use your skill?" - Kingston

"I can, but wouldn't I hit everyone near me if we were waiting for my skill to hit the bone wall?" - David

"You would but at the same time, you won't. I'll use the Hoplite Bodyguard Emblem to summon some warriors to help you. We will stay here while you and the Hoplites move toward the bone wall. They will protect you while you cast Jahannam Naar Dire." - Ian

"Are you sure about that plan? The skeletons might become a lot stronger." - Kingston

"There is nothing else we can do right?" - Ian

"… I guess. What are your thoughts on it David?" - Kingston

"I can do it. Trust me." - David

"Take a potion first, before we commence the plan. Unfortunately for us, it seems like the Deadbeats are about to do something." - Ian

Just as I say that all the Deadbeats stop vibrating, their white bones crack all around and a bright scarlet light peeks through. Bit by bit shards of white bones fall off revealing a ruby skeleton. Even though everything around us was still gray, each Deadbeat emit a bright scarlet shine upon us, dying the world in a bloody red shade.

Kingston next to me, gulps down his saliva as the scene unfolds, while I hear Howard's sharp inhale. Looking at Calliope as she stands in front of her throne, her hair floats gently in the air as her deathly gaze scans us. Her bright scarlet eyes seem to be able to look through us as if she is looking into our souls.

"Deadbeats, I'm leaving this place. I hope you kill them all. Do not disappoint me." - Calliope

With another bang of her scythe Calliope disappears into smoke, leaving the Deadbeats and the heart with us. However, these Deadbeats didn't look as easy to kill compared to last time. Their bodies have a glossy shine to them, as they approach us slowly.

"Without Calliope, we can do this. Maybe we don't need to destroy the bone wall, but instead, we just need to survive this wave of monsters." - Yor

"My thoughts exactly. Summon Spider! Hoplites, to arms! Summon Banshee" - Ian

Summoning the spider from my ring as well as gripping the emblem tightly and tearing the Banshee paper, I release all the potential fighters in my arsenal. After all, I don't want anyone to die. Emerging from a cloud, were my Hoplites, and from the paper a Banshee appears above me, wailing to the ceiling as she emerges.

"Hoplites! Protect the front! Do not let any monster through! Use your bodies if you must! Spider, attack from the walls, and Banshee fly above and attack!" - Ian

"ALALA!!! FOR ARCHON IAN!!! FIGHT TO THE DEATH!!! ALALA!!!"

Replying to me with a hiss, the spider goes up the wall and screaming at me the Banshee follows my command. Such a weird combination, from warriors to an insect to a ghost…

Looking at me with gazes of confusion, everyone stares at my summons.

"What?" - Ian

"Nothing. Just wow… I guess." - Kingston

"I've seen them before, but those Hoplites look amazing. If only you looked like that, babe" - Rebecca

"I'll do my best, working out 24/7 for that body, but right now, we need to stand our ground and fight. No choice." - Ian

"Right. David, have you taken the potion? You should be feeling better after it, Lucina did a good job in making them. Do we have any more?" - Howard

"Don't you have 1 or 2 in your pouch Howard?" - Kaede

"Oh, yes. I forgot. I still have 2." - Howard

"As do I." - Kaede

"Me too but Aqua Ring will be off cooldown soon. I'll use it the moment I can" - Rebecca

"Just 1 left." - Ian

"I'm feeling better, don't worry too much about me. I won't die, no matter what is thrown at me, I'll find a way to survive." - David

"I like that mentality, David. You da man!" - Kingston

"Still, don't get too hurt alright?" - Gibing

"Shouldn't you watch out for yourself, Gibing?" - Gewari

"She is right, I had to help you 1 too many times." - Gopopo

"Shut it. I'll do my best no guarantees. Just don't die, you two." - Gibing

"I calculate that you will need to move your feet as fast as me and Ken if you don't want to die." - Yor

"I don't think he can. He is too slow." - Ken

"Brother don't say that. You will hurt his feelings, even though it is true." - Kaede

"Ouch, Gibing. Unlucky man." - Kingston

"Enough chit-chat. Time to kill some skeletons." - Ian

"Let's do it. FOR HAVENFALL!" - Everyone

Gripping their weapons or tightening their fists, everyone around me gathers all their energy and willpower. No matter how you see it, this is going to be a long and hard fight for us. These monsters look tough but in my opinion... We are tougher.