The air in the cavern crackled with tension, a heavy stillness broken only by the buzz of glowing gemstones overhead. Snow's crumpled form lay near the stalagmite, her white and blue robes torn and streaked with dirt, the sapphire shards embedded in the fabric dull and lifeless. Hamish gritted his teeth, stepping forward as the Brute Champion advanced toward her, its massive crystalline fists gleaming with a menacing light in the cavern's dim glow.
"Oi, you overgrown pile of sparkly rubble!" Hamish bellowed, his voice a fierce, cutting blade through the charged air. "Go raibh do thóin cnagtha le neantóga agus do cheann sáite i gcoirceog mheala![1]" The insult, foreign and guttural, carried a venom that needed no translation.
The Champion froze mid-step, its gemstone eyes narrowing to slits. Hamish's words, raw and unyielding, had hit their mark like a well-aimed strike.
"Come on then, big lad!" Hamish taunted, slamming his broadsword against his shield with a sharp clang that echoed through the cavern. "Let's see what you're made of, or are you too afraid to take me on?"
The Champion roared, the sound a thunderous wave that shook the cavern walls, sending dust trickling from the ceiling. It pivoted with brutal intent, charging toward Hamish, each step a quake that reverberated through the stone floor. Hamish braced himself, a grim smile tugging at his lips. "That's it," he muttered. "Come to me."
Robert's gaze was fixed on Snow, a cold dread clawing at his chest, his heartbeat a frantic drum in his ears. He channeled mana into his hands, the familiar pull of elements surging within him. Light and wind fused with calculated ease, and he cast a Minor Haste spell, energy jolting through him like a lightning strike, his limbs suddenly weightless. He sprinted toward Snow, the cavern blurring past him in a rush of motion.
He slid to his knees beside her, hands trembling as he hovered over her still form. "Snow," he whispered, his voice thick with panic, the word barely escaping his lips. Summoning his Analyze spell, a faint glow spread over her body, and data flooded his mind. Her health was critically low, life teetering on the edge, fractured ribs, a shattered forearm, and internal bleeding painted a grim picture.
Fear surged, his breath hitching in shallow gasps. "No," he growled, his voice a desperate edge. "Not like this."
Robert clenched his jaw, reaching for the elements within him. With a swift gesture, he merged earth and light, the ground rumbling as stone surged upward, forming a protective dome around them. The barrier shimmered with crystalline light, a sturdy sanctuary with a single human-sized opening at its base (an escape route if needed).
Inside the dome, Robert knelt over Snow, his desperation mounting like a storm. "Moira! I need you!" he shouted, his voice echoing off the stone, raw with both panic and resolve.
"Vessel," Moira's ethereal voice answered, soft yet urgent, a lifeline in the chaos. "You know what to do. Reach for life."
Her words sparked clarity amidst the turmoil. Robert focused, the elements swirling within him: light, water, life. He had never fused three elements before, but Snow's life demanded it. The energies clashed, chaotic and untested, a maelstrom seeking release.
He slammed his hands together, weaving the forces into a single, unified spell. Mana roared through him, a violent surge of power he struggled to contain. Two glowing notifications flashed before his eyes (system alerts), but he dismissed them with a blink. There was no time.
"Hang on, Snow," Robert whispered, a radiant golden light erupting from his palms. The spell, infused with the essence of life, washed over her broken body, sinking into her wounds with searing intensity.
A heartbeat of silence. Then, a sharp, rattling gasp. Snow's body jerked, fingers digging into the dirt as her eyes flew open, a scream tearing from her throat. Her form arched, bones knitting together with agonizing speed, the golden light mending her injuries in a radiant glow.
The light faded, and she collapsed back, breathing heavily but alive. Robert's chest heaved, the Haste spell's effects waning, his limbs growing heavy with backlash. He leaned against the dome's wall, sweat dripping from his brow, exhaustion seeping into his bones.
"Snow," he rasped, relief trembling in his voice. "You're okay."
Her eyelids fluttered, and she blinked up at him, her breaths shallow but steady. "Hurts like hell," she whispered, a pained smile tugging at her lips. "But I think I'll live."
Outside, the cavern echoed with the clash of metal and guttural roars. Hamish battled the Champion, his shield raised to deflect a crushing blow, the impact sending a shockwave through the air. He held his ground, a wild grin on his face, his resolve unyielding.
"Is that all you've got, you glittering lump of scrap?!" Hamish roared, his broadsword flashing as he unleashed his Double-Beat attack. The blade struck twice in rapid succession, crystalline shards flying from the Champion's shoulder, each hit a calculated assault.
The brute staggered, its roar laced with fury, and swung a massive fist toward Hamish's head. Hamish ducked low, the blow grazing his shield, and countered with another Double-Beat, his strikes fierce and unrelenting. "Come on, you oversized gem collection!" he shouted, his fire undimmed. "I'm just getting started!"
Inside the dome, Robert watched Snow's color slowly return, relief washing over him like a tide. "Stay here," he said, his voice firm despite the fatigue dragging at him. "I need to help Hamish."
Snow nodded weakly, her strength creeping back. "Be careful," she murmured, her voice a faint whisper.
Robert clenched his fists, the ignored notifications lingering in his mind. He pushed them aside, bolting out of the dome, the crackling echoes of battle surrounding him as he emerged.
Hamish was locked in combat with the Champion, his broadsword a blur of motion against the brute's crystalline form. Graleth bellowed, his massive body thrashing, the cavern walls trembling with each movement. He struck at Hamish with savage force, but the warrior's shield held, his stance unshaken.
Robert's eyes locked onto the Champion's broad back, a tactical plan forming with sharp clarity. His earlier success with elemental fusion for healing had sparked a dangerous idea. He clenched his fists, the gauntlets humming with energy, and reached for light, fire, and earth.
The searing heat of fire clashed with the unyielding strength of earth, light binding them in a radiant glow. His vision blurred, the chaotic energy trembling in his hands: too much, too fast. The spell faltered, heat coiling uncontrollably, and Robert released it with a sharp breath, the magic dissipating into a wave of impotent warmth.
He hissed, shaking his burning fingertips, the heat scorching through his gauntlets. "Not yet," he muttered, frustration fueling his determination. "I'm not ready for that."
Shifting focus, Robert summoned a familiar combination: light and air. The energies twisted into a sharper, brighter force, a lightning bolt crackling at his fingertips, the gauntlets amplifying its power with a fierce hum.
"Hamish, get clear!" Robert bellowed, his voice slicing through the chaos.
Hamish pivoted, raising his shield to deflect a massive swing from the Champion. "What're you up to now, lad?!" he yelled, curiosity and wariness in his tone.
Robert didn't reply. He unleashed the bolt, a blinding streak of electric fury arcing from his hands. The lightning struck the Champion's rigid backside, a flash of brilliant white illuminating the cavern. The brute howled, its form convulsing as electricity coursed through its rocky body, sparks dancing along its crystalline veins, leaving it stunned.
The moment was ripe. Robert seized it, drawing on light and earth in a calculated surge. He reached toward the cavern's glittering ceiling, his magic latching onto a massive stalactite shimmering above. With a sharp gesture, he willed it to break free, the cavern trembling as the stalactite plummeted with terrifying speed.
It crashed into the Champion's left shoulder with a thunderous impact, shattering rock and severing the brute's arm. Graleth roared, staggering from the blow, his balance faltering under the devastating strike.
Hamish, who had backed away just in time, threw his head back and laughed, his voice echoing with triumph. "That's what I'm talking about, Robert! Bloody brilliant!"
Fueled by the moment, Hamish discarded his battered wooden shield, gripping his broadsword with both hands. The jagged blade gleamed, its edges designed to tear through the toughest defenses. "Time to finish this," he growled, charging with fierce determination.
He targeted the Champion's right knee, his strikes swift and unrelenting. The broadsword bit deep into the crystalline structure, tearing through the stone-like armor with sharp, grating impacts. The Champion groaned, its massive frame quaking under the assault. With a final, powerful swing, Hamish shattered the joint, sending fragments of crystal scattering across the cavern floor. The brute's leg buckled, and it collapsed onto one knee, its towering form brought low.
The Champion's remaining arm scrabbled at the ground, struggling to steady itself. Its gemstone eyes burned with fury, but its strength was waning, its once-overwhelming presence diminished.
Hamish stood over it, chest heaving, his grin wide and wild. "Look at you now, big lad. Not so untouchable anymore, are you?"
Robert stepped forward, hands still crackling with residual energy, his mind already calculating the next move. The Champion wasn't done, but its defeat was within reach. They just needed one final push.
As Robert advanced, Hamish moved into position, circling to the side. The Champion's remaining arm was its only support, and Hamish aimed to end that, his broadsword gleaming with intent. Graleth's gemstone eyes flicked between them, the brute snarling in defiance.
But a cold, commanding voice cut through the cavern, halting them in their tracks.
"Not this time," Snow said, her usual softness replaced with a sharp, unyielding edge. She stepped forward, hands glowing with a blue shimmer as moisture gathered around her. Her frost aura expanded, pulling dampness from the cavern air, droplets condensing unnaturally fast into an undulating bubble around Graleth's massive frame.
The Champion thrashed against the forming sphere, its remaining arm swinging wildly to disrupt the spell, but Snow's focus was unbreakable. Her eyes gleamed with a fierce vengeance, her voice a whisper that carried the weight of her fury. "You hurt me. But you won't do it again."
The watery bubble thickened, the moisture solidifying into a near-solid barrier that wrapped around Graleth's torso and limbs, leaving only his head free to snarl in frustration. His struggles sent ripples through the sphere, but it held firm, Snow's magic binding it with unyielding force.
Robert paused, eyes widening as he realized her intent. "Snow!" he called, awe and concern mingling in his voice. He could feel the mana she was pouring into the spell, its sheer magnitude staggering. "Are you sure?"
"I'm fine!" she snapped, her tone cutting through his words. "I need to do this."
With a sharp gesture, she summoned her frost aura, the air around her plummeting in temperature. Her breath misted as the water sphere shimmered for an instant before solidifying in a deafening snap. Frost crystals spiderwebbed across its surface, transforming it into an unbreakable prison of enchanted ice, trapping Graleth up to his neck.
The sphere was flawless, a perfectly clear ball of ice that gleamed with an otherworldly beauty, its surface reflecting the cavern's gemstone glow. The brute roared, the sound muffled within the icy barrier, his thrashing futile against the magical reinforcement. Each shout worked against him, water filling the gaps as his chest moved, only to refreeze and tighten the prison further.
Graleth bared his jagged teeth, gemstone eyes burning with defiance, but his movements slowed, the freezing cold sapping his strength, the fire in his gaze dimming.
Snow staggered, hands trembling from the mana she'd expended, her frost aura fading as she steadied herself. Robert was at her side in an instant, supporting her with a hand on her shoulder. "That was incredible," he said, his voice filled with awe.
Hamish approached, his expression a mix of admiration and amusement. "I'll admit, lass, I didn't think you had it in you," he said with a wry grin. "But that was bloody brilliant."
Snow took a deep breath, her resolve unshaken. "He needed to learn," she said, her gaze locked on the frozen Champion, her voice softening but still carrying a steely edge. "He hurt me. He never will again."
The trio stood before the trapped Graleth, each reflecting on the power they'd unleashed. The brute's head swiveled slowly, his defiant gaze meeting Robert's, a flicker of respect glinting in his glowing eyes despite his imprisonment.
Robert stepped closer, his voice calm but firm. "Graleth, it's over. Submit."
The cavern fell silent, save for the faint crackle of the frozen sphere. Graleth's eyes narrowed, but after a tense moment, he lowered his head slightly, a reluctant acknowledgment. "You are strong," he rumbled, his voice deep and grudging. "You have earned my respect."
Snow exhaled, the tension draining from her shoulders as her frost aura fully dissipated, the icy sphere shimmering with her control. Hamish leaned on his broadsword, his grin wide. "Looks like we made a rock our friend. Sometimes, you just gotta beat a fool down to get the right respect."
Robert nodded, his gaze steady, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Let's see what he has to say now that we've beat his ass."
[1] "May your arse be peppered with nettles and your head stuck in a beehive."