A New World, An Immersive Game Experience

'I can only last until my buffs expire...' Eldrian noted, activating those of his armor and casting spells one after the other as he danced to avoid death by shield.

Surviving until then would be a challenge, but he felt confident he would be able, thanks to his inflated three thousand plus (3341) HP pool. He just needed to avoid taking too many direct hits, which wouldn't be too hard while his agility was boosted.

Dodging the ghoul's attacks and taking a shield bash from the revenant on the shoulder, Eldrian covered himself in a ball of water to block the flames of the reanimates as he crashed into their lines. The shouting match between Theas and the lich escaped his hearing as he focused on trying not to be killed too quickly while waiting for the right time.

Eldrian even focused on ensuring that should he be incapable of dodging that he would take the hit that would do the least damage. And while he waited for the right time, he contemplated their situation.

'They clearly expected us, well... Someone, anyone—probably someone strong. Those strange chains and tombs... They need another soul!' Realizing this, Eldrian wondered if they should stick to the plan, 'Theas realized instantly. The lich's comment was doubtless about his realization. He said TKO, so we will stick with the plan.'

Continuing his dance with the embodiment of death (the revenant), its angel (the ghoul), and the chorus (reanimates)—Eldrian glanced towards Theas whenever he could. It would normally cause a flaming sword or two to catch him. The flames sent a searing pain throughout his body, but he had to time things perfectly.

Two had his hands full as Liuva gained more and more control against Theas. She had enough focus left to even suppress all forms of magic within a certain range of her skeletal body. To not let their's be suppressed, Two could spare no time to talk with Eldrian. He had never faced such suppression before.

Theas' knowledge and choice of attack had shocked Liuva at first, but this was still her home, and she was the superior magic user. She just needed some time to understand Theas' approach and his strengths and weaknesses. Now that she did, she could rip all hope from his hands.

A minute had passed since the start of the action and Eldrian's buffs fell off one after the other. He had survived, but he was at the end of his rope.

As he slowed and the number of wounds covering his body increased, his HP doubtlessly neared the triple digits—thankfully his inflated HP pool made him a bit of a damage sponge. Finally, Eldrian saw the moment. 'Two, now!'

Theas had finally landed a direct hit against the lich, severing an arm and causing her to howl in pain. It cost him what looked like a heavy hit of some sort of spell, but it was sure to distract Liuva for the second they needed.

Upon shouting to Two, Eldrian threw a crystal towards the tombs. He even paused for a split second to guide it with ether, his actions causing the claws of the ghoul to tear through his side. His armor was incapable of stopping it for even a second.

Coughing out blood and his body filled with pain anew, Eldrian watched as the flaming tornado arrived and the runes upon the crystal activated. The lich failed to realize what had happened until it was too late. Just a second and the tables had turned.

A massive explosion, much larger than those before, tore apart half of the keep. Fueled not but a small nail sized mana crystal, but rather by a large mana crystal. The explosion destroyed half of the building and flames filled the entire keep.

Flung against the wall, Eldrian's blood splattered against the wall. His body torn apart and charred beyond recognition. Thankfully, he no longer felt physical pain due to the burns. But the venom of the ghoul would not let him off so easily.

Eldrian knew as soon as he lost focus, he would die. The only thing keeping him going now was his will, and it was being assaulted by the venom of the ghoul trying to invade his soul.

Only the revenants, Liuva, and Theas stayed still through the shock wave. The dwarf glanced towards the tombs and confirmed that the explosion had destroyed what had been there. He then turned to Eldrian but stopped before attempting to move closer. Eldrian seemed beyond rescue. And even worse, there was still the revenant that Eldrian had fought between them.

"How dare you! You will pay!" The lich screamed, her sanity leaving her.

"I'm sorry..." Theas mumbled, turning towards the massive hole that was the other half of the keep, escaping through without looking back.

'Shit, he actually did it...' Eldrian was drifting between conscious and unconscious and only barely realized what was happening. He knew it was part of the plan, but hadn't expected Theas to act without hesitation. He had escaped without looking back, without even testing if things were truly impossible.

This was the correct course of action and according to the plan; but how quickly he had come to that conclusion and then acted upon it with no hint of reluctance, still shocked Eldrian.

'Heh, guess I can finally meet GAIA again.' Eldrian smiled, no longer fighting the inevitable. Welcoming the approaching darkness, he sought to finally have a deep conversation with the AI about all he had learned. Eldrian wanted no more secrets between himself and them. He wanted to understand the true essence of magic. He knew he was nearing it himself, but to discover it alone would take him years.

And Eldrian especially wanted the damnable pain inflicted by the ghoul to subside.

The approaching darkness swallowing his mind froze. And the screeching of the lich interrupted this peaceful world of darkness.

"Death's too good for you! I won't allow it! I won't allow it! You will pay!"

'Ah, for fuck's sake! Just let me die!'

Eldrian felt himself being pulled back and as he returned, the pain returned too. It made it terribly difficult to clear his mind and focus. Luckily, the pain was focused only on one location in his mind. Like a nagging headache trying to grow stronger.

'This isn't where I normally enter...' Eldrian looked around and extended his hand, feeling a cold, hard but ethereal surface. 'The edge?' If he wished to pass, he could do so. If he didn't, then this edge acted like a physical barrier.

'Two, are you here?'

'Busy!' Came a strained reply.

'With what?!'

'Venom!'

'Ah, can you stop the pain?' Eldrian asked, having gotten it under grips to where it now felt more like a headache than a needling invading his brain. But it was a terribly irritating headache.

'How do you stop this? I've tried everything, but nothing works. It's just growing!'

'Let me come and see.' Eldrian moved but stopped almost immediately. His gut told him to stop. He didn't understand, but shivered at the severity of what felt like a premonition—if he moved from here, he would die. Truly die.

It did not take long for the reason to appear. The chains that had surrounded the keep and tombs appeared and assaulted the edge of his mind space. Assaulted the edge of his soul.

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