Adventure Bound: Star Seeker

The fight between Beatrice and Orvell was about to begin. They had caught the attention of King Dia, who had placed a bet on Beatrice, unaware of their true identity.

Beatrice drew her greatsword and assumed a fighting stance, while Orvell prepared himself. As their swords collided, they both whispered, "I love you." Orvell playfully remarked, "Let's see who's the better swordsman." Beatrice replied with a confident, "You know I'm a hundred times stronger than you, sweetheart."

In the arena, the only sound was the clashing of their swords. Neither had touched the other, their skill levels evenly matched. Orvell encouraged Beatrice, "Don't hold back. I want to see if you're the best warrior I've ever faced." Beatrice responded with a playful wink and a kiss, saying, "Oh, don't worry darling, I have the strength of a mother to beat you."

The clash of their swords sent shockwaves through the arena, almost knocking some spectators off their seats. King Dia was visibly impressed by their skill.

The fight went several hours as each of them had wounds on their body. Beatrice and Orvell did not seem worn out yet as they both still have the energy and drive to fight. They needed to put on a good show for King Dia, so they can finally stop his reign and question the star fragment. As the fight was reaching its climax, Beatrice swung her greatsword downwards to which Orvell blocked the attack with his Kite shield. Orvell peaked over to the right side of the shield and said “sorry love, but this is why Knights are always better than warriors.” and blew her a kiss, and with one thrust of his sword he was able to land a killing blow onto Beatrice's stomach, causing her to fall onto her knees and collapse, thus ending their battle.

After the fight Beatrice was brought to the hospitality center in the arena, Minerva was already there waiting disguising herself as a doctor. With one sway of her wand she brought Beatrice back to life as if she just woken up from a nap. Beatrice smiled and said “He definitely cheated.” and the two Beatrice and Minerva laughed it off. But now Minerva had told Beatrice that since everyone thinks she is dead she can then be on the lookout whenever Orvell needs help, if he needs help.

The final fight between Orvell and another warrior was about to begin. Orvell and his opponent stepped into the arena, ready to fight. However, before the fight could commence, King Dia descended from his seat and killed the warrior with a single swing of his arm, decapitating him.

Everyone was shocked by the unexpected act. Orvell knew this wouldn't end well. King Dia spoke, "I know who you are, King Orvell, ruler of Iron Hall. I know what you possess. You do not intimidate me, as I am the sharpest swordsman in the realm of Grass Mark."

Orvell had no choice but to reveal his true identity. "I am here to convince you to change your ways and seek the star fragment," Orvell said. King Dia replied, "Genocide is the only way to maintain my people here in Gem Dome City."

Orvell tried to reason with him, but Dia was stubborn, insisting that genocide was the only solution. Dia drew his long sword, a stone-clad blade with sharp, ridged edges. Orvell tightened his shield straps, knowing that Dia wouldn't go down easily.

Orvell opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Dia appeared before him, his stone sword thrusting towards him. Orvell barely blocked the attack, the shield almost pierced through. Dia smirked and sent a left hook, sending Orvell reeling backward.

Dia walked towards Orvell, who tried to regain his footing. Before Orvell could recover, Dia used his speed to kick him into the air and swung his stone sword, shattering the ground where Orvell had landed. Dia grabbed Orvell by the face and tossed him aside, as if he were a doll.

"Summon the one who sealed me away!" Dia shouted. Orvell knew Dia was referring to Grimstone, but he hesitated. Summoning Grimstone would likely result in a catastrophic outcome due to its immense power.

Dia taunted Orvell to use Grimstone, but Orvell refused, still hoping to change Dia's ways. Orvell got back on his feet and enchanted his shield and sword with magic, even tapping into the wind-making abilities granted to him by his mother.

Despite his efforts, Dia's skin remained impenetrable. Orvell clashed with Dia numerous times, but his attacks were ineffective. Dia had the upper hand, his strength and skill far surpassing Orvell's.

Orvell, running out of breath, realized he had no other option. He switched his strategy from slashing to striking with his shield, using his sword to keep Dia on the defensive. With sheer force, he began to chip away at Dia's stone-like skin. However, this tactic was exhausting, and Orvell was growing weaker.

"Again, summon the knight who sealed me away! I want to ruin him the way he ruined me!" Dia shouted, his voice filled with rage. Orvell, knowing he had no other choice, finally gave in.

As Orvell spoke the words, his body began to transform into Grimstone. The powerful entity emerged, towering over Dia. Grimstone was able to keep up with Dia's speed and power, and with a single attack, he sent Dia flying through the air.

"Do you yield?" Grimstone demanded. Dia laughed, his stone skin beginning to crumble apart. Beneath the stone, a diamond body was revealed, shocking the spectators.

As Dia stood up, his entire body was revealed to be made of diamonds. He drew his longsword, now also covered in diamonds. The two clashed, and Dia's blade, incredibly sharp, sliced through Grimstone's shield.

Grimstone, trying to devise a strategy, was interrupted by Dia's attack. Their intense clash caused quakes, shattering the ground and forcing spectators and citizens to flee. The battle moved outside the arena, damaging buildings and streets. Each clash sent more powerful shockwaves than those produced by Beatrice and Orvell.

Dia landed a thrusting hit on Grimstone's left side, exposing Orvell's face. Grimstone countered with a slash that barely affected Dia's diamond body. Dia stepped back, saying, "Is that the best you've got?"

The battle continued, with both knights exhausted and their armor broken. Grimstone relied on his speed and sword for defense and offense.

With little to no energy, Grimstone fought valiantly to make Dia yield, but Dia resisted fiercely. Dia landed a thrust on Grimstone's left rib cage, causing significant bleeding and forcing Grimstone to retreat.

Injured, Grimstone needed to find a way to quickly defeat Dia. Dia unleashed a flurry of attacks, which Grimstone blocked with his sword. However, Grimstone noticed his blade beginning to crack, realizing he needed a new strategy.

Grimstone cast magic spells to divert Dia's attacks, buying himself time. He then enchanted his blade with intense heat, capable of cutting through buildings with a single swipe. He chanted, "Star ignis," and the blade glowed a pure white.

With a powerful swing, Grimstone slashed Dia's left arm, inflicting severe pain. Dia, shocked and enraged, forced a diamond arm to grow from his wound and charged at Grimstone.

Dia swung his diamond sword downward, but Grimstone's blade, now incredibly hot, shattered Dia's sword in half. Grimstone counterattacked, landing a cut across Dia's lower abdomen, forcing Dia to kneel.

"Go on! Seal me away like you did before!" Dia said. Grimstone's form began to fade as Orvell commanded it to. Orvell said, "It doesn't have to be like this, Dia. Your kingdom can be ruled equally. Not everyone needs to perish due to lack of resources. I offer you a partnership, a contract. Whatever you need, I'll do my best to give it to you and your people."

Orvell then cast a contract spell, requiring both him and Dia to provide an item of ownership. Dia offered a piece of his diamond skin, while Orvell gave his own blood. Orvell turned to his comrades and smiled.

The quintet remained in Gem Dome City until Orvell regained his strength. Dia informed them that the star fragment they sought was located in the city of Vestrix but admitted uncertainty about its exact location, having discovered it years ago upon awakening from his seal. He warned them that Vestrix had strict rules regarding human visitation and suggested that Marabel's tinkering skills could serve as an excuse for their entry.

Before their departure, Orvell spoke to Dia one last time, assuring him that everything would be alright and offering his continued support. In gratitude, Dia gifted Orvell a unique ore called sten ore. Forged from pieces of his own skin and the gem of power, it was the strongest known ore. Orvell entrusted the ore to Marabel, hoping she could create a powerful sword from it.

As the quintet continued their journey to find one of the star fragments, Beatrice grabbed Orvell's left arm and rested her head on him. "Sorry about your shield," she said.

Orvell replied, "It's okay. The shield was beginning to wear out."

Marabel overheard their conversation and said, "Well, if we ever encounter a worthy opponent, I can definitely craft you a new shield. They're easier to forge."

The group rode on the back of their Berlax, heading towards the city of Vestrix. During their journey, they came across a small town named Springlan, known for its beautiful springs. The quintet decided to take a rest and enjoy themselves in this peaceful town of three hundred people, far from any danger.

The quintet settled into a cozy cottage in the small town. Raven practiced her shooting skills, Marabel went foraging, Minerva meditated, and Orvell and Beatrice enjoyed some intimate time at the hot springs.

During their time there, Beatrice received a letter from the children, who missed their parents dearly. The letter brought a smile to their faces and made them miss their children as well.

After a few days of rest and replenishment, the quintet resumed their journey to Vestrix. They arrived in Albador, a vibrant city with a harmonious atmosphere. The people were friendly and welcoming, unlike the eerie behavior they had encountered in their previous town.

The quintet rented a room at an inn and noticed the clerk's unusually high spirits. They didn't think much of it at the time, attributing it to the people's friendly nature.

Over the next two days, they asked many people for directions to Vestrix but received no clear answers. Instead, they were offered companionship or other things and avoided the question. One day, Minerva approached a clothing vendor and noticed a peculiar marking on the vendor's neck. Recognizing it as the work of a necromancer or sorcerer, she realized the city was under a spell.

The quintet discussed the situation, and Minerva convinced them of the danger. They agreed to help free the people from the spell but were unsure where to start.

Minerva summoned Voi, her shadow companion, who had encountered similar situations before. Voi explained that the only way to find the sorcerer or sorceress was to trace their mana trail. Only Minerva and Orvell, with their powerful mana, could accomplish this.

They devised a plan to release their mana pressure to lure the culprit. Orvell, acting as a wandering adventurer, intentionally released his mana, causing headaches and confusion among those with weak mana.

As expected, a mysterious figure appeared. Orvell pretended to be a common adventurer unaware of the situation. The figure offered Orvell a home, food, and peace in exchange for a drop of blood. Orvell refused, angering the figure.

The figure then insisted on a palm reading, claiming to be able to tell Orvell's future in Albador. Orvell agreed, but as the figure held his hand, the figure secretly placed a spell on Orvell. However, the spell vanished as soon as the figure released Orvell's hand.

Beatrice, Minerva, Raven, and Marabel ambushed the figure, revealing their true intentions.

As the quintet was about to strike the mysterious figure, it spread its massive bat-like wings and soared into the sky. The figure was revealed to be a high-ranking vampire, a vampira. Before the quintet could attack, the vampira summoned a horde of bats to distract them and escape into the shadows.

The quintet managed to evade the bat horde and returned to their inn. Inside the lobby, they found a man wearing a top hat and dressed as if he were ready for a fight. "You guys don't seem to be from around here," he said, extinguishing a cigar.

Orvell and the others drew their weapons, but the man assured them that he was a friend. "I can help you take down that vampira," he said.

Minerva stepped forward and asked, "That wasn't an ordinary vampira. Who was that?"

The man in the top hat replied, "That, my dear, was CrimLock, an exiled vampira from the higher ranks."

Orvell asked, "Then who are you?"

The man removed his hat and placed it on his chest. "You can call me Finnigan Hugh, the gothic wizard," he said.

The quintet sat down with Finn to learn more about him. Finn was an adventurer rank 92, a wizard specializing in holy magic. He traveled to towns and cities struggling with demons, vampira, and mythical quests.

Finn turned to Minerva and said, "And you, my dear, have something lurking in your shadows. It's unlike anything I've ever felt before. Its mana pressure is incredible."

Minerva took this as an insult, knowing he was referring to Voi. She replied, "Voi is a friend, not a foe. He hasn't harmed anyone in ten years."

Finn smiled. They devised a plan to take down Crimjaw, as Finn warned them that Crimjaw's castle was filled with many other vampires, some of high rank.

A few days later, the quintet attempted to ambush Crimjaw, but the city of Albador had returned to its strange, off atmosphere. Everyone in the city seemed brainwashed, with no haggling, theft, or drama.

Finn provided some background on Albador, explaining that it was once known for its beautiful flowers and gardens. Each spring, they held a tulip festival, and in the fall, a harvest festival.

As time passed, the quintet became more acquainted with Finn, while Finn learned more about Minerva. During a private moment, Beatrice asked Orvell, "Hey, why isn't Finn interested in you? Your mana pressure is far beyond Minerva's."

Orvell shrugged, wondering the same thing. He assumed it was because he had been trained to suppress his mana pressure to conceal it from others, as high mana pressure could be dangerous. So, Finn might not be able to sense him at all.

Later, while walking, Beatrice and Orvell noticed that the cloth vendor they had spoken to was gone. There was no booth, no trace of anything. They asked the people around, but they just smiled and said there had never been anyone there.

This made Orvell and Beatrice question the place even more. At nightfall, they used Orvell as bait again, but this time, he had a disguise to conceal his identity from Crimjaw.

As Orvell wandered the city like a traveling farmer, Crimjaw appeared. Finn burst out from his hiding spot and began firing holy magic projectiles at Crimjaw, injuring him. However, Crimjaw was not alone. He began summoning the undead from underground, and hundreds emerged.

The quintet prepared to fight off the horde while Finn and Crimjaw clashed.

While fighting off the horde of the undead, Orvell saw Finn struggling with Crimjaw, who was using his ability to take the fight into the sky. Orvell rushed to aid Finn, enchanting his steps with the spell "skysteps" to allow him to walk on air.

Orvell engaged Crimjaw in combat, but even with his enchanted sword and kite shield, he was no match for Crimjaw's formidable powers. However, Orvell managed to land a few slashes on Crimjaw's wings, forcing him to descend to the ground.

Crimjaw, not easily defeated, manipulated his own blood to create a makeshift sword. Orvell knew he had to keep Crimjaw busy until sunrise. Crimjaw, aware of their plan, summoned more hordes of bats to distract them and escape.

Before Crimjaw could flee, Orvell placed a spell marker on Crimjaw's ankle. As Crimjaw fled, the undead and bats dispersed.

The quintet and Finn, exhausted from the day's events, regrouped at the inn that night. As they discussed their next plan, Orvell mentioned that he had placed a location spell on Crimjaw's ankle. This would allow them to track Crimjaw's whereabouts during the day.

Using his magic, Orvell tracked Crimjaw's location and discovered that it was in a field of roses. The quintet and Finn thought they might have been mistaken, but the location spell confirmed the location.

As they approached the gazebo in the field, Beatrice took the first step and realized she wasn't in a field of roses anymore. She was inside a castle, likely Crimjaw's lair. Unable to return, the others followed her inside, one by one, finding themselves scattered throughout the castle.

Beatrice began wandering through the area she was in, which seemed to be the west wing of the castle. She peered through the windows but couldn't see or hear anyone from her group.

As Beatrice walked, she felt a sudden eerie atmosphere, as if someone was watching her. She looked behind her every few seconds, feeling like someone had spoken to her right next to her face, though there was no one there.

Beatrice ran into a nearby room, finding a dining hall filled with delicious-looking food. She picked up a fruit to examine it but it instantly decayed. Stepping back, she realized the table was filled with old, rotten food. Undead creatures sat at the table, ready to attack.

Beatrice drew her greatsword, preparing for battle. From above, on a balcony, a massive monster appeared. "Look what we have here, guests," it said. "Let's share some of our food with her." The undead creatures at the table began to engage Beatrice.

Orvell was teleported to a basement, which he illuminated with his enchanted shield. As he wandered, he heard giggles and drew his sword, prepared for anything. He smelled human flesh and the air thickened. Orvell cast a firebolt projectile, lighting up the room and revealing a horrifying scene: a grandma eating a human torso.

Terrified, Orvell began to run, but the grandma chased after him, saying, "Come here, sweet boy." Orvell sprinted faster, trying to escape.

Minerva woke up in a cell, across from Finn. Both were locked in, their staffs and wands missing, and only wearing their undergarments. Marabel and Raven were lucky enough to be teleported together and were exploring the east wing of the castle.

They found themselves wandering the halls, noticing chatter coming from a room. Peeking through the door, they saw everyone dressed up, looking human but wearing masks. Marabel and Raven pondered their next move, hoping to find disguises in a nearby closet.

Orvell, trying to escape the granny, used his magic abilities to deflect objects she threw at him. Seeing an opportunity, the granny approached him, and as Orvell swung his sword, it phased right through her body. She grabbed his neck and pinned him to the ground, her tongue unfurling and licking his face.

Orvell kicked the granny off and created some distance. He noticed that her phasing ability had a limitation: she could only phase once per physical attack. As they rushed towards each other, Orvell threw his sword, which phased through the granny. Orvell charged in with his shield, but the granny was about to touch him. At that moment, Orvell chanted, "Double my power, PROJECTION!" A magic aura surrounded his fist, amplifying its size and power. He landed a heavy right hook, sending the granny flying backward.

The granny stood up, missing her jaw, and said, "You think that will kill me, boy?" Orvell smirked and replied, "That was just the start." With a wave of his hand, he summoned his sword back and pierced the granny from behind. Before disappearing into dust, the granny uttered, "I hope my hubby crushes you..."