CHAPTER 74: CROSSING (2)

Once the large snake made of flames was thourghly brutalised and finished off the two companions looked up to see the next pillar that they needed to head to. Having reached the halfway mark by now the individual strength of the monsters that lay claim to each of the pillars had noticeably improved. The pillars seemed to only continue to get bigger and bigger the closer they got to the far side of the river of lava.

Before them lay a thankfully empty platform but past that they had two options, neither of which seemed all too appealing. In one side a group of 3 flameelementals floated, despite not having eyes... or a real face for that matter. The two companions could tell that the creatures were glaring at both them and the wolves who had also taken a moment to asses the best route forward to their side.

The girls and the wolves both had clear paths towards the platform with the elementals on it so they technically could team up but they were naturally reluctant to do so.

In the other side stood a lizard of some kind. Not quite as big as the flame drank they had caught a while back but given it was a different species and given the feeling the two girls got from it they were reluctant to approach that side.

However, as things tend to do the situation changed when a further two elementals joined the 3 others on the platform close to the wolves. Whilst battling 3 of them at once would be tough but winnable, battling 5 was just silly. So letting out a sigh they both turned towards the overgrown lizard and repaired to force their way through.

Leaping to the next platform Violet then began to summon 4 spears of void and began to spin them before sending all of them flying forward as soon as she saw Luna leap forwards towards the platform with said lizard on it.

The creature reacted swiftly, it stood and as it did so a wall of lava began to form before it trying to block the incoming spears. Luna was able to get around it but the shield managed to block two of the spears before braking open and allowing the last two to fly through.

BOOM! BOOM!

They impacted a moment after the shield broke and struck the beast on its side as it had turned to face Luna. Large chunks of scales and flesh were instantly erased from the side and half of its front leg went with it causing the beast to stumble.

Not one to let such a chance go Luna moved in and went to deliver a stab only to growl in annoyance as the beast managed to tilt its head in such a way that Luna’s spear simply skittered away whilst failing to make any meaningful damage.

She was forced to back up and it lunged forward attempting to bite her but was unable to reach as it once more stumbled when its damaged leg gave out from underneath it.

Just as the beast was about to stand once more it was roughly forced back down when Violet’s body collided with it in a vicious pounce. Her razor sharp claws struggling to penetrate the think scales but with a whisper of void coating them they eventually found purchase.

It let out a bone rattling roar of both pain and fury at the situation it found itself in. However, by opening its mouth such it only worked to provide Luna with a clear spot to aim for. Her spear flashed forwards and skewered through the roof of its mouth and peirced through till it hit something important. It shuddered once before collapsing to the ground dead.

[Your group has defeated Lava Basilisk lvl 59 exp rewarded]

[You have leveled up]

Lvl 51-52

Agility - 103-106

Strength - 77-78

Constitution - 79-80

Intelligence - 119-122

Wisdom - 91-93

Taking a moment to catch their breath once more the pair looked up to plot out the rest of their route.

They had around 15 more platforms to traverse before they reached the far shore and of them over half stood with foes ready and waiting for them to challenge them. Letting out a weary sigh at the ordeal left to go the companions straightened up and moved forward once more, eager to finally be done with this accursed river of lava.

**

Eventually the two did make it across, they landed on the far shore quite ungracefully having spent themselves quite a lot in order to make it through the gauntlet of battles needed to cross.

Neither of them looked to be in great condition but thankfully no more foes stood before them and the not too distant boundary of this domain. Still they were battered, bruised and burnt in several places with quite low resources. Particularly Violet who had used quite a lot of her mana on the last couple of platforms.

The final one was particularly brutal as it was occupied by 2 elementals and another of the basilisks. Luna took the elementals and Violet battled the stupid lizard. Neither got out unscathed but they were alive, that’s the important part.

As they stood on wobbly legs slowly catching their breath they noticed movement to the side and saw as an equally battered and singed wolf landed several meters away. Evidently it too had completed its own gauntlet and most of its pack followed after it. Where once had been a pack of 8 including the alpha, now only stood 6. They had evidently lost another during the crossing.

The two groups eyed each other, with Violet and the Alpha staring at each other for a moment before the wolf broke eye contact first and trudged away with its beleaguered pack.

Seeing that Luna couldn’t help as a smile formed on her face as she gently nudged Violet’s side. "Looks like it recognised you as strong, don’t often see wolves brake eye contact first."

Violet just snorted and that before replying in a tired but happy tone. "Well I am awesome so it is only natural that others recognised me as such!" Luna couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle as she heard the arrogant reply. But she honestly couldn’t say she was surprised, dragons were quite prideful from her experience. Granted her only real experience with dragons was Violet so it might just be a Violet thing.

Her thoughts were interrupted as they felt the ground rumble slightly as the giant trunked beast also arrived on the shore to their other side. It looked over at them and seemed to almost nod in their direction before it too trundled onwards towards the end of this domain.

Smiling at each other the two companions followed suit both quite eager to be out of the blasted heat that still sapped at their strength.

Behind them more beasts slowly arrived on the shore. From the initial 50 less than 30 made it to the far shore from that initial batch showing just how dangerous the crossing was. From the denizens of the platforms to just missing a jump and falling into the lava. It was a dangerous place to be and some paid dearly for the rest to make it.

But their were naturally still more beasts that were looking to cross over the river of lava and before long another large group of beasts were once more gathered at the far shore as they watched more beasts of fire lay claim to the previously abandoned platforms. Before long the cycle repeated with an invading force of beasts trying their hardest to cross the river.