[SP-F5] This Endeavor

[Guest]

Shade put his sword away at his side and he walked forward slowly. Water still ran below him, only up to his foot level. He tried to get his vision up, blinking a few times to get his bearings. "A hidden passage..?" Shade said, walking to where the ne pathway was. Oddly enough, it seemed as though it was a square hallway, yet a wall must be destroyed to access it.

[Guest]

Shade began to walk into the darkness, the small pattering of water dripping around echoing around him. Water swished below as his feet moved, stirring it up and making a small splash with each step. Shade had to squint to see now, the darkness overwhelming now. It was, by any other word, just far too dark. Clearly this path was optional, with the secret entrance and <> Requirement.

[Guest]

Shade squinted to see and he crossed his arms. "Damn... I'll need to back-track to get a torch..." He said, not entirely in favor of going back over his steps. If he hurried, he may be able to avoid the bats before they respawn. Shade began walking back, thinking over what secrets the temple may hold. "There must be something of high value down here if they went through this much trouble..."

[Guest]

Shade walked through the hall, seeing one of the flickering torches in the distance now. Shade walked over slowly and pulled it off the wall, turning around and starting back toward the hidden room. Though Shade usually worked alone, he had slight longing for someone to accompany him. Preferably Shizuki, as she and Shade had good synergy. Plus, Shade could have used someone to argue with. Bats and undead don't do much talking, mostly killing.

[Guest]

Shade wondered what Shizuki was up to right now. More likely than not, she was sewing, or beating up on children. Possibly both. She was the only person Shade could tolerate, so he gained enjoyment from her to a certain extent. Shade realized he had lost focus of the real world and he blinked back to existence. "Even when I'm alone you're a distraction..." He mumbled, going double-time through the halls.

[Guest]

Despite being dark and under ground, the pyramid was actually very well heated. Shade tugged on the neck of his jacket, feeling it stick to his body from sweat. The fluffed collar was getting obnoxious too, making it even more heated. But, it was the only body coverage he had. Shade held the torch further away from him, hoping to dial down the heat. It provided small success, but it was still pretty hot. "Oh, angst..." Shade mumbled, walking on.

[Guest]

Shade was beginning to regret having a warm jacket be his clothing of choice. It was starting to get really hot and stuffy. Shade closed his eyes and sighed. There was no one else in this temple. Absolutely nobody could have found it by now. Shade slid down his menu and went to his gear, clicking on his jacket and unequipping it. With instant relief, Shade opened his eyes and felt cool air against his chest and back. "...Just a few minutes..." He said, airing out.

[Guest]

After a good while of cooling off, Shade re-equipped his jacket and started forward again. So far, he was really hating everything about this floor. This dungeon was a pain, the heat intolerable, and the monsters were a huge thorn in his side. Put all of those together, and Shade was one unhappy camper. "Where's that damn second ghost?" He said, walking down the dark corridor from before, now with a torch in hand.

[Guest]

Shade only took a few more steps before coming a halt. The hallway continued, but there was a chasm branching about fifteen feet across. The sound of roaring waters was audible down below. Shade looked forward, and then down below. "Now's a good a time as any to work on that <> skill..." He said, before dropping his torch into the ravine, seeing how far down it went before being smothered.

[Guest]

The falling torch fell for only about four seconds before hitting water, and being put out. A risky drop, but Shade may have enough health to make it. No telling what monsters inhabited the water, though. The question was, should he try and jump across, or dive in? "...Only one way of finding out..." He backed up, and then took off, leaping across, he then began plummeting, barely missing the ledge. Looking down, he was now able to see all sorts of spikes in the water, greeting him to doom.

[Guest]

Suddenly, he felt the ledge in his grip and he was slowly being lifted upwards. Shade looked over his shoulder and saw Burner rapidly flapping his wings, trying to prevent his master from falling. Shade eventually hoisted himself up onto solid ground, Burner now licking his face as Shade panted. Shade stood up and Burner looked at him, happy to have saved his master. "Go home, Burner... This is no place for you." The draglin looked sad, whimpering and putting his tail between his legs, walking out of the cave.

[Guest]

Shade then turned his attention back down the hall, ready to continue. He could have kept Burner around to create some flames for a light source, but going alone was for the best. Shade walked down the long hall, hoping not to see any more pits or bats. Those hadn't been the kindest to him in this dungeon. So far, he wasn't exactly making staggering progress. Only one ghost down, and there were three more out there.

[Guest]

And not to mention, Shade still had to guess what could be behind the door he was trying so hard to open. It could be a huge loot room, or it could be a whole room for a powerful floor boss. Shade would be fine with either, but he would much rather want the second option. Fighting an opponent of such power would be perfect for Shade to see his true strength, and to push himself to his limits.

[Guest]

As Shade thought, he didn't focus where he was going. He bumped into something solid in front of him, and he staggered back and looked up. A door. A large, stone door. Shade walked up to it again and pressed his hands against it, heaving upward and making it groan open, now revealing a large square room. "Seems I've found my destination." He said, walking into the room slowly.

[Guest]

As he entered, purple torches bursted to life all around. Shade could now see what the room looked like, and it seemed geared toward aquatic combat. The whole floor was water, with only a small platform in the middle. A small walkway connected the door to the platform, and Shade walked down it slowly, looking around as he arrived in the center. With a shudder, the walkway fell apart, and sank into the water.

[Guest]

Shade turned abruptly as he saw the walkway collapse, and he then turned back, now seeing a lantern rise from the water. A purple flame was in it, and eventually, an entire phantom came to existence, holding the lantern along with a long spear. Shade drew his sword and looked at the phantom, getting ready for battle. The ghost made a screeching noise, before flying back underwater.

[Guest]

Shade stood wearily before the phantom burst out of the water, rushing Shade and fiercely plunging it's spear into his chest. Shade's breath left his lungs and he staggered back, yanking the spear out and gasping to regain his breathing. The priest was crafty, even more so than the last one he had fought in the last room. And the enemy getting the first attack wasn't exactly a sign of good things to come, either.

Shade: 17/19

<>: 30/30

[Guest]

Shade regained his footing and got ready for another attack as Osiris rushed around below the water. Shade's ears perked up as he heard a quake of water behind him, and the priest launched out, stabbing him from behind with the spear. It rocketed through Shade's body and came out the other end, being caught by the phantom and then heading back below water again. Shade clutched his chest and breathed heavily.

Shade: 15/19

<>: 30/30

[Guest]

As if on cue, the priest lunged out of the water again. Shade quickly looked up and raised his sword, but his arm was grasped by strong, bony fingers. And then he was stabbed in the shoulder, the spear head being twisted before being yanked out again. Shade growled with pain, and kicked Osiris back, sending him into the water. "Damn... Not here..."

Shade: 13/19

<>: 30/30

[Guest]

Shade's breaths became a constant reminder of his infidelity as he fell to his knees. He looked up slowly to see Osiris looking down at him. Shade tried to stand, but the pain wouldn't let him. He then felt the bottom of the spear whack him in the jaw, sending him onto his back. Shade spit up a tooth, which clattered on the ground and then burst into crystals.

Shade: 11/19

<>: 30/30