Chapter Three Hundred And Sixty Five - 365"What's goin' on here?" Captain Gregis slurred. He didn't bother standing like those near Felix. "Ioldo! Stop the screamin'!"
"Hethis little townie attacked me!" Ioldo cried, clutching his broken finger.
"Oh really?" The captain stood...or tried tohe found his footing less than stable as he pushed up from his bench. He swiped his hand as if looking at his System interface. "Wha...what'sInebriated. Poisoned!"
Goddammit.
Gregis roared from his half-leaning position over the bench. "They spiked the barrels!"
A wave of rage roared through the Paladins, shoving the lot of them to their feet, no matter how drowsy or drunk. Spectral flames flickered over the captain, a corona of light that burst in all directions, sweeping across his people and leaving behind pieces of its fire. Clarity surged back into their dulled eyes.
Plan B, then!
Felix let loose a burst of strained laughter, drawing every single glare in the crowd. "Yes! I spiked your booze, you giant...stupid...idiots! You think you could oppose the Prince of Kaldis?"
"Kaldis? That fop?" Gregis bellowed. "I'll wring your neck and send it back to the Prince on a platter! Kill that man!"
Deception is level 29!
The Paladins charged.
Relentless Resolution!
Felix dove and twisted, evading three crossbow bolts by a hairsbreadth. He rolled to his feet, already running as Paladins converged on his space. More bolts and javelins sliced through the air seconds later, clattering against the flagstones. Fire bloomed behind him as Felix ran, just ahead of their attacks. Back to the gate toward town.
"He's tryin' to escape!" someone shouted. "The Light Advances!"
"The Light Advances!"
A chorus of voices all cried the same wordsa Skill, Felix quickly realizedand the light of a hundred burning blades charged and swung down. Felix leaped forward, his Strength and Agility easily keeping him out of range as the light and fire Mana slagged a molten hole in the parade grounds.
"How's he so fast!"
"Close the gate!"
Squires scurried among the battlements, and one kicked out a release lever on the winch. The portcullis crashed down cutting off any escape, and the Paladin's roars turned to jeers. Yet Felix didn't stop, but accelerated.
And blew the thing apart.
Corrosive Strike!
Corrosive Strike is level 60!
Acid Mana and pure Strength hit the portcullis, warping the metal and tearing it free of the wood and stone enclosure. It fell with an almighty clatter and Felix sped over its toppling remains, his footsteps sure and easy so long as his Relentless Resolution held.
C'mon, jerks! Follow me...yes! Felix cheered internally as the Paladins poured out of the ruined gate, heedless of the destruction Felix had wreaked, focused only on ending him. Pit squawked angrily, wanting to be let loose on the warriors, but Felix refused. They don't need to know about you, bud. I got this!
Felix slowed, letting the Paladins overtake him a little. Flaming swords and bolts of light flashed by him, brilliant with heat, but he dodged aside even as he heard Gregis start laughing contemptuously.
"See? He cannot run forever! Stand and fight, Kaldis spy! We'll show you how the Hierocracy deals with sabateurs!" The big warrior leaped a final time, his massive armor lifting off the ground to eat up a good forty feet of distance and landing in Felix's way. "You'll never escape!"
"I was just trying to get away from everyone else," Felix said.
"What?"
Cardinal Flame!
Mantle of the Infinite Revolution!
Fire and cold spun off from Felix's body, the red-gold motes striking each and every one of his pursuers. It seized them with a blaring flash of light while a dire chill poured outward from his channels, coating the path around them in jagged ice.
You Have Enthralled A Paladin Of The Pathless (x45) For 10 Seconds!
Mantle of the Infinite Revolution is level 50!
Journeyman Tier!
You Gain:
+10 MIG
+10 INT
+10 END
Rime Shaping!
Spurred on by his Shaping, the ice surged from the roadway, climbing up the Paladins' legs in a flash.
Rime Shaping is level 23!
Rime Shaping is level 24!
"You!" Gregis tried to shout through his immobile mouth, but ice soon coated that as well, leaving only his eyes and nose free. Felix grinned and took off, back toward the fort.
"Time to go to work!" Evie cackled. Her chain snapped like thunder, sweeping two Paladins off their legs. "Take em out!"
Her team moved at the same time Felix drew the zealots' attention, securing Palis and her workers while a few stragglers tried to attack. Evie disposed of them with relish, her chain making joyful loops of violence while the others threw bolts of fire and spears of air and force around.
Reap the Maelstrom is level 73!
Chain Mastery is level 74!
"Thought they were drunk and drugged!" Atar shouted, Imbued Sparkbolts whirling around him. He stood near one of the shattered wagons, his eyes scanning the parade grounds.
"They are! Were!" that tavernkeep shouted back. "Blessed Siva, that was enough to down an army!"
"Not this army, clearly!"