>>6320396The dark fog continues to thicken, pouring out of the shattered remnants of the sword and clouding the very sky itself. Though the image is still faint, you’re able to make out something in the courtyard with you, hovering above Elric’s prone form. A monster has appeared. The very image of evil itself, and for some reason, you can’t help but feel as though you’ve seen before. It stands almost ten feet tall, clad in strange armor held together with chains. In its hands, it holds two curved swords, both crafted in Morfisian style. A skeletal face fills its ornate helmet, and though its eyes are hollow, they regard you with a hateful red glow all the same. Mystletainn’s true form has yet to materialize, but it will soon.
You couldn’t leave Elric here. Perhaps under different circumstances, the boy might have been able to share some insight with you as to how to defeat this creature. But as it stood, you had no doubt the spirit would use Elric against you. And you didn’t think you could fight at your maximum potential if you were stuck babysitting the boy, who appeared completely drained upon Mystletainn leaving his body. You run up to Elric and turn him over. He was still breathing. HIs slitted eyes regard you with some measure of shock.
“T-Tristain…sorry…”
>“For what? When you wake up, ask them to take you to the Fodlan Embassy. The others will be waiting for you.”He nods weakly, and you remove his badge, watching as the boy vanishes before your eyes.
“Contestant Number 58, Elric, has been defeated by Contestant Number 59, Tristain, on Floor 18!”
>“Hey, asshole! You’re watching this, aren’t you?! How is this allowed?!” You point towards the spirit, which was becoming more real by the second. Kosmas does not answer you, but you didn’t expect him to.“FINALLY! AFTER A MILLENIA, I WALK THE EARTH IN MY TRUE FORM ONCE MORE!”
>“That’s a lot of waiting around just for me to kill you as soon as you get your first breath of fresh air.” The notes hadn’t been kidding. The monstrous Mystletainn that was before you was definitely a notch above the one that had been possessing Elric. Even inside the confines of the tower, the illusions themselves seemed to bend and warp at this thing’s presence. You’d come to this land seeking good fights. You expected they’d be against other humans though. Not whatever this thing was. But beggars couldn;t be choosers. And if Xenophanes could beat this thing, you obviously could too.“YOU SENT THE BOY AWAY. A FUTILE GESTURE. I WILL HUNT HIM DOWN IN DUE TIME.”
>“I can see why you preferred hiding in his body. You are one ugly fuck.”Mystletainn slashes his swords, and a gust of wind blows through the arena.
“YOUR JAPES BETRAY YOUR FEAR. COME. I WILL HAVE YOU BEGGING FOR DEATH.”
