As the adventurers delved deeper into the shadowy confines of a library, a surge of energy animated the runes hidden among the bookshelves, launching a surprise attack against the party. In the chaos, Makiri swiftly maneuvered to strike a nearby rune. Her initial blow missed, but her second attempt landed with reduced effectiveness, revealing the rune’s immunity to bleed effects. Meanwhile, Agatha repositioned herself to support Markuss, casting Life Boost and granting him guidance for the battle.
Markuss advanced to engage the runes directly. With a deft double-slice, he critically struck one of the foes, slowing its movements. Ferro dashed into position and unleashed a spellstrike, while Makiri attempted a backstab, inadvertently destroying part of a nearby bookshelf. As the combat escalated, a rune unleashed an electric blast at Markuss, narrowly missing him, prompting a retaliatory strike from the doppelganger.
The runes proved formidable, casting Mantis Grasp and ensnaring Makiri, while Markuss and Ferro sustained damage but managed to avoid full restraint. Agatha faced electric blasts from the runes that missed their mark, while Makiri evaded a similar fate. The tension heightened when Makiri struck again, landing a solid hit before disappearing back into the shadows.
Markuss continued his assault, slicing through the runes with precision, though his strikes sometimes compromised the surrounding environment. Ferro utilized Electric Arc to strike multiple foes, albeit with limited success as they evaded the brunt of the damage. The runes retaliated with devastating attacks, including Divine Immolation, which both Markuss and Ferro narrowly escaped.
As the skirmish progressed, Makiri’s agility allowed her to maneuver atop the bookshelves, delivering critical blows to the runes. Agatha cast healing spells to bolster her allies while maintaining her protective wards. Markuss, regaining his mobility, continued to disrupt the runes’ actions, leading to a series of coordinated strikes that ultimately dismantled the animated foes.
With the last rune defeated, the party regrouped, tending to their wounds and securing the area against further incursions. During their search, they discovered a hidden door, which Makiri proposed they explore. Markuss kicked it open, revealing a descending hallway that led to an expansive circular chamber, characterized by its high ceilings and a mesmerizing teal vortex at its center.
Stealthily, Markuss, Makiri, and Ferro entered the chamber, only to be confronted by Sir Rhysaphine, a fiery winged guardian. He accused the group of colluding with a mortal intruder responsible for havoc in Elysium and threatened to destroy the chamber. In response, Makiri clarified the schism within their order and assured him of their intent to confront the true threat. Ferro’s display of strength further bolstered their claims, and the group pledged non-aggression towards Sir Rhysaphine’s allies, seeking to protect the portal rather than destroy it.
After a tense negotiation, Sir Rhysaphine granted them conditional access through the portal, warning of dire consequences should they pose a threat. With introductions exchanged, the party stepped into the vortex, traversing into Elysium. Upon arrival on the Clashing Shore, they were greeted by the sight of a titanic armored being engaged in battle and the distant lighthouse serving as a landmark. The pristine sands around them showed no signs of recent disturbance, prompting Markuss to take to the skies for an aerial reconnaissance of the towering lighthouse, which featured open windows fitted with brass spyglasses and a rotating light beam scanning the area. The adventurers stood poised at the edge of their next great challenge, ready to uncover the mysteries that awaited them in this divine realm.