The air crackled with tension as the group departed from their meeting with Matthew Gondor. In the aftermath, Marin voiced his concerns about revealing their identities, warning of the dangers posed by their enemies. The party reached a consensus that their upcoming confrontation with the duplicate Matthew should not end in death, agreeing to hold back unless provoked. Marin confronted Matthew about his earlier disclosures to his duplicate, worried that connections to Lord Onyxchest, his pursuer Aretha, and Ajax could compromise their safety. Matthew defended his actions, explaining that he needed to confirm his identity in the face of such an unsettling encounter.
As they strategized, Gorda questioned the morality of their mission, prompting Marin to clarify that their targets were cultists, demons, and undead—beings he did not consider people. With hours to spare before the match, they debated whether to investigate further into Rosemyne or Lord Onyx Chest. Specter stealthily slipped away to eavesdrop on Matthew’s preparations, while the rest remained in the main area. Lady Antkeep recounted the cursed history of the Onyx Chest family, revealing that Lord Onyx Chest had traded his daughter Rosemine to a devil for power, which could explain the turmoil surrounding her return.
The arena buzzed with anticipation as the announcers introduced the Hellbreakers. Matthew boldly proclaimed there was only one true Matthew Gondor, and the fight began with Matthew striking first, only to have his attack thwarted by the other’s anti-magic shield. Marin quickly targeted the enemy tactician, Miser, disrupting his line of sight. The battle escalated as Gorda pressed the attack, and Antkeep unleashed powerful magic against Miser, leaving him severely injured. Amidst the chaos, Marin taunted their foes, while Gorda transformed into a panther for an advantage.
As the fight progressed, Gorda knocked out Miser with a nonlethal blow, while Antkeep struggled against the Conduit and Ghislaine, who dealt heavy damage to her. Despite the pressure, Matthew retaliated against his duplicate, but Ghislaine and the Conduit continued their assault. Antkeep’s quick thinking allowed her to teleport and heal herself, while Marin continued to provoke their enemies with insults. The tide of battle shifted as Gorda and Spec worked together to take down Ghislaine, leaving the opposing team with fewer options. Matthew focused his efforts on Matthew Gondor, but the latter’s holy retaliation kept him on the defensive. Antkeep’s magic began to phase out their enemies, leading to Ghislaine’s eventual disappearance.
With the battlefield clearing, the remaining foes were left vulnerable. Spec and Gorda pressed their advantage against the Conduit, who struggled to maintain his footing amidst the chaos. The opposing Matthew Gondor, now desperate, attempted to engage Matthew directly, but the latter’s holy judgment proved too strong. Antkeep targeted the opposing Matthew Gondor with her magic, while Marin and Spec coordinated their attacks against the Conduit. In a decisive moment, Marin knocked out the Conduit nonlethally, choosing to refrain from further strikes to respect the duel between the two Matthews. The party stood ready, their resolve strengthened as they prepared for the next phase of their confrontation.
Threads to Watch:
- The implications of Matthew’s revelations to his duplicate.
- The fate of Rosemine and her connection to the Onyx Chest family.
- The potential consequences of the party’s decision to hold back in the fight.