Level-Up Apocalypse: Surviving With The Assimilation System

"Duck!" The voice of Magnus shouted from near the summit of the steps at the back.

Finn lowered himself just as a cannonball launched against the axe-wielding knight, releasing into bright-orange flames that soon turned to electric bursts.

["Spark Blast"]

The wrath from the cannon of fire and lightning brought the knight's armor to crumble further, revealing the hollow, blackened flesh beneath. While Alexander stumbled back with pieces of his equipment crumbling, Finn used the chance to create further strength:

"Replication."

The doppelganger formed itself from the black substance, moving alongside him–

["Blink Slash"] [2:59]

["Blink Slash"] [2:59]

Together, he crossed by the barely-standing knight alongside his replicated self. The combined strikes carved off another chunk of the brittle, once shining, golden armor. He didn't let up, stepping back in before the knight could regain himself.

["Death Flurry"] [2:59]

["Death Flurry"] [2:59]

He moved his arms rapidly, unleashing the series of quick, yet deadly slashes while his doppelganger followed his motions from behind the knight.

All the while, Jasper continued his incantation while holding onto his plunged sword; Finn sought to end the fight without needing it to be complete.

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With the final slash of the flurry ending, he used the last strike to infuse a deadly substance into his blade:

["Spider Bite"] [9:59]

He stabbed his venom-empowered dagger into the knee of the encumbered warrior, though as his doppelganger attempted the same, Alexander swept his dagger right through it. Finn retrieved his blade from the knight's leg, flipping back just as the axe was swept towards his midsection.

The Storm Knight lunged forward, faltering with the venom in his veins, "Eeeurgh!--"

Before the winds could be stirred by the spin of the axe again, the spellblade leapt up with her blade primed with a flash of red-and-blue light:

["X-Cross"]

A double slash created an "X" of radiance that slashed against the encumbered knight, disrupting the poisoned figure from swinging his weapon.

The unified attacks left the Storm Knight crumbling further, stumbling back as he once more collapsed to his knees. Decaying, bleeding, inflicted with venom; it was a feat in itself that Alexander remained breathing, but once more, the figure rose to his feet as though guided by unseen hands.

"If I am fated to fall, so be it…For this world, I shall crumble if need be," Alexander said, raising his axe to the occupied skies, his knees buckling as his wounded legs could hardly stand his body. "...Grant me strength, O' Sirius. On my name as Alexander, I shall give myself to this world–to your eternal kingdom."

Winds swirled around the eroding man, preventing any from drawing near, casting away the cannonballs that attempted to pierce the gale. With reverence furthest from empty, the Storm Knight looked up with his arms spread; the sky roared, crackling with thunder as if hearing his vow.

At the same time the Storm Knight sought the last embers of strength, Jasper met him the same with his incantation, "I hereby pledge myself to the service of the Holy, to the righting of wrongs, to the repulsion of evil, harkening only prosperity to those around me…Grant me the strength to bring light." Jasper declared.

["Knights of The Round Table: Galahad"] [Mana: EVAPORATED]

A cape forged of white light extended from the man's shoulders as symbols of such radiance bore themselves on his armor. As he withdrew his sword from the ground, the blade was utterly engulfed in a heavenly shroud.

"Woah, woah! Totally bright!" Nova yelled, covering her eyes.

It was hard to even look at Jasper in his current state, like a glimpse into the heavens themselves as he raised his shield in tandem with his sword, producing a pillar of light that shone down upon himself.

Charlotte stood by Finn, in awe of the heavenly form taken by their companion, "I didn't know he could do something like this."

"Yeah, he doesn't like to use it because of the exhaustion it brings afterwards, but the power it brings is worth it," Finn explained.

With the strength of divine light, Jasper stood before the Storm Knight, who dispelled the ring of wind around himself as instead, strands of magenta lightning coiled around his body.

Alexander stood without faltering, as though he did not feel his wounds nor his decaying flesh, empowered by the uniquely flowing element, "...O' Sirius, my King…Allow me to uphold my oath."

It was not a battle that any felt they could interfere in now; Finn knew that better than anybody as he watched the one bestowed the class of "Knight" approach a trueborn knight.

Jasper crossed the boundaries between himself and his foe with a single step, passing as a flicker of light. A slash quick enough to split raindrops was set for the Storm Knight's neck, though aptly blocked by the axe.

Like a phantom unbound by physical form, Jasper moved from one spot to the other instantly, dozens of times across a moment while attacking from every angle.

Even with such a quantity of slashes, Alexander moved as the magenta sparkles crackled on his limbs. The Storm Knight moved nimbly, unfitting for his decaying form.

"I can't even see it—they're fighting so fast," Charlotte remarked, trying to watch.

"Jasper is amazing like that…I doubt I'd hold a candle to him when he's like this, but what's up with that knight?" Finn asked, squinting.

"What do you mean?" Charlotte asked.

While they witnessed the clash of knights, Nova didn't observe anything as she kept her eyes covered at the sheer brightness of Jasper.

Magnus set his cannon down for a moment, bringing himself beside the others who could only spectate, "You've noticed it as well? Alexander should be on death's door, yet he's moving better than ever."

A stalemate continued as Jasper flickered around the courtyard, unleashing rays of light from his blade. All the same, Alexander sprinted and pivoted, using his axe to slash through each form of radiance.

What Finn noticed while watching closely were the sparks that arose each time the empowered knight of storms moved.

"Yeah," Finn nodded, responding to the cannoneer. "That lightning around his body—I think he's using it to manipulate his body."

"Is that even possible?" Charlotte asked.

"It's the only way somebody could still move around in that state…The electricity is jabbing into each specific muscle," Finn observed.

Magnus added in, "He's puppeteered his own body. I'd like to help, but seeing that…I'm glad Jasper is up to handle this."

"Didn't think I'd hear that from you," Finn said.

He found himself having to move back, as did the others, as the clash of brilliant radiance versus lightning scattered across the courtyard. Even if he wished to be able to jump in and help, the opportunity was taken away as multiple silhouettes emerged from the bushes around the sundered tiles.

"We've got company!" Nova called out through her microphone, stepping behind the other three.

"What on earth are those?--" Magnus pointed out in confusion and disgust.

They looked like toy knights, standing no taller than up to Finn's knee as he watched the small warriors rush in from the edges of the floating island.

["Sleuth Status"]

[Enemy Recognized: "Gnome Soldier of Alexander"] [Level: 30]

Brandishing silver armor of lesser excellence, the pint-sized warriors rushed right for them amidst the clash of knights.

"So cute!" Nova called out excitedly.

"More like creepy!" Charlotte responded, having to jump back as one of the small soldiers slammed an oversized greatsword down.