Ranryu

Welcome! Glad to have you!

"That's clearly not a good thing." Wynn looked disappointed. "I would offer to try and get it out, but there's a high chance I would accidentally kill him. Tors, any idea what that crystal does?"

Wynn bit her lip. "Maybe I can help." Despite the situation, if felt good not needing to ration her use of Shadow Magic. "Shadows, bind." A dark mist appeared and entered TAAron's wound. "There. With all three of our powers combined, this has to work."

Wynn gasped in pain, but her newly abundant power protected her. "Lerac. Heal TAAron!"

"Nope no no no!" Wynn ran and tackled TAAron away from Malum.

Spekkio got up, but didn't reapproach. "Forgive me. I am not permitted to fight another god, even one as pitiful as Malum." Wynn scowled. She couldn't hit Malum without hitting TAAron too. "Lerac, we need a healer!"

Wynn grinned wolfishly, her shadow writing behind her. Spekkio butted in, grabbing Malum. "What is the meaning of this? This is my territory, you failure of a god! I will not tolerate you trespassing in my home!" Spekkio shook Malum for good measure.

"Here Shark! Come ride with me!"

Wynn looked around. "I think I'll follow you on my duel runner. Just in case."

"Wait give me a second." Wynn breathed in, and the energy emanating from her disappeared. "Don't want anyone getting zapped on accident."

"Ah, don't worry about it." Wynn said, rubbing her head. "I only ever murder people who deserve it." "Most political problems can be solved with a well-placed murder" Wynn dismissed her duel runner. "Okay, how does this form of travel work?"

Wynn stuck her tongue out at him. "I didn't leave you. You're here now, aren't you? Besides, you and Shark clearly needed some bonding time." "There we go! Now, who can I murder?" Wynn's shadow suddenly seemed to have more substance. "Don't worry, TAAron. I think Spekkio's helmet has the power of illusion. Right?" "This is true. When wearing it, you will appear to be a harmless child."

"Ppft." Wynn smiled, energy almost rolling off her. "I'd like to see you try to stop me. I have a tracer on Haly. My duel runner can follow her to any dimension she goes." Wynn lowered her voice. "Don't worry. She's just confused, remember?" "Hey, Spekkio, can you bring Lerac and Shark over? It'd be easier that way." Spekkio nodded and the two suddenly appeared in front of everyone.

Attagirl Haly! "Hey guys, could we move this conversation to a safer dimension. Perhaps one without space daemons that are trying to eat us!?" Wynn felt great. That energy bath was exactly what she needed. Now she could actually use her Shadow Magic!

"You caught me! Excellent work!" At that moment, Wynn returned to the arena, looking energized. "Thank you, Spekkio. I understand now. TAAron, you ready to go back?" Suddenly, Spekkio returned to his small fluffy form. "TAAron, as reward for passing my test, I'd like you to have this helmet." Spekkio handed TAAron a simple metal helm. "It may not be able to totally shield you from that mockery of a god Malum, but it can help." "Ah, new visitors!" Spekkio seemed delighted. "Unfortunately, you missed seeing TAAron pass his test with flying colors." Wynn summoned her duel runner to the arena, then noticed Haly and Sykel. "Uh... I won't even ask how you got here. My runner only seats two. How are you guys getting back?"

"Interesting. Now, back to the task at hand. Catch me, young warrior!" Spekkio ran inhumanly fast, his armor clanking loudly.

"And why do you think that is?"

Spekkio stopped running. "Ah, you found the gold. What do you see?"

The blue troll melted away, leaving an armored knight in his place. "Good, but not good enough!" Spekkio suddenly dissapeared, rematerializing a few yards away. "You have sixteen metals. Try some of the other ones."

Spekkio shivered, and suddenly TAAron was looking at a squat blue troll. "Excellent. You recover quickly. Now come and get me!"

"Good! Very good, little warrior!" Spekkio's voice deepened slightly as he took another massive bound across the arena.

Spekkio giggled. "Catch me if you can!! The fluffy god took a huge leap and landed on the other side of the arena. "Unless you use those metals, you'll never catch me!"

Wynn nodded gratefully and ran off. "Nothing scary, don't you worry! Just a simple game of tag! The test will end if you catch me, or whenever Wynn returns!" The god of war leaped in the air with excitement. "Oh, and you may want to drink this!" Spekkio handed TAAron a vial of metals.