The glaive came crashing down upon what it found, my head manifesting, but my head had just managed to dodge it. Good thing these things seem to use standard combat logic. I’ve been fighting things that would threaten you, almost beckon you, to commit. Legit, Locke's Step book is the shit. And he’s kicked my ass back again more than a few times than I think that’s worth explaining…

So he picks up this blade and it goes swoosh past my face. Inches from where I’d pick my boogers. With my tiny little fingers. 

The sound of the air is pretty loud, it’s a warning call for what’s about to fall. These guys are such amateurs. Do they even listen to the sounds of their surroundings? Do they even see the things that are happening around them? Tunnel vision is the greatest division in a battle of wits and I’ll never have any of it.

This is what’s going through Corin’s head as she dodges through an animated guard's attack as they track through the long hallway. The stone beasts have come alive and wish for our friends to die. They don’t feel so bad destroying Claymation statues. But should they?

Locke grabs Corin by the neck of her shirt and urges her hurtling through the opening to a larger room just ahead. Nora stands back watching them in amazement of what they’re capable of. To think things could move like that is astounding. 

Locke’s sword hasn’t been unsheathed; he's been using it as a defensive mechanism blocking attacks hoping it doesn’t leave a scratch on his Japanese made steel.

(it doesn’t.)

In the air to their despair Corin throws her legs to declare dominance over the goblin armament attacking them. She’s hit it three or four times in the chest but the armor does divest that all things that go into it aren’t harming.

“Fuck, they’ve got armor and I’ve got shoes.” Corin states aloud. 

“I know I don’t wanna break a sword slashing at armored knights for no good reason.” Locke replies back. 

“We need something else. I need my gun. I left it by Nora. I thought we could handle this without wasting ammo.” Corin confesses.

“We’ll genius it’s become clear we are in the shit so let’s be clear use everything at our disposal.” Locke admonishes. 

“I know!” Corin screams back as she tumbles back to the ground. Tucking and rolling back to Nora’s side again. 

“So there is a room up ahead. I need my gun.” Corin states. 

“I’ve been listening and observing,” Nora replies. 

“Right. So you’re conserving your magic or what?” Corin asks. 

“Well it took a lot to get those weapons for you, I'm kinda recharging.” Nora confesses, pushing her hands together.

“Okay well, if you can do me a favor and bring out one more thing I’ll save us from all this danger.” Corin replies back. Standing up and brushing herself off. Locke is in the foreground blocking attacks and keeping them off balance. Locke’s still in female form of course and she’s getting visually pissed.

“Hurry the fuck up im an expert not magic.” Locke screams at what makes up the doorway. 

“Okay okay…” Corin sits back down cross legged and begins to think. “Nora, do your thing. I’ve got an idea.” 

“Okay…” Nora concentrates and is almost bitten instantly. She pulls her hand back from Corin’s mindscape. “What was that?!” 

“Oh my gosh. You gotta let it know it’s me. Tell them “Pudge, Corin needs you baby.” 

“Pudge, Corin needs you baby…” Nora thinks as she does it again…

Out from Corin jumps what would resemble the perfect example of old lady Nebula’s ancient summons. A dire wolf-like creature made of Aether. 

“Oh by the gods…” Nora screams out loud. “You’ve access to her lady summoner's retinue?!”

“What?! No, that’s my dog Pudge. He’s my baby. A hunting dog. I need him right now. Trust me.” Corin replies back. 

“No, I believe in you. All of you now.” Nora confirms. 

Corin whistles and Pudge does turn around and comes to her. Tackles her and starts licking her. She’s been missed. 

“Okay okay I know I know. I love you too.” Corin states. “Now go help Locke I’m gonna get my gun you know what to do.” 

Pudge nods and barks and runs to Locke’s direction. It’s taken aback for a moment by her completion. Stops and looks back at Corin. 

“It’s Locke. Smell them.” Corin assures. 

The dog sniffs as lock is parrying another heavy blow from another glaive-dealing statue come to life. 

“Fucking hurry up you stupid mutt!” Locke screams. 

It’s him. The dog nods and begins to charge barking and fainting at the robotic creatures. 

“I gotta be careful quick. I gotta be fast. Gotta give them the gas..” Corin is chanting to herself in front of Nora as she puts the clip into the receiver and locks and loads. Grabbing the other two clips from out the bags side compartment and putting them tucked away against herself. 

“My gun is starving…” she says spayed out on the ground looking down at the iron sight and then you hear that sound. 

Bang!

As if a rocket went off the top of the marble, the head comes off and it crumbles apart.

“Yes!” Corin hisses. 

Locke is covered in soot from this endeavor but grateful. 

“Just watch your aim.” Locke states back at them. Locke is framed in this moment from the light of this new room silhouette if you will. Hand and sword standing with crumbling guardsman fumbling about them. 

The big dog Pudge next to them wagging their tail waiting for the next new orders. 

“Perfect.” Corin replies. “Nora I’ve got eyes, you either stay clear of me and this shot or you go to Locke and get into the thick of it but whatever happens try to match our pace. Please.”

That’s when an arrow lands next to her head. Thank the gods she might be dead if it hadn’t hit an inch away from where it landed.

“Shoot, Locke, they've archers now. I’ll try to take them out. Concentrate on the melee fighters.” Corin shouts out. 

“You know I can connect our minds. So you don’t have to let them know what we’re doing.” Nora suggests. 

“No, she’s in Locke’s head. We need to be scrambled eggs.” Corin replies 

“She seems to be protecting him.” Nora states.

“Yeah, that’s why he’s going in first. Which means our position is really precarious. We should probably be expecting anything to happen.” Corin states back. 

Nora fumbles about and throws out a barrier just in time to block their demise as the walls exhaust a vent of fire. 

“Holy shit.” Nora states. Holding the flames at bay behind them.

“Yeah, get used to it. We're in danger now.” Corin replies. Trying to figure out which of the statues are using arrows and shooting at them. “Protect me from behind. I’m looking forward, keep the spells off me. I'll be shooting things as Locke progresses.”

This is where we meet the breach. Locke and Pudge stand before an expanse. A Colosseum like you’d see in Athens. Gladiatorial arena. 

“Shit. I was made for this.” Locke says to themself. So mad about how alive his heart feels right now. 

The Coliseum fills with Heads remaining shills as they cheer on the display. 

“Are those souls of people she’s caught in her web?” Locke asks themself. 

Yes my darling. Little starling. We’ve been waiting for this extravaganza! I promised them a good show so put one on or they’ll be disappointed and we’ll loss what power we need to defeat that diamond king…

“Damn, so I am going to be fighting lions.” Both Locke and Corin say at the same time.  They’re locked in for this fight.  

Obstacle 47. Make a Bet