Eyes locked, Snow and a large blue gargoyle sitting behind on the top of the arch slowly circled and watched each other. It wasn’t similar to the other gargoyles that came fluttering down from the sky, trying to pierce them with their metal claws. She knew this Gargoyle was different from the rest as it patiently watched from behind.

Snow didn’t realize this blue Gargoyle from the rest, because it was well hidden behind a column, but when she felt a threatening gaze from it, her eyes automatically honed in on the silent blood lust that wanted to devour her whole.

Both were trying to anticipate where and how the other would move. The Blue Gargoyle appeared as fit as ever for its small body that seemed about her height, but there were dark cracks littered down the right side of its face, giving it an intimidating look.

The blue Gargoyle had sharp metal claws that could shred through the very column wall, while Snow’s claws had the advantage of strength. Even if she too could slice through rocks, it wasn’t sharp enough like the blue Gargoyle’s claws that seemed well sharpened.

“What are you doing?” Dairen called out towards her, he was entangled with a few gargoyles by himself, which he dispatched one after another.

“Buying time,” Snow muttered, keeping her body relaxed so she didn’t jerk any motion that gave the blue Gargoyle a hint of what she would do next.

“Do you need help?”

“Not yet.” Snow shifted in weight and twitched her tail, causing the blue Gargoyle to spread out

its wing in response.

It let out a chatter of metallic clicks, swooping downwards to impale Snow in one go.

Snow lunged forward, meeting claws and sword in hand. They disengaged, allowing Snow to have a bit of a time to compensate for her loss of balance. The blue Gargoyle climbed back up, hovering in the air. It cackled impatiently that it didn’t kill her.

A swoosh of an arrow shot towards the blue Gargoyle - dark energy tornadoes around the wrapping around the very arrow. The blue Gargoyle tilted barely out of harm’s way, but it's miss threw its balance out of the air.

Snow took this chance, she reeled back her sword as if it was a spear. Putting all her weight forward, a blaring light magic wrapped around it, giving it a halo effect. Without a second thought, she flung the spear in one powerful swing.

The sword flew straight towards the monster’s right-wing. With a loud thunk, she snapped off the Gargoyle’s wing in one hit and embedded itself in the column. A metallic screech wrung out loudly as the blue Gargoyle fell. A crunching sound followed after, leaving a deep indent in the ground.

“Nice throw,” Dairen shouted, once again he was entangled with another two gargoyles that were bent on keeping him and the others away from the blue gargoyles. Even Mike was having trouble getting near as they seemed to multiply by the dozens.

Snow jumped forward, her claws charging with light magic. Her heart excitedly palpated at the

vigor of the fight ahead. The huntress had found her prey, and she was not going to let it get away.

The blue Gargoyle rolled to the left, but with consequences as its other wing was destroyed in the process as Snow’s claws shredded through.

From their exchange, it was obvious that Snow was outpacing and outclassing the blue Gargoyle’s own attack and escape. Even with its decapitated wings, the blue Gargoyle did not sit back.

With a hiss, it let out an angry growl, standing up thumping its tail.

Snow suddenly felt a rise in magical energy, surrounding the blue Gargoyle. It was sharp and

drastic, making her shoot straight forward.

Swords of light formed around her, shooting straight at the blue Gargoyle similar to a Gatling gun, one after another, to obliterate its opponents.

With an unnerving roar, the other gargoyles that were fighting the Players shifted targets, they flew towards Snow in the attempt to stop her.

The Sword of Lights flew out all around her, protecting her in their attempt to kill her. It was a bloodbath as more and more gargoyles fell to her blades of light.

Mike and Dairen jumped in to assist.

Dairen arrows flew through the air, hitting true as the gargoyles fell one after another. His summons fought alongside him, taking a good third of the monsters with him, allowing the Players to take better control of the battlefield. They quickly got the hang of the things that were happening, adapting to the flow of the monster's attack with their own.

Snow tried to grab the Gargoyles arm to yank it towards her, but it’s tail smacked against her hand. What was stunning was that the blue Gargoyle attacked back with a magic cast of its own, taking away the potency of her light swords.

Almost all of it was disabled, turning them back into the air.

Mike lunged in from the right. He fainted in and out, close to Snow, whipping his sword around.

The gargoyles fell, becoming a mound of broken metal.

“To the right!” Snow shouted towards Mike, who unconsciously followed her directions.

His sword blocked the Blue Garoyle’s tail that was harpoon shaped.

The tango between Mike, Snow, and the Blue Gargoyle, becoming much more intense.

For several minutes, the three exchanged blows, trying to disrupt each other's rhythm as the Blue Gargoyle surrounded itself with its own magic. Shields after shields wrapped around its body, making its own skin stronger than before.

Snow had to increase the proficiency of her magic just to get through a thin layer of its skin. She was surprised at the potency of its defensive magic, making it harder to break through.

It was a game of checkers, slashing, punching, kicking, pinpoint accuracy, while the Gargoyle countered back with its own magical defense of its own.

She knew that the Blue Gargoyle’s magic wasn’t vast, she could see that the flow of its magic was deteriorating faster than before.

“Give it more blows!” Snow shouted. Mike took this as a cue. His sword moved around him even more fiercer than before. It was almost a blur of lines, but just as fast as he hit, the magical skin blocked most of his attack as if it was nothing.

Frustrated at how easily he was being stopped. He pulled back, allowing Snow to run in.

Snow’s sword of light danced in vigor, slashing the skin in rapid succession that it was getting hard to follow. Her claws were lucky enough to graze through some of its metallic skin, which bleeds silver.

Mike kept his guard up, watching for a chance to lunge in to assist. The game of cat and mouse was becoming a stressful fight.

The Blue gargoyle tail whipped around, smashing against the side of Snow’s chest. She let out a puff of air that escaped and bent over from the pain. She didn’t expect the sudden attack from her blind side that completely caught her off guard.

Mike rushed in, blocking the second tail whip that would have hit her head and knocking her out.

“Thanks.” Snow whizzed out a breath of air. She grunted, getting back up. She glared at the Blue Gargoyle for its painful attack, silently cursing for her own revenge.

“I got your back, always.”

“Follow behind me,” said Snow. She ran forward, ducking out of a second tail whip.

She then twisted and saw the Blue Gargoyle arcing towards her neck, the harpoon tail a glittering thick line. She knocked it aside with a clumsy push with her left claws barely grazing her neck. Then she retaliated with her other hand, grabbed the tail with such force, and thought her shoulder would dislocate her shoulder if she didn’t brace herself.

To her grim delight, Snow held true, yanking the tailback towards her. It wasn’t easy, she thought she would break her wrist, but the strength she mustered was a short burst.

Her claws failed to strike through the Blue Gargoyle’s skin, but the impact still allowed her to throw the Blue Gargoyle onto the ground.

Mike took this chance, he jumped upwards, sword above his head. Powerful lightning coated his blade with a scarily static. His sword came crashing down, striking the Blue Gargoyle’s chest.

With a shudder, the Blue Gargoyle reached up to pull out the sword, but Mike didn’t budge. His feet stomped the Gargoyle’s chest, twisting it in an ugly knot.

A weak cry escaped the Blue Gargoyle’s lips as it died with a final twist.

Snow pulled back, she jumped up to grab her sword on the column, pulling it out. Her hand felt a bit naked throughout the whole fight. She regretted it a bit that she didn’t have it with her the whole time, but she was glad that she caused its downfall.

“I didn’t expect that.” Mike pulled out his sword, jumping off the Gargoyle. “Hoarding mentality….”

The gargoyles that were rushing towards them squawked and ran away, leaving them alone as they could not overcome the Players themselves.

“At least you guys killed it.” Dairen came over, “the other gargoyles are running away as well.”

“Yea…” Mike sighed. He was drenched in sweat. “I hope there aren't more of these flying bastards roaming around.”

“Let’s not jinx it.” Dairen chuckled. He was already on his knees, breaking down the Blue Gargoyle into chunks of pieces as if he was pulling apart metal bricks.

“This is only the beginning.” Jacob came over, he was beaten pretty badly, which Angie came over to heal him.

“Your cryptic message isn’t helpful,” Dairen grunted. He put away most of the body into his storage, leaving only a puddle of silver.

“It’s true,” Jacob cried out, he was looking a lot better than before.

“Well, it's time for you to spill on what’s truly going on here.” Snow walked over, putting her sword away.