Headed by a Snake

Tycondrius needed to close with Guild Snowy Village's gorgon and defeat it as quickly as possible... but he could not allow the cloaked spellcaster to do as they pleased.

"I'll leave it to you, then."

⟬ ⌈Venomous Shadow⌋ activating... Reaction ability. A shadowy doppelganger appears behind the target, performing a single weapon attack. ⟭

Tycon's shadow materialized by his side. As usual, it was... nowhere near his target.

However, he had dealt with its eccentricity enough times to no longer question it.

It was equipped in spiky, shadowy armor in the Guild Letalis style. Different from his own, it was free of colored designs and heraldry and also had thin wisps of smoke drifting off the metal like steam. Its helmet, like all of its features, was smoky black... and two piercing golden lights shone through its single-slit visor.

The shadow nodded to Tycon before dashing off towards the mysterious mage, whipping a dark length of rope above its head, its end tied into a noose.

Tycon pursed his lips. He had to remind himself to stop being so surprised at his own skill activations.

...

Tycon defeated the second gorgon with the assistance of Letalis and Snowy Village, finishing it off with a ⌈Legionbreaker⌋ and Tanamar's ⌈Oath⌋ ability.

Unfortunately, in the few minutes it took, Guild Brightstar's front line was affected by their gorgon's petrification breath. Frozen into statues, the merciless (and petty) bull-centaur shattered the humans into bits and pieces with a few swings of its hammer.

It was an inefficient course of action. The Brightstar ranged line focused their efforts with renewed fervor... and desperation. That bought Letalis and the still-capable members of Snowy Village time to engage with the third gorgon.

Tycon stayed behind, taking note of the injured... Two of Salt's gunners had fallen. A young teenage boy was beyond saving, but the other was being nursed by Mister Lawrence. The large man had removed his helmet and was force-feeding the still-living young lady a healing potion. It was clumsy but full of care.

She'd live.

Duelist Ptolema had also taken injury, if superficial. It appeared she had fallen on her face and right arm, sliding a distance across the abrasive dungeon stones. If she were to get divine healing from Aria or one of her healers within the sun, it shouldn't scar... too badly.

She'd manage.

Barza Keith, the Lone Shadowdark lied on the stones next to... the Shatterspike longsword, his Dark Iron wolf-hammer... and a pool of what Tycon assumed was the Ranger's vomit.

He somewhat regretted the choice of mushroom soup for their earlier meal.

Tycon hurried to the young man's side to check on him, carefully stepping around the... vomitus.

Lone had been afflicted by the mystery mage's Second-Circle poison. While it hadn't killed him instantly, he was in a sorry state, his face pale and blood running freely down his nostrils.

He'd... he'd live. Probably.

"You uh... are you well, Mister Lone?"

"Y-yeah..." The bronze-skinned Ranger groaned... "I'm sure I got... somethin' in my bag... for this."

Lone reached for a side pouch... and revealed an empty potion bottle... "N-nevermind."

Tycon crossed his arms... "And your next plan?"

"Boss..." Lone loosed a string of agonized, hacking coughs... "Y-you... you gotta suck the poison out!!"

Tycon took a deep breath, "1: No. 2: In what Realm would that even work? You've breathed in poisonous fumes, not taken injury."

"B-boss..." Lone blinked tears out of his eyes... "I... I don't think I'm gonna make it... Beighhhh."

"Nonsense," Tycon reprimanded... though he was slightly less confident than he'd been a few moments prior, "It would be a shame if you died here."

The Ranger had only just reached Iron-Rank. He'd finally achieved a breakthrough that made him far more useful than he'd been previously. Tycon would be... inconvenienced if the young man died.

"L-lift me up..." Lone coughed, "I'm... not long for this world."

Tycon glanced at the bloody vomit dribbling off of the human's chin... "I'm not going to do that."

"Boss... please."

"No!" Tycon glared. "I can hear you just fine from here. Say what you need to say."

"O... okay..." Lone acquiesced...

"...Well?"

"I'm... thinking."

"People are still fighting and dying, I'll have you think faster, Mister Lone."

"Boss Tycon..." Lone grabbed at Tycon's leg... "I... I can't die without your permission... But... but I did well... r-right?"

"Yes, I suppose you did," Tycon nodded.

Throughout the sun, Lone had effectively played the role of a troubleshooter, roving amongst the various groups and assisting according to his own judgment. In doing so, he'd reduced the casualties not just in Guild Letalis, but in all guilds.

"Boss..." Lone twisted his face into a pathetic grimace... "R.. requesting permission... to die."

Tycon briefly considered his low mana reserves. He had already used his strongest attacks multiple times and had even activated his healing ability on Korr and Mister Lawrence. A third heal would overexert himself... and their escape from the Dungeon was not yet set in stone.

"Very well," Tycon nodded solemnly, "Permission granted."

"W-w-waaaait..." Lone cried out, "I don't wanna diiiiiie~"

"What?! Tycon shouted, "Then why would you ask such a thing?!?"

"I... I don't knooooww..." Lone sobbed pitifully.

"Tell me, then," Tycon groaned in frustration. "What do you have to live for?"

His ⌈Desire Trigger⌋ skill could boost the young Ranger's physical ability to resist and overcome the effects of the magical poison... and had a low mana cost. To improve the ability's efficacy, though, Tycon needed to hone in on the young man's desire...

What resonated within the Lone Shadowdark's heart? What could he believe in so strongly... that he could fend off death? Fame and fortune? The pride of a victor? Honor, perhaps.

What was the reason he rejected death? To continue to fight at his side?

"I..." Lone gulped... Judging by his expression, it was an action he immediately regretted... "I've... always wanted a girlfriend."

Tycon crossed his arms.

That was the stupidest desire he'd ever heard. He would have no part in it...