The automaton slashed at Aralynn with a heavy glaive, the weighty blade at the end of the pole swooshing through the air as the deadly weapon spun with profound martial prowess, driving Aralynn backwards.
It was all Aralynn could do to dodge- parrying wouldn't do her any good, especially when she only had a flimsy kitchen knife. That wouldn't do anything to stop the glaive.
Her companions weren't doing much better, as they also dashed through the diner, exploiting every obstacle they could find.
A blow struck on top of her and she barely managed to avert the blade with her kitchen knife, but it was flung aside.
Shit. Think, think, think! Aralynn desperately backpedaled as she was driven back again and again, trying to find a way to get out of the situation. Luckily, she had more mobility and was able to weave around the diner tables, apologizing profusely to the patrons as she leapt from one table to another, her wings flaring out every now and then. Unfortunately in this room, even if she took flight, the Automatons would still be able to reach her with their polearms.
"Phew…" Aralynn's eyes flashed green as a subtle glow covered her body.
[Agility Lv. 7 has been activated!]
[Your movements flow with the wind.]
Using the skill, Aralynn darted away with newfound speed as she tried to exploit openings on the automaton. Finding one, she rushed forwards, landing a roundhouse kick. The automaton seemed unfazed and moved to grab her leg.
Aralynn darted away. The automaton kept up its assault, but Aralynn now had more openings, harassing it bit by bit.
Getting an idea, she retreated, leading it towards the open part of the cave with the waterfall. Glancing back at the waterfall between dodges, it looked as if there was a significant distance between the waterfall and cavern wall. As her back bumped against the rope railing, the automaton chasing her raised the glaive, preparing for a final blow.
And that's when Aralynn jumped off.
She fell backwards down the cavern in the pocket of space between the stone wall and the roaring water.
"Aralynn!" She heard Perona shout out.
Here goes nothing, Aralynn thought. Through her superior vision, she could make out that the automaton had turned its back to her as she fell further and further.
She buffeted out her wings, stopping her descent.
[Agility Lv. 7 has been activated!]
[Your movements flow with the wind.]
[Dexterity Lv. 18 has been activated!]
[Your senses have been heightened, and you now have complete control of your body, exceeding humanoid limits.]
[Weak points of your enemies are now visible.]
[Your body responds to your every command.]
Aralynn breathed out, flexing her newfound control. She then shot up from her fall like a meteorite, tearing back into the cavern in a blur. She noticed the automaton she had been fighting glowed green at the neck joint, and was on its way towards Perona.
Aralynn narrowed her eyes.
[Might Lv. 1 has been activated!]
[Your muscles have been enhanced, allowing you more power than before.]
Aralynn smashed into the Automaton with explosive speed, wrapping her arms around its neck before it could react. Aralynn backpedalled with her wings, dragging it backwards with her towards the waterfall.
The party looked positively shocked.
Why are you all shocked? Aralynn thought snarkily. I can fly.
Even with her skill active, the automaton put up a fight that Aralynn could barely handle. Mustering up her strength for a split second, she pushed it into the waterfall. The poor construct had no time to yell or grab for the ledge as it was immediately engulfed in the frothing water, consumed in the waterfall's way to the bottom of the basin.
It looked like most of the patrons and chefs had been escorted out; that was good. Aralyn didn't want anyone presumably innocent getting hurt because of them. Grabbing the glaive that the automaton had dropped, she ran towards Amon and another automaton that was pressuring him. As the sword-wielding automaton's back was to her, Aralynn brought the hefty glaive down in a crescent arc, cleaving into its back.
Damn, this thing is so heavy. Aralynn continued swinging the polearm, but it was clear that she wouldn't last long as the automaton turned its attention to her.
"Amon," Aralynn yelled over the sound of sparking and clanking metal as blows were traded. "do you mind getting that fucking exit door open?"
"On it." Amon sprinted for the exit, his hands already reaching inside his cloak, grabbing lockpicking tools.
Aralynn counted her swings as time swept by and her arms grew heavier, fending off the automaton.
On Aralynn's first swing, Hadarai had managed to shoulder-bash an automaton and grab its weapon.
On the second, Perona buried her knife into another automaton's throat.
On the third, Amon reached the door.
On the fourth, Grango had been grazed by a spear.
On the fifth, Amon was jiggling his tools at the lock.
On the sixth, the door flung open.
"This way," Amon shouted. He held the door open as the party started retreating. Hadarai pushed an automaton back, spearing its shoulder before bolting. Grango managed to trip the ones after him as well. Perona, however, made a mistake.
Perhaps it was because she hadn't fought much, or perhaps it was because she was fumbling for her lute, trying to cast a spell to heal Grango's leg- but she turned her back to the automatons after her.
One raised their hands back, preparing to thrust its halberd forwards while the other rushed forwards with its saber flashing.
SHIT- on pure instinct, Aralynn activated her skills once more in quick succession.
[Agility Lv. 7 has been activated!]
She closed the distance to Perona and her pursuers in one step.
[Dexterity Lv. 18 has been activated!]
Her eyes glowed as her body responded to her every command. The paths of the saber and halberd swung through the air as if in slow motion.
[Might Lv. 1 has been activated!]
Aralynn blocked both strikes in a single swing, flinging the automatons' weapons back.
"Aralynn!" she heard Perona yell.
"Don't stop running!" Aralynn commanded. She fended off blows before managing to push both Automatons back. Flapping her wings, she flew for the exit, snatching up Perona on the way. Perona yelped, but let Aralynn carry her. Amon held the door open.
"The rest have already gone," he yelled. "We're waiting on you!"
The sound of more automatons storming into the room could be heard behind Aralynn. She landed by the door and dropped Perona. They raced through the doorway and up a rough hewn spiral staircase of what appeared to be granite.
Amon slammed the door shut, twisting the lock.
"Thought you were a goner," Amon joked. "Glad to have our angel back with us, yeah?" He smirked. "In all seriousness, you had us there."
Aralynn smiled as they ran up the stairs. "My bad."
She then felt a punch on her arm. It was Perona. "Don't ever fucking do that again." Aralynn couldn't see her face well in the torchlight, but it didn't take a genius to forget she's upset.
"Sorry…"
"Dummy."
"Alright, lassies. Less talking and more running! Your apologies can come later." Amon reminded them.
The automatons were at the door, and there was pounding before they could hear the door creak open, then the thunderous stampede of footsteps down the curve behind them.