Trial of Combat
"What, I just have to push a button?" Duskheron's tail swished back and forth as she frowned at the Nightborne, unconvinced.
"Yes. But only if you do it at the right time," said Riplie patiently. "And kill everything but the Matron between here and the button in the third room, too."
"Right," Dusk nodded in confirmation.
Other assignments were passed out, questions answered, the normal pre-attack rituals made. Dusk snacked on some jerked mackerel she'd prepared earlier, and made sure her potion pouches were full and within easy reach.
When everyone was ready, the group stood ready, just outside the room of the giant deranged robotic watcher. Someone counted down, and then the group pounced on her. In her excitement, Dusk drove her weapons against the foe, letting the battle rage guide her actions in well practiced patterns of quick spells and physical strikes until Riplie called for the special assignment members to proceed.
Through the first gate they ran, the electrical sensation nearly knocking her breath out. Behind them, tainted remnants followed and the small group made quick work of them.
Dusk ran through the next gate by herself, killing the single remnant that followed her into that room quickly and then glancing around the room to find the button Riplie had described.
"Testing bacterial resistance to extreme heat." the watcher announced.
As Dusk stood waiting, listening hard for the call, suddenly the floor beneath her grew red and ovens roared to life.
"Dusk! Press it now!" She heard the call, and ignoring the flames between her and the button, punched it and watched the eerie, blue, flashing light dim. A quick request, and she was able to heal the wound. The fur would grow back eventually, she knew.
"Venting containment chamber," the oddly feminine robotic voice yelled, and Dusk felt herself pushed toward the still open flames. She turned and ran, switching to spirit wolf form to keep herself from sliding.
When the winds let up, she ran to the doorway separating her from the rest of the Grim, but she was unable to pass through the gate again. She watched as her team took down the watcher without her.
"System restored. Levels returned to secure thresholds."
The doors opened, and they were able to proceed further into Uldir.