Chapter 10

The power of magic stunned everyone aside from Gandalf, both the players and movie characters included. So it seemed like the players weren’t the only ones who hadn’t seen much, such powerful magic was rare to even the natives. This power was beyond what a living being should be able to obtain. It belonged to the forces of nature.

There was a long pause before Boromir yelled. “We must leave this place. If Saruman weren’t to summon another attack of this caliber, there’s no way for us to survive. We follow the path ahead to the Gap of Rohan. Then pass through West Emnet to my city. We will be safe there.”

Aragorn disagreed. “No. Rohan is too close to Isengard. His magic can reach us in this distance. He could even send his orc army out. We can’t go through the Gap of Rohan.”

Gimli said. “If there’s no way up, then take the path down. I have told you many times to go through Moria. The territory belongs to my cousin, Balin. We can pass it safely. I swear.”

Gandalf was breathing heavily. He slowly turned to the gorup. “That magic takes a long time to prepare and consumes a large quantity of energy stones. He can’t use it again in a short period of time. However, it wouldn’t take long if we stay here like this. You decide, Frodo. Which path are we going to take?”

They were carrying the Hobbits on their backs. The Hobbits were shivering from the cold. They had the weakest bodies and it looked like they couldn’t withstand this cold much longer. Frodo looked at them then opened his mouth with great difficulty. “We go through Moria.”

No one objected to the decision of the wielder of the One Ring. Zheng wanted to bring them over one by one with the Nightmare. But after seeing the magic, he couldn’t be certain that Saruman wouldn’t strike them again. He had less than 50% chance of surviving without Gandalf’s barrier.

Everyone quickly backed down from the snowy mountain and they finally let out a sigh of relief. The stress from that environment was heavy. No one was able to relax with Saruman waiting to use his magic on the side.

There was a short path leading from Caradhras to Moria. This path would take them a few days. So in these few days, their minds were extremely focused. They had to avoid being detected by the crows and be prepared for the possible incoming magic despite Gandalf reaffirming them there was no more to come for now. They group arrived at Moria, the lowest point of the valley. Next to the cliff was a pool. Those who remembered the plot knew of the Watcher in the wateer. This beast would force the Fellowship into the Door of Durin then it would destroy the door.

Gungnir went near Zheng and said. “This will be the first battle in our agreement. The Watcher is certain to contain an energy stone. According to our agreement, whoever kills the beast gets the energy stone and rewards. Okay?”

Zheng nodded. “Alright then. We will both attack as soon as the beast shows itself. But also keep an eye on safety of the rest of the members.”

Gungnir said. “Yes. That’s why I looked to you for cooperation. My powers tend to spread out to our teams. You can more readily protect them since you are a close range fighter. No one else worth working with me with the power of Ice Age.”

Zheng simply smiled in response. Everyone would think their own abilities were the best. His Explosion and Destruction weren’t weak either. He didn’t bother trying to explain. “I am curious. Even if Ice Age is powerful, how do you fight normally when you don’t use energy stones?”

Gungnir laughed. “You are underestimating me. I am a high level Devil Fruit user, especially the most expensive Logia type. It is said that on the fifth stage, I will be able to control all the forces of ice in the world. I could possible freeze a continent at that time with the unlimited amount of energy. Anyway, let’s give our best in this fight.”

Zheng shrugged. He followed at the back of the group. They walked toward the wall.

Gandalf was examining the wall. “Ithildin. This is an enchanted metal that only appears in moonlight or starlight. It will also react to certain words.” As he was speaking, the cloud cleared up and moonlight shone to the ground.

A trace of silver light in the shape of a door appeared on the wall. There were dozens of special rune words inscribed on the door.

Gandalf let out sigh of relief. He pointed his staff at the silver door and read the words. “Ennyn Durin Aran Moria. Pedo mellon a Minno. Im Narvi hain echant. Celebrimbor o Eregion tethant. I thiw hin.”

A Hobbit asked. “What do you suppose that mean?”

Gandalf smiled. “If you’re a friend, you speak the password and the doors will open.”

His staff remained pointing at the wall and he spoke in an unfamiliar language. However, nothing happened after his words.

Gandalf was surprised. Then he chanted another spell. And again, the door remained shut. He seemed rather annoyed. He walked to the wall and pushed it while muttering to himself. “I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves… Men… and Orcs.”

The Hobbit asked again. “What are you going to do, then?”

“Knock your head against these doors, Peregrin Took! And if that does not shatter them, and I am allowed a little peace from foolish questions, I will try to find the opening words.” He went into a rage and yelled. Then he sat by the wall.

The veterans of course knew the plot and the password. It was simply the word friend in the tongue of the elves. Someone from team Northern Ice Land said. “It seems like a riddle. Just speak friend and it will let you enter.” He was about to say it but Gungnir grabbed him.

Gungnir said. “Don’t disrupt Gandalf. Let nature take its course. Let nature take its course!” He stressed his last line and shut that person up. The other veterans also didn’t say anything. They would eventually enter the door anyway.

Time passed slowly. Gandalf couldn’t solve the password. The rest of the group sat on the rocks to rest. The Hobbits were the only ones busy. Three of them were searching for things on the ground. They found a long tree branch then attached a string and worms. They were planning to fish in the pool.

After they cast the bait into the pool, Aragorn came to stop them. “Do not distrub the water. The three of you stay still.”

Merry shook his head and said. “We only have rations. Why don’t we try to fish for a better meal? What can be there in the water? Mermaids?”

He didn’t notice a tentacle swept across the surface of the water. Everyone only saw a shadow. Merry was excited. “See, a big fish! No one had been to this place in such a long time. There’s definitely lots of big fish inside. Just you wait for your meals.”

“Maybe we are the meal.” Aragorn drew his sword. A few seconds later, several tentacles exposed themselves. An octopus like beast appeared in front of them. The beast was over fifty meters in length, much bigger than shown in the movie.

The octopus shocked most of the group. It appeared all out of a sudden and its entrance was breathtaking. Gigantic objects were always breathtaking to look at. The octopus’s body was over fifty meters.

“Uh. This isn’t the fish I am fishing for.” Merry said. He seemed dumbfounded.

Gungnir was standing nearest to the water. He submerged his hands in the water then pulled out two ice spikes. He threw the spikes at the octopus.

It obviously didn’t expect the humans to attack so fast when it just came out of the water. The spikes pierced into its head and a tentacle before it reacted. Despite the sharpness of the spikes, the throw was lacking in power. They only went a few centimeters in before they stopped. The attack did not cause much damage.

The octoups howled in an appalling voice being hit. It quickly went toward the shore. The tentacles swiped at Gungnir. By the looks of it, the force from the swipes would kill him if they hit. Gungnir yelled. “Save me! Zheng!”

Zheng sighed. He realized why Gungnir picked him for the alliance. His attacks were flawed. They required energy stones and they left big openings in between moves. So the attacks were powerful but borne huge risks. Gungnir needed someone to bear the risks.

Zheng didn’t avoid his responsibility. He had to do his part since he agreed to the alliance. He stepped in front of Gungnir before the tentacles hit. Tiger’s Soul reached out and slashed the incoming tentacles. He raised the sword to attack the octopus’s head. The light blade extended to ten meters long. It would cut off a part of the octopus if it hit.

However, Gandalf yelled. “Get away!”

Ice spikes formed in the air next to the octopus. The spikes shot toward Zheng as he swung his sword. If he were to continue with his attack, the spikes were going to pierce both him and Gungnir for sure. Zheng was shocked. He immediately pulled back the sword to block. The light blade also covered Gungnir’s front. All the ice spikes hit the light blade.

Zheng paused as if something struck him. He seemed to have discovered something strange. He stared at Tiger’s Soul. But the octopus didn’t stop. Its tentacles swept at the two of them from all sides.

Tzz. Legolas and Heng both used Explosive Shot. The arrows underwent an impact on the way then shot into the octopus’s body with unperceivable speed. Then they broke their way through the body and out from the other end.

Despite critically injuring the octopus, Zheng was still staring at his sword. Gungnir gave a shout as he charged at the octopus. The water froze with each step he took. He took several steps forward, clenched his teeth then leaped at the octopus’s body. He got on the body before the tentacles got him. Its body began to freeze from the point of contact. In just a few seconds, a quarter of the octopus had turned into ice.

Things were straightforward from this point on. The group quickly finished the octopus off now that it was injured and frozen. Gungnir got the kill as he wished. He revealed that he got 3000 points and a rank C reward. There was also a rank C water attribute energy stone in the body which made him smile.

Zheng was still spacing out as he stared at the sword. Xuan sat down next to him. He was eating a white fruit unique to the Lord of the Rings world. Its taste was fragrant. The fruit was white as jade and had recently become Xuan’s main dish. “I know of your agreement with Gungnir. Even though you are being used, you won’t lose out much due to your strength. It also increases our relationship with team Northern Ice Land. That’s why I didn’t stop you. I am curious what made you give up on the rewards. I need to know the details as soon as possible. So I can plan accordingly.”

Zheng finally shouted with excitement. He laughed out loud and didn’t care for the others looking toward him. He took off the Dragonshard necklace then said to Xuan. “Shoot me with your Gauss pistol.”

“Oh.” Xuan didn’t hesitate and slid a pistol into his hand. He pointed the pistol at Zheng’s head which scared Zheng’s face white. He was only just raising his sword. “Wait. Wait. At least give me time to prepare. Wait for me to say go.”

He channeled his Qi into Tiger’s Soul. The light blade extended out. Then he said to Xuan. “Go, shoot wherever you want!”

Xuan didn’t know what holding back meant. He fired multiple shots all at Zheng’s head. However, an invisible shield blocked the bullets. The Gauss pistols weren’t as powerful as Zero’s rifle but they were still powerful. They could kill the bugs in Starship Troopers with ease but couldn’t break through Zheng’s defense. Ten shots later, Xuan stopped.

He frowned. “Barriers would show themselves in a translucent manner when attacked. So this can’t be a barrier ability hidden in Tiger’s Soul. The only possibility is that you changed the shape of the light blade and turned it invisible.”

Zheng laughed. “That’s right. When the octopus attacked me, I subconsciously enlarged the light blade. So I thought that the light blade might change its shape according to my will. I tried it and it indeed works. Ha. I am going to be invincible with this. If I cover my whole body in the light blade then attack in Explosion and Destruction, nothing can beat me.”

Xuan put his hand over his forehead. He suddenly felt a strange sensation despite having no feelings. “How much time did you spend shaping the light blade to cover your body just now?”

Zheng thought for a moment and said. “About a second. Less than two seconds.”

Xuan nodded. “How much Qi did it use?”

“About 20%.” Zheng was getting guilty. He noticed the flaw to this method.

Xuan continued calmly. “You said that once your Qi turns into light blade, it will dissipate naturally. You can’t convert it back to Qi. The light blade lasts less than ten minutes. This means assassins like Zero and Heng counters this ability. They just needed to find that one second vulnerability and you are dead. Furthermore, the light blade is tough but there is history of it being shattered. If your enemies have those type of magical items, you are also dead.”

Zheng’s excitement died down. He smiled bitterly. “I thought this ability is going to be effective but it’s of little value in the end. I was too full of myself.”

“It’s not of little value. Your effectiveness doubles in the ten minutes before it disappears. It’s also a good survival ability. Try to increase its cast speed. If you can reduce the time to 0.5 seconds, the flaw will be gone. You will only have to worry about magical attacks and attacks that are too powerful.”

Xuan wasn’t as harsh as usual. He actually consoled Zheng. This surprised Zheng. Just then, the movie characters called for them. Frodo solved the riddle on the door like he did in the movie. They read friend in the tongue of the elves. The door to Moria finally opened.