You can't adapt, because you have no idea what's hitting you! They're going too fast for you to track!
BIO-3: Emergency protocol
You harden your skin into a solid mass of incredible strength. Now you're immune to stabbing and slashing, and it would take several tons of force to crack this shell.
You still can't adapt! There's something inside you, but you don't know what it is! And because you solidified your skin, you can't move! You feel yourself... getting weaker... with each moment...
You're ready for the strife of your life. You follow Ken into the belly of the beast, prepared for the oncoming battle. Today, one way or another, someone is going to be getting the most serious beating of their life that their grand kids will be feeling the bruises...You just hope that you're not that person.
Amanda nodded along with what Charlotte said and started searching for any source of life by searching for any active thoughts. She made sure her range was large so she could detect even the faintest of thoughts.
........
Shadow: Grip weapon
Shadow, feeling anxious and nervous, gripped the handle of her weapon that lay in the middle of the two blades and looked around nervously. Castles weren't usually this deserted...right?
DANG IT YOU FORGOT TO DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR DAZE!!! NOW, EVERYONE HAS A BETTER WEAPON THAN YOU AND MORE FRAYMOTIFS AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE WHY MORE USEFUL THAN YOU!!!! UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURGH!!!!
You grab Afrien's hand and speed up time, getting you both out of the cavern, before aging the support columns and cieling, causing them to cave in, setting off a few more explosions. Anything that was in there is dead. You head back to Ken's group, just in time.
"Hey friends. Looks like we didn't miss anything."
Okay, let's start this list of confusing things. A deserted castle, check. An Alchemiter on Derse of all places, double check. Now all you need is a dancing jester to put on top of this list of unexplained things.
"Uh, yeah...I'm not going anywhere near that thing....they could have booby trapped it....and I am not risking my awesome bow fur it to get blown into smithereens." Amanda said, holding her bow protectively against her chest as she glared at Ken.
........
"I have to agree with Amanda. It doesn't seem like a safe bet Ken...what if they did rig it to go off if used?" Shadow asked, looking at it with fear and worry. Someone could get hurt if that was the case.
"I don't see any signs of it being trapped. It looks safe. Tell you what, I'm gonna use it. Afrien, if my lifespan changes at any moment, shout and I'll get the heck out."