Mathew took a steadying breath. “It’s only a Novice floor. It can’t be that bad, however we are in for a shit storm.”
Agnox on the other hand, let panic overtake him. “We should just leave. There is no way we three can take on twelve whole hours of enemies.”
“Firstly, Five. You forgot the wisps. They are just as strong as Jeffery. However I agree. We need to find others to team up with.”
Mathew looked around, somewhat regretting coming here alone. “We are too far away from Elizabeth and her team. That’s assuming they didn’t go to the next floor already.”
After thinking and looking around, Mathew pointed toward where the terrain starts to increase in elevation. “Agnox, we are heading that way. Find people, any group. I’ll take over the conversation. Once I mention rituals, and my sheer overwhelming power, they would be idiots to not let me join them for such an event.”
Agnox flew off, seemingly faster than usual. To avoid death was a great motivator. Mathew didn’t slow down either, he took off at a brisk pace toward his destination.
Mathew already was going over ritual formations in preparation. There were two rituals, maybe a third he was going to use. Firstly was the campfire ritual. Alone with no modification, it was simply a campfire that would stay ignited until the mana ran out, or he dismissed it.
However, he can combine it with a ritual that causes an item to glow with light. On paper, it seems redundant. In practice, it causes the entire area to become lit in all directions. He was thankful Agnox purchased mana cores, because this ritual will need a Beginner tiered core.
The other two were dependent if he was in a group or not. If he was alone, the Silence ritual might be useful here. Yet, he doubted it would work against enemies sent by The System. The way the quest was worded caused him to think this was more than a test.
The last one was a trump card. The third ritual given by his upgrade to the [Ritual] skill was a trapping ritual. Any enemy who walked into it, can trigger either a simple trap that came with the ritual. Or he can have it trigger another ritual. So far, he hasn’t found a good use for the latter part.
None of his rituals dealt direct damage. Although, the idea of summoning a weapon right into the person was interesting. Mathew shook his head and focused on the task at hand.
He reached the peak of the hill and searched. Relying upon the trick he learned earlier today, he infused mental energy into his eyes and enhanced his vision. He could see further with more clarity. “Piercing Gaze has a nice ring to it for naming the way I'm using the Axiom. This is bordering on the power of a skill or ability.”
Mathew almost missed a plume of smoke among the trees. It was far, easily an hour or more in distance. Yet it was his best hope.
“Agnox! This way, follow me.” Mathew took off at a sprint.
----------------------------------------
Kris Bolotin stared at the pyre of the two recent fallen warriors. He told them to not be over ambitious, but that is what happens when people don’t listen to his orders. Yet, they still died in battle, and traditions must be honored, even if they have to grow around this new world of theirs.
With little effort, he picked up his giant sword and heaved it onto his shoulders. He was glad to have cut his blonde hair before coming in here. It would have gotten in the way too many times.
“Kris, what are we to do about tonight?” One of his men asked. There were only seven of them left. All Level 15 or higher, yet all were still Beginner rank.
“We form a barricade. Start chopping trees. We will funnel the beasts through choke points.” Kris turned to their second highest level person. An archer named Albin. “Albin, you have the best eyes. Set up a tower, and your job will be to warn us of any surprises.”
Everyone set off to work. They had only hours to prepare. With their newly enhanced bodies, it was plenty of time. A rudimentary log wall was slowly being built up. Three entrances were formed, wide enough for two men to stand side by side.
“This would be easier with Jonathan. He was our only Earth manipulator” One of his men grumbled.
“He just had to go and die, the idiot.”
Kris slapped the two upon their heads. “Don’t speak ill of those who just died. Even if your words are true, the spirits can still listen and curse us. We don’t need more bad luck tonight. At this rate, demons will appear.”
The two gulped, not wishing for demons to show up. Their clan had dealt with enough of that. First bugs that can turn into other people, next would be demons or worse.
A shout from Albin alerted the entire group. “We got someone running up to us. With a wolf at his side, and a flying red creature as well.”
“Are they alone?” Kris asked, looking to where Albin was pointing.
“Yes. He is.”
Kris nodded and walked toward where someone was approaching. The person probably saw the fire, and wished to team up for the upcoming night. He wouldn’t be against it, if the person was honorable.
It didn’t take long before a man wearing blue robes came to a halt. Next to him was a red furred wolf that was the size of a kitchen table. Flying through the air was a winged demon. Kris narrowed his eyes. “Greetings stranger. I hope you are not here to cause problems for me or my people.”
The man brushed his brown hair off his brow, he didn’t look exhausted, but merely acting as if he was. “Oh, I was actually seeking allies for tonight. I assume you and your people received the same warning?”
Kris nodded. There was something off about this man. Not bad, but powerful. “He’s at least Level 20. We don’t need frontliners, another ranged combatant would be perfect.”
“We did as well. I hope you are not looking for free defenders. We don’t allow cowards to fight among us. Also, I hope you realize I am not speaking your native tongue, it’s an ability. It allows me to speak and understand in all languages.”
The blue robbed man just nodded understandingly. “Of course, I found it odd how you spoke, but that makes sense. As for helping to fight, I am more than willing to do so.” He gestured to his two companions. “As you can see, I am a hybrid caster and tamer. These two came from a dungeon and are under my control. If you are worried about dishonesty, we can always come to some sort of agreement. Yet I feel like you are a bit more…sensible. You seem like the kind of guy who doesn’t stab another in the back.”
Kris let out a chuckle. “No, no I’m not. Yet, you seem to be that very same kind of person.” He crossed his arms, staring down the so-called mage.
“Your words hurt me, and I don’t even know your name.” He stepped forward with an outstretched hand. “You can call me Val, it’s short for Valrix.”
Kris did the same. “Kris, of Clan Bolotin. My family leads the survivors in what was Sweden and the other Nordic countries. You are an American, yes?”
“That I am. Near the North East. Heard of Virginia?”
Kris shook his head, “I never learned too many of the state names. Just the main ones from movies, like California or Texas.”
“What about New York?”
“Ah the one near Canada and the giant waterfall, yes?”
“I’m close to there. Anyways, I would rather not face tonight alone. We will do better to fight together. I can set up a ritual to keep the area lit for us all, if that is enticing enough. I promise you Jeffery, my canine companion is quite the fighter. If you have us, we will fight with you all.”
Kris just couldn’t shake the feeling that this man was lying to him about something, but he couldn’t tell what it was. Instead, he forced his Axiom outward and down upon Valrix. Not to harm him, but as a warning.
“I’ll warn you, I don’t take kindly to those who are a danger to my clan. I’m their leader, and it’s my duty to protect them.”
Kris has done this a few times to those who questioned his position as leader. Not because he wanted to be leader, but because he had to. It was his duty. If he wanted everyone to survive, someone needed to lead.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
He expected Valrix to fall to his knees, or at least react the same way as everyone else. Axioms were a way to show who you really were. Kris’s own Axiom of Sanctuary wasn’t an offensive force. Merely defensive and heavy.
Instead, Kris felt a more powerful force fall onto him. He barely struggled to not physically react. Immediately he pulled back his own Axiom to use defensively. “He has an Axiom of his own? And it’s more powerful than mine! There is no way it’s Apprentice ranked. Unless…”
Valrix smiled down at Kris, “And I don’t take kindly to those who threaten me or my people either Kris. I think you and I will get along very well. I remember your name from the leaderboards, you are another Apprentice ranked member.”
The two stopped pushing their Axiom’s, and silence filled the air. Kris let go of Valrix’s hand. He glanced once more up at the flying demon. “Very well. You can join us. Anyway you wish to help will be welcomed.” He gestured for Valrix to follow him. To walk next to him preferably.
He didn’t want to be in front of this man, but he wouldn’t want to be behind Valrix either. That would be admitting defeat.
“I appreciate the sentiment. When this is over, and we are both alive, I would like to talk shop. If you are a leader, I think we both can walk away very happy, and a little bit stronger.”
----------------------------------------
Mathew finished drawing the last touches of his ritual. The symbols were hard to draw on the soft ground. He knew it wasn’t perfect, and will take more mana from him personally to activate it. If not for the fact he was only using it for a single night, he wouldn’t be attempting it here.
“Okay everyone. Once I activate this, the entire place will become very bright. Not blinding, but just prepare yourselves.” Mathew said more as a nicety than an actual warning. They could understand him, but only Kris could communicate with him.
Yet, he suspected at least one more could talk to him. It seemed odd that the group of seven would only have one person with a communication ability.
Mathew also found Kris entertaining. He was all for being nice and not pulling any tricks due to the severity of the night up until Kris pushed at him with his Axiom.
That was the wrong move to use on him. Kris’s Axiom was weak. Pathetic. It was like trying to put out a fire with your own breath. Mathew then pushed back down on him. He used [Enforce] on the man.
Mathew somehow felt right using that Axiom in such a way. As if he was using it the correct way. He would need to reflect upon that later when he had a chance to cultivate. Right now he was preparing for a twelve hour hoard.
Agnox hovered close to him. Mathew didn’t need to be dishonest and hide him. Mathew wasn’t taking risks. However, he will only summon one of his wisps. It was time to give Wispy more practice on faster attacks.
The area they will be defending in wasn’t sturdy. Yet it had plenty of room for Mathew to fight. He could throw bolts through the air then arc them downwards and take out enemies swiftly.
His goal was to survive, and gain something as always. Possibly even a new ally in the outside world. Kris was strong, which meant his alliance would mean great things once they could meet up and trade.
It would take a while, but Mathew felt like he could manipulate him for his own purposes. At worst, Kris wouldn’t be an enemy. At best Mathew would have a useful friend.
Once the final item of the ritual was in place, Mathew placed his hands on the outer circle. “Okay everyone, please take a few steps back. I rather not see anyone get hurt or worse because you disrupted such a complicated and dangerous method of using magic.”
He was, of course, partially lying. From experiments, he knew a ritual that was disrupted would cause some magical backlash, but nothing deathly. He was the only one who would receive harsh punishments, mainly in heavy mana drain.
The ritual came to life after a heavy mana price. Mathew would have to use his ring and mana stored in his rod to bring him back to full after this. Light filled the entire area for several feet. Shadows soon faded away giving everything a very two dimensional look.
It was slightly off putting. However Mathew was satisfied. “Better than expected on the results.”
Kris patted Mathew on his shoulder. “Good work. I’m being honest when I say I am surprised. Your symbols look similar to the enchanters back in my clan.”
“Enchanters?” Mathew asked.
“Yes. The Bolotin clan is old. When The System arrived, we realized some of our older texts that we never were able to transcribe could finally be understood. It talked about magic. My cousin has a rare class known as Shaman. He can use those symbols to manipulate and enhance the natural order of things. It’s truly interesting how you also did so.”
Mathew just smiled and nodded. “Maybe he and I can talk and trade notes. However, for now we should finish preparing for tonight.”
There were only two hours until nightfall. Mathew put Jeffery’s armor on. Again a few of the Swedish men were impressed with him. Kris laughed at the design and mentioned a certain Norse god and his wolf child.
When he summoned a wisp, that’s when the playful moods of the others turned serious.
“You plan to lead us to our deaths?”
Mathew was confused, then glanced at Wispy and back at the men. “Ah right, Will-O’-Wisp. Didn’t think they would take it seriously, but magic is real now.”
“It’s my other summon. Wispy is the strongest summon I have. Without him, I’ll be unable to help as much.”
Kris just shrugged. “Fine, fine. But don’t get any wise ideas. You are making a lot of things appear out of nowhere. Next thing an entire army will appear from your pockets.”
Mathew couldn’t help himself, and summoned [Doozkora’s Rod], “Sorry, I’m just a man with many tricks. You will find them all useful to our survival tonight.”
“I’m sure we will. Just fight with us all night, and you will have gained our respect. Are you finished preparing us Valrix?”
Mathew nodded, “Of course.”
Kris looked over at his men. “Let’s begin the war chants, and finish preparing ourselves in that case.”
An hour later, Mathew realized Kris had a rare or even very rare level class or profession. The buff that was applied to everyone was incredible. It reminded him of Henderon’s buff, but on a far stronger level.
Mathew tried to get answers but Kris shrugged him off. “You have your secrets, so do we.”
Night was almost upon them, the sun was setting. Everyone was in position. Mathew was on the ground in the middle, able to see out every exit. Jeffery’s role was to play backup. If one side was overrun, he would run up to help out. Agnox was sadly going to play a more ranged role due to the limited space. Yet, Mathew knew the imp wouldn’t let that slow him down.
A gong sounded as the last of the sun went over the horizon. The area they all stood in remained lit thankfully.
Stillness filled the environment. Not a single sound was heard.
Moments passed and everyone was on edge. One of the men muttered something.
“Hush. Don’t let your guard down.” Kris snapped at him. Mathew agreed, this was suspicious. Surly by now, something-
The man on top of the structure shouted something. He aimed his bow and shot a flaming arrow.
Mathew watched as it sailed through the darkness. Trees were temporarily seen then disappeared before it landed on the ground.
A series of malformed shapes came into view. It took a moment for Mathew to realize it was a boar, a panther, and a wolf. The same three creatures that have been roaming this place and he has been killing the past week.
“They are corrupted it seems.” Kris muttered.
A demonic screech filled the air, and the swarm of monsters charged forward.