As Wolf launched himself toward the next set of enemies, I stayed as far back as I was able. While I did not need an enabler to put myself in more danger, Tanya had filled that role pretty quickly. Of course, I could choose to not use the idol… but that seemed wasteful.
Indeed, as Wolf taunted and slowed the gathered crab-men, my cards illuminated the air with their glow. Cut through the ruddy chitinous shells of our foes with little issue. In truth, being a fully fledged Party solidified how powerful we were. For the most part, Quinn didn’t even need to get his hands dirty aside from if a monster tried to flank the bear.
The added buffs and utility gave us more breathing space to approach combat without it having to be life or death. Tanya would weaken and curse the enemies from afar, or add resistances and healing to Wolf and Quinn, while Ren and I pelted any opponent from afar with our ranged attacks.
“You know…” I said to the elf, as Wolf mopped up the last crustacean, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you miss a shot.”
She raised a questioning eyebrow at me. “Why would I take a shot that was going to miss?”
I couldn’t really fault her logic there. Why would I ever do a trick that I couldn’t pull off? Few of our targets moved around a lot or were particularly agile, so with her old world experience plus the bonus skills given by the System, hitting what she intended to was probably very simple.
With the addition of Roger and the occasional Hellhound+ we were really blazing through the chambers of this place. Despite being underground, it was illuminated by odd plant life that shone just as bright as any lantern. The occasional small waterfall or lake ran through otherwise sandy rock rooms. Humanoid shrimps used giant seashells as shields. It was all very jarring, yet made sense at the same time.
“You alright, Max?” Tanya asked, weaving a spell into the air to poison the group we were fighting against. “Looking like you’re expecting a knife in the back.”
Part of me had considered that giving me this silver idol would be an amusing way to betray and kill me quicker, but that seemed so far behind us now. Our effectiveness in battle was the reward for giving our trust so freely.
“Last time we ran a dungeon,” Ren interjected, “we were ambushed outside and almost died.”
“Ah, yes.” Tanya gave a grim nod. “Were any of you treants, as well? That would have made it difficult.”
My brow furrowed. “From the water? No, we didn’t drink any.”
“Smart. Two of my old Party did. It was a trying day or so before it wore off.”
Ren and I exchanged glances, but didn’t want to pursue that conversation any further. If only Hadrian had explained that it was only a temporary curse, then perhaps his fate could have been averted. Well, no. We still would have killed him.
“First boss is coming up,” Quinn said as he wiped the sweat from his brow. “Giant crab. Wolf just has to face him away from us, and it’ll be simple.”
This whole event so far had been simple - and I almost didn’t like it. Not that I eagerly invited hardship, but the System had a way of seeing you were living life too easy. I was already inviting disaster by daring to love the Oathwarden. Ascending unopposed was not allowed.
“Don’t worry, trickster.” Ren prodded me with the end of her bow. “I can hear your thoughts from here. Perhaps enjoy a day off for a change? Trouble will find us when it’s ready.”
My expression softened, and I gave her a smile. Not that I could really call this a day off - we had plenty planned because the reality of the situation was…
We would soon become too much of a thorn to be ignored. The Lady had sent lackeys and left traps for us—and any others who tried to stop her—but we had overcome each in turn. Now we were turning the tables. Being proactive and aggressive instead of reactive and defensive.
Soon enough the Lady would have to deal with us directly - either in person or by sending one of her more capable Parties our way. That’s what I had been waiting for. Fighting Monsters was dull and with a full group, it was also too simple. I craved the stakes of fighting against Players, impressing them with my magic and showmanship.
Between Tanya and Quinn, any trap or puzzle was a non-issue. Splitting the loot was a pain, and I had been spoiled by knocking over the Crimson Shadow pinatas that had better things than what had dropped so far. Sorting out gold didn’t interest me, so we agreed that Tanya could collect both that and any Tokens to distribute at the end of the dungeon.
My share had fallen from 33% to 20%, but it didn’t seem to matter. The greater distance from my own grave was worth the 13%. Money hadn’t even meant that much in my old life, here it felt inconsequential. Power and adoration remained the key driving forces in my current existence. My eyes went over to the elf. Especially adoration.
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Also revenge or something, to kill the Lady.
“Next room,” Quinn confirmed, standing next to a roughly cut circular opening in the wall. “Wolf, go in first, face him toward the back wall. If he turns blue, then use your defensive abilities.”
“Second phase has adds that come in from the sides,” Tanya added. “I’ll take the right side, Max take the left side. Ren focus Boss.”
Wolf licked his lips. “Never eaten crab before.”
Although I wanted to point out that some of the enemies had been humanoid crabs, perhaps there was more nuance to it. Something probably left to those of us that actually ate people, and monsters, and not enough fruit and veg.
“What happens when it turns blue” Ren asked, as she thumbed at the grip of her bow.
Tanya adjusted her breastplate. “It’s like a spray of water attack. Nothing Wolf can’t weather with his current abilities and my help. The danger is usually more in the force than the damage. Knocks people prone and interrupts, but that shouldn’t be an issue with Wolf.”
Our furred friend was definitely hard to shift. Other than leaving him rather wet, the attack didn’t sound like too much of a problem.
With little else to discuss, we stepped into the next chamber and down a dozen or so rough stone steps. A wide area opened up at the bottom, where the floor was a lot thicker with sand than the rest of the dungeon so far. Water ran around the edges, to circle round in a curved arc at the end of the area and return on the other side. Across the sand, near the end of the room was the boss in question.
Even though we had seen plenty of strange things in our short time here, there was some kind of odd dissociation about seeing the giant crab in person. A very cliche light red to orange hue, with small beady eyes of pitch black. Two large pincer claws that could easily bisect me, even without the idol. I had never felt like a squishy spellcaster… up until now.
I flipped a card up into the air as circled it around my hand. “Ready check? Can we get a ranged volley off before Wolf goes in?”
Quinn and Tanya exchanged a glance before nodding.
“My taunt cannot be ignored,” Wolf added, licking his lips again as he salivated at the sight before him.
A smile crossed my face. Then I could be allowed to be as insufferable as possible.
While they readied bolts or arrows, I hopped up into the air - landing atop the demonic cannon I had just summoned. I loaded it with my Spear of Luck and dropped an Imp+ to the ground. Into my hand a purple card that switched to bright crimson - a critical. All of my remaining power went into it, and then I dipped into my own health with
I could feel my eyes start to glow even despite-
“What the fuck, Max?”
My right eye twitched, and I looked down at Ren. She was scowling at me, some actual annoyance in her face this time. I didn’t feel that it was fair that she could blame me for going all out - it was most pragmatic if we had the opportunity to-
“That’s an uncomfortable amount of blood loss, considering we haven’t begun.” Quinn pulled a face that was more concern than ire.
I looked down at my hands. Oh, they were bleeding quite a bit - that had become such a rarity that it was unexpected. Didn’t even feel it, but now with the heat of impending battle cooling off, I could hear the drips hitting the odd metal of my summoned weapon.
“Sorry.” I gave them all a sheepish grin. “Got a little carried away. Can’t talk for too long, otherwise this card might blow my hand off.” Didn’t think I could recover from that, unfortunately.
“On three then,” Tana said, raising up her hand to cast a spell. Green light illuminated her fingertips as she began the countdown.
I heard it as nothing but echoes. The pulsing adrenaline making this feel like a stage-show once more. Ready for the curtain to raise. She said three.
The sound of my cannon reverberated throughout the wide chamber as it launched my spear. Closely followed by a bolt, a smite shot, a fireball, my critical card, and then whatever the weaver had cast.
Wolf burst with energy and leaped forward, before taking a couple of steps and stopping.
Ahead of him, the crab slowly tilted down and landed face-first into the sand. The long chitinous legs kicked out briefly before curling up underneath the main body like a dead spider. Most likely because the Boss was dead.
“Fuck, trickster. I’m not sure why that annoys me.” She gave me a glare that had a little uncertainty behind it. “Saved us a lot of effort, so it’s not bad.”
I shrugged at her, a blank expression on my face. “You shot it too.”
As she opened her mouth to reply, I fired a blast of confetti from the cannon, causing them all to wince.
“Dickbag.” She clenched her teeth and walked off to join Wolf in approaching the crab.
She had a point there. I dropped down to the ground as I dismissed the cannon, and gave a glum smile to my Imp+ as I sent him away. At least that was one of our three targets down. I turned around to see Tanya still back with me, while Quinn had gone to help loot and gawk at the large monster.
“Would you like my advice?” The weaver crossed her arms.
I gestured for her to continue, my tongue no longer feeling like it should be part of current proceedings until it got itself in proper order.
“Ren clearly cares a lot about you. When you are reckless and hurt yourself, it hurts her, too.” She raised an eyebrow. “Emotionally, I mean.”
“I’m not… well, I am pretty dense.” With a sigh, I looked over at the elf. “I was making light of her view on my condition.”
“There’s hope for you yet, magic man.” She smiled and gestured toward the others. “Let’s go make amends. You don’t want the show falling apart, do you?”
I’d give Tanya one thing. She knew how to fit into a group. Whether this was pandering to maintain our trust or an earnest attempt to get along with us, I couldn’t actually tell at this stage.
As I idly wiped the blood from my hands onto my suit jacket, I frowned.
Beyond the splash of running water, and the murmurs of the group ahead, there was another sound I couldn’t place.
A soft whisper. Something like a mournful song that struck me deep in my heart.
My eyes went to the water’s edge, and my feet started to follow. Against my will.