Whilst Varrus stood triumphant with Syra in his arms, he took a quick glance around the battlefield to adjust his bearings, and determine where he was needed next.

Lor'Themar had taken out their alchemist, and was sniping at a portly priest. He was dodging Hammers of Justice-literal hammers made of Light energy that spawned directly overhead- dropping down from the sky like nobody's business. The Ranger General was banged up from his previous fight, but his unyielding resolve to take out the backline support, and enemy healer was encouraging to say the least!

Rho'dan and the Crossguard were severely wounded, and limping their way towards Varrus's position.

Kael was engaging in a brutal 2v2 against Rommath and Firecaster in a series of grand magics that shook the very foundations of Quel'Danas. Giant firenados, and flashes of pure Arcane blasted their section of the battlefield to smithereens. If the sight of the Sunwell was a giant crater now, it would become a pit of no return after they were finished.

Varrus's immediate inclination was to snap heal Rho'dan and the Crossguard, then back his friend up. However, a seismic shift in the landscape drew Varrus's attention to the figurative elephant in the room.

Charging straight in his direction, Helios carrying an injured Jan'alai on his back was sprinting for all his worth. However, it was what was behind Helios that was so concerning.

Standing at a height similar to a skyscraper, the golem under Earthwarder's control was hurling massive boulders at the ranger, forcing him to desperately dodge as best he could.

At the same time, the golem was slowly trudging forward. Its long gait meant that it would catch up to Helios in a minute or less.

Varrus had become inspired by the power Vandercross had unleashed, and decided to put his own spin on it.

“Want to see me one shot that golem?” Varrus glanced at Syra with a smirk.

“Mmm.” Syra mumbled in acceptance, then snuggled closer into his embrace.

Gently petting her hair, Varrus glanced at Vandercross’s ashes one last time before he took action.

One by one, Varrus manipulated the tree-like Mana Stones to line up in a row, and take on the shape of a stake, like the kind someone would drive into a vampire’s heart. He did this until he roughly had 300 all pointed in the direction of the soon to arrive colossal golem.

“Vadercross! Highlord! Varrus! Do, hah, some, THING!” Helios cried, out of breath, and in a state of panicked desperation as a boulder the size of a house landed just a few feet to his right.

Varrus frowned to himself, as the stakes didn't line up exactly as he thought they should, and did some last second adjustments.

“Silence! Can't you see my husband is thinking!” Syra harshly rebuked the ranger, causing him to stumble in his tracks.

Helios opened his mouth to say something, to rage against the unfairness of the world, but coughed as dust and debris entered his throat.

The golem was now within striking distance, and had reached its massive arm forth with the intention of crushing Helios-and by proxy, Jan'alai-once and for all.

Varrus moved at his own pace, and unhurriedly slapped down 300 Acceleration Runes in front of the row of sharpened Mana Stones.

“That about does it.” Varrus nodded to himself.

With a flick of his finger, telekinesis was applied to one of the stakes, and they all fell down like a row of dominos.

“Ruaahh!” The golem bellowed as it finally reached downward.

The shadow of the colossus completely covered Helios. All he could do was close his eyes, and hold his breath in response towards his impending doom.

However, his death never arrived.

Varrus’s Mana Stones collided with the Alteration spell, Acceleration Rune, and were launched forward like an ICBM.

Each sharpened Mana Crystal was packed full of energy, and when they collided with the golem, they absolutely tore it to smithereens.

It tried to roar in defiance, but the result of the Arcane explosion completely vaporized it from this planet. One moment it was there, another, a bright white, blinding flash of light saw it disappear into sheer nothingness.

Varrus was caught off guard by the power of 300 concentrated, Master tier Mana Stones, and almost fell over due to the resulting concussive wave of energy.

“I have you.” Syra held Varrus from behind, preventing him from collapsing.

Blinking away spots in his eyes, Varrus saw his grin of excitement matched across Syra's face.

“I can't wait to teach our children how to do that.” Syra said hotly.

Varrus in return, held her hand, and softly kissed her upon the lips.

Whilst Varrus was holding on to Syra, he made note of Rho'dan and the Crossguard slowly hobbling over besides Helios.

Varrus and Rho'dan silently nodded at one another, but Helios was slightly frantic to gain Varrus's attention.

“High, Highlord! I apologize for interrupting, but the Prince's paramour requires medical attention!” Helios gasped as he struggled to pull Jan'alai up the sloped crater.

The ranger lieutenant was frazzled, and covered in dust from head to toe, yet despite his cutting remarks, had held onto Jan'alai during his entire escape.

Varrus felt Syra shift, and reach for her sword, but he was quick to embrace her from behind. Pulling her in for a tighter hug with one arm, he gestured for Helios to step forward.

“Shh, she's Kael's paramour, you heard Helios.” Varrus whispered in her ear.

Syra rubbed her back into Varrus's midsection like a cat marking its territory. Her momentary inclination to murder a perceived rival put on hold in favor of clinging to her man.

Varrus smiled at Helios's befuddled expression, then turned his attention to Kael's side piece.

Jan'alai had withered due to a sickening curse, and was only breathing due to the extreme Troll regeneration, and the green flames of the Loa keeping the disease at bay.

Blackened lines coursed through her body, wriggling like worms, it was as if the Death energy had a life of its own. As a result, her healthy green skin took on a deathly pale look, and she was constantly shifting in silent agony.

The first thing Varrus did was cast Dispel Magic on her. Almost immediately afterward, the black lines ceased their pulsing. He then tossed up the Expert Restoration spell, Grand Healing. The AOE magic spread to all those near Varrus, and after spamming it a few times, completely restored the bodacious green Forest Troll back to perfect health.

Rho'dan's missing arm reformed, and the Crossguard who had bent limbs, or moved with a limp were all standing at attention, healthy and ready for battle.

“Highlord.” Rho'dan saluted with his brand new arm.

“It is good to see you, Rho'dan. I could use a hand around here.” Varrus chuckled.

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“Ahem.” Rho'dan politely coughed as everyone else remained silent.

“...”

“Right, anyway, you lot, go reinforce Lor'Themar against the priest. Syra and I will go to the Prince's aid.” Varrus clapped his hands, and ordered.

“You're not keeping me from Goldilocks!” Jan'alai cried out in concern, sitting up so fast, the surrounding Elves all pointed their blades at her in reflex.

Varrus almost shouted an expletive in shock due to her sudden movement.

“Then there's no time to waste, Helios, Rho'dan, you have your assignment. Jan'alai, Syra, with me.” Varrus ordered decisively.

“Hop on!” Jan'alai gestured towards Varrus and Syra after she transformed into her dragonhawk form.

Shooting a glance at Syra, Varrus held onto her hands, and climbed upon Jan'alai’s back.

A moment later, they zipped through the sky like a fighter jet.

Coming to the sight of Kael + Al'ar vs Rommath + Firecaster, Varrus could see that it was reaching a crescendo. If they didn't step in soon, Kael might not be alive in a couple of minutes!

Varrus was going to say something, but a ripple of energy spread out from the fight, and gravity became heavier, pressing them towards the ground.

Thinking on his feet, Varrus threw out a Drop Zone where they were about to land, completely negating any fall damage that they were about to sustain.

A moment later, Firecaster, galloping forth on a fiery steed, began to lob an endless stream of heat-based attacks at them.

Varrus opened his inventory in response, and deposited all of the Mana Stone trees that he had stolen during his fight with Vandercross, as well as many of the Mana Stones he had crafted on his own time.

He then used the stolen magic due to Thoughtsteal, and absorbed mostly everything that Firecaster had thrown at them.

What he couldn't block, Syra and Jan'alai tanked. His wife, surrounded in a bubble of Light, swept away the flames with her magically enhanced sword, or outright blocked them with her body. Jan'alai on the other hand, swallowed any flames that came near, then belched them right back.

Explosions rocked the crater, and molten slag so bright came about, that one might think this crater was that of a volcano, and not the former sight of a well.

Moonlight danced off of the Mana Crystals as they doubled in length and girth due to the free energy that Firecaster had so graciously donated.

Copying Vandercross, Varrus had branches snake their way forward to encircle Firecaster, whilst a swarm of sharpened Arcane leaves were shooting at him like bullets.

Varrus was clumsy in his delivery, but the overwhelming nature of such a swarming attack-one that absorbed attributed mana-was a mages worst nightmare!

Firecaster, however, seemed unperturbed.

He began chanting a lengthy spell, and a moment later, Varrus felt a gust of hot, dry air, blast him across the face.

It felt like stepping out of a cool A/C hotel until out into the desert. Damn hot, but not life threatening.

However, that's not to say that there was no damage.

Firecaster, likely familiar with the drawbacks of Vandercross’s spell, had super heated the air around him, and indirectly melted the roots, branches, and leaves nearby with a non-attributed attack.

The hazy heat stuck around Firecaster like an aura, and refused to leave. All the while, so long as he remained within the center of this formation, none could close for melee.

Even Jan'alai, a dragonhawk coated in green flames cried out in pain, and was forced to retreat when she attempted to dive bomb the red-headed wizard.

Varrus tossed out some ice spells at Firecaster, but the aura of heat was just too intense, and fizzled them out before they even had a chance. None of the Expert level spells did much of anything, and when he cast some Master tier spells, they too were either deflected by the aura, or directly countered by Firecaster.

However, Firecaster was forced to place all of his attention on Varrus when he countered those Master tier spells, and there was one that Varrus thought might be a real headache for the enemy mage.

It was an ‘aura’ spell of his own, but could damage his own allies.

It was Blizzard.

The massive AOE spell wasn't something easily taken care of with the flick of a wrist. Every second that churning spiral of ice shards and cold death collided with the heat aura would be an opportunity to strike.

And they needed to strike fast, because Varrus wasn't the only one going on the offense.

All the while, Firecaster was tossing an ever increasing number of fireballs, flamethrowers, and other incendiary spells, testing Varrus & company's defenses.

Already an attack had gotten through the Mana Stone defense, and had to be stopped by a ward. If this kept up, Firecaster would have their defenses downloaded, and might discover an opportunity to break through.

Varrus recognized that they were slowly losing to this ancient's analytical mind, and vast repertoire of spells. He had to make his move now.

“Be ready.” Varrus said over his shoulder to Syra, then began to cast Blizzard with the intent to create an opening in this heat shield.

Syra, who had mostly been playing defense, took on a sprinters pose, and a large amount of Light began to accumulate around her calves.

Buffed by all of the Illusion perks, she was primed, and ready for action.

“Go!” Varrus shouted as he let loose with his spell.

The storm of ice and snow collided with the heat aura, letting loose a sharp hiss as steam rose up, and clouded Varrus's sight.

He Blinked forward to get a better view, and see where he could assist.

What he saw was a brutal battle.

Syra was matching swords with Firecaster. Her shield of Light, and his elemental shield of fire constantly pressed into one another.

Even with her extreme speed and buffs, they were locked in a stalemate. Fire constantly erupted from the ground like lava, and was being pressed back by Syra's own AOE spell, Consecration.

Spiderweb cracks of Light energy pulsed under her feet, and she brutally slashed her sword at the barrier covering Firecaster.

Sparks flew as his sword was knocked out of his hand, yet that only seemed to embolden the overly tall mage. His hands began to take on a blindingly bright orange-red hue, and he shoved them towards Syra.

His magic overpowered Syra's shield, and like a balloon popping, Varrus was witness to the horror of Syra being burnt across her midsection and chest.

“Syra, retreat!” Varrus called out in horror.

The nauseating smell of burnt flesh, and sight of it all made Varrus want to wretch, and freeze up in fear for his wife.

Syra didn't hear him, or seem to register the pain, as her sword continued to press forth.

It weakly jammed itself into Firecaster's barrier. Still unable to penetrate it, the sword became stuck! All seemed to spiral downward at that moment.

However, Varrus had a few spells he could cast, including an Illusion spell that would have Firecaster take all the damage he dealt to Syra upon himself or even Blink behind Firecaster for a close ranged attack. But Varrus saw that as foolish. He would much rather use his beam healing spell, Infinite Light. Which would heal Syra, and was super effective when used against Undead.

Before Varrus could enact his plan, Jan'alai came swooping down from the sky.

The fiery green dragonhawk opened her beak wide, and completely swallowed the barrier of flame.

As a result, Syra's sword continued with its trajectory, and completely obliterated Firecaster, making Varrus's last ditch effort moot.

However, she was seriously injured, and required healing ASAP!

Varrus Blinked to Syra’s side in a hurry, and immediately began to toss out every healing spell he could.

Tears wetted his eyes, and all reason fled him as he repeatedly cast spells until he was out of mana.

Looking down at his fully healed wife, he saw that she was remaining still, yet a small smile was spread across her perfect little face.

“Silly, you healed me an entire minute ago.” Syra said with a bemused expression.

“You are my wife.” Varrus said hoarsely, as if that explained everything.

Syra smiled wordlessly at Varrus, and pushed him aside. Standing up with her sword in hand, Syra ever so slightly nodded her head at Jan'alai in thanks.

“Bwah hah hah! You've got spunk tanking that gruesome injury to finish the fight! It’s up to us ladies to show our soft men-folk how it is done!” Jan'alai guffawed, and slapped Syra across the shoulder.

Varrus sharply inhaled at the gesture, yet nothing came of it.

“Yes, they are soft aren't they? All the better to squish and poke.” Syra said, glancing at Varrus, making him feel oddly uncomfortable at this development.

Varrus remained stupefied in stunned silence.

Did Syra just make a friend? With another woman no less?!

Truly these were the end days.

“Come along bestie, with your sword, and my muscle, nothing can stop us!” Jan'alai exclaimed, and flexed her biceps as she began running towards Kael’s conflict.

Syra raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow at Varrus as if to say ‘coming?’

Varrus dryly laughed as he ran to catch up.

He may be married to her, but damn, women would always remain an enigma to his caveman mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~