Craftsmen and laborers began moving large weaponry that were already on the wall. The weapons were uniquely modified ballista. They were mostly made of wood and were engraved with magical symbols. The ballistae were built to launch single use magic items found in the market at the mana creatures.
Single use magic items were imbued with spells or filled with mana that was dangerous in quantity and quality. They were first used during the third attack after a few adventurers purchased them from the market. One single use magic item was capable of killing half a dozen mana creatures and severely injuring several more.
Everyone was impressed with the damage the magic items dealt, but they were unhappy with the rewards they received. Most adventurers received less experience for each kill and zero points toward their place on the Upheaval Ranking list. Only adventurers with a craftsman class, laborer class, or a class that upgraded from those two classes, were able to receive points and the full amount of experience.
Before the sixth attack, all adventurers obtained a tier one class. However, everyone was organized based on the six tier zero classes. It made sense to call a group of people based on whether they attacked like warriors or mages. Trying to organize the adventurers based on multiple tier one classes would bring unnecessary complications to the battlefield. Plus, most adventurers were unwilling to publicly reveal their tier one class.
After the third attack, craftsmen and laborers exclusively purchased single use magic items. Each attack slowly improved their ability to use the magic items to deal damage to the mana creatures. Multiple creations were brought forth and discarded until they created the ballista. In addition to launching magic items, the ballista improved the damage that the magic items dealt.
Laborers positioned the ballistae and began sending mana into the weapon. The magic symbols on the ballistae started to glow and radiate power. The craftsmen were in charge of using the mana to accurately launch the magic items.
Zane watched as the craftsmen launched multiple magic items at the horde of mana creatures. The magic symbols on the ballista would dim after every attack. The laborers pulled mana from the surroundings and channeled it into the ballistae until the magic symbols regained their glow. Once the ballistae were recharged, the craftsmen launched another set of magic items. While Zane was watching the process, he wore a frown.
Craftsmen and laborers first used the ballistae during the sixth attack. At the end of the attack Zane attempted to use a ballista after receiving permission from a craftsman. Zane wanted to try unlocking or learning a new weapon skill.
Using the ballista wasn’t difficult. Zane easily grasped the basics after a craftsman gave him a demonstration. Sadly, he wasn’t able to learn or unlock any new skills. The result didn’t surprise Zane. The ballista was very complex and didn’t function the way Zane thought weapons should.
The craftsmen and laborers launched thirty sets of magic items before stopping. Toward the end of the bombardment Zane’s group and a few other groups started moving toward the walls. Some groups planned to kill mana creatures in or near the giant pits, while others would kill mana creatures at the choke points. Zane’s group planned to kill mana creature near one of the choke points.
Zane’s group ran through several passageways created by the walls and passed several choke points. The passageway they ran through was straight and there were a few branching passages that led towards the giant pits. When the pressure from the mana creatures became too intense, Zane’s group and other groups could fall back to previous chokepoints. Some of the mana creatures following them would run into the passages that led to the giant pits.
Once Zane and the others stopped at the choke point furthest from the walls protecting the inn, they began setting up their defenses. Shawn sat down, channeled his mana into the ground and sprouts started to appear after a second passed. It didn’t take long for the sprouts to reach the height of Zane’s waist. They were very thick and responsible for restricting the mana creatures.
Sam began casting curses on the sprouts that Shawn created. The curses didn’t harm any of the sprouts. Instead, they would be attached to the sprouts and activate when a living being got close.
The field of cursed sprouts started at where Shawn sat down and ended at the two entrances to the choke point. There were two diagonal passageways that would allow an average of three mana creatures to charge toward the choke point. The area Zane and the others were in could contain the charge of eight mana creatures.
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Shane, Brad, Old Saber, Diana, Britney and Luna walked halfway into the field of cursed sprouts to battle the mana creatures up close. Sam and Shawn controlled the effects of their creations to make sure the others weren’t harmed. Everyone else would be battling the mana creatures from a distance.
Zane and the others created a wall out of the earth beneath them. The wall wasn’t taller than the walls of the passageway, but it was tall enough for them to safely launch attacks over the heads of their group members. Also, the wall was thick enough of for them to move a few steps forward and back.
As they made their preparations, Zane and the others could hear the roars of mana creatures. They could feel and see the ground and walls shaking. They didn’t let any of those external factors disturb them. They continued their preparations and calmly waited for the mana creatures to appear once their preparations were complete.
It didn’t take long before mana creatures could be seen running down the two passageways. Everyone gripped their weapons as they saw the mana creatures. Zane gripped his yellow wooden bow and used Analyze on the mana creatures.
Item name: Lightning Bow
Item Type: Weapon
Tier: 1
Level: 54
Durability: 320
Grade: Epic
Description: An ordinary bow tempered with lightning mana.
Abilities: Damage 123 – 153, Dex +36, Lightning Damage 33, arrows have a slight chance to stun enemies
Requirements: Level 54
Dire Wolf Lvl 54
Health: 100%
Stamina: 95%
Mana: 100%
Attack: (320) 496
Defense: (280) 434
Dire Goat Lvl 70
Health: 100%
Stamina: 99%
Mana: 100%
Attack: (560) 868
Defense:(525) 814
“Same as before,” Britney mentally spoke to everyone. “They’re sending out the low-level mana creatures first.”
“True, but I noticed at least one strong mana creature mixed in with them.” Zane mentally replied.
“Here they come,” Brad announced.
Whitney, Frank and Jason began casting spells toward the two passageways. The spells caused explosions that killed many mana creatures, but the mana creatures kept moving forward. Soon, the mana creatures entered the field of cursed sprouts.
Roots and branches stretched out from the sprout and tried to restrict the mana creatures’ legs. The sprouts were unsuccessful, but they did manage to slow down the charging mana creatures. By the time they were in front of Shane and the others, the mana creatures had lost their momentum.
Next, Sam’s curses began to activate. The curses caused the mana creatures to be stunned, confused, weakened and suffer other negative effects. The main purpose of the curses wasn’t to kill the mana creatures but weaken them for Shane and the others.
Brad activated his circle of light for his skill Blessed Ground. The mana creatures were weakened and everyone on the ground near Brad was strengthened. Zane and the others on the wall were excluded from the effects of Brad’s skill.
Looking to his right Zane could see Shawn and Sam sitting down in meditation. While they were focusing on controlling their spells, Jason, Whitney, and Frank continued casting spells at the mana creatures in the two passageways. Sophie, Lana and Zane were the only ones doing nothing.
Sophie had applied buffs to everyone before the mana creatures attacked. Now, she was conserving her energy. She would only act when Brad and the others on the ground needed her support. Zane and Lana were waiting for their turn to attack.
Jason, Frank and Whitney stopped casting spells and sat down to meditate a few minutes after they started casting spells. Zane and Lana began releasing arrows into the two passageways the moment they sat down. Zane focused on the right and Lana focused on the left.
Skill: Power Shot
Level: 8, 18%
Tier: 1
Effect: Increase the damage of an arrow by using mana to increase its power. Damage 40 - 80
Cost: 60 stamina and 30 mana
Skill: Quick Shot
Level: 7, 98%
Tier: 1
Effect: Increase the damage of an arrow by using mana to increase its speed. Damage 35 - 70
Cost: 60 stamina and 30 mana
Zane and Lana’s arrows didn’t cause the same amount of destruction that spells did. However, they were able to attack with greater frequency. Multiple arrows fell within a second and the arrows either killed or severely injured the mana creatures they hit.
Eyes, throat, mouth and heart. Zane used the Power Shot skill when he sent his arrows to the mouth and heart of the mana creatures. The Quick Shot skill was used when he wanted to attack the eyes and throat.
Zane’s arrows didn’t always hit the mana creatures where he wanted them too. He didn’t know if the mana creatures moved on purpose or by accident, but a few mana creatures managed to avoid a lethal attack from Zane’s arrows. However, they didn’t survive for long. Zane quickly killed any mana creatures that survived his first attack.
Corpses continued to pile up as mana creatures were killed by the dozens. Having too many corpses in the passageways would be a problem, but Zane and the others weren’t worried. After the piles of corpses reached a certain height, Sophie called for a break.