My team, well, not really my team but the team I was part of hid in the rubble of a collapsed building. We were getting ready to assault one of the Son's of Autumn outposts. This would hardly be my first encounter with the Church as most of us called them. I had plenty of old scars to tell of the fierce fights.

Over the months we had steadily pushed the Church back. The acolytes of the church would throw themselves into battle with a singular determination. This made them a dangerous foe to fight but also a predictable enemy.

Our goal today was to draw out the garrison force and eliminate them. While I wasn't the strongest or most capable fighter in the slave ranks, I had made a name for myself. When I let my rage out I could dominate my section of the battlefield.

My other plans had to be put on hold. Mostly because I never found the free time to work on my crafting. The fighting seemed to be non-stop. When I wasn't fighting I was training in the arena or protecting Sharla. This had improved my flexibility in combat by quite a bit but meant my plans took a hiatus. Hopefully, once we finished this campaign I would be able to rest awhile. The only other benefit I saw was finally hitting level 13. Sharla siphoned off so much of my experience that it had taken me two months just to level once. I took a glance at my stats.

Paul Fuller | Mantra Enchanter | Level 13

Strength: 12(+2) modifier x14

Endurance: 16 modifier x32

Agility: 15(+2) modifier x14

Perception: 15 modifier x14

Intelligence: 19 modifier x32

Wisdom: 14 modifier x14

Charisma: 11 modifier x14

Luck: 14 modifier x14

HP: 512(563)

Mana: 608

Mana Regen(M): 196

Nothing earth-shattering there, although, Sharla had finally allowed me to pick my skills again. The first thing I did was use up the free slot I had from level twelve. That unused slot had bothered me for some time. I used it to finally pick up Elemental Defense.

Elemental Defense: Boosts elemental resistance by 20% for 30min for all allies within 20m, Cost 75 mana, cooldown 15min

The spell worked on me as well as all allies within its range. It had proven to be well worth taking as it reduced the damage I took from my spells. I'll be honest, my level thirteen skills were not the greatest.

Protection: Increases armor by 2, increase the chance of blocking, parrying, and evading strikes by 10% for 3 min for all ally within 20m, Cost 50 mana, cooldown 10 min

The spell was ok. It was definitely more effective when I was in a group like I am now, so I took it. The next spell was just weird.

Regenerating Rain: Healing waters instantly heal the target for 30 hp and 10 hp every 2 sec for 30 seconds, Cost 65 mana, cooldown 1min

At first, I wasn't sure about the spell. It cost more than my other healing spells while barely healing more than Rejuvenate, and significantly less than Healing Touch. Plus it poured rain on people from a small cloud that formed over their heads. I liked to use it on people I didn't like much. That was until I started to play around with the spell.

Turns out it synergized with my elemental imbuement to some extent. Having water active doubled the healing of the spell. If I added lightning the spell could block a few spells or arrows. Wind slightly boosted the speed of the person under the spell's effect. Fire and earth didn't seem to synergize with the spell as far as I could tell.

Regenerating Rain also seemed to wash scars away. It's one of the reasons I never used the spell on myself. Sharla liked my scars, and when they started to fade she would add new ones. I didn't need to give her any more reasons to do that.

I was shaken from my contemplation as a hand tapped my shoulder. I turned to see Sheila Hunter the Valkyrie pointing towards the outpost. Sheila had petitioned her owner to get me on their squad. She was impressed with my performance in the arena. The Valkyrie had managed to hit level fourteen a few days ago. She loved being on the front line, and my ability to heal and buff meant she could remain there longer.

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I looked at the outpost. Five acolytes were coming out. We knew they would eventually. They made a weekly trip to the local Bazaar to secure provisions.

"You're up Paul, don't fuck this up." Gregorio Masterson said.

I glanced at my squad leader as he and the others made their way down the flight of stairs.

Gregorio Masterson | Strategist | Level 16

Good old Greg was your typical slave master. Treated us like shit, using us as he saw fit. I added the man to my kill list.

We were on the ruined third floor, mostly for the trick I was about to pull off.

I waited until the group of five neared the building. My staff was already imbued with earth and lightning. It was an interesting combination that added a mild stunning effect to my attacks. I took a running leap off the building, utilizing Blink Step and Godly Might. On the way down I activated Area of Denial and Seismic Strike.

I already knew that Seismic Strike had an increase in damage if I put more force into the impact point. I wondered how much more it would do with this combination.

The acolytes of the Sons of Autumn looked up as they heard my chanting. Some were preparing spells others were readying weapons. None were fleeing, they just didn't do that. I could also hear shouts coming from the outpost as their alarm bells started to ring. This all happened as I was falling towards the group.

They managed to get a few spells off that bounced off my shield before I struck the ground. It was like that scene from the popular movie, where the main character sinks into the concrete after falling from the building.

The ground under me sunk, or the area around me rose, I couldn't tell from my position. All I knew is a massive wave of rock radiated out from my impact point. The five men were catapulted into the air from the force of my spell. A few seconds later I heard five wet slaps as their bodies landed again. Two had died from the impact against the ground. The other three were down. I was completely unharmed, Area of Denial had absorbed the fall completely.

I didn't waste any time, running over to the downed acolytes and ending them before their reinforcements arrived. Twenty-five angry men and women boiled from the outpost to assault me. That little trick left me with 58 mana. I wasn't too concerned. I pulled out a mana potion, chugging it while the enemy threw spells and projectiles my way.

I had been given the item for this mission since I still wasn't allowed to shop in the Bazaar by myself. This brought my mana back up to 250 as my mana regen kicked in as well.

A bolt of blue light struck the front ranks of acolytes, causing some to fall over dead. This would be Lywin's ice bolt attack. I could feel the cold from her attack even this far away. I glanced over at her.

Anabelle Lywin | Glacial Shaman | Level 11

I hadn't realized she hit level eleven. Good for her.

The attack had been enough to disrupt the charge from the acolytes. Sheila took full advantage of this by doing a focused shield charge at the front ranks. Her axe going to town as she chopped down repeatedly. My rage was contained most days so I didn't need to get in on more of the action, but I did anyway.

I rushed towards the right flank of the attackers. Tony and Ben could handle the left side. I released Banshee's Wail as I got within range. Three of the five I targeted fell to their knees clutching their ears. The other two were protected by some sort of spells. I still had five seconds left on my shield so I went in.

My target and my shield connected letting off magical discharges. Unfortunately for him, my shield was superior and he was forced back as I pummeled his shield with my staff. Each blow sent tremors and lightning racing across his shield. The other man, that still stood, tried his best to help his associate but I broke through the shield in three hits.

I quickly activated Flurry, stabbing the man once in the chest before I whipped around and unleashed the last of flurry into his friend. It took me a while to realize I could use flurry with both ends of my staff without having to reorient my weapon much. Both men went down as lightning coursed through their bodies. I finished off all five of my targets and got back to the battle.

It was pretty much over so I took the opportunity to cast heals. I started with Tony and Ben since those two seemed to always take the brunt of the damage.

Tony Giovanni | Pugilist | Level 9

Ben Harper | Soul Blade | Level 8

Ben was always the one hurt the worst, mostly because his skills actively drained his health. Tony was always just in there, smashing people with his fists.

They thanked me for the healing as the fighting came to an end. We had successfully cleared the outpost. Of course, that slimy piece of shit Masterson would take all the glory. Speak of the devil, here he came now, finally crawling out from his hidey-hole.

So it gave me great pleasure when I saw the white arrow sticking out of his forehead. He fell to the ground dead. Stepping out from the building behind him was a person wreathed in shadows. The two groups just stared at each other for a few seconds before the shadows dissipated, taking the person with them.

"Not it," I called, looking at Masterson's corpse.

"Fuck, that's not fair Paul," Tony said.

I just shrugged as the others called out the same. Tony was the sacrificial lamb that had to explain this to the headquarters.

"This is bullshit," he complained, tossing the body over his shoulder.

"So, should we torch the building?" I asked the group.

"Might as well," Sheila replied.

I pulled out a few Molotovs, lighting them before tossing them through the windows and doors of the Church's outpost. It didn't take long for the building to start spewing black smoke from openings.

"Waste of good alcohol if you ask me," Ben muttered.

Of course, he would, the man was a raging alcoholic. Only the collar kept him off the booze. We headed back towards the compound after we looted the corpses. The acolytes never had much, and this time was no different.

I wondered what shitty leader they would shove down our throat this time around. They always made the same mistake, sending only one Black Dragon member per team. If that person died the group's standing orders were to collect the body and return to base. This had been my fourth team leader in the past month. This unknown group was getting bolder in their strikes. Mostly because they knew they could get away with it. Maybe with Gregorio's death, we could get a break for a few days.