All of the skeletons were gone, and I was left standing over a pile of broken bones and swirling dust. The spear that I barely managed to parry had pierced the ground and stood like a lone tree in a barren field. I had done it. I managed to kill the skeletons by myself. I even managed to level up my Melee Combat skill. It was exciting to feel the rush of battle and to grow from my experience. Even if it was a poor excuse of an experience for my part.

I focused my insight on the pile of bones that laid at my feet hoping that I could get some details. A simple line of green text popped up out of the scattered remains.

[Summoned Skeleton Minion: Level 3]

It wasn’t a lot of information to go off of but at least I could see its level. I must not have been able to see Veng Rath’s level because he was too high of a level for me. I was curious if I could scout out the other two nightflyer’s levels and see if I could fight them. Seeing as there were no more skeletons that would be my best course of action.

I knocked the spear down to the ground and turned my attention to the campfire. Finn had managed to kill the nightflyer that was using the short bow. His body was still on the ground like a dark hill. The other nightflyer was crouched over the salamander that was hit by Finn’s arrow. He was moving his hands around in a circular pattern above the things head. He was chanting something, but I couldn’t make out what it was. I took a moment to focus in on him and the salamander to see if I could get any more info.

[Halgred: Level ??]

[Fire Salamander: Level 6]

The one named Halgred was too high of a level for me to make out anything more, but the salamander’s level was six. According to my own stats I was still level one. I managed to fend off that skeleton with a single strike, but it already looked like it was going to fall apart with a rogue gust of wind. Did I have the strength to fight the salamander? What did the system mean by fire salamander? Was it because it was red?

I got my answer in a blaze of heat and smoke. The salamander that Finn had missed on his first shot had come within fifteen feet of me and let loose a burst of flame. Luckily it wasn’t aimed at me but rather Finn who had hopped out of the way and landed lightly next to me.

“Good job on those skeletons,” Finn said. “Think you can manage that salamander while I go after the beast master?”

“Maybe. I wasn’t able to cast my Nature’s Grasp spell on that last skeleton. Maybe I’m getting too tired or I wasn’t strong enough.” I said, looking down at my paws.

“What’s your mana looking like?” Finn asked.

My mana? Of course! That must have been why I couldn’t cast the Nature’s Grasp. I quickly pulled up my system to which it told me I only had six mana left to use and it cost seven to cast the spell. “I’m low. Not enough for another Nature’s Grasp.”

“Here take this. You’re going to need it more than I will. Take it and then go for the salamander. Quickly,” Finn reached around to his bag and materialized a small crystal vial into his hands. He tossed it over to me then made a mad dash to my left. His path went wide across the field leading him to a better vantage point to attack the nightflyer that must be the beast master.

The fire salamander shot off another burst of flame. Finn managed to dodge it on his run and was now out of reach of the creature's attack. The salamander’s wide, flat head suddenly narrowed in my direction as a long, black tongue shot out and licked its eyes. I could see smoke rising from between its slimy lips.

I uncorked the vial and looked inside. I saw a swirl of silver and blue liquid that let off a faint glow. Searching the vial with my insight gave me a name.

[Weak Mana Potion]

I drank the entire thing and twisted my hand to let the empty vial disappear into my bag. The liquid had an electric taste too it that reminded me of batteries mixed with watermelon. As I gulped the last of the potion a cresting wave of power crossed around my fur. It made my whiskers stand up, my ears perk, and my nose twitch. It was intoxicating. A sensation I could only describe as an energy drink that kicked in immediately and left you in a heightened sense.

Checking my character stats, I saw that my mana was now at its maximum of 34. I had enough mana now to cast Nature’s Grasp four more times. Would it be enough to take down the salamander? Only one way to find out.

I summoned my inner power, pushed it through my staff and once again called forth the earth to capture the salamander in its tendrils. The ground shook as reeds fell to the side. A writhing line of knotted roots coiled its way from underneath the mud and wrapped itself around the salamander's body. The creature shook its head violently in surprise. It’s black eyes darted left and right. Once I was sure it couldn’t move anymore, I started to focus my mind on constricting the vines, hoping I could deal enough damage to knock it out or something.

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The roots began to tighten and twist about the salamander. It let out a high-pitched screech that caused me to wince as a headache started to form behind my eyes. I didn’t let its call break my concentration and continued to wrap Nature’s Grasp tighter.

The fire salamander started to shake uncontrollably as it struggled to break free. When it realized its body wasn’t slimy or strong enough to release it from the vines it started to bite at the closest root. It sank its short teeth deep into the murky wood and started to pull as hard as it could. I could hear the plants beginning to snap as it tore at their flesh.

I pushed my consciousness as hard as I could, forcing my muscles to contract, my ears to curve back and my upper lip to twitch. I could feel beads of sweat dripping down my back and wicking off my tail. It was an odd feeling wresting with something that was a good fifteen feet away from me as though I had it between my arms. It was a sense I couldn’t quite describe only that it was draining, and I didn’t know how much longer I could hold out.

With a desperate cry I tried to crush the salamander. In a violent motion the vines of my spell started to crush the creature. It gave out another helpless yelp and let go of the vines with his teeth. I had him. There was no way he was going to get out of my spell now. He was in too much pain and the roots had tightened enough that he couldn’t manage to bite them anymore. Now it was a matter of who would hold out the longest. Or so I thought.

The salamander took in a deep breath and let loose a ball of fire at the base of my Nature’s Grasp. The heat was intense, and I had to close my eyes against the sudden brightness. My hold on the creature fell away as I could feel my roots and vines begin to burn and crumble to ash. It felt like my body had gone limp and my arms were cut from my shoulders. I could no longer control the plants. They had died to the salamander's spontaneous inferno.

As the fire died away it left a scar of black mingled with flickers of cinders that covered the earth. I could see the roots of my spell start to crumble away and disintegrate from off the salamander's body. The creature took a cautious step forward and when it realized that it was no longer imprisoned, it shook its body like a dog and let the remainder of the roots turn to ash. Then it turned its attention on me.

In a split second the salamander had curled its way on the ground like a darting snake and was now mere feet in front of me. It had moved so fast that it became a crimson blur among the blackened earth. I had no time to react. The salamander was going to roast me alive, and I doubt my staff could parry a fireball. I waited for the searing heat to come but it didn’t. There was a different pain. A shocking pain that crushed my ankles and caused me to scream.

The salamander had dug its teeth into my ankle and was shaking it around like a dog toy. I could see blood beginning to spit from between the creature's teeth as the pain raced up my leg. I tried to kick it away by flicking my foot out, but it had me too tight in its jaws. Again, the salamander violent wrenched at my leg and I almost fell down. I managed to keep my balance, but the pain was starting to make me feel dizzy.

I had never felt so much pain before in my life. Growing up I had never broken a bone or gotten stitches. I was never in any fights in school and the greatest injury I got playing sports was a concussion from baseball but even then, I couldn’t remember it. This, however, I would remember. It was hot, sharp, and ceaseless. Like a hot iron had been placed against my skin and was eating my flesh. I couldn’t take it. It was too terrible.

I took my staff in both hands and started to hit the top of the salamander's head trying to break free of its bite. Over and over, I swung with all my might. I could feel the impact of my swing with each hit. It felt like smacking a sandbag with a golfclub. A hard impact that somehow gave way to softer body underneath the thick exterior. With every attack the salamander tightened its jaws and the pain grew worse.

We had each other in a battle of will. Who could outlast the other. Whichever one of us gave up first would be the one to die. That was a possibility I would never allow. I kept swinging and the salamander kept biting. Hit after hit I rammed my staff into the beast's head. My vision grew blurry as tears started to well up and fall down my cheeks. Then a growing circle of darkness began to creep from the edges of my sight. I was beginning to faint. I knew it was coming. Soon I was going to fall down, and this thing would eat me alive. There was nothing I could do. The salamander was too strong for me.

I let one more strike of my staff fall before I fell to my side. The blunt end of my staff had landed squarely in the creature’s eye and for a moment it let go. The salamander took a few steps back. It’s long, black tongue darted in and out as it licked its wounded eye. I raised myself to my elbow and watched as the salamander whimpered like a defeated dog.

Somewhere to my left I heard a squeal noise cut through the quiet night sky. I didn’t know what made the sound but if I had to guess the beast master had been killed by Finn. At least I hoped so. I turned over onto my stomach and look over to where I last saw Finn. My assumption was correct. The nightflyer had taken an arrow to the back and was now lying flat on its face. However, the beast master’s salamander was sending out streaks of flame trying to push Finn away.

I started to crawl forward. I knew I wasn’t any help in fighting the salamander in my current condition but if I could manage to get behind a rock or fallen stump maybe I could cast Nature’s Grasp and hold it off long enough for Finn to finish the job. I moved forward no more than a foot before I heard a vile hissing sound that sent shivers up my spine. Turning around I came face to face with an angry salamander and smoke was rising from its lips again. I knew the fire was coming this time. I knew I was done for.

I held my staff up in front of my face hoping that somehow it would protect me. Like a magical shield that would push the fire to the side, splitting it in half so that I came out unscathed. I put all my will power into that thought praying that it would be true. Then as I laid there a fierce light fell upon me. A light as bright and hot as the sun that it forced me to shut my eyes against my coming death. The fire salamander had engulfed me in its flames. I could feel the heat ripple over me and the flames lick against my fur. Yet. I wasn’t in pain. I could definitely feel the intensity of the fire as if I was standing before a massive bonfire lit with too much gas, but I wasn’t getting hurt. I wasn’t dying.