A hint of light caught in the metallic shavings beneath my feet, each tiny flake trembling like leaves in a storm, except they were too heavy for the wind to move. The massive silver tree at the heart of the Metal Grove loomed ahead, in the grove's center.

“We need to leave,” I said, my words coming out sharp, and I touched my shield to Eryn's back. “Now.”

“What? Why?” she asked.

“Something's coming.” My pulse raced as the vibrations grew stronger. “Marcus, you too. And—” I gestured at the other scavenger, whose name I still didn't know.

Marcus barked out a harsh laugh.

“I knew it, Ash. You'd run at the first sign of combat.” His scarred face twisted into a sneer. “Did you even fight the Ring Beetles in the Twisted Titan, or did you all agree on a story to save your face?”

“BASH his face in!” Roq's voice thundered through my skull. “How DARE this mewling flesh-sack question our courage! Let me show you the proper way to deal with such insolence - aim for his teeth first, then—”

I ignored them both, raising my voice.

“Benedict! We need to go. Something's wrong! Look at the ground!”

The frost mage didn't even turn around, instead focused on Tormund and Knut as they engaged the trio of Scuttlers. Ice crystals formed around the mage's staff as he slowed the monsters, while Raven and Wade supported from a distance.

“Benedict!” I tried again. “The ground is shaking!”

That got his attention. The mage spun on his heel, murder in his ice-blue eyes as he stalked toward me.

“You dare?” Frost crackled along his staff. “This is my group. My hunt. I will not be undermined by some level three scavenger who can't even walk through a portal properly!”

Eryn stepped up beside me, her bow half-raised.

“Just listen for a moment—”

“And you.” Benedict's lip curled. “Wasting your affections on this—this blacksmith? I expected better from someone like you.”

A fire ignited in my chest, and my grip tightened on Roq's handle. I was so close to bashing the ice magician's skull in. My heart thundered in my chest, and I could already taste his blood.

“YES!” The hammer's voice rang with gleeful anticipation. “Show this pompous icicle what REAL power feels like! Though I must say, your rage is... disappointingly tepid. More of a warm breeze than the inferno we need, but I suppose we must work with what we have.”

“Benedict!” Raven's voice cut through the tension. “I hear something—”

“Not now!” Benedict waved him off without even looking. His anger was solely focused on me.

Behind the mage, Tormund began backing away from the grove, his massive sword held ready.

“Benedict!” the fighter said.

I leaned to peer around the frost mage, but he deliberately stepped to block my view.

“Oh, this is DELICIOUS!” Roq cackled. “All that power and not a single thought in his frozen skull! Though I suppose that's what happens when you substitute actual intelligence with an oversized ego and fancy robes.”

“Benedict!” Knut's bellow echoed through the trees.

Wade darted past us, his modified crossbow trailing behind from its leather strap.

Benedict finally turned, and I could look past.

Scuttlers poured from the earth like water from a broken dam. They erupted from trees, claws peeling back the bark. More dropped from the branches overhead, pincers snapping like steel traps.

“Portal piss!” Benedict thrust his staff forward, and a wall of ice crystallized between us and the oncoming swarm.

“Run!” he said, “Knut, hold the rear!”

“Go!” I said, shoving Eryn with my shield. “Head for Sentinel Station!” There was nothing she could do with her bow and arrows, anyway, and in all honesty, I didn't think I could do anything either, even with a soul-forged weapon, against such numbers.

Eryn stumbled forward but caught herself, bow bouncing against her quiver as we ran away from Benedict's ice wall. The crystalline barrier sparkled in the morning light, already starting to crack as the monsters hammered it.

“Do not run from combat!” Roq's voice held a manic fury. “Never show the enemy your back! Turn around and face your death like a real warrior, no coward!”

As the group made its way down the path, Wade vanished into the tree line, his crossbow catching against branches.

“Coward!” Benedict shouted after the ranged fighter. “I'll remember this!”

“Yes, yes, threaten the one who's already gone. A VERY effective strategy.”

We rushed past the steelhusk trees, keeping to the thin trail. Raven darted between trunks with practiced grace first, followed by Tormund's massive frame crashing through the undergrowth like an angry bull. Next came Marcus and the other scavenger, pumping their feet and arms, faces red with exertion, and occasionally glancing back with wild eyes. Benedict, Eryn, and I were next, with Knut bringing up the rear.

“Wizard,” Knut's thick accent rolled over the sound of our pounding feet. “About money for extra danger.”

“Are you serious?” Benedict wheezed between breaths. “Now?”

“Extra monsters, extra coin.” The northerner sounded like he was out for a morning jog. “Simple math.”

“You're welcome to leave the party here and let them eat you first!”

Benedict's staff crackled with frost and Knut's belly laugh boomed through the forest.

“Day I can’t outrun wizard is day I deserve death!”

“That mercenary. I like him. Try dying close to him. A more worthy wielder, unlike you. Has anyone ever told you your running form is atrocious? Have you considered actually LIFTING your feet?”

“Shut up!”

“Never! And I'd like to see you stuff me in your spatial storage now.” Roq laughed. “Face the monsters unarmed. Go ahead. I double dare you.”

Benedict thrust his staff behind us, and ice spread across the ground like spilled milk. The pursuing Scuttlers skittered and slipped, buying us a few precious seconds.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“Benedict!” The cry came from the fourth scavenger, who still hadn't introduced himself. He was stumbling, chest heaving as he slowed. “I can't. Run. Much. Further. Please!”

Benedict passed him by, not even sparing the man a second glance.

I slowed down, falling in next to the man.

“Benedict!” I called after the wizard. “We need to help him!”

The scavenger's desperate voice cracked.

“Marcus! Please!”

Marcus didn't look back, either, but rather swiped his sword and buckler into storage with one smooth motion, then lengthened his stride, pulling ahead.

I risked a glance over my shoulder. A river of metallic shells stretched back along the path, too many to count. The closest dozen were less than thirty yards behind us, and they were gaining ground with every step.

“Benedict!” Eryn's voice was tight. “Another ice wall!”

“Can't!” Sweat ran down the wizard's neck. “Spell's on cooldown!”

“Portal piss!” she said.

I couldn't help it and laughter bubbled up from my chest.

“What's funny?” Eryn shot me an incredulous look and almost tripped over a steelhusk root.

“Just thinking,” I managed between breaths. “Didn't expect our first date to be this exciting!”

Her hysteric giggle joined my laughter, and for a moment, the terror faded. If we were about to be eaten by a horde of ravenous metallic monsters, might as well go out with laughter than screams.

“Promise me this won't be our last?” Her green eyes locked with mine.

“Promise.”

“How charming. I didn’t realise bipeds mated til death. Not a good strategy for species survival.”

The ridiculousness made me chuckle.

“Good one, Roq. Who knew you had some actual humor in you? And how come you speak so human-like?”

Roq was silent for a moment.

“Wait, you actually liked that?”

“Better than your other comments. You wouldn't have something useful to add about our current situation though, would you?”

Roq was silent for a moment. Then, grudgingly spoke.

“Fine. You want a plan? Those trees stand thick enough to jam shells. Slow some of the bastards down.”

“That is actually... helpful. Thank you.”

“Don't get used to it. I just prefer dying in glorious combat to being eaten while running away like a terrified rabbit.”

“The forest!” I called out. “The crabs struggle with brush! We could make a stand.”

“Absolutely not!” Benedict said. “Just keep running!”

“Please!” The lagging scavenger's voice grew more desperate. “Can't you hold them, just for a moment!”

Benedict didn't even dignify the man with a response.

“What's life worth?” Knut called to him without slowing. “How much gold you have?”

“How can you ask that?” The scavenger's voice cracked. “You're adventurers! It's your duty to protect scavengers!”

Knut's only response was another booming laugh.

I caught Eryn's eye.

“You holding up?” I asked.

She nodded, but I saw the conflict in her expression. The scavenger wouldn't last, and the choice of whether to leave him behind or not warred with her survival instinct.

“Knut!” I called back. “How tough are their shells?”

“Like good breastplate!” He vaulted a fallen log without breaking stride. “Maybe stronger!”

“How'd you kill the first six?”

“Ha!” The northerner grinned. “Tormund's sword? Magical. Pierce armor like butter! Worth a small village!”

But that blade was disappearing into the distance, the massive warrior outdistancing us together with Raven.

“This northerner might actually be worth wielding me. At least he knows what his word is valued.”

“Unlike me?”

Roq's laughter rang like steel on steel.

“Oh, you're learning! But look at your 'companions' - the wizard's pride freezes faster than his magic, the archer's already plotting his escape route, and your friend Marcus...” He paused. “Tell me, was that practiced cowardice, or natural talent?”

I scanned our fleeing group. Benedict's staff sputtered uselessly. Raven and Tormund were pulling further ahead, Marcus chasing them.

That left Eryn, the other scavenger, and Knut.

“The mercenary. Greedy as a dragon, honest as a blade. Better than this pathetic lot.”

“Knut!” I called out between breaths. “What would it take to hire you?”

“Smart!” The mercenary's laugh boomed over the clicking of pursuing pincers. “We talk business. What is offer?”

“I'll get you monster corpses! None from attacks on Sentinel Station!”

“How many?” Knut barely sounded winded.

“Five!”

“Pah! Insulting! Twenty!”

A scuttler's pincer snapped at the air just yards behind us. The clacking of metal on metal grew louder.

“Ten!” I countered. “Quality carcasses!”

“Oh, this is rich.” Roq's voice dripped with amusement. “Haggling over payment while death snaps at our heels. How delightfully... human.”

“Fifteen!” Knut shot back.

“Ten, and I'll buy the first round tonight!”

The northerner's grin flashed white through his beard.

“Deal!” He extended his mace toward me as we ran. “Tap it! Make proper agreement!”

I reached out with Roq, touching the weapons together with a clear ring.

“Contract sealed!” Knut's voice rose. “Benedict! Our deal void! You showed cowardice. Terms broken.”

“Monsters take you, Knut!” Benedict's curse carried back to us.

The change in Knut was instant. His jovial demeanor vanished, replaced by coiled intensity as he slid his shield from his back into a ready grip.

“Come!” He veered right, toward denser forest. “Path's harder, but shells won't fit! You, girl! Come! Scavenger next! Ash in rear! Go!”

I pushed Eryn ahead, then grabbed the lagging scavenger's arm. “Move! Run!”

Benedict, Raven, and Marcus's forms slowly grew smaller as they ran down the main path. I wondered which group the monsters would chase. Considering there were more of us, I figured we'd be out of luck.

After a hundred paces through the thicker growth, Knut stopped, waving Eryn and the scavenger past.

“Girl. You lead. Walk now. Long way round to the station.”

The scavenger slowed to a walk, chest heaving and hands shaking, but he kept his feet moving.

I passed Knut, then turned back a dozen paces on. The northerner stood calmly, his shield raised as five Scuttlers crashed through the undergrowth. Their pincers sliced through branches, carving a jagged path.

Knut waited until they were nearly on him, then leaped straight up before coming down with thunderous force as he roared. A shock wave exploded outward, flattening the smaller vegetation around the impact point. The Scuttlers staggered, stunned for a moment.

“Now run!” Knut yelled and turning back around.

“Yes! YES!” Roq's voice held savage glee. “THIS is more like it! With any luck, they'll all come for us. Think of the show we'll get! A true warrior in action!”

“Portal piss!” I cursed at the hammer, pushing my legs harder.

We crashed through the brush, metal clacking and snapping behind us. Eryn jogged ahead, calling back warnings.

“Fallen log! The left side's clear!”

“Thanks!” I said, vaulting it, hearing the scavenger wheeze ahead of me.

“Thorns ahead!” Eryn said, “Stay right!”

The scavenger's breathing grew more ragged. “I can't... much longer...”

“What's your name?” Eryn called over her shoulder to him.

“Johan,” he gasped out.

“What level are you, Johan?” I asked between breaths.

“Zero.”

“Shattered gems!” I almost stumbled. “Benedict let a zero join? With an untested group?”

“Just arrived last night and—” Johan wheezed. “Met him at the inn. People said he was proper—”

“Oh, he's a good enough wizard alright,” Eryn called back. “But a proper leader?” She ducked under a low branch. “I think we just got our answer!”

“Wait. Please,” Johan said. “Can't... Need a moment!”

Johan's desperate plea hung in the air as Knut suddenly veered right, positioning himself between two massive steelhusk trunks.

“Keep moving.” The northerner's voice carried authority. “I fight here. Slow monsters.”

My grip tightened on Roq as power surged through the hammer, setting my nerves on fire.

“Finally!” Roq's voice resounded with bloodlust. “Feel that? That's what we're meant to do! Not running, not hiding, but KILLING! Give in to it! Show me your true power!”

I caught Eryn's eye. She stood a few paces ahead, bow half-drawn, uncertainty written across her features.

“Look at her hesitation! She doesn't understand. But you do, don't you? You feel it building inside, that desperate need to CRUSH something!”

The first Scuttlers appeared through the brush, metal legs clicking against roots and stones. Knut set his shield, mace held ready.

“Eryn is fine for now, but she will tire.”

“Who cares about the girl? Think of the GLORY! The BATTLE! Stand with the northerner and show them what we can do!”

I locked eyes with Eryn.

“Well? What are you waiting for? Go fight! Unless... oh no. Please tell me you at least know which end to hold.”

“I'm a hearth-blessed blacksmith! Of course I know how to use a hammer!”

“Prove it.”

“We'll catch up!” I told her.

She hesitated for a heartbeat, then nodded sharply.

“Don't you dare die, Ash,” she said, grabbing Johan's arm and pulling him away.

I rushed back to Knut's position, setting my shield beside his. The northerner's laugh boomed through the forest.

“Ha! Brave or stupid?” He knocked me with his shield hard enough to stagger me. “Either way, we have fun now.”

“Battle!” Roq boomed in my mind, his voide holding a savage glee. “Let's show these crabs what REAL steelhusk feels like! I might even answer a question or two if you survive.”

The Scuttlers charged through the narrow gap between the trees, their pincers spread wide to crush and cut us into pieces.

Knut met the first monster, shield slapping its arm wide, and brought his mace down, ringing its shell like a bell. The attack both stunned the monster and cracked its armor enough that one of the spikes penetrated the flesh beneath.

I moved in as Knut pushed a second crab back, lifting Roq and, with a scream, brought the weapon down in a precise arc, right on top of its back.

The hammer connected with enough power to shatter the shell and monster goo splattered all over the forest floor.

My jaw dropped.