The first blast of void touched magic from Chad rippled against Zaro's Void shield. Not bad, but too direct. He noticed the arrow as it was loaded and as it was fired Zaro had shifted his weight to his back leg and switched stance while trading 20% health for mana with Blood Bargain.

The arrow went past him as Ramrod's punch was just about to make contact with his kidneys.

Zaro dropped to the ground and performed a donkey kick with three points of contact on the ground. The kick sent Ramrod staggering back 3 steps as he immediately called his void daggers into his hand to counter what he could only assume the crackling sound was.

He lunged laterally and leapt onto the branch of a huge tree as he saw Chad sending a torrent of lightning his way.

He knew Ezra's shadow direct had a limit of around 10 feet, and he was out of range now.

When the lightning struck with the expected speed it moves, he knew the tree would keep him grounded while he stuck a dagger out and pointed the other dagger at Ramrod, who had just gained his footing and was about to leap.

The lightning impacted Ramrod and lit him up like a Christmas tree, doing no damage to Zaro.

Zaro threw a dagger at Chad's foot and he couldn't dodge in time, his foot was stabbed and pinned to the ground. This disrupted Chad's follow up attack as he yelled in pain.

Just then Zaro caught an arrow to the shoulder with a force that knocked him off the branch.

He was about to activate temporal dilation, so he proceeded to increase his speed by 90%. This allowed for precise control and proprioception while falling. He pulled the arrow out while righting his fall like a cat. He threw the arrow at Chad, impacting his other leg. Then he leapt toward Ezra, closing the distance immediately.

She was already in her Void Dash so his fist passed through the shadow that was Ezra. She was suddenly on the branch he had just fallen out of.

Zaro cancelled temporal dilation and threw a dagger. Catching the bewildered Ezra's left shoulder, glancing off and sticking into the tree. Chad yelled out from his second injury. Ramrod activated his void colossus form, growing a foot taller while his skin became armored.

Ezra used her Phantom Flurry to send arrows at Zaro but his void sense told him to focus on Ramrod.

As Ezra was sending her second and third of 5 arrows. She was hit in the back by the dagger from the tree she was in. Will of the Void called the dagger back toward Zaro. This caused arrows 4 and 5 to fire too high.

He was actively healing from the first arrow and void stepped in time to dodge the first 3 as they impacted where he was just standing.

Zaro landed on Chad's side and opened his hand, drawing the dagger out of Chad's foot, then he pulled Chad in for a hug as Ezras arrow struck him in the back. Zaro Void stepped to the base of the tree while using it for cover on his way to meet Ramrod.

The Orc threw a furious right. Zaro ducked and slid between his legs as the punch connected with the tree trunk and knocked Ezra off balance.

Zaro channeled a shadow strike at five times the charge. 300 potential damage. He threw the punch at Ramrod's right side as he heard the ribs crack. Ramrod used that energy to throw his own attack catching Zaro, knocking him several feet and taking 120 health.

Zaro rolled to his feet and leapt up so he could see Ezra. He air void stepped as he prepared to throw a combination of punches at her at point blank range. She was highly skilled in hand to hand as most elves would be. Zaro couldn't hit her dead on.

Zaro created a fake open spot on his chest where he knew Ezra wouldn't be able to not attack. When she went for it he swept her lead leg work his left foot and landed a solid punch knocking her against the tree and sending her tumbling down. Chad sent a void bolt that inspected Zaro in the back, taking 50 health.

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He void stepped away from them.

Stop Zaro called out holding up his hand. Chad's charged attack fizzled. Ezra picked herself up. Ramrod's armored form shimmered and returned to normal.

Good intensity but sloppy coordination Zaro said standing. Chad your magic control is excellent but you need better positioning. Getting pinned twice shouldn't happen. Those hat enchantments won't help if you can't dodge.

Ezra, your shadow movement is perfect but your timing needs work. You had three chances to coordinate with Ramrod's attacks and missed all of them. And when Chad was pinned you should have covered him while he popped a potion safely.

Ramrod you took that shadow strike well but you're thinking like a solo tank. Your void colossus form should be protecting them, not just absorbing damage. Use that expanded reach.

The three nodded accepting the critique. Chad adjusted his hat while testing his healed foot. Ezra's fingers traced patterns in nearby shadows thoughtfully. Ramrod rolled his shoulders, the cracked ribs already mending from a potion he slammed out of habit.

Let's try again, Zaro said. This time focus on covering each other's weaknesses. Chad stay mobile. Ezra coordinate your void dash and shadow direct with their attacks, pay attention to your abilities limitations. Ramrod protect and enhance don't just attack.

Remember those wyverns will be faster than me. If you can't hit me you can't hit them.

Again, Zaro called out.

Chad moved first this time but instead of casting directly he circled left while Ramrod stepped forward. Ezra used Void Dash to appear at Ramrod's right flank creating a triangle formation.

Smart Zaro thought. Better positioning already.

Chad fired a void bolt but aimed it at Ramrod who caught the energy in his armored hand. The big warrior's void colossus form absorbed the power adding it to his own. Ezra fired seemingly in a random direction then used Shadow Direct to change the angle of her arrow at the last moment in order to trying to pull Zaro's attention away from Ramrod's charged fist.

Zaro void stepped avoiding the punch but had to immediately dodge as Chad's second attack came from an unexpected angle. They were thinking ahead using his probable escape route against him.

Ramrod wasn't just attacking now. His expanded form provided cover for Chad to cast from behind while Ezra used her Void Dash to keep appearing at different angles never more than 10 feet from her target but making Zaro work to track her.

This was more like it. Now they were fighting as a unit.

Ramrod signaled Chad just as Zaro was closing in. Instead of dodging Chad stood his ground and launched a Void Bomb directly at his larger teammate. The explosion wrapped around Ramrod's Impact Shell his form glowing brighter as the charges doubled. Four charges instantly stored.

Clever Zaro thought. But not clever enough.

He void stepped in to strike while Ramrod was charging only to find himself pulling against a Kinetic Anchor. The big warrior had used the Void Bomb's impact to root himself. Ezra appeared behind Zaro with void dash trying to pull him into Ramrod's range.

Zaro activated temporal dilation and slowed the world down, he called a dagger and threw it with amazing speed as it impacted Chad's leg , again. He chuckled to himself as he jumped at the tree in a half flip landing horizontal and kicking off the tree at Ezra. He saw her eyes tracking him, barely. He reflexes were astounding. She ate a vicious knee to the gut as Zaro pushed her and deactivated his skill. Chad yelled out. Again, he said. Ezra void dashed to Chad's side in noticable pain she pulled her sword. She thrust into a shadow direct portal and stabbed Zaro I'm the gut.

Now we're almost even, she said showing blood on her teeth.

As Zaro was starting to reposition Chad activated Shadow Siphon. The draining energy caught him for a moment before he could void step away. But instead of using the stolen energy for himself Chad channeled it to Ramrod adding a fifth charge to his Impact Shell.

Ramrod's voice boomed. Now.

Chad threw up a Void Barrier around himself and Ezra just as Ramrod released a focused Force Release. The devastating burst of stored energy ripped through the training ground. Zaro misread the plan and void stepped next to the tree near Ramrod which splintered under the impact.

Ten charges delivered in one perfect burst. They had turned Ramrod into a void powered battery and Chad was feeding him energy while Ezra kept their target from escaping the blast zone.

Zaro blocked that attack with his face, neck, chest area. He was thrown against the tree and lost 80% of his health from the attack, the fact that he had teleported into it and the impact from the tree. The sound of cracking was loud and the tree fell backwards making a large impact and throwing dust up in the battlefield.

200 health left. He was dazed from the attack. But still managed to activate Eye of the Storm. The dust blinded everyone for a few moments.

Zaro pulled some water from his void storage and took a few gulps. Then poured a little on his head. It was refreshing. His storage seemed to time lock items. The water was still cold in there. He was going to have to play with that soon.

He was going to get up, but just decided to lay there a bit.

The dust stared settling so he activated shadow camouflage and blended into the dust and shadows as his vitality kept climbing. He sat up and void stepped to safety. Finally releasing his camouflage. That's enough. You win. Great job.

Zaro stood shakily, still healing from the impact. His team gathered around as he pulled a map from void storage. eye of the storm and his vitality would have him healed up in another minute. At full healing he would heal 480 health points per minute. Without eye of the storm it was still 180 points per minute. After the first 3 second delay.

This is just a silver ranked quest, he began. Should be trivial for gold ranked void users like you three. Hell, any one of you could probably handle it alone. But let's use it to practice working as a unit. Looking at the map. The wyvern nest is here, he pointed to a cliff face near the eastern trade route. Reports show three adults, possibly juveniles. They're raiding caravans from above, diving attacks, picking off stragglers. The real concern isn't the wyverns, it's protecting the merchants and their guards. They're not equipped to handle aerial threats.

Chad adjusted his hat, thinking. His Void Barrier could protect the caravans, but wyverns are smart. They'll wait it out.

Speaking of mobility, Ezra pointed to the cliff. Those caves probably connect. I can use Void Dash through the shadows there, appear above or behind them when they dive. Shadow Direct could help my arrows redirect their flight path, force them into dodging directly into Chad's barriers or Ramrod's attacks. Ramrod nodded. I store charges from their diving attacks using Impact Shell. When they try to retreat, Chad can bombard them, force them back into range.

And feed you energy to maintain Impact Shell, Chad added. Keep you anchored when they try their hit and run tactics.

Ezra perked up. We should head to Samu-el and his brother Jackson's,. Best enchanted arrows in Everlight. Their tagline always makes me laugh. 'Bees' in the trap.’