The city walls shrank behind us as the open fields stretched before us, rows of crops shimmering under the sun. Dust rose beneath our boots, the crunch of gravel and dry earth breaking the silence. Rue trotted ahead, his tail swaying like a metronome, his nose occasionally dipping toward the ground. Mahya kept pace with me while Al trailed slightly behind.
We cut between two fields, heading northwest toward the Gate on the Map. The distant murmur of workers tending the crops reached us, blending with the faint rustle of stalks in the breeze.
“Once we’re far enough away, we can use the bikes and the ATV,” Mahya said, glancing at me for confirmation.
Al’s voice came from behind. “You want to reach the Gate today?” His brow furrowed slightly as he scanned the horizon.
“Yeah. It doesn’t look too far, and the terrain is flat. Shouldn’t be a problem.” Her eyes flicked to me, waiting for input.
I shrugged, my hands loose at my sides. I had no opinion either way. I was still thinking about the city and the slave auction. The weight of what we’d seen gnawed at the edges of my resolve, making me feel helpless and frustrated.
Yes, we agreed not to interfere in local events. Yes, even if we saved them from the auction, we couldn’t take them with us, so they would end up in the same situation. Yes, we were Travelers, not heroes or revolutionaries. And still…
We walked for less than an hour when I heard a faint rumble in the distance. At first, I thought it was the wind, but it grew louder—steady, rhythmic, and getting closer. Rue stopped, his ears twitching. The fur on his back bristled.
“Riders,” Mahya said, her voice low, eyes narrowing toward the horizon.
Turning, I saw them. A dust cloud marked their approach. A pack of massive dogs bound toward us, their riders armed with rifles gleaming under the sunlight. At least a dozen of them approached us, dressed like the city guards at the gate.
Al stepped forward, shield at the ready. “It appears we have attracted unwanted attention.”
The lead rider barked an order, his voice carrying over. “Halt! Surrender your goods and yourselves, or face the consequences!”
I quickly cast Mana Shield and Protective Shield in front of me. “Yeah, not happening,” I muttered.
The first shot rang out, the bullet striking my Protective Shield with a sharp ping that sent ripples across its translucent surface. Another shot followed, then another, as the guards fanned out to encircle us, their dogs snarling and snapping.
Mahya darted to the side, her form a blur as she jumped into the air—mid-leap, her rifle barked, the shot finding its mark. The lead rider slumped in his saddle before tumbling lifelessly to the ground.
A sudden explosion of heat forced my attention to the left. One of the guards raised his hands, fire blooming in his palms before hurling a fireball straight at us. It streaked through the air, the crackling flames illuminating his snarling face. My Protective Shield shimmered as the fireball struck, dispersing harmlessly, but the impact drained more mana than the bullets.
Another one cast a fireball. I shot him with lightning. The blue arc shot through the air, striking him square in the chest. He toppled off his mount with a scream, his spell fizzing out before it could reach Mahya.
The air filled with the sharp retort of gunfire and the thunderous barking of the massive dogs. Al charged forward, his shield raised high to deflect a hail of bullets. Sparks flew as projectiles glanced off its surface, the sound deafening. He closed the distance to the first wave of riders, his sword flashing as he swung. One rider toppled from his mount, blood spraying in an arc that painted the dry earth crimson.
Another guard joined the fray, his hands aglow with fire. A second fireball hurtled toward Al, but he sidestepped at the last second, his shield absorbing the edge of the blast. The force sent dirt and debris flying, but Al kept his footing. He lunged, his blade cutting through the caster’s defense in a single, brutal motion. The man’s spell fizzled into smoke as he fell.
“Watch out! More fire!” Mahya shouted from above as another caster joined the fight. She flipped midair, dodging a fireball aimed at her head, her rifle discharging with pinpoint accuracy. The caster’s spell was cut short as Mahya’s bullet tore through his shoulder, sending him crashing to the ground.
“Rue, now!” I told him telepathically.
Rue vanished. Moments later, chaos erupted in the rear ranks as invisible jaws clamped down on a rider, dragging him screaming from his saddle. The massive dog beneath him bucked wildly, adding to the confusion.
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Lightning crackled in my palms as I sent another bolt toward the remaining casters. The blue energy arced between them, shorting out their spells in a dazzling flash of light.
A rider broke through the chaos, his dog barreling toward me. Lightning crackled in my hand, a blue arc streaking toward the rider and knocking him off his mount. His dog yelped, skidding to a halt before veering away.
Bullets ricocheted off my shield as I moved to support Al, who had engaged three riders at once. His sword danced, parrying strikes and cutting through armor. Blood stained the ground where he stood, but he didn’t falter, even as a bullet grazed his shoulder. I cast Healing Touch on him and sent a Wind Blade at the one that shot him. Between the shield and the lightning, I had to manage my mana.
Mahya darted through the fray, leaping high above the riders’ line of sight. Her rifle barked, each shot precise and deadly. She landed atop one rider, using his shoulder like a springboard, firing mid-flip and taking down another.
My shield protected my head and most of my body, but twice, I felt bullets hitting my legs. The third time wasn't the charm. A searing pain shot through my leg and head from the backlash as a bullet hit me. Gritting my teeth, I pushed the pain aside, sending another bolt of lightning into the fray. The energy arced between two riders, their screams cut short as they crumpled to the ground.
From the chaos, a guard aimed his rifle at Mahya, his dog lunging toward her. Rue materialized behind him, his massive jaws closing around the rider’s arm and yanking him violently to the ground. The dog yelped in confusion as Rue growled, blood dripping from his maw.
The remaining riders hesitated, their formation broken. Al took advantage, charging with a roar that echoed across the fields. His shield slammed into one rider, knocking him clear off his mount, while his sword silenced another.
Mahya fired her last shot, the crack of her rifle echoing as the final rider fell. The battlefield grew quiet, save for the groans of the injured and the labored breathing of my companions.
I lowered my shield, the shimmering barrier flickering out of existence as I stumbled back, my breath ragged and uneven. Blood seeped into my pants, staining the fabric dark. Gritting my teeth, I took out a belt and bit down on it, muffling a groan as I took out a pair of tweezers. My hands trembled as I dug into the wound, the sharp pain tearing through me like fire. The metallic taste of the belt filled my mouth as the tweezers clinked against the bullet. With one final wrench, I yanked it free.
The world swayed, black spots dancing at the edge of my vision. I cast Clean, Purify, and Healing Touch in quick succession. The searing pain dulled to a throbbing ache and faded as the wound closed. My breath steadied, and I glanced at my mana reserves. Over 7,000. A flicker of surprise crossed my mind before I remembered the Siphon ability. It was doing its job.
The rumble of massive paws thundered through the ground, accompanied by a rising column of dust on the horizon.
“More incoming!” Mahya’s voice cut through the tension, sharp and urgent. She stood to my left, her rifle in hand, moving with a precision born of experience. The click of her rifle’s reload echoed as she snapped it shut, her eyes narrowing toward the distant riders. “A lot more.”
I clenched my fists, lightning crackling faintly around my hands as my jaw tightened. “They really don’t take no for an answer, do they?” I muttered, my gaze locked on the approaching dust cloud.
Mahya turned toward me, her expression fierce. “Turn invisible,” she ordered, her voice low but commanding. “Let’s teach them a lesson. John, fly up and fry them from the air.”
Without waiting for my response, she tossed a rifle to Al. Her tone hardened, her words laced with finality. “None of them walks alive, understood?”
Al’s grip tightened on the rifle, his expression resolute as he met her gaze. “They attacked first,” he said simply, his tone cold and measured.
Mahya nodded once, her expression hard and unyielding, then turned back to the horizon. The rumble of paws grew louder, the vibrations carrying through the ground as the column of dust approached. She raised her rifle, her movements sharp and deliberate, her gaze locked on the advancing riders.
We all turned invisible in unison. I propelled myself upward, the wind rushing past my face as I took to the skies. Below, the riders pressed forward, their dogs snarling and growling, the men atop them scanning the fields with weapons drawn.
It took them a full minute to realize we had disappeared. Confusion rippled through their ranks as they slowed, their heads swiveling, searching for us. Riders barked orders, but it was too late.
From above, I channeled mana into my hands, lightning crackling and dancing between my fingers. I unleashed it with a shout, pouring everything into my strike. The bolt arced down like a furious serpent, striking the last rider and splitting off in jagged branches to hit the others. The air filled with the deafening roar of thunder, and the acrid smell of ozone mingled with the metallic tang of blood.
Shots rang out almost as fast as an automatic rifle. Each shot precise and devastating. The ground was a blur of chaos, smoke, and bodies as dogs yelped and men screamed.
In less than five minutes, the riders were down, the battlefield eerily silent except for the crackle of dissipating energy. My chest heaved as I hovered in the air, surveying the scene below.
I felt Mahya’s presence moving invisibly through the wreckage. Occasional shots rang out, each one punctuating the stillness with a sharp crack. I glanced down just in time to see an injured rider drop lifelessly, a red hole now marking the center of his forehead.
I flinched, her actions shocking me for a second. Still, I understood. If they did it to us, they would do it to others. In this case, it was a mercy killing—mercy to their future victims.
When all of them were dead, Mahya collected all their rifles, took out her bike, and said, “Let’s get out of here.”
Al and I exchanged glances, the unspoken understanding passing between us instantly. Neither of us said a word, and neither of us argued.
“Mahya scary,” Rue told me. Since Mahya didn’t react, I figured it was a private communication.
He hopped in the ATV; I scratched his ear and told him, “Sometimes being scary is the only way.”
He licked my cheek, and we headed toward the Gate.