Why is my charisma a one? In front of all these cool strangers and I completely botched what would have been a heroic entry. I had the chance to set the perfect first impression and blew it. It wasn't even close to being a success. And now my name is Jim… It's not bad. It's just not the name I already picked. I'm supposed to be Jack.
Eight people are staring me down for an intense second. The olive skin and almost reddish hair woman stands in the middle. Slender pointy ears barely push past her long hair. She was the first to sound the alarm. It was tricky dodging the perception checks she kept throwing my way. Goldi — the temporary name I assign to the light cleric — quickly covers herself in shimmering gold armor. Though she is surrounded by much bigger men, her presence isn't any less. It could be her piercing eyes that don't seem to break away from me. I'm guessing she isn't impressed with my entrance.
Next to Goldi is Stormi. Instead of plated armor like Goldi, Stormi is mostly wearing light clothing. A braided wooden staff is in her hands, and across her back is an elegant long sword. Even without her armor plating, the storm zealot looks as big or bigger than Goldi. Lightening courses through her staff, running up her arms and body. Instead of looking at me directly, she focuses more on the distance. Hopefully, she can sense the storm.
At the forefront of the group is a big man with massive hands. I wouldn't put his stature on the same size as bugbears, but he's close. If we take his hands into consideration, they might even be equals. Wearing a casual white shirt and some blue pants, his appearance looks nothing like someone in charge. His aura tells a different story. Standing before him, it feels like I am fighting back the ocean waves. The guy is standing there, and I feel like I'm on wobbly ground. With a chiseled jaw, clean-cut hair, and a sea of confidence, the lead man has me out staged.
Before I can contemplate my life choices that led me to this point further, I'm saved by the surge of demons that blow past the feeble barriers these people set up. Mana instantly bursts into action. Doing my part, I summon Bones to my side, and Gene morphs into her shaman form. I keep death and shadow cycling while I summon two steel-scale longswords. My body is covered in a thin layer of dark plating while Bones summons his axes. At once, Gene begins extending her shadow domain.
The shadow shaman darts to the center of the town, where the families and stragglers in the community are likely preparing for their doom. Her fast pace, empowered by her shadow, allows her to almost instantly arrive next to the frightened group. Surrounded by her shadow domain, the citizens should be well protected. Unfortunately, because of our earlier battle, Gene is too drained to extend her domain further than the town center. It can't save us all, but it's enough for those unprepared to fight.
I'm about to slice my way into the dense force of demons when a massive wave crashes down on the frontline. The surge has enough power to completely wipe out the front of the demon army, pushing them back outside the broken walls. My hair begins to tingle right when lightning strikes, hitting the already downed forces and taking many. Thunder cracks over our heads, and the ground shakes.
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The massive amounts of water flooding the ground rises into the air higher and higher and turns into a thick misty cloud. Inside the now descending cloud is a lightning storm. Gradually, the storm cloud falls until it lands on the second rank of demons. Over a thousand demons are caught in the grounded storm. As the storm sweeps north, thunder drowns out any noise. None survive where the storm passes.
Incredible. Two templars repel the army of demons, and neither the town hero nor Stormi looks tired. On the contrary, both look powerful and capable of fighting much longer. Water mana surrounds the large hands of the leader in a dense formation. His eyes are a dark blue, like staring into the ocean depths. Stormi is still sparkling from lightning that erratically sparks off her skin in bright yellow flashes.
None of the six other defenders moved during the attack, and all feel equally as powerful as the town hero and Stormi. I thought for sure Goldi was going to act, but other than summoning her armor, she just stood there stoically. These people don't need my help.
"And you were saying you are here to help…" the hero speaks in a gruff, strong voice. His voiced doubt sends laughter through his soldiers standing close to his side. Stormi half snickers, half sneers. Goldi still stares at me intensely.
"Give the death rook some credit Gavin," says one of the cloaked scouts standing next to Stormi. He holds a remarkable bow that emits earth mana, and his dark green cloak hides most of his body; even his hood hides the details of his face. The mysterious vibes are working well for him. "He was ready to run into the thick of the spirit beasts and monsters before you and Becky started gallivanting your mana."
The hero, apparently named Gavin, nods in agreement with the scout. "Perhaps we did get carried away. Though, I doubt swords and skeletons would do much to dissuade the force that was upon us." This time both Bones and I are nodding our heads in agreement. "Since you are here, you might as well answer questions."
"There is no time," Goldi says. "More spirit beasts are here with stronger awakened wildlings. This time it's not just going to be a bunch of low rankers too. They have got some power." Once again, I'm saved by the demons. The smallest part of me, a very selfish part, is glad the monsters aren't backing down. My reputation would not survive if the first wave was the only threat to this town. I'd never be able to show myself here again.
Unfortunately for all of us, my reputation is somewhat saved. Now all the guardians are preparing for a fight. Goldi begins to channel her light mana along with the rest of them. Gavin and Becky are no longer in casual clothing. Gavin is covered in a misty robe, wielding a tower shield and spear that looks more like a staff. Becky has her staff and sword equipped, and the lightning coursing around her is more of a permanent attire. The lightning armor is lighter than mine or Goldi's armor, but what it lacks in protection, it makes up for in flash.
While the rest of the squad gears up and readies for the fight, I turn around just in time to see darkness closing in on us. As darkness reaches the edge of town, a bright yellow barrier races past me, blocking the darkness from moving closer. I feel secure in the dome of light when Becky and Gavin's storm cloud turns on us. Curses are muttered behind me, and I feel a surge of power from the two templars as they try to repulse the incoming destruction.