The group separated without another word, already knowing their roles. They had prepared for this, planned ahead, and went over it multiple times in the training room the day before. They wanted to be ready, work together effectively, and be more efficient despite their smaller group size.
Wyn and John ran directly towards the fight, going to help out. Marcy and Tasha followed the woman to the back line where Marcy kept an eye out for any additional enemies. She already had an arrow nocked with her bow in hand. Tasha bent down to inspect the Climber who was on the ground.
The man was stable but unconscious. She didn’t see any wounds that needed to be healed and felt him breathing when she placed her hand beside his mouth and nose. The woman, a Diamond Mage, too, was breathing loud and quick, nearly having a panic attack. Tasha stood back up and squared up to her, grabbing her shoulder with her free hand. She stared into her eyes with a determined but calm look.
“Look at me,” she said. “Take deep breaths. You have to calm down and help. He is stable, breathing, and alive. But you have to help with the others who might not be.”
The woman took a deep breath and nodded quickly, settling down a bit though her eyes still flittered around the area. “O-o-okay,” she said, stammering her words. She wiped away a tear that had fallen down her cheek.
Tasha bent down and picked up the woman’s staff and handed it to her. She took it with a bit of hesitation, but Tasha was giving her courage. “You can do this. The others will handle the enemies, we only need to heal the wounded. Just follow my lead, okay?”
She nodded without another word.
The other mage, wielding a staff with a garnet set in the end, stepped forward. “Flame bolt!” He yelled, pointing his staff to the lizard monsters. The spell lobbed to the side and well short, missing them entirely before erupting in the jungle and setting a bush on fire. He sheepishly looked around and cleared his throat. He was too nervous to join the fight, opting to stay a safe distance away.
Marcy saw the large Climber wearing a similarly large backpack. His jaw was set and he was sweating, his fists clenched by his side. He looked like he was paralyzed.
“Are you alright?” She asked him.
He turned to look at her and his expression softened a bit. “No. I want to help, but Roderick said to stay out of it.” His voice was surprisingly soft for his size and demeanor.
“And you listened to him?”
He turned away and looked back at the fight. “He said he’d have me banned from the tower if I did, disobeying a direct order. I’m only a Mapper, not a Climber, and don’t have the authority. According to him.” He grabbed the war hammer on his belt and squeezed it so hard his knuckles went white.
“Well, he’s a fool that’s going to get his group killed,” Marcy said. “Stay here with me and keep an eye out. With us joining the fight its only going to get worse.”
She looked over at Tasha who nodded back at her, her face serious and posture straight. She was more than ready - she was determined. Marcy smiled and pointed with her head towards the fight. Tasha pulled the other Diamond Mage behind her, nearly dragging her, and they set off to join the chaos. Their groups needed them.
*****
Wyn’s thoughts ran to the war, thinking about his men scattered on the ground in various states of life and death. He thought of his inaction, where he wanted to move but felt as though he was a statue set in place.
He willed his thoughts out of the past, shaking his head. Now was NOT the time to lose focus. He chastised himself. That was the past, and this was the here and now. People needed his help, and they needed it right away. His group couldn't afford for him to not act. Not again.
“I’m going to get him out of there,” Wyn said, jogging along side John. They were rushing into a dangerous situation with people they weren't familiar with and dangerous foes, but they were confident in each other. The other Fighters, though, could very well get in the way, being more trouble than helpful. The two Climbers both knew it without saying it out loud.
“I’m going to distract them,” John replied. “Just don’t take long!”
In seconds they were across the field. Wyn split off first, stabbing his spear into the ground twenty feet before the lizards and Fighters where it stood on end. He noticed the Fighters look at him, and the lizard monsters looked, too. The monster that held the great axe swung down at the two Fighters trying to hit them both at the same time. The weapon was as big as a person, and the swing was forceful but slow. They both stepped out of its attack awkwardly, with the Fighter guarding the downed Climber falling to the ground, and the other stumbling but staying upright. He cursed and stared at Wyn.
“You! Red Mage!” His eyes were furious, his mouth in a snarl.
Wyn hoped he was angry at the situation and not him personally, but it honestly didn’t matter. He saw the unconscious Climber and guessed he was likely a Rogue. He bent down to grab him and realized the jungle floor was soaked in blood, his armor wet and slick. His left arm was bent at a strange angle, and what he assumed was a previous gash on his side had opened considerably.
Wyn didn't know how close he was to death. There was still the faintest signs of breath as his chest slowly rose and fell but it was weak. Wyn wasn't a medic and didn't know the true extent of the man's injuries. What he did have, though, was magic.
Wyn touched his side gently. “Regen,” he said, hoping his spell would help keep death away. He saw the white aura envelope him and hoped it would be enough. The Rogue’s swords were lying on the ground but they weren’t important right now and would just get in the way. Wyn slipped under his good arm and heaved him up, trying his best to run away from the fight so he wouldn’t get smashed in the back.
He saw Tasha and the other mage coming across the field and met them in the middle. The woman gasped and went white, taking a step away in fear. At least Tasha stood resolute at the gruesome sight. Wyn set the man on the ground as quickly and gently as he could.
“I don't think Regen is going to work fast enough,” Tasha said. She inspected him like she did the other Climber, feeling for a breath and seeing what wounds he had.
“It's all I have,” Wyn said. "I was hoping you could take care of the rest." He stood and watched as the other mage threw up.
“He’s still alive!” Tasha yelled, turning back to the other woman. She placed a hand on the man's chest. "Stabilize."
The white aura around the Rogue increased in size but decreased in intensity. Wyn couldn't tell if the man's wounds were closing or not, but he trusted Tasha and her abilities to heal.
“He's barely alive but I got it from here,” Tasha said.
“Good," Wyn replied. "I need to go back. I'll yell if we need you."
Tasha held out her staff and tapped Wyn on the shoulder. “Arcane Aura,” she said, casting another spell. The aura enveloped him in magical armor while she went back to tend to the Rogue. She touched her staff on him, now - “Cure." The staff glowed for a moment before creating the familiar runic structure at its tip. This spell was cast using the energy from the staff itself as the runes in the air didn't have Tasha's Divine Magician signature. The white aura now grew exponentially as multiple spells of healing magic flowed into him.
His arm was now right again and his side was nearly whole. The gash had mostly healed but was still open, though the Regen spell was still active. It was closing the wound up slowly.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
The Rogue stirred and coughed. The other Divine Mage gasped and cried.
*****
“Come get me, you bastards!” John screamed while banging his sword against his shield. He was standing off to the side away from the other Fighters, working to get the giant creature’s attention. One of them turned, its eyes black and full of death, and lashed out with its tongue in a feral cry. In two large steps it was within striking range as it held up its axe and swung it at John.
He sidestepped nimbly, avoiding the blow of the weapon as it lodged into the ground and kicked up grass and dirt. He rushed forward and slashed at it several times, leaving small cuts across its upper thigh.
Its skin was as tough as armor, and his sword was basic. In this moment he really, really missed his magically flaming sword. At least he still had his shield.
He stepped back quickly, putting some distance between the monster and himself to reassess. He knew he just needed it distracted and their numbers would overwhelm them eventually, but he didn’t want to be directly under it.
Or did he?
“Hey jackass, stay out of this!” The other Fighter yelled. He pointed his sword at John. “We are handling it!”
“Like hells you are!” John yelled back.
The Fighter turned to strike at the other lizard creature as he and his ally were taunting it. Their strategy fell apart almost immediately as the lizard swung at them with its club and they dodged it in the same direction, the leader tripping and nearly falling over the other. He cursed again, pushing his teammate away from him with his shield in frustration. The other Fighter stumbled back a bit, caught off guard by being shoved.
John realized how poorly they were working together. This was just the first floor and they looked they just held a weapon for the first time yesterday. They'd likely never make it as Climbers. He pitied them.
The axe-wielding monster rose his axe again to strike. John stole a quick glance back and saw Wyn running towards them, and he knew it wouldn’t be long before he would join and they could take them out. His ally might be a Red Mage, but he was more competent than even most of the Fighters John trained with.
He just needed to survive until Wyn joined the fight. His idea was going to test that fact, but he wanted to try it.
“Focus!” He yelled, and the same red aura covered him again. He felt its effects immediately, like a surge of adrenaline but more stout and effective. He charged forward at the monster right as it swung down with its axe. Narrowly avoiding the weapon, he sidestepped it and parried it at the same, using his magical shield to redirect the force. The axe struck the ground once more, and John stabbed the monster’s lower torso several times.
The blade sunk deeper and was more effective than before, his skill working to improve his strength. Dark blood seeped away from the gashes but they weren’t as deep as he would’ve liked. He ran around the giant to the opposite side of the other Fighters, hoping to at least turn its attention away.
“Come on, come on,” he said, taunting it.
Wyn picked up his pace across the field after seeing how the other Fighters were hurting themselves more than helping. Their communication was terrible. He was thankful his own group had a plan and knew they would be able to make it far despite their smaller party.
John decided to draw an attack to give Wyn the chance to strike by surprise. The other two Fighters would just have to deal with one of the large beasts while he took on the other by himself. He realized the shielding spell Tasha placed on him was starting to fade, as the auras from his own skill and her spell had blended together before but now the red was overtaking the white. In a desperate effort he decided to use what was left to his advantage.
He stabbed at the monster several times, more to taunt it than actually cause damage. The creature roared in frustration, the noise deafening, causing the Climbers except John to flinch. He was too zoned in to be distracted himself. The monster let go of its axe and swung with a backhand to John as though he was swatting a fly.
John didn’t want to sidestep it this time - he used his shield to take the blow.
The magical shield combined with his stacked magical effects took the entirety of the force. He held his ground, keeping his stance together, but was shoved to the side several feet. There were marks in the jungle floor where his boots dug in and pushed out the ground from the force. He stabilized himself behind the shield and stood tall and proud at absorbing the blow.
Wyn plucked his spear from the ground without slowing down as he closed the distance. He twirled his spear around and sliced in a heavy arc at the back of the creature’s knee that was attacking John. He felt the flesh give out and saw a spray of blood burst from its leg, covering the side of his clothes and the ground beside him. He couldn’t even tell its skin was hardened like armor, his wind-based spear cutting through it like a hot knife through butter.
The creature fell to the ground on its knee, screaming in pain. It dropped its axe clawed the dirt from pain and anger.
“Now!” Wyn yelled.
John ran forward and stabbed it in the side, hoping to do whatever damage he could. Wyn, however, let out a flurry of slashes and stabs, all of them gouging and opening the flesh of the monster. It cried in agony and pain before Wyn put one final blow into its torso, feeling the entire blade sink in where its heart should be, causing the beast to go still.
As he pulled out the spear it fell to the ground in a loud thud.
Wyn and John smiled at each other, happy at their success.
A loud clang shook them from their brief celebration. They looked and saw the other group’s leader stabbing at the remaining lizard-giant while his teammate was on the ground, his shield cast off to the side. He was holding his arm and yelling in pain.
Wyn ran to him, checking his mark on the way. He still had some mana left but it wasn’t enough to cast Regen. His lack of available mana was while climbing was becoming detrimental, not just a nuisance. Whether it was mana potions or equipment or both to increase his ability to use spells and skills, he decided right then and there he needed it to be more effective.
“That bastard!” John yelled, rushing to help, directing his frustration at the Climber. He couldn’t heal the other Fighter and knew his role was to help deal with the monster directly.
Wyn looked back at Tasha and saw that she had already come to help. She pointed her staff to the Fighter and used its magic once more. “Cure!” She yelled, and a flash of white magic overtook the Climber and began healing his wounds.
Satisfied that Tasha was taking care of the injured Climber, Wyn looked back at the beast and held out his spear. He knew it would be over quick, but he almost wanted the other Fighter to manage it on his own just to add insult to injury.
No. He wouldn’t stoop to their level. If he was going to show them what being a Ruby Magician entailed, he needed to prove himself and the power of the class.
He hurried forward beside the other Fighter.
“Stay away!” The Fighter yelled. His eyes were crazed and spittle flew from his mouth when he spoke. “We don’t need your help, Red Mage!”
Wyn looked in his eyes and promptly ignored him.
The beast raised its club again to attack, and the Fighter wasn’t even paying attention. He was only looking at Wyn, furious that he would even try to help. Wyn ran to him and shoved him out of the way to the ground just as the giant swung in a wide arc with its club.
It caught Wyn in the back as he fell to the ground, flinging him further away several feet. He blinked, shocked at the hit, and tried to move his body. He stood up, thankfully, and hoped his adrenaline wasn’t taking over and masking an injury. He looked down at noticed his white aura was completely gone.
It absorbed the blow for him and dissipated. Whatever strength was in that swing and however it contact Wyn was enough to completely use up the magic inside it. The thought of being hit without that magical protection made Wyn shudder.
Angered with new resolve, he ran towards the beast with a battle cry. The monster just roared back in a challenge. He saw John beside it, readying his sword, wanting to help however he could.
“Wingbeat!” He yelled, hooking his spear as though he was pulling something from thin air with the clawed-end. He aimed it in a diagonal arc so it would miss John instead of catching him in the spell. Hopefully it would react as intended. The magical wind cut through the air at the creature and sliced across it exactly how he’d hoped, catching its right leg up to its left shoulder. It left a large gash across its body, causing it to rear back. It dropped its club and clawed at its chest as blood poured out of its wound.
It fell back onto the ground in pain. Wyn ran forward and forcefully stabbed it in the neck, nearly beheading it from the blow.
The field was silent for a moment except for the Climbers deep, fast breaths from exertion.
“Woah,” John said. He lowered his sword and walked over beside Wyn.
“I’ll say,” Wyn replied. “You were amazing, John. Even better than expected.”
“I meant you, Wyn. Look at them! They’re nearly in pieces!”
“I… can’t believe it,” the Fighter said, his eyes wide in amazement. He was lying on the ground and looking up at the carnage. “But you’re just a… a Red Mage.”
“It’s not about the class, you idiot,” John said. “Look at you, you nearly got your teammates killed and you're supposed to be a Fighter! You should be able to handle these types of enemies well enough!”
The Fighter looked back and saw what was left of his group. The others had gathered around Tasha and the Rogue, staring at the scene at the end of the floor. They were all shocked, barely aware of what happened.
Suddenly a loud crash hit on the edge of the field. Another giant lizard stepped out, this one holding two swords. It had the same war paint and torn linen on its body, and it roared at the Climbers for a fight.
An arrow protruded from its eye socket in a flash in a sickening thunk, immediately silencing it. The beast paused and went still. Suddenly the arrow exploded in a flash of fire, and a now-headless giant lizard creature fell to the ground with a loud thud.
All of the Climbers looked to the direction where the arrow came from and saw Marcy standing there with her bow.
She shrugged and slung it around her chest, unbothered.
The portal changed color to gray, showing they had successfully completed their task and were allowed to proceed.
Wyn, John, and Marcy walked over beside Tasha, celebrating their success.
The other Climbers stood there dumbfounded, staring at the small group in disbelief.
“Hey,” the Rogue said. “Who in the hells are you guys?”