Chapter 18: Dr. Funk’s Wild Ride

Riley dropped his armor and resummoned it. The ability was incredibly mana-intensive for Riley’s 10 Magic. He knew he would have to address his stat imbalance at some point, but right now all he could think about was survival and three uses of his armor ability was good enough. Riley put his 8 free stat points he had gotten from reaching level 20 all into his Body score. As each point hit him, he could feel some of the exhaustion leave his body. His limbs stopped trembling and he found he could breathe easier. He wasn’t at 100%, but he was no longer feeling dead on his feet.

The others similarly distributed what free points they had earned. For the first time the group was on an even playing field, everyone was at level 20. No one had attuned their second ability so they were all at the current level cap until they could.

Heather still hadn’t gotten back up from where she had collapsed, though her breathing was coming easier. With a roar Riley charged towards the approaching wall of Porcs. If they got access to the cul-de-sac the fight was as good as lost. It was already as good as lost considering the number of enemies they still had left to fight, but at least the canyon limited the number of enemies that could attack them at once.

As soon as he stopped their momentum Casey took her place next to him. Nermit provided support with a spear while Heather was still recovering. Scott’s arrows started to fly again putting pressure on the shaman and the rear lines of the Porcs.

The shaman didn’t leave them alone for long. Another cloud started brewing above them and Nermit was forced to protect them with his golden shield once again. He had put his points into his Magic stat giving him some more energy to use by Nermit was working on fumes by this point. Things couldn’t stay as they were. Casey was forced to use her Furious Strikes ability much sooner this time, her blurred form spending more time dodging than she was killing.

Something was bothering Riley, though his addled mind couldn’t focus on exactly what it was. Something to do with Heather’s spell. She was clearly in no shape to cast it a third time, no matter how much he wished. Was there a potion in the store that could allow her to do so? Riley wasn’t sure. He didn’t think that was what was bothering him though.

Was it an upgrade to one of his abilities? His Rock Armor ability felt very different than his Leech had and he didn’t have as strong of a connection to it. He had an idea on how to upgrade his Leech again, potentially. If it was even possible. But that wasn’t what was bothering Riley either.

At least Dr. Funk would be safe, sitting up on the cliff. Dr. Funk! That was it. That was what was bothering Riley. He wasn’t sitting on the ledge; he was sticking out of the ledge.

As soon as Casey’s buff wore off and her moves turned sluggish again Riley made the call, “Nermit, switch with Casey.” They moved instantly, not bothering to question the call. “Casey, try to teleport about halfway up the cliff straight behind us.”

Casey looked to where Riley indicated but only saw a cliff. “There’s no room, I can’t teleport up there.”

With Nermit having to pay attention to keeping the shaman at bay Riley was forced to do double time on defense, tangling and occupying both of the leading Porcs as best he could. “There’s a shadow,” Riley said with as much conviction as he could. Which was tinged with more desperation than he would have liked. There could have been any number of explanations for what happened Dr. Funk, but he really hoped he was right.

Riley didn’t hear anything more from Casey. He started to get worried that he was wrong when he heard Casey yell from the back of the cul-de-sac. “There’s a path, we have a way out.”

Riley would have sighed in relief if he had the space to do so, instead he made the next necessary call. “Casey, get back here,” he yelled. “Scott, get Heather up that cliff, Nermit follow as soon as you can.”

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Riley focused back on the fight, trusting his party. Casey took the long way back to Riley, trying to conserve her mana. She switched back in and the pressure on Riley eased up a touch. He threw himself back into the fight with renewed vigor, they had a way out. Hope was a powerful motivator.

A few minutes later Scott yelled for Nermit who took off after them. Then it was just Riley and Casey facing the horde. Arrows started to fall again providing support, Nermit managing to keep a shield above them sparing them from the shaman even while he was running for the cliff.

“Have enough to use your Furious Strikes?” Riley asked as he parried a blow and used the edge of his shield to cut into the out of position leg of his Porc. The creature screamed and was pulled back out of the front of line giving Riley a moment’s pause to help Casey with a thrust of his sword.

“Just enough for a Shadow Step,” she said in a huff.

Riley swore.

“We’re not going to leave you,” Casey reassured him. Her dagger parrying a thrust enough to barely miss her head while her sword clanged off of the Porcs shield.

“Who said anything about leaving me?” Riley called out, “Get me outta here!”

“Riley, run!” Heather’s voice called, just barely able to be heard over the din of battle.

“What?!” Riley called back, not sure if he heard correctly. It wasn’t a terribly long trip the end of the cul-de-sac, but the Porcs wouldn’t let him go so easily.

“Just do it!” Heather yelled.

Riley parried another attack on his sword and set his feet thrusting his shield forward forcing the front line to backpedal. Casey dropped into her shadow and disappeared, Riley turned and ran. A sword caught him in the back, but his armor held, and he was sprinting away.

Five familiar Barbarians were running back at Riley, parting to let him pass. Riley risked a glance backwards and saw the Porcs already filling the space of the cul-de-sac. The Barbarians roared as challenged as they ran to meet the oncoming tide of Porcs.

Riley turned back forward and saw dangling from halfway up the cliff was a rope. He could have kissed the rope; he was so happy to see it.

With his new stats and a full night’s rest Riley could have easily climbed the rope with the weight of his Rock Armor on him. But after hours of fighting Riley didn’t want to risk it, he was only concerned about speed. He dropped the Rock Armor and used his momentum to run up the wall grabbing the rope about halfway up the cliff. He started climbing, hand over hand as fast as he could.

Riley was almost to the top of the cliff when a black cloud appeared above him. A golden shield flickered into place above him but it shattered immediately, lighting coursed through Riley’s body. His muscles locked up he lost his grip on the rope, falling backwards.

Riley’s foot got caught in a loop on the rope and as his world turned upside-down, his head slammed into the cliff. He saw the shaman leering at him, a vicious grin on his face. The shaman held in its hand a golden ball that burst into ten projectiles heading straight for Riley. Riley watched his death approach. This was it. Nermit was out of mana, there was going to be no golden shield to save him this time.

Riley yelped as he was suddenly pulled upwards, out of the way of the golden projectiles. He kept rising, the back of his head scraping against the cliff face, but Riley didn’t care. He met the shaman’s eyes and returned a leer of his own.

When Riley felt solid ground beneath him again, he actually did kiss the loop of rope which had caught his foot.

They were in a tight corridor weaving through two cliff faces, Nermit helped Riley to his feet. He was exhausted but prepared to keep running as they weren’t out of the woods yet.

A rumbling sound pulled Riley’s attention back to the cul-de-sac. A wall of stone was rising from the ground slowly closing off the hidden path. Casey was by the opening, her hand on a lever. The sounds of the Porcs enraged squeals grew muffled until they could barely be heard.

“Did-did we actually do it?” Riley asked, incredulous.

“Yeah, I think we did,” Casey answered. She was grinning wildly at Riley.

“Remind me to buy that cat the best food in the world,” Riley looked around but didn’t see Dr. Funk. “Where is the little guy anyways?” Heather and Scott both pointed further up the path.

The group looked as wrung out and as exhausted as he felt but no one wanted to stay where they were. The squealing of the Porcs, while muffled, could still be heard. The tight space didn’t help either.

Scott led the group down the winding path. The sound of water reached the group, and they hurried forward. The path opened up to a small clearing. A waterfall fed water into a small pool around which was a thriving bed of flowers and grasses. Moss grew aplenty on the rocks and the water was clear. Two other paths led off out of the clearing.

Sitting on one of the rocks licking their paw was Dr. Funk who meowed upon seeing them but ignored the group otherwise. A half-eaten bird lay on the ground next to him.

The group unanimously decided to make their camp here. Scott went to scout out the other two paths reporting back that they led to similarly hidden entrances. He closed each of the doors giving the group a measure of protection.

They had made it. They were safe. Riley didn’t remember falling asleep.