As the group started to reform after walking through the void door, I noticed that at some point we had lost our chains.
"What are we going to do?"
"We could try and wait out the Dungeon."
"Don't be stupid we don't have enough food to survive that long!"
"Enough!" I shouted over the group as I stumped my foot onto the ground casting Mass Till Earth. As the ground underneath them moves, putting them off balance allows me to grab their attention.
"We can't fight amongst ourselves if we want to survive." I started to say before Alor cut in. 'What is he doing?'
"Come on, Adalric, do you think we have a chance? I was a merchant not too long ago and we are the weakest of the four groups."
"He's right!"
"Yea we are doomed!"
"Who put you in charge?"
I look at Alor with a frown. I know I didn't know him for that long, but this is something I didn't expect from him.
"I know this doesn't look good but if we don't work together we are dead." I look around them trying to meet each of the eyes. "I plan to clear the Dungeon and be free. Hiding here waiting for the Dungeon to kill you or dying of starvation." As I finished, I saw a few look away but more who had lost that spark of hope started to rekindle.
"Well, if you want to go on a suicide mission then go head I will wait out the Dungeon and anyone who want's can come with me." With that he started walking away and with his words more and half went with him.
I look at the retreating backs of 20 of are group and as I turn my head to the remaining 18.
"Let's get to cover and take stock of what we have." And with that we started moving.
As we walked, snow started to slowly fall down and with the view before it looked beautiful with the ice blue castle the mountains on either and the trees poking out of it snow could make an artist green with envy. The crunch of snow behind me told of the approach of the beast kin.
"There should be a cave over there, it should be safe." His voice was barely above a whisper.
I gave him a strange look for a second before nodding as I looked over to where he pointed. I could just see it; it was in the face of one of the close-by mountain faces. It might be an hour walk but as I looked up to the sky, I could see the snow starting to pick up.
"Let's move quickly before we get stuck in a snowstorm, shelter this way!" I shouted to my group.
As we picked up speed to the cave, I could hear the faintest whisper of something moving at first, I thought it was the wind or someone else making the noise. But as I looked around, I saw something but I couldn't be sure.
"Beast kin do you see that?" I pointed over to the spot I thought I saw movement.
"I do have a name and..." He had a look over to the area and I saw panic come over his face. "We need to run now!"
----------------------------------------
Alex
'This day couldn't get worse, could it?' I thought to myself as we all started running to the cave. 'The human Adalric got likely spotting the Ice Shrieker. In fact, that man seemed to be lucky as my skill Pack Seeker showed him as a leader which I don't really see but the skill has been wrong before.'
I looked behind me again at the Ice Shrieker and it was gaining on us and quickly. We weren't too far away from the cave, but I don't think it would really matter anymore even if we got inside the cave.
"Everyone get to the cave; I will try and hold it off for as long as I can then get ready to fight it when I get there." Adalric shouted.
'That will not help us that much against an Ice Shrieker.' As I got the first proper look at it. It had bluey-white fur that looked like scales, large blue eyes with a strong red glow that pulsed with what must be its heart, a ruby on its head and red tipped spikes running down its back, it had a mouse like nose and its mouth full of needles sharp teeth.
As Adalric charged the creature pulling a sword out the bag the rest of us started to run that much more to get to the cave. Well, most of us, someone must have gone mad or wanted a quick death as she charges the Ice Shrieker with Adalric. 'I hope your death isn't too painful.' As I send a prayer to the great spirits.
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
----------------------------------------
Freya
'The only person with a spine here is that damn human and I will not let a human up show a high elf.' I thought to myself. 'Lucky the ass hats gave me a proper weapon also its bull shit that I'm in the weakest group I kill four guys! Yea sure I'm only a level 1 Rager but I'm a level 5 cook!'
As I got into melee with the thing, that human 'Adalic? think.' Was keeping the thing a bay by dodging its bits with what looked like dash skill.
"Get out of the way, human!" As I lifted my new axe and activated Rage.
Rage (Skill): When activated you feel the strength of your anger power you. Increase your physical stats the angrier you become.
----------------------------------------
Adalric
'Did that woman just flip the creature?' I look at the creature flying into the air. Sadly, it didn't land on its back but it turned in the air like a cat and landed back on its feet.
"Well damn."
As I used a dash to get back next to the thing and with the woman's distraction, I was able to land the first strike against it and draw blood. As the blood hit the ground staining the snow red. As that happened the creature snapped its head right next to me and bits down where I was. Only being able to dodge it by using my dash but I was starting to get tired, and I have only hit it once.
But before the creature could attack again the axe wielder rushed back up to the creature and slammed her axes into its side. The thing let out an ear piercing screech that started to make my ears bleed. It smashed its tail into the elf and sent her flying where she hit a tree where to my shock, she was still conscious.
But it didn't look like she was going anywhere as she coughed up blood. But that little loss of concentration cost me as I was hit by a ball of ice that was about the size of a head.
"AHhh!" 'Went could it do that?'
As I was knocked to the ground hearing and feeling the breaking of a rib or two. The creature rushes to the elven woman and I slam my hand down.
"No, you don't!" As I use Mass Till Earth to send a straight line to one of its feet making it stumble.
It's well known that skill can do more that what is said in the notification but people do underestimate how much to can do. One thing I learned about Mass Till Earth was when a bull was going on a rampage I learned two important things: the first was that I could make the tilled earth deep and the second was I could part it. As the stumble turn into a fall as its leg landed into a small trench.
Sadly, it didn't break a leg, I guess I could only buy her a bit more time. As it slowly turns its head like a cat that found a mouse trapped but I could see in its eyes that its pride has been hurt. As it slowly moves toward me knowing fully that neither of us could threaten it but I would be damned if I don't try and die fighting.
"Well, I guess that I will not get my revenge but I might fight you." As I get to my feet, I raise my sword and feeling pain shoot up my arm as my breath catches in my throat. 'I don't want to die.'
As I look at the creature and with a blur of movement it blitzes towards me and sends me flying into the air with a powerful whip of its tail. Time seemed to slow down as I spun around but for a second, I saw its eyes looking at me with the pride only someone who knows that they wouldn't lose could have.
"I WILL NOT DIE HERE!" As I used what little strength I had left to activate the dash as the skill took effect, I shot myself in a straight line to its eye, and I plunged my blade into its eye.
I felt the eye pop as my hand got covered in the eye jelly over it. It was warm, but it smelled like rotted fish. As I blade hit something that stopped it solid for only a moment with a crap that felt louder than the creatures screaming screech like a dagger being dragged over slate.
As it falls to the ground and with that, I fall on top of its head and a notification pops up.
You have killed 1 young Ice Shrieker for 495 XP
You have level warrior 2 times!
Strength +1
Endurance +1
"Uh so that was the name of the thing." As I spit a bit of blood out.
As I lay there, I could see the elf woman start to limp towards me and she looked as worse as I felt. Blood running down her chin. Her brown clothing was a mess and she was covered in pin leaf's. As she got to me and fell right next to where I was laying on its head.
"Not too bad human, the name Freya by the way." She says with a grunt.
"Not bad yourself, name Adalric." A say as I smile, finding all of this a bit funny even if it shouldn't be. As I started to laugh.
When you are about to die, things seem so funny. After a look from the elf, she also joined in and for a minute we laughed. slowly it dies out as my vision died away nut before I lost it fully, I thought I saw something come to us...
----------------------------------------
Alex
'I shouldn't be coming to check on them, they are most likely dead, and I should have left the other.' As I looked at the group around me all of them came back to help fight an Ice Shrieker. I tried to tell them how deadly the creature was but even with that they still came back. But even with my misgivings about coming I still went with them because I wish to be wrong. I want them to be alive but still.
Snow was getting worse as we walked. But as we got closer to where they were I couldn't hear anything and I didn't know if that was good until I heard one of the men shout out as I rushed to where he was I saw the two of them and they were alive!
"Move quickly, bring everything I might be able to save them" I shouted as everyone moved into action.
"You are truly lucky." I said under my breath as I used my skill Mend Flesh.
Mend Flesh (Spell): You can repair the skin or pelt from any damage that it has taken this will keep it more fresh. Quality of repair is governed by the Magic Power stat.