“You know me pretty well,” he said with a grin.
I smirked. “Yeah, I noticed your tendency to emphasize the difficulties ahead; that way you’re coming off as a genius hero when you find ways to work around them.”
“Sounds like you should give me a raise.”
“You got it,” I said without missing a beat. “I’m doubling your pay.”
He chuckled. “Thanks, I feel better working for free times two. Alright, jokes aside. We’ll need to establish a war camp right at the border, or better yet at those new outposts I heard of. That’ll be our main base, a place to fall back to and regroup if necessary.
“That’s what I’ve been thinking.”
“It will have a cemetery we can use to resurrect our fallen,” Sullivan said. “Once we establish a foothold, we’ll push through, clear out an area, and establish more outposts as we go along.”
“Sounds good to me,” I said.
“That’s going to be very energy-intensive,” he cautioned. “We’ll have to rush each outpost and probably resurrect large portions of the army after every clash. It’ll take about 20 normal soldiers to take down a single bouldite, and it won’t happen without casualties. And those things only attack in packs.”
“I’ve been saving up our energy,” I said. “We should have over a million at this point.”
He stared at me. “A million?”
I tried not to gloat.
“That’s all?”
My expression fell. “What do you mean ‘that’s all?’ That’s a huge amount.”
“The army’s average level increases almost daily, Oren,” he said pointedly. “As does the starting level of the new troops you’ve been sending us. Right now, it’ll take 430,000 EP to resurrect everyone.”
“Damn.” I gaped at him in awe.
He nodded. “A million might not be enough if we take too many losses. Are you sure you want to make that move? The recommended minimum level to enter Stoney Barrens is 100.”
I looked at him steadily. “We have to. We will take casualties, but the soldiers that survive will level up quickly. As long as we have outposts to fall back on and energy for resurrections, we’ll be able to make it.”
“I appreciate your optimism,” he said. “But it won’t be easy either way.”
“I’m not worried.” I flashed him a grin. “That’s what I’ve got you for, Grand Army Strategist.”
Malkyr let out a chuckle. “He got you there, man.” The large man clapped the exasperated player’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, the rest of us will be there to help.”
“So who are you taking along on that scouting adventure?” Misa from the Mob Squad asked. “It sounds like fun.”
“I’ll need the strongest fighters we have,” I said. “But only those who can be stealthy. We can’t fight our way through all the mobs in Stoney Barrens, so we’ll need to be able to hide. I’ll take Yulli, and …” I glanced around and noticed my daughter giving me an intense look. I sighed, having already lost a similar argument with her before. “And Lirian.”
“I also volunteer,” Hoshisu said, stepping forward along with Raystia who smiled at me.
I shook my head. “Sorry girls, but level 20-somethings aren’t going to cut it out there. I can now teleport five other people along with me, in case we need to make a quick retreat, so I have room for three more.”
Ragnar stepped forward next. “Then I’ll be coming with ya’, fugly.”
I stared at him, dumbfounded. The drone was level 30 already. “Weren’t you level 19 just a few days ago?”
He shrugged. “Told ya’ I know wha’ I’m doin’.”
“Yeah,” Malkyr said testily. “Like going solo into a bonetis lair.”
“Worked, didn’it?” Ragnar snapped his vicelike claws. “Nothing good t’ hunt round ‘ere parts. I need to get myself a piece of them bouldites; should be some sweet XP.”
“More like you’ll be the sweet XP for them,” I said.
“I’m level 30, fugly, which means I make the cut.” His voice dropped threateningly. “Or are you gonna wanna take a crack at proving me wrong?”
“Fine,” I said. “Don’t come complaining to me if those things out there snap you in half on the first encounter.” I still had room for two more. Aidanriel and Swarm were the most powerful fighters in my army, but taking either of them along would be broadcasting my location to any hostiles around. “Savol, who are the highest-level fighters in the clan, aside from the golems?”
“Yulli, Kilpi, Rhyno, and Kuzai,” he said immediately.
My cheeks twitched at the mention of the demented priest’s name. He wasn’t even with the army, having been left behind to do menial work in the temple. But I had asked for the highest-level warriors in the clan.
“I’ll take Kilpi along then,” I said. The tier 2 boss tank, with his enchanted shield and glassteel armor, specialized in holding back powerful enemies – a useful trait, considering our opposition. Rhyno was too loud to join, and though I had no intention of taking Kuzai anywhere with me, the priest’s name reminded me of another, powerful one I’d recently fought beside. “Bek will be our fifth,” I declared.
“Your call,” Sullivan said. “You can take our new bonetis mounts; those things are fast.”
“Wha’ happened to tha’ black mongrel you used ta’ ride, anyway?” Ragnar asked.
“Went back to its home plane,” I said shortly.
“So.” Sullivan raised an eyebrow. “Bonetises?”
“Bonetises.” I’d never ridden the sharp-limbed creatures before, but their speed would help our mission. “I’m going to teleport to the valley. I’ll bring Bek along with a few builders and some resources so you can make an altar when you reach the border. Have the bonetises ready; we’ll set out at nightfall.”
“Yes, Chief.” Sullivan banged his chest mockingly.
“I’ll see you in a bit.”
***
It didn’t take long to organize everything once I returned to the clan, and I soon teleported, along with Bek and four other workers carrying piles of resources, back to the army.
As soon as the day ended and darkness started to spread, Lirian, Yulli, Kilpi, Bek, Ragnar, and I gingerly got on the bonetis mounts and set out.
***
We rode through the better part of the night. The bonetises seemed tireless, and their top speed could match a horse. Sitting on their bony and ridged backs wasn’t particularly pleasant, but I’d long since learned to ignore this world’s small aches and inconveniences. My companions also didn’t seem to enjoy the experience, but three of them were veteran bosses who could cope with nearly everything, and my daughter similarly didn’t seem bothered by the experience. Though it was her first time riding, to my knowledge, she did it with the ease of an experienced rider. The drone seemed even more immune to the rough ride than I was, his carapace protecting him from the sharp bumps along the bonetis’s back.
The green plateau gave way to a rocky, barren land by the time the horizon began to brighten.
We’d made it to Stoney Barrens.
“Let’s stop here,” I said. “It’s going to be light soon. We’ll rest up and get started again at sunset. Yulli, find us a campsite.”
The scout boss nodded and jumped off her mount. She examined the graying ground, raised her head and sniffed at the wind, then pointed to our east. “Over there, Chief.”
Following the direction, we came upon a sizable depression in the ground that was protected on one side by a large boulder. We sat down in the boulder’s shadow as the sun grew bright and went to sleep.
***
“Chief.” A hand shook me awake.
I slept lightly, so I was instantly alert. “What is it, Kilpi?”
The muscular warrior pointed north. The silhouette of something large was gliding high in the air.
I narrowed my eyes but couldn’t see any more details about the flying creature. The sun was low in the sky at this point, and I estimated it would
be dark in less than an hour. “Wake up the rest. Quietly. Maybe Yulli can get a better look at that thing.”
Kilpi nodded and walked softly around our campsite, nudging everyone awake while I collected my gear.
“What do you see?” I whispered to Yulli as she approached.
“Some sort of bird creature, big as a horse. No feathers.”
I winced, recognizing the creature from my previous life. “Sandhawks. They’re dangerous, especially in packs. The bouldites sometimes use them as scouts. Do you think it noticed us?”
She shook her head. “It doesn’t look like a nocturnal creature, and we were inside the boulder’s shadow.”
“Good. It’s unlikely to be a scout this close to the border, but we should be careful.”
“Yes, Chief.”
We ate a quick meal as the sun set, then we mounted our bonetises and rode into the barren, dangerous land.
12 - Stoney Barrens
The area around us lived up to its name. A wide expanse of bedrock extended all around us, the view occasionally broken by an outcropping of stone and the occasional patches of sand.
The sun had set by now, but the heat it had poured into the stone seeped out, making it feel as though we were moving through a slowly cooling oven.
Yulli took point, her sharp scout’s eyes scanning for any sign of trouble.
We were able to make good headway. According to my map, the cave was still some distance away, but if we kept the current pace we would get there within several days. The army would reach the border by sunrise and would work on establishing a base, giving us a place to fall back to if needed.
As we continued riding our bonetis mounts, the ground began to slope, forming into ravines and stoney hills that slowed our progress.
Yulli raised her fist. “Movement up ahead,” she whispered.
I urged my bonetis to move next to the scout. My Shadow-Touched eyes had no trouble piercing the night, but the uneven land offered many places to hide. “What do you see?” I whispered back.
She pointed toward a faraway ravine.
I narrowed my eyes and caught a faint flicker of light amid the darkness.
“There’s fire there, but it’s sheltered,” Yulli said. “Someone is trying to not be noticed.”
“Bout’ time,” Ragnar said from behind me. The player made no effort to lower his voice. “This ‘ere supposed to be a high-level area. Let’s go carve us some beasties.”
“Hold,” I said. “We don’t know what’s down there. There’s no reason to risk a confrontation this soon.”
“Bek thinks we should stay in shadows,” the other goblin priest whispered. “Leave fire for the light-lovers.”
“He’s right,” I said. “This is a scouting mission. If we make it through without a fight, all the better. Yulli, lead us around that fire.”
“Yes, Chief,” the scout said.
“Bunch of pansies,” Ragnar huffed.
“The deeper we go, the higher the chances we’ll find something to fight,” Lirian told the player.
To my surprise, her comment seemed to calm the drone. “Guess you got a point, girl,” he grunted.
We moved forward, giving the lit area a wide breadth, then headed on toward our destination.
***
It was getting light again, which meant the army should have arrived at the border. We found shelter in one of the narrow ravines and had settled in for the day when a sudden shadow obscured the light of the rising sun.
“We’re under attack!” Yulli shouted a second before a giant flying creature descended on us.
Sandhawk
Level: 120
HP: 1,326
MP: 480
Attributes: P:120, M:48, S:6
Skills: Bite 118, Wind Blast 58
Traits: Flight
Resistances: Armor 160, Magic 40%, Earth -60%
Description: Sandhawks are aerial predators, attacking anything that seems edible. They are usually lone hunters but will form a pack to battle strong enemies that threaten their territory.
The creature resembled a giant raptor. Its upper body was covered with scales the color and texture of sand, while its bottom side was the color of gray rock, offering it a great camouflage for this region. Its full height was more than an Ogre’s.
The fearsome creature dove straight over our heads, sharp talons spread wide. Yulli’s warning was the only thing that spared us from disaster and everyone dodged out of the giant bird’s path, if just barely.
The sandhawk screeched with rage as it realized it couldn’t grab any of us. Instead, with a casual flap of its wings, it brought its entire bulk down, its head launching forward before even touching the ground. The curved beak locked around Kilpi’s hastily raised shield. Then the creature’s body hit the ground, nearly yanking Kilpi off his feet. It flapped its wings, sending gusts of powerful wind that made the rest of us tumble back.
While we fought to regain our balance, the sandhawk’s beak clamped down on Kilpi’s shield, slowly crumpling the magical item. True to his role as a tank, Kilpi bellowed a roar, activating one of his special boss abilities. His entire body became rigid, and the giant bird’s downward bite suddenly halted as if it hit a wall.
That was our cue. I started casting and the others made to charge the creature, then the sandhawk activated its second attack ability.
Giant wings flapped, gathering equal amounts of mana and air beneath them, which then exploded outward like a physical blow.
We all found ourselves hurled backward as if kicked by a horse, our backs hitting the ravine wall painfully.
Wind Blast hit you for 348 damage.
(base 580 - 40% magic resistance)
Somehow, Lirian cut the magical attack with her powerful sword, and the gale of air parted before her. The force was still powerful though, and I watched in horror as my daughter flew backward toward the sharp-edged rocks. In the last possible second, she disappeared, and I breathed in relief as I sensed her teleporting to the top of the ravine, harmlessly dispersing the attack’s momentum.
The damage only shaved around 15 percent of my health, but I wasn’t the only one caught by its effect. As bosses, Yulli, Kilpi, and Bek were able to cope with the damage. None of their health bars fell below 50 percent, but Ragnar wasn’t as lucky. Despite the tough player’s bravado, there was no way around the fact that at level 30, he was even more wildly underpowered for this area than the rest of us. The drone’s body looked shattered against the stone walls, and blood oozed out of the numerous cracks in his chitin. He was still alive though, his insectile armor a testament to a drone’s resilience.
Kilpi was still holding back the sandhawk’s beak, but I could tell his ability was about to expire. The creature’s weaker wind attack caused significant damage. If it freed its beak to use its main attack, a single hit would probably kill any of my companions. I couldn’t let that happen.
I unleashed a wave of healing magic, hoping it would be enough to stabilize Ragnar, while simultaneously sending out a volley of ten drilling arrows.
Drilling Arrows hit Sandhawk for 475 damage.
(base 792 - 40% magic resistance)
It was technically morning, so my Shadow-Touched bonuses hadn’t kicked in, but the damage was still high enough to shear off a third of the creature’s health.
The giant bird shrieked and jerked its head, hurling Kilpi away and freeing itself to attack any of us. And I couldn’t stop it.
I had just cast two simultaneous spells and couldn’t cast anything else for a few seconds. I silently cursed myself for not using them both to damage the creature. But if I hadn’t, Ragnar would have probably bled out.
I wasn’t alone though.
The sandhawk’s throat suddenly sprouted an arrow as Yulli let loose her powerful griffon bow. Bek raised his arms and shadows rushed over the creature, burying it in darkness. The sandhawk’s movements became erratic as it blindly snapped its beak at the air.
Ragnar disengaged fro
m the rocks and charged at the creature, slicing the tough hide of its stomach with his claws.
Then Lirian came jumping from the top of the ravine and onto the creature’s back, her sword leading the way. Fate Stealer, an indestructible weapon whose rank I couldn’t even see, easily sliced through the creature’s hard scales, and blood gushed over the enraged drone below.
Sandhawk defeated!
+820 XP
My experience inched forward a little, reaching 90 percent of the next level.
Everyone else also got a significant boost toward their next level as well, with Kilpi and Yulli reaching level 33 and Bek reaching 25.
Ragnar winced. “Now tha’ was like sliding down a grater, bare-assed.”
Bek approached the drone and started chanting a spell. A soft dark aura extended toward the player, seeping into his wounds and closing most of them. I cast a few more Heal Followers spells of my own, bringing everyone back to full health.
“We should keep an eye on the sky from now on,” I said.
Yulli nodded. “I’m sorry, Chief, it’s my fault. I looked up but didn’t see that damn bird approaching until it was almost on top of us.”
“It’s the light,” Kilpi grunted. “I only noticed the shadow it cast before it landed; barely blocked it in time.”
“You did good,” I complimented the tank. “If you hadn’t intercepted its first bite, it probably would have killed one of us. And it’s not your fault, Yulli. The darkness makes us powerful, but it comes at a price. We’re more vulnerable during the day.”
“I dunno ‘bout the rest of y’all,” Ragnar said, snapping his claws. “But I’m looking at a big hunk o’ dinner. Who’s up for elephant-sized drumsticks?”
Lirian laughed as she drew her sword out of the carcass. “Sounds delicious.”
Life Reset: Salvation (Life Reset - Neo Book 6) Page 20
