The Dragon's Wrath: Ashes of the Fallen

by Brent Roth

  It was an odd spell that did percentage health damage every half second, ramping up over time. The longer a target stayed inside the rain, the more damage it would take. There was a slow applied by the spell but it also needed time to build up, and the first two to three seconds were basically harmless.

  Though, if one could hold a target inside for five or more seconds, serious damage could be done. By itself it was incredibly weak and hard to use. Even in conjunction with my one-second crowd control and Barik running in a second later, it was still hard to keep the targets locked together.

  Well, at least the fights were ending in ten seconds flat.

  It certainly sped the trash clearing up.

  In an hour and a half we had already disposed of the fourth floor's trash mobs and were now resting before the boss. We had skipped the fourth floor last time I was here as the Aussies had to get some sleep, and from what Barik told me, the last party right before this one struggled with the third boss.

  So, this was the heavy-hitter group Barik constructed to ensure forward progress. We were the best available, at the moment at least, and four of them were from the same guild. I was the only outsider, the not-so-random pug. Being the only pug was a bit of a misnomer though, seeing as the acronym stood for pick-up group, but that was how the internet worked. Language rules didn't apply to slang, really.

  I had some pride in being a pug.

  Not to boast, but I was a damn good find for a random.

  I always carried my weight, and then some.

  "Right, so what do we do 'ere?" asked Barik after everyone had finished recuperating. "This ain't looking like a piece of piss ye know."

  I didn't really understand what he was saying, but I figured it had to do with the task at hand. The boss fight looked… rather difficult, to be fair.

  "Same as before, she'll be right," chimed in the fire mage.

  "You think you can handle two guards there, Barik?" I asked seriously, as I started to doubt if we could actually pull this fight off. The fire mage was brimming with confidence but I didn't share in his enthusiasm. The third floor's boss of one [Goblin Guard] plus three [Goblins] and one [Goblin Priest] wasn't that difficult but there was little room for error in that fight. Now, we had two [Goblin Guards], one [Goblin], one [Goblin Archer] and one [Goblin Priest]. The group composition changed, drastically.

  Just the two [Guards] alone would be tough, let alone the rest of the changes.

  I wasn't really sure of what to expect.

  "Maybe Sigurd, unlikely though," replied Barik. "Yer getting spoiled here Ethan, lucked out that yer second trip takes ye to the fourth boss, this ain't going to be as easy as yer thinkin'."

  "Ey it's just a goblin, nothing we haven't fought before," countered Ethan.

  "We could AoE and then split-tank them," I suggested after some thought.

  Two guards would be difficult for one person, even if he was a good tank. We didn't have the gear or level or proficiency yet to take on multiple guards. I was certain we could at least hold our own against one guard each though, so as long as the little guys fell quickly there wouldn't be an issue.

  "I'm still pissed ye 'ave a better shield than me," said Barik with clear displeasure on his face. "How did ye luck out to get that, and I'm stuck with this 'ere cracked board."

  "Well, that guard on the right looks like he has the same shield, you won't have to wait too long now," I replied, with a wink for good measure.

  "Meh," he said somewhat laughably.

  "So, want to give the same strategy a try?" I asked, as I looked around at the faces of the four other party members. "Start it with AoE, lead into freezing rain, and we'll tank them inside of it for as long as we can?"

  "Give it a go," stated Barik without any hesitation. "We'll adjust if need be."

  "She'll be right," repeated Ethan the fire mage.

  "Oi, if you two take too much damage, I won't be able to split heal," said the healer after he had been silent for some time. "Take two big hits each and one of you is dying."

  "It'll be fine Alan," said Barik with a nod, seemingly having recovered his confidence. "Let's give 'er a go then?"

  "Yeah, start it up Ethan," I said as I stepped out and got into position.

  Taking a deep breath, I exhaled slowly to relieve some of the tension that had been building. Barik and I were front and center with the two mages to the right, while the healer sat safely behind. The room we were in was much smaller than the third floor's boss room, and only a quarter of the size of the first floor's boss room... I didn't even want to think about the fifth floor. Everything had shrunk, downsized to the point where it was beginning to feel claustrophobic.

  The smoke was thick and clouded our vision while the floor remained slippery from the abundance of moss; the air itself, was damp and overly humid considering the scenery.

  Well, maybe it was appropriate after all.

  We were four floors underground in a mining complex after all.

  There was obviously some underground stream that was contributing to the excessive moisture in the air, and on top of that the torches and campfires that were constantly burning had thinned the air to the point where I felt starved of oxygen.

  It was a weird mixture of dry ash combined with stagnant, humid air that was hard to get used to. But ash and smoke were the least of my worries now and the dim-lighting was decent enough.

  It was the lack of oxygen that had started to get to me.

  We were all breathing a little heavier than before, and being short of breath wasn't exactly conducive towards our victory conditions. This whole dungeon was rather unpleasant really, and I was of the opinion that once I finished farming it, I would never return.

  The goblins still looked the same though.

  They didn't care, oblivious to their surroundings, enjoying the warmth of the campfire and their rodent snacks. They were still disgusting to look at, creatures that shouldn't be witnessed in the light… but finding them lurking in the shadows was a whole new horror.

  The goat-like eyes, the slit-like noses, the fangs, odd spade-like ears… that unimaginably wrinkly skin that was excessively oily and greasy looking. Even after I had slaughtered well over a hundred of them, I still wasn't used to being around them.

  Plainly put, I didn't enjoy being in their presence.

  They were revolting.

  Ah, but this sound was comforting.

  The sound of conjured fire swirling about as the man known as Ethan began a chanted verse of his most powerful explosive spell, [Flame Wave]. He worked the fire between his hands as if he were kneading dough, constraining then expanding, repeating, then finally, raising his arms and holding steady at chest-level.

  He was a second away from releasing.

  The other mage had begun his own process a blink after, as his hands glowed with a pale white hue, arms held above his head. The action wasn't where the hands were though. One look at the goblins in front of me and a small cloud of gray and white mist had formed above their heads, hardly noticeable unless you squinted and knew what to look for. He was a second away from releasing, as well.

  Now, it was my turn.

  I was already ready to go though, and just like that it started.

  "Flame wave!" yelled out Ethan as he thrust both arms forward, and with a sudden surge the literal wave of flame rushed out in a conical form, completely washing over the goblins as they sat unaware. The smaller, normal goblins were knocked back from the impact and the intense heat as they screamed in sudden agony but the flames soon dispersed, leaving only the smell of burnt flesh and rising smoke as the raging goblins were left attempting to stand back up.

  As they turned their focus towards the mage that had assaulted them, the grayish-white mist above them started to pour down on them. Small droplets of freezing rain fell and instantly froze on contact with the goblins, immediately turning into frost. As the single centimeter droplets soon began to double in number, the goblins could be seen visibly changi
ng color before our very eyes, as their skin started to turn white as more and more droplets began to freeze on impact.

  The goblins had already made it back on their feet, unfazed by the rain as they grabbed their weapons and began to charge. They managed a step, only to find themselves stuck in place as lightning arced through each and every one of them.

  Temporarily paralyzed, the goblins found themselves struggling to move as the frost built up and slowed their movements. Realizing the critical nature of the situation, the goblin priest immediately attempted to start a healing spell but was soon hit with a small burst of flame that sent it tumbling to the ground.

  And then as the other goblins regained their composure, I finished my second cast, a lightning bolt directly into the second goblin guard. It roared at me as it raised its shield and thrust its spear out, but I had already prepared as I easily blocked and counter attacked with my axe. With a quick swing I forced the guard to defend itself as I pushed it back, back into the freezing rain that was now pelting my skin.

  Barik had managed the same as he taunted the goblins and used a [Shield Bash] to push his guard a step back. Out of the corner of my eye I watched as the goblin priest fell to another [Fire Blast] and turned my attention back onto the guard in front of me. A [Lunge] came at me in the blink of an eye as I twisted my core, narrowly avoiding the blow only to find an arrow hitting me in the shoulder.

  I winced, but that was all I could afford.

  A [Heavy Thrust] followed as I blocked it with my shield but the impact made my knees buckle as I instinctively braced with both arms. The spear nearly pierced the shield as I heard the distinct cracking sound of wood breaking inches from my face.

  Another arrow landed in my chest but didn't pierce my leather and fur, as I readied my axe for another swing. I had started to shake from the cold rain as my body began to freeze and lock up, my movement already slowed and impaired.

  I just needed to hold on.

  Another blow came, this time easily deflected as it glanced off my shield and allowed for another counter. My readied axe itching to be released, I swung with a side-ways motion attempting to catch the exposed neck of the creature yet found myself smashing into wood a split-second later. The axe bounced as I nearly lost my grip, but I redoubled my efforts and thrust my shield into the goblin's own as we battled for positioning.

  Digging my heels into the ground, I began to push forth with both arms behind my shield as the goblin guard was forced to do the same. Rain was continually pouring on the two of us as we struggled for physical superiority, unwilling to give in. Putting my head down and giving it another shove, I managed to overpower the goblin for a split second as it stumbled backwards and fell to the ground.

  In its desperation, it quickly lashed out with its spear, thrusting wildly and as rapidly as it could, only without any leverage or force behind it as it lay pathetically on its back. A quick step backwards and I was outside of the rain as ice cold water rolled down my face. I was completely drenched and nearly frozen over, but now, the frost had started to melt.

  The goblin guard attempted to get back up as quickly as he could, but I had already prepared for this moment. With an outstretched arm and an open palm, I began a channel of electricity that connected the two of us. With the tether established, the lightning pulsated wildly as I watched the guard attempt to resist. The creature had a high willpower and was quickly regaining his composure, but it didn't really matter.

  The goblin guard had been inside the freezing rain for almost ten seconds now, and it was nearly entirely white. Its movements slowed as it got to a knee, then as it attempted to stand up it stopped moving entirely. I ceased my channel as I surveyed the room, only to find that where five goblins had been leisurely enjoying their freedom less than a minute ago, there were now five frozen statues and a nearly frozen dwarf.

  "You alright there, Barik?" I asked calmly.

  "I'm a friggin' popsicle, damn," he replied as he stood there shaking.

  I was shaking too, but it was only cold, nothing more nothing less.

  The frost mage stopped channeling his [Freezing Rain] as the group gathered around the frozen goblins, eager at our prospects. It wouldn't take too long for them to defrost but they were kind of anxious to check the loot.

  "That seemed, almost… too easy," I said after some time had passed.

  "Told you she'd be right," said Ethan.

  "Easy for you maybe, both of your health pools were dropping incredibly fast there at the end," spoke up Alan. "It wasn't that easy to heal you two."

  "If I weren't so damn chilly after, I would be in love with that strategy," said Barik as he frantically rubbed his arms to try and warm up.

  I had a better idea though, and reignited the campfire that the goblins had been using prior. It had been put out from the rain, but the wood was still usable.

  All it took was a little fire magic to get it going again.

  Not that I had sufficient control or proficiency in fire magic.

  All I could manage was the equivalent of a strong lighter.

  It wasn't too bad though; came in handy more often than not.

  Warming up at the fireside, I already knew that the loot wasn't of any use to me. During the fight I was able to get a closer look at all of the items that the goblins used, thanks to my hyper-attentiveness recording all of the useless information that entered my field of view.

  My memory was in shambles from all of the concussions, but strangely the more useless aspects still worked better than intended. I would rather be able to divide and do multiplication in my head without it taking a few minutes, only to question the results. That assumed I was even able to complete the problem in the first place, which wasn't really a guarantee.

  Eh, nothing I could do about that though.

  My brain simply didn't work normally anymore.

  Normal, being a relative thing.

  "Anything you want Sigurd?" asked Alan after he had started to pick through the items. "I think you already have all of these pieces… less you want a backup?"

  "Nah I'm good, thanks though," I replied quickly and sincerely.

  "Fifth floor?" Barik asked bluntly not more than a second after I had spoken.

  "Should we return to the town first, to pick up the quest?" I added on top of Barik's question. "From what I've read, there's a bonus for the first group that completes the dungeon and the dungeon's quest chain. It would be worth it."

  "You mean what that forum post was talking about, with that dungeon in the central kingdoms?" inquired Ethan as he playfully shot miniature fireballs into the campfire.

  "Yeah, according to the guild that cleared it first, just two weeks ago, they received a huge bonus to their experience and reputation reward from the quest chain, along with some spiffy new title," I started to explain while stretching out in front of the fire. "I think it would be worth it to grind this out and be the first group to clear it, reputation bonuses are hard to come by in this game."

  "Right, I agree," replied Barik succinctly. "Any other opinions from ya lot?"

  "None here," said Ethan.

  "I'm fine with that," said the frost mage that had been mostly quiet.

  "It's such a long walk though," complained Alan at the end. "That's at least thirty minutes of our time just walking. I don't even think we can clear the boss."

  "He has a point," chimed in Ethan with a disappointed look on his face. "I mean, we don't even know what the fifth boss looks like… it could be something outrageous."

  Everyone had gone silent for a moment to think things over, as I started to wonder if there was any merit to what was said. It was true that we didn't know how powerful the fifth boss would be, and there was a good chance it might be too strong for us to handle. What worried me, was that there were two [Goblin Guards] this time around. That meant there could even be three next time, and three was one too many for me.

  "I'm in favor of clearing the trash and taking a peek," I finally said, shru
gging my shoulders as if it wasn't too important. "There is the chance it's too tough for us."

  "I don't mind either way," replied the frost mage as he sat idly by.

  Ethan nodded, as did Alan and now all we were waiting for was Barik who seemed to be lost in deep thought. He was definitely thinking of something, but it was taking far too long. And then he surprised us all with his random outburst, "bah this sucks, can't even bring a handle with me, if this were a computer I could have been drinking!"

  Four pairs of eyes were locked on the man as we tried to hold in a laugh.

  "What are ye lookin' at," said a puzzled Barik. "Got somethin' on me nose?"

  "Uh right," I said with a confused expression displayed clearly on my face. "Let's clear the fifth floor then, shall we… I don't think Barik is mentally with us at the moment."

  "What nonsense, I'm just a step ahead of ye all!" he bellowed as he confidently started to walk down the next passageway. The rest of us let out a laugh and followed suit. Heading down the narrow tunnel that led to the fifth floor… a floor that was in even worse condition than the fourth.

  That was to be expected, though.

  The air quality was horrendous and my eyes had instantly started to water as I could barely see what was ahead of me in the dark tunnel. A few steps further and I knocked my head on a low-hanging rock that instantly sent a sharp pain through my skull and deep into my neck.

  I cursed under my breath and became pissed as I anticipated the oncoming massive headache and all of the other issues I was used to experiencing. Impaired vision, the ringing in my ears, clouded judgment, those were all things that had manifested and lingered after my previous head injuries… and now, I was so susceptible that the smallest impacts sent my mind a flutter.