The day of my first actual delve had dawned. Before dawn.
Still, after a peaceful and restful night of sleep, I was ready. I knew it was smarter to armor up when we arrived at the rift – the team was acting as an escort after all – but I wanted to look the part.
Consultant survival tip #73: Dressing to your role is simply part of the job. The way people perceive you impacts your ability to do your work. If they are questioning your competence from the second they see you, it will make things harder. People generally react better to people dressed well and will form opinions of you based on it.
Isekonsultant survival tip #16: It’s very easy for people to mistake you for someone chosen for your abilities instead of your capabilities. Especially given the unique circumstances. Make sure people understand you can do the work. Plus, try to look cool. Perception is reality.
Remembering to put on at least a shirt with my night pants, I cracked the door just to see an object flying, about to strike the person at my door. Luckily, it was only at Gabor and it was merely a cleaning rag. It hit against his cheek with a soft squelch and I could smell the soap on it.
Nice, citrus-y.
As I opened the door, I saw Vana following her projectile weapon, finger extended. “You little sodus, why the hell are you knocking so loudly. I know you weirdos in the guard are ‘morning people’ but it doesn’t mean my guests are. And we had a big night last night, lots of people too hungover to go home. Get your pet and go.”
“Good morning deary, thank you for keeping Tilda in check last night and the wonderful company while we ate. Good luck today.”
I stifled a laugh at her abrupt change between calling me a pet and a dear as Gabor just rolled his eyes. “Vana, if it weren’t for your lovely buns, I would be upset with you.” He took a bite of a breadroll and threw an extremely exaggerated wink at her. “Now, get dressed and let’s get some food in you. The cart leaves from the north gate in half a bell. It’s a ways of a journey so grab something to entertain yourself. I picked an awesome team but they got called away so you have a pretty annoying team; the conversation should be boring at best. Thus: entertainment.”
He shoved me back slightly by my forehead before I could react and shut the door.
What to do about my storage ring? As I dressed, I fretted over the decision, finally just settling on asking Gabor. I was leaning towards hiding it in a pouch but keeping it on me. If we were waylaid, it would be easier to hide. And I didn’t want to leave it behind in case I needed the ring or my tablet for some reason.
Vana had prepared another nice meal but this one was a bit more protein-heavy – ‘to keep my energy up’ she had said – and she included some bread and cheese for a light meal later in the day. I had finally remembered to leave my self-refilling jug out in my room so I had a huge amount of water in my ring but I carried a waterskin to again keep up appearances.
“Yeah, you want that ring on you. Did you forget about your backup supplies, including that warhammer? Plus, you might be able to practice storing and unstoring when it’s not on your hand. That’s tough but a neat trick. Managed to drop a shield on an enemy once that way. …Entirely on purpose of course!” Gabor resumed his full volume joking in the common room. “Poor guy looked so confused before I— well, you know.”
I was mostly quiet. The thought of killing someone else still didn’t sit right with me even if I knew it was likely something I’d have to do eventually.
“So, what can you tell me about the team I’m going with?”
“I don’t know them well but I do know just looking at them requires a nap. Maybe that’s their super power?” He let out a sharp laugh but it died quickly on his lips as he actually looked at me. “Ah, I see. Actual information not jokes… Hmm…” He looked truly pained at the thought.
“Well, the composition is pretty standard though no healer – those are extremely hard to come by as the spells are very essence channel heavy. You don’t see many until Tier 3. Frontline damage dealer, frontline damage taker/distracter, archer, ranged spellcaster.” He ticked off his fingers as he spoke. “All peak of Tier 1. They should easily be able to handle the wolves since they are getting weaker and don’t come in big waves.”
“And they work well together? And do you not call your damage takers tanks?”
“What’s a tank? And yeah, I’ve seen a recording or two of their exploits – we were recruiting for guard reserve and they were deemed adequate if not exceptional. The ‘tank’ is actually their tactician, which is a bit rare. You usually want someone who can see from further away to assess. But again, I’d give them a B+ relative to a challenging Tier 1 rift. Which this is not. You’ll be fine. I guarantee you’ll survive or you can come kick my sickna and Tiesa will help!”
“Har har, very funny.” But the joking did help settle my nerves. And the honest assessment instead of giving the rosiest picture helped too.
All the Ps: proper preparation and planning prevents piss-poor performance after all.
Vana gave me a kiss on the cheek for good luck. Then a slap on the butt for good measure. At my surprised look, she said, “What, you are going on your first delve. You want luck and something to chuckle about when you get covered in gore. You’ll laugh about this later, mark my words. And we’ll do a nice meal tonight when you get back.”
We walked the streets, my chain shirt clinking slightly. I wasn’t afraid to show my building nerves in front of Gabor so I continually shook myself off. Still, all too soon, we arrived at the gate. I was hoping for a motorized vehicle of some kind but it was a large, moderately rickety-looking cart attached to two horses.
Gabor said goodbye and walked back inside the gate, getting a salute from those on duty.
I received four alerts on my AAI of new connections.
“Hey, you the tag-along? Name’s Milica, that’s Vesna, he’s Jovan, and the idiot over there is Stefan.” The short and stocky woman stepped forward, extending a hand. I couldn’t quite tell the color in the pre-dawn light but I thought she had long sandy-brown hair and green eyes that shone with an eerie glow.
“Hi, I’m Terry. I’ve been training to work as a frontline fighter, mostly a solo delver, but I’ve only been at it for a few days. I should be able to protect myself unless we get swarmed but I’m supposed to stay out of your way. This is about testing the allocation bracelets, not my ability to solo a rift.”
“Smart man, I like it!” Vesna, a lithe woman with a quiver slung over her shoulder and an exquisite looking bow attached to her back stepped forward, clapping me on the shoulder. Her sharp features looked almost like someone had tried to create an elf but got the angles a bit too severe.
“Almost got the cart all good to go. Those kurac-for-brains at the stable didn’t clean it out right and I swear, we need to talk to Al—” At a sharp head turn from Milica, he cut off. “Yeah, so I’m Stefan. I’ll greet you properly when we’re underway. I lost the lots so I had to clean up the cart but Jovan got second worst so he has to drive. Wait, shouldn’t we do a new drawing since the new guy is here?” he asked hopefully.
“You realize you’ve already done 90% of the work so the only thing you could do is get another bad job, right?” Jovan stepped away from the animals and came forward. He was extremely built and quite handsome I could admit. Shoulder length brown hair, a neatly cropped beard, and a swimmer’s build with huge shoulders.
“Since we won’t get to talk too much during the ride there, I’m the frontline damage dealer. Greatsword.” At my look, he just smiled. “Storage ring. Not a weirdo that feels the need to have their weapon out at all times.” He gave Vesna a smile that said this was a common argument.
“Proper preparation and planning—”
The woman cut off as everyone else shouted in unison, “Prevents piss-poor performance!”
She rolled her eyes. “So, I like to be on the lookout for danger before it happens. Why is that so weird?”
Having finally finished up with the cart, Stefan walked over. “Okay, I think the cart at least is up to the standards of my ladieses. Shall we off be on the way, your high princesses?” He gave a clumsy bow and chuckled to himself.
“Yes, because we didn’t want to sit in what smelled like literal sodus, we are all prissy, prim, and proper. Don’t say it!”
Vesna gave everyone a glare but Jovan and Milica just smiled and yelled together, “Prevents piss-poor performance!”
Stefan looked confused but held out his hand, which was still covered in muck. I took an involuntary step back.
“Go wash off your hand first Stefan…” Milica just gave him an exasperated look and sigh.
He returned a few seconds later. “Lucky I hadn’t tossed the clean water from the bucket yet. Hi there, I’m Stefan. I’m the mage. Specialty is [Fireball] and [Lightning Bolt]. I am saving up for [Pushing Wind]. Pleased to have you with us!” He extended his hand and I hesitantly shook it but it seemed clean.
Seeing my reaction, Milica clapped me on the shoulder. “Ha, don’t worry, there is a small enchantment on the bucket so it’s actually clean. We have to take the carts with us most times so this is a common occurrence. We don’t have a big enough storage item – or one with isolation enchantments – to store beast bodies. Special little Jovan doesn’t want muck and gore everywhere in his ring.” She finished in a mocking tone and wrestled with Jovan for a few seconds.
“Okay, enough of this, let’s get out there. I want to get back before sundown. That should be pretty easy – three bells there, one and a half bells to clear, three and a half to four bells back.” At my eyebrow quirk, which I was impressed she could see in the dark, she laughed. “It takes longer to get back because of the loaded-up cart. Plus the animals are not as rested.”
“What happens to them during the delve? Are we at risk of losing the cart?” I asked as we mounted the back with all but Jovan, who climbed into the driver’s seat.
“There’s a pen and Struva agreed to actually send someone to tend to them. Usually we have to do that. And sometimes there are thieves but it’s not too common, especially as interfering with a delve isn’t just the death penalty, it’s six months of forced labor then two months of torture before death.” Milica said that as if it were totally normal to think about people being tortured and killed.
I guess maybe it is here…
While that soured the mood for me, the other three were chatting merrily and started playing a game of dice. Which was extremely awkward in a cart as the boards were warped. But they had fun nonetheless.
***
On the ride, Vesna and I chatted for a bit and I mentioned my language learning. She sent me a program she was using with her own daughter. She also taught me a few AAI settings I didn’t know including dampen external sound so I could concentrate on my tablet or just whatever the AAI was showing or playing.
I tried out her language program to see which was better. It is certainly less aggressive than Darko Defeats his Drills but it doesn’t feel like there is someone forcing me to get better. I’ll give it another go on the ride back.
I tried to engage Milica in tactical conversation but she was pretty adamant that it was their job and I was an experiment, not a teammate.
Finally, she exploded at me. “Hey! I get it! You want to be a big, bad delver. But you’re not there yet! If you get in our way, that could get MY TEAM hurt!” Taking a breath, she returned to a normal volume. “Don’t worry about it, we have this handled. We need you to stay out of the way. We got reports that this rift might be changing more than we thought.”
Vesna and Stefan both gave her a quizzical look. “Sorry, did I not share that? I just got it word of mouth last night. Something might be strange there so we need to be more on our guard than usual.”
Even Jovan turned around. The cart noises were surprising loud so he started to shout. Milica gave him a dirty look and then he sheepishly resumed his driving duties. Vesna just mouthed something at me and I looked quizzically. Realizing I couldn’t read lips in another language, she simply said, “AAI”.
Slightly embarrassed for not thinking of that, I nodded.
“Milica, I promise I won’t get in your way but I wasn’t able to watch one of your delves. Do you primarily use verbal, AAI, or both in communicating with the team? I want to make sure I am connected in to make sure we are all on the same page.”
“Yeah, that’s fair. We use AAI for marking targets and modeling monster behavior but our communication is almost exclusively verbal. There’s software available but it’s really expensive and you have to pay literally for every
Vesna helped me a bit more with my pronunciation while Stefan and Milica chatted. I told her of the funny phrases Tilda and Vana liked to make me say and she was scandalized.
Towards the end of hour two, Stefan came over and put a hand on my forearm looking earnestly into my eyes. “In a delve, a Tier 1 mage can be awesome. I’m awesome after all.” That earned eyerolls from Vesna and Milica and Jovan just laughed from the front.
“But, we can also be an issue. If we burn through our mana, we are basically sitting ducks. We don’t contribute to fights but are a liability. That’s why I rarely actually cast. It’s not that I’m lazy.” Another chuckle.
“Okay, I am, but not in a fight. Just so you don’t think I am any less awesome! Because I totally am. Awesome that is!” He stood up and put his hands on his hips. At least until he fell out of the cart as we hit a particularly large rut.
Running to catch up and jump back in the cart, he yelled, “You didn’t see that!”
“That’s great context but… we weren’t even talking about it,” I said, confused.
“Right, but I remembered that you’d be telling people about the delve and I want to look heroic!” He went to stand again but seemed to think better of it.
Vesna made an annoyed look and handed over two silvers to Milica.
Stefan raised an eyebrow, then looked scandalized. “You bet I’d do it again? I’m better than that!”
Both women looked away with smiles on their faces.
[I want in on that action. I bet four silvers he does it again on the ride back.] I sent to both women and earned a giggle from Vesna. Milica looked slightly sick to her stomach.
Must just be nerves?
As the last hour of the ride arrived – are we there yet? – I decided to crack open my AAI library. There was some trepidation as I was really hoping the writing on Putijama was good.
I am liking a lot about this new world but if the writing is terrible… That will just be a depressing situation. Or if I got suckered into a dud of a compilation. Nothing left but to try.
The first three books I started were ultra power fantasy-types that were poorly written but I finally found one that, while a bit moralistic in its own fashion, flowed in a way that felt right. I sighed contentedly and lost myself in a fantasy world. Well, another fantasy world, ha.
***
“Yeah, this is worse than we were expecting. We absolutely need to clear it, it’s about to burst.” Milica gave the rest of her team a serious look.
“But they just did some readings on it last week. They chose this rift for the experiments for a reason! Here, give me that, let me see.” Vesna was reaching for the equipment used to apparently read how full a rift was.
“You don’t trust me to do my job!? I put this team together, I do everything, and you don’t trust me?” She was jabbing a finger in Vesna’s face. I couldn’t quite put my finger on why she was so angry. Stress probably? This is pretty important to not just Velez.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Vesna just held up her hands. “It’s only with the information you received and now this, I’m a little worried. You know me, I am ever the curious one. Let’s take a breath and go over our preparation once more, especially if it might break. I know it’s only low Tier 1 but… well, you know the rest.” She gave a resigned chuckle and everyone smiled slightly.
It was interesting to see what they focused on and watching Milica mimic the movements of a wolf in total seriousness while the others discussed how to deal with it. Vesna even shot a few arrows with foam on the end to bounce off the stocky woman.
“So, do we eat before we go in or after?” I asked as they wrapped up the 10 minute strategy session.
“After. That’s part of why we have the bucket. Before and you might puke your guts out from working too hard or a good shot to the stomach. After, you need to at least clean your face and hands, but it’s still better. Unless you like viscera as a spice.” Jovan grinned.
“Makes sense. Okay, my job is to keep on the lookout, keep myself safe. Oh, and Ratmir asked me to take voice recordings of everything I am feeling and seeing. I’ll keep them quiet to not attract attention. But just so you don’t question why I am muttering to myself. It isn’t out of fear. At least most likely.” My joke fell flatter than a whoopie cushion at a funeral.
Stefan looked confused but shrugged. “Okay boss, tell us what to do.”
I gave one last look to the world around – rolling hills of green and yellow swaying grass dotted with trees and a few farms along the road. A city I could barely make out in the distance. A bored looking teenager that was brushing out and feeding the horses.
This is something worth protecting. I’ll do my part.
This rift felt slightly different as I entered. I got more of a euphoric feeling but then one of a strange discomfort, like there was something just a bit off.
Ugh, that felt like going on that rollercoaster when my bladder was just a bit too full.
With that inauspicious start, I looked for the team and we started forwards.
***
The bleak wind blew flecks of white across our vision. Not snow and not even ash but something that felt void of life for eternity. It was disconcerting to say the least and the delving team, so boisterous and confident just seconds ago, seemed to shrink in on themselves.
Null essence really does make everything bleak. No wonder everyone hates it.
The rift didn’t look that different from the most recent recording but it was still ominous. The wind, instead of whistling, whispered of our impending demise. The ‘mist’ wasn’t water at all but the gently floating flakes of nothingness. The trees, once vibrant and beautiful, looked like they were on their last legs.
The rift exit shone brilliantly and shifted through the color spectrum. What would have been a gorgeous display in most circumstances felt more sinister against a mostly colorless backdrop.
Deciding to keep my voice memo brief, I only mentioned that it felt like there was more null. It resonated extremely well with my metaphysical body – my soul? – but made me feel ill at-ease. I decided I’d comment further once the tension left the group.
Milica walked over and took out a different measuring tool from her spatial bag. “We need to test the bracelets and make sure they are functioning well.”
We had tested them a few times on the way to the rift – not much else to do but chat and keep ourselves busy if we could – but it was going to be crucial to continue to test them and take readings throughout the delve.
Most Tier 1 rifts weren’t wide-open spaces like this one, they were either narrow strips of outdoor land or something like a series of rooms with enemies in them.
It was hard to feel where the rift boss could be, especially as this was only my second experience. Our initial instructions weren’t to go for a full clear of the rift, eliminating all monsters, but we were instructed to kill at least 80% of the wolves to get enough readings and drain the rift of some of its essence.
“Okay, given the readings, we unfortunately have to go for a full clear. There is something strange going on here and we need to make sure it doesn’t break. They took their watchers off this area as of first light this morning as they knew we were coming. A break could kill over a hundred people in the area, maybe far more. So, let’s be efficient, patient, and calm.” Milica looked in each of her teammates’ eyes.
Walking over to me, she shook her head. She looked anxious and somewhat sick to her stomach. “We need to do this. I would love to have you retreat to safety but we can’t absorb that much null essence without it doing significant damage, maybe killing us. And trying to shunt that much null is almost as bad. We need you here.”
I shrugged. “There is always risk but I believe in you and trust you and your team to protect me to the best of your abilities.”
She winced.
Huh, thought that was one of my better mini speeches.
I went to try again but stopped.
Consultant survival tip #98: You swung and missed on some kind of well-intentioned comment. Unless it is likely to fester, take the L. It is totally normal to not get every conversation perfect. No one reasonable is expecting that from you. Show with your actions what you tried to with your words.
Isekonsultant survival tip #17: In the super creepy rift that feels like it wants to eat us, don’t do anything to make it more awkward or ominous. Just let the professionals do their job and you do yours.
We started exploring east – or at least what Jovan’s compass called rift east – and quickly ran into two wolves. While they didn’t attack together, it was still not a great situation. Both for the fight and the rift in general. If wolves were closer to each other than usual, that would make the rift potentially far more dangerous.
Milica quickly engaged one, bringing up her large circular shield on her right arm and clanging her war axe against it with her left. She also called out for maiming shots on the monster.
I was surprised to hear Milica call for two spells immediately but Stefan responded, first immobilizing it with a lightning bolt to its center mass and a fireball aimed at its front leg. The electric charge only staggered it so the fireball did glancing damage. Given the dry environment however, the leg caught on fire. I started to worry about a forest fire but it didn’t spread in the slightest.
Did Stefan maintain control of the fire after casting?
The chaos of arrows, fire, and a large man attacking the other of the wolves made it hard to get a good look but the fight between the initial wolf and Milica was more of a battle of wills and strength. It made to pounce on her and she blocked it with her shield. It’s teeth, longer than they had any right to be, were mere inches from her face slavering a disgusting, brackish liquid that slightly marred her skin, while she held it off and tried to get a good angle for a strike.
Eyes a burning blackish purple, the snarling white beast looked emaciated and crazed. It was trying to use force to win instead of protecting itself. The tail looked like most of its fur might fall off at any second. The claws were chipped if still sharp.
Despite all that, it still was incredibly dangerous and I was on the lookout for more.
A loud yelp followed but a splat came from where Jovan had engaged the first wolf. I glanced over and saw deep reddish purple blood staining the ground, leaking from the bisected beast. It was peppered with arrows that also added more blood to the blank white canvas of ash that coated the ground.
Once the first wolf was dispatched, Jovan swept in on the second, cutting cleanly through one of the back legs and most of the way into the second hind leg on the follow through. The wolf quickly unbalanced but Milica was surprised and lost her footing too. As it went to lunge despite two and a half working limbs at most, Milica raised her shield but it wasn’t needed. An arrow pierced its eye and the beast fell.
Right on top of Milica.
“Really you
As we gathered the bodies onto a makeshift sled – another duty draw Stefan somehow lost – my AAI interface winked out. No message, no nothing.
“Hey, my AAI just went down, what about you?” Turning to the others, they just gave me an odd look.
Suddenly it came back up and I repeated myself.
“Sodus, now that you say it, yup. I have it minimized for the rift to not distract me but… Yeah, that’s weird. And not good. Milica, you were right. Something’s wrong here. I say we retreat and call in the big guns.” Vesna looked genuinely scared.
“But Vezzie, think of the rewards! If this thing is that on the fritz, they say that’s when you get a free skill. Or a bond egg! Just imagine it!” Stefan had grabbed both her hands and was trying to get her to excitedly jump. And failing miserably.
“Milica, I have to agree.” At a hurt look from Vesna, Jovan clarified. “With Vesna. This feels like too much so I say we leave.”
“Team vote then?” Milica asked to grumbles. “Two to two, I assume since I say we owe it to those people who will die if we don’t?”
“Where is this coming from Milica? You aren’t usually this… let’s just say selfless.” Jovan looked at her, tilting his head. “It’s an interesting new direction but at an exceptionally bad time.”
“Thanks, that makes me feel great about myself. I am just seeing too many people die and I’m sick of it. And yes, the rewards should be nice. Unfortunately, I am using my once monthly extra vote as Captain to break the tie. We don’t have time to discuss further.” At mutinous grumbles from Jovan and Vesna and a happy squeal from Stefan, she looked to me.
“You got all your readings and did your little voice thing?” I shook my head and she motioned for me to get to it.
I stepped over to a tree to block some of the sound. “Not sure what is going on with the team… but the essence felt fantastic, even more pure than when Dahlia tinkered with the bracelets. It was like a rush throughout my whole body and nothing gave me the uncomfortable feeling from the first rift.”
***
We methodically went through the rift over the next two and a half hours, eliminating wolves, mostly prowling on their own. Apparently the entire team could feel where the boss was so they were saving that direction for last. We were resting ahead of the final charge to the boss and the reward distortion.
“This was relatively easy as far as rifts go, even with that first fight. Hopefully you understand that fact if this was intimidating for you,” Jovan said, wincing slightly as he had been bitten on the calf by one of the wolves when Milica missed her block. “I should be uninjured – Milica is not one to be sloppy – but that was a team error, not because the rift was tough. I want to tell you that so you don’t go getting cocky.”
I still think I could probably take these down pretty easily. They are predictable. Then again, without my AAI…
Still, I’d bet on myself. Even at a 1:2 payout.
…Is it messed up to bet on your own life?
“Yeah, it was unlucky the AAI went down in that fight, presumably distracting her,” I said. “Weird that it was the only time it’s happened during battle though. And right after I mentioned it wasn’t happening in when we were in a fight. Are there any theories about rifts being sentient or something?”
“Heh, keep that down. Stefan loves his conspiracy theories. He will talk your ear off. Hopefully not literally. And that’s what they are: theories but not good ones that have any basis in reality.”
Milica laughed and punched Jovan on the shoulder. He pretended it hurt and continued, “That said, I have never heard of a rift blocking AAI like this. It’s pretty bad.”
I responded, trying to maintain a serious tone. “Yeah, I was surprised at how complete it is blocking too. I thought I’d still be able to understand you since I have a program with Verdantese language specifically loaded but nope! Whatever it is, I think it’s probably something that interferes with how the chip itself communicates, either the technology or the magical communication. It’s probably not targeted only at AAI but that’s all we have that is impacted.”
The AAI issue was happening more and more frequently with longer stretches of being down the more time we were in the rift.
We all got up to stretch.
This AAI thing is interesting but something for Ratmir to investigate. My job is to just record my thoughts and a few readings. Seems like we are just about done so I can finally eat.
Right on cue, it went down again. We used hand signals that we had quickly developed to mean ‘we’ll wait until it’s done’.
The team were going over their tactics again for the final charge but my instructions were pretty simple: stay out of the way, let them do their job, protect myself as needed.
Three minutes later, they started the trek towards the boss. We estimated there were still probably about five regular wolves in the area and the boss usually had two larger variants directly with it as lieutenants.
“We’ve been careful thus far to not attract the boss but any fights this close can lead to a wolf calling the boss and its lieutenants. Be on your guard.” Milica got a confirmation from each member and they started forwards.
She slipped something out of her storage bag quietly. At my glance, she sent an AAI message that it was wolf repellant to keep them from ganging up and to cover the scent of blood.
Wonder why we weren’t using that the whole time. Must run out of scent?
The smell of something close to piss started to permeate the area so I moved farther away from the tank. Her teammates weren’t so lucky and had sour faces as they moved forward.
The first wolf came charging out of the white swirls directly ahead, baying loudly. “Vesna, hit the throat! No attracting others!” Milica called and charged to engage.
Vesna’s shot went wide, as she seemed to pull back at the last second, ensuring she avoided hitting the frontliner careening towards their lupine foe. Stefan tried to get into position but the crazed wolf was acting erratically – more erratically than the previous wolves – and he couldn’t get a [Fireball] in with reasonable certainty he wouldn’t hit the short woman.
Presumably the repellant is making it fight against its own instincts. Good note for future delves.
Then another wolf charged into the fray.
“Kid, get to a safe distance! Go that way!” Milica indicated the direction the second wolf had come from. “Jove, I can handle this one for a bit longer, you guys take the other!”
I moved farther away, not exactly towards the boss but I figured the vacated area a wolf had just left wasn’t a terrible place. Also, the team could still see me.
Jovan had expertly intercepted the second wolf also charging for Milica, dealing a blow to its left foreleg. It turned sharply, snarled, then lunged at the man, opening it up to an arrow to the butt. Stefan threaded the needle with a weak lightning bolt in case he missed and hit Jovan. The shock distracted the pure white wolf – now streaked with red – for Jovan to land a strike on the other foreleg. It was now just an exercise in wearing it down so Vesna aimed her bow at the other wolf.
“Wait ‘til I’m clear!” Milica swung her axe, getting a good strike in on the wolf, causing it to back off and howl in pain. Vesna’s arrow struck midway down its body. Not quite a heart shot but still greatly wounding the beast.
Our AAI went down again. At least this fight seems to be wrapping up.
I heard a howl coming from my left. Of course I jinxed it.
The smell of piss increased in my area. Well, if that was me, I don’t really care right now.
I prepared my morningstar and braced behind my shield. It was on an intercept course for Milica but suddenly turned towards me. Its slavering maw smelled like that container of takeout I’d forgotten for 3 months in the back of my fridge.
“Buddy, you need a breath mi-aaahh!” My quip was interrupted as it leapt higher than I had seen any go previously. I tried to roll with the momentum, using the shield to aid it continuing further. It mostly worked as I wasn’t damaged but I lost my footing.
Seeing it up close, I realized it was bigger than any we’d fought thus far.
Popping back up, I got a weak but effective underhand swing off, hitting it directly in the shoulder. Good, that will make it harder to pounce.
My small victory was short lived as it backed up and started a charge.
I juked to the left and then dove to my right.
Success! Oh SODUS!
I dodged the charge but dropped my morningstar.
The good news was the wolf skittered into it, dealing itself damage.
The bad news was it was now stuck in its chest. Not deep enough for serious damage either.
I tried with all my mind to access the ring in a pouch around my neck for the warhammer. I felt the ring pulling at my spirit, at my core.
I can investigate that later.
The warhammer, light enough to be used one handed but long enough to be effective with two, popped into my hand just as the wolf started another charge, this time wobbling slightly. I managed the same move as before but, as I had more clearance, I simply jumped to the side.
As it passed, I swung my best baseball swing with the sharpened point on the back of the hammer. It impacted and cut a huge gash along the side of the wolf.
I heard yelling and more snarls behind me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Milica standing back up, looking like she had taken a bad blow.
Before I could process more, the wolf was back at my side, this time trying to swipe with its good remaining leg. It feebly struck my shield but still crashed heavily on me.
Summoning my footing lessons from Risto, I was able to deflect the blow, swing around it while it was recoiling from the block, and then land a crushing blow to its back left leg from my overextended swing. It let out a piteous moan.
I followed up with a strike to its other back leg.
It was an utterly debilitating if not mortal set of blows.
It can’t move like this so move onto the fresher, more dangerous targets.
I turned to celebrate my victory but my comrades were nowhere to be found. Four presumably dead wolves and one grievously injured were all the signs of where they had been.
Milica’s axe was embedded in the head of presumably the other lieutenant.
A truly massive wolf – presumably the rift boss – tilted its head at me and then snarled. I could see a boiling hatred in its purple-black eyes. Even the inside of the mouth on the boss had been sapped of color so the only thing standing out from the drab colors behind it were those terrible eyes.
Well, sodus. I guess bring it on.
Deciding to do my best warcry, I started to charge. And immediately stopped as the last remaining regular wolf charged on an intercept course.
I mostly managed to avoid it but it got a good swipe in on my leg. I felt my left femur buckle and an immense pain blossomed across the entire appendage.
I don’t think it’s actually broken but can’t rely too heavily on that any more. Hard to swing a hammer on one leg. What do I have?
The aborted charge put me close to the discarded axe and I managed to do a dive and roll to get my hand on it.
It cost me dearly.
A slash from the wolf’s claw had clipped my calf. Not quite severing my Achilles tendon but still further hampering my mobility. It turned to pounce and I used my shield to brace the axe just right.
A sane or even a cautious opponent wouldn’t jump directly onto an axe. But these were crazed. All other than the rift boss, which seemed content to let its pack have their fun.
My AAI was still down and this was probably the longest period it had been blocked.
That predictive modeling would be nice about now.
I managed to shove the wolf off my shield but the axe was embedded too deep for me to pull it out in time for the charging rift boss.
Barely sweeping up my hammer, I danced out of the way as best as I could, a scream of pain ripping from my lips.
I swung with my the warhammer, making solid contact with the ugly beast's head, and creating a sickening crunch.
Praying that would be enough - but realizing it almost certainly wasn't - I stumbled back, trying to take a defensive stance.
***
Shield raised, voice bellowing a challenge, I braced for another charge from the alabaster abomination of a wolf.
I focused, preparing for one last strike against the rift boss.
Then, I felt it.
A tooth slicing into the back of my calf.
Briefly glancing down as I stumbled to one knee, I saw the lieutenant I’d left for dead.
It managed to drag itself over to me while I was otherwise occupied.
"Always finish the damn job Terry!" I bellowed.
I swung down, ending its life and almost decapitating it with my hammer in my anger and surging adrenaline.
But, it might be too little too late. Only way out, if I get out, is through.
The boss charged and I bounced out of the way, letting my shield arm take the brunt as best I could.
I recovered my morningstar from the chest of the now dead lieutenant and faced down my foe.
A minute later of a cat and mouse battle, the bleached beast, even its eyes turning white like the warm almost-snowflakes that fitfully floated around us, answered another of my screams of anger with a roar of its own and began to lope towards me from 15 feet (5m) away.
I’d gotten quite a few good hits in on its left hind leg so it was about as graceful as my usual ‘run’ trying to catch the tram to another terminal in the Dallas Fort Worth airport.
Why the hell are the terminals arranged as A-C-E-D-B?
Its fangs dripping a mixture of saliva and both of our blood, it approached my shield at a pace I couldn’t fully block. I swung at the side of its head knowing I needed to end it here and now.
I can’t survive another charge. My leg is done for.
One – or both – of us would not be making it out of this alive.
Would I rather be doing this or a PowerPoint?
There wasn't a question in my mind as I grimly smiled.
Time to finish the job.
The giant lupine had surprised me, ducking its head at the last moment to get under my shield. Adjusting my swing, I made solid contact with the side of its head and felt the bones crunch.
Unfortunately for me, momentum is a hell of a thing.
Newton, just once, I wish you were wrong…
The beast let out a piteous cry but still managed to launch me into the air with its snout, dislodging my shield and weapon both.
Flailing while flying with both of your legs essentially unusable was an odd experience. Extremely uncomfortable and scary but still oddly reminiscent of jumping off a swing at its apex as a child.
I landed in a heap, my leg finally shattering and piercing through, as I prepared for an attack to finish me off. With blood covering my eye, I flung a dagger at the direction of the rift boss and the sharp ‘yarp’ was the last thing I heard.