Alexander summoned mana into his hand, the darkness rising to the top as easily as breathing. The other elements were a little harder to summon but he liked the dark, it was comforting in a way. The others did the same, but wre stoped by Max.
He drew runes on the ground, a set of magical symbols that coincided with the element to create a spell, glowing brightly white. His role as the teams Warden was no joke, making a set of Obelisks with glowing runes. The Obelisks created a domestic of magic around them, protecting them from projectiles and sudden attacks. In this dome a Warden became the most powerful Hunter in the hierarchy of hunters.
Max's barrier was ofcourse direct from most, using the Obelisks as processors for his device he had been carrying in his satchel. A foldable tablet rose from the satchel, displaying a number of variables that he read in real time.
"Nakamura, ready to strike when I say go, Kahawai and Kalani, go for it. Alexander and fox are on standby. This is going to be by the book, so I don't want any kinks. Let's begin."
Ready! They agreed. Alexander was confused, he thought this was their first gate, but they acted like this was just an ordinary day. Even Kahawai, who would normaly argue at this point with the strategists, complied like a soldier. Max had composed himself and even Fox held his sword and shield sturdily. His brown hair and intense scowl a force to be reckoned with.
Alexander paid close attention to their moves while getting into a basic stance. Just as two projectiles from the red Goblin slammed against the barrier.
"And that is why we listen to Max," Max said. "Nakamura unleash the petals when your ready."
Nakamura sighed with the utmost exasperation while exiting the barrier. "Please do not refer to the ancient martial art of my family, as the petals. Though it describes them correctly in your language, it undermines the principles that I adhered to since birth." Nakamura held his blade lightly on his left side, sheethed in a beautiful scabbard. The black kimono fluttered as his breath turned to vapor from the drop in temperature.
"First stance, drawing the sword," he drew his sword in a flash, slicing doward in an arc towards the pink goblin. The red Goblins eyes flashed and it reacted like it did before when Nakamura attacked, jumping in the way at the last second and taking the damage.
'How does it read my movements so clearly. Clearly I am being mocked by this creature. To read my movments is a slight against my ancestors that must be answered.'
"First stance, Sever the frozen mountain!" From his first downward cut, his blade turned horizontal and arched, drawing water from the air and splashing the Goblins. The water doused them from waist to feet, as water continued to pool around the small dead-end. No way out for the water so it rose to their ankles as small blue petals fell to the waters surface, freezing it on contact.
Nakamura used two elements to produce a stunning display of magic using his sword. The water froze over, excluding Nakamura and the barrier, also freezing the goblins who were unprotected. The pink one tried to sing and free them but stumbled as it began to shiver and mess up its spel from the immense cold.
Nakamura returned his blade slowly to its scabbard. "Shhhnk," The three Goblins were bisected and fell over, limp, cut from the horizontal attack.
"Thank you for the lesson, my your spirits find rest in the afterlife."
"And that is why we make the barrier when Nakamura draws his sword. Pretty but the cold never leaves your bones."
Alexander had just seen the power of a D ranked hunter using a tier one spell. The voice Informed him of the potential use of Air and Water magic could produce, reminding him he only ever used tier zero magic. The combination of magic could produce this barrier or something devastating as Nakamuras attack.
"Pretty as always your Highness. Let's finish this gate and get back."
"Indeed, those Goblins were stronger than was convincing and her understood kind what it was. They shared an understanding through there mind space, a symbiotic relationship.
"Nakamura, that was amazing! I've only seen a barrier made on the video on the news. You have to teach me everything," Alexander excitedly moved around the group. Max held an affinity for describing things and never missed an opportunity to educate anyone. For fifteen minutes Max explained the fundamentals of tier one Warden spells. During which he gave examples and allowed everyone to rest awhile before heading into the final chamber.
The gate soon revealed itself, a large swirling vortex in the middle of the cave wall, three goblin slept on the ground, yawning awake from the long day. Spears sat next to them as they fumbled and kicked, unlucky for them as short swords impailed them from the group.
"That's it, the readings I have is say it's a D ranked gate. So expect a strong goblin chief or shaman. I'll say there are probly twice as many Goblins inside as we fought so be on your guard. See you on the otherside," Max stepped through first, wanting an undisturbed view first.
Alexander watched as everyone but Nakamura went through the gate, disappearing through. "Are you frightened?"
"No, even though this is my first gate. Have you all done this before? I only ask becuse you all seem experienced."
"We have done this many times during the summer. But never without backup or a team other than ourselves. This is the first solo gate, but it should not be worse than our first. Do not fear, Max has a knack for figuring out a way. Just trust him and don't give his head anymore ego."
Nakamura headed through, to Alexanders relief as the silver liquid returned to him. A stream of it returned, having dissolved the three Goblins. Something different about them happened as the voice returned clearer.
'Shuting down for upgrade, host will be unable to use us for some time. Safety mode enabled.'
The cavern was loud as the voice that normaly kept Alexanders mind occupied with thoughts suddenly stoped, replaced by a warm feeling all over his body. He thought about its words but walked through the gate all the same.
Transition into the gate felt like every atom in Alexanders body had been ripped apart and stretched, then smashed together in seconds. His body reattached as he landed on a dark patch of grass next to large trees. He was in a dense forest asurrounded by his teammates.
"You good sunshine?"
"Wake up, sleepy. We got walking to do. I've never seen someone sick so much that I see our breakfast. Those eggs don't look so good a second time, mate." Fox helped him up from the dirt, washing his face and shirt with water and air magic.
"Thanks. I thought we went through the portal, this just seems like some woods somewhere." The wooded area was thick enough to hide, but the large camp of the Goblins could not be unseen. Large fires burned giant standing logs to some unknown diety. Multiple shacks dotted the radius around a large cave mouth with depictions of giants.
Alexander recovered slightly as Max finished his scans. His Wards were at full power, making it harder for them to be scene. Allowing him to focus and make the biggest strategy he's ever come up with.
"First things first, our odds of survival are minimal. This isn't a F ranked gate, nor is it a D ranked. The readings give it ranked C. Their are two bosses here that we have to defeat before the gate will show up again, and we have the minimum amount of gear. Some of us may not make it out of this." Max explained gravely.
"What about trust him did you say, Nakamura?"