The red haired woman was bloodied, her clothes and body were blackened, maybe covered in soot?
She's lying on the floor and trying to get up. She stabbed her knife into the ground using it as a support.
Cecily is far off to her right. She's knocked out and covered in blood.
Cardose is far off to the left of the red head woman, he's the least hurt out of the three of them. He only has slashes across his arms and legs. His sword is also worse for wear, it's looks like a tree that's been devastated by wood peckers. It has several chips on both sharp edges.
He limps slowly towards the woman struggling to get up.
He stops as he gets right in front of her. He turn his head looking in my direction and mouths something while giving a thumbs up.
"Hoo huh"
???
No that can't be it. What does hoo huh mean?
With both hands he raise his sword above his head. An majestic green glow envelopes the blade.
I can feel the power even from back here. It's some seriously mystical stuff. It's feels even more magical than well, magic.
He swings down and there is a bright flash of yellow light.
Damn it, it's so bright. It's not as bright as that inexplicable white light I saw from before. They're both quite bright the only difference is this one hurts to look at.
The light fades to display Cardose standing above the woman.
Yes!
He takes a few steps backwards.
What's he doing, taking in the view?
Well heroes do tend to do such things. Look at the aftermath of your epic battle and stare at scene in awe of your awesomeness, that's just classic hero shenanigans.
He falls backwards on his back baring his chest to reveal a knife lodged inside.
NO, NO NO!
The woman shakes as she gets up, clearly struggling to move, then slowly walks towards him.
I can't let this happen. I raise my hand forwards and shout 'STELL-'
I stumble to the floor before I can completely say it.
What's going on?
I try to force myself to get up, but my hands and legs have gone limp, and everywhere feels numb and cold.
Shit, shit, shit! I have to save them, get up you useless body!
I can't get up no matter how hard I try, I can't even move my body just a little bit.
The ground starts shaking.
Oh what's happening now?
I'm suddenly lifted from onto my knees, from behind by someone. The person then rotates me till we're facing each other.
It's a young man with dark hair flowing downwards to just about his eyes.
He looks to be about my age.
Oh wow, he's overwhelmingly handsome. It's like the God's chiseled his every feature. He has brown eyes, they're brown like wood, he has a black dot beneath his left eye.
He says something to me that I can't make out by reading lips.
Damn I really suck at that.
Wham!
'Hey what was that for!?'
Wait I can talk, I couldn't even move a bit before so how am I-
Wham!
He slaps me a second time. 'Just what is your deal-' he cuts me off, shouting:
"Get your shit together!!"
....
???
"I've healed you so go out there and fight" he says while looking increasingly panicked with every passing second.
I turn around to see what's going on, and It's absolute chaos. The red haired lady is fighting everyone. Dozens of people brandishing all kinds of weapons and using a variety of spells are engaged in a fearsome battle with her.
This straight up looks like war.
Just how long was I on the ground for, that the situation could have escalated this badly?
'NO WAY! I CAN'T JOIN SOMETHING LIKE THAT!' I say in a tone that matches his grim expression.
"All the non combatants are here, while anybody capable of fighting is out there!!" He says in an angry and shaky voice.
That's true, this place was packed when Cecily tossed me. Now it's only like seven people excluding myself.
'B-but I can't figh-' he cuts me off.
"BULLSHIT! WE ALL SAW THAT MAGIC OF YOURS"
'I'm serious, I really can't figh-'
SWOOSH.
Is it me or am I closer to the fight?
'Why did you push me-' I say without finishing my sentence.
My god- I wasn't pushed closer, I was teleported. I'm directly in front of the counter.
'You!' I utter without even knowing what to say next, allowing the anger and contempt apparent in my voice and on my face.
He walks towards me from behind it, in my anger I attempt to enter pull him by his collar back but I can't. My arms can't get above the counter top because of translucent purple barrier that appears when I try to pass through.
'So you're not just hiding, you're protected by a barrier as well...' I say letting the sadness anger and anger deep through my voice.
"I'm sorry, but you have to fight." He says with a disheartened look and shaky voice.
He really healed me just send me to get hurt again.
Tch!
What did I expect? Whenever shit hits the fan and things get real bad, once it's you versus someone else, you always pick yourself.
That's just how people are, no matter how caring or kind they seem to be.
I've been trying to ignore it since my hearing came back, but the sounds of screams, crying and explosions Is just to much.
I don't even want to turn around to see what's happening.
I fall to my knees upon realizing how hopeless everything is. Dozens of people...
Not even dozens of people can take her down, the worst part is she's heavily injured too.
Not to mention our strongest combatants were taking down. Cardose and Cecily were utterly decimated.
Wait.. how could I forget?
Cardose and Cecily... They weren't behind the counter, which means they weren't taken away from the battle field.
Wham!! The sound of my fist hitting my face.
How could I be so selfish? How could I completely disregard them from my thoughts?
I didn't even remember, I totally forgot about them the moment I saw all the carnage.
Where did all your resolve go huh? Aren't you going to save Cardose!? Aren't you going to thank Cecily for healing you!?
I get up from my knees then approach the center of the room.
My gait is wobbly, not because I'm injured or anything, it's because of fear. I'm absolutely terrified right now.
I slowly get closer and closer to the carnage, and with each step I try to think logically about my situation.
Cool it Zach, you gain nothing from losing your composure. I repeat these words over and over in my head.
The lady suddenly burst into the room then attacked, she suddenly appeared in front of Cardose, then they both disappeared. When Cecily left she also disappeared.
But wait, if she can teleport is one by one why isn't she doing that?
So it must be something else. Those sparks could they have been...
Yes I'm sure of it, the first time I saw one was when she attacked Cardose. I didn't see it all, but I'm sure of it now. She wasn't teleporting, she was just moving so fast I couldn't see her.
I got flung back by the impact of her clash with Cardose. Those sparks came from their weapons hitting each other, which also explains why there were more sparks when Cecily joined the fight.
But what was her weapon? No that doesn't matter, even Cardose wasn't with a sword before his clash with red head. So they have some sort of weapon summoning magic.
Them moving so fast also explains why they suddenly appeared after I used Stella Cadens, my magic didn't break through any spark barrier, I must've somehow gotten a lucky hit on her. That would also explain why Cardose gave me a thumbs up.
It all makes sense but, what am I supposed to achieve with this? It doesn't help me best her.
I'm not even sure if the one thing that I can do will work. Twice today Stella Cadens didn't work.
As I walk closer to danger I suddenly have an epiphany and stop in my tracks.
All the bartenders disappeared...
Back then in the medical bay, the bald guy and the blonde lady were there to deceive.
Yeah, I'm certain now. This situation isn't as dire as I thought.
Sigh~
That's a relief.
I hurriedly walk back to the counter with the barrier. The handsome shouts at me saying:
"You haven't even done anything at all, I hope you know we're not gonna open up for you."
'I know.' I say indifferently.
Was his voice always this panicked? Well I guess this isn't a kind of situation you can hold a brave face through.
"If you know then why are you back! You-" I interupt him.
'You said you guys are all supporters right? Also I'm pretty sure there are supporters fighting that lady as we speak. That's the only way they've lasted so long. So if you guys were left behind, you're either weak or can't fight. Which is it?'
...
He doesn't say anything, as if he's processing the purpose behind what I'm asking him.
'I'm betting it's the latter, that you guys were left here because you're pure supports. You only have support skills so you're totally useless when fighting.'
"Why do you say that?" He says in a nervous and confused tone.
'Because you were able to heal me when Cecily couldn't. I couldn't tell before but when I was resting on her she was healing me.
'Okay, enough chit chat dude. Let's not waste anymore time.' I say while doing stretches.
"What are you talking about?"
'You said I should fight right? So I'm going to fight.'
Before he can respond I continue by saying:
'I want all of you guys to buff me. Give me your best boosting magic. Also I don't care how long it takes you so don't mention it.
You probably weren't left behind just because you only had support skills, after all support skills are always useful.
it's probably because it would've been impossible to make use of those skills against such a fast and dangerous opponent.'
...
"How could you have possibly deduced all that?"
'Eh it's just one of those things'
One man and four women rise from behind the counter. They were crouching down before, just waiting for the battle to be over. I saw them when he had just healed me.
I think my little conversation with Mr handsome coward, has given them a bit more hope.
I mean, it's always better to able to do something when the chips are down and the odds are stacked against you, rather than just doing nothing and waiting for your situation to get better.
It takes about an hour, but eventually all seven of them behind the counter gave me a buff.
At this point there are only thirty people fighting the red head. To be honest they're fairing much better than I thought they would.
Even though they're all strangers, they worked together so seamlessly in order to stay in the fight for this long.
They formed a vanguard composed of people who were capable of close quarter combat.
Behind them were the tanks, the protectors of the group, they'd shield the vanguard from really dangerous attacks in order to keep the battle going on longer.
Just behind the tanks were the ranged units. Either they used long range weapons, or they relied purely on my magic for attack power. And last not but not least, the rearguard that was composed of supporters, people with support magic such as buffs and healing magic.
Each group is essential for the others survival.
Without the vanguard, none of it would be possible. But the vanguard heavily relies on everyone behind them.
The tanks may play an even more important role, they keep the vanguard safe, and still somehow manage to protect the people behind them. There's now place safer than behind a row of tanks, and it's because of that safety the the ranged units snd support units can do their jobs comfortably.
And from what I observed in case sn attack got through to the rearguard, the range units would protect the supports.
Well, that's enough analysis from me. No more spectating, it's time to join the action.
As I walk away multiple voice from behind wish me good luck.
I can't fight, I'm basically just a normal guy asides from the one spell in my arsenal. Except it's a magic that's not truly mine, it came from a mysterious book, so my understanding of magic is next to nothing.
This is just like that time with golem, back then I realistically had no shot of winning.
And right now I basically have no shot of winning.
Talk about unfair! I think to myself with a smile on my face.
Ok I've gotten close enough to the action. If I get any closer I might get by a stray fire ball or something.
I stretch my left hand towards the ceiling and shout: Stella Cadens!!
The sound it makes on impact with the ceiling is loud enough to get everybody's attention.
I take a few step backwards so I'm not crushed by the incoming rubble.
'HEY RED HAIRED CHICK, ARE YOU AFRAID OF GETTING YOUR ASS KICKED OR WHAT?' I scream out at the top of my lungs.
She leaps backwards no longer clashing with what's left of the vanguard, just so she can pay attention to me.
Shit- shit- shit-
I'm really digging my own grave!
'OH COME ON DON'T TELL ME YOU ENJOY PICKING ON WEAKLINGS?
I THOUGHT THEY WERE ALL "MAGGOTS". WHY DON'T YOU PICK ON SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE!'
Shes glaring at me. Oh shit she's glaring at me.
I'm going to die.
Her gaze is so intense I feel my face could melt off anytime. Despite the intense look she's giving me she still hasn't attacked me yet.
Please don't tell me she wants me to make the first move?
I might actually die because of what I'm about to say next.
'YOU STUPID BITCH, ARE YOU DEAF OR STUPID! WHICH IS IT? DO YOU NOTUNDERSTAND THAT I'M YOUR OPPONENT!'
Yep, that'll do it. She's grinding her teeth and scowling at me she'll attack any moment now.
I just have to take advantage of the moment.
I've been provoking her all this time to get her to make the first move. People don't think straight when they're angry. Her entrance into the room made me think she was easily angered, with how she kicked the door in and called us maggots.
She looked like someone with a lot of pride and anger. She gave off intense vibes, akin to someone in the military, a drill sergeant maybe?
The next few seconds are insanely nerve wracking as I brace myself for any sudden attack. But when the moment comes I miss it.
Fwoosh.
What just happened?
A small cut opens on my face, letting blood to trickle down it.
A voice coming from behind me says "Next time you won't be so lucky, because next time I won't miss."
I turn around to betray the fact that she somehow got behind me in a single instant.
Damnit, all I got from provoking her was a single miss. I couldn't even hit her.
I really wish I could wait for her to finish dealing with the others before fighting her. That way I'd have more of an advantage but oh well...
I couldn't just wait for that to happen because I'm on a time crunch. The buffs will only last for 30 minute so I just h to make the most of it.
Let's hope those guys buffs were good.
As I ready myself for a terrible beaten I feel a sudden surge of power rush into me.
What the?
Looking back reveals, that the supporters from the rearguard are buffing me.
But why?
Taking a closer look at them reveals the reason. They are on their last legs that's why, everyone in their group is severely injured and exhausted.
This changes everything, if anything happens I can't rely on them to protect me.
But with all these new buffs I've received I have a much better chance of defeating her.
"Are you just gonna stand there lost in thought or are you going to fight me." She says.
"After talking all that shit, I thought you'd be jumping at me first. Pathetic!"
'Don't get full of yourself just because you bested a few flightless chicks in combat. You're about to face a phoenix, so prepare yourself for what happens next.'