The cavern walls seemed to amplify the nervous tension in the air. Everything, from the barely visible smoke to the chasms that stretched into unknown depths, created an oppressive atmosphere. It felt as though the entire floor was a looming shadow, eerie and unsettling.
"Wait!" Reyna called out, drawing the others' attention.
"What now?" Sho sighed, clearly uninterested.
"We can't fight here. What if the cavern collapses?"
"I guess you're right," Sho sighed, using mana to pull her sword back to her. "If we fight here, I'd actually have to worry about you dying."
Her eyes glowed faintly in the dark—piercing red. The rest of G2 seemed to nod in agreement.
Sho raised her hand, drawing a small circle with her finger. Inside the circle, she wrote a command. Her mana, a condensed red that matched her eyes, flickered with power.
"Runic_Teleport (effect: bind, location: floor_7)"
A bright red light enveloped us. The sudden brilliance caused my goggles to flare up before flickering out, as though the enchantment had been removed. I couldn't use magic as the spell took effect—it wasn't like the other runes I'd seen, which were etched into the ground. This one was simple, just a flash. I wondered what made these spells different.
When the light faded, we found ourselves on the seventh floor, greeted by a sprawling forest. We'd spawned just outside an orc stronghold, a fortress of stone and wood, towering like a relic from a forgotten age. The stone walls were massive, worn by battle and time, while the wooden structures seemed almost like an afterthought, reinforcing the brutal, ancient feel of the place.
Seraphina had teleported with us. She seemed as surprised as I was, her mask still clinging to her face, though her vantage point had been lost in the shift.
"Gale_Cleaver," Sho spoke coldly.
Almost instantly, pulses of wind cut through the trees, clearing the area for us to fight. The trees around us were sliced cleanly, but somehow the others remained unharmed, the wind carving through the forest with precision.
I was impressed by how effortlessly Sho managed it, not a hint of strain on her.
"We should be the only ones who know this floor is open," she said, clearing away any remaining debris and fallen trees from our path.
"Thank you, Sho," Reyna smiled.
Sho discarded her sword once more and stood still, prepared for what was next. Then, her voice broke the silence.
"Thirty seconds. Let's see how you waste them."
Each number she counted felt like a hammer striking the air. The plan had to come together, and it had to come fast.
"1."
Reyna's voice sliced through the weight of silence, firm, steady. "Viri, you and I will take the front. We'll keep her busy."
"2."
Viri nodded sharply, locking eyes with Reyna. "Understood. You lead, I'll follow."
"3."
Tenshi raised an eyebrow, her focus never wavering. "What's the plan, then?"
"4."
Reyna's gaze didn't falter. "We press the attack. Viri and I will hold her down."
"5."
Tenshi crossed her arms, already assessing the situation. "I'll keep my distance. Support where it's needed."
"6."
Reyna's eyes briefly flicked to me, gauging my readiness. "Arden, what enhancements can you use?"
"7."
I swallowed, pushing down my nervousness. "I can use Mana_Bind."
"8."
Eli tilted her head, thinking. "Can Mana_Bind work on people?"
"9."
"I've never tried it on people," I admitted, my voice tight. "Only on items. If she draws her sword, though... maybe it'll work."
"10."
Tenshi nodded, her sharp gaze never leaving Sho. "That could work. What's the range on it?"
"11."
"Close," I said. "I need to be near her."
"12."
Reyna's voice came low, almost a whisper. "We'll need someone who can keep her still long enough."
"13."
Viri grinned, stepping forward. "That's where Eli comes in."
"14."
Reyna's gaze sharpened as she locked eyes with Eli. "You'll focus on the distractions, apply the pressure. Don't let her breathe."
"15."
Sera, her voice barely above a murmur, added, "I'll move when the chaos hits. She won't see me coming."
"16."
I spoke up, my voice strained. "But don't underestimate her. She's strong, and she'll fight back hard."
"17."
Eli's voice trembled slightly, despite her confidence. "What if my paralysis doesn't work?"
"18."
Reyna's eyes softened with a rare touch of reassurance. "Don't worry, Eli. When the opening comes, show her why they call you 'Skyshatter.'"
"19."
The seconds were ticking away, the weight of our words hanging in the air. My mind raced. Could we do it? Could we win?
"20."
Reyna's gaze met mine one last time, her expression unreadable. "This is it. Stay focused."
"21."
The countdown was almost over, and the air felt thick, as though time itself was holding its breath. Every second counted.
"22."
Tenshi flexed her fingers, her body coiled like a spring. "I'm ready."
"23."
Sera's eyes glinted beneath her mask. "Same here."
"24."
I could feel my heart pounding. The overwhelming feeling of inadequacy gnawed at me. Could I really contribute? Was I just another burden?
"25."
Reyna's voice cracked through my thoughts, resolute. "We don't have time for doubt. We act now."
"26."
Viri flashed a grin. "We win, Arden. We'll show her what we're made of."
"27."
The countdown was coming to a close, but it felt as though the weight of the world rested on those final seconds. I knew I couldn't back down now.
"28."
"29."
"30."
The air was still, thick with anticipation, before Sho's mocking voice cut through the silence.
"Your time's up."
I couldn't help but wonder to myself, What are the chances that we will win? The answer felt bleak. With everything on the line, the odds of victory were barely 2%
I couldn't shake the feeling that, in the end, I would be the most useless person in this fight—just another burden.