"Everyone, hold your ground!"
Kyungsoo's voice boomed through the chaos, slamming his shield into the ground. A surge of energy rippled out, sending many monsters backwards.
{Taunt}.
One of the skills of a tanker, it had the skill to send monsters into a rage. It was useful to protect allies, but if misused, it could easily cost your own life. It's the reason why tankers tend to not use it.
"This monster… " Kyungsoo's eye narrowed. " It's an A-rank, perhaps even on the threshold of S-rank." His eye flickered to the swarm of smaller creatures behind the beast. "And it's not alone."
My stomach dropped.
…
{Mirebeast}-A/S. A monster species that born from swamp. Normally docile, but once provoked, they call their kin for help.
Not just one monster, but we're going to fight an entire army? Shit.
The beast moved, each step shaking the ground. Min-ji staggered back from the force, her staff slipping from her grasp, clattering against the hard ground.
"Ugh!"
The creature's vines lashed out like snakes, snapping at her. Before the strike could land, Taeyang darted forward, slashing the vines with his daggers. However, more sprouted from their place, wriggling towards them.
Min-ji quickly got up after seeing the direness of the situation, with her staff in her hands. She raised it high in the air and a magic circle bloomed under her.
"Burn."
Fire sprung up from the ground, rising continuously until it wrapped around the vines and burned it down. The fire traveled to the A-rank, reaching to its arm.
'So this is the power of an actual mage..' I stood in awe, watching as the flames dug into the monster's defence.
The monster roared, sending more vines towards them. Taeyang quickly got into action, using his dagger to fight off the vines while Min-ji stood in the back, sending support. Indeed, their teamwork is incredible..
My eyes darted across the battlefield. Kyungsoo was holding the front line against the smaller creatures and to his right, he could see Sungjae firing arrows non-stop, each shot finding its mark with accuracy.
One by one, they dropped. Although this was good news.. I knew that more {Mirebeast} would appear, so I had to think fast. But how? I couldn't carelessly whip out my staff from my ring, it will only cause suspicion. However, I also knew I couldn't be stubborn. So what the fuck do I do? I gritted my teeth.
I was only dead weight to them, there was nothing I could do to help. I knew that I only came as a porter. I wasn't supposed to fight but watching them risking their lives..it only made my stomach churn.
Searching for an item in the shop would be too time-consuming. By the time I found myself an item that wouldn't raise alarms, they would already be dead.
I looked around frantically, searching for any hints. Monsters after monsters.. there was so many coming out that I didn't know when it would end. The others were already becoming tired, their movements more sluggish and less crisp.
Slash!
A lower rank swiped its claws at Kyungsoo, the wound becoming more and more red. Kyungsoo winced from the pain, his momentum falling for a bit. One of the beast, seeing that, swooped at his heels, and aimed for his chest. An arrow pierced it cleanly.
"Get it together!" Sungjae shouted, nocking another arrow. The arrow soared in the sky, spilling into two, then four. And in the blink of an eye, the air was filled with dozens of arrows raining down.
{Thousand Arrows}.
Although it was called a thousand arrows, that didn't mean one arrow could instantly become more. It had stages to it. Stage one, the arrow could split into two. Stage 5? The arrow could split into 20. The more you raise the stage, the more arrows you get from one arrow.
Sungjae reached for another arrow, but stopped. I watched as his face morphed from confusion, to dread. Oh no. I looked at his back, his quiver, which was once full of arrows, was empty. Fuck!
A scream echoed from behind. I turned around. A vine had wrapped around Taeyang, lifting him off the ground. The vine tightened, until his arm gave a nasty pop. "Ugh!" Taeyang grunted, struggling against the vines. His body strained, but the more he pulled, the tighter it became.
"Taeyang!" Min-ji cried, firing fireballs desperately at the vines, trying to set him free. The problem? The vines moved to shield themselves from the fire.
I froze, my thoughts racing. What could I do? Everyone was already at their limit.
I couldn't afford to think. Not right now, not when they could die.
But then I saw it. The vines. They weren't just flailing randomly, it was connected. I followed the vines' direction with my eyes, landing on the glowing core hidden neatly in the chest of the beast.
Found it.
"Kyungsoo!" I shouted, running towards him. "Kyungsoo, where are you?"
Kyungsoo turned, his eyes locking onto mine.
"Kyungsoo! Go help Taeyang, I'll take it from here!"
"What?" He frowned, shield flashing as he forced himself on another creature.
"I said I'll handle this side!" I pointed in the other direction where the others were, "But listen- the weakness of that monster is the chest! The core!"
Kyungsoo's eyes widened. For a second, he hesitated. Then, gritting his teeth, he shoved the monsters aside, charging towards Taeyang.
Okay, now all alone.. should I just run? I gulped, watching as the monsters come closer. These slimes…
No.
I won't run anymore.
With trembling hands, I pulled my {Flameheart staff} out, holding it desperately in my hands. With this many monsters, there was no way I could take them all at once, with my mana levels being limited. But If I continuously replenish my energy through energy potion, I was sure I could take them.
I brought some potions, the potions dropping into my ring. 'It's good that they're not on the floor..'
My points quickly depleted, reaching zero. I would've mourned, but this situation was quite a life or death. I didn't have time to mourn for such thing.
I stabbed my staff into the ground, watching as the floor cracked with immense heat. Fire gushed out like a fountain, scorching the monsters within range.
Szzzz
The monsters were quickly turned into a pile of soot. However, more kept coming from the bushes. Dang it. I drank another potion, running from the slimes' tentacles, I skidded to a stop, turned around, and stabbed it into the ground again. Drank another potion. Stabbed the staffed down. Again. Again. And again.
"Hah..hah…" I panted, drinking the last potion. My vision blurred. They surrounded me. Watching me.
This was it, this was the end.
I tilted my head back in defeat. At least I had fun, right?
Ding!
My eyes immediately opened, coming face to face with the system's notification.
[Your staff has reached level 5, your staff has unlocked its hidden use!]
I quickly checked my weapon's description with the appraiser skill.
{Flameheart staff}- A/S-rank. A staff that has been imbued with the power of a phoenix. The staff can erupt with flames that can burn enemies within reach.
New use: This staff is able to target a single species or group within a huge area!
"So..it can wipe out all of them at once.."
I raised my staff instinctively. The mana stone flared. And then,
Fire poured from the sky like meteors, each fireball seeking its target.
Groughh
The monsters screamed, their bodies charred into nothing but dust. One after another, they fell. Silence.
I stood in the midst of the fire, panting heavily. Tears pricked my eyes.
It was over. I survived.
.
.
.
I limped through the forest, each step filled with agony. The shirt clung tightly to my body, making the pain unbearable. I winced.
"Ignore it.."
And finally, I arrived at the familiar scene. I heard no noise, no screams or grunts. Did that mean they also managed to beat the monster successfully? I exhaled in relief. I limped to where the others were, holding on the trees for support.
Finally, I saw the back of Sungjae, the face of Minji and a stoic Taeyang. Relief surged through me. "Sungjae!" I called, stumbling towards them. "I'm so glad you're alright-"
Then I noticed something was amiss. Minji had streaks of tears running down her face, Taeyang's eyes were filled with remorse. And Sungjae, he held something in his arms.
A charred body.
My breath caught.
"Sungjae, where is Kyungsoo?.." My voice trembled.
Sungjae didn't reply. He lowered his head.
I staggered forward, eyes wide. "No..don't tell me?"
The corpse came into view. It was broken beyond unrecognisable. But I knew.
"Urk-" I gagged, collapsing to my knees. "No…no no no.."
I pressed my hands against the body, searching for a heartbeat, for warmth, for anything. Anything to tell me he was alive.
Nothing.
Kyungsoo Kang. Our friend. Our shield. Our leader. Gone.
Hot tears blurred my vision. He was a remarkable person. He was an optimistic person. He was also a good person.
And such a person was dead.